tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24870533476069692732024-03-13T11:15:25.171-04:00assorted loafmovie and toy reviews, rants, and random stuff i find. assorted crap all smashed together into a loaf formpickleloafhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17324003492174244588noreply@blogger.comBlogger290125truetag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2487053347606969273.post-62185257533920470552011-05-30T23:11:00.001-04:002011-05-30T23:25:56.875-04:00It's Malibu McBee time!So June marks the official start of summer or some shit, and with that comes all that cool shit that I like to do in the summer... like stay indoors out of the shitty sun and shitty heat and watch shit on TV.<br />
<br />
Nowadays I spread the wealth around a vast array of films that I have collected in a vast array of ways. (cough)... But there was a time that summer TV watching meant lots of late night Time Life infomercials, Ricki Lake, and of course American Gladiators reruns.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2099/5779345258_fd64dc1486_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="224" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2099/5779345258_fd64dc1486_o.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><i>Lots </i>of American Gladiators reruns.<br />
<br />
I'm not sure what it was about that show... maybe that it was just easy to ignore while I was pining away for some chick that was ignoring me, but it was a regular, and still makes me think about summer vacation.<br />
<br />
Lame, depressing, summer vacation.<br />
<br />
Well, all of this babbling is just a roundabout way to 1) make it seem like I am writing more than I actually am, and 2) introduce a new little series of films for me to review (or probably not review if my track record holds true) starring (or at least featuring) a particularly massive-maned man I once knew as Malibu.<br />
<br />
Mr. <a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0564247/">Deron McBee</a>!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2114/5779380070_85b5504bf7_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2114/5779380070_85b5504bf7_o.jpg" width="500" /></a></div><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2717/5778870267_9ee1fa5980_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2717/5778870267_9ee1fa5980_o.jpg" width="290" /></a></div>Now I can combine my summer TV laziness with my current viewing habits and share my feelings on some Deron McBee movies with you, my loyal handful of subscribers!! Thanks to <a href="http://www.ggtmc.com/">The Gentlemen's Guide to Midnite Cinema</a>, I realized that Malibu just wasn't a dude that was really good at shooting tennis balls at people and bludgeoning with oversize q-tips, but an actor in quite a few movies... even starred in a couple... and most just seem right up my alley. I'll be discovering literally ALL of this as I go along.<br />
<br />
I can't guarantee all will be starring roles, but if Malibu is entertaining, it's gonna get talked about, bitches.<br />
<br />
Maybe the tough tits will be enough for me to actually post more than three times in a month and get my subscribers to a more respectible level like 70 or 71!<br />
<br />
A man can dream.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3335/5779375262_64c11e8d88_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3335/5779375262_64c11e8d88_o.jpg" /></a></div>pickleloafhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17324003492174244588noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2487053347606969273.post-50231627596741099692011-05-15T11:28:00.000-04:002011-05-15T11:28:21.496-04:00VHS Finds V<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2235/5720498045_0520973671_b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2235/5720498045_0520973671_b.jpg" width="450" /></a></div><br />
In the spirit of blogging laziness, I present to you another VHS tape that I still cannot watch because my VCR lives in the attic. Certain readers will get a kick out of this. Others will not even know what the fuck it is.<br />
<br />
<b><a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0086135/">RAIDERS OF ATLANTIS</a></b>, or I Predatori di Atlantide, is a humorously bad/awesome post-apoc flick where you get to see this guy:<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitOsR3etyHSDvSsZ_khvEUBRV4awTD9ur_zy8x4rZmeHarATKlmVigmwqdaAAZiwtdahluUdJkiA6gIPwEf2y996Q4sPi1cCc7uW4jWTyzrp1fl-E_qy26oOIfbGN9ruRTxAh1yxS_IsKC/s400/Capture-0.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitOsR3etyHSDvSsZ_khvEUBRV4awTD9ur_zy8x4rZmeHarATKlmVigmwqdaAAZiwtdahluUdJkiA6gIPwEf2y996Q4sPi1cCc7uW4jWTyzrp1fl-E_qy26oOIfbGN9ruRTxAh1yxS_IsKC/s320/Capture-0.bmp" width="320" /></a></div><br />
This film is on one of the Mill Creek 50-packs, but I can't remember which one at the moment and I can't be bothered to look.pickleloafhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17324003492174244588noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2487053347606969273.post-24868604559188118592011-03-13T23:41:00.000-04:002011-03-13T23:41:18.981-04:00VHS Finds IV<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5172/5518199552_1cba097de1_b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5172/5518199552_1cba097de1_b.jpg" width="550" /></a></div><br />
<b><a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0091055/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">Firewalker</span></a></b><br />
<br />
I typically don't buy VHS copies of films that have been released on DVD, but this cover just caught me at the right time. Plus, it's some shit I'd never drop coin for on DVD.<br />
<br />
Wasting some time at a used bookstore the other day before work, I first saw the Cannon Pictures logo, then the MEDIA logo as I turn to the front.<br />
<br />
Add in <a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001569/">Mr. Norris</a> and <a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001283/">Mr. Gossett</a>, and I'm sold. I'm sure it's a total ripoff of Indiana Jones, but I thought more of the old <a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0926183/">Stuart Whitman</a> film <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0090200/">Treasure of the Amazon</a> that <a href="http://pickleloaf.blogspot.com/2009/10/treasure-of-amazon.html">I reviewed here</a> back in October 2009. Should be fun even if lame.<br />
<br />
I really should hook up my VCR soon.<br />
<br />
Little fun things like that in my personal life have become about as rare as my blog posts.pickleloafhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17324003492174244588noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2487053347606969273.post-6438963310357791462011-03-03T15:32:00.000-05:002011-03-03T15:32:38.414-05:00CHINESE HERCULES<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5019/5482366109_9bc0e9fdc0_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5019/5482366109_9bc0e9fdc0_o.jpg" width="422" /></a></div><br />
<hr /><b>Original Title</b>: Ma tou da jue dou<br />
<b>Year</b>: 1973<br />
<b>Director</b>: <a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0846981/">Ta Huang</a><br />
<b>Writer</b>: <a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0393250/">Kuang Ni</a><br />
<b>IMDb</b>: <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0137427/">http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0137427/</a><br />
<b>Genre</b>: Martial Arts<br />
<hr /><br />
<i>Synopsis:<br />
A martial arts fighter, haunted by his past, takes a job as a dock worker in a small village. His vow never to fight again is tested by the cruel owner of the pier.<br />
</i><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5019/5482427105_f6bc82c29a_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5019/5482427105_f6bc82c29a_o.jpg" width="211" /></a></div>I wasn't actually sure what to expect going into this film. Just going on the poster alone, I thought I was in for a Bolo as a bully or even a comedy. What I found was, despite Bolo being top billed, he was not in a large chunk of the film and it was a relatively serious story about common men fighting back against some oppressive, rich bastards.<br />
<br />
(No real reason to post the Spanish/Mexican version of the poster here except that I think it's pretty sweet.)<br />
<br />
Bolo Yeung is not the star of this film, but when he makes his appearance, it's quite an impact, as only a guy of his size and demeanor can. They really play off his massive strength and make him pretty fucking scary. That's the Bolo I remember from Bloodsport! (Plus a few more lines of dialogue...) The volume is turned up to motherfuckin' 11 when he's breaking furniture and logs and necks... my tv speaker was about to burst.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5293/5495247118_d75cabce22_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="137" src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5293/5495247118_d75cabce22_o.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Maybe I was just in a particularly chipper mood from lots of coffee and tea for breakfast as I finally made it through this film with jittery hands and brain, but I had a lot of fun. The first half plodded on at times, but there is a pivotal scene with an old man fight that turned the corner for me.<br />
<br />
As with big men in professional wrestling, Bolo was given a role here that works for a dude quite a bit larger than the others around him. While it was interesting to see him in a near comedic role in Fists of Justice, being the unstoppable monster. The fact that he can bust out the relatively quick kung fu makes it all the more badass.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5057/5494655287_2f0d932115_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5057/5494655287_2f0d932115_o.jpg" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Look at this suave motherfucker.</i></div><br />
