DOOMSDAY

This webmaster will be starting a website on the subject, but will be posting a little more information here regarding building a video projector for around fifty dollars.

The general idea is to have a light source (very bright, of course), a transparent LCD panel of some sort, and an optical lens to project a large image on a screen in front of the LCD panel. However, this is the most simple concept. There must be some containment of the light, a mechanism to cool the LCD (or the LCD colors will “melt” or “bleed” into each other), and a few other modifications.

Here is a diagram of the basic concept:

When starting the “do it yourself” video projector project, it would be best to assess what you are willing to spend. Since the project can cost as little as fifty dollars, some research is required. This webmaster has done a great deal of searching, and has found online sellers (for example, eBay) make the most sense. Perhaps a search of local business offices for surplus, schools, and thrift stores (or even garage sales) would help for some cheaper, and possibly newer, results.

The upcoming posts will cover the plans (in a very simplified form), the idea behind them (the basic concept), and the materials needed.

Kaiju eiga, or giant monster movies from Asia, have captured the imaginations of both science fiction movie buffs and film makers. A popular character that had made multiple appearances on both the silver screen and television is Gamera. The majority of Gamera’s films can be found on St. Clair Entertainment’s Giant Monsters DVD set.

The films are spread out over three discs; there are nine movies in the set. The films included in the set are Gammera: The Invincible (aka Gamera, 1965), War of the Monsters (aka Gamera Vs. Barugon, 1966), Gamera Vs. Gaos (aka Return of the Giant Monsters, 1967), Destroy All Planets (aka Gamera Vs. Viras, 1968), Gamera Vs. Monster X (aka Gamera Vs. Jiger, 1970), Yongary: Monster from the Deep (1967), The Giant Gila Monster (1959), Monster from a Prehistoric Planet (aka Gappa: The Triphibian Monsters, 1967), and Warning from Space (1956). The Gamera films are presented out of order, with Gamera’s first adventure appearing on the third (and final) disc.

Strangely, Gamera’s fifth film, Attack of the Monsters (aka Gamera Vs. Guiron, 1969), is not included in this set; this leaves The Giant Gila Monster awkwardly placed on the last disc. The quality of the audiovisual presentation is low, suffering from high compression artifacts. However, when one considers the price of this set (this relatively comprehensive set of nine movies – and most of the Showa-era Gamera films – can be found for less than seven dollars), it is a bargain.

Multi-movie packs have become very popular in the past five years. Some of the earlier budget movie sets only showcased ten films (Brentwood released many horror sets such as Vault of Horror, Ancient Evil and Ten Nights of Terror). As time passed, the demand for more of these sets increased. 20-movie sets emerged, then 50, finally leading to 100 and 250 movie sets. Mill Creek has outdone the competition with such sets. A popular one, by far, is Chilling Classics.

Chilling Classics is a mix of semi-popular gore films, horror films made for television, foreign science fiction, classic public domain horrors, and much more. Among the films presented are Deadtime Stories (starring Scott Valentine of Family Ties), The Driller Killer (Abel Ferrara’s gory sleazefest), Oasis of the Zombies (Jesus Franco’s undead classic), Deep Red (Argento’s famous giallo), Peter Jackson’s Bad Taste, Lady Frankenstein, Silent Night Blood Night, Panic (starring David Warbeck of Fulci’s The Beyond), Cathy’s Curse, Gothic, Track of the Moon Beast, The Ghost (starring Barbara Steele), Dr. Tarr’s Torture Dungeon, House of the Dead, Slashed Dreams, Horror Express, A Bucket of Blood, Drive-In Massacre, and many others.

The audiovisual quality of the films contained on this set is a mixed bag, with many of the transfers appearing to be from VHS masters. However, for a set that can be purchased for $19.99 or less, it is an easy purchase decision for fans of gore, horror, and rare television films.

Upcoming posts will consist of many new subjects. The post regarding TNT’s MonsterVision marathons has generated interest in the research of Godzilla’s evolution in both appearance and as a character. Study into the shaping of Godzilla’s combat methods, intelligence, and threshold for punishment and re-generation will prove to be an interesting task.

In addition to that series of posts, this webmaster will post the process and test results of building the cheapest “do it yourself” video projector; there are many websites dedicated to such an idea, but this is probably, by FAR, the cheapest. The overall cost was $55.00 (without shipping of materials), and it was the simplest setup.

Christmas classics are the films that help define the holiday season, and they would not have their flavor if not for their villains. Whether the villain is that of the main character who makes a startling revelation about themselves or a nagging antagonist who helps make an ordinary story more troublesome to the viewer’s nerves, the villain drives the story forward and creates a predicament for the main character to move past.

Three such characters vary by way of the narrative structure and setting of the story, yet share the same common ground. Henry F. Potter (played by Lionell Barrymore), the rich businessman who troubles George Bailey (and just about everyone else in town) in It’s a Wonderful Life (1946) is practically the same character as Silas Barnaby (who is every bit as sinister, or even worse) in March of the Wooden Soldiers (aka Babes in Toyland, 1934, starring Laurel and Hardy); they are both very rich, own many properties, and abuse their power to get what they want. Another character who is a well-off businessman is Ebinezer Scrooge in Dickens’ A Christmas Carol (portrayed by Reginald Owen in A Christmas Carol, 1938). He is a miserable, lonely man who makes everyone he deals with miserable. He is, in this case, the main character; he needs to learn more about himself and how he relates to others in order to get past his own obstacles.

