When AI is used for good rather than evil, you can get some wonderful creations such as the rash of Kung Fu Cats that are on the internet on sites such as YouTube. Fighting dogs, cats, humans, and even hamsters, these martial arts adept felines are almost unstoppable, although their weakness appears to be cat toys, which can distract them..
The images and videos can satirize those hokey old martial arts flicks that have been around for decades, and the traditions and characters that we loved and hated in them…
I for one will never look at my cats the same way again, lest a script for Hidden Tiger, Hiding Human play out before my eyes with my unwilling participation…
I have to admit that I was not the biggest fan of the earlier video tales of Frankenstein and his monster. The story was old, crafted by Mary Shelley in 1816 as part of a friendly literary competition with her husband, friend Lord Byron, and one other to create a horror story, with hers published in 1818 likely the best and most enduring effort. I just grew tired of the repeated version of the Frankenstein monster as a powerful but lumbering dolt of limited intelligence and expressive capabilities…
That version of the Frankenstein monster was revised in the underrated movie, Van Helsing, with Hugh Jackman portraying a younger, dynamic version of the great monster hunter. The Frankenstein monster in that film was still appearance-impaired but quite articulate…the dude read poetry, for cripe’s sake! This was a thinking man’s Frankenstein…
Now enter Guillermo del Toro’s “Frankenstine! This monster is distinctly easier on the eyes, almost to the point of being ruggedly handsome. The creature can move, and as a muscular big guy (played by a 6’5″ actor), when we first encounter him basically naked he reminded me in appearance of the Engineer species in the Alien movie franchise..
This “monster” is more sinned against than sinning, and is underestimated grossly by his arrogant and egotistical creator, who tries to destroy his creation with fire. Fortunately, the “monster” proves both resourceful and resilient, and appears to have a “healing factor” capability at least as good as Marvel’s “Wolverine,” with bullets only slowing him down temporarily, and even explosions incapable of destroying him. Pursuing his creator into the arctic, this juggernaut in his cowl even projects kind of a “Phantom of the Opera” appearance at times, evolving into an articulate but tormented being who struggles against his own nature. You’ll find yourself rooting for this “monster,” really, even if he could use some cosmetic work!
We do see some classic elements of the original Frankenstein movie touched upon in this version with revisions, such as the blind hermit who befriends “The Monster.” When he returns to the hermit’s abode to find his friend under heavy attack by wolves, Frankenstein’s creation takes on an entire wolf pack by himself, weaponless but able to use his great strength and outrage to devastating effect on the wolves, hurling, crushing, and breaking them like a true avenger. A surviving wolf wisely runs away!
With greatatmospherics and mood and attention to detail as well as proper respect shown to the source material, Guillermo del Toro’s Frankenstein is a masterpiece, and may be seen on Netflix…
(Warning:visual content not suitable for children!)
As classic characters are entering the public domain, they seem to be swiftly given the horror treatment in movies. This happened to Winnie the Pooh (Blood and Honey), and Peter Pan (Neverland Nightmare). Now, sadly, it seems that beloved cartoon character Popeye the Sailor is being given the full Jason Voorhees treatment in the film, Popeye’s Revenge… 🙀
It would seem that counselors looking to explore opening a camp near the ocean are also intrigued to explore the “myth” of Popeye the Sailor and his reputed ghost, only to find that they’ve tapped into far more than they anticipated. This “Popeye” is quite the gory killer, and his preferred instrument of dealing death is, appropriately enough, an anchor…
While a fan of horror, I’m not fully on board with this kind of gore-fest, preferring more of an intelligent or psychologically-themed use of the genre. One hopes that the viewing public would soon get their fill of revised to evil cultural heroes from childhood, but I guess that the cycle must play itself out, or simply become unprofitable.– – That ought to kill the trend off!
Just in case one Popeye horror movie isn’t enough for you, a second one is coming later this year. What else would it be called other than Popeye the Slayer Man!
Spinachmay never be seen the same way again! Is he a monster? As Popeye might say, “I yam what I am!”
(Hey!– maybe I can get a piece of this evil Popeye thing! I’m Foxy…the Sailor Man…Toot-Toot!)
It’s official...coming in July 2025, we will be privy to seeing the first furry superhero on the big screen, discounting such notable characters as Rocket from Guardians of the Galaxy, of course!
When the new James Gunn Superman movie trailer opens, we see The Man of Steel as being terribly vulnerable, in a world of hurt, actually…cut, bleeding, spitting up blood, and actually in dire need of help! Fortunately, Supes has his best friend Krypto available to save his tail, taking the injured superhero from his frozen crash site home by the cape!