<a href="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5300/5495247084_4f88b235b9_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="171" src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5300/5495247084_4f88b235b9_o.jpg" width="400" /></a>While the acting overall isn't phenomenal, and some of the faces made especially in fighting seem very ridiculous, I appreciated the emotion brought to the story here by all actors involved... Bolo included. The main character is tormented by a past mistake and is torn on protecting those around him from oppression. The dock workers are visually frustrated by their situation. The dock owner is an arrogant, cocky asshole. Even Bolo gets in on the fun with being cocky on one hand and frustrated with wanting to do things on his own as opposed to just being simply hired muscle.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5016/5494655327_892749bd66_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="136" src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5016/5494655327_892749bd66_o.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Don't get me wrong, I'm not championing subtle acting nuances or anything like that... but having a group of actors actually seem excited to film a story adds to the overall effect for me in a postive way. I could get into the film a lot more than if everyone was just stoic. It's possible the decent English dub on this copy helped matters as well.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5177/5495247080_72c3af407b_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="137" src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5177/5495247080_72c3af407b_o.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>There are some cool/up-close angles at time, but for the most part the film is standard faire for a martial arts film. Ta Huang, who only directed two films both around the same time, did a serviceable job... especially for a first film. It's only about an hour and a half long, but I ultimately feel it is a bit too long... probably because of the first half that takes quite awhile to set things up.<br />
<br />
I was all set to come on here and have some laughs and write about some silliness cheese in the film, but Chinese Hercules just isn't that film. It's not gonna blow you away, but get a little amped up on caffeine and it may just hit you in the right spot. Solid and different than expected.<br />
<br />
Score: <b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">6.75</span></b> / 10<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5258/5494655355_eb2590b190_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5258/5494655355_eb2590b190_o.jpg" /></a></div>pickleloafhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17324003492174244588noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2487053347606969273.post-52708935012416233522011-02-28T23:44:00.001-05:002011-02-28T23:45:30.892-05:00Filling gaps - Bolo will returnWorking a lot these past couple days... and really want to watch a Barry Prima/Chris Mitchum film tonight before bed, but I haven't forgotten about all you Bolo lovers!<br />
<br />
While I am working (and not working) on a review for Chinese Hercules, here is a tribute video from YouTube with some pretty terrible music.<br />
<br />
Can I say though, I am pretty fucking pumped to watch him in TC2000 with Billy Blanks<br />
<br />
<br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="390" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/1hID_e8JWRE" title="YouTube video player" width="480"></iframe>pickleloafhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17324003492174244588noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2487053347606969273.post-70780053363696204472011-02-26T16:10:00.002-05:002011-02-26T16:10:00.410-05:00I need this on a t-shirt.... nowSaw this from deviantART user ~vshen (<a href="http://vshen.deviantart.com/">http://vshen.deviantart.com/</a>) while googling for Bolo Yeung photos. I would love to have it on a shirt<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBa549hQkYeaYbt8M_oZ54h5qxNAmpCuRq2UXjN0D7Xzm1AFWp-J55UpNJkbSJGfg6w4sUrxCPAJOFYsicDovUEHrxHGmchoJQInEX2gItu204taP3V1Xqcw02zNePVXT84lSSC3erqbk/s1600/Bolo_Yeung_by_vshen+%25281%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBa549hQkYeaYbt8M_oZ54h5qxNAmpCuRq2UXjN0D7Xzm1AFWp-J55UpNJkbSJGfg6w4sUrxCPAJOFYsicDovUEHrxHGmchoJQInEX2gItu204taP3V1Xqcw02zNePVXT84lSSC3erqbk/s640/Bolo_Yeung_by_vshen+%25281%2529.jpg" width="610" /></a></div>pickleloafhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17324003492174244588noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2487053347606969273.post-31015555146096596222011-02-26T00:00:00.000-05:002011-02-26T00:00:58.186-05:00BOLO - FISTS OF JUSTICE<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5134/5477374361_3a0eb276cb_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5134/5477374361_3a0eb276cb_o.jpg" width="514" /></a></div><br />
<hr /><b>Original Title</b>: Bai ma hei qi<br />
<b>Year</b>: 1977<br />
<b>Director</b>: <a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001866/">Yang Sze (Bolo Yeung)</a><br />
<b>Writer</b>: ?<br />
<b>IMDb</b>: <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0164441/">http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0164441/</a><br />
<b>Genre</b>: Martial Arts / Comedy<br />
<hr /><br />
<i>Synopsis:<br />
Two convicts get freed from prison and become lawmen in a corrupt village.<br />
</i><br />
<br />
I realize that a film such as this isn't going to be the best representation of the body of work Bolo Yeung has put out over the years, but I thought it might be kind of cool to start out with a rare and silly film that he not only choreographed and starred in... but FUCKING DIRECTED.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5056/5478214120_57264f0dd7_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5056/5478214120_57264f0dd7_o.jpg" width="370" /></a></div>Hell yeah!<br />
<br />
Well, not really. <br />
<br />
But it's at the very least an intriguing (at least for me, but I've been known as an idiot in certain circles) look into this seemingly quiet, toughman's creativity (?) and maybe even personality.<br />
<br />
For those of you that may have issues with overly corny, Hong Kong slapstick comedy in your martial arts film, this film will probably not be for you.<br />
<br />
I am definitely one of those people. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5016/5478214134_3120a40fd3_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="171" src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5016/5478214134_3120a40fd3_o.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>What I found watching this was a test of patience. It's really not very good. The editing and writing makes the story almost incomprehensible, and that comedy with food slapped in faces, eyes crossing, etc. just gets to be too much at times. The acting on top of the comedy is also very broad (not helped at all by a god-awful english dub on this copy), but that is one of the things for me that is both good and bad here.<br />
<br />
It's bad for everyone <i>except </i>Bolo.<br />
<br />
Bear with me here.<br />
<br />
Bolo Yeung for me is a classic badass villain.... but oddly I really have only ever known him from one single movie... <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0092675/">Bloodsport</a>. Sure he was in <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0070034/">Enter the Dragon</a>, the film that helped him don the Bolo name, but we all know that's really the Bruce Lee show. He was a rather nasty baddie in another <a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000241/">JCVD</a> film <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0101764/">Double Impact</a>, but I only saw that for the first time when I reviewed it <a href="http://pickleloaf.blogspot.com/2010/03/double-impact.html">here on my blog</a> last year. Other than that, my entire image of him has really been from Bloodsport... the uber-serious, cocky monster that obliterates Ogre from Revenge of the Nerds. <i>SPOILER ALERT~~!</i><br />
<br />
<a href="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5178/5478214106_7939e11ea7_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5178/5478214106_7939e11ea7_o.jpg" width="400" /></a>So seeing him in this role was certainly a cool change of pace for me. He acts silly. He is amazingly agile for a dude his size. He has a ridiculous fucking beard and hairdo.<br />
<br />
The film may suck ass, but seeing Bolo have fun like this was really cool for me.<br />
<br />
Part of the reason I am writing about a few Bolo flicks is to honestly just see more of his catalog. I'm not sure I've ever been a fan of an actor when I've seen as little as I actually have. The other reason is I just finally needed to break my streak and start writing shit again, and what better way to do so than with the Beast from the East... MISTER Tough Tits himself????<br />
<br />
You don't have to answer that.<br />
<br />
As I said, the plot is a total mess here. Truthfully I got completely lost about halfway through and only halfway paid attention to half of what was going on. Something about Bolo being a sheriff and there's some dude that used to be sheriff that is pissed and Bolo loves this super tall skinny lady and there's some shit about gold in there. Dammit I don't know.<br />
<br />
