Keep on Space Truckin'

The Phantom from 10,000 Leagues (1955) was an Instawatch or maybe Hulu. It's that kind of title. Not a great one but watchable if you enjoy bad b-movies. It's very post-WWII with a monster being created from radiation but also wanted as a weapon. 6 / 10

The Valley of Gwangi (1969) is a film I've always wanted to see so was glad to pick it off NWI. And it's such a fine cowboys and dinosaurs flick with a tragic ending. It has a traveling circus too. Super enjoyable with excellent Ray Harryhausen stopmo. 7 / 10

OMG, Queen of Outer Space (1958) is riot! Credit to TCM for airing some cool old flicks on their Drive-In Thursdays. This is another misogynistic sci-fi where a group of male astronauts land on Venus inhabited by only beautiful woman including Zsa Zsa Gabor! Awesomeness. I wish to own this movie! 6.7 / 10

The War of the Planets (1966) is another gem courtesy of TCM. This one directed by one of my personal favorites Antonio Margheriti and is a loose sequel to his Wild, Wild Planet, which I adore. Unfortunately this film isn't as strong or as entertaining and rather convoluted despite the awesome cocktail party in space. 5 / 10

• June New: 57
• June Re-watch: 4
• June '11 MTD: 61
• June '10 MTD: 64
• 2011 YTD: 377
  

Furry Spider

In searching for an ideal movie to take to BTSNAT 2.5 tomorrow I decided it should be a David Prior flick since he seems to be all the talk lately. White Fury (1990) is one such film in my VHS stock so I screened it to see if it was worthy. It's not bad but also not good enough despite a decent premise of crooks taking some teens hostage in a remote cabin in the mountains. Just lacks the punch. 6 / 10

Tarantula (1955) I had recorded from TCM since they started showing B-movies for their Thursday Drive-In programming this month. This is, of course, another Jack Arnold giant monster flick and also features the hotty Mara Corday. Entertaining. 6.5 / 10

• June New: 15
• June Re-watch: 0
• June '11 MTD: 15
• June '10 MTD: 64
• 2011 YTD: 331
  

Wind Writers

Caught the old low-budget sci-fi flick The Beast with a Million Eyes (1955) on Hulu. The end monster image is a little famous but everything leading up to that is rather dull and/or comical. Not terrible but hardly good. 5.5/10

Headed down to the Portage Theater for the introductory film of the Northwest Chicago Film Society new season at its new location. Stoked that it was Written on the Wind (1956), featuring an amazing Robert Stack against Cary Grant. Terrific film! Thrilled to see this on the big screen! 7.5/10

• February New: 38
• February Re-watch: 0
• February '11 Total: 38
• February '10 Total: 61
• 2011 TOTAL: 129
  

More Monster Mayhem

Caught a few more Hammer Horror flicks from TCM including Terence Fisher's The Curse of Frankenstein (1957), which is arguably their best Frankenstein film featuring Christopher Lee as the monster and Peter Cushing as the mad scientist. Really dig this flick. 7.7/10

Frankenstein Created Woman (1967), on the other hand, is not so good. Good title that doesn't deliver on that premise. Was expecting a decent Bride remake but this is really something all together different. 5.4/10

Hit up Netflix Watch Instantly for Abbott and Costello Meet the Mummy (1955), which is another film I enjoyed as a child. This one is right up there in the Bud & Lou series of feature films. Could probably watch their monster films anytime. Great to see Marie Windsor in this. 7.6/10

• October New: 54
• October Re-watch: 13
• October Total: 67
• 2010 TOTAL: 651
  

Tokyo Raiders

Haven't watched very much anime in the last couple of years (grew tired of it after spending most of the '00s watching more anime than film) but Netflix delivered an old hold in Strait Jacket (2007), which sounded like an interesting magic fantasy OAV. But overall it's just meh. Basically modern day sorcerers wear armored spell suits and destroy demons. Yawn.


From NWI I finally watched Motoyoshi Oda's Godzilla Raids Again (1955). This is the red-headed stepchild of the early Gojira films as it was later released in the US in 1959 as Gigantis the Fire Monster in a bastardized form. G takes on Anguirus here marking the first big screen kaiju battle. Not the greatest Godzilla film it's still quite good and deserves more recognition.

• June New: 4
• June Re-watch: 0
• June Total: 4
• 2010 TOTAL: 327
  

Devil 'Shrooms

I'm surprised as you are that I've never watched Ishiro Honda's Matango: Attack of the Mushroom People (1963) in its entirety. Especially considering it's one of Gavin's favorite films (according to Ron). And because I really treasure 60s era Japanese sci-fi films. And Matango is no exception. But it's even more than that; it's also a great study on the human condition as this group of castaways try to survive this this bizarre island.

Another Criterion thriller that I've been putting off for some time is Clouzot's Diabolique (1955). This is probably due to having seen the 1996 remake (theatrically no less) and I wish I hadn't... at least not before seeing the original, which is way better and way more terrifying. Definitely a classic for a reason.

• May New: 44
• May Re-watch: 7
• May Total: 51
• 2010 TOTAL: 306
  

War of the Monsters

Beer Wars (2009) made me more depressed than anticipated. Was misty eyed a couple of times. Definite must-see for anyone who appreciates craft beer and struggle of the little guy against the corporate giants. Thank you, Netflix, for making this available via Watch Instantly.

Also thanks to NWI, I stayed up to watch Ed Wood's Bride of the Monster (1955), one of the films featured in the marvelous Ed Wood. Lugosi appears nearly anemic. Still a compelling watch if you know the history behind its making.