Welcome to the 360th Edition of my long running series and the first
post of this year's The Madness. Much of my titles will be Halloween
related but I am "The King of the Loophole" so we'll see what happens
and how close I come to winning. I am now 2-2 in Fantasy Football
putting me a game behind in my division so I am hoping for a win to get
me closer again.
Interview with the Vampire: The
Vampire Chronicles (1994): Neil Jordan directs this adaptation to the
Anne Rice novel. Brad Pitt stars as Louis who is a vampire that tells
his life story. He tells about his beginnings of when he meets Lestat,
played by Tom Cruise, who turns him into a vampire. He talks about the
beginnings and how he began to not want to take human blood. He also
talks about how him and Lestat turn a little orphan girl named Claudia,
played by a very young Kirsten Dunst, into a vampire. It is a very good
story that spans the course of about 200 years. This might be the
movie that put Brad Pitt more into the mainstream and he is very good in
his role. Tom Cruise is someone I favor usually when he does not have
his short hair and his more conventional look which applies here and I
thought he did a good job. This is probably the best film adaptation to
Anne Rice's novels. Christian Slater and Antonio Banderas co-star in
this film fitting into the holidays.
Frankenstein: The
True Story (1973): This was actually a tv movie which appears to have
been a two-part movie. The title is a bit misleading as it is really
indicating that is is more like the book adaptation from Mary Shelley. I
loved the beginning of it where James Mason, who is also in the movie,
explains Mary Shelley's vision for the book and how other movies have
been totally different. Leonard Whiting stars as Dr. Victor
Frankenstein who experiences death making him obsessed with creating
life. He soon is able to create this creature, played by Michael
Sarrazin, who finds a very difficult world to adjust to in life. It was
interesting in the way the Creature is first a rather good-looking
person trying to do good but then through the movie we see his looks
deteriorate and people who have a hard time accepting the unknown.
Sarrazin played this part very well. Jane Seymour, David McCallum,
Agnes Moorhead, and John Gielgud also co-star. There are many things
similar to the book but it still did its own things but is an adaptation
that has been overlooked when it is a pretty good one. I have seen
many version of the classic and was in a theatrical version. One thing
that was different in this one was the character of Henry Clervall. In
this version, he is the one originally obsessed with death and inspires
Victor to do what he did. In both the 1994 Branaugh version and the
version I was in, Clervall was an old friend who reluctantly plays a
part in creating life. In the 30s, Universal portrays Frankenstein as
more of a mad scientist whereas this one, and some from Hammer films
portray him as a pretty good person with good intentions which go awry.
Developing
Self-Reliance (1950): This is my short film which comes from the
Coronet film series which never ceases to provide me entertainment.
These are meant to be educational and in this one a high school boy
learns that he just cannot always rely on adults for everything so a
teacher comes up with ways to become self-reliant. Like all of them, it
has bad acting, cheesy narration making them rather entertaining.
Paul
(2011): The writing and acting team of Simon Pegg and Nick Frost
return where they play sci-fi geeks Graeme and Clive. They start by
going to Comic Con and then plan to go to Roswell. They soon meet an
alien of the title name, voiced by Seth Rogen. Paul has spent many
years at Area 51 and escaped after learning he is a prisoner. Graeme
and Clive soon learn that Paul is just like any human and become friends
with him. They set out to help Paul get to his mother ship and are
later joined by SNL alum Kristen Wiig who is extremely religious but
learns to be more open minded after meeting Paul. In their quest to get
to the ship, they are pursued by federal agents and a religious zealot
father. This is probably my favorite of their films and sci-fi geeks
will love this one as it has many sci-fi pop culture references. It is
also very funny with Rogen good as the voice of the title character.
Jeffery Tambor, Jane Lynch, Sigourney Weaver, Bill Hader, David
Koechner, Blythe Danner, and many others co-star. I suppose this is the
more comedic version of E.T. so maybe that would make a good double
feature.
