Subject: RE The Truth About Blockbuster
Date: Wed, 26 May 2004
From: Corey Rozon
I was just recently viewing a copy of The Last Samurai (rented of course from Blockbuster) with some friends and noticed the editing in the movie. I remembered, from viewing the movie in the theatres, the visions that the main rebel character ‘Karwanta’ had. I was a little befuddled to see that theses visions were edited, and remember I had recently heard of Blockbuster’s editing practices due to things determined as ‘non-christian’. I decided to search the internet and came across your article. As you seem to have some knowledge of this subject, yet did not mention anything inregards to religious suppression in the passage from your article below, I was wondering if you could she some light on this for me?
“For yet another thing, Blockbuster does not “edit” movies. To do so would be illegal, and lawsuits cost money. Instead, because they have enough outlets to give them considerable bargaining power, they negotiate with the distributors and studios to carry tamer, rated versions of unrated films (a deal which the studio has every right to grant, as they have paid the moviemakers for the express right to own the film, lock, stock, and barrel). And why? No, it’s not because the Board of Directors is overrun with old fuddy-duddies on a personal crusade to keep the citizens of America from seeing nipples. Those executives don’t really care a rat’s ass what those videocassettes contain, so long as they rent. And Blockbuster wants to attract family traffic, so they make a very visible effort (“gesture,” really) to appear family-friendly to middle America. Think about it; if it were really a moral issue, would Blockbuster stock at least two copies (R-rated, naturally) of every single release from the Playboy Eros line? Would they stock frankly unrated foreign films? It’s not a matter of content, it’s a matter of image, a concept on which the entertainment industry is built on from top to bottom. Boycotts are bad for business, so the powers-that-be simply carry edited versions of Requiem For a Dream as a bottom-line decision”
I haven’t seen The Last Samurai either in theaters or on video, so I can’t comment on the specific case, but the fact remains: Blockbuster does not, itself, edit movies. Even a corporation that big can’t escape the legal and financial repercussions of all of Hollywood suing for unauthorized modification of their work.
If there is any difference between the theatrical and video versions, and if that difference is unique to the videos at Blockbuster, then the only way it could have happened is if Blockbuster approached the studio and said, “We’re willing to buy X number of copies — but only if you edit a particular part.” The studio would have had to agree to, sign off on, and make the changes. (That kind of thing happens all the time, actually, but it’s usually before the theatrical release — distributor demand that a certain movie be delivered at a certain rating, and the studio goes back and edits it down to order.)
I can’t find any reference anywhere on the net of anyone else noticing a difference between the theatrical and video cuts of the movie. If you rented it on DVD, check the “deleted scenes” and see if the bit you remember is included there.
Nathan
Date: Sun, 23 May 2004
From: Michael LeggeNathan,
My blood turned to ice when I first saw my movie Honey Glaze posted at your web site, because I follow your website reviews and know you can really rip a movie. (And why not? It’s your website.) So I was somewhat relieved that it wasn’t so bad, a kind of so-so review. I want to thank you for it anyway, because I actually listen to criticism and don’t have a knee jerk reaction to jump all over the reviewer. Your comments about the transition of Honey were well founded and I kind of wish in retrospect I had done the stuff you alluded to. My gut feeling at the time was that it would be what the “garden variety” movie would do so I mindfully veered away from it. Thanks for your praise of myself and some of the bits in the movie; this is also appreciated. For the record, the wig that Lorna wore was tagged honey blonde, but it does look darker in the movie.
I take it you didn’t watch Braindrainer. (An older, pre-digital movie of mine.)
Again, thanks for the review. Any publicity is good publicity. (I made that up myself.)
Michael Legge
Thanks, Mike. I’ll be watching writing a separate full review for Braindrainer soon. Keep up the good work.
Nathan
Subject: Honey Glaze
Date: Thu, 20 May 2004
From: TrueDaremI must say, my friend, very good review. Your experience of not finding it funny – in polar opposite to other reviews – reminds me of my difficulty in getting people to understand why I hated What About Bob? (Also Shrek.)
I must note, however, that I own a jacket that looks exactly like the shirt of the guy in the third screen cap.
Word of warning: That guy ends up dead. Just so you know.
Nathan
Subject: Night of the Creeps
Date: Fri, 7 May 2004
From: Steven MartinezI just wanted to let you know that I love this movie and I am glad you gave it a fusion rating. Any way I wanted to mention that one of the primary reasons that I love this movie is the fact that the sorority house is Kappa Delta Epsilon which is a real sorority. In fact my fiancé is a sister of KDE while I am a brother of the brother fraternity Kappa Phi Kappa.
