If you didn’t already know it, Jeremy Kyle is a horrible man. If you weren’t sure, there’s a two part documentary on All4 called Jeremy Kyle Show: Death on Daytime that details this and makes it abundantly clear that the show he fronted for 14 years took a negative toll on many of the thousands of guests it ushered onto the stage only to bully, badger and beat them down. These were people that were almost always vulnerable and at the bottom end of the economic spectrum, and almost always had serious problems, often related to family, relationships, finance and drug and alcohol abuse. The show was canceled after one of his guests, Steve Dymond, took his own life days after filming an episode of the show.
The documentary gives an insight into the culture of bullying on the show which took place behind the camera too, with...
The documentary gives an insight into the culture of bullying on the show which took place behind the camera too, with...
- 3/19/2022
- by Rosie Fletcher
- Den of Geek
This Warrior review contains spoilers.
Warrior Season 2 Episode 4
The title of this episode comes from Sophie’s (Celine Buckens) date. Spencer (Russell Crous) comes from the upper class and he’s trying to court Sophie in an upper-class way, but she’s is having none of that. She brings him to the Banshee to slam some drinks, and coyly asks him about his athleticism. Spencer says he plays rugby and Sophie feigns being impressed by the roughness of the sport, egging him to say, “If you don’t see blood, you didn’t come to play.” Then she takes him to the back-alley bare-knuckle matches behind the Banshee, to show him some fresh blood. It’s one of only two scenes that get bloody in this episode, that that’s just not enough.
This episode, like the previous one, fails to deliver much Kung Fu action. There’s a central street demo,...
Warrior Season 2 Episode 4
The title of this episode comes from Sophie’s (Celine Buckens) date. Spencer (Russell Crous) comes from the upper class and he’s trying to court Sophie in an upper-class way, but she’s is having none of that. She brings him to the Banshee to slam some drinks, and coyly asks him about his athleticism. Spencer says he plays rugby and Sophie feigns being impressed by the roughness of the sport, egging him to say, “If you don’t see blood, you didn’t come to play.” Then she takes him to the back-alley bare-knuckle matches behind the Banshee, to show him some fresh blood. It’s one of only two scenes that get bloody in this episode, that that’s just not enough.
This episode, like the previous one, fails to deliver much Kung Fu action. There’s a central street demo,...
- 10/24/2020
- by Mike Cecchini
- Den of Geek
There are so many great martial arts movies on Netflix. Always with a watchful eye on foreign film, Netflix has acquired many of the most talked about titles, fresh off the boat from Asia which remains the cutting edge of the genre. Netflix also has a solid collection of the classics, so many groundbreaking films that launched enduring franchises.
With movies ranging from internationally recognized masterpieces to cheesy and gratuitously ultra-violent flicks, it’s time for “Netflix and Kill” as we take revenge on the villains who dishonored our family and the Shaolin Temple. Here is a selection of some of the latest actioners to have recently become available on Netflix, which longtime fans may have overlooked. And for those newbies to the genre, here are also some of the must-see classics, just to get you started.
Ip Man (2008)
U.S. Only
When Donnie Yen launched this fictionalized account of Bruce Lee’s master,...
With movies ranging from internationally recognized masterpieces to cheesy and gratuitously ultra-violent flicks, it’s time for “Netflix and Kill” as we take revenge on the villains who dishonored our family and the Shaolin Temple. Here is a selection of some of the latest actioners to have recently become available on Netflix, which longtime fans may have overlooked. And for those newbies to the genre, here are also some of the must-see classics, just to get you started.
Ip Man (2008)
U.S. Only
When Donnie Yen launched this fictionalized account of Bruce Lee’s master,...
- 9/25/2020
- by David Crow
- Den of Geek
Search ‘Martial Arts Movies’ on Amazon Prime and you’ll get over a thousand results ranging from the classics to the campy, to the critically acclaimed. It’s an overwhelming library for the uninitiated and the mother lode for stalwart fans of the genre. There are so many gems buried in Amazon Prime that digging out the favorites is dirty challenging work but extremely rewarding.
When it comes to martial arts, Amazon Prime has a killer Kung Fu collection. The ‘80s were the ‘Golden Era’ of Kung Fu films when Hong Kong film studios cranked out films faster than any grindhouse ever. Many Hong Kong filmmakers put out up to half a dozen films a year, and most have hundreds of credits on IMDb. This glut of Kung Fu films spread to every Chinatown ghetto theater on the planet. And like with horror, American networks broadcasted late night Kung Fu...
When it comes to martial arts, Amazon Prime has a killer Kung Fu collection. The ‘80s were the ‘Golden Era’ of Kung Fu films when Hong Kong film studios cranked out films faster than any grindhouse ever. Many Hong Kong filmmakers put out up to half a dozen films a year, and most have hundreds of credits on IMDb. This glut of Kung Fu films spread to every Chinatown ghetto theater on the planet. And like with horror, American networks broadcasted late night Kung Fu...
