Garraka, the creepy demon in “Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire” who gives New York a “Death Chill,” was animated by Sony Pictures Imageworks with an eye toward Ray Harryhausen’s legendary stop-motion creatures from “Jason and the Argonauts.” In fact, the team paid particular attention to the skeleton army and Medusa for performance reference. That’s because director Gil Kenan (“Monster House”), who voiced Garraka, wanted to combine puppetry, stop motion, animatronics, and CG to evoke the handcrafted charm of the original “Ghostbusters” from 1984.
In this sequel to “Ghostbusters: Afterlife,” the once powerful Garraka, who’s imprisoned in a brass orb by ancient Fire Masters, is inadvertently set free by the Ghostbusters and unleashed on New York. His “Death Chill” breath can freeze his victims and cause them to shatter like tiny crystals. What’s more, Garraka can deep freeze the entire planet, and his plan is to take over by resurrecting an army of the undead.
In this sequel to “Ghostbusters: Afterlife,” the once powerful Garraka, who’s imprisoned in a brass orb by ancient Fire Masters, is inadvertently set free by the Ghostbusters and unleashed on New York. His “Death Chill” breath can freeze his victims and cause them to shatter like tiny crystals. What’s more, Garraka can deep freeze the entire planet, and his plan is to take over by resurrecting an army of the undead.
- 4/6/2024
- by Bill Desowitz
- Indiewire
Director and visual artist Stuart Birchall and producers Leila Mousavi and Seb Brown have unveiled joint UK production outfit Scrapbook Pictures, with a focus on using physically produced special effects for family-focused live action theatrical features.
For its first feature project, Scrapbook Pictures has teamed up with model visual effects supervisor José Granell, who has worked on the Harry Potter franchise, A Haunting In Venice and Napoleon, alongside The Magic Camera Company to co-produce fantasy adventure feature A Paige Odyssey (working title), which will combine physically built miniature environments and creatures with virtual production and CGI. It aims to start...
For its first feature project, Scrapbook Pictures has teamed up with model visual effects supervisor José Granell, who has worked on the Harry Potter franchise, A Haunting In Venice and Napoleon, alongside The Magic Camera Company to co-produce fantasy adventure feature A Paige Odyssey (working title), which will combine physically built miniature environments and creatures with virtual production and CGI. It aims to start...
- 2/23/2024
- ScreenDaily
In an era when many superhero films have adapted an unflattering, desaturated visual style in the name of realism, "Aquaman" is a balm for the eyes. The James Wan-directed DC Comics flick is full of eye-popping colors and imagery reminiscent of the splash pages you find in actual comic books. There are also nods aplenty to classic sci-fi and adventure stories, from the globe-trotting tomb-raiding of the Indiana Jones films to the fantastical prehistoric setting of Arthur Conan Doyle's "The Lost World." So it should come as no surprise that Wan has taken a similar approach to crafting a unique look for his sequel, "Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom."
Speaking at a reveal event for the "Lost Kingdom" trailer attended by /Film's own Jenna Busch-Henderson, Wan talked about the importance of world-building to the "Aquaman" films. "We enjoy all the different worlds that really no superhero movies go into,...
Speaking at a reveal event for the "Lost Kingdom" trailer attended by /Film's own Jenna Busch-Henderson, Wan talked about the importance of world-building to the "Aquaman" films. "We enjoy all the different worlds that really no superhero movies go into,...
- 9/14/2023
- by Sandy Schaefer
- Slash Film
After much delay and studio drama, another Dceu hero will see the long-awaited release of their solo film. Granted, this solo film is a sequel. The first Aquaman was able to avoid strong undertows and treacherous waves on its way to the big screen and became a hit when the Jason Momoa outing joined the billion-dollar club, grossing $1.148 billion at the global box office. For Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom, the weather started getting rough and the tiny ship was tossed as Covid delays and schedule changes put the film, which was originally supposed to precede The Flash, at a year’s delay. It was even feared that the WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes might have even pushed it back further to 2024, but for now it’s secure.
Just as there was talk of suspicions that the December film had barely released any advanced marketing, a trailer announcement for the week had dropped online.
Just as there was talk of suspicions that the December film had barely released any advanced marketing, a trailer announcement for the week had dropped online.
- 9/13/2023
- by EJ Tangonan
- JoBlo.com
Ben Wheatley is one of the most unpredictable filmmakers working today. He impressed with his feature debut, the darkly funny "Down Terrace," but took a huge leap when he decided to blend two quintessential British genres, crime flicks and folk horror, with the terrifyingly brilliant "Kill List." Wheatley could've hightailed it for Hollywood on the strength of the latter, but he had different priorities. He bounced from the psychedelic horror of "A Field in England" to an effective adaptation of J.G. Ballard's dystopian "High-Rise" to the pitch-black shoot-em-up "Free Fire." He subsequently took a crack at Daphne du Maurier's "Rebecca," and while he couldn't quite place his distinctive stamp on the material (which Alfred Hitchcock aced with David O. Selznick hanging over his shoulder in his 1940 Best Picture winner), you had to admire his ambition.
Wheatley is an undoubtedly gifted filmmaker, but, film to film, I can't...
Wheatley is an undoubtedly gifted filmmaker, but, film to film, I can't...
- 8/4/2023
- by Jeremy Smith
- Slash Film
Star Wars has inspired many creatives and filmmakers alike, including movie director James Cameron. But Cameron had a surprising reaction the first time he saw the film in theaters.
How James Cameron was impacted by ‘Star Wars’ James Cameron | Axelle/Bauer-Griffin/FilmMagic
As is the case with many filmmakers, Cameron was inspired by several directors and films while carving out his own path as a filmmaker. Cameron has frequently spoken about Stanley Kubrick’s 2001: A Space Odyssey influencing him in his younger years. The Don Chaffey movie Jason and the Argonauts also left an unforgettable impression on a young Cameron.
“I remember distinctly my grandfather taking me to the local cinema in Ontario, and being absolutely blown away by the film’s vivid colors, the brightness, the reality of the skeleton fight. Of course, looking at it four decades later, it’s laughable,” Cameron once told DGA. “But I...
How James Cameron was impacted by ‘Star Wars’ James Cameron | Axelle/Bauer-Griffin/FilmMagic
As is the case with many filmmakers, Cameron was inspired by several directors and films while carving out his own path as a filmmaker. Cameron has frequently spoken about Stanley Kubrick’s 2001: A Space Odyssey influencing him in his younger years. The Don Chaffey movie Jason and the Argonauts also left an unforgettable impression on a young Cameron.
“I remember distinctly my grandfather taking me to the local cinema in Ontario, and being absolutely blown away by the film’s vivid colors, the brightness, the reality of the skeleton fight. Of course, looking at it four decades later, it’s laughable,” Cameron once told DGA. “But I...
- 6/23/2023
- by Antonio Stallings
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
Speaking for nearly an hour at his master class, one of the key highlights of the Annecy Animation Festival this week, maestro filmmaker Guillermo del Toro kept his packed-to-the rafters audience enthralled – and in stitches – as he extolled the virtues of stop-motion animation and of embracing flaws.
Having just won a best animated feature film Oscar for his long-gestating stop-motion version of the classic tale “Pinocchio” gave his talk even more heft.
“Stop-motion is, in my opinion, the most beautiful of all the forms of animation because it’s the most intimate, and is quite literally a connection between the animator and a physical model,” he said, adding: “It’s the closest thing to playing with your toys.”
“We are the weird motherfuckers in this room,” he told the stop-motion animation filmmakers in the audience. “Your family thinks you’re useless and that’s good,” he added, prompting a burst of laughter.
Having just won a best animated feature film Oscar for his long-gestating stop-motion version of the classic tale “Pinocchio” gave his talk even more heft.
“Stop-motion is, in my opinion, the most beautiful of all the forms of animation because it’s the most intimate, and is quite literally a connection between the animator and a physical model,” he said, adding: “It’s the closest thing to playing with your toys.”
“We are the weird motherfuckers in this room,” he told the stop-motion animation filmmakers in the audience. “Your family thinks you’re useless and that’s good,” he added, prompting a burst of laughter.
- 6/15/2023
- by Anna Marie de la Fuente
- Variety Film + TV
There is a moment near the end of The Little Mermaid, the latest in Disney’s ongoing series of live-action (or “sort of live-action”) remakes in which King Triton (Javier Bardem) emerges from the deep to impart a message to his mermaid daughter Ariel (Halle Bailey). This is supposed to be the mighty god of the sea, but Bardem’s outfit of armored scales looks cheap in the sunlight—a fact previously hidden by watching it in mostly dark scenes—and the actor appears to be standing in about three feet of water in a pool.
It feels like director Rob Marshall just wanted to get the shot in the can and say the hell with it, let’s move on. And it’s unfortunate that a lot of 2023’s The Little Mermaid feels just as perfunctory. And damn long as well. The 1989 original was 83 minutes in length; this one is 135 minutes,...
