NIGHT SKY 2022 Science Fiction Drama Season 1 - Episode 1 To the Stars

The series centers around Franklin and Irene York, a couple who years ago discovered a chamber buried in their backyard which inexplicably leads to a strange, deserted planet. They've carefully guarded their secret ever since, but when an enigmatic young man enters their lives, the Yorks' quiet existence is quickly upended, and the mysterious chamber they thought they knew so well turns out to be much more than they could ever have imagined. Starring Sissy Spacek who came to prominence for her Oscar nominated performance in the horror movie Carrie (1976).

As usual it's never easy to say where this show is leading us until you get a few more episodes under your belt. The two main characters seem to be a winning combination and play off each other really well. Will have to wait and see with this one. Hard to believe Sissy Spacek is now 72.

SOUTH PARK 1997 Animated Sitcom Season 1 - Episode 1 Cartman Gets An Anal Probe

Cartman dreams he has a close encounter with an alien. The other boys are convinced the dream was real, and that he has been the victim of an alien a... probe. Well that plot line just about say's it all. My first introduction to South Park, I have seen this episode before though I had forgot it was the first. The first season of the animated television series South Park ran for 13 episodes from August 13, 1997 to February 25, 1998. The series revolves around four boys—Stan Marsh, Kyle Broflovski, Eric Cartman, and Kenny McCormick—and their exploits in and around the titular Colorado town. With humour very close to the knuckle definitely not for children generally intended for adult audiences. The boys and most other child characters use strong profanity, with only the most taboo words being bleeped during a typical broadcast. South Park commonly makes use of numerous running gags, violence, sexual content, offhand pop-cultural references, and satirical portrayal of celebrities.

The show's opening theme song was a musical score performed by the band Primus. During the episode we are introduced to the following Cartman I'm not fat, I'm big boned. Chef singing to the kids voiced by singer Isaac Hayes about making love to a beautiful woman. The first time Kenny gets killed, "Oh my God, they killed Kenny! You bastards! and Cartman's love of Cheesy Poofs. We were not ready for this at all lol.

ROUGH STUFF 2017 Comedy-Adventure Film

An environmental activist group charters treasure-seeking Rovers, (Australian for outback nomads) for an expedition through remote and treacherous Australian terrain, with exciting off-road chases, daring rescues and amazing discoveries. Full of mud, friendship, mud, love, sex, mud and good old fashioned 'get your hands dirty' adventure. If your into off-road truck driving then this is the film for you, but sadly not for me. Good on the visuals and the truck driving, though lacking a decent storyline to keep my interest.

NORBIT 2007 Comedy Film

Eddie Murphy portrays multiple roles including the eponymous Norbit and his abusive obese wife Rasputia; regretting ever having married her, Norbit decides he has had enough of her behavior at about the same time that his childhood sweetheart Kate returns to his life with plans for the orphanage where Norbit and Kate grew up. Norbit risks everything to be with her, but must also contend with his intimidating brothers-in-law who have an agenda of their own. This man is funny love his movies when it makes you laugh out loud you know your on a winner. Two of the highlights for me are Norbit's friends ex pimps Pope Sweet Jesus and Lord Have Mercy, and who can resist a talking pug.

Mr. Wong and Rasputia got some funny lines as well. All I can say is what took me so long to watch this definitely worth the wait.

12 DISASTERS 2012 Science Fiction Action Film

Also known as the The 12 Disasters of Christmas. In a small town called Calvary, a rain of ice spears puts everyone on notice. Just before Jacey's grandmother dies, she gives a mystical ring to her explaining that she is the chosen one to stop the end of the world prophesied by the Maya for December 21, 2012. Jacey was born right at Christmas, her parents are named Joseph and Mary, and the solution is in the hidden message of the popular Christian holiday song "The 12 Days of Christmas", where a different disaster corresponds to each day and the "five gold rings" provide a messianic gift.

This storyline was so hard to swallow it made my throat hurt. Have seen similar movies done many times one of the better one's I recall being The Reaping (2007), this film was more a mish mash of half thought out ideas. 12 disasters and this was one off them.

