NOW SHOWING: Faster Pussycat Kill! Kill!

 It's a wild ride all the way...enjoy.

Masters Of Horror Documentary with Bruce Campbell

A horror documentary featuring some of the genres biggest names hosted by Bruce Campbell, nuff said.

NOW SHOWING: Justice League Of America The Movie (1997)

Worst superhero movie ever, although it's Green Lantern is still 10 times better than that Ryan Renolds sham.....enjoy ?

TOP 5: DESERT ISLAND COMICS.....

In a shameless rip off of an article I recently read (by Kenny Penman over on the Forbidden Planet blog) this is a TOP 5 list of the comic books I'd take with me to my desert island refuge...

5. Absolute BATMAN: Hush by Jim Lee (art) & Jeph Loeb (writer)
The Hush story line is no ones favorite but this makes my list purely because of Jim Lee's art which along with the extras (sketch book, interviews...) that feature in the Absolute addition make it solid superhero eye candy.....

4. Jack Kirby: King of Comics by Mark Evanier
Although this isn't a comic is should be on the book shelf of every comic reader. The biography of the man who almost single handedly created Marvel comics is a cracking read but it's the art work that is featured that make it a real education into the mind of one of the great artists of the 20th century.

3.STRONTIUM DOG : the No Go Job & the Final Solution Simon Harrison (my favorite 2000ad artist), Colin MacNeil (art) & John Wagner (writer) This was the story line that would lead to the shocking death of top dog Johnny Alpha (who in true comic book fashion would later make a full recovery). There is a collected edition but it doesn't include the No Go Job which is the set up for the Final Solution so I'll be taking along my individual progs.

2. DRAGONS CLAWS issues 1-10. By Geoff Senior (art) & Simon Furman (writer)
I can not stress enough how good this series is, there is a collected edition with some extra material but (again) I'd have to take my single issues (which if you go looking can be found in bargain bins for pennies). A forgotten gem but one I still regularly enjoy.

1. TANK GIRL vol.1 by Jamie Hewlett (art) & Alan Martin (writer)

In an ideal world there would be a bible like book that collected together every issue of Deadline Magazine but there isn't so...there. My copy of this book is the 1990 edition (published by Penguin) which collects the first lot of episodes that appeared in Deadline in all there b&w glory (later editions feature coloured strips) and is the one book I took with me on my unadventurous 3 year long travels around the north of England which in places had the same feeling of being cut off from civilization that I imagine you'd experience on an actual desert island....ooft!

DREDD Full TRAILER.....

Die Hard + The Raid x Judge Dredd = can you DIG IT!



This looks very promising the makers seem like they've used their relatively small budget ($45,000,000 according to IMDB) to best effect by making a basic but solid action flick which is exactly what a Judge Dredd movie should be. Fingers crossed the movie lives up to the trailer.

Beats International: Dub Be Good To Me

Playing Superman (1978) short documentary...

10 second preview of new Judge Dredd film.

The Importance Of Being Morrissey documentary...

 A beautiful man...enjoy.

Unaired PLASTIC MAN cartoon pilot..

This is the unaired Plastic Man pilot from Cartoon Network which looks like a cross between Ren & Stimpy and Sponge Bob. It's a shame this wasn't picked up because it looks like it had some promise...

TOP 5: REMAKES...ooft.

Before Judy Garland went over the rainbow there had already been 4 (or 5) versions of Wizard of Oz put to celluloid so remakes are no stranger to the big screen. Indeed some times, as is the case with John Carpenter's the Thing (1982) they are superior to the original (the Thing from Another World, 1951) using creativity to make something 'new' but Hollywood has slowly perfected the art of replacing creativity with Pop Culture brand recognition in order to turn a profit (because that's all that really matters kids) as the instantly forgettable the Thing (2011) illustrates. It could be argued that the ongoing trend for selling nostalgia trips began with with Tim Burton's Batman (1989) which was seen in the popular press more as a remake of the 1960's TV show than an adaptation of the comic (original casting had Bill Murry up for the title role) it also developed the 'dark & gritty' formula that has been the bane of such flicks ever since.(the Bay Effect)
 But what modern remakes (1989-present) are worth wasting your time and money on....

5. DUKES of HAZZARD (2005)
I'm possibly the only person on the face of the planet that actually likes this flick but as a massive fan of the original TV show it's hard to imagine what it's critics where expecting as it's pretty much the same story line (and standard of acting) as every other episode that appeared on television. Replace Jessica Simpson, get rid of the General Lee origin schtick and have the entire movie revolve around having to win the race to save Hazzard county and you've got some good ol'e solid gold. Plus this chase and the jump it ends with are just pure gallus with not a hint of CGI which is unusual for a movie made in 2005.


4. 21 JUMP STREET (2012):
This is more a parody than a remake that least has the decency to be funny making it worth while.