It feels like director Rob Marshall just wanted to get the shot in the can and say the hell with it, let’s move on. And it’s unfortunate that a lot of 2023’s The Little Mermaid feels just as perfunctory. And damn long as well. The 1989 original was 83 minutes in length; this one is 135 minutes,...
- 5/25/2023
- by Don Kaye
- Den of Geek
If someone asked you to name a Hollywood legend, there are certain people that just cannot be excluded. One of these is director Steven Spielberg. When you're responsible for films like "Jaws," "Close Encounters of the Third Kind," "Raiders of the Lost Ark," "E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial," "Schindler's List," "West Side Story," and "Jurassic Park," it's pretty hard to argue against. The man is probably running out of space for all of his accolades.
Hollywood legend Spielberg may be, but he's taken inspiration from earlier legends of the silver screen. In fact, with "Jurassic Park," Spielberg paid homage to legendary animator/special effects creator/stop-motion animation innovator Ray Harryhausen.
Harryhausen, who died in 2013 at the age of 92, was responsible for the creature work in films like "The 7th Voyage of Sinbad," "Jason and the Argonauts," "One Million Years B.C.," and "Clash of the Titans." Harryhausen inspired many filmmakers with his work,...
Hollywood legend Spielberg may be, but he's taken inspiration from earlier legends of the silver screen. In fact, with "Jurassic Park," Spielberg paid homage to legendary animator/special effects creator/stop-motion animation innovator Ray Harryhausen.
Harryhausen, who died in 2013 at the age of 92, was responsible for the creature work in films like "The 7th Voyage of Sinbad," "Jason and the Argonauts," "One Million Years B.C.," and "Clash of the Titans." Harryhausen inspired many filmmakers with his work,...
- 3/31/2023
- by Jenna Busch
- Slash Film
If there's one thing we can take away from modern blockbusters it's that, with rare exceptions, special effects just don't feel "special" anymore.
That's not to say that there aren't beautiful and convincing visual effects being produced in the world of cinema. "Top Gun: Maverick" seamlessly blends real aerial footage with CG recreations, to the extent that it's nearly impossible to tell what was really in front of the camera. "Avatar: The Way of Water," whatever its other flaws may be, is a sumptuous spectacle for the eyes, at once vibrant and colorful and creative.
But what so very many modern visual effects films have in common is that they take imagery that should be astounding for granted, treating the most incredible and impossible things the human mind could devise, and acting like it's just something everyone deals with every day. And the new superhero film "Shazam! Fury of the Gods...
That's not to say that there aren't beautiful and convincing visual effects being produced in the world of cinema. "Top Gun: Maverick" seamlessly blends real aerial footage with CG recreations, to the extent that it's nearly impossible to tell what was really in front of the camera. "Avatar: The Way of Water," whatever its other flaws may be, is a sumptuous spectacle for the eyes, at once vibrant and colorful and creative.
But what so very many modern visual effects films have in common is that they take imagery that should be astounding for granted, treating the most incredible and impossible things the human mind could devise, and acting like it's just something everyone deals with every day. And the new superhero film "Shazam! Fury of the Gods...
- 3/17/2023
- by William Bibbiani
- Slash Film
In Sam Raimi's 1981 zero-budget horror film "The Evil Dead," Ash (Bruce Campbell) is attacked by mysterious malevolent demons in a cabin in the woods, having been summoned there by an ancient evil book called the Necronomicon. All alone in the cabin, you start to think that Ash is not so much being beset by monsters, as Campbell is being beset by the movie itself. In the more comedic 1987 part-sequel, part-remake "Evil Dead II," the self-awareness is amped up to a slapstick degree, and the language of horror gives way to the timing of comedy.
At the end of "Evil Dead II," Ash flees into another genre altogether, finding himself in England circa 1300 Ce. By 1993's "Army of Darkness" (which celebrates its 30th anniversary this week), Ash has transformed from an average college student into a really dumb, full-bore a-hole. He is hailed as a "chosen one" despite his crass dialogue.
At the end of "Evil Dead II," Ash flees into another genre altogether, finding himself in England circa 1300 Ce. By 1993's "Army of Darkness" (which celebrates its 30th anniversary this week), Ash has transformed from an average college student into a really dumb, full-bore a-hole. He is hailed as a "chosen one" despite his crass dialogue.
- 2/13/2023
- by Witney Seibold
- Slash Film
1981’s Clash of the Titans signals the end of an era. In the fifties, sixties and even part of the seventies, stop-motion maestro Ray Harryhausen was the guy you went to if you wanted to do a fantasy epic. His stop-motion animation brought so many fantasy adventures to life, such as Jason and the Argonauts, Mysterious Island and the various Sinbad movies. He was easily one of the people responsible for truly bringing magic into the movies, but the game started to change in the seventies, especially once Star Wars was released. By the time other fantasy epics like Conan the Barbarian were being planned, Harryhausen was at work on what would be his most ambitious movie to date, Clash of the Titans.
Telling the myth of Perseus, Harryhausen would face some of the most significant logistical challenges of his career, as he’d have to use his effects to portray Medusa,...
Telling the myth of Perseus, Harryhausen would face some of the most significant logistical challenges of his career, as he’d have to use his effects to portray Medusa,...
- 1/10/2023
- by Chris Bumbray
- JoBlo.com
In a year in which the film industry was still in disruption because of the formidable powers of digital streaming, stop-motion animation — maybe the most analog of all styles of filmmaking — has had a peak year, with three features vying for awards and shorts introducing powerful new talents. It definitely hasn’t always been like this, but several stop-motion helmers hope the trend continues.
The stop-motion films “Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio,” “Wendell & Wild,” and “Marcel the Shell With Shoes On” were all released in 2022, which is rare since the techniques used to make stop motion can be incredibly detailed and often require dozens of artists to be shooting scenes for the film if it’s ever to be completed in a reasonable amount of time. Add to that the need for, among others, hundreds of replacement faces for the various puppets, clothing made of fabric scaled down for...
The stop-motion films “Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio,” “Wendell & Wild,” and “Marcel the Shell With Shoes On” were all released in 2022, which is rare since the techniques used to make stop motion can be incredibly detailed and often require dozens of artists to be shooting scenes for the film if it’s ever to be completed in a reasonable amount of time. Add to that the need for, among others, hundreds of replacement faces for the various puppets, clothing made of fabric scaled down for...
- 1/10/2023
- by Karen Idelson
- Variety Film + TV
Click here to read the full article.
The joy in Guillermo del Toro’s face has been abundantly apparent this awards season each time he introduces his latest big-screen outing, a deeply personal animated version of Pinocchio told in the Mexican helmer’s typically sumptuous, meticulously crafted visual style.
When the Oscar-winning filmmaker was growing up, Carlo Collodi’s 1883 fable about a wooden puppet who longs to be a real boy was one of his favorites, and del Toro has now made the oft-told tale (Disney released its own ill-received live-action version, starring Tom Hanks, in September) distinctly his own: a darker, timely retelling for today’s audiences, set in fascist Italy during the 1930s.
Pinocchio is del Toro’s first foray into directing stop-motion animation, an art form that dates back to the early days of motion pictures and which was developed by filmmaking pioneers del Toro has long admired,...
The joy in Guillermo del Toro’s face has been abundantly apparent this awards season each time he introduces his latest big-screen outing, a deeply personal animated version of Pinocchio told in the Mexican helmer’s typically sumptuous, meticulously crafted visual style.
When the Oscar-winning filmmaker was growing up, Carlo Collodi’s 1883 fable about a wooden puppet who longs to be a real boy was one of his favorites, and del Toro has now made the oft-told tale (Disney released its own ill-received live-action version, starring Tom Hanks, in September) distinctly his own: a darker, timely retelling for today’s audiences, set in fascist Italy during the 1930s.
Pinocchio is del Toro’s first foray into directing stop-motion animation, an art form that dates back to the early days of motion pictures and which was developed by filmmaking pioneers del Toro has long admired,...
- 12/2/2022
- by Carolyn Giardina
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Five of the creative talents behind animated films looking to gain traction in this year’s Oscar race sat down with Gold Derby recently and discussed subjects including what inspired them to get into animation and what they’d like to see from the medium in the future. This was all part of Gold Derby’s Meet the Experts panel on Film Animation that included Pierre Perifel (“The Bad Guys”), Peggy Holmes (“Luck”), Mark Gustafson (“Pinocchio”), Joel Crawford (“Puss in Boots: The Last Wish”) and Don Hall (“Strange World”).
You can watch the film animation group panel above with the people behind these five projects. Click on each person’s name above to be taken to each exclusive video interview.
For Holmes, it wasn’t a particular movie that made her fascinated with animation but an encounter she had when she used to work as a choreographer. Two music executives...
You can watch the film animation group panel above with the people behind these five projects. Click on each person’s name above to be taken to each exclusive video interview.