Keep up the good reviews,
Stew Martinez
Check under the floor NOW — before it’s too late!
Nathan
Subject: thanks
Date: Mon, 26 Apr 2004
From: Donna RitchHello Nathan, You helped me identify the movie I have been searching for for years. Yours was the only review for THE MAGIC SWORD that mentions that seven knights are brought back to life and all are from different countries!!……..Funny though how my eleven year old self loved the Irish Knight with that awful accent!!
Donna Ritch
Glad to be of help. (And you’re living in the golden age, because The Magic Sword is plentifully available on cheap DVD and VHS.)
Nathan
Subject: Soldier
Date: Thu, 22 Apr 2004
From: gary & sandraHi Nathan, Quite aside from anything else, just creating a character like the title character in Soldier presents an actor with incredible difficulties. Can’t you just see them selling Kurt Russell on this role? : “You play a stoic type who has spent forty years hiding his emotions. You speak about 100 words in the whole movie, and fifty of them are ‘Sir’. ” A little difficult to create a rounded character under the circumstances. Maybe somebody like Alec Guiness or Antony Hopkins could do it, but the former Jamie McPheeters?
Keanu Reeves had the same problem in Johnny Mnemonic aka I can’t pronounce the title of this movie. His character had had his childhood memories erased, to make more room for data. Reeves either realised that when you erase someone’s childhood, you basically erase their personality, and courageously chose to play the character as a zombie, or else he gave his usual performance, depending on your opinion of him. Personally, I don’t think he’s that bad an actor. He was perfectly capable of giving a decent performance in Dangerous Liaisons.
I’m surprised Soldier hasn’t been turned into a video game. Or is it based on one?
Sandra
Well, I can’t imagine that the “Staring in longing at the life you’ll never have” part would work well with the Nintendo crowd.
Nathan
Subject: Soldier
Date: Thu, 22 Apr 2004
From: Steve CarlsonEnjoyed the Soldier review, though I think I liked the film a little better than you did (the action scenes were pretty well-executed, from what I remember). You might find it amusing that, back when the film was released, the studio was so desperate for publicity that they gave their blessing to an “Entertainment Tonight” story on how little Kurt Russell actually says during the course of the film. Having forgotten the original figures myself, I refer to the IMDb:
“Todd, the main character of this movie, is on screen over 85% of the time but only speaks a total of 104 words. Kurt Russell’s $20 million salary…translate[s] to $192,307 per word.”
Don’t ya wish you could get paid like that?
– Steve
Why — why — I’d say TEN TIMES that many words for that much money!
Thanks,
Nathan
Subject: Jack and the Witch Animated Movie
Date: Fri, 26 Mar 2004
From: MSuttonHey Nathan. Thanks a lot for the review. And yes, I remember this movie. Although I remembered the name of the movie, I had a hard time finding anyone else who saw it. I just wrote my brother an e-mail to see if he remembers. We both are graphic designers and still love cartoons– I think it might ring a bell.
Actually the animated musical group “Gorillaz” is what made me think of Jack & the Witch. I know we saw this movie in the early seventies. I can’t wait to see it again.
Thanks for the memories!
Mike
Glad to have another member of The International Brotherhood of Jack and the Witch.
Thanks,
Nathan
Subject: Heh.
Date: Thu, 25 Mar 2004
From: Steve CarlsonI don’t know what’s scarier — the fact that there’s more than one zombie-rape film in existence, or the fact that I thought I’d had that idea nailed down before anyone else. Oh well, at least maybe I can make a claim to have the first GOOD zombie-rapist story (if it ever gets written)….
– Steve
Well, everyone needs a dream…
Thanks,
Nathan
Subject: Jack and the Witch response
Date: Mon, 8 Mar 2004
From: EyeSeaWhyHello Nathan,
Your review of the movie Jack and Witch cracked me up. I too was haunted by its particularly weird images and am happy to finally solve this strange mystery. Your description was exactly my experience. I wasn’t sure whether I dreamed this movie or not, ha, ha!
Thanks!
Jim
Welcome, brother!
Nathan
Subject: Dead Seven Review
Date: Wed, 25 Feb 2004
From: Michael WhiteI was just surfing the net for information on Tanya Dempsey and I found your review of Dead Seven. In the totals section at the bottom the score for breasts was 2. I was wondering if either of those two were Tanya’s. Thanks.
Mike
No, sorry. In fact, to my knowledge, Tanya Dempsey has avoided nude scenes in all of her movies.