Of Mice and Men (1939): Lewis Milestone
directed this adaptation of the Steinbeck novel. Burgess Meredith stars
as George and Lon Chaney Jr. stars as Lennie. They are migrant workers
in depression era American. Lennie is very strong but very slow in the
mind while George is his guardian who tries to protect him from
exploitation. This came out in a year that gave all kinds of big titles
where this one probably was not as recognized. The next year, there
was an adaptation to Steinbeck's novel THE GRAPES OF WRATH and I liked
this one better. Both the leads were great in their performances. Both
of these stories by Steinback take place in the depression where the
pursuance of the American Dream becomes very difficult. This movie was
very well done and ranks up with much of the films of the era but has
gone onto become quite underrated.
Nightmare on Elm
Street (1984): This is part two of my three-part Wes Craven series in a
film that started quite a horror franchise. Robert Englund stars as
Freddy Krueger who is a child murderer and was killed years ago but
invades the dreams of four high school students. Heather Langenkamp
stars as Nancy who is the main person he is after and the most
resourceful. A very young Johnny Depp makes his film debut as one of
the students and Nancy's friend. He has clearly come a long way since
this film. They soon come up with a plan looking to bring Freddy out of
their dreams to kill him. Horror has never really been one of my
favorite genres but I respect it and look to support it when I can.
This one is a classic to the genre and one of the best in my opinion.
It has a pretty good story, characters, and good murder sequences. This
is not for everyone, especially those who do not stomach gore very well
but many will love this iconic film to the horror genre and what turned
Robert Englund to an icon. I have never seen the remake and I do not
believe I have really seen any of the sequels.
The
Hound of the Baskervilles (1959): This is the Hammer Films version of
the Sir Arthur Conan Doyle story. Peter Cushing stars as Sherlock
Holmes in this film and Andre Morell plays his partner Doctor Watson.
Christopher Lee co-stars as Henry Baskerville who finds he is in danger
and is in a home that is said to be cursed. When this happens, Holmes
is brought in to investigate at the home. This was one of the lesser
successful as Hammer tried to get their own series going, it did not
work out as well. This movie was first done in 1939 where Basil
Rathbone plays Holmes. Cushing made the most out of his part and Lee
was pretty good. It is worth a watch. Personally I think Robert Downey
Jr. has surpassed all of the actors to have played that part. There is
an interesting scene where there is a tarantula on Christopher Lee who
has a fear of spiders so the fear that is seen is very genuine.
Dawn
of the Dead (2004): Zack Snyder directed this remake to the 1978
classic from George Romero. A few people take refuge in a shopping mall
during the rise of flesh-eating zombies. Sarah Polley stars as a nurse
Ana who witnesses her husband become a zombie in the beginning and ends
up joining other survivors at the mall. Ving Rhames plays a police
officer who tries to keep everything together. This is not as good as
the original but is a pretty good remake and has some good gore. I also
liked some of the dialogue in the film of everyone trying to co-exist
but having a hard time even in some of the worst times. This is another
that is not for everyone if you do not have a stomach for gore but fans
of the zombie genre will probably like this one.
War
of the Gargantuas (1968): This is my Japanese monster movie for the
week brought from Toho and directed by Ishiro Honda. This one features
giant animals called gargantuas just like in the title. One of them was
raised in a lab by some good scientists and is suspected of some
killings but turns out to be an evil one and they battle throughout
Japan. I don't believe these creatures are featured as much but this
one was still good for its genre and available on Instant Netflix.
Wolf
(1994): I end this week with this werewolf film directed by Mike
Nichols. Jack Nicholson stars as publisher Will Randall. He is already
trying to fight for his job and his wife and to make things worse, he
gets bitten by the wrong kind of wolf and becomes a werewolf. James
Spader plays his business rival, Stewart, who has taken everything from
him. Michelle Pfeiffer plays the boss's daughter Laura, who takes a
liking to Will even after learning of what he has become. It was
interesting to see Nicholson play a werewolf. Nichols has made much
better movies and there are better werewolf movies but this one was not
bad in my opinion. It was better than Benicio Del Toro's version of THE
WOLFMAN I liked that it was more of a corporate story with the
werewolf aspect added into it.