For Holmes, it wasn’t a particular movie that made her fascinated with animation but an encounter she had when she used to work as a choreographer. Two music executives...
- 11/28/2022
- by Charles Bright
- Gold Derby
Animation fans are truly being treated in 2022. Pixar released one of their best ever films, "Turning Red," while DreamWorks dropped an underrated caper in the form of "The Bad Guys." Richard Linklater turned to rotoscope for "Apollo 10 ½" and "Dragon Ball Super: Super Hero" became an unexpected box office hit in North America. To top it off, we're getting not one but two stop-motion animated features: Guillermo del Toro's take on the classic story of "Pinocchio," and Henry Selick's return to the medium with the horror-comedy "Wendell and Wild."
Selick has long been one of the stalwarts of stop-motion in American animation thanks to iconic spooky season films like "The Nightmare Before Christmas" and "Coraline," while del Toro turned to the medium for his decade-long passion project and has received some of the best reviews of his starry career for his troubles. It's hard not to be...
Selick has long been one of the stalwarts of stop-motion in American animation thanks to iconic spooky season films like "The Nightmare Before Christmas" and "Coraline," while del Toro turned to the medium for his decade-long passion project and has received some of the best reviews of his starry career for his troubles. It's hard not to be...
- 10/20/2022
- by Kayleigh Donaldson
- Slash Film
.
For Guillermo del Toro, it wasn’t a question of why stop-motion fit his new version of “Pinocchio,” but why it had never been attempted before. After all, Carlo Collodi’s enduring fable about a wooden puppet who longs to be a real boy cries out for the tactile, handmade technique.
“It’s the perfect way to tell the story,” del Toro told IndieWire, following a sneak peek of the first 38 minutes of his Netflix movie (premiering this weekend at the London Film Festival ahead of its closing-night special presentation at L.A.’s Animation Is Film Festival on October 29). “Everyone is a puppet. Being animated makes the existence of Pinocchio completely naturalistic the way you’re telling the tale. I’m surprised, happy, that it hasn’t been tackled like that before. It comes so naturally to the tale.”
But it’s taken more than 15 years to realize del Toro’s passion project,...
For Guillermo del Toro, it wasn’t a question of why stop-motion fit his new version of “Pinocchio,” but why it had never been attempted before. After all, Carlo Collodi’s enduring fable about a wooden puppet who longs to be a real boy cries out for the tactile, handmade technique.
“It’s the perfect way to tell the story,” del Toro told IndieWire, following a sneak peek of the first 38 minutes of his Netflix movie (premiering this weekend at the London Film Festival ahead of its closing-night special presentation at L.A.’s Animation Is Film Festival on October 29). “Everyone is a puppet. Being animated makes the existence of Pinocchio completely naturalistic the way you’re telling the tale. I’m surprised, happy, that it hasn’t been tackled like that before. It comes so naturally to the tale.”
But it’s taken more than 15 years to realize del Toro’s passion project,...
- 10/12/2022
- by Bill Desowitz
- Indiewire
Some cliche somewhere said that ‘a picture is worth a thousand words.’ This has proven to be the case for me and especially when it comes to fan art. I have always sought out great fan art and have wanted to share it with as many people as possible. “Awesome Art We’ve Found Around The Net” is the outlet for that passion. In this column, I will showcase the kick-ass artwork of some great artists, with the hopes that these artists get the attention they deserve. That’s the aim. If you have any questions or comments, or even suggestions of art or other great artists, feel free to contact me at any time at theodorebond@joblo.com.
Airplane! by Nick Charge
Big Trouble In Little China by Zach Henson
Jason and the Argonauts by Kilian Eng
Lord of the Rings by Luke T. Benson
Mighty Morphin Power Rangers...
Airplane! by Nick Charge
Big Trouble In Little China by Zach Henson
Jason and the Argonauts by Kilian Eng
Lord of the Rings by Luke T. Benson
Mighty Morphin Power Rangers...
- 8/20/2022
- by Theodore Bond
- JoBlo.com
This meticulous docu-drama is still the best show about the Titanic, the awesome disaster that has never lost its grip on the imagination. Roy Ward Baker leads an enormous cast of Brit character actors through 2.5 hours of true-life terror in the icy Atlantic — Kenneth More, Honor Blackman, David McCallum, Laurence Naismith, Anthony Bushell. No stupid subplots and no insulting anachronisms, just an awful sinking death trap and 1600 passengers facing the freezing water. [Imprint] brings some new extras to the mix, too.
A Night to Remember
Blu-ray
Viavision [Imprint] #135
1958 / B&w / 1:66 enhanced widescreen / 123 min. / Street Date June 29, 2022 / Available from / 39.95
Starring: Kenneth More, Honor Blackman, David McCallum, Laurence Naismith, Anthony Bushell, Alec McCowen, John Cairney, Michael Goodliffe, Ronald Allen, John Merivale, Jill Dixon, Kenneth Griffith, Frank Lawton, Tucker McGuire, Ralph Michael, George Rose, Joseph Tomelty, Jack Watling, Michael Bryant, Bee Duffel, Thomas Heathcote, Andrew Keir, Jeremy Bulloch, Desmond Llewelyn, Derren Nesbitt, Beth Rogan,...
A Night to Remember
Blu-ray
Viavision [Imprint] #135
1958 / B&w / 1:66 enhanced widescreen / 123 min. / Street Date June 29, 2022 / Available from / 39.95
Starring: Kenneth More, Honor Blackman, David McCallum, Laurence Naismith, Anthony Bushell, Alec McCowen, John Cairney, Michael Goodliffe, Ronald Allen, John Merivale, Jill Dixon, Kenneth Griffith, Frank Lawton, Tucker McGuire, Ralph Michael, George Rose, Joseph Tomelty, Jack Watling, Michael Bryant, Bee Duffel, Thomas Heathcote, Andrew Keir, Jeremy Bulloch, Desmond Llewelyn, Derren Nesbitt, Beth Rogan,...
- 7/12/2022
- by Glenn Erickson
- Trailers from Hell
Producer Charles Band discusses a few of his favorite films with hosts Josh Olson and Joe Dante.
Show Notes: Movies Referenced In This Episode
Re-Animator (1985) – Charlie Largent’s Blu-ray review
Citizen Kane (1941) – John Landis’s trailer commentary, Glenn Erickson’s Criterion Blu-ray review
Puppet Master (1989)
Dollman (1991)
Trancers (1984)
Corona Zombies (2020)
Cannibal Women In The Avocado Jungle of Death (1989)
Frankenstein (1931) – Joe Dante’s trailer commentary, Glenn Erickson’s Blu-ray review
The Sixth Sense (1999)
The Wolf Man (1941) – Glenn Erickson’s Blu-ray review, Alex Kirschenbaum’s Wolf Man power rankings
I Bury The Living (1958) – Joe Dante’s trailer commentary, Charlie Largent’s Blu-ray review
Face of Fire (1959)
Hercules (1958)
The 7th Voyage Of Sinbad (1958) – Brian Trenchard-Smith’s trailer commentary
Jason And The Argonauts (1963) – Ernest Dickerson’s trailer commentary
King Kong (1933)
King Kong (1976) – Glenn Erickson’s Blu-ray review
The Exorcist (1973) – Oren Peli’s trailer commentary
Star Wars (1977)
The Omega Man (1971)
Castle Freak (1995)
Tourist Trap (1979) – David DeCoteau’s trailer commentary
Laserblast (1978)
Crash!
Show Notes: Movies Referenced In This Episode
Re-Animator (1985) – Charlie Largent’s Blu-ray review
Citizen Kane (1941) – John Landis’s trailer commentary, Glenn Erickson’s Criterion Blu-ray review
Puppet Master (1989)
Dollman (1991)
Trancers (1984)
Corona Zombies (2020)
Cannibal Women In The Avocado Jungle of Death (1989)
Frankenstein (1931) – Joe Dante’s trailer commentary, Glenn Erickson’s Blu-ray review
The Sixth Sense (1999)
The Wolf Man (1941) – Glenn Erickson’s Blu-ray review, Alex Kirschenbaum’s Wolf Man power rankings
I Bury The Living (1958) – Joe Dante’s trailer commentary, Charlie Largent’s Blu-ray review
Face of Fire (1959)
Hercules (1958)
The 7th Voyage Of Sinbad (1958) – Brian Trenchard-Smith’s trailer commentary
Jason And The Argonauts (1963) – Ernest Dickerson’s trailer commentary
King Kong (1933)
King Kong (1976) – Glenn Erickson’s Blu-ray review
The Exorcist (1973) – Oren Peli’s trailer commentary
Star Wars (1977)
The Omega Man (1971)
Castle Freak (1995)
Tourist Trap (1979) – David DeCoteau’s trailer commentary
Laserblast (1978)
Crash!
