Men In Black: Having viewed episode # 310 ("The Silencers") of The History Channel's UFO Hunters, we felt mildly inspired in writing our own hypothesis on the infamous "Men In Black". Not fans of the mildly popular film series (nor of Will Smith...please TBS...no more reruns...) and having had our own UFO encounters, we feel quite confident in saying that we've never had an encounter with these Men In Black. At least, that we know of... But, we asked ourselves, what motivates someone to come into their employ? That is, what psychological profile would you need to match in order to become such an employee?
Well, first of all, we think you would have to have a slightly investigatory personality. And, you would need an interest in compelling persons (that is "witnesses") to remain silent. In other words, you would need a person who is in direct opposition to doing standard police work. You would need to meet the psychological profile of a secret police person(nel)...
In other words, you would need personnel who enjoy/need the feeling of personal power and control over others in a totalitarian state. If you believe any of this, then you might also feel that despite playing a role as a democracy, the USA is (secretly) a totalitarian state. Especially when it comes to matters concerning extraterrestrials. You would need to be a person willing to accept these matters as one of fact. If indeed the "Men In Black" really do exist...then perhaps so do the extraterrestrials...and that this country we spoke of is really a totalitarian one.
Please note: This posting appears simultaneously on our sister publication, The Anti-Zen Dictionary.
Bit.ly: http://bit.ly/2XPeL7
Hmmm, look for this website to suddenly and mysteriously disap...
Friday, October 30, 2009
Monday, October 26, 2009
Halloween Video Suggestions II: These movies may have redefined (your) Halloween Holiday. The list has been revised, updated and categorized (Midnight Viewing, Well After Midnight, Before Midnight and Classic TV Programs...). OK, its still incomplete, but we can't include everything... Now includes mini-reviews...
Black Sabbath (1963, Mario Bava, Boris Karloff) Our favorite vignette – “The Drop of Water”…you may let loose some liquids with this one… Even we don't own a copy of this film - and we refuse to. It is just that scary.
The Haunting (1963, Robert Wise, Julie Harris, Claire Bloom…) Unsurpassed eeriness and low-budget special effects and elegant filmwork… Its almost as if Shirley Jackson was right there with you…
Invasion of the Body Snatchers (1978, Philip Kaufman, Donald Sutherland, and more…) Though a “remake”, its really more than the sum of its parts…Great cast…
The Blob (1988, Chuck Russell, Kevin Dillon, Shawnee Smith) Love Shawnee Smith and some of the devouring scenes!
The Thing (1982, John Carpenter, Kurt Russell) Absolute classic. Love this. It’s a nightmare captured on film.
They Live (1988, John Carpenter, Roddy Piper...) Sometimes an absolute hoot. More famous lines in horror movies came out of Roddy Piper than in all the others combined..."I am here to chew bubble-gum and kick ass. And, I am all out of bubble-gum!". "Life's a b****, and she's in heat!" to Keith David. And, "Your face looks like it fell in guacamole in 1957!" to one of the aliens. Meg Foster's character is marvellously treacherous.
Prince of Darkness (1987, John Carpenter, Donald Pleasance) A real "sleeper". And, the late, great Donald Pleasance is in this one - always a pleasure.
The Mothman Prophecies (2002, Mark Pellington, Richard Gere...) A great Richard Gere movie? Yes, this one is great and sometimes based on real-life experiences and disasters connected in some way or another to The Mothman. Note: The Mothman features only briefly in a few scenes - its said - but we've never been able to identify him. The ending is, though, more than a little unbelievable. But, do you want to meet Indrid Cold?
Interview with the Vampire (1994, Neil Jordan, Tom Cruise, Brad Pitt...) This really was a masterpiece of the macabre, with a Gran Guignol (literally and misspelling intended...) placed within a Gran Guignol. Cruise was inspirational as Lestat. Featuring Antonio Banderas and a very young (and exceptionally gifted) Kirsten Dunst. Ce fantastique!
Trilogy of Terror (1975, Dan Curtis, Karen Black) Have you seen this? A forgotten ‘classic’. Karen Black is morbidly great.
The Thing from Another World (1951, Howard Hawks, Christian Nyby, James Arness – as the Monster) The original classic.
Sleepy Hollow (1999, Tim Burton, Johnny Depp, Christina Ricci…) Tim Burton at his maniacal, inspired best!
