Sci Fi Sunday on THIS!

I've probably started too many of these blog entries extolling the greatness of THIS TV. It's hard not to because you can always find cool action flicks, horror classics, B-westerns and cult TV shows ("Outer Limits") on this channel.

I'm a little disappointed that it doesn't air the revived "Elvira's Movie Macabre" show any more, but B-movie beggars can't be choosers.

On Sunday (Jan. 22), THIS features two classic 1950s era sci-fi features: "This Island Earth" (2 p.m.) and "Tarantula." (4 p.m.).



Based on Raymond F. Jones novel of the same name, "This Island Earth" is a great looking movie. The plot is a little hazy at times. It focuses on big-headed aliens from Metaluna, who are under siege by another alien race. Under the leadership of top noggin Exeter (Jeff Morrow), the Metalunans seek aid from the Earth's top scientists including square-jawed Cal Meacham (Rex Reason) and Ruth Adams (Faith Domergue). It's a pretty forgettable film, but its monsters, the Metlunan Mutants, left an impression on many sci-fi fans (and inspired Halloween costumes). It also was the featured flick in "Mystery Science Theater 3000: The Movie."



I clearly recall watching "Tarantula" as a kid. Loved it. I recall freaking out when the lead scientist played by Leo G. Carroll became disfigured. As you can guess, the plot is centered on a giant tarantula terrorizing a desert town. The special effects use a real spider, which looks great in black and white.

Weekend of Birthday Awesomeness!

This is a bit late, but the Weekend Drive-In had to salute a few B-Movie birthday boys.

Let's start with David Bowie, who turns freaking 65 today!!! Yes, he forged his career on the rock stage, but the Space Oddity also has starred in a few film oddities as well. Among these are "The Man Who Fell to Earth," "The Hunger," "Twin Peaks: Fire Walk With Me" and everyone's favorite anti-drug flick "Cristiane F." He's so cool, I have to include two movie trailers in his honor.





Today is also Larry Storch's 89th birthday! He's best known for his role on "F Troop," but he won me over in the original "Ghost Busters" TV show (not connected to the Bill Murray classic). I lived for this show when it aired on Saturday mornings back in the 1970s. This short-lived kiddie show reunited Storch with fellow F Trooper Forest Tucker.



Storch also starred in one of the first R-rated movies I saw in the theater, "Without Warning."



Yesterday, the great Nick Cage turned 48. He's made quite a few classics. I even rank "Ghost Rider" among his top films. Plus, I gotta support a dude who ditched a moneymaking name like Coppola and took the name of Marvel Comics' Power Man. My favorite Nick movie? "Wild at Heart!"



And of course, Jan. 6 marked the coolest birthday of all...MINE! Happy birthday to me...Capricorns rule!

Busey's Back!

I have a new favorite TV show..."Celebrity Wife Swap." I never had an interest in watching the regular version of this trash TV show, but Mrs. Drive-In Mike turned me on to it last week. Luckily, the episode I watched starred B-movie great Gary Busey.

These days, Busey's known as being a pretty far out dude. Check out last week's "Celebrity Wife Swap" episode for examples of his eccentricities. Some folks attribute Busey's weird behavior to head injuries sustained during a near fatal motorcycle crash.

Nuts or not, Busey always have place in film history for a near flawless performance as the title character in "The Buddy Holly Story."

Anyways, Busey also has had memorable supporting roles in a number of classic action flicks: "Lethal Weapon," "Predator 2," "Point Break."

Busey headlined a pair of forgotten and very cool action pics in the 1980s. Both of these pop up on cable (Impact Action on Demand, THIS), so keep an eye out for them.

"Eye of the Tiger" features Busey as a Vietnam vet trying to rebuild his life. He rekindles the romantic flames with his wife and reconnects with his daughter, but finds trouble with a gang of motorcycle thugs (led by biker film badass William Smith) and corrupt sheriff (Seymour Cassel). It's a lot better than you'd imagine, and Busey's pretty good as the likable hero. Yaphet Kotto plays his sidekick. Of course, the seminal Survivor song is on the soundtrack.



He's also awesome in "Bulletproof," one of the era's better "Rambo" clones. Busey stars as Bulletproof McBain, special agent turned super cop. His nickname comes from the fact that he's survived being shot in the line of action so many times. He's given the task of recovering a stolen attack unit, the Thunderblast, from terrorists. Henry Silva plays the main bad guy, and William Smith plays a Soviet officer (much like his role in "Red Dawn"). This is a pretty wild action flick and requires much suspension of disbelief. Still, I liked it! Busey definitely had promise as a leading action hero. He ultimately would be pigeonholed as a villain in many of his movies. Check out this movie or "Eye of the Tiger" and let me know what you think.

The Weekend Drive-In Returns!

Well, it's been more than two months since the Weekend Drive-In has been open for business. No excuses on my part. Work and other issues pushed this blog to the back burner. Anyways, it's 2012 and I've FINALLY gotten into the 21st century (thank you, Netflix). So, I have access to more B-movies. Look for more previews, reviews, features, etc.

Zombie Ass Kickers!!!

This weekend, "Zombie Apocalypse" premieres on SyFy (8 p.m. CST, Oct. 29). Admittedly, I am not completely sick of the zombie genre even though it's run its course. Still, I haven't watched one episode of AMC's "The Walking Dead" (I guess, anything that's "critically acclaimed is a turnoff").

