Some directors have one movie that they can’t seem to break free of. When he was planning to do a music video for “Thriller,” Michael Jackson seeked out John Landis following the success of An American Werewolf in London. Jackson hadn’t seen The Blues Brothers, National Lampoon’s Animal House or Kentucky Fried Movie, his previousContinue reading “‘Innocent Blood’ French Vampire Hunting Mafia Goons? Fuggetaboutit!”
Category Archives: Movie Flashback
‘Blazing Saddles’ Would Still Work Today If Done The Right Way
Those who always want to blame “wokeness” and “cancel culture” for not being able to tell racist, sexist, bigoted, homophobic or just tasteless jokes don’t realize that the people around them probably weren’t laughing much to begin with. It’s easy to feign a laugh in a crowded room when you don’t want to be theContinue reading “‘Blazing Saddles’ Would Still Work Today If Done The Right Way”
How ‘The Silence Of The Lambs’ Saved Horror And Shook Up The Oscars
By the time The Silence of the Lambs hit theaters in mid-February of 1991, horror movies had pretty much been reduced to the bottom of the barrel. Thanks to the, for lack of a better word, overkill of slasher movies in the 1980s, it seemed most horror movies were just pure schlock. They would featureContinue reading “How ‘The Silence Of The Lambs’ Saved Horror And Shook Up The Oscars”
How ‘Amadeus’ Turned A Risky Gamble Into An Oscar-Winning Blockbuster
By 1984, pop culture had exploded in ways that had never been seen before. John Hughes had made Sixteen Candles, a very dated but breakthrough comedy that would represent a generation. MTV was three years old and as popular as ever. Saturday morning cartoons were competing for young minds. And Madison Avenue was selling everythingContinue reading “How ‘Amadeus’ Turned A Risky Gamble Into An Oscar-Winning Blockbuster”
‘Caligula’ A Pornographic Biopic Of Epic Awfulness, Filth And Horror
Caligula is a horror movie. It’s a lot of things, but good is not one of them. It’s pornography and by that I mean, it’s the textbook definition. I’m not talking about all the scenes of nudity or unsimulated sexual scenes are meant to be arousing. It’s the definition of pornography as having no artisticContinue reading “‘Caligula’ A Pornographic Biopic Of Epic Awfulness, Filth And Horror”
‘History Of The World Part 1’ Has Divided Fans Of Mel Brooks For Decades
In just under four years in the mid 1970s, Mel Brooks directed four comedies that received great reviews and performed well at the box office. Even though Silent Movie and High Anxiety didn’t earn as much at the box office as Blazing Saddles or Young Frankenstein, they were still modest success. So, the big questionContinue reading “‘History Of The World Part 1’ Has Divided Fans Of Mel Brooks For Decades”
‘My Bloody Valentine’ Original Is For Those Who Have A Love For Slashers
The original 1981 My Bloody Valentine is a slasher that is so notorious for pushing the envelope, rumors have persisted for decades that some original footage that had to cut is lost forever. To capitalize on the slasher craze as movies like Halloween and Friday the 13th had become popular, Canadian movie producers scooped upContinue reading “‘My Bloody Valentine’ Original Is For Those Who Have A Love For Slashers”
‘Bloody’ Good Remake Of Valentine Horror/Slasher Classic
They say the best way to criticize a movie is to make a better movie. No one was calling for a remake of the 1981 horror/slasher classic My Bloody Valentine. But as the old saying goes, “What’s old is new again.” The 3-D format had become popular again around the end of the 2000s andContinue reading “‘Bloody’ Good Remake Of Valentine Horror/Slasher Classic”
‘Transylvania 6-5000’ May Not Be The Best To Phone Home About
Every now and again, a movie is made for a perculiar reason. Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory was made by the Quaker Oats Company because they had obtained the rights to the use of Willy Wonka for a candybar line. As it turned out, the candybars melted too quickly and the line flopped. ButContinue reading “‘Transylvania 6-5000’ May Not Be The Best To Phone Home About”
‘Movie 43’ Deserves A Second Look
When Movie 43 hit theaters this week 10 years ago, none of the cast promoted it. It wasn’t reviewed ahead of time for critics. Yet the posted boosted the “biggest cast ever assembled.” Granted, it had a lot going for it. Two Oscar Winners (Halley Berry and Kate Winslet) and action heroes like Gerard ButlerContinue reading “‘Movie 43’ Deserves A Second Look”
Zane Says 