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LIST THREAD 2nd Annual Drive-In/Exploitation/B-Movie Challenge March 31-April 30 2011

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LIST THREAD 2nd Annual Drive-In/Exploitation/B-Movie Challenge March 31-April 30 2011

Old 03-24-11, 08:10 PM
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Re: LIST THREAD 2nd Annual Drive-In/Exploitation/B-Movie Challenge March 31-April 30

(*) first time viewing

April 1
1. Husk (2010, Brett Simmons)*--Evil scarecrows. Not a bad start to the challenge--3/5
April 2
2. Inferno (1980, Dario Argento)--Stylish nightmare, with little logic or dialog, but still one of my favorite Argento films. Rocking Keith Emerson theme, and the BD looks great--4/5
3. Prowl (2010, Patrik Syversen)*--Wasn't expecting much from the Netflix description, but I really enjoyed this one--4/5
4. Dark Star (1974, John Carpenter)--Haven't seen this in years, and it's still really entertaining, especially the last 20 minutes or so. "Benson, Arizona" is one of those songs that really gets stuck in your head--4/5
April 3
5. Blood and Black Lace (1964, Mario Bava)*--A bit slow for my taste--3/5
6. Kiss of the Tarantula (1975, Chris Munger)*--Girl uses spiders to kill her enemies. The only kissing going on is between the 30-year-olds playing the teenagers--2/5
April 4
7. Bonnie's Kids (1973, Arthur Marks)*--Jailbait, murder and money--3/5
April 5
8. Terrifying Girls' High School: Lynch Law Classroom (1973, Noribumi Suzuki)*--More jailbait, murder and money, this time in Japanese--3/5
April 7
9. Girly (1970, Freddie Francis)*--Originally called "Mumsy, Nanny, Sonny & Girly," the four members of this bizarre British family. Not as exploitative as the title suggests, but very strange--4/5
April 9
10. All the Boys Love Mandy Lane (2006, Jonathan Levine)*--Finally got to see this entertaining slasher flick. I didn't realize this was 5 years old already--4/5
April 10
11. Ruby (1977, Curtis Harrington)*--A lot of fun with great use of the '50s drive-in setting--4/5
12. Children Shouldn't Play with Dead Things (1973, Bob Clark)*--Talky for the first hour, until the Dead Things come out to play--3/5
13. The Last American Virgin (1982, Boaz Davidson)--Formula '80s teen comedy until that final scene, which gets me every time--4/5
April 11
14. The Devil's Rain (1975, Robert Fuest)*--William Shatner vs. Ernest Borgnine. I think I blinked and missed John Travolta's scene--4/5
April 12
15. Murder a la Mod (1968, Brian De Palma)*--Odd mixture of slapstick and murder, starring future De Palma regular William Finley, who also sings the groovy theme song--3/5
April 14
16. The Moving Finger (1963, Larry Moyer)*--Beatniks and bank robbers. Definitely a product of its time, with plenty of poetry, pot, and even a protest march--3/5
April 15
17. An Eye for the Girls (1966, Harold Klein)*--A "photography lesson" using still photos of models in various states of undress, completely unrelated and seemingly random stock footage, and a bad New Yawkese-accented (please stop saying "youse") narrator. Amusing for a bit, but this one-man-show by Klein wears out its welcome long before its fifty minutes are up--2/5
April 16
18. Reno (1939, John Farrow)*--I visit Reno a few times a year, and found this B-picture an interesting fictionalized story of its early days--4/5
19. Maniac (1980, William Lustig)*--The title character terrorizes New York. A couple good scares and some great Savini gore--3/5
20. There's Nothing Out There (1990, Rolfe Kanefsky)*--Funny pre-"Scream" self-aware horror, with teens in a cabin getting offed by a monster--4/5
April 17
21. Scum of the Earth (1963, Herschell Gordon Lewis as Lewis H. Gordon)*--Enjoyably bad acting and dialog (the scenes between Kim and her father are especially painful to watch) in this dirty-pictures cautionary tale--4/5
22. You've Ruined Me Eddie! (1958, R. John Hugh)*--Teen pregnancy turns tragic--4/5
April 18
23. Blood Junkie (2010, Drew Rosas)*--Retro-'80s teens-stalked-in-the-woods with a bit more charm than the usual Troma fare--4/5
24. WILDCARD #1: Skyline (2010, The Brothers Strause)*--Eric Balfour fights aliens. A bit mainstream for the challenge, so I'm wildcarding it--4/5
April 22
25. Gorgo (1961, Eugene Lourie)*--Not-Godzilla destroys London--4/5
April 24
26. Quantum Apocalypse (2010, Justin Jones)*--Too much quantum; not enough apocalypse--3/5
27. The World, the Flesh and the Devil (1959, Ranald MacDougall)--End-of-the-world melodrama. Harry Belafonte is one of the last people on earth, and still finds time to sing a couple of songs--4/5
April 25
28. Alice, Sweet Alice (1977, Alfred Sole)*--Little Brooke Shields is the first to die. Is big sis the killer?--3/5
April 26
29. Captain Kronos: Vampire Hunter (1974, Brian Clemens)*--Pretty self-explanatory--3/5
April 27
30. Cursed (2005, Wes Craven)*--A few good scenes, but a bit of a disappointment--3/5
April 28
31. Post Impact (2004, Christoph Schrewe)*--Why do I keep watching these earth-vs.-disaster-from-space movies? This time it's Dean Cain trying to save the world--3/5
April 29
32. Dinoshark (2010, Kevin O'Neill)*--Eric Balfour returns to the challenge, this time fighting a really old, really bad-CGI shark--3/5
April 30
33. Fiend without a Face (1958, Arthur Crabtree)*--Brains!!! Takes a while to get going, but the last 15 minutes are crazy fun--4/5

Checklist:
Spoiler:

Watch one film from every decade of film history:
* 1890 - (insert film title here)(Optional)
* 1900 -(optional)
* 1910 -(optional)
* 1920 -(optional)
* 1930 - Reno (1939)
* 1940 -
* 1950 - You've Ruined Me Eddie! (1958)
* 1960 - Blood and Black Lace (1964)
* 1970 - Dark Star (1974)
* 1980 - Inferno (1980)
* 1990 - There's Nothing Out There (1990)
* 2000 - All the Boys Love Mandy Lane (2006)
* 2010 - Husk (2010)

Watch a film for each rating:
* G - Dark Star
* PG - Kiss of the Tarantula
* PG-13 - Skyline
* R - Husk
* X (or NC-17) -
* Unrated (post-MPAA 1968) - There's Nothing Out There

Watch films in at least three formats (DVD, BD, HD DVD, Laserdisc, TV, online, Streaming Netflix type, UMD, theater, iPod, VHS-sourced{VHS transferred to DVD-+R is fine}):
* First format - Husk (dvd)
* Second format - Inferno (Blu-ray)
* Third format - Reno (DVR)

Watch a film in an actual Drive-in: (optional) (insert title)

Watch a film in the following genres:
A Token Science Fiction B-Movie:
A Token Horror B-Movie:
Italian (or European) films of the following Genres:
* Eurospy (James Bond ripoffs)
* Giallo - Blood and Black Lace
* Sword & Sandal
* Spaghetti Western
* Cannibal Film
* Mafia/Gangster Film
Martial Arts film:
* Bruce Lee-sploitation (Starring any variation on Bruce Li, Le, etc.)
* Hong Kong (or other Asian) film
* American film
* Any "Ninja" film
* Bonus* Actual Bruce Lee film
Biker Film
Stoner Film
Carsploitation Film
Blaxploitation
Sexploitation:
* Any type - An Eye for the Girls
* Nudie Cutie
* Roughie
* 70s Porn
* Emmanuelle Film
* Teen Sex Comedy - The Last American Virgin
Nunsploitation
Shocksploitation
Rape/Revenge Film
Vigilante Film
Women in Prison
Nazisploitation
Eschploitation (religious end times, or general religious exploitation)
Hixploitation/Moonshiners
Roadshow Exploitation/30s-40s "Cautionary" films
"Hood" Film ("Gangsta")
Hollywood Gangster film (Film Noir era)
Juvenile Delinquent Film - You've Ruined Me Eddie!
60s Beach Movie
Film starring Musical Group or Music Star (that did not become a legit actor)
* *Bonus* Elvis film
Ozploitation
Mexican Wrestling Film
Foreign "Ripoff" film (such as Turkish cinema)
Bollywood Film (actual, not a Hollywood pastiche)
Eco-Terror Film
"Mondo" Film
Documentary ABOUT B-Movies/Exploitation/Drive-ins or those involved in their production
Video Nasty
TV-Movie
* Lifetime Channel Movie
Bad Sequel to a "Well regarded film"
Critical Bomb (Less than 20% Rotten Tomatoes or Metacritic or IMDB Bottom 100 {Bottom 100 archive})
Financial Bomb
MST3K/RiffTrax (or Cinematic Titanic) version of a film
Non-MST3K version of a film featured on MST3K (or CT)

Watch 10 films starring anyone from the actors safe list:
* 1 - Blood and Black Lace (Cameron Mitchell)
* 2 - The Devil's Rain (Ernest Borgnine, William Shatner)
* 3 - Maniac (Joe Spinell)
* 4
* 5
* 6
* 7
* 8
* 9
* 10

Watch 10 films Directed/Produced by anyone from the directors/producers safe list:
* 1 - Inferno (Dario Argento)
* 2 - Dark Star (John Carpenter)
* 3 - Blood and Black Lace (Mario Bava)
* 4 - Maniac (William Lustig)
* 5 - Scum of the Earth (Herschell Gordon Lewis)
* 6 - Blood Junkie (Lloyd Kaufman)
* 7 - Cursed (Wes Craven)
* 8 - Dinoshark (Roger Corman)
* 9
* 10

Watch 5 films from those in the Studio/Distributor safe list:
* 1 - Husk (After Dark)
* 2 - Inferno (Blue Underground)
* 3 - Dark Star (Jack H. Harris Enterprises)
* 4 - Bonnie's Kids (Dark Sky)
* 5 - Terrifying Girls' High School: Lynch Law Classroom (Panik House)

Last edited by zaphod2467; 04-30-11 at 11:12 PM.
Old 03-24-11, 09:25 PM
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Re: LIST THREAD 2nd Annual Drive-In/Exploitation/B-Movie Challenge March 31-April 30

Ash Ketchum's Drive-In/Exploitation/B-Movie Challenge - April 2011
From Adios Sabata to Zontar, the Thing from Venus



Short reviews and fun facts are placed in spoiler tags to save loading time.
* = first-time viewing


Thurs. March 31, 2011
1. THE STREET FIGHTER (1974/Japan) Star: Sonny Chiba. English-dubbed VHS. New Line Cinema
Spoiler:
Although Chiba had been acting for 15 years or so by this point, this is the first one in which the world got to see Sonny in full martial arts mode. The success of FIVE FINGERS OF DEATH and dozens of other Hong Kong kung fu movies in the U.S. made it easier to import Japanese films in this genre as well, so we got the STREET FIGHTER films and other Chiba classics in the U.S. thanks to New Line Cinema.


2. KING OF THE ZOMBIES (1941/U.S., b&w) Studio: Monogram. Star: Mantan Moreland. Something Weird Video. VHS

Spoiler:
Mantan Moreland is billed 3rd on the title card, but his name is in bigger type than the two stars. His function in the film is to serve as wise-cracking black sidekick and he basically steals the show. He even flirts with the cute black maid from Alabama who works in the mad doctor's household.
I wanted to watch this in February for the Academy Award Challenge (it was nominated for its music score), but I never got around to it. Two other strong black actors are in it--Leigh Whipper, who was in OF MICE AND MEN two years earlier and THE OX-BOW INCIDENT the following year, and Madame Sul-te-wan, who was in BIRTH OF A NATION 26 years earlier! Never as funny as it ought to be, but Mantan is a delight from start to finish. Star Dick Purcell played Captain America in a serial in 1944.


3.*GUNFIGHT AT RED SANDS (1963/Italy) Star: Richard Harrison. Something Weird Video. English-dubbed VHS. The first Italian western and the tenth film scored by Ennio Morricone.
Spoiler:
It's no FISTFUL OF DOLLARS, but without it we might not have had the Eastwood/Leone masterpiece, made the following year. American actor Richard Harrison starred in a bunch of Italian "sword 'n' sandal" movies around this time (e.g. GLADIATORS SEVEN) and I believe he was offered the lead in FISTFUL but don't recall why he didn't take it. He plays a character called "Gringo" in this one and the rousing theme song has lyrics like, "There's only one kind of man that you can trust, that's a dead man, or a gringo like me."


Fri. April 1, 2011
4.*SONG OF INDIA (1949/U.S., b&w) Studio: Columbia. Stars: Sabu, Gail Russell, Turhan Bey. Goodtimes Home Video. VHS.
Spoiler:
Sabu plays a “Prince of the Jungle” who tries to protect the animals in the Forbidden Jungle from a safari of interlopers from an adjacent province led by Prince Gopal (Bey) and his fiancee Princess Tara (Russell). Lots of trained animals on screen with the actors, including Sabu’s “best friend,” a tiger. All the characters are Indian, although only one of the cast, Sabu, is an actual Indian. Quite an exciting and unusual adventure film, on a par with Tarzan movies of the time, only without the violence of Tarzan.


5.*IF YOU MEET SARTANA…PRAY FOR YOUR DEATH (1968/Italian western) Stars: Gianni Garko, William Berger, Klaus Kinski. DVD
Spoiler:
High body count and a great cast of Italian western regulars, although the convoluted plot about a cache of stolen gold is a bit hard to follow. Kinski’s part is too short. This is on a box set of Sartana movies and I hope to get through all of them for this.


6. JUNGLE JIM (1948/U.S., b&w) Studio: Columbia. Producer: Sam Katzman. Stars: Johnny Weissmuller, George Reeves, Virginia Grey, Lita Baron. Goodtimes Home Video, VHS.
Spoiler:
Once Weissmuller got too old to play Tarzan, he went over to Columbia to do this low-budget jungle series based on a comic strip. The onetime Olympic swimming champ was still in shape enough to do swimming scenes here, including one with a sexy native girl who has the hots for him, played by gorgeous brunette Lita Baron. Padded out with endless stock shots of jungle wildlife. The natives all look Polynesian or Asian Indian and are played by various ethnic types, but no blacks. George Reeves, TV’s Superman, plays a lazy, once-rich photographer who joins the safari in hopes of finding treasure.



Sat. April 2, 2011
7.*RETURN OF THE STREET FIGHTER (1975/Japan) Star: Sonny Chiba. English-dubbed VHS. New Line Cinema
Spoiler:
Action-packed follow-up to the first film. Lots of great karate fights. There are more white guys in this one, including a long-haired mafioso named Don Costello who wants to take over the action in “the yellow hemisphere.” He makes lots of anti-Asian slurs in front of his Asian henchmen, yet no one reacts. Chiba's got a goofy young female sidekick, Kitty, who uses a lot of slang.


8.*ALBUQUERQUE (1948/U.S., western) Studio: Paramount. Star: Randolph Scott. DVD
Spoiler:
Good Scott western shot in Cinecolor, a low-cost, passable alternative to the more expensive Technicolor. Beautiful location work in a tale of rival freighting companies trying to get contracts to carry ore from inaccessible mines. Great supporting cast includes Gabby Hayes in full “old coot” mode; Lon Chaney Jr. as Merkel, an enforcer for the chief bad guy; and hot blonde Barbara Britton, who initially works as a spy for the bad guys, but switches over to Scott’s side. Scott and Chaney have a fistfight out on the street.


9.*FIRST SPACESHIP ON VENUS (1962, sci-fi) Country of Origin: East Germany / Poland. Distributor: Crown International. English-dubbed. Star: Yoko Tani. DVD

Spoiler:
Multiracial, international space crew goes to Venus to explore it. Wild design of ship and its interior and very surreal production design on Venus, all filmed in the studio. Cool craft are used to explore the surface. What they find is quite a surprise. The beautiful Japanese actress Yoko Tani plays a medical doctor.


10.*VOYAGE TO THE PREHISTORIC PLANET (1965) Studio: American International. Director: “John Sebastian” (aka Curtis Harrington). Stars: Basil Rathbone, Faith Domergue. DVD
Spoiler:
Rathbone and Domergue must have shot their scenes in one day. Those short scenes are then inserted into very different looking footage from a Russian sci-fi film called “Planeta Bura” (Planet of Storms) made in 1962, which is also about a trip to Venus. This time the scenes are all outdoors and filled with bizarre vegetation, including a tentacled man-eating plant, and man-sized lizard creatures that look like mini-Godzillas, plus a brontosaurus and a pterodactyl. More cool vehicles to explore the surface, plus a Robby the Robot type named John. Roger Corman was behind this although he gets no credit. Future STAR WARS producer Gary Kurtz is credited as Production Manager.


Sun. April 3, 2011
11.*I MOBSTER (1958/U.S., b&w) Studio: 20th Century Fox. Dir.: Roger Corman. Star: Steve Cochran. VHS
Spoiler:
Corman made this gangster film for a big studio the same year he made the much cheaper (and much better) MACHINE GUN KELLY for AIP. Nine years later he made the more expensive (and even better) ST. VALENTINE’S DAY MASSACRE, also for Fox. This one is a standard rise-and-fall saga of a poor boy-turned gangster, with little in the way of action. But star Steve Cochran, one of the best tough guys in old Hollywood, makes the character of Joe Sante believable and is always fun to watch. He’s probably best known for playing Big Ed in WHITE HEAT (1949), about whom gangleader Cagney declares, “If I turned my back long enough for Big Ed to put a hole in it—there’d be a hole in it.” Stripper Lili St. Cyr appears as herself. Yvette Vickers, the hot blonde from ATTACK OF THE 50-FOOT WOMAN, plays a dope buyer who comes on to Cochran.


12. PLAN 9 FROM OUTER SPACE (1959/U.S., b&w) Dir.: Edward D. Wood Jr. VHS. This should be required viewing for this challenge.
Spoiler:
Of course, it’s best when experienced in a theater with an appreciative crowd. I saw it at its premiere at The World’s Worst Film Festival in 1980 with a sold-out house at New York’s Beacon Theater, the first time most of us were discovering it. One of the best times I’ve ever had at the movies. I watched my tape of it made when TNT ran it on “Monstervision” a decade or so ago. Their print was too dark.


13.*UNIDENTIFIED FLYING OBJECTS: THE TRUE STORY OF FLYING SAUCERS (1956/U.S., b&w) Studio: United Artists. VHS
Spoiler:
Semi-documentary film about UFOs or flying saucers. Very much a “Just the facts, ma’am” DRAGNET approach, with little in the way of speculation or sensationalism. Even though most of it consists of staged reenactments, it certainly looks real as it follows an investigation of UFOs by a civilian working for the Air Force, who starts out skeptical but is gradually convinced that something is out there. Includes on-camera interviews with four actual witnesses telling their stories, plus actual color film footage of UFOs (in an otherwise b&w film), shown repeatedly and analyzed. I’m a longtime UFO buff and I was greatly impressed. This is one of the best I’ve seen so far for this challenge.



Mon. April 4, 2011
14.*THE OUTLAWS IS COMING (1965/U.S., b&w) Studio: Columbia. Stars: The Three Stooges, Adam West, Nancy Kovack. VHS
Spoiler:
The writer-producer-director is Norman Maurer, Moe’s son-in-law, and if he’d been specifically assigned to make a Three Stooges film without any laughs, he succeeded beyond his wildest dreams. Adam West, TV’s Batman, plays an Easterner sent west to stop the slaughter of buffalo. (Kevin Costner must have seen this.) Nancy Kovack, Medea in JASON AND THE ARGONAUTS, plays Annie Oakley. There’s a casting gimmick in which nine TV kiddie show hosts from around the country are recruited to play famous westerners (Wyatt Earp, Wild Bill Hickok, Jesse James, Billy the Kid, etc.) who start out bad but get reformed by the Stooges. My own local host, Joe Bolton, who introduced Three Stooges shorts on his New York show, appears as Rob Dalton. So far the least of the films I’ve watched for this.


15.*THIS MAN CAN’T DIE (1967/Italian western) Star: Guy Madison. DVD (part of Mill Creek's 20-film Spaghetti Western box set).
Spoiler:
This is an obscure Italian western that happens to have a very good print and transfer compared to most of the films on the set, although it’s full-frame and not LBX. It’s not terribly distinguished, but it moves well, is nicely photographed and has a good cast. Guy Madison was a leading man in Hollywood in the 1940s and ’50s and a TV star to boot (“Wild Bill Hickok”), yet he wound up in Italy in the ’60s making sword ‘n’ sandal films (e.g. SWORD OF THE CONQUEROR) and westerns. Here he plays a Civil War veteran and “outlaw” (actually working undercover for the army), who heads back to his hometown just in time to thwart a land grab of his family’s ranch. Rik Battaglia (A FISTFUL OF DYNAMITE) plays the villain. There are three gorgeous women in it, including Rosalba Neri as a voluptuous saloon girl who has a history with Guy.


16.*CALIFORNIA FRONTIER (1938/U.S., b&w, 55 min. B-western) Studio: Columbia. Star: Buck Jones. VHS
Spoiler:
This is 55 minutes. Man, they made B-westerns compact back then. It’s actually a compelling racial drama about attempts by “Americanos” to drive off Mexican landowners in California on the eve of the territory becoming a state in the 1850s. Buck Jones plays an undercover army officer who intervenes on behalf of a Mexican family. Buck is quite stiff, as if he’s still acting in silent movies, but everyone else is good, and the Mexicans all seem to be played by actual Mexican actors, not whites in "brownface" with fake accents. Jones died in the famous fire at the Coconut Grove nightclub in Boston in 1943.


Tues. April 5, 2011
17. Mystery Science Theater 3000: PRINCE OF SPACE
PRINCE OF SPACE (1959/Japan, b&w, English dubbed) DVD
Spoiler:
The MST3K crew is kind of asleep at the wheel here. Long stretches without any jokes, even though the opportunities are there. The film itself is pretty ludicrous and a far cry from the great sci-fi being done at Toho around the same time (THE MYSTERIANS, THE H-MAN, BATTLE IN OUTER SPACE, etc.). I wonder if it was actually made for TV and then packaged into a film.


18.*THE STREET FIGHTER’S LAST REVENGE (1979/Japan) Stars: Sonny Chiba, Reiko Ike, Sue Shiomi. English-dubbed VHS. New Line Cinema.
Spoiler:
Lots of fight scenes. A convoluted plot about a formula for synthetic heroin and a team-up between a corrupt D.A. and the “syndicate.” Various plot holes and continuity errors. Chiba uses face masks, a la “Mission Impossible,” to fool people. Reiko Ike as a gorgeous gang moll is a few years older than she was in FEMALE YAKUZA TALE and a few degrees prettier, although her nude scenes here are not as over-the-top as they were in the earlier film. Sue Shiomi, Sonny’s real-life protege, plays an undercover cop with a few fight scenes. Still, it’s the weakest of the Street Fighter series.


Wed. April 6, 2011
19.*PREMATURE BURIAL (1962/U.S.) Studio: American International. Dir.: Roger Corman. Star: Ray Milland. DVD (part of MGM's The Roger Corman Collection box set).
Spoiler:
The only Poe adaptation Corman made without Vincent Price. As good as Milland is, it lacks that spice that Price would have brought to it. As it is, it’s the least sensational of Corman’s Poe productions and is less of a horror film than a psychological suspense drama. Still, it’s beautifully shot and designed. The story behind it is that with this film, Corman was going to break away from American International Pictures and make his own productions backed by Pathe, AIP’s regular film lab. Price was under contract to AIP so could not be hired for this. On the first day of production, the heads of AIP, James Nicholson and Samuel Z. Arkoff, came onto the set and announced that they’d bought out Pathe’s interest in the film, so that PREMATURE BURIAL was now another one of their productions. It would take Corman another eight years to break away from AIP.


20.*ENTER THE NINJA (1981, martial arts) Studio: Cannon. Dir.: Menahem Golan. Stars: Franco Nero, Sho Kosugi. Rated R. VHS
Spoiler:
Genre movies in the ‘80s didn’t have to make much sense, did they? Basically a ninja rivalry plot grafted awkwardly onto a standard stranger-enters-town-and-stands-up-for-oppressed-peasants/workers-being-hassled-by-local-landgrabber plot. What I don’t understand is why they hired Franco Nero for the lead role and then doubled him for most of the fighting and dubbed an American voice over his own. What’s the point of hiring him in the first place? It’s not like anyone was clamoring for an Italian western star to play ninjas. Besides, I like Nero’s voice and would happily have preferred it, Italian accent and all. But, it moves fast and never bores. And there’s a high body count. Just like an Italian western.


21.*BODYGUARD (1948/U.S., B-noir, b&w, 62 min.) Studio: RKO. Dir.: Richard Fleischer. Star: Lawrence Tierney. VHS
Spoiler:
One of many “B-noirs” from the 1940s. This one’s short but covers a lot of ground. Tough guy Lawrence Tierney (BORN TO KILL) plays a good guy for a change, a cop who resigns after punching out his superior and then gets hired as a bodyguard. But it turns out he’s the designated patsy in a bigger plot and, now a murder suspect on the run, he proceeds to get to the bottom of it. The basic essentials of the plot are pretty silly, but the film moves quickly through a variety of Los Angeles locations, with a lot of colorful supporting characters. Fleischer went on to much bigger budgeted films like 20,000 LEAGUES UNDER THE SEA, THE VIKINGS, BARABBAS and DR. DOLITTLE, but many fans like his snappy, compact RKO crime thrillers the best.


22. “X” – THE MAN WITH THE X-RAY EYES (1963/U.S., sci-fi) Studio: American International. Dir.: Roger Corman. Star: Ray Milland. DVD (part of MGM's The Roger Corman Collection box set).
Spoiler:
The second Corman-directed film with Ray Milland I’ve seen today. This one is a solid science fiction piece about a man who perfects X-ray vision and tries it on himself until it goes out of control. It’s films like this that remind us how good a director Corman was when he wanted to be. I saw this as a child of ten when it came out. It was on a double bill with DEMENTIA 13, Coppola’s first film. Don Rickles gives a great supporting performance as a carny hustler who finds a way to make money off Milland’s power while he’s on the run. The end credits play over scenes of Vegas and other landscapes as seen through Milland’s enhanced vision. Scorsese borrowed this effect for the end credits of TAXI DRIVER. Compare them.



23.*SAMARITAN ZATOICHI (1968/Japan, samurai film) Studio: Daiei. Dir.: Kenji Misumi. Star: Shintaro Katsu. 82 min. DVD
Spoiler:
I love Zatoichi the Blind Swordsman movies, especially ones directed by Kenji Misumi (who went on to do most of the Lone Wolf and Cub movies). Beautifully photographed in widescreen. Quite a lot of fight scenes. Plenty of humor. The big surprise for me was spotting Machiko Soga in a scene where she plays part of a comical husband-and-wife team running a sideshow game (throwing balls at moving statues to win prizes—who knew Coney Island was invented in 17th Century Japan?). Fans of Mighty Morphin Power Rangers’ first season or so will know Ms. Soga better by her character name on that show—Rita Repulsa! Her footage in MMPR was taken from the Japanese original, “Zyuranger,” made 24 years after this Zatoichi film.


24. SAN QUENTIN (1946/U.S., B-noir, b&w, 66 min.) Studio: RKO. Dir.: Gordon Douglas. Cast: Lawrence Tierney, Barton MacLane, Raymond Burr. VHS.
Spoiler:
Tierney plays a good guy again, this time an ex-con trying to promote support and rehabilitation for other ex-cons. When a supposed “reformed” con (Barton MacLane) breaks out of jail, Tierney sees it as his duty to track him down and recapture him. Raymond Burr, in his first film, plays one of the fugitive’s ex-con buddies. Tom Keene (the Colonel with the binoculars in PLAN 9 FROM OUTER SPACE) plays a cop on Tierney’s tail who thinks Tierney’s in cahoots with the fugitive. Short, fast-paced, suspenseful and filled with snappy dialogue.


Thurs. April 7, 2011
25.*ZONTAR, THE THING FROM VENUS (1966/U.S., 79 min.) Studio: American International Television. Dir.: Larry Buchanan. Star: John Agar. DVD.
TV remake of Roger Corman’s IT CONQUERED THE WORLD (1956).
Spoiler:
This has quite a “bad film” rep, but I found it oddly compelling. It has a good script (taken from the original) but is done on a $40,000 budget, with about half of that going to John Agar, the one star imported to Dallas from Hollywood. Agar brings a degree of Hollywood professionalism that is completely at odds with the amateurish community theater vibe of the rest of the cast and personnel. It’s like Agar exited a Hollywood soundstage and entered an alternate universe. One of seven remakes of AIP horror/sci-fi films from the 1950s done cheaply by Larry Buchanan in Texas for AIP’s TV line. The print used for the DVD is almost completely leached of color. I wouldn't mind watching this again on a good print, if one existed.


26.*THE DEVIL THUMBS A RIDE (1947/U.S., b&w, B-noir, 62 min.) Studio: RKO. Dir.: Felix Feist. Star: Lawrence Tierney. VHS.

Spoiler:
Tierney’s a bad guy here (although not in a class with his Dillinger or his starring role in BORN TO KILL the same year). He robs and kills a poor old guy carrying a night deposit and then hitch-hikes from San Diego en route to L.A., falling in with a motley crew and persuading them to hide out at a closed vacation home before the cops can close in. Filled with unusual characters and Tierney actually boasts a crafty mind and a certain ingenuity in mainpulating people to his ends. Very clever script. RKO specialized in short, fast-paced B-noirs and the Tierney ones are among the best.


27.*NINJA (2009) Nu Image DVD. Dir.: Isaac Florentine. Star: Scott Adkins
Spoiler:
One of those DTV shot-in-Bulgaria numbers, but one that actually shows a high degree of energy and imagination. Adkins may not be much of an actor, but he sure sells the fight scenes. I was quite impressed. This starts out pretty much the same way ENTER THE NINJA did, but, unlike the earlier film, actually sticks to its ninja rival plot. Most of is set in New York City, but was shot entirely in Bulgaria on studio sets and public buildings there. Granted, I knew it wasn’t New York, but it sure looked good. Kind of like the way they used to fake New York on the old Hollywood backlots. I was hooked.


28.*WARNING FROM SPACE (1956/Japan, 87 min.) Japan’s first color science fiction film. Dubbed in English. Dir.: Koji Shima. Studio: Daiei. DVD.
Spoiler:
Very odd film. Starts out as a replay of THE DAY THE EARTH STOOD STILL—Japanese style, with a female alien taking on the form of a popular entertainer to address Japanese scientists and tell them, first, to stop developing a powerful new explosive, and then to warn them about a runaway planet on collision with Earth that can only be stopped by—you guessed it—the powerful new explosive. It becomes a disaster film once the runaway planet comes closer and causes floods, earthquakes and drought. Not very good, but historically significant, not only as Japan’s first color sci-fi film, but also as the first non-Kaiju Japanese disaster movie.


29. THE YOUNG RACERS (1963/U.S., 87 min.) Studio: American International Pictures. Dir.: Roger Corman. Stars: Mark Damon, William Campbell. DVD (part of MGM's Roger Corman Collection box set).
Spoiler:
I saw this on a double bill with BEACH PARTY when I was ten and this is the first time I’ve seen it since. Way too talky and melodramatic. Takes place all over Europe as it follows the international racing circuit and was shot entirely on location. A bit of a change of pace for Corman. If it had bigger stars, it might have competed with mainstream Hollywood product instead of playing second fiddle to Frankie and Annette. Interestingly, star Damon’s voice is dubbed by William Shatner. Francis Coppola did the sound and makes a cameo. Menahem Golan worked on it as property master. Corman makes a cameo, too. William Campbell’s brother wrote the script and appears in it as…William Campbell’s brother.


Fri. April 8, 2011

30. QUEEN OF OUTER SPACE (1958/U.S., sci-fi) Studio: Allied Artists. Dir.: Edward Bernds. Star: Zsa Zsa Gabor. VHS
Spoiler:
I saw this on the big screen when I was eight. It was on a triple bill with ONE-EYED JACKS and THE FABULOUS WORLD OF JULES VERNE. The crowd favorite in the kid-packed theater was clearly QUEEN. It holds up. It’s silly, but it’s got a certain amount of wit and is filled with beautiful girls in nice costumes amidst colorful sets. And Zsa Zsa is…Zsa Zsa! And what’s wrong with that? The four lead male actors use the costumes from FORBIDDEN PLANET and one of the hot babes wears Altira’s mini-dress from that film. The shot of the rocket taking off at the beginning is actual footage of a rocket taking off. (Which one?) The rocket then seen in outer space in effects shots looks nothing like it. The rocket lands on Venus, where all the action takes place. This is the fourth film with a Venus theme that I’ve seen for this challenge.


31.*HAVE A GOOD FUNERAL, MY FRIEND…SARTANA WILL PAY (1970/Italian western, English dubbed) Dir.: Anthony Ascott (Giuliano Carmineo). Stars: Gianni Garko, Helga Line. DVD (part of the Sartana Collection box set)
Spoiler:
Low-budget, but fast-paced and full of action and boasting a serviceable plot about the battle over a piece of land believed to contain a gold mine. The joke in the title is that Sartana customarily pays for the funeral of everyone he kills, while refusing to pay in the cases of those he didn’t, even when he’s accused of it. Better music than usual, because it’s by Bruno Nicolai. Helga Line’s a hottie.


32.*LADY FROM CHUNGKING (1942/U.S., b&w, 68 min., WWII drama) Studio: PRC. Dir.: William Nigh. Star: Anna May Wong. DVD (part of the Combat Classics set from Mill Creek)
Spoiler:

This is the first World War II movie I’ve seen from the Chinese point-of-view. So it was like watching a low-budget alternate war movie universe. Anna May Wong (SHANGHAI EXPRESS) stars as a guerrilla leader operating undercover in a Chinese village under Japanese occupation who wines and dines the Japanese general in order to get info about the arrival of Japanese troops. Two downed American pilots are part of the mix. There are six whites in the cast, four playing westerners and two playing Japanese officers. All the rest of the cast is Asian. The low budget means that all the climactic action takes place off-screen. All we see is Miss Wong telling the General what’s happening, while the soundtrack gives us airplane sounds, the whines of falling bombs, and explosions. Even so, it’s a fascinating movie and Miss Wong is quite a compelling performer. But she had to make low-budget films in order to get starring roles.


33.*MINESWEEPER (1943/U.S., b&w, 66 min., WWII adventure) Studio: Paramount. Producers: Pine-Thomas. Dir.: William Berke. Stars: Richard Arlen, Jean Parker, Russell Hayden. DVD (part of the Combat Classics set from Mill Creek)
Spoiler:
In the 1940s, producers William H. Pine and William C. Thomas, known as the “Dollar Bills” for their ability to squeeze a lot of production value out of a dollar, made lots of independent low-budget b&w adventures distributed as B-movies through Paramount. They made a lot of war-themed films by getting military cooperation and shooting large-scale scenes on military bases with uniformed personnel and then shooting the interior scenes with the stars on cramped sets. This one’s about two men working on a minesweeper in San Pedro who are both in love with the same girl, the niece of another crewman. There’s a lot of underwater action. Robert Mitchum has a bit part.


34.*GENERAL SPANKY (1936/U.S., b&w, 71 min., comedy) Producer: Hal Roach. Co-directors: Fred Newmeyer, Gordon Douglas. Stars: Spanky McFarland, Buckwheat Thomas, Alfalfa Switzer. VHS.
Spoiler:
The only feature-length film to star “Our Gang.” Made independently by Hal Roach and released through MGM. Set in the South during the Civil War. Spanky leads a squadron of local youth, including his personal “slave,” Buckwheat, in defending their town from the Union army. They actually exchange shots in one scene. The Union General turns out to be a decent, fair man, so it’s not entirely pro-South. But the racial politics are bizarre, to say the least. The only “Our Gang” members featured are Spanky, Buckwheat and Alfalfa. Alfalfa sings in one scene in a ruse to dissuade the evil Union Captain from romancing the southern belle. (His voice drives the man away.)


Sat. April 9, 2011
35.*REVENGE OF THE NINJA (1983) Studio: Cannon. Dir.: Sam Firstenberg. Star: Sho Kosugi. Rated R. VHS.
Spoiler:
Typical idiotic 1980s Cannon action film. Logic? Plausibility? Narrative structure? Characterization? Naaahhh. Just put in another pointless fight scene. I never heard of anybody in the cast except for its star, Sho Kosugi, and his son, Kane. The boy was quite young here but already a good fighter. It surprised me to realize that this was the first film starring Kosugi that I’ve seen. He’s good and the fights he choreographed are good. I just wish the plot made more sense. Shot in Salt Lake City, but set in Los Angeles.


36. MIGHTY MORPHIN POWER RANGERS THE MOVIE (1995/U.S. martial arts-sci-fi-teen empowerment epic) Studio: 20th Century Fox/Saban Productions. Dir.: Bryan Spicer. Stars: The Power Rangers. Rated PG. DVD
Spoiler:
An American movie based on an American TV show that used ample footage from a Japanese TV series. And filmed in Australia. Angel Grove is no longer a mix of L.A. and Tokyo. It’s now Sydney! Both Jeff Pruitt and Jeff Imada were involved in the martial arts battles in the film. Always a good thing. Co-star Gabrielle Fitzpatrick is an Australian actress who co-starred with Jackie Chan in MR. NICE GUY (1997). Here she plays a Xena type named Dulcea who’s decked out in a green leather bikini and thigh-high boots. If only the TV series had had her. Sophia Crawford is the Pink Ranger’s stunt double. (She was also Buffy’s stunt double on TV.)


37.*JONAH HEX (2010/U.S., western-sci-fi-horror-historical “epic”) Dir.: Jimmy Hayward. Script: Neveldine-Taylor. Stars: Josh Brolin, John Malkovich, Megan Fox. Seen on HBO. PG-13.
Spoiler:
This had a great plot that could have been turned into something much more grandiose than is provided here. An ex-Confederate General becomes a terrorist seeking to divide the union by force when he gets hold of a secret super weapon (invented by Eli Whitney) and plans to use it to attack the nation’s capital on night of the July 4, 1876 Centennial. Aidan Quinn plays Pres. Ulysses S. Grant. The early scenes with Jonah Hex as a bounty hunter reminded me of Italian westerns. Funny thing, though. The entire film takes place in the south and the east. Not exactly western terrain. None of those towns would have looked like western towns in the 1870s. Oh, well… And it’s pretty damned short, too. The story ends at the 75-minute mark when the end credits come up. Oh, and Megan Fox is pretty damned awesome in a supporting role as a hooker who's handy with a gun.


Sun. April 10, 2011
38.*SHADOW HUNTERS (1972/Japan/ninja film) Dir.: Toshio Masuda. Star: Yujiro Ishihara. DVD.
Spoiler:
When I bought this, I hadn’t heard of it, but it’s based on a manga by the guy who did “Golgo 13,” so how awesome was its potential? It’s about three “Shadow Hunters,” who work for local “Daimyo” (feudal lords) being harassed by the Shogun. They go after “shadows” (ninjas, spies) sent by the Shogun to work undercover and look for misdeeds that can be exploited by the Shogun to take the Daimyos’ lands and dissolve their clans. There’s a lot of action, so I wasn’t disappointed. It’s just that neither of the three stars has much charisma. I mean there’s no Sonny Chiba, Shintaro Katsu or Tomisaburo Wakayama here. If those three had been cast, it would have been magnificent.


