What: On the cusp of the year 2000, the city of Los Angeles is rampant with crime and the racial tension on the streets is about to explode. Lenny Nero (Ralph Fiennes) is a former cop turned peddler of a new drug that has hit the streets, a virtual reality device taken from a SQUID (Superconducting…
The X-Files: Fight the Future (1998) from Twentieth Century Fox Films Who: Directed by Rob Bowman (The A-Team, Castle), co-written by The X-Files creator Chris Carter and show producer Frank Spotnitz, with Gillian Anderson as the impeccable Dana Scully, and David Duchovny as the imperturbable Fox Mulder. What: Taking place after the TV show’s fourth season…
Night of the Living Dead (1968) from Image Ten Productions Who: Written by John Russo (Midnight) and George Romero, who also directed, with lumbering zombie makeup by Tony Pantanella (The Crazies) and Regis Survinski (The Crazies, Hungry Wives), and the most underappreciated protagonist of all time played by Duane Jones. What: Barbra and her brother…
The Day of Blood continues. –Count Spatula Teen Wolf (1985) from MGM Who: Written by Jeph Loeb (who went on to write for Smallville, Lost, and Heroes, among other shows) and Matthew Weisman (Commando, 1980s Teen Wolf TV series), starring small, spunky, sincere Matthew J. Fox as the boy-turned-werewolf, and featuring make-up and SFX by Christopher Biggs…
Akira (1988) from The Akira Committee Company Ltd. (six companies working together) Who: Written and directed by Katsuhiro Otomo (who wrote the manga on which the film is based), voiced by three different casts over the years (Original ’88, Streamline English ’88, Pioneer/Animaze English ’01) and meticulously hand-animated by teams of dedicated animators and colorists….
Escape from New York (1981) from AVCO Embassy Pictures Who: John Carpenter (Halloween, Big Trouble in Little China) directs, Kurt Russell and his eyepatch star as the ex-soldier coerced into being a hero, Snake Plissken, Ernest Borgnine appears as a helpful tax driver, and round-headed Donald Pleasence plays the President. What: In 1988, the crime…
In celebration of Disney’s Star Wars Weekends, we’re releasing Retro Reviews of the original Star Wars movies! Stick around all weekend as we take you on a journey through your favorite trilogy! —D. Alexander, The Editor Episode VI: Return of the Jedi (1983) from Lucasfilm Ltd. Who: Richard Marquand directs, the team of Edlund, Muren, Ken Ralston, and Phil…
In celebration of Disney’s Star Wars Weekends, we’re releasing Retro Reviews of the original Star Wars movies! Stick around all weekend as we take you on a journey through your favorite trilogy! —D. Alexander, The Editor Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back (1980) from Lucasfilm Ltd. Who: Directed by Irvin Kershner (RoboCop 2, Never Say Never Again), introducing Billy…
In celebration of Disney’s Star Wars Weekends, we’re releasing Retro Reviews of the original Star Wars movies! Stick around all weekend as we take you on a journey through your favorite trilogy! —D. Alexander, The Editor Episode IV: A New Hope (1977) from Lucasfilm and Twentieth Century Fox Who: Directed by George Lucas (American Graffiti, Raiders of the Lost…
Logan’s Run (1976) from Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Who: Directed by Michael Anderson (Around the World in Eighty Days (1956)), starring a very blond Michael York as the titular Logan, and the great Peter Ustinov as “Old Man” (he’s actually an important character, don’t worry). What: In the future, those still alive live in one comfortable dome city and…
Gojira (or Godzilla) (1954) from Toho Film Co. Who: Directed by Japanese filmmaker Ishiro Honda, starring the hard-working (really sweaty) Haruo Nakajima as the greatest kaiju of them all, and with SFX by Sadamasa Arikawa and Akira Ifukube (the iconic Godzilla roar that was recreated with this recipe) that helped astonish audiences at the time, thus ushering…
Fantastic Voyage (1966) from Twentieth Century Fox Who: Richard Fleischer (Soylent Green, Tora! Tora! Tora!, Conan the Destroyer) directs, Stephen Boyd (Ben-Hur) and Donald Pleasence (The Great Escape, Halloween) act, and the Oscar-winning production/design team makes some pretty cool human insides. (Fantastic Voyage won at the 1966 Academy Awards in Best Art Direction-Set Decoration, Color…