ALL HALLOWS EVE 2013 Horror Anthology Film

The film is presented as a series of shorts that two children and their babysitter discover on an unmarked videotape on Halloween night, all of which feature a homicidal clown named Art the Clown. The film was followed by a standalone anthology sequel, All Hallows' Eve 2, in 2015, which features segments by different directors. The character of Art the Clown would later be featured in the 2016 film Terrifier. After a night of trick-or-treating on Halloween, babysitter Sarah is surprised to see that children Tia and Timmy have received an unmarked VHS tape in one of their bags. The children convince Sarah to allow them to watch the tape, which contains three stories. Bad idea Sarah.

We have a lot going on here a killer clown, alway's good for a laugh, blood rituals and aliens. Art the Clown won't make you smile, but he should make you want to run. Probably the wrong time of year to be watching it but their was enough going on to keep me interested.

FAY WRAY (September 15, 1907 – August 8, 2004) THE ORIGINAL SCREAM QUEEN

Fay Wray was a Canadian/American actress best remembered for starring as Ann Darrow in the 1933 film King Kong. Through an acting career that spanned nearly six decades, Wray attained international recognition as an actress in horror films. She has been dubbed one of the early "scream queens". After appearing in minor film roles, Wray gained media attention after being selected as one of the "WAMPAS Baby Stars" in 1926. This led to her being contracted to Paramount Pictures as a teenager, where she made more than a dozen feature films.

After leaving Paramount, Wray signed with other film studios. Under these deals, Wray was cast in several horror films, including Doctor X (1932) and Mystery of the Wax Museum (1933). However, her best known films were produced under her deal with RKO Radio Pictures. Her first film with RKO was The Most Dangerous Game (1932). The production was filmed at night on the same jungle sets that were being used for King Kong during the day, and with Wray and Robert Armstrong starring in both movies. The Most Dangerous Game was followed by the release of Wray's best remembered film, King Kong. According to Wray, Jean Harlow had been RKO's original choice, but because MGM put Harlow under exclusive contract during the pre-production phase of the film, she became unavailable. Wray was approached by director Merian C. Cooper to play the blonde captive of King Kong; the role of Ann Darrow for which she was paid $10,000 to play her. The film was a commercial success and Wray was reportedly proud that the film saved RKO from bankruptcy. After the success of King Kong, she made numerous appearances in both film and television, retiring in 1980. In the film King Kong during the final scenes it show's Kong scaling up the side of the Empire State Building with Ann Darrow in his grasp. During her later years, she visited the Empire State Building frequently; in 1991, she was a guest of honor at the building's 60th anniversary. August 8, 2004 Fay passed away in her sleep, aged 96. Two days after her death, the lights of the Empire State Building were lowered for 15 minutes in her memory.

REVENGE OF THE CREATURE 1955 B/W Horror Film

(a.k.a. Return of the Creature and Return of the Creature from the Black Lagoon) is the first of two Universal-International sequels to Creature from the Black Lagoon. It was the only 3D film released in 1955 and the only 3D sequel to a 3D film released during "the golden age of 3D." The Gill-man is captured and sent to the Ocean Harbor Oceanarium in Florida, where he is studied by animal psychologist Professor Clete Ferguson and ichthyology student Helen Dobson. Helen and Clete quickly begin to fall in love, the Gill-man also takes an instant liking to Helen, which severely hampers Clete's efforts to communicate with him. Ultimately, the Gill-man escapes from his tank, and flees to the open ocean. Unable to stop thinking about Helen, the Gill-man soon begins to stalk her and Clete, and returns to claim her.

I liked this line from the Captain of the boat, I hope you ain't going to blow up my boat Mr. Johnson. Like my wife, she's not much but she's all I have. The film also marked an early role for Clint Eastwood as a lab technician. The creature itself I thought was impressive, I had seen pictures of the Creature from the Black Lagoon before but never watched any of the movies so I was pleasantly surprised.

THE DEADLIEST LESSON/DETENTION 2008 Crime Thriller TV Movie

Teacher Gloria Abraham witnesses the murder of a student by a local drug dealer, Oscar Reyes, while on the way to work. After agreeing to testify, she is then targeted by the dealer and his thugs. They decide to take care of her while she is overseeing Saturday detention at the school. Will she and her students survive? A new teacher recently started work at a rundown school in a deprived area where the drugs culture is rife. While many in her situation would probably ignore what was going on around her she decides to stand by her principles bringing herself and those around her to the drug dealers attention.

