Packmule's Pen

A civil matter

2021-03-18T15:20:00.003-04:00

I rarely discuss politics with anyone these days and haven't for a long time, years in fact. The reason why is probably the same reason why others are loathe to do so: because it's becoming increasingly difficult if not impossible to discuss one's political beliefs with another person who has a differing opinion without being judged, ridiculed or insulted. To watch the news or various social media platforms(e.g. YouTube) is to see an ongoing meatgrinder of ugly arguments and even fisticuffs between people over politics or other petty and ridiculous reasons. Maybe it's me but the level of civility and respect shown towards others is on the decline in America. I think it's been on the decline for a long time and to be honest I'm not sure if it will ever get any better. We live in an "entitlement" culture now where we act like we're the center of the universe and what we want we want NOW. When things don't go our way or when we encounter an aggravation in life we go ballistic and take it out on other people. I've had to work at controlling my temper for my entire life and also at being able to better deal with the daily aggravations that present themselves to me. I'd like to think I'm a better adjusted person now: a good listener, less judgmental, more open minded and more tolerant of all the things large and small that could trigger a bad reaction in me. I can still do better and efforts are absolutely ongoing. I mention "efforts" because that's what it takes. It's easy to hate, to judge, to ridicule another person for ANY reason. Not doing those things takes work but it's worth the effort to try. It is my hope that Americans can do a better job of treating each other with courtesy, respect, empathy and sympathy. I still have faith that one day we'll get there.

Second time around: GODZILLA RAIDS AGAIN (1955)

2020-11-29T10:38:00.007-05:00

I've been a fan of Godzilla and Godzilla films since I was a kid. My first experience with the now infamous monster began in 1969 when I saw Destroy All Monsters(1968) as well as Toei's The Green Slime(1968) at the Rialto Theater in downtown Atlanta, GA. Only small fragments of memory remain of that experience as I was only seven years old. In the 1970's I would catch a Godzilla movie on occasion on television and by the 1980's I was collecting Godzilla movies on VHS and wearing out at least two VCRs a year watching them and other movies I'd record off the TV.

Now any fan of giant monsters can access Godzilla and other giant monsters in cinema through the various streaming services (e.g. Netflix, Roku or Amazon Prime Video) as well as both DVD and Blu Ray. I have long harbored a great fondness for physical media regarding films and as such my DVD and Blu Ray collection continues to grow albeit at a much slower pace.

While I personally like every Godzilla film there are a handful in which I have continued to harbor a lingering disdain for certain aspects of them and consequently I go back on occasion and re-watch these movies. GODZILLA RAIDS AGAIN, Toho's 1955 follow up to the phenomenally successful 1954 film GOJIRA, is one of these movies.

I'm not going to ramble on with a "review" of GODZILLA RAIDS AGAIN, produced by Toho and directed by Motoyoshi Oda. There are plenty of reviews of "GRA" online and are easy to find on YouTube. I have always disliked the Godzilla suit design for this movie as well as some of the shaky special effects. Still, I find myself liking this movie slightly more ever time I view it. There is plenty of monster action featuring Godzilla and the armored, quadrupedal Anguirus, two creatures who play out their rivalry by demolishing a city. There are many likable and sympathetic characters in "GRA" and the film's ending includes a character's heroic sacrifice and marvelous effects as the Japanese self defense forces mass one final effort to stop Godzilla. You won't find much humor in GRA and that's also something I appreciate: this movie's dark tone and pervasive sense of dread among the human cast of characters is a carryover from GOJIRA(1954).

I have a VHS copy of the Americanized version which goes by the title GIGANTIS THE FIRE MONSTER. I also own GRA on DVD(the original Toho version with English subtitles). I recommend the Toho version with English subtitles if you haven't seen it yet.

A trailer:

Giving thanks in 2020

2020-11-22T08:07:00.000-05:00

As the Thanksgiving holiday is nearly upon us its time for me to take a moment out of my schedule and typical routine of being stressed about work (and money) and comment on what I'm thankful for. Here goes:

I'm thankful for Allopurinol, a prescription medicine that helps prevent debilitating gout attacks in my joints, specifically my toes, knees, elbows and feet.
I'm thankful that my cat "Sissy" is potty trained and, about 99% of the time, answers the call of nature in her litterbox and nowhere else.
I'm thankful for dark roast coffee, which helps me snap out of my typical morning funks upon getting out of bed to go to work.
I'm thankful that I can work in 2020, especially given the situation in the United States(and abroad) with COVID-19 (aka the coronavirus).
I'm thankful for naproxen, an OTC drug that helps me manage my pain from arthritis.
I'm thankful for food delivery services like GRUBHUB, DOORDASH and UBER EATS which allow me to have food delivered to my residence when I don't feel like cooking.
I'm thankful for Amazon, an online business in which I can order a wide range of products including many things I use for work.
I'm thankful that there are still some people who post at my internet message board MONSTERLAND FORUMS.
I'm thankful for my smartphone (an iPhone 8 plus), a valuable tool in my trade (lawn maintenance).
I'm thankful for online savings accounts (I have two) which offer much better interest rates than the typical "brick and mortar" banks(like Wells Fargo or Bank Of America)
I'm thankful for smart TVs - on mine(a 55" Hisense ultra hi def model) I can watch any number of free channels including YouTube, a channel I especially like for its documentary content.
Finally, I'm thankful that I still have my sanity and overall health, both in enough quantity in order to work and make a living while staying out of discussions with others regarding religion and politics.

