And Now… The Star Wars Holiday Special (1978)

Posted on December 25, 2013 by Felix Vasquez

A long time ago in a galaxy Far, Far Away, Bea Arthur ran a cantina with her alien pals.

And bandit Han Solo found it in his heart to interrupt his daring exploits to take Chewbacca home to be with his family for Christmas–er–Life Day. Though Chewbacca was explained as being a loner whose only friend was Han in the first film, he found time to bonk Mrs. Chewie and birth some chewbacca babies. So every now and then, I imagine Han has to stay over at his pal’s house, listening as Chewie and his wife argue with one another about taking out the trash, while Han tries to unfold the cot for his awkward sleep over.

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Mickey’s Christmas Carol (1983)

Posted on December 24, 2013 by Felix Vasquez

Thankfully, time has been kind to “Mickey’s Christmas Carol” mainly because the short truncates the Charles Dickens classic, but still maintains many of its themes and heart. In the end, it never sugarcoats the potential fate of Scrooge McDuck, nor does it deny that Tiny Tim will die eventually because he couldn’t afford to eat and purchase the medicine needed for him. That said, “Mickey’s Christmas Carol” is a classic animated special with your usual Disney Easter Eggs, while also telling the classic story of the Christmas spirit.

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All Is Lost (2013)

Posted on December 20, 2013 by Felix Vasquez

If there was ever any doubt before of the acting ability of Robert Redford in his long career as a film star, then “All is Lost” may change many minds. “All is Lost” is very much a film I was not prepared for. I’d heard rumblings that it was basically “Castaway” meets “The Grey,” but that’s a complete misunderstanding of what “All is Lost” is striving for. “All is Lost” has two lines of dialogue, and only one character in it. Even “Castaway” about a man stuck on an island for many years couldn’t help stuffing the film with a slew of performers.

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The Fab Four & The Fab Foul

Posted on December 20, 2013 by Felix Vasquez

You can’t just put any band on a film and expect laughs. And chemistry and appeal. That’s what happened to “Spice World.”

The directors and creators behind it seemed to basically assume, “Hell, this band is popular, they’re a pop band, they have massive appeal with the male audience, they make catchy music, and they’re British, so they’ll be perfect equivalents to The Beatles.”

And… well… if you saw the movie, you’ll know that the logic behind that theory was slightly eschew.

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Tura Satana

Posted on December 20, 2013 by Felix Vasquez

I’m assuming for Tura Satana fans at the time, this comic book based around Satana would have been a fun little treat from her. Satana’s self titled comic book doesn’t really re-invent the wheel, but I really do enjoy the notion of Satana basically roaming around the country saving people and helping lost souls. Except this isn’t so much Satana as it is Varla from “Faster Pussycat!” who seemingly awakens after death and has to help lost souls to redeem her own (?) in the process.

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4 Movie Collection: Return of the Vampire/Revenge of Frankenstein/Mr. Sardonicus/Brotherhood of Satan (DVD)

Posted on December 19, 2013 by Felix Vasquez

Mill Creek offers up a cheapie four movie set for horror fans looking to save bucks while also collecting four interesting horror movies. The four movie set here garners three really notable horror movies, and one horror movie that’s simply there to take up a slot, I assume. There are no perfect movie sets, of course. Even ones for the cheap skate horror fans looking to rake in the volume for little money.

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