- 3/22/2022
- by Kris Millsap
- Trailers from Hell
Cinematically, I've always thought of the Greek God Zeus as a toga kind of guy. That's probably because I loved those old Ray Harryhausen monster movies when I was a kid, especially those classic swords-and-sandals adventures like "Jason and the Argonauts" and "Clash of the Titans."
Niall MacGinnis and Laurence Olivier memorably played Zeus in those movies, and many other actors have portrayed the character over the years. One of the most intriguing was potentially Christopher Walken, who played the role in the unreleased comedy "Gods Behaving Badly." In 2013, photos emerged of him in the Daily Mail, dressed like a crime kingpin rather than the traditional...
The post Gods Behaving Badly: The Unreleased Christopher Walken Project We've Never Seen appeared first on /Film.
Niall MacGinnis and Laurence Olivier memorably played Zeus in those movies, and many other actors have portrayed the character over the years. One of the most intriguing was potentially Christopher Walken, who played the role in the unreleased comedy "Gods Behaving Badly." In 2013, photos emerged of him in the Daily Mail, dressed like a crime kingpin rather than the traditional...
The post Gods Behaving Badly: The Unreleased Christopher Walken Project We've Never Seen appeared first on /Film.
- 2/4/2022
- by Lee Adams
- Slash Film
‘Lord of the Rings’ at 20: Why Peter Jackson’s Trilogy Was One of Hollywood’s Riskiest Projects Ever
After success with several small-scale films, Peter Jackson in 1992 told Variety he was looking for a project “that will really push me.”
He found something that surpassed everyone’s expectations. This month marks the 20th anniversary of Jackson’s “The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Rings,” which kicked off the 2001-2003 film trilogy based on the books by J.R.R. Tolkien.
In 2000, Jackson told Variety “Lotr” was “the Holy Grail of filmmaking, a once-in-a-lifetime experience.”
In retrospect, handing this massive project to Jackson seems like a no-brainer: great material for a great filmmaker. But in fact, there were so many unknown factors that it was immediately recognized as one of film history’s greatest gambles.
“I read ‘Lord of the Rings’ first as a 17 year-old,” Jackson told Variety. “I wasn’t one of those avid fans who read it every year. Fran and I were childhood fan of the ‘Sinbad’ movies,...
He found something that surpassed everyone’s expectations. This month marks the 20th anniversary of Jackson’s “The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Rings,” which kicked off the 2001-2003 film trilogy based on the books by J.R.R. Tolkien.
In 2000, Jackson told Variety “Lotr” was “the Holy Grail of filmmaking, a once-in-a-lifetime experience.”
In retrospect, handing this massive project to Jackson seems like a no-brainer: great material for a great filmmaker. But in fact, there were so many unknown factors that it was immediately recognized as one of film history’s greatest gambles.
“I read ‘Lord of the Rings’ first as a 17 year-old,” Jackson told Variety. “I wasn’t one of those avid fans who read it every year. Fran and I were childhood fan of the ‘Sinbad’ movies,...
- 12/14/2021
- by Tim Gray
- Variety Film + TV
“Release the Krakken!”
No! You don’t have to travel to Scotland to see the original sculptures and models created by Ray Harryhausen. Just visit the ‘Ray Harryhausen – Titan of Cinema’ Virtual Exhibit at the National Galleries of Scotland. But tickets for the virtual tour Here
In films spanning five decades Harryhausen breathed life into his foam latex creations through the process of stop-motion animation. He set them among living actors to create fantastical creatures that enchanted and terrified audiences worldwide. His film credits include classics such as Jason and the Argonauts, with its uncanny sword-fighting skeletons and towering living statue Talos, and Clash of the Titans featuring Medusa, one of the most frightening and iconic monsters to slither across the flickering screen.
Although the sources for Harryhausen’s monsters often came from existing material – from myths and legends, the fantastic literature of H.G. Wells (First Men in the Moon...
No! You don’t have to travel to Scotland to see the original sculptures and models created by Ray Harryhausen. Just visit the ‘Ray Harryhausen – Titan of Cinema’ Virtual Exhibit at the National Galleries of Scotland. But tickets for the virtual tour Here
In films spanning five decades Harryhausen breathed life into his foam latex creations through the process of stop-motion animation. He set them among living actors to create fantastical creatures that enchanted and terrified audiences worldwide. His film credits include classics such as Jason and the Argonauts, with its uncanny sword-fighting skeletons and towering living statue Talos, and Clash of the Titans featuring Medusa, one of the most frightening and iconic monsters to slither across the flickering screen.
Although the sources for Harryhausen’s monsters often came from existing material – from myths and legends, the fantastic literature of H.G. Wells (First Men in the Moon...
- 8/17/2021
- by Tom Stockman
- WeAreMovieGeeks.com
It was 40 years ago, in June 1981, that Clash of the Titans, the last film to feature the stop-motion animation effects of Ray Harryhausen, was released.
Starring a then-unknown Harry Hamlin, along with veteran stars like Laurence Olivier, Maggie Smith, Burgess Meredith, and Ursula Andress, the film was loosely based on the Greek myth of Perseus (Hamlin), weaving in strands of other mythologies and legends and putting its hero into conflict with creatures like the Kraken, Calibos, Medusa the Gorgon and a two-headed dog named Dioskilos.
“Greek and Roman myths contained characters and fantastic creatures that were ideal for cinematic adventures,” wrote Harryhausen in his memoir, Ray Harryhausen: An Animated Life. “If some of the adventures were combined with 20th century storytelling, a timeless narrative could be constructed that would appeal to both young and old.”
Harryhausen was already a filmmaking legend by the time he began work on Clash of the Titans.
Starring a then-unknown Harry Hamlin, along with veteran stars like Laurence Olivier, Maggie Smith, Burgess Meredith, and Ursula Andress, the film was loosely based on the Greek myth of Perseus (Hamlin), weaving in strands of other mythologies and legends and putting its hero into conflict with creatures like the Kraken, Calibos, Medusa the Gorgon and a two-headed dog named Dioskilos.
“Greek and Roman myths contained characters and fantastic creatures that were ideal for cinematic adventures,” wrote Harryhausen in his memoir, Ray Harryhausen: An Animated Life. “If some of the adventures were combined with 20th century storytelling, a timeless narrative could be constructed that would appeal to both young and old.”
Harryhausen was already a filmmaking legend by the time he began work on Clash of the Titans.
- 6/20/2021
- by Don Kaye
- Den of Geek
This debut feature of muscleman favorite Reg Park is one of the better sword ‘n’ sandal epics; it has good action and a terrific villainess in Fay Spain. The okay story is Benoit’s L’Atlantide, re-shaped to fit the fad for all things Hercules. The Film Detective’s disc is the Woolner Bros.’ American release, trimmed by half a reel and given an entirely new audio mix. It’s still an impressive show.
Hercules and the Captive Women
Blu-ray
The Film Detective
1961/ 1963 / Color / 2:35 widescreen / 95, 101 min. / Street Date April 13, 2021 / Ercole alla conquista di Atlantide, Hercules Conquers Atlantis / 24.99
Starring: Reg Park, Fay Spain, Ettore Manni, Luciano Marin, Laura Efrikian, Enrico Maria Salerno, Ivo Garrani, Gian Maria Volontè, Mario Petri, Salvatore Furnari, Maurizio Coffarelli, Nicola Sperli.
Cinematography: Carlo Carlini
Film Editor: Maurizio Lucidi
Original Music: Gino Marinuzzi Jr., Armando Trovajoli
Written by Vittorio Cottafavi, Sandro Continenza, Duccio Tessari, Nicolò Ferrari using a...
Hercules and the Captive Women
Blu-ray
The Film Detective
1961/ 1963 / Color / 2:35 widescreen / 95, 101 min. / Street Date April 13, 2021 / Ercole alla conquista di Atlantide, Hercules Conquers Atlantis / 24.99
Starring: Reg Park, Fay Spain, Ettore Manni, Luciano Marin, Laura Efrikian, Enrico Maria Salerno, Ivo Garrani, Gian Maria Volontè, Mario Petri, Salvatore Furnari, Maurizio Coffarelli, Nicola Sperli.
Cinematography: Carlo Carlini
Film Editor: Maurizio Lucidi
Original Music: Gino Marinuzzi Jr., Armando Trovajoli
Written by Vittorio Cottafavi, Sandro Continenza, Duccio Tessari, Nicolò Ferrari using a...
- 4/6/2021
- by Glenn Erickson
- Trailers from Hell
“C’mon Mikey, give me a lickery kiss!”
The Goonies (1985) screens Sunday Night April 11th at the Sky View Drive-in in Lichtfield, Il. (1500 Historic Old Route 66) This is part of the Sky View’s ‘Throwback Sundays’. The second Sunday of the month, they screen a classic movie. Admission is only $7 (free for kids under 5). This is a double feature! Goonies will be followed by Godzilla Vs Kong. Gates will open at 6pm for all showings. Movie Start time: 7:35pm. The Sky View’s site can be found Here.
