Issue #22
October 31, 2013
North Republic Industries
Thursday, October 31, 2013
Universal Monsters, Part 2.
"", of course, being part 1.
All right, so, last year, I of course covered, , , and
All right, so, last year, I of course covered, , , and
Halloween Horrors: THE WOLF MAN (1941)
THE WOLF MAN(1941)
DIRECTED BY GEORGE WAGGNER
STARRING LON CHANEY, JR., CLAUDE RAINS, MARIA OUSPENSKAYA, EVELYN ANKERS, RALPH BELLAMY, BELA LUGOSI
DIRECTED BY GEORGE WAGGNER
STARRING LON CHANEY, JR., CLAUDE RAINS, MARIA OUSPENSKAYA, EVELYN ANKERS, RALPH BELLAMY, BELA LUGOSI
Seattle's EMP Museum: Horror Exhibit
I recently visited a fun exhibit at Seattle's , called Can't Look Away: The Lure of Horror Film. It was full of movie and TV props, mini movie pods for film clips and even had it's own scream booth. Here are a few photos from the exhibit, but this is only a small piece of a much larger exhibit. If you are a horror movie fan, it's well worth a visit.
Here's Gill Man mask from the movie, The Creature From the Black Lagoon.
Here's Gill Man mask from the movie, The Creature From the Black Lagoon.
Wednesday, October 30, 2013
This is Halloween
Although it has never been my favorite holiday I do have some rather fond memories of Halloween growing up. We used to trick-or-treat in my grandparent's neighborhood. I was Cinderella once and my sister was once Princess Leia. Eventually we started going to the movies on Halloween. It's never been my favorite holiday but what little kid doesn't love getting all kinds of candy and then eating yourself sick? I'm a fan of the cute, cheery Halloween and not what's taken its place: the dark, gory, scary side. I don't like scary movies; nothing suspenseful, gory, or horror for me, thank you very much. Well, that's not quite true. I do love The Walking Dead. But when it comes to the movies generally associated with Halloween I tend to shy away. Which is why I've made an alternative list of movies and TV episodes that aren't scary, for the most part at least.
SLEEPY HOLLOW
SLEEPY HOLLOW
Tuesday, October 29, 2013
31 Days of Halloween: Day 12 & 13: The Movieside Massacre 2013
Every year in October I attend two (yes two) 24 hour horror marathons.
I'm hardcore like that.
This year I went to Chicago's Patio Theatre to attend my first marathon of the year, The Movieside Massacre.
I'm hardcore like that.
This year I went to Chicago's Patio Theatre to attend my first marathon of the year, The Movieside Massacre.
10.25 New 'THROWBACK' Poster:
The official one-sheet for Travis Bain's 'THROWBACK', has made its way online.. The film Stars: Shawn Brack, Anthony Ring, Vernon Wells And Melanie Serafin... Written & Directed By: Travis Bain.. The flick will land on DVD, Blu-ray and VOD in 2014...
Plot: Two modern-day treasure hunters go searching for the lost gold of a legendary 1800s outlaw in the remote jungles of Far North Queensland, Australia. But instead of riches, they find a different kind of legend: a ferocious Australian monster known as a Yowie, Australia's answer to Bigfoot, and a savage battle for survival ensues. Thrown into the mix is a park ranger named Rhiannon and a burnt-out ex-homicide detective named McNab. Travis Bain's second feature is a fast-paced, suspenseful adventure/horror movie that pays tribute to B monster movies of yesteryear, ranging from 'Creature from the Black Lagoon' to 'The Legend of Boggy Creek' to John Carpenter's masterpiece 'The Thing', with a healthy dose of 'Treasure of the Sierra Madre' thrown in as well...
Plot: Two modern-day treasure hunters go searching for the lost gold of a legendary 1800s outlaw in the remote jungles of Far North Queensland, Australia. But instead of riches, they find a different kind of legend: a ferocious Australian monster known as a Yowie, Australia's answer to Bigfoot, and a savage battle for survival ensues. Thrown into the mix is a park ranger named Rhiannon and a burnt-out ex-homicide detective named McNab. Travis Bain's second feature is a fast-paced, suspenseful adventure/horror movie that pays tribute to B monster movies of yesteryear, ranging from 'Creature from the Black Lagoon' to 'The Legend of Boggy Creek' to John Carpenter's masterpiece 'The Thing', with a healthy dose of 'Treasure of the Sierra Madre' thrown in as well...
Monday, October 28, 2013
Monster Serial: CREATURE FROM THE BLACK LAGOON, 1954
Hello, boils and ghouls! October is upon us and that means one thing: HALLOWEEN! While most holidays get a measly day or two of formal recognition, orthodox Monster Kids prefer to celebrate it in the tradition of our people: By watching tons of horror movies. This month at THE COLLINSPORT HISTORICAL SOCIETY, we're going to be discussing some of our favorites every day until Halloween. So, put on your 3-D spex, pop some popcorn and turn out the lights .... because we're going to the movies!
guest commentary
guest commentary
Cinema Gothic: The 1950s
The original Universal horror series that followed the stories of Dracula, Frankenstein's Monster, and the Wolf Man concluded in the late 1940s. The 1950s saw a rebirth of horror. Universal ventured into new waters with The Creature from the Black Lagoon, while a small studio in England began reinventing the characters that had made Universal great for a new generation.
