TITLE SEQUENCE: Halloween 3

Halloween is quickly approaching so I thought I'd get some holiday appropriate material up on to the site.

Here's the title sequence for Halloween 3, which is quite unusual in its slow build up and somberly haunting music. Using computer generated scan lines, the credits gradually build up to what eventually forms a carved pumpkin face. I love the overall effect and felt that it accomplished what it set out to do and that's to introduce the world to this strange little tale about sinister entities bringing about the apocalypse through the deaths of millions of kids wearing their handcrafted masks.

Man that sounded just plain ridiculous to me as I typed it down, but that's basically what goes on in this film. It may not feature Michael Myers, but it still kicks all kinds of Halloween ass. I added a composed image of all of the screen shots that add up to the Jack O Lantern face, just to see where all of the names end up on the layout. Enjoy and happy early Halloween!

The pumpkin face puzzle put together.

FLICKS OF THE WEEK: September 25 - October 1, October 2 - 8

SEPTEMBER 25TH - OCTOBER 1ST

The Heroic Trio is an excellent fantasy action film that showcases three talented Asian actresses: Michelle Yeoh, Anita Mui, and Maggie Cheung. These three separate women inhabit a world where demonic forces constantly interact with the world of the living, often bringing about terrible crimes, and in the case of this film, heartless kidnappings. What's most interesting about this film, is that the three main characters are all on opposite sides of an ongoing war between malevolent spirits in the underworld and the law enforcement agents of the world above. Anita Mui's character is a vigilante hero of sorts who lives her ordinary life as a simple detective's wife, while Michelle Yeoh plays the right hand agent to the Lord of the underworld, leaving Maggie Cheung's character to straddle both sides in the role of the mercenary.

All three women cross paths in various portions of the film, often setting off extravagant fight scenes while opening up the overall depth of the storyline and intertwining their own personal stories. I really enjoyed the coming together of their little group and the inevitable bond that they eventually share between each other. The film is all kinds of fun, taking that Charlie's Angel's style plot and giving it some energy and dare I say, kick. Now I've got to hunt down the sequel.

Spiritual Kung Fu is a wonderful and obscure little film from Jackie Chan's early career, when he was still making movies under the Lo Wei Motion Picture Company banner. The film follows a trouble making young man named Yi-Lang, played by Chan, who seems to be the class clown of sorts at a Shaolin Temple. The movie starts out rather carefree, mostly focusing on Yi-Lang's antics and comedic moments, but then quickly starts to delve into more serious territory after a sacred book is stolen from the temple. The texts describe a deadly form of Kung Fu and the only way for the style to be countered is for goofy Yi-Lang to be taught by a handful of equally goofy ghosts. Yeah, you heard me right.... ghosts. And these aren't your normal kind of ghosts either, they're some kind of disturbing hybrid of nightmarish mime clowns. It you think my short description is scary, just wait until you see these creeps in motion. Dear god, I'm still having nightmares.

It's wacky and frightening as all hell, but for some reason Jackie seems to make it feel natural, fun, and believable. There's a great deal of comedy in the training segments between Yi-Lang and the ghosts, showcasing some of Jackie's expert comedic timing, while giving us a rough draft of what would come later in some of his most classic films. I really enjoyed this flick, like most of Jackie's extensive catalog of films, and I had one hell of a time with the over the top concept of having ghosts teach Mr. Chan how to kick ass. If you're a fan of the Chan, then you have to check this one out.

Supercop 2, the sequel to the amazing and classic first Supercop entry, is a wonderful action packed Hong Kong film starring the spectacular Michelle Yeoh. In this entry, Yeoh takes center stage returning as the hard as nails cop, Jessica Yang. The film opens up as a more personal portrayal of Yeoh's character from the first film, still exhibiting Michelle's expertly crafted martial arts skills yet at the same time allowing for us to see her shown in a more emotional light. We come to find that she has a tragic love story behind those fierce kicks and tenacious flare, and the added layer of her character's background adds a great deal of breadth to the film. The main story arc of the film follows Yeoh to Hong Kong, where she is assigned a mission to hunt down a group of high-tech bank robbers before they make their next big score. The real twist of this seemingly simple plot, is that Yeoh's estranged boyfriend is the leader of this gang. There are some interesting moments during the film, where Yeoh's character must struggle between the reignited feelings for her long lost love with the painstakingly real duties of being a police officer.

