It Came From The Man Cave!: Blogathon 2017

Showing posts with label Blogathon 2017. Show all posts

The Vegetables of Doom!

Stephen Andrich

John De Bello

Stars:

Anthony Starke

George Clooney

Karen M. Waldron

John Astin

Mad scientist Professor Gangreen is cooking up the second coming of the Great Tomato Uprising, in which music converted tomatoes into human form to war against mankind. Pizza delivery man Chad Finletter must save the world and beautiful tomato-girl Tara.

After Attack of the Killer Tomatoes and his flop, Happy Hour John De Bello tries to strike gold once again with Return of the Killer Tomatoes! Why you might ask? Well hell if I know I did not get the dark humor of the first one. Yet us kids of the 80's embraced the silliness of Return that it somehow paved its way into the heart of us kids.

This being the sequel to Attac of the Killer Tomatoes we also would receive Killer Tomatoes Strike Back in 1990 and in 1991 Killer Tomatoes Eat France! Of Course for the sequel Return Of The Killer Tomatoes, the story picks up ten years later and is notable for George Clooney in one of his frist major film roles.

The Tomato franchise will go on to live in our hearts through video games as well. Who could forget the incredibly long and hard 8 Bit video game? Along with an earlier game for the PC based on the original movie. Now the video game was based on the Saturday Morning Cartoon! Yep, thats right we had a cartoon that ran on the Fox Box in 1990! We were also treated to a Game Boy game as well.

Let's face the facts the cartoon was probably more entertaining the movie. Also in 2008, we were graced with a comic book and a few novels sprinkled throughout the same decade. Will we ever be able to stop these Killer Tomatoes? So far yes but beware the talk of a remake looms in the air.

Now we can not fool our self there is a great cast hidden within this flick. Coming fresh off of the TV show Beans and Baxotr the beautiful Karen Waldron makes her big screen debut and follows this movie up with yet another food-themed flick Cannibal Women In The Avocado Jungle the same year! (Click on my lick for that review.) And speaking of beautiful the sexiest man alive George Cloney has arrived. Even though us horror hounds know he was in Horror High first everybody loves to give him credit for his role in this movie. My personal opinion he is the one reason to watch this movie and most likely the reason anybody showed up at the cineplex.

But let's stop fooling ourselves the only reason to watch this movie nowadays would have to be Gomez Adams himself, John Astin. Sadly Astin will go on and star in the next two of the series. And again be the only reason worth checking in for. Astin is fun and giddy like a little schoolboy who has a great time playing jokes on his classmates. Astin picks up this movie in loving arms and carries it on his back the whole way.

So what you really want to know is Return of the Killer Tomatoes worth watching? Well, the answer is not so simple if you like B movie spoof's that dive right in! If you want to see George fresh off of Facts of Life then yes, he is a lot of fun to watch. But in the long run, it falls a little flat and if you are not familiar with the first one some of the jokes just won't fit. And John is wild making it worth the trip if you are willing to check this out.

3 Bloody Brains out of 5

Better yet follow this link to an episode of the cartoon.

Return of the Killer Tomatoes was apart of the Blogathon Food in Movies make sure to check them out ton fo cool stories out there.

What are you afraid of? It's only rock and roll...

Charles Martin Smith

Writers:

Rhet Topham

Michael S. Murphey

Stars:

Marc Price

Tony Fields

Lisa Orgolin

Gene Simmons

Ozzy Osbourne

Hard rock idol Sammi Curr (Tony Fields) burns to death in a hotel fire. His biggest fan, Lakeridge High School student and resident metal head Eddie Weinbauer (Marc Price) is devastated by the news and turns to local radio DJ "Nuke" (Gene Simmons) for emotional support. After a heated discussion about the deceased rock star, Nuke presents Eddie with a rare demo record, the last ever recorded by Sammi and the only copy in existence. Overwhelmed by Nuke's generosity, Eddie accepts the gift without hesitation, unaware of its dark role in things to come.

Alone in his room with feelings of rage and retribution racing through his mind, Eddie places the new record onto his stereo and is shocked to discover that he can communicate with the deceased rock star when it is rotated backwards. Playing upon both Eddie's loyalty and emotional vulnerability, Sammi instructs the teenager on how to get back at those who have caused him so much pain, instructions that the easily manipulated Eddie carries out, prompting the usual 'underdog gets his own back' results.

When Eddie tries to destroy the record, an evil version of Sammi is resurrected (complete with supernatural powers) and goes on a rampage at the high school Halloween dance, turning Eddie's involvement with the devilish rock star into a spine tingling nightmare not only for the young headbanger, but for his school and hometown as well. Can Eddie stop the demonic Sammi before he sends the entire town straight to hell? One thing's for sure, the teenagers of Lakeridge High are in for a Halloween they'll never forget.