And what the fuck is this?<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5055/5477648649_2e2cdfd37b_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="342" src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5055/5477648649_2e2cdfd37b_o.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5294/5478214152_ceab2d659d_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="171" src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5294/5478214152_ceab2d659d_o.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Pretty much, I just looked up when the fighting would start, which thankfully was often, but it's all not enough to save the film overall. There's some decent stuff going on from time to time action-wise; some creative fight scenes that didn't completely rely on comedy which is always good for me. The co-star alongside Bolo, and I apologize for having no clue what his name is, was a talented martial artist himself, doing some sweet things with props in his scenes.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5176/5478214162_5541db941a_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="171" src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5176/5478214162_5541db941a_o.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>(Keep an eye out for a can fight and a fuckin' <i>human being as weapon</i> fight!)<br />
<br />
Plus, it's cool for me seeing Bolo in a full on martial arts role, and not just the immovable monster. Reference is made to his size a few times, but otherwise he is treated as any other fighter in the film. Maybe this has something to do with his actually directing and choreographing it, but who knows?<br />
<br />
Spellcheck has informed me that I've now spelled choreograph wrong twice... a different way each time.<br />
<br />
Make that three times.<br />
<br />
Where was I?<br />
<br />
Oh yeah, tits.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5011/5477615867_be4a4e1193_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="342" src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5011/5477615867_be4a4e1193_o.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
Wait, tits?<br />
<br />
Oops, I meant TITS<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5135/5478214078_b7362e1553_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="342" src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5135/5478214078_b7362e1553_o.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
BAAAAAM!<br />
<br />
For fans of kung fu films, there is, well, not a lot here. For fans of martial arts... there's not a ton, but some entertaining stuff nonetheless. I think Fists of Justice is worth checking out to see the softer, sexier side of the man we all know as Bolo, but for casual passers-by, you aren't missing much by skipping this.<br />
<br />
Will this be the beginning of my path to becoming a Bolo apologist?<br />
<br />
And Jesus Christ how many times can I say Bolo in the next couple weeks much less this one blog post?<br />
<br />
Talent... some people are just born with it.<br />
<br />
Bolo Bolo Bolo Bolo Bolo<br />
<br />
Score: <b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">3.75</span></b> / 10<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5098/5477648637_50614f2951_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="342" src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5098/5477648637_50614f2951_o.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>pickleloafhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17324003492174244588noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2487053347606969273.post-66206226700846196942011-02-25T20:44:00.003-05:002011-02-25T22:48:02.971-05:00Enough bullshit... it's time for BoloWhy can't I just sit my ass down and write something?<br />
<br />
Bolo... let's bring it back.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5220/5477552581_dc951509ee_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5220/5477552581_dc951509ee_o.jpg" width="600" /></a></div>pickleloafhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17324003492174244588noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2487053347606969273.post-69257696140598639382010-11-06T13:37:00.000-04:002010-11-06T13:37:15.000-04:00DEATH WARRIOR<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://d.imagehost.org/0289/olum_savascisi.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://d.imagehost.org/0289/olum_savascisi.jpg" /></a></div><br />
<br />
<hr /><b>Original Title</b>: Ölüm Savasçisi<br />
<b>Year</b>: 1984<br />
<b>Director</b>: <a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0035067/">Cüneyt Arkin</a>, <a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0408392/">Çetin Inanç</a><br />
<b>Writer</b>: <a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0035067/">Cüneyt Arkin</a>, <a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0408392/">Çetin Inanç</a><br />
<b>IMDb</b>: <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0183597/">http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0183597/</a><br />
<b>Genre</b>: Action<br />
<hr /><br />
<i>Synopsis: <br />
A group of invincible ninjas in the U.S, start killing everybody, and the NYPD chief can’t solve the problem. The mayor thinks 'ONLY a Turkish detective can handle the situation', so they call for Inspector Murat (Kemal?) for help... and he comes to U.S. That’s when the action starts!<br />
</i><br />
<br />
Three posts in the past two months. I rule.<br />
<br />
Sorry to all zero of you who are let down that I didn't finish my number film countdown thingamajig. For anyone interested, the other films were <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0072284/">Three The Hard Way</a> (which I'd score an <b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">8.5</span></span></b>), <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0063771/">The Two Of Us</a> (which I'd score an <b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">8.0</span></span></b>), and.................. <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0067009/">ONE ARMED BOXER</a> (which also gets an <b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;">8.0</span></span></b>).<br />
<br />
Taaaa daaaaaaaa!<br />
<br />
<a href="http://d.imagehost.org/0435/deathW04.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="244" src="http://d.imagehost.org/0435/deathW04.jpg" width="320" /></a>And what brings me out of my hibernation? Turkish ninjas of course. See, these ninjas are a samurai family that become darkness ninjas after dying. Yeah... zombies?<br />
<br />
They can use playing cards and matchsticks as deadly weapons<br />
<br />
They can live underwater for days without breathing<br />
<br />
They know ALCHEMY! (what the fuck?)<br />
<br />
They can see in the dark<br />
<br />
Sometimes they even come back after dying (for the second time?)<br />
<br />
And the only one that can stop them? This guy.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://b.imagehost.org/0587/deathW08.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://b.imagehost.org/0587/deathW08.jpg" /></a></div><br />
He's a pacifist (I guess?)... he's a lover... he will kick your goddamn face off. Unload a revolver into a Turkish ninja and he will keep coming. One kick from the Inspector and those bitches go down hard.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://d.imagehost.org/0173/deathW07.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="245" src="http://d.imagehost.org/0173/deathW07.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>I'm not really exaggerating when I say that in the 1:17:00 runtime of this film, about 1:12:33 of it is ninjas training, ninjas kicking the shit out of people, and Murat kicking the shit out of ninjas. If you've ever seen a Turkish B-movie before, you pretty much know what to expect here, although I have to say this is possibly the most action packed one I have seen yet.<br />
<br />
The story is pretty straight forward, and possiblymaybe could have been interesting in the hands of someone who knew how to write and direct a film properly. The narrative here is nothing new - bringing in a badass to take care of some bad guys that local authorities cannot handle - but it is slapped together in true Turkish cinema style making it more a collection of scenes loosely pasted together and padded with people running and screaming to fill out the time. These are the sorts of films you can honestly have on while not fully paying attention because they are certainly not heavy on plot details.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://b.imagehost.org/0536/deathW06.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="153" src="http://b.imagehost.org/0536/deathW06.jpg" width="200" /></a>The fansubs are not perfect either, but who am I to complain about that? I feel very fortunate to be able to watch something like this and not be 100% lost. But really, if you find this without subtitles, you will have almost no trouble following what is going on. It personally drives me nuts to not know, but that's just me.<br />
<br />
This film jumps freely from romance to mystery to cop to action and even some very bizarre horror and supernatural elements that make no sense whatsoever. But it's something about this strange mixture that make films like Death Warrior very endearing to me.<br />
<br />
You'd probably be very pissed if you went to a cinema today and plopped down 10 bucks and got a film like this on the screen. But enjoying it on your screen at home is a completely different matter.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://d.imagehost.org/0946/deathW03.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="490" src="http://d.imagehost.org/0946/deathW03.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
