Shot-By-Shot: “Yojimbo” and “Fistful of Dollars”
Most film buffs know that Fistful of Dollars was based on the earlier Japanese film Yojimbo. Alejandro Villarrea created the video montage below showing just how similar they are.
Tarantino Movies Re-Imagined as Pulp Novels
Today we have The Hateful Eight re-imagined as a pulp novel. I love this idea.
You can also check out the same treatment for Kill Bill, Death Proof and Reservoir Dogs by clicking here.
Source: Bob Freelander.
Z-View Twilight Zone: “The Invaders” [Season 2, Episode 15]
Twilight Zone: “The Invaders” [Season 2, Episode 15]
Original Air Date: January 27, 1961
Director: Douglas Heyes
Writer: Richard Matheson
Starring: Agnes Morrehead.
The Overview: Beware of Spoilers…
An old woman who lives alone in a rural shack with no modern conveniences finds herself under attack when small visitors from another planet land on her roof.
Contains one of the best Twilight Zone twist endings of all.
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Steranko’s Captain America Variant Cover
What do you think of Steranko’s variant cover for Captain America?
Elliott Fernandez Draws Rocky, Too
Elliott Fernandez makes his third, but not hopefully not last appearance in our Stallone Sketch Gallery with his take on Sly as Rocky Balboa.
You can see more of Elliott’s art here and here. If you want to keep up with Elliott’s latest, you can follow him on Twitter.
11 Transformative Facts About “The Fly”
Andrew LaSane and Mental_Floss present 11 Transformative Facts About The Fly. Here are three of my favorites…
1. IT WAS PRODUCED BY MEL BROOKS.
Known as a master of comedy, Mel Brooks is also a fan of the horror genre. Producer Stuart Cornfeld convinced the reluctant studio to distribute the film if he could find the money to make it, and Mel Brooks was the first person he went to for help (the two had previously collaborated on David Lynch’s The Elephant Man in 1980). It was Brooks who encouraged Cronenberg to take the movie as far as he wanted. “[Brooks] said ‘I want you to go all the way. Let yourself go, and don’t hold back.’ There were no restraints,” Cronenberg recalled. “They were willing to lose that percentage of the audience that would have liked the love interest stuff, but couldn’t take the horror.”
2. BROOKS CAME UP WITH THE FILM’S MOST FAMOUS LINE.
“Be afraid, be very afraid” is a quote that many people have heard, but not everyone knows comes from The Fly. Cronenberg revealed in a commentary track that the iconic line was invented by Mel Brooks while discussing how characters should react to the early stages of Seth Brundle’s transformation. The quote also became one of the film’s taglines.
5. JEFF GOLDBLUM AND GEENA DAVIS WERE A COUPLE.
Goldblum was the one who campaigned for then-girlfriend Geena Davis to co-star in the film as journalist/love interest Veronica Quaife, a.k.a. Ronnie. Goldblum admits in a special features documentary that he became jealous of her scenes with actor John Getz and had to be told to leave the set because of his emotional attachment. Their relationship also affected the way they performed the roles. “The problem really in working with a couple who were so close and had been together for quite some time was that Geena, who was an adept mimic, she would basically do Jeff,” Cronenberg said in his commentary track. “She was like Jeff in her linguistic rhythm, her speech rhythm, and her body language because Jeff has a very strange and infectious way of speaking and moving …one of the things we had to do was to disconnect Geena and Jeff for the sake of the movie.”
21 Things We Learned from the “Tropical Thunder” Commentary
Rob Hunter and Film School Rejects present 21 Things We Learned from the Tropical Thunder Commentary. Here are three of my favorites…
9. Downey’s promise to himself — or, Osisris’ promise that he makes in the film — was that he doesn’t “drop character till I done a DVD commentary.” He commits to it here and is a man of his word.
19. “This moment,” says Stiller, “I wasn’t really expecting even when we shot it.” He’s referring to Tom Cruise‘s shift into dance moves after Les Grossman (Cruise) explains to Peck how they’re going to make an insurance claim against Tugg’s death. “I don’t think anybody was really expecting that he was going to go to that place.”
21. Downey finally drops the Osiris voice as the character does the same onscreen, but it’s clear he’s not keen on saying goodbye. “This is Lincoln Osiris signing off forever now. Thank you people. Thanks for letting me float with you. I love you ladies and gentlemen. Man, it’s hard to let go.” He then pauses briefly… and begins speaking in Kirk Lazarus’ Australian accent.
