The Shinning (1977) - Stephen King - Book Review

[caption id="attachment_415" align="alignright" width="350"] Official Score = 4 Devils[/caption]

You know one of the things that I like about Stephen King and his novels, is that in an of itself, each individual novel has it's own separate and distinct story line separate from the other, but in the end, his novels are set up in such a way as to permit individual story lines to connect together, and when he does so, it makes that story that much better!

With that said, there is a novel that I can't wait to read that recently came out by the master of the macabre that is actually the sequel to one of his earlier novels... This novel is called, 'Doctor Sleep', and the original being, 'The Shinning' (1977)!

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="160"] A truly classic novel that rocks![/caption]

Now this book truly rocks! It is one one of those novels that from just about the beginning to the end, your on the edge of your seat, and as Stephen King guides the reader deeper in to the story, you end up getting more and more on the edge of your seat, and as you follow Jack Torrance, and his descent in to madness... Well let's just put it this way... You aren't going to want to read this novel late at night!

As for the story it's this, the story tells of how the Torrance family takes over the, 'Overlook Hotel'  as the caretaker for the off season... Now this Hotel has a supernatural secret about previous caretakers, and when Jack Torrance finds out about it, his slow descent in to madness, will be something that he and his family will never forget!

As a side note that I think you might find interesting if you haven't actually seen it yet, is that in 1980 Stanley Kubrick (Full Metal Jacket) & Jack Nicholson (Little Shop Of Horrors) along with Shelley Duvall (Annie Hall) & Scatman Crothers (Transformers: The Return Of Optimus Prime) would go on to make the first and still most famous big screen adaption of the movie!

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="150"] Jack Nicholson as, 'Jack Torrance' in, 'The Shinning' (1980)![/caption]

 

In the end guys, this book is freaking awesome, I mean the movie was good... The book was better, and if you give it a chance, I think you might really like it... I know I did!

The Terror (1963) - Movie Review

[caption id="attachment_330" align="alignright" width="220"] Official Score = 2 1/2 Devils[/caption]

There are very few artists in this world that can be said to be synonymous with the type of genre, or type of art that they do, more then Roger Corman (Queen Of Blood)…

Now I know there are a lot people who have come since Corman first started this, but the truth is, is that Roger Corman is the very embodiment of B Movies! I mean this guy has literally done hundreds of movie that would have never made it in the main stream… But you know what? The reason that they would not have made it in the main stream in all honesty is because no one can do what he does, like Roger Corman does… in some ways using the same elements that make up the mainstream?

What do I mean by this? Well simply put, this guy helped get some of Hollywood’s biggest names their start… or help them further careers, I mean here is just a small number of some of the amazing talent that this guy has worked with:

1. Ron Howard

2. Sylvester Stallone

3. Jack Nicholson

4. Robert De Niro

5. Boris Karloff

And that is just to name a few! Now you might be thinking, that If he had worked with such amazing A list talent that he must be an A Lister himself right? Well considering his legend he is more than an A-Lister, because in a way, Roger Corman helped sort of, ‘Mentor’ a lot of the Hollywood A-List of the 70s – 90s!

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="500"] B Movie Legend, 'Roger Corman' with horror movie legend, 'Vincent Price'![/caption]

But the truth is, is that Roger Corman has made his career out of making awesome movies, that people who are fans of the Hollywood A list type of movie, would consider it to be a B Movie, and I just so happen to catch one of his awesome B movies in the form of, The Terror (1963)!

Written by: Jack Hill (Foxy Brown), Leo Gordon (Attack Of The Giant Leeches) & Directed by: Roger Corman. Starring Jack Nicholson (Batman), Boris Karloff (The Crimson Cult), Sandra Knight (Thunder Road), Dick Miller (The Terminator), Dorothy Neumann (The Ten Commandments) and Jonathan Haze (The Little Shop Of Horrors).

