Blood Feast.

Review #752: Blood Feast.

Cast
William Kerwin (Detective Pete Thornton), Mal Arnold (Fuad Ramses), Connie Mason (Suzette Fremont), Scott H. Hall (Frank, Police Captain), Lyn Bolton (Mrs. Dorothy Fremont), and Toni Calvert (Trudy Sanders) Directed by Herschell Gordon Lewis.

Review
Well, there's a lot of blood in the movie, that's for sure. Often considered the first splatter film, Blood Feast was directed on a low budget and filmed in less than a month in Miami. The movie notably used gimmicks such as barf-bags and filing injunctions in counties to attract attention, which succeeded given that the movie reportedly made around four million dollars. Lewis said this about his film: "I've often referred to Blood Feast as a Walt Whitman poem. It's no good, but it was the first of its type." While I can't say much about Whitman, his description of the movie is mostly accurate. The acting and characterization are pretty much nonexistent, but I came to expect that from a movie that sure loves to showcase blood. The movie moves along quickly in the sense that you get to know who is the killer and why they are doing this in a short period of time. For me, the movie wasn't too disturbing, and I did appreciate the effort it took to make the movie look so...convincing, if you will. In one scene, they used a sheep tongue in one of the scenes as...you get the idea. Is the movie for everyone? Of course not. We may all have blood, but not all of us like seeing it, though for my money the movie is just fine. If you want something that's easy to find on the internet, or something to irk your friends (as opposed to how you usually irk your friends), this might be for you. I can't say it was a good movie due to the flaws, but I at least can recognize the movie for what it is and how it opened the gates for more movies with lots of blood. Happy Halloween.

Overall, I give it 6 out of 10 stars.

Eegah.

Review #751: Eegah.

Cast
Arch Hall Jr. (Tom Nelson), Marilyn Manning (Roxy Miller), Richard Kiel (Eegah), Arch Hall Sr. (Robert Miller), Clay Stearns (Band Member), Bob Davis (George), Deke Richards (Band Member), and Ron Shane (Detective) Directed by Arch Hall Sr.

Review
Woefully generic. Hopelessly stupid. Prehistoric drudgery. We could all come up with two (or one) word descriptions for this movie, but it's best said that this movie is what it is: Bad. The movie was intended as a starring vehicle for Arch Hall Jr, while also featuring some songs written by his father, who wrote, directed, produced, and even starred in this film. The movie evidently did make money (a million dollars, according to Hall Sr), so at least it wasn't a miserable result. As for the movie itself, that is a different story. Hall seems to have a very...peculiar face build, almost like a Halloween mask, though his persona seems to imitate Elvis...if Elvis was ditzy. The songs are at least legible, though not certainly noteworthy. Kiel is our caveman slash monster for the hour and a half, and while he doesn't say much, we at least get to see him...lick shaving cream. Whether you see this scene on MST3K or by yourself, you will pretty much have the same level of disgust, though (once again) I'd recommend the former. I watched simultaneously, to make sure I didn't miss any scenes I didn't see in the MST version...you aren't missing much. Actually, the segments by Joel and the bots are better than the movie, but let's not try to get too off topic here.

Hall Sr once said that "It was always sort of a subject of laughter that the darned thing did so well.", and that statement pretty much epitomes the movie very well, along with the dubbing that is apparent throughout the movie. The movie seems to just flow at a very subdued pace, without much regard for excitement or reality. The acting is about what you'd expect, in which there is no acting, casualness for a b-movie. It's strange to have Hall's dad play the father of his love interest...considering Hall Sr and Manning don't really have much chemistry for a father-daughter duo. If you like Bronson Canyon, you'll see it in the movie midway through, so that's a positive...I guess. The reason I don't give it a 0 is because at least the movie has some polish, as opposed to The Beast of Yucca Flats, but Eegah is right around the same level of bizarre film making of Manos: The Hands of Fate. If you want to see enthusiasm for their son that was channeled into a movie, I'd see it...preferably with the MST3K crew.

Lastly...watch out for snakes! (Actual line from the movie)

Overall, I give it 1 out of 10 stars.

All About Eve.

Review #750: All About Eve.

Cast
Bette Davis (Margo Channing), Anne Baxter (Eve Harrington), George Sanders (Addison DeWitt), Celeste Holm (Karen Richards), Gary Merrill (Bill Sampson), Hugh Marlowe (Lloyd Richards), Thelma Ritter (Birdie), Gregory Ratoff (Max Fabian), Marilyn Monroe (Miss Casswell), and Barbara Bates (Phoebe) Directed by Joseph L. Mankiewicz.