Nathan
Subject: Jack and the Witch
Date: Wed, 25 Feb 2004
From: Black PenMr. Shumate, I want to thank you for proving to me I hadn’t just dreamed this movie up. I saw it first when I was four on Christmas Day, 1972, and then again when I was 13. But no one else in the world seemed to remember it. I found the odd reference to it in really thorough books on animation, but the details were always sketchy and there seemed no way I would ever see it again. Thanks to you, I might just be able to, if I can get a rise out of Cool Stuff Videos…
Your synopsis is the most thorough of any I’ve ever seen. It’s remarkable how much of it comes back to me even after all these years, just reading it. I remember the ending, when all the children change back… and how I wondered at the time, four years old, how long they’d been demons, and if they had families to go home to. It’s funny the things that occur to you. The time bomb in the balloon also rings a bell. Allegra’s repeated evil betrayals of Jack but his steadfastness in rescuing her. And most of all, a big mushroom saying, “Barrrrrrrrrrrbecue…”, and a smaller one asking, “Barbecue?” Very creepy stuff. It made a huge impression on me back then, and I’m completely perplexed by just how completely this particular movie has vanished from sight, when clearly it’s haunted a number of people.
In any case, thanks for letting us know someone has a print for sale. I’m really anxious to see this movie again, and I’m grateful to you for pointing the way. :)
Todd S.
You know, I have to wonder if bored/desperate station programmers back in the mid-’70’s realized the profound and lasting effect they’d have on an entire generation, simply by their choices of obscure children’s movies.
Glad you enjoyed it.
Nathan
Subject: Lord of the Rings
Date: Sat, 14 Feb 2004
From: Paul TidwellI won’t ramble on and on since I’m sure you get tons of these emails all the time….
Stumbled across you site for the first time today as I looked through search hits on The Last Starfighter. I love your movie reviews. I find them pretty much spot on in my own thinking and appreciate the subtle humor you roll into them from time to time.
As I was still gauging how closely your opinions matched to mine, I found the ultimate barometer: The Lord of the Rings reviews.
Spot on mate!
I just have one facet in which to question. I thought the Two Towers was the worst adaption of the three, with Return being the best. The major contention being this: What was up with the complete abortion of one of the most noble characters of the entire book; Faramir. And the fact that this point got ZERO mention in your review. In the book Faramir was at no time tempted by the ring; to the point that he interrupeted Frodo and Sam’s briefing and told them not to speak of it. Where in the movie, he became just another character that didn’t stand out too much in the sense that he only at the last minute reluctantly decided not to give into the ring’s tempting power.
I just wanted to pick your brain and find your opinion on this from one Tolkien fan to another.
Love your site! Keep up the good work.
Paul in Dallas
I think it worked because, at the ratio of book pages to screentime that they were using, Faramir as written would have largely shown up and said, “Hi, I’m Faramir! Now on your way!” The choices were either to drop Faramir entirely, or have him tie in more closely to the story of the ring. Giving him more self-doubt and temptation gave the character more of an arc — it gave Faramir of Gondor a chance to show his mettle, as it were.
Thanks,
Nathan
Subject: Enter the Dragon review
Date: Thu, 12 Feb 2004
From: Loren MeyerJust some background information for your Enter the Dragon review:
The reason Jackie Chan is unbilled as Jackie Chan, of course, is because he was a relatively unknown stuntman and hadn’t taken his famous stage name at the time. He doesn’t say what they were calling him at the time or whether he gets into the credits as a stuntman, but if he did, he may have been going by the name Chan (or Chen) Yuen Lung (a name he ripped off from Samo. See below.)
However, he does give a detailed account of that particular film in his autobiography I Am Jackie Chan. When Bruce Lee whacked him with the nunchakus, he whacked him a lot harder than he intended, and Jackie had to lie there without rubbing his head or groaning and pretend to be unconscious so the take would stay good. Bruce Lee spent most of the rest of the day apologizing to him between takes.
I should also mention that Samo Hung is another name for Jackie Chan’s “Biggest Brother” Yuen Lung from his days as Yuen Lo in a brutal-yet-effective Chinese opera school, and he was the one with the connections to get Jackie Chan his part in this movie. Also, another “brother” from the school, Yuen Wah, sometimes acted as Bruce Lee’s stunt double.
Cool. Thanks for the background.
Nathan
Subject: Hey Nathan
Date: Mon, 9 Feb 2004
From: James WhiteLove your site, always have. You mentioned in the Unidentified Flying Oddball that Luke accidentally landed near Yoda, you did say that the force was on his side. Not to nit pick, but Luke completely lost control of his Xwing because (as I see it) Yoda actaully dragged the thing down to land near his house, AND in a bog.
