Adam West & Burt Ward's BATMAN Screen Tests....

The tone of the screen test seems a little heavier than the end product perhaps the original intention was to mimic shows like The Man from U.N.C.L.E which managed to balance its 'camp' tendencies with straight drama.

STAR WARS DETOURS: RETURN of the PISH*

(*Pish: Scottish word for 'piss' also used to describe something that is truly awful and conveniantly ryhmes with the word 'Sith'.)

Just when you thought the Star Wars cash cow couldn't be milked for another drop George Lucas has allowed Robot Chicken to have a turn at hammering another nail in the coffin of this once great space adventure. The makers of this describe it as:

Star Wars Detours is an animated comedy that explores what daily life is like in a galaxy far, far away. There are no Empires striking back or attacking clones here. Instead, Star Wars Detours focuses on the universe’s regular folks and their everyday problems… which, to be fair, do frequently involve famous bounty hunters, crazed Ewoks, and even a Dark Lord of the Sith.



I'm sure when this was pitched the studio executives laughed and laughed, their sides spliting and tears of joy streaming down their bloated red cheeks, not at the actual jokes (which from what I've seen are lazy at best) but at just at how much money this would rake in and of coures why waste time with new and original ideas when a sure thing filled to burst with brand recognition is put down in front of you.



This seems to be getting touted as Star Wars for a 'younger' audience but wasn't the original movies aimed at children. I was 3 when Star Wars was first released and 6 when I first seen it (in the La Scala cinema on Sauchiehall St.) as a double feature with Empire Strikes Back I sat and watched Star Destroyers slowly fill the screen in a thunderous roar, watched planets be destroyed, watched Han Solo shoot first and knew right away who I wanted to be when I grew up, watched Luke take shelter in the guts of a dead animals, watched the good guys defeated on snowy battlefeilds, watched as my hero Solo is betrayed and encased in carbonite by a ruthless bounty hunter and left the cinema on a cliff hanger with the fate of the universe left in the balance. Six year olds are obviously a far more sensative lot now days if Detours is deemed good enough for their apparantly delecate constiutions. No six year old will come away from Star Wars Detours with heroes who'll stick with them through to adulthood although the Lucas approved tat it produces might stick around long enough to see Boxing Day.


 

Unaired 1967 Wonder Woman TV Pilot

After his success with the Batman and Green Hornet TV shows producer William Dozier made this pilot for a proposed Wonder Woman show Starring Ellie Wood Walker as Diana Prince and Linda Harrison as Wonder Woman......

And click here to watch his BATGIRL pilot....

NOW SHOWING: John Carpenter's THEY LIVE (1988)

 Everyone got there bubblegum, good......enjoy

TOP 5: Sci-Fi Shows....

Sci-Fi shows are ten a penny but what about the forgotten ones that don't get the recognition they deserve, here's my top 5.....

5: GOODNIGHT SWEETHEART:
Here's a show that absolutely doesn't get anywhere near the credit it deserves. At first glance it's a run of the mill BBC sit-com starring 'Rodney Trotter' but what it actually is is the British Quantum Leap with a deceptively dark story line and moments that can stand toe to toe with classic Dr.Who and Red Dwarf. If only it had a more 'iconic' leading man this would be a Fan Boy favorite.


4. SAPPHIRE & STEEL:
This show like most British Sci-Fi benefited from having great writers, great actors and no budget. The adventures of these 'Time agents' are understated atmospheric affairs which would be impossible to recapture using modern filming and special effects techniques (so please no remakes/reboots ya goons) ....


3. SEAQUEST 2032:
Seaquest DSV was an under water rival to Star Trek:TNG and starred Roy Scheider (Jaws) and the best thing I can say about it is, it licked balls but for the 3rd (and last) series the show changed its name to Seaquest 2032, re-jigged it's story line (becoming more action based) and most importantly brought in the legend that is Michael Ironside as the new captain which instantly made it more appalling....