39. LONE WOLF AND CUB #1: SWORD OF VENGEANCE (1972/Japan, samurai) Dir.: Kenji Misumi. Star: Tomisaburo Wakayama. VHS.

Spoiler:
The first in the six-part “Lone Wolf and Cub/Baby Cart” series, based on the famous manga. I’d seen this a number of times before, but I’d forgotten how focused and intense it is. There’s a lot of build-up, a number of incisive flashbacks, and frequent bursts of action. There isn’t a single wasted motion in it. I’ve seen a number of other Misumi films for the first time in recent years and I’m convinced he was one of the best genre directors working in Japan, on a par with Ishiro Honda and Kinji Fukasaku.


40.*SARTANA: ANGEL OF DEATH (SARTANA, THE GRAVEDIGGER, 1969/Italian western, English dubbed) Dir.: Anthony Ascott (Giuliano Carmineo). Stars: Gianni Garko, Frank Wolff, Klaus Kinski, Ettore Manni, Gordon Mitchell. DVD (part of the Sartana Collection box set)
Spoiler:
Convoluted plot and lackluster score, but has a great cast including Kinski in a major role and Frank Wolff (McBain in ONCE UPON A TIME IN THE WEST) in a comical sidekick role. Great bank robbery sequence at the beginning. Good print and widescreen, from a box set where the print quality really varies from film to film.


41. LONE WOLF AND CUB #2: BABY CART AT THE RIVER STYX (1972/Japan, samurai) Dir.: Kenji Misumi. Star: Tomisaburo Wakayama. DVD.
Spoiler:
Now I’ve seen both the LONE WOLF AND CUB movies used to compile SHOGUN ASSASSIN, which is coming up soon on my view pile. More action, less plot here. One confrontation after another, all of them bloody and imaginative. Never loses focus. A wider array of settings, including a fight and fire on a ship at sea and a major battle on a vast plain of sand dunes. (Where in Japan is that?) It doesn’t get silly like in the later ones where the baby cart sports a gatling gun, among other wonders.


Mon. April 11, 2011
42.*BRITISH INTELLIGENCE (1940/U.S., b&w, 60 min., spy drama) Studio: Warner Bros. Dir.: Terry Morse. Star: Boris Karloff. DVD (part of Mill Creek’s Combat Classics set)
Spoiler:
Far-fetched spy thriller set during WWI about double agents and triple agents all over London. There are moments where you think most of the cast are German spies. It’s so ridiculous, it's funny. I pretty much figured who was who early on, but the movie makes a great deal of effort to keep you guessing throughout its compact 60-minute running time. Karloff’s quite good as a limping French butler who’s really…well, you’re never quite sure. “Mai OUI, Monsieur!” I must say I enjoyed it. Very good print for this mixed-bag set.


43.*BOMBS OVER BURMA (1942/U.S., b&w, 61 min., spy drama) Studio: PRC. Dir.: Joseph H. Lewis. Star: Anna May Wong. DVD (part of Mill Creek’s Combat Classics set)
Spoiler:
The second low-budget Anna May Wong WWII movie in this set. LADY FROM CHUNGKING was much better. This one’s mainly a spy drama with a group of motley bus travelers stranded for a night and day at a roadside monastery while the Japs are bombing the convoys trying to reach beleagured Chungking. Who’s the spy for the Japs in the bunch? The comical Russian? The stoic monk? The hawklike Indian in the turban? The suave Brit? Poor Anna has to figure it all out before the next convoy comes through. Interesting oddball cast. Very bad print. But worth watching if you find Anna as fascinating as I do. After these two war movies, she didn’t work again until 1949 and not much thereafter either. Too bad.


Tues. April 12, 2011
44.*THE BUSHWHACKERS (1952/U.S., b&w, 67 min., western) Jack Broder Productions/Realart. Dir.: Rod Amateau. Stars: John Ireland, Wayne Morris, Lawrence Tierney, Lon Chaney Jr., Jack Elam. DVD (part of Mill Creek’s Combat Classics set)
Spoiler:
With a cast like that, all you’ve gotta do is put them in front of a camera, give ’em horses and guns and the movie practically writes itself. Ireland and Tierney have a fistfight in a saloon. Chaney overacts beautifully as a mad landowner trying to keep settlers out of the territory, only it’s set in Missouri, which was already fully settled after the Civil War. This should have been set a few states further west. Dorothy Malone is beautiful as the newspaper publisher’s indignant daughter. B-movie starlet Myrna Dell plays the hard-boiled blonde gunslinger daughter of Chaney. She’s quite something.


45.*THE LAW WEST OF TOMBSTONE (1938/U.S., b&w, 73 min., B-western) Studio: RKO. Stars: Harry Carey, Tim Holt. VHS, taped off TCM.
Spoiler:
Good western starring Carey as a tall-tale-spinning con man who wangles a position as Mayor of a tiny town built around a new railroad depot. Tim Holt is the Tonto Kid, an outlaw whom Carey tries to reform. Carey’s daughter shows up, but doesn’t know who he is, having been told by her mother that her father died at Gettysburg. Character-driven, rather than plot driven, and what great characters. Carey had starred in John Ford’s first western—back in 1917!


46. AERIAL GUNNER (1943/U.S., b&w, 78 min., WWII adventure) Producers: Pine-Thomas (released through Paramount). Dir.: William H. Pine. Stars: Richard Arlen, Chester Morris. DVD (part of Mill Creek’s Combat Classics set)
Spoiler:
Another Pine-Thomas war movie, with backgrounds shot in Texas at the Harlingen Aerial Gunnery School. (The actors never left the Hollywood soundstage.) 80 percent of it is about training, the final ten minutes about combat in the Pacific. Arlen and Morris, both too old for their roles, but old hands at this kind of thing, are lifelong rivals forced to work together in the same unit. Then they both fall for the hot sister of one of their fellow trainees. May the best man come back alive… Robert Mitchum has a small part, but he gets to say a few lines. It's obvious even then that he was a star in the making.


Wed. April 13, 2011
47.*THE RENEGADE RANGER (1938/U.S., b&w, 59 min., B-western) Studio: RKO. Stars: George O’Brien, Tim Holt, Rita Hayworth. VHS, taped off TCM
Spoiler:
Good action-packed western about evil white landgrabbers pushing Spanish/Mexican land grantees off their land along the Texas border. Rita Hayworth, still in her Hispanic period at the tender age of 19, plays Judith Alvarez, leader of a gang of Spaniards/Mexicans trying to get back at the landgrabbers. Not one, but two Texas Rangers join her gang, one because he’s had it with the Rangers (Holt), and the other because he’s working undercover to arrest her (O’Brien). All the Spaniards/Mexicans are played by actual Hispanic actors. (Hayworth was Spanish—her real name: Margarita Cansino.) Hayworth would, of course, go on to become one of Hollywood’s glamour queens and WWII pin-up favorite. She looks great here.


48.*UP IN THE AIR (1940/U.S., b&w, 61 min., comedy) Studio: Monogram. Stars: Frankie Darro, Mantan Moreland. VHS
Spoiler:
Darro and Moreland were a white/black comedy team at Monogram for a few films in 1940-41. I use the word “comedy” loosely. This one wasn’t very funny. Moreland runs his scared-black-man routine into the ground here. Yeah, he has a big part, but it’s stereotyped through-and-through. He even has to do a dialect "Amos 'n' Andy"-type routine with Darro, who's in blackface. Embarrassing and tiresome. Marjorie Reynolds sings, though, and she’s quite good. It’s all about a couple of murders at a radio station and Darro and Moreland are low-level employees playing amateur sleuths. KING OF THE ZOMBIES (see entry #2) was a much better use of Moreland's talents.


49. SWAMP FIRE (1946/U.S., b&w, 69 min., adventure) Producers: Pine-Thomas (released through Paramount) Dir.: William H. Pine. Stars: Johnny Weissmuller, Buster Crabbe. VHS
Spoiler:
This one’s about river pilots and bar pilots in the Louisiana delta. Weissmuller plays a ship pilot back from the war who’s lost his nerve. Crabbe plays his Cajun nemesis. Both are in love with hot-blooded Cajun beauty Carol Thurston. Virginia Grey is the arrogant rich chick whose father is buying up land in the area and who sets her sights on Weissmuller. (This aspect of the plot is very similar to JUNGLE JIM, reviewed earlier in this post.) Pretty intense dramatics set against an unusual exotic backdrop. Lots of location shots are intercut with scenes of the actors (all shot in a Hollywood studio). This is the only film Weissmuller made in which he plays a character other than Tarzan, Jungle Jim, or himself. He has a swimming scene and a Tarzan-like battle with an alligator. Crabbe’s a real bad guy with a moustache and a heavy accent. Both Weissmuller and Crabbe had played Tarzan and both were Olympic swimming champs.


50.*THE GREAT JESSE JAMES RAID (1953/U.S., 73 min, western) Dir. Reginald Le Borg. Stars: Willard Parker, Tom Neal, Barbara Payton. Photographed in AnscoColor. VHS
Spoiler:
Future Jesse assassin Bob Ford recruits Jesse James (Willard Parker) and his gang to help him get gold out of a hidden tunnel in somebody else's mine. It would seem to me he'd want mining experts and engineers, not some gunslingers and horsemen. It's a very unexciting caper and they botch it anyway. So, despite the title, it's not anything close to resembling a "raid," nor is it particularly "great." The distinction here is that it's the only film co-starring Tom Neal (DETOUR) and Barbara Payton (KISS TOMORROW GOODBYE), who had a widely-covered torrid affair in the early '50s, that included a fistfight between Neal and another Payton lover, Franchot Tone (MUTINY ON THE BOUNTY), that put Tone in the hospital. She married Tone afterwards, but then quickly left him again for Neal. In this film, Payton plays a saloon singer who shows up at the mine with Bob Ford. Neal hits on her--in two separate scenes--and gets slapped both times. Hard slaps, too. He tries to force himself on her, with bad results.


Fri. April 15, 2011
51. WILDCAT (1942/U.S., b&w, 70 min., adventure) Producers: Pine-Thomas (released through Paramount) Dir.: Frank McDonald. Stars: Richard Arlen, Buster Crabbe, William Frawley. VHS
Spoiler:
A flamboyant but perennially broke wildcatter (independent oil well driller) named Johnny Maverick (Arlen) may finally have found the right patch of land to strike it rich, but has to scrape together workers and equipment on little more than promises. A rival driller (Crabbe) leases adjacent land and the race is on. A male/female pair of con artists gets into the act, but the woman (Arline Judge) falls for Johnny. Short, fast-paced B-adventure employing lots of stock footage and rear screen projection but also on-location filming at an actual oil rig. Climaxes with a big fire. Arlen and Crabbe have a brutal fistfight that’s interrupted by gushing oil. Pine-Thomas sure knew what they were doing. I have two more of their b&w films to watch for this challenge.


52. CRASHOUT (1955/U.S., b&w, 88 min., crime drama) Studio: Filmmakers Releasing Organization. Dir.: Lewis R. Foster. Stars: William Bendix, Arthur Kennedy. VHS
Spoiler:
Solid prison break drama and one of the best films I’ve seen for this challenge. Six cons, three of them real hard cases, break out of a maximum security prison and hide out in a cave until the heat dies down. They then head off to find the bank robbery loot that one of them hid in the mountains. But that one was wounded by guard bullets during the breakout and they have to keep him alive or they’ll never find the dough. The whole thing is very realistically and plausibly handled. How do they get from Point A to various points B, C, D….Z? How do they get food, transportation, weapons, medical care for the wounded man and elude the extensive police dragnet? The film explores these things in detail. The actors are great. In addition to Bendix and Kennedy, the cons are played by William Talman (“Perry Mason”), Gene Evans (THE STEEL HELMET), Luther Adler (D.O.A.), and Marshall Thompson (IT, THE TERROR FROM BEYOND SPACE). This was independently produced. Republic Pictures has the TV and video rights. I'm not sure who released it theatrically.


Sat. April 16, 2011
53. DILLINGER (1945/U.S., b&w, 70 min., crime drama) Studio: Monogram. Dir.: Max Nosseck. Stars: Lawrence Tierney, Eduardo Ciannelli, Elisha Cook Jr. VHS
Spoiler:
The first movie to be made about an actual Depression-era bandit by name. The FBI and Production Code had discouraged this throughout the 1930s, although there were thinly veiled recreations by different names. This was a low-budget production by the King Brothers, who had an interesting career. Too low-budget, if you ask me. It really looks cheap. And it’s a total fictionalization. I’ve read so much about Dillinger that I find every movie made about him wanting. This movie made a star out of New York tough guy Lawrence Tierney (who doesn’t even attempt Dillinger's midwestern accent). He was soon signed by RKO and made much better films there, three of which I saw for this challenge earlier this month. Marc Lawrence and Elisha Cook are also in this.


54. THE HEROIC ONES (1970/Hong Kong, 121 min., swordplay epic) Studio: Shaw Bros. Dir.: Chang Cheh. Stars: David Chiang, Ti Lung, Ku Feng, Bolo Yeung. Blu-ray.
Spoiler:
My first Shaw Bros. Blu-ray! And the first Hong Kong film seen for this challenge. This is about as spectacular as Chang Cheh’s films come. King Jin and his 13 sons and their army arrive from Tartar country to help the Chinese Emperor vanquish various rebellious factions. Dozens of costumed extras. Nonstop action scenes, including a major battle or two. Lots of carnage and slaughter as our heroes plow through overwhelming odds. Downbeat ending, though. This is the film that arguably made major kung fu stars out of David Chiang and Ti Lung. All-star cast includes lots of folks like Cliff Lok and Wang Chung who would later star in their own kung fu movies.


Sun. April 17, 2011
55. SUBMARINE ALERT (1943/U.S., b&w, 66 min., spy thriller) Producers: Pine-Thomas (released through Paramount) Dir.: Frank McDonald. Stars: Richard Arlen, Wendy Barrie. DVD (part of Mill Creek’s Combat Classics set)
Spoiler:
Far-fetched spy tale about a radio technician (Arlen) fired from his job, at the FBI’s behest, who is then recruited by a German/Japanese spy ring. They’re perfecting a transmitter that will broadcast oil tanker shipping schedules to a Jap sub off the coast of California which then torpedoes the tankers. Gradually, Arlen gets wind of who he’s really working for. There's a good foot chase over L.A. rooftops and a car chase through L.A. streets that ends up in a train tunnel. But not much action other than that. The weakest of the five Pine-Thomas films I’ve seen for this challenge. Marc Lawrence plays a German spy.


56.*THE NAVY WAY (1944/U.S., b&w, 74 min., military drama) Producers: Pine-Thomas (released through Paramount) Dir.: William Berke. Stars: Robert Lowery, Jean Parker. DVD (part of Mill Creek’s Combat Classics set)
Spoiler:
Another Pine-Thomas WWII story. Only this time, they filmed the entire thing, Hollywood actors and all, on location at the U.S. Naval Station at Great Lakes, Illinois. AERIAL GUNNER was more exciting, but there the stars never left Hollywood and in most shots they’re standing in front of Rear Screen Projection on a soundstage. Here, they’re on location the whole time and it makes the enterprise seem a lot fresher and more relevant. Ironically, it has less of a story than the other films in this vein and focuses exclusively on training. There is rivalry over a girl between two of the sailors but it comes very late in the story and very unexpectedly, which makes it seem more realistic. Ultimately, it comes off as more of a propaganda piece for the U.S. Navy than an actual Hollywood adventure film, but there’s something about it that was quite touching. I was very impressed.


57. SHOGUN ASSASSIN (1981/U.S.-Japan, 85 min., Samurai adventure) Dir.: Kenji Misumi. Star: Tomisaburo Wakayama. Roger Corman-produced English-dubbed re-edit of first two Lone Wolf & Cub movies. (See entries 39 & 41) Rated R. DVD
Spoiler:
Roger Corman assigned a producer or two to oversee the re-editing of LONE WOLF & CUB #1: SWORD OF VENGEANCE and LONE WOLF & CUB #2: BABY CART AT THE RIVER STYX (both 1972) into one movie, with an entire new soundtrack and re-written plot. In the originals, the kid (the “cub” of the title) knows how to keep quiet. In the dub, he never shuts up as his narration tells us everything we’re already seeing. I guess they thought American audiences were too dumb to understand what they were seeing. I can only wish that the millions who saw this eventually checked out the originals, although I doubt more than a tiny portion actually did. This was made to capitalize on interest in the TV miniseries, "Shogun." The third Lone Wolf & Cub film had already come out dubbed in English under the title, LIGHTNING SWORDS OF DEATH, in 1974.


Mon. April 18, 2011
58. HIGH SCHOOL CONFIDENTIAL (1958/U.S., b&w, 85 min., juvenile delinquent drama) Producer: Albert Zugsmith (released through MGM). Dir.: Jack Arnold. Stars: Russ Tamblyn, John Drew Barrymore, Mamie Van Doren, Jerry Lee Lewis. VHS.
Spoiler:
My first J.D. movie seen for this challenge. Russ Tamblyn (Riff in WEST SIDE STORY) plays an overgrown high school "kid" who wants to get into the drug scene. He's got "narc" written all over him, but no one gets wise till the very end. There are anti-drug messages sprinkled awkwardly throughout in order to make the censors and the studio happy, but the producer (who also made SEX KITTENS GO TO COLLEGE with Van Doren) was less interested in social responsibility than in sex, drugs and rock 'n' roll. All the "kids" speak in this exaggerated "hep talk" jargon that was outdated well before 1958. John Drew Barrymore (son of John Barrymore, father of Drew Barrymore) takes over English class at one point to give a hipster riff on Christopher Columbus that's actually quite amusing. Russ's hot "aunt" (Mamie Van Doren) comes on to him hot and heavy. (They were only about a year apart in age.) From the director of CREATURE FROM THE BLACK LAGOON and THE INCREDIBLE SHRINKING MAN.


Tues. April 19, 2011
59.*BOOTS AND SADDLES (1937/U.S., b&w, 54 min., B-western) Studio: Republic Pictures. Dir.: Joseph Kane. Stars: Gene Autry, Smiley Burnette. Beta SP tape.
Spoiler:
I haven't seen a lot of Gene Autry westerns. I'm more of a Roy Rogers fan myself. But this one turned out be very funny, more of a comedy than an action western. Yet there's a lot of action, too, including an exciting climactic horse race to determine who gets the contract to sell horses to the army. And it was shot on location in Lone Pine, Calif. Smiley Burnette, as "Frog," is funnier than most western sidekicks I've seen. Gene is not as intense as Roy, though. Not as good as the other B-westerns I've seen for this challenge, but still fun.


60. PALOOKA (1934/U.S., b&w, 86 min., comedy-drama) Studio: Reliance Pictures (released through United Artists). Dir.: Benjamin Stoloff. Stars: Jimmy Durante, Stuart Erwin, Lupe Velez, Robert Armstrong, William Cagney. Based on the "Joe Palooka" comic strip. Beta SP tape.
Spoiler:
Despite its comic strip origin, this is pretty much a standard boxing story of a guy from the sticks with a good right suddenly becoming champion and success going to his head. Erwin's kind of dull. It's more Durante's picture anyway. He plays Knobby Walsh, the ever-scheming manager, and even sings his trademark song, "Ink-a-dink-a-doo" in the window of a music store. Lupe Velez is attractive as the Latin bombshell who takes up with whomever is champ. William Cagney, a dead ringer for his more famous brother James, plays Palooka's chief opponent, Al McSwatt(!). My favorite character was Pete Palooka, Joe's long-absent father and a former boxing champ in his own right, well played by KING KONG's Carl Dunham himself, Robert Armstrong. The film perked up whenever he was onscreen.


Wed. April 20, 2011
61.*THE STEEL CLAW (1961/U.S.-Philippines, 96 min., war movie) Prod./Dir./Star: George Montgomery. DVD (part of Mill Creek’s Combat Classics set)
Spoiler:
In the 1960s, Hollywood leading man George Montgomery went in a different direction than all of his contemporaries who were going to Italy to make sword ‘n’ sandal pictures and westerns (think Guy Madison, Rod Cameron, Jack Palance, Stewart Granger, etc.). He went to the Philippines and made a number of war movies like this one. Here he’s joined by a nearly all-Filipino cast as he plays an American marine captain in WWII who’s lost a hand and replaces it with a hook (not a claw) and goes behind enemy lines in the Philippines with guerrillas and bandits to find an American general who had parachuted in and been abducted by the Japs. It’s pretty exciting throughout, all shot on location with a fairly big budget that includes the use of period trains and a whole battle scene involving a train out in a remote area of the islands. There are beautiful Filipino women involved in every stage as well. WWII from a different point of view.


62.*HELL UP IN HARLEM (1973/U.S., 94 min., blaxploitation) Prod./Dir.: Larry Cohen. Studio: American International. Stars: Fred Williamson, D'urville Martin. Sequel to BLACK CAESAR (1973). Rated R. VHS (MGM/UA Home Video)
Spoiler:
I’m sorry, but the blaxploitation genre has not aged as well as Italian westerns and kung fu films, the genres it usually played alongside in double and triple features in my neighborhood theaters once upon a time. Sure, they were fun back in the day, but they seem ludicrous today, esp. scenes like the one in this film where a handful of black guys with big afros, wide-brimmed hats, polyester suits and platform shoes “take over” Harlem Hospital, despite a massive police presence, in order to get poor Tommy “Black Caesar” Gibbs (Williamson) patched up after an assassination attempt by the police. At least there’s lots of location filming in New York, most of it seemingly shot on the fly without police permits. Since Gibbs eschews selling drugs, it’s never clear how he manages his return to the top of the New York underworld. How does he make his money? No one ever tells us.


63. GLADIATORS SEVEN (1962/Italy, 92 min., sword ‘n’ sandal) Released in the U.S. by MGM. Star: Richard Harrison. English-dubbed DVD (VCI Entertainment)
Spoiler:
Not bad for its type. This DVD offers a very good letter-boxed print. Lots of picturesque scenery and lavish sets, including a massive castle in the middle of nowhere. American star Harrison rounds up his old gladiator buddies to overthrow the tyrant who killed his father and took over Sparta. However, given the odds, seven doesn’t quite seem like enough. A little too light-hearted for my tastes. I like my carnage serious and bloody, like in the Hong Kong historical epics that came just a few years later (see entry #54, THE HEROIC ONES). Harrison would go on the next year to star in the first Italian western (see entry #3, GUNFIGHT AT RED SANDS). I saw GLADIATORS 7 at a theater where it played on a triple bill with WEST SIDE STORY and a program of Three Stooges shorts. The entire neighborhood turned out for it. Ah, the good ol’ days…


Thurs. April 21, 2011
64.*PREHISTORIC WOMEN (1950/U.S., 65 min., cavemen adventure) Studio: Eagle-Lion. Dir.: Gregg Tallas. Stars: Laurette Luez, Allan Nixon, Joan Shawlee. In Cinecolor. Beta SP tape.
Spoiler:
A band of voluptuous pin-up-style cavewomen, fresh from the prehistoric salon all perfectly coiffed and made up and adorned in form-fitting animal skins, have never known men in their lives, so when four brave he-men from a neighboring camp wander into their territory, they beat and capture them and turn them into adoring slaves/husbands. The men don’t seem to mind at all. One of them discovers fire and barbecue and shares this discovery with the women, only to have two women in the tribe fight over him. They all speak with a limited vocabulary of gibberish while the nonstop narrator never shuts up. Filmed in a park in southern California. Funny enough on its own that it doesn’t need the MST3K treatment. Laurette Luez is especially hot. She was married to the director for three months. I’m assuming she divorced him once she saw the movie.


65.*FANTASTIC DINOSAURS OF THE MOVIES (1990/U.S. 73 min., trailer compilation) Goodtimes Home Video release. Collection of trailers for dinosaur/giant monster movies. VHS.
Spoiler:
Trailers of varying print quality from 34 movies about giant monsters and dinosaurs, mostly from the 1950s and ’60s. 19 in color, 15 in b&w. A lot of Harryhausen and Danforth movies, several Godzilla movies, as well as masterpieces like KING KONG, THEM! and JOURNEY TO THE CENTER OF THE EARTH, along with laughable dreck like THE GIANT CLAW, THE LOCH NESS HORROR and REPTILICUS. The trailer for KING DINOSAUR actually makes it look good. Preceded by a promotional featurette for THE GOLDEN VOYAGE OF SINBAD that I remember seeing on TV back in 1974.


Fri. April 22, 2011
66. UNKNOWN ISLAND (1948/U.S., 75 min., dinosaur adventure) Studio: Film Classics. Stars: Virginia Grey, Richard Denning, Phillip Reed, Barton MacLane. In Cinecolor. Beta SP tape.
Spoiler:
I'm a sucker for lost island/dinosaur movies and this was, I believe, the very first one made in color. Granted, it's Cinecolor, a cheap two-color process, so don't expect Technicolor hues. Everything is either green, blue-green or auburn. (The process does wonders for Virginia Grey's hair.) I never saw this in color as a kid because we only had a b&w TV. But even back then, the cheesy dinosaurs looked worse than anything else I'd seen like it. And there's a man in an ape/"sloth" suit. The tyrannosauruses (played by men in awfully stiff suits) and the ape/sloth are supposed to be giant-size, but nothing the filmmakers do to foster that illusion works in the slightest. They all look man-sized. But the four lead actors are really good and so are the sets. (Only the dinosaurs are filmed outdoors.) These four stars really know how to pull this kind of hokum off. This is the third Virginia Grey movie I've seen for this challenge. The others were JUNGLE JIM and SWAMP FIRE and all have vaguely similar themes/settings. And she'd started out as an ingenue/light comedienne. But she had a knack for playing good-looking tough broads in perilous jungle settings. I like her.


67.*FEAR CITY (1984/U.S., 94 min., crime thriller) Distributor: Aquarius Releasing. Dir.: Abel Ferrara. Stars: Tom Berenger, Melanie Griffith, Jack Scalia, Billy Dee Williams. Rated R. VHS.
Spoiler:
Is this a sleazy exploitation film masquerading as a serious drama? Or a serious drama masquerading as a sleazy exploitation film? Unfortunately the latter. Too much talk, not enough sleaze. Yes, there are scenes of nude Melanie Griffith stripping at a high-end club. And she looks good. And scenes of Rae Dawn Chong doing the same. And there is good Times Square background flavor in this story of a serial killer attacking strippers. But all this is weighed down by a ponderous story of Matt Rossi (Berenger), an ex-boxer who’s now a mob-backed agent for strippers, being forced to confront and vanquish his demons. Who cares? And Billy Dee Williams is simply awful as a self-righteous homicide cop given to making grandiose speeches filled with anti-Italian epithets as he makes his rounds. (What NYC cop still used the word “dago” in 1984?) Where are the thrills?


Sat. April 23, 2011
68.*DUEL OF CHAMPIONS (1961/Italy, 89 min., sword-‘n’-sandal) Dir.: Ferdinando Baldi. Star: Alan Ladd. English-dubbed DVD.
Spoiler:
This is billed as “a Terence Young Picture” even though he doesn’t get the director credit. British director Young (DR. NO) had worked with Alan Ladd in PARATROOPER seven years earlier and apparently inveigled him to go to Italy for this Roman costume “epic.” Ladd had been a Hollywood leading man for about 20 years by this point, but his star was fading. While many of his contemporaries flocked to Italy to keep working, Ladd only made this one film there. He looks old and tired here and his post-dubbing sounds tired too. He makes little effort to match his voice with the lip movements. He plays a Roman general who gets captured by his enemy, the Albans, and is accused by Rome of treason after he escapes and returns to Rome. Eventually he and two of his brothers have to fight three Alban brothers in a showdown that will determine who wins. Ladd got his daughter, Alana Ladd, a small role in it, although she’s dubbed by someone else. A pan-and-scan print was used for this cheap gray-market DVD and a lot of the action goes offscreen as a result. The dubbing is generally pretty awful.


69. THE ENCHANTED FOREST (1945/U.S., 75 min., nature drama) Studio: PRC. Dir.: Lew Landers. Stars: Harry Davenport, Brenda Joyce, Edmund Lowe. In Cinecolor. VHS.
Spoiler:
This is quite an offbeat B-movie. Not only is it in color, but it’s an ecological tale about an old hermit who tries to protect his neck of the woods from rapacious loggers. He has numerous animal friends and can communicate with them. When the timber owner’s grandson gets lost in the river after a train wreck and given up for dead, the hermit finds the baby and raises him as his own in the woods, with no contact with other people. The boy’s mother eventually comes around, drawn to the woods and propelled by dreams that her boy is still alive. Tender and touching, directed with a slow, steady hand, this is a beautiful movie. Remarkably, except for the river rescue of the baby, the whole thing was shot in a studio. The trained animals are amazing and include a fox and a mountain lion. Definitely the most unusual film I’ve seen for this challenge.


Sun. April 24, 2011
70.*THE QUICK GUN (1964/U.S., 89 min., western) Studio: Columbia. Dir.: Sidney Salkow. Star: Audie Murphy. VHS.
Spoiler:
Low-budget Murphy western, but it’s got a good script and a fair amount of genuine suspense. Murphy plays a gunslinger who returns to the hometown that drove him out two years earlier after he killed the two sons of a local rancher in self-defense. His onetime girlfriend is now engaged to the sheriff. A small army of bandits, headed by a former gunslinger buddy of Murphy’s, is headed to the town to rob the bank and pillage the place. Murphy tries to warn the town. I tend to like Murphy’s Universal westerns better because they had more production value, but I enjoyed this one anyway. James Best co-stars as the sheriff and Ted de Corsia gives an outsized performance as Spangler, the bandit leader. These things always work best when they have a formidable villain. Director Salkow went to Italy the same year to make THE LAST MAN ON EARTH with Vincent Price.


71. ALAKAZAM THE GREAT (1961/Japan, 84 min., animated feature) Studio: American International Pictures. English-dubbed version of Japanese animated film, SAIYUKI. Voice cast includes: Frankie Avalon, Jonathan Winters, Arnold Stang, Sterling Holloway. VHS.

Spoiler:
The original film, SAIYUKI, is an Osamu Tezuka-originated Japanese animated version of “Journey to the West,” the classic Chinese tale of the Monkey King. AIP imported the film and got the editing/dubbing staff at Titra Studios in New York (the outfit that dubbed tons of Italian westerns and sword ‘n’ sandal pictures) to rewrite the entire script to change all the names, erase all the Buddhist references, and add new songs and an entire new music score. It’s still a beautiful film, but it’s missing something. I have the Japanese original, but it has no subtitles. SAIYUKI was only the third animated feature produced by Toei Animation and it was the first one that Tezuka (Astro Boy) was involved in. He’s credited as co-writer and co-director.


72.*ZOO IN BUDAPEST (1933/U.S., 85 min., b&w, adventure-romance) Studio: Fox Film Corp. Dir.: Rowland V. Lee. Stars: Gene Raymond, Loretta Young. VHS, taped off Fox Movie Channel.
Spoiler:

Easily the wildest film I’ve yet seen for this challenge. It’s about a zookeeper, Zani (Gene Raymond) who has special affinity with the animals (shades of ENCHANTED FOREST!) yet is always getting in trouble for stealing furs from ladies visiting the zoo because he thinks it’s cruel to kill animals for their fur. (PETA would love this film.) A gorgeous orphan girl, Eve (Loretta Young), escapes the orphans' group visiting the zoo and elects to stay in the zoo with Zani. A little runaway boy gets involved and pretty soon all three are together on the run—inside the zoo! A tiger gets free, the elephants stampede and all hell breaks loose in a spectacular climax. Before seeing this I’d always thought it was a B-movie, something from the lower rungs of Fox (before it merged with 20th Century in 1935), a cult movie that first got rediscovered in the 1970s. But it clearly had a bigger budget than I thought it did. So I’m using my wild card for this one. Or I could just call it eco-terror.


73.*CAUGHT PLASTERED (1931/U.S., 68 min., b&w, comedy) Studio: RKO. Dir.: William Seiter. Stars: Wheeler & Woolsey. VHS, taped off American Movie Classics.
Spoiler:
Wheeler & Woolsey were a 2nd or 3rd-tier vaudeville act that someone at RKO thought was funny enough to sign to a contract and compete with the Marx Bros. over at Paramount and Laurel & Hardy over at Hal Roach. Well, the Marx Bros. and L&H were turning out comedy classics long after W&W had faded into well-deserved obscurity. Maltin doesn’t even include W&W in his book, “The Great Movie Comedians.” In this one, the boys help out an old lady who runs a drugstore that’s about to be foreclosed on. The guy who holds the lease is secretly a bootlegger and tries to frame the boys. W&W told bad jokes and puns and occasionally tap-danced. A typical joke: “What did you do last night?” “Nothing. I had a date with one of the Siamese Twins, but she couldn’t get away.” You’re not missing anything.


Mon. April 25, 2011
74. THE RAVEN (1935/U.S., 61 min., b&w, horror) Studio: Universal. Dir.: Louis Friedlander (Lew Landers). Stars: Bela Lugosi, Boris Karloff. VHS, taped off American Movie Classics.
Spoiler:
Poe-inspired follow-up to the Karloff/Lugosi hit from the previous year, THE BLACK CAT, which was directed by Edgar G. Ulmer. That was the better film. While that film had virtually nothing to do with Poe, this one bends over backwards to make a tenuous connection. Brilliant surgeon Lugosi is also a madman with a Poe obsession, going so far as to have a pendulum torture device installed in his basement. After saving a pretty young woman's life on the operating table, he becomes infatuated with her and plots to do away with her father, a judge, and her fiance, one of his doctor colleagues. Karloff plays an escaped murderer whom Lugosi disfigures in an operation in order to make him do Lugosi's bidding with the promise that Lugosi will undo the disfiguring. The disfiguring makeup looks terrible. Lugosi and Karloff are always fun to watch, but this isn't a good film. Karloff was also in Roger Corman's THE RAVEN (1962).


Tues. April 26, 2011
75. FLIGHT TO MARS (1951/U.S. 71 min., sci-fi) Studio: Monogram. Dir.: Lesley Selander. Stars: Cameron Mitchell, Marguerite Chapman. In Cinecolor. DVD.
Spoiler:

The first sci-fi film about interplanetary flight to be filmed in color. Above-average script and cast for a Monogram movie. The color is great, the best looking example of Cinecolor I’ve ever seen. When the five-person Earth crew (4 men, 1 woman) get to Mars, they find a thriving underground human civilization, the key representatives of which speak English, having learned it from intercepted Earth radio broadcasts! However, their willingness to help the Earth crew fix their crashed rocket covers up a secret plan to use it as a model to build a fleet to fly to Earth and conquer it so the Martians can leave their dying planet and start over. Sympathetic Martians soon align with the Earth crew. Beautiful sets and costumes on Mars. Marguerite Chapman is hot in a blue satin Martian mini-dress. I enjoyed this a great deal.


Wed. April 27, 2011
76.*MASK OF FU MANCHU (1932/U.S. 68 min., b&w, adventure) Studio: MGM. Cast: Boris Karloff, Myrna Loy. VHS, taped off TCM.
Spoiler:
Lurid pre-code “yellow peril” melodrama about Fu Manchu (Karloff) trying to get hold of the sword and mask from Genghis Khan’s tomb so he can reunite the scattered Asian peoples and wipe out the white race once and for all. “Kill the white man and take his women!,” Fu Manchu implores his multitudes (who look more Arab than anything else). Pretty funny at times, but also laden with brutal torture scenes. Myrna Loy plays Fu’s hot daughter who watches in glee as her black servants whip the white hero. She then takes him into her arms and decides to make him hers. When the white heroine is captured and gets wind of this she throws a tantrum and calls Fu a “hideous yellow monster” to his face. Y’know, at the time this movie was made, with the Japanese occupying Manchuria and making inroads into China, I think the Chinese and the British had more important things to worry about than Genghis Khan’s mask and sword.


77.*THE BAT (1959/U.S., 80 min., b&w, mystery) Studio: Allied Artists. Dir.: Crane Wilbur. Cast: Vincent Price, Agnes Moorehead. Beta SP tape.
Spoiler:
Lightweight murder mystery in which a character dressed as "the Bat" terrorizes a group of people staying in an old house because there's money hidden there. There's a major red herring whom I was absolutely sure was the murderer. Price is excellent, as always, but Moorehead, as a best-selling mystery author, pretty much steals the show. Directed more like a TV show than a movie. Everything's too well lit. Based on a play by Mary Roberts Rinehart, who died the year before this came out.


78.*FRONTIER MARSHAL (1939/U.S., 71 min., b&w, western) Studio: 20th Century Fox. Dir.: Allan Dwan. Stars: Randolph Scott, Cesar Romero, John Carradine, Lon Chaney Jr. VHS, taped off Fox Movie Channel.
Spoiler:
One of the first westerns about Wyatt Earp and Doc Holliday, played by Scott and Romero. Includes a fictionalized version of the shootout at the O.K. Corral—this time Earp goes it alone against the bad guys. This exact script was later remade by John Ford as MY DARLING CLEMENTINE (1946). This film, in fact, is a streamlined version of that film, minus all the Fordisms (look at he running time). As a result, some might like this one even more. Romero is especially good as Holliday. (It seems to go with the territory that whoever plays Holliday steals the film.) Eddie Foy Jr. plays his father, Eddie Foy, a famous vaudevillian who did indeed play Tombstone. Great stuff.


79.*THE MONSTER THAT CHALLENGED THE WORLD (1957/U.S., 84 min., b&w, science fiction) Studio: United Artists. Dir.: Arnold Laven. Stars: Tim Holt, Audrey Dalton, Hans Conried. VHS, taped off TCM.
Spoiler:
One of many variations on the organisms-turned-giant-by-radioactivity theme that kept drive-ins busy in the 1950s. This is one of the more ingenious takes on the subject. It involves molluscs turned giant in California’s inland Salton Sea, and the efforts of a naval installation there to combat the monsters and keep their eggs from getting into California’s canal system. It’s all done as a high-level military investigation, similar in style and structure to THEM! (1954). And all shot on location, too, which gives it a fresh look and feel. B-western star Tim Holt is very good as a naval intelligence officer. Gordon Jones, “Mike the cop” on the old Abbott & Costello TV show, plays the local sheriff. The monsters were all life-size creations, all shot in real time in scenes with the actors. I found this technique very effective, just as I did in THEM!


Thurs. April 28, 2011
80. LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS (1960/U.S., 71 min., b&w, horror-comedy) Dir.: Roger Corman. Stars: Jonathan Haze, Jackie Joseph, Mel Welles, Dick Miller. Beta SP tape.
Spoiler:
The venerable one-week wonder still holds up, thanks to its black comedy and spirited playing, although Gravis Mushnick's yiddishisms start to get tiring after a while. I wish they'd pushed the envelope a little more with the feeding scenes, but, hey, we take what we can get from 1960. I haven't seen its companion piece, BUCKET OF BLOOD, in a long time. I wonder how that holds up.


81.*KILLERS FROM SPACE (1954/U.S., 71 min., b&w, sci-fi) Dir.: W. Lee Wilder. Star: Peter Graves. Beta SP tape.
Spoiler:
This actually has a pretty good script and plot and pretty much every scene that doesn't involve special effects is a good one. The plot looks forward to later sci-fi films of the '50s, such as IT CONQUERED THE WORLD (1956, also starring Peter Graves) and I MARRIED A MONSTER FROM OUTER SPACE (1958). However, the scenes with the enormous-eyed aliens, shot in the caves of Bronson Canyon, look pretty cheesy. Even worse are scenes where Graves, as an atomic scientist abducted by the aliens, has to face off against rear screen projected footage of "giant" insects and lizards, most of which look pretty harmless. That sequence goes on forever, as if they had to pad out the running time--just to reach 71 minutes!!! There's some good location work, including a scene where the military officers all chase poor Graves around inside a massive utility plant.


