What I Watched In May

You know its the Summer when I get out to the theater four times in on month! Woo hoo!

First up was post-apocalyptic science fiction epic (?) OBLIVION starring Tom Cruise. I'm not a big fan of Cruise as a person- I find his Scientology belief system far too idiotic to take seriously- but as a film star I think he can be quite compelling. Such is the case here in which we watch him functioning as the male half of a couple in charge of overseeing a vast section of the ruined future Earth. The twist is that he is overseeing the final destruction of the planet's oceans for use as fuel to take the remaining humans to a new home. He seems content with his lot in life spending his last days on his home planet with his beloved wife (?) until we see that he has a secret little hideaway where he wallows in relics from the past. And his curiosity about the planet bound remnants of the alien species responsible for Earth's destruction might be dangerous to him and his lady.

A number of science fiction fans are lauding this as a true classic of the genre and although I think its very good I'm not sure it reaches that status. Its a very well produced movie and I was impressed on several levels but its not in the 2001, SOYLENT GREEN or GATTACA category of the best of the best.

IRON MAN 3 was a hell of a great Marvel Super Hero action film. I was pretty sure that it would be very good when I learned that Shane Black was writing and directing as I've been impressed with his work for decades. His first film as director was the brilliant KISS KISS, BANG BANG (2005) which is one of my favorite movies of the past ten years. Its also the film that put him in contact with Robert Downey Jr. and probably got him this gig. IM3 is a blast from start to finish and it was a stroke of genius to separate Stark from the suit and force him into a James Bond role to save himself and the people he cares for. Great villains, smart humor, a fantastic cast and a lot of heart - damned near perfect Summer fun.

The sixth FAST & FURIOUS film is almost as much fun as the last two but not quite. The script's central driving scheme of a  resurrected cast member is too silly by half but the actors work hard to make you buy into the idea. I love these movies for the big dumb action rides that they are, so your mileage may vary- a lot- but I really enjoy the sundrenched cinematography, hard boiled dialog, over-the-top driving sequences and the exuberant nature of a film series happy to just create thrills. Plus, I'm not ashamed to say, that I like the cast. I think Vin Diesel is an incredibly talented actor even if his bald, muscle encrusted exterior makes too many people think he is in the Schwarzenegger mode of screen stiffs. Even in a movie this crazed and unbelievable Vin can be subtle and funny and that is a remarkable thing. These are not movies built for thinking - they are built to put a smile on your face and this one succeeds. I can hardly wait for the cleverly teased seventh entry!

I have to admit that I am not a fan of J.J. Abrams' 2009 reboot of STAR TREK. I think it had a terrible script filled with stupid coincidences, idiotic narrative gaps, dumb character choices and a massive lack of logic. It was an entertaining, fast paced movie but one that gets more irritating the more you think about it. Now comes his sequel and its a slight improvement- it doesn't have as many stupid moments, the characters seem more thought out in their actions and the script avoids glaring logic flaws. So is STAR TREK INTO DARKNESS a good movie? Sadly, no. The best I can say is that it isn't a bad movie- its essentially 'meh'. I never cared one whit about what was happening onscreen. Not for one second was I concerned about these characters, their plight or the possible dangers that they were zipping through. The film has no weight, no heft and certainly no depth. It is feather light in the worst sense. It is air- breezy, bright, colorful fluff that floats in front of you and is easily forgotten when you turn your head or sneeze to expel its cloying scent. It is 'meh'. I did not care about anything in it for a second. This film is something I could never say about the original Star Trek - it is shallow. And the worst part is that the central idea for bringing the main villain into the story is a good one and should have worked. The cast remains game, trying their hardest to make it work but its just too one dimensionally done. What a shame. The cast is very talented but once again they have little to do other than run around, shoot things and throw punches. It seems clear that (for me) Abrams' was the wrong choice to make these movies.

OBLIVION (2013)- 8

IRON MAN 3 (2013)- 8

THE CURSE OF THE DOLL PEOPLE (1970)- 3 (English dub is a mess)

A DRAGONFLY FOR EACH CORPSE (1974)- 7 (rewatch)

AIR HAWKS (1935)- 6 (death ray/mad scientist melodrama)

KILMA - QUEEN OF THE JUNGLE (1975)- 6 (not bad jungle girl film with Naschy)

JOHN DIES AT THE END (2012)- 8 (very fun!)

