Tuesday, November 17, 2015

Back To Bond: Talking SPECTRE & Never Say Never Again



These are late and I haven't posted in who knows when.  I figured people might be interested in my thoughts on the new 007 film SPECTRE.  I guested on Out Now with Aaron & Abe to share those thoughts.  During the same week, my podcast, Cult Cinema Cavalcade (you'd better be listening!) took on Never Say Never Again.  Both podcasts are super fun, so give them a listen.  And I know the question you're currently asking...James Bond Will Return, but what about Naptown Nerd?  And to that, I never say never...this blog is just currently on her majesty's secret service as of late, so it will have to die another day.

Thursday, October 15, 2015

Ranking The Gates Of Hell Trilogy



The Gates of Hell trilogy is an interesting little nugget.  This truly is one in theme and feel as the movies, while not directly connected, feel related to one another.  Some of that is in the thematics, but I'm sure a lot has to do with Lucio Fulci as well.  its interesting as these just started basically with Fulci wanting to continue exploring an idea with a film he just finished.  I do wonder if this was always meant to stop at three movies, or did he just never get the opportunity to return to this well.  He did return to do Zombi 3/Zombie Flesh Eaters 2, even if he wound up not finishing the film.  I do like the Gates of Hell Trilogy and it comes in the middle of the heart of Fulci's best work.  Aside from this Trilogy, his quality straight horror and non-giallo work would probably only latch Zombi 2/Zombie/Zombie Flesh Eaters, New York Ripper and Cat in the Brain to the list.  Yeah, Zombi 3/Zombie Flesh Eaters 2 is a hoot, but I'm not going to call it anything great.

Tuesday, October 13, 2015

Gates Of Hell: The House By The Cemetery (1981)



The House By The Cemetery
1981
Director: Lucio Fulci
Starring: Catriona MacColl, Paolo Maclo, Ania Pieroni, Silvia Collatina, Dagmar Lassander, Giovanni De Nava
Rating: Unrated

Mae, time to go home and remember your manners. Now that Bob is staying with us, be sure to treat him like a Freudstein. For other guests are surely destined to drop in.
                   ~Mary Freudstein

Wednesday, October 7, 2015

Gates Of Hell: The Beyond (1981)



The Beyond
1981
Director: Lucio Fulci
Starring: Catriona MacColl, David Warbeck, Cinzea Monreale, Giovanni De Nava
Rating:  X

Woe be unto him who opens one of the seven gateways to Hell, because through that gateway, evil will invade the world.
               ~Emily

Friday, October 2, 2015

Gates Of Hell: City of the Living Dead (1980)



City of the Living Dead*
1980
Director: Lucio Fulci
Starring: Catriona MacColl, Christopher George, Carlo de Mejo, Janet Agren, Antonella Interlenghi
Rating: Unrated


It's her... Mrs. Holden. This morning she was inside a coffin at the funeral home, and now she's here in my kitchen!

                   ~Mary Woodhouse

Monday, September 28, 2015

Rankenstein: Ranking The Universal Frankenstein Films



Ah, the end of a big retrospective.  This wound up being bigger than anticipated, eh?  I had a lot of fun with this one.  Its one of my favorite horror franchises and movie monsters of all time.  Its always great to see the chances, jumps, tropes and many other things that were originating with this very series.  And its incredible the legacy that these films have left that is still going strong.  Go out looking at Halloween decorations (hell yes, tis the season) and you'll see its the image of Karloff from Whale's film that is THE definitive one.  

Now comes the time to put an order to all these films, which is not too tough of a task until we get to the very top.  Thanks for keeping up with this one and I hope you enjoyed all the "extra" little pieces and films that got thrown in with it.  I also hope you'll come along and enjoy the direction I'm going next.  Thanks again!

