Shaun Berk's 10 Movie Recommendations- 824th Edition and My Own Madness: Women in Horror- week 1

Welcome to the 824th Edition of my series.  This week is going to be CLUE at the Marion Civic Theater where I play the role of Colonel Mustard.  We have worked hard to get this going so come on out between October 7-10 and here is a website for tickets https://www.tix.com/ticket-sales/csamarion/5146 .  This will be a great show for the holidays so if you are in and around the area, come on out.

Cannonball Run (1981):  Hal Needham directed this this illegal racing comedy.  A group of eccentric competitors participate in this anything goes race including the team of Burt Reynolds and Dom Deluise.  Our other teams are of Rat Packers Sammy Davis Jr. and Dean Martin, the female team of Tara Buckman and Adrienne Barbeau, Jackie Chan and Michael Hui, Terry Bradshaw and Mel Tillis, Roger Moore, and Jamie Farr.  They all portray very colorful characters hoping to win that race.  Farrah Fawcett, Jack Elam, Bert Convy, Peter Fonda, George Furth, Bianca Jagger, Molly Picon, and many others co-star in this comedy.  This is one of Chan's first appearances in the United States, possibly due to Raymond Chow being a producer along with the Hong Kong company Golden Harvest producing it which was very intriguing to me.  This also inspired Chan to film his bloopers in the closing credits when seeing what Needham did in this movie.  This was a very common genre for Reynolds in this era and with this group of actors where can we really go wrong unless we just take it really seriously.  

Return to Glennascaul (1953):  This is my short film for the week which was written by Hilton Edwards.  Orson Welles plays himself as he is taking a break from filming OTHELLO and picks up a man with car trouble.  This man relates a story of a strange encounter he had with a mother and daughter.  This is a very well shot short film that could have been an episode on THE TWILIGHT ZONE.  This is available to watch on the Criterion Channel.

King Kong (1933):  Merian C. Cooper and Ernest B. Schoedsack directed this classic creature feature which really kind of started it all.  Robert Armstrong stars as film producer Carl Denham who needs to finish his movie and finds the perfect location in Skull Island. He struggles to find a leading lady and finds Ann Darrow promising her the adventure of a lifetime.  When the film crew gets to the island, they learn why it is such a mysterious island and encounter the big gorilla King Kong who takes a liking to Darrow.  Bruce Cabot, Frank Reicher, Sam Hardy, Noble Johnson, and many others co-star in this film.  I don't think I need to say much to describe this movie that has remakes and reboots including the creature reboot we are on now with the latest being GODZILLA VS. KONG.  I favor the 2005 version by Peter Jackson but we must give credit where it is due to this one.  This is available to watch on HBO Max.

Jumanji:  Welcome to the Jungle (2017): Jake Kasdan directed this reboot of the 1995 movie which is based on the book by Chris Van Allsburg.  This has a BREAKFAST CLUB sort of setting with four different teens getting a detention in Spencer, played by Alex Wolff, Fridge, played by Ser'Darius Blain, Bethany, played by Madison Iseman, and Martha, played by Morgan Turner.  They come across a video game console with the game in the title and find themselves in the game becoming Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson, Kevin Hart, Jack Black, and Karen Gillan, and must work together to finish the game and get back to real life.  Rhys Darby, Bobby Cannavale, Nick Jonas, Missi Pyle, and many others co-star in this adventure movie.  This is a pretty fun movie with the acting combos doing a pretty job of getting the personalities down.  This is a really good watch, just don't forget the 1995 version with Robin Williams.

The Creeping Terror (1964): Now I bring some B-movie action and this is B-movie to the core.  A spaceship lands in a small town with a very weird looking monster that is eating its citizens.  It also seems to take quite a while before they finally die as they are screaming for a pretty long period of time.  Vic Savage who at the time was going by A.J. Nelson directed, produced, and stars as the newlywed sheriff trying to destroy this creature that was really a pile of carpets.  This ranks up as one of the worst movies of all time and people can debate on which is worse between this and MANOS:  THE HANDS OF FATE.  This is probably best watched with MYSTERY SCIENCE THEATER 3000 and that episode of the series is available to watch on Hoopla Digital.

