Phil's Porno Chic: THE YOUNG LIKE IT HOT/ SWEET LITTLE FOXES (2015)from Vinegar Syndrome-November 30, 2015

PEEKARAMA DOUBLE FEATURE (2015)

It's been a long time since I've done a Porno Chic installment here and today's review will hopefully rectify this oversight. Recently there has been a plethora of classic adult films being released on both Blu-Ray and DVD that will make fans very happy and excited to hear about. The reason these films have such a huge following and are so popular is quite simple really: they were real movies. They were shot on film stock, had budgets, interesting plotlines and stories, real world locations, nice looking sets, great acting, and of course, hot sex. By taking these factors into account, one can see why Porno Chic was all the rage and why the the period of 1972 through 1894 was called the "Golden Age of Pornography." These filmmakers were both pushing the sexual envelope of the times while exploring and experimenting with the fundamental techniques of filmmaking. And then there were those other films that were made just for profit and self gratification and you can tell the difference between them. Now there are films that are both erotic, silly and just fun to watch, which leads me to today's review. The fine folks over at Vinegar Syndrome has just released a fantastic limited edition Blu-ray/DVD combo of two films starring the angeliesque Hyapatia Lee as part of their Peekarama series. So let's travel back to the awesome 1980s to discuss THE YOUNG LIKE IT HOT/SWEET YOUNG FOXES Limited Edition combo pack.

Theatrical Movie Poster (1983)

THE YOUNG LIKE IT HOT (1983)

Starring: Hyapatia Lee, Kay Parker, Eric Edwards, Joey Silvera, Shauna Grant, Herschel Savage, Linda Shaw, Mike Horner, Lili Marlene
Written by Gail Palmer
Cinematography by Jack Remy
Edited by Pearl Diamond
Produced by Gail Palmer

Directed by Bob Chin
Originally distributed by Caribbean Films

The film's official synopsis: Trouble is brewing at a small town phone help line. The girls have just found out that they are slated to be replaced by computers. Determined to show their bosses that technology is no match for their skills, they begin offering their callers erotic conversations the likes of which have never been heard before!

I've forgotten just how stunning Hyapatia Lee was back in the day. Beautiful smile, long dark flowing hair, stunning eyes, gorgeous brown skin and a tight, slim, sexy body that drive men crazy. With these attributes, the former Miss Nude USA dives right into her role as supervisor Lori, who loves to help out her fellow employees. Original MILF Kay Park sizzles up the screen by just being her sexy self. Plus the exquisite Shauna Grant and her radiant beauty reminds us all that this sultry and talented actress left us too soon. That's another reason why I enjoy these films. The women in these films look and sound like real women you'd meet in your everyday life. These ladies are sophisticated, attractive and smart and don't look fake like most of today's porn stars. Bob Chin does a great job of keeping the film moving at good pace while capturing some very hot sex scenes. The film is very light and has a funny, good-natured, comedic tone and it doesn't take it itself too serious. Overall, I miss this type of movie making and this is one adult classic that fans should really get acquainted with.

Theatrical Movie Poster (1983)

SWEET YOUNG FOXES (1983)

Starring: Hyapatia Lee, Kay Parker, Ron Jeremy, Eric Edwards, Cindy Carver, Cara Lott, Pat Manning, Bud Lee
Written by Deborah Sullivan
Cinematography by Jack Remy
Edited by Pearl Diamond
Produced by Elliot Lewis
Director: Bob Chin
Originally distributed by Caribbean Films

The film's official synopsis: A group of young Southern California co-eds spend their days and nights on the prowl looking for ways to satisfy their red hot passions! Laura, Maggie and Kimberly are the three luscious lasses whose lives are going through tumultuous changes. They decide to descend on a rollicking party to remedy their loneliness. At the party Laura meets a former schoolmate, giving old torches a reason to light up and burn fiercely. Meanwhile the virginal Kim enters full womanhood at the hands of a dashing young man bent on satisfying their mutual lustful craving. Finally, Maggie finds an intriguing older woman with whom she discovers another side of her sexual hunger. Sweet Young Foxes... ah how sweet!

Another great starring vehicle for Hyapatia Lee as college Freshman Laura, who is now on summer vacation and is wanting to have some fun. Her opening scene alone is worth the price of this double feature. Add the stunning Kay Parker as Hyapatia's hot mom Julie (her solo shower scene will fog up your glasses) and her two besties Kim (Cindy Carver) and Maggie (Carla Lott), and of course Ron Jeremy, you've got yourself a movie that will surely keep you busy for a while. Like the previous film, Bob Chin directed this one as well and was shot on location in San Francisco, the West Coast Capitol of the porn industry (long before it relocated to the infamous San Fernando Valley). While light on story, Chin makes up for it with fun, free spirited and the sex is off the charts. Lovers of classic adult films will have a field day watching this one.

Vinegar Syndrome has done a fantastic job of restoring these two adult film classics and it shows on both Blu-Ray and the DVD. Both films were restored in 2k from the original 35mm film negatives and they look and sound even better now than they did upon their initial releases. The special features included here are: interview with director a Bob Chin, interview with adult film historian and actor Bill Margold and the original theatrical trailers for both films. The double feature release is limited to just 2,000 units which makes this a very special collector's item for fans.