Yes, Krypto in the upcoming movie is more than just a cute pet, but rather an underrated powerhouse…and he promises to have significant roles in other upcoming DC movies as well! Thankfully, Krypto will not speak in the movie as he has in some of the animated cartoon versions, but only bark. He’s a dog, but one with formidable powers…
The new Superman movie seeks to further humanize the titular character, making him more relatable. Yes, this Superman is an alien, but his heart is human. He can shoot beams from his eyes, but you don’t have to be afraid of him. The entire tone of the movie is brighter, reflected in the color schemes.Allin all, I think that this is a good course correction…
The ambitious scope and nuances of the upcoming movie are too vast to cover in a single post, so this blog will probably return to it. For now, enjoy the official trailer, and the upcoming holiday, no matter how you may celebrate it…
I’ve got bad news, and I’ve got good news. First, the bad news: the movie Coyote VS. Acme has been shelved, perhaps forever, even though the film is complete. While I would have been thrilled to see Wile E. Coyote headlining in his own feature, perhaps Warner Brothersdecided that this was too much of a niche audience for a full-length film, and decided to take a tax write-off...
Now, the good news; The Day The Earth Blew Up has officially received a theatrical release in Europe, and will be all over the U.S. in late February!
Featuring Daffy Duck and Porky and Petunia Pig, The Day The Earth Blew Up is the first theatrically released Looney Tunes movie since 2021’s critically-panned Space Jam: A New Legacy. The trio of unlikely heroes team up to prevent an alien invasion that threatens life on Earth…
The film is released by Ketchup Entertainment, which bought the rights from Warner Bros back in August. Cartoon Network writer Pete Browngardt directs, using Looney Tunes voice talent. Playing in Europe, the film has been well-received, is true to its heritage, and appears to be set up to become one of the most beloved feature-length Looney Tunes outings of all time, playing off vibes of 1950’s-1960’s science fiction films.I do think, however, that Marvin the Martian could have bested this film’s villainous alien without breaking a sweat…I’m a Marvin loyalist!
So while Americans must wait until February 28th to begin seeing it, The Day The Earth Blew Up should be worth the wait…
It’s well-known that Disney studios have shelved Song of the South, a 1946 production that depicted such racially-insensitive stereotypes as happy, servile black slaves. Song of the South has never been seen on home video, DVR, or released to streaming, and has remained in the Disney vaults since 1986 where it will likely remain forever. I guess that means we won’t be seeing Br’er Fox anytime soon, although frankly he hardly represented the best of my kind…
Disney has also eliminated the “crow chorus” from the 2019 live-action remake of “Dumbo,” as the crows have been called racist caricatures for their minstrel show-like behavior. The leader of the crow clique was even originally named Jim Crow, a reference to a blackface character who supplied the name for the Jim Crow laws…
Fantasia was edited in the 1960’s to remove Sunflower, a dark-skinned centaur who acted as a ladies’ maid to several other white centaurs! Her stereotypic look was enough to raise concern, and the character was fully removed in 1969 from the film’s re-release…
The Siamese Cat Song was completely revised from the new version of Lady and the Tramp, as the original Siamese cats were considered Asian stereotypes, despite being cool cats and smooth operators…
“Liver Lips McGrowl” from Disneyland was removed from the Country Bear Jamboree at Disney World due to fears that the inebriated character was offensive to alcoholics, and transformed into the character of Romeo McGrowl…
Even the iconic characterof Tinker Bell from Peter Pan has been considered as a negative role model for her vanity and jealous possessiveness of Peter Pan when Wendy rolls around. While Tink is under some scrutiny, she appears safe in Pixie Hollow, at least for now…
Cultural standards change public perceptions over time, and those characters cited represent only a few examples. When it comes to extreme political correctness, however. I often find that I just don’t give a “Zip-a-Dee-Doo–Dah”…
With Paul Reubens sadly deceased, there remains one chance to see his Pee-Wee Herman character in a lesser-known movie that I wasn’t aware existed until recently. Pee-Wee’s Big Holiday (2016), while not in my opinion his best movie, gives the actor-comedian and his defining character a fitting send-off…
Itseems that Pee-Wee, the man-boy in his trademark too-small suit, has settled nicely in the town of Fairville, a wholesome place where he is known and loved by all, and works as a cook in a local diner where his masterfully-prepared meals are the delight of all. When not working, Pee-Wee may be seen motoring about in his sporty miniature convertible.
While Pee-Wee professes that he “doesn’t want to go anywhere, and doesn’t want to try anything new,” this changes when Joe Manganiello motorcycles into Pee-Wee’s town, craves a milkshake in the diner, and bonds with Pee-Wee over their mutual love of root beer barrels. Joe invites Pee-Wee to his upcoming birthday party in the Big Apple, and the film then essentially becomes a road trip movie as Reubens makes his way to NYC, encountering misadventures along the way.
