Last year, legendary filmmaker John Carpenter teamed up with Shout! Factory to host a kaiju movie marathon called Masters of Monsters, which consisted of the original Godzilla film, Rodan; Ghidorah, The Three-Headed Monster, and The War of the Gargantuas. That marathon was re-run earlier this month. Now the folks at Far Out magazine have dug up a 1996 article from Film Comment magazine in which Carpenter named The War of the Gargantuas as “the ultimate Japanese monster movie” – and included it on a list of his seventeen favorite “guilty pleasure” movies. It’s a fun list, so we have it included below, with thanks to this site.
Carpenter started out the Film Comment guilty pleasures article by saying, “I wasn’t raised a Catholic, so guilt never played much of a role in my life. We Methodists don’t worry about guilt all that much. In terms of cinema, however, guilt has always been very important.
Carpenter started out the Film Comment guilty pleasures article by saying, “I wasn’t raised a Catholic, so guilt never played much of a role in my life. We Methodists don’t worry about guilt all that much. In terms of cinema, however, guilt has always been very important.
- 11/7/2023
- by Cody Hamman
- JoBlo.com
Streaming on HBO Max November 17 is A Christmas Story Christmas.
From Warner Bros. Pictures and HBO Max comes the long-awaited follow-up to annual holiday favorite, “A Christmas Story.” This time, Ralphie is all grown up and must deal with Christmas and all that comes with it…as a dad. Peter Billingsley returns to the role that has made kids of all ages anticipate Christmas morning like no other.
In the original 1983 film, set in the 1940s and showed annually for 24 hours on TBS & TNT, little Ralphie tries to convince his parents to get him a Red Ryder range-model Bb gun for Christmas, only to hear, “You’ll shoot your eye out, kid.” TNT began the Christmas Story marathon in 1997, and TBS took it over in 2004 when TNT shifted to drama programming.
Peter Billingsley plays Ralphie, a boy who desperately wants a Bb gun for Christmas. Melinda Dillon plays his mother and Darren McGavin his father.
From Warner Bros. Pictures and HBO Max comes the long-awaited follow-up to annual holiday favorite, “A Christmas Story.” This time, Ralphie is all grown up and must deal with Christmas and all that comes with it…as a dad. Peter Billingsley returns to the role that has made kids of all ages anticipate Christmas morning like no other.
In the original 1983 film, set in the 1940s and showed annually for 24 hours on TBS & TNT, little Ralphie tries to convince his parents to get him a Red Ryder range-model Bb gun for Christmas, only to hear, “You’ll shoot your eye out, kid.” TNT began the Christmas Story marathon in 1997, and TBS took it over in 2004 when TNT shifted to drama programming.
Peter Billingsley plays Ralphie, a boy who desperately wants a Bb gun for Christmas. Melinda Dillon plays his mother and Darren McGavin his father.
- 11/1/2022
- by Michelle Hannett
- WeAreMovieGeeks.com
Yes, sometimes a producer could earn ‘auteur’ status making B pictures. A name that’s never going to be uttered in the same breath as Val Lewton is Sam Katzman, who for the 1950s settled into a profitable tenure making Columbia program pictures. They pretty much stayed in the category of ‘obvious junk’ yet include a number of endearing favorites. And Katzman deserved to slip through the pearly gates just for helping get Ray Harryhausen’s feature career into motion. Besides their minimal production outlay, Katzman’s horror/sci fi attractions have one strange thing in common: they don’t carry Columbia torch Lady logos. Part One of this review takes on two of the four features in Arrow’s gorgeously appointed boxed set; reviewer Charlie Largent will follow with a review of the second pair of creature features.
Cold War Creatures: Four Films from Sam Katzman
Part 1: Zombies of Mora Tau...
Cold War Creatures: Four Films from Sam Katzman
Part 1: Zombies of Mora Tau...
- 9/11/2021
- by Glenn Erickson
- Trailers from Hell
"He was those characters." Apple has unveiled an official trailer for a documentary titled Who Are You, Charlie Brown?, available for streaming later in June this year. This hour-long doc special is a tribute to and also a look back at cartoonist Charles M. Schulz, who passed away in 2000. It includes conversations friends, family and others involved in the iconic comic strip to provide a portrait of the late Peanuts creator. Executive produced by Brian Grazer and Ron Howard, the documentary special also features interviews with friends, family, cartoonists, and famous fans, as well as archival footage for lovers of the comic strip. Who Are You, Charlie Brown? is narrated by Academy Award-winner Lupita Nyong'o and features interviews with Jean Schulz, Drew Barrymore, Al Roker, Kevin Smith, Billie Jean King, Noah Schnapp. With original music composed by Jeff Morrow, composer of the new series "The Snoopy Show," "Snoopy in Space,...