While their is some violence portrayed in this film it ended up playing out as what it was intended to be a typical tv movie to pass a couple of hours on a rainy afternoon.

52 PICK-UP 1986 Neo-Noir Crime Film

It is based on Elmore Leonard's 1974 novel of the same name, and is the second adaptation of it after The Ambassador (1984). Harry Mitchell (Roy Scheider) is a successful construction magnate living in the suburbs of Los Angeles, whose wife Barbara is running for city council. However Harry has been playing around with a younger woman and is confronted by three hooded blackmailers who demand $105,000 per year for a videotape of him and his mistress Cini, who turns out to be a stripper and part of the blackmail plan. Because of his wife's political aspirations Harry flatly refuses to go to the police; however, guilt eventually drives him to confess all to Barbara. Then begins a tale of more bluffs and double crosses than a high level game of poker. Not my usual film genre but I have to say I really enjoyed this you could feel the menace hanging thick in the air right from the outset. I recognised Roy Scheider from the film Jaws 1975. The question was why was he playing away from home in the first place I thought his wife Barabara Mitchell (Ann-Margret), was gorgeous in this.

Neo-noir is a revival of film noir, a genre that had originally flourished during the post-World War II era in the United States—roughly from 1945 to 1960. The French term, film noir, translates literally to English as "black movie" or "dark movie", indicating sinister stories often presented in a shadowy cinematographic style. Neo-noir has a similar style but with updated themes, content, style, and visual elements. From my list of Mystery Movies from the 1980s.

ABBY 1974 Blaxploitation Horror Film

A Pastors wife is possessed by an evil Nigerian God released by her archaeologist father on one of his digs. While on an archaeological dig in a cave in Nigeria, Dr. Williams finds a small puzzle box, carved with the symbols of Eshu: the whirlwind, the cock's comb, and the erect phallus. When Dr. Williams discovers the mechanism to open the box and unlatches it, a tremendous wind blasts out, knocking Dr. Williams and his men against the cave walls and floor. The spirit released by Dr. Williams crosses the Atlantic to Louisville, Kentucky to the new home of Dr. Williams' son, Emmett Williams and Abby Williams. After Abby becomes possessed, her behavior becomes erratic, bizarre and dangerous. Typical 70s film feel opening dialogue and title song. I see a lot of films in this one, The Exorcist, Poltergeist and The Entity spring to mind. The film was a financial success, considering its modest budget and the times, grossing $4 million in a month, but was pulled from theaters after the film's distributor, American International Pictures, was accused of copyright violation by Warner Bros., which saw the film as being derivative of The Exorcist and filed a lawsuit against AIP. Director William Girdler himself told the Louisville Courier Journal: "Sure, we made Abby to come in on the shirttail of The Exorcist." The film is also inspired by 1968's Rosemary's Baby.

Blaxploitation - is an ethnic subgenre of the exploitation film that emerged in the United States during the early 1970s. The term, a portmanteau of the words "black" and "exploitation", was coined in August 1972 by Junius Griffin, then president of the Beverly Hills-Hollywood NAACP branch. He so named it because he claimed the genre was "proliferating offenses" to the black community in its perpetuation of stereotypical characters often involved in criminal activity. However, the genre does rank among the first after the race films in the 1940s and 1960s in which black characters and communities are the heroes and subjects of film and television, rather than sidekicks, villains, or victims of brutality. The genre's inception coincides with the rethinking of race relations in the 1970s. Blaxploitation films were originally aimed at an urban African-American audience, but the genre's audience appeal soon broadened across racial and ethnic lines. Hollywood realized the potential profit of expanding the audiences of blaxploitation films across those racial lines. From my list of Horror Movies 1974.

THE OWNERS 2020 Horror Thriller

Adapted from the graphic novel Une nuit de pleine lune (Night of the Full Moon) by Hermann and Yves H. An old country house is the perfect score for a group of friends looking for an easy payday. However, the robbery turns into a brutal and bloody nightmare when the elderly owners return.