On Saturday, I'll definitely tune into this flick from Asylum Pictures (the modern day AIP??).

Of course, a big draw is the presence of Ving Rhames, who battled the living dead in a few other movies. He's definitely one of the top zombie ass kickers in movie history. Consider his rock solid performance in the 2004 remake of "Dawn of the Dead."



Rhames also starred in another George Romero remake, "Day of the Dead." This movie didn't have quite the impact of "Dawn," but it's still pretty good. Rhames plays a tough soldier caught up in a world plagued by a zombie virus. This straight-to-DVD feature also featured Nick Cannon, Mena Suvari and a pre-"90210" AnnaLynne McCord. A lot of people hated it, but judge for yourself. It's on Showtime every now and then.



Rhames isn't the only skull crushing good guy in the world of zombie flicks. Before Rhames became the go-to badass in "Dawn of the Dead," Ken Foree delivered the goods in the original version of that film. He played Peter, a SWAT cop, who fights the living dead in the projects and in a shopping mall. An imposing guy, Foree's presence in the movie sealed his fame as a horror movie hero. I'll always remember watching this at a midnight screening. The audience went nuts when Foree went mano a mano with the dead hordes toward the end of the film. Foree also has a cameo in the remake.



Before Foree, Duane Jones used brains instead of brawn to survive in George Romero's original "Night of the Living Dead." As Ben, Jones was the sole voice of reason in a farm house besieged by zombies. The character's ultimate fate still leaves audiences reeling when they watch this classic. Jones didn't go on to make any other horror movies, but he set the standard for future zombie movie protagonists.



A few other zombie bashers worth noting:

Patricia Tallman (as Barbara) in Tom Savini's 1990 remake of "Night of the Living Dead": Tallman, a stuntwoman and actress, was like "Ripley" in Alien. Not only was she the only sane voice in a zombie-ridden world, she was a bonafide badass (expertly handling firearms and other weapons).



Mungo McKay (as Marion) in "Undead". This Australian import featured McKay as an odd, gun master who is nearly invincible as he leads other characters against infected hordes of murderous zombies. He's kind of like a laconic version of Ash from the "Evil Dead" movies. Check it out. It's not your typical zombie movie.



I know I am leaving out others including Milla Jojovich as Alice in the "Resident Evil" franchise and Bruce Campbell as Ash in the "Evil Dead" series. Leave a comment if you think of any others worth mentioning.

Burt! Bronson! Nuff said.

Like action? Like moustaches? You'll LOVE two killer action films available on Comcast/Xfinity On Demand. Take your pick from Charles Bronson's "10 to Midnight" or Burt Reynolds "Malone." Both are great 1980s action flicks.



"10 to Midnight" (1983) is the sleazier of the two. It's pretty typical fare from Cannon Films, which churned out tons of B-movies during the Reagan era. The movie focuses on a perverted serial killer. Bronson plays Leo Kessler, a hard ass detective, who will stop at nothing to put this guy behind bars...even planting evidence. It's very seedy, but Bronson seemed to be in a lot of these movies in the 1980s. The killer (who runs around nude most of the time) is played by Gene Davis, who was no stranger to exploitation films ("Cruising" among others). Look for supporting roles from other B-movie vets Andrew Stevens and Wilford Brimley (who also sports a pretty intense moustache). Bronson does what he does best. He curses, shoots, does not follow the "book" and pretty much kicks ass through this entire film.



"Malone" (1987) is the more watchable of these two films. Burt Reynolds plays the titular ex-CIA agent who trys to save a small town from a corrupt millionaire (the recently departed Cliff Robertson) and his army of thugs. This movie was released during Reynolds' "action" period in the mid to late 1980s. Lauren Hutton plays Reynolds' love interest. It's actually pretty good, and Burt is excellent as the stone faced, hard hitting Malone. Great shootouts and fight scenes, and Reynolds sports a pretty thick toupee!

Both movies are available on Xfinity On Demand. Find "10 to Midnight" under Free Movies. Just click Impact Action on Demand under "Pretty Dangerous."

For "Malone," go to Free Movies and go to "Category." Look for "Action" and scroll to "Malone."

The Ultimate Ranger!

In honor of the Texas Rangers making it to the World Series...and coming through in Game 2, the Weekend Drive-in celebrates the ultimate Texas Ranger - "Lone Wolf McQuade."

Before Chuck Norris became a fixture on 1990s TV as "Walker, Texas Ranger," he played maverick lawman McQuade in this 1983 action flick. Apparently, this movie was the inspiration for "Walker," but the names were changed due to copyrights.

Filmed in El Paso, Texas, this movie follows the adventures of the titular Texas Ranger as he tries to take down a nutcase arms dealer Wilkes (played by David "Kung Fu" Carradine. McQuade is quite a bit different than "Walker." He loves to drink beer (Pearl) and pretty much breaks every law possible when apprehending the bad guys. A pretty cool cast rounds out this movie including Robert "Star Trek: Voyager" Beltran, Leon Isaac Kennedy (of the superb "Penetentiary" series) and the always awesome Barbara Carrera. The highlight is a kung fu confrontation between Norris and Carradine, who reportedly refused to use stunt doubles.

Catch the action TONIGHT, Oct. 21 on THIS TV (9 p.m. CST).