Return
To Nuke 'Em High - Volume 1 (2013/Troma/Starz
Blu-ray)
Picture:
B Sound: B Extras: C Film: C+
Hello
Troma fans! Welcome back to Tromaville! Unfortunately, much has
changed since our last visit to Lloyd Kaufman's Class
of Nuke 'Em High.
Once an inspiringly bad (but o' so good) B-Movie series, this third
sequel to the original 1986 Class
of Nuke 'Em High
is just bad; as it poorly attempts to be the gonzo films that came
before it.
The
poor impersonation of Class
of Nuke 'Em High,
known as Return
to Nuke 'Em High: Volume One
creates a loose narrative while fulfilling the obligatory elements
every Nuke
'Em
/Troma
film should have. As a long time Troma fan the faithfulness to the
craft
I appreciate, but something is missing. Sure there is the over the
top (though cheap CGI this time) gore, sexy girls, and self-awareness
but on some level it feels artificial and not a true Troma effort.
The plot
of Return
to Nuke 'Em High has
a pair of lesbian high school students Lauren and Chrissy fall in
love; even though they come from very different walks of life. A
love that was almost not meant to be is heightened by a narrative
that has their high school ominously positioned next to a former
nuclear power plant that has transformed into a health food plant
known as Tromorganic Foodstuffs. As the sexy teens
grapple with love, they and their classmates are slowly transforming
into mutants; due to their transvestite principal being in cahoots
with the food plant that serves the kids nuclear foods. This gives
the film plenty of opportunity to ramp up the camp (and gore).
The
film is more like an homage to Lloyd Kaufman and Troma films than a
solid new installment; which is odd since Lloyd is back in the
directing chair. Self-centered is something Lloyd boasts of proudly;
so you can't blame him. Troma fans will get a kick out of the many
other Troma references scattered throughout this film like Citizen
Toxie, Tromeo and Juliet, and
Poultrygeist.
I
by no means hated the film as I could never hate a Troma film, no
matter how bad; but I just wish it was more like a 1980s Troma film.
Drop the CGI Kaufman, you're better without it.
The
technical features are great by Troma standards; Lloyd Kaufman
finally surrendering to digital cameras, rather than his mainstay of
35mm. The 1.85 X 1, 1080p image is probably the best looking Troma
film to date with nice colors, contrast, and black levels; though
remains a mixed bag and far from perfect. The quality jumps around
with elements of blurriness, distracting grit, and off color
palettes; but this is common place for a Troma feature. Again being
the best Troma Blu-ray to date. The sound is a weaker. lossy Dolby
Digital 2.0 Stereo that gets the job done, but comes heavily from the
front and makes us all wonder why this was not a lossless track. It
is a balanced presentation without much distortion; just don't expect
anything that would knock your socks (or head) off.
Troma
(if nothing else) continually caters to the fans. Here they offer a
number of extra features; but I was not wholly impressed. The audio
commentaries are the best part as they are both informative and fun.
Extras include:
Actor's
Commentary Track
Filmmakers
Commentary Track
Special
(Ed) Effects
Cell-U-Lloyd:
40 Years of Tromatizing the World
Architects
of Fear Edison
Device
Music Video
Return
to Nuke 'Em High: Volume Two
Teaser Trailer
Casting
Conundrum
Pre-ProductioN
hell with Mein-Kauf (Man)
Troma
fans don't miss out on this one.
-
Michael P. Dougherty II