The PEEKARAMA DOUBLE FEATURE: THE YOUNG LIKE IT HOT/SWEET YOUNG FOXES is a fantastic edition to any adult film library collection! This release is a perfect example of the need for more restoration of these Porno Chic classics. They are time capsules of a by gone era, a time that will never return again. 5 out of 5 stars!! Highly recommended!!

PEEKARAMA DOUBLE FEATURE: THE YOUNG LIKE IT HOT/SWEET YOUNG FOXES is currently available for a very limited time on the Vinegar Syndrome website. To purchase a copy, visit their website at www.vinegarsyndrome.com.

Thanks for reading, and enjoy the show!

Phil sees PITCH PERFECT 2 from New Line Cinema-November 29, 2015

It's been two years since audiences were introduced to the world of acapella music, courtesy of the film PITCH PERFECT which went on to become a huge Hollywood hit. Those lovable bunch of misfit and stereotypical girls won the hearts of the world and sooner or later, we knew there would be a sequel. Well, here we are and we finally got the sequel we were promised. So loosen up your vocal chords, practice your choreography and mic up cause it's time to talk (or should I say sing) about the film PITCH PERFECT 2.

Theatrical Movie Poster (2015)

The film's official synopsis: The Bellas are back, and they are better than ever. After being humiliated in front of none other than the President of the United States of America, the Bellas are taken out of the Aca-Circuit. In order to clear their name and regain their status, the Bellas take on a seemingly impossible task: winning an International competition no American team has ever won. In order to accomplish this monumental task, they need to strengthen the bonds of friendship and sisterhood, and blow away the competition with their amazing aca-magic! With all new friends and old rivals tagging along for the trip, the Bellas can hopefully accomplish their dreams once again.

So let's discuss the film, shall we? It was pretty damn funny, but I felt that the story moved a little too fast. There were a lot of new characters introduced, a new romance, new adversaries and it just felt rushed. Granted the filmmakers could've made the film longer to compensate all these additions but they didn't. And that's a common problem with most sequels: the need to top the original and load up the sequel with new stuff. But that shouldn't have to sacrifice the integrity of the story nor the film as a whole. Just take the time and make the movie the way it should and let it unfold naturally, instead of trying to cram everything including the kitchen sink in it.

The whole cast comes back for this installment and nothing has changed much. Same typical girls with the same stereotypes. Beca is still a hot loner, Chloe is still uptight, Jesse is still a hopeless romantic, Lilly is still that weird Asian girl, Fat Amy is still...well...fat. Now there's a hilarious romance introduced when Fat Amy hooks up with Bumper. Yup, sparks fly when they shag like two dogs in heat! Now that was some funny shit!

Actress Elizabeth Banks makes her feature length debut here and she does a great job directing this ensemble cast. Now she was one of the producers on the last film, and since these films are her baby, she took the next logical step in her career and helmed this latest chapter on the series. Recently a third film was announced and it looks like Mrs. Banks has signed on to direct that film as well.

PITCH PERFECT 2 will give you a warm fuzzy feeling if you're a hardcore fan of the series. Though it'll tickle your funny bone and put a smile on your face, I just wish it was more thought out and not so rushed. But that's just me complaining. I'm sure you'll enjoy this film. 3 1/2 out of 5 stars! It's worth watching!

PITCH PERFECT 2 is now available on both Blu-Ray and DVD at your local retailer. It's also available at your local Redbox as well as on Netflix and Video On Demand.

Thanks for reading, and enjoy the show!

Phil's Horror Watch: LAST SHIFT (2014) from Magnet Releasing-November 29, 2015

LAST SHIFT Blu-Ray (2015)

LAST SHIFT
Starring: Juliana Harkavy, Joshua Mikel, J. LaRose, Sarah Sculco, Kathryn Kilger, Natalie Victoria, Mary Lankford Poiley
Written by Anthony DiBlasi & Scott Poiley
Cinematography by  Austin F. Schmidt
Edited by Anthony DiBlasi
Produced by Michael Finn, Melissa Gruver, Andy Henry, Mary Lankford Poiley, Scott Poiley, Steven Shea
Directed by Anthony DiBlasi
Released by Magnet Releasing

Independent horror films can be hit or miss. There's a lot of outstanding ones out there that challenge the ideas and conventions of what a horror film could be while others are just as bad as the ones from the major studios. But those films made by filmmakers that want to tell something different are so interesting to watch because of their low budgets, they must be more creative and imaginative to tell their stories. A great example of this is the newly released film from Magnet Releasing entitled LAST SHIFT.

The film's official synopsis: Rookie police officer Jessica Loren (Juliana Harkavy) has been assigned the last shift at a closing police station and must wait for the Hazmat team to come pick up bio-hazard waste from the station's armory. But unbeknownest to Jessica, cult leader John Michael Paymon (Joshua Mikel) has haunted the department since he and his two followers Kitty (Sarah Sculco) and Dorthea (Kathryn Kilger) committed suicide a year ago to date. And now, Jessica is about to find out how dangerous they can be when she's left alone of this last shift.