Thanks for writing you site
jimmy
Well, yeah — Yoda probably foresaw what a whiner Luke would turn out to be, and made a pre-emptive strike.
Thanks,
Nathan
Subject: Unidentified Flying Oddball
Date: Mon, 9 Feb 2004
From: Royce DayNathan,
Count me as one of those people who had fond memories of UFO when I was kid. Or rather, I had fond memories of the novelization, which my eight-year old self ranked as being comparable to RAH’s juveniles (I wonder whatever happened to it anyway?). Then of course I made the mistake of actually watching the damned thing on The Wonderful World of Disney… [sigh]
Thanks for the review, and reminding me why I should stop myself before picking up the DVD.
-Royce in MD
That’s me — always willing to catch a cinematic bullet for my fellow man. (And I’m humble, too.)
Thanks,
Nathan
Subject: UFO
Date: Fri, 6 Feb 2004
From: mwilson1137Hi Nathan
The Unbelievable Flying Oddball? Yeesh. After reading your review I’m glad I never saw it. But when it had its theatrical release I remember seeing TV spots for it so much that there are times the rancid theme music rises in my mind, unbidden. I guess I can only count myself lucky. I was old enough at that time to have outgrown Disney Fare.
If I recall correctly the theme song had some words like ‘He’s a hapless astronaut that rockets back to Camelot.” and the commercial had laser beams bouncing off of a guy in armor. Someplace in Hell that movie and that damned song play in an endless loop. Great review but now I’ll be hearing that music all night.
No Good Deed Goes Unpunished Visit Dante’s Inferno and All Night Video Store
And ironically enough, the theme song from the commercials (which I remember too) does NOT appear in the movie.
Thanks,
Nathan
Subject: About your Japanese phone card
Date: Fri, 6 Feb 2004
From: Massimo MelenaHello,
In the end of the nineteen I was in Japan for work reason.
And like you I’ve pick an hobby, which was used phone card.
At the beginning there were just the ones I was using and other friends.
But then I start to be charmed by some of them, because they where so beautiful and Japanese.
In other words so away from my culture.
in 6 months there I was able to collect around 100 of them.
I am looking to expand my collection, do you sell your phone card?
Is there any where I could look, any link, any other address I could look?
Thank you for your attention and time.
kind Regards
Max
No, sorry, I don’t sell my cards; they have a lot of sentimental value to me.
I know there are other japanese phone card sites out there; a good search should get you to them.
Thanks,
Nathan
Subject: anime phone cards
Date: Fri, 6 Feb 2004
From: TonyHi,
I stumple upon your website on your anime phone cards.
My name is Tony and i am from Singapore. I always wonder how do you guys get these phone cards. Do they just sell in japan over the counter stores? Or are these cards free with a purchase of anime DVDs?
i am interested to get some of these cards when i am going over to japan. I will be grateful if you could tell me how to get these cards in japan.
Tony
Well, a dozen years ago when I got them, you could buy cards new at any convenience store. If you were looking for something in particular, there were specialty stores that dealt in anime cards, porn cards, and other collectibles.
Of course, I can’t vouch for the situation now.
Thanks for looking,
Nathan
Subject: Thank you for finding this movie for me!
Date: Thu, 29 Jan 2004
From: Sue WorkmanHi Nathan,
I don’t know you, but I want to thank you for finally ending a lifelong obsession for me with your review of the Japanese animated feature Jack and the Witch. I was born in 1970, and I remember seeing this on TV when I was no more than 5 (I think). All I could remember was a girl named Allegra and some ice caves (not much to go on) and that for some reason it was special to me. Like you, every once in a while I got obsessed with trying to find this movie, but I always had to admit defeat. It is such a relief to know that it WAS a real movie and that I didn’t just imagine the whole thing!
Do you happen to know if there is any way at all to see this movie, preferably in English? I checked ebay…no luck! Then again, I’m almost afraid to watch it… it’s probably really goofy and not at all how I remember it :-)
Sue
Glad to help out. The only source I know of is the watchable-but-not-great tape available from http://www.coolstuffvideos.com .
Thanks,
Nathan
Subject: Idle Hands
Date: Thu, 29 Jan 2004
From: Psy ChosisAw, c’mon, man. “Bakeheads”? Honestly. Surely your Thesaurus is as current as mine.
Personally, I’ve always prefered the term “hopheads,” for it’s slightly more classical connotations.
–Doc Psy
Yes, well, you’ll notice that I edited out references to “mary jane” and “reefers.”
