Phil's Netfix Picks: ELECTRIC BOOGALOO: THE WILD, UNTOLD STORY OF CANNON FILMS (2014) - August 1, 2018

In the 1980's there was one studio that dared to be different, bold, and daring by releasing some of the most bizarre, inept, batshit crazy, out-of-this-world films of all time: Cannon Films. During this decade, they released WTF films like THE LAST AMERICAN VIRGIN, OVER THE TOP, NINJA III: THE DOMINATION, MISSING IN ACTION 1&2,  DEATH WISH 2-5, BREAKIN', MASTERS OF THE UNIVERSE, DELTA FORCE, and CYBORG just to name a few. Though no longer with us, those of us who came of age in this time period have a soft spot for Cannon Films. All of this nostalgia leads me to my Netflix Pick of the Week for the awesome documentary ELECTRIC BOOGALOO: THE WILD, UNTOLD STORY OF CANNON FILMS and why you should watch it!

Official Theatrical Poster (2014)

The film's official synopsis: A documentary about Menahem Golan and Yoram Globus - two movie-obsessed cousins whose passion for cinema changed the way movies were made and marketed - and the tale of how this passion ultimately led to the demise of the company they built together.

I found myself relating to Menahem and Yoram because I'm just like them: I love movies. They transport us to different places, different times, telling us stories that we lived and ones that we haven't lived, etc. From the silent films to modern blockbusters, films have the power to take us on fantastic, magical rides. Menahem and Yoram did just this, only taking us more on a low budget ride on coach.

Writer/director Mark Hartley is no stranger to this subject of filmmaking, having made the incredibly awesome 2008 documentary NOT QUITE HOLLYWOOD: THE WILD, UNTOLD STORY OF OZPLOITATION! and the phenomenal 2010 documentary MACHETE MAIDENS UNLEASHED! Here, Hartley does the same thing: providing the audience with some of the most outrageous stories about Cannon Films from those who were there like actresses Sybil Danning, Martine Beswick, Catherine Mary Stewart, Lucinda Dickey and Bo Derek, actors like Elliott Gould, Alex Winter, Michael Chambers, Michael Dudikoff and Richard Chamberlain. Also contributing to the documentary are industry veterans like Michael Hartman, John G. Avildsen, Mark Rosenthal, Tobe Hooper, Greydon Clark, and Charles Matthau just to name a few.

As a young kid and teenager coming up in the 1980's, I was there at my local theaters watching first hand these insane films that were being churned out by Cannon Films. I remember seeing BREAKIN', MASTERS OF THE UNIVERSE, OVER THE TOP, MISSING IN ACTION and SUPERMAN IV: THE QUEST FOR PEACE. They weren't all that great, but they were somewhat entertaining and I found myself just wondering how the hell these were even made to begin with! Well, now I know, thanks in large part to the documentary.

What I took away from this documentary was the passion that Menahem Golan and Yoram Globus had for films. They lived and breathed movies twenty-four hours and day, seven days a week. It's a shame that they split up and stopped talking to one another, and then Menahem was diagnosed with cancer. Lovingly known as the "Go-Go Boys", when Mark Hartley asked them to be part of this project, they declined, and instead, made their own documentary entitled THE GO-GO BOYS: THE INSIDE STORY OF CANNON FILMS. It was released four months before Hartley's film. Sadly, Menahem Golan passed away on August 8, 2014 in Tel Aviv, Israel at the age of 84.

ELECTRIC BOOGALOO: THE WILD, UNTOLD STORY OF CANNON FILMS is a loving tribute to both Menahem Golan and Yoram Globus and the legendary Cannon Films!! If you're a die hard fan of 80's cinema and you went and saw these films in the theaters, then you'll have a fun-filled traveling down Memory Lane as you are transported to that decade of decadence. And if you missed out on all the fun, then watch this film and then go seek out those cinematic gems that have become cult classics! This is one of my favorite documentaries discoveries of this year on Netflix and you should definitely check it out!! 5 out of 5 stars!! Highly recommended!! 

ELECTRIC BOOGALOO: THE WILD, UNTOLD STORY OF CANNON FILMS is now streaming exclusively on Netflix. To start your subscription, visit their website at www.netflix.com.

Thanks for reading, and enjoy the show!

Phil’s Netflix Picks: CULT OF CHUCKY (2017) - May 9, 2018

The CHILD'S PLAY/CHUCKY franchise has had its ups and downs, but there has been one consistency with it: its creator Don Mancini. He has written every film of everyone's favorite homicidal killing doll, and has been directing since 2004's SEED OF CHUCKY. Recently, I was able to check out the latest installment of his beloved franchise on Netflix, which was the horrifying and amazing CULT OF CHUCKY.

