Rip Torn...Is That Your Boy?

Rip Torn was arrested last night for allegedly breaking into a bank with a revolver. You can read details about the story here. My guy. Somebody's not using 48% of their brain.



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Hey Have You Seen The Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps Trailer?

I know what you're thinking

YOU: "Damn I sure do wanna see a sequel?"
ME: Really? To what? District 9? Star Trek? Zombieland?
YOU: "Nah son. Wall Street!"
ME: That was gonna be my next guess. And hey you say son just like I do!

Here's the teaser trailer to "Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps". For those keeping score the "Greed is Good" mandatory reference shows up at the 1:01 mark in the trailer. I'll say this, how Wu-Tang's C.R.E.A.M. isn't sampled in this trailer is beyond me. Shame on you Mr. Stone.

Hey Have You Seen That Hot Tub Time Machine Trailer?

Any movie named after something I wish I invented first already has my vote like "The Time Machine", "Soul Power", or "The House Of The Devil". Here's the trailer for the new comedy "Hot Tub Time Machine". My three favorite things about this trailer:

A) Craig Robinson looking right at us on, "Hot Tub Time Machine".
B) "I Feel Pregnant."
C) The final shot of John Cusack apologizing to us for "2012".

"Hot Tub Time Machine" arrives in theaters in March.



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Monster Movie of the Week: Q: The Winged Serpent (1982)

Q: THE WINGED SERPENT (1982)

Director: Larry Cohen

Genre: Monster-on-the-loose/Detective/Crime/Exploitation

THE MOVIE

An Aztec god. A series of ritualistic murders. A botched Jewelry store robbery. A small-time crook in over his head. David Carradine and Richard Roundtree are on the case. No it’s not Quentin Tarantino and Robert Rodriguez’s next collaboration; it’s Larry Cohen’s Q: The Winged Serpent, a potent mix of Amerian monster movie, gritty crime drama, and plain old horror exploitation film.

No, nothing suspicious about this at all...

I checked out Q because I was writing a story that features Quetzalcoatl as a giant monster and this film’s creature is based on the same Mesoamerican legend of the “feathered serpent.” The Anthropology is fuzzy and the effects are pretty bad but Q is the kind of movie that has a great time reveling in its own cinematic trashiness. For example: a scene in which a rooftop sunbathing woman removes her bikini and rubs suntan lotion on her breasts, her nipples unnaturally erect. It’s an R-rated movie so, of course, she takes longer to do this than she would in real life. She’s then eaten by a giant monster.

Mmmm...Art Deco...yummy...

I watch a lot of monster movies and the monster-less scenes are generally pretty boring but this movie is actually interesting to watch apart form the fact that it features a giant Quetzalcoatl nesting in the Chrysler building and terrorizing New Yorkers. Michael Moriarty plays Quinn, a criminal/jazz pianist who gets involved a bungled jewel heist and in his attempts to escape the police and the mob he stumbles into Quetzalcoatl’s lair. Moriarty gives a wildly neurotic performance and he’s so weird and crazy that it is hard to take your eyes off him when he is on screen. The movie seems torn as to whether it is about him or about the titular creature.

By contrast, David Carradine is disconnected and laconic kind of like Clint Eastwood on Quaaludes and he has a habit hilariously stating the obvious in a way they only do in movies such as when he first sees Quetzalcoatl he mutters, “Man that thing is big” or after he shoots a knife wielding cultist who returns from seeming death for the forth time Carradine calmly observes: “You don’t die easy.”

And finally, Q features one of my favorite monster movie cliché sequences in which the hero studies a series of well-illustrated books about the monster in question (most famously done in Jaws.) In this instance, he borrows the books from a museum curator. He visits the curator to do background research on the Aztec cultists and the two discuss Aztec culture while walking through an exhibit of colorful and exotic artifacts from Indians of the Pacific Northwest of the United States. The curator never actually says that they are Aztec artifacts; he only sort of vaguely acknowledges them, giving the movie some wiggle room in case someone like me points out that those are clearly not Aztec in origin.

THE MONSTER/EFFECTS

You don’t actually see much of the monster in this movie until the last quarter, which works well because the movie does a good job of making you feel Quetzalcoatl’s presence while either not showing any of her at all or doling out small glimpses and also because once you do see it, it is a bit of a let down. This interpretation is very monochromatic and avian and vaguely resembles the Fell Beasts from the latter two “Lord of the Rings” movies.