Back To Bond: The Living Daylights COMMENTARY



It was very much around 3 years ago that I did my first podcast commentary guest spot on Out Now With Aaron & Abe to discuss From Russia With Love and then subsequently 3 more Bond films.  Apparently I did decent enough as I've been honored to have found myself as a mainstay on the Out Now bonus commentary episodes ever since (And will continue to do so every time they ask me).  We covered 4 Bonds during that time (Connery, Moore, Brosnan, Craig), so now we move on to Timothy Dalton with The Living Daylights.  As most of you know this is one of my favorite all time Bond films (Both of Dalton's are).  Scott Mendelson returns and joining is one of the coolest MI6 agents around, Randy Shaffer.

Thursday, September 24, 2015

Frankenweenie (1984, 2012) - BONUS



Frankenweenie
1984, 2012
Director: Tim Burton
Starring:  Shelley Duvall (1984), Daniel Stern (1984), Barrett Oliver (1984), Joseph Maher (1984), Sofia Coppola (1984), Winona Ryder (2012), Catherine O'Hara (2012), Martin Short (2012), Martin Landau (2012), Tom Kenny (2012)

People are weird.
      ~Victor Frankenstein

Tuesday, September 22, 2015

Mary Shelley's Frankenstein (1994) - BONUS



Mary Shelley's Frankenstein
1994
Director: Kenneth Branagh
Starring: Kenneth Branagh, Robert De Niro, Helena Bonham Carter, Ian Holm, Aidan Quinn, John Cleese
Rating: R

And what of my soul? Do I have one? Or was that a part you left out?
               ~The Creature

Monday, September 21, 2015

Frankenhooker (1990) - Because I Want To



Frankenhooker
1990
Director: Frank Henenlotter
Starring:  James Lorinz, Patty Mullen, Joseph Gonzalez, Louise Lasser, Jennifer Delora
Rated: R

Wanna date?

    ~Elizabeth (Frankenhooker)

Friday, September 18, 2015

Young Frankenstein (1974) - BONUS



Young Frankenstein
1974
Director: Mel Brooks
Starring: Gene Wilder, Teri Garr, Peter Boyle, Madeline Kahn, Marty Feldman, Cloris Leachman, Gene Hackman
Rated:  PG


Hallo. Vould you like to have a roll in ze hay?

          ~Inga

Thursday, September 17, 2015

Abbott & Costello Meet Frankenstein (1948)



Abbott & Costello Meet Frankenstein
1948
Director:  Charles T Barton, 
Starring:  Bud Abbott, Lou Costello, Lon Chaney Jr, Bela Lugosi, Lenore Aubert, Jane Randolph, Glenn Strange
Rating:  "Passed"


You're awful silly to call me all the way from London just to have your dog talk to me.

                       ~Wilbur Grey

Wednesday, September 16, 2015

House Of Dracula (1945)


House of Dracula
1945
Director: Erle C Kenton
Starring: Lon Chaney Jr, Onslow Stevens, John Carradine, Marta O'Dricscoll, Lionel Atwill, Glenn Strange, Jane Adams
Rating: "Approved"


Now, Mr. Talbot... You broke your promise to me, didn't you? Told the police. I don't like people who break their promises, Mr. Talbot.

                      ~Dr. Edelman

Tuesday, September 15, 2015

House Of Frankenstein (1944)



House of Frankenstein
1944
Director:  Erle C Kenton
Starring:  Boris Karloff, Lon Chaney Jr, John Carradine, J Carrol Naish, Anne Gwynne, Elena Verdugo, Lionel Atwill
Rating:  "Approved"


Talbot's body is the perfect place for the monster's brain that I will add to and subtract from in my experiments.

                       ~Dr. Gustav Niemann

Monday, September 14, 2015

Frankenstein Meets The Wolf Man (1943)



Frankenstein Meets The Wolf Man
1943
Director:  Roy William Neill
Starring:  Lon Chaney Jr., Ilona Massey, Lionel Atwill, Maria Ouspenskaya, Bela Lugosi
Rating: "Approved"


I only want to die. That's why I'm here. If I ever find peace I'll find it here.

