I grew-up with this film. When I saw the remake, I tried, I really did, I just could not get into it. Frankly, It stunk. The original however - rocks n' rolls!
It's Ray Harryhausen's last and crowning achievement to the world of cinema. I wish he could have unleash the Kraken on the 2010 film! This film has far more monsters and this Medusa would kick that lame 2010-snakes butt! And the opening of this, the original film - holly crap its dark! I don't want to give it away, but it's one heck of a first 10 minutes. Not only that, the 1981 film has Sir Laurence Olivier as Zeus for Zeus's sake!! The supporting cast is top notch, Burgess Meredith is in it too!
I'm not saying this is Citizen Kane, but Ray Harryhausen would have kicked Kane's butt and tore down that silly Xanadu with one swipe of his mighty hand!
When Dino De Laurentiis teamed with David Lynch for the big screen adaptation of Dune, it was blasted by critics and did not do well at the box office. But for those of us who saw it, who appreciated its visually lush style, (no Star Wars film at the time could come close) it was an unforgettable trip. The sprawling story line of the novel was never easily adaptable for film, and the SciFi channel's 2000 mini-series was the only one that was able to capture all of the plots intricacies. Maybe if the old style serials with edge-of-your-seat cliffhangers were still in use, it would have better served the book. Story difficulties aside, the film remains coherent, exciting, mysterious and became an instant cult classic.
I could write endlessly about various attempts to bring the novel to the screen over the years, the rehashed television version, but for my money, the original theatrical release is the best version and introduction into Frank Herbet's world of Dune. The Baron may be overdone and the film could probably use a shot of humor now and then, but overall, this is a masterpiece of visual story telling, and the score by the rock group Toto is one of my favorite soundtracks.
- Mark
There are more parts to the above video, please hit the YouTube button to follow the link.
Based on a true story. From Internet Movie Database:
When his mentor (Robert De Niro) is taken captive, a retired member of Britain's Elite Special Air Service (Jason Statham) is forced into action. His mission: kill three assassins dispatched by their cunning leader (Clive Owen).
A fun part of my childhood. Some might dismiss this film after one viewing, but for me, Krull was one of the first true fantasy films to capture the flavor of northern European myths. Before Peter Jackson gave us his lively vision of the the Lord of the Rings, Krull set out to give us Arthurian legends, Norse lore and some other world myths (give or take a Cyclops). There's even a dose of demons from outer-space to compete with the Star Wars films, all the rage of the early 1980's. The effects were good, but what would the skills of Ray Harryhausen have done for this? The true star of the film is the music. James Horner's score is top-notch; a rousing, frightening, atmospheric Wagnerian fantasy. If you get a chance, see Krull and maybe tell me what you think in the comment section below.
(James Horner's music is not in the trailer. And yes, that's Liam Neeson in a minor role.) - Mark
This is the story George Lucas has been wanting to tell for years - the story of the Tuskegee Airmen; the first African-American pilots to fly in a combat squadron during World War II. Lucas had wanted to make this film since 1988, but it wasn't until now that he was able to make that dream a reality.
Looks like it was worth the wait.
Staring; Cuba Gooding Jr., Bryan Cranston, & Terrence Howard.
Just released is this short clip showing most of the Avengers.
Robert Downey Jr., Chris Hemsworth, Scarlett Johansson, Chris Evans, Jermy Renner, Samuel Jackson, Cobie Smulders, Mark Ruffalo, Tom Hiddleston, Lou Ferrigno and Clark Gregg.
Stars: Paul Giamatti, Kate Mara, James Purefoy and Brian Cox
From the website:
A Medieval 'Magnificent Seven', that combines the visceral, stylized action of '300' with the impassioned heroism and romance of 'Braveheart.' IRONCLAD is an ultra-violent action thriller that tells the true story of a motley crew of tough, battle hardened warriors, who withstood several brutal and bloody months under siege, in a desperate bid to defend their country's freedom. Film stars Paul Giamatti, Kate Mara, James Purefoy and Brian Cox and directed by Jonathan English.
In stores today on DVD & Blu-ray
From the website:
He's the world's only paranormal investigator. But now, he wants to escape from a life of nightmares. However, a brutal murder, a missing artifact and a mysterious girl conspire to drag him back into the dark world of the undead... Have you ever wondered if the person next to you was really part of your world?
For over a thousand years, the Sith were thought to be extinct after a grave defeat in an ancient war. But a select few survived, fleeing to unknown regions to escape Republic forces. In the centuries since, the Sith have prepared; rebuilding their Empire for the day they would make their return to reclaim what was once theirs and take their revenge on the Republic.
From the trailer post: The uneasy peace established by the Treaty of Coruscant is broken and both the Galactic Republic and Sith Empire build their armies. As both sides prepare for open war, a new generation of heroes must rise up to meet the challenges of a volatile age, declaring their allegiances and fighting for what they believe in.
From G4 comes this six minute clip of Gears of War 3 and some Horde Mode 2.0 action from the E3 event this year. The game is to released on September 20, 2011
The folks at The Asylum pictures group have done it again.
When the new sheriff of Salem, Massachusetts discovers that he is the victim of a centuries-old curse, he must protect his family from the vengeful ghosts that torment his home.
Another comic book fight match-up with your favorite video game fighters, it's all in Ultimate Marvel vs Capcom 3. Here is a preview by G4 with the Ghost Rider. Very hot stuff.