Nathan
Subject: Bad Magic for Undead
Date: Thu, 29 Jan 2004
From: sozoskyI see you won a copy of Bad Magic and you hated it. I would be interested in getting that or a vhs dub from you. I would even pay you to make me a copy if you would. I am trying to collect all the films on your site. I do not care if they are copies or not. I am just doing it as a fun hobby for myself. I hope you can help me. Thanks!
Frank
I appreciate your devotion to my site (though I’ll admit, it’s more than a little disturbing). However:
1) I don’t want to give up my copy, as it’s wonderful to inflict on unsuspecting friends;
2) I have an ethical problem with copying movies that are commercially available. (You can buy Bad Magic at amazon.com for ten bucks.)
Thanks,
Nathan
Subject: Versus
Date: Sat, 24 Jan 2004
From: HnKFirePowerIs there an official soundtrack to this movie, if so, who is the main theme song by? its really cool music.
thanks
It looks like there is indeed a soundtrack; I can’t see that it’s been released domestically, but I did find it on the Amazon.de
You might also try eBay.
Best of luck,
Nathan
Subject: your most hated movies
Date: Thu, 15 Jan 2004
From: Manning ShafferHello
I am just a random fan and reader of your movie reviews with a tough question for you. I love the reviews that receive the “beaker” for one the most terrible movies you had to review. What I want to know is of your current movie review list, what are the five movies closest to receiving the beaker that did not get it? Are there movies you look back on and think that should have gotten the beaker that did not? Thanks, I think this would be an article that would be a good read on your site.
Thanks,
a fan,
Manning Shaffer
Heavens, I don’t want to go back and minutely consider whether this movie or that movie was indeed close enough to the bottom of the barrel to be considered scraping. I’d much rather consider whether movies should get the “hot” rating. Destroys fewer braincells.
Thanks,
Nathan
Subject: Logan’s Run
Date: Thu, 15 Jan 2004
From: JamesHey, there! I’ve been reading through your reviews for the last couple of days and enjoying myself quite a bit. I’m glad to see you’re still putting stuff up, such as your recent review of The Return of the King. At any rate, I just finished reading your thoughts on Logan’s Run. Don’t worry, I’m not going to defend the movie, or anything like that. I happen to think the flick blows pretty hard, even though a friend of mine and I did enjoy watching over and over again a condensed, Super 8 version of the flick that prominently featured Jenny Agutter’s, er, talents. What do you want, it was 1980.
I don’t know if you ever got to read the novel upon which Logan’s Run is based. Just in case no one ever recommended it to you, I will now. There are tons of dirt cheap copies floating around used on Amazon. Pick one up. You’ll find a very thought-provoking book that addresses pretty much every concern you had with the movie, from the idiotic way Box was treated to the illogical structure of society. It’s great stuff, and a prime example of how badly a book’s memory can be scarred by a poor filmic adaptation.
Thanks for your time!
– James
I haven’t gotten to the novel yet (I think I owned it once, but lost it in a move or something), but I have heard all of the “direct counterculture allegory for Viet Nam” analysis.
Thanks,
Nathan
Subject: Scanners
Date: Sat, 10 Jan 2004
From: gary & sandraHi Nathan, Scanners is the movie that made me a Michael Ironside fan. Cronenberg says he cast Steven Lack (what an ironically suitable name; positively Cronenberg -ish!) because of his transparent blue eyes. If you want to be charitable, you can say that Cameron Vale’s head was so full of other people that he never had the chance to develop any personality of his own, hence his negative charisma.
Speaking of names, Vale = Veil and Revok backwards = Kover (i.e. Cover). The fact that a minor character is named Arno Crostic encourages me to look for meanings in the names. Though I haven’t been able to find anything in ‘Kim Obrist’ except that it sounds a bit like ‘Oberst’, and of course Kim Philby was a famous traitor.
As for the ending, do you think that wimpy Cameron has actually overcome his much more powerful brother? I don’t. I think Revok has triumphed, and will proceed to take over the world while pretending to be Cameron.
Sandra
Well, I think that Revok made a miscalculation — he expected to suck Cameron’s personality right of his head, but since he HAD no personality…
And as far as names go, you forgot ComSec’s traitor, Keller (i.e., blind and deaf).
Thanks,
Nathan
Subject: The Blood of Heroes
Date: Sat, 3 Jan 2004
From: Jonah FalconThe USA version is cut 15 minutes short — the ending was too unhappy.
You mean, there’s more after they win the game? What do they do, journey home and get married and ride off to the Grey Havens?
Nathan
Subject: The link between The Apple and American Idol
Date: Mon, 29 Dec 2003
From: Jonah FalconThere IS a link!
