Film Buff Friday: Lose Something? "The Lost Empire"

"The Lost Empire"   You all know how I love "B" movies, right?! Well here comes another from the master and fan of the genre himself Jim Wynorski. Extra! Extra! Available April 22nd (That's Tuesday, got it?!)

In 1983, a young director stepped behind the camera for the first time and began to shoot a film which he thought might be both his first and his last. An ardent fan of "B" cinema, Jim Wynorski decided to cram this film with everything he loved. "I got my first break doing The Lost Empire for Plitt Theatres," says Jim Wynorski. "The late owner, Henry Plitt (a decorated war hero), wanted to make a low budget sci-fi action picture as a tax loss. I never knew that when I made the show, so I put my heart and soul into the project. When it finally got completed, Plitt actually liked it enough to give it a wide theatrical release - where it actually made some money," comments Wynorski.  The film had a limited theatrical release followed by an initial release on VHS. As a result of a series of corporate changes at Plitt, "The Lost Empire" was set aside and lost to generations of genre movie fans. Wynorski's career took off and resulted in an immense body of work. "It was always a deep regret of mine that my first film was caught in this limbo," says Wynorski "For years I did all kinds of detective work trying to get my film seen."  In 2007, Wynorski began working with Indiana based producer, Bill Dever. Dever was more than familiar with Wynorski's work and was by his own admission "a big fan". Off and on they began searching for The Lost Empire. " We had a lucky break when we discovered who purchased the assets of Plitt," says Dever. "From there the pieces fell into place; for me it was an honor to be involved in the resurrection of The Lost Empire."  They re-acquired the rights and Wynorski went to work readying his first born to the  world for the second time. Dever engaged the sponsorship of Doremi Labs, a leader in digital cinema technology. Doremi has been in the forefront of leading the digital cinema revolution. "Doremi not only is a company deeply involved financially in digital cinema," says Michael Archer VP Of Digital Cinema for Doremi, "We also care deeply for the legacy and tradition of cinema and for us this was a natural fit."  In the fall of 2013 projection lamps throughout North America illuminated screens with Wynorski's vision with the help of some friends and the dedication of a company very much aware of the history of the industry it serves.     Find Your "Empire" Here: http://www.seeofsound.com/p.php?s=PMG1002

Is That A Lizard In Your Pocket Or? "Gila!"

I'm a complete sucker for tongue in cheek, cheesy B movies and this one looks like a TOTAL blast!

Get your lizard on!

"Rock 'n roll is here to stay" despite the best efforts of a giant gila monster in Polyscope's sci-fi comedy movie Gila! scheduled for release on DVD this April 22nd. 

Based loosely on the 1959 sci-fi classic Giant Gila Monster, the revived Gila! features a ferocious, rampaging giant gila monster, classy hot rods, vintage 50's rock 'n roll music, cute co-eds, fist fights, drag racing and an all-star cast who rally to defend their small town.  

"A perfect 'date night' drive-in movie," says producer Bill Dever. "Family fun with music, action, a very scary monster and a terrific cast. Inspirational sci-fi horror."

It's not all the monster's fault since his giant size and voracious appetite come from accidental toxic chemical contact, and beneath the action, Gila! carries a few contemporary political, social and environmental messages. 

Directed by Jim Wynoski, the movie follows a small-town Sheriff and a young hot-rod mechanic as they suddenly face the giant gila monster's surprise attacks - first on farm animals, hapless humans, a passing freight train and then a small Indiana town busily preparing for the big Christmas rock 'n roll dance.  

"It's funny, scary, camp and relevant," says Dever, "featuring some of the best music of the 1950's and some cool cars."  The antique hot rods and classics were provided by a midwest car club.  

Gila! stars veteran television actor Terrence Knox (Tour of Duty, St. Elsewhere) as the Sheriff. The handsome Chase is played by Brian Gross (Red Tails) who races, then rallies with restless hot-rodder Jesse Janzen as Waco Bob and seductress Carla, played with a passionate zing by Christina DeRosa as they fight the Giant Gila Monster.

                                                                "Gila" The Trailer

The Gila Monster is no longer the federally protected and endangered southwest desert critter thoughtlessly nudged through balsa wood walls in the original movie.  Clever EFX and a dangerous man-made chemical spill morph the gila into a monster and cave crickets into chickens. Tracked down and annoyed by the Sheriff's nitro explosion that supposedly sealed the cave the monster breaks through by morning and wreaks havoc.

Town drunk and civil libertarian Compton, played brilliantly by Rich Komenich, saves the day with a bottle of whisky in one hand and the Second Amendment in the other.  His secret stash of machine guns and nitroglycerin - stockpiled to fight Russians or Martians or atomic monsters - has everyone home just in time for Christmas.

Gerald Pauwels plays the classic rich, blowhard Mayor who is forced  to face the realities of city leadership as he, the Sheriff, the hot-rodders and town drunk pull together to fight the monster. Actor Don Sullivan who plays hero Chase in the original movie returns as the Scientist.  

Gila spit, as we all learned in junior high science and Sullivan reminds us, is bad, but in Gila! giant gila goo dissolves human flesh in wonderful B-movie fashion.  

Pre-Order Link:  http://www.seeofsound.com/p.php?s=PMG1001