Review
Based off "The Wisdom of Eve" by Mary Orr, All About Eve is a movie that held the record for most Oscar nominations (14) until Titanic tied it over four decades later, with five actors receiving nominations, and one (Sanders) winning. In fact, Joseph L. Mankiewicz won two Oscars for the movie (Best Director and Adapted Screenplay). 65 years later, the movie is heralded as a classic. And why not? It is great. It's interesting that the big highlight in a movie all about Eve is not Eve herself, but Bette Davis and her tremendous screen presence. She is always interesting to watch and always entertaining, especially when interacting with the cast. Baxter is effective in making her character come off as innocent and helpful...for a while, anyway. Her scene with Holm in which she would will be willing to use Karen's deep friendship with Margo as leverage just to get a part shows the extent of Eve's manipulation. But while her ambition got her out of one problem along with getting her this far, it may have gotten her into another situation...but the movie ends on a different character, named Phoebe. The final scene, with her taking the award and imagining herself winning one is certainly fitting. Sanders manages to ingrain his character into the narrative. He may be snide. but his way with words is much more devastating. His scene with Baxter at the end, is especially well-done, as the movie comes full-circle. The movie begins with Eve winning an award for her performance in a play...but maybe in a way she hasn't won. She won the award, but perhaps at the cost of her heart, in a sense. One actress who also is in the movie, though brief, is Marilyn Monroe, whose character also plays a role in regards to Eve's rise. Monroe doesn't get much to do, but she is interesting to watch, especially when being guided by Sanders in his attempts to give her a career. The movie certainly looks well in both fashion and just in general, with the Costume Designers (Edith Head and Charles LeMaire) winning an Oscar for it. Bottom line, the movie is interesting to watch, especially if you love big performances and love big classical drama.

Thank you for reading this 750th Review. I hope you enjoyed it.

Overall, I give it 10 out of 10 stars.

For all of the appreciation over the past 750 reviews, I made a collage detailing from the first big landmark (and the number before it is, as customary)...all the way up to now. Thank you. Enjoy.

The Grim Game.

Review #749: The Grim Game.

Cast
Harry Houdini  (Harvey Hanford), Thomas Jefferson (Dudley Cameron), Ann Forrest (Mary Cameron), Augustus Phillips (Clifton Allison), Tully Marshall (Richard Raver), Arthur Hoyt (Dr. Harvey Tyson), and Mae Busch (Ethel Delmead) Directed by Irvin Willat.

Review
Ah 1919, where the word spendthrift can be used, and cities (like mine) can be formed (and named) after a land company. Before I get to the film, let me talk a little about the history of the film in the next paragraph.

The Grim Game was Harry Houdini's first feature-length film (though the serial The Master Mystery was released in early 1919) and Houdini would star in films until 1923. Houdini (an expert magician who also debunked spiritualists) died on Halloween Night in 1926, though his legend still shines through today. As for the movie, it also has an interesting story of its own. This film had been considered lost for over 90 years. As it turned out, Larry Weeks, who considered himself Houdini's biggest fan, had a copy of the film in his collection after claiming it from the Houdini estate in 1947. Through the help of film scholars, TCM and the owners of the Houdini Museum and some negotiating, the film was acquired by TCM. A restoration and a new score were done, and TCM showed it as part of their Film Festival on March 29, 2015, with the world television premiere being just this Sunday night.

After all that history, how is the film? Not too bad. For an adventure-drama, it does have its shares of thrills, especially due to Houdini. You get to see him escape from chains and even a straight-jacket, and at one point he even manages to make a gun come out of his sleeves, which surprised me. The "Grim Game" turns out to be a plan hatched by Houdini's character to get his paper that he reports from to survive...by framing himself for the disappearance of his uncle, all by circumstantial evidence. He actually enlists the help of five people (including his fiance) to get this plan done, which includes taking the uncle out for a while to make it seem like he has disappeared. But it goes wrong (naturally), as the uncle is actually killed...by someone. It turns out to be the one person I didn't expect, mainly because I assumed that the one that would get to marry the heiress to the uncle's fortune did it...that, and because he wants to put Houdini in the asylum. But it's not, which I guess makes it less predictable...either way, the movie is at least entertaining, though it does take a while to get to the aforementioned grim game. The climax of the movie is entertaining...because you get to see a mid-air plane collision! Naturally, everyone (real life and plot life) is okay, but getting to see the climax in the air is very well-done. The movie (running at 71 minutes) is well paced, while also showing off some of Houdini's talents.