The acting is hard to get a read on. <a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0035067/">Cüneyt Arkin</a> as the inspector is really the only character you will get to know all that well. The man must have been doing something right as he has 270 acting credits, and I've read that he was actually in over 500 films. He certainly has a unique and cool <a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000821/">Amitabh</a> style about him. I'm almost certain he must have been as successful as he was due to his looks and suave demeanor... but that's OK. I was eating up a little myself. Despite some obvious undercranking for some ridiculously paced fights, he's pretty agile for a guy who would have been near 50 when this was filmed. Seeing him bounce on trampolines with silly looking spray painted swords is worth the price of admission.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://b.imagehost.org/0011/deathW05.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="153" src="http://b.imagehost.org/0011/deathW05.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>True lovers of trashy, low budgeted cinema will enjoy this one quite a bit I think. I've been let down by silly Turkish films in the past which ended up being all about the highlights from youtube and were boring otherwise (I'm looking at <i>you </i>here, <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1355207/">Korkusuz</a> aka Turkish Rambo), but Death Warrior stays actiony (I just made that word up) throughout with some ludicrous special effects and fights that really had me laughing and entertained.<br />
<br />
For a film that for all intents and purposes would be considered a trainwreck anywhere else, I have to give a High recommendation to Death Warrior. Bravo, Mr. Arkin. You'll make a believer out of me yet.<br />
<br />
Score: <b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">7.5</span></span></span></b> / 10<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://b.imagehost.org/0330/deathW01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="490" src="http://b.imagehost.org/0330/deathW01.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>pickleloafhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17324003492174244588noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2487053347606969273.post-29250482349446643122010-09-03T15:13:00.003-04:002010-09-03T15:14:50.054-04:00Hobo With A Shotgun trailer... RED BAND!<object type="application/x-shockwave-flash" data="http://www.trailerspy.com/xmoov_flv/player/11326/va_l/" width="640" height="360"><param name="movie" value="http://www.trailerspy.com/xmoov_flv/player/11326/va_l/" /><param name="allowfullscreen" value="true" /><param name="FlashVars" value="content_title=Hobo with a Shotgun Red Band Trailer      " /></object>pickleloafhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17324003492174244588noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2487053347606969273.post-45363016335854782712010-08-13T21:35:00.000-04:002010-08-13T21:35:23.606-04:00Film Geek's Most Wanted ListI'm putting the call out there. I'm curious to see what people (including film geeks themselves)<br />
thinks are the must-see films for self-proclaimed celluloid nerd. <br />
<br />
Exploitation<br />
<br />
Classics<br />
<br />
Art-house<br />
<br />
Obvious choices<br />
<br />
What do you, loyal readers, think that a film enthusiast must see to represent the title properly?<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWwPO2zj4s9HAwavaJ5TIgHXF9EIw-aRY-SyWISnBSkr5ZFWcluzA8FYpydgAveQmz0SwG2gGum4CyHX5e2qSGghuX_ETarA66HZD0bW4uTzp__ndRBCFxwOA4b0-3swdemOqrQLE-6-o/s1600/film_geek_tshirt-p235610685485296455y7vb_400.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWwPO2zj4s9HAwavaJ5TIgHXF9EIw-aRY-SyWISnBSkr5ZFWcluzA8FYpydgAveQmz0SwG2gGum4CyHX5e2qSGghuX_ETarA66HZD0bW4uTzp__ndRBCFxwOA4b0-3swdemOqrQLE-6-o/s400/film_geek_tshirt-p235610685485296455y7vb_400.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>pickleloafhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17324003492174244588noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2487053347606969273.post-62210610591537128552010-08-12T18:17:00.000-04:002010-08-12T18:17:01.624-04:00Things That Give Film Geeks Wet Panties IJust picked up this sweet looking little book here for mere POCKET CHANGE on amazon.com<br />
<br />
<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;">Kubrick, New and Expanded Edition: Inside a Film Artist's Maze</span></span></b><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://j.imagehost.org/0079/9780253213907_lrg.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://j.imagehost.org/0079/9780253213907_lrg.jpg" width="416" /></a></div><br />
<b><i>A comprehensive study of the films of Stanley Kubrick.</i></b><br />
<i>Stanley Kubrick ranks among the most important American film makers of his generation, but his work is often misunderstood because it is widely diverse in subject matter and seems to lack thematic and tonal consistency. Thomas Nelson's perceptive and comprehensive study of Kubrick rescues him from the hostility of auteurist critics and discovers the roots of a Kubrickian aesthetic, which Nelson defines as the "aesthetics of contingency." </i><br />
<i><br />
</i><br />
<i>After analyzing how this aesthetic develops and manifests itself in the early works, Nelson devotes individual chapters to Lolita, Dr. Stangelove, 2001: A Space Odyssey, A Clockwork Orange, Barry Lyndon, and The Shining. </i><br />
<i><br />
</i><br />
<i>For this expanded edition, Nelson has added chapters on Full Metal Jacket and Eyes Wide Shut, and, in the wake of the director's death, reconsidered his body of work as a whole. By placing Kubrick in a historical and theoretical context, this study is a reliable guide into—and out of—Stanley Kubrick's cinematic maze.</i><br />
<br />
I hardly fucking read anymore, but recently was going through a bit of Kubrick reeducation of sorts. I came across this while looking up stuff, and thought it looked very interesting. For three bucks, how could I go wrong?pickleloafhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17324003492174244588noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2487053347606969273.post-19519958075193104732010-08-11T13:17:00.002-04:002010-08-11T13:39:35.662-04:00THREE THE HARD WAY<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://i.imagehost.org/0447/three_the_hard_way.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://i.imagehost.org/0447/three_the_hard_way.jpg" /></a></div><br />
<hr /><b>Original Title</b>: Three the Hard Way<br />
<b>Year</b>: 1974<br />
<b>Director</b>: <a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0662899/">Gordon Parks Jr.</a><br />
<b>Writer</b>: <a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0073388/">Eric Bercovici</a>, <a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0525015/">Jerrold L. Ludwig</a><br />
<b>IMDb</b>: <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0072284/">http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0072284/</a><br />
<b>Genre</b>: Blaxploitation, Crime, Action<br />
<hr /><br />
<i>Synopsis:<br />
The story involves a white supremist plot to taint the United States water supply with a toxin that is harmless to whites but lethal to blacks. The only obstacles that stand in the way of this dastardly plan are Jim Brown, Fred Williamson and Jim Kelly, who shoot, kick and karate chop their way to final victory.<br />
</i><br />
<br />
Whoa... is this the first blaxploitation film I've reviewed here? Odd<br />
<br />
Countdownsploitation continues for better or worse. We're takin it all the way to ONE, baby!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://a.imagehost.org/0954/3hard05.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="http://a.imagehost.org/0954/3hard05.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>Not only am I reviewing my first blaxploitation, we're also taking quite a sharp turn from my little theme here. My original choice for the "two title" was going to be a bloody/horror type film as well, so having 3 heavies with machine guns in a ridiculous action film is a welcome change. I've since changed up my two to keep things mixed a bit. And confession time again, this is another one I watched a month ago, and I have seen <b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">80 </span></b>(holy fuck) films since then.<br />
<br />
Jesus I need a life.<br />
<br />
So pardon a very abbreviated review here to just get the ball rolling. This is professionalism, ladies and gentlemen.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://i.imagehost.org/0959/vlcsnap-00013.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="http://i.imagehost.org/0959/vlcsnap-00013.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Three The Hard Way stars three huge names in the genre. <a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000987/">Jim Brown</a> as record producer Jimmy Lait, <a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0004365/">Fred Williamson</a> as explosive badass Jagger Daniels, and <a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0446485/">Jim Kelly</a> as martial arts expert Mister Keyes all team up to thwart a neo-nazi plan to poison black people through the public water system.<br />
<br />
Yeah, it's that kind of movie.<br />
<br />
The story is pretty absurd obviously. It's not the best written, and honestly the pacing and editing of the story is not that great either. I guess technically speaking Three the Hard Way is kind of a mess. But trust me when I say that there is enough sweet shit going on here to keep even moderate fans of the genre entertained. Jimmy Lait's wife is kidnapped after Jimmy stumbles into the supremacist group's plan, and he realizes he needs help from his two old buddies Jagger and Mister to help get her back. Oh, and stop the plan too or something.<br />
<br />
His name is Mister because his mama wanted people to show him respect. Yes.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://i.imagehost.org/0551/3hard07.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="http://i.imagehost.org/0551/3hard07.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>The first 30 minutes of the film crawls just a touch as everything is being set up, with some gunplay and carsplosions thrown in there, but once the three guys are together it's pretty much nonstop for the last hour.<br />
<br />