Low on gore and heavy on metal 1986's Trick or Treat fulls a little short 30 years later. As a young metalhead in 86's the movie was everything. I was different as well listing to Megadeath, Metallica and Anthrax like it was religion. I was bullied for being different but never really cared. I was all about the music bringing me happiness. The band Fastway carried the sound from beginning to end with it's pulse pounding riffs and heavy drums ringing in your ears. See my post from earlier this month for Music Monday the soundtrack still holds out.

Despite the big names of Osbourne and Simmons, the real star here is good old Skippy himself Marc Price. Price plays the lovable loser that saves the day. You find yourself really pulling for him just like you did while watching "Growing Pains". For me, the real star is director Charles Martin Smith you know the nerd from American Graffiti that also directed A Dolphins Tale. Smith weaves a story that works and never loses the pace giving us a fast hour and a half movie. The idea worked in 1986 and if you where a kid then you will love the stroll down memory lane.

The other notable actor would be Tony Fields with his height giving him a cool metal look. His back round is fascinating and nothing like the 16-year-old me remembers. Let's just say I do not remember the terrible lip syncing and the great dance's moves. Feilds began touring with Debbie Reynolds in her nightclub act only 3 months after starting at Dupree Acadamy of Dance when he came to Solid Gold, he had had only 2 years of formal training. He was also in Thriller and Beat it music videos. Sadly Feilds died of Aids in 1995.

The movie still Jam's if you were around to enjoy the great hair metal days. If not Trick or Treat will not carry its weight. And if you do go back and watch it remember this came out long before Wes Cravens Shocker as they are pretty similar. So, in the end, the movie is still worth finding and Fastway needs to get off there ass and cough up the music rights to a proper Blu-Ray can come out

3 Bloody Brains out of 5

This was part of the Maddy Loves Her Classic Films blogathon The Horrorthon check out the others that took part.

Never Take Off the Mask

Director: Gore Verbinski

Writers:

Justin Haythe

Ted Elliott

Stars:

Johnny Depp

Armie Hammer

William Fichtner

In the 1930s, an elderly Tonto tells a young boy the tale of John Reid, the Lone Ranger. An idealistic lawyer, he rides with his brother and fellow Texas Rangers in pursuit of the notorious Butch Cavendish. Ambushed by the outlaw and left for dead, John Reid is rescued by the renegade Comanche, Tonto, at the insistence of a mysterious white horse and offers to help him to bring Cavendish to justice. Becoming a reluctant masked rider with a seemingly incomprehensible partner, Reid pursues the criminal against all obstacles. However, John and Tonto learn that Cavendish is only part of a far greater injustice and the pair must fight it in an adventure that would make them a legend.

Man, I love blogathons for one simple reason it gives me an excuse to watch a movie that has been on the back burner forever. So when Quigly over at The Midnite Drive-In announced his blogathon based in Texas I could not wait to jump in and watch a western. I have also been waiting for the negative dust to settle before firing up the new version of an old hero of mine The Lone Ranger. All that bad press is why I held out, so the question at hand was it worth the wait? Well, join me shall you as we take an adventure back to the 1800's.

Director Gore Verbinski is most famous for bringing us three Pirates of the Caribbean movies throughout the years along with two highly acclaimed horror flicks 2002's "the Ring" and 2016's "A Cure For Wellness" so Disney definitely found the right man for the job. Verbinski along with his buddy cinema photographer Bojan Bazellie (The Ring, Petes Dragon) paint a very light and dark western world that really sets the tone! Sadly thanks mainly to critics blasting this film The Lone Ranger has now become one of Disneys biggest flops and this film is one of the biggest financial flops of all time which lost the studio between 94 and 119 million dollars.

I hate talking about negatives but this movie sadly has a few of them. The "frame story" feels so out of place it was confusing. I felt like I was watching the Princess Bride of the Western world.

So a young boy Will meets the old Tonto at the Wild West sideshow called "The Thrilling Days of Yesteryear." Now, this was the opening narration of the radio broadcast so of course, this takes place in 1933 the first year of the radio show which the movie is trying to base itself on? I don't know like I said its confusing and not necessary. So the movie gets rolling and your enjoying the story when all of a sudden we jump back to Will and Tonto again ugh just stop already and get on with the film.

Is this old Tonto or Bob Newhart?

I did like the fact the story was a little bit more about Tonto that the Lone Ranger this was a fresh take. But I did not like how he was written to be dumb. I get that Tonto means "fool" in Spanish and Italian but that was not how he was written in the tv show or the serials (At least in my 9-year-old brain anyway) The problem critics had with the film, was mostly due to the casting of Johnny Depp as Tonto, and that Depp played Tonto too much like Captain Jack Sparrow in the "Pirates of the Caribbean" franchise. But I disagree to an extent I felt Depp was wonderful in his role, in fact, one of the bright spots for the film.