Director: Jack Arnold. Screenplay: Henry Essex and Arthur A. Ross. Starring: Richard Carlson, Julia Adams, Richard Denning, Ben Chapman, Ricou Browning. Studio: Universal. Country: USA.
Director: Jack Arnold. Screenplay: Henry Essex and Arthur A. Ross. Starring: Richard Carlson, Julia Adams, Richard Denning, Ben Chapman, Ricou Browning. Studio: Universal. Country: USA.
Saturday, October 26, 2013
A Bissell That Never Sucked: Whit, That is
THAT'S WHIT BISSELL, THE UBIQUITOUS CHARACTER PLAYER OF OVER 300 TV EPISODES AND FILMS. HE WAS BORN OCT. 25TH, 1909. HE DIED IN 1996 AT AGE 86.
THE BISSELL MODEL THROUGH THE YEARS:
THE BISSELL MODEL THROUGH THE YEARS:
Friday, October 25, 2013
Don't look back!
I don't have two favorite horror movies - because the thrill of watching horror movies is lost on me. I never liked being scared - NEVER. The first time I remembered shaking in my shoes was watching The Creature From the Black Lagoon. An old film, yes, and poor cinematography, yes, but damn, the creature really freaked me out!
I walked out on The Exorcist and waited in the lobby for my friends as soon as Linda's head turned completely around! Oh God, it was just too creepy.Maybe it was being raised Catholic that made it seem so real and that she was truly possessed by the devil - I couldn't go there. Not that I believed in the devil, exactly
I walked out on The Exorcist and waited in the lobby for my friends as soon as Linda's head turned completely around! Oh God, it was just too creepy.Maybe it was being raised Catholic that made it seem so real and that she was truly possessed by the devil - I couldn't go there. Not that I believed in the devil, exactly
Thursday, October 24, 2013
Best on DA: volume 31
We're back fresh and ready for action. Check out this week's top cosplay pics and if you simply want more, feel free to drop !
PROJECT ICE: YUKI ICE-T BY
PROJECT ICE: YUKI ICE-T BY
Wednesday, October 23, 2013
31 DAYS OF HORROR 2013-Day 18: HUMANOIDS FROM THE DEEP (1980)
Poster from the original theatrical release.
When I was a wee Bunche I used to wonder exactly what the hell monsters like King Kong and the Creature From the Black Lagoon intended to do with their female captives once they got them back to a mountaintop retreat or an underwater cave. Sure, there was obvious lust or infatuation in play, but it just wasn't feasible; Kong would have been thwarted by scale alone, and both he and Blacky faced the stumbling block of being species altogether other than human. But exploitation cinema has never been hindered by such considerations as logic, comparative biology, or even common sense, hence the existence of HUMANOIDS FROM THE DEEP, a classic bit of nastiness that unflinchingly depicts the public menace of horny fish-men who graphically rape beach bunnies in the name of a quick box office buck.
When I was a wee Bunche I used to wonder exactly what the hell monsters like King Kong and the Creature From the Black Lagoon intended to do with their female captives once they got them back to a mountaintop retreat or an underwater cave. Sure, there was obvious lust or infatuation in play, but it just wasn't feasible; Kong would have been thwarted by scale alone, and both he and Blacky faced the stumbling block of being species altogether other than human. But exploitation cinema has never been hindered by such considerations as logic, comparative biology, or even common sense, hence the existence of HUMANOIDS FROM THE DEEP, a classic bit of nastiness that unflinchingly depicts the public menace of horny fish-men who graphically rape beach bunnies in the name of a quick box office buck.
Hallowpalooza! Sideshow's Mole People
I have a confession to make: I've never watched The Mole People. At least, I've never watched it without three wise-cracking silhouettes at the bottom of the TV screen. If you're familiar with Mystery Science Theater 3000, then you may have seen experiment #803, in which Mike and the 'bots are forced to suffer through this cinematic turkey. Unlike the SOL crew's previously riffed Universal classic This Island Earth, The Mole People is dull, colorless, and uninspiring. That said, the Mole People themselves were infamous enough to warrant inclusion in wave four of Sideshow's Universal Monsters series.
Having provided designs for previous Universal monsters Metaluna Mutant and the Creature from the Black Lagoon, costume designer and animator Millicent Patrick was tasked with creating the Mole People. The title character's appearance was modeled in part after the star-nosed mole, most notably the fleshy set of appendages which ring its snout. These appendages, or "rays," contain approximately 25,000 minute sensory receptors that allow the functionally blind moles to find and identity food, as well as detect seismic wave vibrations. It's real-world touches like this that gave Patrick's creations a life and vitality that endures to this day.
Having provided designs for previous Universal monsters Metaluna Mutant and the Creature from the Black Lagoon, costume designer and animator Millicent Patrick was tasked with creating the Mole People. The title character's appearance was modeled in part after the star-nosed mole, most notably the fleshy set of appendages which ring its snout. These appendages, or "rays," contain approximately 25,000 minute sensory receptors that allow the functionally blind moles to find and identity food, as well as detect seismic wave vibrations. It's real-world touches like this that gave Patrick's creations a life and vitality that endures to this day.
31 DAYS OF HORROR 2013-Day 18: HUMANOIDS FROM THE DEEP (1980)
Poster from the original theatrical release.