Four kids – Mikey (Sean Astin), Chunk (Jeff Cohen), Mouth (Corey Feldman) and Data (Ke Huy Quan) who call themselves “The Goonies” finds a map in the attic of Mikey’s house. Their beloved neighborhood is about to become a golf course, so they go out on an adventure to find lost buried treasure. Unfortunately, three crooks Mama Fratelli (Anne Ramsey) with...
The Goonies (1985) screens Sunday Night April 11th at the Sky View Drive-in in Lichtfield, Il. (1500 Historic Old Route 66) This is part of the Sky View’s ‘Throwback Sundays’. The second Sunday of the month, they screen a classic movie. Admission is only $7 (free for kids under 5). This is a double feature! Goonies will be followed by Godzilla Vs Kong. Gates will open at 6pm for all showings. Movie Start time: 7:35pm. The Sky View’s site can be found Here.
Four kids – Mikey (Sean Astin), Chunk (Jeff Cohen), Mouth (Corey Feldman) and Data (Ke Huy Quan) who call themselves “The Goonies” finds a map in the attic of Mikey’s house. Their beloved neighborhood is about to become a golf course, so they go out on an adventure to find lost buried treasure. Unfortunately, three crooks Mama Fratelli (Anne Ramsey) with...
- 3/20/2021
- by Tom Stockman
- WeAreMovieGeeks.com
During the 2020 lockdowns and ongoing Covid-19 pandemic, people at home sought isolated comfort. News reports continued to count the number of dead while people in charge downplayed its seriousness or offered dubious advice on dealing with the disease. It certainly didn’t interrupt many golf games. As workers were furloughed from jobs, they binged. One of the movies at the top of the playlist was The Masque of the Red Death, Roger Corman’s 1964 low budget masterpiece.
It told the tale of a wealthy medieval prince in a country decimated by an epidemic. The satanic overlord, played by the legendary actor and horror icon Vincent Price, locks his gates to his god-fearing dominions while he and his friends party like it’s 1999.
Edgar Allan Poe’s “The Masque of the Red Death” is about 2,300 words. Corman’s adaptation, which has been fully restored and can now be seen in its lush,...
It told the tale of a wealthy medieval prince in a country decimated by an epidemic. The satanic overlord, played by the legendary actor and horror icon Vincent Price, locks his gates to his god-fearing dominions while he and his friends party like it’s 1999.
Edgar Allan Poe’s “The Masque of the Red Death” is about 2,300 words. Corman’s adaptation, which has been fully restored and can now be seen in its lush,...
- 1/26/2021
- by Alec Bojalad
- Den of Geek
Talk about the Lost Arts — Animation of various kinds, even stop-motion, is now a major part of filmmaking entertainment. But back in the 1940s the wonder man for ‘how’d they do that’ Technicolor marvels was George Pal, a grateful displaced European who made marvelous ‘trickfilm’ animations using little wooden puppets with hundreds of interchangeable pieces. Arnold Leibovit follows up his first Puppetoon disc with a bounteous, bigger collection of animated gems in Blu-ray HD. They’re fascinating to study in slow motion — the volume of craft, patience and artisan labor that goes into these shows is staggering.
The Puppetoon Movie Volume 2
Blu-ray + DVD
Arnold Leibovit Entertainment
1934 – 1946 / Color + B&w / 1:37 Academy / 186 min. / Street Date December 1, 2020 / Available from Puppetoon Dot Net / 39.95
Starring: Jim Dandy, Punchy & Judy, Jasper, Professor Scarecrow, Rusty, Bugs Bunny, Wilbur the Lion.
Disc produced by Arnold Leibovit
Produced and Directed by George Pal
Arnold Leibovit follows up his extraordinary,...
The Puppetoon Movie Volume 2
Blu-ray + DVD
Arnold Leibovit Entertainment
1934 – 1946 / Color + B&w / 1:37 Academy / 186 min. / Street Date December 1, 2020 / Available from Puppetoon Dot Net / 39.95
Starring: Jim Dandy, Punchy & Judy, Jasper, Professor Scarecrow, Rusty, Bugs Bunny, Wilbur the Lion.
Disc produced by Arnold Leibovit
Produced and Directed by George Pal
Arnold Leibovit follows up his extraordinary,...
- 12/5/2020
- by Glenn Erickson
- Trailers from Hell
Article by Jim Batts, Dana Jung, Sam Moffitt, and Tom Stockman
Special effects legend Ray Harryhausen, whose dazzling and innovative visual effects work on fantasy adventure films such as Jason And The Argonauts and The 7th Voyage Of Sinbad passed away in 2013 at age 92. In 1933, the then-13-year-old Ray Harryhausen saw King Kong at a Hollywood theater and was inspired – not only by Kong, who was clearly not just a man in a gorilla suit, but also by the dinosaurs. He came out of the theatre “stunned and haunted. They looked absolutely lifelike … I wanted to know how it was done.” It was done by using stop-motion animation: jointed models filmed one frame at a time to simulate movement. Harryhausen was to become the prime exponent of the technique and its combination with live action. The influence of Harryhausen on film luminaries like Steven Spielberg, George Lucas, Peter Jackson, and...
Special effects legend Ray Harryhausen, whose dazzling and innovative visual effects work on fantasy adventure films such as Jason And The Argonauts and The 7th Voyage Of Sinbad passed away in 2013 at age 92. In 1933, the then-13-year-old Ray Harryhausen saw King Kong at a Hollywood theater and was inspired – not only by Kong, who was clearly not just a man in a gorilla suit, but also by the dinosaurs. He came out of the theatre “stunned and haunted. They looked absolutely lifelike … I wanted to know how it was done.” It was done by using stop-motion animation: jointed models filmed one frame at a time to simulate movement. Harryhausen was to become the prime exponent of the technique and its combination with live action. The influence of Harryhausen on film luminaries like Steven Spielberg, George Lucas, Peter Jackson, and...
- 6/29/2020
- by Movie Geeks
- WeAreMovieGeeks.com
Article by Jim Batts, Dana Jung, Sam Moffitt, and Tom Stockman
Special effects legend Ray Harryhausen, whose dazzling and innovative visual effects work on fantasy adventure films such as Jason And The Argonauts and The 7th Voyage Of Sinbad passed away in 2013 at age 92. In 1933, the then-13-year-old Ray Harryhausen saw King Kong at a Hollywood theater and was inspired – not only by Kong, who was clearly not just a man in a gorilla suit, but also by the dinosaurs. He came out of the theatre “stunned and haunted. They looked absolutely lifelike … I wanted to know how it was done.” It was done by using stop-motion animation: jointed models filmed one frame at a time to simulate movement. Harryhausen was to become the prime exponent of the technique and its combination with live action. The influence of Harryhausen on film luminaries like Steven Spielberg, George Lucas, Peter Jackson, and...
Special effects legend Ray Harryhausen, whose dazzling and innovative visual effects work on fantasy adventure films such as Jason And The Argonauts and The 7th Voyage Of Sinbad passed away in 2013 at age 92. In 1933, the then-13-year-old Ray Harryhausen saw King Kong at a Hollywood theater and was inspired – not only by Kong, who was clearly not just a man in a gorilla suit, but also by the dinosaurs. He came out of the theatre “stunned and haunted. They looked absolutely lifelike … I wanted to know how it was done.” It was done by using stop-motion animation: jointed models filmed one frame at a time to simulate movement. Harryhausen was to become the prime exponent of the technique and its combination with live action. The influence of Harryhausen on film luminaries like Steven Spielberg, George Lucas, Peter Jackson, and...
- 5/7/2020
- by Movie Geeks
- WeAreMovieGeeks.com
Honor Blackman, the British actress best known for portraying the James Bond girl Pussy Galore in 1964’s Goldfinger, has died. She was 94.
“It’s with great sadness that we have to announce the death of Honor Blackman, aged 94,” Blackman’s family wrote in a statement to the Guardian. “She died peacefully of natural causes at her home in Lewes, Sussex, surrounded by her family.
“As well as being a much-adored mother and grandmother, Honor was an actor of hugely prolific creative talent,” they added. “With an extraordinary combination of beauty,...
“It’s with great sadness that we have to announce the death of Honor Blackman, aged 94,” Blackman’s family wrote in a statement to the Guardian. “She died peacefully of natural causes at her home in Lewes, Sussex, surrounded by her family.
“As well as being a much-adored mother and grandmother, Honor was an actor of hugely prolific creative talent,” they added. “With an extraordinary combination of beauty,...
- 4/6/2020
- by Claire Shaffer
- Rollingstone.com
Honor Blackman, the British actress who rose to prominence as the original star of the TV series The Avengers and became a pop culture icon with her role in Goldfinger, has passed away at 94.
According to Deadline, Blackman’s family issued a statement saying that Blackman died of natural causes unrelated to the current Covid-19 pandemic at her home in Sussex, England. She is survived by a children Barnaby and Lottie, as well as four grandchildren. Her second husband, Maurice Kaufman, died in 1975.