Mortal Kombat (2021):  Simon McQuoid directed this action movie based on the popular video game series.  Lewis Tan stars as MMA fighter Cole Young who learns of his heritage and is attacked by the Outworld's leader Shang Tsung, played by Chin Han, and his number one warrior Sub-Zero, played by Joe Taslim.  Cole joins Sonya Blade, played by Jessica McNamee, Jax, played by Mehcad Brooks, Liu Kang, played by Ludi Lyn, Kung Lao, played by Max Huang, and mercenary Kano, played by Josh Lawson.  They are lead by Lord Raiden, played by Tadanobu Asano, in their battle against the Outward.  Matilda Kimber, Laura Brent, Hiroyuki Sanada, Sisi Stringer, Mel Jarnson, Nathan Jones, Daniel Nelson, Ian Streetz, and many others co-star in this fantasy action movie.  I don't really know how else to describe this movie besides what I did.  I played this game some but not a lot.  This was still very enjoyable to me as well as the original movie.  Take this for what it is, some fantasy action from the video game series and is available to watch on HBO Max

Please Murder Me! (1956):  Peter Godfrey directed this film noir.  Raymond Burr, before he would become the infamous Perry Mason, stars as attorney Craig Carlson who gets an acquittal for Myra Leeds, played by Angela Lansbury.  He soon learns that Myra was guilty of the crime and forms his own guilt complex making a plan to bring her to justice in a very unusual way.  Dick Foran, John Dehner, Robert Dehner, Robert Griffin, Denver Pyle, Madge Blake, and many others co-star in this film noir.  It is hard to describe this movie beyond what I have but is a rather different sort film noir with the storyline.  This is available to watch on TUBI, Pluto TV, among other free dreaming apps.

Return to Oz (1985):  Walter Murch directed this sequel to that 1939 classic THE WIZARD OF OZ which is based on books by L. Frank Baum.  A young Fairuza Balk, in her feature film debut, takes the helm of Dorothy who is back in Kansas and believes something is wrong in Oz.  Aunt Em, played by Piper Laurie, is worried about her and takes her to see a special doctor, played by Nicol Williamson, who tries to put Dorothy on shock therapy but is saved by a mysterious girl.  Dorothy ends up back in Oz which has been destroyed as well as her friends and meets some new friends in her quest to save Oz and her friends.  Jean Marsh, Michael Sundin, Tim Rose, Mak Wilson, Brian Henson, Lyle Conway, Stephen Norrington, Justin Case, John Alexander, Deep Roy, Emma Ridley, and many others co-star in this sequel.  This is a lot weirder than that mentioned 1939 movie which turned some people off but has its cult audience though.  This is available to watch on Disney Plus

Five Easy Pieces (1970):  Bob Rafelson directed this road movie for a lack of a better word.  Jack Nicholson stars as Robert Dupea who has given up a promising career as a pianist and is now working the oil fields.  He lives with his girlfriend Rayette, played by Karen Black, and learns that his father is not doing well so he goes back to his estranged family that he has abandoned and left behind.  Billy Green Bush, Fannie Flagg, Sally Struthers, Lois Smith, Helena Kallianiotes, Toni Basil, Lorna Thayer, Susan Anspach, Ralph Waite, William Challee, John P. Ryan, Irene Dailey, and many others co-star in this film.  This is mostly a movie that is driven by the characters, most notably in Robert and is a more complex and deeper character study than some I have seen.  This might be one of Nicholson's best movies.

Rock and Rule (1983):  I end the week with this animated selection which was directed by Clive Smith.  This takes place in a very dark and futuristic world where evil superocker Mok, voiced by Don Francks, kidnaps rock star Angel, voiced by Susan Roman. Mok plans to use her voice to summon a demon.  Greg Salata, Samantha Langevin, Maurice LeMarche, Catherine O'Hara and many others provide their voices in this adult animated film.  This also boasts a great soundtrack from Debbie Harry, Iggy Pop and the Stooges, Cheap Trick, Lou Reed, and Earth, Wind, and Fire.  This is a very entertaining story that looks like something out of Ralph Bakshi. It also has some underrated music as mentioned. I had never heard of it until I came across it at my local library.