Countdown to #750: 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1.

Overall, I give it 8 out of 10 stars.

Back to the Future Part III.

Review #748: Back to the Future Part III.

Cast
Michael J. Fox (Marty McFly and Seamus McFly), Christopher Lloyd (Doc Brown), Mary Steenburgen (Clara Clayton), Thomas F. Wilson (Buford "Mad Dog" Tannen and Biff Tannen), Lea Thompson (Maggie McFly and Lorraine Baines-McFly), James Tolkan (Marshal James Strickland), Elisabeth Shue (Jennifer Parker), Matt Clark (Chester the Bartender), Richard Dysart (Barbwire Salesman), Pat Buttram (Saloon Old-Timer), Harry Carey Jr. (Saloon Old-Timer), and Dub Taylor (Saloon Old-Timer) Directed by Robert Zemeckis (#317 - The Polar Express, #352 - Who Framed Roger Rabbit, #581 - Forrest Gump, #648 - Beowulf, #701 - Back to the Future, and #747 - Back to the Future Part II)

Review
The third (and final) part of this trilogy is regarded by some to be the weaker of the three movies, though it is kind of hard to keep the same magic for three movies over a five year span without having some sort of familiarity. Parts II and III were filmed back to back, released one year apart. To be honest, I can't really find much to hate, mainly because this is a trilogy that is easy to appreciate. The cast once again does a fine job. Steenburgen (the only new main person) does a fine job, especially with Lloyd. They actually have some good chemistry together, especially when talking about Jules Verne. The scene with them dancing is also pretty fun to watch, especially considering the music in the background is by ZZ Top, who are certainly Sharp Dressed Men (rimshot). Wilson once again manages to play a pretty good bully, though this one actually has a weapon for once. Fox and Lloyd are good once again, especially when trying to find way to get the DeLorean to actually get to 88mph...like giving the car alcohol.

The Old West is certainly an interesting setting, and the sets do look really well done, especially the town festival scenes and the saloon. The movie isn't as funny as the last two, but at least it makes up for it by being as entertaining and as good-looking. It also is a satisfying way to end the trilogy, all capped off with a time travelling train. How did it get there? I'm not sure, but I'm not complaining that much. Overall, this is an great trilogy that is entertaining and enjoyable, from beginning to end. While the first film is the best, they are all enjoyable in their own way. If you haven't seen them, go see them.

Countdown to #750: 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2...

Overall, I give it 8 out of 10 stars.

Back to the Future Part II.

Review #747: Back to the Future Part II.

Cast
Michael J. Fox (Marty McFly, Marty Jr, and Marlene McFly), Christopher Lloyd (Doc Brown), Thomas F. Wilson (Biff Tannen and Griff Tannen), Lea Thompson (Lorraine Baines-McFly), Elisabeth Shue (Jennifer Parker), James Tolkan (Mr. Strickland), Jeffrey Weissman (George McFly), and Flea (Needles) Directed by Robert Zemeckis (#317 - The Polar Express, #352 - Who Framed Roger Rabbit, #581 - Forrest Gump, #648 - Beowulf, and #701 - Back to the Future)

Review
Ah yes, October 21, 2015. The FUTURE. Welp, not now anyway, because today is actually the day that the DeLorean time machine arrived (with Doc, Marty and Jennifer) at the beginning of this film, so I figured that it would be appropriate to review this today, what with our hoverboards and our self lacing shoes...and Jaws 19. Let's recap the first movie, shall we? Or not, because I can just say it quite simply: It's a fun movie. Go see it, if you haven't already. But how is the second movie? It's enjoyable, but maybe not as much as the first one. The characters are enjoyable and about what you'd expect, though I didn't notice that Fox played Marlene McFly, mainly because of the makeup, mainly used for the 2015 scenes, which look pretty good.

Crisipin Glover is one of the two actors (with Shue replacing Wells as Jennifer) from the first film who doesn't return for the sequel, either because of pay issues or (according to him, anyway) his problems with the moral of the story (specifically his belief that the money is the reward that leads to happiness), but he would technically be in it, due to footage from the first film being used and Weissman (in prosthetics) playing him, which led to a lawsuit.

