THE PEOPLE THAT TIME FORGOT (1977) Poster Art and Lobby Cards

 

1980's Sword and Sandal Movie Poster Art

 

ATRAGON (1963) Poster Art and Lobby Cards

 

JASON AND THE ARGONAUTS (1963) Poster Art and Lobby Cards

About time to watch this one again!

 

Video - Perseus Against the Monsters (1963)

This film came up recently in a Bloody Pit podcast discussion of the best 1960's peplum films. Currently this is the only streaming version I can find but it may eventually turn back up on Prime or Tubi. Until then, this subtitled print of the Italian language version is a great way to see this film without the old English dub that turned the film into 'Medusa Against The Sons Of Hercules'. While I love the theme song of the Sons of Hercules series of English dubbed sword and sandal movies, I always prefer the widescreen and unedited for TV versions of these movies. Enjoy!

THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK (1980) Poster Art

 

What I Watched In September 2022

I’m a fan of George Miller’s work but was surprised to learn about THREE THOUSAND YEARS OF LONGING (2022). I guess after the adrenaline rush of the last Mad Max film I had forgotten how good a director he can be when the story isn’t being told in high energy action form. This new film has Tilda Swinton as an introverted professor and Idris Elba as the (no joke) djinn she accidentally summons into her life. I find it hard to imagine two such dissimilar concepts filling the same cinematic space in my head but I swear this intimate romance is the best film I’ve seen all year much as FURY ROAD was in 2015.

In a way this movie was made for film nuts or insatiable readers intent on devouring stories in an attempt to understand them and, through them, understand our own emotions, desires and needs. Swinton’s character is smart enough to know that the ‘three wishes’ she is presented with are more likely a curse than a gift, but the newly freed magical creature must discharge his duty or be once again a prisoner. So, we watch the cautious woman and the sympathetic Djinn work to find the best solution to their mutual problem. This plays out as a series of beautifully told tales of past events in the Djinn’s life that illustrate the mistakes and tragedies that had him in his bottle prison for so long.

This is a gloriously emotional film that I encourage everyone to see. It is a romantic fantasy that doesn’t insult your intelligence. It is a fable that contains books of wisdom to impart. It is an exciting, engaging look at the realities of life, aging, acceptance and how letting go of someone you love can make you the happiest person alive. THREE THOUSAND YEARS OF LONGING (2022) presents a vision of life that is glorious and wonderful. It has reaffirmed my love of this world and the very flawed people around me. See it.

The List

THREE THOUSAND YEARS OF LONGING (2022) – 9

THE BLOB (1958) -7 (rewatch on the big screen!)

MANIAC (1963) – 7 (twisty Hammer thriller)

BENEATH THE PLANET OF THE APES (1970) – 8 (rewatch on Blu)

HOTEL FEAR (1978) – 7 (fascinating Italian drama)

WE’RE ALL GOING TO THE WORLD’S FAIR (2022) – 7

HUNCHBACK OF THE MORGUE (1973) – 7 (rewatch on Blu)

HALLOWEEN KILLS (2021) – 7 (rewatch on Blu) (extended version)

THE HOUSE ON THE BAYOU (2021) – 6 (interesting horror thriller)

SANTO VS THE RIDERS OF TERROR (1970) – 5 (rewatch) (aggressively odd Santo tale set in the 19^th century)

BILLION DOLLAR BRAIN (1967) – 8 (Harry Palmer dealing with mad Americans)

DOWN THREE DARK STREETS (1954) – 6 (Noir FBI tale)

CHICAGO CONFDENTIAL (1957) – 6 (DA Brian Keith convicts the wrong man)

FIVE STEPS TO DANGER (1957) – 6 (Interesting crime tale with Sterling Hayden)

VAMPYRES (1974) – 8 (rewatch on Blu)

ARE YOU IN THE HOUSE ALONE? (1978) – 5 (OK TV movie – overlong)

THE BROTHERHOOD OF SATAN (1971) – 8

LET’S KILL UNCLE (1966) – 6 (fun William Castle black comedy)

THE DEVIL INSIDE HER (1977) – 6 (completely insane possessed baby film w/Joan Collins)

HOCUS POCUS 2 (2022) – 6 (better than the first)

HAWK THE SLAYER (1980) Returns!

I'm not going to pretend that HAWK THE SLAYER (1980) is a good movie. In fact, it is famous for being pretty darned bad! But it has a low budget charm that I find kind of endearing and it appears that I am not alone. The original filmmakers have tried off and on for decades to raise funding for another film with a failed 2015 KickStarter campaign being the most recent attempt. But now writer Garth Ennis and artist Flint Henry have joined forces to return to the fantasy world created by this underseen epic for a sequel tale in comic book form. So the story that fans have been waiting to see for forty-two years finally arrives this year not on the big or small screen but from Rebellion Comics in Britain. I cannot wait to read this book knowing that in some ways it can only be better than the film that inspired it. 

You can read a bit about the millionaire fan that has backed this comic book publication over at the Comics Journal and see some of the advanced pages from the book as well at this LINK. The first of the three issue series should hit American shops this summer and I am first in line for this madness. 

And if you have never experienced the film, there is a low resolution version posted on YouTube that will allow you to (kind of) see what all the hubbub is about. Any time Jack Palance gets to chew scenery while swinging a sword is a good time!