TRESPASS (2012)- 4 (if I'd know this was directed by Joel Schumacher I would have avoided it)

THE FAST & THE FURIOUS 6 (2013)- 7 (silly but highly entertaining action outing)

TRACKMAN (2007)- 4 (Russian slasher)

STAR TREK INTO DARKNESS (2013)- 5

DUNE (1984)- 6 (rewatch) (still just a Cliff Notes version)

THE RAID: REDEMPTION (2011)- 8 (great action film)

FUTUREWORLD (1976)- 5 (rewatch) (Not terrible but not very good either) 

Waldemar Daninsky Action Figure?!?!?

Holy moly! I cannot believe that this exists and if it turns out to be a hoax I will not be surprised but check it out!

This is supposedly a recently "unearthed" action figure of "Paul Naschy as the Wolfman" from the 1970s, made by the Spanish branch of the MAGE toy company. This is the first Naschy monster toy of this type (or any type really) that I have ever seen and it looks fantastic. I have a lot of love for monster action figures and I would love to add this or a fine reproduction to my shelf. Man! Just look at it! 

You can read the whole tale here- LINK. 

(Adding: Dammit- its not a hoax but a beautifully done custom made figure! Whew! I still want one.)

Jack Kirby's 2001

I have the first few issues of legendary comic creator Jack Kirby's adaptation and expansion of the Kubrick film 2001:A SPACE ODYSSEY (1968) and I wish I had them all. It only lasted ten issues and after number six he took it into a more comic book friendly direction but the brain-bending vistas and bizarre concepts he tossed around in this short run are wonderful. I don't think Marvel can reprint these books so I will continue to haunt shops to eventually complete my collection.

NaschyCast #38 - A DRAGONFLY FOR EACH CORPSE (1974)

We are back and episode 38 brings us back to the roots of our fascination with Naschy's work - the 1970s! Yes! We cover A DRAGONFLY FOR EACH CORPSE (1974) with all the joy of old friends reuniting after a long separation. Naschy plays a tough Italian cop ruthless in his devotion to his job and lucky enough to be backed up by a smart, resourceful wife played by the fantastic Erika Blanc. This is the only film the two made together and considering how well their scenes play its a damned shame. In a better world they would have starred in a series of thrillers like this one throughout the next decade. But, to focus on the positives, we have Leon Klimovsky back in the director's chair, a script co-written by Naschy and a host of returning faces in the cast. It may be a sign of just how far we have come in our love of Spanish Horror but the sight of names such as Eduardo Calvo, Maria Kosty and Ramon Centenero in the cast list is an electrifying thrill. Having these actors pop up in our discussions again is a chance to note how much they add to the film overall and we take our time to marvel over the range they were afforded in their career's prime. In this film Kosty especially is asked to play a wide range of emotions and is a joy to watch.

This movie is generally referred to as a giallo and, although it certainly displays many of the hallmarks of that genre, Troy and I talk about its points of divergence as well. Is a mystery a giallo if the main character is a police officer? Do such distinctions matter? We touch on this and a host of other ideas as we walk through this well paced and exciting thriller. I, of course, get caught up in some of the bizarre elements like Naschy's tie collection and his amazing mustache while Troy seems to be more intrigued by the various ways Erika Blanc can seem both beautiful and scary depending on the camera angle.

We hope you enjoy this one folks. We are happy to be back to talking about Paul Naschy! Please drop us a line at naschycast@gmail.com or join us over on the Facebook page. If you subscribe through iTunes please rate and/or review us over in the iTunes Store. It would really help us out. Thanks for listening!

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A Public Service Announcement from The Muppets!

What a cool find! This is the 1996 Sesame Street policy trailer made for Sony/Loews movie theaters. Down here in Tennessee we never get such amazing PSAs in our theaters. 

Ethan Black - Artist

I was thrilled to see my friend Ethan Black set up a table at last weekend's Wonderfest Convention in Louisville, KY to sell his work. This was the first time he had done such a public offering and it was long overdue. He offered a combination of original pieces and prints and did pretty well for himself. I have posted his excellent short Halloween themed cartoon here before but I thought it was time to show you some of his painted and penciled art as well. Enjoy and you can see more over at his Facebook page - The Dark Art of Ethan Black.

The Harryhausen Chronicles

If, like me, you are still lamenting the passing of the Great Man of Fantasy Filmmaking and you haven't seen this excellent documentary - now is your chance.