Change Your Image
retromaster2000
Reviews
Attack of the Crab Monsters (1957)
Roger Corman's Nifty Little 50's Sci-Fi Gem.
Saw this movie back in 2001 I got the VHS for a Christmas Present. Honestly on the first viewing I wasn't satisfied. But over the years I have grown to like it. It's about an island off the coast of the pacific that has had radiation effects. Mutating ordinary Crabs into giant brain-eating monsters. Some familiar faces too including Richard Johnson who would later go on to play The Professor on T.V.'s Gilligan's Island. Also Pamela Duncan & Mel Wells who played in other 50's Corman Films like The Undead from 1957. Basically The film takes place on this island. The first research term goes to the island & doesn't come back. So a second team is dispatched to find out what happened. Not much else to say the special effects are disappointing but it's a low-budget Allied Artists Film so that's what you get. I guess they aren't that bad considering the low-budget. Paul Blaisdell was to have done the effects but wasn't given enough money & time so he vowed working on The Giant Crab Effects. Pamela Duncan don't have many of her films the other being The Undead from 1957 another Corman Effort will have to look more into her work. She was very pretty I have some of her digital pin-up images as well some 50's magazines that have pin-up photos of her inside. This is to get it's proper due on DVD July 20, 2010 by Shout! Factory Allied Artsists previous DVD wasn't that great so the update will do this some good. I give this film a 6.
Not of This Earth (1957)
Roger Corman & 50's Sci-Fi at it's best!
I saw this movie back in 2004 on DVD-R it was a poor washed up transfer of the film. I really enjoyed it. Roger Corman did a great job on this one. This is probably my favorite out of his 5 50's Sci-Fi Efforts. It is about an alien from another planet that is dying he comes to earth in search of blood. He goes to a Doctor's office asking for a blood transfusion. He ends up Mezmorizing the Doctor & finally gets what he wants. He is hired a nurse greatly played by Beverly Garland an actress that is no stranger to 50's Sci-Fi. She was previously in Roger Corman's It Conquered The World from 1956 another 50's Sci-Fi Gem. Also one of my favorites. She was also in The Alligator People from 1959. Now Back to the film. Paul Birch plays the alien. He looks all but human. Until he takes off his sunglasses & white eyes are revealed. He kills people with his death ray eyes. I don't wanna give away much more. It is a true Classic of the genre. Also I just found out this is to be released on DVD on July 20, 2010 by Shout Factory along with Attack Of The Crab Monsters from 1957. Great pairing as back in 1957 Allied Artists released both films in theaters on a Double Bill. Not sure if the DVD will have any extras maybe just the trailers. Audio Commentary by Roger Corman on both would be nice but seems I don't know none of his other 50's Sci-Fi Films released on DVD had bonus features. Day The World Ended from 1955 was released on a DVD Double Feature from Lion's Gate Home Entertainemnet with The She-Creature from 1956 & neither had any bonus features not even the Trailers. I am sure since Shout! Factory is putting out this it will at least have The Trailer same with Crab Monsters. Anyway I give this film an 8!
The Invisible Man (1933)
Sci-Fi Classic from Universal & James Whale one of my favorites!
I saw this at a pretty young age probably in the late 90's sometime. I saw & taped it from Sci-Fi Channel. It had such an impact on me. I could never figure out the special effects till I got the DVD in 2006. James Whale was a great Director even though a homosexual he is one of my favorites. Also famous for "Frankenstein" (1931), "The Old Dark House" (1932) & "The Bride Of Frankenstein" (1935). Sad end to such a good director suicide by drowning. He com-binded dark humor, scares & sci-fi elements in this 1933 Classic from Universal. As a matter of fact this is my favorite Universal Monster Movie besides "Creature From The Black Lagoon" (1954). It's based on the novel heavily of the same name by H.G. Wells. It's about a struggling chemist named Dr. Griffin experimenting with chemicals & doing some strange side-work. His peer Dr. Kemp says he's been up to some strange experiments. Dr. Cranley doesn't know too much about it. Neither does his daughter Flora Cranley played by Gloria Stuart who was also in another Whales Film "The Old Dark House". Which is Dr. Griffin's Fiancée. Griffin eventually packs up & goes away. Making his way to a small village in England. Still experimenting he needs time. He finds & Inn & spends some weeks their. First sight the night he arrives wrapped from head to neck in surgical bandages with, dark goggles. The people at the Inn are very suspicious of him. Some think he's a crook others say he had a horrible accident. Inn people seem very noisy & don't give Griffin much privacy. Mrs. Hall played by Character Actress Una O'Connor brings lunch but Griffin doesn't care & is busy he slams the door on her breaking her best China. She demands to her husband that he go up & tell him to leave. Mr. Hall comes up to talk with Griffin & says he is a week behind with the rent he has to go. Griffin begs for forgiveness & to stay. But Mr. Hall says it's you or my wife. So Hall tries to pack up Griffin's Chemical Supplies which causes Griffin only anguish. Then he slaps Mr. Hall with a book on the head & throws him downstairs. Mrs. Hall goes berserk & demands on of the Inn people to get a police man. Which the local Sheriff comes to the rescue. Heads upstairs with some Inn People & demands for Griffin to come to the Police Station with him. Griffin doesn't agree makes a speech then removes his bandages, false nose & goggles. Which reveals nothing underneath The Inn people think he is all eaten away. The Sheriff knows he's invisible. He goes crazy almost killing the Sheriff & Inn People. Goes on a rampage through the small town. Meanwhile Dr. Kemp & Dr. Cranley think Griffin had used a dangerous chemical drug called Monocaine with his other chemicals known only to himself. Which would drive him mad. So he is not only invisible but insane. I don't wanna tell of what happens anymore any Classic Monster Fan, Sci-Fi Fan or Classic Movie Fan should see the film it's a timeless Gem from Universal Pictures. 10 out of 10 I say.
Planet of Dinosaurs (1977)
Great Effects filled Sci-Fi Cult Classic with low-brow acting.
I would have to say the acting on this film is some of the worst I have seen not including James Withworth he did a great job. The others were nobody's hired cause of the low-budget production. Almost similar to "The Crater Lake Monster" from '77 which most reviewers on here gave bad comments cause of the acting & low-budget production values. Special effects buffs on here most like me usually say the only thing that saved the film was the remarkable Stop-Motion Effects done by the great David Allen. This film is very much like that. I honestly have to say Crater Lake had better acting. This film was Directed by James K. Shea. I thought he did a great job at pulling it all together with the budget & staying in the budget rang considering him having the effects used being done through the painstaking Stop-Motion Animation Techniques conceived by Willis O'Brien & Ray Harryhausen. Which all guys who worked on this film were inspired by both men & pay homages to them in their little film. 90% of the animation sequences in the film were done by Doug Beswick yes for u Special Effects buffs, the same guy who helped Rick Baker create the costume for the 1972 Sci-Fi Cult Classic "Octaman". Which I would wish would turn up on DVD someday soon, I love that film too. I had no idea Doug was such a great animator I mean the dino fighting sequences are amazing in the film. Some of the best I have seen better then Willis O'Brien & his counterpart Pete Peterson. I also think they rival Ray Harryhausen's work as well as David Allen & Jim Danforth. I think his animation was as good as their stuff. Jim Aupperle also did some nice sequences he did a tad bit of Doug's T-Rex & Stegasaurus battle. Jim's spotlight though was the horned dinosaur sequence with that guy running across the cliff & the dinosaur impaling him with it's horn, in the chest. Steve Czerkas did a great job at building the miniatures & models he also did a bit of animation I can't recall which sequence he did though. The film also won the Saturn Award from The Academy Of Sci-Fi, Fantasy & Horror Films because of the brilliant Stop-Motion Effects. For special effects buffs this film is great to others though not so great I give it an 8 though cause of the animation effects.
X (1963)
All Time Sci-Fi Classic One of Corman's best!
