BTSNAT 2.5: BTS Bandits!

Back in Austin at Brian Kelley's home for another awesome installment of BTSNAT! Different set of people for this marathon sitting but still an excellent group to watch movies together for 16+ hours.

As with the last BTSNAT in December, @Noahphex leads with his pick of Scavenger Hunt (1979), a film I had recently watched most of when I discovered it was OOP. Amazing cast yet overly long. Still a fun watch to see these actors interact. Richard Benjamin, Scatman Crothers, Cloris Leachman, Roddy McDowall, Tony Randall, Dirk Benedict, et al. 6 / 10

Next was Micah's (@ReelDistraction) choice of Daryl Duke's Payday (1973), a Rip Torn joint I had seen in recent years after GGTMC covered it. Incredible performance, good film and great ending for this pathetic honky-tonk man. 7 / 10

Josh (@VHSisthetruth) couldn't make this time but provided a hilarious video intro for his film Science Crazed (1991), which is equally hilarious for different reasons. This Canuxploitation film defies all and is nearly inexplicable with its repeated use of footage and bizarre horror. Incredible film bad in every conceivable way yet you cannot stop escape it. 5 / 10 (but one I desperately want to own!)

The only way to follow that was with a little rape-revenge, BK's favorite sub-genre, with his choice of Naked Vengeance (1985). Sleazy and brutal as expected that delivers the goods. Solid entry. 7 / 10

I did locate an adequate David Prior flick for my selection with The Final Sanction (1990), starring his brother Ted Prior along side Robert Z'Dar. Kind of a ridiculous premise to pit two warriors against each to decide a greater outcome between two nations but just go with it. Stupid but good enough for this crowd, thankfully. 6.6 / 10

Jenni, @Noahphex's wife, joined us for this outing and her film was voted next, The Search for Animal Chin (1987). I adore this film and the on-location skating and shredding including the half-pipe at Tony Hawk's home. Good fun and apparently a flick my brother watched a hella lot back in the day. 7.5 / 10

Now it was time for Damon's (@zombiefreak) movie (so glad Damon make the trip as he was missed in December). His original choice wouldn't play but his back-up proved just as worthy as we belly-laughed throughout Pledge Night a.k.a. A Hazing in Hell (1990). Damn riot of a horror flick that is great with a crowd. 7.5 / 10

The final film of the BTSNAT marathon is always a Brian Trenchard-Smith movie. We were treated to his take on the Porky's franchise, Pimpin' Pee Wee (2009) a.k.a. Porky's: The College Years. Been looking forward to this since BK mentioned it at the last BTSNAT. Turns out it's a better-than-average installment that all of us managed to remain awake and entertained. 6.7 / 10

Somehow we managed to cram in an extra film and still finish before 5AM but damn what a marathon of movies and an even better time with friends. So glad I could make it down for BTSNAT 2.5 and hope I'm there for the next one.

• June New: 21
• June Re-watch: 3
• June '11 MTD: 24
• June '10 MTD: 64
• 2011 YTD: 340
  

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
  

Synthesized Gun

Another long desired DVD set arrived this week: The Andy Sidaris Girls Guns & G-Strings collection (highly recommended for fans of Sidaris and/or crappy movies). Guns (1990) is one that I had missed before the original DVDs went out of print so I queued this one first. It's about the same as the others with our same heros and silly villains. 6 / 10

Scared to Death (1981) was the Horror Movie Night selection this week and the introduction of the Syngenor! I couldn't get my hands on a copy of this so I found it streaming online on some weird website. Not the best PQ but it was fine to follow the creation and terror of this Synthesized Genetic Organism! Check out @zombiefreak's write-up about Scared to Death as he chronicles Horror Movie Night. 6.5 / 10

• April New: 15
• April Re-watch: 4
• April '11 Total: 19
• April '10 Total: 68
• 2011 Total: 248
  

B-Meta Movie

Not entirely sure but Bad Girls from Mars (1990) might be the most meta thing Fred Olen Ray has done before "meta" was even a thing. Here we have a B-movie being made within a B-movie where all the actors are getting murdered. Not original but at least watchable. Plus Brinke Stevens! 6/10

• March New: 1
• March Re-watch: 0
• March '11 Total: 1
• March '10 Total: 75
• 2011 TOTAL: 162
  

Follow The Monster

Dominik Moll's Lemming (2005) definitely lived up to the reviews I've read. Weird, intriguing and different. Charlotte Gainsbourg is pretty good but I really like Laurent Lucas as his character deals with the mystery unfolding around him. Charlotte Rampling is definitely spooky. Good watch. 7/10

Dug into my DVD collection for Roger Corman's Frankenstein Unbound (1990), which I hadn't seen before. Has the necessary elements to be very good including John Hurt as a scientist who travels back in time to aid Raul Julia's Frankenstein create his monster. But sadly this film is a mess. A delightful mess but still a mess. 6/10

• January New: 79
• January Re-watch: 12
• January '11 Total: 91
• January '10 Total: 51
• 2011 TOTAL: 91
  

Goblin Bugged

Quest for the Mighty Sword (1990) a.k.a. Ator III: The Hobgoblin is the type of junky sword & sandals crap I gravitate towards. This installment again directed by Joe D'Amato (he also directed the first two Ator films), features Eric Allan Kramer (Thor!) in both the role of Ator the father and his son. Weird, right? The son grows up enslaved by the evil Thorn-Grindel goblin, who looks like the same goblins from Troll 2 (probably because Laura Gemser is also in this movie). Ator has to find his father's sword then seek revenge on the Hobgoblin. I guess. It's a terrible film but my kind of terrible. 5/10

