Top 7 (Sympathetic Movie Monsters)

  

Each Wednesday we count down our TOP 7 favorites lists. For today as this is the week of Halloween, we countdown the most sympathetic movie monsters in cinema history.

Let us know when you would like us to cover in a Top 7 List. We may just take your suggestion. Now enjoy today's TOP 7 Video

Blu-ray Review: House of Wax

Reviewed By Jason Lockard

The first time I was introduced to Vincent Price was in The 1953 horror classic House of Wax. Ever since seeing that film as a young teen I have been a fan of Vincent Price. I have a deep seeded love for Vincent Price films. But House of Wax holds a very special place in my heart.

Many years ago Warner Brothers released this film on Blu-ray, but that release has long since gone out of print. So the good folks at Warner Archive Collection has re-issued this horror classic on Blu-ray once again so those of us that missed that release can still get a copy.

1953's House of Wax is a remake of Michael Curtiz’s 1933's Mysteries of the Wax Museum (Also on Blu-ray from Warner Archive Collection). The film is based on The Wax Works by Charles S. Belden. It was adapted to a screenplay by Crane Wilbur and masterfully directed by André de Toth.
 
The film follows Wax sculpture Professor Henry Jarrod (Price). For Jarrod his wax museum is more than just a building and his sculptures are more than just wax. This is the home of his friends. But investor Matthew Burke wants out of this partnership. Henry has a potential buyer, but it's not fast enough of a deal for Matthew and decides burning down the museum and splitting the insurance money is the best way to get his investment back. When Matthew leaves Henry in the burning museum he thinks his troubles are over. Little does he know that Henry survived the fire. Now can Matthew enjoy his ill gotten gains or will he have to pay for his transgressions? You'll have to see the film to find out.

House of Wax is one of my favorite Vincent Price films. The script is fun, scary, dramatic and exciting. An absolute killer combination. Vincent Price is at his chilling best as he leads a cast of very familiar faces. Included in the cast is Phyllis Kirk of the Thin Man TV Series,
Carolyn Jones (Morticia Addams, The Addams Family TV Series), Paul Picerni (The Untouchables tv series), Roy Roberts (John Cushing on The Beverly Hillbillies) and most notably a very young Charles Bronson billed as  Charles Buchinsky.

Now as for this Blu-ray release The film has been transferred in the original full screen format and in DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0. I have to say this film looks and sounds amazing on Blu-ray. I really enjoyed reliving this classic for Halloween this year.

So if you are a fan of Vincent Price or 50s horror as much as I am. I can not recommend this release enough. Pick up a copy of this Blu-ray by heading over to Amazon.com today.

Out of 4 Film Reels (4 being the highest rating) we would score Warner Archive Collection's Blu-ray of House of Wax...

Blu-ray Review: The Last Starfighter

Reviewed By Jason Lockard

In 1984 the world was treated to an experience like no other, when movie fans were taken on the adventure with The Last Starfighter. Recently we got word that writer Jonathan R. Betuel is on board to write a sequel. So this is the perfect time to introduce a new generation to this retro classic.

There have been very few releases I have been more excited about this year than this one from Arrow Video! When I first heard that they were doing a 4K restoration of this classic 80s sc-fi film the kid in me was in seventh heaven.

Alex (Lance Guest), is a trailer park teen who dreams of escaping his prison to a better place. When the video game console Starfighter appears, Alex seems to be a natural to destroys the high score. Soon after, a mysterious car appears, driven by Centauri (Robert Preston), who offers Alex the chance to help save the universe. This is the opportunity he had been dreaming of a chance to leave the trailer park behind, in favor of the vast reaches of space. Alex takes up the offer and is soon aligned with being from all planets and backgrounds, Alex races into space to make a difference, but does he really have what it takes? You will have to watch the film to find out.

In the 80's sci-fi was just cheesy fun and The Last Starfighter was that kind of fun. Lance Guest is such a great lead Catherine Mary Stewart is so sweet as Lance's girl Maggie. And Robert Preston is amazing as Centauri. The writing was great and the special effect were really good for the 80s and they still don't look to bad in this generation.

Now Arrow Video has restored this film in 4K from an original 35mm camera negative, There is also audio options of the uncompressed 2.0 stereo, 5.1 DTS-HD MA and 4.1 audio. I have to say that this restoration looks and sounds absolutely stunning on the HD TV. It has never looked better on Blu-ray.

As usual Arrow Video goes above and beyond with their Blu-ray releases and The Last Starfighter release is no different. take a look at the bonus features included in this release.

