Attention Deficit Delirium

Prince Colwyn shows off
the power of the Glaive.

One of my favorite Eighties fantasy movies — okay, really one of my favorite ever — is the sword ‘n’ sorcery spectacle that is Krull. Released in the summer of 1983, amid the frenzied activity of both the post-Conan fantasy boom and the Stars Wars-inspired sci-fi wave, this was an over-the-top cinematic epic that combined Errol Flynn-like swashbuckling with (then) modern sci-fi/fantasy action, storytelling and effects. It was also rather tongue-in-cheek, featured future stars Liam Neeson and Robbie Coltrane, had some fantastic, surrealist set design in the Black Fortress and offered up a stirring score by James Horner. And let’s not forget the Glaive, that flying, five-pointed, bladed weapon with intense laser power that was a driving gimmick in the story.

La-La Land Records recently reissued the Krull soundtrack in a limited edition, two-disc version, and it is essential for any fan of the film. Despite some people today deriding this movie as cheesy, it is a hell of a lot of fun, and part of that is due to Horner’s rousing compositions. At the time the composer was still a relative newcomer to the Hollywood scene, although he had already written and conducted the scores for Wolfen, The Hand, 48 Hrs. and Star Trek II: The Wrath Of Khan. We now know him as the man responsible for the music in Titanic, Avatar, Aliens and Field Of Dreams, among many others.

Following is a montage of Krull clips set to some of the score. (Admittedly it uses key scenes, so proceed with caution. You could also simply listen.) Experience the power of the Glaive and the majesty of a young James Horner!






Concept art for Godzilla 2012
released by Legendary Pictures at Comic-Con 2010.

I have been a lifelong Godzilla fan. While I do not obsessively watch movies with the Big G over and over again, I have seen some of the 28 films a few times and collected toys, comics and magazines inspired by this immortal kaiju. The franchise never dies. Even when they “killed” Godzilla at the end of 1995′s Godzilla Vs. Destroyah, his son survived, roaring defiantly as he was going to continue his father’s monster-fighting, city-stomping legacy. And while 2004′s Godzilla: Final Wars, which featured all of the monsters from the then 50-year old franchise, was intended to be an epic farewell, it seems that our favorite overgrown lizard will be coming back in 2012 in a rumored 3-D film from Legendary Pictures, who cut a deal with Toho Studios to make this version.

To be honest, I’m mixed about this whole thing. The first (and last) time an American company made their own version of this classic creature, it was Roland Emmerich’s disastrous 1998 movie in which the Big G did not look or sound like himself and spawned a load of eggs that hatched in Madison Square Garden so the filmmakers could attempt to outdo Jurassic Park, which they failed miserably at. And with this installment possibly being filmed in 3-D, I wonder if it will simply be a quick cash-in and nothing more.

My thoughts for a new Godzilla film: Bring in a new monster, not regurgitate repeatedly successful reboots like Mechagodzilla or King Ghidorah. Perhaps take the action away from Tokyo. It was great to see the Big G in Sydney (however briefly) in Final Wars. Don’t make it too kid-friendly. I hate that. Temper it with the fun, self-referential sense of humor found in Godzilla 2000 and Godzilla, Mothra and King Ghidorah: Giant Monsters All-Out Attack. And don’t make it all CGI. The impressive mixture of rubber suit mayhem and digital effects in the last wave of Godzilla films — not to mention the incredible FX work in Gamera 3 in 1999 — prove that you can have an organic monster that looks vibrant and alive. (Let’s be honest, the rubber suits do hold sentimental value for longtime fans.) The 3-D format does have great possibilities for monster mayhem, and on top of the obligatory crumbling buildings, tail swatting and giant creature smackdowns, I expect one shot of Godzilla spraying the audience with his nuclear breath.

Perhaps I’m a purist, but you’ve got to do these things right. At the same time, throw in some surprises. Just don’t make it a lame story with bad dialogue and baby dinos running around. Please.





Related Posts:

Gamera Is Coming! (Back, That Is)




Japanese Tourism Could Benefit From A Monster Ad Campaign (Literally)





To tie in with the recent release of Predators, I wrote a feature for Movies.com about films where humans are hunt for sport. This was a fun assignment as I searched through my DVD collection and memory banks for memorable pictures that fit into this twisted category. My final eight selections span locations as far ranging as a Japanese island to the rural South to future Seattle. Being a horror, sci-fi and action movie aficionado, it wasn’t hard for me to generate the list. Take a look — it’s a fun read.

Check out “8 Great…Human Hunting Movies” here.





The fifth Predator movie — counting the two original films and the two Alien Vs. Predator crossovers — invades theaters tomorrow. Produced by Robert Rodriguez (Sin City, Grindhouse) and directed by Nimrod Antal (Vacancy, Armored), Predators finally brings us to the titular monsters’ homeworld, where a group of mercenaries, killers and convicts have been taken against their will. Naturally they have been selected as prey for the intergalactic hunters, and plenty of chaos and carnage ensues. Created as a direct sequel to the original Arnold Schwarzenegger action movie, Predators promises to be more rambunctious and intense than the second movie in the series, which had its moments but disappointed some fans with its comic book approach. The cast of this newest installment is pretty top-notch, including bulked-up Oscar winner Adrien Brody, Topher Grace and Laurence Fishburne. Even if it’s good, expect the movie to be savaged by many critics anyway. That’s usually the lot for sci-fi and horror fare.

Following are some images from Predators, followed by a trailer.



Trapped on the Predator homeworld, Adrien Brody wonders
if he should have stuck with Earthbound dramas.
(Photo credit: Rico Torres. © 2010 Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation.)

Playing mild-mannered physician and non-criminal Edwin,
Topher Grace wonders the same thing, although being possessed
by Venom in Spider-Man 3 was rough.
(Photo credit: Rico Torres. © 2010 Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation.)

Isabelle (Alice Braga), Stans (Walton Goggins)
and Royce (Adrien Brody) prepare to face the enemy.
(Photo credit: Rico Torres. © 2010 Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation.)

From Morpheus to Noland: Laurence Fishburne is now a veteran of
human-machine and human-Predator wars. Can't this guy get a break?
(Photo credit: Rico Torres. © 2010 Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation.)

Royce (Adrien Brody) and Isabelle (Alice Braga) try to avoid becoming dead meat.
(Photo credit: Rico Torres. © 2010 Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation.)

Director Nimrod Antal poses in classic director fashion
as he chats with producer Robert Rodriguez about turning Predator
back into a badass sci-fi franchise.
(Photo credit: Rico Torres. © 2010 Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation.)