A world record attempt to swim the entire length of the deadly, dirty, crocodile (and worse) infested Amazon sounds like a great subject for a documentary, but Big River Man really pulls out a trump card in the form of Martin Strell, an overweight, ageing alcoholic who also happens to be an endurance swimming champion, who may well be the oddest fish of the lot.
Monthly Archives: June 2009
An Interview With: John Landis
9 CommentsJune 30, 2009 – 12:56 pm
Despite the greying beard, John Landis has about him the youthful, upbeat air of a man who can’t believe his luck. His enthusiasm and good humour are infectious as he jabbers about the upcoming blu-ray release of An American Werewolf in London, premièring at this year’s FrightFest, as well as touching on his greatest hits, upcoming Universal Theatrical re-releases and his relationship with the late Michael Jackson. STS was lucky enough to catch the man at the recent Midnight Movies showing of Werewolf at Soho’s Curzon Theatre, where he proved to be as amiable and amusing as many of his films…
An American Werewolf In London
11 CommentsJune 30, 2009 – 7:02 am
Striding into the Soho Curzon, the grubby seats and collections of movie-freaks in the audience suitably transported you back to 1981, as Midnight Movies celebrated the 30th anniversary of a monster hit. And although Director Landis expressed his hope that this was a good print and waxed lyrical about the Blu-Ray’s detail, the terrible print on offer actually adds to the experience, making this an authentic recreation of those godawful 80s visits to the Scala.
Werewolf is a movie that benefits from being BIG. The Yorkshire moors are oppressive in their grimness – brown and seemingly endless – and, speaking as someone who grew up in a rural area, the tiny hamlet standing in for East Proctor successfully conveys the boredom, and isolation inherent in the location. There really is a feeling that anything could go on out there and it adds to the atmosphere immensely.
One Line Wonders
9 CommentsJune 29, 2009 – 1:00 pm
You may not know it yet, but you’re already (we’re pretty sure) familiar with the phenomenon of the ‘one line wonder’. They mostly appear in 80s movies, but occasionally they crop up in other decades. They’re similar to, but entirely separate from, the ‘one liner’ – the throwaway pun often used by action heroes like Arnie or Stallone after they’ve killed a throwaway villain.
The one line wonder is a comment uttered by a character who takes no part in the plot or action of a movie and has no other lines. However, they are usually memorable, funny and brilliantly quotable.
Totally Awesome Character: Clarence Boddicker
4 CommentsJune 29, 2009 – 7:00 am
In the first of a semi-regular series, we look at the supporting characters that make the movie. The underrated cult heroes who truly deserve the spotlight.
It’s no secret I’m a big Robocop fan. I quote the movie regularly and often inappropriately and have been known to shout down anyone who claims there is a better film. However, the eponymous cyborg isn’t the best thing in it. Not by a long shot. And not even ED-209 can hold a candle to one of the most amazing characters in action movie history – the one and only Clarence Boddicker.