When I was a wee Bunche I used to wonder exactly what the hell monsters like King Kong and the Creature From the Black Lagoon intended to do with their female captives once they got them back to a mountaintop retreat or an underwater cave. Sure, there was obvious lust or infatuation in play, but it just wasn't feasible; Kong would have been thwarted by scale alone, and both he and Blacky faced the stumbling block of being species altogether other than human. But exploitation cinema has never been hindered by such considerations as logic, comparative biology, or even common sense, hence the existence of HUMANOIDS FROM THE DEEP, a classic bit of nastiness that unflinchingly depicts the public menace of horny fish-men who graphically rape beach bunnies in the name of a quick box office buck.
Coming out just two months after the slaughterhouse thrills of the original FRIDAY THE 13th, HUMANOIDS FROM THE DEEP just barely got in under the radar and avoided the willy-nilly trimming foisted upon the majority of horror flicks released not long after in response to the deluge of gory FRIDAY THE 13th cash-ins. By cutting out the gore and violence from films such as THE BURNING, HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ME, and MY BLOODY VALENTINE robs such fare of its very raison d'etre, and if such a fate had befallen HUMANOIDS it would have ended up completely worthless instead of finding itself in the history books as a landmark of onscreen, tasteless misogyny and what you could once get away with under the guise of a horror/exploitation picture.
When I was a wee Bunche I used to wonder exactly what the hell monsters like King Kong and the Creature From the Black Lagoon intended to do with their female captives once they got them back to a mountaintop retreat or an underwater cave. Sure, there was obvious lust or infatuation in play, but it just wasn't feasible; Kong would have been thwarted by scale alone, and both he and Blacky faced the stumbling block of being species altogether other than human. But exploitation cinema has never been hindered by such considerations as logic, comparative biology, or even common sense, hence the existence of HUMANOIDS FROM THE DEEP, a classic bit of nastiness that unflinchingly depicts the public menace of horny fish-men who graphically rape beach bunnies in the name of a quick box office buck.
Coming out just two months after the slaughterhouse thrills of the original FRIDAY THE 13th, HUMANOIDS FROM THE DEEP just barely got in under the radar and avoided the willy-nilly trimming foisted upon the majority of horror flicks released not long after in response to the deluge of gory FRIDAY THE 13th cash-ins. By cutting out the gore and violence from films such as THE BURNING, HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ME, and MY BLOODY VALENTINE robs such fare of its very raison d'etre, and if such a fate had befallen HUMANOIDS it would have ended up completely worthless instead of finding itself in the history books as a landmark of onscreen, tasteless misogyny and what you could once get away with under the guise of a horror/exploitation picture.
[Exclusive] Top 10 Black & White Horror Films From David St kenberg
While we get a lot of Top 10 lists from various bands and musicians, it's rare that we get one that pays homage to the real classics, the ones that created the foundation for our genre. But those are exactly the films that Austin, TX based David St kenberg is into: black and white films from generations past that may not have the greatest special effects, the most blood (if any), or the most terrifying of villains but instead have charm, amazing atmosphere, and classic, thrilling music.
St kenberg comments, "My favorite horror movies are the old silent ones like The Unknown," "Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde" and of course anything with Vincent Price. I also love the "Abbot & Costello" horror-themed films. Growing up watching a movie like "Frankenstein," I think I was able to walk away with a little less fear across the board because even as a six year-old, I knew that Frankenstein's costume was made out of cardboard boxes, and should you become injured by any monsters, you only bleed ketchup, and then you are good. But it's all truly terrifying with the amazing special effects in black and white. So great."
St kenberg comments, "My favorite horror movies are the old silent ones like The Unknown," "Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde" and of course anything with Vincent Price. I also love the "Abbot & Costello" horror-themed films. Growing up watching a movie like "Frankenstein," I think I was able to walk away with a little less fear across the board because even as a six year-old, I knew that Frankenstein's costume was made out of cardboard boxes, and should you become injured by any monsters, you only bleed ketchup, and then you are good. But it's all truly terrifying with the amazing special effects in black and white. So great."
ANIMAX UK to Launch Anime Video On Demand Service
Japan's leading anime destination, ANIMAX, today announced further details regarding its UK Video On Demand launch, going live this Friday 25th October at www.animaxtv.co.uk. The platform aims to become the UK's ultimate anime destination, showcasing a unique model providing free limited anime content for all users, in addition to a subscription service offering unlimited advert-free access to the genre's best movies and series, and authentic, addictive, UK-first content.
Under the SVoD service, for a monthly fee of EUR5.99, subscribers can expect to indulge in
complete seasons of the world's most loved anime, including BLACK LAGOON, DEATH NOTE,
Under the SVoD service, for a monthly fee of EUR5.99, subscribers can expect to indulge in
complete seasons of the world's most loved anime, including BLACK LAGOON, DEATH NOTE,
Tuesday, October 22, 2013
Horror Movies
THE SUPERNATURAL AND CREATURES: VAMPIRES, WEREWOLVES AND DEMONS, OH MY!
There is too many movies that fit into this subgenre that I enjoy, so I hope that I am able to do justice to this most popular subject. It is also, sadly, often an overused subject as many B-movies can attest to.
There is too many movies that fit into this subgenre that I enjoy, so I hope that I am able to do justice to this most popular subject. It is also, sadly, often an overused subject as many B-movies can attest to.
Sunday, October 20, 2013
Dad's Collection: Aurora Monsters
The year was 1961. Aurora Released the Universal Monsters Frankenstein's Monster Model. My Dad, a young boy 6 years of age, was instantly drawn to this wonderful model. Back in the day if you wanted a cool Franky model you had to paint that sucker yourself, and that's exactly what my Dad did. He did a great job too, and he was only 6!