Fri. April 29, 2011
82. ADIOS, SABATA (1971/Italy, 105 min., Italian western) Dir.: Frank Kramer (Gianfranco Parolini). Stars: Yul Brynner, Dean Reed. PG-13. English-dubbed DVD.
Spoiler:
Brynner is good in western hero mode, but this one’s longer and slower than the other Sabata films and doesn’t have the welcome helpings of humor that those films had. Set during the reign of Emperor Maximilian, who was Austrian, and who died in 1867. Curiously, the villains are all Austrian (and all dressed like bankers) and they’re fighting the Mexicans, which is odd, because Maximilian was installed by the French and the French were the ones occupying Mexico at the time. See MAJOR DUNDEE and VERA CRUZ for better westerns about that era. Dean Reed was an American singer who forged a successful career in East Germany, of all places. This has a bigger budget than most Italian westerns. Music by Bruno Nicolai.


83. REVENGE OF THE CHEERLEADERS (1976/U.S., 85 min., teen sex comedy) Dir.: Richard Lerner. Stars: Rainbeaux Smith, Helen Lang, Patrice Rohmer, David Hasselhoff. Rated R. VHS.
Spoiler:
The gold standard for R-rated teen sex comedies, as far as I’m concerned. I saw this in 1977 on a double bill with SLUMBER PARTY ’57, which also starred Rainbeaux Smith and was Debra Winger’s first film. One of the best times I ever had at the movies. Seeing it for the first time in 34 years, I was struck by how much hotter and heavier it was than I remembered it. There’s making out, in various stages of undress, including complete nudity, in public places all through the film. David Hasselhoff plays the boyfriend of one of the cheerleaders. Rainbeaux Smith was such a key star of this genre that she was cast in this film despite the fact that she was quite visibly pregnant! William Bramley (Officer Krupke in WEST SIDE STORY) plays the real estate tycoon villain who’s trying to raze the kids’ high school to build a new development. There’s a drug-fueled food fight in the cafeteria two years before ANIMAL HOUSE and I’m convinced they actually got the kids stoned beforehand. A post-end-credits sequence shows Rainbeaux with her baby.


84.*THE MIGHTY PEKING MAN (1977/Hong Kong, 86 min., giant ape adventure, in Mandarin with English subtitles) Studio: Shaw Bros. Dir.: Ho Meng-hua. Stars: Evelyne Kraft, Danny Lee, Ku Feng. VCD.

Spoiler:
Evidently inspired by Dino de Laurentiis’s version of KING KONG the year before, Shaw Bros. did a Hong Kong version. It’s wild and silly, but it moves fast and never wears out its welcome. This Kong (named Ah Wang) comes with a very pretty, sexy blonde named Ah Wei (Evelyne Kraft), who speaks a child’s version of Mandarin. (As a little girl, she was the sole survivor of a plane crash that killed her parents. She was raised by a giant gorilla.) She wears an animal skin bikini and, when they get to Hong Kong with the gorilla, no one looks twice at this barefoot blonde whose breasts are an inch away from popping out! There are other whites in the film and they all speak (post-dubbed) Mandarin. Danny Lee (THE KILLER) is the explorer who finds Ah Wei and Ah Wang and tries to save them from the military attacks at the end after the gorilla climbs Connaught Centre, the tallest building in Hong Kong at the time (48 stories). The director and star Danny Lee also made the superhero sci-fi adventure, SUPER INFRAMAN, in 1975. This was released in a dubbed version in the U.S. under the title, GOLIATHON. I have that on VHS and will watch it soon.


Sat. April 30, 2011
85.*RAPPIN’ (1985/U.S., 92 min., hiphop musical) Studio: Cannon. Dir.: Joel Silberg. Star: Mario Van Peebles. VHS.
Spoiler:
Absurd Cannon Films treatment of hiphop that is as far removed from the actual reality of 1985, musical or otherwise, as can be. This was evidently inspired by the success of BREAKIN’ and BREAKIN’ 2. Mario Van Peebles stars as John Hood, a newly released parolee who comes up with extemporaneous rap odes in response to just about everything. His ex-/future girlfriend wants him to sign a record contract. He wants to be “Rappin’ Hood” and help people in his neigborhood who are facing eviction from a landlord in cahoots with a rapacious developer who wants to raze the slums. Hood’s chief rival, Duane, is a white guy who looks like he’d just time warped from a 1950s hot rod movie. When Duane and his gang terrorize the neighborhood on orders, backed by cash, from the landlord, the film begins to resemble another Cannon film from 1985—DEATH WISH 3. Ice T appears out of nowhere as a rapper in an audition scene. I wonder what he thought of this film. Aside from him and Van Peebles, the only other familiar faces in the film were those of Eriq La Salle (ER) and Kadeem Hardison (A Different World). Filmed in Pittsburgh.


86. GOLIATH AND THE BARBARIANS (1960/Italy, 82 min., sword ‘n’ sandal) Dir.: Carlo Campogalliani. Stars: Steve Reeves, Chelo Alonso. English-dubbed DVD.
Spoiler:
Steve “Hercules” Reeves plays a Verona patriot fighting the Barbarians in 568 A.D. He dresses up in a mask and claws and carries a club and terrorizes them to the point where they call him “Goliath.” Cuban dancer Chelo Alonso plays a Barbarian chief’s daughter who falls for Steve. She’s pretty damned hot and she has a couple of dance sequences. Bruce Cabot (Jack Driscoll in the original KING KONG 27 years earlier) has a small part as the leader of the Barbarians. He’s dubbed in by somebody else. I’ve seen better films in this genre but I felt I had to see this one again, because I hadn’t seen it since I saw it in a theater as a kid—50 years ago!


87. THE 36TH CHAMBER OF SHAOLIN (1978/Hong Kong, 116 min., in Mandarin with English subs., kung fu) Studio: Shaw Bros. Dir.: Lau Kar Leung (Liu Chia Liang). Star: Gordon Liu. DVD.
Spoiler:
The gold standard of kung fu films, a true epic with most of it devoted to training and practice scenes. Gordon Liu was, along with Alexander Fu Sheng, one of the two greatest kung fu stars to come out of Shaw Bros. and this is his most masterful performance. He’s in practically every scene. He plays a student who flees his town when the Tartars crack down on all resistance and kill his friends, family and teacher. He winds up at Shaolin Temple where he has to go through 35 chambers and learn the skill offered in each. The 36th Chamber? Well, you’ll have to see the movie to learn that secret. This was called MASTER KILLER when it was released in English. It played 42nd Street theaters in Manhattan for years. I wish I’d seen it there back then. I didn’t discover it until 1998 on a bootleg VHS. Now I’ve got the Dragon Dynasty DVD.


Challenge Checklist
Spoiler:
If a category is listed as "Optional", it does not need to be
filled to "complete" the checklist. There are 10 free spots you may apply to non-Optional categories.
As with other checklists, titles can count for multiple categories.

Some of these categories are so obscure we're giving 10 free spots of your choosing to fill in the list.

Watch one film from every decade of film history.
* 1890 - (insert film title here)(Optional)
* 1900 -(optional)
* 1910 -(optional)
* 1920 -(optional)
* 1930 – CALIFORNIA FRONTIER
* 1940 – KING OF THE ZOMBIES
* 1950 – PLAN 9 FROM OUTER SPACE
* 1960 – GUNFIGHT AT RED SANDS
* 1970 – RETURN OF THE STREETFIGHTER
* 1980 – REVENGE OF THE NINJA
* 1990 – MIGHTY MORPHIN POWER RANGERS THE MOVIE
* 2000 – NINJA (2009)


Watch a film for each rating:
* G - (optional)
* PG – MIGHTY MORPHIN POWER RANGERS THE MOVIE
* PG-13 – ADIOS, SABATA
* R – FEAR CITY
* X (or NC-17) -
* Unrated (post-MPAA 1968) - THE STREET FIGHTER (1974)

Watch films in at least three formats (DVD, BD, HD DVD, Laserdisc, TV, online, Streaming Netflix type, UMD, theater, iPod, VHS-sourced{VHS transferred to DVD-+R is fine}).
* First format, (DVD), (SAMARITAN ZATOICHI)
* Second format, (VHS), (FEAR CITY)
* Third format, (Blu-ray) (THE HEROIC ONES).


Watch a film in an actual Drive-in. (optional) (insert title)

Watch a film in the following genres:
A Token Science Fiction B-Movie: THE MONSTER THAT CHALLENGED THE WORLD
A Token Horror B-Movie: THE RAVEN (1935)
Italian (or European) films of the following Genres:
* Eurospy
* Giallo
* Sword & Sandal GLADIATORS SEVEN
* Spaghetti Western SARTANA, ANGEL OF DEATH
* Cannibal Film –
* Mafia/Gangster Film:
Martial Arts film:
* Bruce Lee-sploitation (Starring any variation on Bruce Li, Le, etc.)
* Hong Kong (or other Asian) film THE HEROIC ONES
* American film: ENTER THE NINJA
* Any "Ninja" film: REVENGE OF THE NINJA
* Bonus* Actual Bruce Lee film
Biker Film
Stoner Film
Carsploitation Film: THE YOUNG RACERS
Blaxploitation: HELL UP IN HARLEM
Sexploitation:
* Any type
* Nudie Cutie
* Roughie
* 70s Porn
* Emmanuelle Film
* Teen Sex Comedy REVENGE OF THE CHEERLEADERS
Nunsploitation
Shocksploitation
Rape/Revenge Film
Vigilante Film
Women in Prison
Nazisploitation
Eschploitation (religious end times, or general religious exploitation)
Hixploitation/Moonshiners
Roadshow Exploitation/30s-40s "Cautionary" films
"Hood" Film ("Gangsta"): RAPPIN’
Hollywood Gangster film (Film Noir era) DILLINGER (1945)
Juvenile Delinquent Film: HIGH SCHOOL CONFIDENTIAL
60s Beach Movie
Film starring Musical Group or Music Star (that did not become a legit actor)
* *Bonus* Elvis film
Ozploitation
Mexican Wrestling Film
Foreign "Ripoff" film (such as Turkish cinema)
Bollywood Film (actual, not a Hollywood pastiche)
Eco-Terror Film WARNING FROM SPACE
"Mondo" Film
Documentary ABOUT B-Movies/Exploitation/Drive-ins or those involved in their production
Video Nasty
TV-Movie
* Lifetime Channel Movie
Bad Sequel to a "Well regarded film"
Critical Bomb (Less than 20% Rotten Tomatoes or Metacritic or IMDB Bottom 100 {Bottom 100 archive})
Financial Bomb: JONAH HEX
MST3K/RiffTrax (or Cinematic Titanic) version of a film: PRINCE OF SPACE
Non-MST3K version of a film featured on MST3K (or CT): I’m sure at least one of the films I watched was featured on MST3K. I just don’t know which one.

Watch 10 films starring anyone from the actors safe list.
* 1 John Agar (ZONTAR THE THING FROM VENUS)
* 2 Dick Miller (X-THE MAN WITH THE X-RAY EYES)
* 3 Faith Domergue (VOYAGE TO THE PREHISTORIC PLANET)
* 4 Adam West (THE OUTLAWS IS COMING)
* 5 Klaus Kinski (IF YOU MEET SARTANA…)
* 6 Mantan Moreland (KING OF THE ZOMBIES)
* 7 Randolph Scott (ALBUQUERQUE)
* 8 Reiko Ike (THE STREET FIGHTER’S LAST REVENGE)
* 9 Richard Harrison (GUNFIGHT AT RED SANDS)
* 10 Sonny Chiba (THE STREET FIGHTER)

Watch 10 films Directed/Produced by anyone from the directors/producers safe list.
* 1 Roger Corman (PREMATURE BURIAL)
* 2 Larry Cohen (HELL UP IN HARLEM)
* 3 Menahem Golan (ENTER THE NINJA)
* 4 Ed Wood (PLAN 9 FROM OUTER SPACE)
* 5 Shaw Brothers (THE HEROIC ONES)
* 6 Roger Corman (I, MOBSTER)
* 7 Roger Corman (X – THE MAN WITH THE X-RAY EYES)
* 8 Shaw Bros. (THE MIGHTY PEKING MAN)
* 9 Roger Corman (LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS)
* 10 Roger Corman (THE YOUNG RACERS)

Watch 5 films from those in the Studio/Distributor safe list.
* 1 AIP (PREMATURE BURIAL)
* 2 Mill Creek (LADY FROM CHUNGKING)
* 3 PRC (THE ENCHANTED FOREST)
* 4 Monogram (KING OF THE ZOMBIES)
* 5 Cannon (ENTER THE NINJA)

10 optional genres:

Jungle movie: JUNGLE JIM (1948)
B-western: THE RENEGADE RANGER (1938)
Three Stooges: THE OUTLAWS IS COMING (1965
Our Gang (Little Rascals): GENERAL SPANKY (1936)
Power Rangers: MIGHTY MORPHIN POWER RANGERS THE MOVIE (1995)
Cave ’sploitation: PREHISTORIC WOMEN (1950)
Dinosaur movie: UNKNOWN ISLAND (1948)
Times Square setting: FEAR CITY (1984)
Anime: ALAKAZAM THE GREAT (1961)
Yellow Peril: MASK OF FU MANCHU (1932)


Personal Checklist
Spoiler:

First time viewings: 54

# seen on VHS: 43
# seen on DVD: 35
# on Beta SP: 7
# on Blu-ray: 1
# on VCD: 1

# in b&w: 40
# in Cinecolor: 5
# in other color processes: 42

# seen from 1930s: 11
# from 40s: 20
# from 50s: 15
# from 60s: 19
# from 70s: 13
# from 80s: 5
# from 90s: 2
# from 2000s 2:

Countries covered: U.S., Japan, Italy, Hong Kong, East Germany, Poland, Russia.
U.S.: 63
Japan: 11
Italy: 8
Hong Kong: 3
East Germany/Poland: 1
Russia: 1

Actors covered (from “Safe List”):
Adam West, Audie Murphy, Bela Lugosi, Boris Karloff, Cameron Mitchell, Chelo Alonso, Rainbeaux Smith, Dick Miller, D’urville Martin, Eduardo Ciannelli, Elisha Cook Jr., Faith Domergue, Fred Williamson, Jack Elam, Jack Nicholson, Jackie Coogan, John Agar, John Carradine, Klaus Kinski, Lon Chaney Jr., Maila Nurmi, Mamie Van Doren, Mantan Moreland, Peter Graves, Randolph Scott, Reiko Ike, Richard Harrison, Russ Tamblyn, Sonny Chiba, Steve Reeves, The Amazing Criswell, Tor Johnson, Vincent Price, William Shatner.

Key directors covered:
Roger Corman
Ed Wood
Larry Cohen
Richard Fleischer
Gordon Douglas
Kenji Misumi
Larry Buchanan
Terry Morse
Joseph H. Lewis
Chang Cheh
Jack Arnold
Joseph Kane
Abel Ferrara
Lew Landers
Sidney Salkow
Rowland V. Lee
Lesley Selander
Allan Dwan
Lau Kar Leung


Years I’ve seen films from (at least one from every year from 1931-1979):
1931 CAUGHT PLASTERED
1932 MASK OF FU MANCHU
1933 ZOO IN BUDAPEST
1934 PALOOKA
1935 THE RAVEN
1936 GENERAL SPANKY
1937 BOOTS AND SADDLES
1938 CALIFORNIA FRONTIER
1939 FRONTIER MARSHAL
1940 BRITISH INTELLIGENCE
1941 KING OF THE ZOMBIES
1942 BOMBS OVER BURMA
1943 SUBMARINE ALERT
1944 THE NAVY WAY
1945 THE ENCHANTED FOREST
1946 SAN QUENTIN
1947 THE DEVIL THUMBS A RIDE
1948 JUNGLE JIM
1949 SONG OF INDIA
1950 PREHISTORIC WOMEN
1951 FLIGHT TO MARS
1952 THE BUSHWHACKERS
1953 THE GREAT JESSE JAMES RAID
1954 KILLERS FROM SPACE
1955 CRASHOUT
1956 UFO
1957 THE MONSTER THAT CHALLENGED THE WORLD
1958 QUEEN OF OUTER SPACE
1959 THE BAT
1960 LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS
1961 ALAKAZAM THE GREAT
1962 PREMATURE BURIAL
1963 THE YOUNG RACERS
1964 THE QUICK GUN
1965 THE OUTLAWS IS COMING
1966 ZONTAR, THE THING FROM VENUS
1967 THIS MAN CAN’T DIE
1968 SAMARITAN ZATOICHI
1969 SARTANA, ANGEL OF DEATH
1970 THE HEROIC ONES
1971 ADIOS, SABATA
1972 THE SHADOW HUNTERS
1973 HELL UP IN HARLEM
1974 THE STREET FIGHTER
1975 RETURN OF THE STREET FIGHTER
1976 REVENGE OF THE CHEERLEADERS
1977 THE MIGHTY PEKING MAN
1978 THE 36TH CHAMBER OF SHAOLIN
1979 THE STREET FIGHTER’S LAST REVENGE
1980
1981 ENTER THE NINJA
1982
1983 REVENGE OF THE NINJA
1984 FEAR CITY
1985 RAPPIN’

1990 – FANTASTIC DINOSAURS OF THE MOVIES

1995 – MIGHTY MORPHIN POWER RANGERS

2009 - NINJA
2010 – JONAH HEX

At least one from every letter of the alphabet:
A
ADIOS, SABATA (1971)
B
BODYGUARD (1948)
C
CALIFORNIA FRONTIER (1938)
D
THE DEVIL THUMBS A RIDE (1947)
E
ENTER THE NINJA (1981)
F
FIRST SPACESHIP ON VENUS (1962)
G
GUNFIGHT AT RED SANDS (1963)
H
HAVE A GOOD FUNERAL ,Y FRIEND…SARTANA WILL PAY (1970)
I
IF YOU MEET SARTANA…PRAY FOR YOUR DEATH (1968)
J
JUNGLE JIM (1948)
K
KING OF THE ZOMBIES (1941)
L
LADY FROM CHUNGKING (1942)
M
MINESWEEPER (1943)
N
NINJA (2009)
O
THE OUTLAWS IS COMING (1965)
P
PLAN 9 FROM OUTER SPACE (1959)
Q
QUEEN OF OUTER SPACE (1958)
R
RETURN OF THE STREETFIGHTER (1975)
S
SONG OF INDIA (1949)
T
THIS MAN CAN’T DIE (1967)
U
UFO: UNIDENTIFIED FLYING OBJECTS: THE TRUE STORY OF FLYING SAUCERS (1956)
V
VOYAGE TO THE PREHISTORIC PLANET (1965)
W
WARNING FROM SPACE (1956)
X
X-THE MAN WITH THE X-RAY EYES (1963)
Y
THE YOUNG RACERS (1963)
Z
ZONTAR, THE THING FROM VENUS (1966)


Last edited by Ash Ketchum; 02-10-12 at 09:41 AM.
Old 03-24-11, 10:02 PM
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Re: LIST THREAD 2nd Annual Drive-In/Exploitation/B-Movie Challenge March 31-April 30

04-03-2011: Added titles 1-6
04-09-2011: Added titles 7-13, added reviews
04-11-2011: Added titles 14-17, added reviews
04-17-2011: Added titles 18-26
04-24-2011: Added titles 27-37
04-25-2011: Added reviews
05-01-2011: Added titles 38-47, added reviews
05-03-2011: Added reviews
05-04-2011: Added reviews
05-06-2011: Forgot to add one title (42. The Pom Pom Girls)!

LAST YEAR: 53 films
THIS YEAR'S PERSONAL GOAL: 50+ films

THE LIST
All films are DVD format unless otherwise noted.
Bold = first-time viewing
* = wildcard selection
  1. Ghost Warrior (1986) - VHS. In 16th century Japan, a samurai named Yoshimitsu (Hiroshi Fujioka) is mortally wounded and falls into a freezing lake after failing to rescue his wife from kidnappers. Four hundred years later, Yoshimitsu's frozen corpse is found by hikers and is revived by a medical research company in California. This raises many questions, the biggest one being, "Why?" I can see how there would be some merit to reviving a thawed caveman, but there's no scientific or financial benefit to reviving a samurai. Physiologically speaking, there's little difference between 16th century humans and those of the 20th. They may as well have found some Japanese actor, claimed that he was 400 years old and saved themselves however many millions of dollars it costs in order to bring the long, long departed back to life. Anyway, the usual "man-out-of-time" antics are compounded with culture clash once Yoshimitsu escapes from the research facility and reaches Los Angeles. When he runs afoul of a street gang, it's a race between his handler (Janet Julian) and the police to find him.
    Ghost Warrior is fairly amusing if you can put aside the faulty logic upon which the film is built. Despite the presence of Albert and Charles Band in the credits, there's nary a mutant or monster to be seen in the story. The real star of the movie is perhaps Richard Band's score, performed by the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra and conducted by Shirley Walker. Robert Kino (Night of the Creeps) plays a Japanese antiques expert.
  2. Timerider: The Adventure of Lyle Swann (1982) - Fred Ward plays Lyle Swann, a motocross rally racer with a superbike that's been tricked out by his Silicon Valley friends. He strays off-course and inadvertently enters the test site of a company's time travel experiment. Swann travels back to the 19th century, where he encounters Claire Cygne (Belinda Bauer), a tough-yet-tender frontier woman. Cygne and Swann's "machine" are stolen by a pack of outlaws (led by Peter Coyote, with Tracy Walter and Richard Masur), and Swann teams up with the local lawmen and a con man (Ed Lauter) to get both of them back.
    Director William Dear may spend a little too much of the film's initial runtime on motocross footage, but things markedly improve once Fred Ward's character makes the jump back in time. Straightforward performances by all principles are what really sell the fantastic premise. Ward's performance as Lyle Swann borders on deadpan comedy. Up until the film's quasi-Oedipal ending, Swann shows absolutely no awareness to the fact that he's traveled back to the days of the Wild West. It either makes him the densest movie protagonist or the most normal movie protagonist of film history.
  3. G.I. Samurai (A.K.A., "Time Slip") (1979) - Sonny Chiba plays Iba, an officer in Japan's Self Defense Force. Iba and other participants of a joint military exercise find themselves inexplicably transported back to the country's Sengoku (or "warring states") period. He forms an alliance with a warlord and convinces the other soldiers that altering the course of history is their best chance at returning to their own time. Can eleven soldiers armed with modern weapons take on an army of hundreds? The film has perhaps the most lyrical depiction of time travel that I have ever seen. Tonally, it erratically shifts from being somber anti-war allegory to bro-mantic fantasy. The epic battle sequences and scenes of wartime brutality are all mitigated by a single shot of Chiba's character and his warlord buddy doing tandem headstands on the beach.
  4. Sonny Chiba's Dragon Princess (1976) - Despite Sonny Chiba's prominence in the title, he only appears for about twenty minutes in the film. Chiba plays a karate master who is forced to leave Japan after being ambushed by his rival and his rival's cronies. In his years of exile, Chiba trains his daughter Yumi (Etsuko "Sue" Shihomi) to exact revenge on his enemies. Once in Japan, Yumi teams up with a mysterious man (Yasuaki Kurata) to take on her father's rival. It's a pretty boilerplate martial arts movie plot (and perhaps owes some credit to Lady Snowblood), but I prefer this film to Shihomi's better-known "Sister Street Fighter" movies. Shihomi has never looked better than she does in this film.
  5. Karate Warriors (1976) - Sonny Chiba plays Chico, a stranger who comes to a town overrun by two rival gangs led by feuding brothers. The gangs are fighting over a cache of heroin which their late boss hid without revealing its location before dying. If you've seen either Yojimbo or A Fistful of Dollars, then you pretty much know how this scenario is going to play out. Chiba picks up a kid sidekick in this fourth installment of the "Street Fighter" film series with disastrous results. While it's fun to see Chiba throw him around like a ragdoll, the child actor is abysmal (the dubbing probably doesn't do him any favors, though). Take him out of the picture, and you've got a fairly decent martial arts film with some remarkably contemporary camera effects.
  6. The Street Fighter (1974) - The film that introduced Sonny Chiba to an unsuspecting world and made American film history by being the first movie to receive an "X" rating for violence. The simulated X-ray cutaway shot is a classic.
  7. Duel of Karate (1971?) - The wife of a martial arts master gives birth to fraternal twin brothers. They are both getting tattoos when the master of a rival school and his four Japanese teachers show up looking for a rematch. A fight breaks out, the twins' parents are murdered, and the brothers are separated. They meet again years later. However, they fight on opposite sides, and neither knows who the other truly is.
    I've seen some cheap Taiwanese martial arts movies, but this one truly achieves the rank of black belt in cheesiness. Fights often appear as though the actors are brushing their enemies aside or pushing their way through a crowd of disinterested extras. Words cannot adequately express how awful the wire work is in this film, so I'll just let this montage that I found on Youtube do the talkiing:
    Spoiler:


  8. Drunken Tai Chi (1984) - VHS. Donnie Yen makes his film debut in this martial arts comedy directed by Yuen Woo-Ping. Yen plays the spoiled rich son of a salt merchant. His father dotes upon him while neglecting Yen's older brother. When an ambush by Yen's rival backfires, the boy's father hires a mute assassin to murder Yen and his family. With his father and brother killed, the fugitive Yen turns to a puppeteer and the puppeteer's fat wife for shelter. The couple eventually teaches Yen the "soft style" of Tai Chi, but is it enough to defend himself from the assassin?
    Drunken Tai Chi is not without its problems. First, there's really very little drunken boxing in the film. Yuen Woo-Ping paints most of the characters in broad, comic strokes. The story is rife with anachronisms (BMX bikes, basketball and breakdancing apparently go all the way back to some indeterminate period in Chinese history). However, the training sequences and one fighting contest involving an ink brush are particularly inventive. Also, there's an unexpected sentimental subplot involving the killer and his child which gives the wordless assassin a touch of humanity as well as sets up the hint of emotional conflict in an otherwise stock villain.
  9. The Bloody Fists (A.K.A., "Deadly Buddhist Raiders") (1972) - A sniveling Chinese traitor returns to his hometown with a pack of Japanese fighters. The Japanese want to open a martial arts school and get their hands on the village's "dragon herb." When the two brothers who run the local martial arts school are unable to defeat the Japanese, it falls upon a fugitive to rescue them. Chen Kuan-Tai plays the lead Japanese fighter (who dresses like a Japanese rock star). Yuen Woo-Ping's fight choreography is disappointingly rote, but it show brief glimpses of the creativity that would distinguish his later work. Sloppy editing doesn't help, either. The film's original soundtrack has been replaced with generic library music for the home video release.
  10. Moonlight Sword and Jade Lion (1977) - Angela Mao Ying is sent on a mission to find her master's missing brother. Character after character is introduced, and very little is explained. I appreciate a complex plot, but being too oblique can also be a problem. Fortunately, the fights and gimmicks are frequent enough to keep viewers from getting bored.
  11. The Martial Club (1981) - Wong Fei-Hung (played by Gordon Liu) and his friend Wang Yin-Lin are like the "Goofus and Gallant" of ancient China. Fei-Hung is the carefree son of Wong Kei-Ying, one of the "Ten Tigers of Canton," legendary Chinese folk heroes. Yin-Lin seems to be only interested in using his kung-fu skills to impress the working girls at the local brothel. While trying to win a bet at whose martial arts skills are superior, the pair inadvertently cross paths with a Northern Chinese master (Johnny Wang Lung-Wei) who has been invited to teach at a rival martial arts school. It takes an ambush at the brothel for Yin-Lin to learn the value of humility, and Yin-Lin's injury teaches Fei-Hung that with great skill comes great responsibility.
    Director Lau Kar-Leung has crafted a colorful, lighthearted comedy packed between the sprocket holes with tightly-choreographed fights. The story's opening lion dance sequence is a truly arresting spectacle. The final battle between Liu and Johnny Wang has the combatants literally climbing the walls of a narrow alleyway. Although Johnny Wang plays the nominal "heavy" of the picture, he's not the stereotypical villain. Also starring Kara Hui (My Young Auntie) as Yin-Lin's sister.
  12. The Water Margin (1972) - This Chang Cheh martial arts epic is partly based on a Chinese novel that follows the exploits of 108 bandits during the Song Dynasty. Mercifully, we are only introduced to twenty-or-so of those bandits. Despite the large number of characters, the plot is relatively straightforward. When the leader of the 108 bandits is slain by an expert spearman, the bandits seek out the spearman's mentor and his protege Yen Ching (David Chiang) to help them get retribution. Unfortunately, the master's wife conspires with her lover to have the master imprisoned. The bandits must then hatch a plan to break the master out of jail before he is put to death. It's interesting to note that Chang cast two Japanese actors (Tetsuro Tamba and Toshio Kurosawa) in prominent roles as Chinese characters. Roger Corman recut the film and released it as "Seven Blows of the Dragon" for stateside distribution.
  13. Ten Tigers of Kwangtung (1980) - Chang Cheh assembles Ti Lung, Alexander Fu Sheng and Shaw Brothers' "Venom Mob" to tell the origin of the titular "Ten Tigers of Kwantung" (or Canton). Unfortunately, the story is told in flashback and is framed by a much less interesting assassination plot involving the Tigers' pupils. It almost feels as though Chang was contractually obligated to feature the Shaws' "rising stars" in the framing device. Everything is capped off by a terribly staged decapitation, which seems depressingly appropriate. Not quite the finest hour for all those involved, but it's still mostly entertaining.
  14. The Fatal Flying Guillotines (1977) - VHS. I watched this quickie Taiwanese kung fu trainwreck years ago in a half-awake daze, so I decided to give it a second chance and re-watched it with a mostly-clear mind. Guess what: It still doesn't make any damn sense! The movie begins and ends with a text crawl and voice-over narration, but they don't match up either time. According to some Internet sources, the film is an unofficial prequel to Master of the Flying Guillotine, but you wouldn't know it from watching it. The story has the Shaolin monks plotting against the Manchus (as though the Shaolin were some sort of political faction). Both the Manchus and Shaolin seek to recruit a reclusive master named Shen to their respective causes, but Shen is only interested in practicing his "lighting strike" style. It basically involves cutting people's heads off with a flying guillotine, but Shen has two of them. The arbitrary ending comes from out of left field and only exists to tie it to Jimmy Wang Yu's film (which only came out the previous year).
  15. Master of the Flying Guillotine (1976) - Jimmy Wang Yu returns as the "One-Armed Boxer" in this sequel to the film of the same name. The blind teacher of the two assassins from the first film sets out with the flying guillotine to avenge his pupils' deaths. Meanwhile, Wang and his students attend a fighting tournament hosted by the Eagle Claw school. The contestants include a variety of ethnic stereotypes from around Asia, including a memorable Indian yoga master who extends his arms to attack his opponents. While the film certainly is imaginative, it is perhaps more fondly regarded for its influence on modern pop culture.
  16. Hong Kong Godfather (1985) - Mad Dog Wei, Playboy Lung and Sergeant Wen are all triad brothers who are loyal to their "godfather" Han (played by Shih Kien, who also played a Han in Enter the Dragon). When sycophantic Rotten Chi betrays Han to gain favor with an up-and-coming crime lord, the three brothers decide to take up blades once again and restore the name of their old boss. Johnny Wang Lung-Wei steps behind the camera to deliver an intensely brutal story of loyalty. The final blood-soaked 10-15 minutes are utterly jaw-dropping. Funimation presents the film in its most complete form for the very first time. Also, a little boy is thrown through a glass patio door:
    Spoiler:


  17. The Super Inframan (A.K.A., "Infra-Man") (1975) - A dragon disappears in front of a bus of schoolchildren, and the resulting catastrophic earthquake awakens strange beings trapped in a mountain since the Ice Age. A scientist transforms Rayma (played by Danny Lee) into humanity's last hope against the monsters: The Inframan! Shaw Brothers was quite obviously attempting to cash in on the Japanese tokusatsu craze with this film, and they mostly succeed. This film holds the special distinction of being the only film Roger Ebert has ever upgraded from his initial review.

    Before they were famous(?): Future Bruce Lee-alike Bruce Le plays one of Rayma's teammates
  18. The Green Slime (1968) - VHS. A team of astronauts (led by Robert Horton and Richard Jaeckel) is sent on a mission to drill and plant nuclear charges beneath the surface of an asteroid on a collision course with Earth. While Michael Bay took over two hours to tell the same story, Kinji Fukusaku and company do it in a half-hour. As an added bonus, they give us the story of a space station overrun by rubbery, tentacled aliens. Richard Delvy immortalizes it all in the greatest theme song ever recorded. Luciana Paluzzi has the unenviable task of playing the third point in a love triangle between herself, Horton and Jaeckel.
  19. The Mysterians (1957) - Cape-wearing aliens land at the foot of Mount Fuji and issue a couple of modest demands to their Japanese hosts. First, they want a small tract of land to settle. Second, they want access to Japan's women in order to repopulate their people. Earth's nations must unite in order to repel the alien threat with a variety of fantastic aircraft and weaponry.
    Ishiro Honda's third science fiction spectacle presents an interesting snapshot of a postwar Japan undergoing an identity crisis. On the one hand, the film effectively portrays the Japanese as the victims of nuclear aggression, with shots of destruction evoking newsreel footage from Nagasaki and Hiroshima as well as footage from atomic bomb testing. On the other hand, the film less successfully attempts to repaint Japan's culpability in World War II by placing itself in the role of defenders against a global threat rather than being the aggressors. Although the threat in the film originates from behind the moon, the Mysterians are ostensibly stand-ins (Stand-arians?) for the occupying forces in Japan following the end the of the war; and the film is clearly playing on anxieties about the potential loss of national identity with the encroachment of foreign culture (or "science" as the film codifies it). Note that the film opens at a Japanese festival with the festival goers dressed in traditional costume. By the time the sequel rolls around, most vestiges of tradition have been jettisoned for Western fashion and contemporary Western values.
  20. Battle in Outer Space (1959) - A new cosmic threat emerges from behind the moon, but the Earth doesn't wait to be invaded in this follow-up to The Mysterians. An international team of astronauts are assembled to do battle with the diminutive Natal at their clandestine moonbase. Political subtext is eschewed in favor for vastly improved special effects and daring acts of heroism in true space opera fashion. There's also an early depiction in the film of "missing time," a reported phenomenon among alien abductees.
  21. Gappa, the Triphibian Monsters (1967) - The wealthy publisher of "Playmate Magazine" sends an expedition to Obelisk Island in order to find attractions for the resort that he plans to construct there. The natives warn the expedition party of the "Gappa," whom the natives revere as gods. The explorers find a newly hatched Gappa and take it back with them to Japan, which promptly causes the parents to flip out. Mama and Papa Gappa fly to Japan and proceed to destroy it in short order. Sources claim that the film is a satire of other kaiju films, but it's really no sillier than some other Godzilla or Gamera films of the Showa period.
  22. Yongary (1967) - South Korea tries its hand at kaiju with this tale of a giant horned reptile who is awakened after a bomb is dropped in the Middle East. The monster inexplicably makes a beeline for South Korea, where it begins stomping through its cities and eating the country's oil reserves. Not only can Yongary breathe fire, it can also shoot beams from the horn on its snout. It falls upon a scientist, his astronaut buddy and a mischievous young boy to defeat Yongary. The film is pleasant enough, but there's really nothing outstanding or memorable to recommend it.
  23. Reptilian (A.K.A., "Yongary")* (1999) - In this quasi-reboot of Yongary, archeologists discover a fossilized alien corpse and a mysterious jewel inside a cave that kills off their expedition. Two years pass, and one of the surviving scientists is overseeing the dig of an enormous dinosaur skeleton called "Yongary" in ancient hieroglyphs found in the cave. Alien invaders orbiting the Earth revive the dinosaur and teleport it to a nameless city, where it commences to wreak havoc. The military and the only other surviving member of the expedition manage to break the aliens' hold over Yongary, but can the newly freed Yongary stop the other monster beamed down to the planet by the aliens?
    I want to like this movie, but the filmmakers and actors make it too easy to do otherwise. For a film with an estimated $6 million budget, many of the special effects are decidedly less than impressive. The English-speaking cast's unbelievably atrocious line-delivery leads me to believe that they must have been under the impression that the film would never be shown outside of Korea and that their voices would be dubbed over. On the other hand, the movie features goofy little touches like soldiers in jetpacks. If the movie had a greater sense of humor about itself, then it might have been better received.
  24. King Kong vs. Godzilla (1962) - Two of the most famous monsters of filmdom square off in Japan, and the results are surprisingly disappointing. An expedition is sent by a pharmaceutical company to Faro Island to retrieve the giant creature that reportedly inhabits it. At the same time, Godzilla is freed from an iceberg in the arctic. The self-defense forces prove ineffective at repelling Godzilla from Japan, so King Kong is eventually dropped by balloon in the radioactive lizard's path with the hopes that the two monsters will destroy each other.
    The monster suits just are not up to the quality that Toho and Eiji Tsuburaya are known for. Frequent "news updates" in the U.S. version cause the story to come to a grinding halt (and why do the Japanese newscaster and Japanese characters pronounce "Hokkaido" differently?). The U.S. version also recycles effects footage from The Mysterians and still manages to be shorter than the original version. Still, it's hard to begrudge any film that begins with a line from a William Shakespeare play for its faults.
  25. Godzilla and Mothra: The Battle for Earth (1992) - Godzilla is roused from his slumber when a meteor crashes into the ocean. Meanwhile, a tomb raider is partnered with his ex-wife on an expedition to Infant Island, where they come across a giant egg uncovered by a storm related to the meteor. They also encounter miniature twins known as the Cosmos. The explorers take the twins along with Mothra to Japan, but they run into both Godzilla and Battra (a giant insectoid that resembles a spikier, darker version of Mothra) on the sea voyage back. The three monsters eventually do battle in Yokohama, and no buildings are spared! Some great special effects work is on display in perhaps my favorite of the Heisei Godzilla films. The Big G and Mothra look great (Battra falls victim to the "Dark, Gritty" aesthetic that plagued all forms of mass entertainment in the '90s). The human story is also surprisingly developed for what's basically filler in between monster mashes.
  26. Godzilla, Mothra and King Ghidorah: Giant Monsters All-Out Attack (2001) - This entry of the so-called "Millennium series" of Godzilla films messes around too much with canon for my tastes. Godzilla's origin gets a supernatural twist when an old man claims that the giant lizard is actually the physical manifestation of all the souls who died in World War II! Baragon, Mothra and Ghidorah are now guardian spirits! Rocks can work like ancient CDs! Almost fifty years of nuclear proliferation and ecological conservation allegory are thrown out in favor of jingoistic nationalism. Rather than end on an emotional note, the father and daughter protagonists of the film (an admiral and tabloid journalist, respectively) snap somber salutes to the Japanese Self-Defense Forces! This film is the most pandering piece of propaganda I've seen since Armageddon.
  27. Gamera: Super Monster (1980) - Gamera goes out with a whimper in the final entry of the Showa series. Aliens travelling in what looks an awful lot like a Star Destroyer from the Star Wars movies send a female agent to Earth in order to expose three Spacewomen who live among humanity. Unable to reveal their pink unitard-wearing forms, the lead Spacewoman (a butch pet store owner by day) recruits the help of a little boy who loves Gamera almost as much as he loves singing about Gamera while at his electric organ. Almost all the giant turtle footage is recycled from the previous films, while the new footage includes Gamera flying around the cosmos with Space Battleship Yamato and Galaxy Express 999! The clunky product placement only emphasizes the cheapness of the production. Hardly a dignified curtain call for the Friend of All Children.
  28. The Heroic Trio (1993) - Before Johnnie To began making a name for himself with films like A Hero Never Dies, Running Out of Time and The Mission, he directed this light contemporary martial arts fantasy. Babies throughout the city are being stolen by a mysterious criminal known as Invisble Woman (Michelle Yeoh). The kidnappings attract the attentions of Wonder Woman (Anita Mui), the city's resident masked vigilante, and bounty hunter Thief Catcher (Maggie Cheung). All three women eventually realize their pasts are linked to a weird eunuch who is turning the kidnapped children into monsters in an insane quest to create a new emperor for China, and they join forces to stop their former master. The story takes place in an atmospheric, comic book reality that's a mish-mash of modern and anachronistic details, so Ching Siu-Tung's wire-heavy fight choreography does not entirely feel out of place. Anthony Wong plays a guillotine-flinging cannibalistic humanoid underground dweller.
  29. Executioners (1993) - Production on this sequel to the Heroic Trio must have begun either immediately after shooting on the first movie wrapped or immediately after the first movie premiered, because both films were released in the same year. Sometime after the events of the first film, the world is ravaged by a nuclear conflict. Uncontaminated water is scarce, and the city's supply is controlled by a mad genius (played by Anthony Wong). The three heroines of the first film have gone their separate ways, but they are once again reunited by fate when Michelle Yeoh's character is recruited for a mission to investigate a possible source of fresh water. The assassination of a religious cult leader leads to a military coup, Wonder Woman's family is split up while trying to escape (her husband is framed for the assassination and murdered), and the trio is splintered. One will make the ultimate sacrifice to save her friends, leaving the remaining two friends to face off against the mad genius.
    The film (co-directed by Johnnie To and Ching Siu-Tung) has a decidedly darker tone than The Heroic Trio, which doesn't necessarily work in its favor. While one could argue that both films are meant to play on Hong Kong audience's pre-Handover anxieties, the sequel makes the allusions a little more explicit. Scenes of police firing on panicked crowds undoubtedly are meant to evoke memories of the Tienanmen Square protests.