3. HAIRSPRAY (2007):
The musical version of the John Waters original is a cracking flick, and just like the original gets two thumbs up.


2. ADDAMS FAMILY VALUES (1993):
The Addams Family (1991) was a faithful and sincere adaptation but it's sequel managed to build and improve not only on the first flick but on the source materiel itself .


1. STAR TREK (2009):
I was never a big fan of Kirk & Co but the 2009 version defies all the odds and comes up smiling. Not only was this flick a remake of a TV show and a reboot of a movie franchise it was also a prequel and technically a sequel. It's just a pity that in constructing a solid base for completely new stories and adventures the first thing the fans scream out for in it's sequel is 'KHANNNNN...'

MAD MAX: then and now...spot the difference.

The cast of Mad Max: Road Warrior (1981)....

The cast of Mad Max: Fury Road (2013)......I look forward to CGI car crashes, a love story sub plot, guns, Kung-Fu and an all round good looking post Apocalypse.

BATMAN FOREVER's original beginning & ending...

Batman Forever will always be unfairly partnered up with the truly awful Batman & Robin but what ever faults it's judged to have they are the same faults that bog down any third act movie, it's Batman's Return of the Jedi moment but take away the neon lights and Robin (the Boy Ewok) and it's no different to a Tim Burton Bat flick. The Joel Schumacher Bat efforts will never be anyone's favorite mainly because they lightened up on Burton's 'dark' design choices but story wise are they really that different. Batman Returns is often touted as the best of the 'Burton' era but as good as it looked it did end with Gotham being attacked by an army of rocket launching penguins. These unused clips of  Forever hint at a Burton-esque darkness which was obviously watered down (although not considerably) to achieve a more family orientated screen certificate which would bring a box office cash boost to a franchise which had come to the end of it's then shelf life.

 

NOW SHOWING: The Brain That Wouldn't Die (1962)

 A scientist keeps his girlfriends decapitated head alive while he looks to find her for a knew body...enjoy.

1994 SILVER SURFER Short film...

I'm not sure what the story is behind this but my guess is that after the T-1000 hit the big time they toyed with the idea of using the new technology to put the Silver Surfer on the silver screen this would explain the Arnie action figure...

TOP 6: LIVE BANDS ON THE 'WORD'....

Remember when people thought that TV couldn't get any lower than 'the Word'. Say what you want about the show it's live music performances were the bees knees and now stand as testament to the sheer energy of the music scene at the time...

6. Blaggers ITA: Abandon Ship


5. The Senseless Things: Hold it Down


4. Neds Atomic Dustbin: Intact


3.Daisy Chainsaw: Love Your Money


2. The Sugarcubes: Hit


1. L7 : Pretend that We're Dead

Birds of Prey Unaired TV Pilot...

Birds of Prey (2002) was based on the Comic book of the same name and featured Oracle(who used to be Batgirl until she was crippled by the Joker) Huntress (the Daughter of Batman and Catwoman) and Black Cannery. This is a cross between Buffy and Smallville and should have been a much bigger deal....

Prometheus: was that it....

Illustration by Kev Harper.

Since it was announced that Ridley Scott would be returning to Sci-Fi with an Alien prequel (click here if your interested) It has to be said I have been more than a touch disappointed and indifferent to the whole affair. Now having seen Prometheus for myself and going by a majority of the reviews it has been given I will rise above my uncontrollable desire to tell you 'I told you so', but that's not to say it's a bad film (which was never my prediction). Even on a bad day, a poor Ridley Scott movie will almost always be better than your usual Hollywood fodder (GI Jane?) and in essence Prometheus is a good Sci-Fi flick but it is not a good 'Alien' movie. Regardless of what the press release (or the director) says this is an Alien prequel and that is it's biggest flaw. With all it's metaphysical and religious undertones I would rather see Scott cut loose and attempt to make his Kubrickian Sci-Fi odyssey without it being bogged down with the weight of being shoe horned into the Alien franchise. Alien was a horror movie set in space pure and simple and that's what remains great about it. It was never intended to answer (or indeed provoke the discussion of) 'the meaning of life the universe and everything', an equivalent scenario would be Spielberg making a Jaws prequel that tells the tale of how Poseidon released the Kraken to destroy Atlantis whose inhabitants fled to dry land where their ancestors will continue to be terrorized by the Krakens offspring, the Shark (que the music). In short the film it's self was OK but nothing great and I'm sure the sequels will come and go with much of the same explosive apathy that prequels deserve. The question is now after the relative disappointment of Prometheus who still wants a Blade Runner sequel....?

MOZ-ILLA!..an IT Crowd tribute.

Sketch by Kev Harper.

A small tribute to the hero of the IT Crowd...

TOP 5: ANTI-HEROES

 This is my list of bad boys with hearts of gold....