Spotted a few actors I knew their faces, but I had to google to see who they were couldn't remember. Maise Williams who played Arya Stark in Game of Thrones and Andrew Ellis, Gadget from the This Is England film series. One actor I did know was Sylvester McCoy The Hobbit and the 7th doctor in Doctor Who.

SHARPE 1993 Season 1 - Episode 1 Sharpe's Rifles

Based on Bernard Cornwell's 1988 novel of the same name. It began a long series of successful and critically acclaimed television adaptations of the novels. Filming took place in the Crimea, Portugal and England, during which Paul McGann who was the original actor cast for the role of Richard Sharpe, broke his leg and was quickly replaced with Sean Bean. The drama tells the story of Richard Sharpe, an ambitious and hardened soldier from Yorkshire. In 1809, Sergeant Richard Sharpe of the 95th Rifles saves Sir Arthur Wellesley, the commander of the British army fighting the French in Portugal, from three French cavalrymen. Wellesley rewards Sharpe with a field commission to lieutenant. Wellesley has no money to pay his men, so he has arranged for a loan from the Rothschild family. James Rothschild has set out from Vienna with a badly needed bank draft, but has gone missing in the Spanish mountains. A company of the 95th, under Major Dunnett, is being sent to search for him, and Sharpe's first assignment is to command the Chosen Men, a handful of sharpshooters attached to the company. Sharpe, still uncomfortable in his new rank, does not make a good impression on his men, particularly their unofficial leader, Irishman Patrick Harper.

THE CAVE 2005 Action Horror Film

In the 13th-century Carpathian Mountains of Romania, an Eastern Orthodox abbey and its inhabitants are destroyed by a landslide. Centuries later a group of Soviet and British plunderers are driving in search for the long-lost abbey/church during the Cold War era. They discover the abbey/church is built above a vast cave system, but it is completely blocked off by an intricate floor mosaic. One of the men tries to get the leader of the group to read the designs and images on the mosaic floor. However, the leader brushes him off. The leader looks ahead and sees a spot he thinks they can get through. Wanting to get through to the tunnel, they set up some dynamite. They are successful but not for long, as The mosaic floor splits beneath them and they all fall through to the bottom of a vast cave. The group of men then hear rocks falling and, as they look up, a massive rockslide covers the church and the opening above them. They are now trapped and realize the only way out is to move forward. They descend further into the cave in hopes of finding a way out. They hear strange rattle/clicking sounds in the darkness. This is just the beginning of the movie to set the story.

First thing that came to mind when I heard it was the Carpathian Mountains it had to be vampires. Then I remembered another movie The Descent also 2005 similar in their subject matter that being cave exploration and underground creatures. I also have an idea in my head about what the creature looks like to me but I can't spoil the film.

12 TO THE MOON 1960 B/W Science Fiction Film

12 to the Moon was novelized by Fred Gebhardt under the pen name Robert A. Wise and published in 1961. Earth's International Space Order prepares for its first astronaut landing on the Moon, with the goal of claiming it as "international territory." The crew of Lunar Eagle 1 comprises 12 people from around the world, 10 men and two women, all scientists with different specialties, accompanied by a small menagerie, including two cats. The spaceship is commanded by American John Anderson.

I couldn't find too much to excite myself about here. The rocket was as big on the inside as the Tardis from Doctor Who. Also the men were wearing some dodgy looking space suits as you can see from the picture above. Taken from my list 1960s Sci Fi Films.

STAR WARS: EPISODE IV - A NEW HOPE 1977 Science Fiction Film

Star Wars takes place "a long time ago", in a fictional universe inhabited by humans and alien species; most of the known galaxy is ruled by the tyrannical Galactic Empire, which is only opposed by the Rebel Alliance, a group of freedom fighters. The narrative of the film focuses on the hero journey of Luke Skywalker, an everyman who becomes caught in the galactic conflict between the Empire and the Rebellion after coming into possession of two droids, R2-D2 and C-3PO, the first of whom is carrying the schematics of the Empire's ultimate weapon, the Death Star. While attempting to deliver the droids to the Rebellion, Luke is joined by wizened Jedi Master Obi-Wan Kenobi, who teaches him about the metaphysical power known as "the Force", cynical smuggler Han Solo, his Wookiee companion Chewbacca and Rebellion leader Princess Leia. Imperial officers Darth Vader, a Sith Lord, and Grand Moff Tarkin, the commander of the Death Star, seek to retrieve the stolen schematics and find the Rebellion's secret base.