The film's official synopsis: After accused of murdering her family, Nica (Fiona Dourif) is taken to an asylum and thinks that she's the cause of the deaths of her family. However, when grizzly deaths start to occur, she then realizes that Chucky (Brad Dourif), her illusion might not be make believe. She also finds out that the doll is slowly starting to possess anyone or anything to join a huge cult to kill off Chucky's victims, but things don't go to well in the asylum, including for Chucky's long lost friend Andy Barcley (Alex Vincent) who tries to stop the cult from getting bigger while also trying to get past Chucky's wife, Tiffany (Jennifer Tilly).

I am so impressed with Mancini's directing. He clearly has a vision and, despite its very low budget, he is able to capture some outstanding sweeps, compositions, and gore galore. He finds the balance of scares and drama, with a little bit of humor for good measure. You can also see how much confident he gains from each film. I cannot wait to see what he does in his next film! (Yes, I'm trying not to spoil the ending, but c'mon, it's a horror movie. Of course the movie's ending sets up a sequel. Where have you been since 1986?!?)

Returning to the sequel is the talented Fiona Dourif as our protagonist Nica Pierce. Dourif gives it he all as she takes he character to new heights. Picking up where the previous film left, she's lost he whole family, is now in an asylum, and is haggard and defeated. Her performance commands your attention and is heartbreakingly painful to watch. Alex Vincent's Andy Barcley is another returning character who's also hit some painful lows (not to mention he's kinda sadistic). And I cannot forgot the ringmaster of the movie: Chucky himself, voiced once again by Brad Dourif. He makes the film so much fun to watch, as he has the best lines in the movie, and still sounds like a sick little bastard! And just in case you didn't notice the family connection, Fiona is Brad's daughter. Yup, it's a family affair!

As I stated earlier, Universal released the film for streaming on Netflix, however, about two before it was released, some dipshit leaked the movie in its entirety to Twitter and YouTube. Being a film student when I was younger and meeting and interviewing filmmakers, let me tell you that making a film isn't easy. A lot of hard work goes into producing a film, and costs money to do it. And when you pirate a movie or television series for free, you're spitting in the faces of everyone who put in their time, blood, sweat and tears. So the moral of my story is: DON'T PIRATE OR STEAL MOVIES!! PAY FOR THEM YOU CHEAP ASS BASTARDS!!

CULT OF CHUCKY is another sick and twisted, crazy ass, gore filled killer doll flick that will make hardcore Chucky fans grin form ear to ear!! I absolutely loved this fright flick and the ending makes me want more!! So make sure you check out this movie!! 4 out of 5 stars! Highly recommended!

CULT OF CHUCK is now streaming exclusively on Netflix. To start your subscription, visit their website at www.netflix.com.

Thanks for reading, and enjoy the horror!

Phil's Netflix Picks: DEATH NOTE (2017) - February 9, 2018

Today's Netflix Pick has its roots in Japanese manga folklore. Based on one of the most popular titles of all time, the manga "Death Note" was created by writer Tsugumi Ohba and illustrated by Takeshi Obata. It became such a huge sensation that it was adapted into a series of live-action films starting with the 2006 release of DEATH NOTE (which I saw at the then San Francisco International Asian American Film Festival). Three more movies were made afterwards. Then on April 30, 2009, Variety reported that Warner Bros. Pictures - who distributed the original Japanese films here in the states - had acquired the rights to do a remake. I witnessed the end results when I finally saw DEATH NOTE this past week.

The film's official synopsis: Light Turner (Nat Wolff), a bright student, stumbles across a mystical notebook from a spirit named Ryuk (Willem Dafoe and Jason Liles) that has the power to kill any person whose name he writes in it. Light decides to launch a secret crusade to rid the streets of criminals. Soon, the student-turned-vigilante finds himself and his girlfriend Mia Sutton (Margaret Qualley) pursued by a famous detective known only by the alias L (Lakeith Stanfield).

The film was written by Charley Parlapanides, Vlas Parlapanides, and Jeremy Slater. They had the unimaginable task of taking the original Japanese source material and adapting it for American audiences, which is not an easy task. The manga is so dense that it is impossible to make it into a 101 minute movie. Plus with its Japanese mythology, folklore, and beliefs, it's translation would be lost on Americans who aren't familiar with the manga. Because of this, many American remakes lack that certain aspect that makes the J-Horror films amazing -  remakes like THE RING, PULSE, and THE GRUDGE come to mind. They do their best as to cram the bullet points that make the series so popular and, for all intents and purposes, they do a pretty good job. We have a decent three story arc, interesting characters, and a great climax that ties up most of the loose ends. But it is an Americanized film, so it's missing that Japanese flare.

