It is the week of the Fourth of July. Why not round out the week by enjoying some glorious, cinematic firepower brought to you by “Predator” (1987). This is a favorite scene of mine from this alien on the loose science fiction classic. Nice gun play and explosions at the expense of the jungle. The rainforest was never the same after this.
You may be a big fan of Christmas themed movie at this time of the year and that is fine. But there is a wide variety of viewing experiences available to you and a good action movie may be what you are looking for. I will recommend a few thoroughly enjoyable action/adventure flicks. Thunderbolt and Lightfoot (1974) – Clint Eastwood as a bank robber on the run who winds up getting drawn back into a repeat heist attempt on a bank where everything eventually went bad the first time out. The second attempt ends up no better. This is a [More]
Right on the heals of the Covid pandemic in the United States, we have mobs running riot in the streets. What happened to Social Distancing? How fitting then is this song?
Nature can hold great beauty and allure but it can also be full of unseen dangers. Weather can be unpredictable and deadly. A family ventures out on a day hike but gets trapped in a torrential downpour and then the cold. The results are tragic.
This entry is stretching a point, I’ll tell you right up front. Have you noticed the reactions of characters being revolted by their food or drink and tossing it aside or pouring the drink out? I was watching “The French Connection” and there is a scene where the cop, Doyle, pursuing the drug smuggler lord has to stand out in frigid temperatures across the street from the lavish, Four-Star French restaurant where the kingpin is consuming a seven course, exquisite meal. The cop is reduced to eating a warmed-over slice of pizza and some disgusting coffee. After taking a sip, [More]
Harmless, enjoyable fodder based on the Edgar Rice Burroughs vision of a habitable Hollow Earth that exists beneath our feet. Peter Cushing and Doug McClure are two adventurers who employ an earth burrowing contraption that propels them deep within the earth to discover a region previously unknown that is full of life! In addition to people, there are any number of monstrous dinosaurs and ultra vibrant alien fauna. McClure provides the brawn and Cushing the brains as they must work in tandem to free an oppressed race and find a way to get back alive to the surface of the [More]
Some call it a contract ending or breaking recording project turned in to his record label. Lester Bangs referred to it as garage electronic rock. Whatever Lou Reed’s intention, Metal Machine Music is pretty much a consistent recording: It all pretty much sounds the same after 5 minutes but there is over an hour of material on the record/CD to “indulge” in. What we hear are moments of interest, maybe even melody seeping briefly out of the multitracked noise sludge before being sucked back in by the feedback monster. I remember listening to this sort of thing being hungover. What’s a few [More]
Earth versus The Space Bugs in this intense action film. We have a new enemy that is trying to wipe out our species so Earth fights back and sends some of its military finest to engage the threat. Four young recruits are followed from their basic training days up until they become battle hardened soldiers. The scenes of war between the gigantic, alien insects and the Roughneck ground forces are amazing special effects sequences! Lots of body parts flying, gore splattering everywhere and gun play. Directed by Paul Verhoven of Robocop fame, this is a semi satirical, gut busting science [More]
More 1980’s music video hilarity, intentional or otherwise, from this big blues/rock band. The sentiment of the song is universal as well as we have all had our hearts ripped out at one time or another by the focus of our affections. Beautiful guitar break about 80% in to the song. My old friend once described it as “5,000 overdubbed guitars” crunching out some power chords. What’s not to love????!!!!!
Check out the details of this juicy feud which erupted on the set of “Fast and Furious 8”. Seems Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson and co-star Vin Diesel are at odds. This story unraveled on August 9, 2016. Don’t you just want to go see the latest installment of this franchise now? http://www.msn.com/en-us/news/other/the-rock-and-vin-diesel-are-beefin%E2%80%99/ar-BBvslBg?ocid=spartandhp
I recommend this Top Ten List of Strange Space Noise recorded over the years by scientists and researchers. Marvel at the mutterings of an actual Black Hole! Hear the astonishing sonic wash of space telemetry (Brief Interruption Here. Here is an explanation of Space Telemetry: Data Transmission Space telemetry transmits information in the form of a radio signal. Sensors on the spacecraft collect analog data–a photograph of Mars for example–and send it back to Earth. Early space telemetry systems used Pulse Position Modulation (PPM) and Pulse Width Modulation (PWM) to transmit data.) in all its glory! You get the idea. [More]
It is that time of year again. Want to get into the spirit? Why not pick up your guitar and learn the “Halloween” (1978) theme? I am referring to the music and movie created by John Carpenter that has become very ingrained in our culture. Very remarkable, that! Here is some guitar tablature that will allow you to easily follow along and learn the tune. Let the celebration begin!
I was struck immediately by two things in this movie. “Taurus” follows a spaceship journeying out from Earth to look for a new habitable planet for humans to reside on. On the trip, we become aware of the rampant similarity this ship and its crew have to earlier, similar cinematic journeys. Think of “Destination Moon (1950), “Conquest of Space” (1955), and “Rocketship X-M” (1950), to name just a few. A small crew ambles around a rather spacious space vehicle and spends the majority of their time talking about what they’ll do when they get home and other details of their [More]
Actor/director/photographer/art collector Dennis Hopper was pretty much down on his luck in 1983 and decided to stage an old stuntman’s ploy of “blowing yourself up”. I am sure there is some danger associated with this act like what if the protective blast resistant backing you’re nestled against gives way or the powder used in the explosive detonation burns you a bit. Anyway, Hopper chose to go through this publicity stunt to drum up some attention to a career that was faltering badly due to excessive drug use and drinking. Hopper makes it out alive and probably needed a drink or [More]