Author: King of the Island

Big Fish

Big Fish VHS box cover art. Adventure drama fantasy movie starring Ewan McGregor, Albert Finney, Billy Crudup, Jessica Lange, Helena Bonham Carter, Alison Lohman, Robert Guillaume, Marion Cotillard. With Steve Buscemi, Danny DeVito, Deep Roy, Miley Cyrus. Directed by Tim Burton. 2003.

Big Fish on VHS. Adventure drama fantasy movie starring Ewan McGregor, Albert Finney, Billy Crudup, Jessica Lange, Helena Bonham Carter, Alison Lohman, Robert Guillaume, Marion Cotillard. With Steve Buscemi, Danny DeVito, Deep Roy, Destiny Cyrus. Directed by Tim Burton. 2003.

From the VHS box:

An Adventure As Big As Li[obscured by sticker]

Throughout his life Edward Bloom has always been a man of big appetites, enormous passions and tall tales. In his later years, portrayed by five-time Best Actor Oscar nominee Albert Finney, he remains a huge mystery to his son, William. Now, to get to know the real man, Will begins piecing together a true picture of his father from flashbacks of his amazing adventures in this marvel of a movie.

DVD upgrade: Big Fish (Special Edition, with Collectible Book)

Creature From The Black Lagoon

Creature From The Black Lagoon on VHS. Classic horror movie starring Richard Carlson, Julie Adams, Richard Denning, Antonio Moreno, Nestor Paiva, Whit Bissell. Special appearances by Ricou Browning, Ben Chapman. Directed by Jack Arnold. 1954.

Creature From The Black Lagoon on VHS. Starring Richard Carlson, Julie Adams, Richard Denning, Antonio Moreno, Nestor Paiva, Whit Bissell. Special appearances by Ricou Browning, Ben Chapman. Directed by Jack Arnold. 1954.

From the box:

Terrifying Monster Ravages Mankind!

A member of a scientific expedition traveling the dangerous Amazon River discovers an unidentifiable and mysterious web-fingered skeleton hand. The team searches further in this treacherous region to recover the rest of this terrifying beast. The search ends when they encounter a gruesome half man/half fish creature… who is alive! [The adventures of the Gill-man continue, but you won’t read it here as the remaining description just gives away the whole plot.]

DVD creature collection: Creature From the Black Lagoon: The Legacy Collection (Creature from the Black Lagoon / Revenge of the Creature / The Creature Walks Among Us)

Amazon Instant Video: Creature from the Black Lagoon

Sing it: Dave Edmunds — The Creature From The Black Lagoon




The Big Red One

Samuel Fuller's The Big Red One on VHS. War movie starring Lee Marvin, Mark Hamill, Robert Carradine, Bobby Di Cicco, Kelly Ward, Siegfried Rauch, Stephane Audran. Directed by Samuel Fuller. 1980.

Samuel Fuller’s The Big Red One on VHS. Starring Lee Marvin, Mark Hamill, Robert Carradine, Bobby Di Cicco, Kelly Ward, Siegfried Rauch, Stephane Audran. Directed by Samuel Fuller. 1980.

From the VHS cover:

The real glory of war is surviving.

The combat-hardened sergeant squints at the members of his rifle squad. His face is lined and stubbled. The faces that look back are as smooth as summer peaches. They belong to kids right out of high school. And it’s the sergeant’s job to keep those kids alive.

The Big Red One, named for the insignia of the First Infantry Division, is the unsparing story of a handful of GIs battling their way from North Africa through Sicily, Omaha Beach and Belgium to the ultimate horror of the Nazi death camps. Academy Award winner Lee Marvin (Cat Ballou, The Dirty Dozen) plays the sergeant, and he’s joined by a talented young cast including Star Wars veteran Mark Hamill and Revenge of the Nerds alumnus Robert Carradine.

The writer/director is Samuel Fuller (Pickup on South Street, Merrill’s Marauders), one of the most influential filmmakers in Hollywood history. Fuller was actually in the Fighting First during World War II. He knows that to a soldier, war is no bigger than a single foxhole or a desperate 20-yard run up a beach — and that while generals ask “Will we win?,” the dogface asks “Will I survive?” And that means The Big Red One may be the most immediate, truest war movie you’ve ever seen.

“The real glory of war,” Fuller says, “is surviving.” And the real glory of The Big Red One is how powerfully it captures that idea.

DVD upgrade: The Big Red One: The Reconstruction

The Emerald Forest

John Boorman's The Emerald Forest on VHS. Action, adventure, drama movie starring Powers Boothe, Charley Boorman, Meg Foster, Estee Chandler. Directed by John Boorman. 1985.