Theatrical Movie Poster (2014)

Director and co-writer Anthony DiBlasi does an exceptional job of creating genuine chills and terrifying scares. Even with his low budget, he is able to take his one and only location and create a sense of claustrophobic doom that awaits our rookie heroine. DiBlasi grabs our attention by employing some of the oldest tricks in the book to scare us: strange noises and sounds, flickering lights, unsettling musical score and supernatural suspense. His directing style slowly unfolds the story fluently, all the while we're forced to witness Jessica's traumatic experience of her very first shift, which if she's not careful, could very well be her last.

Actress Juliana Harkavy first became well known for her portrayal of Rebecca in the DOLPHIN TALES films, but to genre fans she's best remembered for playing Alisha in the AMC series The Walking Dead. Here, Julianna is able to showcase her acting capabilities more in this her major starring vehicle. We witness her character development and growth in her performance as Jessica but then halfway through the film she begins decent into paranoia as her sanity begins to slip away. Her believability, vulnerability and fear is outright horrifying to watch as we become so emotionally invested in her that we cannot look away from the screen. An outstanding tour-de-force performance from Miss Harkavy!

And Joshua Mikel channels his inner Charles Manson to conjure up his portrayal of the psychotic and evil John Michael Paymon. His performance is really quite disturbing and very, very convincing. I got chills whenever he came on the screen. Just a really fantastic job from Mikel! A little trivia fact for you: the working title during the making of the film was JOHN MICHAEL PAYMON before the filmmakers decided to change it to its current title.

LAST SHIFT is a perfect example of how independent filmmakers are breathing new life into the horror genre! The film will get under your skin and will stay there until its gory, terrifying and unsettling conclusion! An indie masterpiece of contemporary horror cinema! 4 out of 5 stars!! Definately worth viewing!!

LAST SHIFT is currently available on both Blu-Ray and DVD at your local retailer. It's also available to stream on Netflix. To learn more about upcoming released from Magnet releasing, visit their website at www.magnetreleasing.com.

Thanks for reading, and enjoy the show!

Phil's Horror Watch: TREMORS 5: BLOODLINES (2015) from Universal Pictures-November 29, 2015

TREMORS 5: BLOODLINES Blu-Ray (2015)

TREMORS 5: BLOODLINES
Starring: Michael Gross, Jamie Kennedy, Natalie Becker, Ernest Ndhlovu, Pearl Thusi, Zak Hendrikz, Lawrence Joffe
Written by M.A. Deuce,  C.J. Strebor, William Truesmith, John Whelpley
Cinematography by Michael Swan
Edited by Vanick Moradian
Produced by Ogden Gavanski, Lisa Gooding, Alan Shearer
Directed by Don Michael Paul
Released by Universal Pictures Entertainment

The last thing I would have ever guessed that would be resurrected would be the TREMOR series. Let's face it: it had a good run. While the 2004 prequel TREMORS 4: THE LEGEND BEGINS was so-so, it looked like the Graboids were finally put back into the ground forever. So it was very surprising to learn about the relaunch of this treasured franchise. And it was even more surprising how much I enjoyed the film. So my fellow horror hounds let me tell what I thought about TREMORS 5: BLOODLINES.

The film's official synopsis: The stakes are raised for survivalist Burt Gummer (Michael Gross) in his most dangerous monster hunt yet. When Gummer's hired to capture a deadly Assblaster terrorizing South Africa, he and his new sidekick, Travis Welker (Jamie Kennedy), engage in a battle of survival against the fiercely aggressive Assblasters and Graboids. Discovering the monsters have evolved into even more lethal creatures, their killer mission takes on a whole new level of unseen terror–far more than they bargained for.

Original Promotional Artwork (2015)

Believe it or not, I really liked this movie. For one, it was awesome to see Michael Gross return as the gun enthusiast, ass kicking, no nonsense Burt Gummer. It was the equivalent of visiting an old friend. Then add newcomer Jamie Kennedy's character Travis to the mix, whose liberal, free thinking personality clashes with Burt's conservative views make it interesting and fun to watch. Then we have the next generation of  Assbladters and Graboids that are really a clever combination of all the previous incarnations. And by taking the setting to South Africa, we get to see our lead protagonists somewhat out of their element. However, as one can expect, our survivalist friend Burt can adapt to any terrain and soon he, Travis and some of the locals take the fight to the Graboids and Assblasters.

Director Don Michael Paul has helmed several straight-to-DVD movies like LAKE PLACID: THE FINAL CHAPTER, SNIPER: LEGACY and JARHEAD 2 : FIELD OF FIRE. Here, Paul keeps the movie going at a well-even pace: setting up the story arcs while giving our characters time to catch their breathe before and after each Graboids attack and providing humor to release the tensions. The film isn't going to win any awards and Paul knows this, but he does a tremendous job of entertaining the fans who love this series. 

Overall, TREMORS 5: BLOODLINES keeps the series going with all the fun, action and mayhem that we've grown to love. The film is just fun to watch and that's what I liked about it. While some may cringe about the idea of another installment, I seriously hope you give this movie a chance. I think you will really enjoy it. 3 1/2 out of 5 stars! Worth watching!