Special Features

Brand new restoration from a 4K scan of the original 35mm camera negative

High Definition Blu- ray (1080p) presentation

Uncompressed 2.0 stereo, 5.1 DTS-HD MA and 4.1 audio

Optional English subtitles for the deaf and hard of hearing

Brand new audio commentary with star Lance Guest and his son Jackson Guest

Brand new audio commentary with Mike White of The Projection Booth podcast

Archival audio commentary with director Nick Castle and production designer Ron Cobb

Maggie s Memories: Revisiting The Last Starfighter a new interview with actress Catherine Mary Stewart

Into the Starscape: Composing The Last Starfighter a new interview with composer Craig Safan

Incredible Odds: Writing The Last Starfighter a new interview with screenwriter Jonathan Betuel

Interstellar Hit-Beast: Creating the Special Effects a new interview with special effects supervisor Kevin Pike

Excalibur Test: Inside Digital Productions a new interview with sci-fi author Greg Bear on Digital Productions, the company responsible for the CGI in The Last Starfighter

Greetings Starfighter! Inside the Arcade Game an interview with arcade game collector Estil Vance on reconstructing the Starfighter game

Heroes of the Screen archival featurette

Crossing the Frontier: Making The Last Starfighter archival 4-part documentary

Image Galleries

Theatrical and Teaser Trailers

Reversible sleeve featuring original and newly commissioned artwork by Matt Ferguson

 
First Pressing Only

Limited Edition O-Card

Limited Edition Reversible Poster featuring original and newly commissioned artwork

Collector s booklet featuring new writing by Amanda Reyes and sci-fi author Greg Bear s never-before-published Omni magazine article on Digital Productions, the company responsible for the CGI in The Last Starfighter

So as you can see Arrow Video has done it yet again. They have given movie fans and blu-ray collectors another must have release. The Last Starfighter is loaded with amazing bonus content. That fans will be enjoying for hours.

If you love those 80s sci-fi films as much as I do this Arrow Video Blu-ray is an absolute must add to your collection Head over to Amazon.com and get your copy today.

Out of 4 Film Reels (4 being the highest rating) we would score Arrow Video Blu-ray The Last Starfighter....

1 Day @ A TIME! Season 2 Episode 8 (Pastor J's Close Encounter)

Here is the latest episode of 1 Day @ A TIME the Christian Sitcom!

With this being Halloween Week, in this episode "Pastor J's Close Encounter" Pastor J claims to have seen a U.F.O.

We hope you enjoy it!
JASON

Kino Now's Anniversary Binge

Reported by Jason Lockard

October marks the one-year anniversary of Kino Now, Kino Lorber's digital platform that offers a curated selection of over 1,000 titles from the Kino Lorber library for you to rent or own. And for the one year anniversary they are celebrating and we movie fans are reaping the benefits. Kino Now is making eight films available to rent for free through November 15th.

Check out the films available for viewing during this free binge.

Beanpole: In post-WWII Leningrad, two women, intensely bonded after fighting side by side as anti-aircraft gunners, attempt to readjust to a haunted world when a shocking accident brings them closer… and also seals their fates. Shortlisted for Best International Feature at the 92nd Academy Awards®.

The Complete Metropolis: Incorporating more than 25 minutes of newly discovered footage, this stunning 2010 restoration of Metropolis is the definitive edition of Fritz Lang’s science fiction masterpiece.

Boy: From Oscar-winning filmmaker Taika Waititi (Jojo Rabbit, Thor: Ragnarok) comes this hilarious and heartfelt coming-of-age tale about heroes, magic, and Michael Jackson.

It Felt Like Love: The debut feature by Eliza Hittman (Never Rarely Sometimes Always, Beach Rats) is an unflinchingly honest and refreshingly unsentimental coming-of-age story about a teenage girl navigating her sexual awakening during a languid South Brooklyn summer.

Dawson City: Frozen Time: This meditation on cinema’s past from Decasia director Bill Morrison pieces together the bizarre true history of a long-lost collection of 533 nitrate film prints from the early 1900s discovered buried under the permafrost in a former Canadian Gold Rush town.

Variety: Christine (Sandy McLeod) takes a job selling tickets at a porno theater near Times Square and soon develops an obsession that begins to consume her life. Few films deal honestly with a female sexual point-of-view. Controversial and highly personal, Bette Gordon's Variety does just that.

The Hitch-Hiker: Beyond its obvious cultural significance as the only classic film noir directed by a woman (actress Ida Lupino), The Hitch-Hiker is perhaps better remembered as simply one of the most nightmarish motion pictures of the 1950s. Part of the National Film Registry and newly restored in HD!

Walk With Me: With unprecedented access, Walk With Me takes us deep inside the world-famous monastery of Zen Buddhist master Thich Nhat Hanh, and captures the life of a monastic community who have given up all their possessions for one common purpose – to practice the art of mindfulness. Narrated by Benedict Cumberbatch.


To get these free rentals all you need to do is visit https://kinonow.com/series/anniversary-binge than redeem the coupon code KNBDAY. The sign-up is free and no Subscription is required.

So go ahead and enjoy free movies on Kino Now today!

Flashback Friday #8 (Back to the Future Trilogy)

With Back to the Future Day just a few days ago at the time of this post! On this episode of Flashback Friday Jason "Pastor J" Lockard talks the amazing 80s trilogy Back to the Future featuring Micheal J. Fox, Christopher Lloyd, Lea Thompson and Thomas F. Wilson.

DVD Review: Head of the Class (Season Two)

Reviewed By Jason Lockard

In the 70s we saw a series featuring a fun teacher dealing with a bunch of slackers. Well in the 80s we saw another series that was a reverse. A fun teacher dealing with ultra smart kids. That show was Head of the Class. The show was so much fun bad sadly been mostly forgot about over the years.