There is a very bizarre interrogation scene that must have inspired Quentin Tarantino as much as anything else he ever saw, that I would be remiss in leaving out of this discussion. Jimmy, Mister, and Jagger want information from a prisoner, and the best way Jagger knows how is through the help of some business acquaintainces of his who specialize in information extraction.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://i.imagehost.org/0255/3hard03.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="http://i.imagehost.org/0255/3hard03.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>And they ride Kawasaki bikes in a nice colorful formation.<br />
<br />
And they are three sweaty, hot, topless chicks.<br />
<br />
Outstanding.<br />
<br />
Seeing this for the first time, I thought the crew coming in was some white-power special task force with the red/white/blue color scheme and the KKK spelled across the front of the three bikes. Bill from <a href="http://www.outsidethecinema.com/">Outside The Cinema</a> has since informed me that they are just Kawasaki bikes, and the K is just the logo. Heh...<br />
<br />
The visual of the three of them standing all frustrated and out of breath, an Asian, white, and black together, along with the fact that they are chicks kicking this dude's ass and the mystery behind it all is really a great moment in the film, and probably the highlight for me. One can certainly see this type of playfulness and the over-the-top tough chick theme in Tarantino's work.<br />
<br />
You get pretty standard performances from the three leads. None of them are award-winning actors as we all know, but fit very well into the genre. Williamson is probably my favorite with his ever-present cigar and natural charisma. Jim Brown is a good serious-minded type character. I think he may have done some of his own stunts, or at the very least the doubles were very well edited. And Jim Kelly... well... he has a six pack and kicks the shit out of people!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://i.imagehost.org/0183/3hard02.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="http://i.imagehost.org/0183/3hard02.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://i.imagehost.org/0855/3hard06.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="http://i.imagehost.org/0855/3hard06.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Three the Hard way is a whole stinkin messload of fun. It's a silly film but certainly a crowd pleaser. The soundtrack by The Impressions is solid (if not spectacular for the genre), there's plenty of shotgun/machinegun/grenade/carchase/carsplosion action, and Jim Kelly's grunts as he whips ass are pretty hilarious. That dude must have hated wearing a shirt.<br />
<br />
Definitely recommended.<br />
<br />
Score: <b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: xx-large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;">8</span></span></span></b> / 10<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://a.imagehost.org/0655/3hard04.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="http://a.imagehost.org/0655/3hard04.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>pickleloafhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17324003492174244588noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2487053347606969273.post-58130765068632894702010-08-10T22:18:00.004-04:002010-08-10T23:01:32.433-04:00FOUR FLIES ON GREY VELVET<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://h.imagehost.org/0634/four_flies_on_green_velvet_poster_01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://h.imagehost.org/0634/four_flies_on_green_velvet_poster_01.jpg" width="600" /></a></div><br />
<hr /><b>Original Title</b>: 4 mosche di velluto grigio <br />
<b>Year</b>: 1971<br />
<b>Director</b>: <a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000783/">Dario Argento</a><br />
<b>Writer</b>: <a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000783/">Dario Argento</a>, <a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0185524/">Luigi Cozzi</a> (story), <a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0283962/">Mario Foglietti</a> (story)<br />
<b>IMDb</b>: <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0066735/">http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0066735/</a><br />
<b>Genre</b>: Giallo<br />
<hr /><br />
<i>Synopsis:<br />
A musician is stalked by an unknown killer who's blackmailing him for an accidential killing of another stalker. But is everything what it appears to be?<br />
</i><br />
<br />
A bit of a hiatus there from my number themed flicks. Would you expect any less (more) from me?<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://f.imagehost.org/0950/4flies06.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://f.imagehost.org/0950/4flies06.jpg" width="380" /></a></div>Four Flies comes from a Dario Argento that hadn't yet reached his prime. (And if you are still counting today, he is well past it.) It is part of an unofficial "Animals Trilogy," consisting of three completely unrelated films that all have an animal in the title. <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0065143/">The Bird With The Crystal Plumage</a>, <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0065761/">Cat O' Nine Tails</a>, and this film. These were his first three directed films, although he had been a screenwriter for awhile before this. Most likely because it was still early on in his direction career, we don't have the stylish shots that Argento would grow into, but that isn't to say that the film isn't stylish. Also, possibly because it was still early and less focus was being made on his technical craft, the story itself is still strong as well. Later into his career, it seems that his work's focus shifted more to the directional style over the plotlines.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://a.imagehost.org/0244/4flies02.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="160" src="http://a.imagehost.org/0244/4flies02.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>Four Flies follows a somewhat standard giallo structure, with a central character witnessing or experiencing something that finds him either obsessed or helplessly tied up in a dangerous plot. Roberto, played by <a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0104787/">Michael Brandon</a>, is pretty solid in the role if not remarkable. There's not much in the way of standout acting I found, but there are certainly memorable characters. To me it seems important to have the central "obsessed" character in a giallo be someone who is not way far out there, as the outrageous things need to happen to them for the best effect. <a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0817881/">Bud Spencer</a> on the other hand plays the bizarre character God (short for Godfrey), a large and larger than life hermit type that lives in a shack beside a river who Roberto visits for advice. In a way this God character reminds me of a similar strange hermit visited by the main character of The Bird With The Crystal Plumage as well. Guess Dario liked the idea and stuck with it.<br />
<br />
The main female lead, Mimsy Farmer as Roberto's wife Nina, is OK in bursts but not ultimately compelling as she overacts a bit. Granted, she is dealing with some pretty frightening things, but i'm a bastard, what can I say?<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://i.imagehost.org/0552/4flies03.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="160" src="http://i.imagehost.org/0552/4flies03.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>I really like Argento's early work, as I've said, because I feel like it is a good balance between the style and the substance. Four Flies isn't the greatest story ever told, but it's solid enough and has some interesting twists. The ultimate resolution of the film had be guessing until the end and left me satisfied.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://f.imagehost.org/0261/4flies08.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="128" src="http://f.imagehost.org/0261/4flies08.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>The Euro-flavor of much of the shots and structure were strong as well. Nice moody lighting, some great point of view deaths, attacks, etc., interesting camera angles... all kept things feeling fresh even at times when the story threatened to slow down just a bit. There is a neat recurring dream sequence that Roberto experiences showing a criminal being beheaded in a square in the middle east. It is stark and washed out (possibly due partly to the age of the film), but regardless is a stark contrast to the cooler, darker, wetter tones of the rest of the film.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://f.imagehost.org/0161/4flies05.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="256" src="http://f.imagehost.org/0161/4flies05.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
I could go on, but 1- this is a film better seen than described, and 2- I haven't seen this for a month, and my lazy ass is just finishing the review now. Sorry if the review is shitty. I just need to move on already!<br />
<br />
Suffice it to say a fan of gialli or Argento or both will have a good time with Four Flies on Grey Velvet. It doesn't reinvent the wheel, but makes the wheel nice and shiny and fun to roll around on.<br />
<br />
Score: <b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: xx-large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;">7.5</span></span></span></b> / 10<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://a.imagehost.org/0191/4flies01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="256" src="http://a.imagehost.org/0191/4flies01.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Boo!</i></div>pickleloafhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17324003492174244588noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2487053347606969273.post-42370949932284732782010-07-30T22:09:00.000-04:002010-07-30T22:09:38.674-04:00Grant Morrison on His Psychedelic Western Indie Movie, SinatoroHoly shitballs!<br />