Where Brooklyn at?

MONSTERS FEATURED

Quetzalcoatl, mama and baby.

SEQUELS

None.

Eagle Man gets his revenge.

SEE ALSO

The Feathered Serpent (1946)

TRAILER

Trivia

This is not Quetzalcoatl’s first foray into giant

monsterdom. He was previously featured in the 1946 film,

“The Feathered Serpent.” A monster named Quetzalcoatl

also appeared in the “Bird of Paradise” episode of the

animated “Godzilla” series based on the 1998 American

movie. This episode featured numerous allusions to Cohen’s

film, proving that the shows writers were actual monster

movie nerds.

Hey Have You Seen That Machete Trailer?

That's the new poster for the upcoming Machete. This might be the first poster that don't need an alternate tag line from me, "They Fucked With The Wrong Mexican". Yeah they did. CHUD has a story here about what the current status of Machete is. If you don't know what Machete is know this, it stars Danny Trejo, Robert De Niro, Cheech Marin, Steven Seagal, Michelle Rodriguez (Hello Michelle my name is Ricky), Jeff Fahey, and Lindsey Lohan. Here's the trailer that made people want to see a full Machete movie. Good work everyone.

Paul's Power Rankings - 2010

This year I'll be attempting to arrange, in order, from first to worst, all the films I see that are being released in 2010. Come next years awards I should have no trouble telling you which movie stands at the top of my list. It might be biting off a little more than I can chew, but it might be fun, so here goes.

1. Book of Eli - Coming in at #1 with a bullet is Book of Eli, the story of Denzel Washington's modern day journey through the heart of Detroit.

Being that it's the only 2010 flick I've seen this year, it stands alone at the top.

Any early frontrunners for award consideration you ask?

Denzel Washington - Best Actor
Gary Oldman - Best Supporting Actor
Jennifer Beals - Best Supporting Actress
The Hughes Brothers - Best Director

These of course, are subject to change... likely with the next film I see. So here we go, 2010 is underway.

And here we go...

The Purple One.

Prince is my guy. He's a genius. The stranger a story I hear about Prince the easier it is for me to accept as absolute fact. I was told this week he was referred to by Wendy and Lisa (former members of The New Power Generation**) as the "Fancy Lesbian". My immediate reaction? Of course he is. Now today I get sent not one but two separate emails with the story that Prince has recorded a new fight song for the Minnesota Vikings. My immediate reaction? Of course he did. Here is the Minnesota Vikings Fight song courtesy of Prince titled "Purple And Gold".



And here's a bonus clip kids. The trifecta. Prince, Michael Jackson, and James Brown performing at the Apollo.



Happy Friday.
**My apologies, I was informed that Wendy and Lisa were in the Revolution. I lose two Purple Points for that error.

Monster Movie of the Week: Godzilla vs. Mothra (1964)

GODZILLA VS. MOTHRA (1964)

AKA Mothra Vs. Godzilla, Godzilla vs. The Thing

Director: Ichiro Honda

Genre: Daikaiju eiga

THE MOVIE

Godzilla vs. Mothra is the last great kaiju movie of Toho’s Showa era and is widely considered to be among the best of the whole series. It concluded a short string of successful, high-quality movies that began with 1960’s Mothra and continued through King Kong vs. Godzilla. Godzilla vs. Mothra marks the last appearance of a truly malevolent Godzilla until the 1980’s. From here on out, Godzilla would be portrayed as an anti-hero or even a cuddly single dad. This is also reflected in the character’s design, here slightly changed from the great look of the previous movie but still effective and somewhat foreshadowing the character’s look in his 1990’s movies with a longer neck, mammalian face and pronounced trapezoid muscles. Thankfully, he’s still a long way from the muppet-like appearance he would have later in the ‘60’s.

Breakfast: Thwarted,

Godzilla vs. Mothra is also the first time that Godzilla would face off with another one of Toho’s star kaiju and this would become a familiar formula for the entirety of the Godzilla film series. Mothra, Rodan, Varan and Anguirus would be recycled throughout the rest of the Showa series, often teaming up against monsters like Ghidorah, Gigan and Mechagodzilla. These were all original Toho monsters and the studio didn’t have to worry about making deals and licensing headaches as in the case with their Kong crossover. Godzilla vs. Mothra was the first real application of this formula.

