Recent viewings

[Ozzymandias]

100 Years of Horror - I read some bad reviews on this but decided to buy it anyway. Pleasently surprised. This isn't the usual Ted Newsome documentary with an endless supply of movie trailers and dull voice over. This has Christopher Lee hosting with interviews old and new from several people (how did Hefner get in there).  Pretty good really.


Terror Creature From the Grave - This is an Itallian horror film staring Barbara Steele. An attorney arrives at a castle to settle a dead scientist estate for his widow (Steele) and his daughter. He finds out the scientist practiced contacting dead plague victimes and the castle was built on top of the sight where a hospital for plague victims used to be. The scientist enemies are all dying off now. Unfortuanlty this is an edited U.S. version, but still pretty good for $6.


Cheer - Okay, okay, I'm goofy, stupid, or down right creepy for buying this but darn it I LIKE CHEERLEADERS! This is interesting because all those moves they had are generic and have names like 'the High V ,' 'T-motion' and 'daggers.' It certainly works to break the idea of cheerleading not being a sport, but at times the scripting plays into our ideas about cheerleaders ("If you want to watch this video again, you can rewind it." DUH!) Only problem is the segment featuring Mike, a Brad Pitt-lookalike coach. I've got "Beat those Dogs - Go Central!" and "Here We Go Tigers - Here We Go Tigers!" stuck in my head. Hey this is a fun video.

[Shit Demon]

Hey, interesting list you've got there.

[Scott H.]

If you like cheerleader movies, you should pick up a copy of Satan's Cheerleaders. John Carradine even has a cameo as a bum on the side of the highway.

[Mr Hockstatter]

Another cheerleader video - I gotta have it!  They had a good cheer in Cheerleader Ninjas:

Break their arms
Crush their knees
Make 'em hurt bad
Where they pee

And remember kids, never judge a person by the color of their skin, or what religion they are.  Judge them by how much money they make, and what kind of car they drive!

[Scott]

Yea, I use to own 100 YEARS OF HORROR on DVD, but the audio was so bad I couldn't enjoy it. If you got one that had good audio I can tell it was a keeper. Looked very good.

TERROR CREATURES FROM THE GRAVE was ok, but I was expecting more from a Barbara Steele film. Actually most of her films weren't  very good except BLACK SUNDAY and some of the other films she had small roles in.

[Mr_Vindictive]

Scott,

I'm always glad when someone mentions Black Sunday.  It's one of those "mainly forgotten" flicks.

[Ozzymandias]

I wish to sincerely apologize for spelling Mr. Newsom’s name wrong. Someone pointed out that there isn’t a “e” on the end. I probably wrote that in haste and more than likely at work. I should clarify I have the videos Mr. Newsom created for Rhino and they are very good. I watch them quite a bit. The comment on the voice over was probably out of line, but I’m a radio announcer, I couldn't resist.

[Chopper]

hey Ozzy for another great documentary about horror films of the 60's and 70's i'd heavily recommend American Nightmare. chock full of a lot of awesome interviews with Cronenberg, Craven, Carpenter, etc. all the greats.

[Ozzymandias]

Thanks.  I'll see if I can track it down.

[Dr. Kobb]

Last nights late-night groggy cinema treat? "Pra Apai-Manee"(`02)! The catalog description for this recent Indonesian movie stated that it harkens back to the great Ray Harryhausen fantasy epics. Not quite as memorable as those, but still, were it not for some tits(brief) and gore, an almost childlike tale of wonder like something straight outta a Hans Christian Anderson story(`cept set in lush, tropical Thailand). Apparently, Pra-Apai-Manee is one of the great heros of Thai literature.
Briefly, it's the tale of two brothers, Princes whose Father the King banishes them for mastering skills that he doesn't consider necessary for running the kingdom(one learns the fighting-stick, the other, Pra Apai-Manee, learns the flute well enough that he can bring peace to all creatures within earshot).
The rest of the movie details their travels as they meet bandits and swami's, Pra Apai-Manee is kidnapped by a gigantic Sea-Witch who falls in love with him, while his brother Sinmahsia(something like that) and the swami's help a Princess defend her kingdom from aggressors. Throughout all of this, there's gripping swordfights, sea-ghosts, hermits, a family of mermaids, gorgeous underwater scenes, magic grottos and islands, and more.
Lotsa fun for lovers of high fantasy, but I am almost conditioned by years of Western storylines to seeing the Princes return in Prodigal-son fashion and reclaim their rightful place as heir(s) to the throne, and instead, it just sorta leaves off. Perhaps they are planning a 'Part 2'. Gorgeous, almost 'innocent' flick, though. Would've fit right nicely in between "Jason and the Argonauts" and "Tarzan the Fearless" during Sunday afternoon p.j.'s and Cocoa Puffs sugar-rushes when I was a kid.