The entanglement between these conflicting emotions are expertly crafted by series director Stanley Tong and Yeoh handles it with all the grace that such an accomplished actress can. Not every moment in the film is as dramatic as I've described. There's one scene in particular that just seems right out of left field in its absurdity and random nature, and that would be Jackie Chan's small cameo. All you need to know is that Jackie is in drag and there's a lot of boob grabbing. I really loved the film, even with its random moments of silliness. The decision to go a more serious route with the sequel was pure genius on the filmmaker's part, allowing Yeoh to really thrive in her character and take the film on in her own way. Excellent flick.

OCTOBER 2ND - 8TH

The Fabulous Journey to the Center of the Earth is a fabulously silly adventure film that is encumbered by its low budget, yet doesn't let that fact hold it back from being quite entertaining. The film follows a small group of assorted people as they travel into a mouth of a volcano, that just so happens to be the entrance to a whole new world that lies in the center of the earth. The movie has a great deal of outlandish locations and creatures, the most memorable being the larger then life field of tortoises, giant sea creatures, and a gigantic ape who could have been the distant cousin to the legendary King Kong.

The main core of actors do a commendable job with the material and each of them get equal screen time and their own reasons for being on this fabulous journey. The film also moves rather quickly, never settling in one location for more then a few minutes before having the entire cast flee from some monstrous being or horrible turn of events. It's a strange thing, yet once the team of adventurers arrive in the center of the earth, they don't really have any endgame for what to do. They literally just roam around aimlessly, with no particular goal in sight. I guess you don't really need a complicated plot with these kind of films, just the introduction to a world bathed in fantasy and a continuous series of set pieces that keep the viewer entertained and curious on what happens next. In the end, the film is just downright goofy fun. It never takes itself too serious and it's always willing to push on to the next otherworldly locale. I had a great time watching this group of curious adventurers go from one outlandish situation to the next. Definitely check it out if you're a fan of films like The Land That Time Forgot, The People That Time Forgot, The Lost World, and The Lost Continent.

Shaolin Wooden Men is another early Jackie Chan film that happens to feature one of his first starring roles. Chan plays a mute character who, after witnessing the murder of his father as a child, vows to become a Shaolin monk and learn martial arts to avenge his father's death by the hands of a nameless skilled assassin. After falling to the bottom of the class, Chan meets an imprisoned man on the Shaolin temple grounds, whose origins are a bit of a mystery. The man agrees to teach Chan a devastating and lost style, previously banned by the Shaolin monks, if he continues to bring food and drink to him everyday. Chan agrees and starts his training. There are a few twists and turns along the way, because unbeknownst to Chan, the imprisoned man has a long history of manipulation and murder that directly effects Chan's life, giving way to some very tense moments of realization on Chan's part.

Another aspect of the film that is very memorable is the inclusion of the Shaolin Wooden Men, which amounts to the Shaolin temple's rating system on whether you've reached true Shaolin Monk status. A person that wants to test their worth must pass through a number of corridors filled with rows upon rows of wooden dummies, all being manipulated and moved by an intricate pulley system. Only the most skilled will make it through to the end. You'll either love the concept or be put off by the test of skill, because the wooden men are rather wooden, only being able to move in certain ways. In my opinion, the mechanism of the wooden men is just brilliant, making for an impressive sequence of events that really up the creative aspect of the picture. Jackie performs masterfully in this scene, really selling the fact that this trial of strength and skill is something of a nightmare for young Shaolin pupils.

