I remember seeing The Beastmaster back in the early 80s on one of the free First Choice/Super Channel weekends. I liked it a lot at ten years old, and hadn’t seen it since. So I was curious if I was going to enjoy it. The opening credits and title cards made me dubious, but over…
Tag: first choice
The Legend of the Lone Ranger (1981) – William A. Fraker
There are a few things to redeem the 1981 iteration of the Lone Ranger story, it has a score by John Barry, and features Christopher Lloyd as the film’s baddie. But beyond that, this one is pretty horrible. The story, while violent, isn’t layered, sophisticated or much stronger than a grade-school tale. And that’s to…
Blue Thunder (1983) – John Badham
I remember seeing Blue Thunder when it was released on home video. Or perhaps it was on a free weekend of Super Channel or First Choice. I remember enjoying it as a kid, loved the helicopter, the nude girl doing yoga, Roy Scheider, and the helicopter. It’s been decades since I watched it, and I…
Time Bandits (1981) – Terry Gilliam
Back in 1981 or 1982, on a free Super Channel or First Choice weekend I received my first introduction to the cinematic stylings of Terry Gilliam with Time Bandits. An odd, decidedly British science fiction adventure film, it is also one of the recommendations (following T2) as I return to the Action genre of the…
Trailer Tracks: The Beastmaster (1982) – Don Coscarelli
I remember seeing this when First Choice, or Super Channel, can’t remember which, had a free weekend on. I loved the fact that this guy could communicate with animals in a much cooler way then Doctor Dolittle, and he had a sword! Come on!!! Don Cosarelli would become a favorite director (I still geek out…
John Dies At The End (2012) – Don Coscarelli
Phantasm, Bubba Ho-Tep, yup, even Beastmaster… Don Coscarelli has always been a cult fave director, and he’s had my attention since 1982, when I saw Beastmaster on First Choice (on one of the free weekends). I remember as a kid sitting in my bedroom in CFB Borden, reading comics on my rug, and seeing an…
A Personal History of Me and Mr. Bond, James Bond
As Bond 23, Skyfall, draws closer and closer, and James had his cinematic 50th birthday last week, and I celebrate my birthday today, I thought it would be a little fun to look back on my own history with the world’s most famous secret agent. I’d like to say that I got introduced to 007…
The Mind Reels 