Well, that is it for this week but I have a new segment called My Own Madness so continue on for that one.  Tell me what you like and dislike and stay tuned for next week which includes Dianne Wiest, Jamie Lee Curtis, Michelle Pfeiffer, Fay Wray, Lon Chaney Jr., Roger Corman, Nicolas Cage, Angela Lansbury, and many others.

MY OWN MADNESS:  WOMEN IN HORROR

For 13 years now, I have been part of the Madness where each year we promote movies for the season in a contest.  It is one I have never won but have earned a nickname "The King of the Loophole".  This year, the contest is still happening but they are taking a new approach which does not involve summaries but I like doing summaries so I decided on this route where I will feature this each week in October.  I decided to use the category that I have been asking for a long time so I decided to put it to use.  The reality is that it is more women in horror, sci-fi, or fantasy so I'm allowing myself to use anything in sci-fi and fantasy.  I'm also using the wild card names that we have used through the years for those that don't require those genres and can be anything.  I separate these into category, mostly by name and just because it is centered around women, I will still have a few categories featuring men.  Next year, I will likely do this again but put a little more thought into it for the wild cards unless we go back to this format.

ADRIENNE BARBEAU

Adrienne was our wild card last year so I had a few things to feature for her.

Argo (2012):  Adrienne has a cameo appearance in this really outrageous true story where the CIA puts on a story of a sci-fi movie in Hollywood in order to rescue six Americans in Tehran during the hostage crisis in 1979.  Adrienne makes a cameo as actress Nina who was playing someone named Serksi the Gallactic Witch.

Batman:  Perchance to Dream- S1, E26 (1992):  Adrienne voices Selina Kyle aka Catwoman in the popular '90s animated series.  On this episode, Batman wakes up to find himself in a world where his parents are alive and is engaged to Selina.

Cannonball Run (1981):  This road movie counts due to Adrienne.  About everything has been said about this movie in the top section but this is quite a cast.

Escape from New York (1981):  Adrienne stars in this sci-fi classic as Maggie.  Kurt Russell plays one of his most iconic roles in Snake Plisken which might have been the transition from his Disney movies to this one.

A Wake in Providence (1999):  This is a movie about an Italian man in Los Angeles going home for a funeral where things turn upside down when his family learns his girlfriend is black.  Adrienne co-stars as aunt Lidia who is the more understanding one of the family.

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ALYSSA MILANO

Alyssa has never been one of these wild cards but have some selections to make her into a category.

Charmed:  Something Wicca This Way Comes S1, E1 (1998):  This is the episode that started it all where Alyssa joins Shannen Doherty and Holly Marie Combs as Phoebe, Prue, and Piper Halliwell.  The sisters reunite in their family home to discovery they have witch powers.

Double Dragon (1994):  This is a Nintendo game I played a lot as a kid.  Alyssa co-stars in this movie as Marian who helps Billy and Jimmy Lee take on an evil gang to prevent its leader Koga Shuko, played by a really cool looking Robert Patrick, from getting absolute power.  Fun if not taken too seriously.

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ANGELA LANSBURY

Angela is a past wild card and I will be featuring her a lot this throughout the next few weeks.

Murder, She Wrote:  The Murder of Sherlock Holmes S1, E1 (1984):  This is the first episode of Angela's popular tv series where she starred as Jessica Fletcher, a character inspired by Miss Marple.  In this first episode, Jessica experiences unexpected success with a novel she did not intend to have published and when celebrating, a murder happens which she investigates.  Look for Andy Garcia in a bit role.  Ned Beatty also makes a guest appearance.  

Please Murder Me! (1956):  This is not horror but I get to count it due to Angela who gets pretty manipulative in this one.

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CATHERINE O'HARA

Catherine has never been a wild card but found her with a couple of animated selections for her to become a category.

The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993):  Catherine gets to voice the role of Sally in this ultimate combination of Halloween and Christmas.

Rock and Rule (1983):  Catherine voices the role of Aunt Edith in this animated rock fantasy film.  I couldn't find any photos of Catherine in this role.