Fox and Lloyd shine again, especially when Doc is explaining the new alternate timeline. It's a bit strange to see Marty try to sneak a Sports Almanac from the future to try and make some money back in 1985, especially considering him and his family are already doing pretty well, what with the new truck for Marty and all at the end of the first film. But to be fair, at least Marty learns a lesson by the end of the film (mainly to make sure that when you get rid of something, you really get rid of it thoroughly). The gag of him dropping everything when someone calls him "chicken" is a bit annoying, though it at least is addressed a bit more in the next film. Wilson still does good at being a bully, even when he's playing an aged bully...who still waxes cars. The hoverboard action in 2015 is certainly a highlight to watch, as fun as the skateboard chase in the first film. The movie certainly likes going back to the first film, and it is a little fun watching Marty try to avoid himself while getting to see events again. It's a movie that certainly works as a sequel, and while it isn't quite up to the first film, it is at least a worthy sequel...that leads itself to a sequel of its own.

Countdown to #750: 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3...

Overall, I give it 8 out of 10 stars.

The Haunted Mansion.

Review #746: The Haunted Mansion.

Cast
Eddie Murphy (Jim Evers), Terence Stamp (Ramsley), Nathaniel Parker (Master Edward Gracey), Marsha Thomason (Sara Evers/Elizabeth Henshaw), Jennifer Tilly (Madame Leota), Wallace Shawn (Ezra), Dina Waters (Emma), Marc John Jefferies (Michael Evers), and Aree Davis (Megan Evers) Directed by Rob Minkoff (#073 - The Lion King)

Review
Yep, I knew I would get to this one eventually. Not because I actually was interested in the movie, but because I figured that I'd have to dust this off my shelf and actually watch this for the first time in years. After watching it again, I have no reason to ever touch it, unless my shelf mysteriously burns down and this is the only surviving object. If you want a movie with Eddie Murphy, look elsewhere. If you want a movie with Terence Stamp, look elsewhere. If you want a movie that's funny, look elsewhere. If you want a movie that has some scares and thrills, look elsewhere. If you want- you get the idea. The main problem is that the movie doesn't fit for anyone looking for entertainment in either comedy or horror or even fantasy, because it doesn't leave any lasting impressions. I wish the movie had focused more on the ghosts such as Gracey and his relationship with Henshaw, because most of what you get to know about it (like Ramsley interfering with the impending marriage and the aftermath) only seems to pop up after the movie has already played itself out and used up its effects. Why did Ramsely not approve of the marriage? Who was Elizabeth, because we hear her mentioned, but we never really see her as much. Instead, we get a story that's about as standard as one can get, with a workaholic character, an evil butler, and so on. At least the acting isn't bad, though I do wonder what interested Terence Stamp, who hams it up a bit, especially at the end. The movie is neither funny or scary, but it's not beyond awful. The makeup effects by Rick Baker do look well, and the movie at least runs short at around 88 minutes, which means one will probably forget the movie after about an hour. I had not realized that this was based off an attraction used at Disney theme parks. Looking back, I wonder how the attraction is compared to this.

Countdown to 750 Reviews: 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4...

Overall, I give it 5 out of 10 stars.

A Nightmare on Elm Street 4: The Dream Master.

Review #745: A Nightmare on Elm Street 4: The Dream Master.

Cast
Robert Englund (Freddy Krueger), Lisa Wilcox (Alice Johnson), Danny Hassel (Dan Jordan), Brooke Theiss (Debbie Stevens), Andras Jones (Rick Johnson), Tuesday Knight (Kristen Parker), Toy Newkirk (Sheila Kopecky), Rodney Eastman (Joey Peterson), and Ken Sagoes (Roland Kincaid) Directed by Renny Harlin (#016 - Die Hard and #670 - Cliffhanger)

Review
I've talked about the previous three films (#474, #476, #649) before, which had varied in their level of enjoyment, though the original still shines over the first two. With this film, the statement is still true, though at least Freddy's Revenge still retains its title of being the lesser of the four movies (the remake doesn't count). It's funny how the three survivors from the last film are killed off in the first 30 (or so) minutes, which is disappointing, but oh well, I guess these new characters aren't too bad. Regardless of that, if you liked Dream Warriors, you'll probably like this one as well, mainly due to it being enjoyable. Once again, Englund steals the show, managing to be creepy but also entertaining to a degree. Wilcox's character gradually becomes more interesting, pretty much after people start dying off. The other characters (save for Dan) have one main characteristic that defines them (like the one who is smart, but also has asthma...which is all you get to know, basically), which naturally is used against them, but their abilities (like being a martial arts specialist) gets passed on to Alice, which is somewhat interesting. I guess being the "Dream Master" means she can transfer what she wears in the awake world to the dream world. Really, the only reason Freddy keeps targeting the others (the ones who aren't the kids of the parents that burned Freddy originally, with the movie noting that Kristen is the last sibling) is because of Kristen bringing in Alice. The movie keeps a good pace, while also managing to have some scares along with some good effects. It's a decent sequel that manages to not go quite off the rails.