The Serpent and The Rainbow (1988, Wes Craven, Bill Pullman) The zombie bride and the “hand in the soup” scenes are the tops!
The Exorcist (1973, William Friedkin, Ellen Burstyn…) Unsurpassed. To Be Viewed Well After Midnight…
X: The Man With X-Ray Eyes (1963, Roger Corman, Ray Milland) Still a mind-bender, at times, unforgettable…
The Blob (1988, Chuck Russell, Kevin Dillon, Shawnee Smith) Love Shawnee Smith and some of the devouring scenes!
Forbidden Planet (1956, Fred M. Wilcox, Leslie Nielsen) Great film…the murder and monster scenes might qualify this for Halloween viewing…
Invaders from Mars (1986, Tobe Hooper, Karen Black…) Best Line: “They understand! They understand!...”
Jeepers Creepers (2001, Victor Salva, Gina Phillips) Hi again! The sequel: Jeepers Creepers 2 Is a low-rated sequel but you shouldn't miss it. The last 20 - 30 minutes are action-packed in a way you haven't seen since the climax of "Jaws".
The Body Snatcher (1944, Robert Wise, Boris Karloff, Bela Lugosi) Fun with creeps. How'd that corpse get there...?
The Relic (1997, Peter Hyams, Penelope Ann Miller...) This film transforms itself from a terrible B-movie to a rather terrifying monster movie. The special effects used to create the 'Kothoga' are convincing and terrifying. Put the little ones to bed before putting this one on...
To Be Viewed Before Midnight…
The Thing (1982, John Carpenter, Kurt Russell) See it again. A genius nightmare caught on film. Masterpiece.
The Thing from Another World (1951, Howard Hawks, Christian Nyby, James Arness – as the Monster) Camp classic.
The Others (2001, Alejandro Amenabar, Nicole Kidman) So who knew Nicole Kidman could act?...no, seriously, she is just great in this thriller.
Bram Stoker's Dracula (1992, Francis Ford Coppola, Gary Oldman, Winona...oh, forget it...) As always, Gary Oldman brings that extra something to the screen, whereas Winona...oh, forget it...(?)
Young Frankenstein (1974, Mel Brooks, Gene Wilder, Peter Boyle…) Still great. The cameo of Gene Hackman still provokes wild laughter.
Mars Attacks! (1996, Tim Burton, Jack Nicholson...) Martin Short and Glenn Close and many others make up inspired casting in this one. Strange how we almost forgot this one...
The Howling (1981, Joe Dante, Dee Wallace-Stone) An American Werewolf in London (1981, John Landis, David Naughton)
The Island of Dr. Moreau (1996, John Frankenheimer, Marlon Brando…) 2 words: Fairuza Balk. Oh, you need more? How about a way-over-the-top Marlon Brando as the gloriously *M*A*D* Dr. Moreau, Val Kilmer's character loses his sanity just before the climax and is David Thewlis's character human or ...? Kind of like Doctor Doolittle meets Apocalyspe Now. A tribute to the late, great Marlon Brando's screen presence is the way he stole the scene where he initially appears amidst a throng of half-crazed, mutant, hybrid, half-human beast animals.
The Twilight Zone (1983 Various Directors, Various Actors…) Kevin McCarthy is a cult favorite in this film version and John Lithgow is a hoot.
Classic Television Programs
The Twilight Zone (including the later version from the '80's...) Amazing that a half-century old program still has this much impact...
One Step Beyond (featuring the great and largely forgotten John Newland...) All right, it never had quite the polish of The T-Zone, but almost always based on factual tales of the paranormal right out of everyday life. Catch it if you can. The most "Fortean" of these television shows. Best line? "I'm so tired I wish I was dead...".
And at least two episodes from The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes (starring the late, great Jeremy Brett). Those being The Cardboard Box and The Hound of the Baskervilles. Not to be missed. We suppose it was fitting that The Hound was feature-length and The Box was the series finale. We know, we know...we left out some or all of your favorites. You know what they are...Halloween, Friday the 13th, Scream, Texas Chainsaw, Saw, Hostel...the list goes on...we just can't cover them all. Updated/Revised: Friday, October 16, 2009. Saturday, October 17, 2009. Sunday, October 18, 2009. Wednesday, October 21, 2009. Monday, October 26, 2009.
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