John Boorman’s The Emerald Forest on VHS. Movie starring Powers Boothe, Charley Boorman, Meg Foster, Estee Chandler. Directed by John Boorman. 1985.

From the VHS cover:

REEL DEAL

Powers Boothe is Bill Markham, an engineer helping civilization conquer the world’s last savage frontier, the Amazon. Charley Boorman is Markham’s son who, one day, at the jungle’s edge, disappears. Markham returns to the Amazon year after year, searching for his son. Then, after ten years, Markham finds the man who had once been his boy, but now is a warrior from a different world.

Director John Boorman’s brilliant visualization breaths life, danger and ancient mystery into this captivating adventure. Based on a true story, The Emerald Forest is a penetrating look at a savage and mesmerizing world.

DVD upgrade: The Emerald Forest

Silver Streak

Silver Streak on VHS. Comedy, crime, action movie starring Richard Pryor, Gene Wilder, Jill Clayburgh. With Patrick McGoohan, Ned Beatty, Clifton James, Ray Walston, Scatman Crothers, Fred Willard, Richard Kiel. Directed by Arthur Hiller. 1976.

Silver Streak on VHS. Comedy, crime, action movie starring Richard Pryor, Gene Wilder, Jill Clayburgh. With Patrick McGoohan, Ned Beatty, Clifton James, Ray Walston, Scatman Crothers, Fred Willard, Richard Kiel. Directed by Arthur Hiller. 1976.

From the box (car):

In this wild comedy adventure, rail passenger George Caldwell (Gene Wilder) finds that a romantic escapade with a sultry secretary (Jill Clayburgh) puts him in the middle of a Hitchcockian murder plot. Leaping on and off the train, in and out of roomettes, bars and dining cars, George teams up with an amiable, small-time crook (Richard Pryor) to defy the murderer’s henchmen, FBI agents and a host of other outrageous characters.

DVD upgrade: Silver Streak

More classic comedy duo: Richard Pryor / Gene Wilder Triple Feature (Stir Crazy / See No Evil, Hear No Evil / Another You)

More Pryor: The Richard Pryor Collection (Which Way is Up?/ Brewster`s Millions/ Car Wash/ Bustin` Loose)




Golden Years

Stephen King's Golden Years on VHS. 232 minutes. Starring Keith Szarabajka, Frances Sternhagen, Felicity Huffman, Ed Lauter, R.D. Call, Bill Raymond. Television mini-series directed by Allen Coulter, Kenneth Fink, Mitchell Galin, Stephen Tolkin, Michael Gornick. 1991.

Stephen King’s Golden Years on VHS. 232 minutes. Starring Keith Szarabajka, Frances Sternhagen, Felicity Huffman, Ed Lauter, R.D. Call, Bill Raymond. Television mini-series directed by Allen Coulter, Kenneth Fink, Mitchell Galin, Stephen Tolkin, Michael Gornick. 1991.

From the box:

His body held the secret of time. Now time is… running out!

Reigning horror master Stephen King (Misery, Pet Sematary, The Shining) creates a chilling vision of scientific progress run amok in this electrifying, original techno-thriller! Starring Keith Szarabajka (Missing, “The Equalizer”) and Frances Sternhagen (Misery, Doc Hollywood), Golden Years features make-up and special effects supervised by legendary effects master Dick Smith (The Exorcist, Amadeus) and a plot that builds to an astonishing ending!

When aging janitor Harlan Williams is accidentally exposed to exotic chemicals in a lab explosion, he undergoes an extraordinary change. It’s a process the government will do anything to learn more about — no matter who has to die in the process. Soon, Harlan, his wife Gina and the lab’s beautiful security chief are on a cross-country race to evade a murderously effective federal agent. But even as he stays one step ahead of his ruthless pursuers, Harlan continues his transformation into something the world of science has never seen… or imagined!

DVD upgrade (2 discs, 236 minutes): Stephen King’s Golden Years

The Fog

John Carpenter's The Fog on VHS. Horror movie starring Adrienne Barbeau, Jamie Lee Curtis, Janet Leigh, Hal Holbrook, John Houseman. Directed by John Carpenter. 1980.

John Carpenter’s The Fog on VHS. Movie starring Adrienne Barbeau, Jamie Lee Curtis, Janet Leigh, Hal Holbrook, John Houseman. Directed by John Carpenter. 1980.