Overall the entire film is excellent, begging the question, why is this film not talked about more often? It has all the elements of Jackie Chan's earlier work and the staples and archetypes of what would be heralded in some of his most renowned films. Shaolin Wooden Men is just excellent and if you can get your hands on the Hong Kong Legends DVD edition, then do it. The film is a true classic and highly recommended for any fans of Jackie's work.

REVIEW: Zombi 3

Zombi 3
Director: Lucio Fulci & Bruno Mattei
Year 1988

Zombi 3 is a low grade Italian zombie film, that aside from its troubled production, lackluster acting, and convoluted plot, is actually quite a bit of fun. The film starts out at a laboratory, where scientists are doing experiments with various chemicals in efforts to reanimate the dead, or so I could gather by the obscure opening of a dead soldier's body coming to life and then violently deteriorating into a bloody mess. Say what?

Well anyways, the movie kicks into gear when a terrorist infiltrates the lab and steals a highly volatile bacterial virus. As he escapes he accidentally infects himself with the virus and begins to deteriorate, until he finally drops dead in a grotesque heap. The military find the terrorist in a hotel and quickly dispose of the body by cremating it. Little do they know that they inadvertently unleash the virus, now airborne, onto a small island village turning the inhabitants into crazed and bloodthirsty zombies. During the mayhem, a small group of tourists and surviving military struggle to make it off the island alive. Can they make it? Who really gives a shit, but damn is it entertaining to watch them try.
 

Check out these douchebags.

The Gas Mask Boys were a boy band that never really quite caught on in the States.

The film in general has been known to have had a troubled past. Initially, Zombi 3 was directed by the legendary Italian horror filmaker Lucio Fulci, but after some disagreements and other unknown problems, he left the production of the film, passing directorial efforts into the hands of fellow horror creator Bruno Mattei. I have no idea of the extent of Fulci's influence on the film or how much can be credited to his vision, but Mattei can be felt throughout this movie in almost every aspect of its narrative.

That's both a bad thing and a good thing, because both directors are worlds apart in the crafting of their stories. Fulci's output is of a higher caliber boasting such classic horror flicks as The Psychic, Zombie, City of the Living Dead, The Beyond, The House by the Cemetery, and New York Ripper, while Mattei's craft has aimed a little lower with such interesting cinematic outings as Hell of the Living Dead, Guardian of Hell, Rats, and a slew of Emanuelle flicks. They each have their own style and are outstanding in their own right, but for completely different reasons. Personally, I've always been more fond of Fulci's filmography and the style in which he tells his stories. Bruno Mattei is an interesting director though, never fearing to put that element of sleaze or morbid sense of debauchery into the mix. It's a low brow execution that ends up creating an especially unique feel for his films, including the highly underrated Zombi 3.

These are what 3D dreams are made of.

Say hello to my little friend.... and to the guy behind me who is also my friend.

What we get with this film, is not a masterpiece of decaying flesh, but an entertaining romp through the killings fields of a third world country gone to hell, literally. The location of the Philippines is actually the perfect setting for a zombie apocalypse, set within a lush tropical jungle that seems to have swallowed up the surrounding villages and urban structures. The place feels dead, but with a hint of life.

There's also a grittiness to the landscape that gives the film an authentic feel. The group of survivors must trudge through thick jungles, muddy rivers, deserted villages, and even an abandoned hotel that has been taken over by the surrounding forests. Simply put, the locations looks like complete shit and that's a very good thing. It's a strange thing to put down in words, but the entire film just feels dead and decaying and combined with Mattei's dream like execution behind the camera, the film comes out being very atmospheric and vividly placed within a world that only exists on the celluloid roll. It may be considered low class, but Zombi 3 definitely has a feel all of its own.

Holy Shit! I think they're gonna kiss!

Here zombie... zombie... zombie.

