Zeiram aka Iria...
Sometime ago, when VCRs still stalked the Earth, I saw a preview for the live-action Zeiram movie...
Zeiram, the most dangerous life form in the galaxy, is virtually unstoppable -- perhaps even invulnerable. Iria, a bounty hunter, is hot on its tail. There are three parts in the animated version and there's also two live-action movies. The events in the animation occur before the events in the live action movies. Although the animated version is very entertaining, the live-action version is actually, in my humble opinion, better than the animated version. I used to have the dubbed VHS version of the first movie. I repurchased the first movie on DVD and I have the DVD version of the second movie. I also used to have the subtitled VHS version of the anime. I gave Zeiram a 4 out of 5.
Zeiram 1
Live Action
What's Zeiram? Zeiram is a giant renegade space alien who is lured to Earth for capture by beings from the planet Mays. What do you need to catch Zeiram? The standard issue warp machine, space bazooka, electric shield, and a computer named Bob. A breakthrough in futuristic space adventure, ZEIRAM is fresh and intensely visual sci-fi about a single night's battle between a female bounty hunter and a monstrous space alien. Fueled by action, drama, and comedy, ZEIRAM is a movie that rockets you into the next dimension!
Zeiram 2
Finishing up an important case, the beautiful bounty hunter Iria returns to Earth. Along with her computer, Bob, and her assistant, Fujicrow, she is also assigned an android trainee. Unfortunately, the research team charged with building the android decided to implant the android with the most cunning combat lifeform in the universe, a vicious Zeiram unit! When the android is damaged during combat, it begins using the machine's wide variety of weapon systems to terrorize Iria and her old human friends, Teppei and Kamiya. All three of them are trapped in a dimensional Zone by the monster, and if anyone is going to get out alive, Iria will have to beat the monster one on one!
Volume 1
Anime
Somewhere in deep space the starship Karma has been hijacked with the vice-president of the Tedan Tippedai Corporation and a mysterious cargo aboard. Iria, an apprentice bounty hunter, accompanies her brother, Gren, and his boss, Bob, on a rescue mission before the authorities arrive. The extraction turns deadly when it is revealed that the cargo is Zeiram. The Tedan Tippedai Corporation secretly attempted to import the monster to be developed into a powerful, new bio-weapon. Escaping from the exploding starship, Iria lands on the planet Taowajan the fate of Gren and Bob still uncertain - and must find her way home. However, Zeiram was not destroyed in the explosion, and crashes into the city's slums - where he begins a program of "urban renewal". As the authorities turn a blind eye, only Iria, and her streetwise sidekick, Kei, can halt his rampage. But who is the mysterious voice over Iria's communicator?
Volume 2
Returning from Taowajan, Iria finds her apartment's been ransacked and one of her brother's most powerful weapons is missing. After placing a call, she discovers that her boss supposedly died in a car crash and there's no record of the incident aboard the Karma! Ina's in the middle of a major conspiracy - and someone's out to silence her before she can discover the truth. Iria is on the run - but she's not alone. She's rescued by another bounty hunter with orders from a mysterious client to keep her alive at all costs. All she knows is that she holds the key to exposing the conspiracy within the Tedan Tippedai Corporation - and their link to Zeiram. When she decides to confront the corporation, will she be beyond the reach of her mysterious benefactor? Later, Ina returns to Taowajan - as a full-fledged, licensed bounty hunter. Her mission: retrieve Dr. Touka, the foremost expert on Zeiram, who was taken hostage during a revolt. Things get complicated when Iria discovers that something's killed the previous rescue teams and the terrorists - and it looks like Zeiram.
Volume 3
All hell's broken loose on the planet Myce. Zeiram's bizarre clones have appeared and citizens are disappearing without a trace. Is there a connection? In a top-secret conference with the leaders of Myce, Dr. Touka concludes that Zeiram is still alive and may be assimilating the organic tissue of his victims to create his army of monsters. The authorities dismiss the doctor's theory - but the clones are spreading. But if the doctor is correct, how could Zeiram be using the sophisticated transit gates so easily? Meanwhile, Zeiram waits for Iria. When Iria confronts Zeiram, she discovers the awful truth behind her brother's disappearance - and her connection to the monster. In the explosive finale to the series, it's all-out war as Iria faces Zeiram predator against predator - in their final battle. But is Zeiram truly invincible? Iria has a dangerous plan to discover Zeiram's Achilles' Heel - if he has one - and she's going to need Dr. Touka, Kei and Bob to pull it off. But even if Iria does the impossible and destroys Zeiram, will she be able to escape the ultimate trap the authorities have set?
Zeiram, the most dangerous life form in the galaxy, is virtually unstoppable -- perhaps even invulnerable. Iria, a bounty hunter, is hot on its tail. There are three parts in the animated version and there's also two live-action movies. The events in the animation occur before the events in the live action movies. Although the animated version is very entertaining, the live-action version is actually, in my humble opinion, better than the animated version. I used to have the dubbed VHS version of the first movie. I repurchased the first movie on DVD and I have the DVD version of the second movie. I also used to have the subtitled VHS version of the anime. I gave Zeiram a 4 out of 5.