Countdown to 750 Reviews: 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5...

Overall, I give it 7 out of 10 stars.

The Beast of Yucca Flats.

Review #744: The Beast of Yucca Flats.

Cast
Tor Johnson (Joseph Javorsky/The Beast), Bing Stafford (Jim Archer), Larry Aten (Joe Dobson), Douglas Mellor (Hank Radcliffe), Barbara Francis (Lois Radcliffe), Ronald Francis (Randy Radcliffe), Alan Francis (Art Radcliffe), Jim Oliphant (Vacationing Husband), Linda Bielema (Vacationing Wife), and Anthony Cardoza (KGB Driver/Helpful Neighbor) Directed by Coleman Francis.

Review
Usually an independent movie has some resemblance of talent, resemblance of effort that makes you appreciate even the flaws (Like Teenagers from Outer Space), or even just something that makes the movie a non waste of time. This isn't one of them. Talking about the opening scene could be stretched into a minor section of this review, mainly because it is such a waste of a scene...and it's the first scene you see in the movie. It has little to no relevance to the rest of the movie, so why bother even mentioning it? I should note that Tor Johnson (previously seen in Plan 9 from Outer Space (#183)  from 1959 and Bride of the Monster (#537) from 1955) is credited as a "Guest Star", which is a weird way to credit someone, but then again that is the least strange thing to talk about. One concept that I'm sure one will notice early on is the narrator that talks about plot details, voiced by who else but the director, Coleman Francis. After noticing that he speaks, you'll watch a scene...and he talks. You'll watch more scenes...he'll talk not long after. It's one thing to have a narrator, but to have one that leaks plot details along with random splotches (examples: Flag on the moon. How did it get there? A man runs...someone shoots at him. Always on the prowl. Looking for something or somebody to kill. Quench the killer's thirst) of other phrases makes it seem like I'm listening to a radio drama.

It should be mentioned that the movie does not have much dialogue spoken...which is attributed due to the fact the movie was filmed with no audio, which means that any time a character speaks, their mouth is usually covered or they are filmed so we can't see their mouth, so that they did not have to sync the audio to their mouth movements. Yucca Flat has actually been described as "the most irradiated, nuclear-blasted spot on the face of the earth", so at least the setting of the movie is not something entirely illogical. Honestly, the movie is just so boring to watch. There is little to no tension mainly because you don't really see Johnson's character all too much, combined with the tremendously boring characters who sound less like actors and more like people just being in a film. It's sad when the only thing that you can say is good is that it only runs 54 minutes. It's not a hard movie to make fun of...but it's not really worth the effort to make fun of it. You could watch the MST3K version...or not watch the movie at all. There is no charm to this movie, no ounce of sympathy you could garner for this movie, because it is as disposable and wasting on one's time more than it is taking out the garbage. Fittingly, it ends with a jackrabbit being caressed by the Beast, possibly a representation of how one needs to pet an animal after watching this movie. I am well aware of the other two films Francis made...I think I'll need a while before I ever touch those two "films", but at least the next movie I watch can't be any worse. It has to be better. This is a real rival for worst film I've experienced on this show right next to other zeros like Birdemic, The Magic Voyage, and Battlefield Earth. Seriously.

Countdown to 750 Reviews: 10, 9, 8, 7, 6...

Overall, I give it 0 out of 10 stars.

Halloween (2007).

Review #743: Halloween.

Cast
Malcolm McDowell (Dr. Samuel Loomis), Tyler Mane (Michael Myers), Scout Taylor-Compton (Laurie Strode), Brad Dourif (Sheriff Lee Brackett), Daeg Faerch (Michael Myers, age 10), Sheri Moon Zombie (Deborah Myers), Danielle Harris (Annie Brackett), William Forsythe (Ronnie White), Richard Lynch (Principal Chambers), Udo Kier (Morgan Walker), Clint Howard (Doctor Koplenson), and Danny Trejo (Ismael Cruz) Directed by Rob Zombie.

