Ok, I have to admit. 405 is pretty cool. It is brief yet exciting to watch, with it's skillful visual effects. Well done, and kudos to it's makers. No question, it's damn fine work.
It just isn't original.
Does anyone remember a quirky film called 'Buckaroo Banzai'? Of course you do.
Well, after it was long since finished, some time ago in the late 1980's or early 90's an attempt was made to resurrect the property as a television series. A lot was poured into the pitch, including, interestingly enough, a pretty cool all CG visual effects sequence which served to show what kind of cool stuff we can
expect to see in the series on a weekly basis.
If I recall correctly, this work was done at Foundation Studios, a respectable VFX studio that has done a lot of great work on shows such as Star Trek TNG, among others.
Now, in this pitch video, we see the Banzai rocket truck, or whatever it was
called, racing across a vast stretch of flat scorched Earth- salt flats I think. It is reminiscent of a scene in the feature film, except we see that what is going on is quite different: the Space Shuttle is on a landing approach, and it's front wheel is damaged and obviously cannot make a safe landing- the Banzai truck then
races into position, becoming in a sense, the front landing wheel for the Space Shuttle, saving the Astronauts and the spaceship.
It was pretty cool, one has to admit. It was quite original as well, as I certainly cannot recall anything like it before.
At least that is, not until 405 came about several years later, made by a pair (really? just 2 guys?) who were (former foundation studios employees?) VFX
artists making an (original?) short film featuring a 747 making an emergency
landing on a freeway, while an unwitting commuter finds his SUV standing in for the front wheels.
Interesting.
Ok, I guess I've made my point. Anyone who finds this fascinating, or perhaps anyone who does not believe me might just want to check out the Buckaroo
Banzai DVD, which includes, along with many other nifty extras, a failed TV
pitch that showcases one very original action sequence, featuring a rocket truck and a Space Shuttle.
It makes me wonder if there was any special reason why that was included on
the DVD.
4 out of 5 found this helpful.
Was this review helpful? Sign in to vote.
Permalink
Tell Your Friends