RIP for June & July 2012

I been meaning to pay tribute to the recent deaths in the genre, but with Sage Stallone's death last night, I knew I had to, now. They say these things come in three and sadly that seems to be the case, here. It's never easy to write these, and it's never something I look forward to. But, alas it's a part of everyone's life.

Richard Lynch-  Lynch passed away last month on the 19th of a heart attack. I was immediately saddened. Lynch was a great heavy and always owned the screen whenever he was on. While Lynch was in countless movies, its two roles of his that remain my favorites:
  
Invasion USA- One of my all time favorite Chuck Norris movies, Invasion deals with a group of terrorists/ commies invading the US (duh!), and Norris, the resident Florida badass, being the lone man against them. It's fast paced and totally ludicrous. But, then there in lies one of the movie's charms. It racks a ridiculous body count and is righteously violent. But, it's Lynch who really owns the film. His role as the psychopathic leader of the terrorist group ranks as one of action cinema's best villains. The scene where a junkie chick is snorting coke, and then gets her head slammed on to the table, as the pick goes up her nose, and then gets thrown out the window as her criminal boyfriend (played by a young Billy Drago) gets shot in the balls by Lynch (something he does TWICE in the movie!) is brutal and badass. That sets up the movie and, more so, Lynch's character perfectly.

The other role of his I loved is in the enjoyable and underrated Bad Dreams. You'll find my review of that movie here: http://www.gorezone.net/dvdcrypt/reviewstxt/abc/baddreams.html His last role is in the upcoming Rob Zombie movie The Lords of Salem.

Ernest Borgnine- Ernest passed away this month on the 8th at 95 of renal failure. I was a fan of his since I was a little kid. Back then I knew from two things, mostly. The first being the 80s TV show Airwolf, a show that probably doesn't hold up much today but inarguablely had a badass copter, the other being John Carpenter's Escape from New York, where he played Cabbie. It's a cool role in one of my favorite Carpenter films. A badass mix of action and sci-fi, I've discussed the movie before here: http://themastergio.blogspot.com/2008/09/top-5-john-carpenter-films.html

 

The Wild Bunch- But way before he worked with Carpenter he starred in my favorite western of all time, this classic by Sam Pekinpah. This story about a group of outlaws who go for one final shoot-out is one of the most important and influential movies in the genre, ever. It's ultra-violent and stylized, gory shoot-outs changed cinema forever. Borgnine gives a great performance, as does the rest of the cast. By the way, if you truly want to experience this movie, get the blu-ray. It's a sight to behold and worship!!

Another role of his that I loved was Mermaid Man on Spongebob Squarepants. This fun parody of DC's Aquaman is one of the most endearing character's on one of the greatest toons ever. And, one of the only human (or sort of human) characters in the series. He was so funny in this!

Sage Stallone- Last night it was revealed that the eldest son of Sylvester Stallone, Sage, had passed away. He was only 36 and may have been dead for three days prior. The cause of death is still under investigation. While, most mainstream audiences best remember him from roles in movies like Rocky V and Daylight, horror fans best know him because of his love of the genre. He started and ran Grindhouse Releasing, which put out pristine and remastered releases of films like Lucio Fulci's masterpiece The Beyond (a movie that was previously only available as the butchered Seven Doors of Death in the US), Ruggero Deodato's controversial, brutal, and never before legally released in the US Cannibal Holocaust, and Umberto Lenzi's dumb but nasty Cannibal Ferox (formerly known as Make Them Die Slowly), as well as many other genre films. He never let his last name get to his head and was a true fan. He was one of us.  

 

May they all RIP and my condolences, thoughts, and prayers go their loved ones.

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The Top 5 John Carpenter Films

In honor of the BAM in NY having four John Carpenter films being show on the big screen. I present to you the five best John Carpenter movies.

Carpenter has long been one of my fav directors and while, his recent work is not on par with his older work, there is no denying that he is one of the genre's most talented, respected, and important directors. His use of suspense, and the fact that he scores his own films, usually, sets him apart from his peers. Said, scores are some of the best and most memorable in the genre.

Anyways here comes the list:

5. - While, we all know that nothing happened in 1997 (if it did it means, being a NYer, I was, am ?, in lockdown!), this imaginative mix of suspense, action, and sci-fi had a great cast. As well as one of the single most badass anti-heroes ever in Snake Plisken. Darkly shot and filled with memorable characters, including having the always awesome Donald Pleasance playing the president and Isaac Hayes as the Duke (!), this sci-fi classic is, deservedly, a cult classic.

4. - Like many of Carpenter's films, this one was not a hit at it's time, but over the years, it became a cult classic. Once again, a great cast play some awesome characters. The action is exciting, and the political commentary just as thought provoking today as it was back then. This remains a relevant film, that also happens to have one of the greatest fist fights ever caught on celluloid, and one of the most memorable lines ever: "I have come here to chew bubble-gum and kick some ass, and I am all out of bubble-gum!" as said by wrestling legend Rowdy Roddy Piper (on a side note, Carpenter admitted he was a wrestling fan, wonder if he still watches the crap it has become now, probably not, though).

3. - A badass film all the way, this has a great hero and an awesome anti-hero in the lead. It is also a nail-biting and violent mix of action and suspense. The bloody murder of the little girl eating ice cream makes this one a daring film. One clearly of it's era. This was made very evident when the remake came out a few years ago. While, said movie is actually pretty good, it is not the level of this and of course, had no little girl getting killed.

2. - Whenever I see a movie with shitty CGI, or an unnecessary overdose of it, I think of films like this. Rob Bottin's exceptional work in this movie remains one of the absolute GREATEST in the entire genre. Ultra-gory and suspenseful, this remains one of the greatest remakes ever made. Yet, again an amazing cast shines in this truly amazing sci-fi/ horror film that features THE scariest blood test, EVER.

1. - While, this film borrowed elements from Bob Clark's amazing Black Christmas, it help set the rules for what the teen slasher film would be. Benefiting from the amazing and famous score, that Carpenter wrote, as well as the very suspenseful and intense style, Halloween is not only Carpenter's best film but one of the best horror films, ever. The cast is great, there is little gore (but the film feels violent, throughout), and it is one fuck of a scary film. Pleasance made his most well known role in this classic, and it gave birth to one of the most famous horror villains ever in Michael Myers. A classic in every way, shape (pun not intended), and form.

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