Dead reckoning: THE OBLONG BOX (1969)

2020-11-16T06:49:00.006-05:00

To get my "Hammer Film" horror movie "fix" every Halloween isn't enough for me: I also indulge in watching numerous horror films starring the incomparable Vincent Price. I managed to watch THE OBLONG BOX, produced by AIP and released theatrically in 1969.

Set in 1865 England, aristocrat Edward Markham, while on a trip to Africa, is tortured by a local African tribe, Markham's face left horribly mutilated. Julian Markham, Edward's brother (played by Vincent Price), rescues his brother from his tribal captors and returns to England with his disfigured brother. Julian locks away Edward in an upstairs room but eventually Edward escapes his captivity with revenge on his mind . . . (no other spoilers)

You'll find murder, voodoo rituals and skullduggery in THE OBLONG BOX. It's also the only film in which Vincent Price and Christopher Lee, who stars in many "Hammer" film horror movies, appear together in the same movie. Christopher Lee plays town doctor "Newhartt" in THE OBLONG BOX.

I own the DVD but will upgrading to the Blu Ray in early 2021.

A trailer:

The witching hour: THE CONQUEROR WORM (1968)

2020-11-15T09:37:00.005-05:00

As part of my Comcast cable television package I have, besides Turner Classic Movies, numerous decent alternative movie channels which show films without commercial interruption. Among these is Screenpix and I happened upon a movie I hadn't seen in many years: THE CONQUEROR WORM. This is the AIP title and which was originally released as "WITCHFINDER GENERAL", a 1968 British & American production between Tigon Films and AIP(American International Pictures).

The Conqueror Worm takes place in 1645 England during the English civil war. A lawyer named "Matthew Hopkins" has anointed himself witch hunter and prowls the English countryside with his brutish assistant interrogating, torturing and eventually murdering anyone and everyone who is suspected of witchcraft and/or Satanic possession. Vincent Price brings to life "Matthew Hopkins" in all his cruel, sadistic glory but also makes a sworn enemy in a young English soldier named "Richard Marshall"(played by Ian Ogilvy). Hopkins has tortured the young soldier's lovely fiancee and murdered her father and English "Roundhead" soldier Richard Marshall, understandably enraged, sets out to track down Matthew Hopkins and kill him. (no other spoilers).

Any horror movie fan who hasn't seen THE CONQUEROR WORM (1968) should do so if for no other reason than to watch Vincent Price at work. There are some scenes of gore and torture violence in this film that, while they pale in comparison to present day horror gore meat grinder movies, are still disturbing to watch. This movie is available on both DVD and Blu Ray.

A trailer:

Back from the dead and a post Halloween hangover

2020-11-15T09:12:00.003-05:00

I've been mostly inactive on the internet except for Facebook for the past eleven months. A lot of that is due to my busy schedule as a self employed lawn maintenance contractor and gardener...and also because I got a bad case of "internet fatigue" and online burnout. I am absolutely going to continue to abstain from discussing politics and/or religion on the internet and that includes this blog as well as my internet message board Monsterland Forums. Monsterland Forums, aka "Monsterland Asylum", is still active albeit with only a half dozen members (including myself) posting there. This message board, formerly formatted in Zetaboards, was transformed to a Tapatalks message board. I don't like Tapatalks but I am thankful Monsterland Forums wasn't deleted. I started it way back on January 29, 2006 and while it isn't nearly as active as it used to be(up until 20009 when Facebook took over) I still like the fact it's still here and has a following of sorts.

I dread November as it signals the start of my "leaf seasons" which are mostly large scale leaf clean ups on my properties. I also dislike November because I always suffer from a kind of post Halloween "hangover". Halloween is one of the few times during each year when I take time to slow down a little and use "All Hallows Eve" as an excuse to watch horror movies, consume pumpkin spice flavored coffee and also pumpkin flavored pop tarts. This year was no different in that regard and movies I ALWAYS watch in October were viewed again including: THE BEAST WITHIN(1982), PIT AND THE PENDULUM(1961), DIE MONSTER! DIE!(1965), HORROR OF DRACULA(1958) and HOUSE OF WAX(1953).

I'm going to "restart" this blog and see about about maintaining at least some sort of regular activity here.

Yongary(1999) amateur documentary

2020-01-14T08:48:00.002-05:00

Evan "G2KMaster" Brehany has finally released an amateur documentary he's been working on for many years about the 1999 Korean kaiju film Yonggary 2000, aka "Reptilian". I always use this blog to promote the work of others whenever I can. Click on the video below to watch Evan's work:

Giving thanks in 2019

2019-11-27T08:18:00.000-05:00

As another Thanksgiving holiday is upon us it's time for me to ramble about things and/or people I'm thankful for so without further ado:

I'm thankful for online savings accounts...which give my money the ability to earn at least some kind of interest since my regular bank savings account does not.
I'm thankful for smart TVs, specifically mine which enables me to watch YouTube and other streaming channels when I'm bored and/or disgusted with my cable TV viewing options...which is sadly quite often now.
I'm thankful for budget reading glasses that I can buy at a grocery store or pharmacy as it saves me from having to spend hundreds of dollars at an eye-wear retailer.
I'm thankful that I can still work, even if I find myself taking "Aleve" a little more often than I like to take the edge off the pain in my joints.
I'm thankful for "zero turn" riding mowers of which I own two now, which allow me to mow large properties without the wear and tear on my knees that using a walk behind mower would create.
I'm thankful for allopurinol, a drug which helps prevent gout flare ups and gout attacks in my joints.
I'm thankful for the small group of people (including myself) who participate in the forums at my 13 year old internet message board, Monsterland Forums (aka Monsterland Asylum).
I'm thankful for my smart phone, an iPhone 8 plus which helps me stay organized and serves as a reliable communication tool between me and my (lawn maintenance) customers
I'm thankful for Amazon Prime as the majority of merchandise I order from Amazon is delivered much more quickly.
I'm thankful for eBay where I can find kaiju and superhero(and super villain) toys at reasonable prices to help broaden my growing collection of toys and action figures.
I'm thankful for scented, all natural bar soap (which I order off Amazon) which leaves me feeling clean out of the shower and not like I just bathed with laundry detergent.
I'm thankful for classic "Hammer" horror movies which I watch regularly.
I'm finally thankful that I've never gotten caught up in the materialism of Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays overall.

Bite me: THE BRIDES OF DRACULA (1960)

2019-10-31T08:49:00.003-04:00

As I do every year the last week of October and including Halloween (October 31st), I binge watch horror movies. There is a variation some years as to what I watch and this year is no exception. I watched a Hammer Films produced horror movie that I hadn't seen in many years: THE BRIDES OF DRACULA, originally released in January, 1960. The film's cast includes Peter Cushing, Freda Jackson, David Peel and gorgeous Yvonne Monlaur.

Dracula is nowhere to be found in THE BRIDES OF DRACULA...but a young baron who has inherited the vampire affliction, after escaping home confinement (his mother has him chained inside a room inside a huge castle), sets about doing what Dracula and vampires in general typically do: terrorize folks and bite them in order to spread their "disease". If vampirism is in fact a disease then Dr. Gabriel Van Helsing is the cure and Peter Cushing reprises his role as the vampire hunter-killer "Van Helsing" (he began the role in 1958's Horror Of Dracula).

THE BRIDES OF DRACULA (1960) can be found for sale on both DVD and Blu Ray as part of respective box sets that feature other classic Hammer horror films. I have both sets and they're fantastic. Here's a link to the Blu Ray set: Hammer 8-film collection

A trailer:

When the lights go out: THE DARK(1979)

2019-10-19T02:22:00.005-04:00

Every now and then while I'm browsing Amazon Prime Video, I'll randomly pick a movie I've never seen before and watch it. Since we're in October I figured I'd check out a horror film and the one I decided on was THE DARK, originally released to theaters in 1979. Tobe Hooper, who directed horror meat-grinders The Texas Chainsaw Massacre(1974) and Eaten Alive(1976), was the original director for THE DARK but John Cardos later stepped in and took over directorial duties.

This film's plot is fairly straight forward: someone or something (and not surprisingly it turns out to be non human) begins a bloody rampage on the streets of Los Angeles at night, killing in grisly and gruesome fashion, many of the victims getting their heads ripped off. The police, including a hard bitten and world weary detective, are clueless as to who (or what) is doing the killings. As pressure from the mayor, a local female reporter joins local law enforcement in the search for the killer. How would I describe the killer? Definitely extraterrestrial but walks like a grown man, has the face of the Frankenstein monster and a hostile, angry growl that is part human with irritable bowel syndrome and part something else altogether. The creature killer also has glowing eyes that can emit lethal, laser like energy beams which annihilate anyone unfortunate to be hit by them.

The cast includes William Devane, Richard Jaeckel, Cathy Lee Crosby and Keenan Wynn. Code Red released 1000 copies of this film on Blu Ray(Region 0/widescreen) and I've found Blu Rays of this movie on eBay BUT they are pricey since the Blu Ray release of THE DARK was limited. DVDs can be bought on Amazon of this film but they're in full frame(1:33.1) aspect ratio and look about as good as the full frame version I watched on Amazon Video which wasn't really that good. Any horror and/or sci-fi fan who hasn't seen THE DARK(1979) should check it out. It's not great but it is much better than I expected.

An HD trailer:

A howling good time: short werewolf film based on the 'Morbach monster"

2019-10-04T21:15:00.001-04:00

Brad's Battle Maps

2019-07-23T10:29:00.001-04:00

I'd like to give a "shout out" to Brad Barrett and his website Brad's Battle Maps. Brad, a native of New Zealand, enjoys drawing maps of historical battles and is quite good at it. His website includes a catalog of all the maps he's drawn and which are also for sale. To check out Brad's website, click this link: Brad's Battle Maps

Winging it -MOTHRA(1961) Steelbook Edition Blu Ray

2019-07-19T03:18:00.000-04:00

Mill Creek Entertainment has been absolutely killing it lately with all the great titles they've released to Blu Ray. Just recently it was announced that MC has secured the North American rights to release ALL the various Ultraman TV series to Blu Ray!