The choreographer of the retched musical numbers in The Apple is American Idol director Nigel Lythgoe.
I think that answers a LOT of questions, don’t you?
Jonah Falcon
Oh, my… the hideous has become the mainstream. (Although the choreography wasn’t nearly as godawful as the music itself.)
Nathan
Subject: The Last Starfighter score
Date: Fri, 26 Dec 2003
From: Jonah FalconYou completely forgot to mention the score, which was so good, it’s now a favorite for movie trailers. I own the soundtrack CD, myself.
What can I say? I was too distracted by Centauri’s bowtie.
Thanks,
Nathan
Subject: Religious sci-fi before the 60s — even the 1860s?
Date: Thu, 25 Dec 2003
From: Joe PriscoA Case of Conscience – James Blish (1957 -58) contains a specifically religious concern as its central plot-point; A Canticle for Leibowitz by Walter.M. Miller Jr. (1959-60) is even more specifically religious (in portions), although not necessarily in an obvious manner. The Dune series equally posits some religious elements, although it is clearly background material to the political intrigues. (On the other hand, who said being religious isn’t political?) This success may well be the starting-point for the increased acceptance of religions as sci-fi subject.
As you suggest, admirers see Science as its own religion, and are therefore reluctant to admit any other. It would seem, however, that an already-existing religion has beaten sci-fi to the punch — It was my understanding that LDS dogma has it that souls arrive from outer space, retiring to another planet when they finish their stint in human bodies. If that ain’t out-sci-fi’ing sci-fi itself ….
Joe
Yes, well. I don’t mean to say that SF is or was an entirely areligious body of literature; Frankenstein, which is the point from which I mark the pedigree of the modern genre, is awash in religious symbolism.
I haven’t read the Gunn story, but Canticle still uses the trope of religion being a sign of ignorance (why do they have religion? because they lost science and had to make do). It still wasn’t until later that religion shows up in SF, not as the nemesis of reason or the hallmark of ignorance, but as a common, almost universal part of human behavior and society, like gender.
Re LDS doctrine: Well, I suppose when you put it that way… On the other hand, you can express any religious creed in SF terms and make it sound comic-booky. (Catholicism: The superintelligence of the universe developed a case of split personality before reuniting its fragmented egos.)
Nathan
Subject: 28 DAYS LATER
Date: Fri, 19 Dec 2003
From: M ChadwickDear Sir,
I’ve just stumbled across your site and read the review for 28 days later. I apologise for the limey intrusion into American web sites, but we all get lost occasionally.
Thoroughly enjoyed your review and agreed with nearly everything you said, but if I may just point out that your numbering/catagorising system at the end is not quite right. There are, in fact, one pair of breasts. They belong to an infected and come hurtling toward our heroes at one of the scenes shot at the motorway barrier. They only last a second or two before becoming dead breasts, but there you go.
I shall now shove off and have a quick shufty at the rest of your site.
Regards,
Mike Chadwick
I missed a pair of breasts??? I shall now have to turn in my card as a shallow, all-American hetero male…
Thanks,
Nathan
Subject: Review “The Atomic Cafe”
Date: Mon, 8 Dec 2003
From: LHOWELLHi Nathan,
Perhaps the people in 1945 did trust the “gummint” after a world war. Perhaps some of the information in The Atomic Cafe lacks a factional foundation. Does that mean that flake heads who are anti-gummint propagandist today have it right? You take yourself too seriously.
If the United States had not dropped the bomb, at lease one million Americans and millions of Japanese would have died- by conventional means, but still dead!!
Perhaps one of the people on an American ship waiting to invade Japan was your grandfather. If the bomb had not been dropped, you might not exist. What a pleasant thought.
Les Howell
Dear Mr. Howell,
I have rarely seen such an advanced case of Two-Toned Perception Disease.” (Explained here.)
I usually try to answer correspondents civilly, but the idea that critiquing my government ranks me with the “anti-gummint propagandist flake heads” is so far beyond the pale of rational discourse that I doubt any meaningful conversation is possible.
See you in the funny papers,
Nathan
[Note: This message also inspired a blog post.]
Subject: A question about one of your reviews
Date: Sun, 7 Dec 2003
From: Italiano328Excuse me for asking, but why do you have the e mail of the Stomp Tokyo folks listed for the complaints about the movie Hollywood Vampyr?