Confession I have tried several times to watch a Star Wars movie and never managed to sit through a full one until now. Yesterday was Star Wars Day, May 4th 2022, hence the catch phrase May The 4th Be With You so I decided it was now or possibly never. So cue the Star Wars music and the written monologue at the start and away we go. Loved seeing Peter Cushing as Tarkin, the Jawas, (meter-tall humanoids completely hidden behind rough hand-woven robes), and the alien jazz band were all excellent. Overall a good space action adventure film of it's time although in my opinion starting to look a little dated now.

ATTACK OF THE PUPPET PEOPLE 1958 B/W Science Fiction Horror Film

The doll manufacturing company Dolls Inc. is owned and operated by Mr. Franz, who has a personal collection of very lifelike dolls stored in glass canisters locked in a display case on a wall. Sally Reynolds answers a newspaper advertisement for a secretary position. Although unnerved by Franz’s extremely friendly and pushy manner, she is ultimately moved to take the job. Mr. Franz a former puppet master has somehow invented a machine that shrinks people into the size of dolls that he keeps to ward off his loneliness. But in the end the dolls rebel against him and decide to fight back.

Personally I thought this movie was very well done for it's age and really enjoyable. The first time the shrinking machine is switched on even I was surprised by how loud it was. Also I want a miniature cat it looked fantastic. Taken from my list Films That Feature Killer Toys.

BEFORE I HANG 1940 B/W Horror Film

Starring one of the big three from the golden age of horror, Boris Karloff. Dr. John Garth (Boris Karloff) is on trial for murder after performing a mercy killing on an elderly friend. During the trial, he reveals that he had been researching a cure for aging but had not had time to perfect it before his friend's pain became unbearable. Despite his pleas for mercy, the judge sentences him to be hanged in three weeks' time. As he awaits his execution, Dr. Garth is allowed to continue his experiments, thanks to support from the prison warden and a Dr. Ralph Howard. Using the blood of a recently executed prisoner, they succeed in developing a serum that will reverse the effects of aging and decide to test it on Dr. Garth immediately prior to his execution. What happens next well you will have to watch the film to find out.

THE GOLDEN AGE. (1919-1948) Although the Golden Age would be defined largely by the output of Universal Studios, the first "all-talking" horror movie was released by Warner Bros. in 1928 and was called, The Terror. In the 30s, it was Bela Lugosi, Boris Karloff, and Lon Chaney, Jr. In the 50s, 60s, and early 70s, it was Peter Cushing, Christopher Lee, and Vincent Price. These were actors who owed most of their fame to the horror genre. They were also able to maintain that fame through the production of more horror films. Footnote:while watching this film one thing kept coming into my mind, Karloff's physique kept reminding me off Lurch from The Addams Family.

CURSE OF THE LOST AMAZON GOLD/CURSE OF AKAKOR 2021 TV Series Season 1 - Episode 1 - Unexplored

The search for Akakor begins in an unexplored region of the Peruvian Amazon. The missing explorer investigation unearths strange rumours about the infamous river guide, Tatunca Nara. Satellite images lead the team towards an undiscovered ruin but it requires great effort to access such a remote location. In the 70s German foreign correspondent Karl Brugger met Tatunca who told him the history of Akakor, a supposed underground city located below the rain forest. Brugger was convinced and wrote the "Chronicle of Akakor" published in 1976. Brugger was later shot and killed by an unknown assailant in the streets of Rio de Janeiro in 1984. Three other explorers/adventurers maybe more have disappeared while searching for the lost city all have a strong connection with Tatunca Nara although nothing has ever been proven. John Reed, American 1980, Herbert Wanner, Switzerland 1983 (in 1984 a skull was found and identified as Wanner) and Swede, Christine Heuser 1987 all disappeared in mysterious circumstances.

(Picture - Tatunca Nara and Herbert Wanner). Footnote:The lost city of Akakor was used as the basis of the Indiana Jones movie, The Kingdom of the Crystal Skull 2008.