TREMORS 5: BLOODLINES is now available on both Blu-Ray and DVD at your local retailer. It's also available at our local Redbox as well as Video On Demand and Digital HD.

Thanks for reading, and enjoy the show!

Phil sees SAN ANDREAS from Warner Bros. Pictures-November 27, 2015

It's been interesting to watch the career of Dwayne Johnson. Seeing him from his humble beginnings as Rocky Maivia in the then called World Wrestling Federation, to his metamorphosis into the wrestling icon The Rock, the transitioning into one of the most popular actors in Hollywood. Beginning with his big screen debut in THE MUMMY 2 as the Scorpion King, Johnson has grown leaps and bounds as an actor. With his latest action packed film SAN ANDREAS, he proves once again that the man was born to be a superstar.

Theatrical Movie Poster (2015)

The film's official synopsis: California is experiencing a statewide earthquake that goes on record as easily as the biggest earthquake in history. Ray Gaines (Dwayne Johnson) is a helicopter rescue pilot for the Los Angeles Fire Department, who is trying to find his daughter, Blake (Alexandra Daddario), who is in San Francisco amidst the chaos. Ray's estranged wife, Emma (Carla Gugino), is forced to turn to Ray for help, as he is her last resort. Together, they journey to save their daughter.

Johnson's character was custom made for him: good looking, born leader and a brave individual who's job lands him at odds with his soon-to-be ex-wife. Their situation is very common to those individuals whose careers put their lives on the line. Here, we see Johnson as a flawed man as he puts his job before his family, which in turn creates his present situation. Of course it doesn't help that he's missed out on a lot of his daughter's life, however, she still loves him but wishes he could be there more for her. With the massive earthquake tha ravaged the whole state of California, Ray must now step up to be the husband, father and protector he should've been by going off to find and rescue his family. Johnson does a terrific job at bringing a certain level of depth to his character and also making him a total badass simultaneously.

His lovely co-stars are just as wonderful as well. Carla Gugino is superb as his ex-wife Emma, who has a change of heart towards the end of the film. Hey, if you were married to Dwayne Johnson you'd reconsider too! Don't lie ladies! Gugino holds her own in her action scenes against The Great One. She dives off of collapsing rooftops onto hovering helicopter, jumping out of said helicopter, driving a speed boat through a tsunami flooded San Francisco, basically Emma is one tough mom that you probably wouldn't want to miss with.

And speaking of strong female character, Alexandrea Daddario's character Blake is one smart and tough teenager. When she gets left behind by her mom's lame ass, chicken shit of a boyfriend Daniel played by Ioan Gruffudd aka Mr. Fantastic from the FANTASTIC FOUR films (SPOILER: he dies in the film, but that shouldn't come as a surprise), she befriends British cutie Ben Taylor (Hugo Johnstone-Burt) and his younger brother Ollie (Art Parkinson). While they helped save her from being crushed from a collapsing parking garage roof, she spends the majority of the film saving them! How cool is that idea? The last time I saw Daddario was in the awful 2013 horror film TEXAS CHAINSAW 3D. Now I liked her a lot more in this film because her character was way more fleshed out. We care about her, she has depth and pathos and can hold he own against her male co-stars. Oh, and I love the fact that she's playing an eighteen year old but she's actually 29! Damn she's got some good genes!

And let me just say that Daddario has the most beautiful pure blue eyes I have ever seen. They're like two tranquil pools of water that I wish to swim in. I can look into her soul and see the meaning of life. I found happiness in those beautiful, piercing, aquatic, mesmerizing.........uhhhh......I'm sorry what was I talking about.......mmmmmmm.........oh my review. Sorry about that folks. Kinda lost my train of thought there for a bit. Anyway, Alexandrea Daddario and her amazing blue eyes were awesome in the film!

The movie was directed by Brad Peyton, who also made JOURNEY 2: THE MYSTERIOUS ISLAND which also starred Johnson. Peyton is son stranger when it comes to directing big time action films but he has a much larger canvas to work on (along with a much bigger budget). Disaster films are very difficult to helm as the director needs to find the balance between action and character development, thrills and calmness, moving the film forward without sacrificing the story. Peyton does an exceptionally marvelous job of creating a film that caters to these requirements and then some.

Oh and once again, San Francisco is in another Hollywood movie. Hey, I think I'm starting to see a trend here. What do you folks think about that? 

SAN ANDREAS get my vote as one of the best disaster films to come out in the past decade! Fans of this genre will be treated to movie that's filled with action, suspense, humor, interesting characters, spectacular cliffhangers, cool script and the best special effects I've seen in a while. 4 out of 5 stars!! Definitely worth watching!!

SAN ANDREAS is now available on both Blu-Ray and DVD at your local retailer. It's also available at our local Redbox as well as Video On Demand.

Thanks for reading, and enjoy the show!