Director Adam Wingard is no stranger to the horror genre. At age 19, he made his feature length debut with his film HOME SICK. He then went on to direct some great films like A HORRIBLE WAY TO DIE, YOU'RE NEXT and last year's BLAIR WITCH as well as directed segments for THE ABCs OF DEATH and both V/H/S films. Wingard knows the genre and has a visual look that complements it. His compositions are always filled, the camera lingers and pans feverishly, and fits the mood of the film very nicely. He is a very accomplished filmmaker and really enjoyed the look of the movie. He'll be directing the much hyped GODZILLA VS. KONG movie in 2020.

As far as the cast goes, you gotta give it up to Willem Dafoe for his performance. The man looks and sounds like a nightmare come true. The actor's face was motion captured and then digitally placed on actor Jason Liles' body. Together, they make a truly terrifying Ryuk! Nat Wolff does a decent job of portraying moody teenager Light Turner, but I thought Margaret Qualley was awesome as
Mia Sutton. She is so twisted and conniving that half the time I didn't know whether to like her or hoping someone would slap the hell outta her, which is all part of her charm. The weak link was Lakeith Stanfield as the mysterious detective L. I just found his character annoying and lacked any real threat to Light. But then again, I'm not an actor so what the hell do I know, right?

When Netflix made the film available for streaming on August 25, 2017, it received mixed and negative reviews. Granted, some were legit while others were just mean. Now it's not a perfect film, I feel like it was a decent remake. While it's not on par with the other American remakes, it's not that bad either. Even Tsugumi Ohba and Takeshi Obata liked the movie, so there's that.

DEATH NOTE is an interesting, thought provoking, teenage angst killer of a movie! It provokes that idea of what would I do if I had the power to take someone's life, and how would I handle that power and responsibility? It digs deep into what's it like to control death, only to discover that you can't control it at all. I think horror fans and fans of the manga should check it out! As I stated, it's not a perfect film, but it definitely has potential to be something more! 3 1/2 out of 5 stars! Definitely worth watching!

DEATH NOTE is now streaming exclusively on Netflix. To start your subscription, visit their website at www.netflix.com.

Thanks for reading, and enjoy the horror!

Phil's Netflix Picks: THE CLOVERFIELD PARADOX (2018) - February 6, 2018

During Super Bowl LII, while football fans were watching the Philadelphia eagles battle the New England Patriots, Netflix dropped one of the biggest announcements of all time, which caused a tidal wave of responses all over social media! People were shocked and surprised. The announcement was this: the streaming service provider would be showing THE CLOVERFIELD PARADOX (the long rumored third film of the franchise) right after the conclusion of the Super Bowl! It took me a couple of days to get around to seeing it, but I finally made time to watch this surprised gift from Netflix.

The film's official synopsis: Orbiting a planet on the brink of war, scientists test a device to solve an energy crisis, and end up face-to-face with a dark alternate reality.

Sooooooooo.............yeah, I didn't really care for it. It wasn't bad, but it wasn't that great either. The special effects were awesome, and that was about it.

My opinion is that if it wasn't part of the CLOVERFIELD Universe, I probably would've enjoyed it more. I think it should've been a stand-alone film, then it would've stood a better chance.

The film takes place in the future and is the beginning of the whole franchise. Now the film does set-up the events of the first film. In fact, on Facebook it was just discovered from a fan that if you play the first CLOVERFIELD movie right when the crew of the new film is transported to the alternate universe, it syncs up perfectly. Whether this was intentional or a happy accident by the filmmakers still remains a mystery, but leave it to the hardcore fans to shed light on some helpful information.

Directed by Julius Onah  and written by Oren Uziel and Doug Jung, the film fails to achieve that level of originality and terror among the stars. How many times have we seen the "astronauts trapped in space" scenario. It's been done to death, and it's been done by much better by other filmmakers. It feels like it was too rushed and we didn't get a chance to comprehend the life or death situation of their predicament.

Also, the character development was two-dimensional and I wasn't fully engaged with them. The film boasts a stellar cast that include Daniel Brühl, Gugu Mbatha-Raw, Chris O'Dowd, and  John Ortiz for example, but their characters didn't make me feel like I wanted to get to know them. I didn't care if they lived or died, nor did I care about them personally, which is a very bad thing to have in a movie. If you don't have interesting characters that make you emotionally invested in, then you don't have a movie.