                              ~Lawrence Talbot

Friday, September 11, 2015

The Ghost Of Frankenstein (1942)



The Ghost of Frankenstein
1942
Director:  Erle C Kenton
Starring:  Bela Lugosi, Lon Chaney Jr, Cedric Hardwicke, Evelyn Ankers, Lionel Atwill, Ralph Bellamy
Rating: "Approved"


The lightning. It is good for you! Your father was Frankenstein, but your mother was the lightning!

                                     ~Ygor

Wednesday, September 9, 2015

Son Of Frankenstein (1939)


Son of Frankenstein
1939
Director:  Rowland V Lee
Starring: Basil Rathbone, Bela Lugosi, Boris Karloff, Lionel Atwill, Josephine Hutchinson
Rating: "Approved"

One doesn't easily forget, Herr Baron, an arm torn out by the roots.
                             ~Inspector Krogh

Tuesday, September 8, 2015

Bride Of Frankenstein (1935)



Bride of Frankenstein
1935
Director: James Whale
Starring: Boris Karloff, Colin Clive, Valerie Hobson, Ernest Thesiger, Elsa Lanchester
Unrated

She hate me.
     ~The Monster

Tuesday, September 1, 2015

Universal Frankenstein Retrospective - Frankenstein (1931)




Frankenstein
1931
Director: James Whale
Starring: Colin Clive, Boris Karloff, Mae Clarke, Edward Van Sloan
Unrated


Oh, in the name of God! Now I know what it feels like to be God!

                ~Henry Frankenstein

Tuesday, August 18, 2015

Introducing CULT CINEMA CAVALCADE!



Hey readers!  Something fantastic has just happened, though its been in development for over a year, I started a podcast.  Myself and Cullen, who you may know from A Touch Of Crass or the terrific Freddy's Nightmares article he wrote for me last year, launched Cult Cinema Cavalcade yesterday!   Its being hosted on the Dead Radio Entertainment network (where you can find additional podcasting entertainment) We're very excited to be finally on the internet airwaves sharing our discussions of the crazy movies we've been watching together for over two decades now.

Click below or head on over to cultcinemacavalcade.com and check out the first episode where we discuss the 1988 stop motion with pixelation classic, The Wizard of Speed and Time.  The podcast is bi-weekly and drops every monday, so our next episode will be in 2 weeks.  That gives you plenty of time to check out the film we'll be discussing on it.  On the podcast, we not only tell you what the film will be, but also the cheapest and most legal ways you can go about seeing it.  As always, your comments, feedback, reviews, etc is appreciated!  

Thursday, August 6, 2015

Impossible Rankings - Ranking the Mission: Impossible Film Series



Its something that seems to slip my mind until the next comes out and was really cemented with Ghost Protocol, but I really think this is one of my all time favorite film franchises.  Minus one entry, every film here is terrific high end entertainment.  Why it slips my mind is that we've only had 5 films in 19 years from it and its never been rebooted.  Plus, each film is so different from one another that its almost like its not a series.  I was a bit of a fan of the reruns, but wouldn't go as far to call myself a "hardcore" Mission: Impossible TV fan.

One that was weird for a film series I'm a big fan of, the rankings for this was one of the easiest tasks I've done.  My picks came right to me and are pretty much definite.  This franchise is full of stunts, suspense, Tom Cruise and tons of fun.  Here is my ranking of the series, from end of fuse all the way to the stick of dynamite.