- 6/12/2021
- by Alex Billington
- firstshowing.net
As if to illustrate the hypothetical “So you think you’re having a bad day?,” Canadian thriller “Hammer” puts its characters through a Rube Goldbergian obstacle course of peril in the immediate hours after a hijacked drug deal. The pileup of disasters is such that this tale might easily have been spun as some kind of grotesque comedy. But .
The result isn’t a knockout, falling between the territories of crime meller and family drama without quite maximizing either element. But it works well enough in that middle ground, making for a succinct, well-crafted suspense exercise likely to satisfy most home viewers who find it via digital and VOD release as of June 5.
Will Patton’s usual authority is a big plus in the role of Stephen Davis, a working-class father who exudes a quietly firm if put-upon fortitude in a household it’s hinted has known too much strife.
The result isn’t a knockout, falling between the territories of crime meller and family drama without quite maximizing either element. But it works well enough in that middle ground, making for a succinct, well-crafted suspense exercise likely to satisfy most home viewers who find it via digital and VOD release as of June 5.
Will Patton’s usual authority is a big plus in the role of Stephen Davis, a working-class father who exudes a quietly firm if put-upon fortitude in a household it’s hinted has known too much strife.
- 6/4/2020
- by Dennis Harvey
- Variety Film + TV
Prodigal sons, tough fathers, and the extreme situations that bring them back together once more are nothing new onscreen. It’s a tried and true dramatic formula. Hammer is the latest to give it a shot, crafting a film that mixes drama elements with thriller moments to try and craft something a bit different. Unfortunately, despite a nice performance from Will Patton, the ultimate impact left by the project is far less than you would expect. The ingredients are here for something fairly moving and easily effective, but the folks involved can’t quite pull it off. The movie is a crime tale, mixing dramatic and thriller elements, in telling the story of a father and son. For Stephen Davis (Will Patton), his estranged son Chris (Mark O’Brien) has always been an albatross around his neck. Not in the traditional ways, but in terms of worrying about him. When Stephen...
- 6/2/2020
- by Joey Magidson
- Hollywoodnews.com
“The supreme excitement of our time! Challenging the unearthly furies of an outlaw planet!” Big-budget space opera finally came to movie screens, in Technicolor and widescreen, in this irresistible kid magnet of a sci-fi extravaganza. Viewers are split on its worth, as the screenplay caroms between mind-expanding visions and puerile dialogue. But it’s the first show to capture the thrills on those pulp sci-fi pocketbook covers, and its visual poetry plays out like an intergalactic fairy tale.
This Island Earth
Blu-ray
Scream Factory
1955 / Color / 1:85 widescreen + 1:37 Academy / 87 min. / Street Date July 9, 2019 / 29.99
Starring: Jeff Morrow, Faith Domergue, Rex Reason, Lance Fuller, Russell Johnson, Douglas Spencer, Robert Nichols.
Cinematography: Clifford Stine
Film Editor: Virgil Vogel
Special Effects: David S. Horsley, Clifford Stine, Cleo E. Baker
Original Music: Henry Mancini, Hans J. Salter, Herman Stein
Written by Franklin Coen, Edward G. O’Callaghan from a story by Raymond F. Jones
Produced...
This Island Earth
Blu-ray
Scream Factory
1955 / Color / 1:85 widescreen + 1:37 Academy / 87 min. / Street Date July 9, 2019 / 29.99
Starring: Jeff Morrow, Faith Domergue, Rex Reason, Lance Fuller, Russell Johnson, Douglas Spencer, Robert Nichols.
Cinematography: Clifford Stine
Film Editor: Virgil Vogel
Special Effects: David S. Horsley, Clifford Stine, Cleo E. Baker
Original Music: Henry Mancini, Hans J. Salter, Herman Stein
Written by Franklin Coen, Edward G. O’Callaghan from a story by Raymond F. Jones
Produced...
- 7/16/2019
- by Glenn Erickson
- Trailers from Hell
It’s controversy in the Black Lagoon! Universal releases a much-desired box of all three Gill Man epics — but goes cheap on the encoding and hands us a 3-D rendering of Revenge of the Creature at half-resolution. When is a Blu-ray not a Blu-ray? When it’s not even full HD. And all that after commissioning a state-of-the-art 4k 3-D video remaster!
Creature From the Black Lagoon: Complete Legacy Collection
Creature from the Black Lagoon (3-D + 2-D), Revenge of the Creature (3-D) + 2-D, The Creature Walks Among Us (2-D)
Blu-ray
Universal Studios Home Entertainment
1954-1956 / B&W / 1:85 widescreen / 79, 82, 78 min. / Street Date August 28, 2018 / 39.98
Starring: Julie Adams, Lori Nelson, Leigh Snowden, Nestor Paiva, Richard Carlson, Jeff Morrow, John Agar, Rex Reason, Richard Denning, John Bromfield, Jeff Morrow, Greg Palmer…
and as the Gill Man: Ricou Browning, Ben Chapman, Don Megowan, others.
