Live and Let Die

Hey everyone, it's Roger Moore!! Live and Let Die came out in 1973 and Roger Moore brought his own spin on the 007 character. He took what Connery and Lazenby did and flip it on it's ear. Instead of playing Bond as a steamrolling brute, Moore went the charming gentleman agent route. Not that Live and Let Die is a great movie or anything, but Roger Moore's take on the character was a fresh take on a series that had already survived seven previous films.

Live and Let Die brings 007 to the United States for the second time in a row, which means more annoying American bond girls. This time around we get Rosie Carver who makes Tiffany Case look like a delight. She is really annoying. As far as the movie goes, it is ok. There is some weird voodoo shit that goes down and a lot of racism, mostly thrown at James Bond himself. I think they call him a Cracker and a Honkey.

The cool thing about this movie, is that it is the only James Bond film that features Roger Moore as a younger person. The following 6 Roger Moore films feature a much older dude. SO MUCH OLDER. The funny thing about this movie is that they really try do distance itself from the Connery movies that had come before. Roger Moore does not smoke cigarettes, he smokes cigars. He does not drink Martinis, he drinks whiskey with branch water, whatever the fuck that is. For the first time ever, there is no Q. It is amazing that the movie was a success, but i guess in 1973 people were looking for something different.

All in all, Live and Let Die is a pretty decent movie. I like a lot of the characters, like Tee-Hee, Whisper and Baron Samedi. Jane Seymour is pretty good as Solitaire, but i am not sure i like that she gets bamboozled by James Bond in such a sleazy way. As for the main villain, Mr. Big/Kananga, i think that Yaphet Koto is really boring, but goes out in one of the funniest ways of all the James Bond baddies.

It's an alright movie and it a breath of fresh air from the super-shitty Diamonds are Forever.

★ ★ ½

Dancing Deathfoot III

Many years ago i did some work with Associated Films, a small independent group that made movies on the weekends for no money. Along the way we met up with the folks from Scavenger Films and would make 24hour movies. These were movies that had to be conceived, written, shot, edited and scored within a 24 hour time period.

A lot of the gang took turns at the helm of each film, when it came time to direct mine, i chose a Kung-Fu epic. Me and my friend Dylan had talked about doing a movie for Scavenger Fest that was shot entirely in reverse. The result was Dancing Deathfoot III.

It was a little tough staying awake during the entire shooting schedule, which lasted from about 10:30pm until 11:00am, but it was worth it. I remember being able to catch some sleep during the editing process. When i woke up we had only enough time to dub the audio live, in one take. Everyone who was providing the voice over needed to know the entire story and each scene, because we were only going to get one shot at laying down an audio track.

If you notice, i provide the voice for the main villain, and a lot of time i am not "synced" up correctly, because we were all using one microphone and my vision of the screen would be blocked. The interesting thing about this "live" recording was that not only did i provide the voice of the villain, i also performed the Nose Flute for the song, which was also done in the same take. To this day, it amazes me that ALL the audio was done in one take. This is just a testament to the people involved.

Another testament to the talent behind the film, is that when we presented this movie, a mere 24 hours after we got the "Rules", nobody had realized that the ENTIRE movie was shot and acted in reverse. It would usually take a second viewing to notice how well the gang "backwards acted".

I wish that i had gotten more than 24 hours to write and direct it, but all in all i am INCREDIBLY proud of "DANCING DEATHFOOT III: Revenge of the Unscrupulous Kung-Fu"

Diamonds are Forever

After one of the biggest life altering events to ever happen to James Bond in OHMSS, everything gets undone with one of my least favorite of all the 007 films! In 1971, Sean Connery returned in the role that made him famous. The film, Diamonds are Forever.

Director Guy Hamilton returns to the world of James Bond for the first time since Goldfinger and with Sean Connery back as 007, you would think that it is a recipe for success. Diamonds are Forever sends James Bond into Las Vegas which means that there is going to be an annoying American Bond Girl. Jill St. John is probably my 4th least favorite Bond Girl and the other three also happen to be American as well. i just don't understand why American girls in bond movies need to be so "spunky" aka annoying as shit!?

My main gripe with Diamonds are Forever is the fact that there is no mention of Tracy Bond. In fact, Tracy isn't even eluded to until 1977's The Spy Who Loved Me. I think that Charles Gray is a horrible Blofeld and Mr Wint and Mr Kidd are lame henchmen.

The action in the movie almost is a set back. None of the action scenes are memorable with the exception of the Moon Buggie chase and the only reason why it is memorable is because it is really dumb.

Not everything in Diamonds are Forever is lame, i actually like Jimmy Dean (yes, that jimmy dean) as Willard Whyte! He seems to be the only one in the whole movie that seems to be having fun. Even Connery seems to be bored.

All in all, this movie blows.

