Just in time to hit a much needed "misunderstood" chord, Alpha DVD (through oldies.com) has released a new "Mr. Lobo's Cinema Insomnia" entry. The film this time is writer/director/producer Glenn Berggoetz's irreverent "Midget Zombie Takeover".
The film's premise is basic yet engaging, with "older teens" stripping down for some hot-tub fun, only to encounter an onslaught of zombified, little people set to bloody the deck. (Actually, the kids do get forewarning of the predestined doom from a insightful neighbor, but being smart-ass kids, just shrug it off.) In any event, it seems the wee (though sometimes more-or-less tall) flesheaters have manifested due to some ineffable, lunar activity and won't cease until every last youngster is gobbled up.
Structurally, "Midget Zombie Takeover" is "Night of the Living Dead", though with a sardonic twist. As such, the kids goof around, make love and even theorize on the mini apocalypse's ambiguous hows and whys as they follow that trusty, splattered-bricked road. In other ways, the story plays like a modernization of Jerry Warren's "Teenage Zombies", give or take a plot point or two.
The makeshift mishmash makes Berggoetz's spoof ideal for Mr. Lobo's cool wit and downsized ingredients. The result is one that misunderstood-film fans are destined to devour with shameless voracity.
Consume a copy today at
https://www.oldies.com/product-view/1145D.html.
You followed in the footsteps of your parents, Tyrone Power and Linda Christian and even wedded one of Soupy Sales' sons, solidifying your place among Hollywood royalty.
Fans enjoyed you in "The Count of Monte Cristo '75", "House of Pleasure for Women" (aka, "Bordello"), "Tracks" and Armando de Ossorio's underrated "The Sea Serpent" (aka "Hydra").
However, for Ray Harryhausen fans, your crowning achievement is that of Dione in the stop-motion classic, "Sinbad and the Eye of the Tiger".
With your golden mane and amiable smile, Ms. Power, you sure made many a heart go pitter-pat and because of such, you'll remain one of fantasy's best loved leading ladies.
You distinguished "The High Chaparral" with your character, Victoria Cannon, but you also elevated many other adventure sagas, on both the big and small screen.
There was "Legions of the Nile" (where you were ideally cast as the captivating Cleopatra); "Slave Girls of Sheba": "The Pharaohs' Woman"; "Mr. Majestyck"; "The Alamo '60"; "Rawhide"; "The Dead Don't Die '75"; "Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea (the series)"; "Police Story" (the series); "Cade's County"; "Two Rode Alone"; "Cry Tough '59"; "Comanche"; "El diablo desaparece"; "The Last of the Fast Guns"; and "The Fiend Who Walked the West".
You were sensual, sophisticated and to those in the special know, an icon of supreme skill and extraordinary enchantment. Your place on Earth will long be revered and so now will your reign among Heaven's deities.
A comic-book artist's work is best complemented by an expert inker's hand. You proved that time and again, Mr. Sinnott, doing justice to the artistry of such titans as Jack Kirby, Gil Kane and John Romita Sr and Jr.
The magic that flowed from your hand can be found among such icons as the Fantastic Four; the Silver Surfer; Captain America; the Falcon; Black Bolt; the Avengers; the Defenders; the Invaders; Ms. Marvel; the Hulk; Thor; Spider-man; and even Ed Sullivan with the Fab Four.
The comic-book world has, indeed, lost one of its precious greats, but what you placed upon paper will continue to captivate for generations of grateful fans.
What Ever! #3 will contain my essay, "The Last Omega Men" (an in-depth comparison of "The Last Man on Earth" and "The Omega Man", both based on Richard Matheson's eerie novel, "I Am Legend"). As a teaser treat for such, publisher Jim Main has just revealed the above illustration by the talented Kevin Duncan.
I love the way Duncan crosses the movies' prime heroes and adversaries alike, with Anthony Zerbe, Giacomo Rossi Stuart, Charlton Heston and Vincent Price each featured.
More post-apocalyptic wonders are in store for What Ever! #3. From what Main claims, its release is right around the bend.
You were a master wordsmith, a scriptwriter of the most significant breed, blending psychological depth with action, intensity and terror.
Among your many sterling scripts, there is "A Reflection of Fear"; "The Sailor Who Fell From Grace with the Sea"; "Where Have All the People Gone?"; "The Great Santini"; "Crazy Joe"; "The Fox"; "Resurrection"; "The Brotherhood"; "I Never Promised You a Rose Garden"; "Haunted Summer"; ""The Mechanic '72"; and the ever profound, "Seconds".
You were the creme de la creme with a pen, Mr. Carlino, with creations to inspire others to place point to pad, so that they may share their visions as you have shared yours with the world.
I guess one can only take the current, Batman/Flash buzz with a grain of salt, for rumors this good have a way of fizzling as fast as, well, the Flash. Remember when John Hamm looked like a shoe-in for a seasoned Batman? Yeah, you get the picture.
Now we have this tease about Michael Keaton in early talks to return as the Caped Crusader, but not for the rumored "Batman Beyond" flick. This time it's for a live-action "Flashpoint", headlined by Ezra Miller.
I've always said that "Flashpoint" (done right) could be the ideal fix for DC's big-budget woes. "Flashpoint" also has the best chance of expanding the Justice League concept for the big screen.
For sure, a film version would toss the alternate-reality scheme every which way but loose. Though CW has more than tested the waters with this nifty premise (for one, with Grant Gustin and Miller meeting), a silver-screen version of crisscrossing realities, tipped no less by an older, alternate-cinema Keaton Batman, would be the perfect hook to reel audiences in across the globe. Cha-ching!
I know this all sounds too good to be true (and it probably is), but I, for one, hope that the Ezra Miller/Michael Keaton pact has legs. If ever there was surefire gold in a pitch, shoot, this is it.
You had a vast and varied directorial career, ranging from the dark and sinister to the bold and bright.
You orchestrated the flashy (and controversial) "Batman Forever" and "Batman and Robin," along with "The Lost Boys", "Flatliners '90", "Blood Creek", "The Incredible Shrinking Woman" and the film adaptation of Andrew Lloyd Weber's "Phantom of the Opera", not to mention your superb screenplay for Sydney Lumet's spin on "The Wiz".
However, your cinematic know-how didn't end there, as you also gave us such harried thrillers as "The Number 23"; "Phone Booth"; "Tigerland"; "Trespass"; "8MM"; "A Time to Kill", "The Client" and that melodramatic, cult classic, "Falling Down".
You were you're own man, Mr. Schulmacher, never afraid to do things your own way, regardless of what anyone thought. There's no doubt you had more yet to give, but for the daring exhibitions you did leave us, we'll be forever in your debt.