The actor that annoyed me had to be Armie Hammer has the Lone Ranger! Again maybe I remember my Hero being just that a Hero, not a baby or maybe am wrong and the Lone Ranger was always a wimp and if that is the case my childhood is based on a lie! Hammer drove me crazy he just did not fit the bill as one of America's legends. If anything this movie has peaked my curiosity to go back and listen to the radio show and read a few books. Ok enough negativity that's not me so let's look at some of the good...

Out side of the movie just looking amazing and transfering you to another time the action is this flick is top shelf. From good old gunfights to a train chase scene this movie has it all. Bad guys that are so bad and ruthless they push this movie into its PG-13 rating. Also, this film pays homage to John Ford in many ways. Plus we get a stellar soundtrack that includes none other than the William Tell Overture, by Gioachino Rossini that pumps through your surround-sound making you sit up in your seat to take noticed has this movie is about to get crazy!

It's funny I am sitting here trying to be positive about a movie that I did not hate at all and yet I seem to remember more of the bad things. It was not Jonny Depp that tanked this movie it was more on the writers and casting director. Am so torn I cannot stop thinking about the movie and that is a good thing! This is a fast-paced wild ride well worth your time. You get a different look with this story of the Lone Ranger that wraps's itself up tight in the Indian spirits and legends rather than just bad guys. Amazing to look at to the point you will feel the need to dust off your boots when it is over because you sure will feel like you took part in the old west. Maybe not the greats Lone Ranger movie but a fun one at that.

3 Smoking Gun's out of 5

Again make sure to check out the other bloggers during The Texas Blogathon.

Believe the legend. Beware the wolf.

Director: Catherine Hardwicke

Writer: David Leslie Johnson

Stars:

Amanda Seyfried

Lukas Haas

Gary Oldman

Set in a medieval village that is haunted by a werewolf, a young girl falls for an orphaned woodcutter, much to her family's displeasure.

After winning 2009's Fright Meter award for writing the ever so scary "Orphan" David Leslie Johnson teams up with Twilight director Catherine Hardwicke giving us a dream world set in a medieval time! And boy is the look and feel of this flick beautiful. The screen is often filled with dazzling fall colors to the harsh of winter the surroundings draw you in quickly. But can a movie about a werewolf set in the 1300's with the vibe of Twilight last? Read on my followers read on!

The Favorite Director Blogathon

So I just signed up for The Midnite Drive-In's Blogathon for Favorite Director. My guy would have to be Sam Raimi! After watching Evil Dead 2 my life changed I no longer wanted to watch movies but wanted to make them. I'm pretty excited to talk about a movie that I love and why I love it. So watch this space in May.

There's No Rest For The Wicked...

Directors:

Roger Corman

Writers
Leo Gordon
Jack Hill
Roger Corman

Stars:

Boris Karloff

Jack Nicholson

Sandra Knight

France, 18th century. Lieutenant Andre Duvalier (Jack Nicholson) has been accidentally separated from his regiment. He is wandering near the coast when he sees a young woman and asks her for directions to Coldon, where he hopes to rejoin his regiment. But the woman doesn't answer, doesn't even greet him and walks away. Eventually, she takes him towards the sea, where she disappears in rough water. Andre loses consciousness while trying to follow her, and is attacked by a bird and awakes in a house where an old woman claims never to have seen the woman.

Her business is pleasure. Until her date with ... The Pyx.

The PYX

Director:

Harvey Hart

Writers:

Robert Schlitt (screenplay)

John Buell (novel)

Stars:

Karen Black

Christopher Plummer

Donald Pilon

Elizabeth Lucy was dead, but the evil chain of events that claimed her life was still very much alive...
Most people would have buried the beautiful call-girl and forgotten her. But not Henderson - he was the man who found himself strongly compelled to look into her past - and slowly he learned the secret of Elizabeth's death, the secret of THE PYX...

"The Pyx" a small round container used to carry the consecrated host to sick or invalid individuals or those otherwise unable to receive Holy Communion in a church is based on the bestseller of the same name written by John Buell. The Pyx or The Hooker Cult Murders is considered to be Canada's first Horror Film.

Few More Blogathons

Signed up for a few more blogathons today. Waiting to hear back from them both but here is what I have in store.

Over at www.classicfilmtvcafe.com is a blogothon I can get into! So many choices of Classic made for TV movies! The focus of this blogathon will be made-for-TV movies broadcast between the mid-1960s and 1989. Of course, I picked Killdozer after hearing a few good things about it.

A small construction crew on an island is terrorized when some strange spirit-like being takes over a large bulldozer and goes on a killing rampage. Starring Clint Walker and Robert Urich looking forward to this.

Also signed up for the 80th Birthday Celebration Blogathon for Jack Nicholson over at RealweegiemidgetReviews. I have been looking for a reason to watch The Terror for a while now.

A young officer in Napoleon's army pursues a mysterious woman to the castle of an elderly Baron. Directed by Roger Corman and Francis Ford Coppola starring Jack and of course Boris Karloff.