I saw this movie back in 2005 on Flix Movie Channel in Widescreen. Only recently got the OOP MGM Midnite Movies DVD Release. Didn't bother to get that new Corman DVD Collection cause I have all the old MGM DVD's of those films that were released as Double Features or by themselves. Anyway this movie was a Sci-Fi Classic & was great. It is about Professor James Xaviver portrayed by Hollywood leading man Ray Milland one of my all time favorite actors. He isn't satisfied with his vision the way it is he wants to see more as much as god can see. He is sorta mad in a way but not like an evil mad scientist. Like Karloff in "The Mask Of Fu Manchu" (1932) or John Carradine in "Revenge Of The Zombies" (1943). Xavier first experiments with test animals such as a small monkey. He just wants more out of his vision so he comes up with this liquid drop serum he drops in his eyes with an eye dropper. He wants to experiment on himself but a Doctor & friend doesn't want him to. He finally convinces him to help him with his experiment. He drops it in his eyes & starts to see beyond infinity. Then he thinks all his normal he starts see through things. Ray Milland did an awesome job he was a brilliant actor one of my favorites. Don't wanna give away much more. Fans of the genre that have seen it probably really like it like me. Those that didn't need to see it. The audio commentary on the DVD is really good with Roger Corman. Corman himself said Milland's 2 movies he did he was truly proud of was this & The Lost Weekend '45 with Billy Wilder. But Corman was surprised Milland said "X". Also when Corman gave Ray the script he was very enthusiastic. Great stuff Corman discusses on the audio commentary it was really good. Also the trailer is great & an interesting Proluge. Interestingly Corman made up the character of James Xavier which went on a few years later to be one of the main characters of the X-Men Comic Books. So the character has lived on. The cast also has great faces like Diane Van Der Vlis, John Hoyt & Don Rickles. I have seen Hoyt & Rickles in countless other films I have. Diane I have not see in anything else she was good in the film & was really pretty. Movie is one of the best of the genre so I say an 8 out of 10!
Beginning of the End (1957)
Bert I. Gordon 50's Atom Age Sci-Fi Masterpiece!
I saw this movie when I was in High School back in 2000 or 2001. I got the VHS for Christmas. Which it was The Director's Cut or T.V. Syndiaction Version in Pan & Scan Full Screen 1.33:1 released on Rhino Home Video. A somewhat raw, unenhanced & unrestored film transfer not all that bad quality I have seen worse transfers though. It wasn't all that I expected I just expected a lot of buildings to be toppled by The Giant Grasshoppers. Like in other 50's Sci-Fi Giant Creature Features. Otherwise the movie is great. Another cautionary tale about the effects of radiation on a living life form. This film actually seems like a deliberate Spin-Off of Warner Bros. "Them!" (1954) except this was done on a lower budget for AB-PT Pictures. Also instead of having James Arness in the lead here we have his brother Peter Arness known as Peter Graves in the Film & T.V. World. I actually think this film is better then Them! even though that film had a bigger budget also won the academy award for Best Special Effects. Last it was a top grossing 50's Sci-Fi Film. I actually think Mr. B.I.G.'s little Sci-Fi Cult Film is much better. Mainly because the giant creatures make their way into the city & terrorize the population. The film takes place in Chicago. Ed Wainwright (Graves) is an Entomologist working an Illonois Department Of Argiculture Experimental Station. Experimenting with radioactive plant food. With large Tomatos, Strawberries & others. Some Grasshopper / Locusts accidentally get into their lab & eat some of the radioactive plant food & grow into 8 to 50 foot monsters. The town of Ludlow is completely demolished & know one knows why. The local National Guard has the road blocked off. Beautiful Audrey Ames played greatly by Peggie Castle is the leading lady here. Her character here works for The National Wire Service & is looking for a story runs then into a road block. Other familiar faces here Morris Ankrum famous character actor was in a lot of 50's Sci-Fi Films. He was usually playing a Military Character. Also Thomas B. Henry famous for a good bit of 50's Sci-Fi. James Seay also a familiar face which I have seen before in a few films & not just 50's Sci-Fi. Hank Patterson has a brief scene here, he also appeared in Jack Arnold's 1955 Sci-Fi-Thriller "Tarantula". Plus Patterson was in Bert. I. Gordon's other Sci-Fi- Thriller A.I.P.'s "Earth vs. The Spider" released in 1958. He also had a small appearance as a Janitor in Gordon's "Attack Of The Puppet People" also from A.I.P. released in '58. But Hank Patterson's real claim to fame was in the 60's & 70's with the spin-off of The Beverly Hillbillies Show "Green Acres" which he played Mr. Ziffle. Back to the movie here. Castle's character Ames eventually finds clues to what might have caused the destruction to Ludlow which actually is a real town in Illnois. Which clues lead to Graves and The Department of Argiculture. Which she persuades Entomologist (Graves) to accompany her to a Grain Elevator which was all destroyed before the town Ludlow. Also Frank a botanist & deaf mute working with Wainwright (Graves) comes along too. When they get there talking a bit & the ground isn't teaming without any insect or animal life it is all barren. Wainwright (Graves) knows something has scared everything away. Ames (Castle) goes back to her Camera for some shots. A loud high pitched screeching noise begins. Then they turned around emerging from the hillside is a Gigantic Grasshopper-Locust. Which it kills & devours Frank the deaf mute botanist. Ames & Wainwright drive off in a hurry. Don't wanna say much more anyone that seen the movie knows. For those that didn't 50's Sci-Fi Buffs check it out. Bert Gordon did the Special effects also Produced & Directed the film too. The effects are pretty good which real grasshoppers are used in the film. Rear screen projection. Which has the grasshoppers on a blank frame of film stuck over another frame of film which has a city with extras running away acting as if something is chasing them. Also other shots similar were used. Also model buildings & things were used with the Grasshoppers crawling all over them. The finale shots use a photo the Wrigley Building with the Grasshoppers crawling up it. Pretty innovative for the 50's but Stop-Motion Animation is much better. You Can't always use that technique either though so. I got the Special Edition DVD last year which Image Entertainment released The Theatrical Version for the first time in Widescreen 1.66:1. The Peter Rodgers also had The Original Camera Negative it looks beautiful fully intact & restored. Looks the way it did on it's 1957 theatrical running. The DVD also contains a great Audio Commentary with Bert's daughter Susan Gordon also ex-wife Flora Lang & some fan named Bruce Kimmal. Very entertaining interesting commentary with a lot of stuff discussed about the film the effects, locations used in filming also much more is discussed in detail. Just was puzzled when I first got the DVD last year why Bert himself wasn't on the commentary track. I recently heard was was busy at the time & couldn't take part. Last year in June of 2006 Mr. Godron was at Monsterbash which is held in Western Pennsylvania every year I met him got him to autograph my DVD Insert for this movie. It was cool meeting him just not what I expected. His second appearance in 2007 he was much better & I really enjoyed talking to him also got some photos with him also his daughter Susan. Peggie Castle is one of my favorite actresses of the 1950's was very talented & beautifuI I collect most of her films also Digital Pin-Up Images as well as physical photos reprints & originals also some old 50's Pocket, Digest & Magazines that feature sections of her pin-up photos. Anyway die-hard 50's Sci-Fi Fanatics will like this if u haven't seen it check it out. Grab a copy of the Image Entertainment DVD Special Edition. Just was mad that it was missing The Original Theatrical Trailer.