I've had The Fly (1958) in my NWI queue almost from the time I started watching Netflix streaming on my PS3. Amazing that it's stuck around that long and hasn't expired. Figured now was good as any to give it a spin since I still haven't seen the original. A little surprised at some of the violence (that crushing machine!). The ending is nuts. 7/10

• January New: 54
• January Re-watch: 8
• January '11 Total: 62
• January '10 Total: 51
• 2010 TOTAL: 62
  

Rock Me, Miller

Rockula (1990) features Dean Cameron as a 400 year old vampire looking to score. Toni Basil is his mother looking to get her dance on. He wants to be in a rock band and be with his girl. Musical performances happen. It's good. It's bad. It's Rockula... on NWI. 5.6/10

Green Zone (2010) I skipped last year because of the mixed reactions. That and it being yet another glimpse into the conflict in Iraq was enough to keep me away. Wish I hadn't because I enjoyed what Greengrass did and the presence of Matt Damon, who sells it. Jason Isaacs is also darn good for the role he's given. Not a perfect film but enough tension to make it a worthwhile watch. 7/10

Alice's Adventures in Wonderland (1972) is not the worst adaptation (this is the sixth I've seen in the past year) but it's far from memorable even with the likes of Peter Sellers and Dudley Moore. Probably due to no one but Alice really having a large part. That was an unintentional joke (she grows larger, folks). Fiona Fullerton is a rather bland Alice. Watched on NWI but won't remember it in a year. Or maybe it's time to take a beak from Alice in Wonderland films? 5/10

• January New: 32
• January Re-watch: 3
• January '11 Total: 35
• January '10 Total: 51
• 2010 TOTAL: 35
  

The Downward Spiral

Another VHS tape I picked up at San Carlos Video for a buck was Endless Descent (1990) a.k.a. The Rift. Directed by Juan Piquer Simón, this is a decent little submarine horror thriller. Features R.Lee Ermey and Ray Wise with Jack Scalia sporting some awesome hair as they investigate a missing submarine and discover something much more threatening... beneath the sea. Kinda really enjoyed this flick. 6.5/10

• November New: 50
• November Re-watch: 6
• November Total: 56
• 2010 TOTAL: 714
  

Terror in the Aisles 6

Big movie day that started with a early matinee of Scott Pilgrim vs. the World (2010). Really adore the hell outta this film. It's not perfect but hot fuzz is Edgar Wright a master craftsman. Yeah, I'm burnt out on Michael Cera being... er, Michael Cera. But it's all the other characters in this film that rock it. And Mary Elizabeth Winstead has that certain something. Look forward to repeat viewings.


Evening was all Terror in the Aisles & 35mm prints at Portage Theater. Things kicked off with Creepshow (1982). So great to see that projected. Have fond memories of watching w/my little brother when we lived in Rockford and certain segments scaring the shit out of him. oh yeah, the kid w/the comic has the best toys evar seen in a film! Godzilla *and* Rodan Shogun Warriors? Talk about rare vintage toys! Want 'em both!

John Harrison was guest of honor and did Q&A before introducing his Clive Barker's Book of Blood (2009). Not a great film but made more entertaining seeing it w/this crowd. Mostly slow but decent pay-off.

Last up was Tales from the Darkside: The Movie (1990). Really great to see this again as I had forgotten a lot it. Solid anthology and love, love, love Debbie Harry. Film is loaded with awesome actors! Another fine event by Dark Chicago / Chicago Horror!

• August New: 23
• August Re-watch: 3
• August Total: 26
• 2010 TOTAL: 467
  

The Good, The Bad & The Forgetful

The People That Time Forgot (1977) is the fantasy adventure sequel to The Land That Time Forgot in where a rescue team ventures off to save Doug McClure's Bowen Tyler character from the previous film. Altho this one isn't as good as its predecessor it's still quite fun and features a couple of beautiful actresses (one being Sarah Douglas!). Apparently David Prowse (Darth Vader) is the executioner in this but I think that's a mistake b/c 1) Can't see Prowse taking this role AFTER doing Star Wars 2) the guy in this film is a huge bodybuilder type. If I see Prowse at a Con again I'm gonna ask him about it.

About a Boy (2002) is another film I've managed to avoid up until now. Was pleasantly surprised by it. Good watch.

If I could find the blu-ray at a reasonable price for Wong Kar Wai's Ashes Of Time Redux (1994), I'd buy it. Hell, I might just bite it and buy the $30 import. I watched original version some years ago during movie night @ Ron's and have been looking forward to seeing the Redux, in which additional scenes have been added, a new score as been added and the entire film has been remastered. Looks much, much better than the crappy version we originally viewed. Such a somber yet gorgeous film. Watched the interview features that shed more light on this restoration. A must-see for Wong Kar Wai fans and fans of this kind of cinema (check a real review for more insight on the beauty of this film; I'm not qualified for such a thing).

Taking several, several steps down from that, I finished watching Troma's Nymphoid Barbarian in Dinosaur Hell (1990). As much as love this type of genre mix (post-apocalyptic, fantasy adventure), this flick is a dog. Not even a very long I couldn't finish in one sitting (via NWI). Shocked this is out of print. Or maybe it no longer needs to be in print.

A much better retro flick on NWI is Trancers (1985), featuring Tim Thomerson in the Rick Deckard role (this is after all an ape of Blade Runner). But for a 80s b-movie it's done well enough to make it enjoyable and stand on its own (enough to spawn 5 sequels!). Also features a very young and cute Helen Hunt.