Wednesday, August 5, 2015

Mission: Impossible - Rogue Nation (2015)


Mission: Impossible - Rogue Nation
2015
Director: Christopher McQuarrie
Starring: Tom Cruise, Rebecca Ferguson, Simon Pegg, Jeremy Renner, Ving Rhames, Sean Harris, Alec Baldwin
Rated; PG-13

You have your seatbelt on?
              ~Ethan Hunt

Tuesday, August 4, 2015

Mission: Impossible - Ghost Protocol (2011)


Mission: Impossible - Ghost Protocol
2011
Director: Brad Bird
Starring: Tom Cruise, Jeremy Renner, Simon Pegg, Paula Patton, Michael Nyqvist, Lea Seydoux, Josh Holloway, Ving Rhames
Rated: PG-13

MISSION ACCOMPLISHED!
        ~Ethan Hunt

Thursday, July 30, 2015

Mission: Impossible III (2006)


Mission: Impossible III aka M:i:III
2006
Director: JJ Abrams
Starring: Tom Cruise, Phillip Seymour Hoffman, Ving Rhames, Michelle Monaghan, Simon Pegg, Maggie Q, Billy Crudup, Keri Russell, Laurence Fishburne, 
Rated: PG-13


That look in your eyes is pain in my ass, you know that, right?
                 ~Luther Stickell

Wednesday, July 29, 2015

Mission: Impossible II (2000) - with Commentary!


Mission: Impossible II aka M:I-2
2000
Director: John Woo
Starring:  Tom Cruise, Thandie Newton, Ving Rhames, Dougray Scott, Anthony Hopkins
Rated; PG-13


You know, that was the hardest part about having to portray you, grinning like an idiot every fifteen minutes.

                                  ~Sean Ambrose

Tuesday, July 28, 2015

Mission: Impossible (1996)


Mission: Impossible
1996
Director: Brian De Palma
Starring: Tom Cruise, Jon Voight, Emmanuelle Beart, Jean Reno, Ving Rhames, Kristin Scott Thomas, Emilio Estevez, Henry Czerny, Vanessa Redgrave
Rated; PG-13

RED LIGHT! GREEN LIGHT!
~Ethan Hunt

Wednesday, July 8, 2015

I'll Be Back - Talking TERMINATOR: GENISYS as Well As Commentaries On Out Now With Aaron & Abe



Hey everyone!  How have you been?  Is your summer going good?  I know I've been away, but I've had quite an eventful and very busy few months and Naptown Nerd had to be placed on the back burner for a bit.  I would've like to have done some retrospectives for all these franchise films coming out this summer (Poltergeist, Insidious, Jurassic Park) but when the time is needed by either work or family, those come first no question.

Wednesday, May 13, 2015

Mad Max Retrospective: Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome (1985)



Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome
1985
Director: George Miller, George Ogilvie
Starring: Mel Gibson, Tina Turner, Bruce Spence
Rated; PG-13

Who run Bartertown?

Two men enter, one man leaves

Yes, those are quotes to live by!

Monday, May 11, 2015

Mad Max Retrospective: The Road Warrior aka Mad Max 2 (1981)



Mad Max 2 aka The Road Warrior
1981
Director; George Miller
Starring: Mel Gibson, Bruce Spence, Vernon Wells, Virginia Hey
Rated: R

They've got you wrong.  You're not a coward.  Stupid, maybe.  But not a coward.
                  ~Gyro Captain

Saturday, April 25, 2015

Mad Max Retrospective: Mad Max (1979)



Mad Max
1979
Director: George Miller
Starring: Mel Gibson, Joanne Samuel, Hugh Keays-Byrne, Steve Bisley, Roger Ward
Rated: R

They say people don't believe in heroes anymore. Well, damn them! You and me, Max, we're gonna give 'em back their heroes!
            ~Fifi

Wednesday, April 8, 2015

PODCAST: I Talk FURIOUS 7 On Out Now With Aaron & Abe!



I didn't have time to follow up my Fast & Furious Retrospective with a piece on Furious 7, but this should more than do.  Once again, I was honored to be back on Out Now With Aaron & Abe for a regular episode talking about this past weekend's box office smash, Furious 7.  Also guesting is /Film's Angie Han.

If you missed it, I also did a commentary with Out Now for 2 Fast 2 Furious featuring Maxwell Haddad.  Find that clicking HERE.

