ASSORTED BITS & PIECES--Random genre related news and notes!
CELLULOID TRAILS--Making movies isn't easy, and sometimes it seems amazing some of them see completion. There's often a staggering amount of work to be done even before the first scene is shot. This column takes a look at various films and the process leading up to the actual beginning of production; a films production history; or films that didn't get made at all. The individual articles are linked individually below, or click the title above.
BLOOD TRAILS FROM DRACULON: HAMMER'S UNMADE VAMPIRELLA--The story of Hammer's failed attempt to inject new blood into their dying formula with a live-action movie based on Warren Publishing's popular comic magazine character Vampirella is told here.
JOURNEY TO THE HYBOREAN AGE OF CONAN THE BARBARIAN--The arduous journey of bringing Robert E. Howard's iconic character before the cameras is told here.
THE UNMADE THONGOR MOVIE--In
this companion article to the Celluloid Trails piece on bringing CONAN
THE BARBARIAN to the screen, the story of the failed attempt at a
live-action version of Lin Carter's Thongor is told here.
SPASMIC SUPERNATURAL SERPENTS FROM CANADA--The troubled, chaotic story of bringing Michael Maryk and Brent Monahan's book 'Death Bite' to the big screen as SPASMS (1983) is told here.
THE UN-MAKING OF STARCRASH II--The story of 'Starcrash 2', the unmade sequel to 1978s STARCRASH, is told here.
WHEN HAMMER MET SHAW; OR MAKING THE LEGEND OF THE 7 GOLDEN VAMPIRES PART 1--The story of the making of THE LEGEND OF THE 7 GOLDEN VAMPIRES (1974) told primarily from the Hong Kong point of view is told here. A two-part article, Part 1 covers where both Hammer and Shaw Brothers were financially at the time; the surge of co-productions with Shaw Brothers and foreign companies; and the problems occurring between the two companies.
WHEN HAMMER MET SHAW; OR MAKING THE LEGEND OF THE 7 GOLDEN VAMPIRES PART 2--Part 2 covers the Hong Kong actors and why they were selected; romances and marriages among cast members; cut scenes; additional, even more ambitious Shaw co-productions that never got made; and the downfall of both companies, and how similar their endings were. Spanning both articles is near 5 dozen rare images.
THE MAKING OF THE SUPER INFRAMAN--The production of Hong Kong's first Science Fiction spectacular covers virtually every corner of its making. The Shaw's hype machine; the anticipation of those involved to make a box office hit; the storyboards; the designs of the monsters, many of which were cut from the final film; scenes either reshot or deleted altogether; accidents on the set; background of some of the primary actors; and rare promotional materials and more!
COOL ASS CINEMA BOOK REVIEWS--Reviews of genre-centric tomes both old and new!
COOL ASS COMICS--Silver & Bronze Age comics of various genres!
CULT FILM FAVES NOT ON DVD--Movies both classic and classless not yet on the shiny disc!
THE DIS LIST--Movies not good enough to be bad cheese are stored here!
FAMOUS MONSTERS MEMORIES--A look at various issues of the famed monster magazine with scans of rare behind the scenes shots from your favorite monster-horror movies!
PLATTER OF SPLATTER--A visual ode to the ghoulish & gruesome!
REMAKES: REDUX, OR RIDICULOUS?--Comparisons between original films and their later remakes; which is better? Links are below, or just click the column title above!
MANIAC (1980) VS. MANIAC (2012)
THE 14 AMAZONS (1972) VS. LEGENDARY AMAZONS (2011)
CONAN THE BARBARIAN '82 VS. CONAN THE BARBARIAN '11
THE HOUSE ON SORORITY ROW '83 VS. SORORITY ROW '09
I SPIT ON YOUR GRAVE '78 VS. I SPIT ON YOUR GRAVE '10
SAMURAI COMMANDO MISSION 1549 (2005) VS. TIME SLIP (1979)
PIRANHA '78 VS. PIRANHA '10
LONG WEEKEND (1978) VS. NATURE'S GRAVE (2008)
CLASH OF THE TITANS (1981) VS. CLASH OF THE TITANS (2010)
HALLOWEEN '78 VS. HALLOWEEN '07 & HALLOWEEN 2 '81 VS. HALLOWEEN 2 '09
BLACK CHRISTMAS (1974) VS. BLACK CHRISTMAS (2006)
SHAW BROTHERS CINEMA BEHIND THE SCENES--Vintage Magazine articles, clippings and rare pics of the movies and stars of Shaw Brothers Studio!
REEL BAD CINEMA--Great bad movies are reviewed here!
TV MOVIE TERROR--Horror Made For the Boob Tube! This new column features movie reviews for things that go bump on the small screen!
THE UNDERTAKER & HIS PALS--Actors & Filmmakers who have went to the great beyond are remembered here!
VINTAGE TV GUIDE ADS--Antiquated ads from old TV Guides showcasing selected advertisements for all manner of Movie Premieres, TV Movie Premieres, Cartoons, TV Shows and other small screen television specials!