Blade, Jester, Tunneler, Pinhead, Six Shooter, and Leech Woman are back! Okay, maybe that doesn't really warrant an exclamation mark, but this is the tentpole franchise of Full Moon Features, now reaching ten films in all (eleven if you count "Puppet Master vs. Demonic Toys"). Writer/director/producer Charles Band is also back, but I was kind of disappointed by this sequel. Our WWII era heroes from the previous films, Danny and Beth, are back as well, though played by new actors, and find a post-WWII Nazi plot to create an army of their own evil puppets to do their bidding, using a Re-Animatior like green serum extracted from our puppet protagonists. Not that any of the films in this franchise are exactly brilliant, but this one felt too jokey. I did like it when the franchise introduced the Nazi storyline and had our homicidal puppet heroes fighting the Axis Powers, but this entry was just silly and also continued the unfortunate recent trend of Full Moon Features including casual racism, seen in this film with in addition of an evil Japanese puppet named Kamikaze. However, I do still enjoy watching little things fighting big things (i.e. "Attack of the Puppet People" "Dollman" "Child's Play" etc.) when it's not CGI, so even though this entry wasn't all that good, it did still entertain.

All I can say is that I was blown away by how bad Axis Rising is and I am realistic knowing what Full Moon filmmaking is all about. Not even the puppets or the new evil puppets could save this film from its terrible awful premise. The acting especially the new Danny and Beth were just plain unwatchable. The story of the new Nazi's and their doctor was outlandish and complete rubbish. For the hot German not even to take her clothes off was an opportunity missed by the writers and director. The acting was atrocious from start, middle and end and even the dialogue is cheesier than normal. I had a couple laughs and enjoyed some puppet action from of course Blade and Six Shooter otherwise nothing in this film was at all enjoyable or interesting. Avoid watching unless you are a fan or the series it should be viewed for free online.

Puppet Master X Axis Rising is the latest addition to Full Moon's Puppet Master (PM) franchise. If you like the indie horror series about magically animated puppets with a penchant for bloodshed, you won't be disappointed. Frankly, I don't understand one-star reviews for a movie like this. Axis Rising has a built-in "bad movie" factor, but it's fun-bad in my view. The Nazis play up nefariousness for all its worth, and Brad Potts is hilarious as Sergeant Rock knockoff Sergeant Stone. Paul Arnold cuts a George C. Scott-like figure in his brief appearance as General Porter. And Stephanie Sanditz, who plays Nazi villainess Uschi, gives a deliriously sexual, power-hungry performance with a presence as eye-popping as any hentai girl the demographic for this type of movie could imagine. What else could the straight-to-video horror junkie want? It might have run longer (a common flaw with Full Moon films), but writer Shane Bitterling does a nice job balancing the storyline with his obligation to showcase a slew of creepy puppets. Kenneth Branagh acting? Peter Jackson effects? Polanski atmosphere? Come on! Not to beat the dead horse of believability, but anyone who saw the last PM knows this WWII is not set in our universe (in writer August White's version the U.S. jumps into the fray in 1939). Relax, it's okay if some of the accents and period slang miss the mark. Enjoy the movie for what it's supposed to offer: grue, cleavage, and puppets.

Puppet Master movies are serious -Nobody ever.If you are expecting this to be gritty or suspenseful, this is not your movie. Since the second one (and there are MANY Puppet Master movies) they just are not meant to be taken seriously. They are campy, over-sexualized and goofy. And that is exactly why you watch them. Nazis with bad accents? Check. Gratuitous boobage? Check. Puppets that kill? Check check check.This movie is what it is, a good movie to laugh at with your friends. It's made by the same folks who made Demon Toys and who have their own Roadhouse line. That should tell you what type of movie you're in for. It's worth the rental.