Review
I knew I would have to deal with this eventually. I've already stated before my thoughts on John Carpenter's Halloween, which I still say is the best of the franchise and is still one of my favorite horror films. But of course, it had to have a remake, and who better than musician/director Rob Zombie to make his own version? (And release it in August, no less. That's a good way to annoy a film fan right off the bat, release a horror movie not in late September or October, but in August, a month known for nothing, especially in this day and age...okay, rant over) The first half of the movie gives Michael a back story, and it is about as uninteresting as you'd expect. Honestly I stopped really caring about his troubled home life after a while, probably because all of this is unnecessary when you get down to it. Do we really need to know about his treatment of animals? The monotony of the unlikable characters combined with the deaths make for a first half that doesn't really get you in the mood for a movie that then proceeds to take scenes from the original. The acting certainly fits with the twisted style of the movie, with McDowell being the one I like the most, probably because he's the most likable. Don't get me wrong, not all movies need to have likable characters...but then again not all remakes need to explain why the villain became the villain they are. The original movie's characters certainly rooted themselves better, especially Loomis and Strode. With this one, I felt empty with regards to caring about any of these characters.  The death scenes are bloody, mainly because of Michael's (arguably) sloppy method with respect to his victims, who don't die with one blow. The gritty tone can work depending on the audience watching, but I mainly didn't care for it too much. The fact that this was a remake (or "re-imagining") only means this will have to be compared to the original, and this falls way, way too short. If you like this...congrats to you. Me? I'll probably forget all about this film later anyway. Blergh.

Countdown to 750 Reviews: 10, 9, 8, 7...

Overall, I give it 4 out of 10 stars.

Attack of the Giant Leeches.

Review #742: Attack of the Giant Leeches.

Cast
Ken Clark (Steve Benton), Yvette Vickers (Liz Walker), Jan Shepard (Nan Greyson), Michael Emmet (Cal Moulton), Tyler McVey (Doc Greyson), Bruno VeSota (Dave Walker), Gene Roth (Sheriff Kovis), and Dan White (Porky Reed) Directed by Bernard L. Kowalski.

Review
With a title like this, you'll either get one of two things: An outrageously silly movie about giant leeches...Or a cheap movie that doesn't really show much of the leeches. In this, you get the latter. To be honest, leeches can be a scary thing to think about before going into the water, especially those blood sucking ones. In this, they are apparently mutated to giant size due to nuclear weapons, while residing in a cave and taking a bunch of people with them to slowly suck their blood. In theory, this would be scary. But the movie never really lives up to the premise very much, being a movie that seems to dwell on its characters more than the leeches. It's not a terrible movie, but it's not at all scary not really that interesting. It's not even easy to make fun of (aside from MST3K) because it goes so quick (barely an hour) that you'll forget about as soon as you watch anything else. It is interesting that this was produced by Roger Corman (who directed/produced #368 - The Little Shop of Horrors and produced #592 - Dementia 13), along with his brother Gene. The acting is standard, typical for a monster flick that plods along, but at least the monsters look okay. Ultimate middle of the road type of movie, but if you've got an hour to waste...and have no other options...you'll be okay.

Countdown to 750 Reviews: 10, 9, 8...

Overall, I give it 5 out of 10 stars.

Teenagers from Outer Space.

Review #741: Teenagers from Outer Space.

Cast
David Love (Derek), Dawn Bender (Betty Morgan), Bryan Grant (Thor), Harvey B. Dunn (Gramps Morgan), Tom Graeff (Joe Rogers), King Moody (Spacecraft Captain), Helen Sage (Nurse Morse), and Frederick Welch (Dr. C.R. Brandt, MD) Directed by Tom Graeff.

Review
Welp, gotta have one b-movie for October-wait a minute, this isn't exactly a b-movie, as this was actually distributed by a major studio (Warner Bros. Pictures)...though the production company is certainly unique. This film was (and I'm not joking) wrote, directed, edited, co-starred, and produced by none other than Tom Graeff. Oh, and he also provided the cinematography, special effects, and wrote the music. In fact, the budget ($14,000) was mostly provided by three of the actors in the movie, while filming was done around the Hollywood area, most notably Bronson Canyon (which has been used in movies such as White Zombie and even Star Trek VI).