The film's production is more interesting than the film itself. I was originally announced in November of 2012, under the title GOD PARTICLE, and produced once again by J.J. Abrams' Bad Robot Productions. The film's script was written by Oren Uziel and had the main plot of the space station crew, but it wasn't connected to CLOVERFIELD universe at all. It was only during production did Abrams decide to link the film to the first film (which is why I felt it should've been its own movie). The film was renamed, suffered from several delay releases, and then Netflix stepped in to pick up the film from Paramount for a whopping "more than $50 million" for the film rights. Needless to say, I think they overpaid for it.

Overall, THE CLOVERFIELD PARADOX is a boring, lackluster, failed sci-fi movie that didn't bring anything new to the franchise. I hate to say that, especially after the incredible 10 CLOVERFIELD LANE. So how did we come from that film to this one? I wish I knew the answer to that one. Instead, we're left scratching our heads and wondering why. 2 out of 5 stars! Only watch if you're really bored!

THE CLOVERFIELD PARADOX is now streaming exclusively on Netflix. To start your subscription, visit their website at www.netflix.com.

Thanks for reading, and enjoy the show!

Phil's Netflix Picks: THE BABYSITTER (2017) - February 6, 2018

Hello again and welcome to another installment of Phil's Netflix Picks! Yup, I found another movie to watch, and it's a Netflix Exclusive! And it's a horror comedy!! Originally, the film was produced by New Line Cinema before Netflix acquired the distribution rights to the film. I have heard many great reviews form critics and fans withing the horror community, so I was excited to finally see THE BABYSITTER.

The film's official synopsis: Cole (Judah Lewis) loves his babysitter (Samara Weaving) Bee. She's hot, funny, and popular. One night, in a moment of defiance, Cole secretly stays up past his bedtime to discover she's actually a cold-blooded killer who's in league with the Devil. He now must spend his night evading Bee's band of killers who will stop at nothing to prevent Cole from spilling their dark secret. It's up to Cole to survive the night (and blow up a few people along the way).

Big round of applause to screenwriter Brian Duffield, who wrote of the most ingenious stories ever!! Holy crap was this a smart, ruthless, and hilarious movie!! It has the perfect balance of laughs and horror! The characters are very relatable and sympathetic. I mean, c'mon, who didn't have a crush on their super hot babysitter when they were kids?!? Now, add in some awesome gore, bloodshed, and hysterical hijinks and you have yourself on hell of a film!! It follows along the lines of recent horror comedies like SHAUN OF THE DEAD, TUCKER AND DALE VS. EVIL, and BETTER WATCH OUT. It's such a clever and witty script and I was completely blown away by it!

Director McG started off making music videos for artists like Sublime, The Offspring, and Sugar Ray. He then transitioned into directing Hollywood movies like the CHARLIE'S ANGEL films, WE ARE MARSHALL, TERMINATOR: SALVATION, and THIS MEANS WAR. McG brings that hyper-stylized, polished look to the movie. His compositions and set-ups are very in your face and has a flare for making gore fun to watch! He's a very accomplished filmmaker and has a special and unique way of telling a story. His visuals compliments Duffield's script perfectly and really hones in on the character's development throughout the course of the movie!

And speaking of characters, the cast is just awesome! Highlights include our two leads Judah Lewis and Samara Weaving, who have a amazing on-screen chemistry with one another that it's flawless. She looks and sounds like a real babysitter, who just so happens to be a cold-blooded psycho-killer who is smoking hot! Lewis is all of us - just a regular 12 year old who is in love with his babysitter but is too shy and nerdy to think that she would love him back. At the heart of the film, it's a coming-of-age story that will have viewers emotionally invested with these two.

THE BABYSITTER is one of the most outrageous, blood stained, batshit crazy, bonkers as hell, flat out gross out horror comedies of all time!! I freaking loved this movie. Horror fans have another binge-worthy movie to watch for all time!! 5 out of 5 stars!! Highly recommended!!

THE BABYSITTER is now streaming exclusively on Netflix. To start your subscription, visit their website at www.netflix.com.

Thanks for reading, and enjoy the horror!

Phil's Netflix Picks: GLOW: THE STORY OF THE GORGEOUS LADIES OF WRESTLING (2012) - February 5, 2018

Hello my faithful readers and welcome to a new segment entitled Phil's Netflix Picks! The reason I decided to start this was because there are a plethora of movies that never really received a theatrical release or were only seen at film festivals. Because of this, some find audiences on Netflix-either becoming a Netflix exclusive or just debuting on the streaming service provider. One of these films I watched was a documentary on one of my favorite shows from the 1980's. I grew up watching wrestling throughout this decade, and what set this apart from the WWF and NWA was that it was all about women's wrestling. Now, I can relive those fun-filled days and learn all about this revolutionary show in the 2012 documentary GLOW: THE STORY OF THE GORGEOUS LADIES OF WRESTLING.

