Nolan's Pop Culture Review #461

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Terence [26-01-2009 19:08]
re:matts challenge
i started a thread for it on the message board under announcements and feedback.
matthew [26-01-2009 16:45]
i'm in the process of updating areas of Masters of Horror and wanted to let you all know the new Monster Calender for '09 is uploaded.as always, its in Horrorhead Fred's Fiendish Fun. also a new Cover of the Month.
Chris Woods [26-01-2009 16:12]
Chris M. - I liked your Top 10 things we know about wrestling, but one thing I have to saw is TNA is not coming up. Don't get me wrong, they have some talented people in the younger guys, but they're taking pages out of WCW's playbook and just only focus on the older guys like Kurt Angle, Kevin Nash, Sting, and Booker T. It has come a long way since it's started, but it can't compete with WWE and the direction they're going I don't see them getting any better. I would like to see them get better and try to give Vince a run for his money like ECW and WCW did back in the late 90's. And right now WWE isn't good as it use to be. Not sure if you checked out FCW, it's not that bad.
Chris Woods [26-01-2009 15:35]
I might do Matt's challenge. I'll have to go through some album covers and see which our my favorite.
J.MILLER [26-01-2009 14:20]
Anybody going to take Matt up on his Top 10 challenge?
Petrey [25-01-2009 09:45]
You guys actually got me reading in length again, ha!

Loved the 'Edgar Allan Poe in Film' Terence! As a kid my first vague memory of a Drive-In Theatre Experience was "Pit and the Pendulum". I played that on the Bigger screen downstairs at the Britton and the video projector held up nicely even being Cinemascope! Imagine, a night of just a handful of those features bundled up for everyone to consume on the big screen!
Petrey [25-01-2009 04:54]
Actually Nolan, I think by watching the video closely on the oath, the President started talking too soon before Roberts finished the first sentence resulting in the confusion passed to Roberts and thus a few fumbled words followed. I can't believe this is what makes the news. Well, actually I can, come to think about it. This is one of many reasons why I left TV, ha! But Why should anyone care if any president stumbles or anyone messes up their speech? We all do this when talking, unless we're a car salesman.

Re: Batman Serials, as a kid I had the chance to see these serials played at a retro festival downtown Louisville Ky. Sadly all my childhood in-door theatres have been torn down but mysteriously one drive-in theatre remains!
ED [24-01-2009 17:07]
Ter - I always liked the second one better. It was more cartoony and I liked Robert Lowery as Batman better. The first one is good although I didn't find J. Carol Naish very convencing as a Japanese scientist, maybe I had just seen him in too many other roles.

Petrey - I have those VHS tapes too and I recently upgraded to the DVD. I never saw them in the theaters though. The kiddie matinees used to show serials but they never had Batman. I remember they showed The Masked Marvel and Flying Disc Man from Space.
Petrey [24-01-2009 15:07]
I have those Batman serials on 2 videotapes and remember when they ran at the theatre.
Terence [24-01-2009 14:46]
cool interview Ed. I have always loved the Batman serials since i saw them at Tampa Theatre in 1989. i guess i must have been in 4th or 5th grade. i always preferred the first serial though.
Steve Steam Train Beasley [24-01-2009 14:40]
Waaaaahh! I wanna come home!

Pardon me for whining, I'm just jonezin' for a taste of home.
Steve \"V-Twin\" Beasley [24-01-2009 14:36]
http://www.bbc.co.uk/weather/5day_f.shtml? world=0286
Steve \"Buddha\" Beasley [24-01-2009 14:35]
It's not raining where I am. It's a warm 24 centigrade at the moment 11:30am. Nights get into the mid teens.

Or, 82 degrees right now. Nice weather. As a matter of fact, I think I'll go for a spin on the bike.

;)
Petrey [24-01-2009 13:36]
Is it raining where you guys are?
J Teezy [24-01-2009 09:01]
Listening to Snacktime right now FFFFFFFFFFFF

nice column bobert!
Michael [23-01-2009 18:38]
Since we're spilling the beans here, "Owl Creek" won an Oscar for Best Live Action Short Film. Rod Serling enjoyed it so much he bought the rights to broadcast it on "The Twilight Zone," where, if not in school, most of us probably originally saw it.
Lonnie Dohlen [23-01-2009 11:25]
Ed,that Film,"Owl Creek Bridge".It's a French Movie from 1962.The U.S. Title was Misspelled.The correct Title is:An Occurrence At Owl Creek Bridge."
Michael [22-01-2009 21:41]
FYI: The updated Oscar Nominations piece is now up with nominees and thoughts. Enjoy.
Michael [22-01-2009 20:36]
T, great work on the Poe piece. Years ago Stallone shopped a Poe biography he had written that I understand was pretty good.

