Hey even if you don’t like the experiment that Jay Burleson has concocted, you have to give “The Third Saturday in October” its credit for being so ambitious. The movies seem to have been made on a very modest budget, but director Burleson has an obvious adoration for slasher movies of all kinds. “Part I” of the series is a love letter to John Carpenter’s “Halloween” and seventies slasher films in general, and while embracing slasher tropes, he does a rare thing and gives us an African American movie maniac. Not just that, but a horrifying African American movie maniac.
The Third Saturday in October: Part V (2023)
There’s a ton of creativity and fun to be had behind writer and director Jay Burleson’s pair of slasher films. With the pair of movies you have what is an admirably constructed mythology, along with a cast of performers that are the absolute highlight of the movie. Even the more irritating characters eventually won me over, and that’s saying a lot. In spite of the warts and all, Burleson gets creative from the outset with a pair of films that have to be appreciated and experienced backward.
So, you have to watch “Part V” before you can even watch “Part I.”
Women Talking (2022)
“What follows is an act of female imagination.”
Sarah Polley has always been a wonderful actress who turned in to an Oscar worthy director. It’s just a shame she’s yet to be recognized as one by the Academy. “Women Talking” is a potent indictment of modern civilization where women are gradually losing not only bodily autonomy, but the clear power to punish those that do harm to their bodies. “Women Talking” and its release does not seem like an accident, as Polley, a staunch activist manages to create a very tense tale of women grappling with their duties to themselves, their community, and their faith.
Superman I-IV 5-Film Collection (1978-1987) [4K UHD/Blu-ray/Digital HD]
2023 was the 85th anniversary of the first appearance of Superman in the comics, and Warner Bros has released two coveted box sets featuring the Donner and Salkind era of “Superman” movies. For folks that consider themselves strictly fans of the Christopher Reeve Superman films, this set is very much in your wheelhouse. Thankfully the movies still hold up very well, even though the box set leaves so much to be desired.
Western Wednesdays: Lightning Bill (1934)
SYNOPSIS:
Ranchowner Ross is murdered by Lefty Landis [Bud Osborne] and his gang. Months later, Ross’ brother Tom [Bill McCall] takes over the ranch and, along with his feisty daughter Sally [Alma Rayford], they still have to contend with the brutish Landis and his gang.
In steps Buffalo Bill Jr [Jay Wilsey] and his starving sidekick partner Barney [Nelson McDowell] who work the ranch in exchange for room and board. Sally isn’t entirely trusting of Bill at first, but gradually grows to like him.
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“Iron Man” Fifteen Years Later: The Tech Superhero We Didn’t Know we Wanted
Recently I was on Tik Tok, and I came across a comic book content creator who was under fire from commenters who took issue with his claim that before he became a big screen hero, Iron Man was not at all popular. It’s quite the comical turn of events because if you were a fan of comic books in the late eighties throughout the nineties, Iron Man was not popular. Out of all the superheroes running during that time, Iron Man was at best a third tier superhero.
While The Punisher, Spider-Man, and X-Men were selling huge for Marvel Comics, Iron Man was low on the totem pole in terms of status and popularity. His series was constantly cancelled, rebooted, and restarted, while his alternate War Machine became the more celebrated of the pair. While he was respected as one of the Avengers’ founders, he just wasn’t a popular or even appealing character.
Every Bugs Bunny Ever: The Hare-Brained Hypnotist (1942)
2023 marks the 85th Anniversary of Bug Bunny’s first animated appearance in 1938’s “Porky’s Hare Hunt.” Debuting originally as Happy Rabbit, Bugs eventually became one of the most iconic animated characters of all time. In honor of the landmark anniversary, we’re discussing every animated appearance by Bugs Bunny. We’re big fans of Bugsy and we hope that you are, too.
Follow us on this massive journey where we discover and re-discover Every Bugs Bunny Ever.
The Hare-Brained Hypnotist (1942)
Directed by Friz Freleng
Written by Michael Maltese
Music by Carl W. Stalling
Animation by Phil Monroe
One of the interesting things about “The Hare-Brained Hypnotist” is that I’ve often confused it for another Bugs Bunny short. Often times whenever I see this, I expect Bugs to eventually take on the clothing of Elmer Fudd, but that’s actually “Hare Brush” which would be released in 1955 (also a short that would be constantly played on “The Bugs and Daffy Show”). Both shorts, to be honest, aren’t very good when all is said and done. I don’t know if it’s the gimmick, or the plot twist or whatnot, but the premise for both shorts are pretty thin in laughs and gags. The latter being the lesser of the pair, but that’s beside the point.