New Posts  All Forums:Forum Nav:

Mirageman

post #1 of 10
6/1/10 at 11:37am
Thread Starter 
In anxious anticipation of catching Marko Zaror in UNDISPUTED 3 I got around to watching one of his Chilean films, MIRAGEMAN. Huge upgrade over the other Zaror flick I had seen, KILTRO.

In MIRAGEMAN, Zaror plays a guy whose life is in shambles after a violent attack that left his parents dead and his younger brother raped. This attack leaves his younger brother in a state of mental shock similar to that of Sandra Locke’s sis in SUDDEN IMPACT.

One night while jogging Zaror stops a home invasion robbery in progress. This act garners some slight media attention and convinces Zaror to don a blue mask, blue gloves, and a fanny-pack as his utility belt to become Mirageman.

The character reminds me a lot of Kick-Ass, only without the awful pretending to be homosexual teen-angst malarchy. Like Kick-Ass, Mirageman accepts pleas for help via e-mail. In addition Mirageman has some rough first attempts at heroism. Including not being able to hail a cab while in costume after beating up some dirty dirty purse-snatchers.

The movie takes some nifty twists and turns and ultimately finds Mirageman trying to find a little girl that has been kidnapped by a vicious crime syndicate. A crime syndicate known only as “The Pedophilia Network.” Hand to God.

The fight scenes are well-staged, thanks mainly to Zaror’s insane agility. At one point he pulls off a mid-air summersault kick that defies Earth’s gravitational pull.

Forget everything you know about Chilean super-hero martial arts movies. This one sets the standard.
Reply
post #2 of 10
6/1/10 at 11:52am
I honestly wish you would review films for the site, Moltisanti. Hand to God.
Reply
post #3 of 10
6/1/10 at 1:18pm
Thread Starter 
Thanks for the kind words, Evi.

Found this trailer for Zaror's upcoming movie MANDRILL. Looks to be his attempt at a Bond film:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9vU6OxiV0_4
Reply
post #4 of 10
6/2/10 at 10:32am
Thanks for the write up. I'll have to check it out if it hits the UK. And I second Erix's request, with a further request for you to either host or at least participate in the CHUD B-action podcast, if it ever happens.
Reply
post #5 of 10
6/2/10 at 10:41am
I liked - not loved - Kiltro. But the dryness to a lot of the humour was a real nice touch, and Zaror certainly can stage a fight. If this is an improvement, consider me sold.
Reply
post #6 of 10
6/2/10 at 10:44am
CHUD flipped for KILTRO:

http://www.chud.com/articles/article...TRO/Page1.html

There could come a day when Kiltro is seen as the pairs Reservoir Dogs, serving as the opening salvo in their long and illustrious careers. I truly hope that day comes; just so long as their success doesnt dilute my love for this movie. Billed the first-ever Chilean martial arts movie, Kiltro is so much more than that; Equal parts goofy love story, solemn revenge melodrama, surreal dreamscape, and tongue-in-cheek genre homage; all packaged in kung-fu wrapper and topped with a gloriously bombastic faux-Morricone score. Folks, take it from me: Youve gotta check this out.
Reply
post #7 of 10
6/2/10 at 11:38am
Thread Starter 
KILTRO just leaned a little too much on the phantasmagoric side of the fence for my liking. I definitely came away from it with the belief that Zaror was one nimble deity, but that was about it.

Oh and Zaror is indeed a howl as the villain in UNDISPUTED 3.
Reply
post #8 of 10
6/2/10 at 1:17pm
Watched Mirageman with my brother back when the DVD came out. Overall we enjoyed it more than Kiltro, which was super cheesy, and the fighting was decent considering the very low budget. Some of the humor worked, liked the sidekick, but the cock-tease reporter lady pissed me off.

Zaror seemed more bulked up in this movie than in U3. Loved his character (Dolor) in U3.
Reply
post #9 of 10
6/2/10 at 1:20pm
Thread Starter 
The sidekick was tremendous ("I have two motorcycles, perfect condition").

The humor in the film was the biggest surprise, especially considering that Zaror is dead serious through almost the whole film. But that sorta made it more funny.
Reply
post #10 of 10
6/25/10 at 1:09am
Really, really liked this one. It is in my top 3 favorite DTV recommendations (right up there with Blood and Bone and Universal Soldier: Regeneration). The movie is funny yes, but it also has a lot of heart and doesn't ever unfold quite like you expect it to. I can't call it perfect, but I refuse to nitpick this movie. I think I liked it as much or more than any of the super flicks of the past few years. I loved that you got to see everytime he had an awkward costume change. The movie is filled with moments where Mirageman is never quite as cool as he thinks he is (little stumbles here and there). The soundtrack was suprisingly decent too. Thanks for recommending this, I'm loaning it out to friends starting tomorrow.
Reply
New Posts  All Forums:Forum Nav:
  Return Home
  Back to Forum: Films in Release or On Video