Deranged (1973)

This film is based on Ed Gein, the serial killer that inspired the Texas Chain Saw Massacre, Psycho and Hannibal Lector. The Names of the characters have been changed but the story itself is based on actual events. It is the story of Ezra Cobb who has been caring for his mother for years and after she dies he is so lonely that he digs up her body and brings her home to her room. From here he continues to descend into madness as he begins exhuming bodies to use parts to repair his mother and eventually begins killing and cannibalizing the living! This is an old school horror film with all of the effects you would come to expect from a 70’s screamer film. I really enjoyed this movie and give it 3 of 5.

Journey to the Center of the Earth (1959)

This picture is based on the Jules Verne classic novel. This 2-hour plus epic is a little slow at times but still manages to be quite satisfying. The story is simple enough with Professor Oliver Lindenbrook (James Mason) leading a group on a Journey through a passage in a volcano in Iceland down into the center of the earth. Along the way they encounter falling rocks, salt caverns, crystals, huge lizards and a forest of giant mushrooms. A headstrong Mrs. Carla Goetaborg (Arlene Dahl) joins the explorers on this expedition and her purpose, apart from adding some sex appeal is to quibble with Professor Lindenbrook for hid constant chauvinistic remarks. Good but not great this one gets 3 of 5.

Captain Kronos: Vampire Hunter (1974)

This gem is a vampire hunter film made by Hammer Films that has many exciting plot twists. Captain Kronos (Horst Janson) is a former military captain who was forced to kill his wife and child after they had become vampires. Professor Grost (John Cater) is a vampire expert who joins the good captain in his battle against the undead. Their journey brings them to a small village where the young women are being turned into old women as a vampire is robbing them of their youth. While this movie is hardly terrifying by today's standards it is well directed, the cinematography is beautiful and the storyline is compelling . Captain Kronos is a swashbuckling swordsman and there are a number of entertaining swordfights throughout. There are also many memorable characters like the village ruffian in the bar and the wealthy Durwood family. This movie would have been perfect for sequels but unfortunately it was not to be. Captain Kronos: Vampire Hunter gets 4 of 5.

Hero Squared X-tra Sized Special #1

Issue number one is very promising for this series! Written by Keith Giffen and J.M. DeMatteis, the same folks that gave us Justice League back in the Eighties, this is 32 no-advertisement pages of hysterical banter and interdimensional goodness. The plot revolves around an underachieving film director who gets paid a visit by his alternate universe self who turns out to be a bonafide superhero with superpowers named Captain Valor. The villian of the book tries to kill Captain Valor but unknowingly transports him to an alternate Earth where he seeks out his alternate self. The majority of the issue features these two characters bickering back and forth about the situation. Fans of the old Justice League will recognize Blue Beetle, Booster Gold, L-Ron and even Manga Khan’s personalities shining through in the characters of this book. While impeccably written, I found the artwork by Joe Abraham to be slightly subpar and the printing seemed to make the book look a little cheap. Despite these drawbacks I still give Hero Squared a 4 of 5 for its monumental entertainment value.

Constantine (2005)

Constantine is a film based upon the Vertigo/DC comic book Hellblazer. This is the story of the supernaturally gifted John Constantine (Keanu Reeves) who is helping Angela Dodson (Rachel Weisz) solve her sisters suicide. This is a journey through the world of angels and demons who attempt to influence people as the war between heaven and hell rages. Constantine has committed a mortal sin and his soul is destined for hell. He spends his life trying to earn his way into heaven by battling Lucifer and his demons. The special effects in this move are fantastic and it does manage to include a few of the best storylines from the comic book series. The movie presents a complex and epic story of good and evil while telling the two main characters stories parallel to the larger one. If the movie is guilty of anything it is being over ambitious and too complicated. While I enjoyed this picture, I still prefer the comic to what is presented here. Hoping they get it right in the sequel this one maintains the balance with 3 of 5.

Fantastic Voyage (1960)

This Sci-fi classic takes a surgical team on a journey through the human body in an effort to repair a blood clot in the brain of a scientist who holds information that is vital to national security. This team is miniaturized in a submarine and injected into the bloodstream to travel to the blood clot and undo the damage. Grant (Stephen Boyd) is a CIA agent responsible for watching Dr. Duval (Arthur Kennedy) during the mission who is suspected of being a saboteur; but he alone has the know-how to complete the operation. Nothing goes smoothly and there a several plot twists that keep this one interesting. I have no doubt the special effects were state of the art in their day, however, many scenes were drawn out for long periods of time so that we could enjoy the marvelous colorful blobs floating all over the screen. The good plot and acting more than make up for the age of the special effect. Fantastic Voyage comes into port with 3 of 5.