★ ½

Did Anyone Catch Idol?

Is it just me or did Kara remind anyone else of Buffalo Bill?

On Her Majesty's Secret Service

In 1969, EON Productions introduced the second actor to play James Bond. George Lazenby stepped into the role in the film On Her Majesty's Secret Service! This will go down as the first of four reset buttons in the franchise' history.

I don't consider it a reset just because Connery "left" the series, but rather, this is the first time that the producers decided to go back to the well and strip 007 of his gadgets and make him a detective as opposed to a super human. I mean, once you do a hollowed out volcano lair, where can you go from there?

To be honest with you, the first time i saw this movie, i was not as thrilled as i should have been. I had loved the over the top You Only Live Twice so much, that by the time i saw OHMSS, i was ready for James Bond to be hang gliding on the moon. But this movie was down to Earth and apparently follows the Ian Fleming novel more than any other 007 movie to date. It follows the book so much, that Blofeld does not recognize James Bond at first. Apparently OHMSS, the novel, is the first time the two had come face to face.

Being that this film was the longest Bond film in the franchise, there is a lot of room for character development and story, which leads 007 into every winter sport possible, including Curling.

Diana Rigg is awesome as Tracy and is still one of my all time favorite Bond Girls. Telle Savalas is my favorite actor to play Blofeld. This movie is so great, but not suggested for those who have yet to see a Bond film.

George Lazenby puts in a great performance and up until recently, he was my favorite actor in the role. On Her Majesty's Secret Service had also only recently been knocked down from my favorite Bond film of all time, into number two. I wish that George Lazenby had signed on for a 7 picture deal, which would have ended his career on For Your Eyes Only, which would have been a great way for him to become the greatest bond actor of them all. Unfortunately after OHMSS, George Lazenby did not return to play the role. Sadly, he is the only actor to play 007 only one time.

This movie is freaking awesome and for those of you wondering who was going to fill Lazenby's shoes, well...

Sean Connery will return in Diamonds are Forever.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

COMIC CON '09 - THE LOST PODCAST

A couple years ago, Jay and Jack over at the Lost Podcast got their own panel! I was lucky enough to get a chance to moderate this event and last year i actually sat in on the panel.

I hope that Jay and Jack return for another Lost Podcast panel. I always have a blast talking about Lost and the Lost Panel at the Jay and Jack panel. I do not think that i will participate on the stage this year, unless Jay asks me to moderate.

Either way, i am looking forward to hanging out with all the people that make up the Lost Podcast community!!
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Saturday, July 25
2:00-3:00 The Lost Podcast with Jay and Jack— Father and son team Jay and Jack Glatfelter have one of the oldest and biggest podcasts dedicated to ABC'S Lost. Discuss the gripping season finale, and learn about the huge dedicated online community for TV's most mind twisting drama. Room 24A

You Only Live Twice

In 1967 after the release of Thunderball, Sean Connery had a press conference in which he stated that the next Bond film would be his last, but remember Mr. Connery You Only Live Twice!! This movie is fucking awesome! For the longest time You Only Live Twice was my favorite 007 adventure. Over the last few years my tastes have become a little more refined, but this film is so batshit crazy over the top that i cannot help but keep it in my top 5.

The first thing that i love about this film is the screenplay written by one of my favorite writers, Roald Dahl. That's right, Willy Wonka creator himself! This movie is absolutely out of control. Bond gets killed in the opening sequence. Then soon after his body is buried out to sea, frogmen take his mummified body into a submarine where you learn that M set up the fake death in order to get some of 007's enemies off his back. He is a really popular spy after all.

Throughout the film we see space capsules being hijacked by bigger rocket ships, there is a helicopter that fits in four alligator skin suitcases, there is a sequence where James Bond gets plastic surgery to look Japanese and then there is the grand daddy of all, what the hell moments of all the bond films. SPECTRE is operating out of a HOLLOWED OUT VOLCANO!!

This movie is out of control, but nothing beats James Bond along side an army of Ninjas, fighting a war against hundreds of SPECTRE henchmen.

John Barry's score is amazing and Nancy Sinatra's title song is probably my favorite of the entire series. The movie is directed by Lewis Gilbert who will go on to direct one of my other top five favorite Bond films ten years later.

★ ★ ★ ★½

COMIC CON '09 - THE DIGITAL BITS

Back in 2005, i decided to check out a panel called The DVD Producers Panel. I had never been to comic con and it seemed like something that i would be interested in. I did not know until i showed up that the panel was brought to me by the guys who run one of my favorite websites, The Digital Bits!

This panel usually happens on Thursday and i never miss it!! If you have an interest in seeing what is coming up in the world of Blu-Ray and home video, this panel is for you! The panel consists of the guys from the Digital Bits and a butt-load of DVD producers, who are usually the guys who create the extra features on the discs. The guys are super cool and usually have some awesome behind the scenes footage that usually does not make it to the dvd.