- 9/14/2020
- by David Crow
- Den of Geek
Bruce Lee’s cinematic legacy may already be secure, but it’s about to be boosted by impressive Blu-ray releases, courtesy of The Criterion Collection, that will see his five legendary, genre-transformative Hong Kong action films in a way we’ve never before imagine, digitally restored in 4K resolution.
The Criterion Collection has officially announced Bruce Lee: His Greatest Hits, which will be released on July 14. The 7-disc Blu-ray box set will showcase 4K digital restorations of fist-flying films, The Big Boss, Fist of Fury, Game of Death, and The Way of the Dragon. Additionally, Lee’s signature film and iconoclastic actioner, Enter the Dragon, will also be included in this set; an eye-opening addition, since the film—as a co-production of Warner Bros. and Lee’s Concord Productions shingle—is typically left off the vast array of budget releases and box sets for Lee’s films. Indeed, Enter‘s presence here is two-fold,...
The Criterion Collection has officially announced Bruce Lee: His Greatest Hits, which will be released on July 14. The 7-disc Blu-ray box set will showcase 4K digital restorations of fist-flying films, The Big Boss, Fist of Fury, Game of Death, and The Way of the Dragon. Additionally, Lee’s signature film and iconoclastic actioner, Enter the Dragon, will also be included in this set; an eye-opening addition, since the film—as a co-production of Warner Bros. and Lee’s Concord Productions shingle—is typically left off the vast array of budget releases and box sets for Lee’s films. Indeed, Enter‘s presence here is two-fold,...
- 4/14/2020
- by Joseph Baxter
- Den of Geek
Craig Lines Jun 6, 2019
Action star Mark Dacascos achieved mainstream attention for John Wick: Chapter 3 – here, we look back at some of his greatest hits.
This article comes from Den of Geek UK.
2019 has been a good year for Mark Dacascos. Not only did he make a glorious return to the big screen as super-assassin/super-fanboy Zero in John Wick: Chapter 3, but he completely stole the show. Critics and audiences stood up and paid attention to what action connoisseurs have known for some time: Dacascos is the real deal.
If you’re a newcomer, you might find yourself daunted by his massive body of work, so here’s a whistlestop tour of some of the highlights and why they’re worth watching. And if you’re an existing convert? Sit back, enjoy the memories and let us know your own faves in the comments.
In the beginning, there was kung fu…...
Action star Mark Dacascos achieved mainstream attention for John Wick: Chapter 3 – here, we look back at some of his greatest hits.
This article comes from Den of Geek UK.
2019 has been a good year for Mark Dacascos. Not only did he make a glorious return to the big screen as super-assassin/super-fanboy Zero in John Wick: Chapter 3, but he completely stole the show. Critics and audiences stood up and paid attention to what action connoisseurs have known for some time: Dacascos is the real deal.
If you’re a newcomer, you might find yourself daunted by his massive body of work, so here’s a whistlestop tour of some of the highlights and why they’re worth watching. And if you’re an existing convert? Sit back, enjoy the memories and let us know your own faves in the comments.
In the beginning, there was kung fu…...
- 6/6/2019
- Den of Geek
Craig Lines Feb 18, 2019
We take a dive into the whopping 25-film Blu-ray release of Zatoichi: The Blind Swordsman – The Criterion Collection.
This article comes from Den of Geek UK.
In the 1978 Us documentary The Blind Swordsman, Shintaro Katsu is asked how he’d like to present himself to American viewers. “I have zero interest in promoting myself,” he barks, waving the question away, “I run like a dark horse!” Indeed, this may go some way to explain that while he was celebrated as an actor, writer, director, producer and singer in Japan, his name still drifts only on the fringes of international pop culture.
The son of a kabuki performer, Katsu was born into performing arts and originally followed in his father’s footsteps as a shamisen player. After a tour of America during which he met James Dean, he changed his focus to acting and amassed a series of...
We take a dive into the whopping 25-film Blu-ray release of Zatoichi: The Blind Swordsman – The Criterion Collection.
This article comes from Den of Geek UK.
In the 1978 Us documentary The Blind Swordsman, Shintaro Katsu is asked how he’d like to present himself to American viewers. “I have zero interest in promoting myself,” he barks, waving the question away, “I run like a dark horse!” Indeed, this may go some way to explain that while he was celebrated as an actor, writer, director, producer and singer in Japan, his name still drifts only on the fringes of international pop culture.
The son of a kabuki performer, Katsu was born into performing arts and originally followed in his father’s footsteps as a shamisen player. After a tour of America during which he met James Dean, he changed his focus to acting and amassed a series of...
- 2/18/2019
- Den of Geek
Craig Lines Jan 24, 2019
We look through the life in film of a legendary martial artist – the man who trained Bruce Lee and inspired a few movies of his own...
