Movies DVD Review – 7 Faces of Dr. Lao From Warner Archives (by request) draconicverses, December 6, 2011 Today I’m VERY happy to be reviewing the Warner Archives re-release of the DVD of 7 FACES OF DR. LAO (1964). This one’s a little extra special. It’s not just for the fact that it’s one of my favorite films, or even that it’s the first movie I wrote… Continue Reading
Animation HAPPY BIRTHDAY, BILBO BAGGINS! (In a way…) draconicverses, November 27, 2011 It was Sunday, November 27, 1977 that I first saw something that amazed me. It opened a new world to me, the likes of which I had no idea existed. Tonight marks the 34th anniversary of the first airing of Rankin-Bass’ animated version of THE HOBBIT. Though nowhere near the… Continue Reading
Movies Happy Birthday, SANTA CLAUS! draconicverses, November 26, 2011 Yep, this is THAT SANTA CLAUS (1959) movie, that you’ve probably heard about. If you think SANTA CLAUS CONQUERS THE MARTIANS (1964) was trippy, this is a whole different kind of surreal! Santa is assisted by child labor from around the world and Merlin the Magician to spread joy. His… Continue Reading
Japanese Monster Movies HAPPY BIRTHDAY GAMERA! draconicverses, November 26, 2011 46 Years ago today, among fire and ice, Gamera was born. It was on this day that DAIKAIJU GAMERA was released in Japan. Gamera was made as Daiei Studios’ answer to Godzilla. There have been two versions released in the US, one back in the 1960s called GAMMERA THE INVINCIBLE… Continue Reading
General Happy Birthday, Uncle Forry! draconicverses, November 24, 2011 Today would have been Forrest J. Ackerman’s 95th birthday. We all miss you, O Ackermonster! For those who don’t know, Forry was the man who coined the phrase ‘Sci-Fi” and founded the seminal Monster Movie magazine, FAMOUS MONSTERS OF FILMLAND. He was a science fiction aficionado and had a huge… Continue Reading
Japanese Monster Movies DVD Review – Destroy All Monsters from Media Blasters/Tokyo Shock draconicverses, November 23, 2011 2/26/13: Apparently, some knucklehead linked THIS page to a binsearch.info page as a source to download a copy of DAM. Well guess what, would be pirates – IT AIN’T HERE! IT NEVER WAS! Hell, it even SAYS “Review” in this page’s address! So if you ARE here to download… Continue Reading
Movies Happy 47th Birthday, SANTA CLAUS CONQUERS THE MARTIANS! draconicverses, November 14, 2011 EVERYBODY SING! S-A-N-T-A-C-L-A-U-S, Hooray For Santy CLaus! Happy anniversary to SANTA CLAUS CONQUERS THE MARTIANS (1964). Forty-Seven years ago today, the mayhem was unleashed upon an unsuspecting world. Boasting one of movie history’s most outlandish titles, this perennial holiday cult classic still amazes on so many levels. Plain and simple,… Continue Reading
Movies Answering My First Request draconicverses, November 13, 2011 I’ve found that the blog has been searched, as well as a few messages with requests left, for a review of Warner Archives’ MOD release of THE 7 FACES OF DR. LAO. I’ve already recommended the film in my first Movie of the Day column, with a brief rundown. However,… Continue Reading
Movies Sirki’s Summons – November 13: Let’s Get Technical draconicverses, November 13, 2011 Greetings from beyond the veil. Today we’re more behind the camera as opposed to those in front of it. Maury Gertsman was a senior Cinematographer with Universal. The first major work he put his mark on was JUNGLE CAPTIVE (1945) He also lensed the final two Rathbone Sherlock Holmes films… Continue Reading
Movies Sirki’s Summons – November 10: Father of Kong, Farewell* draconicverses, November 10, 2011 Forty-nine years ago, Prince Sirki called to the man who made King Kong move into movie history – Willis O’Brien. O’Brien was a master of stop-motion animation, who was the first to bring dinosaurs and other large creatures to ‘life’ on-screen. O’Brien first came to prominence with the silent film… Continue Reading