5. Dae-su Oh (Oldboy,2003)
A man who's only motivation is revenge on the men who have wronged him and possibly (probably) those responsible for the Hollywood remake....


4. JACK BURTON (Big Trouble in Little China,1986)
there are a few contenders in the Comedy anti-hero stakes with The Bandit and Dr.Venkman coming close but both are left eating dirt by the Pork Chop Express and her sadly under used owner....


3. Max Rockatansky (Mad Max,1979)
What I like most about Max is that his character rarely uses a gun and is not defined by the body count he leaves behind him unlike the ultra violent Anti heroes he would go on to inspired.


2. The STRANGER (High Plains Drifter,1973)
A super natural twist on Eastwood's earlier 'Man with No Name' character The Stranger is amoral, self serving and exists only to bring Hell on Earth (literally) to the inhabitants of the town of Largo... 


1. KOWALSKI (Vanishing Point,1971)
The last American hero.....nuff said.

Anne Hathaway becomes BAT-WOMAN in Dark Knight Rises....

source

Perhaps not but this is a sweet bit of cosplay..............or is it?

First poster for DREDD...

can-you-DIG IT! September 21st can not come soon enough.

Harvey Pekar reads from American Splendor...

 Illustration by Robert Crumb

This is a segment from Ron Mann's excellent documentary 'Comic Book Confidential' with the late great Harvey Pekar reading from his comic series American Splendor. It cuts of slightly early toward the end but listening to Pekar read his own work is a pure joy...




And here's a short interveiw where he reflects on his career and comics...

Trailer for 'JUDGE MINTY' the Judge Dredd fan movie...

 Here's the trailer for the 'fan made' Dredd movie 'JUDGE MINTY' and don't it look a peach the trailer alone is a million times better than the Stallone effort. I've been following its progress since I heard about it a year ago and it looks like a very exciting project. You can keep up to date with its production over on the directors blog.

TRANSFORMERS 4: Robots I Despise...

I'm sure (although box office takings care to differ)  that I'm not the only person who treated the almost evangelical announcement the Michael Bay was going to direct a fourth Transformers movie as a massive stone cold downer. He couldn't make a decent one the first three times so it's a safe bet the fourth will be equally awful while still managing to rake in the disposable incomes of the masses, a trick Hollywood has perfected to the point of shock & awe genius (it's the equivalent of a highly trained ninja warrior mugging goats). Apart from everything about them, it was how bad and confusingly designed the robots where that most disappointed. Obviously the 20 years worth of design work that had made the Transformers so popular in the first place (and had already appeared in a better than it should have been animated feature) wasn't good enough.



This 'test' clip showed up just before the first Transformers flick raised it's ugly misshapen head and in many ways it still looks better than the Optimus Prime (even though it's colouring suggests it's Ultra Magnus) that muddled it's way through 3 incredibly bad (and bizarrely successful) shlock busters.
And for comparison, Optimus Prime with added 'Bay Effect'....



Which is better, you decide (although the answer is the first one).

Kasabian - Fire

ELVIS PRESLEY: the other King of Comics...

The biggest influence on Elvis Presley as a child was the young super hero Captain Marvel Jr. (aka Freddy Freeman) who's power was be bestowed up on him by a magic bolt of lightening.

The book Elvis & Gladys (1985) cites the story which had the profoundest effect on him as 'Atlantis Rises Again' that appeared in issue 10 of 'the Marvel Family' (published by Fawcett Comics, 1947) in which Captain Marvel Jr. travels to the 13000th Century and explains to a inhabitant of the future the importance of keeping his secret identity.

Elvis & Gladys author Elaine Dundy claims through this comic Elvis (apparently) aware that he was destined for greatness learned he "must be constantly on his guard against declaring himself to anyone, for if his outrageous secret were known, he would no longer be the most Powerful Boy in the World.". Regardless of the validity of these precognitive claims it can't be denied that the influence of Captain Marvel Jr. can be clearly seen through out the career of the King of Rock&Roll from his hair style to  the capes he would later wear to the lightening bolt T.C.B logo which he used to unite his own band of side kicks.

BACK to MY FUTURE: how I learned to stop worrying and love the remake...

While expressing an opinion on movies (particularly in the case of blockbusters) and my desire for some 'new' ideas, for new pop culture icons to rise up from the 'Beige Age' that was the last decade, I was quickly  shot down cold and told to ''stop living in the past'' that there are things out there happening I just don't know about, things that are just not aimed at my apparently defunct demographic. 'Living in the past', aren't we all whether we like it or not....
The following pictures are all listed by IMDB as being released in 2011......

The original Scream was released in 1996. The original Thing was released in 1982 and was itself based on The Thing from another World (1952). Tom Sawyer was created in 1876 and was last adapted for film in 1998 (the Modern Adventures of Tom Sawyer)

Tinker, Taylor, Solider, Spy is a remake of the1979 TV adaptation. The original Straw Dogs was released in 1971. The original Girl with the Dragon Tattoo was released in 2009.