ED, I too own a 16mm copy of "Owl Creek" Like they say, great minds collect alike.
Tampa Tanned Sensation Puff Chrissy [22-01-2009 15:37]
Mike: I agree, Richard Jenkins deserves the award for best actor. Hands down.
Chris Woods [22-01-2009 10:38]
ED - The Tell Tale Heart short I saw was live action. Probably made in the 60's or early 70's. I wonder if it's on YouTube somewhere but there's tons of different versions of that film it's hard to find that one.

Christian - I remember watching Owl Creek Bridge in school too. That was another good film they always use to show. Those two always stuck out to me and it's been since my high school days since I seen them.
ED [22-01-2009 06:57]
I have a 16MM print of Owl Creek. I remember getting into an argument with a drama teacher about that one. She told the class it was originally rated X and made a big deal about showing it to us. I asked her how it could be rated X when it wasn't a feature film, was made before the MPAA, and was shown on television as an episode of the Twilight Zone. Needless to say she never liked me!
Poe Chrissy Returns! [22-01-2009 06:46]
Also, they usually showed Poe's The Tell-Tale Heart with Bierce's An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge. Man, I loved that stuff in school.
Poe Chrissy [22-01-2009 06:39]
I know the movie you're talking about, Chris. I'm certain that most people our age discovered Poe with that movie in middle/high school. I remember it being quite good.
ED [22-01-2009 04:36]
Chris - was that the one that was animated? I remember seeing that version and it had some ominous narration and sound effects.
Chris Woods [22-01-2009 03:32]
Hey Terence, awesome work on the Poe films article. I’ve always enjoyed all the Corman/Price film adaptations of Poe’s work. One of my favorites has always been Masque of the Red Death. Also, I remember seeing a short film version of The Tell Tale Heart that I saw in Jr. High. The film was in b&w and real creepy. I believe it was shot in the 60’s and I remember seeing it once or twice in school, it was a very cool film.
H.P. Puff Chrissy [22-01-2009 00:05]
Yeah, I agree with you. I wrote a piece on the Mouth of Madness and echoed what you're saying. Though, I'd say that Dagon - while not a perfect movie - addressed the hopelessness and overpowering dread that Lovecraft's stories embrace so well better than most movies. There is a part in the movie where you can see the main character accepting the fact that it's going to end badly for him, and I think it's a key ingredient to a lot of Lovecraft's work.
Terence [21-01-2009 18:27]
actually i personally have yet to see a movie that is based on Lovecrafts works that actually feels like a Lovecraft story. Stuart Gordon's Dreams in the Witchhouse comes damn close though. Movies that arent actually based on his work come far closer like In The Mouth of Madness and parts of Phantasm.
LovePuffChrissyCraft [21-01-2009 14:40]
No problem. You should do the same for Lovecraft some day. I think his influence tends to translate to film better than Poe.
Terence [21-01-2009 09:12]
Thanks Christian! I agree he probably had many problems before the death of his wife but I just think it was the straw that broke him. Just my opinion.
Smokey and the Puff Chrissy [21-01-2009 07:28]
Good job on the Poe piece, Terence.

While Poe hardly made money through his work in his lifetime, he was well known, and respected - and feared - as a critic. In fact, he was recognizable enough to debunk a couple of theories regarding his death (he would have been too famous to be used in "cooping", for instance), and he was certainly famous enough to be used by Dr Snodgrass to further the Temperance movement.

As far his problems starting from the death of his wife and cousin, I'd argue that his problems were well on their way before she died, considering his alcoholism and gambling problem. I'd say that Clemm's death was a demarcation line for him as an artist.

Still, it's great to see his work continue to inspire filmmakers.
matthew [21-01-2009 06:10]
let's make it a third for that former Bush turd
Steve in the land Downunder [21-01-2009 01:59]
Mike said, "Best words I heard today..."Former President Bush."

I second that!
Michael [20-01-2009 21:44]
For the curious, due to the inauguration the Oscar nominations, normally announced on Tuesday mornings, will be announced this Thursday. The Movie Review section will reflect these on Thursday evening. Sorry for the delay.

Best words I heard today..."Former President Bush."
Nolan [20-01-2009 15:23]
Awesome inauguration. I think it was 19 degrees in Washington, DC. Those musicians had to work against that chill -- they couldn't wear gloves! Good speech by Obama. Not history-making necessarily, but very, very good. Gifted orator.
Petrey [20-01-2009 09:30]
Go Gran Torino!!
[31-12-1969 16:00]

End of Comments