Soon after Dad brought Frank here to life Aurora released The Phantom of The Opera, duuuuuunnnnndundundundundun!
Soon after Dad brought Frank here to life Aurora released The Phantom of The Opera, duuuuuunnnnndundundundundun!
Sony TV to Launch Animax in the UK
Sony Pictures Television Networks has recently announced plans to launch a version of their anime channel, Animax, for the UK using a subscription VOD model. In support of the launch, Viz Media has signed a multi-year volume deal with Sony in order to be the exclusive content provider for the new service.
The initial catalogue that will be offered on Animax UK will include UK premieres such as Death Note and Vampire Nights, as well as other popular series such as Bleach and Black Lagoon.
The initial catalogue that will be offered on Animax UK will include UK premieres such as Death Note and Vampire Nights, as well as other popular series such as Bleach and Black Lagoon.
Evolution Of Horror: Monster Movies Vs. Slashers
H.P. Lovecraft once said, "The oldest and strongest emotion of mankind is fear, and the oldest and strongest kind of fear is fear of the unknown."
I'm back with a rather unusual debate topic.Monster movies vs. slashers.Which side are you on?
I'm back with a rather unusual debate topic.Monster movies vs. slashers.Which side are you on?
Saturday, October 19, 2013
Can "Chopsticks" be Played on the Spoons?
A girl got me to master chopsticks. And it wasn't my wife.
Just before my senior year in high school, Sheryl was my girl at the Methodist summer camp I had gone to in South Jersey. Being half Native-American, the contrast of her tanned skin to my sunburned Mick-Kraut pale face was offset by our mutual love for and different skills at anything athletic. We were "the couple" at camp. Two months later, at the South Jersey United Methodist Youth Conference in Ocean City, we hooked up again. However, for some stupid reason, it was decided by our circle of friends to eat Chinese one evening. Unfortunately, at the restaurant, Sheryl ran into the guy with whom she had been "the couple" at a camp earlier that summer. In the end, my inability to master the chopsticks (Hell, the only ethnic food in my neighborhood was pizza or kielbasa.) and my use of a fork to finish the meal made me lose face and lose out to the other guy. You can imagine my mother's surprise when the first thing I said upon my return from the conference was that I wanted to buy a pair of chopsticks. It may not have been a religious awakening, but it certainly was a widening of cultural boundaries. The funny thing was that Sheryl and I had a few dates the following year, one of which to a Chinese restaurant, where I saw guys making fools of themselves tossing food onto the floor before deciding to use a single chopstick to stab a dumpling.
Just before my senior year in high school, Sheryl was my girl at the Methodist summer camp I had gone to in South Jersey. Being half Native-American, the contrast of her tanned skin to my sunburned Mick-Kraut pale face was offset by our mutual love for and different skills at anything athletic. We were "the couple" at camp. Two months later, at the South Jersey United Methodist Youth Conference in Ocean City, we hooked up again. However, for some stupid reason, it was decided by our circle of friends to eat Chinese one evening. Unfortunately, at the restaurant, Sheryl ran into the guy with whom she had been "the couple" at a camp earlier that summer. In the end, my inability to master the chopsticks (Hell, the only ethnic food in my neighborhood was pizza or kielbasa.) and my use of a fork to finish the meal made me lose face and lose out to the other guy. You can imagine my mother's surprise when the first thing I said upon my return from the conference was that I wanted to buy a pair of chopsticks. It may not have been a religious awakening, but it certainly was a widening of cultural boundaries. The funny thing was that Sheryl and I had a few dates the following year, one of which to a Chinese restaurant, where I saw guys making fools of themselves tossing food onto the floor before deciding to use a single chopstick to stab a dumpling.
Universal Looking to Go the Shared Universe Route to Create Some Kind of Monster Squad
Ever since Marvel Studios blew past the billion dollar mark by getting all of their various protagonists together and teaming them up in a big crossover movie, The Avengers, every other studio out there has been clamoring to find a way to recreate that success. Whether that's Sony looking to build to a Sinister Six movie through their Amazing Spider-Man franchise, Warner Brothers looking to build to a Justice League movie through their Man of Steel franchise, or Fox looking to bring their two disparate X-Men franchises together with Days of Future Past, the message seems to be the same: team-up movies are the new go-to.
The truth is, crossing over different properties in order to create big team-up movies is nothing new though. Universal was doing it with their popular monster characters all the way back in the 40s with things like 1943's Frankenstein Meets the Wolf Man, 1944's House of Frankenstein, or even the 1948 comedy Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein. These movies took classic characters like Dracula, the Wolf Man, and Frankenstein's monster, kept the original actors who made them famous where possible, and threw them all together into one adventure that kept the properties fresh in ways that more solo films couldn't. It was a good strategy then, and The Avengers shows that it's still a good strategy now, so it's looking like Universal is getting ready to go back to it.
The truth is, crossing over different properties in order to create big team-up movies is nothing new though. Universal was doing it with their popular monster characters all the way back in the 40s with things like 1943's Frankenstein Meets the Wolf Man, 1944's House of Frankenstein, or even the 1948 comedy Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein. These movies took classic characters like Dracula, the Wolf Man, and Frankenstein's monster, kept the original actors who made them famous where possible, and threw them all together into one adventure that kept the properties fresh in ways that more solo films couldn't. It was a good strategy then, and The Avengers shows that it's still a good strategy now, so it's looking like Universal is getting ready to go back to it.
