The creator of the series dropped in and made some comments. Unfortunately, they were very conversational and thus can't really stay on the site. Entry replicated below:
In 2003, Merc Force was released to Netflix. Made on a budget of approximately $3000 by James Panetta of Ikuzo Studios in Philadelphia, the plot was hackneyed, the CG was simplistic, and the acting bordered on marginal at times. It's been rated among The Worst of Netflix, been rated as worse than Manos: Hands of Fate, and has an aggregate score of 1.2 on IMDB. Despite this, it continues to make respectable sales on Netflix and was successful enough to result in being reshot as television-length episodes as Mercs. Note from the producer: I saw Manos, and Merc Force at least entertains people.
The original film can be viewed for free online at EZTakes.
No relation to either the video game named Mercenaries or the video game sequel to Commando named MERCS.
This work exhibits the following tropes
Air Vent Escape: The maintenance ducts are used by Creed and Varisa to navigate the ship during the hijack attempt in Mercs. Just something to think about, wouldn't you want the vents on a start ship to be big enough so that you could access vita systems, and well, not die.
Badass Princess: Varisa is arguably more competent than the mercenaries she travels with. Previously the article stated that Sera was the princess in the original, that was incorrect. None of the characters were changed only the actors playing them. Back to Varisa. Yes she is more competent than the Captain. Later on she will develope further along those lines.
Classically-Trained Extra: A significant amount of the cast for Mercs was drawn from local Shakespeare companies. And I was glad to have them, and they enjoyed themselves greatly becuase all of them wanted to branch out to film.
Conspicuous CG: Less so in the remake, but still significant... Just to add, that is in relation to computer power. The animation could look more real, and then again it could take two weeks to render one clip. This is a common complaint, but to be honest it is a little dumb in 2011. The animation in the newer episodes is as good as any Sy Fy channel movie, with the added benifit of having an actual story.
Cut and Paste Environments: The corridors and rooms of the spaceship are parts of the director's apartment, stitched together with film cuts and dressed up with different scenery and lighting. Which is also done by al;most every other program.
Fight Scene Failure: Largely averted, as many of the actors also play martial artists in the Fighters High series from the same studio, but played horribly straight with most of the fights involving females in the series. This statement about the women is way off and insulting. The exterior fight scene was well done and many people in the martial arts community liked it.
Star Trek Shake: Almost as conspicuous as the CG. It is what it is. My question is, what does everyone think it would look like? This is just nit picking.
The creator of the series dropped in and made some comments. Unfortunately, they were very conversational and thus can't really stay on the site. Entry replicated below:
In 2003, Merc Force was released to Netflix. Made on a budget of approximately $3000 by James Panetta of Ikuzo Studios in Philadelphia, the plot was hackneyed, the CG was simplistic, and the acting bordered on marginal at times. It's been rated among The Worst of Netflix
The original film can be viewed for free online at EZTakes
.
No relation to either the video game named Mercenaries or the video game sequel to Commando named MERCS.
This work exhibits the following tropes