The main characters of these stories conquer their problems, and all ends on an upbeat note. Silas Barnaby of March of the Wooden Soldiers, who leads the “Bogey-Men” in an invasion of Toyland, is driven away by the wooden soldiers, ousted from the town where he is rich and powerful. Scrooge of A Christmas Carol becomes a generous and benevolent soul, atoning for his harsh behavior and becoming a pleasant person people want to be around. Old man Potter of It’s A Wonderful Life, on the other hand, is not punished for his actions; even though the main character overcomes a life-changing problem brought forth by Potter, Potter simply presses forward as he always has been. He continues on his path of misery, perhaps to alter another character’s life in a terrible way…..

The holidays are upon us, and some of our readers out there may find themselves with some time for a holiday horror marathon. Others may want something a little different. Kaiju, perhaps?

Back in the 1990s, a marathon consisting of Godzilla and other kaiju films aired on TNT’s MonsterVision, usually on New Year’s Eve. These films would include Godzilla: King of the Monsters (aka Gojira, 1954), Godzilla Vs. Mothra (aka Godzilla Vs. The Thing, 1964), Monster Zero (aka Godzilla Vs. Monster Zero, 1965), Godzilla’s Revenge (aka All Monsters Attack, 1969), and Terror of Mechagodzilla (1975). In addition to the Godzilla films, other Toho films were aired, including Rodan (1956), Frankenstein Conquers the World (aka Frankenstein Vs. Baragon, 1965), and War of the Gargantuas (1966).

This marathon can be easily re-created, since all of the above films are available on DVD. The Classic Media DVD releases are the best versions of these films, with only Frankenstein Conquers the World being led away from the herd; it is available in a deluxe edition through Media Blasters.

Happy New Year!

When one purchases the two-disc set of Merian C. Cooper’s King Kong (1933), the second disc contains an exhaustive and informative documentary that has a running time in excess of two and a half hours. RKO Production 601: The Making of Kong, Eighth Wonder of the World walks the viewer through the origins of the film, through the production process, special effects, casting, and impact of the classic tale on the film industry.

The documentary explores the original treatment for a proposed film titled Creation (which resembles The Lost World (1925)) and how it ended up as the story of a giant gorilla that gets captured by film makers and goes on a rampage through New York City.

After the details of pre-production are covered, the documentary takes a dive into the world of pioneering special effects, in particular, stop-motion animation, model-making, and optical printing. The viewer is shown, in the greatest of detail, how the process is executed by film maker Peter Jackson (King Kong, 2005; Bad Taste, 1987) and a team of talented special effects artists (like Rick Baker) and technicians.

Perhaps the most interesting segment of the documentary is the discussion, investigation, and re-creation of the lost “spider pit” sequence (where survivors of the Kong’s assault at the top of a ravine fall victim to giant spiders, crabs, and lizards). Jackson and his crew use the original script and production stills to re-create the animation models, sets, and filming angles.

This documentary is extremely long, but is definitely worth a viewing by anyone who has affection for the original King Kong. It will satisfy many curiosities and give insight to one of the most influential monster films made during the early age of cinema.

This webmaster and long time horror film fan has learned of disturbing news. The VOOM Networks, which include one of the greatest genre channels ever created, Monsters HD, will be ceasing operations.

The channel will be sorely missed by many, as this channel offered many popular horror and science fiction offerings in high definition. Some of the films were not available on region one DVD. Monsters HD was, in many cases, the only way to see these films. Titles like The Incredible Melting Man, Twins of Evil, Night of the Creeps, The Video Dead and so many others were very welcome offerings in high definition.

With any amount of possibility, it is hoped that Monsters HD may be re-branded; it seemed like one of the more popular of VOOM’s offerings. This webmaster will post any news regarding the resurrection of Monsters HD in any form. In the meantime, Doomsday DVD pays homage to the channel, and shares sympathy with horror fans everywhere.

A perfect double feature with the Christmas holiday theme can include several different combinations of films. One of the popular variations is Christmas Evil (aka You Better Watch Out, 1980) and Silent Night, Bloody Night (1973).

Christmas Evil (starring Brandon Maggart and Jeffrey DeMunn) centers around Harry Stadling, a man who lives and breathes the Christmas spirit all year long. Due to the lack of spirit around him and a few of his co-workers making fun of his love of the holiday, he embarks on a vengeful spree, dressed up as Santa Claus.

Silent Night, Bloody Night takes place in a quiet town on Christmas Eve. An escaped patient from a psychiatric ward seems to be returning home when their family home (plagued by a sinister and violent history) is about to be sold. Anyone who enters dies at the hands of the crazed escapee. However, all is not what it would seem…..

Both of these films have a cozy, yet dangerous, atmosphere to them. They are also easily accessible.