Blackman, born on August 22, 1925, began acting lessons at 15 and made her film debut in 1947. She kept up a steady run of acting appearances in notable films such as the Titanic docudrama A Night To Remember (1958) and the Ray Harryhausen stop-motion animation classic Jason and the Argonauts (1963) in which she played the goddess Hera.
In 1962, she landed the role of Cathy Gale, a leather-wearing anthropologist and judo expert...
According to Deadline, Blackman’s family issued a statement saying that Blackman died of natural causes unrelated to the current Covid-19 pandemic at her home in Sussex, England. She is survived by a children Barnaby and Lottie, as well as four grandchildren. Her second husband, Maurice Kaufman, died in 1975.
Blackman, born on August 22, 1925, began acting lessons at 15 and made her film debut in 1947. She kept up a steady run of acting appearances in notable films such as the Titanic docudrama A Night To Remember (1958) and the Ray Harryhausen stop-motion animation classic Jason and the Argonauts (1963) in which she played the goddess Hera.
In 1962, she landed the role of Cathy Gale, a leather-wearing anthropologist and judo expert...
- 4/6/2020
- by Don Kaye
- Den of Geek
Just heard the very sad news that dear Honor has died.
What a woman she was- fiercely bright, superbly funny and a wonderful actress on screen and onstage. I loved every day of working with her and I loved and respected her with all my heart
Rip pic.twitter.com/AeTA1EmbQc
— Joe McGann (@JosephMcGann) April 6, 2020
James Bond Honor Blackman has died of natural causes at the age of 94. The actress, who played Pussy Galore in Goldfinger and Cathy Gale in TV show The Avengers, enjoyed a big and small screen career as well as stage appearances spanning more than six decades.
In addition to her screen work, with films also including The Cat And The Canary, A Night To Remember and Jason And The Argonauts, she cemented her status as a household name in the Nineties, when she starred in almost 100 episodes of sitcom...
What a woman she was- fiercely bright, superbly funny and a wonderful actress on screen and onstage. I loved every day of working with her and I loved and respected her with all my heart
Rip pic.twitter.com/AeTA1EmbQc
— Joe McGann (@JosephMcGann) April 6, 2020
James Bond Honor Blackman has died of natural causes at the age of 94. The actress, who played Pussy Galore in Goldfinger and Cathy Gale in TV show The Avengers, enjoyed a big and small screen career as well as stage appearances spanning more than six decades.
In addition to her screen work, with films also including The Cat And The Canary, A Night To Remember and Jason And The Argonauts, she cemented her status as a household name in the Nineties, when she starred in almost 100 episodes of sitcom...
- 4/6/2020
- by Amber Wilkinson
- eyeforfilm.co.uk
Actress Honor Blackman, best known for her portrayal of Bond girl Pussy Galore in “Goldfinger” and her recurring role in the TV series “The Avengers,” died of natural causes on Sunday. She was 94.
Blackman’s family confirmed the news to The Guardian, commending her “beauty, brains and physical prowess.”
“As well as being a much-adored mother and grandmother, Honor was an actor of hugely prolific creative talent; with an extraordinary combination of beauty, brains and physical prowess, along with her unique voice and a dedicated work ethic, she achieved an unparalleled iconic status in the world of film and entertainment and with absolute commitment to her craft and total professionalism in all her endeavours she contributed to some of the great films and theatre productions of our times,” her family said in a statement to The Guardian.
Blackman was born in Plaistow, Essex. She studied acting at the Guildhall School...
Blackman’s family confirmed the news to The Guardian, commending her “beauty, brains and physical prowess.”
“As well as being a much-adored mother and grandmother, Honor was an actor of hugely prolific creative talent; with an extraordinary combination of beauty, brains and physical prowess, along with her unique voice and a dedicated work ethic, she achieved an unparalleled iconic status in the world of film and entertainment and with absolute commitment to her craft and total professionalism in all her endeavours she contributed to some of the great films and theatre productions of our times,” her family said in a statement to The Guardian.
Blackman was born in Plaistow, Essex. She studied acting at the Guildhall School...
- 4/6/2020
- by J. Kim Murphy
- Variety Film + TV
Honor Blackman, the British actress best known for her roles in “The Avengers” series and “Goldfinger” film of the 1960s, has died at the age of 94.
Blackman died of natural causes and surrounded by loved one at her home in Lewes, Sussex, her family said in a statement to The Guardian. They added that she “will be greatly missed by her two children Barnaby and Lottie, and grandchildren Daisy, Oscar, Olive and Toby.”
The family added: “Honor was an actor of hugely prolific creative talent; with an extraordinary combination of beauty, brains and physical prowess, along with her unique voice and a dedicated work ethic, she achieved an unparalleled iconic status in the world of film and entertainment and with absolute commitment to her craft and total professionalism in all her endeavours she contributed to some of the great films and theatre productions of our times.”
Blackman’s decades-long career included film,...
Blackman died of natural causes and surrounded by loved one at her home in Lewes, Sussex, her family said in a statement to The Guardian. They added that she “will be greatly missed by her two children Barnaby and Lottie, and grandchildren Daisy, Oscar, Olive and Toby.”
The family added: “Honor was an actor of hugely prolific creative talent; with an extraordinary combination of beauty, brains and physical prowess, along with her unique voice and a dedicated work ethic, she achieved an unparalleled iconic status in the world of film and entertainment and with absolute commitment to her craft and total professionalism in all her endeavours she contributed to some of the great films and theatre productions of our times.”
Blackman’s decades-long career included film,...
- 4/6/2020
- by Liz Lane
- The Wrap
Actor died surrounded by family at home in Lewes, Sussex.
Honor Blackman, the classy British actor who rose to fame on TV show The Avengers before playing the alluring Pussy Galore in James Bond film Goldfinger, has died. She was 94.
It is understood Blackman’s death was unrelated to Covid-19. According to reports she died surrounded by family at her home in Lewes, Sussex.
The London-born actor attended Guildhall School of Music and Drama and via roles in the West End she eventually got her big break as leather-clad crime-fighter Dr. Cathy Gale alongside Patrick Macnee as John Steed in...
Honor Blackman, the classy British actor who rose to fame on TV show The Avengers before playing the alluring Pussy Galore in James Bond film Goldfinger, has died. She was 94.
It is understood Blackman’s death was unrelated to Covid-19. According to reports she died surrounded by family at her home in Lewes, Sussex.
The London-born actor attended Guildhall School of Music and Drama and via roles in the West End she eventually got her big break as leather-clad crime-fighter Dr. Cathy Gale alongside Patrick Macnee as John Steed in...
- 4/6/2020
- by 36¦Jeremy Kay¦54¦
- ScreenDaily
Model of Skeleton from Jason and the Argonauts, c.1961 by Ray Harryhausen (1920-2013). Mounted on wooden base. Collection: The Ray and Diana Harryhausen Foundation (Charity No. SC001419) © The Ray and Diana Harryhausen Foundation Photography: Sam Drake (National Galleries of Scotland)
Clash of the Titans, Jason and the Argonauts, The 7th Voyage of Sinbad, Earth Vs. Flying Saucers… these are all incredible classic films that featured the stop-motion work and creature designs of legendary artist and filmmaker Ray Harryhausen.
I grew up watching these films! I love these movies, and I was always fascinated by the creatures and monsters in them that Harryhausen brought to life! The skeletons from Jason and the Argonauts and from his Sinbad series, the Minaton from Sinbad and the Eye of the Tiger, and Medusa from Clash of the Titans. The onscreen visuals of these creatures played a big part of why I fell in love with movies.
Clash of the Titans, Jason and the Argonauts, The 7th Voyage of Sinbad, Earth Vs. Flying Saucers… these are all incredible classic films that featured the stop-motion work and creature designs of legendary artist and filmmaker Ray Harryhausen.
I grew up watching these films! I love these movies, and I was always fascinated by the creatures and monsters in them that Harryhausen brought to life! The skeletons from Jason and the Argonauts and from his Sinbad series, the Minaton from Sinbad and the Eye of the Tiger, and Medusa from Clash of the Titans. The onscreen visuals of these creatures played a big part of why I fell in love with movies.
- 8/26/2019
- by Joey Paur
- GeekTyrant
You can tell that the Halloween season is getting closer, between various retailers already donning their shelves with tons of decorations, the days are getting shorter, and Turner Classic Movies has debuted their October schedule online, which features an abundance of genre awesomeness that will be hitting airwaves this fall. Without a doubt, TCM is one of the best resources for classic film, so for those of you looking to broaden your horizons this Halloween, definitely check out their calendar and set those DVRs.
Also, TCM has designated Godzilla as their “Monster of the Month” for October, so look for a bunch of classic films featuring the “King of the Monsters” and other beloved Kaiju throughout October as well.
