Welcome to the 416th Edition of my long running series and the last week of this year's Madness. I was not as productive this year as I was in others but always enjoy that great annual contest. Next week, I celebrate eight years of this blog in which all this time I have actually done this on a weekly basis. I know, I'm more amazed than anyone but it has been a very fun ride.
The
Crow (1994): I start this week out with this very dark film based on a
comic book series by James O'Barr and directed by Alex Proyas. Brandon
Lee stars as rock star Eric Draven and along with his fiancee is
brutally murdered. A year after the murder, a crow brings him back to
life in an invincible form driving Draven to seek vengeance upon those
who murdered him. Ernie Hudson co-stars as Sergeant Albrecht who is an
aging and bitter police officer and helps Draven after seeing he is
going after the biggest scum of the earth. Rochelle Davis co-stars as
the street smart kid Sarah whom Eric cared for at one time and does a
very good job in her role. Michael Wincott, Bai Ling, Tony Todd, and
Jon Polito all co-star in this film. I really like this movie on many
levels beginning with the perfect movie soundtrack like the Cure, Stone
Temple Pilots, Violent Femmes, Nine Inch Nails, Rage Agaisnt the
Machine, among others. I also really liked the beginning part when
establishing Eric as a good person who does not deserve what he gets
which produce some occasional moving scenes among all the darkness and
the violence. There are also some really good action scenes of the
vengeance. What's most known about this movie is that this is Brandon
Lee's last movie and for those that do not know, he is the son of the
legendary martial artist Bruce Lee. He died during filming when taking a
bullet which was supposed to a blank. As unfortunate of a situation as
that is, I really find this to be up there in my favorites. Lee did a
great job in his last role. I have not actually seen any of the sequels
or tv series as i just don't know if it will be the same. This did
inspire things like the evolution of the wrestler Sting and his look
after years of having the blonde surfer look. This is available on
Instant Netflix and is a very good action film.
Jasper
and the Haunted House (1942): This is my animated short for the week.
This is what is called a puppetoon which uses stop-motion animation. A
boy named Jasper is trying to deliver a pie to Deacon Jones but is
tricked by Professor Scarecrow into going into a house which is haunted
leading Professor Scarecrow and Blackbird but get the tables turned on
them. This was a character who had a few shorts and was a very
controversial character as he is quite the stereotypical black person
which could lead into accusations of racism which gave a disclaimer when
I came across it. Now this was an era where things like this was more
acceptable but will offend some. The animation of this was actually
quite good. I found this on my Pub-D-Hub app on my Roku player but is
findable on youtube.
The
Walking Dead (1936): Michael Curtiz directed this early horror film
and this has nothing to do with that popular AMC series which I confess I
have never seen but sure I will someday. Boris Karloff plays hapless
pianist John Elman who is framed for murder and then executed. He is
soon brought back to life by a scientist but only has revenge on his
mind for those who framed him. This is one I had not heard of and in
the beginning I almost did not recognize Karloff who really did a good
job in this underrated performance of his. This is a very interesting
mix of horror and gangster and a must for classic horror buffs.
From
Hell (2001): The Hughes Brothers directed this film based on the
graphic novel by Alan Moore and Eddie Campbell which stars Johnny Depp
as the drug addicted Victorian era detective Frederick Abberline who
must investigate the murders of Jack the Ripper who is brutally
murdering prostitutes. Heather Graham co-stars as Mary Kelly who
appears to be the Ripper's next target and is falling for Frederick.
The cinematography creates a very good tone to the film of hopelessness
in the bad part of England. Robbie Coltrane, Ian Holm, and Ian
Richardson all co-star in this film. It is also a really interesting
interpretation of the murders which were never actually solved as Jack
the Ripper was never found but did a good job of theorizing these
murders. The performances were pretty good in this film and the murders
are very grotesque which is what they were in real life. A lot of good
research was done for the graphic novel and this movie.