Dark City (1998)
Alex Proyas' Sci-Fi Masterpiece
This is one of the best newer Sci-Fi Films to come out of the 90's. Saw this film on TNT late at night back in 2003. It was edited for content of course also shown in Pan & Scan. I recently bought The New Line DVD that includes The Letter-Box Version on Side A also Pan & Scan Version on Side B. I have yet to watch it in LBOX yet I have just heard The 2 Audio Commentaries which are very informative as commentaries usually are on DVD's I buy like this. DVD has some nice extras. I would like to see The Director's Cut in the future which is 105 mins. which I heard would be nice to see a 2-Disc Special Edition DVD in the future of this film with nice behind the scenes footage. And a documentary about the making of the film. Dark City is a Sci-Fi-Thriller that blends mystery elements as well as the old Classic Film-Noir elements together to make one awesome Sci-Fi-Thriller. I guess technically u could classify it as a Sci-Fi-Mystery-Film-Noir-Thriller. But if u wanna be short & sweat it's a Sci-Fi-Thriller. I never knew of Alex Proyas before this. I, Robot (2004) which I saw on DVD in 2006 is also really awesome & I think is another one of Proyas Sci-Fi Masterpieces. Proyas a native of England had his first big hit with 1994's The Crow. DC's opening sequence of the story takes place in a bathroom where John Murdoch is in a bathtub naked with a dead guy in the bathroom. He has his mind & memory erased. The police are after him obviously thinking he committed the crime. He didn't he was married to Emma played excellently by Jennifer Connelly. Rufus Sewell's Murdoch character develops these strange telekinesis powers. Not only are the police after him but these weird pale white beings with powers like Murdoch's character as well. He has memories of his past life with his wife that he had meet at Shell Beach. Kiefer Sutherland plays a Doctor that was once John's teacher & is caught in the middle of helping these beings. It is a very weird story these beings control the city at midnight they stop time & change everything around. Their race is dying & they need the human soul in order to survive. Don't wanna say much more don't wanna spoil it for those that have yet to see it. I would also like to point out on the soundtrack Gary Numan's song Dark from his 1997 Exile album is present. Also an old Numan song from 1979 called Replicas the title track from that same album. A character in the song called Mr. Wall is also featured in this film he is one of the evil beings that is after Murdoch's character. I am snot sure if Proyas or the screenwritter got the idea for that character & name from Numan's Replicas song seems like it & I think that's so awesome since a lot of Numan's older stuff was Sci-Fi related & he was inspired by Sci-Fi Writter Phillip K. Dick. As well as 70's Classic Sci-Fi Films as Westworld (1973) & Soylent Green (1973). So I wouldn't be surprised if Proyas got his idea for Mr. Wall from Numan's Replicas song which has the same character name in it. Replicas by the way is my favorite Numan song very dark & awesome song with Sci-Fi lyrics. So u could relate & link a lot of Numan's songs & albums to Proyas' Dark City. Especially Numan's 1980 album Telekon. What can I say great movie one of my favorite newer Sci-Fi Films. Seems though Hollywood today is dying & can't come up with Films like this much anymore I, Robot (2004) & Transformers (2007) are the last 2 Sci-Fiers I thought were really good. Transformers the movie is Sci-Fi The Transformers movie technically isn't the original start. Since it originally came from Japanese Comic Books & the 80's Cartoon Series as well as the 80's Cartoon Movie. Then Beast Wars came around later. Seems all most Movie Makers do today is do remakes of Classic Sci-Fi Films I ain't gonna sit here & name the many remakes that only just came out. I am sure die-hard Sci-Fi & Horror Fans like myself know of the remakes. Some movies like the Sci-Fi Classic "Invasion Of The Body Snatchers"(1956) have been remade for the third time. Invasion (2007) with Nicole Kidman just came out on Friday Aug. 17, 2007 there is an example enough of that though anyway Dark City is awesome & they don't make em' like this much anymore 8 out of 10!
The Three Faces of Eve (1957)
Excellent film one of 1950's best!
This film is based on a true story of a woman from Georgia with Mutiple Personality Dissorder. Joanne Woodward plays Jane, Eve White & Eve Black. One min. she is one of those characters the next she is another no wonder she won an Oscar she is brilliant in this film! Nunnally Johnson Produced & Directed this film previously famous for The Man In The Grey Flannel Suit (1956) which I never saw but heard is good will have to check it out sometime. I have this film from Fox Movie Channel it was filmed in Cinemascope 2.35:1 Letter-Box Format I don't have Fox Movie Channel I got someone else to record it on VHS for me in SP Mode & I transferred it to DVD+R with my DVD Recorder. I also have the trailer on the same DVD+R. Trailer was on another tape I had of The Pan & Scan 1.33:1 Version. I have plans to buy the real DVD in the future. Released by 20th Century Fox. Unless it shows up on TCM in the near future which would be nice. AMC shows it sometimes but they show it only in Pan & Scan I don't care about that version I have it on VHS & never even bothered to put it on DVD+R or DVD-R I just put the trailer with the Letter-Box Version on DVD+R. Not much to say except this is a true Classic Film! Classic Psychological / Drama. I saw the film when I was pretty young when I was in High School on AMC Pan & Scan Version of course most movies I have seen that version the first time I saw the movie. Joanne Woodward is a really beautiful actress who also married Paul Newman handsome & very good actor. He is great in The Hustler (1961) with Jackie Gleason. Anyway when I saw The Three Faces Of Eve the first time when I was in my teens I thought it was amazing & I still do now at 24 I am a Classic Movie Fan I like most movies like this especially Sci-Fi, Fantasy & Horror which I comment on more. I have seen just as many as I have of Sci-Fi, Fantasy & Horror. I am gonna have to comment on more films like this too I prefer a movie like this over say some movie from today example Air Force One With Harrison Ford. That's why I am known as retromaster2000 & retromaster2000s I like a good bit of newer films mainly Sci-Fi & Horror others too. But I can't get away from Classics like this 8 out of 10 for Woodward & this type of film!
The Beast of Hollow Mountain (1956)
Great Story by Willis O'Brien but what happened to the Stop-Motion Animation Work?
I got this movie a long time ago on VHS from Incredibly Strange Filmworks who deals with rare Sci-Fi, Horror Classics & more. I got it for Christmas one year I believe. I saw it it was pretty good I was disappointed by the Stop-Motion Animation I was used to seeing good smooth animation from Willis O'Brien & Pete Peterson also Ray Harryhausen & David Allen. Jim Danforth is also one of the best won 2 Oscars. I didn't know of him at the time though. Anyway it is a Sci-Fi / Western / Thriller about a Dinosaur hiding out in Hollow Mountain & the swamps & only coming out during times of drought to feed on the local Cattle. Good script by O'Brien. Edward Nassour who Directed also did The Stop-Motion Work which is too jerky not very good animation. Willis O'Brien & Pete Peterson should of did the animation I heard that the budget was too low so O'Brien turned it down. I guess that makes sense to do good smooth animation u need a lot of time. Nassour didn't have that time & Budget. The next year's The Black Scorpion (1957) was done by O'Brien & Peterson excellent Animation up their with the best Stop-Motion Work. Obviously with Scorpion they had the time & the budget to make good effective animation. When it comes to Stop-Motion to make it good u need time & a lot of money in those days. Nassour obviously didn't have it. The Allosaurus looks really nice & detailed I am sure nice armature & the rest was great & very detailed. Just Nassour didn't know what he was doing with the Stop-Motion Work. It is an Allosaurus too not a T-Rex I am sick of reading these other comments saying it's a T-Rex if u know dinosaurs like me count the fingers a Rex has 2 Fingers an Allosaurus has 3 fingers. In the film it has three so it's an Allosaurus. Same with "The Valley Of Gwangi" (1969) which was 100 times better of a Sci-Fi / Western / Thriller with more dinosaurs & brilliant Stop-Motion Work from the master Ray Harryhausen. Gwangi was also an Allosaurus. Anyway Hollow Mountain is alright it isn't the greatest animation but it is decent I guess. With the budget & time that's all that could be done so. Any O'Brien & Peterson, Harryhausen, Allen, or Danforth Film is far better cause they are among the Stop-Motion Masters. Nassour was a Director & isn't known for animation he just did it cause he couldn't get anyone else Harryhausen would of probably turned it down as well. Anyway "Earth vs. The Flying Saucers" (1956) came out & he was already probably working on "20 Million Miles To Earth" which came out the previous year 1957. It is still a good combination & story it isn't the worst Dinosaur Movie I have seen worse. It just isn't as good as u would expect especially for Dino & Stop-Motion Fans. I have this film on DVD+R Pan & Scan Version from Flix Movie Channel it is on their often so if u wanna check it on it's on their a lot. I also have a VHS Transfer on DVD+R of The 2.35:1 Letter-Box Version. Anyway 5 out of 10 for this. Thought I would mention I just recently got on a website like eBay called ioffer a far surperior Laserdisc Transfer of the film on DVD-R in LBOX 2.35:1 also includes a nice menu with chapter stops & Trailer. It was only 10 bucks too in all with shipping beat that! Plus I got 2 other Sci-Fi Films with it for free "The Cosmic Monsters" (1958) & "Fire Maidens From Outer Space" (1956) Cosmic I really like but Fire Maidens was alright they also have the trailers along with nice menus.