This article comes from Den of Geek UK.
After Bruce Lee's death at the height of his fame in 1973, Hong Kong filmmakers raced to capitalize on his stardom. With the kung fu craze booming, almost every facet of Bruce's life – and plenty of glorious nonsense like a fight against Dracula - got turned into a movie. Lookalikes with new names like Bruce Li, Bruce Le, and Bruce Leung became some of the most prolific kung fu stars of the era, and "Bruceploitation" became a prominent subgenre.
Perhaps because these films were mostly sold to the west, one part of Bruce's life that was rarely explored was his early life in Hong Kong and his Wing Chun training with Ip Man. We...
We look through the life in film of a legendary martial artist – the man who trained Bruce Lee and inspired a few movies of his own...
This article comes from Den of Geek UK.
After Bruce Lee's death at the height of his fame in 1973, Hong Kong filmmakers raced to capitalize on his stardom. With the kung fu craze booming, almost every facet of Bruce's life – and plenty of glorious nonsense like a fight against Dracula - got turned into a movie. Lookalikes with new names like Bruce Li, Bruce Le, and Bruce Leung became some of the most prolific kung fu stars of the era, and "Bruceploitation" became a prominent subgenre.
Perhaps because these films were mostly sold to the west, one part of Bruce's life that was rarely explored was his early life in Hong Kong and his Wing Chun training with Ip Man. We...
- 1/24/2019
- Den of Geek
Craig Lines Oct 7, 2018
In the 2000s, a run of martial arts hits that started with Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon changed cinema for good.
Wuxia, in one form or another, has been around for nearly two millennia. The word itself – coined in the early 20th century – simplistically translates to “Martial Heroes” and Wuxia stories tell epic adventures, full of martial arts, romantic tragedy, high fantasy and eastern philosophy. Through books, poems and comics, Wuxia perpetuated through the centuries so it’s unsurprising that it made the leap into film as soon as it had an opportunity. Some of the earliest examples of Chinese cinema are Wuxia films and, to give you an idea of how epic I mean when I say epic, the (sadly now-lost) Burning of the Red Lotus Temple (1928) clocked in at roughly 27 hours long…
As a cinematic force, Wuxia exploded in the 1960s, thanks largely to a trio...
In the 2000s, a run of martial arts hits that started with Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon changed cinema for good.
Wuxia, in one form or another, has been around for nearly two millennia. The word itself – coined in the early 20th century – simplistically translates to “Martial Heroes” and Wuxia stories tell epic adventures, full of martial arts, romantic tragedy, high fantasy and eastern philosophy. Through books, poems and comics, Wuxia perpetuated through the centuries so it’s unsurprising that it made the leap into film as soon as it had an opportunity. Some of the earliest examples of Chinese cinema are Wuxia films and, to give you an idea of how epic I mean when I say epic, the (sadly now-lost) Burning of the Red Lotus Temple (1928) clocked in at roughly 27 hours long…
As a cinematic force, Wuxia exploded in the 1960s, thanks largely to a trio...
- 10/4/2018
- Den of Geek
Craig Lines Feb 7, 2018
The Last Dragon was quite a different martial arts film. We dig into its story, and what happened...
When I was a kid in the local video library, I worked my way through as many martial arts films as I could, renting literally anything that had a bare-chested dude in a fighting stance on the cover. One film that fit the description, but stood out as being very different, was The Last Dragon.
As the brainchild of Berry Gordy, the mastermind behind Motown Records, it mixes martial arts, music, supernatural adventure, Bruceploitation, comedy and dance to surprisingly dazzling effect. The soundtrack is a showcase of what Motown Records was about in the mid-80s (arguably a second golden age for them), and its lead single – Rhythm Of The Night by DeBarge – should be familiar to anyone who knows their pop classics. But, far from being a flimsy...
The Last Dragon was quite a different martial arts film. We dig into its story, and what happened...
When I was a kid in the local video library, I worked my way through as many martial arts films as I could, renting literally anything that had a bare-chested dude in a fighting stance on the cover. One film that fit the description, but stood out as being very different, was The Last Dragon.
As the brainchild of Berry Gordy, the mastermind behind Motown Records, it mixes martial arts, music, supernatural adventure, Bruceploitation, comedy and dance to surprisingly dazzling effect. The soundtrack is a showcase of what Motown Records was about in the mid-80s (arguably a second golden age for them), and its lead single – Rhythm Of The Night by DeBarge – should be familiar to anyone who knows their pop classics. But, far from being a flimsy...
- 1/25/2018
- Den of Geek
Craig Lines Jan 3, 2018
It's one of the first classic ninja videogames. Join us as we revisit the might of Ik+...