The
Godfather: Part II (1974): Francis Ford Coppola takes the help of
director once again in what is considered by many to be one of the best
sequels of all time. Al Pacino reprises his role of Michael Corleone
who is now the head of the family and is looking to expand his family
business into Las Vegas, Hollywood, and Cuba in the 1950s. The other
story is of the young Vito Corleone, played by Marlon Brando in the
first movie and played very well by Robert De Niro in this one, in the
1910s. Michael Corleone is now one of the most powerful men in the
world and is really a lot more ruthless and conniving than is father.
With Vito Corleone, it shows his own rise in the mafia world as he first
meets Clemenza and Tessio and deals with the very ruthless crime lord
Don Fanucci whose methods are not liked by Vito. They are very parallel
stories of Michael and his father Vito and a great contrast of the two
characters in very good performances. Robert Duvall, John Cazale, Talia
Shire, Lee Strasberg, G.D. Spradlin, Bruno Kirby, SOPRANOS alum Dominic
Chianese, Danny Aiello, and many others co-star in this film. Also
look for Harry Dean Stanton and Roger Corman as extras. This is partly
based on Mario Puzo's novel which includes the flashback scenes of Vito
Corleone which were left out of the first one but the story of Michael
Corleone was more of Coppola's story that was co-written by Puzo. This
is a movie in which really focuses on the family and will not see
constant violence so if that is what you are looking for, this is not
it. In this, when killings happen, they really mean something and is
considered by many to be both the best sequel and movie of all time
which include many really good performances. It is a very good story of
the ruthless world of the mafia yet manage to make many sympathetic
characters despite the lack of morals. A movie which is great on many
levels.
Monsters
vs. Aliens (2009): This is my animated Dreamworks selection for the
week. A California woman named Susan Murphy, voiced by Reese
Witherspoon, is about to have the best day of her life and is about to
get married until a meteorite hits her and turns her into a giant where
she gets abducted by the government. She then meets other monsters like
B.O.B., voiced by Seth Rogan, Dr. Cockroach, voiced by Hugh Laurie,
voiced by Will Arnett, and Insectosaurus. These characters were a nice
little homage from classic horror like B.O.B. referencing the blob, Dr.
Cockroach referencing the fly, the Missing link, referencing the
creature from the black lagoon, and Insectosaurus which is a reference
to Mothra. They have been rounded up through the years through the
government and become the only hope against an alien attack that is
coming. Many others like Kiefer Sutherland, Rainn Wilson, Stephen
Colbert, Paul Rudd, Jeffrey Tambor, Amy Poehler, Ed Helms, Renee
Zellweger, and John Krasinski provide voices. This is an enjoyable one
for the family and as I mentioned, I really liked the homage that these
characters created. 
Freaks
(1932): I found this at midnight on TCM and since it is only Tod
Browning directed this Universal classic horror film though I believe
the word horror is used very loosely here. This movie centers around
many of the "freaks" from this era who were exploited to no end at
places like circuses and on vaudeville. These included everything from
midgets, siamese twins, the bearded lady, and many others. The story of
the film is that of midget performer Hans, played by Harry Earles, who
falls for a beautiful trapese artist who went by Cleopatra, played by
Olga Baclanova, who is a seemingly good person but is only out for the
money. When the other sideshow freaks learn about this plot, they take
their revenge. A lot of people have called this movie exploitation
which is really the wrong word. These people were already being
exploited but I believe Browning wanted to show that these people are
human and have feelings. Another interesting element is that the
villains in the movie are "normal" looking people. These are people
that Browning already knew and did a great job in the making of this
very significant film.
V/H/S
(2012): This is my found footage horror for the week. Many people
directed this movie that consists of many different stories. A group of
misfits are hired to burglarize a home in order to get a VHS tape.