I was not surprised to learn early in the film that the teenagers from outer space...are played by actors who look a bit too old to be playing supposed teenagers, though it should be noted the movie was called The Gargon Terror in the UK, which sounds better, though the gargon is only in the movie for maybe five minutes. Anyway, back to the film. The opening scenes are certainly interesting, what with the "Atomic Disintegrator" being used on a dog and all. To tell you the truth, the movie isn't really the usual kind of cheesy sci-fi invasion usually seen in some flicks of the era. There are two main halves to the movie, one being Derek being chased by Thor to return him to the ship, and the other being the effort to stop the Gargon. While the movie doesn't exactly succeed in either very well, the effort comes off as genuine. The acting is standard, but at least it doesn't distract too much. Okay, maybe the seeming generosity that Dunn's character gives to everyone (even the villain) is a bit amusing. The Disintegrator ray effect is about what you'd expect, right down to the jointed skeleton. The movie starts off a bit slow (especially the parts where Derek and Thor ask questions about stuff on Earth...like the parts of a car), but it eventually flows to a normal pace, with a quick ending for a movie that isn't too sluggish. It's not a terribly made movie, and you can see the amount of dedication it took. Sure, there's a bunch of noticeable parts of when they just couldn't make it look anything other than laughable, but I can't find myself giving too much flak for a movie that certainly has a history worth mentioning.

Before (and after) watching this, I'm both surprised and a little impressed at the sheer amount of responsibilities that Graeff did for this film. Not a lot a people can say they did so much to make a film...and maybe there's a good reason for that. Graeff suffered a breakdown shortly after the release, and he died in 1970, with this being the film he is most remembered for. But the film still has a legacy of its own, even being homaged (along with other sci-fi flicks of the time) in Mars Attacks! years later and even being spoofed on Mystery Science Theater 3000. In conclusion, while the movie is mostly standard fare for the course, its history and dedication by Graeff make for an interesting look that I'd at least watch once. Sure, it has its flaws, but they are flaws we'd probably make if we had to make a movie on what he did.

Countdown to 750 Reviews: 10, 9...

Overall, I give it 6 out of 10 stars.

A Trip to Mars (Himmelskibet).

Review #740: A Trip to Mars (Himmelskibet).

Cast
Gunnar Tolnæs (Avanti Planetaros - Captain of the Space Ship), Zanny Petersen (Corona, Avanti's Sister), Nicolai Neiiendam (Professor Planetaros, Astronomer), Alf Blütecher (Dr. Krafft, Avanti's Friend), Svend Kornbeck (David Dane, American), Philip Bech (Martian leader - Wise Man), Lilly Jacobson (Marya, Martian Leader's Daughter), and Frederik Jacobsen (Professor Dubius) Directed by Holger-Madsen.

Review
In the near five years since I've done this show, I hadn't reviewed a film from Denmark. Of course I've only did 4 movies from the 1910's to being with, so let me make both statements less true with A Trip to Mars, known in its original release as Himmelskibet (the name of the novel this is adapted from). It is interesting to review a science-fiction film released 97 years ago, especially with regards to the sets and the effects. Even though the movie is older than I am, it's not hard to appreciate the effort, and I wonder how it must have been to think up an idea for a movie about going to Mars, especially with an airship named Excelsior. Even the names of these characters are interesting to read. The actors seem to move and gesture themselves a great deal, which to me reminds me that silent movies are certainly interesting to discuss, because they can either have their actors show little with their hands while using their emotions, or use little to no title cards to explain the story. The movie's pacifist theme is interesting to note given the time this was made (released during the final year of World War I), and it certainly gives the movie an interesting goal, which it achieves. It's an interesting relic into the film-making back in an age way before we even traveled out into the stars.

The next landmark has begun: Countdown to 750 Reviews: 10...

Overall, I give it 8 out of 10 stars.

The Martian.

Review #739: The Martian.

