Giant Monsters Attack!

I recently stumbled across a great new blog, Giant Monsters Attack!

Blogger "Mysterious Pants" covers everything from giant creature features both vintage and new (Godzilla, The Host, D-War, J.J. Abrams' upcoming, as-yet-untitled film), videogames, and even comic books (including a review of the new – and treasured – Devil Dinosaur Omnibus from Marvel). Whoever this "Mysterious Pants" guy is, he really knows his stuff and his enthusiasm is contagious.

I love these specialized pop culture blog sites, and GMA! is a lot of fun.

Check it out!

More Trek Casting Notes

Sorry I missed posting yesterday – and very nearly today, as well – but I've been a bit under the weather for the last couple of days.

Anyway...

According to various sources, J.J. Abrams' new Star Trek feature has added a few more members to its cast. Canadian Bruce Greenwood will be playing the role of Captain Christopher Pike, the captain of the Enterprise before Kirk, originally played in the original Star Trek pilot, "The Cage," by Jeffrey Hunter. Presumably we'll be seeing Pike hand over the keys of our favorite starship to his successor in the new film.

For the role of the "Captain's Yeoman," Janice Rand, Abrams has drafted blonde bombsell Rachel Nichols, formerly of his television series, Alias. On the original series, the go-go boots and beehive were inhabited by the lovely Grace Lee Whitney.

Finally, Winona Ryder, of Heathers and Beverly Hills shoplifting fame, will be playing the role of Amanda Grayson, Spock's human mother, a role originally assayed by the dignified Jane Wyatt on the television episode "Journey to babel," and Star Trek IV. No word yet on who might portray her Vulcan hubby, Sarek...

Cool vs. McCool

So... I've been watching the third season of Wanted Dead or Alive on DVD, and got to thinking.

Now, there's no question that Steve McQueen was one of the "coolest" guys that ever lived. The guy just radiated that self-assured, confident quality on film and in real life. He was somehow bigger than life, the kind of man that every guy wanted to be. Racecar driver, biker, ladies man, and pal of Bruce Lee. Now, that's cool.

As I considered that, I also started to think about another actor and pop icon that also seemed to be the pinnacle of coolness – and I'm not talking about Fonzie. No, I'm refering to Robert Mitchum, he of the hooded, sleepy eyes and easy drawl, the smooth, laid-back, clearly-not-giving-a-shit about anything or anybody else manner. He recorded albums, went to jail for marijuana possession at the height of his movie stardom (and his fans didn't care!), and wrote and starred in Thunder Road.

Interestingly, it's claimed that he disliked McQueen.

Both of these guys are long gone – McQueen passed away in 1980, and Mitchum in '97 (both of lung cancer) – but they're still remembered as the embodiments of "cool."

So, who's cooler? Mitchum or McQueen?

I'm inclined to give the title to Mitchum, solely on the basis of his calypso album. (Well, that and Thunder Road.)

What do you guys think?

Matinee at the Grindhouse

Despite being a dedicated, compulsive – okay, obsessive – film buff, I don't get out to the movies nearly as often as I'd like, especially over the past couple of years. Now, usually it's okay – I can catch up with the films I'm interested in on DVD, and don't have to deal with annoying audiences or bad projection. But, I really regret missing the Robert Rodriguez/Quentin Tarantino double feature, Grindhouse, in the theater.

At the time, I was in the middle of that post-surgery sciatica "attack" that all but crippled me for two months, and there was no way I would have been able to physically manage – even with prescription painkillers – sitting in a theater seat for the running time of one movie, never mind two.

Last month, though, I finally managed to see Grindhouse – or more specifically, I purchased and watched the DVDs of the two films that comprised the Grindhouse double bill.

Now, it's not quite the same experience. For one thing, the two discs currently available do not include all the bogus trailers included in the original theatrical version (only Rodriguez' Machete trailer), but until the Weinsteins decide to release a combined special edition (I'm still waiting on the long-promised Kill Bill "The Whole Bloody Affair" SE), I guess these discs will have to do.