You see, this movie tells the story of a young French Lieutenant by the name of, ‘Andre’ (Nicholson) a soldier in Napoleon's Army, a soldier low on morale, and lost from his regiment, who one day while he was nearing the end of his ropes and lost in the middle of nowhere, somewhere in Germany, ends up coming upon a woman who nearly kills him…

After this occurs, Andre is taken in by a weird old woman and her mute servant… Now searching for the woman that nearly killed him, Andre questions the woman (only to find that the woman is trying to make him believe that there is no woman… But later on, the old woman’s servant, ‘Gustav’ sends Andre to the Castle of the Baron Von Leppe!

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="600"] The woman of this lowly Lieutenant's dreams may end up proving to be the woman of his nightmares![/caption]

Once he gets there though Andre is greeted by the kindly (but insane) old Baron Von Leppe (Karloff) and Von Leppe’s assistant. Now at this point Andre has forced his way in to the Baron’s home to stay for a while and will ultimately start an investigation in to the girl’s disappearance that will lead Andre, the Baron, and everyone around them in to a world that non of them will ever forget!

In the end, I found this movie is definitely worth a watch, and you might find this movie worth it as well!

http://youtu.be/N2YRo6dskac

5 Sci-Fi Movies For Christmas

With Christmas coming up here in a couple of weeks, I would be remiss if I didn't mention what I thought would be 5 great Sci-Fi movies that I thought that you guys would like if you are looking for something to watch with your family, or if you are spending Christmas this year by yourself or, if you’re looking for something for the Sci-Fi movie fan in your life!

At number 5 we got: Mars Attack! (1996):

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="600"] President James Dale (Nicholson) as he is being held hostage by a Martian![/caption]

This movie is awesome! I mean if, with a great cast that includes people like, Jack Nicholson (The Terror), Pierce Brosnan (Of James Bond fame) and Sarah Jessica Parker (Ed Wood). Rather you are a fan of classic Science Fiction and are looking for something to watch by yourself or with your family this year for Christmas, than you are going to love this movie… Simply put, it is a spoof of the classic Sci-Fi invasion movies that came out between the 1950s – 1970s!

At number 4: Bicentennial Man (1999):

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="600"] Robin Williams asthe robot, 'Andrew Martin' in, 'Bicentennial Man' (1999).[/caption]

If you’re a Sci-Fi fan, and you are looking for a movie that is fun for the whole family (young and old alike), then this one is a great heart -warming (and oft times funny) tale that stars Robin Williams (Insomnia), and tells the tale of a Robot who starts off as a servant to a family, and ends up finding that he wants more and ends up going on a journey to try and discover his humanity!

At number 3: Spaceballs (1987):

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="501"] John Candy as, 'Barf', Daphne Zuniga as, 'Princess Vespa' and Bill Pullman as, 'Lone Starr'[/caption]

At number 2: The Ghostbuster movie series:

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="550"] Harold Ramis, Dan Aykroyd, Bill Murray and Ernie Hudson in 'Ghostbusters' (1984)[/caption]

Let’s be honest, this movie series is legendary, with a great cast (which includes the likes of: Dan Aykroyd, Bill Murray, Sigourney Weaver, Harold Ramis, Annie Potts, and Rick Moranis), these movies have great and hilarious story lines! In the end, no matter if you are alone this year or with your family this year for Christmas, then this one could be a good fit for you… (I know it is for me)!

At number 1: The Back To The Future Trilogy:

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="378"] Christopher Lloyd and Michael J. Fox in the, 'Back To The Future' series![/caption]

In my opinion this movie series is just about the perfect series to watch for the Holidays! I mean it is hilarious, it has a great cast (including Michael J. Fox and Christopher Lloyd) and it is a movie series that both Kids and Adults love!

In the end, I know that most of these movies are Sci-Fi Comedies, but the truth is, is that Comedies are great, and all of these movies would be fun for Christmas rather you are alone or with your family and if you are looking for something for the Sci-Fi movie fan in your life, than hopefully this will help you with your decision!

http://youtu.be/m0idkvjPcz8

http://youtu.be/z5YMEwX2-88

http://youtu.be/2JaJG1fXHpM

http://youtu.be/RexxlFwWtSI

http://youtu.be/9u4FHmId-Y0