It Conquered the World (1956)
One of Corman's best 50's Sci-Fi Films Blaisdell's monster is great!
This film is a Drive-Inn B Sci-Fi Cult Classic. I saw the Buchanan Remake it is really good. The original I actually like better though. The monster looks similar to a Carrot it is low & squat to the ground. Corman did some research here Venus has gravity like that & a lot of Vegetable Life. So he had Paul Blaisdell design a small creature not very big Co-Star & leading lady Beverly Garland laughed & punted it like a football. Corman said no no no! always make ur monster taller then ur leading lady. So he had Blaisdell design a new 10 Foot Tall Creature. The eyes even move on it as well as glow. Blaisdell did an excellent job & he makes awesome monsters for mainly American International Pictures Sci-Fi & Horror Cult Classics. He also usually plays the monster also. His others film are "The Beast With A Million Eyes" '55, "Day The World Ended" '55, "The She-Creature" '56, "Voodoo Woman" '56, "Invasion Of The Saucer Men" '57 & "It The Terror From Beyond Space" '58 in that he just made the alien monster suit he doesn't play the monster too like in the others. Also he doesn't play the monster in "The Beast With A Million Eyes" as well. In Beast the creature is very small & doesn't require a costume. Blaisdell had a few other credits where he created some of the effects not including a rubber monster. He plays one of the Saucer Men also in "Invasion Of The Saucer Men". He played & wore a costume he created in ''The Ghost Of Dragstrip Hollow'' released in 1959 also by A.I.P. Paul Blaisdell is uncredited in ''It Conquered The World''. This is a Sci-Fi-Thriller about a scientist Tom Anderson played by Lee Van Cleef that is in contact with a Creature from Venus he thinks is coming to save mankind. His wife Claire Anderson played by beautiful Beverly Garland. She is famous for a lot of Sci-Fi & Horror Films in the 50's & 60's he credits include Not Of This Earth '57 another Corman Sci-Fi Classic also The Alligator People '59 & Twice-Told Tales '63. The lead role is played by Peter Graves he is Dr. Paul Nelson in charge of The Satellite Program. Graves most famous for his role in the 60's & 70's T.V. Series Mission Impossible. He was also in a staple of B Sci-Fi Films in the 50's as the leading man & one of his first films was the Film-Noir Classic "The Night Of The Hunter" (1955). Not a leading role but he got lead roles in these B Sci-Fi Films like, Red Planet Mars '52, Killers From Space '54 & Beginning Of The End '57. Also of course our film. He & his crew send up a Laser Satellite & it changes it's own course the creature from Venus is inside controlling it directing it to earth. By the way the creature had a name Beulah. It makes it to earth Tom has communication with it on a machine he built. The creature makes weird vibrating pulsating noises. It creates these bat flying creatures that plant these metal needle like devices in the back of the victims neck very similar to the 1953 Sci-Fi Classic "Invaders From Mars". Anyway this creature eventually gets the General, The Police Chief & some others. It has the town taken-over & Tom still won't believe & Paul is trying to explain to him. Even Paul's wife Joan Nelson played by Sally Fraser who was also in another A.I.P. Sci-Fi Cult Classic "Earth vs. The Spider" (1958). Also Sally was in a few other films I have she was pretty I have some digital images of her also. Anyway Tom finally realizes from Paul that this thing came to conquer mankind not save it. I don't wanna tell the rest Blaisdell & Corman Fans should check it out. Beverly Garland is one of my favorites acrtresses & models of the 50's & 60's. I have a bunch of her pin-up digital images. This is one of my favorite Alien Invasion Films. I own the rare OOP VHS from Columbia & RCA Home Video which I transferred to DVD+R. Sadly not on DVD still. Anyway 8 out of 10 Alien Invasion Film!
Kingdom of the Spiders (1977)
Best Nature's Revenge Movie about Tarantulas better then Arachnophobia!
William Shatner stars in this Nature gone bad Sci-Fi / Thriller about an Arizona Town being overrun by groups of Tarantulas. Tarantula's don't group together they are cannibals this is weird & a cool idea for a Sci-Fi Film. I love this movie it the blueprint sorta for Arachnophobia (1990). But 100 times better this is the best Nature's Revenge Film. William Shatner plays a Vetenarian startled by a local Farmer named Walter Colby (Woody Strode)with the death of his Prize Cow he was gonna use in the fair. Huge bite marks all over the cow. It is found to be venom. Rack Hansen (William Shatner) believes it to be snake venom. But he needs further study on it. So an Entomologist is called in named Diane Ashley brilliantly played by Tiffany Bolling. She gives him the scoop that it is spider venom. He laughs & doesn't believe. Until she has a serious talk with him about it. Meanwhile at the Colby Ranch A huge Spider Hill is outside & needs burned but the Tarantulas just tunnel out somewhere else. It gets better & better as the film goes on the Tarantulas take over more & more human victims webbed up drained of blood. Eventually a small town in Arizona is taken over by them. In the end the whole town is left webbed up by the Tarantulas I love the ending they never stopped the Tarantulas. They just leave the town all webbed up. Great downbeat ending! This is one of my favorite of the 70's. I am gonna get the Region 2 DVD released in Europe on ebay. It restored better then then Goodtimes one also in it's original Widescreen 1.85:1 Aspect Ratio also it includes The Trailer & some other trailers of other Horror & Sci-Fi Classics available from Green Cow. Also to mention on the Green Cow DVD the film only runs 91 mins. I was use to seeing the 95 min. Version on the old Goodtimes DVD. Recently on Jan. 19, 2010 Shout! Factory released this as a Special Edition DVD with bonus features. Includes the original 95 min. Print in Widescreen 1.85:1 the bonus features are great I especially liked the audio commentary on it. This film gets 8 out of 10!
Day of the Dead (1985)
George A. Romero's best Zombie Film & the best Zombie film ever made!
Day Of The Dead (1985) is awesome film it also scared me as a young boy in High School when I rented & saw the Pan & Scan Full Screen Version on VHS. This isn't like Dawn which was a comic book type with some campy aspects & a sense of humor Day is the darkest of the dead films & is very serious with no humor involved. I haven't see Land yet so maybe it is darker then Day I don't know. Day will always be my favorite though & the darkest to me no matter what. Tom Savini's Zombie Make-Up & Gore Effects are so groundbreaking in this film. It is his best work I'd say he won The Saturn Award for it also. The best Zombie Make-Up I'd say a lot of latex appliances used & fake teeth. This time Savini had a crew of guys working behind him with the Zombie Make-Up & Gore Effects. The Zombie Carnage in the film is the most intense ever done in a Zombie Movie. Bub is really cool & is the best Zombie ever I'd say Howard Sherman did a brilliant job with Bub. He gave ideas to Romero & they tried it. Romero is a very open minded Director the headphone music scene was Howard's idea he was walking home one day after a shoot. Thinking what would Bub do with a Walkman what would he make of that? So he told George he should be listening to Betehoven. They tried it & the scene worked out great. The best parts are when the Zombies rip apart the Army Guys. Especially Rhodes he gets his. He was a mean son of a bitch. I also got the 2 Disc Special Edition in Oct. 2006 from Anchor Bay Entertainment who also released The Ultimate Edition Dawn Set that I have. Nice stuff on Day the movie is presented in it's original 1.85:1 Widescreen Aspect Ratio. That is on Disc 1 with 2 different Audio Commentaries. Disc 2 is full of extras. A 15 min. Audio Interview with Richard Liberty who played Dr. Logan in the film. Trailers, T.V. Spots Photo Galleries. Also has 2 Documentaries 1 about the making of the film. The other is behind the special effects Zombie Make-Up & Gore. It focuses on Savini & his Crew's stuff. At Monsterbash 2007 I am getting my 2 Disc Set autographed by him. This is the best Zombie movie ever 10 out of 10! best Zombie movie ever 10 out of 10 for this!
