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Reviews
Fright Show (1985)
Compilation of short films selected by Starlog staff members
MPI Home Video issued this 1985 film to video in the 80s. Directed by Linda Laias and Damon Santostefano (and also known as FRIGHT SHOW), this is a funny compilation of lighthearted kids horror and sci-fi. The first segment (DR. DOBERMIND) is about a little girl touring a taxidermy museum and being haunted by the creepy tour-guide; the second takes place in outer space and is a parody of Alien (ILLEGAL ALIEN); the third is about a little boy who joins a big kids horror club and is haunted by visions of a monster but no one will believe him (NIGHTFRIGHT); and the last story is about some poker-playing geeks who get a meteor through their house that carries an unfriendly visitor. (THE THING IN THE BASEMENT). In between each of these films is in-studio cable-access-styled commentary by two dorks who work for "Starlog" Magazine. All four science fiction films were winners in the CINEMAGIC magazine contest way back in the early 80's. The full title is "CINEMAGIC: A JOURNEY INTO THE BIZARRE WORLD OF HORROR AND SCI-FI"
Animato (1977)
Mike Jittlov has created a true masterpiece
This compilation of brilliant and flawless animated and live action short films made by effects genius Mike Jittlov is a true masterpiece. It was nominated for an Oscar in 1979 for best animated short. It won many, many, other awards also. It includes Time Tripper, The Interview, and Fashionation. The third is my favorite. It consists of clever animation of hand drawn cels combined with cutouts set to a Petula Clark song to create a unique experience. It also features a brief cameo by the maker in stop motion form. What's also entertaining is that the lyrics in her song match what the animation is illustrating. Go to youtube.com and you will find this. Otherwise, you will never, ever find it. I can't stress that enough! Highly recommended though.
The Wizard of Speed and Time (1979)
Possibly the greatest short film ever
This independent short film by special effects GENIUS Mike Jittlov could quite easily be the greatest short film ever made. It is about the adventures of a green robed wizard through Los Angeles and beyond. The first half is packed with spectacular special effects work as he runs at Mach 5 around California. He then slips on a banana peel, which causes him to soar into the air, crash landing on an empty soundstage. Then, using the most AMAZING special effects ever, the studio comes to life with dancing tripods, and cascading film cans everywhere. He then sings an explanatory song as to who he is. The song is very catchy, and you will find yourself humming it from time to time upon repeated viewing. The half that takes place in the studio truly demonstrates Mike Jittlov's ingenuity. TO be able to sing whilst surrounded by animated things, he animated his lips frame by frame in synch with music he recorded earlier.
The Astral Factor (1978)
Obscure science fiction junk from the 70's
I bought this film on a cheap DVD from a 99 cent store. I know very well why it was 99 cents. It starts out in the prison where the strangler, Roger Sans, is being held. He starts to meditate and becomes 9/10 invisible when his stupid insomniac cell-neighbor sees him. He picks an argument with him and gets telekinetically attacked. A guard comes in and is locked in Sans's cell while he escapes in a tacky hand-held shot accompanied with ridiculous "heartbeat" and "heavy breathing" sounds. He visits his mother's grave, where in a weird flashback-ish scene it is explained that Riger's mother never cared for him and never let his life progress. A police officer, a particularly stupid officer, approaches him, claims Roger is a vandal and threatens to call reinforcements. This is where one of my favorite bad movie things happens. His eyes glow when he telekinetically pushes him into an open grave. This sounds normal, but the glowing eyes effect was achieved by painting glowey stuff on a still picture of the strangler. Greaaaaaaaaaat. Anyway, a bunch of inconsistencies ensue, Robert Foxworth shows his HIDEOUS rear area, Elke Sommer wears a bikini, and blablablabla. However, let me point out the silly ending. Roger Sans is sneaking up the stairs to kill Elke Sommer. However, the police are hiding watching him, and have charged the railing with electricity to know when he arrives(!) Robert Foxworth rapidly fires a machine gun until there is a shot (in negative to illustrate the invisibility) of Roger Sans screaming as bullets go in everywhere. He falls onto the floor, pulsating from inverted to normal tone. His last words: "I never wanted to hurt you mama." He then glows brightly. It fades away and a void opens up in the floor, where a blue glowing Roger Sans careens into another dimension and creates a glowy blast thing. The void in the floor closes up and that is the end of Roger Sans. It is a little hokey, but it genuinely disturbed me. Tell you what, buy the DVD and skip to the end. You'll actually feel a little weird. Bad, very bad.
The Muppets' Wizard of Oz (2005)
1/3 alright, 2/3 miserable
Some humor in the film succeeded in being funny(Watch for Kelly Osbourne and Quentin Tarantino cameos), some sight gags were good too, but that was not a large part of the film. Dreadful Things: Witch is in Da House song, trying to update the wizard of oz to make it 'cool' for today's kids, the poor delivery of mediocre songs which there was not enough of, so-so acting, visible wires, crude humor that comes out of nowhere and isn't very funny, and I could go on, so I will! The talking shrimp grew tiresome at times. The script didn't seem to work too well. Yeah, I guess you could compare this film to others in it's class, like the Apple.
Superman (1978)
Neat Effects, Good movie too
I'm John Butler, special effects technician. I watched Superman for the effects, thinking about it's creation in 1978. I was impressed. The models near the end of the Hoover Dam as it breaks were good, some of the model houses lacked good visual agreement with the mandatorily full scale water. The flying was alright considering the new for the movie techniques used. The running was really neat, despite being so simple. The helicopter scene was incredible. Aside from it looking amazing on the fantasy side, there were real things you never would have guessed were fake in that scene. Ah, but the opening credits. What a breakthrough. Their amazing dynamics were achieved with CGI. The Krypton models were okay, composite shots with Krypton was good, glowing suits and rings were neat, F.O.S. was good,Spaceship was alright, G.G. Bridge was good, explosions great, teleportation neat, Phantom Zone Amazing, and the list goes on. The movie was good too.