All posts by Andrew Swartz

I am a life long fan of popular culture. This web site is filled with links to clips of musical, movie, and media video clips of things I have found of interest over the years. I hope you find some of this stuff to your liking. Drop me a line and let me know.
documentaries, FAntasy films, mysterious places, outer space, outer space sounds, science fiction, science fiction films

“A Dream Come True” – (1963)

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Twisted Russian fantasy film depicting a manned trip to Mars.  Propagandistic in tone in that Russian technology is capable of any space voyage/adventure in these films (see “Planeta Burg”) but the reality is that there was a long record of Russian space mission failures.  It seems that the plot formula in a lot of these films is that the homeland’s advanced technology delivers men to the Moon, Mars, and The Stars, but once there, things become unraveled and life or death situations materialize.  A drama is thus born.  There are no shortage of beautiful and eerie landscapes rendered in shockingly vivid color of the mysterious planet’s surface and a collection of weird, atmospheric synthesizer soundscapes of chirps and bleeps to accompany the strange sights.

The visuals, at times, remind me of Mario Bava’s “Planet of the Vampires”.  Not too shabby, in my book!

Break out the vodka and make it the main feature at your next movie night!

action, end of the world, horror movie

WORLD WAR 3 – (1982)

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Although this TV movie was released in 1982, it seems like history rolls around again and the Cold War is a timely topic again.  War and aggression in the World.  Some things never change.

A strategic United States “listening post” located near the Bering Strait becomes compromised by Russian agents masquerading as U.S. soldiers and suddenly a gateway opens up to an invading force to get onto American soil.  Hostilities have been brewing between both countries as a result of a grain embargo that would have otherwise fed starving Russian masses and then some KGB machinations take place which result in assassination and, Voila!  A standoff occurs between the two countries’ forces at an oil pipeline station.  Only the fate of both nations and maybe the rest of the world hangs in the balance.

Nice turn by David Soul who is best known for his beefcake turn as one of the cops in “Starsky and Hutch”.  He is tasked with the impossible role of being the commander of a tattered force of soldiers who are outnumbered by an invading horde.  There are the echoes of the American Revolution where guerilla warfare must be resorted to in order to cripple a superior force trying to kill you.  Not to be forgotten for his thespian skills is The Rock.  Hudson, that is, as the guilt ridden POTUS, appalled at the thought of World War 3 and the ensuing exchange of nuclear arsenals that is inevitable.  As you can well imagine, things don’t end well.

Horror, horror movie, monster movie, mysterious places, science fiction films, suspense, unexplained phenomena

THE MIST (2007) – PHANTASMAGORICAL BUMMER

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Watching “The Mist” again recently got me to thinking about the original source material, Stephen King’s novella, and the faint memories I had of reading it.  I watched the movie and then reread the story.  The movie is very faithful to the story.  But then there is that ending of the movie….

Once of the single most downer conclusions in popular culture storytelling, I would have to say.  Granted, the scenario is imagined in the story but not actually executed.  That grim prospect is dutifully carried out in the movie.  Oh, it is an awful choice to go down that path.  I suppose there is some solace for the rest of the town’s or country’s inhabitants by concluding it this way but there is also a great devastation for a few characters.

Anyway, the story concerns an unexplainable fog or mist descending on a Maine town and the unseen, monstrous “things” which hide in the white cover and attack the unwary.  A definite sense of dread hangs over this story and the hard choices which have to be made in order to survive the shadowy beasts and the crumbling humanity which results from the dire circumstances the characters find themselves in.  There truly is no easy way out of the situation.  Or answers.

I advise you to take the time to read King’s story and to also watch the movie.  Decide for yourself if one is preferable over the other.  I choose King’s written work.  Because the movie just kicks me in the balls.

haunted places, Horror, horror movie, monster movie, mysterious places, mysterious sounds, paranormal, unexplained phenomena

Are These The Worst Horror Films?

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Hello.  Back after a long absence of laying around.  So as not to strain myself too much, I am sharing a link for an article I found which talks about what the article considers the worst horror movies of all time.  I have to agree with a lot of them and then there are the many that I haven’t seen so I can’t really comment on those.

