Wednesday, August 19, 2015

THE VERY BEST OF WCW MONDAY NITRO VOL. 3 2015 (WWE)

A third great volume of Nitro.

Watching pro wrestling from 1994-2004 was an experience most of the younger fans will never get to experience, and that is a shame.

During this time we had "The Monday Night Wars" which pitted WWE against WCW with WCW clearly taking the lead for almost two consecutive years. WCW had Monday Nitro which was by far the most innovative show of the two. This program started the attitude era in wrestling.

This three disc set is filled with great matches from 1995 to 2001. There are such classics as Sting vs. Diamond Dallas Page, Sister Sherri vs. Madusa, The Outsiders vs. Lex Lugar and Diamond Dallas Page, Goldberg Vs. Ric Flair and much, much more.

There are also some great moments such as when the NWO took over Monday Nitro, The NWO throwing out the Giant and Lex Lugar joining the Wolfpac.

Over 7 hours of great memories hosted by Diamond Dallas Page. This set is highly Recommended to any wrestling fan that was there at the time, or new fans who are just discovering what an era it was.

RIP YVONNE CRAIG 1937-2015

Another part of my life is gone.

Yvonne Craig who is best known as "Batgirl" from the series Batman has passed away at the age of 78.

She starred in several movies such as "Kissin Cousins" and "It Happened At The World's Fair", both with Elvis Presley. She also starred in the low budget film "Mars Needs Women" but she will always be remembered for her role as Barbara Gordon, aka "Batgirl".

She had been battling breast cancer and lost the fight on Aug. 17th.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO...

Jill St. John is 75, Debra Paget is 82, Darby Hinton is 58, Diana Muldaur is 77, L.Q. Jones is 88, and Angus Scrimm is 89.

Tuesday, August 18, 2015

MAN WHO TURNED TO STONE 1957 (MILL CREEK)

Good little film from the bizarre world of Sam Katzman.

A group of scientists from the 18th century stay alive by killing young women and taking their "life force". These scientists are running a women's prison so they have an endless supply of victims.

Victor Jory is Murdoch, the head scientist. Charlotte Austin is beautiful as the social worker who suspects something funny is going on and Bill Hudson is a state investigator who is called in when the death rate gets too high at the prison.

Friedrich von Ledebur is rather creepy as the silent Eric. It is he who kidnaps the women and even though he never says a word, his role is the highlight of the film.

The rest of the cast for this little gem includes Ann Doran, Jean Willes, Paul Cavanagh, Tina Carver and Barbara Wilson.

It is good to see this finally get a DVD release and the print from Mill Creek is excellent. Recommended!!

Monday, August 17, 2015

TERROR OF THE TONGS 1961 (MILL CREEK)

A very well made Hammer adventure film.

Christopher Lee stars as the leader of a vicious group of killers that are after a list with their names on it.

When looking for the list the kill the young daughter of a ship captain in Hong Kong Harbor, and that is the start of their downfall. Geoffrey Toone is Captain Jackson Sale, a man who has vowed to bring the crime ring known as "The Red Dragon Tong" down to the ground.

Gorgeous Yvonne Monlaur is a former Tong slave that helps Sale destroy his enemies. This is a violent but still fun film from Hammer and it was the first film Christopher Lee got top billing.

If you like adventure films you're gonna like this little gem. Recommended.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO....

Maureen O'Hara is 95, Belinda Carlisle is 57, and Shane Briant is 69.

Sunday, August 16, 2015

RIP ELVIS

It was 38 years ago today that we lost the single greatest entertainer the world has ever known.

Where were you when you heard the news? I was at home and will never forget it.

THE MAD MAGICIAN 1954 (MILL CREEK)

Another great role for Vincent Price.

Price stars as a magician named Gallico whose employer steals every idea he has ever had. This leads to rage which causes Gallico to murder his boss and then have to impersonate him, which causes even more problems.