There are a few things that hold the film back from being something entirely special and memorable, and that would be the acting and tremendously entangled plot. In the case of the acting, the actors are wooden as all hell and deliver their lines like they've just come out of their first day of acting school. For me this doesn't make the film unremarkable or easily discarded. I can appreciate the efforts put on by the cast and I understand that they were the best that the production could afford for this humble zombie undertaking. Surprisingly their awkward dialogue and cheesy delivery actually adds a certain charm to the movie, making a perfect companion to the equally dire and devastated locations. It's a slumming experience when watching Zombi 3, but in retrospect it seems like the only way this confusing story could be told. The movie is a low budget wonder that relishes in the impoverished locales that it is filming in and thrives for that very reason.

The same can be said for the story of Zombi 3. Anyone who has watched this film can tell you that there isn't a whole lot of logic to be had within the narrative and that there seems to be two warring factions of creative thought within the structure of the film. The passing of the torch from Fulci to Mattei can be felt throughout this flick, giving way to a multitude of uncomfortable moments when the story just runs off the rails and delves into some seriously sub-par moments, that often bring about laughter rather then screams. Take the flying zombie head for instance. Yeah you heard me right, there's a flying zombie head that bursts out of a refrigerator of all places and bites one of the main characters in the neck. If that wasn't wacky enough, there's also a ridiculous birthing scene where a newborn infant rips its way out of its mother's womb to feast on the flesh of another cast member. These moments are pure Mattei and often derail any tension that might have built up prior to the scene. Now don't get me wrong, these instances of insanity are entertaining as all hell and are definitely unique to say the least, but they're extremely distracting and feel culled from another film, not the one we were previously following.

These guys don't mess around when it's zombie killing time.

I hope your aim is better then your acting.

Even in its unbalanced nature, the film is a blast to watch and it even has some rather effective and morbid moments. The unsympathetic and ruthless military squad that is set loose upon the zombie infested island, gives way to some outstandingly dire situations for the survivors harking back to those Romero-esque notions that the zombies aren't the ones that we should fear the most, but instead man. There are some truly inspirational shots of the military force, draped in hazard suits and gas masks, marching through the streets and looking genuinely menacing.

Let's also not forget about the zombies, which there are a plethora of. We've got all types of walking dead, like the slow movers, to the water waders, and even some of the jumping variety. There's also a machete wielding zombie that's one crazy son of a bitch, moving at lightening speed and acting like a total bad ass. My favorites of the bunch though are the slow moving pack of zombies. There's an especially excellent scene that has our main survivors held up in an abandoned building as they watch the approaching throngs of undead shuffle their way towards their barricade. The scene is slow and methodical and actually brings a bit of class to the overall film. While not as iconic as the zombies in the original Zombie, these dead-heads do their job and do it well.

How the hell did we get ourselves into this shit?

Hell Yeah! It's DJ Aint Seen Shit!

What can be said about Zombi 3 other then it is a blast if you're willing to overlook the movies shortcomings and appreciate it for what it is. The film is a down and dirty zombie tale that tends to go a little overboard in parts, but never strays too much as to make it unwatchable. In fact, the moments when the film veers off course are insanely enjoyable and stick with you because of their astonishing and earth-shattering oddness. Flying heads and rabid babies aside, Zombi 3 is a very atmospheric flick that provides a good number of memorable zombie moments that should cater nicely to walking corpses fans the world over. If you're willing to watch a film that is a little bit rough around the edges, but has entertainment at its heart, then I recommend giving it a chance. You never know, you might actually end up liking it. Now I'm off to get something from the fridge..... SHIT! Zombie head. Damn you Zombi 3!

3 out of 5 stars             An Interesting Fulci/Mattei Oddity!

FLICKS OF THE WEEK: September 11-17, September 18-24

SEPTEMBER 11TH-17TH

Executioner is the second Sonny Chiba film that I've seen and from those two entries I can safely say that I'm really looking forward to diving into the rest of his filmography. The film plays out like a man on a mission flick, where a disgraced cop hires a rag tag group of street toughs, all with their own unique skills and personalities, in order to take down the Tokyo drug ring that ended his police career. The film has an interesting mixture of dark comedy and violent action, provided by the cast of hired hands assigned to take out the drug kingpin and his underlings. Sonny Chiba plays the rogue character of Ryuichi Koga, who like many of his other counterparts, signs up just for the money.

