Horst in Translation ([email protected]) "(T)Raumschiff Surprise - Periode 1" is the most successful movie in Germany from 2004 in terms of box office. It also won a Bambi, one of the highest decorations here. Behind the film, there is the team from the TV series "Bullyparade" again, including Michael Herbig, Christian Tramitz, Alfons Biedermann and Rick Kavanian. These also worked already on another mega-successful film from 3 years earlier, "Der Schuh des Manitu". This one played in the Wild West with Indians and Cowboys, while this new movie here plays in the endless width of space. Or well... actually it doesn't. One of the film's central points is a time machine. So the film plays in the wild west again, in the Middle Ages with knights, in the future with modern spaceships that look like male genitalia, in the now etc.Other actors include Til Schweiger, who plays a funnier version of his usual very masculine characters, Anja Kling as the love interest to Schweiger and Sky du Mont as the villain again like in the last movie. There is some more with very little screen time like Christoph Maria Herbst (lead actor in Germany's version of "The Office"), but he is hilarious in his scenes as always. And I have to say that Kavanian as a third crew member is entirely forgettable I thought. Tramitz and Herbig are enough and Kavanian was also more interesting as the Nazi villain. The humor in this film works very well occasionally, isn't too funny at times and is sometimes downright cringeworthy. One scene I liked was when the politicians said the protagonists won't be stupid enough to beam them up and then the camera shows how they do exactly that. Anja Kling did not work well for me either. I don't know if she is simply not a great comedic actress or if it was just this movie, maybe a mix of both.So yeah, sometimes the humor in this film is a bit over the top, but for the most part especially Tramitz does a very good job. Apart from that you will find spectacular costumes, many wordplay jokes about intercourse from behind (as the main characters are a lot on the gay side) and even more Star Wars (and a handful Star Trek) references. The film runs for only 75 minutes (without the closing credits) and you could maybe say that there was almost too action in there to fit into such a short duration. I don't think this is a great film to watch if you are getting new into German cinema. I would suggest maybe something really dramatic instead of a comedy, possibly with historic background. However, "(T)Raumschiff Surprise - Periode 1" is not a bad film at all and despite certain weaknesses I recommend it. The title suggests that there may be a sequel, but despite the huge commercial success it has not happened (yet) ten years later.

SerpentMage I watch plenty of movies. But I just can't get over Bullies movies. He has this sick sort of 70's slapstick comedy that has been played over and over again.Typically humour is best done by Anglo's. Though the French like "chits" are not bad. I talked to my wife about this and she said the difference is that the French make fun of each other. They don't pick on one without the other. In other words EVERYBODY gets a poke...Bully and his humour is not like that. It is insulting humour, and it treads thin because it is too focused without spreading it around.I speak English, French and German and have listened to the films in original language and try as hard as I might I can't deal with it.This is not to say some Germans can't be funny. There are some extremely funny comedians, just Bully is not one of them.

marc242 Ah,its Michael Herbig (I refuse to call him "Bully") and his retarded gay jokes again. I must confess, the initial idea of portraying the Trek-Crew as queers from Munich (the accent and frequent use of prosecco) was charming,but after the TV-show ended,it became quickly stale and redundant. The whole story is about evil human martian settlers,who come back to earth as some sorta Star Wars-inspired Empire,and quickly occupy the planet. The High Council decides it has to track down (for some inexplicable reason) the crew of the Surprise, a cock-and-balls shaped spaceship, for a mission back in time to prevent the accelerated technological advance of humanity by a crashed spaceship (with drunken alien included). How that keeps Mars from being colonized,will stay a secret only Michael Herbig has an answer to.So far,so bad. What follows, is an endless string of afromentioned gay "jokes", that means effeminate behavior by Herbig himself as the "vulcanette" (??) Mr. Spuck and the other two gays..err...guys, Rick Cavanian and Christian Tramitz. Tramitz actually succeeds in doing a accurate parody of William Shatner.IF Shatner was gay,of course. Since I've been following the TV-exploits of these guys for a while, I must say they've become really fat over the years. Try to find some skits on youtube.com and compare them with this. As Germans would say: "Eine stattliche Plauze". (Nice bloated Belly)Normally I don't care for outer appearances that much,but it was very weird to see them like that. You didn't have to emulate Shatner and the crew that closely,Michael. Maybe its method acting, I dunno. Another thing I noticed,is the fact,that the Bloopers Section of the DVD is much more entertaining than the actual film. Its kinda sad,that the real humor shines through only in these flubbed takes.Why oh why did they include the atrocious "actor" Till Schweiger? He has no function in the movie besides looking cool and doing his Bruce Willis/Harrison Ford impersonation. Really bad and terrible delivery of dialogue. Did he ever had acting lessons? No progression in all those years since "Manta,Manta". If you need more proof,just watch Renny Harlins "Driven",an atrocity in itself. Seriously, they should have called Van Damme. Much better choice.I can't recommend the movie,since there are so many logic errors, unfunny lines, bad Trek/Star Wars-Parodies and recycling of the previous "Schuh des Manitou". Yes, Sky Dumont,I'm looking at you. Basically its a disjointed mess of a movie,just like the first. Unfortunately, this has become the most successful German movie of all time. *sigh* Avoid at all costs!I'm out.

AnimationPhoenix I am an American, but speak German fluently due to my mother being from Germany. I recently saw the film with family friends while in Germany for Christmas. I can't tell you how hard I was laughing the whole time I watched the film. I think the film was very well put together. The dialog is funny, the little hints here and there about Der Shuh Des Manitu was also very witty.I can see why Herr Herbig laughs at night in his sleep from all the gags. I have to say though, the best part of the whole film has to be the sound track. I throughly enjoyed the music from the film. Especially the Miss Waikiki song...that just plan cracked me up.All in all I give this movie a 10 out of 10 for wittiness, music, fantastic special effects, good plot and well thought out story, and for being something different from American films. Yes. It was very Mel Brooksish, though, and very very funny! I'd say it's a must have for all comedy lovers (I bought my copy already!)