Dawn of the Dead (1978)
This movie scared the hell out of me when I was young true Horror Cult Classic!
George A. Romero does it again with Dawn Of The Dead. First he brought us films like "Night Of The Living Dead" (1968) "There's Always Vanilla" (1972) "The Crazies" (1973). Now he brings us Dawn Of The Dead (1978). I saw this film when I was in 10th or 11th Grade I rented the VHS at a local rental store. of course it was in Pan & Scan Full Screen. It scared the hell out of me I was alone when I saw it I was so scared I can't describe it. As u already know how Zombie Films were my main fear when I was young. The gore effects & Zombie Make-Up are top notch for the time Tom Savini is a master & this is one of his best. I think the Zombie Make-Up could of been better most of the zombies just had pale gray faces. Some had rotted parts & scars. There should have been more latex appliances used like in Day Of The Dead (1985). The gore is highly effective & very intense. I look at it today & still wonder how Savini pulled it off. Anyway 4 survivors take refuge in Monroeville Mall. To try to survive their hiding upstairs & hoping the zombies don't catch on. Then the bikers show up & let all of the ones outside in & there is a lot of trouble on everyone's hands. This is when the gore really starts a lot of the bikers getting ripped apart & eaten by the zombies. My favorite parts are when the one guy gets his arm ripped off. Also when the other biker gets his stomach ripped open. Tom Saving also did a lot of the stunts & played the lead Biker in the film. This is the film that made him big a household name. While making this film he was just Tom the Make-Up Man. Now he is the Tom Savini one of the Master Special Make-Up Effects Artists. The movie is awesome. In Oct 2006 I got The Ultimate Edition 4 Disc DVD Set. I watched all the stuff except The Extended Version, which is actually to, fans the Director's Cut. The European Version was good. It doesn't have a lot of that goofy stuff that funny Mall Music & the Escalator scenes. Which make the film sorta Campy & with a sense of humor. I didn't get that when I saw it though on VHS when it scared me. Anyway now I do & I appreciate that version but The European & Director's Cut are much better. I haven't watched the Director's Cut yet in Widescreen I have seen it in Pan & Scan though as I have The Anchor Bay VHS Release of it. Disc 4 is full of cool stuff 2 Documentaries about the making one from the 70's made while filming the movie & the other a recent documentary. Then it has a Tour of Monroeville Mall with Star Ken Foree & Nurse Zombie Sharon Ceccatti also the sweater escalator Zombie played by Clayton Hill. Followed by loads of fans. Also has some old 8mm Home Film Footage made during filming. With Audio Commentary by a fan. Good stuff Each Movie is in the original 1.85:1 Widescreen Aspect Ratio & includes Trailers, T.V. Spots. Radio Spots & Photo Galleries. Except The Extended Version (Director's Cut) dosen't have any Trailers, T.V. Spots or Radio Spots. It Does have a Monroeville Commercial as well as a Photo Gallery also all 3 Films have Audio Commentaries. Which are always good & informing to listen to with the movie. Monsterbash 2007 is coming Tom Savini is gonna be there again I am getting his autograph on my Ultimate Edition. What else can I say awesome film 8 out of 10!
Night of the Living Dead (1968)
George A. Romero's Zombie Classic one of the best Horror Films ever made!
I saw this film on T.V. when I was little Sci-Fi Channel I believe it scared me. Zombies films have always scared me since that incident in the hospital. Now I am older I don't get scared anymore I grew out of it the last Horror Film that really scared the hell out of me was Lucio Fulci's "The Gates Of Hell" (1980) A.K.A. City Of The Living Dead. I saw that in 2004 or 2005. Night scared me it was a great film. I still really appreciate it now even though it doesn't scare me anymore. It is one of the genre that broke the gore barrier it is pretty gory even to today's standards. I think it's good that Duane Jones was the best at the part of the character Ben originally someone else was supposed to play Ben a white guy. Can't recall his name. I heard about it on The Audio Commentary of The Millennium Edition the second Audio Commentary with Russ Streiner & the rest. Duane is great in this. I just hate the ending. Why they shoot him it sucks. He should of yelled out to the Sheriff & the rest of the crew & they wouldn't have shot him. The movie is full of thrills & keeps u in suspense from beginning to end Harry Cooper played by Karl Hardman who also had a lot to do with the making of the film. His character was an idiot he got what he deserved when Ben fights him punching him in the face. Also when he eventually shoots him. I am all the way for Ben he was the best Character in the film. Bill Hinzman was the best Zombie too. The first scene in the cemetery was actually shot last & if u notice Bill's hair is long but then near the end when he gets into the house with the other zombies he has a crew cut. Something for fans to notice cool little thing. Anyway Monsterbash 2007 is coming up & Chilly Billy Cardille will be there also Bill Hinzman & Kyra Schon. I will be getting them to autograph my Night Of The Living Dead (1968) Millenniun Edition DVD Insert. 7 out of 10 this is a Classic!
Destination Moon (1950)
George Pal's first big Sci-Fi effort a landmark Sci-Fi Classic!
Destination Moon is a cool example & prediction of space travel in the early 50's before man ever even got into a space suit & rocket ship & traveled to the moon. The Woody Woodpecker sequence is neat. It is often said & stated that he appears in every Pal Sci-Fi & Fantasy Film. A small brief appearance Pal was good friend's with the creator of Woody so he does this as a tribute any big Pal fans would know this. His major appearance in Destination Moon is the first in any Pal Sci-Fi or Fantasy Film. I think the colored space suits were cool. This is a Sci-Fi Classic & was up against Rocketship X-M (1950) in Theaters I haven't seen that so I can't say which is better. I haven't gotten that on DVD yet I have plans for the future to get it. I have a feeling it won't be as good as this Pal Classic but good. Anyway u can catch Destination Moon on TCM Jan. 1, 2006 at 3:30pm they are showing 50's Sci-Fi Classics all day starting early in the morning. I will be recording a good bit of them on my DVD Recorder. I have Destination Moon I downloaded it along with the trailer. I haven't gotten around to watching it yet on my DVD Player. I saw it on an old DVD Player at my Grandma's & some parts were screwed up her player doesn't play DVDR's right anyway I will check it out on my Player if it is screwed up which a lot of the movies I burn on my burner don't always turn out good. No worries with Moon it is coming on TCM so if I have to I will record it again. I am a huge George Pal fan. So I give this a 6.
Zaat (1971)
Cult Classic late night rubber suited monster flick!
I think this is one of the best rubber suited monster on the loose flicks of all time! A Cult Classic Sci-Fi / Horror / Thriller. It was made in Jacksonville, Florida in 1971. By Don Barton's new film company. He Produced & Directed the film. The film is about a crazy mad scientist type doctor named Leopold. That is experimenting with Catfish & other forms of Ocean Life. His fellow colleagues ridiculed him. He wants to turn himself into this catfish man type monster & wreak vengeance on those who ridiculed him. Also wants to find a female to transform & mate wit to starts a new aquatic race. It was aired on MST3K because it is one of the truly bad B Movies. A so bad it's good type. Not much more to say about the film. IMDb.com has 1975 as the release year which is wrong it was made in 1971 & released in theaters in 1972. First it was unofficially released on VHS in the U.S. in 1982 under the title "Attack Of The Swamp Creature" Hosted by Elvira, Mistress Of The Dark as part of the Thriller Video Series. The film only runs 96 mins. not including Elvira which she comes on before the movie starts also there is a middle spot & after the film is over she comes on one last time with her it runs about 105 mins. The actual movie run time is 99 mins. The Attack VHS version of the film has fake credits also missing scenes. Then in 1987 it was unofficially released again this time as "Hydra" on VHS in Canada. Which preserves the films entire 99 min. run time. The print is decent even though it is pretty scratchy with specs of dirt & blemishes. I did transfer both versions to DVD+R back in 2005. It would be nice to see it available on DVD some day. In 2000 the film was rescued from the ravages digitally remastered from original 35mm negative. Also released officially for the first time ever with no fake title & or credits. This was a 30th Anniversary Limited Edition Collector's VHS Video in Hi-Fi Stereo that was only available for a limited time. Besides the movie being digitally remastered it also includes exclusive bonus features. Including a Video Introduction by Producer/Director Don Barton, Original Theatrical Trailer, T.V. Spots, Still Gallery & last some Rare Outtake Footage. I am lucky enough to have a DVD-R copy on hand that I just got a few days ago. I hunted high & low for this for years. Which when it first came out in 2000 it was priced at $29.99. Which it was only available until 2002. Only 500 Copies were made also I believe. Sadly I never got a chance to get the actual VHS. Maybe some day I will find it. Even though the film is regarded as one of the worst B Movies ever made. Fans of rubber suited monsters movies will have a special place in their hearts for it & look on it as one of the best of the genre. A lot better then say "Bog" finished & supposed to be released in 1978 but wasn't released theatrically until 1983. Zaat also gained a huge cult following of devoted fans. Was one of Top Grossing Independent Films of 1972. The Collector's VHS is the best version that was available & the fans that own it are lucky enough to have it as I don't ever see a DVD release of it soon. It took long enough just to get it commercially available on VHS. Just in time for it's 30th Anniversary too! The film was also screened again at one or numerous theaters down in Jacksonville, Florida. Some of the cast & crew also gathered to meet eager fans & also a whole new younger generation of fans that learned of the film from their parents. It was a pretty big event down in Florida back in 2000. This is one of my favorite out of the Rubber Suited Monster Flicks of the 70's & of all time I give it 8 out of 10 for it's type!