Yes, I've been lazy again. What can you do?<br />
This one was too good to pass up<br />
<br />
Put the words "Grant Morrison," "his," and "psychadelic indie western" together and you create a little tingly feeling in my privates. I've been a long time fan of Morrison's comic work and to see that his unique storytelling is coming to the big screen is extra exciting. <br />
<br />
Check out the info on comicsalliance.com:<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.comicsalliance.com/2010/07/29/grant-morrison-sinatoro/">Grant Morrison on His Psychedelic Western Indie Movie, Sinatoro </a><br />
<br />
The poster is pretty sweet as well<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://i.imagehost.org/0305/sinatoto-poster.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://i.imagehost.org/0305/sinatoto-poster.jpg" /></a></div>pickleloafhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17324003492174244588noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2487053347606969273.post-13562496305273583092010-07-18T11:28:00.001-04:002010-07-18T11:30:17.949-04:00VHS Finds III<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4135/4805169064_3d86aa9c12_b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4135/4805169064_3d86aa9c12_b.jpg" /></a></div><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;"><br />
</span></span><br />
<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"><a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0087118/">No Time To Die</a></span></b><br />
<div>(a.k.a. Hijacked to Hell)</div><div><br />
</div><div>I picked up this little beauty on Amazon recently on the ultra-cheap. I can kinda see why as it's pretty beat up, but for me there is something to be said as well for formal rental VHS tapes. I know that the video quality is most likely better on tapes from personal collections, but am I really in this for quality? It's kind of frustrating to see a slipcase cut up, but having a clamshell that was probably carried from home to home for years is pretty cool as well. This little nomad has found a nice resting place now where it will be loved despite its flaws.</div><div><br />
</div><div>As for the film itself, the low budget artwork on the front is certainly enticing to me. It really screams Indonesia, although this film is German oddly enough. The fact that <a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0593844/">Chris Mitchum</a> and <a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0697514/">Barry Prima</a> both are in it says Indonesia also, which is what caught my eye most of all.</div><div><br />
</div><div>And I love that alternate title. HIJACKED TO HELL!</div><div><br />
</div><div>Say it in a loud, raspy wrestler voice.<br />
<br />
No idea about the quality of the film itself. It probably blows (it has a whopping 2.8/10 on IMdB), but as I've grown to really love these 2nd and 3rd rate 80s action flicks as of late, I'm sure I'll find something to warrant the $1.50!</div>pickleloafhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17324003492174244588noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2487053347606969273.post-18165921190079975872010-07-14T12:44:00.000-04:002010-07-14T12:44:08.486-04:00What makes a good double feature?<a href="http://a.imagehost.org/0394/Double_Feature.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="248" src="http://a.imagehost.org/0394/Double_Feature.jpg" width="320" /></a>I guess what I am looking for here more than anything is a little feedback. I have been brewing in my head lately what makes a good double bill... specifically with genre cinema.<br />
<br />
Should the two films be related thematically?<br />
<i>Two films about cars?</i><br />
<br />
Actors?<br />
<i>Coffy and Black Mama/White Mama?</i><br />
<br />
Should they always be of the same genre?<br />
<i>Like a sci-fi event?</i><br />
<br />
Should they be a complete contrast?<br />
<br />
Or should they be some mix of these?<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://j.imagehost.org/0553/AIP_double_feature.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://j.imagehost.org/0553/AIP_double_feature.jpg" width="158" /></a></div>I'm open to any and all ideas and suggestions here. Let me know what you feel works. Give me some examples of genre films that work together if you want.<br />
<br />
Being the OCD collector-type that I am, I lean more toward creating some sort of theme between the two films. The easy answer is to match the genres. If I were to put on a show, I'd go toward a Blaxploitation night... or a Zombie night for example. While this would entertain me (and calm that always screaming OCD voice in my head), I'm not sure it would be the best solution to entertain the most number of viewers.pickleloafhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17324003492174244588noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2487053347606969273.post-58690050879508958632010-07-12T12:16:00.000-04:002010-07-12T12:16:01.551-04:00Lynch Three Project<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.lynchthree.com/" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="46" src="http://i.imagehost.org/0213/Untitled-1_16.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<br />
I saw this today and thought it was pretty cool. Helping to fund a documentary on David Lynch by buying (for $50) a poster-sized print of a self-portrait created by Lynch himself.<br />
<br />
<br />
<blockquote><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>LYNCH three PROJECT</b></span></blockquote><blockquote><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We are currently in pre-production on the third and final full-length documentary film about David Lynch entitled "LYNCHthree” and would like to give all of his fans around the world an opportunity to share in the filmmaking process.</span></blockquote><blockquote><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">As truly independent filmmakers, we know first-hand that raising money is always a challenge, so we’ve decided to fund this documentary through an innovative crowdfunding campaign. This is one of the best ways we feel we can engage you in the process and utilize the tools of social media to connect with Lynch fans like yourself across the globe.</span></blockquote><blockquote><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Here's how it all works:</span></blockquote><blockquote><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">David has created a cool limited edition self-portrait exclusively for this project. If you donate $50 towards the production of the film through this website, you will become a member of the LYNCHthree project, gain access to exclusive footage and receive your choice of either a limited edition collectible print, t-shirt or tote bag.</span></blockquote><blockquote><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">They are available through this website for a limited time only. Once we have raised the financing for the film, these items will no longer be available. This is an excellent way to support independent filmmaking. We hope you are as excited about this project as we are. Thank you very much for supporting LYNCHthree!</span></blockquote><br />
If I had the funds, I would certainly pick one of these up. Check out <a href="http://www.lynchthree.com/">http://www.lynchthree.com/</a> for all the information.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://j.imagehost.org/0062/Untitled-2_4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://j.imagehost.org/0062/Untitled-2_4.jpg" width="562" /></a></div>pickleloafhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17324003492174244588noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2487053347606969273.post-11767675806885655012010-07-11T23:22:00.002-04:002010-07-12T00:45:14.366-04:005 DOLLS FOR AN AUGUST MOON<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4079/4764002278_0e89f2178b_b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4079/4764002278_0e89f2178b_b.jpg" width="600" /></a></div><br />
<hr /><b>Original Title</b>: 5 bambole per la luna d'agosto<br />
<b>Year</b>: 1970<br />
<b>Director</b>: <a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000878/">Mario Bava</a><br />
<b>Writer</b>: <a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0224125/">Mario di Nardo</a><br />
<b>IMDb</b>: <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0065553/">http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0065553/</a><br />
<b>Genre</b>: Mystery, Thriller<br />
<hr /><br />
<i>Synopsis:<br />
A small group of people come to an island to relax but soon find themselves trapped on the island with a murderer in their midst.<br />
</i><br />
<br />
<b>Countdownsploitation Number FIVE</b><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://j.imagehost.org/0629/vlcsnap-00015.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="176" src="http://j.imagehost.org/0629/vlcsnap-00015.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>One thing you hear from many many genre fans is how fantastic Mario Bava is. I will say what little I have seen of his when taking his entire catalogue into account has looked phenomenal, but as overall films they are very hit or miss. <br />
<br />
This was unfortunately a miss for me.<br />
<br />