For now, I want to give major props to Mill Creek Entertainment for releasing the Toho sci-fi-fantasy classic Mothra(1961) to (Region A) Blu Ray and in a steel-book format no less.

Mothra(1961) has been available on DVD for some time now but this is the first time this movie has been released to Blu Ray in North America.

Before buying this Blu Ray I asked myself: will the transfer (picture image) look noticeably better? The answer: it does.

If you're a fan of giant monster movies, especially Toho's older "kaiju" films, I highly recommend investing in the Mill Creek Entertainment Steelbook Edition Blu Ray of Mothra(1961).

Click on the link to see this Blu Ray for sale at Mill Creek Entertainment's website: MOTHRA(1961) Steelbook Edition Blu Ray

All hail to The King: GODZILLA KING OF THE MONSTERS(2019)

2019-06-19T20:22:00.003-04:00

For only the second time in the past five years, I went to an actual movie theater to watch a movie. I have developed, over the course of many years, a strong disdain for venturing into a movie theater, the reasons including: the cost of counter condiments, the cost of a ticket, managing to always be seated behind extremely tall individuals, those with overactive bladders and/or those who like to chat on their cell phones while the movie is playing.

Still, having seen Legendary Pictures' Godzilla(2014) in a theater five years ago, my great lifelong fondness for Godzilla compelled me back inside a theater to watch Godzilla King Of The Monsters(2019). I went on a Sunday morning two weeks ago. There were not many inside the theater besides me, I suspect because it was before noon on a Sunday.

I own a terrific television, an ultra hi-def (4K capable), 49" "TCL" brand flat screen TV with great features and a stereo headphone jack which I often use. I marvel at the Blu Rays I watch (of movies) on my TV but nothing, in my opinion, compares to the giant screen spectacle and amplified bass audio that a movie theater can provide.

I wasn't disappointed with Godzilla King Of The Monsters(2019). This movie was everything I hoped it would be: loud, action packed with lots of giant monsters and giant monster battles. Any fan of Godzilla or giant monster movies in general should absolutely love GKOTM. The various monsters in this movie are all rendered in stellar fashion - Godzilla is a lumbering juggernaut with his powerful atomic breath. Rodan and Mothra are majestic flying behemoths with colossal wingspans(both over 800 feet) and King Ghidorah is the one monster capable of challenging Godzilla in battle. King Ghidorah and its gravity beams have never looked more awesome and powerful in a film than in GKOTM.

I've seen the criticism of this film from various and official "movie critics" around the internet. Obviously they have a right to their opinion but I found much of the criticism to be, well asinine.

Thus far the domestic box office receipts for GKOTM(2019) have been disappointing and the projected worldwide box office take for this movie is projected to plateau at $400 million. Due to its high production cost (anywhere from $170-200 million depending on who you believe), a $400 million box office take may not even allow Legendary Pictures to break even on GKOTM.

A final film in Legendary Pictures' "monsterverse" called Godzilla Vs Kong, with an announced theatrical release date of March 13, 2020 (next year), may be undergoing some re-shoots as the studio reacts to the box office results of GKOTM. As the title of this film implies, a 393 foot tall Godzilla will square off against a presumably larger King Kong-recall that this Kong is only 105 feet in 2017's Kong-Skull Island. I'm guessing Kong will be ramped up to 300-325 feet in height so as to be physically able to fight Godzilla.

As for me, and assuming Godzilla Vs Kong is released in theaters next March, I'll be back in that same nearby theater, coke and popcorn in hand, sitting in one of the back rows, ready for more giant monster action!

Hook, line and sinker: UP FROM THE DEPTHS (1979)

2019-04-07T18:49:00.002-04:00

Just when I think I've watched every horror/sci-fi film about a lake and/or ocean borne monster, I encounter UP FROM THE DEPTHS, a 1979 film directed by Charles Griffith. I discovered this one while browsing Amazon (Prime) Video, my first "go to" alternative when I fail to find anything I want to watch on Netflix. In UP FROM THE DEPTHS(1979), a seaside Hawaiian resort comes under attack from an oversized and ravenous prehistoric fish. I didn't think much of the special effects but Susanne Reed was gorgeous in this movie and there's just enough action to keep me moderately interested while watching this movie. It's available for sale on both DVD and Blu Ray. A trailer:

Gone to the dogs: HOWLING III - THE MARSUPIALS (1987)

2019-04-04T08:20:00.003-04:00

Seems like I haven't reviewed a movie in ages in this blog and I'm not really motivated to do one right now. I still watch movies as it's a hobby of mine. Recently I have been watching a lot of horror movies featuring werewolves, some good and some real stinkers. I suppose Howling III-The Marsupials, another entry in "The Howling" series of horror films, classifies as a "stinker" but I believe it's still worth a watch for horror fans who haven't seen it.

In this film, an Australian scientist discovers a group of dog like werewolves (marsupials) living in the "outback" and naturally wants to study them. The marsupials would prefer to be left alone save for one young female who develops a romantic relationship with an affable but nonetheless clueless young fellow. (no other spoilers)

There are many instances of humor in this movie if you watch it closely and some limited gore from the werewolf "kills". The special effects look cheap and nothing like the stellar practical makeup effects in the first film in the series, 1981's THE HOWLING directed by Joe Dante.