Hellsing the animated series and more
"I know what you're thinking: "How did all this come about?" Well, it all started on a midnight stroll through the woods. The air was clear, the moon was full. I was dying to sink my teeth into something. Get it? Because I'm a vampire. You know a real fucking vampire! Muwahahahaha .it's funny." --Alucard from Hellsing Abridged.
So, if you couldn't figure it out from the introduction; tonight we are going to be discussing one of my top animes Hellsing: Original, Ultimate, manga, and abridged. Hellsing first started back in 1997 and continued on until 2009. There are 10 volumes to the manga, which are still in print and stock in a barnes and nobles near you. I have three volumes; 1, 3, and 10. There was also side stories and a prequel featuring Walter C. Dornez, who was the butler. SPOILERS! The butler did it. The entire plot is about Alucard (a.k.a. Dracula, before he worked for the Hellsing organization) fighting Nazis. Along the way we get to know his "apprentice" or Seras Victoria (a.k.a. Police Girl), Walter C. Dornez the retired vampire hunter (also the butler), and Integra Wingates Hellsing (bitch!) master of Alucard. I won't forget the silly french mercenaries, The wild Geese. They are hired after the 100 guards of Hellsing manner are turned into ghouls after a particular nasty raid done by the Valentine brothers. The captain and police girl have a thing, before he .well that's complicated, you gotta watch, episode 8 of Ultimate or read volume 8. See the original release of Hellsing was way before the manga series had finished. They were only going off about 3 books around this time. But Ultimate waited until the entire series was out and then the people that did the original remade Hellsing to match the manga. Which was way better. Trust me. In Ultimate there is better dialogue, animation, still got the great voice actors from before; however there are only 8 episodes in English so far. Which means there are episodes 9 and 10 left. That is not much. Though you can watch Hellsing: original and Hellsing: Ultimate all online either in English dub or sub. Only 2 episodes are left undone in English, so you should be able to finish them quickly. Ultimate only has 10 episodes, each one is based off one volume, so the shows are an hour+. Where as original is 13 episodes that are only 24 minutes long. I personally like hearing the anime in original Japanese, since they got some really great actors for the series. So, I suggest watching the English sub. Crispin Freeman does the voice of Alucard in both the original and Ultimate. He does a fine job. He's got a light accent so we are led to believe that Alucard's home land accent wears out over time, especially since he lives in England at this point, so he might be adding a new accent. Really, Crispin Freeman does excellent as this character.
So, if you couldn't figure it out from the introduction; tonight we are going to be discussing one of my top animes Hellsing: Original, Ultimate, manga, and abridged. Hellsing first started back in 1997 and continued on until 2009. There are 10 volumes to the manga, which are still in print and stock in a barnes and nobles near you. I have three volumes; 1, 3, and 10. There was also side stories and a prequel featuring Walter C. Dornez, who was the butler. SPOILERS! The butler did it. The entire plot is about Alucard (a.k.a. Dracula, before he worked for the Hellsing organization) fighting Nazis. Along the way we get to know his "apprentice" or Seras Victoria (a.k.a. Police Girl), Walter C. Dornez the retired vampire hunter (also the butler), and Integra Wingates Hellsing (bitch!) master of Alucard. I won't forget the silly french mercenaries, The wild Geese. They are hired after the 100 guards of Hellsing manner are turned into ghouls after a particular nasty raid done by the Valentine brothers. The captain and police girl have a thing, before he .well that's complicated, you gotta watch, episode 8 of Ultimate or read volume 8. See the original release of Hellsing was way before the manga series had finished. They were only going off about 3 books around this time. But Ultimate waited until the entire series was out and then the people that did the original remade Hellsing to match the manga. Which was way better. Trust me. In Ultimate there is better dialogue, animation, still got the great voice actors from before; however there are only 8 episodes in English so far. Which means there are episodes 9 and 10 left. That is not much. Though you can watch Hellsing: original and Hellsing: Ultimate all online either in English dub or sub. Only 2 episodes are left undone in English, so you should be able to finish them quickly. Ultimate only has 10 episodes, each one is based off one volume, so the shows are an hour+. Where as original is 13 episodes that are only 24 minutes long. I personally like hearing the anime in original Japanese, since they got some really great actors for the series. So, I suggest watching the English sub. Crispin Freeman does the voice of Alucard in both the original and Ultimate. He does a fine job. He's got a light accent so we are led to believe that Alucard's home land accent wears out over time, especially since he lives in England at this point, so he might be adding a new accent. Really, Crispin Freeman does excellent as this character.
Game Night Success!!
Apologies, but this particular journal entry will be a tad boring (hence how late I am in writing it).
What I did at SF:
What I did at SF:
Wednesday, October 16, 2013
October Horror Movie Update 10/15/13
NOW PLAYING
WEREWOLF OF LONDON: Atthrough October 14.Shows at 9:30 pm through Monday, October 14, with 3 pm matinees on Saturday and Sunday, October 12 and 13.
The Irish monster movie, GRABBERS, plays atin Vancouver, WA, through Tuesday, October 15.Shows at 7 and 9 pm on October 11, 12 and 14, at 8 pm on October 13 and at 9:15 on October 15.
