Films based on works by R. E. Howard (1985—)

Red Sonja (1985)

Dir. Richard Fleischer

The She-Devil with a Sword was created by Roy Thomas for Marvel's Conan comic series, but she was based on Red Sonya of Rogatino, a Howard-created character that appeared in a short story titled The Shadow of the Vulture (1934).

Arnold Schwarzenegger co-stars as a tactless barbarian that isn't Conan. My guess is there was some kind of licensing issues behind the scenes, because it's one hell of a missed opportunity, or it would be if the Red Sonja film was better.

The addition of an irritating child character means the sexualised female warrior role is curtailed, but the homophobia remains. Typical.

I can't remember the last time I saw so many polystyrene rocks collected together in one place.

DUNE 2000: Video Game (1999)

Dune 2000 (1999)

Genre: Real-time Strategy  |  Players: 1 / Multi (link)

Developers: Westwood Studios / Intelligent Games

NOTE: Review is of the PS1 port, but I'll mention the PC version briefly at the end for obvious reasons.

Dune 2000 is a remake/update of Dune II: Battle for Arrakis (1992), originally developed by Westwood Studios, creators of the well-known Command and Conquer series. Dune was first, though, so in a way it's Westwood's RTS granddaddy.

Wikipedia states that Dune II was based on David Lynch's filmed version (1984) of Frank Herbert's seminal sci-fi novel Dune (1965), but you can make the transition to the game from the novel without needing to have seen the film, and vice-versa.

Lady Snowblood: Films (1973-74)

Lady Snowblood: Blizzard from the Netherworld (1973)

Dir. Toshiya Fujita

Yuki Kashima was conceived without love and birthed for one reason: to be an instrument of posthumous vengeance for her mother.

The film is a clash of styles that merge together to create something unique and freeform. When it works, it’s a breathtaking example of Japanese B-movie vengeance cinema that's overly bloody and shamelessly violent. It knows what viewers want and it delivers it coloured blood-red.

It has much in common with the Lone Wolf and Cub films; it lacks the finesse of that series but Yuki cares little for finesse.

Anastasia Vronski and Ricardo Alrucini: The Groom is... (2011)

Anastasia Vronski and Ricardo Alrucini:

The Groom is Still Waiting for the Bride at the Altar (2011)

One track lasting twenty-three minutes that never once feels like it’s gone on for too long.

It reminds me of music designed to give atmosphere to tabletop RPGs, except it has haunting, creepy spoken word throughout, documenting the opening of the sixth seal from the Revelation of John the Apostle.

The instrumentation is equally as unsettling. There’s rattling chains, creaking protestations from ancient wood and ritualistic drums.

When the sky splits apart and the land moves, it turns to noise. It feels then as if the horrors it’s relating are happening right at your feet and you better not look down unless you want to be a part of them. If you want to experience it for yourself then get over to the Internet Archive where it's available for FREE. Here's a LINK.

Maniac Cop Trilogy (1988-93)

Maniac Cop (1988)

Dir. William Lustig

Maniac Cop turns the slasher movie premise around, making a thing traditionally associated with protection, a cop, into a malevolent killer who hides in convenient shadows with knife in hand.

His inhuman strength and bullet-sponge ability makes it all seem partially supernatural; if you reject that aspect then it all seems rather silly.

Tom Atkins plays the caring homicide Detective well. The usually reliable Bruce Campbell doesn't get to use his awesome B–Movie charm and struggles to make us care about his two-dimensional character. Conversely, the ladies, Laurene Landon and Sheree North, both get stronger roles and do a grand job with them.

Phallic Frenzy: Ken Russell and His Films (2008)

Phallic Frenzy: Ken Russell and His Films (2008)

Author: Joseph Lanza | Page Count: 384

"When every second counts, it is often necessary to say two things at once; which is why I frequently introduce symbolism into scenes of reality." –Russell.

Everything you've ever wanted to know about the lover of kitsch and vaudeville imagery that was Ken Russell but were afraid, unwilling, or unable to ask.

It functions as a biography of his early years, which helps shed a murky light on the reasons for some of his adulthood fixations. It hurries quickly over one of the most traumatic events in his early life, but I put that down to a show of respect for the man.

Later, it dissects and gives some juicy behind the scenes info on all his films. Film fans will find that part of most interest. Personally, I loved both parts, although I had to selectively skip some paragraphs because I've not had the pleasure of viewing certain films yet. Take note: there's spoilers aplenty!

John Carpenter: Films: Part I (1974-79)

Dark Star (1974)
Dir. John Carpenter

Unless you're a hopelessly dedicated John Carpenter fan, then you'll likely want to stay far away from Dark Star. It's his low budget student film expanded to feature-length.

It's pretty terrible, really, but it's also interesting for a number of reasons. Most notably the script was co-written with Dan O'Bannon and plays like a prototype of his later success, Ridley Scott's Alien (1979).

Also, the music has that cheap and creepy Carpenter vibe. I love Carpenter's music.