**All Listings are in Est.**
Friday, September 27th
3:15pm – The Mummy’s Shroud
6:30pm – The Mummy (1959)
Saturday, September 28th
2:00am – Belladonna of Sadness
3:30am – House (1977)
Sunday, September...
Also, TCM has designated Godzilla as their “Monster of the Month” for October, so look for a bunch of classic films featuring the “King of the Monsters” and other beloved Kaiju throughout October as well.
**All Listings are in Est.**
Friday, September 27th
3:15pm – The Mummy’s Shroud
6:30pm – The Mummy (1959)
Saturday, September 28th
2:00am – Belladonna of Sadness
3:30am – House (1977)
Sunday, September...
- 8/22/2019
- by Heather Wixson
- DailyDead
When I was growing up, movies like Jason and the Argonauts, Clash of the Titans, and The Golden Voyage of Sinbad were nothing short of pure cinema magic. Seeing the heroes face off against monsters like the Kraken, an army of skeletons, or Kali, was one of the reasons why I have both my love […]
The post Dread X: Deathcember’s Juergen Kling Shares His Top 10 Horror Movies That Use Stop-Motion Animation appeared first on Dread Central.
The post Dread X: Deathcember’s Juergen Kling Shares His Top 10 Horror Movies That Use Stop-Motion Animation appeared first on Dread Central.
- 8/9/2019
- by Jonathan Barkan
- DreadCentral.com
Lost and rare material from master animator Ray Harryhausen could now inspire a new film epic years after his death
He was the acclaimed film-maker who pioneered animation effects for masterpieces such as Jason and the Argonauts and Clash of the Titans of 1963 and 1981 respectively. Ray Harryhausen created extraordinary characters, including sword-wielding skeletons and a Medusa with writhing asps as hair, for 16 films – yet a new book about his “lost” screen projects reveals that he also worked on nearly 80 more films.
Hundreds of sketches and models that reflect his visionary ideas are being published for the first time. They include the great white whale for John Huston’s 1956 Moby Dick, though he never got to work on the production, and Big Ben’s tower snapping in two as a tidal wave engulfs London in a remake of The Deluge that he never got off the ground.
He was the acclaimed film-maker who pioneered animation effects for masterpieces such as Jason and the Argonauts and Clash of the Titans of 1963 and 1981 respectively. Ray Harryhausen created extraordinary characters, including sword-wielding skeletons and a Medusa with writhing asps as hair, for 16 films – yet a new book about his “lost” screen projects reveals that he also worked on nearly 80 more films.
Hundreds of sketches and models that reflect his visionary ideas are being published for the first time. They include the great white whale for John Huston’s 1956 Moby Dick, though he never got to work on the production, and Big Ben’s tower snapping in two as a tidal wave engulfs London in a remake of The Deluge that he never got off the ground.
- 7/21/2019
- by Dalya Alberge
- The Guardian - Film News
Article by Jim Batts, Dana Jung, Sam Moffitt, and Tom Stockman
Special effects legend Ray Harryhausen, whose dazzling and innovative visual effects work on fantasy adventure films such as Jason And The Argonauts and The 7th Voyage Of Sinbad passed away in 2013 at age 92. In 1933, the then-13-year-old Ray Harryhausen saw King Kong at a Hollywood theater and was inspired – not only by Kong, who was clearly not just a man in a gorilla suit, but also by the dinosaurs. He came out of the theatre “stunned and haunted. They looked absolutely lifelike … I wanted to know how it was done.” It was done by using stop-motion animation: jointed models filmed one frame at a time to simulate movement. Harryhausen was to become the prime exponent of the technique and its combination with live action. The influence of Harryhausen on film luminaries like Steven Spielberg, George Lucas, Peter Jackson, and...
Special effects legend Ray Harryhausen, whose dazzling and innovative visual effects work on fantasy adventure films such as Jason And The Argonauts and The 7th Voyage Of Sinbad passed away in 2013 at age 92. In 1933, the then-13-year-old Ray Harryhausen saw King Kong at a Hollywood theater and was inspired – not only by Kong, who was clearly not just a man in a gorilla suit, but also by the dinosaurs. He came out of the theatre “stunned and haunted. They looked absolutely lifelike … I wanted to know how it was done.” It was done by using stop-motion animation: jointed models filmed one frame at a time to simulate movement. Harryhausen was to become the prime exponent of the technique and its combination with live action. The influence of Harryhausen on film luminaries like Steven Spielberg, George Lucas, Peter Jackson, and...
- 6/29/2019
- by Movie Geeks
- WeAreMovieGeeks.com
This week, the pioneering studio Laika returns with “Missing Link,” the stop-motion animated family film starring Hugh Jackman and Zach Galifianakis. With “Missing Link” landing in theaters on Friday, TheWrap looks back at the history of stop-motion animation, going all the way back to the dawn of cinema.
“The Humpty Dumpty Circus” (1898)
The first ever stop-motion animated film was made by J. Stuart Blackton and Albert E. Smith between 1897 and 1898, “The Humpty Dumpty Circus.” Though the film is lost to history, the directors used their daughter’s dolls to imagine acrobats and animals in motion.
“The Enchanted Drawing” (1900) and “The Trip to the Moon” (1902)
Early cinema experimented with editing techniques to create illusions and special effects on screen in what would become traditional stop motion. Shorts like “The Enchanted Drawing” (1900) or “Fun in a Bakery Shop” (1902) found actors on screen manipulating drawings or piles of dough as if by magic.
“The Humpty Dumpty Circus” (1898)
The first ever stop-motion animated film was made by J. Stuart Blackton and Albert E. Smith between 1897 and 1898, “The Humpty Dumpty Circus.” Though the film is lost to history, the directors used their daughter’s dolls to imagine acrobats and animals in motion.
“The Enchanted Drawing” (1900) and “The Trip to the Moon” (1902)
Early cinema experimented with editing techniques to create illusions and special effects on screen in what would become traditional stop motion. Shorts like “The Enchanted Drawing” (1900) or “Fun in a Bakery Shop” (1902) found actors on screen manipulating drawings or piles of dough as if by magic.
- 4/12/2019
- by Brian Welk
- The Wrap
In his latest interview/podcast, host Stuart Wright talks to comic book creator and author Dan Whitehead about his selection of 5 Great British Horror Films.
Dan Whitehead has enjoyed a long and eclectic career in publishing, starting in 1991 as a games reviewer for Amiga Computing magazine. Since then he has worked for many gaming outlets, including Official Xbox Magazine, Eurogamer and the Guinness World Records Gamer’s Edition. He is the writer of the best-selling retro gaming book series, Speccy Nation.
He has also worked as a writer and editor in comics, ranging from children’s titles such as Scooby Doo, Looney Tunes and Rugrats to indie titles Hex Loader and Midwinter. He has also written graphic novel adaptations of Jason and the Argonauts and Julius Caesar, and was both editor and contributing writer on SelfMadeHero’s Edgar Allen Poe anthology Nevermore. In the field of licensed properties, Dan has...
Dan Whitehead has enjoyed a long and eclectic career in publishing, starting in 1991 as a games reviewer for Amiga Computing magazine. Since then he has worked for many gaming outlets, including Official Xbox Magazine, Eurogamer and the Guinness World Records Gamer’s Edition. He is the writer of the best-selling retro gaming book series, Speccy Nation.
He has also worked as a writer and editor in comics, ranging from children’s titles such as Scooby Doo, Looney Tunes and Rugrats to indie titles Hex Loader and Midwinter. He has also written graphic novel adaptations of Jason and the Argonauts and Julius Caesar, and was both editor and contributing writer on SelfMadeHero’s Edgar Allen Poe anthology Nevermore. In the field of licensed properties, Dan has...
- 2/11/2019
- by Stuart Wright
- Nerdly
This week the multiplex presents another retelling of a familiar, romantic legend. You may be wondering whether we’re going to endure another revival of Robin Hood since the stench of that abomination from two months ago has finally cleared from theatres (last week it garnered several well-earned Razzie nominations). No we’re not going to that exact time frame, for this new film starts a bit before, then jumps (leaps and bounds really) to the present day. It’s somehow a reboot and retelling of the story of Arthur, complete with knights, wizards, dragons, and that magical sword Excalibur, of course. And this time it’s a lad of thirteen or fourteen years, Alex, who is The Kid Who Would Be King.
This adventure starts with some backstory, namely a spiffy animated prologue rendered in the style of old pen and ink illustrations which whittles down the Arthurian legend to the basics,...
This adventure starts with some backstory, namely a spiffy animated prologue rendered in the style of old pen and ink illustrations which whittles down the Arthurian legend to the basics,...
- 1/24/2019
- by Jim Batts
- WeAreMovieGeeks.com
The earworm song “It’s a Small World” may be a Disneyland staple, but stop motion moviemaking gives other meanings to the phrase. That’s not just a description of the doll-sized cavemen that stomp through “Early Man” by Aardman Animation’s Nick Park, or the miniature canines populating Wes Anderson’s “Isle of Dogs” — when you look at the select cadre of people who make stop-motion puppets seem alive, you realize that yes, it’s a small world indeed.