Cast
Matt Damon (Mark Watney), Jessica Chastain (Melissa Lewis), Kristen Wiig (Annie Montrose), Jeff Daniels (Teddy Sanders), Michael Peña (Rick Martinez), Kate Mara (Beth Johanssen), Sean Bean (Mitch Henderson), Sebastian Stan (Chris Beck), Aksel Hennie (Alex Vogel), Chiwetel Ejiofor (Vincent Kapoor), Donald Glover (Rich Purnell), Benedict Wong (Bruce Ng), and Mackenzie Davis (Mindy Park) Directed by Ridley Scott (#100 - Blade Runner and #530 - Alien)

Review
This is the 13th movie from the local movie theater, and what better way to cap the lucky number with a science-fiction movie? Quite well, I'd say. Talk about a fun movie. Without getting much in the way, I recommend seeing it. Why? Because it's a tremendous way to spend two hours in an adventure that manages to be more than the sum of its parts, while also managing to treat its audience with respect. The movie (based off the novel of the same name by Andy Weir) is not about the isolation of a man trapped in a planet all on his own as one would guess, but about how he adapts with his personality also playing a factor. Damon can be funny, but his main performance is excellent because you believe that this man is trying and doing everything to stay alive. The movie never wavers, balancing the scenes on Earth and the scenes with Damon on Mars nicely. The rest of the cast is also excellent, managing to be convincing while also likable. Chastain makes an effort to resemble a Commander, acting with grace and authority that never comes off as fake sounding. Her crew are also pretty good, especially in the last half, where it really is fun to see them all come up with a plan. Daniels, Wiig & Ejiofor also do a good job, having some quick chemistry. Lastly, Glover (though not in the movie much) is memorable and a good kind of quirky that adds a little more charm to the movie, while also being helpful, so that's another plus. It's certainly an interesting movie to listen with regards to science, and it's always nice to remind me about the Mars Pathfinder and make me want to know a little more about hexadecimals. The effects and sets are wonderful, never looking fake at all, as we instead are gazing at the beauty of it all. Mars is certainly an interesting planet to think (and watch) about, and that's why it matters when we discover something new, or about any planet, really. Yes, we live on Earth, but that doesn't mean we should shun ourselves of hearing about attempts to discover something new or learn new things, while keeping an open mind. Enjoy the movie, and enjoy every day on this planet.

Overall, I give it 9 out of 10 stars.

Night of the Living Dead (1968).

Review #738: Night of the Living Dead.

Cast
Duane Jones (Ben), Judith O'Dea (Barbra Blair), Karl Hardman (Harry Cooper), Marilyn Eastman (Helen Cooper), Keith Wayne (Tom), Judith Ridley (Judy), Kyra Schon (Karen Cooper), Charles Craig (Newscaster / Undead), Bill Hinzman (Cemetery Living Dead), George Kosana (Sheriff McClelland), Russell Streiner (Johnny Blair), and Bill Cardille (Billy Cardilly) Directed by George A. Romero.

Review
I remember watching this for the first time when I was about 13 or 14 on YouTube, before the night started to fall. I remember it being pretty good, though I don't think I remembered too much of the movie itself, but I did at least remember the opening scene. Years later, I decided to watch it again. One good thing I can say right off the bat is that it is easily available. The film was known as Night of the Flesh Eaters before it was changed before release due to there being a similar movie tilted like this (named The Flesh Eaters), which led to the copyright accidentally being taken off the credits. Lastly, this movie was made on a budget of $114,000. But enough about facts, let's talk about the movie, on the 47th anniversary of its release. It's interesting to note that though the term "zombie" wasn't used in the film, it is sometimes regarded as the movie that popularized the genre. The opening scene still manages to be one of my favorite scenes in the movie because of its relative simplicity. All it is at first is a conversation about laying a wreath near a graveyard between two siblings. "They're coming to get you, Barbara..." is a line that turns out to prophetic and also manages to be one of the more memorable lines from the movie. Maybe because it is the timing, slightly after Hinzman's character shows up, the first in a long line of living dead.

For an independent movie, this sure does have a good range of effects, especially in close-up. Even seeing a group of them is impressive to watch. The characters are varied in their reaction to this sudden nightmare from springing to action to quasi-catatonic to slightly paranoid, but it makes sense, given that courage and instinct are completely different things. That being said, it is tiresome (occasionally, anyway) to watch O'Dea just sit on the couch half the time and Hardman's character being so stubborn. But the movie is quick and efficient at being a horror movie that doesn't try to explain everything, or try to evoke optimism (Even though halfway the movie someone suggests that radioactive contamination from a space probe might have been the cause, it's never explicitly stated as the reason). Instead, it tries to show a look into what exactly people would do in the case of a disaster of this scope. Some (in the movie) form militias. Others keep on reporting, while rescue centers open to care. Others try to make something out of a tragedy, and why they may not survive, they can at least say in they tried to do something better. It's not a perfect world (or movie) by any means, but it's certainly an entertaining one.

Overall, I give it 9 out of 10 stars.