Now, I'm a fan of Quentin Tarantino's films, and have been since the weekend I rented the VHS tapes of John Woo's The Killer and Reservoir Dogs back in '93 or so. (That was a hell of a weekend and really kick-started my film obsession!) I like all of his features to date, and I like Death Proof, too – I just think it's his weakest film so far.

For an exploitation film, it's too talky and just terribly paced. The big action scene at the end is so adrenaline-charged and exciting that it nearly makes up for those faults, though. Kurt Russell is perfect in his role as Stuntman Mike, Rose McGowan is great in her small role, and the four girls that feature in the second half of the film are all excellent. Kiwi stunt woman Zoe Bell – playing herself – is particularly charismatic and fun to watch.

I like Death Proof, but it's far from my favorite Tarantino film.

Director Robert Rodriguez’ half of the Grindhouse double feature, Planet Terror, is a loud, violent, and cheerfully incoherent zombie pulse-pounder, filled with gruesome gore effects, over-the-top action scenes, and a game cast comprised of such familiar faces as Freddy Rodriguez, Michael Biehn, Michael Parks, Bruce Willis, Josh Brolin, Jeff Fahey and pretty much all of the director’s pals and family.

Rose McGowan was particularly great (again!) and is now my choice to play my comic book character, Femme Noir, if they ever make a movie.

I loved Planet Terror. I know a lot of folks found it uneven, but I consider that part of its charm.

I really wish the Weinsteins had released the theatrical version of Grindhouse at the same time as these "extended and unrated" versions of Death Proof & Planet Terror. I'm betting a lot of fans would have bought all three, and they still would have made their money.

Oh well. One of these days...

Steee--rike!!!

Before getting into the subject of this post, an announcement:

I'm going to try and blog every day for the rest of November. I absolutely have to write every day this month – what with various ailments and other unexpected interruptions, I've slipped behind schedule again – so I thought I'd make blogging part of the daily regimen. The plan is to post something here or over at Guns in the Gutters (that site's been neglected too long) every day for at least the remainder of this month, either before starting or after I've wrapped up the day's real work. Call it an experiment in self-discipline.

Here's today's effort:

As a huge movie/TV fan, I've been following the situation with the Writers Guild of America and their conflict with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers with considerable interest. It should come as no surprise that I'm firmly on the side of the writers in their biggest concern – they absolutely should get residuals from programs they've written that are released on DVD, the internet or any other format (including those as yet unknown).

And, while I don't wish any real hardship for those WGA members who might depend on their TV and screenwriting efforts for a living, I have to confess that I'm hoping the strike lasts a good long while and new film production grinds to a halt.

My reasons are purely selfish, I admit. You see, I don't get to the theater very often, so there's a lot of movies that I've missed and still haven't managed to see on DVD. If the strike lasts long enough, I might actually catch up.

The Good German. The Bourne Ultimatum. Pirates of the Carribbean 3. Live Free or Die Hard. The Simpsons Movie. 28 Weeks Later. Ratatoullie. War. Black Sheep. Dead or Alive. Shoot 'Em Up. Superbad. 3:10 to Yuma. The Lookout. 30 Days of Night.... these are just the ones I can remember that I was interested in and never got to the theater to see over the past year. The only way I'm going to make a dent in that "pile" is if Hollywood stops making new movies I want to see for a while.

So, stay the course, WGA! Don't let those overpaid Hollywood suits push you around!

I'd appreciate it.

"Got a problem? Odds against you? "

... Call the Equalizer.

One of my favorite shows of the Eighties, The Equalizer, starring Edward Woodward as Robert McCall, ex-spy who devotes his skills, training and experience to helping people with violent problems, is coming to DVD in February, according to the TV Shows on DVD website.