I don’t know how I first learned that you could do it. All my friends seemed to know how to do it, but I doubt they’d remember how they discovered it either. I guess it was just one of those things. You’re young. You have a lot of time on your hands. You experiment. But somehow we all knew. If you pressed a secret key while playing International Karate Plus, the fighters’ trousers would fall down and they’d look embarrassed. This was maybe the funniest thing I’d ever seen when I was a kid.
It’s the little details that can make a martial arts game memorable. The trouser drop may seem like an irrelevant lark, but it was one of many colourful touches that...
It's one of the first classic ninja videogames. Join us as we revisit the might of Ik+...
I don’t know how I first learned that you could do it. All my friends seemed to know how to do it, but I doubt they’d remember how they discovered it either. I guess it was just one of those things. You’re young. You have a lot of time on your hands. You experiment. But somehow we all knew. If you pressed a secret key while playing International Karate Plus, the fighters’ trousers would fall down and they’d look embarrassed. This was maybe the funniest thing I’d ever seen when I was a kid.
It’s the little details that can make a martial arts game memorable. The trouser drop may seem like an irrelevant lark, but it was one of many colourful touches that...
- 1/2/2018
- Den of Geek
Den Of Geek Dec 22, 2017
Which TV episode or film do you have a date with every December? We asked our writers to share their Xmas viewing traditions…
Push through all the shopping and boozing and tinselly over-indulgence, and deep down, everybody knows the true meaning of Christmas.
It's television.
Our viewing traditions are what makes Christmas special. For you, that might mean chortling your way through whatever festive tyre-fire is playing out on Albert Square, or rewatching for the millionth time that snowy episode of Buffy where Sarah Michelle-Gellar had her fringe cut weirdly short.
Perhaps you and yours never miss It’s A Wonderful Life. Maybe you set record for the You’ve Been Framed Santa Special (nothing feels more festive than a solid hour of cats destroying Christmas trees). Whatever it is, it’s yours, to enjoy solo or with loved ones, and it means Christmas has arrived.
Which TV episode or film do you have a date with every December? We asked our writers to share their Xmas viewing traditions…
Push through all the shopping and boozing and tinselly over-indulgence, and deep down, everybody knows the true meaning of Christmas.
It's television.
Our viewing traditions are what makes Christmas special. For you, that might mean chortling your way through whatever festive tyre-fire is playing out on Albert Square, or rewatching for the millionth time that snowy episode of Buffy where Sarah Michelle-Gellar had her fringe cut weirdly short.
Perhaps you and yours never miss It’s A Wonderful Life. Maybe you set record for the You’ve Been Framed Santa Special (nothing feels more festive than a solid hour of cats destroying Christmas trees). Whatever it is, it’s yours, to enjoy solo or with loved ones, and it means Christmas has arrived.
- 12/20/2017
- Den of Geek
Craig Lines Dec 6, 2017
Christmas and martial arts movies? They rarely crossover. But amazing fights in the snow? Now we're in business...
I love martial arts movies and I love Christmas so I'm kinda sad that the two have never really come together (Kung Fu Panda Holiday doesn't count). I'd hoped to find at least one good example to write about, as we move into the festive period, but I guess since most martial arts films come from Buddhist countries and Christmas is a Christian holiday, I was destined for disappointment.
I did briefly consider making one up with the aid of Photoshop, but wasn't sure I could get away with it so, alas, The 25th Advent Chamber Of Shaolin is not to be. For what it's worth, I'd got as far as an apprentice monk named Ho, fighting his way through 25 'doors' of a giant temple designed to resemble an advent calendar.
Christmas and martial arts movies? They rarely crossover. But amazing fights in the snow? Now we're in business...
I love martial arts movies and I love Christmas so I'm kinda sad that the two have never really come together (Kung Fu Panda Holiday doesn't count). I'd hoped to find at least one good example to write about, as we move into the festive period, but I guess since most martial arts films come from Buddhist countries and Christmas is a Christian holiday, I was destined for disappointment.
I did briefly consider making one up with the aid of Photoshop, but wasn't sure I could get away with it so, alas, The 25th Advent Chamber Of Shaolin is not to be. For what it's worth, I'd got as far as an apprentice monk named Ho, fighting his way through 25 'doors' of a giant temple designed to resemble an advent calendar.
- 12/5/2017
- Den of Geek
Craig Lines Dec 6, 2017
BBC One's play-along murder mystery show Armchair Detectives is brilliant fun. Here's why crime TV and puzzle fans should tune in...
There’s been a murder…
See related PlayStation 4 and Xbox One bundles: best deals on Amazon now The top 37 movie Lego sets you can buy right now
Well, actually, there’ve been several. One every weekday, to be precise. All occurring at approximately 2:15pm in the Scottish coastal town of Mortcliff. But, as fans of BBC1’s new mystery show Armchair Detectives will tell you, “no one gets away with murder in Mortcliff!”