The Beast from 20,000 Fathoms (1953)
One of Harryhausen's best 50's Sci-Fi / Thrillers!
I saw this film when I was pretty young in 8th Grade or 9th in 1999 or 2000 when AMC was at it's best commercial free. AMC isn't that great now. I loved this film. It was awesome! Ray Harryhausen's Stop-Motion Animation is the best! The Rhedosaurus is an awesome fictional Dinosaur created by Ray Bradbury I believe & the movie was based on a short Story from The Saturday Evening Post by Ray Bradbury acclaimed Sci-Fi Story & Novel Writer. The story was too short though & more had to be added to make a full-length feature film. Ray working on a Low-Budget did with what he could & he cut as many corners as possible. In the long run the picture did great & was one of Warner Bros. Top Grossing Films of 1953. It was a Box-Office Hit & had many imitators including Godzilla. The film was directed by Eugene Lourie who would later direct a British Version of this film called The Giant Behemoth (1959) with the same special effects technique to bring the dinosaur to life Stop-Motion but done by The great Willis O'Brien & Pete Peterson. The Beast From 20,000 Fathoms though starts out in Antarctica & the beast is frozen but then awakened by an Atomic Blast. From which it breaks loose & romps around the North Atlantic. Then later several attacks on Ships & a Lighthouse. With eyewitness accounts by sailors which are branded crackpots. Even the main character saw this creature alive when it broke loose & no one will believe him not even the top authorities including a Paleontologist at a local museum. But when one of the surviving sailors is brought in as a witness & looks at sketches of Prehistoric Beast it all changed. Then the film builds & builds to a thrilling climax where the Rhedosaurus eventually makes it's way to New York terrorizing the city & wrecking havoc. I don't want to give away the ending this is my second favorite Harryhausen Film. After It Came From Beneath The Sea (1955). It is one of his best. It was a hit & gained a huge cult following & many fans think it's Ray's best Picture. Stop-Motion & Dinosaur fans should really enjoy this Classic Sci-Fi / Thriller I own it on DVD. 9 out of 10!
Behemoth the Sea Monster (1959)
Willis O'Brien & Pete Peterson do it again!
The Giant Behemoth is an awesome 50's Sci-Fi Film with the best stop-motion effects u can get for this type of film from Willis O'Brien & his assistant Pete Peterson. I saw this film when I was in like 8th grade on AMC I loved it. Sadly to say still no DVD. I do have 2 nice DVDR's though one has The 79 min. U.S. Widescreen Version extras include Trailer, Posters & Lobby Cards. The other is the 70 min. U.K. Fullscreen Version with the same extras I got them both on a website that sells rare never released Classic Sci-Fi & Horror Movies on DVDR's they were both $16.55 together. That includes shipping. Well at the time in 8th grade when I saw this film on AMC I thought it was good but didn't think much of it. The film itself is actually a British version or British spin-off of the Warner Bros. 50's Sci-Fi Blockbuster The Beast From 20,000 Fathoms with Ray Harryhausen doing the Stop-Motion with his first major film with no help like he was first animator in Mighty Joe Young (1949)With Pete Peterson doing about 15% of the animation towards the end of that picture. Anyway this is one of the best Dinosaur Flicks it is about atomic waste in the Atlantic Ocean in England that makes a 200 Foot Paleosaurus Radioactive it eventually goes on a rampage in the streets of London. Letting out lethal radiation horribly burning whatever humans get it it's way on it's rampage. I don't wanna say much more any fans of 50's Sci-Fi & Stop-Motion should really check this one out. The Giant Behemoth is known as Behemoth, The Sea Monster in England. I hope to see a DVD soon out there with some nice extras & more then one version of the film an Audio Commentary by Ray Harryhausen & Ken Ralston would be nice because they did one on King Kong another Willis O'Brien Stop-Motion Classic! The Giant Behemoth (1959) is finally out on DVD from Warner Home Video came out on June 26, 2007 in Widescren 1.85:1 like The Laserdisc was. Willis O'Brien & Peterson did a great job on that film. It is one of my favorite Dinosaur Films. Sadly It is sold in a 3 DVD Box Set called Camp Cult Classics Volume 1 Sci-Fi / Thrillers u can also get it separately. Sold in the set with Attack Of The 50 Foot Woman (1958) & Queen Of Outer Space (1958) it doesn't belong with those Sci-Fi Films it is 100 times better then both of those films. It is a Sci-Fi Cult Classic but not Campy. Those films are crap compared to Behemoth it's a shame I like both those other films but Behemoth is one of my favorites & is 100 times better like I said. The movie isn't campy I don't like that name it deserves better. At least it is out on DVD finally it took long enough. Sucks I heard The Audio Commentary with Dennis Muren & Phil Tippet really sucks seems fans know more about the movie from reading Famous Monsters Of Filmland Magazine. Whole 79 mins. intact although the back of the case has some errors says 90 mins. And also has 1958 for the release year when it actually was released until 1959. It is actually 79 mins. & 40 some seconds almost 80 mins. Also heard the print is clean & looks great sharper then the Laserdisc I actually didn't get mine yet so I can say by me. Not sure if the trailer is all shitty looking or what that at least better look clean cause The Commentary sucks. A lot of those guys on The Message Board for this film amaze me though stuff I didn't even know about this film I don't read books or magazine. I never read Famous Monsters Of Filmland that Forrest J. Ackerman did. All I know is what Interviews & Commentaries I see on DVD or something on TCM or I read online about I actually had trouble finding info about this film & some other O'Brien films. I am gonna have to update my Willis O'Brien My Space Page u guys need to check that out also made one of Stop-Motion Greats David Allen & Jim Danforth need to finish Allen's though I will before his B-Day on Oct. Anyway 8 out of 10 for this.
The Black Scorpion (1957)
One of Willis O'Brien's & Pete Peterson's best Stop-Motion Films!