HOWLING III-THE MARSUPIALS, directed by Philippe Mora is available on DVD and has been released to Blu Ray by Shout!Factory.

I've always been a softie when it comes to horror movies featuring werewolves and I'm probably guilty of that in regards to this film. You can find this movie on Amazon (Prime) Video or Tubi TV for streaming if you don't want to buy it on DVD or BD.

A trailer:

Practically speaking: great makeup effects blog for the "Friday The 13th" films

2019-03-31T10:22:00.001-04:00

The slasher horror Friday The 13th films are one of my all time favorite film franchises and recently I came across a fantastic blog that delves into the behind-the-scenes and makeup effects used to bring "Jason Voorhees", the burlap bag and later hockey masked killer to life.

The blog is called JasonLivesSinceThe1980s. The content of this blog is very detailed and exceptionally informative. For any fans of the Friday The 13th horror films I highly recommend you check out this blog! Click this link to access it: JasonLivesSinceThe1980s

KAIJU GALAXY - new Jcink message board

2019-03-20T20:44:00.000-04:00

Kaiju Galaxy, a long time internet message board founded by Donny Winter back in 2004, has an alternate site now. Kaiju Galaxy, like my own message board Monsterland Forums (aka Monsterland Asylum), was migrated to "Tapatalks" last year. I am enamored with Tapatalks but put way too much work into my message board to simply walk away from it and it continues to plod along generating about 30-35 posts a week from a half dozen members.

Here's the link for the alternate Kaiju Galaxy site: KAIJU GALAXY (Jcink)

Films I want to like...but don't

2019-03-18T11:39:00.001-04:00

I'm sure everyone who is a fan of movies like myself has seen films they wanted to like but didn't after viewing them for the first time.

For the record here are some films I really wanted to like but didn't after watching them...and still don't. This includes movies of all genres:

Arrival (2016)
Life (2017)
Valerian And The City Of A Thousand Planets (2017)
Tron (1982)
Q The Winged Serpent (1982)
Planet Of The Apes (2001 - dir. by Tim Burton)
Dune (1984)
The Being (1983)
Bog (1983)
Creature From Black Lake (1976)
The Fifth Element (1997)
I, Robot (2004)
Caligula (1979)
Day Of The Dolphin (1973)
Firestarter (1984)
Graveyard Shift (1990)
Howling II-Your Sister Is A Werewolf (1985)
Jaws-The Revenge (1987)
The Beast Must Die (1974)
Curse Of The Swamp Creature (1966)
Tron Legacy (2010)
Spider-Man 3 (2007)
Daredevil (2003)

Favorite martial arts films

2019-01-28T08:39:00.002-05:00

I was recently asked by someone I know if there is a movie genre I like besides horror and science fiction. There absolutely is: martial arts! I've always been a huge fan of the "Shaw Brothers" produced martial arts movies.

In no particular order, here are my top ten favorite martial arts (and action films heavy with martial arts combat) films:

Enter The Dragon (1973)
Sister Street Fighter (1974)
Thong Dee Fun Khao (2017) (aka Broken Sword Hero)
The Protector 2 (2013)
Kickboxer (1989)
The Protector (2006)
Ong Bak (2005)
The 36th Chamber Of Shaolin (1978)
The Eight Diagram Pole Fighter (1983)
Ip Man (2008)

Halloween cinema

2018-10-11T13:23:00.003-04:00

I am asked on occasion what movies I typically watch during the final two weeks of October leading up to(and including) Halloween on October 31st. Here are some movies(all horror) that I tend to watch every October on or around Halloween:

Pit And The Pendulum (1961) - directed by Roger Corman with Vincent Price, who I consider arguably the best horror movie actor ever, headlining the film's cast. Vincent Price, playing Count Medina, is at his best here, transitioning from a lonely, heartsick and paranoid widower to a hateful, menacing maniac after learning the true fate of his beloved wife.

The Curse Of The Werewolf (1961) - a Hammer Films production with Oliver Reed cast as a Spanish nobleman who transforms into a bloodthirsty werewolf when the moon is full. The makeup effects are exceptional on Reed and the monster in this film has always been one of my favorite "werewolf" renderings.

Horror Of Dracula (1958) - another Hammer Films movie with Christopher Lee cast as Dracula and Peter Cushing as Van Helsing, tasked with stopping Dracula's campaign of terror. With all due respect to Bela Lugosi, Christopher Lee is, in my opinion, the best version of Dracula in cinema.

Night Of The Living Dead (1968) - directed by (the late) George Romero, this film sets the standard for zombie cinema. A small group of terrified people bunker themselves inside a farmhouse after humanity turns to walking, flesh eating zombies. I like the fact this film is in black and white, the origin of the "zombie-fication" of people isn't entirely explained and the struggle to survive among the non-infected includes the expected tension, fisticuffs and outright terror you'd expect when surrounded by hordes of zombies relentless at trying to eat you. Some gore presents itself at times and the ending personifies the overall grim and dreary atmosphere of the entire movie.

Friday The 13th (1980) - directed by Sean Cunningham. I remember first watching this movie at The Omni Theater in downtown Atlanta(GA). I love the score and the "whodunit" motif throughout this film in which a group of camp counselors arrive at Camp Crystal Lake, then immediately become prey for an unseen killer. The mystery within this film's story is interrupted by the gory "kills" of the various camp counselors who are methodically butchered by the unseen killer.