Cinematography: William E. Snyder; Charles S. Welbourne; Maury Gertsman
Film...
Creature From the Black Lagoon: Complete Legacy Collection
Creature from the Black Lagoon (3-D + 2-D), Revenge of the Creature (3-D) + 2-D, The Creature Walks Among Us (2-D)
Blu-ray
Universal Studios Home Entertainment
1954-1956 / B&W / 1:85 widescreen / 79, 82, 78 min. / Street Date August 28, 2018 / 39.98
Starring: Julie Adams, Lori Nelson, Leigh Snowden, Nestor Paiva, Richard Carlson, Jeff Morrow, John Agar, Rex Reason, Richard Denning, John Bromfield, Jeff Morrow, Greg Palmer…
and as the Gill Man: Ricou Browning, Ben Chapman, Don Megowan, others.
Cinematography: William E. Snyder; Charles S. Welbourne; Maury Gertsman
Film...
- 9/1/2018
- by Glenn Erickson
- Trailers from Hell
This spring, beware the Octaman, a 1971 creature feature rising from the radioactive depths to come out on Blu-ray and DVD from Kino Lorber.
From Kino Lorber: "Coming April 2017! On DVD and Blu-ray!
Kl Studio Classics in conjunction with MGM!
Octaman (1971) Special Edition
Starring Pier Angeli (Sodom and Gomorrah), Kerwin Matthews (Jack the Giant Killer), Jeff Morrow (This Island Earth) and Buck Kartalian (Planet of the Apes) – Shot by Robert Caramico (Eaten Alive) - Written, Directed and Produced by Harry Essex (Creature from the Black Lagoon, It Came from Outer Space)
Loaded with Extras! Bonus Features to be announced!"
Synopsis (via Blu-ray.com): "A scientific expedition to a remote Mexican fishing community discovers unhealthy amounts of radioactive waters. What they find is a seven foot tall mutant species of octopus with amazing strength and a lust for killing, and soon the expedition realizes that the monster is now on a bloody rampage.
From Kino Lorber: "Coming April 2017! On DVD and Blu-ray!
Kl Studio Classics in conjunction with MGM!
Octaman (1971) Special Edition
Starring Pier Angeli (Sodom and Gomorrah), Kerwin Matthews (Jack the Giant Killer), Jeff Morrow (This Island Earth) and Buck Kartalian (Planet of the Apes) – Shot by Robert Caramico (Eaten Alive) - Written, Directed and Produced by Harry Essex (Creature from the Black Lagoon, It Came from Outer Space)
Loaded with Extras! Bonus Features to be announced!"
Synopsis (via Blu-ray.com): "A scientific expedition to a remote Mexican fishing community discovers unhealthy amounts of radioactive waters. What they find is a seven foot tall mutant species of octopus with amazing strength and a lust for killing, and soon the expedition realizes that the monster is now on a bloody rampage.
- 12/27/2016
- by Derek Anderson
- DailyDead
The New Beverly Cinema in Los Angeles is presenting a double feature of This Island Earth (1955) and It Came From Outer Space (1953) this coming Sunday and Monday. The latter film is often cited by filmmaker John Carpenter as an early influence.
This Island Earth stars Jeff Morrow, Faith Domergue, Rex Reason, Lance Fuller and Russell Johnson and was directed by Joseph M. Newman. Projected on 35mm film.
It Came From Outer … Continue reading →
Horrornews.net...
This Island Earth stars Jeff Morrow, Faith Domergue, Rex Reason, Lance Fuller and Russell Johnson and was directed by Joseph M. Newman. Projected on 35mm film.
It Came From Outer … Continue reading →
Horrornews.net...
- 1/7/2014
- by Jonathan Stryker
- Horror News
"This Island Earth" & "It Came From Outer Space" Screenings, New Beverly Cinema, L.A., January 12-13
If you live in the Los Angeles area, the New Beverly Cinema is presenting a sci-fi double feature of This Island Earth (1955) and It Came From Outer Space (1953) on Saturday, January 12, 2014 and Sunday, January 13, 2014. Both films are widely considered to be classic science fiction films of the 1950s and were made during a time in which artists made up beautiful, colorful and spectacular posters first, and then the films were based on the imagery seen in the poster. Sometimes this method worked and sometimes it didn’t.
This Island Earth was directed by Joseph M. Newman, who was fairly prolific during the 1940’s and 1950’s both on the large and small screens, directing episodes of The Twilight Zone and Alfred Hitchcock Presents for the latter. Jeff Morrow, Faith Domergue, Rex Reason, Lance Fuller and Russell Johnson star.