I don't know how well the show will hold up, but at the time I remember really admiring Woodward in the role. It was great seeing a mature actor in a crime/action series, and Woodward gave the show and character a lot of gravitas and class.

I also liked the gritty nature of the show and its New York setting – most of the detective and crime shows around that time were set in Los Angeles or other sunny climes (Magnum P.I. in Hawaii, Simon & Simon in San Diego, etc.), and the rundown urban cityscape of mid-Eighties New York City was a lot scarier. Even the opening titles were frightening:


Anyway, apparently Universal will be releasing the first 22 episodes in February, with a commentary track on the pilot episode by creator Michael Sloan, and a bonus episode from Season 2. SRP is about fifty bucks.

Boo!

Have a great one, folks!

And congratulate me: today marks seven years of matrimonial bliss. Still can't believe Brandi's hung around this long...

Offline!

I don't know how I'll stand it, but I'm going to be away from my computer from Thursday afternoon through sometime Tuesday.

My wife's going on vacation, and for some reason, she wants me along, so I'll be spending the next few days up in the northern woods. I'll be taking a laptop with me so I can work, but I won't have internet access.

Have a great weekend, everyone!

TUROK!

I'm not really sure who's behind this. The logo at the beginning of the trailer indicates The Weinstein Company (Genius Products), while the IMDB credits Starz Media, the people behind Hellboy Animated. Well, in either case, it looks like another of my favorite comics characters will soon be coming to DVD in animated form:



Fortunately, this looks to be based on the original Dell/Gold Key comics rather than the videogame or or the late 90's Acclaim Comics reimagining... and that's a very good thing.

Happy Bela(ted) Birthday

This past weekend marked the 125th anniversary of the birth of silver scream legend Bela Lugosi.

Born October 20, 1882, as Béla Blasko in Lugoj, Romania, the handsome actor gained screen immortality as Dracula in the 1931 Universal film of the same name. Although his career had more than its share of peaks and valleys (or, perhaps more accurately, "peaks and chasms"), Lugosi's filmography is an embarrasment of riches for the dedicated horror movie fan.

Regardless of the quality of the production, Lugosi nearly always delivered a memorable performance, and, in potboilers like Bowery at Midnight, The Invisible Ghost, Voodoo Man, Scared to Death, or Ed Wood's Bride of the Monster, it is usually only Lugosi's presence that makes them watchable at all.

With Halloween around the corner, it's the perfect time to pay tribute to the legendary actor by watching one or more of his remarkable performances. May I humbly suggest White Zombie (1932), The Black Cat (1934), The Raven (1935), Son of Frankenstein (1939), The Return of the Vampire (1944), or Abbott & Costello Meet Frankenstein (1948)?

Happy birthday, Bela!

Jesus Walks Into A Bar...

...only this particular ginmill is Munden's Bar, located in the pandimensional city of Cynosure, operated by Gordon Munden and owned by John Gaunt, the mercenary better known as Grimjack.

Back when Grimjack had his own title, in those oh-so-hazy Eighties, Munden's Bar was the regular back-up feature, written by GJ creator John Ostrander (usually, although there were others, including Del Close, Kim Yale, Mike Baron, Max Collins, etc.) with art by a wide variety of talented cartoonists. Some stories were action-oriented, some were straight comedy, some were surprisingly moving.

Well, Munden's has returned, along with Grimjack, as part of the line-up at ComicMix, and so far, they've been really good. Today's is drawn by my pal and collaborator Joe Staton, and it's my favorite of the new strips so far.

Check it out.

The New Crew Review

Well, the main cast of J.J. Abrams' new Star Trek movie have finally been cast.

Chris Pine, whom I've never actually seen in anything, will be playing a young James Tiberius Kirk. (CORRECTION: I have seen Pine in something, I just didn't realize it. He played one of the psychotic "Tremor Brothers" in Joe Carnahan's Smokin' Aces. I liked the movie, but there were so many characters fighting for screen time that Pine didn't make much of a specific impression.)