Honorable mentions: Halloween III-Season Of The Witch (1982), House Of Wax(1953), The Burning(1981), The Gorgon (1964) and Candyman (1992).

Stream weaver: Comet TV

2018-10-01T15:35:00.002-04:00

I finally purchased a "smart" TV two months ago, a 49" TCL 4K ultra high definition television and after installing it I set up the television to connect to my wi-fi. I don't admittedly "stream" many channels on my TV's wi-fi signal but I do like the YouTube Channel, TubiTV and last but not least, Comet TV. Comet TV has been around since 2015 and broadcasts sci-fi and horror including many classic TV shows and movies. I like the frequent "Godzilla" movie marathons and the classic sci-fi films this channels airs. I recommend any sci-fi and horror fan with a smart TV check out this free channel. To learn more about Comet TV check out their website by clicking the link: COMET TV

Horror movie favorites

2018-09-26T16:58:00.001-04:00

As another Halloween approaches and I get my DVR ready to record horror movies off Turner Classic Movies I decided to take a minute and think over what my favorite horror films currently are. I actually jotted them down. Currently, and in no order, my top twenty favorite horror films:

The Descent (2005)
A Nightmare On Elm Street (1984)
The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (1974)
The Shining (1980)
The Howling (1981)
Horror Of Dracula (1958)
House Of Wax (1953)
The Evil Of Frankenstein (1964)
Dog Soldiers (2002)
The Haunting (1963)
Friday The 13th (1980)
Halloween (1978)
Candyman (1992)
The Mummy (1959)
Curse Of The Werewolf (1961)
My Bloody Valentine (1981)
Pit And The Pendulum (1961)
The Abominable Doctor Phibes (1971)
The Evil Dead (1981)
Hellraiser (1987)

Watching TOKU

2018-09-19T19:20:00.007-04:00

Recently I switched cable providers and went back to A T & T U-Verse. With the U200 package I receive TOKU in HD, a fantastic cable channel if you're a fan of Asian action, martial arts, sci-fi and fantasy films like I am. I like the various "Ultraman" TV series (with English subtitles) and other superhero series which are broadcast on TOKU as well.

Highly recommend anyone who hasn't checked out TOKU and is a fan of Asian cinema do so ASAP. Here's a link to TOKU's website: TOKU HD

Sparkiegojira's thoughts on GAMERA GUARDIAN OF THE UNIVERSE(1995)

2018-08-13T10:43:00.001-04:00

A member of the Facebook group Noonan's Sci-Fi Fun Club who I'll call "Sparkiegojira" has offered his own discourse on the first of the 90's Gamera films, GAMERA GUARDIAN OF THE UNIVERSE which was originally released theatrically by Kadokawa in 1995:

This is the first of a three part look at Shusuke Kaneko's trilogy about a giant, flying turtle, and what deeper meanings he may have intended to express through these masterpieces of the Kaiju Eiga genre. Bare with me as I will be working in spurts as Thoughtful Thursday is also busy as feck day for me!
I've visited or lived in Japan off and on since I was 9, and there is a saying here; one is Shinto when you are born, Buddhist when you die (This has been amended in recent years to include "Christian when you are married" due to the popularity of fake Chapel Weddings!) and I read an editorial years ago about how puzzled the average Japanese was when the Americans had Emperor Hirohito announce via radio that he was not a God. No one but a few nut jobs believed that! The point being, average, modern Japanese don't deeply believe in anything, but give a lot of lip service to religion and God and other deities. My mom-in-law for instance says she believes in herself but no gods. Others, and I mean a lot of people, are just fairly miserable. About 30,000 suicides a year, and alcoholism seems rampant. 67% of the population drink and 2% qualify as alcoholics. Japan also has a rich and vibrant Otaku culture, who seem to me at least, to smoke and drink less and to be generally happier than the rest of the population. The thesis of this essay is that Otaku culture is a successful surrogate for traditional religions in a nation where "It is only make-believe" is so engrained in the national mind set, and that Kaneko addresses this phenomenon over the course of his three Gamera films.
First up is 1995's GAMERA: GUARDIAN OF THE UNIVERSE, or the much cooler and "shibui (Retro-cool!)" Japanese title GAMERA: DAIKAIJU KUUCHUU DAI KESSEN or GAMERA: GIANT MONSTER MID-AIR BATTLE. Dooh got to put this on hold again. The Mom-in-law turns 68 today and we are off for crab!
Back. Where was I? Oh, Mark Hughes, spoilers will abound as I discuss the films themselves...
Kaneko at a press conference for the film said he had always wanted to make a "chanto shita" (Well done) Kaiju movie (He had previously petitioned Toho to let him direct 1992's GODZILLA VS MOTHRA.), and it might as well be Gamera. And he and screenplay writer Kazunori Ito deliver. It's the lightest in tone of the trilogy, despite featuring Gamera's old foe, the human munching bird like Gyaos, but Kaneko appears to set up his agenda in the lyrics to the closing credits song; Bakufu Slump's MYTH. The opening lyrics go something like "You certainly felt it as a child, you believed in a great power. (Sorry 7 years teaching English in Japan has conversly made my Japanese rusty!)", neatly summarizing the preceding film's impact and at the same time celebrating Gamera's return.
The film begins with one of a pair of ships carrying plutonium, the Kairyu Maru (Seadragon, perhaps a reference to the Lucky Dragon No 5 that got irradiated by the Bikini Atoll H-Bomb test.), running aground a mysterious atoll which then moves away on its own accord before disaster insues. Here we meet our main male lead character, Marine Officer Yoshinari Yonemori, played by Tsuyoshi Ihara, as well as two heart warming cameos by by Showa era Gamera and Godzilla stalwarts, Kojiro Hongo and Akira Kubo as the two ship captains. The scene ends with a wonderful shot of the atoll, retreating deeper in to the Philippine Sea, and then the the title literallly explodes onto the screen in quite dated CGI, but the credits that follow are all rendered in a "shibui" plain, white scrawl as if to scream to the viewer "This IS your grandpa's Kaiju movie!".
The movie then cuts to an aquarium, were a young girl named Asagi Kusanagi (Played by Steven Seagal's far more talented, cute, and no doubt intelligent daughter Ayako Fujitani!) discusses Atlantis and the mysterious atoll and whether there is a connection with a friend. It would seem the atoll is moving towards Japan.... where more trouble is abrewing in small village in the Goto Archipelago, under siege by unseen forces on a dark and stormy day. One villager manages to radio the message "It's a bird! It's a Bird!" before being taken. Meanwhile guilt ridden Yoshinari has volunteered to join the scientific team to investigate the atoll, lead by Asagi's father, Naoya Kusanagi and our female lead, Ornithologist Mayumi Nagamine (The lovely, but no so lovely we don't buy her as an ornithologist, Shinobu Nakayama, who previously had a bit part in 1993's GODZILLA VS MECHAGODZILLA.) is dispatched to the ruins of the small village to investigate the alleged birds and the disappearance of her mentor. She is joined by Police Inspector Osako (Played by cult star Yukijiro Hotaru, whose character will be the only one besides Asagi to appear in all three films.), Ms. Nagamine is at first skeptical stating "The only creature capable of such devestation is man." She has second thoughts though when she finds what resembles a large bird pellet. Digging through it with gloved hands she is shocked to retrieve her missing mentor's pen from the whitish muck.
All doubts are removed when Nagamine and Osako encounter a lone giant winged beast deep in the forests of the island. "If that's the culprit, it's out of our jurisdiction!" a terrified Osako exclaims as Nagamine cooly ureges the need to follow it. A helicopter chase ensues, and in a classic cliche of giant monster cinema, Nagamine discovers Gyaos is not fond of flash bulbs and is nocturnal. The also, to Nagamine had already surmised, there are at least three of the bird beasts, and they are headed towards the next nearby island.
Meanwhile, Yonemuri and Asagi's father have located and landed on the mysterious floating atoll. There they find numerous, metallic, Magatama (Coma shaped beads that first appeared in ancient Japan's late Jamon period. They play a rich part in Japanese history and mythology.) scattered across the atoll as if they were mean't to be found. They also find a metallic monolith inscribed with Rune like script half burried. By day break it is unearthed, and to Yonemuri's suprise it is the same temperature as the human body to the touch, and he can feel what feels feels like a heartbeat. Howeever, as if in response to his touch, chaos erupts as the monolith and atoll itself crumbles throwing the investigation team into the water. As Yonemuri struggles to the surface, he witnesses a huge eye and tusk of some enormous creature glide by....
Nagamine and Osako are tasked with capturing the bird creatures as an endangered species by a Mr. Saito, played with comical bureaucratic menace by Hirotaro Honda, and Osako hits upon the idea of using Fukuoka Dome and it's closable roof as a giant bird trap. Using slabs of cow as bait, and SDF helicopters equipped with powerful lights to guide them, the bird like creatures are successfully lured to the dome. One escapes out to sea though before the dome roof can be closed, and in what now we call a "Sqeeeeeee" moment, is slapped out of the sky by Gamera as he emerges from the water. Gamera makes land fall, and in the chaos we get treated to close ups of bowls of Fukuoka's world famous tonkotsu ramen noodles crashing to the ground. Back at the dome, the two captured Gyaos, in a nice nod to their Showa predecessor, use clearly sonic ray beams to free themselves from the cages erected around them. Gamera attacks the dome bent on killing them, but instead allows their escape. In another squeeee moment, he retracts his limbs, spews jets of flame, and spins off airborn in hot pursuit.