Wednesday, Harrison Ford dropped by Jimmy Kimmel Live to promote Cowboys & Aliens. While backstage in the dressing room, an old friend stops by, but some tensions still linger.
Of all of the advancements of robotics, none is more frightening than the simple truth - that robots are replacing human workers. The CBS story below shows just how wide spread the invasion really is. After that, videos about the pioneers of robotic androids inter-cut with some of the more memorable films about our machine cousins or Frankenstein monsters.
Have it good authority that Katy likes the History Channel show Ancient Aliens. This video has the production costs of some modest scifi films. Though when looking for this song, some night think it's called Supernatural from the songs chorus, but ET is the title. Katy may not be our first alien rock star (Kiss are suppose to be from another planet) but she certainly is the alien with the best video featuring their extra-terrestrial self. Great stuff.
Totally based on true events! (Not really) Based in-part on the elaborate hoax that hit the net a few years back, which was its self, a pretty entertaining idea. Apollo 18 is the the top secret mission to the moon to look for alien life forms. What happen there was the reason we never went back to our nearest space cousin.
From the films YouTube site. . .
Officially, Apollo 17, launched December 17th, 1972 was the last manned mission to the moon. But in December of 1974, two American astronauts were sent on a secret mission to the moon funded by the US Department of Defense. What you are about to see is the actual footage which the astronauts captured on that mission. While NASA denies its authenticity, others say it's the real reason we've never gone back to the moon.
The Thing is a prelude to John Carpenter's classic 1982 film of the same name. Though the original movie called The Thing from Another World form 1951 is the original film.
Ever heard of underwater UFO's, better known as USOs (Unidentified Submerged Objects)? Well, the team on Battleship are about to learn all about them.
Battleship, staring Taylor Kitsch & Liam Neeson, will invade May 18th, 2012
Since L. Frank Baum published the the Wonderful Wizard of Oz in 1900, cinema has had a love affair with his much adored children's book. There have been over 100 Wizard of Oz films, videos and book spinoffs between 1910 and 2011. Though the 1939 Victor Flemming/Judy Garland version is the best and most popular, there were many other versions before and since.
As early as 1902, there was a stage version. Between 1910 and 1925, over a dozen films were made by various companies based on the original book or the sequels published after. Titles like Patchwork Girl of Oz, Magic Cloak of Oz and so on. The 1925 version of of the first book is some what memorable and even has Oliver Hardy as a farmhand.
Walt Disney dabbled with various ideas for a production of Oz that never really materialized. Jim Hill has a great look at the various concepts Disney had for Oz over the years. Disney's long, long journey to Oz In 1978, Diana Ross & Michael Jackson stared in The Wiz, another musical version, with the memorable song 'Ease on Down the Road'.
In 2007, the SciFi Channel gave us the 2 part mini-series entitled Tin Man staring Zooey Deschanel, Alan Cumming and Neal McDonough. It did an excellent job of mixing modern ideas into the story's mythic framework.
Oz of Today (2013)
Sam Raimi who has given us Evil Dead, Zena and Spiderman over the years will have his hands full with three witches in this latest Oz film produced by Disney Studios.
Filming begins in the magical land of Pontiac Michigan. The stars include James Franco, Zach Braff, Mila Kunis, Rachel Weisz, and Michelle Williams.
James Franco is the lead, a "small-time circus magician with dubious ethics, is hurled away from dusty Kansas to the vibrant Land of Oz. He thinks he’s hit the jackpot—fame and fortune are his for the taking—that is until he meets three witches, Theodora (Mila Kunis), Evanora (Rachel Weisz) and Glinda (Michelle Williams), who are not convinced he is the great wizard everyone’s been expecting." From the Disney press release.
Add in the talking winged monkey voiced by Zach Braff and we might have a very entertaining spring movie for 2013. And unlike the previous Disney incarnations, this Oz/Disney production will finally reach the big screen.
Oz the Great and Powerful is set to release March 8th, 2013
Cowboys & Aliens, which opens in theatres across the continent Friday, has been in development since the late 1960s. Sort of.
“I came up with the name when I was a kid,” explains Scott Mitchell Rosenberg, creator of the titular comic, on the phone from Los Angeles.
While most kids busy themselves playing backyard games like Cops and Robbers or Cowboys and Indians, Rosenberg — who would go on to co-found legendary independent publisher Malibu Comics in the mid-1980s — had something different in mind.
“I figured, let’s sci-fi things up,” he says, adding he fashioned his own “lasers” by attaching flashlights to toy guns.
Filming for the follow-up of the J.J. Abrams helmed Star Trek begin shooting as early as January 2012. Writers of the latest film were busy with other projects but seem to currently be in the writing stages for this latest trek.
Ridley Scott, the man who brought us the first (and best) Alien film in 1979, had said long ago that he thought a movie having to do something with the the home planet of the Space Jockey, the huge alien being, dead in his pilots chair in the original Alien, would be an interesting movie. I do not know if his second excursion into the world of Alien will have anything to do with that vision, but its a glimpse into what may lie in-store for us in Prometheus, the prequel to the original 1979 Alien film. Prometheus will star Charlize Theron and is set for theaters, June 8th 2012
Comic-Con 2011 had the stars of next years Total Recall remake with stars Collin Farrell and Kate Beckinsale on hand. A teaser trailer was viewed. While I'm personally not into knowing a lot about a film before I see it, (why ruin the surprise?), one of the films hovercars was on display at the show. SlashFilm.com Hovercar pics I want one!
Total Recall is slated for release in August 2012.
