KONGA (1961)

At times I just want to see a big monkey movie. Usually this means I will watch KING KONG (original flavor) because it’s the first and best of this particular genre (Ape Genre? Giant Ape Genre?) but at times I feel the need to see something else. Since I’m one of the few who thinks that Peter Jackson’s recent remake of KONG was terrible this leaves me with the 1978 version, MIGHTY JOE YOUNG or KING KONG vs. GODZILLA. On occasion I’ll want to punish myself with KING KONG LIVES but if I’m in a masochistic mood and want to actually enjoy the pain I’ll throw in KONGA.

One could debate the film’s various merits (or lack thereof) but it would be singularly impossible to ignore the brilliance of Michael Gough’s over the top acting here. Cinematic evil has never been so gleefully mad as we bear witness to his character’s insane quest to chew every bit of scenery on set. Only his performance in THE HORRORS OF THE BLACK MUSEUM even comes close to the beauty of the monkey crazed lunatic he portrays in KONGA.

For lovers of bad cinema it is a must see and for fans of giant ape movies it is a good fallback.

They need to make more big monkey movies though. Many more.

WATCHMEN short film

I am trying very hard to not get too excited about the upcoming WATCHMEN movie as I'm still not convinced the massive story can be done justice in even a 3 hour long version. But little things like this make it difficult to stay calm.

DVD wish list

Here are a few movies I wish were available on DVD in uncut pristine condition.

THE CORRUPTION OF CHRIS MILLER (1973)



THE VENGEANCE OF THE MUMMY (1973)



THE PERVERSE COUNTESS (1974)



THE BIG GUNDOWN (1966)



I'm just patiently waiting.......

Guilty Pleasures - RED SONJA (1985)

I have no defense for liking the film RED SONJA. No reason for rewatching it- no reason for enjoying it- no reason for being very happy to own it on DVD. It is without a doubt a bad film. Terrible in fact. Despite being directed by Richard Fleischer, having a script co-written by George MacDonald Fraser and boasting a fantastic score by Ennio Morricone it is an absolutely awful movie. All the acting is bad, the story is so thin it wouldn't pass for a good comic book tale, the kid character is irritatingly obnoxious and the villain is just silly.

So- why do I love it so? I just don't know.

Mann of the west

I just caught up with MAN OF THE WEST (1958) and I just have to say-- DAMN!
Seriously- is there any more rock solid a guarantee of quality than the three word phrase 'Anthony Mann Western'? I mean DAMN! Look at the list of his westerns-

WINCHESTER 73
BEND IN THE RIVER
THE NAKED SPUR
THE MAN FROM LARAMIE
THE FAR COUNTRY
THE TIN STAR

All of them great with BEND being the weakest and it is STILL good. And there are more that I haven't even seen yet. Add to this his brilliant noirs and his fantastic historical epics made in the 60s and Mann may just be one of the greatest directors of all time.

But if you haven't seen MAN OF THE WEST do yourself a favor and spend the 99 minutes. You won't regret it. And don't watch the trailer first- it ruins some of the story in a way that I think stinks.

What a film!

Farewell Number 6

Because I will miss the actor and love the show I mourn the passing of the brilliant Patrick MacGoohan. Here is a neat mash-up of THE PRISONER and THE MATRIX that points out a connection between the two tales that I had missed until now.
He was a free man!

THE MONOLITH MONSTERS (1957) - trailer

Because I can't get it out of my head.....