Original Theatrical Poster (2012)

The film's official synopsis: The year is 1986. Mike Tyson has just won his first title, the Chicago Bears are super bowl champs and unlikely rap-stars, and Gorgeous Ladies of Wrestling (GLOW) is about to burst onto the scene as the first ever all-female wrestling show on television. Like its then sole competitor/frequent imitator, the World Wrestling Federation, GLOW was a prime-time wrestling series, complete with elaborate characters, costumes, skits, personalized raps, and, of course, wrestling. Week after week, women like Mountain Fiji, the Samoan giant with a heart of gold, and Matilda the Hun, the evil German with a taste for raw meat, battled it out for the GLOW crown. By 1989, the GLOW girls were an international phenomenon, attracting over seven million viewers worldwide, touring the nation, and making big bank for the show's producers. One year later, GLOW was gone.   

GLOW: THE STORY OF THE GORGEOUS LADIES OF WRESTLING chronicles the rise and fall of this once successful television show through the stories of those who lived it. From the initial open-call auditions, to the grueling training with wrestling legend Mando Guerrero, to over-night success and global recognition, to the show's sudden and unexpected cancellation in 1990, the GLOW girls recall their time on the show with a mixture of heartfelt nostalgia and tearful regret over injuries and the loss of friends. For some, the show was a brief foray into acting and a short-lived adventure on the way to a normal life. For others, that time in GLOW would impact and influence their lives for years to follow. For all of the women, working on GLOW was a unique and exciting experience that will bond them forever.

Director Brett Whitcomb really gives the audience an in-depth look at how the show was created and all the craziness that went on during its production. Many of the women who participated in the film provided some really interesting stories and aspects of the show while reminiscing on just how much they all had. What they didn't realize was at that time, they were pioneers - trailblazing in uncharted territory. There have been women wrestling for years, but a show centered on women's wrestling and making it a weekly show, that had never been done before.

GLOW DVD Cover

Whitecomb was able to get some interesting and hilarious stories from several of the wrestlers, including Mt. Fiji, (Emily Dole), Little Egypt (Angelina Altishin), Ninotchka (Lorilyn Palmer), Tina Ferrari (Lisa Moretti, better known as Ivory to WWE fans) and Babe the Farmer's Daughter (Ursula Hayden) just to name a few. Others interviewed include series director Matt Cimber, trainer Mondo Guerrero aka Armando Guerrero (of the legendary wrestling dynasty Guerrero Family), but unfortunately show creator David McLane refused to participate in the documentary. I feel that this was a real shame because his input would've been very important to the story of GLOW and what his opinion of the show's legacy.

As soon as it appeared on our televisions, the show was abruptly cancelled without warning in 1990, due to the backers withdrawing their funding of it. This blow left the ladies without saying goodbye to one another, as they were forced to move on. But because of the filming of the documentary, Hayden - now owner of GLOW - decided to organize a reunion with her fellow friends. The highlight of this was Mt. Figi - who was residing in a nursing home due to health issues - shedding tears of joy as she is once again reunited with her friends.

Because of the popularity of the show and the positive response to the documentary, Hayden teamed up with Netflix to produce a series about the creation of the show. Naturally, the show is called GLOW and became a smash hit for the streaming service. No word yet as to when the second season will premiere.

However, fans of the original show recently received some heartbreaking news. On
on January 3, 2018, Emily Doyle, the beloved Mt. Fiji, passed away in Orange County, California due to health issues. She was just 60 years old. There will never be anyone like you Emily. All your fans, including myself, want to say "Thank you" for entertaining us for all these years. We will remember you and will miss you always.

GLOW: THE STORY OF THE GORGEOUS LADIES OF WRESTLING is a no-holds barred, emotionally charged, informative, hysterical and moving documentary about one of the greatest wrestling shows of all time!! I was so invested in the film that I watched it for three days straight! That should indicate you on how much I loved this film! If your a wrestling fan, or just a curious bystander, then you owe to yourself to see this! 5 out of 5 stars!! Highly recommended!!

GLOW: THE STORY OF THE GORGEOUS LADIES OF WRESTLING is now available to view on Netflix, along with the series. The movie is also available on iTunes, Amazon Prime and Google Play. The movie is also available on DVD. To purchase a copy for yourself, visit the film's website at www.glowthemovie.com.

Thanks for reading, and enjoy the show!