Partially this is down to the town’s police force and its crack team of investigating officers; Di Knight (Stephen Billington), DC Slater (Roger Jean Nsengiyumva) and Soco Simmons (Sarah Baxendale). However, watching them from comfy armchairs in the BBC studio each day are trios of plucky amateur sleuths who pit...
BBC One's play-along murder mystery show Armchair Detectives is brilliant fun. Here's why crime TV and puzzle fans should tune in...
There’s been a murder…
See related PlayStation 4 and Xbox One bundles: best deals on Amazon now The top 37 movie Lego sets you can buy right now
Well, actually, there’ve been several. One every weekday, to be precise. All occurring at approximately 2:15pm in the Scottish coastal town of Mortcliff. But, as fans of BBC1’s new mystery show Armchair Detectives will tell you, “no one gets away with murder in Mortcliff!”
Partially this is down to the town’s police force and its crack team of investigating officers; Di Knight (Stephen Billington), DC Slater (Roger Jean Nsengiyumva) and Soco Simmons (Sarah Baxendale). However, watching them from comfy armchairs in the BBC studio each day are trios of plucky amateur sleuths who pit...
- 12/5/2017
- Den of Geek
Craig Lines Nov 1, 2017
Every now and then, martial arts movies go, er, a 'little leftfield', Here are some examples...
There are few feelings I enjoy as much as watching a movie that shakes me out of my complacency, wakes me up from my jaded quasi-slumber and makes me go “I’ve not seen that before!” I watch way too many films and it can take a lot to genuinely shock or surprise me, but there are few genres that manage it as often as martial arts.
Now, I appreciate there’s a lot of base level ‘weirdness’ to the genre if you’re not used to it. There’s curious dubbing, an emphasis on physicality over plotting, some eastern cultural touchpoints that baffle unfamiliar western audiences… but fans get used to all that. I’m talking about something slightly different.
To clarify, it might seem strange to new viewers when...
Every now and then, martial arts movies go, er, a 'little leftfield', Here are some examples...
There are few feelings I enjoy as much as watching a movie that shakes me out of my complacency, wakes me up from my jaded quasi-slumber and makes me go “I’ve not seen that before!” I watch way too many films and it can take a lot to genuinely shock or surprise me, but there are few genres that manage it as often as martial arts.
Now, I appreciate there’s a lot of base level ‘weirdness’ to the genre if you’re not used to it. There’s curious dubbing, an emphasis on physicality over plotting, some eastern cultural touchpoints that baffle unfamiliar western audiences… but fans get used to all that. I’m talking about something slightly different.
To clarify, it might seem strange to new viewers when...
- 10/31/2017
- Den of Geek
Craig Lines Aug 19, 2019
The iconic Enter The Dragon came with a tie-in book that was a bestseller. We took a look...
This article comes from Den of Geek UK.
Enter The Dragon needs no introduction. 40+ years on and its imagery is still the first thing that springs to mind when most people think of kung fu. Bruce Lee’s physicality in the film is off the scale, staging and performing some of the best, most brutal and impactful onscreen fights ever. Jim Kelly oozes Blaxploitation cool. Lalo Schifrin’s funk soundtrack is the height of '70s chic. The movie looks great, sounds great, and hits hard.
However, you’ll rarely hear much praise for the plot. Lee plays, uh, "Lee," a shaolin monk who’s hired by a British intelligence agency to infiltrate the island stronghold of a rogue shaolin called Han, who’s into human trafficking, drug running,...
The iconic Enter The Dragon came with a tie-in book that was a bestseller. We took a look...
This article comes from Den of Geek UK.
Enter The Dragon needs no introduction. 40+ years on and its imagery is still the first thing that springs to mind when most people think of kung fu. Bruce Lee’s physicality in the film is off the scale, staging and performing some of the best, most brutal and impactful onscreen fights ever. Jim Kelly oozes Blaxploitation cool. Lalo Schifrin’s funk soundtrack is the height of '70s chic. The movie looks great, sounds great, and hits hard.
However, you’ll rarely hear much praise for the plot. Lee plays, uh, "Lee," a shaolin monk who’s hired by a British intelligence agency to infiltrate the island stronghold of a rogue shaolin called Han, who’s into human trafficking, drug running,...
- 10/4/2017
- Den of Geek
Craig Lines Oct 4, 2017
The iconic Enter The Dragon came with a tie-in book that was a bestseller. We took a look...
Enter The Dragon needs no introduction. 40+ years on and its imagery is still the first thing that springs to mind when most people think 'kung fu'. Bruce Lee’s physicality in the film is off the scale, staging and performing some of the best, most brutal and impactful onscreen fights ever. Jim Kelly oozes Blaxploitation cool. Lalo Schifrin’s orientalist funk soundtrack is the height of 70s chic. The movie looks great, sounds great and hits hard.