WEREWOLF OF LONDON: Atthrough October 14.Shows at 9:30 pm through Monday, October 14, with 3 pm matinees on Saturday and Sunday, October 12 and 13.
The Irish monster movie, GRABBERS, plays atin Vancouver, WA, through Tuesday, October 15.Shows at 7 and 9 pm on October 11, 12 and 14, at 8 pm on October 13 and at 9:15 on October 15.
Monday, October 14, 2013
The Worst Of The Worst
I love villains. I love good villains: great villains: AWESOME villains. That's why I'll be posting villain related entries this month, it's a fitting subject for this scary season. That said, there are some villains I just dislike. As in, they really make me hate them not for being so good in their role as villains, but for being so DULL. I like bad guys to be as interesting, entertaining, and fleshed out characters as good guys. These are the antagonists I consider to be very weak, bland, boring, unenjoyable villains.
THESE FOUR DISNEY VILLAINS: Edgar from "The Aristocats", Madame Medusa from "The Rescuers", Rourke from "Atlantis: The Lost Empire", and Alimeda Slim from "Home On The Range." UsuallyDisney Villains, even the lamer ones like Prince John and Governer Ratcliffe, will have something about them that makes them entertaining. Not these four: they're total bores. Edgar's a greedy, bumbling, almost too polite and even sympathetic to be a bad guy Butler who never leaves a last impression at all. Medusa's a vain, temperamental, ugly witch whose "funny" moments are not at all funny and who is also motivated by petty greed. Speaking of, Rourke is also only in it for the money and his plan is particularly stupid because he wants to commit genocide against an entire lost civilization just so he can get richer off of the valuable relics than he already would be anyway for even freaking discovering the lost empire to begin with! His voice is well performed, but when he's revealed as the villain, his character becomes this smirking, sneering, joke cracking asshole who is just plain bland. And Slim is the worst. A stereotypical cartoon western outlaw with a talent for yodeling. Need I even elaborate? What a disgrace to Disney villains!
CARS VILLAINS: Of all the bad guys to appear in Pixar movies, these guys were the worst. Chick Hicks from the first "Cars" is basically a more jerkish version of the protagonist minus the character development. He's just some asshole who wants glory. Take away Michael Keaton as his voice and he's got nothing going for him at all. Even worse is Dr. Z and Miles Axelrod in the sequel. Z is a tired mad doctor cliche who lacks any threat or presence, and Miles is the equally cliched corrupt corporate executive who wants to extort money from others. LAME!
THESE FOUR DISNEY VILLAINS: Edgar from "The Aristocats", Madame Medusa from "The Rescuers", Rourke from "Atlantis: The Lost Empire", and Alimeda Slim from "Home On The Range." UsuallyDisney Villains, even the lamer ones like Prince John and Governer Ratcliffe, will have something about them that makes them entertaining. Not these four: they're total bores. Edgar's a greedy, bumbling, almost too polite and even sympathetic to be a bad guy Butler who never leaves a last impression at all. Medusa's a vain, temperamental, ugly witch whose "funny" moments are not at all funny and who is also motivated by petty greed. Speaking of, Rourke is also only in it for the money and his plan is particularly stupid because he wants to commit genocide against an entire lost civilization just so he can get richer off of the valuable relics than he already would be anyway for even freaking discovering the lost empire to begin with! His voice is well performed, but when he's revealed as the villain, his character becomes this smirking, sneering, joke cracking asshole who is just plain bland. And Slim is the worst. A stereotypical cartoon western outlaw with a talent for yodeling. Need I even elaborate? What a disgrace to Disney villains!
CARS VILLAINS: Of all the bad guys to appear in Pixar movies, these guys were the worst. Chick Hicks from the first "Cars" is basically a more jerkish version of the protagonist minus the character development. He's just some asshole who wants glory. Take away Michael Keaton as his voice and he's got nothing going for him at all. Even worse is Dr. Z and Miles Axelrod in the sequel. Z is a tired mad doctor cliche who lacks any threat or presence, and Miles is the equally cliched corrupt corporate executive who wants to extort money from others. LAME!
Sunday, October 13, 2013
Monster Mania Day 5: The Creature from The Black Lagoon 3-D
Written by Stu Cooper
Today I had the fortune of seeing one of my favorite Universal monster movies on the big screen! Not only that but I got to view the film in it's original 3-D glory. I actually didn't know until today that the film was originally shot in 3-D. I first saw the film on VHS as a kid, and have sense gotten it on DVD but have never had the opportunity to watch it in 3-D. The film "The Creature From The Black Lagoon" was released in 1957 and directed by Jack Arnold who had also directed a couple other monster movies, namely "Tarantula" and "It Came From Outer Space". The film was the first to ever shoot 3-D underwater, and to my knowledge one of the first films to shoot full fighting action sequences underwater. The "Gillman" character was played by Ben Chapman, and the underwater "Gillman" was played by Richou Browning. Browning actually had to hold his breath for up to 4 minutes during the underwater sequences because the suit did not have a place for an air-tank. This is truly remarkable considering the scenes and the depths that he was swimming down to. The designer of the Creature was a young woman by the name of Millicent Patrick. She unfortunately was blackballed in Hollywood soon after this film because make-up artist Bud Westmore wanted all the credit. An unfortunate case of sexism in Hollywood.