Take some time today and give it a listen.  We also talk some trailers and a few other topics.


Monday, April 6, 2015

Leprechaun In Tha Rankings


Well, we got through Leprechaun and we survived.  Its an iconic franchise mainly because it was one that had no shame.  Warwick Davis in the role was indeed something special, but its the desire to get silly for mainly the shock of just the idea of the film when someone is perusing the video store and seeing the boxes.  "They did what with the Leprechaun".  There are children's movies scarier than this series.  But where it relishes is in the joy of watching Warwick Davis and watching the films be just as dumb as you'd think and pull of some good humor from time to time.

Where do we go from here with the franchise?  Honestly, I hope we've really seen the last of the Leprechaun.  Unless its some kind of classic horror team up that brings back Warwick Davis and mixes him with the likes of Chucky or other monsters.  Aside from that, I think they've gone as far as they can with him.  And this new one, the quicker its forgotten the better.  Nobody wants to see any more of that.  

Tuesday, March 31, 2015

Leprechaun Retrospective: Leprechaun - Origins (2014)



Leprechaun: Origins
2014
Director: Zach Lipovsky
Starring: Dylan "Hornswoggle" Postl, Stephanie Bennett, Andrew Dunbar, Melissa Roxburgh, Brendan Fletcher
Rated: R

What exactly in the f*** was that?
     ~Brandon Peters

Saturday, March 28, 2015

Leprechaun Retrospective: Leprechaun Back 2 Tha Hood (2003)



Leprechaun Back 2 Tha Hood
2003
Director: Steven Ayromlooi
Starring: Warwick Davis, Tangi Miller, Laz Alonso, Page Kennedy, Sticky Fingaz
Rated: R

What's up, ninjas?
    ~Leprechaun

Thursday, March 26, 2015

Leprechaun Retrospective: Leprechaun In The Hood (2000)



Leprechaun In The Hood
2000
Director: Rob Spera
Starring: Warwick Davis, Ice-T, Anthony Montgomery, Rashaan Nall, Dan Martin
Rated:  R

A friend with weed is a friend indeed, but a friend with gold is the best I'm told.
         ~Leprechaun

Thursday, March 19, 2015

Leprechaun Retrospective: Leprechaun 4 - In Space (1997)


Leprechaun 4: In Space
1997
Director: Brian Trenchard-Smith
Starring: Warwick Davis, Jessica Collins, Brent Jasmer, Rebecca Carlton, Miguel A Nunez Jr, Debbe Dunning
Rated: R

The King is dead.  Long live the Queen.
    ~Princess Zarina

Tuesday, March 17, 2015

Leprechaun Retrospective: Leprechaun 3 (1995)



Leprechaun 3
1995
Director: Brian Trenchard-Smith
Starring:  Warwick Davis, John Gatins, Lee Armstrong, Caroline Williams, John DeMita
Rated: R

Casear's...Palace...
     ~Fazio

Thursday, March 12, 2015

Leprechaun Retrospective: Leprechaun 2 (1994)


Leprechaun 2
1994
Director: Rodman Flender
Starring:  Warwick Davis, Charlie Heath, Shevonne Durkin, Sandy Baron, Clint Howard, Kimmy Robertson
Rated:  R

I think the second movie could be the worst, only because it is highly forgettable. I can recall parts from all the other parts of this series, but I cannot remember a single thing from Leprechaun 2.

Monday, March 9, 2015

Leprechaun Retrospective: Leprechaun (1993)


Leprechaun
1993
Director: Mark Jones
Starring:  Warwick Davis, Jennifer Aniston, Ken Olandt, Mark Holton, Robert Hy Gorman, John Sanderford
Rated: R

Fuck you, Lucky Charms!
          ~Alex

Friday, February 27, 2015

Talkin' Bout Terminator! (Commentary Podcast)



The Out Now With Aaron & Abe commentary track for James Cameron's 1984 masterpiece, The Terminator is up and running!  I guest as well as Forbes' Scott Mendelson (I think you may have heard of him).  Give it a listen!  We'll also be doing Terminator 3 in a few months as well.