Zachary Quinto, who plays the villainous Sylar on Heroes, will be Spock.

Karl Urban, who played multiple roles on Xena and Hercules, portrayed Eomer in Lord of the Rings, and starred in Pathfinder, will be playing a rather hunkier than traditional Dr. Leonard McCoy.

Simon Pegg, the brilliant star of Shaun of the Dead and Hot Fuzz will be Montgomery Scott.

John Cho, of Harold & Kumar Go To White Castle, will be playing Hikaru Sulu. (UPDATE: Just saw Cho on last night's Ugly Betty. Seems like a good choice.)

Russian-born Anton Yelchin will be a very young Pavel Chekov.

And finally, the lovely Zoe Saldana will be playing Uhura.

The cast also includes Leonard Nimoy and Munich/Hulk's Eric Bana as somebody called "Nero."

For the most part, I'm pleased with the casting. It skews young, but that's Hollywood these days, and if they intend for this to launch a new series of features – and they do – it's probably a good idea to get a young, healthy cast who can grow into their roles over a number of films.

I particularly like the casting of Quinto and Pegg, though muscular kiwi Urban seems an odd choice for McCoy. Still, I've seen him play a couple of different roles on Xena (including both Julius Caesar and Cupid!), so I'll give him the benefit of the doubt.

Yet Another DVD Column Posted!

Yep, a brand new (and almost on-time) DVD Late Show column has just been posted at Quick Stop Entertainment.

This installment covers a variety of cult films and genre titles, featuring a review of the long awaited and eagerly anticipated director's cut of Stuart Gordon's From Beyond, as well as looks at Food of the Gods, Irwin Allen's The Lost World, The Beach Girls, Black Roses, Roger Corman's The Intruder (with William Shatner), Transformers, the first season of Jericho, Max Allan Collins' Eliot Ness: An Untouchable Life, Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer, Knocked Up and a couple more.

Why not swing over to QSE and check it out?

"Britain's Last Line of Defense"

I'm a bit late in acknowledging the passing of Lois Maxwell, the Canadian actress best known for her charming portrayal of Miss Moneypenny, secretary to "M," James Bond's superior and head of the British Secret Service in the long-running 007 series, but I wanted to make note of it here, as she was such an integral part of the success of my favorite film franchise.

She played the role in 14 movies, from 1962's Dr. No to 1985's A View To A Kill, shamelessly flirting with 007 – in the shape of Sean Connery, George Lazenby or Roger Moore – as the intrepid agent passed through her office to and from briefings with the boss.

Maxwell passed away on September 29th, in Australia. She was 80 years old.

The attractive actress was a familiar guest star on British television, with appearances on The Saint, The Persuaders (both with Roger Moore), and UFO, among many others. She also had memorable roles in both Robert Wise's classic, The Haunting, and Stanley Kubrick's Lolita.

Reportedly, she risked Sean Connery's wrath by appearing in the Italian spy spoof Operation Kid Brother, playing a thinly-disguised Moneypenny to Sean's brother Neil Connery... but then, a paycheck is a paycheck, right?

Rest in Peace, Miss Moneypenny.

Grimjack's back – and ComicMix has 'im!

There's a new online comics "portal" that just made it's debut: ComicMix.

What's different about this one? Well, it's got a new Grimjack graphic novel by John Ostrander and Tim Truman, to start. Grimjack's my favorite comic of all time, so anyone who brings me new GJ is already way ahead on points, in my scorebook.

They also have EZ Street, a new project from Robert Tinnel (The Black Forest) and Mark Wheatley (Frankenstein Mobster), The Adventures of Simone & Ajax, from my good pal Andrew Pepoy, new Munden's Bar stories, and, apparently, Mike Grell's Jon Sable!

New comics every day, in 6-7 page chunks. Free. How cool is that?

According to their PR, these projects will appear online for free first, and then be collected in print volumes. Sounds like a good plan to me.

Check 'em out!