    Before they were famous: Taiwanese pop star Takeshi Kaneshiro (Chungking Express, House of Flying Daggers) makes his feature film debut as the cult leader
  30. Yes, Madam! (1985) - Michelle Yeoh (credited as Michelle Kheng in my copy) stars as a tough-as-nails inspector in the Hong Kong Police Department. When her former instructor-- now a visiting British diplomat-- is murdered, Scotland Yard sends their own two-fisted inspector (played by Cynthia Rothrock) to help with the investigation. The pair go in search of incriminating microfilm inadvertently stolen by three bickering small-time crooks (one played by Tsui Hark!), but they soon discover that the bad guys are after the same thing. Although the story is sandbagged by the comedic hijinks of the three thieves, the film really comes to life when Yeoh and Rothrock are allowed to cut loose. Crackerjack direction by Corey Yuen. Sammo Hung plays the thieves' mentor.
  31. The Inspector Wears Skirts (1988)
  32. Policewomen (1974)
  33. Slipstream (1989) - Google Video. Viewed in observance of Earth Day.
  34. The Magic Voyage of Sinbad (1962)
  35. The Day the Earth Froze (1964)
  36. Hero of Rome (1964)
  37. The Invincible Gladiator (1961)
  38. Robot Jox (1990)
  39. Rock 'N' Roll High School (1979)
  40. My Chauffeur (1986)
  41. Van Nuys Blvd. (1979)
  42. The Pom Pom Girls (1976)
  43. Malibu Beach (1978)
  44. The Beach Girls (1982)
  45. Hardbodies (1984)*
  46. Hardbodies 2 (1986)
  47. Crying Freeman (1995)
  48. Blue Tiger (1994)


Last edited by nezumi; 05-06-11 at 05:09 PM.
Old 03-24-11, 10:07 PM
  #29  
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Re: LIST THREAD 2nd Annual Drive-In/Exploitation/B-Movie Challenge March 31-April 30

March 31
1. Bamboo Gods and Iron Men
2. Faces of Shlock
3. Rubber
4.House of Clocks

April 1
5.Troll 2
6. Mad Max
-today was not so productive as i spent the rest of my movie time watching lord of the rings

April 2
7. Husk
8. Area 51
9. Prowl

April 3rd
10. Violent Shit
11. Violent Shit 2

April 4th
12. Slaughtered Vomit Dolls
13. reGOREgitated Sacrifice
14. Slow Torture Puke Chamber

April 5th
15. Violent Shit 3
16. The Haunted world of superbeasto
17. Devils rejects

April 6th
18. Big Bad mama

April 7th
19. Robogeisha
20. Frankenstein Girl vs. Vmpire Girl
21. Tokyo Gore Police
22. Sculpture

April 8th
23. Savage Streets
24. Aliens Vs. Ninja
25. Gojira

April 9th
26. Sinful Dwarf
27. piranha
28. piranha 2
29. Piranha remake

April 10th
30. Zombie Strippers
31. Getting Lucky
32. humanoids from the deep

April 11th
33. Machete
34. Kill Theory

April 12th
35.Uncle Sam
36. Vampyres
37. The crazies

April 13th
38. Toxic Avenger 1
39. Hot Blood Sunday
40. Toxic Avenger 2
41. Django

April 14th
42. Four of the Apoc
43. Django Kill
44. Boss N*gg*r


April 15-16

April 17th
45. She Wolves of the Wasteland
46. Extra Weird Sampler
47. Mountain Of The Cannibal God Mountain Of The Cannibal God

April 17.

April 18th
48.Single Room Furnished
49. The Pink Angels
50. Poulrygeist

April 19th
51. Feed
52. Class of Nuke em High
53.


Spoiler:
If a category is listed as "Optional", it does not need to be
filled to "complete" the checklist. There are 10 free spots you may apply to non-Optional categories.
As with other checklists, titles can count for multiple categories.

Some of these categories are so obscure we're giving 10 free spots of your choosing to fill in the list.

Watch one film from every decade of film history.
* 1890 - (insert film title here)(Optional)
* 1900 -(optional)
* 1910 -(optional)
* 1920 -(optional)
* 1930 -
* 1940 -
* 1950 -
* 1960 -
* 1970 -Bamboo Gods and Iron Men 74
* 1980 -
* 1990 -
* 2000 -

Watch a film for each rating:
* G - (optional)
* PG -
* PG-13 - (optional)
* R -Bamboo Gods and Iron Men
* X (or NC-17) -
* Unrated (post-MPAA 1968) -

Watch films in at least three formats (DVD, BD, HD DVD, Laserdisc, TV, online, Streaming Netflix type, UMD, theater, iPod, VHS-sourced{VHS transferred to DVD-+R is fine}).
* Bamboo Gods and Iron Ment,netflix
* Second format, (insert format), (insert title).
* Third format, (insert format), (insert title).

Watch a film in an actual Drive-in. (optional) (insert title)

Watch a film in the following genres:
A Token Science Fiction B-Movie:
A Token Horror B-Movie:
Italian (or European) films of the following Genres:
* Eurospy (James Bond ripoffs)
* Giallo
* Sword & Sandal
* Spaghetti Western
* Cannibal Film
* Mafia/Gangster Film
Martial Arts film:
* Bruce Lee-sploitation (Starring any variation on Bruce Li, Le, etc.)
* Hong Kong (or other Asian) film
* American film
* Any "Ninja" film
* Bonus* Actual Bruce Lee film
Biker Film
Stoner Film
Carsploitation Film
Blaxploitation -Bamboo Gods and Iron Men
Sexploitation:
* Any type
* Nudie Cutie
* Roughie
* 70s Porn
* Emmanuelle Film
* Teen Sex Comedy
Nunsploitation
Shocksploitation
Rape/Revenge Film
Vigilante Film
Women in Prison
Nazisploitation
Eschploitation (religious end times, or general religious exploitation)
Hixploitation/Moonshiners
Roadshow Exploitation/30s-40s "Cautionary" films
"Hood" Film ("Gangsta")
Hollywood Gangster film (Film Noir era)
Juvenile Delinquent Film
60s Beach Movie
Film starring Musical Group or Music Star (that did not become a legit actor)
* *Bonus* Elvis film
Ozploitation
Mexican Wrestling Film
Foreign "Ripoff" film (such as Turkish cinema)
Bollywood Film (actual, not a Hollywood pastiche)
Eco-Terror Film
"Mondo" Film
Documentary ABOUT B-Movies/Exploitation/Drive-ins or those involved in their production
Video Nasty
TV-Movie
* Lifetime Channel Movie
Bad Sequel to a "Well regarded film"
Critical Bomb (Less than 20% Rotten Tomatoes or Metacritic or IMDB Bottom 100 {Bottom 100 archive})
Financial Bomb
MST3K/RiffTrax (or Cinematic Titanic) version of a film
Non-MST3K version of a film featured on MST3K (or CT)

Watch 10 films starring anyone from the actors safe list.
* 1
* 2
* 3
* 4
* 5
* 6
* 7
* 8
* 9
* 10

Watch 10 films Directed/Produced by anyone from the directors/producers safe list.
* 1 Fulci - House of Clocks
* 2
* 3
* 4
* 5
* 6
* 7
* 8
* 9
* 10

Watch 5 films from those in the Studio/Distributor safe list.
* 1
* 2
* 3
* 4
* 5

Last edited by terrycloth; 04-25-11 at 07:45 PM.
Old 03-25-11, 12:06 AM
  #30  
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Re: LIST THREAD 2nd Annual Drive-In/Exploitation/B-Movie Challenge March 31-April 30


1. Sans Soleil - This is a mondo film for film snobs. Half the dialogue is exactly what one would hear in a mondo film but the other half is just something else, trying to make it have some sort of deeper meaning.


2. The Last Summer - The actress was decent enough. The movie wasn't anything great but it was good enough to make me sit through it once. It's not something I'd watch again and it's not because of what happens at the end, there's just not a lot going on.


3. Ong Bak - My wife told me how everyone went crazy over the action when it came out over in Japan. While it was great, the music didn't fit in with the action and eventually I started to just get bored by the action. It didn't need to be close to 2 hours long. They could've cut it down to 80-90 minutes and it would have been better. The thing just seemed like a demo video, including instant replays at a different angle, for some guy doing stunts since the plot was a joke and not in a funny way. Perfect example at the beginning was when the master told the student not to use his skills to fight. The second that sentence ends, the master sure doesn't seem to mind him going to the city to fight. This would be a perfect movie to do a fan edit where you just leave in the basics of the plot, the stuff that actually moves it, and the action, minus the replays. I bet you could get it down to under an hour and it wouldn't be bad. The biggest crime this movie committed? It burned me out for the rest of the night, so I only got 30 minutes into my next movies before I stopped it since I was dozing off.


4. Once Upon A Time In China - After my last film, I was hesitant to do another martial arts film. Wasn't sure about this one at first but got much better.


5.Fearless - I didn't think this was as bad as what everyone said about it.


6. Crippled Avengers - Let's cut off her legs! Then they cut off her groin area in addition to the legs. Cutting off feet = Turning the person into Cotton Hill. I enjoyed it although it seems like they only had the idiot to get the connection between the cripples and the master.


7. Mad Monkey - Wasn't bad but not as good as the previous Shaw Brothers' film.


8. The Shaolin Temple - It wasn't bad but since it's been days since I watched it, the subsequent Shaolin related films have all become a big blur.


9. Good Guys Wear Black - A nice change of pace, with Chuck Norris in his first role as a Vietnam Vet, trying to rescue POWs. It came out around the time of the early days of computer effects, which are shown throughout the opening credits.


10. Shogun Assassin - One of the things I hate about martial arts movies, are the number of different names they can have. I tracked this down, only to figure out in the middle of watching it, that I already own this. The version I watched had a really crappy English dub that didn't fit in well at all. The little kid narrating at the beginning, really annoyed me.


11. Once Upon A Time In China II - Decent sequel featuring Aunt 13 and friends vs a cult that hates foreigners.


12. The One-Armed Swordsman - Another fun Shaw Brothers film with cripples being made.


13. The Protector - Tony Jaa, the emotionless robot still doesn't understand how music can make or break a scene. Also featured is a female news anchor giving her stories in English. Her accent, which I'm assuming is Taiwanese, actually makes her sound like she's suffering from Downs. As usual, for a Tony Jaa film, the plot is a scatter shot of different paths, none of which fit together in any meaningful way. The main plot can be summed up in 6 words: An elephant is stolen and recovered. The other plots can be summed up in 1 word: Why?

Tony, there's a reason why you aren't popular and making a bunch of movies. It's because you have the acting skills and personality of an ice cube. Just stick with being a stunt actor.


14. Bruce vs. Snake in Eagle's Shadow - Jackie Chan, a person with emotions and a personality, adds some cat claws to his skills after watching a cat fight a snake. Not bad but nothing special


15. Pedicab Driver - I lost interest halfway through.


16. The Buddhist Fist - I watched this yesterday, I can't remember a thing about it.


17. Wing Chun - Much better than the previous film. Didn't really take much to win that award.


18. Tai Chi Master - I liked this. As the usual custom with watching these types of films in my theater room, I did doze off for a bit.


19. The Magnificent Butcher - Started out decent enough but then turned into all the other asian kung fu movies I've been watching. Thankfully, I only have one more kung fu film left for this challenge.


20. The Kid With The Golden Arm - Not as many cripples created in this Shaw Brothers film, compared to earlier one's I've watched for this challenge. There was one person made blind but that's about it.

21. The Great Silence
22. The Big Gundown
23. Duck, You Sucker
24. Revenge of a Gunfighter
25. A Dollar A Head
26. A Fistful of Dollars
27. Ace High
28. And God Said To Cain
29. Face To Face
30. Death Rides A Horse
31. My Name Is Nobody
32. Vengeance
33. 13 Assassins
34. California
35. Companeros
36. Jackass 3D
37. A Bullet For the General
38. El Puro
39. You Die...But I Live
40. Yankee
41. Goodbye Texas
42. Grand Duel
43. Jackass 2
44. Django
45. Day of Anger
46. Guns of Violence
47. Forgotten Pistolero
48. The Return of Ringo
49. Cemetary Without Crosses
50. Run, Man, Run
51. Blindman
52. Gunfighters Die Harder
53. Sabata
54. I Want Him Dead
55. Have a Good Funeral, My Friend... Sartana Will Pay
56. A Man Called Blade
57. Cloud of Dust... Cry of Death... Sartana Is Coming
58. Blood River
59. Jackass 2.5
60. Pray to Kill and Return Alive
61. Long Live the Revolution
62. Ballad of Death Valley
63. Django the Bastard
64. Jackass: The Movie
65. Johnny Hamlet
66. ˇMátalo!
67. Trinity Is STILL My Name!
68. Colt Concert
69. Tumbleweeds
70. Warlock
71. The Gunfighter
72. The Stalking Moon
73. The Culpepper Cattle Co.
74. Evil Bong
75. Avenging Angel



Spoiler:


Watch one film from every decade of film history.
* 1890 - (insert film title here)(Optional)
* 1900 -(optional)
* 1910 -(optional)
* 1920 -(optional)
* 1930 -
* 1940 -
* 1950 -
* 1960 - The Last Summer
* 1970 - Crippled Avengers
* 1980 - Sans Soleil
* 1990 - Once Upon A Time In China
* 2000 - Ong Bak

Watch a film for each rating:
* G - (optional)
* PG - Good Guys Wear Black
* PG-13 - Fearless
* R - - The Last Summer
* X (or NC-17) -
* Unrated (post-MPAA 1968) -Sans Soleil

Watch films in at least three formats (DVD, BD, HD DVD, Laserdisc, TV, online, Streaming Netflix type, UMD, theater, iPod, VHS-sourced{VHS transferred to DVD-+R is fine}).
* First format, Netflix, Sans Soleil
* Second format, TV, The Last Summer
* Third format, DVD, Ong Bak

Watch a film in an actual Drive-in. (optional) (insert title)

Watch a film in the following genres:
A Token Science Fiction B-Movie:
A Token Horror B-Movie:
Italian (or European) films of the following Genres:
* Eurospy (James Bond ripoffs)
* Giallo
* Sword & Sandal
* Spaghetti Western - The Great Silence
* Cannibal Film
* Mafia/Gangster Film
Martial Arts film:
* Bruce Lee-sploitation (Starring any variation on Bruce Li, Le, etc.)
* Hong Kong (or other Asian) film - Ong Bak
* American film - Good Guys Wear Black
* Any "Ninja" film
* Bonus* Actual Bruce Lee film
Biker Film
Stoner Film
Carsploitation Film
Blaxploitation
Sexploitation:
* Any type
* Nudie Cutie
* Roughie
* 70s Porn
* Emmanuelle Film
* Teen Sex Comedy
Nunsploitation
Shocksploitation
Rape/Revenge Film
Vigilante Film
Women in Prison
Nazisploitation
Eschploitation (religious end times, or general religious exploitation)
Hixploitation/Moonshiners
Roadshow Exploitation/30s-40s "Cautionary" films
"Hood" Film ("Gangsta")
Hollywood Gangster film (Film Noir era)
Juvenile Delinquent Film
60s Beach Movie - The Last Summer
Film starring Musical Group or Music Star (that did not become a legit actor)
* *Bonus* Elvis film
Ozploitation
Mexican Wrestling Film
Foreign "Ripoff" film (such as Turkish cinema)
Bollywood Film (actual, not a Hollywood pastiche)
Eco-Terror Film
"Mondo" Film - Sans Soleil
Documentary ABOUT B-Movies/Exploitation/Drive-ins or those involved in their production
Video Nasty
TV-Movie
* Lifetime Channel Movie
Bad Sequel to a "Well regarded film"
Critical Bomb (Less than 20% Rotten Tomatoes or Metacritic or IMDB Bottom 100 {Bottom 100 archive})
Financial Bomb
MST3K/RiffTrax (or Cinematic Titanic) version of a film
Non-MST3K version of a film featured on MST3K (or CT)

Watch 10 films starring anyone from the actors safe list.
* 1
* 2
* 3
* 4
* 5
* 6
* 7
* 8
* 9
* 10

Watch 10 films Directed/Produced by anyone from the directors/producers safe list.
* 1
* 2
* 3
* 4
* 5
* 6
* 7
* 8
* 9
* 10

Watch 5 films from those in the Studio/Distributor safe list.
* 1
* 2
* 3
* 4
* 5


Last edited by The Man with the Golden Doujinshi; 05-01-11 at 03:42 PM.
Old 03-25-11, 09:42 AM
  #31  
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Re: LIST THREAD 2nd Annual Drive-In/Exploitation/B-Movie Challenge March 31-April 30

postponing the hicksploitation extravaganza til the end of the month, since i have a slew of deep-fried fare on order. tromping through ozploitation this first week.

MARCH 31
1. NOT QUITE HOLLYWOOD -- not much more to add to the heaps of adoration for this aussie cult film documentary. but repeat viewings really highlight just how well-edited and engaging is the overall film experience. still don't think i want to get too deep into the boobs-n-beer subgenre, though.

APRIL 1
2. DEAD END DRIVE-IN -- not as balls-out terrific as ESCAPE 2K, but you cannot go wrong with mr. trenchard-smith. i wish the preamble with the car boys and competing tow companies had lasted longer. that premise (ruthlessly racing to be first on scene; marauding car/body jackers) is a movie all its own

APRIL 3
3. THIRST -- didn't really gel for me. wanted to get sucked (hah!) into snooty vampires running blood farms hijinks, but even david hemmings couldn't entirely salvage. minor and ultimately inessential.
4. STONE -- the best biker movie ever, in my estimation. from the gritty realism to the poetic, 400 bike funeral procession to 'rock and roll by billy green', STONE has it all. and like QT says in NOT QUITE HOLLYWOOD, one badass ending. a bona fide classic.

APRIL 5
5. THE CARS THAT ATE PARIS -- semi arty 'one of us' story, plenty of quaint, rural aussie scenery and a satisfying sense of dread. and the kids! something has to be done about their kids!

APRIL 6
6. VANISHING POINT -- reveals another layer with each visit. this was the first viewing that the existential struggle of kowalski really seemed apparent. the patiently-waiting, dope-smoking hitchhiker is his page turning. always terrific.
7. PIECES -- first time with this seminal high-schlock slasher since grindhouse releasing toured with a 35mm print in theaters. drop dead, awesomely enjoyable slasher. you can NEVER go wrong with paul smith
8. JUST BEFORE DAWN -- a favorite slasher, full of terrific, daylight mountain settings. the kids aren't even that abhorrent. and aviators have never been so freakishly cool

APRIL 7
9. ALONE IN THE DARK -- even with the pleasence/landau/palance trifecta, this 1982 slasher feels somehow mishandled. not without its moments, but a bit of a disappointment

APRIL 9
10. JOHNNY FIRECLOUD -- above average race/revenge fare. social dynamics were acceptably overblown yet subjectively reasonable. particularly the law/colby connection. rather good.

APRIL 10
11. PAYDAY -- nowhere near as lurid as the ads lead one to believe, but this is 'crazy heart' with some guts. rip torn goes for it and delivers a raw, real performance

APRIL 11
12. DERANGED -- nasty and darkly humorous. more gein-y than TCM. half the town seems half as demented as ezra.

APRIL 13
13. HUMANOIDS FROM THE DEEP -- mermen just wanna get theirs! instead they get blasted by an unlimited amount of shotgun ammo. for a creature feature focusing on mer-rapings, it is something of a jaunty affair. terrifically entertaining
14. HORROR HOSPITAL -- a hairy holiday, indeed! awful brit psych rock, stig-like henchmen, silly putty-faced monsters! oh my! less comedy than you might of heard. weird, grimy and out-freaking-standing.

APRIL 15
15. KIDNAPPED COED -- deliberate, modest grindhouse far with a reputation nastier than the actual film. still just potent enough to stay interesting.
16. EXTRA WEIRD SAMPLER -- 3 hours of note taking / ebay checking. why the hell is 'pig keepers daughter' so rare?

APRIL 17.
17. FORBIDDEN WORLD/MUTANT -- gloriously trashy "alien" rip. awesomely disjointed and sleazily gruesome. sure it makes zero sense, but who cares when the synth score is so undeniably excellent?
18. TERMINAL ISLAND -- jesus, is this island prison turmoil flick great. jaw dropping one liners. sass galore. selleck's mustache! quintessential drive-in sleaze. awesome.

APRIL 19
19. A NIGHT TO DISMEMBER -- what a swirling mess of nonsensical perfection. all dubbed vocals, hacked editing and a typhoid fever dream logic that is undeniable. one of the best 'worst' movies i have ever seen.

APRIL 21
20. DON'T GO IN THE HOUSE -- a favorite sleazy grindhouse entry. one hell of a performance by dan grimaldi. i should have paired this with THE BURNING, an all-time favorite slasher (and this film's original title)

Last edited by rekrapmnwahs; 04-22-11 at 04:52 PM.
Old 03-25-11, 10:45 AM
  #32  
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Re: LIST THREAD 2nd Annual Drive-In/Exploitation/B-Movie Challenge March 31-April 30

March 31 -
1. American Grindhouse (2010)

April 1 -
2. Homicidal (1961)

April 2 -
3. The Astro Zombies (1969)
4. C.C. and Company (1970)

April 3 -
5. The Mack (1973)
6. Body Slam (1986)

Last edited by kyleblack; 04-11-11 at 10:44 PM.
Old 03-25-11, 01:01 PM
  #33  
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Re: LIST THREAD 2nd Annual Drive-In/Exploitation/B-Movie Challenge March 31-April 30


The List
  1. 4/01 The Pride of Jesse Hallum
  2. 4/01 Five Minutes to Live
  3. 4/01 The Hebrew Hammer
  4. 4/01 Black Dynamite
  5. 4/02 Rock Slyde
  6. 4/05 Zombie Strippers!
  7. 4/05 The Happy Hooker Goes Hollywood
  8. 4/09 Cheech & Chong's Up in Smoke
  9. 4/11 Women in Trouble - doesn't really fit the spirit of the challenge, but I was under the impression it did, which is why I watched it
  10. 4/11 Bitch Slap
  11. 4/13 The Gore Gore Girls
  12. 4/16 Someone's Knocking at the Door
  13. 4/16 Not Quite Hollywood: The Wild, Untold Story of Ozploitation!
  14. 4/19 Histoire d'O (Story of O)
  15. Batman and Robin - The Complete 1949 Movie Serial Collection, Disc 1 (146 minutes)
    4/21 Chapter 1: Batman Takes Over (27:28)
    4/21 Chapter 2: Tunnel of Terror (17:17)
    4/21 Chapter 3: Robin's Wild Ride (17:21)
    4/21 Chapter 4: Batman Trapped (16:56)
    4/22 Chapter 5: Robin Rescues Batman (17:31)
    4/22 Chapter 6: Target--Robin! (16:51)
    4/22 Chapter 7: The Fatal Blast (16:45)
    4/22 Chapter 8: Robin Meets the Wizard (16:00)
  16. Batman and Robin - The Complete 1949 Movie Serial Collection, Disc 2 (117 minutes)
    4/23 Chapter 9: The Wizard Strikes Back (17:01)
    4/23 Chapter 10: Batman's Last Chance (16:54)
    4/23 Chapter 11: Robin's Ruse (16:48)
    4/23 Chapter 12: Robin Rides the Wind (16:59)
    4/24 Chapter 13: The Wizard's Challenge (16:34)
    4/24 Chapter 14: Batman vs. Wizard (16:37)
    4/24 Chapter 15: Batman Victorious (16:36)
  17. 4/25 Bad Girls from Mars
  18. 4/25 Emmanuelle

(All are first time viewings.)

Official Checklist
Spoiler:

Watch one film from every decade of film history.
--- 1890 - (insert film title here)(Optional)
--- 1900 -(optional)
--- 1910 -(optional)
--- 1920 -(optional)
--- 1930 -
-X- 1940 - Batman and Robin - The Complete 1949 Movie Serial Collection (1949)
--- 1950 -
-X- 1960 - Five Minutes to Live (1961)
-X- 1970 - Cheech & Chong's Up in Smoke (1978)
-X- 1980 - The Pride of Jesse Hallum (1981)
-X- 1990 - Bad Girls from Mars (1991)
-X- 2000 - The Hebrew Hammer (2003)

Watch a film for each rating:
--- G - (optional)
--- PG -
-X- PG-13 - Rock Slyde
-X- R - The Hebrew Hammer
-X- X (or NC-17) - Histoire d'O (Story of O) (NC-17)
-X- Unrated (post-MPAA 1968) - Zombie Strippers!

Watch films in at least three formats (DVD, BD, HD DVD, Laserdisc, TV, online, Streaming Netflix type, UMD, theater, iPod, VHS-sourced{VHS transferred to DVD-+R is fine}).
-X- First format, DVD, The Pride of Jesse Hallum
-X- Second format, Netflix Watch Instantly, The Hebrew Hammer
--- Third format, (insert format), (insert title).

Watch a film in an actual Drive-in. (optional) (insert title)

Watch a film in the following genres:
--- A Token Science Fiction B-Movie:
-X- A Token Horror B-Movie: Zombie Strippers!
Italian (or European) films of the following Genres:
--- Eurospy (James Bond ripoffs)
--- Giallo
--- Sword & Sandal
--- Spaghetti Western
--- Cannibal Film
--- Mafia/Gangster Film
Martial Arts film:
--- Bruce Lee-sploitation (Starring any variation on Bruce Li, Le, etc.)
--- Hong Kong (or other Asian) film
-X- American film - Black Dynamite
--- Any "Ninja" film
--- Bonus* Actual Bruce Lee film
--- Biker Film
-X- Stoner Film - Cheech & Chong's Up in Smoke
--- Carsploitation Film
-X- Blaxploitation - Black Dynamite
Sexploitation:
-X- Any type - Zombie Strippers!
--- Nudie Cutie
-X- Roughie - Histoire d'O (Story of O)
--- 70s Porn
-X- Emmanuelle Film - Emmanuelle
--- Teen Sex Comedy
--- Nunsploitation
--- Shocksploitation
-X- Rape/Revenge Film Someone's Knocking at the Door
--- Vigilante Film
--- Women in Prison
--- Nazisploitation
--- Eschploitation (religious end times, or general religious exploitation)
-X- Hixploitation/Moonshiners - The Pride of Jesse Hallum
--- Roadshow Exploitation/30s-40s "Cautionary" films
--- "Hood" Film ("Gangsta")
--- Hollywood Gangster film (Film Noir era)
--- Juvenile Delinquent Film
--- 60s Beach Movie
-X- Film starring Musical Group or Music Star (that did not become a legit actor) - The Pride of Jesse Hallum (Johnny Cash)
--- *Bonus* Elvis film
--- Ozploitation
--- Mexican Wrestling Film
--- Foreign "Ripoff" film (such as Turkish cinema)
--- Bollywood Film (actual, not a Hollywood pastiche)
--- Eco-Terror Film
--- "Mondo" Film
-X- Documentary ABOUT B-Movies/Exploitation/Drive-ins or those involved in their production - Not Quite Hollywood: The Wild, Untold Story of Ozploitation!
--- Video Nasty
-X- TV-Movie - The Pride of Jesse Hallum
--- Lifetime Channel Movie
--- Bad Sequel to a "Well regarded film"
--- Critical Bomb (Less than 20% Rotten Tomatoes or Metacritic or IMDB Bottom 100 {Bottom 100 archive})
--- Financial Bomb
--- MST3K/RiffTrax (or Cinematic Titanic) version of a film
--- Non-MST3K version of a film featured on MST3K (or CT)

Watch 10 films starring anyone from the actors safe list.
-X- 1 The Happy Hooker Goes Hollywood (Adam West)
-X- 2 Bad Girls from Mars (Brinke Stevens)
-X- 3 Histoire d'O (The Story of O) (Udo Kier)
--- 4
--- 5
--- 6
--- 7
--- 8
--- 9
--- 10

Watch 10 films Directed/Produced by anyone from the directors/producers safe list.
-X- 1 The Gore Gore Girls (Herschell Gordon Lewis)
-X- 2 Bad Girls from Mars (Fred Olen Ray)
--- 3
--- 4
--- 5
--- 6
--- 7
--- 8
--- 9
--- 10

Watch 5 films from those in the Studio/Distributor safe list.
-X- 1 The Happy Hooker Goes Hollywood (Cannon Films)
--- 2
--- 3
--- 4
--- 5

Looking Back
Spoiler:

I set out to basically watch three movies: a pair of movies starring Johnny Cash that I bought on a public domain disc for a buck about five years ago and still hadn't gotten to, and The Opium Connection, which was also a public domain, $1 purchase. I opened the challenge with the Cash double feature, but my player refused to read Opium so it remains unwatched.

I hadn't planned on it, but I did wind up finally watching the 1949 serial, Batman and Robin, which I bought a few years ago and hadn't made time to watch until now. My wife and I both thoroughly loved it. I streamed several movies, including two that I'd been meaning to see for years: Histoire d'O and Emmanuel. It's always nice to either whittle down my Unwatched Pile or to make good use of my Netflix membership. Here, then, are my end-of-challenge awards:

Favorite Movie Watched: Black Dynamite
Best/Most Brutal Catfight: Bitch Slap (runner up: Bitch Slap)
Most Gratuitous Nudity: Histoire d'O
Hottest Sex Scene: Emmanuel
Most Laughable Killing: The Gore Gore Girls
Most Outrageous/Squeamish Killing: Someone's Knocking at the Door
Best Use of Ordinary Objects in Combat: Pool balls (Zombie Strippers!)
Best Performance (tie): Johnny Cash (Five Minutes to Live), Michael Jai White (Black Dynamite)
Best WTF Moment: Someone's Knocking at the Door

Oops! I forgot my conclusion! All of the movies I watched for this challenge were first-time viewings, so even though I wasn't terribly thrilled by all of them (I found Histoire d'O boring and Bad Girls from Mars kinda lame), it was nice to expose myself to new things I might otherwise have continued to neglect. There were several that had been on my To See list for a while, and it was nice to finally get to those.

DVD: 4 | Blu-ray Disc: 0 | Netflix Watch Instantly: 13 | Theatrical Exhibition: 0 | TV Broadcast: 0 | iTunes Digital Download: 0 | Podcast: 0

Last edited by Travis McClain; 03-04-12 at 02:40 AM. Reason: Added "Looking Back"
Old 03-25-11, 01:44 PM
  #34  
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Re: LIST THREAD 2nd Annual Drive-In/Exploitation/B-Movie Challenge March 31-April 30

My little list will be here.
Old 03-25-11, 07:48 PM
  #35  
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Re: LIST THREAD 2nd Annual Drive-In/Exploitation/B-Movie Challenge March 31-April 30

Denotes first time viewing
DVD Denotes film from my personal collection.
OLV, Denotes On-Line Viewing

March 31
1. Sting of the Black Scorpion (2002) DVD Three episodes of the Black Scorpion TV series strung together to make a film, so it counts for this challenge. The Black Scorpion was Roger Corman's Batman rip-off using a sexy female crimefighter.
2. Fireball 500 (1966) OLV. Frankie Avalon is a stock car racer who gets involved in illegal moonshine running. Annette Funicello and Fabian co-star. Surprisingly, Frankie and Annette are not a couple in this movie.
3. Hot Rod Girl (1956) OLV. Hot rodders face trouble when a new kid in town stirs things up. The title of the movie is misleading because even though the opening scene does indeed feature a girl racer, for the rest of the movie she's just the girlfriend of the main character. "Before they were famous": Frank Gorshin (Batman's The Riddler), Chuch Connors (The Rifleman) and Alexander Courage (Star Trek theme) does the score.

April 1
4. Paper Man (1971, Made for TV movie.) OLV. Stefanie Powers and Dean Stockwell are part of a group of students that create a false identity using computers in order to charge things to the identity's credit card. Things turn spooky when it appears the false identity is coming to life and murdering the students. An early entry into the "hack into the system and cause chaos" plots we see today.
5. The Last Song (1980, Made for TV movie.) OLV. Lynda Carter stars as a a woman who tries to find out the cause of her husband's murder. She uncovers a plot by a big company that has been illegally dumping toxic waste. The title of the movie has NOTHING to do with the movie itself other than being a song sung by Lynda during the film.
6. Attack of the Phantoms AKA Kiss Meets the Phantom AKA Kiss Meets the Phantom of the Park (1978) DVD Rock band KISS stars in this made for TV movie which was released theatrically in some countries. I was lucky enough to see BOTH the original TV transmission and in theaters. Both prints have a slightly different editing. The entire plot is like something out of Scooby-Doo with a mad scientist who works at Magic Mountain and tries to take over the park with androids. If you were a KISS fan, this is just the coolest thing you ever saw. If not, this was the dumbest thing you ever saw. Either way, it was entertaining.

April 2
7. I Spit on Your Grave (2010) (Seen in theater) Remake of the movie of the same name. A woman gets revenge on a group of hicks who raped her.
8. Pick Up (1975) DVD Second time I've seen this movie and I still don't know what it's about. A guy in a bus picks up two hot chicks, after that you guess is as good as mine as to what the plot is. The two babes take their clothes off often so it's not a total waste.
9. The Teacher (1974) DVD The absolutely stunning Angel Tompkins is the titular Teacher who seduces a student who is a total idiot since he at first refuses her advances but he comes around later in the flick. Sub plot about a creepy dude who seeks revenge for his brother's death.

April 3
10. Best Friends (1975) DVD Two war veterans travel the country with their girlfriends in a mobile home. Things turn sour when one of the friends wants to ride free and the other wants to settle down and get married. "Before they were famous": Richard Hatch (Battlestar Galactica).
11. Condorman (1981) DVD-R Comedic superhero/spy adventure movie from Disney.

April 4
12. C.C. & Company (1970) OLV. Ann Margret and Joe Namath star in this biker flick. Mildly entertaining. B Movie mainstay Sid Haig also stars in a minor role.
13. Deadly Harvest (1977) OLV. Surprisingly good movie about society's breakdown as climate change causes food shortages. Story centers around a group of farmers who are besieged by city folk who want to steal their food. "Before they were famous": Kim Cattrall.
14. Trip With the Teacher (1975) DVD A couple of bikers terrorize some girls on a field trip in the desert. There's some tension but it's slow moving for the most part. "Before they were famous": Zalman King, who directed all those erotic films, but here he stars as the creepiest looking biker in cinema history.

April 5
15. Evel Knievel (1971) OLV. George Hamilton stars in this biopic of the famous daredevil Evel Knievel. Pretty good stuff.

April 6
16. The Boy Who Cried Werewolf (2010) OLV. NOT a remake of the 1973 film of the same name. Here an American family inherits a castle in Romania (of all places) and travels there to sell it. There they are greeted by the creepy caretaker (Brooke Shields hamming it up like crazy) and shortly after the teenage girl gets infected with werewolf blood. Amusing family comedy from Nickelodeon. I saw it mostly to see Brooke Shields playing a role very different from her usual fare as she is less than glamorous.

April 7
17. The Linda McCartney Story (2000) TV Broadcast. Made for TV movie about the life and death of Paul McCartney's wife, Linda.

April 8
18. Santo Vs Los Hombres Infernales (1958) Quite possibly Santo's first movie. Filmed in Cuba before Castro took over.

April 9
19. The Sister In Law (1974) DVD Two brothers are at odds over a drug deal gone wrong.

April 10
20. The Stepmother (1972) DVD A man kills another man who is sleeping with his wife and tries to cover up the murder.
21. Napoleon and Samantha (1972) TV Broadcast. "Before they were famous": Jodie Foster and Michael Douglas. A very young Jodie Foster stars alongside a redheaded kid who has a pet lion.

April 11
Nothing

April 12
22. Malibu High (1979) DVD A teenage girl uses sex to better her grades in school. She then turns to prostitution and escalates up to hit-girl. Wild!
23. Freddy vs Jason (2003) TV Broadcast. The title says it all. Expect no more.

April 13
24. Cindy and Donna (1970) DVD Two very attractive half-sisters discover sex and drugs. There's also a stripper in a secondary role who's nude scenes are worth the price of admission alone. In my opinion, this is the best film in the Drive In Cult Classics 8 movie pack.

April 14-16
Nothing

April 17
25. The Butterfly Effect 2 (2006) TV broadcast Surprisingly good sequel to the first film. Same plot, but well told.

April 18-19
Nothing

April 20
26. Riddles of the Sphinx (2008) TV broadcast Another in a long line of mediocre Sci-Fi Channel movies. A mythological sphinx (made from third grade CGI) is unleashed by an archaeologist. Only good thing is Dina Meyer in a sexy skintight outfit for the whole movie.

April 21
Nothing

April 22
27. Cavegirl (1985) DVD A nerdy student travels back in time and falls for a sexy cavegirl. The whole thing is written, produced, shot and directed by David Oliver, so he has no-one but himself to blame for this totally unfunny comedy. Only good thing is the titular Cavegirl played by Cynthia Thompson.
28. Coach (1978) DVD Mildly entertaining comedy about a female basketball coach played by the perfectly cast Cathy Lee Crosby whose athletic background makes her a natural for the role. "Before they were famous": Michael Biehn (John Connor in The Terminator).

April 23-24
Nothing

April 25
29. Jocks (1986) DVD Bottom of the barrel teen comedy about a tennis team that goes to Las Vegas to compete. Incredibly enough Christopher Lee is in this. "Before they were famous": Mariska Hargitay, that chick from Law & Order.
30. My Tutor (1983) DVD Plenty of nudity makes this teen flick bearable. The very attractive Caren Kaye stars as a French tutor who gets involved with her student. Huge breasted Kitten Natividad also appears in a small role as a prostitute.

April 26
31. The Pom Pom Girls (1976) DVD The title is misleading since the pom pom girls in question appear in uniform only in a couple of scenes and the rest is a plot-less tale of teen hijinks. Very much of its time and one of the better films in the Too Cool for School 12 movie pack.

April 27
32. The Van (1977) DVD A dorky guy becomes popular once he starts driving a tricked out van around. Van has a waterbed so you can guess the rest.
33. Debbie Does Dallas (1978) DVD-R I had never seen this movie and thought from the title that it was about a cheerleader's sexual escapades with the Dallas Cowboys. It isn't. The "plot" revolves around a group of girls who want to travel to Texas to try out for cheerleaders and pay for the trip by selling their sexual favors.