The People That Time Forgot (1977)

Here is another picture directed by Kevin Conner that is based on an Edgar Rice Burroughs novel. And look who guest stars… Doug McClure! I am beginning to think Doug was the Bruce Campbell of Seventies B-adventure movies. But I digress. The sequel to the Land That Time Forgot, this movie has an expedition to the Antarctic island of Caprona led by Major Ben McBride (Patrick Wayne) in search of Bowen Tyler (Doug McClure) who was lost there years prior by a previous expedition. This picture boasts arial battles with rubber pteradactyls, prehistoric cultures and an evil race that makes human sacrifices to the living volcano that controls the island. Davis Prouse of Darth Vader fame had just finished filming Star Wars before he made his brief appearance in this film as the masked executioner. The climax of this movie features more explosions than I recall seeing in any other picture and musters itself a 3 of 5.

At The Earths Core (1976)

This film is based on the novel by Edgar Rice Burroughs and is a dandy. Kevin Conner directed this underworld adventure that takes Dr. Abner Perry (Peter Cushing) and the dashing David Innes (Doug McClure) on a scientific journey from Victorian England into the Earth’s core. This was approximately 90 minutes of nonstop cheesy action that I was eating by the shovel load! Doug McClure fights rubber birdmen who rule an evil subhuman civilization that is enslaving members of two underworld tribes who are themselves at odds with one another. Peter Cushing gives a fine performance as the Doctor whose intellect (and comic relief) is nice compliment to McClure’s brawn. At the Earth’s Core has a giant digging machine, rubber creatures, warring civilizations, explosions aplenty and gets 4 of 5 from this fella with questionable taste in motion pictures.

Here Chris goes again!

I have known this guy for about 25 years and if I have to listen to him blather on and on, you should too. Visit his new blog and hear what he is complaining about now!

Lex Luthor: Man of Steel #1

This is one of the best Superman books I have read in a long time and this 5 issue mini-series has the potential to be one of the best stories yet. It is written by Brian Azzarello who is certainly among my favorite writers and reveals Luthor to be an incredibly deep character. This book hints at his motive for hating Superman and at the same time helps us to see how he feels about humanity in general. Humanity versus "the Alien" seems to be the focus of this book and how Superman makes humanity less rather than more. An interesting concept where Luthor is the hero and Superman is the villain, from Lex's perspective. Lee Bermejo's art has never looked better, and the colors really bring this book alive. This one left me dying for more, run out and buy this now kiddies! No brainer, this ones a 5 of 5.

Star Wars Knights of the Old Republic II: The Sith Lords

Holy crap are my fingers tired from typing the title to this one! This XBOX game is the sequel to KOTOR and damn is it tasty! I have yet to complete the game but I feel compelled by the force to discuss its many virtues. While the graphics seem to have taken a small step back the new features more than make up for it. There are a bunch of new skills and force powers for your Jedi to use while completing tasks and fighting their way across the galaxy. The story is as in depth as the original and you once again journey to many worlds completing tasks as you make the story unfold. Once again your choices determine weather you will follow the light or dark side. You can also gain or lose the influence of the adventures who accompany you depending on your interactions with them. This game has soaked up tons of my time and I have loved every moment of it. Following the light side of the force,this game commands 5 of 5.

The Great Train Robbery (1979)

This train heist movie is based upon the Michael Crichton book of the same name. Michael Crichton wrote the screenplay and directed this film and the end product is an exciting and accurate interpretation of the novel. While the book is better and more vivid, the film is immensely satisfying and contains all of the key elements from the book. Sean Connery gives a typical solid performance with his usual charm and flair accompanied by Donald Sutherland as his co-conspirator. The costumes are outstanding and you do get a feeling you are in 19th century Victorian England. I was interested form start to finish and would definitely recommend this to those who are looking for something other than a new release caper. This bad boy gets 4 of 5.

Humanoids From The Deep (1980)

This hunk of cheese was released in 1980 and stars Doug McClure. This is just the kind of crap I love. "scary" rubber monsters from the deep attack the down on its luck fishing town of Noyo. The humanoids kill the men and rape the women in hopes of their race taking the next evolutionary step. When people from town (and their dogs) start getting attacked the townsfolk investigate. Luckily there is a visiting "lady scientist" as she is referred to, visiting who can offer all sorts of insight on the creatures that are plaguing the area. It is well paced and finishes with a bang. Definitely a bad movie worth viewing on a Saturday afternoon. This one gets 3 of 5.