For one, I thought “The Darkness” was not that terrible.  I thought it had some good sequences which built up the tension of an unexpected demon settling in to a family’s home.  Slightly gave me the creeps.  It’s no “The Grudge” but then not every movie can make you shit your pants.

Go look at this:

https://www.msn.com/en-us/movies/gallery/50-worst-horror-films-of-all-time/ss-BBHSTlH?ocid=spartanntp

The actual video featured here is a very cool compilation of some of the most terrifying horror films.  If that makes any sense.  I haven’t done this for awhile.

 

action

Where Eagles Dare (1968)

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Great World War 2 set action adventure movie starring the unlikely combo of Richard Burton and Clint Eastwood.  Burton was a movie star at the time and Eastwood was suddenly hot after his run of spaghetti Westerns.  Why not toss them together and pour them into this macho, adrenaline-fueled blockbuster?  This picture clocks in at around 3 and a half hours but it certainly won’t seem so!  In the days before Star Wars and Indiana Jones, this movie was the shit.  Completely absorbing espionage caper where a team of Allied agents attempt to go deep behind German lines to recover an officer from a heavily fortified castle.  Gun play and explosions and acts of daring do galore.  This is perfect holiday fare where if you have an afternoon or evening to burn, you should try to take this adventure epic in.  Highly recommended.

halloween, Horror, horror movie, monster movie

The Curse of Frankenstein (1957) – Assorted Debauchery

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Gruesome Hammer Films reinterpretation of the classic Universal monster movie vehicle of a mad, maverick doctor and his attempts to bring life to dead bodies.  Made in 1957, this horror remake is a graphic, Technicolor chronicle of the despicable practices that Dr. Frankenstein engages in.  Portrayed as a kind of sadistic, cold-hearted deviant, Peter Cushing is marvelous as the doctor.  Cushing carries on an affair with his housekeeper even while his long suffering fiancé is sleeping upstairs in the castle.  Having previously promised the housekeeper marriage, as well, Cushing laughs in her face and says he never had any such intention.  When he learns that the housekeeper is pregnant and threatens exposing his behind closed door hobby of reanimating dead things, the good doctor locks the lass in the lab with the hideous creature and lets him rip her to pieces.  Christopher Lee is more a less seen as one of the unluckiest characters in movie history.  The “creature” never asked for this treatment but endures a horrific, miserably short lived existence.  The brute stumbles out of Frankenstein’s estate and out in to the countryside.  Killing at least one other unfortunate he has come across, the Creature is put out of its misery with a bullet to the head by Frankenstein’s assistant.  If that isn’t enough, Dr. Frankenstein brings the beast back to life and the brain damaged result is converted in to a shambling, semi obedient pet following Frankenstein’s commands.  It is a pathetic sight indeed.  Frankenstein’s dream of creating the perfect “Superman” does in fact turn into a compete failure.  This Hammer Films reboot makes that point quite painfully clear.

mysterious places, scary tv, suspense, unexplained phenomena

Kinda Creepy

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OK.  Maybe the visual equivalent of paint drying at times but a genuinely creepy situation of some unknown creature baying in the woods.  The second half, with the rocks being thrown, features some sort of grunting primate perhaps?  I think I am glad that I didn’t get to see what was making all the racket.  Sanity is a terrible thing to waste.  Hehe.

music, mysterious places, outer space, space mysteries, unexplained phenomena

Music Of The Spheres – Alien Composed?

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I recommend this Top Ten List of Strange Space Noise recorded over the years by scientists and researchers.  Marvel at the mutterings of an actual Black Hole!  Hear the astonishing sonic wash of space telemetry (Brief Interruption Here.  Here is an explanation of Space Telemetry:  Data Transmission Space telemetry transmits information in the form of a radio signal. Sensors on the spacecraft collect analog data–a photograph of Mars for example–and send it back to Earth. Early space telemetry systems used Pulse Position Modulation (PPM) and Pulse Width Modulation (PWM) to transmit data.) in all its glory!  You get the idea.  There was an audio CD set released some years back that offered NASA’s recordings of similar Sounds From Space.  There were four CD’s in the set!  But it was pretty cool stuff.  You might be hard pressed to recreate some of the sounds with a synthesizer.  Wonder what ever happened to it?  Maybe the Deep Space creators silently invaded my space and took it away from my undeserving hands.

halloween, pranks

Good Clean Fun?

