Author Archive: admin
Life of Pi
Released this week by Fox on DVD and Blu-ray is Ang Lee’s film version of Yann Martel’s Life of Pi, so I’ve uplaoded a film review, a CD review of Mychael Danna’s Oscar-winning score, and a podcast interview with Danna’s assistant and collaborator, up-and-coming composer Rob Simonsen
Western Film Soundtracks
A quartet of western soundtrack reviews featuring Jerry Goldsmith’s Stagecoach (1966) and Rio Lobo (La-La Land), Lalo Schifrin’s Coogan’s Bluff (Intrada), and Luis Bacalov’s A Man Called Noon and The Grand Duel (Quartet Records), the latter of which was a major sonic element in Quentin Tarantino’s Kill Bill: Vol. 1. Also: some Peter Collinson news + details of Olive’s DVD-only edition of Cecil B. DeMille’s Samson and Delilah (1949).
The Story of Film: One Mother of an Odyssey
Just uploaded is a review of Mark Cousins’ 15-hour monster documentary on the history of film outside of Hollywood, originally broadcast on Britain’s Channel 4, and recently released by Alliance on DVD.
Spacey Film + Soundtrack Reviews
Weird news, plus a quartet of space-themed soundtrack reviews are up – Ennio Morricone’s Fat Man and Little Boy and Brian Satterwhite & John Constant’s Man on a Mission (both from La-La Land), Herschel Burke Gilbert’s Project Moon Base and Ferde Grofe’s Rocketship X-M (both Monstrous Movie Music) – plus a Mobile Edition of The Fantastic Film Music of Albert Glasser, Vol. 1 (Starlog Records) and a review of the B-movie classic Project Moon Base (Corinth / Image).
Miroslava, and Chano Urueta’s Monster
DVD review of a forgotten genre classic, Monster / El monstro resucitado (1953), released by One 7 Movies, starring tragic screen icon Miroslava and directed by Chano Urueta in Mexico’s first ‘medical sci-fi’ flick.
Blake Edwards’ Experiment in Terror
Yes, it’s Family Day, that elitist holiday that doesn’t guarantee a day off for the eloctorate at large, except those under the provincial and banking employ. On this otherwise standard working day for regular stiffs, I’ve uploaded a long and windy review of Blake Edwards’ underrated suspense classic Experiment in Terror (1962), newly released by Twilight Time in Blu-ray, sporting a clean stereo isolated score track of Henry Mancini’s excellent music.
Soundtrack Reviews
Slowly getting healthy again after a wretched cold this week. The trio of uploaded soundtrack reviews – Bye Bye Birdie (Sony), and from BSX Records Film Noir’s Finest + the John Carpenter combo Assault on Precinct 13 and Dark Star – should be coherent. If there’s some strange references to ‘eucalyptus-scented red Martian neon gas,’ blame the pouding sinus headaches that even Advil couldn’t quell. Winter is fun,eh?
Packaged Goods – Artful Animation
A taste of the latest entry in the TIFF Bell Lightbox’s fun media series Packaged Goods: Artful Animation, which screens Wed. Feb. 20th, and features a post-screening discussion with Gerald Ding, Creative Director of Psyop.
Podcast with Mama’s composer Fernando Velazquez, and Nostalgic Shockers
Just uploaded is a podcast with Fernando Velazquez, the lauded Spanish composer of the current box office hit Mama. Also new: Editor’s Blog on nostalgic horror, plus reviews of Joe Dante’s underrated and very badly treated The Hole (Alliance / EOne), and the underrated Devil (Universal), the latter featuring a terrifying score by Velazquez.
At Long Last Love to debut via Twilight Time + spring & early summer releases
Bogdanovich’s At Long Last Love, Walter Hill’s Hard Times + The Driver, and George Stevens’ The Only Game in Town and more coming this spring & summer from Twilight Time.
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