One thing I was pretty strongly criticized for after starting this website was my review of Troma's War. I had seen it through the Media Home Video unrated cut about the time I first became a Troma fan. This was back when I loved Troma movies for the fact that they were fun b-movies and never really caught the politcal message behind them. The fact that I began to realize that I probably missed something on my initial Troma's War viewing. I had been wanting to head back to that video store and pick up the film again, to see if I truly did miss something. Then I found out that the Media unrated cut isn't the full uncut version of the film. The same week I found that out, I ordered the Director's Cut DVD and found myself amazed at what I had missed.
The film follows the survivors of a tragic plane crash on a small uninhabited island. However, they soon learn the island is actually filled with sick terrorists. After several of the survivors are killed and tortured, they take a stand against the terrorists and soon learn of their evil plans to spread the AIDS virus across America.
Troma's War is Troma's most ambitious film to date, hands down. The effects are top notch, the cast is great, and the photography by veteran Troma DP James London is rich and full of color. There's a good amount of character development, which many would not expect from a Troma production. The score of the film is actually quite good, but the original music is the usual cheesy 80s synth (though definately a bit catchy). But what stands out about the film the most is the special effects and the film's political message. Troma's War was shot on a budget of one-million dollars and it shows. Troma was able to afford some amazing explosions, squibs (rumored to have the most squibs next to The Wild Bunch and the films of John Woo), and better makeup. One effects scene that stands out the most is the scene where Rick Washburn's character dies.
As with most Troma movies, Troma's War's plot has an underlying political message. At one point, the main character discovers documents that prove right-wing American politicians are in cahoots with the terrorists to gain wealth from the chaos they will surely create. This scene is truly frightening for anyone who's done their reading on various current issues involving 9/11 and the other atrociosities that have been linked to the George W. Bush administration, because Troma has practically predicted the future.
After all this raving, you're probably asking yourself "Why did you ever give this film a bad review in the first place?" Well, I spent a good while asking myself the same question and the conclusion I've come to is that I wasn't familiar enough with the Troma political statements and was just wanting another film like The Toxic Avenger. I didn't catch the message that was delivered because I didn't understand the Reagan administration enough to be able to comprehend it. I sat thinking Troma had let me down by creating a dumb action movie (I'm not a huge fan of the action film genre). Since then, I've come to love the in-house productions for their social commentary and Troma's War is the best example of the commentary Troma provides. Now that I can listen to the commentary the film presents, I've discovered Troma didn't give me a dull, dumb action movie, but actually a very smart film.
Though I originally hated the film, I now have realized what the hype about Troma's War is: it truly is a Tromatic masterpiece. It's the perfect answer to the right-wing films like Rambo and the Reagan administration, but it's just as effective at the here in the beginning of 2004, right at the end of Bush Jr.'s first term.
Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
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