Phil sees VACATION from Warner Bros. Pictures-November 27, 2015

When the original NATIONAL LAMPOON'S VACATION movie was released back in 1983, it became an instant comedy classic. The crazy, road trip shenanigans of Clark W. Griswold (portrayed by the lovable Chevy Chase) and his family as they drove across the country to the fun-filled amusement park Walley World struck a chord among fans and became a huge hit at the boxoffice, which in turned spawned a franchise. EUROPEAN VACATION came out in 1985, CHRISTMAS VACATION in 1989 (which has also become a holiday classic film) and lastly VEGAS VACATION in 1997. After that, it looked like the Griswold family would finally stay at home for good. Then it was announced that Warner Bros. were reviving the series and a new generation of fans were going to see a new Griswold family trek out to the infamous Walley World once more. So fasten your seat belts everybody, put on some traveling music and let's the open road as I review the new VACATION film.

Theatrical Movie Poster (2015)

The film's official synopsis: Hoping to bring his family closer together and to recreate his childhood vacation for his own kids, an adult Rusty Griswold (Ed Helms) takes his wife Debbie (Christina Applegate) and two sons James (Skyler Gisondo) and Kevin (Steele Stebbins) on a cross-country road trip to Walley World. Needless to say, things don't go quite as planned.

Also appearing in the film are Leslie Mann (Audrey Crandall), Chris Hemsworth (Stone Crandall), Catherine Missal (Adena), Charlie Day (Chad), Norman Reedus (Truck Driver) and once again, Chevy Chase and Beverly D'Angelo reprising their iconic roles as Clark and Ellen Griswold. 

The cast looks like they had fun making this film and it shows. I love Christina Applegate's Debbie as she is both the glue that holds the family together while trying to keep herself happy for her husband. The youngest son Kevin can give South Park's Eric Cartman a run for his money, as he's one of the most fouled mouth pre-pubescent little shit I've seen in a movie. He's the youngest and he bullies his older brother, calling him a pussy and writing "I have a vagina" on his guitar. Ed Helms makes this incarnation of Rusty so-so. I don't recall if Rusty was really this much of a loser in the previous films. I guess he changed a lot when he got older. And it was freaking awesome to see Chevy Chase and Beverly D'Angelo return as the parental units once more. Even though Chevy's Clark is only a cameo, he makes the most of it as he reminds us just how funny he is.

First time directors John Francis Daley and Jonathan M. Goldstein attempt to recapture the magic from the first film while trying to create a film that both stands on its own and stays in the continuum of the series. The guys do a great job of capturing the zany wackiness that transpires for our new family with fluid directing and great set-ups. The car scenes made me feel like I was there along for the ride, especially when Rusty would sing along to Seal's "Kiss from a Rose." They guys also were able to capture a lot of beautiful scenery that our favorite family travel to: from Chicago to the Grand Canyon and, of course, Walley World and even San Francisco too.

At this time I would like to point out that once again we see San Francisco in another movie. Yup, this is like the fourth time I saw the city in a movie. Let's see, this year San Franciso has appeared in TERMINATOR: GENISYS, ANT-MAN, SAN ANDREAS, and now this one. Oh, and it was on the poster for PIXELS as well getting eaten up by Pac-Man. So yeah, take that Los Angeles! San Francisco and NorCal are now where the action's at!!

Both Daley and Golstein also wrote the script as well, bringing to it a newer, more raunchier level that modern audiences seem to enjoy. Now this works twofold: the first being that it will appeal to fans that like those raunchy comedies like THE HANGOVER, THIS IS THE END, BORAT, and TED. It's loaded with fowl language, sexual situations, grotesque racial profiling and over-the-top toilet humor. So yes it was hilarious!! I laughed so hard during the entire movie. From the awesome credit intro (courtesy from the awesome people at awkwardfamilyphotos.com) to my favorite scene where Debbie tries to relive her sorority days and just fails miserably. Knowing this information, it makes the film work if you were expecting this type of comedy.

Now the downside is that fans of the original films will be disappointed if they were expecting something that resembles the film's they grew up with. This could alienate those hardcore fans as well as those who like their comedies more subtle and less raunchiness. Personally, it didn't bother me at all. I thought the film was funny as hell but then again I'm a weird kinda guy. I mean, I watch Troma movies for crying out loud, so this was actually tame compared to some of the other films I've seen.

So this VACATION was a blast to watch as it both honors the series while simultaneously made me laugh my ass off. That is the soul purpose of making comedies: to make us laugh and to forget about our problems for a bit. And this film did just that and then some. A great addition to this series and one you all should see. 4 out of 5 stars! Definitely worth seeing!!

VACATION was just released on both Blu-Ray and on DVD and is available at your local retailer. The film is also avaibable at your local Redbox and on Video On Demand.

Thanks for reading, and enjoy the show!

Phil attends the ADDAMS FAMILY VALUES show hosted by Peaches Christ atthe Castro Theatre-November 21, 2015

Castro Theatre Marque for the Peaches Christ Show.

It's been far too long since I've been to San Francisco, let alone seeing a movie here in the city. So tonight I finally made my triumphant return to one of my favorite theatres of all time: the historic Castro Theatre! To make this even more extraordinary, tonight's event was the film ADDAMS FAMILY VALUES hosted by none other than San Francisco's favorite drag queen superstar Peaches Christ!! And as an added bonus, my fiancée "Lola" and our friends "Hunter and Piper Chase" came out to the screening as well. Now this was their very first Peaches Christ show ever!! So I had the pleasure of popping all three of their cherries, Castro Style!!

