3b1h2k

Watched on Tuesday June 10, 2025.

George Carlin has always had a way with words. Of course words are the currency of all comedians but Carlin loved words for their own sake. He would play with words, break down words, mangle and untangle words. True to form, he starts this special off with a barrage of words that are probably best appreciated in transcript. His delivery is masterful as always.

I also have a fondness for playing with words. This started at a very early age. I suppose you'd say I have my parents and George Carlin to thank. Before there was Dr. Seuss, Groucho, Basil Wolverton and James Joyce; there was The Class Clown. Carlin's 1972 comedy album Class Clown to be exact. The only comedy LP in my parents' meager record collection.

This cherished album even had a red lettered sticker on it, warning the listener of the "dangerous" contents within. The infamous Seven Bad Words You Can't Say On Television:

S*,P*,F*,C*,C*S*,M*F*, & T*

I of course had them memorized long before I committed the Pledge of Allegiance, Our Father, Hail Mary or Fruits of the Spirit to memory. I was so proud of my achievement, I taught my kindergarten catholic classmates this raunchy roll of ribald reproaches. This was the first time, but definitely not the last, my big mouth would get me on the wrong side of school authorities.

This cable special isn't any different from all the others Carlin produced. Always thought provoking, funny, foul, offensive and a little crass. I'd like to sign off with some of George's words-o-wisdom, that have served me well in polite society. "You can prick your finger. But don't finger your prick."

Thanks George. Thanks Mom & Dad. 🤡

It's such BS that Snyder's WATCHMEN couldn't have a proper ending, after basically shooting the comic for , cept the finale. Ed Wood had a killer cephalopod in his movie. I think W.Bros could have scrounged up a couple more nickels. Sorry Zack, a true auteur like Mr. Wood could have made it work.

Bride of the Monster has lots of dialogue. Still with a runtime of a little over an hour, the action to word ratio is on par with the creature features of the 1950s. As is the cautionary message of man playing God with science. Mostly it's an audition tape for Bela Lugosi's gig as a hand model.

Watched on Sunday June 8, 2025.

May be the best 20 minutes of cinema you'll ever experience. Peut-être.

"When you cross someone out of your life,
you cross out a part of your life as well."

If you dumped le sac of your life out, at first glance it would be a random jumble of stuff. A sac of shit to a stranger. Yet, each item tells its own story. Like a puzzle where each piece fits with its perfect pair. Take a few steps back. No further. Almost to the edge of space. C'est l'image de ta vie. If you tell the tale of the pieces to a stranger, they won't be a stranger for long.

"En cherchant à effacer quelqu'un de sa vie,
c'est finalement un peu de sa vie qu'on efface."

So many dots to connect...
So little time

Michael Cera 👍
Igor Stravinsky 🐦‍🔥 👍

Phoenician Scheme 👎

Entertaining drama played by veterans and a future superstar.

• Can you smell what La Rocque is cooking?
Rod plays the perfect scumbag.

• Barbara Stanwyck first lead film role.

• Harry Mestayer must have left his Deerstalker and Calabash at the office.

• Woohoo Party Boat just 12 miles out 🍸

• ZaSu Pitts spelled Zazu in Players roll.

• Silent film mainstay Mack Swain talking like he's got a mouth full-o-marbles

The Swedish title Sexdagarsloppet sounds a lot more "racy" to my ears.

Epic failure as a racing movie.
Joe E. Brown, annoying as ever.

I thought Martha was hotter before she won the contest.

Fun short to promote DAMES.
w/ ZaSu Pitts clip. She's a "panic"

Watched on Friday June 6, 2025.

There is no com in this rom. A story of love, where love is what this is. A love story played out under duress, with stakes much higher than faced meo and liet. Don't let Ricky's smile trick you into believing this is a Fantasy. Reality could not be more real —
Hasslein's Theory spells it out.
🙈🙉🙊🌍🌎🌏🕳️🐒🦍🦧👶
Fantasy. RealityFantasy. RealityFantasy. RealityFantasy. RealityFantasy. RealityFantasy. RealityFantasy. Reality:
"we saw the rim of the Earth melt"
what will you name him?
"Milo"
the jul in Caesar's crown.
the APEx of sequels.

The end is near
in the Year of The Deer
and Malvina's the cause

Watched on Thursday June 5, 2025.

I was on the edge of my seat to hear the roll call of each child's name. Like the anticipation you feel for the next verse of The Dubliners "Seven Drunken Nights". Especially the ones they wouldn't let them sing on the radio/tv.

For those that like a pinch of story with their songs

Highlights include:
* Judy Garland charms in every scene
* Ray Bolger's comedic dancing
* Johnny Mercer's lyrics (though the tunes are kind of meh) §
* Angela Lansbury playing a real hard ass
* Colorful costumes
* If you've got a thing for red lips, you might be exhausted by the third act 💋

§ Oscar-winning song "On the Atchison, Topeka and the Santa Fe" notwithstanding

As a Vietnam War veteran, my dad had to see every film about the war. During the 1980s there were a whole lot of them. As a teenager, I accompanied him to every one. I didn't and still don't care for traditional war movies. Put them in a fantasy world or a scifi intergalactic battle and I'm there. Otherwise, you can keep them.

Perhaps it's how history has viewed the conflict in Vietnam but these films were never full of nationalistic bravado. They all hammered home how shitty and stupid war is. Even as a teen I didn't need a movie to inform me of that.

Good Morning Vietnam was my favorite of the bunch. It was the least combat centric and dealt with radio, a subject I was totally fascinated with. Of course its obvious strength was crazy comedy Robin Williams. I had been a fan from the time Mork from Ork invaded my television weekly. I did a mean Mork impression in elementary school.

This was probably the one film that created the most discussion between us. Maybe it was because it held the most interest to me. For example, I knew Creedence Clearwater Revival was his absolute favorite band. I didn't find out he discovered them during his time over seas and he thought of them as the soundtrack to his war experience. The ironic thing was CCR were considered a local band, being from the SF Bay Area, where my parents were from. I always assumed, incorrectly, that's why he liked them so much.

My dad never liked any of the Vietnam War movies, yet he felt the need to see them all. He said, "they never got it completely right."
Every soldier's experience is different. No single movie can encapsulate every person's story. I'm just glad he made it home to tell me his.

"Woyzeck you're philosophizing again."

A film about morality. The source, a 19th century play adapted from fragments of an unfinished stage work, that took its original inspiration from a true crime.

I was very familiar with the story through Alban Berg's operatic masterpiece, Wozzeck (1922). Considered by many, not just me, to be the greatest opera of the 20th Century. Its original material by Georg Büchner spawned many film, stage, and musical adaptations.

Herzog and Kinski team up to provide another skillful interpretation of a work with a deep history. The film, Woyzeck and the opera share plot and even key portions of dialogue. A work though originally conceived in the 1830s is reflective of the later ideas of Nietzsche and Freud and expresses a quintessential German quality.

If you are a fan of the Herzog/Kinski director/actor team-up, you won't be disappointed by this one. I watched it twice back to back. The times Woyzeck looks right at the camera at key moments, is peak cinema. A gem of a psychological character study.

Coda:
How long does it take,
to get the perfect take,
to get a goat to take
a shit on cue?

Watched on Tuesday June 3, 2025.

"Let the truth be told only by children and drunk folks"

After spending the weekend watching a bunch of trashy garbage; by choice and loving almost every minute of it. I needed a mental palate cleanser, if you will. This did the trick!

Very cute. Family friendly adventure. I'm not gonna buy a plushie bear but if someone suggests watching #2 or the original —I'd be down for that. 🐻

This version of Blue Beetle is a fairly new one, especially considering the original was introduced in comic books in 1939 and as Ted Kord in 1966. My favorite Beetle appearance was during the Justice League International run and I always liked the more comedic versions of the character.

I was full on collecting comics when this iteration was introduced in 2006. I liked Jaime Reyes right away. However, by the time this film rolled around, I was in my current "No Superhero Movies" self imposed embargo. Based on curiosity and some trusted LBxd encouragement, I figured rules are meant to be broken.

So the movie is fun. It balances the serious and the humor well. By the end it has an emotional punch. I dig all the family stuff especially. It really reminded me how much I liked the original George Lopez sitcom. As well as the Jaime Reyes version of BB.

Do I recommend Blue Beetle, the movie? Yes.

Did it restore my faith in Hollywood to not fuck up comic book characters? Not really.

Should we all be watching JUSTICE LEAGUE cartoons from the early 2000s, to see how superhero IP can kick ass outside of comics? Yes, most definitely.

🎶 Tivoli Nights
Come hold me tight
This is the place for romancing 🎶

Catchy little tune, that's the real highlight of this picture. It certainly ain't Reptilicus. 🐉

This dumb ass Petersen character gives it a Danish "Abbott & Costello meets Reptilicus" vibe (no disrespect to Bud and Lou). Until an anti military critique keeps it from going completely off the open drawbridge comedy cliff. 🪖

Well babe, we'll always have Copenhagen 💥

Watched on Sunday June 1, 2025.

I just wanted the shark to say Candygram just once before making a meal of one of these piss poor actors. 🍭🍬🍫

Watched on Sunday June 1, 2025.

Corman's
Creature from the Haunted Sea
Spawns
Creature from the Crap Lagoon

love it!
Specterini approved 👍 💩

: Uncle Joe could use some help from Wallace & Gromit with his automated kitchen

: ZaSu being ZaSu

: Wonnerful-a-wonnerful. The lovely Gale Storm will play her accordion followed by the "Woogie Hula" Sisters

: A limerick a day, keeps the banker away

aka Marna and the Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Hair Day

Gives new meaning to the saying
"Ass-Backwards"

"Leapin' Lizards!"

• Reenacts a favorite MOTORPSYCHO scene

• Groucho cigar joke reference

• Effective quick edits and angles

The Legacy of the Horn & Hardart Automat
🙂🥲
for further film fun featuring
coin-op cafeterias:
AUTOMAT list

Rick Derringer died a few days ago. He had his own musical legacy but it's his association with the Winter brothers, Johnny and Edgar, that I most about him. I like Johnny's version of the Derringer penned "Rock n Roll Hoochie Koo" better than Rick's version. That song brought me to Johnny's albums, which brought me to this documentary.

This isn't the greatest music doc but it does try to cover all the bases. It lacks a deep dive into his early history and doesn't have a single full song performance. It talks to current band , a few musicians of note, brother Edgar and follows a clean and still touring Johnny. Some key television performances thru the decades are featured. As well as Woodstock, during the time his career was just blowing up.

Winter's time producing and playing with Muddy Waters is my favorite part. They spend a good amount of time on this relationship. Johnny described it as a kind of father and son vibe. My least favorite was all the discussion of the role of drugs in Johnny's life. Unfortunately, it was ever present through most of his career; so it finds its way into almost every segment.

If you are a fan of the great Johnny Winter, you'll probably enjoy this. I'm not sure it will win any converts.

Coda:
One time JW called my five year old son to wish him a Happy Birthday. Well kind of. It was actually me, trying to do my best Johnny Winter impersonation. I put some Texas on a gruff voice, that was closer to his singing style than him speaking. Threw in some exaggerated, Yeahs and All Rights and my son fully believed. It sure was nice of "Johnny" to accommodate one of his youngest fans. 😉 🤠 🎸

Expectations play a large part in how a film is assessed. For whatever reason, I wasn't expecting a comedy. I was hoping for more of a Fritz Leiber's "Conjure Wife" vibe but instead got "Bewitched", with a dash of "Topper." In fact, it played more like a television show than a major motion picture. I'd rather marry a witch than an axe murderer, but a comedy based on Lizzie Borden would have been more entertaining.

In 1975, Willie Nelson released the concept album Red Headed Stranger. A decade later, someone had the not so brilliant idea to make a movie using the much loved record as source material.

The film turns the tracks into story beats and uses the songs as the soundtrack, forsaking a proper score. The problem is there is hardly enough narrative material to mine from the 34 minute studio album. The remaining runtime is padded with scenes that lack explanation or coherence. There is lots of shooting and killing by characters whose motivations aren't exactly clear.

All this plays out at a pace that's slower than molasses. Not the kind of "whose gonna draw first," tension building slow and steady, like we've seen in other Westerns. We get the kind of "what's my next line," pause and parley, you'd find in an amateur stage production. To quote from Willie's previous concept album, Phases & Stages:
"Let's Pick Up The Tempo, just a little, and take it on home."

Red Headed Stranger would have made a good long form video like MJ's Thriller. Just stick to the record and save these other ideas for another classic album. You could call it "The Red Headed Stranger Rides Again." Oh well, woulda, coulda, shoulda.

Watched on Thursday May 29, 2025.

Bruce Bickford would be proud.
The torch is ing.

Fritz's Life Lessons:
Don't fall in love with your boss's concubine
🐅🐯 🐅
Sounds like solid advice to me

continues in Das indische Grabmal (The Indian Tomb)

I always liked the records of Janis Joplin but didn't appreciate how awesome she was until I saw her, all too brief moments, featured in the film Monterey Pop.
☮️
The term "Boomer" is thrown around these days as an insult. This film testifies that the Boomers sure had some great music. It is kind of strange to see my parents' generation through the lens of Pennebaker's excellent documentary. Shit! Mom and Dad were just as simultaneously cool and stupid as me and my, my, my generation? Go figure.
🎸
My parents were neither hippies or flower children. Still, I had zero rules to follow growing up. Stay out of trouble and I could do whatever I wanted. So I did. Which makes it even weirder, the only rule my Dad ever imposed:

NO Jimi Hendrix on Sunday

Any other time was fine. What was okay on Sunday... Otis Redding. 24/7, Otis was permitted. There was more than one occasion I was told to "turn that Otis Redding UP!" Jimi and Otis are definitely the highlights of Monterey Pop.

Coda:
Ravi Shankar gets, by far, the longest segment. Deservedly so. He is truly amazing. The camera work is excellent and highlights the mechanics of playing the sitar, as well as the interaction between the musicians. I can't say Shankar's Monterey performance inspired me to try and learn sitar, that distinction goes to Concert for Bangladesh, but it is a fitting finale to an exciting doc.

If Tarzan of Greystoke was a teenage girl
(minus being raised by apes)

Less problematic than say, Blue Lagoon, in handling its teen protagonist. Yet marred by the typical issues of the era's Jungle genre films. Despite its shortcomings, there is a well paced and acted story here.

[dubbed English]

I want Chopin's ghost to haunt my house
👻 🎹 **
This needed a lot more dancing...
on, in or around graves, of course

**Nocturne no.19 in E minor

"There are figures and there are figures"

If ever there was a film that was custom made to be featured on MST3K, it's this one. To my ittedly shallow knowledge of the show, it never was.

The sound design of the creature makes it torture to watch the last 20 minutes unmuted.

Earlyish directorial effort from Mr. B.I.G.
Not his best, certainly not his worst.
🕷️
Joe looks like he might have had to repeat a grade or two.
Hey Joe, can I borrow your wagon?

This is called The Last RODEO but deals only with bull riding. I'm a fan of all the events but, like most, the bull riding is my favorite. As a major rodeo sport organization, it was cool to see the PBR was involved in the film. Real top riders were featured, or at least name checked. Daylon Swearingen basically played himself though he had a character. He can't act for shit but he gave an authenticity to the setting for fans of PBR.

With all that said, there wasn't enough riding. Too much story and character motivation was fleshed out in long conversations that would have worked better in a novel than a screenplay. The acting was okay all around, but the lead actor Neal McDonough was excellent.

It tries to hit a lot of major life themes, including faith and prayer. I didn't mind the God stuff and didn't find it overbearing, but with me, it was preaching to the choir; so I might not be a good judge. Several moments took me right to the edge but never got me tearing up. I'll say that was a failure of the script because I'm a sucker for low hanging emotional fruit.

The dad and daughter relationship was a major theme, so much so that there is a strange mid end credits "psa". It reminded me how thankful I am for the relationship I have with my kids, my daughter specifically.
We only have one girl and despite rough spots along the way, I couldn't have asked for a better daughter.

The final verdict:
Needs more rodeo 🤠
More show and less tell 🐂

Watched on Monday May 26, 2025.

Watched on Sunday May 25, 2025.

Watched on Sunday May 25, 2025.

Watched on Sunday May 25, 2025.

This better than average motorcycle gang exploitation flick both succeeds and fails. It fails when it comes to the specifics of a motorcycle gang. I couldn't tell you anything about the bikes they were riding, partly because they cruise thru the desert in other modes of transport. Thanks to MOTORPSYCHO, I am considering looking into a Toyota Land Cruiser. Plus, these three clowns, I would hardly call a gang.

All the tropes of biker exploitation are here, though the cut I saw had no nudity, so I don't know if this was the final edit or not. The score was particularly good and evoked the period, adding to the sleaze vibe.

The surprising thing was the monologues of some characters. They fleshed out a few interesting back stories. This kept everyone from fitting into the one-dimensional roles, you'd usually find in this type of film. There's even an attempt at discussing Veteran PTSD.

The acting in general runs the gamut of poor and corny to some nice dramatic moments. Don't get me wrong, no one is winning any Oscars here but some (future) star power is provided by Alex Rocco. This is probably the most screentime and dialogue I've seen from our "Moe Greene" in training...Ever.

I'm flabbergasted I have so much to say about a film whose best scene culminates with the lines:
"Suck it! Suck it! Suck it now! Aaaah!"

A classic for graduation season.

"Go back" ?!?
I couldn't wait to get the hell out of there. Future Is Now 😱

In Your Eyes —wouldn't have been my choice (but it works)

Watched on Friday May 23, 2025.

Through all the masks and manifestations, characters and creations, interviews and introspections that marked Bowie's career, nothing mattered to me but the music.

If the birth/rebirth of Bowie was required to give the world the music of David Robert Jones, so be it.

This film explores all the superficial and superfluous while subverting the music.

Ch-ch-ch-ch-changes
(Turn and face the strange)
Ch-ch-changes,
just gonna have to be a different man

at some point in my life, each of these was declared my favorite movie of all time! presented here in no particular order

• UHF
• Escape from the Planet of the Apes
• This Is Spinal Tap
• Time After Time
• Godzilla Minus One
• Willard
• Crumb
• Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory
• A Clockwork Orange
• Fast Times at Ridgemont High

...plus 18 more. View the full list on Letterboxd.

featuring the coin-op cafeteria

• That Touch of Mink

  would you like jello

• No Limit

  coffee service ☕

• The Merry Cafe

  Krazy Kat at the Eato-Mat 😺

• Gentlemen Prefer Blondes

  A kiss may be grand
  But it won't pay the rental
  On your humble flat
  Or help you at the automat 🎵

• The Automat

  the ghost of John Fritsche*
  haunts the Horn & Hardart 👻

  *chief engineer Automat technology

• Paper Moon

  honorable mention:
  "Let's Have Another Cup of Coffee" from Irving Berlin's musical Face The Music, set at H&H Automat ☕ ☕

• Footlight Fever
• Tree Cornered Tweety

  Tweety Pie 🐦 🥧

• A Hare Grows in Manhattan

  "got a nickel Mac?" 🐰

• Sultan Pepper

  try the Tomato Surprise 🍅 💍

...plus 11 more. View the full list on Letterboxd.

1914 Shorts - NOT directed by Chaplin
Flicker Alley (Kanopy) grouping

1. Mabel at the Wheel

   Speedway Shenanigans

2. Mabel's Strange Predicament

   Drunk Chuck. Dogs. Kiss

3. Tango Tangles

   Drunk Chuck? NO mustache!
   Ballroom Boogie

4. Kid Auto Races at Venice

   Soap box derby. Crowds. One note gag.

5. Caught in a Cabaret

   "Baron Doobugle". Mabel. Mjölnir? Mandos & Ukes

6. The Star Boarder

   Mustache man. Camera kid. Ass whoopin'.
   We want tables!

7. Cruel, Cruel Love

   The heart burn of love.
   Crazy fake facial hair

8. A Film Johnnie

   Guns. Where's the prop master?

9. Twenty Minutes of Love

   Kiss, kiss, cuddle, kiss, kiss, punch

10. Between Showers

    That's no way to treat a lady

...plus 2 more. View the full list on Letterboxd.

VHS Graveyard 1970s (Ep 23)
www.youtube.com/@VaultRetro

• The Witchmaker
• Are You in the House Alone?
• Tales That Witness Madness
• Messiah of Evil
• The Child
• The Devil's Nightmare
• The Town That Dreaded Sundown
• Shock
• Mardi Gras Massacre
• The Loreley's Grasp

...plus 3 more. View the full list on Letterboxd.