Because I didn’t want to hear any complaints about it. :-)
Nathan
Subject: fungus the bogeyman
Date: Sun, 7 Dec 2003
From: Hobboswhile on holiday in cairns, i read this book belonging to my cousin. it was by far the best book i had ever read, and something i would want to read again and again. needless to say i spent a lot of my time on that holiday reading. im quite sure i read it 19 or 20 times, but it could have been more that was 3 years ago. i had since forgotten the name and the author, but i did numerous google searches looking for it over the past 18 months. every minute of my time was devoted to finding this book, as my cousin had since lost his copy, and also knew not the name. i tried every possible combination of searches on every search engine i could find but just came up with a lot of nothings. today your site came up in a search and i thought no thats not it, but i clicked it anyway, and the second i saw the cover i cried. thankyou for putting your review on the net.
sincerely,
Emma Hobson
15 years
You’re quite welcome. I’m always happy to warp the minds of the next generation.
Nathan
Subject: Deadworld review
Date: Tue, 2 Dec 2003
From: RALPH GRIFFITHHi Nathan
My name is Ralph Griffith, and I was involved with Arrow since it’s start, almost…gulp…20 years ago. I wanted to thank you for the kind review. I still feel the market is without a great “zombie book”. Our recent Dead book from Arrow was working it’s way there. Then we lost our artist after issue three and was unable to find a good replacement. ARGH!!!
Give it a read if you get the chance. We’re still looking for that special someone. Locke’s still was one that matched the mood of the book so well. And you’re right, you could see he’s artwork evolve right before your eyes. Same thing with Guy Davis on Realm, and Mark Bloodworth on Nightstreets.
Trying to market good “black and whites” are a tough sale these days. We are getting our Web comics section started on our site. Come drop a line and thanks again for the kind review.
Glad you liked it. I’ll be sure to check it out (and if I run across another suitable artist for The Dead, I’ll try to hook the two of you up).
Thanks,
Nathan
Subject: review of The One (2001)
Date: Mon, 01 Dec 2003
From: Shannon BurgeIn your review you pointed out the gaping plot hole in which Yulaw gains power by killing all his alternate iterations, yet no one else seems to have this ability, since other versions of one’s self must surely die, especially as we age. However, my theory (not that I’ve sat and thought about this movie for any length of time) is that if you die by any natural cause, be it a heart attack, slipping in the shower, or being hit by a train (because as Stephen Wright said, “that IS natural causes; if a train hits you, naturally you’re gonna die”), your other versions in all universes die too. Yulaw travels from one dimension to another and kills his doppleganger, which in the scheme of things is about as unnatural a death as one could imagine. Hence the rules do not apply, and thus we see dimensional travel being policed, to prevent people from attaining godlike power through this means.
By the way, my biggest complaint with the movie was its cheesy and predictable heavy-metal soundtrack. It made the movie seem like one long trailer for itself.
Hmm… But that creates its own problems — like having 123 people across as many universes suddenly drop dead for absolutely no reason when #124 gets milktrucked.
Still, even making a halfhearted attempt to solve the problem would have gotten them points, rather than leaving a plot hole so gargantuan it could accomodate a universe of its own.
Thanks,
Nathan
Subject: Star Drek
Date: Sun, 30 Nov 2003
From: michael flemingHey, Nathan,
Since you always post “actors who’ve appeared on Star Trek in your reviews, I’m wondering if you’ve seen the last two Star Trek movies, Nemesis (or Nimrod, as my friend John and I call it) and Insurrection (or The One With The Pakunis, as I call it).
Nemesis qualifies as a crappy Z-grade film in my book (and I’m a big Star Trek fan) and as such would be worthy of the Hieratic Head of Ezra Pound’s pronouncement.
What say you?
–Michael
PS: This Thanksgiving, I popped in Roger Corman’s production of The Fantastic Four and skimmed through the Star Wars Holiday Special from 1978. Have you seen either of these, er, gems (it’s too easy to call them turkeys, ya know)?
Given that the Star Trek canon also includes the infamous Star Trek 5, I think you’re being a little too hard on Nemesis. Suffice it to say that The Next Generation did so well at episodic stories that it really didn’t transplant well to big-screen blockbusters. The sole exception, First Contact, worked simply because Picard’s history with the Borg was a long-running thread in the fabric of the series. The next two were like watching the law of diminishing returns in action.
Haven’t gotten to Fantastic Four yet, and haven’t seen the Star Wars Holiday Special since it was originally broadcast, but I swear I’ll get to them someday…
Thanks,
Nathan
Subject: Jack and the Witch Article
Date: Fri, 28 Nov 2003
From: ArticulateYour review of Jack and The Witch on The Cold Fusion Video Review was great. It reinvented my curiosity in this program. Your Haunting memory of this animated feature during the Christmas holiday so many years ago describes my feeling to a tee. I wonder how many others as well. I still remember the end when Jack leaves all his friends and they wave goodbye. I think I was 6 years old. Anyway the last couple of days have been trying to track it down but did not come up with much more than your links. Thanks for this.