However, you’ll rarely hear much praise for the plot. Lee plays, uh, 'Lee', a shaolin monk who’s hired by a British intelligence agency to infiltrate the island stronghold of a rogue shaolin called Han, who’s into human trafficking, drug running and world domination. It’s awkwardly structured and more...
The iconic Enter The Dragon came with a tie-in book that was a bestseller. We took a look...
Enter The Dragon needs no introduction. 40+ years on and its imagery is still the first thing that springs to mind when most people think 'kung fu'. Bruce Lee’s physicality in the film is off the scale, staging and performing some of the best, most brutal and impactful onscreen fights ever. Jim Kelly oozes Blaxploitation cool. Lalo Schifrin’s orientalist funk soundtrack is the height of 70s chic. The movie looks great, sounds great and hits hard.
However, you’ll rarely hear much praise for the plot. Lee plays, uh, 'Lee', a shaolin monk who’s hired by a British intelligence agency to infiltrate the island stronghold of a rogue shaolin called Han, who’s into human trafficking, drug running and world domination. It’s awkwardly structured and more...
- 9/25/2017
- Den of Geek
Craig Lines Sep 6, 2017
45 years on, we revisit King Boxer, and find a genuinely great martial arts movie...
Asian martial arts are now deeply embedded in western pop culture, but this wasn’t always the case. In fact, it wasn’t really until the early 1970s that they made the transition into the mainstream, thanks in no small part to the release of a film called King Boxer. Of course, nothing occurs in a vacuum. By the late 1960s, martial arts were already being taught more widely in the west. Bruce Lee was making waves with his role in The Green Hornet (although his martial arts films, while huge in Hong Kong, were yet to break the Us market). James Bond had a ninja encounter in 1967’s You Only Live Twice. Kung Fu, the seminal ABC series starring David Carradine, hit TVs across America in 1972. The west was primed and ready...
45 years on, we revisit King Boxer, and find a genuinely great martial arts movie...
Asian martial arts are now deeply embedded in western pop culture, but this wasn’t always the case. In fact, it wasn’t really until the early 1970s that they made the transition into the mainstream, thanks in no small part to the release of a film called King Boxer. Of course, nothing occurs in a vacuum. By the late 1960s, martial arts were already being taught more widely in the west. Bruce Lee was making waves with his role in The Green Hornet (although his martial arts films, while huge in Hong Kong, were yet to break the Us market). James Bond had a ninja encounter in 1967’s You Only Live Twice. Kung Fu, the seminal ABC series starring David Carradine, hit TVs across America in 1972. The west was primed and ready...
- 9/4/2017
- Den of Geek
Craig Lines Aug 2, 2017
The martial arts master Jackie Chan made some amazing movies. We take a look back at the superb Project A series...
It’s a mystery to me why Jackie Chan appears in so few Greatest Director Of All-Time lists. I mean, sure, he’s a household name and any martial arts enthusiast, no matter how deep or casual, will be quick to let you know how good he is at fighting. Yet, outside the genre fandom, he rarely seems to get the respect he deserves as a filmmaker. Perhaps the problem is that two of the most critically dismissed or maligned genres in film are action and comedy, which also happen to be the two things Jackie Chan does best.
See related American Horror Story renewed for seasons 8 and 9 American Horror Story: Roanoke might be its best season yet American Horror Story season 6: Roanoke Chapter 10 Ryan Murphy...
The martial arts master Jackie Chan made some amazing movies. We take a look back at the superb Project A series...
It’s a mystery to me why Jackie Chan appears in so few Greatest Director Of All-Time lists. I mean, sure, he’s a household name and any martial arts enthusiast, no matter how deep or casual, will be quick to let you know how good he is at fighting. Yet, outside the genre fandom, he rarely seems to get the respect he deserves as a filmmaker. Perhaps the problem is that two of the most critically dismissed or maligned genres in film are action and comedy, which also happen to be the two things Jackie Chan does best.
See related American Horror Story renewed for seasons 8 and 9 American Horror Story: Roanoke might be its best season yet American Horror Story season 6: Roanoke Chapter 10 Ryan Murphy...
- 7/27/2017
- Den of Geek
Craig Lines Jul 5, 2017
Saboteur? BMX Ninja? Ninja Golf? Shadow Warriors? The Last Ninja? We dissect the ninja videogames of the 1980s...
When I was a kid, I picked what I wanted to be when I grew up based on computer games rather than actual life experience. First, thanks to Lunar Jetman, I wanted to be an astronaut. Then Elevator Action and Impossible Mission convinced me a spy would be an even cooler job. Winter Games and, uh, Horace Goes Skiing made me think I had a shot at the Olympic Slalom. By the time I got to playing Tapper, running a redneck bar that only served Budweiser to furious cowboys looked like a solid option too.