They soon come across many tapes in which they must watch them to see
which one is right which they get more than they bargained for when
seeing some very bizarre footage. Each one has the home footage look to
it and looks really good if you are into this type of thing. This has
gotten a lot of mixed opinions but has become quite popular. There is
now a sequel in which I have not seen yet. This is available on Instant
Netflix.
It's
the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown (1966): This technically is not a tv
special but I decided to put it as a movie anyways like I have in the
past. I watched this on the night of Halloween when I had the pleasure
of hanging out at my friend Shera's house with her and her daughters
where we watched this and got my face painted up as a zombie for the
halloween party I went to later at the bar. This is the timeless
classic where Charlie and the gang are going trick or treating where
everyone gets really good things except Charlie who gets rocks. The
main story though is of Linus who is a big believer in the Great Pumpkin
who is to rise every year on Halloween above the pumpkin patch. He
refuses to give up on the existance of the Great Pumpkin and stays in
the pumpkin patch throughout Halloween in hopes he will show up. The
other storyline is of Snoopy being the Red Baron which lends a fun
Halloween night. This is a timeless classic that all generations can
enjoy so please show your children this one.
Children
of the Corn (1984): I end with this horror movie based on the Stephen
King novel. Peter Horton and Linda Hamilton star as a young couple who
stumble into a remote town which is overrun by a group of very dangerous
children. John Franklin stars as the boy preacher Isaac who is the
leader of this gang but even they have dissention in the ranks. This
movie lives on as more of a guilty pleasure in my opinion but still has a
creepy feel to it and followed by many sequels. This is available to
watch on Instant Netflix.Well, that is it for this week. Tell me what you like and dislike but continue to read for the Madness.
THE MADNESS: VIDEO NASTY WEEK 4
This is the last week of my favorite contest. I just didn't really have as much time for this year but I got in some pretty good loopholes though which I am known for. The photo I posted is the one of the great make-up job that Shera did on me. I really had no intentions of doing anything that night but she would not allow that and made me into a zombie. This was done with rather limited resources and was a great job. Any movie studio or theater who needs a make-up artist, this girl can really get it done.
BORIS KARLOFF
The Walking Dead (1936, 66 minutes, 2 points): 666. Karloff is not a wild card but could not think of a better category besides the name of the horror legend.
CHRISTMAS MOVIES
The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993, 76 minutes, 2 points): 666 1/2. This is a very timeless film that has lived through many generations and has a great soundtrack. The photo I posted is a painting by my friend and karaoke partner Brittany. The photo does not do it justice.
COMIC BOOKS
The Crow (1994, 102 minutes, 2 points): 666 1/2. I believe this should absolely count with the darkness of the film and the ressurection, among other things.
Justice League: Hereafter (2003, 45 minutes, 1 point): 666. This should count with Batman.
CREATURE FEATURES
Monsters vs. Aliens (2009, 94 minutes, 2 points): 666. This should qualify with the monster characters in this film.
DEVIL
Dante's Inferno (2010, 88 minutes, 2 points): 666. This is a good animated version of the take to the biblical story.
ELLEN BURSTYN
The Last Picture Show (1971, 118 minutes 2 points): 666 1/2. This is my Ellen Burstyn Loophole of the week so this slice-of-life small town films counts as points.
HOME FOOTAGE
V/H/S (2012, 116 minutes, 2 points): 666. No explanation needed here
ROGER CORMAN
The Godfather Part II (1974, 200 minutes, 3.5 points): 6666. I never knew about this one until very recently so I knew this had to be a loophole. Roger Corman plays one of the senators during the hearing and anything with Roger Corman counts so what better loophole than this one?
SERIAL KILLERS
From Hell (2001, 122 minutes, 2 points): 666. This is an obvious horror film.
TV SPECIALS
It's the Great Pumpkin Charlie Brown (1966, 30 minutes, .5 points): This great special needs no explanation.
UNIVERSAL CLASSIC
Freaks (1932, 62 minutes, 2 points): 6666. This is a classic that should be viewed by everyone.
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