Weird Science

"Weird Science, Plastic tubes and pots and pans

Bits and pieces and

Magic from the hand" 

- Weird Science, Oingo Boingo

THEY WENT FROM ZEROES TO HEROES IN ONE FANTASTIC WEEKEND. If you can't get a date... make one! After proving himself the king of heartfelt teen flicks with Sixteen Candles and The Breakfast Club, writer-director John Hughes infused the genre with a hefty dose of wacked-out sci-fi comedy in Weird Science, a film where every teenage boy's wildest fantasies come to life. Perenially picked-on high school nerds Gary (Anthony Michael Hall, Sixteen Candles) and Wyatt (Ilan Mitchell-Smith) are sick of their status at the bottom of the social food chain. Using Wyatt's computer, the two hatch a plan to create their dream woman - and following a massive power surge, that woman unexpectedly appears in the form of Lisa (Kelly LeBrock). Gorgeous, intelligent, and blessed with limitless magic powers, Lisa makes the boys' dreams come true... but what about Wyatt's gun-toting psycho older brother Chet (Bill Paxton), and the two bullies (Robert Downey Jr and Vamp's Robert Rusler) determined to put them back in their place? Inspired by EC Comics and boosted by a killer soundtrack (including the classic title theme by Oingo Boingo), Weird Science has never looked better than in this new special edition, including an exclusive extended version of the film featuring deleted scenes never released on home video before.

Bonus Materials

• New restoration by Arrow Films from a 4K scan of the original negative
• High Definition (1080p) Blu-ray presentation of the original Theatrical Version of the film (94 mins), plus seamlessly-branched exclusive Extended Version (97 mins), featuring two additional scenes newly remastered in high-definition
• Original lossless stereo audio, plus 5.1 DTS-HD MA surround option (theatrical version only)
• Original English subtitles for the deaf and hard of hearing • Edited-for-TV version of the film (SD only, 95 mins), plus comparison featurette highlighting the alternate dubs and takes
• Option to watch additional scenes from the Extended Version separately
• Newly-filmed interview with special makeup creator Craig Reardon • Newly-filmed interview with composer Ira Newborn
• Newly-filmed interview with supporting actor John Kapelos • All-new interview with casting director Jackie Burch
• It’s Alive: Resurrecting Weird Science, an archive documentary featuring interviews with cast, crew and admirers, including star Anthony Michael Hall
• Theatrical trailers and TV spots
• Image gallery
• Reversible sleeve featuring original and newly commissioned artwork by Tracie Ching
• FIRST PRESSING ONLY: Illustrated collectors’ booklet featuring new writing on the film by Alexandra Heller-Nicholas and Amanda Reyes
• https://mvdb2b.com/b2b/s/AV209

Back To "Earth" - David Bowie

"You're face to face with the man who fell to earth"

It's really no secret I am a huge David Bowie fan, I mean fuck, he was my first concert ever! Well guess what's happening now? The Man Who Fell To Earth is turning the big 4-0 and getting a restoration...!!!

For those of you out of the loop it's a cult/indie/critically acclaimed piece of art in which Bowie portrays an alien on earth, thus it's title.

Because of Bowie I became a Nicolas Roeg fan. This film was unlike anything I had ever seen before, I can't even begin to describe all of my reactions to it in a few words, but as an impressionable fan of cinema and David Bowie, the passion I feel for this production is to the moon and back.

Of special interest to fans of Ziggy Stardust, the 40th Anniversary of the Sci-Fi opus will see the release of the soundtrack for the very first time, like a virgin.

The Man Who Fell to Earth arrives in theaters on September 9 and will be released on DVD/blu-ray on October 24.

Watch the trailer after the jump!

The Man Who Fell To Earth on IMDB:
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0074851/?ref_=nv_sr_2  

Pamela Anderson, Jane Fonda & Jake Shears Are "Connected"

Stripped Down
Pamela Anderson

Bet you'd never thought you would see this combo of three names together? Frankly, neither did I, but in the good ole biz of show these days I also know anything goes.

Oh yes, let me spill exactly how these three appear in the same headline. Pamela Anderson stars in a sci-fi short by Luke Gilford, bearing the title Connected. Which also features narration by Jane Fonda and music by Jake Shears. Got it?

Here is what filmmaker/photographer Gilford has to say about it: 

“’Connected’ is a portrait of a woman grappling with aging, self-perception, and transformation in a technologically optimized world,” Gilford explains on his website. “Jackie (Pamela Anderson) is … obsessed with self-improvement tapes (voiced by Jane Fonda), and she is soon drawn to an advanced yet enigmatic wellness spa that promises to enhance her mind, body, and soul.”
The short is quite effective and shows Ms. Anderson in a whole new light, as someone who is yearning for something different than what she has been pigeonholed as. Kudos Pamela you did a bang up job! Cheers to seeing more of this type of of thing from you in your future endeavors, stay Connected. 
View Connected after the jump!

Pamela on the net:
https://www.instagram.com/pamelaanderson/?hl=en
https://twitter.com/pamfoundation?lang=en
www.pamelaandersonfoundation.org/ 

Making Scientology Seem Sane, "Children of the Stars"

Children Of the Stars coming to DVD on March 8th The strange but true story of a UFO contactee group who relive their past lives  on other planets by making their own science fiction films. "Is that you Mo-Dean? It's me Mo-Dean Is that you Mo-Dean? On a UFO Is that you Mo-Dean? It's me Mo-Dean The interdimensional outer space being"  - Is That You Modean? B-52's

Children of the Stars tells the strange but true story of a UFO contactee group who relive their past lives on other planets by making their own science fiction films. In 1973, Ruth Norman, a 73 year old widow and self described cosmic visionary purchased 67 acres of land in the mountains east of San Diego, California as a landing site for the Space Brothers, emissaries from the Intergalactic Confederation. Nearly 40 years later, a group of dedicated followers still await their arrival.                                                           Children of the Stars                                                                     Trailer  At the Unarius Academy of Science death does not exist, Nicola Tesla was a Space Brother, Satan drove a Cadillac and science fiction is real. To relive their pasts the students film their own sci-fi extravaganzas with the increasingly extravagant Ruth Norman as the star and the lines between fantasy and reality dissolve. Using spectacular footage from original Unarius films and Hollywood Sci-Fi flicks to illustrate, comment upon, and subvert interviews with the remaining Unarius students,Children of the Stars covers millions of years, hundreds of galaxies and dozens of B movies to present a sympathetic look at faith and how people justify it in different ways. Pre-Order Link: http://mvdshop.com/products/children-of-the-stars-dvd

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