Z-View Twilight Zone: “The Whole Truth” [Season 2, Episode 14]
Twilight Zone: “The Whole Truth” [Season 2, Episode 14]
Original Air Date: January 20, 1961
Director: James Sheldon
Writer: Rod Serling
Starring: Jack Carson.
The Overview: Beware of Spoilers
Harvey Hunnicutt [Carson] is all that the worst used car salesmen are said to be. He stretches the truth and only cares about making the sale. All of that changes when Hunnicut buys a used car for resale that compels him to tell the truth in all situations.
A nice change of pace that is under-rated.
Rating:
15 Fun Facts About “Everybody Loves Raymond”
Roger Cormier and Mental_Floss present 15 Fun Facts About Everybody Loves Raymond. Here are three of my favorites…
6. RAY IS OLDER THAN HIS “OLDER” BROTHER.
Brad Garrett, who played Ray’s older brother Robert, was 36 when the series first aired. Romano was a few months shy of his 39th birthday.
4. PETER BOYLE WAS PERFECTLY ANGRY AT HIS AUDITION FOR FRANK.
Peter Boyle had trouble just getting into the studio lot. He then couldn’t find a parking space. Then he went into the wrong building. By the time he reached Romano and show creator/showrunner Philip Rosenthal he was, in his own words, “enraged”—and perfectly in character for Frank Barone. The topper of it all was that, according to Romano, the CBS President was going to give Boyle the gig anyway.
12. THE SHOW MADE ROMANO THE HIGHEST PAID ACTOR ON TELEVISION.
Romano made $1.7 to 1.8 million per episode during the last two seasons of Raymond, surpassing Kelsey Grammer’s $1.6 million per episode salary for Frasier at the time.
Z-View Twilight Zone: “Back There” [Season 2, Episode 13]
Twilight Zone: “Back There” [Season 2, Episode 13]
Original Air Date: January 13, 1961
Director: David Orrick McDearmon
Writer: Rod Serling
Starring: Russell Johnson and Paul Hartman.
The Overview: Beware of Spoilers…
Pete Corrigan [Russell Johnson of Gilligan’s Island fame] spends the evening debating the possibility of time travel to the past to change events. When he walks outside that evening Corrigan finds himself transported back in time to the evening that President Lincoln was assassinated. With little time to spare, can Corrigan change history?
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1000-Year-Old Buddha Statue Reveals Mummified Monk Hidden Inside
The photo on top show a 1,000 year old Buddha statue. The bottom photo shows a CT scan of the same Buddha statute and we can see the mummified monk hidden inside!
Source: History in Moments.
Z-View Twilight Zone: “Dust” [Season 2, Episode 12]
Twilight Zone: “Dust” [Season 2, Episode 12]
Original Air Date: January 6, 1961
Director: Douglas Heyes
Writer: Rod Serling
Starring: Thomas Gomez, John Larch and Vladimir Sokoloff.
The Overview: Beware of Spoilers
Gallegos’ son is scheduled to be hanged for the accidental death of child. Gallegos begs the Marshall for mercy, but unless the dead child’s parents give consent to stop, the hanging must go on.
An unscrupulous traveling salesman offers to sell Gallegos magic dust which has the power to grant his wish.
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One of Galileo’s First Telescopes
The photo above is of one of Galileo’s first telescopes from the 17th century.
Can you imagine what Galileo would have thought to look through one of our super-telescopes of today?
Source: History in Moments.
“Bastille Day” Trailer Looks Great!
Bastille Day aka The Take just jumped to the top of my Must See list. Check out the trailer below and tell me I’m wrong.
Z-View Twilight Zone: “The Night of the Meek” [Season 2, Episode 11]
Twilight Zone: “The Night of the Meek” [Season 2, Episode 11]
Original Air Date: December 23, 1960
Director: Jack Smight
Writer: Rod Serling
Starring: Art Carney and John Fiedler.
The Overview: Beware of Spoilers…
Henry Corwin [Carney] is an alcoholic who gets seasonal work playing Santa at a department store. When Corwin shows up late to work and under the influence he is fired. Corwin thinks about all of the children he has let down and how he wishes he were the real Santa and could give out presents to all. Sometimes wishes do come true…
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