Gallico is forced to commit several more murders in order to keep his original murder a secret. Eva Gabor plays his ex wife whom he must also kill.

This is not a bad little movie, and it reminds me of the classic "House Of Wax" in many ways. The print from Mill Creek is perfect and it has been included on a set with four other film. The set is entitled "Classic Horror 4 Pack" and it is a must for any horror fan.

The rest of the cast for this wonderful little film includes John Emery, Patrick O' Neal and Mary Murphy.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO.....

Julie Newmar is 82, Ann Blyth is 87, and Mirta Miller is 67.

Saturday, August 15, 2015

FIVE 1951 (MILL CREEK)

This is the first "end of the world from nuclear war films".

Arch Oboler directed this film about the last five people left alive after a nuclear war has wiped out all of mankind.

The five are a pregnant woman whose husband was killed in the explosion, a banker and a bank guard, a young poet and a neo Nazi.

At first all seems to be going well as the first four survivors get together and help each other survive. The elderly banker dies of radiation poisoning but than comes Eric, a neo Nazi type man who completely destroys the unit that has been created.

Eric kills the bank guard, Charles and convinces the woman Roseanne to take new new born baby and leave with him to the big city to find other people and more food.

While in the city Roseanne sees the decayed body of her husband and Eric discovers he has radiation poisoning as well and he runs off. Roseanne and her baby must then fend for themselves. The baby dies and Michael the poet is reunited with Roseanne.

It's a very bleak but well told tale. The acting is good and Oboler handles the material well. I hadn't seen this film for ages, and Mill Creek finally turned it out on DVD along with three other films that I will have here soon.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO....

Natasha Henstridge is 41, Pat Priest is 79, Mike Conners is 90, Barbara Bouchet is 72, Mike Henry is 79, Uschi Digard is 67, Abby Dalton is 83, Lori Nelson is 82, and Gaylen Ross is 65.

Thursday, August 13, 2015

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO....

Halle Berry is 49, Antonio Fargas is 69, Jim Wynorski is 65, and Candace Hilligoss is 80.

Wednesday, August 12, 2015

RIP MARK SHEELER 1924-2015

A very good character actor has passed away.

Sheeler died on Aug. 6th from complications following a stroke. Sheeler acted in a lot of "B" movies during the 50's and 60's including such films as "Tank Battalion" , "Speed Crazy" and "Why Must I Die".

He gained high popularity for starring in the film "From Hell it Came" in 1957. He plays "Eddie" the radio man. It is a role he will always be remembered for.

He was 92.

RAMBLINGS....

Wow I missed a film that has come in under my radar.

3 Headed Shark Attack has been released by Asylum. This is a direct sequel to 2 Headed Shark Attack, and of course the title explains all.

it was directed by Chris Ray and stars Rob Van Dam, Danny Trejo, lovely Karrueche Tran, and Jena Sims. Gotta watch this and review it sometime soon.

THE BABADOOK 2014 (SHOUT FACTORY)

Very strange film indeed.

A widowed mother lives with her son in a very dull and depressing home in which she tries to cope with the loss of her husband and the child acts out fantasies of fighting monsters.

One night they read a strange book entitled Mr. Babadook and soon it becomes apparent that the monster from the book has inhabited their home. The child reacts with sheer terror and the mother tries to deny it's existence.

This truly has some scares in it and most of it is well done. Director Jennifer Kent handles the material well and she knows how to get the most out of her actors.Essie Davis is Amelia, the mother who seems to never get over the death of her husband and who now must fight a bizarre supernatural creature.

We never see the babadook much, but that adds to the terror. The unseen is always more frightening. The director says the monster was copied from pictures of Lon Chaney, Sr. in "London After Midnight".

For a modern horror film it isn't too bad, and I would recommend it to any horror fan.

Tuesday, August 11, 2015

RAMBLINGS....

Just read something on a board that really pisses me off, and disheartens me a lot.