For the lay person, it may seem like a technical power point presentation that is boring, but for me it is a glimpse into a magical world full of nerd shit!

The DVD Producers panel is the best place to touch base with me at the beginning of the Convention!

**UPDATE** from thedigitalbits.com

Finally today, we have an announcement of our own: We WILL be returning to Comic-Con down in San Diego next month with our usual panel event. The panel will be held on Thursday afternoon (7/23). Here are the details:
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2:30-3:30 - DVD/Blu-ray Producers 2009: Now in Glorious High-Definition! - Join Bill Hunt, Adam Jahnke and Todd Doogan (of The Digital Bits.com), as they talk about the latest DVD and Blu-ray developments with some of the leading special edition producers in Hollywood! Panelists will include Robert Meyer Burnett (The Hills Run Red, Free Enterprise: The Wrath of Shatner), Laura Gross (Coraline, 9), Charles de Lauzirika (Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen, Ridley Scott's Robin Hood), David Naylor (Fringe, Bad Lieutenant) and Cliff Stephenson (Crank 2: High Voltage, Gamer) for inside talk, Q&A and a sneak peek at great upcoming discs! ROOM 7AB

13 MORE!!

COMIC CON '09 - LOST

As you probably know already i am a huge fan of LOST. I have gone to the LOST panel every year since 2005 and this year will be no different.

So far i have seen panels with Damon and Carlton, Josh Holloway, Maggie Grace, Jorge Garcia, Daniel Dae Kim, Harold Perrineau and Matthew Fox! The LOST panels are always a blast. Damon and Carlton, no matter how lame they are, always have a blast dodging answers and giving some tid-bits that get the ol' noodle working during those long hiatuses.

This year's LOST panel should be pretty fantastic! This is the last Comic Con panel for LOST before the final episode. I know that first LOST panel back in 2004 was a huge success and that all of the cast was there. I am hoping that this years panel is the best event of the entire con!!

CLICK HERE - to see footage that i took during the 2005 LOST panel.

CLICK HERE to see me ask a question at the LOST panel in 2006!
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Saturday, July 25
11:00-12:00 Lost: The Final Season Begins, with Damon Lindelof and Carlton Cuse— In appreciation of all the fan support through five seasons of Lost, co-creator/executive producer Damon Lindelof and executive producer Carlton Cuse will pay homage to all the fans at their final Comic-Con appearance for Lost. Questions will be answered. Fun will be had. And you won't want to miss the surprises in store for the audience! Hall H

Thunderball

With the huge success of Goldfinger, EON productions released the fourth 007 film in the franchise and if you are into underwater shit, then Thunderball is for you!!! So apparently people in the 60's were not exposed to the world under the ocean, because damn. Seriously over 20% of the film takes place underwater.

The plot of Thunderball is simple. Emilio Largo, Spectre's #2, has obtained a nuclear weapon and uses it to threaten the world, but guess what, 007 is going to stop him, while wearing tiny shorts!!

I have to tell you, Thunderball looks great. It was the first 007 film shot in widescreen and all of the underwater shots, although beautiful, gets a little tedious. The girls are beautiful, the locations are exotic and Sean Connery kicks ass, but the film takes a really long time to get going. I think that Bond does not get "on the case" until about the 50 minute mark, so it takes a while for things to kick into high gear.

I really don't know what else to say about Thunderball other than the fact that it is just alright. Apparently Thunderball was a resounding success, which is good, because as the end credits of Thunderball states "James Bond will return in You Only Live Twice"!!

★ ★ ★ ½

COMIC CON '09 - FLEET STREET SCANDAL

I am not sure how many booths there are at Comic Con and i am not sure how many of those are dedicated to talented artists, but in 2006 i found these guys! Kevin Dart (left) and Chris Turnham (right) make up the super duper art duo known as Fleet Street Scandal and i am glad that i found them!

I met these guys, my second year attending comic con. Stevi and i had been walking around the exhibition hall looking for cool artists. We found this guy named Ragnar. Ragnar had this huge corner booth area that was set up like a mini gallery. Ragnar had some really really cool pieces. They were a bit pricey, but they were definitely tempting. When we went looking for someone to answer some questions we had, Ragnar was nowhere to be found. A little disappointed, we ventured on our way to the next billion artists. Sorry Ragnar.

Among the people we saw, we really took a liking to Chris and Kevin's art. They were like a mix of Mary Blair and Robert McGinnis. It was a small booth that was lined with prints, Kevin's on the right and Chris' on the left. It was a small booth and there were no fancy frames. The art was fantastic and completely affordable. The best thing about the guys from Fleet Street Scandal is the fact that they stood at their booth the entire duration of the convention. This is what Comic Con is all about! Artists who not only love what they do, but are appreciative towards people who come up and visit their booth. They don't try to sell you on anything and they are completely humble.