We pulled up to the theatre and got our tickets for the 8pm show (there was a 3pm showing earlier that afternoon, but as everyone know, that late show is where all the fun is). We walked in the front lobby and it was electrifying! The front lobby was packed and there wasn't one empty seat in the theatre! The crowd was getting rowdy, people were screaming, the excitement was off the charts! My friends couldn't believe just how crazy these shows get and they were getting all excited as they were about to see one the greatest shows on Earth! We made our way to our seats and around 8pm the lights dimmed at it was finally showtime!!

Promotional Poster (2015)

As with all Peaches' screenings, there was an incredible pre-show before the film and what a pre-show it was! Tonight was the return of the infamous Sharon Needles (RuPaul's Drag Race season four winner as the sexy Morticia) along with Jinx Monsoon (Debbie), Qween (Fugsley), Heklina (Uncle Fister), Manuel Caneri (Comez), Peggy L'Eggs (Trandma Ma & Becky Cranger), Redwood (Felch), Chaka Korn (Amanda), Rory Davis (Miss Thing) and last, but certainly not least, Peaches Christ as Thursday!! Plus, let's not forget the excellent dancers L. Ron Hubby, Velveeta Whoremel, Roxanne Redmeat and Michael Turner!! Whew!! Now that's one outstanding cast to have!!

The pre-show started with the now iconic Addams Family theme song and the audience was clapping along. The out came Thursday and Fugsley and the audience screamed with delight. Soon the whole Addams Apple Family was on staged and the screaming and cheering for Sharon Needles was deafening! The Addams Apple Family were rejoicing the birth of their new baby boy, which meant that Morticia and Comez had to hire a nanny to help out. Enter the deranged, maniacal and hilarious Debbie, who goes in for the kill by sending Thursday and Fugsley off to summer camp and convinces Uncle Fister to marry her and cut off the rest of the family! Eventually entire family comes together and they all live unhappily ever after!! A fantastic and crowd pleasing pre-show from start to finish!! My friends and I loved it!!

After the pre-show, my friends and I were able to meet some of the cast members and were able to get some awesome photos. I personally would like to thank Heklina, Peggy L'Eggs, Manuel Caneri and Redwood for taking the time to take these amazing pictures and just being really cool, down-to-earth people. And because I am all for giving credit where credit is due, here are some of the pictures we took with them:

Hunter, Heklina & Piper at the Castro Theatre.

Lola & myself with the great Manuel Caneri.

Piper & Hunter with Peggy L'Eggs.

Peggy L'Eggs posing with Lola & I.

Piper & Hunter with the manly Manuel Caneri.

Lola & I with the very tall Redwood.

What an extraordinary night we all had! Another fantastic Peaches Christ show has come and gone! But don't you fret my friends! While this was her last show for 2015, her next show will be the totally radical 80's flick TEEN WITCH with lead actress Robyn Lively live in-person! That event will take place on January 8, 2016 at the Castro Theatre! So make sure you come check that show out! And if you are interested in becoming a fan of Peaches Christ, or want to view her upcoming shows, visit her website at http://peacheschrist.com. To view the Castro Theater's film schedule, visit their website at www.castrotheatre.com.

Thanks for reading, and enjoy the show!

Phil sees SPY from Twentieth Century Fox- November 14, 2015

Spy films are the cool cousins of the action film genre. They have cooler heroes, bad ass villains, smoking hot chicks, awesome gadgets and big time action and explosions. The one that started it all was the Jame Bond films, which are THE best spy films of all time. Then came the Austin Powers film, which blended comedy with the spy films. And they were damn funny (except the third film). Now we have the latest spy comedy, ironically entitled SPY and it's one of this year's best comedies!

Theatrical Movie Poster (2015)

The films official synopsis: Susan Cooper (Melissa McCarthy) is an unassuming, deskbound CIA analyst, and the unsung hero behind the Agency's most dangerous missions. But when her partner Bradley Fine (Jude Law) falls off the grid and another top agent is compromised (Jason Statham), she volunteers to go deep undercover to infiltrate the world of a deadly arms dealer (Rose Byrne), and prevent a global crisis.

Actress Melissa McCarthy has come a long way since portraying Sookie from Gilmore Girls. And quite frankly, she was the last person I expected to go one to become a big time Hollywood name. And she is freaking hysterical as our lead heroine Susan. McCarthy's comedic acting range is amazing. She goes from a timid desk jockey to a foul mouth, kick ass spy and does it all with precise comedic timing. We laugh when we're supposed and we cheer her on when she's beating up spies and cussing like a sailor. But the best part of the film are her scenes with Jason Statham's out of control loose cannon CIA Agent Rick Ford. I could watch an entire two hour film of them bantering back and forth flinging insults to one another! I laughed so hard when they would come on screen together! If they ever make a sequel, it better be about them as partners!