From the VHS cover:

John Carpenter’s tale of vengeance beyond the grave…

A weather-beaten old fisherman tells an ancient tale of betrayal and death to fascinated children as they huddle together by their campfire. As a piece of driftwood in a child’s hand glows with spectral light an eerie fog envelops the bay and from its midst emerge dripping demonic victims of a century old shipwreck… seeking revenge…

DVD upgrade: The Fog (Special Edition)

Amazon instant rental: The Fog (1980)

Music by John Carpenter: The Fog (Original Soundtrack) [Soundtrack] John Carpenter | Format: Audio CD







Animal House

National Lampoon's Animal House on VHS. Comedy movie starring John Belushi, Karen Allen, Tim Matheson, John Vernon, Verna Bloom, Tom Hulce, Stephen Furst. Directed by John Landis. 1978.

National Lampoon’s Animal House on VHS. Starring John Belushi, Karen Allen, Tim Matheson, John Vernon, Verna Bloom, Tom Hulce, Stephen Furst. Directed by John Landis. 1978.

From the VHS box:

One of the most popular movie comedies of all time is also the film that made food fights an art form and John Belushi a star. This raunchy, screwball comedy directed with madcap zest by John Landis offers a relentless spoof of 1960’s college life by following the hilarious adventures of the Delta fraternity. There’s nothing this motley collection of students won’t do to get the best of Dean Wormer who secretly conspires to revoke Delta’s charter. In addition to Belushi as the guitar bashing, beer can smashing, garbage eating Bluto Blutarsky, the outstanding cast includes head skirt-chaser Tim Matheson, innocent freshman Thomas Hulce and Stephen “Flounder” Furst, and Otis Day and the Knights with their show-stopping performance of “Shout.”

Toga! Toga! Toga!

DVD upgrade: National Lampoon’s Animal House (Widescreen Double Secret Probation Edition)

Amazon instant rental: National Lampoon’s Animal House

Dress the part: John Belushi Animal House “College” Crew Neck Sweatshirt #1620-PS




Graduation Day

Graduation Day on VHS video. Horror movie starring Christopher George, Patch Mackenzie, E. Danny Murphy, E.J. Peaker, Michael Pataki. With Linnea Quigley, Vanna White. Directed by Herb Freed. 1981.

Graduation Day on VHS video. Horror movie starring Christopher George, Patch Mackenzie, E. Danny Murphy, E.J. Peaker, Michael Pataki. With Linnea Quigley, Vanna White. Directed by Herb Freed. 1981.

From the box:

The seniors of Midvale High are being fitted for caps and gowns — and coffins.

Taut suspense, heart-stopping shocks and mystery are all awaiting in Graduation Day. It’s just weeks before high school graduation and members of the track team are being mysteriously and gruesomely murdered, one at a time. When the team’s star runner, Laura Ramstead, falls dead at the end of a championship meet, her sister Anne (Patch MacKenzie) comes to town and a series of grisly murders begins. Is Anne responsible? Or is it coach Michaels (Christopher George) who has been fired because of Laura’s death? Perhaps it’s the campus policeman who is disliked because of his over-zealous drug investigations. Or is it Laura’s boyfriend, Kevin (E. Danny Murphy), who can’t reconcile himself to Laura’s death? You won’t want to see this one alone!

Troma DVD upgrade: Graduation Day

Watch now (instant rental at Amazon): Graduation Day

Dazed and Confused

Dazed and Confused on VHS. Comedy drama movie starring Jason London, Wiley Wiggins, Matthew McConaughey, Joey Lauren Adams, Milla Jovovich, Shawn Andrews. Directed by Richard Linklater. 1993.

Dazed and Confused on VHS. Movie starring Jason London, Wiley Wiggins, Matthew McConaughey, Joey Lauren Adams, Milla Jovovich, Shawn Andrews. Directed by Richard Linklater. 1993.

From the box:

It was the last day of school in 1976. A time they’d never forget… if only they could remember!

It was bongs and bell bottoms, polyester and puka shells, macrame and mood rings. We rocked and rolled, we were jaded and innocent, but most of all we were Dazed and Confused.

With hilarious and touching honesty, this critically acclaimed comedy from writer/director Richard Linklater explores the last day of school — and one rowdy night — in the lives of a group of high school students in late May, 1976. Everybody’s along for the ride: the jocks, the jerks, the stoners, the cheerleaders, the “in-crowd,” even a long-since graduated high school-wannabe. And at a wild and crazy midnight beer bash, friendships will be made and lost, futures pondered, romances kindled, and the freshman — having endured a nasty hazing at the hands of the incoming seniors — will plot their revenge!

Accompanied by the music of Aerosmith, Alice Cooper, Foghat and more, a superb ensemble cast delivers “the most slyly funny and dead-on portrait of American teenage life ever made.” (Entertainment Weekly)

DVD upgrade: Dazed & Confused (Widescreen Flashback Edition)

The music soundtrack got a sequel: Even More Dazed And Confused (1993 Film Dazed And Confused)

Of course, then there’s Led Zep: Led Zeppelin: Dazed & Confused