Wednesday, May 22, 2013

05-22-2013

So, Eliz is out of town til Thursday night for work.  Her first work-based trip for the company.  And one of the associates I work with is on vacation this week, so I'm scheduled for a full week of shifts.  It worked out nicely, as I've got Saturday off, so we can catch up with one another then.  Even though we already have some plans, which include us seeing Fast & Furious 6 and dinner with the Rathbones.

I've been on a horror kick recently, and have started picking up some of the recently released Scream Factory Blu-Rays, so I don't fall too far behind.  I've acquired Phantasm II and Prison over the past week. So, onto the movie coverage!

75) The Hand - A early '80s horror film, starring Michael Caine and directed by Oliver Stone (one of his first feature films).  It wasn't too bad actually.  Caine stars as an artist who loses his hand in an accident, and the hand soon returns, following him and killing people who wrong him.  I had a few complaints with it, especially at how Caine wasn't angry at his wife for creating the accident in which he lost his hand, but overall a fairly decent film.  Very atmospheric, and Caine is great in it, as per usual.

76) Phantasm - Two things make this movie great: the score (the main theme for this franchise is beautifully haunting.  I currently have the Phantasm II blu-ray menu up playing the theme as I write), and Angus Scrimm as The Tall Man.  I truly feel The Tall Man is a horror icon who does not get the recognition he deserves.  The first film is a tad slow, and I'm not a huge fan of the kid actor, but overall it's a pretty solid horror film.  I love that Don Coscarelli never sold the franchise and kept it his own.  I've yet to see III or IV, but I look forward to viewing them.

77) Phantasm II - As much as I like the original, II is superior.  A lot of that has to do with having a major studio backing it (Universal), and a budget.  The character or Mike was replaced, and I don't feel like it changed much.  I actually liked him a lot more than I did the kid in the first one.  As I told Dave, the difference between the two films is just like Evil Dead/Evil Dead 2 or Alien/Aliens.  Phantasm II has more action, more gore, more humor.  I look forward to watching the extras on the Scream Factory release, as there are quite a few.  A task that will probably begin tomorrow.

I've got Phantasm III & IV in my Netflix queue, but I might drop by MovieStop tomorrow and see if they have a copy of either cheap.  If not, my Phantasm marathon will have to wait.

Well, I've caught up on the movies.  I think I'm going to head to bed now.  Hopefully I can hit the comic book store tomorrow before going into work, but we shall see.

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