Jack Arnold made a career of directing some of the best known science...
This Island Earth was directed by Joseph M. Newman, who was fairly prolific during the 1940’s and 1950’s both on the large and small screens, directing episodes of The Twilight Zone and Alfred Hitchcock Presents for the latter. Jeff Morrow, Faith Domergue, Rex Reason, Lance Fuller and Russell Johnson star.
Jack Arnold made a career of directing some of the best known science...
- 1/5/2014
- by nospam@example.com (Cinema Retro)
- Cinemaretro.com
Octaman is a pretty terrible movie. I know this better than anyone; yet, I love every single second of it despite its numerous shortcomings. I love the monster, the baby monsters, you name it. Some may think I'm nuts, but I cannot help myself.
Finally, after decades of waiting, the film is getting an official DVD release from Bayview Entertainment/Widowmaker.
Octaman is the sought after (mainly by maniacs like myself) 1972 cult classic from director Harry Essex (Creature from the Black Lagoon) and comes to DVD in a newly remastered from 35mm widescreen edition. It features special effects makeup by future Academy Award winner Rick Baker (An American Werewolf in London) and stars Kerwin Matthews (The 7th Voyage of Sinbad), Jeff Morrow (This Island Earth), and Pier Angeli (Battle of the Bulge). The DVD has original trailers, video interview, and a Retromedia Drive-In wrap-around. The DVD also includes a bonus...
Finally, after decades of waiting, the film is getting an official DVD release from Bayview Entertainment/Widowmaker.
Octaman is the sought after (mainly by maniacs like myself) 1972 cult classic from director Harry Essex (Creature from the Black Lagoon) and comes to DVD in a newly remastered from 35mm widescreen edition. It features special effects makeup by future Academy Award winner Rick Baker (An American Werewolf in London) and stars Kerwin Matthews (The 7th Voyage of Sinbad), Jeff Morrow (This Island Earth), and Pier Angeli (Battle of the Bulge). The DVD has original trailers, video interview, and a Retromedia Drive-In wrap-around. The DVD also includes a bonus...
- 8/21/2012
- by Uncle Creepy
- DreadCentral.com
Celebrities will invade Los Angeles this weekend for the 84th Academy Awards ceremony. Searchlights will blaze and flashbulbs will pop as Hollywood stars will descend from the heavens -- or maybe just the Malibu hills -- to touch the ground that regular Angelenos walk on each day. They'll smile and snarl our traffic. They'll toss their hair and forget to thank their husbands. They'll praise each other for their bravery, while collecting $75,000 gift bags. L.A. is accustomed to such strange invasions, of course. If you're a movie fan, you already know that L.A. has been invaded over the years by everything from giant atomic ants (Them), to buff cyborgs (The Terminator), to rampaging 3D zombies (Resident Evil: Afterlife). So Angelenos take invasions from movie stars in stride. But this weekend marks an anniversary of an invasion you might not know about: L.A.'s first alien invasion. This...
- 2/24/2012
- by Jason Apuzzo
- Moviefone
The 50s was a golden era of big screen sci-fi. Here’s our pick of the decade’s ten very best genre films…
Off screen and on, the 1950s was a spectacular era for science fiction. In literature, Ray Bradbury kicked off the decade with his masterpiece, The Martian Chronicles, while digest magazines like Galaxy were publishing the works of such sci-fi luminaries as Arthur C. Clarke, Isaac Asimov and Robert Heinlein.
In the cinema, every year brought forth a fresh wave of genre pictures, some brilliant in their awfulness (Plan 9 From Outer Space, Robot Monster), others simply brilliant. This article is devoted to the movies in the latter category.
Here, then, is my rundown of my ten favourite science fiction movies of the 50s:
Destination Moon (1950)
The 50s era equivalent of 2001: A Space Odyssey, Destination Moon was the brave attempt of producer George Pal to bring a...
Off screen and on, the 1950s was a spectacular era for science fiction. In literature, Ray Bradbury kicked off the decade with his masterpiece, The Martian Chronicles, while digest magazines like Galaxy were publishing the works of such sci-fi luminaries as Arthur C. Clarke, Isaac Asimov and Robert Heinlein.
In the cinema, every year brought forth a fresh wave of genre pictures, some brilliant in their awfulness (Plan 9 From Outer Space, Robot Monster), others simply brilliant. This article is devoted to the movies in the latter category.
Here, then, is my rundown of my ten favourite science fiction movies of the 50s:
Destination Moon (1950)
The 50s era equivalent of 2001: A Space Odyssey, Destination Moon was the brave attempt of producer George Pal to bring a...
- 10/20/2010
- Den of Geek
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