The character of Koga is a great anti-hero figure and Chiba gives him enough charisma and violent skill to make him a memorable character among this rather diverse cast of misfits. The end raid on the drug dealer's headquarters is magnificent in the chaotic way things escalate and progressively get worse and more challenging for the underdog main characters. The film was a fun little escape of insanity and that was all I asked for. Viva Chiba!

Deathstalker 2 is just so damn ridiculous, that you have to allow yourself to sit back and enjoy the absurd show in order to make it from beginning to end. Having basically nothing to do with the first movie in the series, part two introduces us to a new and sassier Deathstalker played by John Terlesky. This time Deathstalker must team up with an undercover princess to help overthrow an evil sorcerer who has banished the princess and replaced her with a clone. Of course, Deathstalker is destined to vanquish the evil sorcerer, while at the same time reclaim the princess' rightful place on the throne and in his bed. Terlesky may have the athletic ability to play the character of Deathstalker, but his physical presence pales in comparison to Rick Hill's original imposing figure.

With that said, the film is actually pretty fun if you set aside any correlation with the first film and just take it for what it is. In fact there are some pretty interesting scenes and locations in this film, like the creepy green lit graveyard filled with shuffling decomposing zombie figures and the cheesy Amazon village centered around a wrestling ring that looks straight out of the old WWF slobber-knocker days. Even with its faults, Deathstalker 2 has a certain charm to it. Just don't get your hopes up.

The Warrior and the Sorceress is a rough re-imagining of the Japanese film Yojimbo, but done with a Roger Corman-like sensibility. The film stars David Carradine as the lone warrior Kain, a wanderer who stalks the barren landscapes of the planet Ura in search of fortune and the means to which he can obtain it. Arriving at a village where civil war has broken out between two factions over the control of the town's only water source, Kain decides to pit each group against each other in order to benefit from their dilemma. Carradine does a commendable job as the sword for hire, hardly speaking throughout the film and rather playing the role of Kain as an observer.

What is really interesting about this film is the insanely warped world that the filmmakers have created on this fictitious planet of Ura. We've got nudity abound provided mostly by the alluring Maria Socas, a tentacle monster that is anything but scary, a fat man with a telepathic pet lizard, a sword that can cut through anything but is never explained how it does such a feat, a throng of lizard faced slavers with a thirst for revenge, and a stripper with two pairs of breasts. Yeah it gets a little wacky. The Warrior and the Sorceress is a B movie that at least keeps you entertained and in wonder at what crazy things they'll throw at you next. Check it out for the curious.

Topping off my fantasy triple feature is the film Barbarian Queen, a far more subdued movie then the previous iterations of the sword and sorcerer genre. In this film we follow a rag tag group of amazon warriors lead by the fearsome Ametha, played by the equally fearsome Lana Clarkson, as she attempts to take revenge for the ransacking of her village. With the tagline of, "No man can touch her naked steel", you get the impression that you're about to witness some kind of adventure porno hybrid or something, but thankfully the film attempts to steer into more respectable territory.

The quality of the acting and locations aren't as inspiring as one would hope, but the rather catchy reoccurring score by James Horner of all people, does lift up the film from its less then stellar origins. In the end, I felt that Barbarian Queen was a decent enough flick, but rather forgettable in the long run. Still it wasn't a bad way to spend an evening.

SEPTEMBER 18TH-24TH

Magnificent Warriors is an outstanding action adventure flick that stars the amazing Michelle Yeoh in one of her most entertaining films to date. The film has been described as being the female version of Indiana Jones, with the inclusion of the main character's whip and the exotic locale, and I can see the similarities, but Dr. Jones has never kicked this much ass and in such a hyper kinetic style. Michele Yeoh plays Fok Ming Ming, an airplane pilot who is assigned a very important mission to extract a prince from a Japanese controlled Chinese village. The stunts and choreography are stupendous, showcasing Yeoh's amazing athleticism and martial arts skill.