Today I had the fortune of seeing one of my favorite Universal monster movies on the big screen! Not only that but I got to view the film in it's original 3-D glory. I actually didn't know until today that the film was originally shot in 3-D. I first saw the film on VHS as a kid, and have sense gotten it on DVD but have never had the opportunity to watch it in 3-D. The film "The Creature From The Black Lagoon" was released in 1957 and directed by Jack Arnold who had also directed a couple other monster movies, namely "Tarantula" and "It Came From Outer Space". The film was the first to ever shoot 3-D underwater, and to my knowledge one of the first films to shoot full fighting action sequences underwater. The "Gillman" character was played by Ben Chapman, and the underwater "Gillman" was played by Richou Browning. Browning actually had to hold his breath for up to 4 minutes during the underwater sequences because the suit did not have a place for an air-tank. This is truly remarkable considering the scenes and the depths that he was swimming down to. The designer of the Creature was a young woman by the name of Millicent Patrick. She unfortunately was blackballed in Hollywood soon after this film because make-up artist Bud Westmore wanted all the credit. An unfortunate case of sexism in Hollywood.
Saturday, October 12, 2013
10 Android Games I Really Like #1
Yes, I'm a gamer. Yes, I have both a smartphone and a tablet. And these both happen to be Androids. Although... I must make clear that this is not saying that Android is better than iOS or vice-versa. It's simply that I've had an Android device for so long that it would be like starting over if I were to switch. I tend to think that 75% of users of Android or iOS feel the same way about their given system and stick with it because they've invested so much into them.
So, with that out of the way, let me run down the ten Android games I currently play and why.
So, with that out of the way, let me run down the ten Android games I currently play and why.
Friday, October 11, 2013
October Horror Movie Update: 10/10 /13
Oh, they are piling up fast here in Portland and around the Pacific Northwest.These updates will be a list of the movies playing in the area, followed by the theater, dates and time of screenings.Additional information will be located after showtimes.Links to the theaters will be provided.
I will update the the Horror Calendar ASAP, to provide trailers and additional information on the film.Also, I will do my best to provide separate posts for each film within 24 hours of the screening.
I'm sure more movies are coming, so be sure to keep watching The Shadow Over Portland!I'll update each time I get information on a new screening and mark it with the NEW LISTING! icon.
I will update the the Horror Calendar ASAP, to provide trailers and additional information on the film.Also, I will do my best to provide separate posts for each film within 24 hours of the screening.
I'm sure more movies are coming, so be sure to keep watching The Shadow Over Portland!I'll update each time I get information on a new screening and mark it with the NEW LISTING! icon.
Black Lagoon
Black Lagoon (Burakku Rag n?) is a Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Rei Hiroe. It has been published in Shogakukan's Monthly Sunday Gene-X since 2002, and nine collected volumes have been released so far. It was later adapted into an anime television series, by Madhouse, that aired from April to June 2006 for twelve episodes. A second season, subtitled "The Second Barrage", ran for twelve weeks starting on October 2, 2006. A five volume original video animation series, titled Roberta's Blood Trail, was released from July 2010 to June 2011.Viz Media began releasing an English translation of the manga in North America on August 12, 2008. Madman Entertainment licensed the anime in Australasia and the United Kingdom. The anime was dubbed and originally licensed in English by Geneon Entertainment, now licensed by Funimation Entertainment, in North America. Funimation later licensed the OVA, which also was licensed by Kazin the UK, for release in Spring 2013.From Wikipedia
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Classic Monsters take over Portland as the Halloween season gets into full swing!
Okay, the classic monsters are taking a bite out of Portland, but we still have some modern monsters and slashers showing up to keep things interesting.So here are the films you can catch this week in local theaters.
Friday, October 11 is FULL OF CREATURES OF THE NIGHT!Starting with my favorite Universal monster atin 3D!Yes, CREATURE FROM THE BLACK LAGOON will be shown, in glorious 35mm, and you DO NOT want to miss this.Showtimes are 12:30, 5 and 9:30 pm Friday through Sunday, October 11 to 13, and 5 and 9:30 pm Monday through Thursday, October 14 to 17.Don't know when I'll be there, but if you attend, look for the big bald guy in the Utilikilt and say hi.
Friday, October 11 is FULL OF CREATURES OF THE NIGHT!Starting with my favorite Universal monster atin 3D!Yes, CREATURE FROM THE BLACK LAGOON will be shown, in glorious 35mm, and you DO NOT want to miss this.Showtimes are 12:30, 5 and 9:30 pm Friday through Sunday, October 11 to 13, and 5 and 9:30 pm Monday through Thursday, October 14 to 17.Don't know when I'll be there, but if you attend, look for the big bald guy in the Utilikilt and say hi.
Thursday, October 10, 2013
Heroes on the (Haunted) Half-Shell
Tonight another trip back 20 years to 1993 and the release of Playmates' Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles -- Universal Studios Monsters editions...