I didn’t end up doing any of those things in real life, but one thing I did pick up from gaming that’s never gone away was an obsession with ninjas. At the...
Saboteur? BMX Ninja? Ninja Golf? Shadow Warriors? The Last Ninja? We dissect the ninja videogames of the 1980s...
When I was a kid, I picked what I wanted to be when I grew up based on computer games rather than actual life experience. First, thanks to Lunar Jetman, I wanted to be an astronaut. Then Elevator Action and Impossible Mission convinced me a spy would be an even cooler job. Winter Games and, uh, Horace Goes Skiing made me think I had a shot at the Olympic Slalom. By the time I got to playing Tapper, running a redneck bar that only served Budweiser to furious cowboys looked like a solid option too.
I didn’t end up doing any of those things in real life, but one thing I did pick up from gaming that’s never gone away was an obsession with ninjas. At the...
- 6/27/2017
- Den of Geek
Craig Lines Jun 28, 2017
Craig is in love with love island and he doesn't care who knows it. Here's why he thinks it's the best thing on TV...
Yeah. I know what you’re thinking already. I have to admit, I never thought I’d watch Love Island either. I knew the premise and it sounded weird. Creepy even. For those who aren’t familiar, it’s a reboot of the cringe-tastic Celebrity Love Island show from the mid-2000s, but with regular people. It’s recently started its third season and its popularity is at an all-time high, rising from 0.46 million viewers in 2015 to 1.96 million last week.
See related Super Troopers 2 filming begins, Rob Lowe added to cast
The idea is simple. They take a group of beautiful young people, stick them in a Majorcan villa for a few months, film them daily and encourage them to “couple up”. Each week,...
Craig is in love with love island and he doesn't care who knows it. Here's why he thinks it's the best thing on TV...
Yeah. I know what you’re thinking already. I have to admit, I never thought I’d watch Love Island either. I knew the premise and it sounded weird. Creepy even. For those who aren’t familiar, it’s a reboot of the cringe-tastic Celebrity Love Island show from the mid-2000s, but with regular people. It’s recently started its third season and its popularity is at an all-time high, rising from 0.46 million viewers in 2015 to 1.96 million last week.
See related Super Troopers 2 filming begins, Rob Lowe added to cast
The idea is simple. They take a group of beautiful young people, stick them in a Majorcan villa for a few months, film them daily and encourage them to “couple up”. Each week,...
- 6/26/2017
- Den of Geek
Craig Lines Jun 7, 2017
Our latest delve into martial arts cinema looks at the movie that inspired a John Carpenter favourite...
I've had a few comments here on my martial arts features asking "Where's the best place to start with martial arts films?" and I always find myself struggling to answer. The genre's so broad that it's hard to know what to recommend - different people will respond to different films, of course - and yet all this time, the perfect answer for Den Of Geek readers has been staring me in the face. If you've grown up on the geek diet of comic books, Star Wars, Lord Of The Rings, and the Diy SFX of Doctor Who, then the ideal martial arts starter movie for you is Zu: Warriors From The Magic Mountain (1983).
Zu was a significant film for the Hong Kong 'New Wave' movement that revolutionised the industry in the late 70s.
Our latest delve into martial arts cinema looks at the movie that inspired a John Carpenter favourite...
I've had a few comments here on my martial arts features asking "Where's the best place to start with martial arts films?" and I always find myself struggling to answer. The genre's so broad that it's hard to know what to recommend - different people will respond to different films, of course - and yet all this time, the perfect answer for Den Of Geek readers has been staring me in the face. If you've grown up on the geek diet of comic books, Star Wars, Lord Of The Rings, and the Diy SFX of Doctor Who, then the ideal martial arts starter movie for you is Zu: Warriors From The Magic Mountain (1983).
Zu was a significant film for the Hong Kong 'New Wave' movement that revolutionised the industry in the late 70s.
- 6/5/2017
- Den of Geek
Craig Lines May 3, 2017
For fans of 80s action cinema, No Retreat No Surrender holds a special place. We've been speaking to the man behind the series...
If you were a kid in the 1980s and you liked action movies, chances are you rented No Retreat No Surrender at some point. It was like a more violent, high-octane take on The Karate Kid, with all-American teen Jason (Kurt McKinney) getting martial arts tutelage from no less than The Ghost Of Bruce Lee so he could kick the ass of a muscly Russian (Jean-Claude Van Damme in his first major role). As a kid, this movie was everything to me. It was a 15 cert so a little bit edgy, but still simple and wholesome enough for young me to totally ‘get it’. I had tears streaming down my face the first time I watched it, I was so invested in the final fight.
For fans of 80s action cinema, No Retreat No Surrender holds a special place. We've been speaking to the man behind the series...