Another actress I want to recognize is the insanely talented Rose Byrne. Her character Rayna Boyanov is of the most vicious, sadistic, insanely hot and funniest villains I have ever seen! Again like McCarthy, Byrne has had a very interesting career. He first real big break came in 2002 when she played Dormé from STAR WARS EPISODE II: ATTACK OF THE CLONES. Since then she has gone on to appear in other big time Hollywood films like 28 WEEKS LATER, INSIDIOUS, TROY, BRIDESMAIDS, X-MEN: FIRST CLASS, INSIDIOUS: CHAPTER 2, and NEIGHBORS.  

The film was written and directed by Paul Feig, the man responsible for BRIDESMAIDS and HEAT (both featuring McCathy by the way). Feig has a real knack for showcasing fluid storytelling with laughs and action. He got his start directing television shows like Arrested Development, Nurse Jackie and The Office. I also love how he likes to cast female actresses as his leads in his films. We definitely need to see more of this coming out of Hollywood!

SPY get my vote for best comedy of 2015! It's a laugh-out-loud riot disguised as a spy thriller! Not since AUSTIN POWERS and HOT FUZZ have I laughed this hard watching an action/comedy film! You all need to see this movie now!! 5 out of 5 stars!! Highly recommended!!

SPY is now available on both Blu-Ray and DVD at your local retailer. You can also order the movie on Video On Demand, Digital Download as well as at your local Redbox.

Thanks for reading, and enjoy the show!

Phil sees TERMINATOR: GENISYS from Paramount Pictures-November 11, 2015

When director James Cameron made the first TERMINATOR back in 1984, all it was really was a little low budget B-Movie that did a lot better than it was supposed to at the box office and it went on to become a sci-fi classic. In 1991, TERMINATOR 2: JUDGEMENT DAY was released and the bar was set very, very high after that. The film completely changed the landscape of what not only a sequel could be but how movies could be made. Then Cameron left his series to make TITANIC and AVATAR so he could win a shitload of awards for them (which he did). As a result, the following two sequels TERMINATOR 3: RISE OF THE MACHINES and TERMINATOR: SALVATION sucked hard. Seriously, they really did suck that bad. They were somewhat entertaining, but you could tell they were soulless Hollywood sequel creations whose only purpose for making them was to try to squeeze every last dollar out of their dying franchise so that fans of the series would shell out their hard earn cash to see them (which I did unfortunately. Hey, I'm a film buff. That's what I do). Then there was the short lived television series (which wasn't too bad of a show by the way) but it seemed like Skynet was finally shut down. Then out of nowhere, Paramount Pictures along with Skydance Productions announced that they had obtained the rights to the series and were planning on relaunching the franchise with a new trilogy of movies. The first installment of this trilogy is TERMINATOR: GENISYS which I finally got around to seeing.

The film's official synopsis:When John Connor (Jason Clarke), leader of the human resistance, sends Sgt. Kyle Reese (Jai Courtney) back to 1984 to protect Sarah Connor (Emilia Clarke) and safeguard the future, an unexpected turn of events creates a fractured timeline. Now, Sgt. Reese finds himself in a new and unfamiliar version of the past, where he is faced with unlikely allies, including the Guardian (Arnold Schwarzenegger), dangerous new enemies, and an unexpected new mission: To reset the future.

Now the film has been receiving a lot of negative reviews from critics and from fans of the franchise. Some said the plot was too confusing and not structured correctly, some didn't like the acting, while others thought it just sucked ass. Here are some of the complaints that I had with the movie:

So let's start with the acting first. It's not that great. Hey, I'm being honest. You know it's bad if Arnold Schwarzenegger is the best actor out of the bunch. Yes, I know people love Emilia Clarke because she's on Game of Thrones and she's a decent actress but she's no Linda Hamilton. As for Jai Courtney, can someone please me why the hell is he still getting work? After seeing him in the two DIVERGENT films, I guess he's the new flavor in Tinseltown. But just like Clarke, he had some big shoes to fill and he came nowhere close to being Michael Biehn. And why is J.K. Simmons wasting his time and talent making this film? Plus I was really excited to see Matt Smith (aka the Twelfth Doctor from Doctor Who) making his big screen American film debut and he's on screen for about two minutes!! WTF?!? Come on people he was Doctor Who for crying out loud!! He's a really talented actor and you only use him at the beginning and the very end of the movie?!? Why did you cast him in this film if you were not going to use him properly?!? Bloody freaking hell!! You people are freaking morons!!

Director Alan Taylor helmed the 2013 Marvel film THOR: THE DARK WORLD. Here, he's trying to replicate his summer blockbuster, big screen debut with this follow-up to a dead franchise. And he tries so hard to make it work, but it's rather difficult to make a good movie when the script has you all over the damn place. Screenwriters Laeta Kalogridis and Patrick Lussier were trying to write a great screenplay, but it's a convoluted mess. First the trailers gave away the big plot twist! Spoilers!! Then where in the future of 2029, then we're back in 1984 LA. Then we're flung to 2017 San Francisco. I'm sorry but I thought the whole Terminator Universe took place in Los Angeles. I mean, that's where Skynet was born, where Sarah and Reese meet, fall in love, bonked and stuff. It's where all the other films take place. Why change the locations? 