Mothra's posse.

This is also one of the most archetypical of all the early Toho kaiju films, and elements of it repeatedly pop up in later movies. Mothra’s self sacrifice for her larvae is repeated again in 1992’s Godzilla and Mothra as well as in 2003’s Tokyo S.O.S. Much of the fight staging is the same as well as the larva’s propensity to bite the end of Godzilla’s tail. The 2003 film even features twin larvae. Godzilla vs. Mothra features a female reporter, which would become a sort of Godzilla stock character.

The story concerns a mysterious gigantic egg that washes up on the Japanese coast during a hurricane. A pair of greedy businessmen and a corrupt politician scheme to steal the egg and exhibit it. Mothra’s twin fairies appeal to a sympathetic pair of journalists and a scientist to have the egg returned to Infant Island to no avail. Godzilla appears from underground (WTF?) and begins terrorizing Japan and eventually making his way to the egg. Mothra shows up to defend her egg (which hatches into twin larva). She sacrifices herself and the two larvae cocoon Godzilla and he falls into the sea. The end.

When a courtesy flush just is not enough.

THE MONSTERS/EFFECTS

Godzilla is oddly clumsy in this movie. He seems to do more damage from stumbling around than intentionally attacking the city. He really does fall down a lot in this movie. And I believe this is one of the only times Godzilla is observed coming out of the earth instead of the sea. AND he gets punked by two caterpillars. The only thing that explains this is that Godzilla had gotten really drunk the night before, passed out in a ditch, got covered in debris and woke up really hung over.

DVD AVAILABILITY

Widely available. A new, deluxe DVD set was recently released with the original Japanese version of the movie and even some extras.

SEQUELS

Immediately followed by Ghidorah: The Three Headed Monster and Invasion of the Astro-Monster.

MOST MEMORABLE SEQUENCE

What the hell was he doing underground anyway?!

SEE ALSO

Godziila vs. Mothra: The Battle for Earth (1992), Godzilla, Mothra, King Ghidorah: Giant Monsters All Out Attack (2001)

TRIVIA

It was billed in America as Godzila vs. The Thing. People wondered: “The Thing? Jeepers, that sounds neat!”

And then they found out it was a butterfly.

False advertising? Or just a very early teaser poster for Godzilla vs. Biollante?

THE TRAILER

Teddy P....He Gone!

Damn! Teddy Pendergrass died yesterday. How about a moment of silence for Teddy P. and in his honor as was custom at his concerts....women throw your panties onstage.

Teddy P.:



I Don't Love You Anymore:



Wake Up Everybody:



Don't Leave Me This Way:

Monster Movie of the Week: It Came From Beneath The Sea (1955)

IT CAME FROM BENEATH THE SEA (1955)
Director: Robert Gordon
Genre: Natural Horror/Monster on the loose

THE MOVIE

When it comes to bogeymen, there’s nothing like a good “It.” “It” was a terror from beyond space! “It” was alive! Even Stephen King had an “It.” Next to a good “Thing,” there’s nothing like “It” (unless you are an Addams in which case you have regular contact with both). One day I hope they will make a movie called It! vs. Thing!

Today we will be talking about the particular “It” that came from beneath the sea. This is one of Ray Harryhousen’s most iconic monster movies and tells the story of a giant octopus irradiated by nuclear testing and driven from its home at the ocean depths. The octopus eventually makes its way to San Francisco and goes on a rampage before being blown up in the harbor. It Came from Beneath the Sea gave Harryhousen the opportunity to work on a different kind of creature, this being an aquatic monster composed mainly of tentacles. Other than that, it is pretty standard 1950’s monster fare.

This is the kinda crap that happens when you develop a relaxed attitude towards earthquakes.

THE MONSTER/EFFECTS

Other than its size, there is nothing particularly monstrous about this octopus (except that it has only five or six tentacles, but lets say it lost a couple in the initial run-in with the sub). The effects are overall very good as you would expect from a Harryhousen movie and the wonderful three-dimensionality that stop motion gives you. There are some sequences that are among the most famous of 1950’s monster movies, such as the creature’s attack on the Golden Gate Bridge.
MONSTERS FEATURED

San Fran joins the community of monster-hosting cities.