April 28
34. The Reef (2019) (Seen in theater) One of the better movies seen for this challenge. A group of people are set adrift in the open sea after their boat capsizes. They make the decision to swim to shore and are stalked by a great white shark. Very suspenseful film recalls Open Water from a couple of years back. But this one has more suspense and is faster paced. Recommended.

April 29
35. The Beach Girls and the Monster AKA Monster From the Surf (1965) OLV The title says it all.
36. China 9, Liberty 37 (1978) OLV Oddly titled spaghetti western about a lone gunman who is hired to kill a man. He doesn't kill him but instead steals his wife (the lovely Jenny Agutter). Much more of a love triangle drama than a western, this movie benefits from excellent vistas and a nice score by Pino Donaggio. It appears the version I saw on Youtube has all of Ms. Agutter's nude scenes cut out, as well as being a pan and scan fullscreen version. Even so, an enjoyable film.
37. Curse of Demon Mountain AKA The Shadow of Chikara (1977) OLV A group of civil war soldiers head for the mountains in search of diamonds while being stalked by an unseen killer.

April 30
38. The Beach Girls (1982) DVD Mindless comedy about some girls that party all the time. Plenty of nudity.
39. Sucker Punch (2011) Seen in theater It may have a name director, a major studio and a multi-million dollar budget, but this movie is still a B movie in my opinion. I'm going to use a wildcard here anyway.
40. Tilt (1979) VHS to DVD-R Brooke shields and that guy from Krull hustle pinball players. Brooke plays the teen pinball wizard. "Before they were famous": Lorenzo Lamas.
41. Satanico Pandemonium AKA La Sexorcista (1975) DVD-R Pretty damn good mexican horror film about a nun who becomes seduced by the devil. Lesbian nuns who get naked puts this squarely in the Nunsploitation category.
42. The Kidnapping of the President (1980) DVD-R Decent thriller with William Shatner and typecast-as-the president actor Hal Holbrook.
CHECKLIST
Spoiler:

Watch one film from every decade of film history.
* 1890 - (insert film title here)(Optional)
* 1900 -(optional)
* 1910 -(optional)
* 1920 -(optional)
* 1930 -
* 1940 -
1950 - Hot Rod Girl
1960 - Fireball 500
1970 - The Pom Pom Girls
1980 - The Last Song
* 1990 -
2000 - Riddles of the Sphinx
Watch a film for each rating:
G - The Boy Who Cried Werewolf
PG - Condorman
* PG-13 - (optional)
R - The Butterfly Effect 2* X (or NC-17) -
* Unrated (post-MPAA 1968) -

Watch films in at least three formats (DVD, BD, HD DVD, Laserdisc, TV, online, Streaming Netflix type, UMD, theater, iPod, VHS-sourced{VHS transferred to DVD-+R is fine}).
First format (Online viewing, TV4U.com), Evel Knievel.
Second format (TV Broadcast), Napoleon and Samantha
Third format (DVD), Coach

Watch a film in an actual Drive-in. (optional) (insert title)

Watch a film in the following genres:
A Token Science Fiction B-Movie:
A Token Horror B-Movie: Freddy vs Jason
Italian (or European) films of the following Genres:
* Eurospy (James Bond ripoffs)
* Giallo
* Sword & Sandal
Spaghetti Western - China 9, Liberty 37
* Cannibal Film
* Mafia/Gangster Film
Martial Arts film:
* Bruce Lee-sploitation (Starring any variation on Bruce Li, Le, etc.)
* Hong Kong (or other Asian) film
* American film
* Any "Ninja" film
* Bonus* Actual Bruce Lee film
Biker Film - C.C. & Company
Stoner Film - The Beach Girls
Carsploitation Film - The Van
Blaxploitation
Sexploitation:
Any type - Pick Up
* Nudie Cutie
* Roughie
70s Porn - Debbie Does Dallas
* Emmanuelle Film
[COLOR="Red"]Teen Sex Comedy[COLOR="Red"]
Nunsploitation - Satanico Pandemonium
Shocksploitation
Rape/Revenge Film - I Spit On Your Grave
Vigilante Film
Women in Prison - Sucker Punch (OK the girls were not in prision but a mental hospital, but they were there from criminal behavior so it counts)
Nazisploitation
Eschploitation (religious end times, or general religious exploitation)
Hixploitation/Moonshiners
Roadshow Exploitation/30s-40s "Cautionary" films
"Hood" Film ("Gangsta")
Hollywood Gangster film (Film Noir era)
Juvenile Delinquent Film - Malibu High
60s Beach Movie - The Beach Girls and the Monster
Film starring Musical Group or Music Star (that did not become a legit actor) Attack of the Phantoms
* *Bonus* Elvis film
Ozploitation - The Reef
Mexican Wrestling Film - Santo vs Los Hombres Infernales
Foreign "Ripoff" film (such as Turkish cinema)
Bollywood Film (actual, not a Hollywood pastiche)
Eco-Terror Film - Deadly Harvest
"Mondo" Film
Documentary ABOUT B-Movies/Exploitation/Drive-ins or those involved in their production
Video Nasty
TV-Movie - Paper Man
* Lifetime Channel Movie
Bad Sequel to a "Well regarded film"
Critical Bomb (Less than 20% Rotten Tomatoes or Metacritic or IMDB Bottom 100 {Bottom 100 archive})
Financial Bomb
MST3K/RiffTrax (or Cinematic Titanic) version of a film
Non-MST3K version of a film featured on MST3K (or CT)

Watch 10 films starring anyone from the actors safe list.
1 Jocks (Christopher Lee)
2 Curse of Demon Mountain (Joe Don Baker)
3 The KIdnapping of the President (William Shatner)
* 4
* 5
* 6
* 7
* 8
* 9
* 10

Watch 10 films Directed/Produced by anyone from the directors/producers safe list.
* 1
* 2
* 3
* 4
* 5
* 6
* 7
* 8
* 9
* 10

Watch 5 films from those in the Studio/Distributor safe list.
1 Sting of the Black Scorpion (Concorde Pictures)
2 The Teacher (Crown International Pictures)
3 Best Friends (Crown International Pictures)
4 Cavegirl (Crown International Pictures)
5 My Tutor (Crown International Pictures)

Last edited by pagefrance; 05-01-11 at 11:16 AM. Reason: List update
Old 03-26-11, 09:06 PM
  #36  
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Re: LIST THREAD 2nd Annual Drive-In/Exploitation/B-Movie Challenge March 31-April 30

April 3rd
1.) I Spit On Your Grave (2010)

April 4th
2.) Alien Vs Ninja

April 7th
3.)Fire Down Below

Spoiler:

Watch one film from every decade of film history.
* 1890 - (insert film title here)(Optional)
* 1900 -(optional)
* 1910 -(optional)
* 1920 -(optional)
* 1930 -
* 1940 -
* 1950 -
* 1960 -
* 1970 -
* 1980 -
* 1990 -
* 2000-

Watch a film for each rating:
* G - (optional)
* PG -
* PG-13 - (optional)
* R -
* X (or NC-17) -
* Unrated (post-MPAA 1968) -

Watch films in at least three formats (DVD, BD, HD DVD, Laserdisc, TV, online, Streaming Netflix type, UMD, theater, iPod, VHS-sourced{VHS transferred to DVD-+R is fine}).
* First format, (insert format), (insert title).
* Second format, (insert format), (insert title).
* Third format, (insert format), (insert title).

Watch a film in an actual Drive-in. (optional) (insert title)

Watch a film in the following genres:
A Token Science Fiction B-Movie:
A Token Horror B-Movie:
Italian (or European) films of the following Genres:
* Eurospy (James Bond ripoffs)
* Giallo
* Sword & Sandal
* Spaghetti Western
* Cannibal Film
* Mafia/Gangster Film
Martial Arts film:
* Bruce Lee-sploitation (Starring any variation on Bruce Li, Le, etc.)
* Hong Kong (or other Asian) film
* American film
* Any "Ninja" film- Alien Vs Ninja
* Bonus* Actual Bruce Lee film
Biker Film
Stoner Film
Carsploitation Film
Blaxploitation
Sexploitation:
* Any type
* Nudie Cutie
* Roughie
* 70s Porn
* Emmanuelle Film
* Teen Sex Comedy
Nunsploitation
Shocksploitation
*Rape/Revenge Film I Spit On Your Grave (2010)
Vigilante Film
Women in Prison
Nazisploitation
Eschploitation (religious end times, or general religious exploitation)
Hixploitation/Moonshiners
Roadshow Exploitation/30s-40s "Cautionary" films
"Hood" Film ("Gangsta")
Hollywood Gangster film (Film Noir era)
Juvenile Delinquent Film
60s Beach Movie
Film starring Musical Group or Music Star (that did not become a legit actor)
* *Bonus* Elvis film
Ozploitation
Mexican Wrestling Film
Foreign "Ripoff" film (such as Turkish cinema)
Bollywood Film (actual, not a Hollywood pastiche)
Eco-Terror Film
"Mondo" Film
Documentary ABOUT B-Movies/Exploitation/Drive-ins or those involved in their production
Video Nasty
TV-Movie
* Lifetime Channel Movie
Bad Sequel to a "Well regarded film"
Critical Bomb (Less than 20% Rotten Tomatoes or Metacritic or IMDB Bottom 100 {Bottom 100 archive})
Financial Bomb
MST3K/RiffTrax (or Cinematic Titanic) version of a film
Non-MST3K version of a film featured on MST3K (or CT)

Watch 10 films starring anyone from the actors safe list.
* 1 Steven Seagal (Fire Down Below)
* 2
* 3
* 4
* 5
* 6
* 7
* 8
* 9
* 10

Watch 10 films Directed/Produced by anyone from the directors/producers safe list.
* 1
* 2
* 3
* 4
* 5
* 6
* 7
* 8
* 9
* 10

Watch 5 films from those in the Studio/Distributor safe list.
* 1
* 2
* 3
* 4
* 5

Last edited by acubfaninmd; 04-07-11 at 10:57 PM.
Old 03-26-11, 10:26 PM
  #37  
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Re: LIST THREAD 2nd Annual Drive-In/Exploitation/B-Movie Challenge March 31-April 30





- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -


March 31
1) Invasion of the Bee Girls (1972) - Kinda of cheesy plot but pulled off well I thought. Very B-movie looking in most of it, but some neat sci-fi scenes with copious breats also. You can tell what they spent the budget on.

2) Act of Vengeance a.k.a Rape Squad (1974) - Weird take on the rape thing but pretty well done with decent acting. Jo Ann Harris is hot, until you feel bad for thinking she's hot cause the rape stuff and all. Random appearance by Dallas' Steve Kanaly. Satisfying.

April 1
3) 42nd Street Forever vol. 2 - just to get in the mood today

4) Female Prison Scorpion: Jailhouse 41 (1972) - forgot how awesome this movie is, some very cool experimental stuff and great photography

5) & 6) Blood Mania (1970) and Weekend With the Babysitter (1970) double feature (trailers: Devil Times Five / Stacy / The Sinful Dwarf / The Candy Snatchers / The Stranger and The Gunfighter)
- Blood Mania is an experiment in non-acting and anti-movement, never seen anything like it. Weekend w/Babysitter isn't as good on repeat viewings as the first one. Somehow George Carey manages to seem way older and creepier here. Story isn't as good, but it has dirt bike hippies, drug-running boats, and planes flying to the Alps overnight, so it's all good.

April 2
7) & 8) Just Before Dawn (1981) and Savage Streets (1984) double feature (trailers: 5 Fingers of Death / It Came Without Warning / Prom Night / Enter the Dragon / Ruby)
- Just Before Dawn, part RV road trip movie, part backwoods hick horror movie. Kinda slow (and under-uses George Kennedy) but pretty fun. Savage Streets is so awesome, gets better everytime I watch it.

April 4
9) The Evictors (1979)
- Decent horror with 70s southern feel, but the scenes from the past hurt the film I thought. A couple cool scenes make this at least a worth a view though. Another random Michael Parks appearance I wasn't expecting (Jean Renault to me).

April 5
10) & 11) The Big Doll House (1971) and The Sinful Dwarf (1973) double feature (trailers: Invasion of the Bee Girls / Dr. Black and Mr. Hyde / Night Call Nurses / Cannibal Girls)
-Shower scenes, mudfights, torture...a fairly annoying pace but some quality scenes and hot Pam Grier make it worth it. Sinful Dwarf is just crazy, I need a shower after that.

12) & 13) Rabid (1977) and Piranha (1978) double feature (trailers: Copkillers / I Dismember Mama / Bone / Dawn of the Dead / The Mercenary)
-Can't believe I've never seen Rabid, but I don't really like Cronenberg. Decent B-flick that's too long and shit ending, but interesting in parts and Marilyn Chambers was hot and actually not awful in it. Piranha is what it is, just had to do it, always good for some laughs with friends. Keenan Wynn getting his legs eaten-off is classic.

April 8
14) & 15) Ms. 45 (1981) and Hell Night (1981) double feature (trailers: Terror Train / Criminal Woman Killing Melody / The One Armed Executioner / Rolling Thunder)
-Abel Ferrara's very New York rape-revenge flick with a twist. Kinda long but pays off with a few cool killings and the end is just weird. Hell Night takes too long to get to the point, and some eye-rolling cheese and a Van Patten, but does have some cool shots I enjoyed, and Linda Blair is pudgy-cute glory. Neither of these films ever show any boobs, so I'm going back to the 70s.

April 9
16) & 17) Pink Angels (1971) and Coffy (1973) double feature (trailers: Savage! / Wild Riders / The Street Fighter / Black Sampson)
- Pink Angels is just horrible, painful, lamest ending ever. Still love Coffy though, so sexy.

April 11
18) MST3K: The Killer Shrews (1959) - Had to break up the dirty 70s a bit. One of my favorite MST episodes; James Best and costumes on the dogs, classic

April 12
19) & 20) Russ Meyer's Vixen (1968) and Superfly (1972) double feature (trailers: Mean Mother / Django / Point of Terror / Savage Sisters / The Big Bird Cage)
-Vixen is my favorite Russ Meyer flick after FPKK, Superfly is just damn awesome. My friends agreed this double feature was one of the better ones yet.

April 14
21) MST3K: Gunslinger (1956) - Yay, Roger Corman and Beverly Garland....ah nevermind it sucks.

April 15
22) Friday Foster (1975) - Everyone's in this but boy was it boring. Even the obligatory Pam Grier boob didn't save this one for me.

April 16
23) & 24) Sugar Hill (1974) and Ilsa: She-Wolf of the SS (1975) double feature (trailers: Abby / Werewolves on Wheels / Foxy Brown / Female Prisoner Scorpion 701)
-Sugar Hill wasn't as good on my second viewing of it, kinda drug out. Ilsa was quite a bit for my company haha, I appreciate that movie more everytime I see it.

April 18
25) & 26) Let's Scare Jessica to Death (1971) and The Young Graduates (1971) double feature (trailers: Girls For Rent / Superchick / The Tormentors / Sabata / Don't Answer the Phone)
-oh God, 'Let's Scare Jessica...' started decent but went nowhere fast, disappointing.

April 19
27) & 28) Mailbu High (1979) and Trip With the Teacher (1975) double feature (trailers: The Step-Mother / The Teacher / Virgin Witch / Weekend With the Babysitter)
-For some reason this is like the third time I've seen Malibu High. That girl is so trashy, but the flick is oddly watchable. Trip w/Teacher didn't seem as harsh to me this time, but that big guy is still creepy. My friend actually remembered seeing this in the theater he worked in back when it played. I need to see Virgin Witch.

April 21
29) & 30) Cindy and Donna (1970) and The Big Bird Cage (1972) double feature (trailers: Mini-Skirt Mob / Shaft / Duel / Trouble Man)
-Cindy and Donna got painful exploring every new sex experience...blah. Hadn't seen Big Bird Cage in forever; not nearly as raw and cool as the first but more slick and actually ended up being really fun.

April 25
31) & 32) Chain Gang Women (1971) and The Hellcats (1967) double feature (trailers: Chinese Hercules / Night of the Bloody Apes / Superchick / The Sister-In-Law)
-Way misleading title on Chain Gang Women, but enough trashiness to pay off. Wasn't the Hellcats done by MST3K? It's no better here. Still need to see Chinese Hercules for some Bolo kickin-ass

April 26
33) Black Dynamite (2009) - Still great on repeat viewings, my only Blu-ray of this challenge I think.

April 27
34) & 35) Wild Riders (1971) and The Specialist (1975) double feature (trailers: Death Will Have Your Eyes a.k.a. Savage City / The Centerfold Girls / Sweet Jesus Preacherman / The Crater Lake Monster)
-Another Crown International double-feature I made...Alex Rocco was effectively gross in Wild Riders, not a bad flick with plenty of sleazy violence. The Specialist, ahhh Adam West is classic and Ahna Capri has an amazing rack, my buddy and I had fun on this one, too easy to riff.

April 29
36) & 37) Foxy Brown (1974) and Rolling Thunder (1977) double feature (trailers: Death Machines / Bucktown / Coffy / The Tigress)
- Thought these might be my last for the challenge, so wanted to end with something "good" at least. Foxy Brown is always dope but finally saw Rolling Thunder and it's amazing in every way, moving into my 'top 70s' list.

Last edited by naitram; 05-01-11 at 12:20 AM.
Old 03-27-11, 06:00 PM
  #38  
DVD Talk Special Edition
 
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Re: LIST THREAD 2nd Annual Drive-In/Exploitation/B-Movie Challenge March 31-April 30

Total Watched: 43
New Films:34/35 97%
Pace:52
Boobs: 180
Random: 1 Hippie Orgy, 1 Moonshine Gin detonated by TNT, 1 Male Castration, 1 Dynamiting of a bank, 1 demon BJ, 1 Opie and Anthony Sound Byte,1 ape man, 1 unnecesarry suicide, 1 child shooting, 1 shoot out at a roller rink, 1 duel at a salt mine, 1 james bond rip off, 1 medical film about growing up, 1 c-4 bomb detonated by a metal dildo, 1 blind man with a knife in his cane, 1 sniper shot on a nude beach, 1 topless receptionist, 1 sex scene on skates, 1 rape after a card game, 1 knockwurst vs sufflet battle, 1 Ninja duel on a roof, 1 Snorting Minotaur Statue, 1 Giant White Rat, 1 Hobo with a Shotgun, 1 Adrien Barbeua nude scene, 1 nude man on an elevator, 1 destroyed white dodge charger

Denotes New

March 31st
1. Teenage Hitch-hikers (1975) 45/100 Nothing special, but does offr a couple funny moments
2. Walking Tall (1973) 58/100 Pretty solid vigilante flick, better then the one with the Rock.
3. Ilsa, She Wolf of the SS (1975) 60/100 Ilsa has some nice boobs
April 1st
4. Dixie Dynamite (1976) 50/100 A nice revenge story, with moonshine running thrown in
5. Necromancer(1988) 40/100 Revenge demon style
6. Mondo Topless (1966) 40/100 Only good thing is boobs... and there are a lot
7. Turkey Shoot a.k.a Escape 2000 (1982) 52/100 Did Olivia Hussey's nude stand in need to have huge different boobs?
8. Duel of the Iron Fist a.k.a The Duel (1971) 60/100 Good fight scenes, good storyline
April 2nd
April 3rd
April 4th

9. Angel of Fury (1992) 35/100 Cynthia Rothrock in a badly acted, fast action martial arts movie
10. Switchblade Sisters (1975) 53/100 The Dagger Debs/Jezzebels are pretty badass. I'd be afraid.
11. Lorna (1964) 50/100 Introduction to roughies
April 5th
12. Agent 077From the Orient with Fury(1965)45/100 A terrible James Bond rip off
13. Mom and Dad(1945) 25/100 Didn't need the birthing video
14. Ilsa, Harem Keeper of the Oil shieks (1976) 52/100 not as good as the first Ilsa
April 6th
April 7th

15. The Cat O' Nine Tails(1971) 65/100 excellent Argento Movie
April 8th
16. The Ninja Strikes Back (1983) 55/100 I really dug this... martial arts, boobs and ninjas
17. The Imoral Mr. Teas (1959)45/100 That song is stuck in my head
18. Sex Rink 0/100 terrible
19. Black Heat(1976) 42/100 Kicks Carter doesn't kick much
20. (wc1) Boeing Boeing (1965) Used as WC due to being featured at Quentin Tarentino Grindhouse festival
21. Revenge of the Ninja (1983) 64/100 Really liked the duel on the rooftop, fight scenes where fun
April 9th
22. Land of the Minotaur (1976) 35/100 Only good thing is Plesence/Cushing
23. Food for the Gods 44/100 Liked but not hugely
24. Hobo with a Shotgun 60/100 Fun as can be
April 10th
25. Swamp Thing(1982) 53/100 Not as good as the Moore comics, but fun
26. Cheech and Chong Nice Dreams(1981) 54/100 My first Cheech and Chong Movie... but won't be my last
April 11th
April 12th

27. Vanishing Point(1971) 62/100 I liked it but expected more for some reason
APRIL 13th
April 14th
April 15th

28. Emmanuelle 5 (1987) 20/100 pretty terrible
April 16th
April 17th
April 18th
April 19th

29. Hostel (2006) 58/100 caught it on tv, and derailed my 100 percent new views in the process
April 20th
30. 10 to Midnight (1983) 63/100 Why would you mess with Charles Bronson's daughter
31. Suicide Girls Must Die (2009) 44/100 Had to know it was fake
April 21st
32. Direct Contact (2009) 42/100 Dolph kicks ass
33. Maciste, Il Gladiator Piu Forte Del Mondo a.k.a Collosus of the Arena (1962) 40/100 interesting
34. The IMortalizer(1990) 45/100
35. Sharky's Machine
April 22nd
36. Them! 62/100 Excellent
37. Django 60/100 Glad I saw this and Tarentino is adding another
38. Boys N The Hood 70/100 one of my all time faves
39. Fantastic Flesh: The Art of Makeup FX 50/100 Pretty cool FX showing
40. His Name was Jason 55/100 Excellent little history lesson
April 23rd
April 24th
April 25th
April 26th
April 27th
April 28th
April 29th
April 30th

Spoiler:
Watch one film from every decade of film history.

* 1930 -
* 1940 - Mom and Dad
* 1950 -The Imoral Mr. Teas
* 1960 - Mondo Topless
* 1970 -Teenage Hitch-hikers
* 1980 - Necromancer
* 1990 -Angel of Fury
* 2000 - Direct Contact
* 2010 - Hobo with a Shotgun

Watch a film for each rating:
* G - (optional)
* PG -Dixie Dynamite
* PG-13 - (optional)
* R -Walking Tall
* X (or NC-17) - Sex rink

* Unrated (post-MPAA 1968) -

Watch films in at least three formats (DVD, BD, HD DVD, Laserdisc, TV, online, Streaming Netflix type, UMD, theater, iPod, VHS-sourced{VHS transferred to DVD-+R is fine}).
* First format, (AVI Streaming), (Teenage Hitch-hikers).
* Second format, (DVD), (Cat O' Nine Tails).
* Third format, (Netflix Streaming), (Revenge of the Ninja).


Watch a film in an actual Drive-in. (optional) (insert title)

Watch a film in the following genres:
A Token Science Fiction B-Movie:Them!
A Token Horror B-Movie Land of the Minotaur
Italian (or European) films of the following Genres:
* Eurospy (James Bond ripoffs) Agent 077 From the Orient with Fury
* Giallo Cat o' Nine Tales
* Sword & Sandal Collosus of the Arena
* Spaghetti Western Django

* Cannibal Film
* Mafia/Gangster Film
Martial Arts film:
* Bruce Lee-sploitation Ninja Strikes back
* Hong Kong film The Duel
* American film - Angel of Fury
* Any "Ninja" film Revenge of the Ninja

* Bonus* Actual Bruce Lee film
Biker Film
Stoner Film Cheech and Chong Nice Dreams
Carsploitation Film Vanishing Point
Blaxploitation Black Heat

Sexploitation:
* Any type
* Nudie Cutie The Imoral Mr. Teas
* Roughie Lorna
* 70s Porn Sex Rink
* Emmanuelle Film Emmanuelle 5

* Teen Sex Comedy
Nunsploitation Killer Nun
Shocksploitation - Hostel
Rape/Revenge Film Necromancer
Vigilante Film - Walking Tall

Women in Prison
Nazisploitation Ilsa, She Wolf of the SS
Eschploitation (religious end times, or general religious exploitation)
Hixploitation/Moonshiners Dixie Dynamite
Roadshow Exploitation/30s-40s "Cautionary" films Mom and Dad
"Hood" Film ("Gangsta") Boyz N The Hood

Hollywood Gangster film (Film Noir era)
Juvenile Delinquent Film Switchblade Sisters
60s Beach Movie
Film starring Musical Group or Music Star (that did not become a legit actor)
* *Bonus* Elvis film
Ozploitation - Turkey Shoot
Mexican Wrestling Film
Foreign "Ripoff" film (such as Turkish cinema)
Bollywood Film (actual, not a Hollywood pastiche)
Eco-Terror Film Food of the Gods
"Mondo" Film Mondo Topless
Documentary ABOUT B-Movies/Exploitation/Drive-ins or those involved in their production His name was Jason

Video Nasty
TV-Movie
* Lifetime Channel Movie
Bad Sequel to a "Well regarded film"
Critical Bomb (Less than 20% Rotten Tomatoes or Metacritic or IMDB Bottom 100 {Bottom 100 archive})
Financial Bomb
MST3K/RiffTrax (or Cinematic Titanic) version of a film
Non-MST3K version of a film featured on MST3K (or CT)

Watch 10 films starring anyone from the actors safe list.
* 1 Joe Don Baker Walking Tall
* 2 Dyanne Thorne Ilsa, Shewolf of the SS
* 3 Bruce Le Return of the Ninja
* 4 Donald Pleasence/Peter Cushing Land of the Minotaur
* 5 David Hess Swamp Thing
* 6 Dolph Lundgren Direct Contact
* 7 Charles Bronson 10 to Midnight
* 8
* 9
* 10

Watch 10 films Directed/Produced by anyone from the directors/producers safe list.
* 1 Don Edmonds (Ilsa, Shewolf of the SS)
* 2 Russ Meyer (Lorna)
* 3 Dario Argento (Cat O'Nine Tails)
* 4 Wes Craven (Swamp Thing)
* 5
* 6
* 7
* 8
* 9
* 10

Watch 5 films from those in the Studio/Distributor safe list.
* 1 Blue Underground (Cat O' Nine Tails)
* 2 Independent International (Black Heat)
* 3 Crown International (Land of the Minotaur)
* 4 American Internaltional Pictures ( Food of the Gods)
* 5


Before they were Stars:
Leif Garret (Walking Tall)
Ray Wise (Swamp Thing)
Paul Ruebens ( Nice Dreams)
Sandra Bernhard (Nice Dreams)
Tony Cox (Nice Dreams)


COMPLETE

Last edited by Darkgod; 05-03-11 at 10:00 AM.
Old 03-27-11, 11:09 PM
  #39  
DVD Talk Gold Edition
 
Join Date: Jan 2004
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Re: LIST THREAD 2nd Annual Drive-In/Exploitation/B-Movie Challenge March 31-April 30



March 31
1. Foxy Brown (1976). Netflix Streaming. Pam Grier kicks ass and takes names in this feminist revenge flick. Solid!
2. Cleopatra Jones (1973). Netflix Streaming. I'm not sure who's the bigger star here, Tamara Dobson's funkalicious 70s haute couture or Shelley Winters chewing the scenery as Mommy, the lesbian drug lord.
3. The Pink Angels (1971). DVD. The plot, such as it is, deals with a gay biker gang. As a gay man, I was fascinated by this lavender fossil when I saw the trailer at Trailers From Hell, and I finally found it in a BCI Drive-In Classics set. On the one hand, the gay bikers are out and flaming so one could see it as early Gregg Araki-esque homocore, but on the other, it deals with some unpleasant stereotypes, and for some reason one of the gay bikers is also doing a John Lennon impersonation. Basically, it's awful.

April 1
4. Tarzan and the Valley of Gold. (1965). DVD. Why on earth is Mike Henry wearing a SUIT in the beginning of the flick? He's Tarzan for Jah's sake, not to mention that he is built like the Colosseum. The man was sheer perfection, so why put clothes on him?
5. Cleopatra Jones and the Casino of Gold. (1975). DVD. More Tamara Dobson 70s fashion madness, set in Hong Kong (one of my favorite cities). Just picked this up from the recent WAC 5 for $50 sale.

April 2
6. Pink Flamingos (1972). DVD. At the time, it was shocking, but now it's just good old-fashioned bad taste film making.

April 5
7. The First Nudie Musical (1976).DVD. Basic set-up: a porn producer tries to save his dying studio by producing the first-ever pornographic musical. Despite the title, this is a light-hearted love letter to the Golden Age of Hollywood, except with dancing dildos in place of Eleanor Powell.
8. Billy Jack (1971). DVD. Kids today who see this counterculture relic won't believe how insanely popular Billy Jack was on its initial release. Every kid wanted to see it, and the theme song, "One Tin Soldier," was an AM radio staple. Looking at it now, 40 years later, the hypocrisy of preaching pacifism and love while doling out roundhouse kicks really stands out.

April 6
9. The Deathmaster (1971). DVD. If Charles Manson were a vampire. . .
10. Abby (1974). YouTube. A fun blaxpoitation rip-off of The Exorcist.

April 7
11. The Legend of N!gger Charley--Yes, that's the title; talk to Fred Williamson who starred in it! (1972). YouTube. It's a western with an African-American hero 2 years before Blazing Saddles. I think using the N-word in the title and all over the script was "taking it back" a la Clerks 2.
12. Hell's Highway (1932). TV. A pre-Code programmer depicting the cruelty and inhumanity of the Southern chain gang.
13. Piranha (2010). Blu-Ray. Carnivorous monsters devour the youth of America.

April 8
14. The Apple (1980). DVD. WTF were Golan-Globus thinking? "Hey, let's make a poorly conceived parable using pop music as a metaphor of the balance between good and evil!" Still, it's oddly compelling to watch.
15. Lisztomania (1975). Digital File. Ken Russell's insane, surreal, hallucinatory, yet somehow entertaining, account of the life and loves of Hungarian composer Franz Liszt, played by Roger Daltrey as a 19th-century rock god.
16. Can't Stop the Music (1980). DVD. Aptly called in one review, "the Dawn of the Dead of movie musicals", the first (and last) film starring the Village People is a fabulous disaster. The film opens with a keyboard shooting rainbows that gives a hint of the audience it's pitched to, followed by an impossibly young Steve Guttenberg roller skating through 1980 New York City--it's a mercy he wasn't mugged.

April 9
17. Galaxy of Terror (1981). TV. Far more entertaining than I thought it would be, this low-budget derivative of Alien and Solaris looks better than it has a right to.
18. The Green Slime (1968). TV. Best damn theme song ever!

April 12
19. Endangered Species (1982). DVD. Another WB Shop purchase. Terrific cast and an enigmatic plot that doesn't go where one thinks it would. Before They Were Famous: JoBeth Williams right before her starring role as the mom in Poltergeist.

April 13
20. The Cycle Savages (1969). Netflix Streaming. The same year as his break-out role with the The Duke in True Grit, Bruce Dern stars in this piece of drive-in fodder as a biker who has a vendetta against an artist.
21. Wild in the Streets (1968). DVD. Despite its release by AIP to drive-in audiences, this political satire veered dangerously close to respectability by garnering some good critical regard, and having one of the songs from the score, "The Shape of Things To Come," hit the Top 40 charts. Before They Were Famous: Richard Pryor as a black militant.
22. Gas-s-s-s (1970). DVD. I suppose this 60s relic may have had some cultural significance in the days when counter-cultural humor meant something, but now it's as mystifying to an audience in 2011 as the Rosetta Stone.

April 14
23. The Mack (1973). Netflix Streaming. Released 10 years before Scarface, Max Julien as The Mack's eponymous anti-hero evokes the same "criminal as social rebel" mindset, along with still-relevant cultural commentary on the state of Black America.
24. Enter The Dragon (1973). Netflix Streaming. If you have to die at 33, this is the movie to go out on. Just an amazing film.

April 15
25. Women's Prison (2002). Netflix Streaming. Interesting take on the genre in this film from Iran.
26. Theater of Blood. (1973). Netflix Streaming. I'm not sure if Vincent Price's acting is intentionally hammy, or if he is trying his best to be serious when he performs Shakespearean soliloquies in between murders.
27. The Last House on the Left (1972). Netflix Streaming. Hard to believe this low-budget shocker spawned the career of Wes Craven.
28. Billy the Kid versus Dracula. (1966). DVD. This is the kind of movie I loved as a kid. John Carradine plays Dracula (although the name is never mentioned) stalking a nubile young virgin who happens to be affianced to Billy the Kid, who in this movie is a 30ish ranch foreman and not at all an outlaw.

April 16
29. Beach Blanket Bingo (1965). DVD. Harvey Lembeck as Erich von Zipper really is a character actor who deserves wider recognition.
30. MST3K: Hercules against the Moon Men (1964). Netflix Streaming. Deep Hurting!

April 17
31. The Flight That Disappeared (1961). Netflix Streaming. A planeful of DOD employees and nuclear scientists is kidnapped by people from the future, yada yada yada you people have destroyed our future world yada yada yada mankind and nukes don't mix. Your basic Cold War parable, this could really use Leslie Nielsen and Peter Graves.

April 18
32. Muscle Beach Party (1964). DVD.Despite the beefcake on display, not one of my favorites due to no Harvey Lembeck and the Rat Pack.
33. Ski Party (1965). DVD.James Brown turns it out in this otherwise dull rip-off of Some Like It Hot.

April 19
34. Dr. Goldfoot and the Bikini Machine (1965). HULU. Interesting non-horror Vincent Price vehicle, and you can see where Mike Myers plagiarized the Fembots for the Austin Powers films.
35. Dr. Goldfoot and the Girl Bombs (1965). HULU. More fembot fun, this time with an Italian flair since this one was filmed in Rome.
36. Dick Tracy, Detective (1945). HULU. A plae version of the comic strip. Luckily, Warren Beatty's version 44 years later had nothing to live up to.
37. Dick Tracy vs. Cueball (1946). HULU. Much more entertaining film with a villain who looks a lot like Mussolini.
38. Dick Tracy vs. Gruesome (1947). HULU. Boris Karloff can make even the crappiest B flick fun.

April 20
39. Reefer Madness (1936)[/b]. HULU. Truly dimwitted legendary anti-drug propaganda, most notable to TCM fans because Dave O'Brien, star of the Pete Smith shorts, is in the cast.

April 23
40. The Untold (2002). TV. . Very bad. When you get outwitted by Sasquatch . . .

April 24
41. Nude on the Moon (1961). DVD. So "nude" just means flabby women with their tops off? Clearly, this was an age before jazzercize.

Spoiler:

Watch one film from every decade of film history.
* 1890 - (insert film title here)(Optional)
* 1900 -(optional)
* 1910 -(optional)
* 1920 -(optional)
* 1930 -Hell's Highway (1932)
* 1940 -
* 1950 -
* 1960 -The Cycle Savages (1969).
* 1970 -Cleopatra Jones (1973)
* 1980 -Endangered Species (1982)
* 1990 -
* 2000 -

Watch a film for each rating:
* G - (optional)
* PG -
* PG-13 - (optional)
* R -The First Nudie Musical
* X (or NC-17) -
* Unrated (post-MPAA 1968) -

Watch films in at least three formats (DVD, BD, HD DVD, Laserdisc, TV, online, Streaming Netflix type, UMD, theater, iPod, VHS-sourced{VHS transferred to DVD-+R is fine}).
* Netflix Streaming, Foxy Brown.
* Blu-Ray, Piranha.
* TV., The Green Slime.

Watch a film in an actual Drive-in. (optional) (insert title)

Watch a film in the following genres:
A Token Science Fiction B-Movie: The Flight That Disappeared
A Token Horror B-Movie: Piranha
Italian (or European) films of the following Genres:
* Eurospy (James Bond ripoffs)
* Giallo
* Sword & Sandal
* Spaghetti Western
* Cannibal Film
* Mafia/Gangster Film Dr. Goldfoot and the Girl Bombs
Martial Arts film:
* Bruce Lee-sploitation (Starring any variation on Bruce Li, Le, etc.)
* Hong Kong (or other Asian) film
* American film
* Any "Ninja" film
* Bonus* Actual Bruce Lee film
Biker Film-The Pink Angels (1976)
Stoner Film-
Carsploitation Film
Blaxploitation-Foxy Brown
Sexploitation:
* Any type
* Nudie Cutie
* Roughie
* 70s Porn
* Emmanuelle Film
* Teen Sex Comedy
Nunsploitation
Shocksploitation
Rape/Revenge Film
Vigilante Film
Women in Prison-Women's Prison
Nazisploitation
Eschploitation (religious end times, or general religious exploitation)
Hixploitation/Moonshiners
Roadshow Exploitation/30s-40s "Cautionary" films-Reefer Madness
"Hood" Film ("Gangsta")-The Mack
Hollywood Gangster film (Film Noir era) [b]Dick Tracy, Detective[/b
Juvenile Delinquent Film
60s Beach Movie-Beach Blanket Bingo
Film starring Musical Group or Music Star (that did not become a legit actor)-Can't Stop the Music (starring the Village People)
* *Bonus* Elvis film
Ozploitation
Mexican Wrestling Film
Foreign "Ripoff" film (such as Turkish cinema)
Bollywood Film (actual, not a Hollywood pastiche)
Eco-Terror Film
"Mondo" Film
Documentary ABOUT B-Movies/Exploitation/Drive-ins or those involved in their production
Video Nasty
TV-Movie
* Lifetime Channel Movie
Bad Sequel to a "Well regarded film"
Critical Bomb (Less than 20% Rotten Tomatoes or Metacritic or IMDB Bottom 100 {Bottom 100 archive})
Financial Bomb
MST3K/RiffTrax (or Cinematic Titanic) version of a film-MST3K: Hercules against the Moon Men
Non-MST3K version of a film featured on MST3K (or CT)

Watch 10 films starring anyone from the actors safe list.
* 1
* 2
* 3
* 4
* 5
* 6
* 7
* 8
* 9
* 10

Watch 10 films Directed/Produced by anyone from the directors/producers safe list.
* 1 Pink Flamingos (John Waters)
* 2
* 3
* 4
* 5
* 6
* 7
* 8
* 9
* 10

Watch 5 films from those in the Studio/Distributor safe list.
* 1
* 2
* 3
* 4
* 5

Last edited by Gobear; 03-13-12 at 12:28 PM.
Old 03-28-11, 02:05 PM
  #40  
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Re: LIST THREAD 2nd Annual Drive-In/Exploitation/B-Movie Challenge March 31-April 30

In like Flint.

But I'll do the employed full-time version: must watch 20...anything beyond that will make me extra happy. Below are the titles with memorable quotes. I won't even bother with reviews...I'm trusting you all to Google if you're interested.

1) Mars Needs Women (1967). We've checked and double-checked. It keeps coming up to the same thing. The message is: 'MARS NEEDS WOMEN!"

2) Easy Wheels (1989). Bruce is on a quest to find the evil, destroy the evil, and find a really good light beer.

3) Black Dynamite (2009). First Lady, I'm sorry I pimp-slapped you into that china cabinet. I used excessive force. Oftentimes, I cross the line, but I try to do so in the name of what's right. Most of the time, the ends justifies the means. But in this case, I feel like I betrayed my own code of ethics. And for that, sugar, I apologize.