Since 2005, we have picked up several prints from them and will continue to do so for as long as they are at comic con. Other than the 3 pieces of original Allred art and a Fight Club poster, our house is lined with beautiful prints from Fleet Street Scandal!

COMIC CON '09 - MADMAN

Back in 1994 i started to get sick of comic books. I was a junior in high school and would rather create comic books as opposed to reading whatever Big Boobs, Big Guns and Big Shoulder Pad characters were doing at the time. Every comic book seemed to have characters with giant guns, with a billion shell casings spilling all over the page. All of the comic pages were filled with so much "detail" that it would turn everything into a giant sketchy mess.

It got to the point where i was reading magazines about comic books, which is when i came across a new book from Dark Horse. The creator was Michael Allred and his creation was MADMAN, a comic book that had a "pop art" style that brought back the comic book art style of the good old silver age! Over the last 15 years i fell away from comics and back again, a few years ago MADMAN returned to IMage comics and the new series has been really great. No matter how much the world of comic books have changed over the years, MADMAN has pretty much remained the same. There is that great pop-art and light hearted existential adventure stories. Sometimes it gets a little heavy, but for the most part it is a ton of fun.

A year ago, i had the opportunity to interview the creator Mike Allred for Geekscape (click here to download the audio version). After years of reading his books, i could not believe that i had the chance to actually talk to my favorite comic book creator. I was excited at how easy it was to get a long with Mike. He is a very down to earth guy.

Last November Stevi and i had the opportunity to meet Mike and his wife/colorist, Laura, in San Francisco at an artist signing at a comic book store called Neon Monster. Once again, we were welcome with open arms. Mike and Laura had signed my copy of MADMAN Gargantua as well as a copy of Madman Atomic Comics #3 for my friend Ryan.

For those of you going to Comic Con this year, Mike and Laura are going to be there doing some book signings, as well as making some big announcements for the future of MADMAN. Be sure to hit up their table and meet these awesome people!

Drag me to Heck

I was fast forwarding through commercials, like i do, and had to stop it to watch the latest trailer for Sam Raimi's Drag me to Hell! For the last year or so, i kept hearing about how Sam Raimi was going to return to horror and it was going to be rated R.

With all the these Japanese PG-13 remakes showing up here in America, i was super fired up to see one of my favorite directors return to the genre he started in. I could not wait for him to show all of these pussy PG-13 movies how things are done!

Well, when i watched the latest trailer i couldn't help but notice that somewhere along the way someone pussied out and decided to release the fucking PG-13 cut of Drag me to Hell in theaters.

I know that Sam Raimi is now the Spider-Man guy and that he probably has some sort of kiddie following, but fucking grow a pair dude. I cannot believe that any studio would tell Sam Raimi, at this point in his career, to tone down the film. This is ridiculous. Maybe Danny Elfman was right when he said "...He [Raimi] went to sleep and somebody put a pod next to him and when he awoke, he wasn’t the same person..."

I was really excited to go see this movie, but now i might have to wait for an unrated version when it goes to Netflix. Or i could just do what i did with Die Hard 4 and not see it at all.

Bruce Campbell's career is spinning it it's grave!

Goldfinger

In 1964 James Bond became the biggest shit ever, with the release of Goldfinger! This is it gang, if you only watch one 007 film ever, this should probably be the one. Although it is not in my top 5, it is the quint essential James Bond film. This on has it all, but it may have too much for my tastes.

So here is the basic plot. James Bond is sent to tail Auric Goldfinger, a man who MI6 believes is smuggling gold illegally. During the chase, James Bond finds out that Goldfinger has been using his profits to start up Operation Grand Slam, which involves the detonation of an atomic device in Fort Knox, which will raise the price of his gold ten fold.

This is the first James Bond adventure that has the one night stand who gets murdered, the good girl as well as the bad girl who turns good due to the advances of 007. This film also has the first in a long line of "gimmicky" henchmen. Known as "Odd Job", this mute uses is wrestler strength and steel brimmed bowler cap to take out his victims.

This is also the first James Bond movie to introduce an pre-title sequence that acts as a mini adventure that does not affect the main plot of the film. This is also one of my favorite pre-title sequences, mostly due to John Barry's amazing cue "Bond Back in Action Again" (which is later referenced in David Arnold's Tomorrow Never Dies score).

Goldfinger also marks the beginning of James Bonds car of choice, the Aston Martin DB5. A gadget filled car that will launch an enemy with an ejector seat, drop a lethal oil slick in it's wake and shield any secret agent with a bulletproof partition.

There is no denying that Goldfinger is a great movie. I think that it is the most viewer friendly and very accessible to the masses. It is definitely a crowd pleaser!

★ ★ ★ ★ ★