The Black Scorpion (1957) is an awesome 50's Sci-Fi Film with Top Rate Effects Supervised by Willis O'Brien (The Lost World '25, King Kong '33). Top notch Stop-Motion Animation some of the best I have seen done by grip turned animator Pete Petetson & his first film was some of the Stop-Motion on the original "Mighty Joe Young" (1949). Which was near the end the animation he did. I have read 2 other comments they say "Them!" (1954) & "Tarantula" (1955) are far better films I don't agree with that simply because neither of them match the special effects that were used in The Black Scorpion. I mean Them! they were like large Prop Ants controlled by crew members on the side off set so u can't see. You are already limited there with how much the ants can move which makes that not the greatest technique but Them! did win an Oscar for best Special Effects good effects just not as good as Stop-Motion Animation Special Effects. Now Tarantula (1955) more movement since most scenes of that film used a real Tarantula magnified on screen to look 100 Feet Tall. Some scenes actually used a large scale prop Tarantula with movable limbs. On the close up scenes of the eyes gazing through the house window at a Pajama Clad Mara Corday that was the large prop Tarantula. Also the inside shots of the Tarantula ripping the house apart on the inside shots that was the Large Prop Tarantula as well. The outside shots were of course the real Tarantula magnified. Which I know how they did that if you really know Tarantulas it was actually in a struggle with another animal or insect on the scene of it pounced upon the house & destroying it. All Brilliantly done too. So with a real Tarantula & Large Prop Tarantula you are limited to what u can do. Now with Stop-Motion u are not limited u can have the creature or creatures do whatever u want by moving them one frame at a time. And if u only move them so much each time the animation can look very smooth & not jerky cause I have seen some jerky shitty animation & this is some of the best I have seen. So I think "The Black Scorpion" (1957) is a better 50's Atomic Sci-Fi Thriller Giant Creature Feature then Them! & Tarantula. Because of the spectacular Stop-Motion Effects done by Willis O'Brien & Pete Peterson. Any fan of Stop-Motion & fans of Effects used for older Sci-Fi Films would know Stop-Motion was the best just like CGI is for those types of films now. Even in a computerized world I pick Stop-Motion over CGI. The acting & cast is also a par over the usual in this film. Great acting from the stars Richard Denning & Mara Corday both recognized for B Sci-Fi Films of the 1950's Corday was also leading lady in (Tarantula '55 & The Giant Claw '57.) My favorite scenes in the film are probably #1 when the 50 Foot Scorpions dislodge the train from the tracks & devour humans like they are flies. Then the 100 Foot Black Scorpion comes fights then kills them. My other favorite scene would have to be at the end in The Stadium when the Black Scorpion is fighting the military with the tanks, guns & helicopters. How they finally hit that soft spot under the throat with the electric cable how it keeps on fighting & getting back up I thought when I first saw the film it was awesome it was like the thing was never gonna die. So I give this film an 8 It is the second best 50's Giant Monster Movie. The best I think is "It Came From Beneath The Sea" (1955) of course because of Master Ray Harryhausen's ground breaking Stop-Motion Animation Work in that. The Octopus had so much character in It Came. More so then any of the scorpions in Black. But still The Black Scorpion is awesome! I don't care how much better Them! & Tarantula did in the Theaters then The Black Scorpion. Also what the critics say means nothing. I like The Black Scorpion better then both those films. The only film from that period similar that I think is better is "It Came From Beneath The Sea" (1955)The Master Of Stop-Motion Animation Ray Harryhausen obviously is the reason which I already stated. So any Stop-Motion Fan or Fans of 50's Giant Monster Sci-Fiers should check it out.
The Crater Lake Monster (1977)
Best lake monster movie with top notch Stop-Motion Effects by David Allen!
This movie is a great Drive-Inn 70's Sci-Fi / Thriller I know most people give it bad comments though. Since it was supposed to take place at Crater Lake instead because of the low budget limitation it was filmed in California at some land formed lake up there. Anyway the lake is dark, murky & a good bit of it leaves behind that creepiness image & feel that Loch Ness gives you. Not the greatest acting but I guess good enough for this type of B-Drive Inn Sci-Fi Film. What makes this movie so great u ask? Any fan of Stop-Motion Animation knows of the great David Allen who followed in the footsteps of the stop-motion legends Willis O'Brien & Ray Harryhausen. He was inspired by them in the early 1950's as a young boy he saw some of their films on television. The Plesiosaurus which is a prehistoric water reptile from the Dinosaur ages that has a long neck razor sharp teeth & four flippers with a tail. It can walk on land as well. The attack scenes depicted in this film handled by Dave Allen using Stop-Motion Animation. Then some scenes in the water had like a fabricated head made for some of the close up water attack shots & a few other shots in the film. The Loch Ness Horror (1982) also has a Plesiosaurus in it which is supposed to be what Nessie is the nickname of The Legendary Loch Ness Monster of Scotland. Same with the lake monster that's in Lake Champlain in Upstate New York. Champ is the nickname & that is America's Loch Ness Monster. Back to Crater The Stop-Motion Animation in this film is some of the best Animation I have ever seen. This is one of his early efforts not to mention also. Equinox from 1970 was his first big break & that film earned a huge Cult following by Sci-Fi, Horror & Fantasy Film Buffs like myself. I also just got that 2 Disc DVD Special Edition Set from Criterion Collection I have checked some of it out awesome stuff. I can't wait to watch both versions of the films this weekend with the extras on Disc 2. Anyway back to Crater Lake Dave was assisted by Jim Danforth & Randall William Cook two other great Stop-Motion Animators Danforth that was focusing on more matte painting on Films at that time since Stop-Motion was becoming obsolete. His last film he did in which he did all the animation on was When Dinosaurs Ruled The Earth (1970). Which he earned an Oscar for Best Visual Effects in America & that is a British made film. He started Matte Painting on that film as well while still doing Stop-Motion also. But Equinox he only does Matte Painting & most of the films after Equinox too. He does some assistant animation occasionally & other animation though. Jim Danforth he loves animation he thinks it gives that feel & look that CGI doesn't give cause it is too real the same was said by Ray Harryhausen. I agree with them both I prefer Stop-Motion Animation over CGI myself. Dave Allen's Animation in Crater like steals the show it is what makes the film worth watching. Otherwise if there was no great Stop-Motion either done by Willis O'Brien, Ray Harryhausen, Pete Peterson, Jim Danforth, David Allen, Randall William Cook, Phil Tippet, Jim Aupperle, Doug Beswick, or Dennis Muren which is an exceptional animator the others are the best animators out there. My point is without Dave Allen's Animation or one of the other greats I mentioned which Willis O'Brien passed away in the early 60's so he couldn't do the animation obviously. If u are a huge Stop-Motion Fan like me then u will really enjoy this movie. Other then that stay away I guess unless u are a fan of Drive-Inn B Sci-Fi Films with great special effects & low grade everything else. It is one of my favorite 70's Sci-Fi Flicks anyway.
Tarantula (1955)
Best Science Fiction giant spider film!
Tarantula is an absolute 50's Sci-Fi Classic! Well directed by Jack Arnold who also gave us 50's Sci-Fi Classic like "It Came From Outer Space" (1953), "Creature From The Black Lagoon" (1954), "This Island Earth" (1955), "Revenge Of The Creature" (1955), "The Incredible Shrinking" (1957), "Monster On The Campus" (1958). Tarantula is about a Professor named Gerald Deemer (Leo G. Carroll) who is working on a nutrient that causes animals to grow large. A radioactive isotope is what holds the nutrient together & triggers it. Among the Giant Hampsters, Rabbits & Rats there is a Giant Tarantula about as big as a dog that escapes after the professor has a fight with one of his assistants that was injected with the nutrient & becomes deformed. This Tarantula grows bigger & bigger from the injections which included the radioactive isotope which is what makes the tarantula so big. It ends up getting 100 Feet Tall & terrorizes the Arizona Country Side. Dr. Matt Hastings (John Agar) famous for 50's & 60's B Sci-Fi Films like (Revenge Of The Creature '55, The Mole People '56, Daughter Of Dr. Jekyll '57, The Brain From Planet Arous '57, Attack Of The Puppet People '58, Invisible Invaders '59, Hand Of Death '62, Journey To The Seventh Planet '62, Women Of The Prehistoric Planet '66, Zontar, The Thing From Venus '66 (Remake) (TV) & Curse Of The Swamp Creature '66 (TV).) eventually finds out about the tarantula having visiting local farmers with The Sheriff Jack Andrews (Nestor Paiva) with Cattle stripped down to the bone & puddles of white liquid which is the Tarantula's Venom. Stephanie Clayton (Mara Corday) also famous for 50's Sci-Fi also was a Playboy Playmate in Oct. 1958 Issue of Playboy also was a famous 50's Pin-Up Model. Helps Deemer with his experiments & meets Agar's character of course they have a likeness for each other. I am not gonna say what happens to the Tarantula of they destroy it or not. See it it is a must for 50's Sci-Fi Giant Creature Feature Fans! In my top list of top 50's Sci-Fi Giant Creature Features, this only includes small Creatures that have grown larger from some sort of radioactive material. 1. It Came From Beneath The Sea (1955), 2. The Black Scorpion (1957), 3. Tarantula (1955), 4. Beginning Of The End (1957) & 5. Them! (1954) Those are my top 5 so.