4) Starship Troopers (1997). You're some kind of big, fat, smart-bug, aren't you?

5) Escape From New York (1981). Snake Plisskin? I heard you were dead.

6) Assault on Precinct 13 (1976). Got a smoke?

7) Devil's Angels (1967). We take one drink and there's the man, and we hop on our sickles and the man's on our tail.

Last edited by Windbreaker; 04-08-11 at 06:02 PM.
Old 03-29-11, 08:22 AM
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Re: LIST THREAD 2nd Annual Drive-In/Exploitation/B-Movie Challenge March 31-April 30

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Old 03-29-11, 09:15 AM
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Re: LIST THREAD 2nd Annual Drive-In/Exploitation/B-Movie Challenge March 31-April 30

I'll take a shot. It'll give me a reason to watch some stuff that's been sitting neglected on my shelves.


2011-03-31
1. Drive-In Movie Memories (2001) DVD
Documentary about drive-in theaters. We're not talking Ken Burns, here, though. It's more of an overview with plenty of talking heads and archival clips. Worthwhile for some of the history you may not be familiar with.
2. Kill and Kill Again (1981) Youtube - James Ryan
Light-hearted sequel to Kill or Be Killed. Cheesy fun as Steve Chase (James Ryan) collects a group of fighting heroes (ala Seven Samurai/Magnificent Seven/etc...) to defeat the evil Marduk's plans of world domination via mind-control and karate! Plenty of action, but no blood to speak of. Positively cartoonish at times, but not to its detriment. I think there's a trailer for it on 42nd Street Forever Volume 5.

2011-04-01
3. The Silencers (1966) DVD - Dean Martin *wild card
Matt Helm stops Big O from causing WWIII. The credits open with a couple of burlesque-type strippers, stripping and it's kinda cheap looking. On the other hand, while you do see the results of gun shots (exit holes), there is a woeful lack of blood and it was a hit (enough to generate a sequel). It's fun if you can get into Dean's schtick and there were a few time's I thought I had wandered into a musical, but there's plenty of cleavage (Stella Stevens, Daliah Lavi), at least.

2011-04-02
4.Zotz! (1962) DVD - dir William Castle - Tom Poston
Ego-centric Prof. Jonathan Jones (Tom Poston) ends up with a magic coin that turns his life upside down. Affable fantasy/comedy from William Castle.
5.Carry on Camping (1969) DVD - Sid James, Kenneth Williams
A couple of blokes want to move their relationship with their girlfriends to the next stage, so they try to take them camping at a nudist camp ground...only nothing goes has planned. The 17th movie in the series. Sure the bus load of nubile school girls are all in their thirties or thereabout, but that doesn't get in the way of the shenanigans. Plenty of broad innuendo laced humor and lots of physicMr. Moto's Last Warningal comedy. It was a fun movie.
6.So Darling, So Deadly (1966) DVD
Smarmy lady's man private eye Jo Walker and uptight beefcake NYC detective Tom Rowland adventure in Singapore trying to protect a scientist, his invention and his daughter from the clutches of the Golden Dragon. Shooting in Singapore gave the movie a nice exotic feel. Good but nothing special.

2011-04-03
7. Fritz the Cat (1972) DVD
Fritz the cat, disillusioned with his life, sows chaos while searching for adventure, enlightenment and sex. An animated snapshot of it's time. Fritz is endearing all the while you want to take a 2X4 to the back of his head to knock some sense into him.
8. The Tall T (1957) DVD - Randolph Scott
Honey mooning couple are kidnapped and the wife held for hostage by bandits, Scott inadvertently comes along for the ride. Excellent low-budget character driven Western. This movie proves that it's not small budgets that make bad movies, just small minds. (It being a Western didn't hurt though).
9. The Bermuda Depths (1978) DVD
Rankin-Bass fantasy for the ABC Movie of the Week series. Scientists searching for giant sea creatures find more than they bargained for and I suppose you could say it's wrapped in a ghost story of sorts. The R-B special effects look like they're straight out of Toho. Connie Sellecca's first starring role.
10. Above the Law (1986) DVD - Cynthia Rothrock, Yuen Biao
A vigilante HK prosecutor is implicated in a murder he didn't commit. Downbeat HK action flick. And I when I say action flick I mean it's chock-full of action and fights choreographed by Yuen Biao. Rothrock is a good cop who get in over her head. Classic bit of mid-eighties HK movie-makingl.

2011-04-04
11. Not of this Earth (1957) DVD
Mr. Johnson, an alien from a dying world, cases earth for invasion. Solid sci-fi b-movie.

2011-04-05
12. A Queen's Ransom (1976) DVD - George Lazenby, Wang Yu, Angela Mao
George (George Lazenby) and Jimmy (WangYu) plan to assassinate Queen Elizabeth II during her historic visit to Hong Kong in 1975. Enjoyable caper flick with plenty of double crosses. Some nice fights including Wang Yu vs Bolo Yeung and George Lazenby vs Angela Mao.
13. MST3K Episode 101 - The Crawling Eye (1989) DVD
A mountain in Switzerland has been invaded by tentacled, telepathic aliens bent on conquering the world. First episode on Comedy Central. Joel and the bots endure The Crawling Eye, a decent, sci-fi horror movie starring Forrest Tucker and Janet Munro. The boys start slow but they're chugging along nicely by the last quarter of the movie.

2011-04-06
14. Tenebrae (1982) DVD
Some one in Rome is murdering women visciously while taunting an American mystery writer (Anthony Franciosa), who's in Rome to publicize his latest book. Classic Argento giallo with a fine Goblin-esque score. A couple of scenes are almost unbearable.
15. Attack of the Crab Monsters (1957) DVD
Giant mutated land crabs stalk a group of scientists on a distant atoll. The explanation for the monsters was just plain silly, but it was a nice touch having them being capable of reasoning. Russell Johnson was a reasonably convincing hero.

2011-04-07
16. Hudson Hawk (1991) DVD (Metascore 17)
Reformed cat-burglar Hudson Hawk (Bruce Willis) is coerced into stealing the key parts of Da Vinci's gold making machine by a couple of megalomaniac billionaires. A critical flop on release and it still doesn't get much respect. Sandra Bernhard and Richard Grant are waaay over the top as the "Bond" villains. I think it's a genial mess; everyone seems to be having a good time and that rubs off. Plus, it moves a brisk pace which doesn't hurt.

2011-04-08
17. Screwballs (1983) DVD
Five male high schoolers vow to cop a peek at the breasts of the school's bitch queen, the hot Purity Bush, before Home-coming. Yes, it's as puerile as it sounds, but there are a few good gags, the girls are cute and there's plenty of skin. Only thing that kinda bothered me was it seemingly took place in the late Fifties or early Sixties, but the high school was straight out of the Seventies or Eighties, and girls didn't wear underwear or bathing suits like that in the Fifties either, etc...still, getting hung up on minutiae like that for a movie like this is silly. You could do worse.

2011-04-09
18. The Crawling Eye (1958) DVD
There's an odd cloud on Trollenberg mountain, and there's something even odder and more dangerous inside the cloud. Solid British sci-fi b-movie, starring Forrest Tucker (to suck the American market in).
19. Killer Bean Forever (2009) DVD
Killer Bean, an assassin for the Shadow Agency, arrives in Bean City on the most important assignment of his life. Animated action movie featuring coffee beans with plenty of coffee puns. Sounds silly, but it is kick ass. Some of the animation is crude, but the fight choreography is beautiful. The last fight, between Killer Bean and Jet Bean is great.

2011-04-10
20. The Man Who Saves the World (aka Turkish Star Wars) (1982) Google Video
Turkish version of Star Wars, which plays more like Flash Gordon. I can commend the enthusiasm of the cast/film-makers, but not much else. Plenty of fights with Cüneyt Arkin showing off his "martial arts prowess" . It even includes a martial arts training montage. Film and music clips from a dozen different movies, maybe.
21. Challenge of the Tiger (1980) DVD - Bruce Le, Richard Harrison
Secret formula, exotic locations, tits and kung-fu fighting, including Bruce Le vs a bull. Any movie that has two topless women playing tennis less than three minutes into the feature can't be all bad, and it's not. The fights are decent, female nudity copious and there's plenty of Harrison in the near buff for the ladies. The English dub is only to be endured, though.
22. Resurrection of the Little Match Girl (2002) DVD
It's a game or is it? The Korean Avalon (Mamoru Oshii), which borrows from The Matrix and maybe there's a touch of the Wizard of Oz, too. A critical and financial flop at home. The plot is byzantine, at best. If you're a gamer, there's a lot to appreciate. If not, there's still plenty of action to watch.

2011-04-11
23. The Terror MP4 (downloaded from Archive.org) (1938) - Alastair Sim
Mysterious madman steals gold shipment and rats out his two cohorts. Ten years later they show up at an English manor with gold and revenge on mind. This is the first Edgar Wallace film adaption. Even though it's not German all the pieces are more or less in place, so I'm going to call it the proto-krimi. Fun production.
24. The Giant of Metropolis (1961) DVD - Gordon Mitchell
Strong-man Obro travels to the advanced, decadent city of Metropolis to warn it's ruler of impending doom and becomes embroiled in a life or death struggle for survival. Wonky mixture of peplum and sci-fi.

2011-04-12
25. The Snorkel (1958) DVD
Young Candy's murderous step-father finally get's around to killing her mother (after killing her father years ago). Candy knows it was foul play, but no one believes her so she sets out to prove it, making a target of herself. Nice cat & mouse thriller from Hammer and that ending was cold...but not stone cold.

2011-04-13
26. The Final Programme (The Last Days of Man on Earth) (1973) DVD
Distributed by Roger Cormans's New World Pictures in '74, as The Last Days of Man on Earth. Cold blooded Miss Brunner, co-opts Jerry Cornelius' co-operation to retrieve a micro-film that will allow her to complete her mad experiment in immortality in the twilight of the current age of man. What an odd movie. It was directed by Robert Fuest of Dr. Phibes acclaim and shows many of the same stylistic touches. It's not particularly faithful to Moorcock's source material, but then most movies aren't faithful to their source material. Last time I saw it was the early Eighties, I think. Time's been kind to it.

2011-04-14
27. Drive-in (1976) Stream
One crazy night at a small town Texas drive-in. This isn't a movie so much as a time capsule. The town didn't need a name cause for all practical purposes it was any small town in Texas circa 1976. Sure it's a little exaggerated, but if you lived in Texas in '76 it almost plays like a documentary.

2011-04-15
28. The Eternal Evil of Asia (1995) DVD
Good Thai wizard goes bad seeking revenge against a quartet of HK screw-ups. Supernatural Cat III at it's sleazy finest. It's a bit like Black Magic (1975) with more tits and sex.

2011-04-16
29. Taxi (1998) DVD
Speed demon Marseilles cab driver Daniel helps sad sack cop Emilien catch a band of hot-rod German bank robbers, the Mercedes Gang. This movie's a good time with some good car stunts. You gotta love it when Daniel's car has almost as many controls as the Mach 5.

2011-04-17
30. The Chain Reaction (1980) DVD
A vacationing couple fall afoul a corporation's efforts to cover-up a catastrophic accident at a nuclear waste disposal facility. Car chases, nudity, a murderous mute henchman and hick Aussie cops make for a fine slice of nuclear paranoia cinema.

2011-04-18
31. The Punisher (1989) DVD
Frank Castle blasts, punches and stabs his way through mobsters and yakuza in the first of the Punisher adaptions. This is the most comic-bookish of the Punisher films. I noticed Lani Tupu (in the credits as Larney Tupu) as one of the made men. Except for Dolph's make-up this is a bloody, good movie.

2011-04-19
32. Kick-Ass (2010) DVD *wildcard
Mild mannered teen decides to don a costume and fight crime; after many mis-adventures, he finally gets a chance to live up to his moniker - Kick-Ass. Got a little bit of a streak here. First time watch. Sure it's big budget, but in it's heart of hearts, Kick-Ass is pure exploitation. That fight at the end was sublime.

2011-04-20
33. Godzilla and Other Movie Monsters (1998) DVD
Well, it's a documentary about Godzilla and other movie monsters, plus it throws in some fact with the fiction. Pretty close to a turkey. It's filled with redundancies and the pace is meandering, but there are a few interesting bits to keep it from being a total loss.

2011-04-21
34. Galaxina (1980) DVD
Deep space police cruiser, the Infinity, is sent to a distant planet to retrieve a rare mineral; in the meantime Sargent Thor and Galaxina, the ship's robot, fall in love. Corny, goofy and filmed on a shoe-string budget. Dorothy Stratten is adequate in near drek like this, even if she isn't given a lot to do. She may not lift the material, but her luminous appearance makes it easier to get through. Avery Schreiber's shtick is oddly comforting. An amiable time-killer.

2011-04-22
35. The War in Space (1977) DVD
Earth is attacked by the Emperor of the Galaxy from a base on Venus, in retaliation, Earth sends the Space Battleship Gohten to Venus to destroy the enemy. For something with all that shooting, spies, explosions and spaceships it's kinda ponderous. Plays a lot like Prince of Space with better special effects. Any camp is definitely not intentional.
36. Five Element Ninjas (1982) DVD
The Chinese Martial Arts Alliance is nearly obliterated by Japanese ninjas, the sole survivor, returns to the one man who can teach him to defeat his deadly ninja nemeses. As fine an example of a Chang Cheh testosterone fest as you'll ever find. Purports to be historically accurate, at least in regard of the ninja weapons. Blood and machismo overflow.
37. Shaolin Soccer (2001) DVD
A group of former Shaolin students form a soccer team under the tutelage of a disgraced soccer star, using their kung-fu skills to compete for the national soccer championship. Sure it's fantasy kung-fu on the more fantastical side, but it's still tons o'fun.

2011-04-23
38. Swordsman (1990) DVD
The palace's head eunuch goes on the warpath when the Sacred Volume is stolen from the Emperor's library. Eventually many parties, strive against each other to retrieve the Sacred Volume, which will give it's possessor untold power. Sword fights and gruesome deaths aplenty. Wu xia Directed by King Hu and produced by Tsui Hark.

2011-04-24
39. A Valiant Villain (1969) DVD
A town's strong man thug is reformed by the love of a woman displaced from her village by a man-eating tiger. Plenty of swordplay and fights. Any movie with a man vs river dragon scene get a pass in my book.

2011-04-25
40. The Secret of the Dirk (1970) DVD
Two groups vie to recover a lost treasure. Early Seventies wu-xia with the typical bits of suspense, mystery and betrayal. Plenty of solid sword fights and while the dirk isn't the MacGuffin, it does have a key part in the movie (and it does have a secret).
41. MST3K Episode 1011 - Horrors of Spider Island (1999) DVD
Mike & the bots "enjoy" a skin filled romp with Horrors of Spider Island. After the plane they're traveling to Singapore on crashes, the surviving gaggle of dancers end up on a almost deserted island where the boob wrangling them gets bitten by a radioactive spider and becomes a hairy faced, toothy strangling maniac. Terrible movie, only saved by the enormous amount of gratuitous skin on display and the boys' quick wits.

2011-04-26
42. Dragon Blue (1996) DVD
A young feng shui expert finds out she is the last descendant of the dragon clan and must use her heritage to defend humans against demons, starting with a remote Japanese island where young women have been disappearing. Decent time-killer; emphasis is more on the fantasy than horror, though there is one nice fish kill along with a bit of softcore t&a. The effects are sparse, but adequate with the demon in a pretty nice rubber suit.
43. Gun Crazy - Beyond the Law (2002) DVD
After her partner takes forged evidence from the yakuza, who then kill him after the evidence is reputed, her life is saved by a gun man out for vengeance; she takes up the way of the gun too, but eventually ends up against her mentor. Good girl w/gun flick. Doesn't waste time with unnecessary stuff like romance; it's all about the guns.

2011-04-27
44. Mr. Moto's Last Warning (1939) Google Video
Mr Moto stops saboteurs from blowing up the French fleet as they enter the Suez Canal. Entertaining, fast moving little suspense movie. It looked like Peter Lorre did most of his own stunts.
45. Cannibal Women in the Avocado Jungle of Death (1989) DVD
Dr Margo Hunt braves the deepest depths of the southern California Avacado Jungle to find rogue ethnologist Dr. Kurtz, lost on an expedition to find the Piranha Women. The cannibalism is mostly implied, and the satire and parody broad. Still, Shannon Tweed, Adrienne Barbeau and Karen Mistal; what's not to like?

2011-04-28
46. Take Aim at the Police Van (1960) DVD
Pollyanna prison officer, Tamon, kicks over a hornet's nest when he delves into who ambushed the prison transport he was supervising. Good noir from Nikkatsu that keeps you guessing till the end.

2011-04-29
47. That Man in Chang-An (1967) DVD
The mysterious Masked Man (in black) defends the kingdom from a rogue General usurping the Han kingdom with the aid of the Hun. Fun old school Shaw Bros period drama. The fightings got more enthusiasm than skill, but the story is fun, a lot like Zorro/Scarlett Pimpernel in ancient China.

2011-04-30
48. Shanghai Joe (1973) DVD
Chin Hao immigrates to America to become a cowboy, instead he finds intolerance and injustice, which he sorts out one round-house kick at a time. Episodic spaghetti western/martial arts mash-up. The fights are good and the villains are reprehensible.
49. Boot Hill (1969) DVD
A circus helps two gunmen free a town from a gold company murderous exploiting of the local gold miners. Yes, it's a lesser Hill/Spencer movie and a lesser spaghetti western. Still it gets some marks for originality, even though there's another, 'Look! Bud Spencer in a barroom brawl', scene. Score was atypical, kinda jazzy a few times, along with all the circus music.
50. Swordman II(1992)DVD
Asia the Invincible uses the Sacred Scroll to take over the Sun Moon Sect and tries to conquer the Mainland. Swordsman sequel; confusing, but kinectic wu xia.

Spoiler:

If a category is listed as "Optional", it does not need to be
filled to "complete" the checklist. There are 10 free spots you may apply to non-Optional categories.
As with other checklists, titles can count for multiple categories.

Some of these categories are so obscure we're giving 10 free spots of your choosing to fill in the list.

Watch one film from every decade of film history.
* 1890 - (insert film title here)(Optional)
* 1900 -(optional)
* 1910 -(optional)
* 1920 -(optional)
* 1930 - The Terror
* 1940 -
* 1950 -
* 1960 - A Valiant Villain
* 1970 - The Final Programme (The Last Days of Man on Earth)
* 1980 - Cannibal Women in the Avocado Jungle of Death
* 1990 - Swordsman
* 2000 - Shaolin Soccer

Watch a film for each rating:
* G - (optional)
* PG - Drive-in
* PG-13 - (optional)
* R - Kick-Ass
* X (or NC-17) - Fritz the Cat
* Unrated (post-MPAA 1968) - Killer Bean Forever

Watch films in at least three formats (DVD, BD, HD DVD, Laserdisc, TV, online, Streaming Netflix type, UMD, theater, iPod, VHS-sourced{VHS transferred to DVD-+R is fine}).
* First format, (DVD), (The Eternal Evil of Asia).
* Second format, (Google Video), (Mr. Moto's Last Warning).
* Third format, (insert format), (insert title).

Watch a film in an actual Drive-in. (optional) (insert title)

Watch a film in the following genres:
A Token Science Fiction B-Movie: Not of this Earth
A Token Horror B-Movie:
Italian (or European) films of the following Genres:
* Eurospy (James Bond ripoffs) - So Darling, So Deadly
* Giallo
* Sword & Sandal - The Giant of Metropolis
* Spaghetti Western - Shanghai Joe
* Cannibal Film
* Mafia/Gangster Film
Martial Arts film:
* Bruce Lee-sploitation (Starring any variation on Bruce Li, Le, etc.) - Challenge of the Tiger
* Hong Kong (or other Asian) film - A Queen's Ransom
* American film - Kill and Kill Again
* Any "Ninja" film - Five Element Ninjas
* Bonus* Actual Bruce Lee film
Biker Film
Stoner Film
Carsploitation Film - Taxi
Blaxploitation
Sexploitation:
* Any type- Carry on Camping
* Nudie Cutie
* Roughie
* 70s Porn
* Emmanuelle Film
* Teen Sex Comedy - Screwballs
Nunsploitation
Shocksploitation
Rape/Revenge Film
Vigilante Film - The Punisher
Women in Prison
Nazisploitation
Eschploitation (religious end times, or general religious exploitation)
Hixploitation/Moonshiners
Roadshow Exploitation/30s-40s "Cautionary" films
"Hood" Film ("Gangsta")
Hollywood Gangster film (Film Noir era)
Juvenile Delinquent Film
60s Beach Movie
Film starring Musical Group or Music Star (that did not become a legit actor)
* *Bonus* Elvis film
Ozploitation - The Chain Reaction
Mexican Wrestling Film
Foreign "Ripoff" film (such as Turkish cinema) - The Man Who Saves the World (aka Turkish Star Wars)
Bollywood Film (actual, not a Hollywood pastiche)
Eco-Terror Film - Attack of the Crab Monsters
"Mondo" Film
Documentary ABOUT B-Movies/Exploitation/Drive-ins or those involved in their production - Drive-in Movie Memories
Video Nasty - Tenebrae
TV-Movie - The Bermuda Depths
* Lifetime Channel Movie
Bad Sequel to a "Well regarded film"
Critical Bomb (Less than 20% Rotten Tomatoes or Metacritic or IMDB Bottom 100 {Bottom 100 archive}) - Hudson Hawk
Financial Bomb - Resurrection of the Little Match Girl
MST3K/RiffTrax (or Cinematic Titanic) version of a film - MST3K Episode 1011 - Horrors of Spider Island
Non-MST3K version of a film featured on MST3K (or CT) - The Crawling Eye

Watch 10 films starring anyone from the actors safe list.
* 1 Victor Buono - The Silencers *wild card
* 2 Randolph Scott - The Tall T
* 3 Cynthia Rothrock - Above the Law
* 4
* 5
* 6
* 7
* 8
* 9
* 10

Watch 10 films Directed/Produced by anyone from the directors/producers safe list.
* 1 Zotz! - William Castle
* 2
* 3
* 4
* 5
* 6
* 7
* 8
* 9
* 10

Watch 5 films from those in the Studio/Distributor safe list.
* 1 Hammer - The Snorkel
* 2 Crown International Pictures - Galaxina
* 3 Discotek - The War in Space
* 4 Shout! Factory - MST3K Episode 101 - The Crawling Eye
* 5

Last edited by coyoteblue; 05-01-11 at 12:50 AM.
Old 03-29-11, 10:41 AM
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Re: LIST THREAD 2nd Annual Drive-In/Exploitation/B-Movie Challenge March 31-April 30

Thursday - March 31

1. R.O.T.O.R. (1988) - A Poor Man's Robocop (Netflix Streaming - 12:00 am) 1st Time Viewing
Tagline: "Judge, Jury, and Executioner"
Comments : Extremely cheap Robocop rip-off that has to be seen to be believed. Awful in so many ways that everyone should be ashamed! Some of the worst dialog you are likely to hear in a movie.
Favorite Quote: "Let me tell you something, mister. You fire me and I'll make more noise than two skeletons making love in a tin coffin, brother."


2. Caged Fury (1990) - 80's Mullets Never Die (Netflix Streaming - 2:30 pm) 1st Time Viewing
Tagline: "They Learned Their Lesson The Hard Way"
Comments : Utah girl heads to Hollywood to be a star but ends up in the lesbian-run Honeywell Prison for Women instead. Ludicrous and exactly as bad as you'd think. "Star" Erik Estrada is basically a 5 minute cameo. Ron Jeremy appears as a prison guard. Big hair, big boobs, big pile of ****!
Favorite Quote: "This Spanish-speaking gentleman will question you privately, to see if you're eligible for early release."


3. Hell Penitentiary (1983) - You Might Catch an STD Just By Watching (Netflix Streaming - 7:15 pm) 1st Time Viewing
Tagline: "Do you really need a tagline for this?!"
Comments : A women enters prison undercover to get close to a witness to her sister's murder, only the lesbian warden has other plans for them both. THIS is the kind of late night sleaze fest I used to catch growing up on Showtime and/or Cinemax. Typical Women-in-Prison outing for the soft core Italian crowd. Bad dubbing and ridiculous, but somehow watchable.
Favorite Quote: "How about some muff diving?"


4. Tentacles (1977) - Call Him The Whale Whisperer (Netflix Streaming - 9:30 pm) 1st Time Viewing
Tagline: "Each year 10,000 tourists visit Ocean Beach. This summer Ocean Beach has attracted SOMETHING ELSE!"
Comments : Big name stars slum it Italian-style in this Jaws-ripoff about a giant octopus that terrorizes a beach town. Love that musical theme - at least the stars got a nice vacation in Italy. Over-the-top and campy as hell.
Favorite Quote: "Then we'd need a tornado to move the boat!"


5. Invisible Invaders (1959) - Dirt Sliding Fun (Netflix Streaming - 11:30 pm) 1st Time Viewing
Tagline: "A sci-fi shocker that'll keep you awake at night!"
Comments : Invisible aliens take over the body of corpses and warn a scientist that Earth is about to be attacked unless mankind stops messing with atomic warfare. Not that bad actually, and just what you would expect for a late night black-and-white alien/zombie film.
Favorite Quote: "You two majoring in each other?"


Friday - April 1

6. The Brain That Wouldn't Die (1962) - She's got a good head on her...um...platter (Netflix Streaming - 5:30 pm) 1st Time Viewing
Tagline: "Alive... without a body... fed by an unspeakable horror from hell!"
Comments : A doctor keeps his girlfriends' head alive while looking for a suitable body to attach it to. Campy and fun, and gotta love the thing in the closet!
Favorite Quote: "I'll mash you on the butt! "


7. Dead End Drive-In (1986) - Australia's Finest Punks (DVD - 7:30 pm) 1st Time Viewing
Tagline: "There's a party every day, a movie every night, and all the junk food you can eat. What more can a kid want... except to get out."
Comments : Two people get stranded in a remote drive-in in the not too distant future. Hard to get past the concept but still better than it has any right to be. Likeable lead and some great 80's punk.
Favorite Quote: "Who are you? Me mother?"


8. Drive-In Massacre (1977) - World's Best Boss Award Winner (DVD - 9:30 pm) 1st Time Viewing
Tagline: "You'll Pay To Get In ... And Pray To Get Out!"
Comments : Someone is killing the patrons of the local drive-in. Two inept cops are on the trail. I gotta say, it was cheesy and bad but I loved it. Some crazy lines in this one and the cinema boss is great!
Favorite Quote: "I didn't do anything - I just wanted to beat my meat!"


Saturday - April 2

9. Deathsport (1978) - See-Thru Plastic Sword Action (DVD - 11:30 am) 1st Time Viewing
Tagline: "In the year 3000 there'll be no more Olympic Games, World Series, or Superbowl. There'll be only..."
Comments : Warriors fight to the death using 'deathcycles' in a post-apocalyptic future. Bad by any standard, this was a chore to get through. From the bizarre dialog to the never-ending footage of motorcycles driving around. Little to no camp value makes this hard to recommend.
Favorite Quote: "Now we will have our duel."


10. Fortress (1992) - See What Pregnancy Gets You (DVD - 2:00 pm) 1st Time Viewing
Tagline: "A Prison of the Future. A High-Tech Hell. Built to Hold Anything... Except an Innocent Man."
Comments : A couple in the not-too-distant future are arrested for illegally conceiving a second child and are sent to a high-tech prison in the desert. From the creator of Re-Animator, this is a fun little B-movie with some recognizable faces. Originally planned as a high-budget vehicle for Schwarzenegger but cut down to a low budget when he pulled out.
Favorite Quote: "Shall I intestinate?"


11. Warlords of the 21st Century AKA Battletruck (1982) - SUV from Hell Action (DVD - 6:15 pm) 1st Time Viewing
Tagline: "After the oil wars came a greater threat..."
Comments : In a post-apocalyptic future, a crazed man in a massive truck hunts down his daughter who is finding refuge with a lone warrior. Very much in line with the Mad Max films, but on a MUCH lower budget. It works, but keep your expectations low on this one.
Favorite Quote: "You can plant yer 'taters, you can grow yer sweet corn..."


12. Invasion of Astro-Monster AKA Monster Zero (1965) - 3 Monsters Are Better Than 1 (DVD - 8:00 pm) 1st Time Viewing
Tagline: "Godzilla vs. Monster Zero"
Comments : Aliens plan to invade Earth and use Godzilla, Rodan and Ghidorah to help them succeed. Not bad as Godzilla movies go - love the Star Trek-like sets and effects. And who couldn't love Japanese Aliens in silver jumpsuits!
Favorite Quote: "You should have left your sister packed in ice."


13. Fortress 2: Re-Entry (2000) - Space Prison Fun (DVD - 10:00 pm) 1st Time Viewing
Tagline: "Locked in a prison orbiting 26,000 miles above earth. Escape was never thought possible...until now."
Comments : Still a fugitive from the Men-Tel Corporation, John Brennick is caught and imprisoned in a new fortress, orbiting the Earth. Plot holes and not quite as much fun as the original, but still has its moments. Pam Grier vamps it up playing a corporate exec.
Favorite Quote: "Girl, you better recognize my skills. I could build a radio station out of a milk carton and two condom wrappers."


Sunday - April 3

14. Cyborg (1989) (DVD - 10:00 am) 1st Time Viewing

15. Trash (1970) (Netflix Streaming - 12:00 pm) 1st Time Viewing

16. Heat (1972) (Netflix Streaming - 2:00 pm) 1st Time Viewing

17. Planet of the Vampires (1965) (Netflix Streaming - 8:00 pm) 1st Time Viewing

Monday - April 4

18. Cyborg 2 (1993) (Netflix Streaming - 6:00 pm) 1st Time Viewing

19. Robocop 3 (1993) (Netflix Streaming - 8:00 pm) 1st Time Viewing

20. Caged Women (1982) (DVD - 9:45 pm) 1st Time Viewing

Tuesday - April 5

21. Humanoids From The Deep (1980) (DVD - 9:00 pm) 1st Time Viewing

22. Kiss Meets the Phantom of the Park (1978) (DVD - 10:30 pm) 1st Time Viewing

Wednesday - April 6

23. Bundy (2008) (Netflix Streaming - 7:00 pm) 1st Time Viewing

Saturday - April 9

24. The Keep (1983) (Netflix Streaming - 9:00 pm) 1st Time Viewing

25. Alien vs. Ninja (2010) (Netflix Streaming - 10:45 pm) 1st Time Viewing

Sunday - April 10

26. Dark Tower (1989) (Netflix Streaming - 12:45 am) 1st Time Viewing

27. Food of the Gods (1976) (Netflix Streaming - 2:30 pm) 1st Time Viewing

28. The Evictors (1979) (Netflix Streaming - 4:30 pm) 1st Time Viewing

29. The Shape of Things To Come (1979) (Netflix Streaming - 7:30 pm) 1st Time Viewing

30. The Bride of the Monster (1955) (Netflix Streaming - 9:30 pm) 1st Time Viewing

31. Drifter: Henry Lee Lucas (2010) (Netflix Streaming - 10:45 pm) 1st Time Viewing

Monday - April 11

32. Brainscan (1994) (DVD - 5:00 pm) 1st Time Viewing

33. Kill Buljo (2007) (DVD - 7:30 pm) 1st Time Viewing

34. Metalstorm: The Destruction of Jared-Syn (1983) (DVD - 9:15 pm) 1st Time Viewing

Tuesday - April 12

35. Godzilla's Revenge (1969) (DVD - 6:00 pm) 1st Time Viewing

Wednesday - April 13

36. Chicago Massacre: Richard Speck (2007) (DVD - 5:00 pm) 1st Time Viewing

37. Drive-In (2000) (DVD - 9:00 pm) 1st Time Viewing

Thursday - April 14

38. Children of the Corn II: The Final Sacrifice (1992) (DVD - 9:00 pm) 1st Time Viewing

Friday - April 15

39. Children of the Corn III: Urban Harvest (1995) (DVD - 7:15pm) 1st Time Viewing

40. Children of the Corn IV: The Gathering (1996) (DVD - 9:00 pm) 1st Time Viewing

Saturday - April 16

41. Creature (1985) (Netflix Streaming - 8:00 pm) 1st Time Viewing

42. Frogs (1972) (DVD - 10:00 pm) 1st Time Viewing

Sunday - April 17

43. Shock Waves (1977) (Netflix Streaming- 1:00 pm) 1st Time Viewing

44. Cleopatra Jones (1973) (Netflix Streaming- 3:00 pm) 1st Time Viewing

45. Hercules (1983) (Netflix Streaming- 5:00 pm) 1st Time Viewing

46. Satan's Sadists (1969) (Netflix Streaming- 7:00 pm) 1st Time Viewing

Monday - April 18

47. Django (1966) (Netflix Streaming- 7:00 pm) 1st Time Viewing

48. Titanic II (2010) (Netflix Streaming- 8:45 pm) 1st Time Viewing

49. Transmorphers: Fall of Man (2009) (Netflix Streaming - 10:15 pm) 1st Time Viewing

Tuesday - April 19

50. Puppetmaster 4 (1993) (DVD - 8:00 pm) 1st Time Viewing

51. No Escape (1994) (LaserDisc - 10:00 pm) 1st Time Viewing

Wednesday - April 20

52. Vampire Boys (2011) (DVD - 5:00 pm) 1st Time Viewing

53. Village of the Giants (1965) (Netflix Streaming - 7:00 pm) 1st Time Viewing

Last edited by llandros; 04-20-11 at 06:26 PM.
Old 03-29-11, 02:32 PM
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Re: LIST THREAD 2nd Annual Drive-In/Exploitation/B-Movie Challenge March 31-April 30

Crap. Thought that the challenge started on the 1st. That's okay - My Andy Sidaris collection just arrived

March 31 -
1. Malibu Express (1987) - Andy Sidaris directs (DVD) - Girls with Guns - Sybil Danning starts with a multitude of Playboy Playmates
2. Hard Ticket to Hawaii (1987) - Andy Sidaris directs (DVD)- Girls with Guns - no Sybil Danning but a bunch of Playboy Playmates to make up for it
3. Bad Girls From Mars (1990) - Fred Olen Ray directs (NF)- Erotic thriller/comedy - Big-boobed Edy Williams and small-boobed Brinke Stevens
4. Devil Doll (MST3K version) (1964) (NF)- low budget horror

Did okay the first day, ahead of the curve...
April 1 -
5. Terror Firmer (Director's Cut) (1998) - Lloyd Kaufman directs (DVD)- Troma film about making a Troma film - cameos from directors Matt Stone, Trey Parker and Eli Roth (plus Ron Jeremy!)
6. The Gore Gore Girls - (1972) - Herschell Gordon Lewis directs (NF)- strippers getting murdered... and what is Henny Youngman doing here?
7. Magus - (2008) (DVD) - Surprising well-done direct-to-video about battling sorcerers. I got it for the super-cute Lizzy Strain.
8. Body Slam - (1986) - Hal Needham directs (NF) - rock and wrestling with Dirk Benedict, Rowdy Roddy Piper, Tanya Roberts, Charles Nelson Reilly and Billy Barty!

Averaging four a day so far. How long can I keep that up?
April 2 -
9. Wasp Woman (1959) Roger Corman directs (NF) - Why women spend too much on cosmetics. Does this count as sci-fi or horror?
10. The Astro Zombies (1969) Ted V. Mikels directs (NF) - Solar-powered killer robot zombies, count me in! Wayne Rogers from M*A*S*H co-produces and co-writes. Long live Tura Satana!
11. Monkey Hu$tle (1976) (NF) - Yaphet Kotto and Rudy Ray Moore in a blaxploitation flick that has something to do with an expressway coming through town. Oh, and there's hustling...
12. My Tutor (1983) (DVD) - The lovely Caren Kaye starts in this teen sex comedy as a French tutor. Also catch Crispin Glover in his first (non-TV) movie role as the best friend.
13. Puppet Master vs. Demonic Toys (2004) (NF) - Corey Feldman vs. Vanessa Angel fighting with their toys.
14. Not of This Earth (1988) Jim Wynorski directs (DVD) - Aliens need our blood to survive - only Traci Lords can save us. Contains ultra-rare sex scene by Ms. Lords

Did pretty good yesterday, let's have some sword and sorcery today.
April 3 -
15. Wizards of the Demon Sword (1991) Fred Olen Ray directs (NF)- dull S&S flick I only watched because the great Michael Berryman was on the cover (He's in it for 2 minutes). "Wonder Woman"'s Lyle Waggoner and "West Side Story"'s Russ Tamblyn co-star
16. Postal (2007) Uwe Boll directs (NF)- can't have a B-movie challenge without some Uwe Boll, right? Not as bad as some of the other Boll-sh*t I've seen
17. The Sword and the Sorcerer (1982) Albert Pyun directs (DVD)- loved this movie as a kid, still holds up. Stars a whole bunch of TV stars - Lee "Matt Houston" Horsley, Kathleen "Dynasty" Beller, Richard "Night Court" Moll, Simon "Manimal" MacCorkindale, Joe "Murphy Brown" Regalbuto
18. Act of Vengeance (aka Rape Squad) (1974) (NF) - A little bit of rape revenge for a Sunday afternoon. Jingle bells, jingle bells...

Would have watched more on Sunday but it was Wrestlemania time!
April 4 -
19. Razor Blade Smile (1998) (DVD) - Sexy leather and vinyl clad vampire assassin. This ain't "Twilight".
20. The Devil Bat (1940) (DVD) - Going old school with some Bela Lugosi. This is why you shouldn't wear experimental aftershave.
21. Hell Ride (2008) (DVD) - Quentin Tarantino produced this direct to video (?) existential biker flick. Decent amount of deaths and boobs.
22. Mondo Cane (1962) (NF) - Weird 'documentary' that jumps from sex to food to death to animals to dancing

Clicking stuff off the checklist...
April 5 -
23. Frogs (1972) (NF) - This movie scared the hell out of me when I was a kid. Still kinda creepy. Stars an un-mustachioed Sam Elliot.
24. Ilsa, She-Wolf of the SS (1975) (VHS) Had to dig this one out a box in the garage but it's classic sleaze.
25. Hell Penitentiary (1984) (NF) Italian Women in Prison movie that's pretty much softcore porn (but aren't they all). So bad it goes all the way around to good.
26. OSS 117: Cairo, Nest of Spies (2006) (NF) Fun French retro-spy flick in the vein of Matt Helm or Flint.

One quarter of the way there in the first six days.
April 6 -
27. Atlas in the Land of the Cyclops (1961) (NF) Italian Sword and Sandal with no one actually named Atlas and very little of a Cyclops.
28. The Ghost Walks (1934) (DVD) Ghosts and murder in a large mansion, with a playwright, a psychic and a few others.
29. Tenebre (1982) Dario Argento directs (DVD) - Italian giallo murder mystery featuring an murder mystery author. And who's the girl with the red shoes?
30. Troll 2 (1990) (NF) Been waiting for this one for a while and it does not disappoint.
31. Alien vs. Ninja (2010) (NF) A group of ninjas (you can tell they're ninjas cuz they wear all black), including a goofy ninja and a hot chick ninja battle a bunch of aliens that look like Predator mated with Alien and mated with a dolphin.