Eventualy Kaneko transfers us to yet another domestic scene (A trademark of the director is locating important explanatory scenes in mundane surroundings, unlike the high tech bunkers and control rooms seen in the Heisei Godzilla series.), where Yonemuri and the Kusanagi family discuss events over dinner. The Runes from the atoll's monolith have been translated; "Our last hope is Gamera, who we leave to the cradle of time, to awake with with the shadow of evil, Gyaos." Yonemuri then gives Asagi one of the Magatama beads, which her father speculates might be made of the mythical metal Orihalcon from Atlantis. The Magatama bead glows and heats up in Asagi's hands, and psychic bond between her and Gamera is formed.
Nagamine and Osako on the other hand continue their investigation of the Gyaos and discover a decimated nest of hatchlings. Osako speculates they must have been attacked by something, but Nagamine concludes that without a parent, the hatchling ate each other alive!
The next day sees another meeting with Mr. Saito, who reluctantly accecpts naming the creatures Gamera and Gyaos, but is intent on destroying the former and protecting the latter. Action then moves to the Kiso Mountain range where Nagamine, Yonemuri and Kusanagi converge over sightings of the remainng two Gyaos. In a brilliant, thrilling scene that almost did not make the movie for being so unashamedly pandering to audience emotions in a Speilberg way, Nagamine and a small boy are trapped mid way across a small suspension bridge as the Gyaos attack. Yonemuri does his best to rescue the pair, but all hope seems lost as a Gyaos prepares another sonic beam attack. It's fended off by a sudden fire ball shooting past, and in another sqeee moment Gamera comes through the forest to the rescue. One of the Gyaos gets blown to smithereens, a moment my sister and I always gufaw and sqeee at, but the other prepares another sonic beam attack on the now trio of humans trapped on the bridge. Gamera shields the humans from attack with his mighty paw and launches off in pursuit. When the action is done, Yonemuri concludes "Gamera is on our side!"
This doesn't change the policy to destroy him however. Gamera is shot down over Mt. Fuji, and Asagi, her hand now bandaged where Gyaos drew blood from Gamera, is determined to get a closer look. She convinces a Taxi Driver to take her and the two witness the SDF, in a twist on the genre, successfully pummeling Gamera. The remaining Gyaos joins in the attack, and as Asagi pleads for Gamera to run away, she spouts blood where ever Gamera is wounded. Gamera just manages to escape as Asagi collapses.
Gyaos meanwhile discovers train cars are packed with nutrition. After a harrowing attack, the JSDF finally is given orders to take the soccer fan munching bastard out. Plans to destroy the evil beast, who now has now grown to Gamera proportions and developed shielding over its eyes to protect it against the sun, go disasterly, and Tokyo Tower is destroyed, providing Gyaos with a handy a nesting place.A now desperate Mr. Saito exclaims "Where on earth is Gamera now?" to Nagamine`s disgust!
Gamera is in fact sleeping on the ocean floor, recovering from his wounds. Asagi likewise is fitfully asleep at home in bed, when her father enters her room. Noticing photos of Asagi and her boyfriend, he takes her hand, boosting Asagi and Gamera's psychic link and speeding their recovery. The stage is now set for one final, exciting battle between our "last hope" and "the shadow of evil." A battle that stretches from land, sky and even lower outer space. Not too much of a spoiler to reveal Gamera wins in the end, but only again with Asagi and her father's aid.
Roger Ebert said of GAMERA: GUARDIAN OF THE UNIVERSE "...not a good movie, but a good movie going experience." With all respect to the late Ebert, A. what's the difference? And B. It's not just a good movie, it's a very good movie! Kaneko and special effects director Shinji Higuchi are tasked with turning an admittedly silly old franchise, Gamera of yore was sort of to Godzilla what the Monkees are to the Beatles, into a fresh, exciting and at the same time old fashioned Kaiju Eiga and they succeed in spades. Working with a quarter of the budget of the typical entry in the Heisei Godzilla series, they put the same year's GODZILLA VS SPACEGODZILLA to shame. Higuchi is a veritable genius when it comes to special effects (Check out his Daicon Films amature production OROCHI THE 8 HEADED DRAGON, and its crazy detailed miniature work!), and here he uses everything from CGI to tricks dating back to Harold Lloyd's suspensful comedies of the 20s. Natural lighting for the day miniature work, and details like trashbags sitting on the curbside for collection, really help sell the illusion! Other innovations include, in,a first for the genre, casting a woman as the full grown Gyaos, giving the evil critter and almost graceful shape, and using a little person in a scaled down Gamera suit for extreme long shots.
Kaneko on the other hand delivers believable, likable characters who remain well intergrated with the kaiju action throughout (Unlike Toho's 90s films, where all to often the cast would wind up watching the action on a huge monitor in a high tech control room.). And without once uttering the old Gamera franchise's mantra "Gamera is the friend of children!" shows us this to still be true. Asagi's pyschic connection to Gamera is mutually beneficial, with Asagi, and the love and support of her widowed, somewhat distant dad, helping Gamera save the day.
Gamera and Gyaos this time out are clearly genetically engineered by a lost ancient human civilization making the idea of a giant flying turtle, not just more believable, but through execution darn exciting. Kow Otani's thrilling music, the clever special effects and Kaneko's keeping the human characters tied into the action, makes for one,of the most exciting climatic battles in the genre's long history. And it's capped off with a nod to Westerns!
Where's the evidence for your thesis, mr.pretentious smarty pants?! It's a coming.... Because despite being a total delight, GAMERA: GUARDIAN OF THE UNIVERSE, is followed by two, even more ambitious sequals, each more complex and thought provoking than the last. GAMERA:GUARDIAN OF THE UNIVERSE successfully rebooted the franchise with a fun, heartfelt Kaiju action movie, giving Kaneko the clout and freedom to explore deeper themes. See you next Thoughtful Thursday!

Here's a trailer for the film which I consider one of the greatest giant monster movies ever made: