MR. LOBO'S CINEMA INSOMNIA PRESENTS STARCRASH (STELLA CRUSH) ON TWITCH (11/16)

For the 11/16 edition of Cinema Insomnia on Twitch, Mr. Lobo presents a cosmic biggie: Luigi (Hercules) Cozzi's 1978, Italian extravaganza, Starcrash, for which this stellar episode has been endearingly re-labeled Stella Crush!

Starcrash, "the poor man's Battle Beyond the Stars," as Mr. Lobo calls it, holds a significant spot in many space-opera fans' hearts, not only for its Star Wars-ish hijinks, Ray Harryhausen nods and John Barry's Bondian score, but the beautiful Caroline Munro as the next-generation Barbarella, Stella Star (dubbed, for whatever superfluous cause, by the beloved Candy Clark).

In her often underdressed state, smuggler Stella blasts forth to locate the son of Christopher Plummer's Emperor, who just so happens to be played by pre-Knight Rider, David Hasselhoff. Joe Spinell (Monro's costar in the Tom Savini, effects-driven Maniac) plays the Ming-ish Count Zarth Arn. Judd Hamilton plays Stella's robot-sheriff sidekick, Elle (voiced by folk singer Hamilton Camp), with toughie Robert Tessier as Imperial State Police Chief, Thor; preacher-turned-cult-movie-hero Marjoe Gortner as Stella's swashbuckling pal, Akton; and the striking Nadia Cassini as the ruthless Amazon Queen Corelia.   

Though uneven (and as a result, often "misunderstood" for such), Starcrash is a still a fun, astral trek, made all the better by Mr. Lobo's acerbic humor, which includes a visit from Cosmonauti and Ro-Man; an informative, spaceship, model-making segment; a contemptuous, Klingon transmission; a dash of Church of Ed Wood contemplation; and a slew of galactic commercials and trailers.

Don't miss this wonderful installment in the Cinema Insomnia franchise, and as a comfy countdown to the episode, Mr. Lobo will visit Twitch at 10pm for an affable pre-show. 

GODSPEED, CHRISTOPHER PLUMMER....

You were a Shakespearean giant, who could play anything with utmost expertise and damn well did. 

I'm particularly fond of your eponymous performance as Hamlet (at Elsinore), where no doubt you sharpened your dark, maddening edges.

Such cut forth in The Silent Partner, where you created one of cinema's craftiest antagonists, the persistent Harry Reikle.

However, your intensity and fine flair didn't end there. You shined as brightly in Murder by Decree (as Sherlock Holmes); Dracula 2000 (as Van Helsing); The Possessed 2000, Somewhere in Time; 12 Monkeys; Star Trek VI: the Undiscovered Country; Starcrash; Dreamscape; The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus; the Pyx (aka the Hooker Cult Murders); Priest; Skeletons; the Clown at Midnight; Shadow Dancing; Wolf; Firehead; The Lake House; the High Commissioner; Oedipus the King; Cyrano de Bergerac '62; The Man Who Would be King; Aces High; The Last Station; The Return of the Pink Panther; Knives Out; Jesus of Nazareth; International Velvet; All the Money in the World; Rock-a-Doodle; The Moneychangers; Remember; the Exception; the Insider; A Beautiful Mind; Beginners; Inside Man; The Man Who Invented Christmas; and though you expressed disdain toward it, The Sound of Music.

You became one of my primo heroes, Mr. Plummer, and that esteemed ranking will never depart my grateful heart. 

PIN-UP OF THE MONTH: CAROLINE MUNRO AS STELLA STAR (STARCRASH!!!)