Warner Archive has rescued this show from home video oblivion and gave the first season a DVD release. You can read our review of that release here. But now it's time for season 2 to get it's time to shine of DVD. And I am so excited about it.

The once substitute teacher Charlie Moore (Howard Hesseman, WKRP in Cincinnati) is now a full fledged high school teacher. Assigned to the Individualized Honors Program. The I.H.P. is a group of kids are the best and brightest of New York's Fillmore High School. In Season 2 all the kids we knew from season 1 return including; Arvid (Dan Frischman), Darlene (Robin Givens), Simone (Khrystyne Haje), Alan (Tony O’Dell), Dennis (Dan Schneider), Sarah (Kimberly Russell), Janice (Tannis Vallely), Jawaharlal (Jory Husain), Eric (Brian Robbins) and Maria (Leslie Bega).


Episode Ratings:
****=Don’t Miss it!
***=Worth a look.
**=An Ok way to spend some time.
*=You haven’t missed anything.


Disc One:

1. Science Fair-Weather Friends: Sarah, Arvid, and Dennis compete, deceive and even indulge in sabotage to try and win the science fair. ****

2. The Write Stuff: Charlie encourages the class to revitalize the school's literary journal, and the class votes Simone as editor-in-chief. Unfortunately, the power this position gives Simone slightly goes to her head. ***

3. The Big Squeeze: The IHP are concerned when they learn a transfer student might join their class, making it necessary for one of them to leave. They fight over who it should be. ***

4. Child of the 60's: Dennis holds a sit-in for better cafeteria food after Charlie teaches a lesson on the rebelliousness of the '60s. ****

5. Trouble in Perfectville: The class puts out a lampoon issue of the school newspaper, but a guy threatens to get in between co-editors Darlene and Sarah. ***

6. Coach Charlie: When Dr. Samuels is ejected from the meets, he gets Mr. Moore to take his place as coach. When the team is intimidated by a losing streak, Eric tries to be part of the solution instead of part of the problem. ***

7. That'll Be the Day: The class puts on Grease, but Alan is reluctant to participate. ***

8. Poltergeist III: Janice says there is a poltergeist following her, and soon the class begins to believe her. ****

Disc Two:

9. Psyched Out at Fillmore: The class takes a standardized personality test and then worry about the results. ***

10. Revenge of the Liberal: The rest of the IHP is worried when a talk show host (Kevin McCarthy) invites Dennis and they fear how he will represent them. ***

11. Play it Again, Woody: Charlie and Arvid reflect on their love woes at a Woody Allen marathon going on at a movie theater. ***

12. Will the Real Arvid Engen Please Stand Up?: Arvid sends his penpal (Suzanne Snyder) Eric's picture. **1/2

13. On the Road Again: Darlene and Sarah buy a car; problems with Mrs. Samuels has Dr. Samuels rooming with Charlie. **1/2

14. Fatal Distraction: When Maria kisses him and Simone asks him out on the same day, Eric's imagination conjures up a Fatal Attraction-style scenario (egged on by Dennis). ***

15. Cello Fever: Janice tries to get first chair in the school orchestra. ****

16. Parent's Day: The IHP's parents come to see how the class is taught, which highlights major problems within Eric's family. ***

Disc Three:

17. Love is Debatable: Darlene pretends to like Alan to win debates. ***

18. For Better, For Worse: Ms. Meara teaches a class on marriage. Nichelle Nichols makes a special cameo appearance. ***

19. We Love You, Mrs. Russell: Maria has difficulty coping with a popular teacher (Mary Carver) who has Alzheimer's disease. ****

20. Don't Play With Matches: When Dennis matches Simone up with an awful computer date (Richard Horvitz), she can't get rid of the guy. ***

21. The 21st-Century News: Dennis sees a bleak future. ***

22. Radio Activity: Charlie tries to garner interest in the school radio station, but is met with some resistance. ****

23. I Am King: Dr. Samuels objects when moonlighting Charlie does late-night TV commercials for appliances. ***

The writing, direction and the chemistry of the actors was great in season 1 and it seemed to just get better in Season 2. As a huge fan of WKRP in Cincinnati it can be hard to see Howard Hesseman not as Dr. Johnny Fever, but he is amazing as teacher Mr. Charles Moore.

Head of the Class is a show of a different era. Yes the computers a huge, there are no cellphones and the styles are not what we in this generation are used to, but the comedy is still hilarious. There is truly no expiration date on funny.

As for the DVD release the episodes are presented in their original full screen format. The audio is presented in English 2.0 Mono Dolby Digital. The 22 episodes of season 2 are stretched across 3 DVDs. 8 episode on 2 discs and 7 on the third. I have to say I am extremely impressed with the quality of these episodes. There is no signs of pixelation, they are clear and clean and look amazing on DVD.

So if you are a fan of the 80s TV. Of if you already have season 1 of Head of the Class you really need to add this one to your collection. Head over to WBShop.com today and get your copy today.


Head of the Class Season 2 will be released on October 27th 2020.

 Out of 4 TV Sets (4 being the best) Head of the Class Season 2 on DVD receives....