5 Dolls was a bit of an unconventional giallo. We don't get the standard first person slasher style killings found in gialli, instead getting a slightly claustrophobic tale with a limited group of suspects as well as victims. The film was decently acted and fabulously shot, but some story elements seemed a bit forced in a way, and it all felt a little slow to me overall... dragging in spots when it really did not need to.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://i.imagehost.org/0442/vlcsnap-00018.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="220" src="http://i.imagehost.org/0442/vlcsnap-00018.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>The cast features a whole host of somewhat recognizable faces for me, but no names ring a bell outside of <a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0074125/">William Berger</a> who was in such films as <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0074740/">Keoma</a>, <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0074137/">Nick the Sting</a>, and a fantastic looking piece of <a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000877/">Lamberto Bava</a> garbage called <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0088100/">Devil Fish</a>, and the lovely and always magnetic <a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0271763/">Edwige Fennech</a> from all sorts of shit where she probably shows her immaculate tits. <a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0013313/">Teodoro Corrà</a> looked very very familiar as George, but even after looking at his IMdB, I still cannot figure out where I might know him from.<br />
<br />
The characters here were more or less believable outside of a few dips into melodrama, but no one outside the temptress Marie played by Fennech really stood out for me. What helped far more in my enjoyment of the film was the ideas and style over any performances.<br />
<br />
The name 5 Dolls refers to bagged corpses hanging in a walk-in freezer. I don't believe that is a huge spoiler as the deaths are simply a side effect of the story's progression. I will not say who ends up in the freezer, but the image of the corpses swinging slightly along with almost playful music as if a marionette was dancing was very good. It's one that will stick with you long after the film is over. There is another amazing set up by Bava with glass balls rolling down stairs and across a floor that is a grand sight indeed.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://i.imagehost.org/0142/vlcsnap-00017.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="352" src="http://i.imagehost.org/0142/vlcsnap-00017.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://a.imagehost.org/0246/vlcsnap-00020.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="176" src="http://a.imagehost.org/0246/vlcsnap-00020.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>This is what the film had going most for it - Bava's style, angles, etc. coming through and putting a very nice polish on an otherwise average film experience for me. Regardless of what I feel about the plot and acting in Bava's films, his lighting, angles, closeups, etc. are almost always very, very impressive. The film opens great with Bava slowly zooming into every character's eyes as they all sit around watching Fennech write about half nekkid on a table.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://i.imagehost.org/0351/vlcsnap-00019.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="176" src="http://i.imagehost.org/0351/vlcsnap-00019.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>By the time the film wraps up, I was kind of confused about certain character's intentions, or where/who one of them even was. While this could certainly be blamed on my being a dumbass, I think it is safe to blame the writing just a bit as well. Characters will go from angry and distrusting to fine again in the same breath, and for a killer to be loose on a small island, so many characters seem amazingly calm. In a way it feels like a stylized stage play when all is said and done.<br />
<br />
It's not a terrible film by any means. Bava's style alone makes this worth seeing... not to mention a little nudity here and there (but could have been more!). There are better thrillers/gialli out there from this era (as we will see in my next review).<br />
<br />
Recommended but not highly.<br />
<br />
Score: <b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: xx-large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">6.5</span></span></span></b> / 10<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://a.imagehost.org/0544/vlcsnap-00021.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="352" src="http://a.imagehost.org/0544/vlcsnap-00021.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>pickleloafhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17324003492174244588noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2487053347606969273.post-17997733434558934412010-07-06T19:58:00.000-04:002010-07-06T19:58:15.177-04:00VHS FINDS II<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4139/4769725116_0caa404845_b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4139/4769725116_0caa404845_b.jpg" width="555" /></a></div><br />
<a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0091166/"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Hands of Steel</b></span></a><br />
(a.k.a. Vendetta dal futuro)<br />
This one may be very familiar to fans of <a href="http://www.ggtmc.com/">The Gentlemen's Guide to Midnite Cinema</a>. <a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0553941/">Sergio Martino</a>'s "classic" <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0088247/">Terminator</a>/<a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0093692/">Over the Top</a> ripoff! This is available on a Mill Creek Set I believe, but all that is is a rip of a VHS, so I score cool points with this guy!<br />
<br />
Paco Queruak is comin for you, bitch!<br />
<br />
This is a sweet cover that is really only one upped by the poster that has the same image. The text underneath is a bit weak looking, but what can you do?pickleloafhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17324003492174244588noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2487053347606969273.post-21968380216853611772010-07-04T14:20:00.000-04:002010-07-04T14:20:30.562-04:00CountdownsploitationGot a couple films in my personal queue coming up that are in a sense a countdown in the way they are titled. So my anal side (my ass?) thought it would be fun to make a little series of it and review a few films that are numbered sequentially. I've never seen any of them, so we'll go on the journey together.<br />
<br />
First review will be Five Dolls for an August Moon with the lovely Edwige Fenech, directed by Mario Bava.<br />
<br />
Any guesses what will follow?<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://j.imagehost.org/0091/movie_countdown.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="255" src="http://j.imagehost.org/0091/movie_countdown.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>pickleloafhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17324003492174244588noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2487053347606969273.post-2058543495785959202010-07-01T23:30:00.001-04:002010-07-01T23:31:13.014-04:00VHS Finds [or... Judging a Movie By Its Cover]As I have pointed out (and had pointed out for me) lately on The Gentlemen's Guide To Midnite Cinema, I have obviously been neglecting my blog as of late. I even stopped playing Red Dead Redemption and drunk touching myself like a lazy cat.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://j.imagehost.org/0187/vcr_gv02_1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="286" rw="true" src="http://j.imagehost.org/0187/vcr_gv02_1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>Well, in an attempt to jumpstart my half assed creative process, I thought I'd share time to time the random VHS tapes I cheaply come across.<br />
<br />
VHS is a format I haven't really messed with in quite awhile. To be honest, the lazy toucher cat in me hasn't even allowed me to dig my VCR out of the attic and set it up. But lately I have been in a lo-fi nostalgia kind of mood. For example, I've been playing a lot of the original Nintendo Famicom (the older brother of the Nintendo Entertainment System here) lately... games like Popeye and Excitebike.<br />
<br />
Anyway, while I still love my small yet growing collection of blu rays, and certainly love the new trend of DVDs getting cheap cheap, I have found a new appreciation for digging here and there for inexpensive VHS tapes... really the underappreciated, never-digitized (mostly action) films that more often than not have cases and illustrations almost as entertaining as the film itself.<br />
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There is a bit of a collector's market for VHS tapes, and I am not quite there myself. I'm skipping over the stuff on DVD really, and I am just not mentally ready to pay more than 5 bucks or so for a VHS from some greedy store or seller when there are much easier ways to find the movie if I really want to see it. But these cheap tapes I am finding are a lot of fun to track down, and hopefully I'll actually sit to watch them soon.<br />
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I wanted to start a kinda-somewhat-maybe regular series here where I just kinda show off the cool cheap tapes I come across. And I am always open to suggestions from any of you loyal readers who may still be around.<br />
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I found all these tapes today at a local used book store. It's a great haul if you ask me! They came out to about 2 bucks a piece, and in my quick and dirty cell phone research, were not released on DVD unless that DVD was just a copy of a VHS anyway. And keep in mind I haven't seen any of these movies before.<br />
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And these are all my quick cell phone photographed, online edited photos of the actual cases! Exciting!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4078/4753529766_ba083347a3_b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" rw="true" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4078/4753529766_ba083347a3_b.jpg" width="356" /></a></div><br />