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As that special time of year comes around once again, the Halloween pranksters start to emerge from their drafty crypts and share their enthusiasms.

Go to this link to find one such gag fester:

http://wjhl.com/2017/09/20/halloween-decor-prompts-911-call-owner-says-its-all-in-fun/

I know the line “Kids don’t try this at home” has been used to death but remember to always proceed with caution when engaging in such shenanigans.

haunted places, Horror, horror movie, horror tv, mysterious places

Farewell, Tobe Hooper, 2017

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Iconic horror film director Tobe Hopper sadly passed away this year.  Looking at his work, you see a good handful of classic horror films!  Hopper’s masterpiece, “The Texas Chainsaw Massacre”, personified the Hell of being victimized and threatened by a twisted family of cannibalistic freaks somewhere in Texas. There was the thoroughly enjoyable horror TV two-parter, “Salem’s Lot”, an atmospheric, nightmarish look at a town and its populace destroyed by a vampire plague.  “Poltergeist” presented the mounting menace of a ghostly presence invading a suburban home and the dislocation and fear that ensues for the family inhabiting the now haunted house.  I thought “Lifeforce” was a very entertaining pulp science fiction feature chronicling the awakening of a dormant alien species of vampire on our planet.  The outcome?  You guessed it.  Mass destruction, death, zombie hordes and London in flames.

An entertaining storyteller who let the punches fly, Tobe Hopper produced a very engaging body of work that you must seek out.

Uncategorized

Jerry Lewis – R.I.P.

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Madman, comedian, writer, director, actor, humanitarian Jerry Lewis, a show business legend, passed away this year.  My best advice to see the man in action is to seek out his movies on cable and video on YouTube to get an appreciation for his zany style.  Check out the live stage act vids of him with his partner Dean Martin, too.  The included clip demonstrates the chaos inducing style he brought to talk show appearances.

mystrious places, outer space

North American Solar Eclipse 2017 and Coming Attractions

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The first total solar eclipse viewable in North America since 1918 is rapidly approaching.  It ought to be quite the event.  Social media will explode with every conceivable view, angle and personal reflection of those who view it.  So, don’t worry if you are unable to participate.  You’re covered!

But are there any other astral events lurking in deep space that may influence our planet and its very existence?  Speculation always abounds:  The Good , The Bad, The Ugly.  Check out this video which references concerns about the rogue Planet X or Nibiru.

Is there anything to this concern?  We’ll soon see.  But make sure you wear your protective glasses.

documentaries, haunted places, mysterious places

Abandoned Stuff

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Make no mistake about it:  everything has a lifespan.  What was once utilized and depended on will one day outlive its usefulness and figuratively end up on the proverbial scrapheap.  The important thing is that it was all fun while it lasted!  Check out the link to a slideshow which shows old derelict forms of transportation rotting in nature.

http://www.msn.com/en-us/travel/article/40-eerie-images-of-abandoned-transportation-from-around-the-world/ss-AApLbTy?ocid=spartanntp#image=40

Meanwhile, check out this video from the Explore With Us channel on YouTube as they continue their beautiful pursuit of exploring old mines, Area 51 and abandoned shacks which they scout out on Google Earth.  Good stuff!

horror movie, mysterious places, science fiction, science fiction films

Parasites – In The Flesh

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Found another lovely article.  This one is about blood sucking nasties lurking in our lakes, seas and oceans.  The victim of this attack was able to secure samples of these parasites.  Our authorities haven’t figured out what the things are yet but I’m sure their findings will be most interesting.

See the article below:

http://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/australian-teens-feet-bloodied-by-mystery-sea-creatures/ar-AApASFb?li=BBmkt5R&ocid=spartanntp

To further get into the skin crawling mode, check out this glorious trailer for the whacked out science fiction/horror hybrid, “The Flesh Eaters” from 1964.  You will notice certain similarities….