Had a pretty good first week, well ahead of where I need to be.
April 7 -
32. Death Race 2000 (1975) (DVD) One of my favorite B movies of all time. Been a while seen I've seen it straight through. Car crashes, violence, boobs and even some social commentary. What more could you want? How about a pre-Rocky Sly Stallone.
33. Django (1966) (NF) Franco Nero does his best Clint Eastwood as Django saves prostitutes, steals gold and fights Mexicans and the Klan.
34. Last House on the Left (1972) directed by Wes Craven (NF) One of the first and best (worst?) films of the shock genre. Rape, murder and revenge and the second appearance of Martin Kove today.
35. Best Worst Movie (2009) (DVD) Since I watched "Troll 2" yesterday it was only appropriate that I watched this documentary about it today.
36. Dead & Buried (1981) (DVD) This murder mystery/zombie flick was banned in the UK for the Stan Winston effects. It was one of Jack Albertson's last and one of Robert Englund's first. James Farentino is the sheriff and Melody Anderson plays his wife. But who can you trust?

Could have watched a couple more yesterday but went to see an actual movie.
April 8 -
37. Terror of Mechagodzilla (1975) (NF) So there's Godzilla, Mechagodzilla, Titanosaurus and a bunch of evil aliens. Oh, and Tokyo gets destroyed too.
38. Chinese Connection (aka Fists of Fury) (1972) (NF) Bruce Lee avenges his teacher and fights for his school and Chinese rights against the Japanese in Shanghai.
39. Nice Dreams (1981) (NF) Absolutely no plot in this Cheech & Chong epic. There is some drug use along with Stacy Keach and a pre-PeeWee Paul Reubens as the Hamburger man.
40. Double Agent 73 (1975) directed by Doris Wishman (OL) Least sexy sexploitation movie I've ever seen. Man, that was a rough 73 minutes.
41. Vigilante Force (1976) (NF) Small town hires a bunch of ex-soldiers to help clean up their town. But when the ex-soldiers turn out to be even worse the good guys have to form their own vigilante force to clear them out of town. With Kris Kristofferson, Jan-Michael Vincent, Victoria Principal and Bernadette Peters.

Time for music!
April 9 -
42. Harum Scarum (1965) (NF) If you're a middle eastern king of assassins and you need someone to kill the king for you, who are you going to use? Elvis, of course. Whitebread Miss America 1959 Mary Ann Mobley plays the middle eastern princess and love interest.
43. Shock Treatment (1981) (DVD) The continuing adventures of "Rocky Horror"'s Brad and Janet. this is why you shouldn't go out and try to make a cult movie.
44. Reefer Madness (aka Tell Your Children) (1936) (DVD) The most famous 'documentary' on the dangers of marihuana.
45. Rockula (1990) (NF) A rock comedy co-starring 80s musicians Toni "Hey Mickey" Basil and Thomas "She Blinded me With Science" Dolby along with the legendary Bo Diddley. Watch out for hambone-wielding pirates with rhinestone peglegs!
46. Bikini Beach (1964) (NF) Frankie and Annette star in this movie with very little bikinis, not much beach, but there is drag racing, a monkey, a falcon, a biker gang, Don Rickles, Stevie Wonder and, for no apparent reason, a teenage werewolf in a pool hall.

Tooling along pretty good, should hit the halfway point today.
April 10 -
47. Laserblast (1978) (NF) I remember years ago a friend of mine telling me about this epicly awesome movie. I'm still not sure what happened. If you pick up an alien's laser weapon, you become an alien and use that weapon to destroy random objects until the other aliens kill you?
48. Revenge of the Ninja (1983) (NF) When I was growing up in the 80s Sho Kosugi was the man. He and his nine year old son kick ass in this throwback to my youth.
49. Emmanuelle (1974) (NF) If you're going to watch an Emmanuelle movie you might as well start with the first. Decent production value for what is essentially a soft-core porn with very little plot.
50. Sister Street Fighter (1974) (DVD) Had a good time watching this wall-to-wall action film. Sonny Chiba's sister has to rescue him and stop a drug ring at the same time. Sonny kicks butt at the end.

Hit the halfway point in 11 days, not too shabby. And congrats to JHCA13 for getting there too.
April 11 -
51. Ballistic:Ecks vs. Sever (2002) (NF) For some reason, I always wanted to see this low-rated action flick. I actually didn't think it was that bad. Not much plot but the requisite amount of stuff blowing up to cool music.
52. The Delinquents (1957) directed by Robert Altman (NF) Pseudo-documentary (ala Reefer Madness) that was Altman's first movie. Stars Tom "Billy Jack" Laughlin as the non-delinquent that gets mixed up with a bad group of kids.
53. The Client List (2010) (DVD) Jennifer Love Hewitt over-acts and under-dresses as a Texas mother and wife forced to turn to prostitution to save her family. Damn this economy!
54. Bruce Lee in New Guinea (1978) (OL) Bruce Li wears a knockoff Bruce Lee tracksuit, travels to Snake Worship Island, fights the Devil sect, falls in love with the sexy Snake Princess, impregnates her, leaves, comes back, fights her dad, then leaves the island with his new family. There's lots of fight and Bolo too!
55. Chessy Horror trailers: Vol. 1 (2006) Fun to watch and got a few ideas of some more movies for the challenge.

Feel like slowing down a bit, but almost through the checklist.
April 12 -
56. 2001 Maniacs: Field of Screams (2011) (NF) "Troll 2"-level acting in this sequel to a remake. Pretty unwatchable but some of the kill scenes are fun.
57. Are You In The House Alone? (1978) (NF) Man, I watched this hoping for some "the call is coming from inside the house"-type fun but what I got was some family melodrama, a rape scene and no good revenge. Dennis Quaid in an early appearance.
58. If the Footmen Tire You, What Will the Horses Do? (1971) directed by Ron Ormond (OL) Got tired of looking for a religious movie myself so I saw that this one was on a couple of other lists. Not so much a movie as an extended sermon with video clips to illustrate. Hilarious and brutal. Must see for the bamboo spear through the ear scene.
59. Dünyayı Kurtaran Adam (1982) (OL) I think the only reason this is known as the "Turkish Star Wars" is the use of footage stolen from that movie at the start and the end. music & sound effects taken from Star Wars, Rollerball, Indiana Jones, Battlestar Galactica and Flash Gordon. There seemed to be somewhat of a plot but I can't explain it. Tough to sit all the way through sober.

Some tough movies yesterday, let's see if there's anything better today.
April 13 -
60. Deep Throat (1972) (OL) Recently saw the doc "Inside Deep Throat" so it was about time I saw this historic film. Hard to believe it was such a sensation with it's terrible acting and non-existent storyline. Starts off as a drama, delves into a wacky comedy then it's pretty much just unattractive people having sex.
61. Scum of the Earth (1963) directed by Herschell Gordon Lewis (OL) Very early 'roughie' film about a teenaged girl blackmailed into posing for dirty pictures. Not very rough and not very dirty.
62. The Immoral Mr. Teas (1959) directed by Russ Meyer (OL) Russ Meyer's first film told in a pseudo-documentary style about poor Mr. Teas who's just trying to get through his day but keeps getting distracted by beautiful women and his fantasies.
63. The Batwoman (1968) (OL) Ten minutes into this movie there's a scene where a woman is dressed in a bikini and a Batman cape and cowl... at an autopsy. Awesome! Also a mad scientist is trying to create a Fish-Man out of fluid from Mexican wrestler's pineal glands because that's what mad scientists do.
64. Corrupt (1999) directed by Albert Pyun (NF) Hard to believe Ice-T had any kind of acting career after being in this flick. He really stretches himself playing a tough gang leader who gets ripped off and then he kills some people and the he blackmails a woman to sleep with him and he... oh, who cares. Stay away from this.

A lot of sex yesterday, today- violence!
April 14 -
65. Mad Dog Morgan (1976) (OL) I was expecting a bit more "Mad Dog" out of this movie but there's really not that much violence or blood. The movie seems to be shot as a long montage, jumping from scene to scene. Lots of facial hair.
66. Mad Ron's Prevues From Hell (1987) (NF) Felt like stepping away from watching actual movies for a bit. A bunch of fun previews but I could do without the 'funny' segments in-between.
67. Dhoom 2 (2006) (NF) My first ever Bollywood film - some fun action scenes, some goofy comedy a half dozen musical numbers and the stunning Aishwarya Rai. Slows down in the middle but not a bad way to spend an afternoon.
68. American Grindhouse (2010) (NF) Great documentary about the origins and history of grindhouse cinema. I should have watched this first before watching anything else for this challenge.

No specific plans today, just working my way through the checklist some more
April 15 -
69. Cannibal Holocaust (1980) directed by Ruggero Deodato (OL) Well that was an effed up way to spend my morning. For what is was, very well done and very disturbing.
70. The Godfather's Friend (1972) (OL) Italian flick about a hitman for the mob and his best friend who's a hitman for a different mob. The first guy wants to get revenge on the second guy's boss because he killed and raped his family at his 12th birthday party. He does, but at what cost?
71. Intruder (1989) (NF) Fairly standard 80s slasher film about a group of employees systematically killed in a grocery store after closing. I watched only for Bruce Campbell and he's pretty much just a cameo.
72. The Captive City (1952) (NF) Film noir about a small town newspaper man who goes up against the mob in his town. Stars John Forsythe in one of his earliest roles and a pre-Adam-12 Martin Milner. Plus a guest appearance by chairman of the Special Committee on Organized Crime in Interstate Commerce Estes Kefauver!
73. Killer Nun (1979) (DVD) Sexy Anita Ekberg smolders up the screen as Sister Gertrude, who is addicted to morphine, sleeps with men and women and is killing off the patients at the hospital she works at... or is she?

Finished of the checklist yesterday, now just heading towards 100...
74. Beverly Hills Vamp (1989) directed by Fred Olen Ray (NF) After all the violence and sickness of yesterday's viewing, nice to get to a wacky B-comedy, this one starring the great Eddie Deezen and scream queen Michelle Bauer. Three buddies, vampire hookers, hilarity ensues.
75. Attack of the 50 Foot Woman (1958) (NF) Classic sci-fi cheese from the 1950s. Stay away from alien satellites... unless you want to get revenge on your cheating husband! The only problem is that it takes 2/3 of the movie before we get some giant woman stuff.
76. Die You Zombie Bastards! (2005) (NF) It's like a Troma film without the budget, special effects or acting skills. The hero is a serial a killer and the villain is unexplainable. I can't tell if this movie is terrible or brilliant.
77. Dead-End Drive In (1986) (DVD) After almost eighty movies done in the challenge, this is what my life is beginning to feel like. Fun little Oz film that sort of a cross between Mad Max, Escape From New York and The Warriors.
78. Stray Cat Rock: Sex Hunter (1970) (NF) Mako is the leader of a girl gang. When she falls in love with a singing drifter, her boyfriend The Baron, is not going to like it very much. Movie not as cool as its title.

Starting off today with a double-header double-header.
April 17 -
79. The Thing With Two Heads (1972) (NF) Heard about this for years and only saw stills. Not sure yet if it was filmed as a comedy. Must see for the chase scene featuring the most inept cops ever captured on celluloid.
80. The Incredible 2-Headed Transplant (1971) (NF) What could possibly go wrong by grafting the head of an insane murderer/rapist onto the body of a giant with retard strength? Bruce Dern plays the doctor, Pat Priest (Marilyn on "The Munsters") is his wife and Casey Kasem (yes, that one) is his friend.
81. The Manster (1962) (NF) Wow! Turns out there's at least three sci-fi/horror movies where someone gets another head. This one grows out of his body and makes him evil (as opposed to having it grafted on) although the dude was kind of a douche anyways.
82. Galaxy of Terror (1981) (TV) "Alien"-inspired sci-fi tale that's really about a Planet of Terror, rather than a Galaxy. Stars a young Freddy Kruger, an old Joannie Cunnigham and and older My Favorite Martian. I could have sworn I saw this when I was younger but watching it now I have no recollection of it.
83. Run! Bitch Run! (2009) (NF) Well, if you like skeevy people murdering and raping Catholic school girls and then getting what they deserve then this is the movie for you.

Gonna try for a holiday theme, starting today
April 18 -
84. New Year's Evil (1980) (NF) Fairly standard slasher stalks victim story. This time Roz Kelly (Pinky Tuscadero) is the punk rock hostess of a New Year's Eve show and someone is killing on the hour, getting closer to her. I first saw this on Elvira's show.
85. My Bloody Valentine (1981) (NF) Fun Canadian slasher flick. When the Valentine's Day killer tells you not to have a dance on Valentine's Day, don't have one. And for god's sake, don't go down into the mine!
86. Leprechaun in the Hood (2000) (NF) This takes care of St. Patrick's Day. Three young rappers find themselves caught between Ice-T and the Leprechaun after stealing their gold and a magic flute. A year after the abominable "Corrupt" and Ice-T still can't act.
87. April Fools (2007) (NF) Officially the last 'urban' horror film I'll ever watch. These things are crap... and not in a good way. I should have just watched "April Fools Day" (1986) again.
88. Jesus Christ Vampire Hunter (2001) (NF) To celebrate this upcoming Easter I thought a good Jesus flick would be in order. This was just what I needed. Jesus, with the help of his Mexican wrestling buddy, fights vampires to save lesbians. Perfect.

Continuing the holiday theme...
April 19 -
89. Mother's Day (1980) (NF) Well we're into May and here's a lovely story of two backwoods boys trying to impress their mother with a little rape and murder. Not as violent as I would have thought and the revenge killings are gorier than the first murders.
90. Graduation Day (1981) (NF) Anne returns home after her younger sister dies at a track meet. Then kids on the track team start dying, but who is the killer? Is it the sister, the track coach, the creepy cop? Or maybe it's co-star Vanna White...
91. The Stepfather (2009) (NF) Celebrating Father's Day in June with this fairly predictable remake of the 1987 thriller. Tons of TV actors in this one - Dylan Walsh (Nip/Tuck), Sela Ward (House), Penn Badgley (Gossip Girl), Sherry Stringfield (ER), Paige Turco (American Gothic).
92. Uncle Sam (1997) (OL) What could be more patriotic than celebrating July 4th with this tale of a fallen soldier that rises from the grave? He kills a peeping tom, some cemetery-defiling flag-burning kids, a crooked politician, a draft dodger and a few others before Isaac Hayes comes to the rescue.

Goal for today: finish up my holiday mini-challenge.
April 20 -
93. Happy Birthday to Me (1981) (DVD) Since there's no good holidays in August but my birthday is in that month, this one fits the bill. Virginia's prep school friends keep disappearing but is she responsible? And what about those blackouts and flashbacks?
94. Rabid Grannies (1988) (DVD) September has Grandparents Day and this suggestion by Mr. Peepers (thanks!) will do just fine. A Belgian film about a couple of nice old ladies inflicted with a demon curse and killing off all of their heirs. Reminds me of Bava's "Demons".
95. Night of the Demons (2009) (NF) Hey I found a horror movie that takes place on Halloween! Standard story, decent effect, the victims actually aren't stupid and Shannon Elizabeth, Monica Keena and Diora Baird amp up the hotness factor making this an enjoyable watch.
96. Thankskilling (2009) (NF) Unfortunately Eli Roth hasn't made his Thanksgiving horror movie yet so I had to watch this. Killer turkey (hand puppet) stalks kids in what I guess was supposed to be a comedy. Atrocious acting and I'm pretty sure it was written by a 13-year-old.
97. Santa's Slay (2005) (NF) Any movie that stars Jewish ex-wrestler Bill Goldberg as Santa, terrorizing the town of Hell has to have a sense of humor about itself. This movie ends my holiday mini-challenge. It was Robert Culp's 2nd to last movie and was an early flick for Lost's Emilie de Ravin. Tons of odd cameos too.
98. Evil Weed (2009) (NF) Couldn't let 4/20 pass without seeing at least one weed movie. It shouldn't have been this one. It wastes fully half of its 70 minute running time before anything happens (people turning into demons after smoking the evil weed). When it does happen, you won't care. Bad and boring.

Getting a late start today but almost at the goal!
April 21 -
99. Wild in the Streets (1968) (OL) A friend of mine turned me on to this kids gone wild movie. Singer Max Frost gets the voting age lowered to 14, gets himself elected president at 23 and puts anyone over 35 in an LSD-controlled camp. What could possibly go wrong? Very early roles for Hal Holbrook and Richard Pryor.
100. The Cars That Ate Paris (1974) directed by Peter Weir (DVD) Not sure what to make of this Australian film. Starts out as sort of a creepy horror/suspense movie then the last ten minutes are a precursor to Mad Max.
101. Warrior of the Lost World (1983) (NF) It's a post-apocalyptic world (aren't they all?) and a lone rider (aren't they all?) helps a ragtag group of survivors (aren't they all?) against a ruthless and evil dictator (aren't they all?). Donald Pleasence is the bad guy and Fred Williamson grabs a paycheck here too.

Took a little time off after hitting 100. Thought I deserved it.
April 23 -
102. Hobo With A Shotgun (2011) (OL) Rutger Hauer? Check. Hooker with a heart of gold? Check. Bloodthirsty maniacal villain? Check. Beatings, beheadings, lynchings, evisceratings and lawnmowers? Check. Giant tentacled monsters? Check. Wait, what?
103. Juvenile Jungle (1958) (NF) A gang decides to run a fake kidnapping by having the new guy date their victim. Who'd have known he'd fall in love? These 'juveniles' are more in their mid 20s to early 30s.

Final week. How many more do I have in me?
April 24 -
104. Lobster Man from Mars (1989) (DVD) Throwback to the 50s sci-fi flicks with a wraparound story about the director try to sell his film to the head of the studio, Tony Curtis. Billy Barty has a small part as well.
105. 3:15 (1986) (NF) Young Adam Baldwin leaves a high school gang and they don't appreciate it. They're going to kill him at 3:15. Cameo appearance by Mario Van Peebles and this makes back-to-back movies with Deborah Foreman as the girlfriend.
106. Waxwork (1988) (NF) Completing my (semi-unintentional) trilogy of Deborah Foreman movies today. She was all over the place in the eighties then just dropped off the face of the earth.

Coasting to the end.
April 25 -
107. Little Cigars (1973) (NF) Thank god for Netflix or I'd had never known this movie existed. Cleo leaves her mob boss boyfriend on less than amicable terms then ends up getting hooked up with a band of midget vaudevillian small-time crooks. With her help they start doing bigger crimes while avoiding her ex's stooges. Look for an uncredited early appearance of WKRP's Herb Tarlick.

Think I'll see a few more today than I have been.
April 26-
108. Satan in High Heels (1962) (DVD) Stacey Kane is a 28-year-old burlesque performer who act 38 and looks 48. She seduces a whole bunch of different men to get what she wants. It doesn't work out too well for her in the end. Great title, ho hum movie.
109. Texas Chainsaw Massacre: The Next Generation (1994) (DVD) Young Renee Zellweger fights off young Matthew McConaughey and his psycho family including Leatherface (of course). Spoliler Alert: Number of people massacred by chainsaws - 0
110. Cyborg Soldier (2008) (DVD) One of the few Tiffani Thiessen movies I've not seen. Slow-paced actioner about a (possible) murderer who gets all cyborged up then escapes and enlists the help of a small-town cop in evading his pursuers. Ehh.
111. Sundown: The Vampire in Retreat (1990) (DVD) Whoohoo! Found another Deborah Foreman movie to watch! As a bonus we've got David Carradine as the head vampire, Bruce Campbell as Van Helsing and Rico Suave's Gerardo!. Not a bad little comedy western vampire movie (except for the little kids).
112. April Fool's Day (1986) (DVD) FIVE Deborah Foreman movies watched in two days! This one's my favorite and a pretty decent little eighties whodunit horror flick. Should have watched this during my holiday challenge.

Wood Day!
April 27 -
113. Glen or Glenda (1953) directed by Ed Wood, Jr. (DVD) Not really a movie, more of a pseudo-documentary, although there is an extended wordless dream sequence in the middle. Pretty sure Bela Lugosi was narrating a different movie. Pull the string!
114. Jail Bait (1954) directed by Ed Wood, Jr. (DVD) Disappointed that the jail bait in the title was a gun and not an underage girl. Slowly paced, badly acted but had a cool surprise ending.
115. Bride of the Monster (1955) directed by Ed Wood, Jr. (DVD) Compared to the last two, this one was actually a pleasure to watch. Bela chews up the scenery, the female is 10 times better than Ed's girlfriend and Tor was Tor.
116. The Violent Years (1956) (DVD) Well this movie went by quickly. Girl gang robs some gas stations then gets caught after vandalizing a school and killing a cop. We find it's all really the parent's fault for not giving the right love. Implied girl on guy rape! Written by but not directed by Ed Wood, Jr.
117. Night of the Ghouls (1959) directed by Ed Wood, Jr. (DVD) Truly unwatchable movie about a fake medium... or is he? Wacky comic relief cop, indestructible Tor Johnson, terrible writing and story and skeletons at a seance... phew.
118. Plan 9 from Outer Space (1959) directed by Ed Wood, Jr. (DVD) Finishing off Wood day with this classic. I can't say anything about this that hasn't already been said. If you haven't seen it yet, see it now.

Didn't start out with a plan today but it's going to be Bat-Thursday
April 28 -
119. Mars Needs Women (1967) (NF) Watch Martians stalk a stewardess. See Martians go to a strip club. Attend a planetarium with a Martian. Observe Martians at the big football game. Mars needs women because these guys are very dull. Co-stars Yvonne (Batgirl) Craig as a scientist.
120. Deep Space (1988) directed by Fred Olen Ray (NF) Who'd have thought a movie called "Deep Space" wouldn't take place in space? this one is a buddy cop movie on earth but their looking for an "Alien" ripoff. Charles Napier and Ron Glass are the cops. Co-stars Julie (Catwoman) Newmar as a psychic.
121. 4D Man (1959) (NF) Pretty decent sci-fi horror flick about a scientist who gets the ability to walk through walls. Unfortunately every time he does he ages and he has to kill to get younger. Rather abrupt ending. Co-stars Lee (Catwoman) Meriwether as a scientist.
122. Virgin High (1991) (NF) Typical "USA Up All Night" teen sex comedy with a girl forced to go to Catholic school and her boyfriend sneaking in to see her. Confessional scene, car wash scene, sex ed scene, all there. Linnea Quigley is the bad girl. Co-stars Burt (Robin) Ward as the good girl's father.
123. Zombie Nightmare (MST3K version) (1986) (NF) - Zombie with a baseball bat! 19 year old Tia Carrere in a mini-skirt. Heavy metal soundtrack! Co-stars Adam (Batman) West as the police captain (with a mustache!).

Feel like mixing it up today.
April 29 -
124. Meat Market (2000) (NF) Rough way to start out a morning. It's like "The Walking Dead" if it had no budget, no story and no talent. Zombies, female lesbians, Mexican wrestler and still dull as dishwater.
125. Sugar Hill (1974) (NF) Needed some sugar to get the bad taste of the last movie out of my mouth. Zombies AND blaxploitation in the same movie! A little slow-paced at times but Marki Bey is appropriately foxy and every white person dies.
126. Village of the Giants (NF) Whatever you do don't let those teenage delinquents eat that goo that makes you giant-sized! Ooop, too late. Fairly dull unless you have a giantess fetish. See a very young Beau Bridges, an even younger Ron Howard and Toni Basil of "Hey Mickey" fame.
127. Cheezy Science Fiction trailers: Vol. 1 (2007) (NF) A little late to catch any of these movies during this challenge but I've got some ideas for next year. AS 'cheesy' as thes are, I think about half of them have been remade.
128. Angel, Angel Down We Go aka Cult of the Damned (1969) (NF) Not what I expected from the poster and description. Rich fat girl falls in with a singer/cult leader and his group and then stuff happens. Everybody in the sixties was high. Hey, is that Lou Rawls?
129. Empire of the Ants (1977) (NF) Saw this on a double bill with "Frogs" when I was a kid and it scared the hell out of me. Takes a half hour for the giant ants to get to work and it's not very scary when they do but hey, I was 10...

Last day! Congrats to me and anyone else who's hit 100 (and everybody else in the challenge as well).
April 30 -
130. Them! (1954) (NF) Guess I'm in a giant ant mood after yesterday's "Empire". Really the fifties were the best time for giant whatever movies, with nuclear paranoia running at a fever pitch. This one is just pure fun.
131. The Food of the Gods (1976) (NF) I seem to be on a giant things tear, teens, ants and now this one with chickens, wasps and, of course, rats. My second Marjoe Gortner flick of the challenge and, as the hero, makes so many bad lapses in judgement that he ends up getting half the cast killed (and sets up the sequel).
132. Gor (1987) Okay, off the giant stuff for a while and onto some bad sword and sandal stuff. In comprehensible plot + hot slave girl + mystical glowing stones + un-charismatic hero = Gor.
133. Outlaw aka Outlaw of Gor aka Gor II (MST3K version) (1989) (OL) Back-to-back Gor movies. Can't get a lot worse it the sword and sandal category. At least I had Mike and the robots to liven it up a bit for me.
134. Cyborg 3:The Recycler (1995) (NF) Don't know why I put this on my NetFlix Instant list. Maybe I just wanted to see what Khrystyne Haje did after "Head of the Class". Maybe I wanted to watch 3 consecutive movies with Playmate Rebecca Ferratti. Maybe my brain is just turning into mush.
135. Cheezy Fantasy Trailers (2006) (NF) One more set of trailers, some of which actually look interesting, some don't Starts off with some man-in-suit monster movies then moves to sword-and-sandal stuff and a whole bunch of other stuff. I might have one more movie left in me tonight.



red - previously viewed
black - first time viewing

Spoiler:


Watch one film from every decade of film history.
* 1890 - (insert film title here)(Optional)
* 1900 -(optional)
* 1910 -(optional)
* 1920 -(optional)
* 1930 - The Ghost Walks
* 1940 - The Devil Bat
* 1950 – The Wasp Woman
* 1960 – Devil Doll
* 1970 – The Gore Gore Girls
* 1980 – Mailbu Express
* 1990 – Bad Girls From Mars
* 2000 - Magus

Watch a film for each rating:
* G - Terror of Mechagodzilla
* PG – Body Slam
* PG-13 - Troll 2
* R - Magus
* X (or NC-17) - Razor Blade Smile
* Unrated (post-MPAA 1968) – The Gore Gore Girls

Watch films in at least three formats (DVD, BD, HD DVD, Laserdisc, TV, online, Streaming Netflix type, UMD, theater, iPod, VHS-sourced{VHS transferred to DVD-+R is fine}).
* First format, DVD (Malibu Express)
* Second format, NetFlix Streaming (Bad Girls From Mars)
* Third format, VHS (Ilsa, She-Wolf of the SS)

Watch a film in an actual Drive-in. (optional) (insert title)

Watch a film in the following genres:
A Token Science Fiction B-Movie: Not Of This Earth
A Token Horror B-Movie: Wasp Woman
Italian (or European) films of the following Genres:
* Eurospy (James Bond ripoffs) - OSS 117: Cairo, Nest of Spies
* Giallo - Tenebre
* Sword & Sandal - Atlas in the Land of the Cyclops
* Spaghetti Western - Django
* Cannibal Film - Cannibal Holocaust
* Mafia/Gangster Film - The Godfather's Friend
Martial Arts film:
* Bruce Lee-sploitation - Bruce Lee in New Guinea
* Hong Kong (or other Asian) film - Sister Street Fighter (Japan)
* American film - Revenge of the Ninja
* Any "Ninja" film - Alien vs. Ninja
* Bonus* Actual Bruce Lee film - Chinese Connection (aka Fists of Fury)
Biker Film - Hell Ride
Stoner Film - Nice Dreams
Carsploitation Film - Death Race 2000
Blaxploitation - Monkey Hu$tle
Sexploitation:
* Any type - Double Agent 73
* Nudie Cutie - The Immoral Mr. Teas
* Roughie - Scum of the Earth
* 70s Porn - Deep Throat
* Emmanuelle Film - Emmanuelle
* Teen Sex Comedy - My Tutor
Nunsploitation - Killer Nun
Shocksploitation - Last House On the Left
Rape/Revenge Film - Act of Vengeance
Vigilante Film - Vigilante Force
Women in Prison - Hell Penitentiary
Nazisploitation - Ilsa, She-Wolf of the SS
Eschploitation - If the Footmen Tire You, What Will the Horses Do?
Hixploitation/Moonshiners - 2001 Maniacs: Field of Screams
Roadshow Exploitation/30s-40s "Cautionary" films - Reefer Madness (aka Tell Your Children)
"Hood" Film ("Gangsta") - Corrupt
Hollywood Gangster film (Film Noir era) - The Captive City
Juvenile Delinquent Film - The Delinquents
60s Beach Movie - Bikini Beach
Film starring Musical Group or Music Star (that did not become a legit actor) - Rockula (Toni Basil, Thomas Dolby, Bo Diddley)
* *Bonus* Elvis film - Harum Scarum
Ozploitation - Mad Dog Morgan
Mexican Wrestling Film - The Batwoman
Foreign "Ripoff" film - Dünyayı Kurtaran Adam (Turkish Star Wars)
Bollywood Film (actual, not a Hollywood pastiche) – Dhoom 2
Eco-Terror Film - Frogs
"Mondo" Film - Mondo Cane
Documentary ABOUT B-Movies or those involved in their production – Best Worst Movie
Video Nasty – Dead & Buried
TV-Movie – Are You In The House Alone?
* Lifetime Channel Movie - The Client List
Bad Sequel to a "Well regarded film" - Shock Treatment
Critical Bomb - Troll 2
Financial Bomb - Ballistic:Ecks vs. Sever

MST3K/RiffTrax (or Cinematic Titanic) version of a film - Devil Doll
Non-MST3K version of a film featured on MST3K (or CT) - Laserblast

Watch 10 films starring anyone from the actors safe list.
* 1 Bad Girls From Mars (Brinke Stevens)
* 2 Malibu Express (Sybil Danning)
* 3 Body Slam (Rowdy Roddy Piper)
* 4 The Astro Zombies (Tura Satana)
* 5 Monkey Hu$tle (Rudy Ray Moore)
* 6 Not of This Earth (Traci Lords)
* 7 Wizards of the Demon Sword (Michael Berryman)
* 8 The Devil Bat (Bela Lugosi)
* 9 Ilsa, She-Wolf of the SS(Dyanne Thorne)
* 10 Death Race 2000(Mary Woronov)


Watch 10 films Directed/Produced by anyone from the directors/producers safe list.
* 1 Malibu Express (Andy Sidaris)
* 2 Bad Girls From Mars (Fred Olen Ray)
* 3 Terror Firmer (Lloyd Kaufman)
* 4 The Wasp Woman (Roger Corman)
* 5 Astro Zombies (Ted V Mikels)
* 6 Not of This Earth (Jim Wynorski)
* 7 Postal (Uwe Boll)
* 8 The Sword and the Sorcerer (Albert Pyun)
* 9 Ilsa, She-Wolf of the SS (Don Edmonds)
* 10 Tenebre (Dario Argento)

Watch 5 films from those in the Studio/Distributor safe list.
* 1 Terror Firmer (Troma)
* 2 Monkey Hu$tle (AIP)
* 3 My Tutor (Crown International)
* 4 Not of this Earth (New Concorde)
* 5 The Devil Bat (PRC)


Last edited by number2; 04-30-11 at 08:57 PM. Reason: adding stuff
Old 03-29-11, 08:54 PM
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Re: LIST THREAD 2nd Annual Drive-In/Exploitation/B-Movie Challenge March 31-April 30

3/31:Day 1 is a day off...should be able to hit at least 5!
1. Destroy All Monsters (1968-Honda) PC ***

2. The Phantom from 10,000 Leagues (1955-Milner) 1st-PC *1/2 A fairly terrible film but not without it's share of unintentional laughs. Cathy Downs is the lead girl and she played Clementine in John Ford's My Darling Clementine...what a career plunge.

3. The Beast With 1,000,000 Eyes (1955-Kramarsky) 1st-PC *1/2 A different kind of bad from the previous film. Less funny bad more boring bad. BTWF App. #1: Dick Sargent plays the boyfriend/cop. He would go on to be the 2nd Darrin on Bewitched some 14 years later. This was his first credited role.

4. Good Guys Wear Black (1978-Post) 1st-PC **1/2 Chuck Norris gets his third leading role in this one. Action is a little too spread out for my liking and the plot had trouble holding my interest but most of what people like about Chuck Norris films is here in some regard. BTWF #2: Anne Archer is the leading lady, still early in her career she will eventually go on to get an oscar nod for Fatal Attraction in 87.

5. Angels From Hell (1968-Kessler) 1st-NI **1/2 Not terrible but nothing that special. Kessler directs his first feature after a career in racing. Not a bad cast with some real bikers scattered throughout.

6. Godzilla Vs. The Thing (1964-Honda) PC ***

4/1
7. Boss *********** (1975-Arnold) PC ***1/2

8. Mean Johnny Barrows (1976-Williamson) 1st-PC **1/2 It takes a long time getting where it's going and when it gets there it doesn't spend enough time to be really good. Not too bad though.

9. The Octagon (1980-Karson) 1st-PC *** Chuck Norris's 5th star vehicle is a fun, bad movie which is never boring, often stupid, poorly acted, and features no less than 3 love interests for ol' Chuck. Lee Van Cleef appears but I don't know why... I had fun with this one. BTWF #3: Ernie Hudson has a small role.

10. Escape From New York (1981-Carpenter) PC ****

11. Ghidrah the Three Headed Monster (1964-Honda) PC **1/2 BTWF #4: Akiko Wakabayashi went on to be a Bond girl in You Only Live Twice and appears in What's Up Tiger Lily?

4/2
12. Monster Zero (1965-Honda) PC **

13. Attack of the Giant Leeches (1959-Kowalski) 1st-PC *1/2 As bad as this movie is, I can't help but think that with a little care given to the script it could have been a little "better". A movie like this will always be bad but I feel it could have been a better bad...if that makes any sense. Very UnLeech-like Leeches dont help much eighter...or maybe they do?!

14. The Screaming Skull (1958-Nicol) 1st-PC ** Just like the last film...this one could have been a better bad movie but for all its faults it still has enough laughs in the form of scared to be a little enjoyable.

15. The Indestructible Man (MST3K Version) (1956-Pollexfen) 1st*-NI ** First time I've seen the MST3K version. The ** are for the movie not the MST3K version.

4/3
16. Terror of Mechagodzilla (1975-Honda) PC *** Note: Make sure to check out the latest dvd release to finally see a coherent version of this film...if thats what your looking for!

17. I Bury the Living (1958-Band) 1st-PC **1/2 What started off as what would make a good Twilight Zone episode...ended up ruining itself in the last reel. Disappointing but not a complete loss.

4/4
18. Godzilla's Revenge (1969-Honda) PC *1/2

19. American Grindhouse (2010-Drenner) NI ****1/2

20. Beach Party (1963-Asher) 1st-NI *** My first real exposure to this odd genre of films. I found is strangely enjoyable. Don't think I'd make it a point to see many more of them though.

21. A Force of One (1979-Aaron) 1st-PC **1/2 Another early Chuck Norris film...probably the weakest of the ones I've seen of his so far. Still it has it's moments.

22. MST3K:Attack of the Giant Leeches (1959-Kowalski) 1st-NI 1st time MST3K version.

4/5
23. Giant Monster Gamera (1965-Yuasa) PC **1/2 Having only been exposed to the Sandy Frank version of the film I half expected the original Japanese version with it's intended dialog to make more sense...it didn't.

24. Blood Feast (1963-Lewis) 1st-PC ** While I can appreciate it both for it's historical significance and it's silliness, I can't honestly say it was enjoyable in any real sense. It holds it's place in history but hasn't really aged so well.

25. Two Thousand Maniacs (1964-Lewis) 1st-PC *** I think this is a big step up from Blood Feast and I enjoyed the whole thing.

26. Color Me Blood Red (1965-Lewis) 1st-PC ** Painfully boring at times but without a few notable moments.

27. Mothra (1961-Honda) PC *** First time seeing it in many years. Still stands as one of the better films of its type from its era.

28. Sex Madness (1938-Esper) 1st-OL * This dreadful little film is really only worth watching for historical purposes...or for challenges like this!

29. Frankenstein (1910-Dawley) 1st-OL Many of the monster books I had as a child featured pictures of the monster in this film. It used to scare me to the point of avoiding that page! Finally seeing the full film, it is still a creepy little creation. With such a short runtime, the monster really is the draw to this very early Edison produced film. Every monster on film since owes a little to this one...well maybe not Yongarry!

30.The Haunted Castle (1896-Meiles) 1st-OL From a time where moving pictures themselves were what were being exploited! Actually the visual effects in these early trick films were what brought in the crowd. They came to see things they never saw before. This films sure delivers unlike some other films that made similar promises decades and centuries later! Sadly this very short feature is more enjoyable than some of the junk that came much later!

4/6 35 Movies in 1 week! I surprise myself!
31. Gamera Vs. Barugon (1966-Tanaka) PC *** The most serious entry in the series and probably the best.

32. MST3K: Gamera Vs. Barugon (1966-Tanaka) 1st-OL This is early MST3K (the 4th episode in fact) from the KTMA TV days. The guys are still perfecting the formula and are a little less chatty than they would become but they are still funny as always.

33. Dead Heist (2007-Webb) 1st-NI **1/2 This is a Gangsta-Heist meets Vampire-Zombie action-horror bloodbath. This movie has no right to be good...and it isn't really. However it ends up being so bad it's good. Funny stuff...even if not on purpose.

34. Unhinged (1982-Gronquist) PC * Very boring for a Video Nasty...it doesn't have it's moments...it has like one moment.

35. Leatherface: The Texas Chainsaw Massacre III (1990-Burr) PC **1/2 BTWF #5: Vigo The Carpathian

4/7
36. Fritz the Cat (1972-Bakshi) 1st-NI *** While a bit odd out of context, this is still an important and funny film!

37. Santa's Slay (2005-Steiman) 1st-NI ** Golberg as Santa is an odd casting choice...but this is an odd movie. Bad for sure...but it's a fun bad movie.

38. MST3K: Gamera (1965-Yuasa) 1st-OL Another really early MST3K. This one is also from the pre-Comedy Central days and is particularly notable as the episode which has Joel riffing on his own without his robot friends!

4/8
39. Superman IV:The Quest for Peace (1987-Furie) PC *1/2 Reeves is the lone saving grace in what is for my money the furthest a sequel has fallen from the previous entries. BTWF #6: Cryer is the guy in Two and a Half Men that isnt Charlie Sheen.

40. Godzilla Vs. Megalon (1973-Fukuda) PC *1/2 I had always felt this was the worst of the series...but now I think that battle is a bit tighter. This is surely the most nonsensical entry in the series. So epically bad it borders on mildly entertaining. Giant robots,undersea beetles, terrible music, and a Godzilla dropkick...what more can you want?

41. The Mountain of the Cannibal God (1978-Martino) 1st-NF **1/2 I've never liked these cannibal films and this one didn't do much to change my mind. Fans of these kind of movies will probably like it. I can't stand the animal killings in these movies and this one has one of the worst. I get why they are in there but I don't think it's needed in any way.

42. The Batwoman (1968-Cardona) 1st-OL ** How can I explain this... This film is about a female Mexican wrestler/crime fighter called The Batwoman. Lets just say she is an "homage" to the popular 60's Batman series/film. While in the ring and training she wears a full bodysuit similar looking to the suit in the Batman series minus cape...however when fighting crime she switches to a very skimpy bikini with the cape.
Yeah that seems practical. The villain is a mad scientist who likes to laugh manically and has an assistant named Igor of course. The movie really "picks up" when Batwoman gets to fight Pisces. Pisces, of course, is a fish-man created by the good doctor using wrestler sweat I think. Lets just say it is an "homage" to The Creature from the Black Lagoon. This movie is 7 kinds of awful and 8 kinds of awesome. I have a feeling this challenge was made to enable the discovery of films like this!!

43. The Last House on the Left (1972-Craven) PC ***

4/9
44. Night of the Living Dead (1968-Romero) PC ***** Watched colorized version with Mike Nelson commentary.