Standing menacingly above are 3 of the first series figures (released in 1993) and two of the second series (from 1994).From left to right (ours, not theirs!) we have: Don as DraculaInvisible Man MichelangeloRaph as The MummyCreature from the Black Lagoon LeonardoMike as Frankenstein (technically incorrect since he is Frankenstein's Monster -- oy, I sound like Ted Mosby!) Missing from this Monster Party are: Leo as The Wolfman -- I know I had Leo.I remember buying all four of the first series figures in an impulse buy at Walmart (which was brand new here in Northern Virginia in 1993).I suspect Leo may still be residing in his blister pack with the other empty packages in the tinder-box that is the attic over the garage. Mutant Raphael -- From the 2nd series... I didn't buy him, because I didn't consider him a "true" Universal Monster, even though he was branded that way. And finally, still encased in her plastic tomb:April O'Neil as The Bride of Frankenstein! I originally had another April Bride that was removed from the package.I always tried to carefully remove action figures from their packages so that the boys could play with them -- it was too cruel to just keep everything up for display with young boys in the house.I then put the empty blister packs (typically still containing the accessories and in this case, collector cards) in cardboard boxes, that are now stacked in the garage and attic. But, like many a figure back then, April went missing at some point.Alex was typically the culprit, especially when it came to the female figures.April disappeared just like Marion from Raiders of the Lost Ark, and Phantasm from Batman: Mask of the Phantasm -- he always had the knack for losing the most rare ones! So, a few years ago, I came across this April in her original package for only $5.00 so it was a no-brainer. Here's April's cardback from 1994.You'll notice by this time, the original first four monster figures had already been removed from the assortment.That seems odd to me, since I would think that by releasing these 2nd tier monsters would only encourage kids to look for the originals to complete the set. I will probably take April out of her package once there are grandchildren running about the place.But that will be awhile, and regardless, she will have to be off-limits to Alex!
Standing menacingly above are 3 of the first series figures (released in 1993) and two of the second series (from 1994).From left to right (ours, not theirs!) we have: Don as DraculaInvisible Man MichelangeloRaph as The MummyCreature from the Black Lagoon LeonardoMike as Frankenstein (technically incorrect since he is Frankenstein's Monster -- oy, I sound like Ted Mosby!) Missing from this Monster Party are: Leo as The Wolfman -- I know I had Leo.I remember buying all four of the first series figures in an impulse buy at Walmart (which was brand new here in Northern Virginia in 1993).I suspect Leo may still be residing in his blister pack with the other empty packages in the tinder-box that is the attic over the garage. Mutant Raphael -- From the 2nd series... I didn't buy him, because I didn't consider him a "true" Universal Monster, even though he was branded that way. And finally, still encased in her plastic tomb:April O'Neil as The Bride of Frankenstein! I originally had another April Bride that was removed from the package.I always tried to carefully remove action figures from their packages so that the boys could play with them -- it was too cruel to just keep everything up for display with young boys in the house.I then put the empty blister packs (typically still containing the accessories and in this case, collector cards) in cardboard boxes, that are now stacked in the garage and attic. But, like many a figure back then, April went missing at some point.Alex was typically the culprit, especially when it came to the female figures.April disappeared just like Marion from Raiders of the Lost Ark, and Phantasm from Batman: Mask of the Phantasm -- he always had the knack for losing the most rare ones! So, a few years ago, I came across this April in her original package for only $5.00 so it was a no-brainer. Here's April's cardback from 1994.You'll notice by this time, the original first four monster figures had already been removed from the assortment.That seems odd to me, since I would think that by releasing these 2nd tier monsters would only encourage kids to look for the originals to complete the set. I will probably take April out of her package once there are grandchildren running about the place.But that will be awhile, and regardless, she will have to be off-limits to Alex!
Tuesday, October 8, 2013
The Future Diary
The Future Diary is licensed by Madman Entertainment, Funimation and Kaze UK.
One thing that horror fiction needs is a good motif. A common one over the years is humanities use of technology.
One thing that horror fiction needs is a good motif. A common one over the years is humanities use of technology.
Sunday, October 6, 2013
Top 10 Classic Horror Movie Monsters: The creatures that started it all.
I've decided for Halloween, to count down the top 10 monsters and villains from classic horror and thriller films. Criteria: When I say "classic", I mean anything from the 1920's-1950's.
10. Gill-Man/The Creature from The Creature from the Black Lagoon: This amphibian/reptile humanoid mostly stays in the waters of the Amazon. The last character to be part of the classic Universal monsters, he is a mix of classic horror and the "Atomic Age" (the term used to describe horror movies of the 50's, which exploited audience's fears of nuclear disaster). He only appeared in 3 films, and is low on the list because he is not as influential as the other monsters on this list, and doesn't do that much in the films he's in.
10. Gill-Man/The Creature from The Creature from the Black Lagoon: This amphibian/reptile humanoid mostly stays in the waters of the Amazon. The last character to be part of the classic Universal monsters, he is a mix of classic horror and the "Atomic Age" (the term used to describe horror movies of the 50's, which exploited audience's fears of nuclear disaster). He only appeared in 3 films, and is low on the list because he is not as influential as the other monsters on this list, and doesn't do that much in the films he's in.
Friday, October 4, 2013
Guillermo del Toro's 'Simpsons' couch gag pays homage to horror
Guillermo del Toro's couch gag for "The Simpsons: Treehouse of Horror XXIV" is nothing less than a love letter to the horror genre.
Del Toro directed the show's trademark opening sequence for this year's Halloween special, and he pays homage to more horror franchises than we could count. Among the references in the opening, which runs just under three minutes, are tributes to Alfred Hitchcock, H. P. Lovecraft, Stephen King, Edgar Allan Poe and more.
Del Toro directed the show's trademark opening sequence for this year's Halloween special, and he pays homage to more horror franchises than we could count. Among the references in the opening, which runs just under three minutes, are tributes to Alfred Hitchcock, H. P. Lovecraft, Stephen King, Edgar Allan Poe and more.
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