<strong><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0090659/">Armed Response</a></span></strong><br />
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Explosive action thriller, indeed. I've never seen a <a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0676248/">Fred Olen Ray</a> film as far as I know. I do know he is known to have put out some trash of the highest (lowest?) order. But trash starring <a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001016/">David Carradine</a> and a very elderly looking <a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001812/">Lee Van Cleef</a> has to be entertaining on some level, right? Add in <a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0077720/">Michael Berryman</a>, the bald creep from <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0077681/">The Hills Have Eyes</a> (or from <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0090305/">Weird Science</a> as I like to remember him) faded in the sky, and I can't help but drop a couple bucks on this beauty.<br />
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Not the most exciting VHS cover ever, although I do like the cheesy ARMED RESPONSE crackly type.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4098/4753567336_4e38021131_b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" rw="true" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4098/4753567336_4e38021131_b.jpg" width="352" /></a></div><br />
<strong><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0091713/">P.O.W.: The Escape</a></span></strong><br />
(a.k.a. Behind Enemy Lines)<br />
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I guess after <a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001569/">Chuck Norris</a> kicked his ass in <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0085862/">Lone Wolf McQuade</a>, Carradine wanted to get back at him by ripping off his <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0087727/">Missing In Action</a> movie.<br />
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This cover rocks! I love the over the top, painted stuff that was so popular (especially for action films) in the 1980s. Again, I know nothing about the film. The gun blazing, shit blowing up... what more do you need? Oh, and for a couple bucks and no DVD. I win!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4097/4752881327_ed8ce4e05a_b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4097/4752881327_ed8ce4e05a_b.jpg" width="344" /></a></div><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"><a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0074501/">Black Cobra</a></span></b><br />
(a.k.a. Eva Nera, a.k.a. Emanuelle Goes Japanese)<br />
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I gotta admit I wasn't super stoked about this one upon seeing <a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001588/">Jack Palance</a>'s head, especially along with "Erotic desires"..... ehhhh, but then I saw Ms. <a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0002098/">Laura Gemser</a>.<br />
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Ms. Gemser got me through many a lonely pubescent night as Emmanuelle back in the day. I have no clue what this film is even about, but I am even happier I spent the 2 bucks since it is what appears to be at least an unofficial Emanuelle movie! Oh joy! Softcore porn doesn't hold the same place in my heart (pants) that it once did, but the pants need a trip down nostalgia lane too, right?<br />
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The director's name <a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001090/">Joe D'Amato</a> sounded very familiar as well. Not sure I have seen any of his work either, but he was certainly a busy man and had a film called <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0235686/">Porno Holocaust</a>, so yeah...<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4116/4752906643_cca665f6ef_b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4116/4752906643_cca665f6ef_b.jpg" width="358" /></a></div><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"><a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0091062/">Florida Straits</a></span></b><br />
OK, I bought this one on cover alone. I mean, it has <a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000471/">Raul Julia</a> and <a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0911542/">Fred Ward</a>, but those two alone wouldn't be enough for a blind purchase. The typeface at the bottom is pretty hideous, but the painted cover is certainly a selling point. I didn't even read this one, but I am disappointed to see that it was apparently made for TV.<br />
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Oh well, they can't all be winners.<br />
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Pretty sure this one only cost $1<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4100/4752913829_ef3b3a7514_b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4100/4752913829_ef3b3a7514_b.jpg" width="366" /></a></div><br />
<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"><a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0088729/">The Annihilators</a></span></b><br />
Ohhhh baby<br />
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I've never heard of any of the actors, but look at these credits:<br />
<a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0831791/">Christopher Stone</a> from The Howling and Cujo..... ok<br />
<a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0939542/">Andy Wood</a> from Rambo First Blood Part II....... no clue but ok<br />
<a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0385320/">Lawrence Hilton-Jacobs</a> from Welcome Back, Kotter......... HAHAHA<br />
then <a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0031386/">Jim Antonio</a> from The River and <a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0334057/">Gerrit Graham</a> from Pretty Baby..... I don't know those films at all.<br />
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Quite an ensemble cast of no names... at least to me. But it's totally the overblown image that makes this pick up a win. These badasses are BURNING THROUGH THE PAPER to come and rock your face off!<br />
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Look at the fucker in the mask! Holy shitballs!<br />
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They fought for their country,<br />
Now they're fighting for their friends.<br />
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This tape cost the most out of the lot ($3), and has the worst rating on IMdB. Guess only time will tell on this. I am hesitant to watch it now as not to ruin the awesomeness that is the cover.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://i.imagehost.org/0911/RCA_VCR.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="175" src="http://i.imagehost.org/0911/RCA_VCR.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Quite an exciting trip to the store when I wasn't even expecting to find anything. I hope to write more of these as I find cool little video treasures around town or on amazon, etc. I love just coming across these new things, and I am sure when I finally hook up my VCR, I will love that nostalgic feeling of actually using the damn things.<br />
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Stay tuned!pickleloafhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17324003492174244588noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2487053347606969273.post-77827792062146655832010-05-27T12:39:00.000-04:002010-05-27T12:39:49.669-04:00Two things preventing posts lately<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://j.imagehost.org/0200/lazy_cat.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="609" src="http://j.imagehost.org/0200/lazy_cat.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://i.imagehost.org/0711/red_dead_redemption.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://i.imagehost.org/0711/red_dead_redemption.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>pickleloafhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17324003492174244588noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2487053347606969273.post-38672816555022172502010-05-19T17:11:00.000-04:002010-05-19T17:11:03.796-04:00Mr. Yuk commercialchildren of the 70s and perhaps the 80s will remember this commercial<br />
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the jingle has been stuck in my head all day<br />
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the Loaf is very assorted today<br />
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<object width="480" height="385"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/wLsONa3gKIQ&hl=en_US&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/wLsONa3gKIQ&hl=en_US&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="480" height="385"></embed></object>pickleloafhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17324003492174244588noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2487053347606969273.post-62849340068733809052010-05-19T09:41:00.000-04:002010-05-19T09:41:44.015-04:00Empire Strikes Back Premake 1950more YouTube digging!<br />
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Empire Strikes Back 1950s style trailer<br />
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<object width="640" height="385"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/KmTpOQrqoO0&color1=0xb1b1b1&color2=0xd0d0d0&hl=en_US&feature=player_embedded&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/KmTpOQrqoO0&color1=0xb1b1b1&color2=0xd0d0d0&hl=en_US&feature=player_embedded&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" allowScriptAccess="always" width="640" height="385"></embed></object>pickleloafhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17324003492174244588noreply@blogger.com0