Support Both SPARKSHOOTER & SOLO ACOUSTIC On Patreon!



My friend Troy Brownfield is one of the hardest working writers in comics these days!  He's currently taken his comic Sparkshooter and its sister comic Solo Acoustic to Patreon for help and support from readers like YOU.  If you've never read them, now is the time to check them out.  Those who live or have lived in the Indianapolis area will possibly get an extra kick out of them due to local business and events being referenced.

You can get more information and a taste for what they're like by LIKING their respective Facebook pages.  Click to jump to either

Friday, February 13, 2015

Quickie Retrospective: Mannequin Two: On The Move (1991)



Mannequin Two: On The Move
1991
Director: Stewart Raffill
Starring:  Kristy Swanson, William Ragsdale, Meshach Taylor, Terry Kiser
Rated:  PG

Once again, left holding the bag
          ~Hollywood Montrose

Monday, February 9, 2015

Quickie Retrospective: Mannequin (1987)


Mannequin
1987
Director:  Michael Gottlieb
Starring:  Andrew McCarthy, Kim Cattrall, Estelle Getty, James Spader, Meshach Taylor, GW Bailey, Carole Davis.
Rated: PG-13

Two things I love to do is fight and kiss boys!
                ~Hollywood Montrose

Saturday, January 31, 2015

The Favorite Films Before My Lifetime: 1951




Here we are, the final year of this series.  Thanks to everyone who followed along the whole damn way.  I appreciate it.  Apology to Gary Swafford, as I am not continuing on past 1951 at this time.  Maybe in the future we'll crawl and scrape all the way to 20s or something.  Well, here we go, one last time for now.

Friday, January 30, 2015

SINGIN' IN THE RAIN (aka The Favorite Films Before My Lifetime: 1952)



This weird thing happened when I got to 1952.  I hadn't seen a lot of movies from this year or of the couple I had seen, I didn't really remember or know much to talk about them.  Don't worry, I had plenty to pick from for tomorrow's finale 1951.  However, the one film that was there and one of the easiest and best picks of the entire series was that of the cinematic perfection that is SINGIN' IN THE RAIN.  Why not just give the film its own full day?

Thursday, January 29, 2015

The Favorite Films Before My Lifetime: 1953



Hey everyone!  1953 is here.  Once again, I'm short on time, but wanted to go ahead and throw my picks out there.  I will mention that while there's a Stanley Kubrick film on the list, I'm not too big on it, but I find it a fascinating look at his early work and skill.  And also, for the second time, both an original and remake have made the list.

Wednesday, January 28, 2015

The Favorite Films Before My Lifetime: 1954



1954 turned out to be a pretty strong year for me.  Featuring a nice range of prestige, camp and fun.  This list is one of those years I'd take all picks with me to somewhere forever to watch.  

Tuesday, January 27, 2015

The Favorite Films Before My Lifetime: 1955



This is the year lightning struck the clock tower.  The "Enchantment Under The Sea" dance went over incredibly well and Calvin Klein inspired Marvin Barry.  People may not have enjoyed all of this back then, but their kids would go on to love it.

Monday, January 26, 2015

The Favorite Films Before My Lifetime: 1956



1956 was a year that I found to have some films (at least in my picks) that inspired a lot of filmmakers in the 70s and beyond.  Whether it be remakes, ideas, plots, or details, something of this group wound up coming back around.  Pretty neat.

Sunday, January 25, 2015

The Favorite Films Before My Lifetime: 1957



Welcome to 1957, another entry with some great great movies, but a bit more brief captioning on them.  Its just how it is, some days I get the time to give them some meat, some days I'm not.  The important thing to me is that I get them up and the choices are made.  Thanks to those of you who have been looking forward to these and keeping up with them.  Its a lot of fun!