Just one octopus, which is the titular "It." Back in the day, they tried to keep the monster's nature under wraps. For example, Godzilla vs. Mothra was known as here in the states prior to its initial release as Godzilla vs. The Thing, and Mothra's identity was kept under wraps with poster that only teased a couple of bug eyes and a pair of antenna. Which is I guess better than calling the movie Godzilla vs. Butterfly. The same is true here, I mean, who wants to see a movie called The Octopus Came From Beneath The Sea.

DVD AVAILABILITY

Widely available with a few Harryhousen interviews and featurettes.

If you only have five arms, are you still an Octopus? Discuss.

SEQUELS

None.

SEE ALSO

20 Million Miles to Earth 1957 The Beast From 20,000 Fathoms 1954

TRIVIA

This movie is being watched by a security guard in a scene prior to the creature’s initial attack in the American Godzilla (1998), which is another clue as to where the filmmakers hearts lie.

TRAILER

Hey Have You Seen The New A-Team Trailer?

Hey. HEY! It's been a minute since I posted a trailer. My bad. So let's get it going again with the trailer to The A-Team. Remember that show from the 1980's? That's the one where the British nanny was forced to work for the American family who had adopted 2 brothers and they lived in this awesome house that Alfonso Ribiero always used to come hang out in. This is a contemporary version and it looks like they are going more the action-adventure route this time around. The A-Team stars Liam Neeson, Bradley Cooper (laaadies!), Sharlto Copely (sans Christopher Robinson), and Mr.T's futurized mohawk. The A-Team arrives in theaters on June 11, 2010.

Brilliant Idea #422 - Late Night Edition

I don't know when NBC is gonna figure out who's gonna be doing what on late night television but I have a brilliant suggestion. How about Carsenio!

Monster Movie of the Week: Dragon Wars (2007)

Dragon Wars (2007)

aka D-Wars

Director: Shim Hyung-rae

Genre: Fantasy/Kaiju

THE MOVIE

Let’s get one thing out of the way, the story for the recent Korean movie Dragon Wars is undeniably bad and cliché-ridden. At times the movie seems like an Asian flavored Lord of the Rings ripoff. The acting is SyFy channel-movie worthy. But, what is also undeniable is that Dragon Wars is often visionary and beautiful and that the special effects are amazingly good. Once the exposition is out of the way this part of the movie takes over and is quite entertaining. For all of its flaws, Dragon Wars has some of the most breath-taking monster action ever seen on film. There’s something very cool about a mystical dino-mounted army taking on the U.S. military in the streets of LA.

Robert Forster plays an ancient Asian mystic, yet still sounds like he's at a Chicago hot dog stand.

THE MONSTERS/EFFECTS

There are about four different creatures featured in this movie and the effects are awesome through out. The star creatures are the film’s two “imugis” or proto-dragons, which are basically giant snakes. There is a good imugi and and a bad imugi, which is caught trying to eat an elephant early in the movie and later coils itself a building in downtown LA while it fights with some helicopters before disappearing underground. Later, during some mystical mumbo jumbo the good imugi molts into its adult form and takes the shape of a beautiful and serpentine Oriental dragon complete with whiskers and undersized legs.

The transdimensional pride parade.

MONSTERS FEATURED

Other than the two imugis there are:

A whole flock of flying creatures that look like the Fell Beasts from Lord of the Rings or like the creature from Q:The Winged Serpent. They tangle with some military helicopters in a cool sequence.

There is a horned theropod dinosaur that is ridden upon.

And there is an obese two-legged reptile that has cannons mounted to its back.

MOST MEMORABLE SEQUENCE

My favorite is the kaijugasmic sequence that featured the imugi wrapped around a building and fighting the helicopters.

Okay, you have to admit, this is kind of cool.

DVD AVAILABILITY

Yup.

SEQUELS

None planned.

Actually, most insurance companies will not cover this.

MINORITY REPORT

It’s the return of everyone’s favorite monster movie stock character: The Annoying Foul Mouthed Black Sidekick. Poor Craig Robinson went on to do better parts in The Office, Pineapple Express, and Hot Tub Time Machine.

That and that the fact that all of the Korean characters are reincarnated as Americans to give the movie more international (i.e. American) appeal.

TRAILER