Some lame 20 something I presume since they are the ones who have absolutely NO RESPECT for anything. He was writing about the movie VARAN which was turned out by Media Blasters a few years ago. His complaint was that the film wasn't released in proper aspect ratio!!

These young people have no respect for anything. I feel we should all just be glad we are alive and able to watch these films that have been released on VHS and DVD and now Blu-ray.

I too wish some of these films were done correctly, but by God I am happy to see them no matter what. The problem is, half of these young assholes were born prior to the age when none of this existed. They seem to want everything prestine and perfect or they whine and bitch about it.

Back when I was growing up I had a small black and white TV and actually had to watch things on it!! What a shocker. There was also no way to time shift or record, so choices had to be made. These idiots today are so spoiled by technology that the appreciate nothing.

Who the hell cares about proper aspect ratio when that is all that is stopping you from watching the film?? I hardly find that a basis for not viewing. Get over it!! These films are still great no matter what, and I for one am very thankful to be able to see all this wonderful stuff.

You stupid spoiled young people have everything a person could want, and yet you still want more. You're not film fans, you're intellectually vapid zombies who can do nothing but whine. It's a shame that so many movie boards are polluted with their garbage.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO....

Hulk Hogan is 62, Arlene Dahl is 90, and Stuart Gordon is 68.

Monday, August 10, 2015

BATMAN SEASON 2 VOL. 2 1966-1967 (WARNER)

This is the last half of season 2 of one of my favorite shows ever.

There are 30 more episodes and every one is fun.

THE PUZZLES ARE COMING 12/21/66...Maurice Evans stars as The Puzzler planning a jewel heist.

THE DUO IS SLUMMING 12/22/66...The Puzzler tries to steal a super-jet.

THE SANDMAN COMETH 12/28/66...Michael Rennie stars as The Sandman. In this episode he teams with Catwoman (Julie Newmar) to steal a fortune from a millionairess named J. Pauline Spaghetti.

THE CATWOMAN GOETH 12/29/66...Batman knows that a double cross is coming from one of the crooks and so he plays The Sandman off on Catwoman.\

THE CONTAMINATED COWL 1/4/67...David Wayne stars as The Mad Hatter who plans to steal the cowl of Batman.

THE MAD HATTER RUNS AFOUL 1/5/67....The Mad Hatter thinks he has successfully gotten away with stealing batman's cowl, but is in for a big surprise.

THE ZODDIAC CRIMES 1/11/67... The Joker (Cesar Romero) and The Penguin (Burgess Meredith) tam up for a series of crimes based on the signs of the zodiac.

THE JOKERS HARD TIMES 1/12/67...Penguin is captured by Batman and Robin, but the Joker continues the crime wave.

THE PENGUIN DECLINES 1/18/67...Jokers men free Penguinwhile The Dynamic Duo tries to stop them.

THAT DARN CATWOMAN 1/19/67...Catwoman (Julie Newmar) uses her new aid Pussycat (Leslie Gore) to keep Robin uner their power and make him a criminal with a new spray called Cataphrenic.

SCAT DARN CATWOMAN 1/25/67...Catwoman tries to force Batman to join her.

PENGUIN IS A GIRL'S BEST FRIEND 1/26/67...Penguin (Burgess Meredith) uses a movie company as a front for a crime ring an enlists the aid of Marsha Queen of Diamonds (Carolyn Jones) to blackmail the Caped Crusader.

THE PENGUIN DECLINES 2/1/67...The Penguin captures the Dynamic Duo and plans to kill them in a hydraulic crusher.

PENGUIN'S DISASTROUS END 2/2/67...Penguin and Marsha attempt to rob the Gotham City treasury!!

BATMAN'S ANNIVERSARY 2/8/67...During an anniversary celebration for Batman, The Riddler (John Astin) steals a golden calf.

A RIDDLING CONTROVERSY 2/9/67...The Riddler gets his hands on a De-Moleculiozer from a scientist (Martin Kosleck).