The cast is also rather remarkable having Richard Ng, Tung-Shing Yee, and Chindy Lau all having rather susbtanstial parts that display their own individual talents. Richard Ng especially shines in his comedic role, playing the clumsy and accident prone Paulina Wong. The film was just remarkably entertaining, giving me the perfect fix of Hong Kong action that I require.

The Prodigal Son is something of a Hong Kong masterpiece. Directed by the legendary Sammo Hung and starring two of cinema's most iconic martial arts masters, Ching-Ying Lam and Biao Yuen, the film just exudes class and charm. The story is a rather simple one as it follows a young supposed martial arts expert by the name of Leung Chang, played by Yuen, as he comes to find that his perfect fight record has been staged by his overprotective father. Fearing for his sons safety, Leung Chang's father has paid off every combatant who has ever challenged his son, resulting in his legendary but false fighting prowess. Having one day been defeated by an opera performer, played by Ching-Ying, who refused to accept the father's bribe, Leung Chang does everything in his power to have his better as his master.

There are many comedic aspects to this film and seeing that it is a Sammo Hung production, that comes as no surprise. The fighting styles on display are of the highest quality and the personalities of the large array of characters are quite well played. Sammo even gets into the action, playing Ching-Ying's fat brother and constant adversary. The training sequences are also very memorable, making for a highly charged final fight between Yuen's Leung Chang and the opportunistic and egomaniac Ngai Fei, played by the always consistent Frankie Chan. The film is just a master work and if you're a fan of Hong Kong Cinema and martial arts in general, then you owe it to yourself to see this film. Great work Sammo and company.

OSS 117: Panic in Bangkok is an exceptional French Eurospy film that rounds out my viewings of the amazing Agent OSS 117 series of movies. If you're a fan of the earlier James Bond films, then you have to see these movies. In this entry, Hubert Bonisseur de La Bath, AKA Agent OSS 117, must stop a diabolical scientists who has created a virus capable of decimating the world's population. Kerwin Mathews takes on the role of the unbeatable secret agent and he does a remarkable job in making it look as fun as all hell. Mathews brought his A game in this film, putting on the charm and charisma that catapulted him into another starring role in the sequel, OSS 117 se dechaine.

His portrayal, much like the other remarkable actors that have taken on the role, is cool and collective, always resulting in Hubert coming out on top no matter what forces are up against him. It really is just a blast watching this larger then life secret agent thwart the bad guys and win the day, not excluding the lush and lavish locales that 1964's Thailand provides. If you're looking for a film that has a fun factor of ten, then you really don't need to look any further then an OSS 117 film and Panic in Bangkok is right up there with the best of them.

MY FILM: Among the Fallen Premiere

Well it's a mere 6 days away from the premiere of my first film, Among the Fallen, and I'm nervous as all hell. The movie will be playing at the Cinema Wasteland Show in Strongsville, Ohio on October 1st and I'm really hoping that people get the flick or that they are at least entertained by it.

Our small tight knit crew of friends and acquaintances put a lot of effort into the film, working long cold and bloody nights, all for the payment of a few McDonald's cheeseburgers. The fact that they stayed with the production over the years and never gave up on the final film, or me, really speaks wonders for their determination and trust to the story that I was crafting. I couldn't have asked for a more dedicated and selfless crew. Hopefully horror fans outside of our little circle can appreciate the demented little tale that we have created and be swept away within this intimate and surreal zombie film.

I've just finished the flyers for the Cinema Wasteland show and the upcoming Eerie Horror Film Festival event, so check them out below. If you're in the area of either event or already have tickets, stop on in and check the flick out. I can't wait to unleash this film onto the public and see what they think, yet my nerves are still shaky at the prospect of putting such a personal film out there for all to see. What the hell... you only live once.

ZOMBIESCAPES: Zombi 3

Zombi 3

Director: Lucio Fulci, Bruno Mattei

Year 1988