For my own contribution to the MOSS Big Muscle Tussle, I will focus on one muscleman in particular–military man and lifeguard-turned-superstar Gordon Scott. Tarzan was his claim to fame, and mythological figure was his destiny. I will also discuss a Gordon Scott film that I think also fits the monsterish theme of this particular podcast: the Italian epic Goliath and the Vampires! I hope you enjoy this wild ride on a titanic wave of testosterone! And forever hail the MYSTERIOUS ORDER OF THE SKELETON SUIT!
On to the MUSCULAR EPISODE >>Evil Karate
The Evil Karate is a great Taiwanese kung fu fantasy with all the common revenge and secret kung fu instruction elements you need to ensure a simple but action-filled story. Taiwan’s martial arts spectacles focused on crazy action, and they weren’t afraid to have every character have a gimmick. This film is no exception, beyond every character having their own specific weapon, we have a lady who wears a snake (and uses it as a weapon), a guy who fights with a fishing pole, and everyone teleporting and zooming around in the trees like they’re flying squirrels. The not afraid to try new and fun things is part of the joys of Taiwanese kung fu films, and makes up for the often awful condition we have to view the treasures in. Even getting this in a subtitled print is a minor miracle, usually I’d be forced to deal with a substandard dub where everyone has a random British accent.
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Sinbad
A delightfully lunatic children’s fantasy hobbled by dreadful pacing and a bare-bones budget, Sinbad is nevertheless the Greatest Movie EVER to feature sock-puppet piranhas, rock monsters, and Lou Ferrigno punching his meaty fist through the Legions of the Damned.
The Big Muscle Tussle Continues With Las Vampiras
What could be more awesome than a movie about a Mexican masked wrestler? A movie about a Mexican masked wrestler fighting vampires? A movie about a Mexican masked wrestler who knows insane fashion because he’s Mil Mascaras? A movie about Mil Mascaras fighting vampire women and John Carradine?
Just Leave the Talking Skull Alone
Sometimes you should just leave a talking skull well enough alone. Actually, you should probably always leave a talking skull well enough alone, but that’s not exactly what I was getting at. I’m thinking of Bob from Jim Butcher’s Harry Dresden novels, and the unfortunate transformation he underwent in the tv adaptation, The Dresden Files. In the books, Bob is an incorporeal spirit trapped in a human skull. He’s sarcastic, amoral and lecherous, and has a fondness for trashy romance novels. In The Dresden Files, he’s a poncy British guy in a black suit who materializes out of a skull like some kind of genie butler.
Bloody Pit of Horror
“Lurid” is an important word to have on hand when describing Bloody Pit of Horror. It may even comprise a kind of terse mission statement on the part of the filmmakers. At least in terms of what they promise, that is, which, unmistakably, is thrills of a dark and unseemly nature. What is actually delivered, on the other hand, tends to be more on the merely naughty side. Forget the opening titles’ claim that the film is “based on the writings of the Marquis De Sade”; this is strictly a burlesque show version of De Sade, with no knowledge of the author required beyond that necessary for making winking cocktail party chatter. In fact, an actual reading of The 120 Days of Sodom might even spoil the fun somewhat. Thus, despite all of the death and defilement that’s so enthusiastically pantomimed throughout the movie, any formal reassurance that no lingerie models were harmed in the course of its filming is wholly unnecessary.
3DD Invader
33D Invader is like a 1990s Hong Kong Cat III comedy time traveled to 2011 and unleashed itself on the public. And because time travel plays a part in the plot of 33D Invader, perhaps that was the subtle message they were going for. The male characters are direct out of an 80s American sex film. We have the Nice Guy (Lawrence), the Nerd (Danson), the Fat Guy (Stephen), and the Other Guy who has no real personality but is there to fill out the group (Felix). The female characters range from blank slate to blank slate to blank slate with slightly bigger boobs. And though we’re given a quick introduction to them, it is hard to remember which one is a slut in which one is a virgin when they’re all running around naked. Only Future and Jeana get any sort of personality, even Xucker No. 2 is nothing but a generic villain.
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Laaga Chunari Mein Daag
Full disclosure: I watched Laaga Chunari Mein Daag for two reasons: the cast as a whole—full of people I love/like, and I didn’t even remember Hema Malini actually dances in it!—and the specific romantic pairing of Rani Mukherji and Abhishek Bachchan, my favorite jodi ever.
Monster Island Resort ep44: The Return of Miss.Gory Rae
Hello Everyone! Until I finish my MUSCLEMEN episodes, I have a veritable horror spokeswoman on this episode! This is her second time at Monster Island Resort. It’s Canada’s only horror hostess with the mostess–the inimitable Miss.Gory Rae of the The Gory Hole!
This is truly a horror conversation of non-sequiturs, where we discuss pink eye, conventions, movies, and hear a little bit about the origin of Gory! You are truly a fly on the wallpaper for this one! I hope you enjoy!
ON TO THE EPISODE! >>
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Tagged interview, miss gory rae, Monster Island Resort, Podcast, women in horror
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East Meets West 2011
East Meets West 2011 is an update in tone of Jeff Lau’s 1993 film Eagle Shooting Heroes, a classic comedy film that boasted a huge cast (many of whom were borrowed from Wong Kar-Wai’s Ashes of Time, which was running over budget and needed another film to be made with the core cast to balance the books!) and has become one of the mainstay comedy films due to the crazy and energetic feel to the picture. East Meets West 2011 takes inspiration from that, transports the reincarnated gods to modern day, and adds super hero trappings and some philosophical discussion into the mix. And though it isn’t non-stop zaniness, it is still a good time and is one of my favorite recent Hong Kong films.
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