Well, that is it for
this week. Tell me what you like and what you hate and stay tuned until
next week which so far includes Lloyd Kaufman, Cate Blanchett, more Wes
Craven, Greta Garbo, Anthony Hopkins, Kenneth Branaugh, Gregory Peck,
and many others. Keep on reading though as I have more movie selections
for the Madness.
THE MADNESS: Week 1
So
it's time for our annual contest. I will be listing everything in
alphabetical order and will rate these movies and shows by having up to
four 6's.
The Corpse Vanishes (1942, 64 minutes, 66): I watched this through MYSTERY SCIENCE THEATER 3000. (3 points)
-Bonus point: MST3K
Dawn
of the Dead (2004, 101 minutes, 666): Now I bring some zombies into
the madness in this remake of the Romero classic. Love the baby scene.
(2 points)
Deep Red (1975, 126 minutes, 666 1/2): This Giallo slasher from Dario Argento should have no problem qualifying. (2 points)
Frankenstein
(1910, 12 minutes 66 1/2): I'm using a silent short and to my
knowledge the first adaptation to the Mary Shelley classic. Some parts
show a good transfer but some don't. Charles Ogle plays the creature in
this one. (7 points)
-Bonus point: Golum
Frankenstein:
The True Story (1973, 185 minutes, 666 1/2): This is a very overlooked
adaptation of the Shelley classic and just a reminder that Frankenstein
is Dr. Frankenstein, not the monster. (5 points)
-Bonus point: The creature is a golum
Ghidorah,
the Three-Headed Monster (1964, 92 minutes, 666): This is a classic
Japanese monster film with the first appearance of King Ghidorah also
features Mothra, Godzilla, and Rodan who must all team up to destroy
Ghidorah. (4 points)
-Bonus point: The monsters destroy much of Tokyo.
-Bonus point: FX monsters fighting each other
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone (2001, 152 minutes, 666): Plenty of witches and wizards to qualify this one. (3 points)
The
Hound of the Baskervilles (1959, 87, 666): This is a loophole through
Peter Cushing, Christopher Lee, and Hammer Films. (3 points)
-Bonus point: Made in 1959
Interview
With the Vampire (1994, 123 minutes, 666): No explanation needed here
since the title indicates the theme. (3 points)
-Bonus point: Vampire
Lord
of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Rings (2001, 178 minutes, 666):
It counts either way but Christopher Lee makes it qualify 100%. I
admit, I'm not as big of fan as some but will watch it every once in a
while. (3.5 points)
Nightmare on Elm Street (1984, 91 minutes 666 1/2): Not much explanation needed for this iconic slasher film. (2 points)
Of
Mice and Men (1939, 115 minutes, 666 1/2): This adaptation to the
Steinbeck novel counts because of Lon Chaney Jr. (3 points)
-Bonus point: Put out before 1959
Paul (2011, 104 minutes, 666 1/2): This year any sci-fi counts so this alien comedy gives me a loophole. (2 points)
Pinocchio (1940, 88 minutes, 666): This Disney classic qualifies due to the Blue Fairy and Golem. (4 points)
-Bonus point: Pinocchio is a golum.
-Bonus point: Movie is before 1959.
The
Serpent and the Rainbow (1988, 88 minutes, 666): This Wes Craven film
deals a lot in voodoo and witch doctory. This contest has made me a
pretty big fan of Wes Craven. (2 points)
War of the Gargantuas (1968, 77 minutes, 66 1/2): This is another Japanese monster movie featuring some Gargantuas. (4 points)
-Bonus point: Puppet FX fighting
-Bonus point: Destroying much of Tokyo
Wolf (1994, 125 points, 666): Not much explanation here for my werewolf selection for the contest. (4 points)
-Bonus point: werewolf
-Bonus point: man to animal
The
Wonderful Wizard of Oz (1910, 13 minutes, 66 1/2): This is a very
early version of the Baum classic and has some witches and is an early
one-reel short. It was interesting the use of THE NUTCRACKER music to
go along with the story. There were a lot of people dressed as
animals. Some of it goes along with the 1939 version we all know
today. (6 points)
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