THE JOKERS LAST LAUGH2/15/67...The Joker circulates phoney money using robot tellers in banks.

THE JOKER'S EPITAPH 2/16/67...The Joker is named vice president of a bank thanks to a signature by Bruce Wayne.

CATWOMAN GOES TO COLLEGE 2/22/67...Catwoman is out on parole and plans to further her education....or does she?

BATMAN DISPLAYS HIS KNOWLEDGE 2/23/67...Batman tricks Catwoman into thinking he is falling for her in order to stop her criminal plans.

A PIECE OF THE ACTION 3/1/67...The Green Hornet and Kato come to Gotham City to stop a rare stamp counterfeiting ring. Van Williams and Bruce Lee star as the Hornet and Kato.

BATMAN'S SATISFACTION 3/2/67...The Green Hornet, Kato, Batman and Robin fight to stop Colonel Gumm (Roger C. Carmel) from stealing stamps at an exhibition.

KING TUT'S COUP 3/8/67...King Tut (Victor Buono) kidnaps Bruce Wayne's date for a celebration. Sexy Lee Meriwether co-stars.

BATMAN'S WATERLOO 3/9/67...King Tut demands a huge ransom for his kidnap victim and Batman must stop him from collecting as well as stop him from boiling Robin alive.

BLACK WIDOW STRIKES AGAIN 3/15/67...The Black Widow (Tallulah Bankhead) is in Gotham City robbing bank in alphabetical order.

CAUGHT IN THE SPIDER'S DEN 3/16/67...Black Widow turns Batman into an accomplice in her crimes.

POP GOES THE JOKER 3/22/67...The Joker opens up an art school as a front for a new crime ring.

FLOP GOES THE JOKER 3/23/67...The Joker continues his crime wave of art thefts an Batman must outwit him.

ICE SPY 3/29/67...Mr. Freeze (Eli Wallach) is after a formula known as instant freeze.

THE DUO DEFY 3/30/67...Mr. Freeze threatens to freeze the entire country unless his demands are met.

So ended the second season of one of the best shows ever made for TV. The guest star list was one of a kind, and it is sad there has been no show since that has been this entertaining. Now if only Warner would release The Green Hornet.

Sunday, August 9, 2015

RIP FRANK GIFFORD 1930-2015

One of the men who made Monday Night Football and cultural icon has died.

Frank Gifford, a former football star and one of the voices on Monday Night Football died of natural causes on Aug. 8th surrounded by family and friends.

Gifford was was a wide receiver for the New York Giants and had 8 pro bowl appearances as well as 5 trips to the NFL Championship game. Gifford, along with Howard Cosell and Dom Meredeth made MNF a true Icon in TV during the 70's and 80's.

Gifford was a very articulate man who added nothing but class to the announcing game for ABC Sports. Thanks for the sports memories Mr. Gifford.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO....

Gillian Anderson is 47, Rhona Mitra is 39, and Sam Elliot is 71.

Saturday, August 8, 2015

VALLEY OF THE DRAGONS 1961 (MILL CREEK)

The sixth and final film from the Mill Creek set entitled "Vintage Sci-Fi".

This film centers on two men who are about to dual when suddenly a violent windstorm comes their way andd a comet passes the earth and sweeps them off to a very strange adventure on a comet.

Cesare Danova and Sean McClory are the two men. They find themselves in a strange prehistoric land inhabited by dinosaurs and many different tribes of cavemen.

This is based on the story "Career Of A Comet" by Jules Verne. Joan Staley and Danielle De Metz are two cave women who falls for the handsome strangers. They all battle dinosaurs and fight for survival.

This is a fun film even though there is a ton of stock footage from "One Million B.C." from 1940. The print from Mill Creek is perfect and it should be good for Saturday afternoon viewing. Recommended!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO.....

Connie Stevens is 77, Richard Anderson is 89, Nita Talbot is 85, and Tom Reese is 87.