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CHARMED

This is a binge I'm casually doing so I decided to make a category for this show.  I do now know how far I will get in the month.  I might make individual categories if something in my list includes an actor on the show like I did with Alyssa.

Charmed:  I've Got You Under My Skin S1, E2 (1998):  The sisters take on a photographer who is really a demon sucking the youth out of women to make them older.

Charmed:  Thank You For Not Morphing S1, E3 (1998):  The sisters reunite with the estranged father Victor Halliwell, played by Tony Denison, while also taking on some shapeshifters.  In the later years, Victor would be renamed Victor Bennett as the girls take on the mother's name and would be played by a different actor.  This episode would introduce their handyman Leo Wyatt to the series.

Charmed:  Dead Man Dating S1, E4 (1998):  John Cho guest stars in this episode as the recently murdered Mark Chao who needs the help of the sisters to make sure his soul goes to the right place while also falling for Piper.  This episode might have been inspired by GHOST.

Charmed:  Dream Sorcerer S1, E5 (1998):  Prue takes on a man who is able to enter her subconscious where he tries to kill her.  This episode might have been inspired by NIGHTMARE ON ELM STREET.

Charmed:  The Wedding From Hell S1, E6 (1998):  Piper caters to a wedding which she discovers is a demonic wedding.  The photo below is of Ted King who played Prue's love interest Andy.

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CREATURE FEATURES

The Creeping Terror (1964):  A group of people making a horror movie about a shambling monster that comes from a space ship to eat the citizens of an American town.  It was bad enough that people could not take their eyes off of it and got the nod from MST3K.

FAIRUZA BALK

Fairuza has never been a wild card but could be in the future and decided to use a couple selections at hand.

Masters of Horror:  Pick Me Up S1, E11 (2006):  This is an anthology series where Fairuza plays a drifter caught between a couple of serial killers.  It is of interest to see Michael Moriarty as a psychotic redneck.

Return to Oz (1985):  A young Fairuza gets to take the helm of Dorothy Gale in this sequel to the 1939 classic THE WIZARD OF OZ that obviously happens many years later.  Dorothy must do just as the title says and return to Oz when she finds out the place and her friends are in trouble.

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FAY WRAY

Fay has been a wild card in the past and used her most iconic film.

King Kong (1933):  Fay gets to play her iconic role of aspiring actress Ann Darrow and has that big ape fall in love with her.

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JESSICA MCNAMEE

Jessica is not a wild card but found a couple things for me to make a category.

The Meg (2018):  Jessica co-stars in this movie as Lori where a group of people take on a very deadly creature thought to be dead called the Megalodon.

Mortal Kombat (2021):  Jessica gets to play Sonya Blade in this reboot of this series inspired by the popular video game.

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KAREN BLACK

Karen is a past wild card so I did a couple non-genre selections for her

Five Easy Pieces (1970):  This comedy counts because of Karen being in this and remember this is Karen, this is not "a" Karen because there is no such thing.  Karen is a name, it is not an adjective.  If this gets through to one or two people, I will consider this a victory.  

Law and Order:  Criminal Intent:  Con-Text S2, E10 (2003):  Karen plays the witness Vera in this episode.  Goren and Eaves investigate a mob related murder and the younger son who is a self-help guru.

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MISSI PYLE

Missi is not a wild card but found a couple selections where she has supporting roles so made her into a category.

Jumanji:  Welcome to the Jungle (2017):  This counts for a fantasy movie where Missi plays the role of Coach Webb.

Ma (2019):  Missi plays the part of Mercedes who is the stepmom to one of the teens.  Octavia Spencer has all kinds of fun as lonely woman befriending a group of teens to party at her home they all realize she has a lot of other motives.

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ORSON WELLES

Orson is the one man featured this week in a group full of women oriented categories but found some of his works in sci-fi and the supernatural.

Return to Glennascaul (1953):  This is a short film that involves ghosts so it counts.

War of the Worlds (1938):  For the first time, I am using a radio play.  Orson's company Mercury theater put on this radio drama while making much of the world believe it was true which I have heard has had quite a bit of exaggeration.

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