Sherlock Holmes was last adapted (pre Downey Jr.) in 2004 (Sherlock Holmes and the Case of the Silk Stocking) as well as a 2010 TV adaption he first appeared on film in 1908. The original Arthur was released in 1981. Mission Impossible first appeared on TV in 1966.

Vick the Viking first appeared on TV in 1974. Alvin and the Chipmunks were created in 1958. Top Cat first appeared in 1961.

 X-Men were created 1963 and first appeared on the big screen in 2000. Captain America was created 1941 and was last adapted for film in 1990. Thor was created in 1962.

Winnie the Pooh was created in 1926 first appeared on screen 1966 and was last adapted in 2005 (Pooh's Heffalump Movie). The first Muppet Movie was released in 1979. The Smurfs were created in 1958.

The Green Hornet was created in 1936 and first appeared on TV in 1966. The Hal Jordan Green Lantern was created in 1959. Dylan Dog was created in 1986 and first appeared on screen in 1994 (Dellamorte Dellamore aka Cemetery Man)

 The Johnny Blaze Ghost Rider was created in 1972 and was first adapted for film in 2007. Conan was created in 1932 and fist appeared on film in 1982. Transformers were first created in 1984 the animated Transformers: the Movie was released in 1986.

 The original Hellraiser movie was released in 1987. the original Fright Night was released in 1985 and the original Footloose was released in 1984.

Planet of the Apes was first adapted for film in 1968 and a remake was released in 2001. The Three Musketeers was last adapted for the big screen in 1993 (the 1973 version easily makes it into my top ten all time favorite movies.) and lastly Tintin was created in 1929 and first appeared on TV in 1957..
There were also new adaptations of  Jane Eyre and Wuthering Heights but I thought listing them would be a tad pedantic. I freely admit that I enjoyed more than a couple off these pictures but I can't help wondering what original ideas where over looked in favour of these multimillion dollar cash cows.

The most popular blockbuster of the Beige Age was the decidedly ordinary Avatar with the rest of the Top Ten containing, a Batman (created in 1939) flick, two Spider-man (created in 1962) movies, Transformers (1984), the final part of the Lord of the Rings (1954) trilogy, the third Star Wars (1977) prequel and The Passion...(1611). Are there good movies still being made, of course there are but their dull thud like impact on pop culture is for me a bit of a worry (or at least frustratingly annoying). As I quietly await the 'new' I will embrace the 'now' and gladly leave my past behind me. Now where did I put my Stone Roses tickets....

BLADE RUNNER: the comic book cut...

There are multiple versions of Blade Runner from Directors cut to Final Cut but there's one that gets overlooked the Comic Book Cut.

Published by Marvel (1982) it was first released as issue 22 of the Marvel Super Special series (with a nothing short of beautiful Jim Steranko cover) it was reprinted as a regular format two parter the same year (which are the ones I lovingly own). adapted by the late great Archie Goodwin who condenses the movie into the type of 'for all ages' story Marvel used to excel at while keeping the tone of the film and not feeling the need to dumb it down for a 'younger' audience.

The art (by Al Williamson & Carlos Garzon with additional inks by Dan Green & Ralph Reese) is faithful to the movie with a rawness that complements the films esthetic. These books are still easy to find and surprisingly don't always come with the ridiculous 'collectors' prices that significant pop culture brands are often lumbered with. Blade Runner is classic in ever sense of the word and continues to inspire modern urban Sci-Fi, no matter what 'cut' it comes in.

And for shit's and giggles check out this ad from the back cover of Blade Runner issue 1 for the 'Empire Strikes Back' Atari video game.

TOP 5: UNDERRATED MOVIES...

I wanted to do a top 5 of underrated flicks which had been released recently but with Ridley Scott all over the place just now my No.1 is dedicated to him...

5. Strange Wilderness (2008)
A stoner comedy that's actually funny....


4. Tucker & Dale Vs. Evil (2010)
An excellent parody of everything that's wrong with modern Hollywood horror...


3. Super (2010)
Everything Kiss Ass claimed to be and wasn't...


2. The Warriors Way (2010)
A mix of Lone Wolf and Cub and the Good, the Bad & the Ugly....


1. Blade Runner (the original cut) (1982)
Clearly it would be ridiculous to label Blade Runner underrated but if we're talking about the orignal cut then it most definitely, is. Since Ridley Scott released the directors cut the original cut of Blade Runner has been buried under an avalanche of snobbery which has gotten deeper with every new 'cut' released. When I first watched the film what appealed to me is the idea of a Spillane style noir detective story set in the future and this is still what I love most about it voice over and all. And as far as I'm concerned Deckard is not an android he's just a stung out cat trying to do his job....