These occurrences include captivity by a trio of female bank robbers who steal his car, an overnight with a farmer who curiously intends to marry one of his nine daughters off to Pee-Wee, and a memorable sojourn with an Amish community! Arriving in New York City, Pee-Wee manages to fall into a well in Central Park, necessitating his rescue. While trapped, Pee-Wee has some apparently delusional encounters with Abraham Lincoln and Queen Elizabeth…
While Pee-Wee and Joe seem to be an extremely unlikely duo, their attraction is supposedly based on shared interests and is a friendship, nothing else. This is a children’s movie, after all, or at least a child-friendly one. The Pee-Wee character is supposedly a boy in latency, although he did seem to show interest in the opposite sex in Big Top Pee-Wee. Anyways, Pee-Wee’s Big Vacation may be seen on Netflix, and is recommended viewing for fans of the character, admittedly an acquired taste for somethat others never acquire…
RIP, Paul Reubens. His Pee-Wee character always reminded me of a demented composite of all the kiddie show hosts that I grew up watching…
I’ve already seen fall and Halloween stuff in the stores for several weeks, and with August nearly over, who can blame me for anticipating a time yet two months away? It’s not like I’ll be accused of “Seasonal Spread,” which Xmas gets away with increasingly every year. Besides, what other holiday is near…and I doubt that American “Labor Day” will be offended. Christmas steps all over Halloween annually too, so we Halloween spirits might as well get our licks in early! 🎃
We Halloween heads are getting a special blessing this year with the arrival of Beetlejuice 2 (also referred to as Beetlejuice Beetlejuice in some references) opening n theaters on September 6th! I can’t think of any movie whose sequel I’ve anticipated for as many years as Beetlejuice (1988), with Michael Keaton thankfully returning in the titular role.- – This is truly the Ghost With The Most!
Setover three decades since the time of the original, Lydia, played by Winona Ryder, is grown-up and has a daughter, Astrid, played by Jenna Ortega. The actress had memorably played Wednesday Addams in the Netflix series, Wednesday. As the protagonist, Astrid discovers the model of the town in the family homestead that is the portal to the Afterlife, triggering Beetlejuice. Willem Defoe plays a new character (Wolf Jackson), a jaded movie star in life who is now a deceased police detective! We’ll be seeing a lot more of the afterlife and its denizens in the sequel, including Bob, the guy with the shrunken head we last saw sitting in the waiting room with Beetlejuice.
The original film used practical special effects rather than CGI, which gave the movie its distinctive and striking award-winning design. Michael Keaton to his credit insisted that practical or handmade special effects likewise be used in the sequel to preserve the flavor and continuity of the series.
So if you enjoy horror comedy, you may want to see the “Juice turned loose” in Beetlejuice 2. I feel like I’ve been waiting my whole life for it!It gives a whole new meaning to the expression, “spill your guts!”
Yes, there’s something in the barn, and it’s not a moo-cow but rather a Norwegian barn elf in this black horror comedy that plays like the movie Gremlins run through National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation…
It seems that a rather annoying American millennial-type family has inherited a Norwegian farm estate where their distant relative died trying to expel or exterminate the barn elf, succeeding only in dying a fiery death. Oblivious to Norwegian traditions and mythology, the Griswold-type family tries to impose gaudy American holiday traditions on the estate in the process of converting it to a bed-and-breakfast type inn…
This serves to make the barn elf angry, as they are creatures that despise change, bright lights, noise, and modernism in general. Only the family’s pre-teen son Lucas understands this, solely believing in the entity, and forging an alliance with the being by giving it cookies. If you are nice to such an elf, they will do service to you such as remove snow and split and stack firewood. Offend an elf, however, and open warfare results, with the mythical beings being able to call in reinforcements of their fellows…
You wouldn’t like such elves when they are truly angry. They are tribal, not adverse to killing, and will use primitive and environmental weaponry. When they stumble into your liquor cabinet, they’ll indulge themselves, and throw raucous parties…
The Americans are guided in their struggles by an expert in Norwegian folklore, who chides them with such admonitions as “This isn’t America. We don’t go about shooting each other in the faces!” A sensible people, Norwegians prefer negotiation.
Cookies are also powerful negotiation chips, if used in a timely fashion. Proper respect for folkloric beings is always in order, too. So be nice to your barn elf, should you have one… 🦊
Here comes Peter Rottentail! It seems to be a recent trend in movies to reverse iconic benevolent or virtuous characters such as Santa, Winnie the Pooh, Peter Pan, or Bambi to make them menacing and malevolent.– -Well, Easter is coming, and we’ve got a bad egg for your basket in the form of a malevolent Jackalope terrorizing a Texas town!
A jackalopeis kind of a shape-shifting creature that is part human and part giant horned rabbit, and it appears that local legend holds that such ravaged the area a century and a half ago. Guess who’s making a comeback, leading a demon bunny army, and just in time for the small town’s Easter-palooza!
The horror-comedy opens in late March, and you know about those mad March hares! It’s up to Texas determination and a professional bunny slayer to split a few hares… 🙀
FOXSYLVANIA 
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