Speaking of locations, has anyone else notice that San Francisco is now the new city for absolute annihilation, carnage and out of this world destruction? It's been ground zero in recent films like X-MEN 3, GODZILLA, STAR TREK INTO DARKNESS, SAN ANDRES, and RISE OF THE PLANET OF THE APES. Looks like our City by the Bay is the new LA for today's films! Way to go NorCal!!

Now after hearing me gripe about the movie I have a confession to make. And here is it: I really enjoyed the film. Crazy, right? Reason I liked it was because I liked how it took its own timeline and completely blew it all to shit and started over again. That was smart of the filmmakers. That's how you reboot a franchise these days. Blow up your continuity to hell in a hand basket and start fresh. It worked for the STAR TREK franchise, so why not for the TERMINATOR series?!?

For you old school fans of the series, it works on a nostalgic level. The first half hour replays some of your favorite moments and scenes from both the first two films to, so as to get you invested in the story and with the characters. Then there's a curveball thrown at us: holy crap the timeline is all messed up!! There's two Arnold Terminators in 1984? The T-1000 liquid metal Terminator is there too? And it's not Robert Patrick but it's Byung-hun Lee from the G.I. JOE movies? And Sarah Connor is a bad ass already? And it's like this for the rest of the film and you can't look away from it. Like a car wreak, it's grotesquely fascinating!

So in conclusion, TERMINATOR: GENISYS is one of the best movies you'll love to bitch about! In all honesty, it's so bad it's good! I loved this stupid film! And it really is stupid. But I can promise you all out there that you will be entertained! 4 out of 5 stars! Definitely worth watching!!

TERMINATOR: GENISYS is now available on both Blu-Ray and DVD at your local retailer. You can also order the movie on Video On Demand, Digital Download as well as at your local Redbox.

Thanks for reading, and enjoy the show!

Phil sees PIXELS from Sony/Columbia Pictures-November 9, 2015

Family films are usually fun to watch, especially if you're an adult. A lot of the times the filmmakers will add references or jokes that pertained to your youth that makes you laugh while simultaneously entertaining your kids. Now when you think of family films, Adam Sandler isn't the first name that pops in you mind. However, his HOTEL TRANSYLVANIA films have been big box office hits over the past couple of years. However, his live action films have been doing poorly, which to be honest is a real shame. Despite all the negative press and reviews, PIXELS is one of my new favorite family films this year that everybody should see.

Theatrical Movie Poster (2015)

The film's official synopsis: Sam Brenner (Sandler), Will Cooper (Kevin James), Ludlow Lamonsoff (Josh Gad), and Eddie "The Fire Blaster" Plant (Peter Dinklage) all played classic arcade video games as teenagers. But now they have to use their skills to try to save the world from aliens. The aliens watched video feeds that they thought was a declaration of war. So they send down the classic arcade games to destroy earth. They also get help from military specialist Violet Van Patten (Michelle Monaghan). They have three lives and if all three get used then Earth will be destroyed, and every time they lose a live the aliens take someone's life. Who will win, us or the aliens? It's an all-out battle to save our planet and everyone on it.

Let me start by say that this was a lot to fun to watch. First, it entertained me on a nostalgic level. I was that kid who along with my friends would over to the mall and hang out at the arcade playing video games all day. I played those games when they first came out. Pac-man, Donkey Kong, Q*Bert, Dig Dug. Galaga, Centipede, the list of games I played goes on and on. And it was such a treat to see these games once again but this time attacking Earth! That was a hoot!

The script was laces with 80's references while giving us the reality of being an adult. When Sandler finds Monaghan crying in her closet while drinking wine out of a sippy cup cause her ex-husband ran off with a 19-year-old yoga instructor, it was hilarious. I mean let's face it: we've all done crazy things when our spouse or significant other runs off with someone else and we're left behind trying to piece together out life back. And here we see first hand how funny we look while doing this. But that's just the tip of the iceberg. There's plenty of action to coincide with these jokes that intertwine with each other perfectly.

Sandler is funny as our nerdy, tech geek turned hero Sam and he had great on-screen chemistry with Monaghan. Josh Gad's Ludlow had some of the best lines in the film! And let's not forget Peter Dinklage's character Eddie "The Fire Blaster" Plant, who is probably the most bad ass arcade player ever captured on the big screen!

The film was directed by the one and only Chris Columbus, the man who brought us modern day classics like HOME ALONE 1 & 2, MRS. DOUBTFIRE, HARRY POTTER AND THE SORCERER'S STONE, NINE MONTHS and HARRY POTTER AND THE CHAMBER OF SECRETS. Columbus does an exceptional once again showing us his directing style compliments the humor and action within the film. As you may or may not know, Columbus is a local filmmaker. Yup, his headquarters is based out in San Francisco and it's nice to see him directing again.

Overall PIXELS is hilarious, action packed, arcade filled joy ride for the whole family. So do yourself a favor and ignore what those prestigious, pompous critics are saying. This movie does what it's supposed: entertain us and forget about for a while. It's that plain and simple. So have have fun watching it with kids as well as your inner child. 4 out of 5 stars!! Definitely worth watching!!

PIXELS is now available on both Blu-Ray and DVD at your local retailer. You can also order the movie on Video On Demand, Digital Download as well as at your local Redbox.

Thanks for reading, and enjoy the show!