The Lost World (1925)
Excellent Classic Silent Sci-Fi Willis O'Brien was a genius!
This is an awesome movie. It is the best & original Classic Film Version of "The Lost World". Based on Sr. Arthur Conan Doyle's Novel by the same name. Which was about Dinosaurs & Prehistoric Creatures still alive in the upper reaches of the Amazon in South America. The film version is pretty much the same but to bring the dinosaurs to life is a whole other story. That job went to Special Effects Pioneer Willis H. O'Brien who would later gain world wide recognition with his ground breaking Stop-Motion Animation in The Classic "King Kong" (1933). Known to the modern world as The Godfather Of Stop-Motion Animation. O'Brien was a true pioneer. He brought Dinosaurs to life in an earlier Silent Movie Short called "The Ghost Of Slumber Mountain" (1917). His earlier Silent Movie Shorts when he first conceived the idea were corky & primitive but still entertaining today. His early starting projects for Edison used Clay Animation. Movie Film Shorts "The Dinosaur And The Missing Link: A Prehistoric Tragety" (1915), R.F.D. 10,000 B.C. (1916), & Prehistoric Poultry (1916). Later projects the first & bigger project would not use clay. Metal Skeletons connected by Wooden or Metal Ball & Socket Joints. Very movable & flexible. Made to hold a one frame pose for an exposure to be slightly changed to the next & next. The Lost World (1925) I think was O'Brien's best work most of it except for few jerky Dino Animation Sequences. I don't even think that was O'Brien's Stop-Motion. Fred Jackman helped out with animation. Which he did the jerky animation scenes u see. Marcel Delgado who constructed the dinosaur models did an excellent job. The movie is a Masterpiece of early Special Effects I especially like when the Brotosaurus escapes the cage & breaks loose terrorizing the streets of London that is very memorable. The movie is in my Top 10 Favorite Films of all time. Check it out if you haven't already you Stop-Motion Fans & Dinosaur Movie Fans. I just recently got the Image Entertainment DVD Version which restores more then 50% more of the film which originally was 100 some mins. Now they have 92 mins.& has some extra features. I also have the Lumivision DVD of the 64 min. version that has trailer & those early Edison Clay Animation Shorts & 1 other Clay thing about Dinosaurs that O'Brien didn't do though like The Edison ones. Last it has Still Galleries & Notes by Ray Harryhausen plus one last thing Promotion Piece about The Lost World Puzzle. I would advise both but buy the Image Entertainment DVD Version though if you wanna really enjoy the film.
The Day of the Triffids (1963)
One of the best British Sci-Fi-Thrillers!
The Day Of The Triffids is an awesome Top-Notch British Sci-Fi-Thriller released in 1963 based on the novel by John Wyndham. The movie starts with a Meteorite Shower that blinds the world. The radiation from meteorite shower transforms strange carnivorous plants known as Triffids into flesh-eating man killing monsters. Howard keel stars as a Sailor that is recovering from an eye operation & doesn't witness the catastrophic event. He meets a little girl he meets on a train. A couple together in a Light House including a Biologist played by Kieron Moore & his beautiful wife played by Janette Scott. They deal with the Triffids themselves in a terrifying experience. The couple in the Light House, The Biologist discovers a way to destroy the menacing Triffids. I am not gonna say anymore see it it is one of the best Sci-Fi- movies ever made. I saw The Pan & Scan Version from VHS which I recently transfered to DVD+R. I just got The Letter-Box Format Version on DVDR on ebay. Very professional DVDR with menu, trailer & chapters I can't wait to watch it this weekend!
Octaman (1971)
Rick Baker does it with a throwback to Black Lagoon!
Octaman (1972) is an awesome Sci-Fi / Horror / Thriller Monster Film. This is my favorite Throwback imitation to "Creature From The Black Lagoon" (1954) Rana is my second favorite. There was another called "The Monster Of Piedras Blancas" (1958) that one was good for the 50's but I don't think that was as good as Octaman & "Rana: The Legend Of Shadow Lake" (1975). It was good but those two were both much better I thought. Blancas was pretty gory for the 50's with the decapitated head thing. It was Probably one of my favorite out of the 50's Lagoon Spin-Off's but overall Octaman was a lot better of a Spin-Off & so was Rana. Anyway Harry Essex wrote the script & Directed Octaman. He Also actually wrote the script for the original "Creature From The Black Lagoon" (1954) as well which had big mainstream success. I guess he decided he wanted to do a 70's Version of Black Lagoon thus Octaman was born. The Costume was designed & created greatly by Rick Baker & Doug Beswick I thought. The eyes look so realistic & also move. He has four tentacles as arms the other four are his legs & are stuck together. Even the second row of arms move & Read Morgan was in that costume & only had two arms so Baker especially & Beswick did a great job. It was also a lot gorier then Rana which is why I like it better. Also not to mention I like Octopy better then Frogs so. This one was just great. For u B & Z Grade Sci-Fi & Horror Film Buffs u will love it! I don't wanna ruin the movie if u live in the Pittsburgh area u can catch Octaman on television on The It's Alive Show on channel 21 WBGN - TV Sat. Dec. 10, 2005 at 11pm. Here is their home page & enjoy! http://www.theitsaliveshow.com/
Rana: The Legend of Shadow Lake (1980)
Bill Rebane's Black Lagoon homage Sci-Fi-Horror-Thriller Z-Grade Cult Classic!
This film was a lot better then I thought. It was pretty much a throw back to "Creature From The Black Lagoon" except half man half frog & he had a weapon also guarded gold treasures. This is an excellent throwback tribute to Jack Arnold's Sci-Fi Classic the monster suit isn't as good as in Lagoon, but hey what the hell Rana was done a lot lower of a budget then Jack Arnold's Lagoon. I saw this movie finally when I bid & won on ebay. My mom purchased it was a VHS used in good condition got that during X-Mas 2005. I enjoyed pretty much every sec. down to the needle. It was pretty bloody is one reason I really liked it bloodier then Lagoon but not as scary almost though. If the suit would of been better but it's damn good for the budget. The Frog Man likes the younger girl the one that was swimming around in the lake in the sexy one piece pink swimsuit. Yeah Rana got her in the end after Kelly's father was killed. Kelly & the Female Palentologist's young niece were there & that is when Rana broke in & attacked them. He took her over his shoulder this is a lot like in Lagoon when The Gillman takes Julia Adams off the boat & dives back into the lagoon with her. Well I ain't telling much about Rana all u B & Z Graders should see it I loved it! By the way I will be getting the DVD release of it from Troma under it's a.k.a. title "Croaked: Frog Monster From Hell". Which I got & was very disappointed in cause it ran only 89 mins. I also have the old Burbank VHS as I stated & that one ran about 93 mins. Stupid because Troma originally distributed the film why they cut out 3 or 4 mins. for the DVD release makes no sense. Doubt there will ever be another more commercial DVD this being such an obscure 70's monster flick. Along with Rebane's other 70's Sci-Fi Efforts besides, "The Giant Spider Invasion" from 1975. That just got a 2009 2-Disc DVD Deluxe Treatment. That one seems to get the most attention. Which is a shame his 1977 Sci-Fi Effort "The Alpha Incident" was doubled billed with Star Wars at the theaters back in 1977. It was the second feature to Star Wars. Rebane stated in the commentary on the new Spider Invasion DVD, he didn't know if Alpha or his 1987 Horror Slasher Effort "Blood Harvest" got the bigger share of the pie. He never did get the money for Spider Invasion's theatrical gross. Neither it's enduring Cult Status as a mainstream Drive-Inn Sci-Fi Classic. Rana is one of my favorites of the 70's though. So I gave it a 6 but Octaman '72 & Zaat '72 are better they got an 8 for their type.