My wife got me a DVD collection of classic SciFi movies. Like a lot of these collections, "classic" is in the eye of the beholder, and several of these titles rank right down there with Plan 9 From Outer Space and The Beast of Yucca Flats. What Liz didn't realize though, was how delighted I'd be with the unexpected treasury of peblum flicks included.

Peblum, literally, is the short skirt worn by ancient gladiators, but it's also used to describe a genre of movies. Although generically it refers to any heroic fantasy movie set in ancient times (Hercules, Atlas, Jason, etc.), specifically the term applies to the movies made in Italy during the 50's and 60's. You can check out my earlier post on Steve Reeves for a bio of one of the superstars of the type.

I suppose the fantasy aspect of these movies qualified them for inclusion in a SciFi collection, but that's ok with me. Look for an upcoming Rocket Jones review of Hercules movies in the future. You know you can't wait.

Posted by: Ted at 08:01 AM | category: Cult Flicks
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From Mystery Men.

"We're on a blind date with destiny, and she just ordered the lobster." -- The Shoveler

This flick is available in the $5.50 discount bin at WalMart.

Posted by: Ted at 09:42 AM | category: Cult Flicks
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There is supposedly a strange synchronicity between the movie Wizard of Oz and Pink Floyd's Dark Side of the Moon CD.

One crucial aspect of the WOO/DSM experience is timing. It is important to begin the CD at the end of the third, final roar of the MGM lion.

Get the timing right, and then get ready for an eerie ride.

The opening credits of the film began to roll to the heartbeats and ticking of Speak to Me. The familiar black-and-white farm scenes begin with the song Breathe. Dorothy is talking with the farm hands, then begins to walk the fence rail. The lyric "And balanced on the biggest wave You race towards an early grave" plays as Dorothy loses her balance and falls from the fence.

Of course, the movie goes on long after the CD ends.

The CD ends with the beating of a heart as Dorothy listens to the Tin Man's chest.

Give it a try sometime (altered personal reality optional). Make sure you scroll down to the bottom of the page for links to other Wizard & Dark Side sites.

And your little dog too!

Posted by: Ted at 05:59 AM | category: Cult Flicks
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A light analysis of one of his masterpieces and how defendable it is if the undead rise again. Plenty of interesting background history too, of the more mundane sort.

Thanks to Mrs. Spoons for the pointer.

Posted by: Ted at 03:06 PM | category: Cult Flicks
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1 Heh. You found it too.

Posted by: Pixy Misa at June 06, 2005 02:57 AM (AIaDY)

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