45. The Green Slime (1968-Fukasaku) 1st-TV **1/2 Best Theme Song Ever. Very bizarre film. I had actually seen at least part of this before, maybe 15 years ago. I consider this a first time viewing as I remembered nothing but the monsters and the song. Great movie to watch at 4 am. I also watched the MST3K pilot featuring this film. It was very short but I wanted to mention it anyway.

46. Soldier (1998-Anderson) 1st-PC **1/2 While not terrible, it is rather dull and with an exception of maybe 15 minutes it's pretty boring. Kurt Russell does ok with the material he is forced to work with. I used this to fill my Financial Bomb spot.

47. MST3K: Godzilla Vs. the Sea Monster (1966-Fukuda) 1st-OL (** for the movie) One of the lesser Godzilla's produces one of the best MST3K's. How I never saw this one before I don't know. Loved it!

48. Torso (1973-Martino) 1st-PC **1/2 This is a decent little Italian pre-slasher slasher. It has some good moments but lacks as a whole and isn't as visually interesting as some other giallos. I love the American trailer though!

4/10
49. MST3K: Godzilla Vs. Megalon (1973-Fukuda) OL

50. The Wasp Woman (1959-Corman) 1st-PC **1/2 I actually thought this wasn't that bad...maybe this challenge is starting to affect my brain.

51. MST3K: Gorgo (1961-Lourie) 1st-OL (**1/2 for movie)

52. The Giant Gila Monster (1959-Kellogg) 1st-PC ** 1st rate "Gila-mation" at work in this one!

53. MST3K: The Giant Gila Monster (1959-Kellogg) 1st-NI

4/11
54. Emmanuelle (1974-Jaeckin) 1st-NI **1/2 The line between classic and genre classic has never been clearer. This might be a historical film for the genre, but it doesn't offer much in todays context.

55. MST3K: The Screaming Skull (1958-Nicol) 1st-OL

4/12 A full day off from work and responsibility! I could hit a big number if I pace myself!
56. Mad Ron's Prevues From Hell (1987-Monaco) 1st-NI *** Around 50 trailers are shown in this compilation along with some odd little skits along the way. For fans of trailers this is a nifty film. Those who aren't have no reason to watch.

57. I Spit on Your Grave (1978-Zarchi) PC **1/2

58. MST3K: The Deadly Mantis (1957-Juran) OL **1/2 -for movie.

59. Godzilla Vs. the Sea Monster (1966-Fukuda) PC **

60. Son of Godzilla (1967-Fukuda) PC **

61. Godzilla Vs. Hedorah (1971-Banno) PC **1/2

62. Ilsa, She Wolf of the SS (1974-Edmonds) 1st-OL **1/2 While I certainly can't see the draw of this subgenre...this one isn't too bad. I mean...it's real bad...but...well you know.

63. Godzilla Vs. Gigan (1972-Fukuda) PC **

64. Godzilla Vs. Mechagodzilla (1974-Fukuda) PC ***

65. MST3K: The Black Scorpion (1957-Ludwig) 1st-OL (**1/2 for movie)

4/13- I need a break after a day like that ^^ Just a few today
66. Revenge of the Creature (1955-Arnold) PC **1/2 BTWS #7: Clint Eastwood has a bit part...perhaps one of the most well known BTWS and probably my favorite!

67. MST3K: Revenge of the Creature (1955-Arnold) 1st-OL

68. The 50 Worst Movies Ever Made (2004-Pugliese/Christopher) PC While far from definitive it's at least a neat way to find some bad movies you may not know of. I think I'll end up watching about 10 of them...at least I'll have a good starting point for next year!

4/14
69. Gone in 60 Seconds (1974-Halicki) 1st-NF ***

70. MST3K: The Mole People (1956-Vogel) 1st-OL (**1/2 for movie)

4/15 I'm going to try to finish of the original Godzilla's today and knock a few off the checklist too hopefully.
71. Gojira (1954-Honda) PC ****

72. Godzilla: King of the Monsters (1956-Honda/Morse) PC ***

4/16
73. Gigantis The Fire Monster/Godzilla Raids Again (1955-Oda) PC ** This rating is for the english version. Japanese Version **1/2

74. King Kong Vs. Godzilla (1963-Honda) PC *** This finishes off my little side challenge of watching the complete run of original Godzilla films!

75. Juvenile Jungle (1958-Witney) 1st-NI **1/2 About what one could expect from one of these delinquent films. Not bad, gives the audience what it's looking for.

76. The Evil Dead (1981-Raimi) PC ****1/2

4/17
77. Zombie (1979-Fulci) PC ***

78. The Airship Destroyer (1909-Booth) 1st-OL Early motion picture which eerily predicts some technological advances to come. Like most of these early movies it is very heavy with effects for the sake of effects.

79. Un Chien Andalou (1929-Bunuel) 1st-OL Well that was bizarre...

4/18
80. Killer Nun (1978-Berruti) 1st-NF Much more enjoyable for me than any movie titled "Killer Nun" should be.

4/19
81. The Return of the Living Dead (1985-O'Bannon) PC ****1/2

82. Hell Penitentiary (1985-Garrone) 1st-NI *1/2

83. The Ape (1940-Nigh) 1st-PC *1/2 Karloff almost fooled me into thinking this wasn't a terrible movie...almost.

84. Maniac (1934-Esper) 1st-OL *

85. Godzilla 1985 (1984-Hashimoto) PC **

86. MST3K: The Leech Woman (1960-Dein) 1st-OL (** for movie)

87. Creature From The Black Lagoon (1954-Arnold) PC ****1/2

88. The Creature Walks Among Us (1956-Sherwood) PC **1/2

4/20
89. American Scary (2006-Hudgens) 1st-NI ***1/2 Fun look at horror hosts. As someone who was really only exposed to the likes of MST3K, Monstervision, and USA Up All Night I enjoyed a look at those who started it all and I had only heard of.

90. This Island Earth (1955-Newman) 1st-PC *** Not as good as it thinks it is, but not as bad as it's thought to be by some!

91. MST3K:The Movie: This Island Earth (1955/1996-Newman/Mallon) 1st-PC *** Shorter and not as good as most episodes but still quite fun.

4/21
92. The Defilers (1965-Frost) 1st-PC * Well that wasn't a real uplifting film was it?

94. Scum of the Earth (1963-Lewis) 1st-PC * At least this one had a happy ending?

4/22
95. Godzilla Vs. Biollante (1989-Omori) PC ***

96. The Creeping Terror (1964-White) 1st-PC * Among the worst!

97. My Soul to Take (2010-Craven) 1st-Redbox *1/2 This will likely be my lone wild card. It does have a "safe" director and was a critical and financial bomb but it just seems wrong to count it otherwise. This was bad enough to count!

98. Eaten Alive (1980-Lenzi) 1st-NF **1/2 Not bad enough they put the animal killings in these but this one takes them from other movies! Other than the usual complaints...it's not bad for what it is!

4/23
99. MST3K: The Creeping Terror (1964-White) 1st-OL

100. The Opening of Misty Beethoven (1976-Metzger) 1st-OL **1/2 Fun for what it is.

101. The Deadly Bees (1966-Francis) 1st-PC ** Silly and boring, this one had some potential but failed on almost all levels.

4/24-took the day off of movies since I reached 100!

4/25
102. Godzilla Vs. King Ghidorah (1991-Omori) PC **

103. MST3K: The Deadly Bees (1966-Francis) 1st-OL

4/26
104. Bride of the Monster (1955-Wood) 1st-PC *1/2 I don't have to get into this...do I?

105. MST3K: Bride of the Monster (1955-Wood) 1st-NI

106. Midnight Movies: From the Margin to Mainstream (2005-Samuels) 1st-NF ***1/2 Documentary that looks at the films that thrived based on midnight showings. Pretty good.

107. Revenge of the Virgins (1959-Perry) 1st-OL *1/2 Unless you REALLY like breasts and must see their complete filmography, avoid this boring Nudie-western hybrid. It does neighter of it's genres very well.

108. Godzilla Vs. Mothra (1992-Okawara) PC **1/2

109. Duel (1971-Spielberg) PC ***1/2

110. Eegah! (1962-Hall) 1st-OL *1/2 Awesomely Terrible...

4/27
111. Godzilla Vs. Mechagodzilla (1993-Okawara) 1st-PC **1/2

112. Ninja Champion (1985-Ho) 1st-OL *1/2 So terrible yet so fun!

113. Duck You Sucker! (1971-Leone) PC ****

4/28
114. Death Wish 3 (1985-Winner) PC ***

115. The Petrified Forest (1936-Mayo) PC ****

116. Superfly (1972-Parks) PC ***

117. Night of the Lepus (1972-Claxton) PC *1/2

118. Godzilla Final Wars (2004-Kitamura) PC ***

4/29
119. Godzilla Vs. SuperGodzilla

120. Godzilla Vs. Destroyah

121. Godzilla 2000

4/30
122. The Blob


Legend
-1st = First time view
-PC = From personal collection.
*Will be Blue if watched on Blu Ray. Otherwise its on SD DVD. I'll make VHS Red just for the heck of it...
-NF = Netflix Rental (mail)
-NI = Netflix Instant
-TV = watched on TV...of course
-OL = Digital Download/Online non-NF/etc. Computer viewing
My Checklist:
Spoiler:
Watch one film from every decade of film history.
* 1890 -The Haunted Castle '96
* 1900 -The Airship Destroyer '09
* 1910 -Frankenstein '10
* 1920 -Un Chien Andalou '29
* 1930 -Maniac '34
* 1940 -The Ape '40
* 1950 -The Phantom from 10,000 Leagues '55
* 1960 -Godzilla Vs. The Thing '64
* 1970 -Good Guys Wear Black '78
* 1980 -The Octagon '80
* 1990 -Leatherface: The Texas Chainsaw Massacre III '90
* 2000 -Midnight Movies: From the Margin to Mainstream '05

Watch a film for each rating:
* G - Destroy All Monsters '68
* PG - Boss *********** '75
* PG-13 - Godzilla: Final Wars '04
* R -The Return of the Living Dead '85
* X- Fritz the Cat '72
* Unrated (post-MPAA 1968) - Unhinged '82

Watch films in at least three formats (DVD, BD, HD DVD, Laserdisc, TV, online, Streaming Netflix type, UMD, theater, iPod, VHS-sourced{VHS transferred to DVD-+R is fine}).
* First format, DVD, The Beast With 1,000,000 Eyes '55
* Second format, VHS, Godzilla Vs. Megalon '73
* Third format, TV, The Green Slime '68

Watch a film in an actual Drive-in. (optional) (insert title)

Watch a film in the following genres:
A Token Science Fiction B-Movie: Mothra '61
A Token Horror B-Movie: I Bury the Living '58
Italian (or European) films of the following Genres:
* Eurospy-
* Giallo- Torso '73
* Sword & Sandal-
* Spaghetti Western- Duck You Sucker! '71
* Cannibal Film- The Mountain of The Cannibal God '78
* Mafia/Gangster Film-
Martial Arts film:
* Bruce Lee-sploitation-
* Hong Kong (or other Asian) film-
* American film-
* Any "Ninja" film- Ninja Champion '85
* Bonus* Actual Bruce Lee film-
Biker Film - Angels From Hell '68
Stoner Film-
Carsploitation Film- Gone in 60 Seconds '74
Blaxploitation- Superfly '72
Sexploitation:
* Any type- Scum of the Earth '63
* Nudie Cutie- Revenge of the Virgins '59
* Roughie- The Defilers '65
* 70s Porn- The Opening of Misty Beethoven '76
* Emmanuelle Film- Emmanuelle '74
* Teen Sex Comedy-
Nunsploitation- Killer Nun '78
Shocksploitation- The Last House on the Left '72
Rape/Revenge Film- I Spit on Your Grave '78
Vigilante Film- Death Wish 3 '85
Women in Prison- Hell Penitentiary '85
Nazisploitation- Ilsa, She Wolf of the SS '74
Eschploitation-
Hixploitation- Two Thousand Maniacs '64
30s-40s "Cautionary" films- Sex Madness '38
"Hood" Film ("Gangsta")- Dead Heist '07
Hollywood Gangster film (Film Noir era)- The Petrified Forest '36
Juvenile Delinquent Film- Juvenile Jungle '58
60s Beach Movie- Beach Party '63
Film starring Musical Group or Music Star (that did not become a legit actor)
*-
*Bonus* Elvis film-
Ozploitation-
Mexican Wrestling Film- The Batwoman '68
Foreign "Ripoff" film-
Bollywood Film-
Eco-Terror Film- Night of the Lepus '72
"Mondo" Film-
Documentary- American Grindhouse '10
Video Nasty- The Evil Dead '81
TV-Movie- Duel '71
* Lifetime Channel Movie-
Bad Sequel to a "Well regarded film"-Superman IV:The Quest for Peace '87
Critical Bomb- The Creeping Terror '64
Financial Bomb- Soldier '98
MST3K- The Indestructible Man '56
Non-MST3K version of a film featured on MST3K (or CT)
^-Attack of the Giant Leeches '59

Watch 10 films starring anyone from the actors safe list.
* 1. Mean Johnny Barrows '76 (Fred Williamson)
* 2. A Force of One '79 (Chuck Norris)
* 3. Santa's Slay '05 (Bill Goldberg)
* 4. Revenge of the Creature '55 (John Agar)
* 5. Creature from the Black Lagoon '54 (Richard Carlson)
* 6. This Island Earth '55 (Faith Domergue)
* 7. Eegah! '62 (Arch Hall Jr.)
* 8.
* 9.
* 10.

Watch 10 films Directed/Produced by anyone from the directors/producers safe list.
* 1. Escape From New York '81 (John Carpenter)
* 2. Blood Feast '63 (Herschell Gordon Lewis)
* 3. Color Me Blood Red '65 (Producer: David F. Friedman)
* 4. Night of the Living Dead '68 (George A. Romero)
* 5. The Wasp Woman '59 (Roger Corman)
* 6. Zombie '79 (Lucio Fulci)
* 7. Eaten Alive '80 (Umberto Lenzi)
* 8. Bride of the Monster '55 (Ed Wood)
* 9.
* 10.

Watch 5 films from those in the Studio/Distributor safe list.
* 1. Monster Zero '65 (Maron Films)
* 2. The Screaming Skull '58 (American International)
* 3. Gamera Vs. Barugon '66 (Shout Factory DVD)
* 4. The Deadly Bees '66 (Amicus)
* 5.

Free Spots
* 1. Ghidrah The Three Headed Monster '64
* 2. Terror of Mechagodzilla '75
* 3. Godzilla's Revenge '69
* 4. Giant Monster Gamera '65
* 5. The Giant Gila Monster '59
* 6. Mad Rons Prevues From Hell '87
* 7. Godzilla Vs. the Sea Monster '66
* 8. Son of Godzilla '67
* 10. Godzilla Vs. Hedorah '71
* 11. Godzilla Vs. Gigan '72
* 12. Godzilla Vs. Mechagodzilla '74
* 13. The 50 Worst Movies Ever Made '04
* 14. Gojira '54
* 15. Godzilla: King of the Monsters '56
* 16. Godzilla Raids Again '55
* 17. King Kong Vs. Godzilla '63
* 18. Godzilla 1985 '84
* 19. The Creature Walks Among Us '56
* 20. American Scary '06
* 21. Godzilla Vs. Biollante '89
* 22. Godzilla Vs. King Ghidorah '91
* 23. Godzilla Vs. Mothra '92
* 24. Godzilla Vs. Mechagodzilla '93

MST3K Side Challenge! (Goal: 28)
* 1. MST3K: Attack of the Giant Leeches '59
* 2. MST3K: Gamera Vs. Barugon '66 (Version 1)
* 3. MST3K: Gamera '65 (Version 1)
* 4. MST3K: Godzilla Vs. the Sea Monster '66
* 5. MST3K: Godzilla Vs. Megalon '73
* 6. MST3K: Gorgo '61
* 7. MST3K: The Giant Gila Monster '59
* 8. MST3K: The Screaming Skull '58
* 9. MST3K: The Deadly Mantis '57
* 10. MST3K: The Black Scorpion '57
* 11. MST3K: Revenge of the Creature '55
* 12. MST3K: The Mole People '56
* 13. MST3K: The Leech Woman '60
* 14. MST3K The Movie: This Island Earth '55
* 15. MST3K: The Creeping Terror '64
* 16. MST3K: The Deadly Bees '66
* 17. MST3K: Bride of the Monster '55
* 18. MST3K: Eegah! '62

Wild Card
* 1. My Soul to Take '10


Last edited by JHCA13; 04-30-11 at 07:50 PM. Reason: Update
Old 03-30-11, 01:16 PM
  #46  
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Re: LIST THREAD 2nd Annual Drive-In/Exploitation/B-Movie Challenge March 31-April 30

last year 6
personal goal 30 films.

1. April 2: Hurricane Smith 1952, ?,Netflix Streaming
"Heading for treasure and trouble ... a mutinous crew, an exotic island beauty, and the toughest skipper south of Pago Pago!" freebooter Hurricane Smith steals a slave ship, shanghais its captain and takes it to collect burried treasure. enroute our hero pirate charters his stolen boat to two "scientists" and a sexy dame who secretly also want in on said boat and treasure causing much calamity, rivalry, romance and mutinous action.

John Ireland who plays Hurricane Smith is basically shirtless for this entire movie. there is also a fantastic pirate v. shark fight scene and a top notch flogging at the masthead "lay it on harder Wilson. this is a whipping!".

rating 2 B's

2. April 3: The Keep 1983, R, Netflix Streaming
"they where all drawn to the keep" directed by Micheal Mann, nazis sent to guard wacky stone building in Romania release some kind of smoke/human muscle monster which starts to explode nazi heads. meanwhile some guy someplace else wakes up and brings his favorite box to The Keep to stop the badness.

this film is mostly incomprehensible and has to be the whisperiest movie i've ever watched. the score is over the top, rediculous and perfect for the 80's but makes no sense attached to a story that takes place during world war 2.

rating: 1 B

3. April 7: Caribbean 1952, ?, Netflix Streaming
a hunter played by John Payne, is captured by pirates and convinced to assume the identity of the nephew of the pirates arch enemy in order to infiltrate his fortified island compound. our hero quickly woes daughter of bad guy and starts a slave uprising while trying to destroy the bad guys.

not really much in the way of high sea adventure here but there is great knife fight in this. i also like how the hero and heroine can fall in love in mere seconds.

rating: 2 B's

4. April 8: Zapped! 1982, R, Netflix Streaming
"An A+ Comedy That Makes the Grade." a teenage lab nerd's (Scott Baio) science experiment goes wrong and he gains telekinetic powers.

typical hijinks ensue with Baio mostly using his new powers to cheat at sports, gamble and take off peoples clothes. i love the comical theme music that plays when Baio's powers are used. the musical montage is also of note ending in the loss of viriginity which concludes with cigarette smoking and unusaul laughter. The ending is a bizarre perverted teenagers fantasy of flesh and chaos, think Carrie with tit madness instead of blood.

rating: 2.5 B's

5. April 8: Top Dog 1995, PG-13, Netflix Streaming
"One's tough ... One's smart... Together they unleash explosive action!" Chuck Norris finds himself pulled out of retirement and teamed up with a hero canine cop whose partner was killed by white supremacists. together man and beast thwart a race war armageddon.

With much roundhouse kicking and biting our shaggy heros stop the oncoming race war that is about to unite the worlds best haters, comedy unsues. the scenes with Chuck at his moms house are priceless. an obvious rip of off Turner & Hooch and K-9 for Norris fans.

rating 1.5 B's

6. April 9: Mr. Hercules Against Karate 1974, NR, Netflix Streaming
"Have no fear, MR. Hurcules is here." two "americans" that trash a chinese restaurant in a fight are hired to fly to China and save the owners son from an evil Kung Fu menace.

there is no Hercules in this movie, instead we get a strong dope named Danny and his skinny sidekick Percy. this movie is not funny nor action packed and makes mostly no sense. what food do our heros order in a chinese restaurant? a bologne sandwich off course. what bad guys do they fight in the end of a movie that is supposed to take place in China? A samurai and a sumo wrestler why not.

rating 0 B's

7. April 10: Chrome and Hot Leather 1971, PG-13, Netflix Streaming, befor they were famous: Cheryl Ladd
"Don't muck around with a Green Beret's Mama! He'll take his chopper and ram it down your throat!" a Green Beret finds out his high school sweetie was killed by bikers so him and his buddies play dress up and infiltrate the gang to get revenge.

halfway through this i realized this is PG-13 so it isn't nearly as exploitive as the title and poster would seem to suggest. Marvin Gaye is in this? and we have Cheryl Ladd in her first role. there is an hilarious training montage of the green berets learning to ride motorcycles and by the end have become wheelie popping car jumping bikers in dirty jeans and wacky hats.

rating 2 B's

8. April 11: War Goddess 1973, R, Netflix Streaming
"Women Warriors as Sensuous as they are Savage. Women Rulers as Passionate as they are Powerful." newly crowned queen Antiope falls for brooding bad boy King Theseus, who pretends to be a Greek soldier, during the annual "tenting ceremony" when the Amazons allow men to impregnate the tribe in order to reproduce. the relationship quickly causes a power struggle (nude oil wrestle) between the Amazonian leaders.

this is a sort of Amazon sword & sandal women are from venus men are from mars drive in flick. the film transfer stinks but in the films defense it warns you from the beginning. the competition for queen of the Amazons is made up of javelin toss, archery, equestrian competitions and naked oil wrestling. this is directed by Terence Young who is known for directing Bond films Dr. No, From Russia With Love, and Thunderball. with a good heap of boobs, 2 nude wrestling matches, some good jokes "i don't want to come to you every time i need a new pair of sandals.", and some pretty decent action scenes of swords, spears and at least one partial beheading this is my favorite film of the challenge so far.

rating: 3 B's

9. April12: I Escaped From Devils Island 1973, R, Netflix Streaming
"No man ever broke this prison! No prison ever broke this man!" Roger Cormen gets NFL superstar Jim Brown to play Lebras a criminal held captive in a prison colony in French Guiana until he and a few of his pals bust free and go on the run.

this is bad but somehow entertaining. Jim Brown is the worst escaped prisoner ever, every time he spots a hot chick he just wants to stay put. the dialogue is awfull and yet i couldn't turn away Brown says some funny shit with classics like "Jo Jo has two money-making talents: his fingers and his ass. He chose the wrong one, that's all." this also contains the second shark attack of the drive-in challenge which was fun.

rating: 2.5 B's

10. April 14: Django 1966, UR, Netflix Streaming
a coffin dragging drifter rescues a woman from being murdered by bandits led by the same man he is seeking revenge on for the murder of his wife.

a muddy and bloody high body count spaghetti western. Django himself is pretty bad ass and the ending is great. i like the grittyness of this and the sound track is top notch with theme songs for the films major characters.

rating: 4 B's

11. April 19: The Mercenary 1968, PG-13, Netflix Streaming
"He sells death to the highest bidder! Buy or die!" hired gun Sergei Kowalski (Franco Nero) agrees to help Paco the leader of a group of Mexican Revolutionaries overthrow the government for cash money.

After watching this and Django i get the feeling that Sergio Corbucci has a deep love for machine guns. Jack Palance is a bad guy in this with a funny looking head of curls. the Morricone score is great and overall this film is a lot of fun. the theme music from this is used by Tarrantino in Kill Bill vol. 2.

rating: 3.5 B's

12. April 21: Master Of The Flying Guillotine 1976, R, DVD
"Armed with the Most Gruesome Weapon ever Conceived... He Challenged the Warriors from Beyond Time!" the master of the flying guillotine is searching for the one armed boxer who killed his disciples. any one armed man (or anyone for that matter) should stay out of his way.

the dvd release i watched had a serious patch job of scenes from a dubbed version and subtitles in some areas. still this was a blast, its a sequel to the One Armed Boxer but can completely stand on its own. the tournament fights never get old, the fighting and blood is never silly and the final showdown is fantastic. the score is particularly menacing anytime our evil vengeance seeking assassin shows up.

rating: 4 B's

13. April 22: Vanishing Point 1971, R, DVD
"Tighten your seat belt. You never had a trip like this before." Kowalski an ex stock car racer has a car delivery to make from denver to san francisco. on his way he makes a bet with his speed dealer that he can get it there in 15 hours and as speed limits are broken and authorities and cops are upset a multiple state crossing car chase ensues.

an existential car chase flick. kowalski drives because he has nothing left or maybe he just drives to drive.

rating: 3 B's

14. April 23: The Heroic Ones 1970, NR, DVD
a mongol king's 13 sons are sent to overtake one of his fiercest rivals. quickly the kings 2 most revered sons cause bitter jealousy pitting brothers against one another in this sword/spear swinging epic.

a little confusing at times a week ending yet still a blast to watch. this Shaw brothers production has some top notch set design and the action is fantastic with star Ti Lung easily taking on 100 or more badies with a spear in a 10 minute plus fight scene.

rating: 3.5 B's

15. April 25: The Mack 1973, R, Netflix Streaming
"There's a new kind of hero on the streets!" Goldie, played by Max Julien, is a former drug dealer recently released from a 5 year stint in the big house. now that he's out he's got his sights set on becoming the top pimp in Oaktown. standing in his way are two racist cops, another pimp named pretty tony, the local crime boss and his own brother.

this is the highest grossing blaxploitation film whose producers claim isn't blaxploitation. a favorite of Tarantino's and i can see why, this movie is a riot. Julien plays Goldie with the funniest smirk and wink. the lines are unbeatable, the score is great and how can you not love a pimp who brainwashes his ho's by bringing them to the local planetarium and plays sounds of thunderstorms while they stare into the universe. this quote realy says it all "You know the rules of the game: your bitch just chose me. Now we can handle this like you got some class, or we can get into some gangsta shit.". i also love the pimp creation montage of goldie throwing money in the air and trying on a few outfits in front of a mirror.

rating: 4 B's

16. April 27: It Came From Outer Space 1953, NR, DVD
"NOTHING LIKE THIS HAS EVER HAPPENED BEFORE!" a mysterious meteor crashes in the Arizona dessert and an amateur stargazer and his schoolteacher girlfriend suspect aliens.

this is a great Golden Age sci-fi film with an eery score by an uncredited Henri Mancini. i loved the creature effects and alien possesed townsfolk. a lot of fun

rating: 4 B's

17. April 27: The Chinese Connection A.K.A Fist of Fury 1973, R, Netflix Streaming
"Bruce Lee is DYNAMITE!" Chen Zhen returns to his alma mater to find his teacher poisoned to death and the current pupils facing constant racist harassment. what is an Hong Kong action superstar to do but go undercover and find his masters killer(s).

this is like Sherlock Holmes meets Bruce Lee. i loved the Bruce lee in disguise bits and of course the final showdown is top noth badassery, nunchuckas, fists, kicks and the most noise humanly possible. i'm pretty sure not one, but two bad guys had their mustaches kicked off by Lee in this.

rating 4.5 B's

18. April 27: H.O.T.S. 1979, R, Netflix Streaming
" Some like it H.O.T.S.!" a group of curvey girls form an anti sorority that becomes a sorority to oppose their colleges top sorority of uptight broads. shennanigans ensue.

this is a campy T&A Animal House rip off with Danny bonaduce and bouncing tits. the opening scene is a pair of breasts so there is never any question what your infor when you sit down to watch this. the story is basically like all college based comedies wet t shirts, strip football game and a bear.

rating: 1.5 B's

19. April 28: Dollman 1991, R, Netflix Streaming
"He's the toughest cop on the planet Arturus -- but on earth he's in over his head!" alien space cop Brick Bardo (Tim Thomerson) crash lands on earth only to find he is mere inches tall. Dollman Bardo quickly helps clean the streets of crime and drugs with his custom space gun.

this is pretty funny, i have to admit i had a good time with this one and can't wait to watch more Tim Thomerson and other Full Moon pictures during the next challenge. the makeup here was pretty well done and it looks pretty good for such a small budget. the lines are as cheesy as they get.

rating: 3 B's

20. April 30: Inside Deep Throat 2005, NC-17, Netflix Streaming
a documentary covering the impact that Deep Throat, the most profitable mainstream pornographic film, had on those involved, American culture and the film industry.

definitely very interesting. some of the people involved in this are hilarious to watch, like the location scout and one of the theater owners and his wife. maybe a little unfocused at times.

rating: 3 B's

21. April 30: Ong Bak 3 2010, R, Netflix Streaming
back from the dead and then beaten and left for dead our hero Tien is taught meditation, circular dancing and water splashing to help defeat the his evil crow ghost twin who has defeaten Tien's previous enemey number one taken his powers and enslaved the village.

? this was a mess and sadly somehow the actual fighting choreography did not help it in anyway.

rating: 1 B

Spoiler:
If a category is listed as "Optional", it does not need to be
filled to "complete" the checklist. There are 10 free spots you may apply to non-Optional categories.
As with other checklists, titles can count for multiple categories.

Some of these categories are so obscure we're giving 10 free spots of your choosing to fill in the list.

Watch one film from every decade of film history.
* 1890 - (insert film title here)(Optional)
* 1900 -(optional)
* 1910 -(optional)
* 1920 -(optional)
* 1930 -
* 1940 -
* 1950 -Hurricane Smith
* 1960 -Django
* 1970 -Mr. Hercules Against Karate
* 1980 -The Keep
* 1990 -
* 2000 -

Watch a film for each rating:
* G - It Came From Outer Space
* PG -
* PG-13 - Chrome and Hot Leather
* R -
* X (or NC-17) - Inside Deep Throat
* Unrated (post-MPAA 1968) -

Watch films in at least three formats (DVD, BD, HD DVD, Laserdisc, TV, online, Streaming Netflix type, UMD, theater, iPod, VHS-sourced{VHS transferred to DVD-+R is fine}).
* First format, Netflix Streaming, Caribbean.
* Second format, DVD, Vanishing Point.
* Third format, (insert format), (insert title).

Watch a film in an actual Drive-in. (optional) (insert title)

Watch a film in the following genres:
A Token Science Fiction B-Movie:
A Token Horror B-Movie:
Italian (or European) films of the following Genres:
* Eurospy (James Bond ripoffs)
* Giallo
* Sword & Sandal War Goddess
* Spaghetti Western The Mercenary
* Cannibal Film
* Mafia/Gangster Film
Martial Arts film:
* Bruce Lee-sploitation (Starring any variation on Bruce Li, Le, etc.)
* Hong Kong (or other Asian) film Master Of The Flying Guillotine
* American film
* Any "Ninja" film
* Bonus* Actual Bruce Lee film The Chinese Connection a.k.a. Fist of Fury
Biker Film
Stoner Film
Carsploitation Film
Blaxploitation The Mack
Sexploitation:
* Any type H.O.T.S.
* Nudie Cutie
* Roughie
* 70s Porn
* Emmanuelle Film
* Teen Sex Comedy
Nunsploitation
Shocksploitation
Rape/Revenge Film
Vigilante Film
Women in Prison
Nazisploitation
Eschploitation (religious end times, or general religious exploitation)
Hixploitation/Moonshiners
Roadshow Exploitation/30s-40s "Cautionary" films
"Hood" Film ("Gangsta")
Hollywood Gangster film (Film Noir era)
Juvenile Delinquent Film
60s Beach Movie
Film starring Musical Group or Music Star (that did not become a legit actor)
Bonus* Elvis film
Ozploitation
Mexican Wrestling Film
Foreign "Ripoff" film (such as Turkish cinema)
Bollywood Film (actual, not a Hollywood pastiche)
Eco-Terror Film
"Mondo" Film
Documentary ABOUT B-Movies/Exploitation/Drive-ins or those involved in their production
Video Nasty
TV-Movie
* Lifetime Channel Movie
Bad Sequel to a "Well regarded film" Ong Bak 3
Critical Bomb (Less than 20% Rotten Tomatoes or Metacritic or IMDB Bottom 100 {Bottom 100 archive}) Zapped! 0%RT
Financial Bomb
MST3K/RiffTrax (or Cinematic Titanic) version of a film
Non-MST3K version of a film featured on MST3K (or CT)

Watch 10 films starring anyone from the actors safe list.
* 1 Top Dog (Chuck Norris)
* 2
* 3
* 4
* 5
* 6
* 7
* 8
* 9
* 10

Watch 10 films Directed/Produced by anyone from the directors/producers safe list.
* 1 I Escaped From Devils Island (Roger Corman)
* 2 The Heroic Ones (Shaw Brothers)
* 3 Dollman (Albert Pyun)
* 4
* 5
* 6
* 7
* 8
* 9
* 10

Watch 5 films from those in the Studio/Distributor safe list.
* 1
* 2
* 3
* 4
* 5

Last edited by DVDTalker12324; 05-01-11 at 03:51 PM.
Old 03-30-11, 02:52 PM
  #47  
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Re: LIST THREAD 2nd Annual Drive-In/Exploitation/B-Movie Challenge March 31-April 30

<iframe title="YouTube video player" width="640" height="390" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/fHbslSmXOVo" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

March 31
1. IF THE FOOTMEN TIRE YOU, WHAT WILL THE HORSES DO?* (1971) Google streaming

April 1
2. SPIDER BABY (1968)* Netflix
3. LAST RESORT (2009)* Netflix

April 2
4. FASTER PUSSYCAT, KILL,KILL! (1965) DVD - In Memoriam: Tura Satana (1938-2011)

April 5,
5. SPINETINGLER, THE WILLIAM CASTLE STORY (2010)* DVD

April 6
6. MST3K: THE CRAWLING EYE* Netflix Streaming
7. THE SEVEN BROTHERS MEET DRACULA (1975) DVD

April 8
8. ANGEL OF DEATH (2009)* DVD

April 12
9. VAMPIRE CLAN (2002)* DVD

April 13
10. CRUCIBLE OF HORROR (1971)* Netflix streaming

April 14
11. MANIAC (1934)* DVD
12. FEAST (2005)* BluRay

April 15
13. MANIAC (1934) - Commentary* DVD

April 17
14. DAUGHTER OF HORROR (1955) * TCM DVR

April 20
15. ARABIAN ADVENTURE (1979) DVD

April 22
16. WILD THINGS: FOURSOME (2010)* DVD
17. MEGA SHARK VS GIANT OCTOPUS (2009)* Netflix Streaming

April 24
18. GOTT VERGIBT, DJANGO NIE (God Forgives, I Don't) (1967)* German DVD
19. NARCOTIC (1931)* DVD

April 25
20. THE RESIDENT (2011) DVD*

April 26
21. HORRORS OF THE BLACK MUSEUM (1959) DVD In Memoriam: Michael Gough (1916-2011)

April 28
22. HORRORS OF THE BLACK MUSEUM (1959) - COMMENTARY * DVD
23. BRING ME THE HEAD OF ALFREDO GARCIA (1974) DVD

April 29
24. SWITCHBLADE SISTERS (1975)* DVD
25. THE HARRAD EXPERIMENT (1973) DVD

April 30
26. TWO-LANE BLACKTOP (1971) DVD
27. RUSS MEYER'S UP! (1975)* DVD

Last edited by Doc Moonlight; 05-02-11 at 12:15 PM.
Old 03-30-11, 04:59 PM
  #48  
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Re: LIST THREAD 2nd Annual Drive-In/Exploitation/B-Movie Challenge March 31-April 30

April 2
1. Envy (2004) [RT-7%]

April 6
2. Celtic Pride (1996) [RT-9%]

April 7
3. Godsend (2004) [RT-4%]

April 8
4. Loverboy (2005) [RT-18%]
5. Swimfan (2002) [RT-14%]

April 9
6. Bride Wars (2009) [RT-11%]
7. Underdog (2007) [RT-15%]

April 10
8. The Mighty Ducks (1992) [RT-12%]

April 13
9. 88 Minutes (2007) [RT-5%]
10. The Air I Breathe (2007) [RT-13%]

April 14
11. Desperate Measures (1998) [RT-17%]

April 19
12. The Juror (1996) [RT-16%]

Last edited by Cardsfan111; 04-19-11 at 10:50 PM.
Old 03-31-11, 02:33 PM
  #49  
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Re: LIST THREAD 2nd Annual Drive-In/Exploitation/B-Movie Challenge March 31-April 30

Probably won't use the checklist but I will participate.

--------------------------------

March 31st
The Wraith (1986)
Savage Streets (1984)

April 1st
Hobo With A Shotgun (2011)

April 2nd
NOTHING

April 3rd
NOTHING

April 4th
NOTHING

April 5th
Deadbeat At Dawn (1988)

Last edited by PopcornBandit; 04-06-11 at 12:03 PM.
Old 04-02-11, 06:02 AM
  #50  
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Re: LIST THREAD 2nd Annual Drive-In/Exploitation/B-Movie Challenge March 31-April 30

1. The Sadist (1963) * 92 min. Drive-in movie based on Starkweather-Fugate murders. Surprisingly well-directed and suspenseful.
2. Devil Doll (1963) 81 min. Hypnotist/ventriloquist battles his dummy. Familiar story with intense performance by Bryant Haliday. Watched the Continental version, UK version is better.
3. London In The Raw (1964) * 76 min. Documentary contrasts English traditions with modern licentiousness, with aim of being as sexually provocative as censorship of the time would permit. Voice-over narration is surprisingly neutral. Interesting as a historical artifact, but essentially dull.
4. Primitive London (1965) * 87 min. Sequel to London in the Raw delivers more strippers, etc., than the former, but aggravates with a more hypocritical voice-over narration and more obviously staged scenes. There is a funny bit where a clueless interviewer talks with folkies, who he insists on calling "beatniks", that is reminiscent of the TV executive's conversation with George Harrison in A Hard Day's Night.
5. The Rape of the Vampire (1968) * 91 min. Two loosely-connected, slow-moving, nonsensical stories combined with beautiful women and beautiful images to make a surprisingly watchable movie.
6. The Shiver of the Vampires (1970) * 95 min. Takes a classic horror story of a newly wed couple staying at a castle owned by cousins, who have recently become vampires, and creates a beautiful exercise in style and atmosphere.
7. Virgins and Vampires (1971) * 87 min. Adds a few more girls and guns and some vampire teeth to Godard's "a girl and a gun." Director Jean Rollin abandons all but the skeleton of a plot, combining wild, beautiful images of women and scenery with personal symbolism and obsessions.
8. Gojira (1954) * 96 min.
9. Gojira's Counter Attack (1955) * 82 min.
10. Black Caesar (1973) * 94 min.
11. Flower and Snake (6/22/1974) * 74 min.
12. Day of the Woman (5/23/1978) * 101 min.
13. Bacchanales Sexuelles (1973) * 102 min.
14. Lips of Blood (1975) * 83 min.
15. Bloodlust! (1961) * 69 min.
16. The Devil’s Hand (1962) * 71 min.
17. Attack of the Crab Monsters (1957) * 62 min.
18. The Naked Witch (1961) * 59 min.
19. Not of This Earth (1957) * 63 min.
20. Not of This Earth (1988) * 81 min.
21. My Bloody Valentine (1981) * 93 min.
22. Eyes of a Stranger (1981) * 85 min.
23. Student Bodies (1981) * 85 min.
24. The House On Sorority Row (1983) * 91 min.
25. Art of the Devil (2004) * 97 min.
26. War of the Satellites (1958) * 66 min.
27. Art of the Devil 2 (2005) * 102 min.
28. Battle of Blood Island (1960) * 68 min.
29. Shaft In Africa (1973) * 112 min.
30. Last Woman On Earth (1960) * 64 min.
31. Creature From The Haunted Sea (1961) * 59 min.
32. The Beach Girls and the Monster (1965) * 66 min.
33. The Killing Kind (1973) * 95 min.
34. God Told Me To (1976) * 89 min.

* First time viewing
Viewed in original language unless otherwise indicated.

Last edited by ororama; 05-01-11 at 01:26 PM.

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