“There are very few people who do this,” says Tristan Oliver, who photographed Anderson’s “Isle of Dogs” and “Fantastic Mr. Fox,” as well as Laika’s “ParaNorman” and Aardman’s “Wallace & Gromit in the Curse of the Were-Rabbit.” “Our paths cross a lot. So we can bypass lots of explanation, which is a great advantage. When someone comes in who doesn’t quite understand the technique there’s a...
“There are very few people who do this,” says Tristan Oliver, who photographed Anderson’s “Isle of Dogs” and “Fantastic Mr. Fox,” as well as Laika’s “ParaNorman” and Aardman’s “Wallace & Gromit in the Curse of the Were-Rabbit.” “Our paths cross a lot. So we can bypass lots of explanation, which is a great advantage. When someone comes in who doesn’t quite understand the technique there’s a...
- 12/11/2018
- by Ellen Wolff
- Variety Film + TV
If got some pretty awesome news for those of you who are fans of legendary special effects artist and stop-motion wizard Ray Harryhausen. He worked on a ton of films in the course of his career and a couple of my favorites include Clash of the Titans and Jason and the Argonauts.
Well, it looks like we’ll be getting a new film based on some newly discovered materials from Ray Harryhausen! These materials were discovered in the Ray and Diana Harryhausen Foundation, which houses more than 50,000 artifacts from the artist’s 60-year career. It’s pretty incredible that a new project will emerge from this archive!
The new project is tentatively titled Force of the Trojans. The screenplay for the film is being written by Beverley Cross, and the designs for the film will come from the original production art and sculptures conceived by Harryhausen!
The big announcement was made on Facebook,...
Well, it looks like we’ll be getting a new film based on some newly discovered materials from Ray Harryhausen! These materials were discovered in the Ray and Diana Harryhausen Foundation, which houses more than 50,000 artifacts from the artist’s 60-year career. It’s pretty incredible that a new project will emerge from this archive!
The new project is tentatively titled Force of the Trojans. The screenplay for the film is being written by Beverley Cross, and the designs for the film will come from the original production art and sculptures conceived by Harryhausen!
The big announcement was made on Facebook,...
- 10/24/2018
- by Joey Paur
- GeekTyrant
In today’s film news roundup, Jason Reitman wins the John Cassavetes award, the documentary “Race Against Time” gets a release and the Ray Harryhausen Foundation is planning “Force of the Trojans.”
Film Festivals
The Denver Film Festival has selected Jason Reitman as the recipient of its 2018 John Cassavetes Award for his work as a director, producer and writer.
The award was established in collaboration with Cassavetes’ spouse Gena Rowlands in 1989 and is presented to a film artist who has made a significant contribution to the world of filmmaking and whose work reflects the spirit of the late Cassavetes.
Reitman will screen his latest film, “The Front Runner,” on Nov. 8 at the Ellie Caulkins Opera House, followed by the presentation of the award. Reitman will be joined by his co-writers Matt Bai and Jay Carson for an onstage conversation about the film.
Reitman received Academy Award nominations for producing, directing...
Film Festivals
The Denver Film Festival has selected Jason Reitman as the recipient of its 2018 John Cassavetes Award for his work as a director, producer and writer.
The award was established in collaboration with Cassavetes’ spouse Gena Rowlands in 1989 and is presented to a film artist who has made a significant contribution to the world of filmmaking and whose work reflects the spirit of the late Cassavetes.
Reitman will screen his latest film, “The Front Runner,” on Nov. 8 at the Ellie Caulkins Opera House, followed by the presentation of the award. Reitman will be joined by his co-writers Matt Bai and Jay Carson for an onstage conversation about the film.
Reitman received Academy Award nominations for producing, directing...
- 10/23/2018
- by Dave McNary
- Variety Film + TV
By Lee Pfeiffer
When it comes to publishing top-end film books nobody does it better than Titan. The company has its pulse on every movie geek’s desires and their recent title “Harryhausen: The Movie Posters” should leave fans of the late, great special effects genius Ray Harryhausen drooling over the superb representations of his films. Author James Holliss wisely leaves the text to a minimum to allow the wonderfully-reproduced graphics exemplify the sheer excitement and wonder of the sci-fi and fantasy films associated with Harryhausen. The book presents a mind-boggling number of rare international movie posters and assorted oddities relating to the promotion of his films. Titan has published the book in an appropriately large size hardback format that allows the stunning graphics to be fully appreciated.
One becomes aware of just how important of a role the classic movie posters played in selling these films to the public,...
When it comes to publishing top-end film books nobody does it better than Titan. The company has its pulse on every movie geek’s desires and their recent title “Harryhausen: The Movie Posters” should leave fans of the late, great special effects genius Ray Harryhausen drooling over the superb representations of his films. Author James Holliss wisely leaves the text to a minimum to allow the wonderfully-reproduced graphics exemplify the sheer excitement and wonder of the sci-fi and fantasy films associated with Harryhausen. The book presents a mind-boggling number of rare international movie posters and assorted oddities relating to the promotion of his films. Titan has published the book in an appropriately large size hardback format that allows the stunning graphics to be fully appreciated.
One becomes aware of just how important of a role the classic movie posters played in selling these films to the public,...
- 10/8/2018
- by nospam@example.com (Cinema Retro)
- Cinemaretro.com
Author: Euan Franklin
You can’t overstate the influence of Ray Harryhausen on Hollywood cinema. His stop-motion animation inspired the most exciting fantasies of Peter Jackson, James Cameron, John Landis, and (most obviously) Nick Park from Aardman Animation. He worked on The 7th Voyage of Sinbad in 1958 and returned to the mythical hero 15 years later (after spending the ‘60s working on Jason and the Argonauts and One Million Years B.C.) with a different cast and crew in The Golden Voyage of Sinbad, which marked his first credit as a producer.
In Golden Voyage, Sinbad (John Phillip Law) and his crew intercept a homunculus flying above their ship. It carries a magic tablet, and Sinbad wears it around his neck as a boastful reward. When he visits Marabia, Sinbad meets with the golden-masked Grand Vizier (Douglas Wilmer) who tells him that the tablet is a third of an overall whole. It...
You can’t overstate the influence of Ray Harryhausen on Hollywood cinema. His stop-motion animation inspired the most exciting fantasies of Peter Jackson, James Cameron, John Landis, and (most obviously) Nick Park from Aardman Animation. He worked on The 7th Voyage of Sinbad in 1958 and returned to the mythical hero 15 years later (after spending the ‘60s working on Jason and the Argonauts and One Million Years B.C.) with a different cast and crew in The Golden Voyage of Sinbad, which marked his first credit as a producer.
In Golden Voyage, Sinbad (John Phillip Law) and his crew intercept a homunculus flying above their ship. It carries a magic tablet, and Sinbad wears it around his neck as a boastful reward. When he visits Marabia, Sinbad meets with the golden-masked Grand Vizier (Douglas Wilmer) who tells him that the tablet is a third of an overall whole. It...
- 3/1/2018
- by Euan Franklin
- HeyUGuys.co.uk
To celebrate the release of Clash of the Titans - available on Blu-ray, DVD & Digital HD Dual Format from Warner Bros. Home Entertainment 26th Feb. 2018 – we are giving away a copy!
Before history and beyond imagination! The machinations of gods above and the fates of man and monsters here below play out in a Clash of the Titans. Decades prior to the sensational 2010 version of the tale, Harry Hamlin took up sword and shield to play valorous Perseus, mortal son of Zeus (Laurence Olivier), who sets out to fulfill his destiny by rescuing beloved Andromeda from the wrath of goddess Thetis (Maggie Smith). Perils await Perseus time and again. And eye-filling thrills await viewers as stop-motion effects legend Ray Harryhausen (Jason and the Argonauts) unleashes snake-haired Medusa, fearsome Kraken, winged Pegasus, two-headed dog Dioskilos, giant scorpions and more. Rejoice, fantasy fans: the movie gods gift us with adventure that’s innovative,...
Before history and beyond imagination! The machinations of gods above and the fates of man and monsters here below play out in a Clash of the Titans. Decades prior to the sensational 2010 version of the tale, Harry Hamlin took up sword and shield to play valorous Perseus, mortal son of Zeus (Laurence Olivier), who sets out to fulfill his destiny by rescuing beloved Andromeda from the wrath of goddess Thetis (Maggie Smith). Perils await Perseus time and again. And eye-filling thrills await viewers as stop-motion effects legend Ray Harryhausen (Jason and the Argonauts) unleashes snake-haired Medusa, fearsome Kraken, winged Pegasus, two-headed dog Dioskilos, giant scorpions and more. Rejoice, fantasy fans: the movie gods gift us with adventure that’s innovative,...
- 2/27/2018
- by Phil Wheat
- Nerdly
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