2. LEXX:
Barbarella meets Blake's 7 (oo-er!) this was unmissable sci-fi unfortunately the TV station which showed it did its best to make it as difficult as possible to become a regular viewer. offbeat hi-concept pulp Lexx is an example of the kind of Sci-Fi that is sadly missing in tv schedules fit to burst with sub-Whedon fluff and 'gritty' franchise action-eers....


1: STAR FLEET:
Originally titled X-Bomber, Star Fleet was a Japanese Thunderbirds/Star Wars mash up from the early 80's and featured the crew of the X-Bomber in their battles against the Imperial alliance.....

 Look In magazine ran reprints of the X-Bomber Manga which still looks the bees-knees and deserves a wider audience on it's own merit....

The British version also had a theme tune by Brian May & Friends who where:
Brian May - guitar, vocals
Roger Taylor - backing vocals
Eddie Van Halen - guitar, backing vocals
Fred Mandel - keyboards
Phil Chen - bass guitar
Alan Gratzer - drums


For more on this underrated gem Including all the comic strips featured in Look In, check out the SFXB web site you'll not be disappointed...

NOW SHOWING: Transformers: The Movie (1986)

Far better than it should be and far more superior to any of the Bay live action efforts...enjoy.

Tony Wilson interviews Ian Brown....

From the program the WORKS, 2002.....

PUNK ACROSS THE GLOBE illustration...

Illustration by Kev Harper

If your on the look out for some indie punk to crack the cultural cocoon caused by auto tuned pop check out Punk Across the Globe.

BEHIND the SCENES of DREDD.....

 Here's a dirt short behind the scenes featurette for DREDD......can-you-DIG IT!

Director Joe Carnahan’s test trailers for DAREDEVIL reboot....

These are the test trailers (or sizzle trailers as they apparently say in the biz) for Joe Carnhan's now aborted concept for a reboot of Daredevil. The clips are made up using soundtracks, dialog and images from other flicks (including Ben Afleck as the Man without Fear) to give a broad idea of the tone the director was going in which was that of a set in the1970's exploitation movie and for my money they hit the mark a shame the final say rested with Hollywood suits more interested in money than the audience.



And dig those animated Frank Miller panels, (Miller's Born storyline from the comics was to be a prominent  influence). Where other more A-List comic titles fluctuate so badly that you literally don't know what your getting from one issue to the next the Daredevil title has been one of the most consistent superhero titles for over a decade now (if not longer) so it seems only right that the character be treated with some respect and creativity when putting him on the big screen. (For the record I like the 2003.)

NOW SHOWING: FREAKED (1993)

Co directed by Alex Winter (Bill from Bill&Ted, it also has Keanu Reeves as Dog Boy) this is an underrated gem of a flick that deserves your love.....enjoy.

An Homage to Tank Girl: Queen of the Wild Frontier...

Illustration by Kev Harper

CUM FEEL THE NOIZE of the SPACE KITTENS

Illustration by Kev Harper

Smashing Pumpkins Live in Munich - 21/2/94

 ....enjoy.

David Devant And His Spirit Wife: Cookie

An Homage to Neil Gaiman's Dream & Delirium...

Illustration by Kev Harper

Full Tilt Boogie - The Making Of From Dusk Till Dawn

Stewart Lee's Comedy Vehicle: Toilet Books.....

This the first episode of his Comedy Vehicle series and to quote it's opening line....
"If you've only ever read one book in your life I highly recommend you keep your mouth shut."

Kev Harper Sample Illustration.....

Click here to see some more.....

New (ish) poster for DREDD.....

Here's the latest poster for the new Judge Dredd flick and as nice as it looks I'm not sure why it has him standing on a rooftop Batman style or to be more precise Daredevil style...

It just seems lazy to go with what is essentially a 'superhero' pose why not turn to 2000ad for some inspiration......

 I still have this issue framed and hanging on my wall, not the most dramatic but pure zarjaz none the less.

Beastie Boys - Three MC's and One DJ

David Lynch & Alan R. Splet Eraserhead Soundtrack

Read full review of Eraserhead Soundtrack - David Lynch & Alan R. Splet on Boomkat.com ©

The Mindscape of Alan Moore (2005) documentary...

.....enjoy.