I just wanted to check to see if you ever did find a DVD copy of the English dubbed version? I am soon to shell out the 43 yen to order the Japanese dvd from the link you provided. Hopefully will be able to get a copy of the English dub from your other source (cool stuff). Would like to redo the Japanese dvd with the English dub if all goes well.
If you have a lead to the English DVD please let me know.
Thanks again for your article this little movie really is interesting how it has remained upon the mind for so long, and to see the impression it makes on kids today.
Into the Machine !!
Michael Jorgensen
Oh, if only those long-ago TV programmers knew how they were warping young minds…
I still haven’t heard boo about anyone putting out an English DVD. Sometime soon, I’m going to put up some screencaps from the Cool Stuff tape, just so people know what they’re getting into as far as image quality is concerned.
Thanks,
Nathan
Subject: gaspar the friendly ghost
Date: Wed, 26 Nov 2003
From: Brendan O’Brienhey nathan,
it seems like your buddy gaspar noe is setting the cinema world on fire again. i was talking with a film professor friend of mine who was raving about irreversible and how riveting and incredible it is, and how it does the same backwards thing as memento but has such strong emotional content that it completely exposes memento as an empty excercise in style, etc. it also includes a nine minute rape scene. imagine my surprise when i found that the director was the same genius who helmed the acclaimed i stand alone“.
so can we expect your thoughts on irreversible anytime soon?
brendan
Big fat “hell no” on that one. I have absolutely no desire to spend any more of my life under the sway of M. Noe’s “artistry.” I’ve currently got 10,433 other movies on my list that I’d like to see and review; if I ever scrape bottom on that, then maybe I’ll consider seeing Irreversible, but until then…
Thanks,
Nathan
Subject: your site
Date: Sun, 9 Nov 2003
From: Mark GilbertI like the ezra pound head..
Can’t agree with you on Star Crash because I saw it in the theatre when I was 10 and I thought it was great. Granted I havent seen it since and the only things I remember are a funny gunslinging robot, a little laser beam pet kinda of thing, and a girl in a bikini, but I’m sure its still sweet after all these years. Planet of the Dinosaurs is also a fine film which I was lucky enough to get on DVD. It’s soundtrack is second only to Liquid Sky. Also, the campfire scene where they are trying to enjoy themselves has some excellent dialog. Very humanistic and moving.
Your Blockbuster article is right on and your ‘Croatoan’ 404 error is great idea. Ever read any Zerzan?
In order:
- I first saw Starcrash taped off late-nite TV at my grandma’s house, and I was so entranced by the thorough ineptitude of it that it may be one of the formative influences in my reviewing life. (“Somebody MADE this! Somebody had to go to his mom’s house on Thanksgiving and say, ‘Mom, I MADE that!’”)
- Planet of the Dinosaurs may be the only movie in which the stop-motion dinosaurs eclipse the human cast in terms of naturalistic action and motivation.
- Dunno Zerzan. (One quick Google search later…) Hm. Primativism.com. “May well be the most extreme author on the planet.” Hafta bookmark that one.
Thanks,
Nathan
Subject: Dead Alive
Date: Fri, 07 Nov 2003
From: Matthew T. LearNathan,
I just finished reading your review of Dead Alive and found it ironic that I had the EXACT same experience with a friend of mine this past weekend. During the whole custard scene, my friend looked at me and said “Dude…if anyone eats anything else that they shouldn’t be eating, I’m going to throw up”.
Great job on the review. You really hit the nail on the head with this one.
Hmm… Your friend isn’t perchance a gay dancer in Salt Lake City, is he?
Thanks,
Nathan
Subject: Night of the Day of the Dawn of the etc., etc., etc.
Date: Mon, 3 Nov 2003
From: Jeffery WeskampThere was a TV show back in the mid 80’s called Mad Movies. They would take old movies, ditch the original soundtrack, and add their own dialog and sound effects. I loved that show when I was growing up.
Well, not only did the creators of Night of the Day of the Blah Blah Blah steal this general idea from Mad Movies, they even stole the specific movie!!! Mad Movies featured Night of the Living Dead on one of their Halloween specials!!! I still have that episode on tape, and it is absolutely hilarious.
Sad, isn’t it? They couldn’t even make a half-way funny parody of Mad Movies’ parody of Romero’s classic.
But I’m sure it sounded like a great idea when they were drunk…
Thanks,
Nathan