If you were a kid in the 1980s and you liked action movies, chances are you rented No Retreat No Surrender at some point. It was like a more violent, high-octane take on The Karate Kid, with all-American teen Jason (Kurt McKinney) getting martial arts tutelage from no less than The Ghost Of Bruce Lee so he could kick the ass of a muscly Russian (Jean-Claude Van Damme in his first major role). As a kid, this movie was everything to me. It was a 15 cert so a little bit edgy, but still simple and wholesome enough for young me to totally ‘get it’. I had tears streaming down my face the first time I watched it, I was so invested in the final fight.
- 5/2/2017
- Den of Geek
Craig Lines Apr 5, 2017
Marvel? DC? They have their moments, but how about Shogun Assassin, and in turn, the Lone Wolf & Cub movies?
Like most western viewers, I came to the Lone Wolf & Cub series via Shogun Assassin – a recut/mash-up of the first two movies, trimmed to 90 minutes and dubbed into English by a pair of enterprising Andy Warhol acolytes. It was one of the original 'video nasties' in the UK, banned for years, so highly desirable to a kid like me. And it didn’t disappoint. In fact, it was probably the goriest movie on the list.
While it may seem criminal now to butcher a pair of bona fide Japanese classics and completely change their meaning and tone, Shogun Assassin got away with it by being so vibrant and hyperactive. The inappropriate score is a joyful synthesiser meltdown and the spirited dub goes full-pelt, even if what they...
Marvel? DC? They have their moments, but how about Shogun Assassin, and in turn, the Lone Wolf & Cub movies?
Like most western viewers, I came to the Lone Wolf & Cub series via Shogun Assassin – a recut/mash-up of the first two movies, trimmed to 90 minutes and dubbed into English by a pair of enterprising Andy Warhol acolytes. It was one of the original 'video nasties' in the UK, banned for years, so highly desirable to a kid like me. And it didn’t disappoint. In fact, it was probably the goriest movie on the list.
While it may seem criminal now to butcher a pair of bona fide Japanese classics and completely change their meaning and tone, Shogun Assassin got away with it by being so vibrant and hyperactive. The inappropriate score is a joyful synthesiser meltdown and the spirited dub goes full-pelt, even if what they...
- 4/4/2017
- Den of Geek
Craig Lines Feb 9, 2017
Cynthia Rothrock, Michelle Yeoh, Maggie Cheung and more feature, as we salute the female stars of martial arts movies...
It’s arguably a rare sight when female characters lead a major genre film, and last year’s online Ghostbusters drama proves it’s still, depressingly, a controversial choice if they do. Too often, female characters are reduced to sidekicks, damsels, sex objects and caricatures. It sometimes feels like every day there’s a new statistic about women being under-represented in Hollywood and while, to some extent, things are looking brighter and more diverse by the day, it’s an uphill struggle. Still, as we wait for Hollywood to get its act together, I thought I’d celebrate a genre where awesome, strong, multi-faceted female characters have led casts as a regular occurrence for decades - martial arts!
See related Netflix's Stranger Things: Shawn Levy interview Netflix's...
Cynthia Rothrock, Michelle Yeoh, Maggie Cheung and more feature, as we salute the female stars of martial arts movies...
It’s arguably a rare sight when female characters lead a major genre film, and last year’s online Ghostbusters drama proves it’s still, depressingly, a controversial choice if they do. Too often, female characters are reduced to sidekicks, damsels, sex objects and caricatures. It sometimes feels like every day there’s a new statistic about women being under-represented in Hollywood and while, to some extent, things are looking brighter and more diverse by the day, it’s an uphill struggle. Still, as we wait for Hollywood to get its act together, I thought I’d celebrate a genre where awesome, strong, multi-faceted female characters have led casts as a regular occurrence for decades - martial arts!
See related Netflix's Stranger Things: Shawn Levy interview Netflix's...
- 1/31/2017
- Den of Geek
Craig Lines Jan 4, 2017
He's currently starring in Star Wars: Rogue One, but there are some fascinating horrors to be found in Donnie Yen's back catalogue...
After his recent show-stealing turn in Rogue One, it felt like the right time to write a little about Donnie Yen, one of my favourite actors. From his incendiary breakthrough performance in Tiger Cage (1988) to the acclaimed Ip Man trilogy (2009 - 2016), Yen's body of work has earned him a reputation as one of the all-time greatest martial arts stars and action choreographers. His high-energy blend of fighting styles has been hugely influential on the genre both in the east and west, and his charismatic performances have kept him popular with fans for decades.
However, while his kung fu films have been written about extensively, there's not quite as much about his brief forays into my other favourite genre: horror. He's arguably been on...
He's currently starring in Star Wars: Rogue One, but there are some fascinating horrors to be found in Donnie Yen's back catalogue...
After his recent show-stealing turn in Rogue One, it felt like the right time to write a little about Donnie Yen, one of my favourite actors. From his incendiary breakthrough performance in Tiger Cage (1988) to the acclaimed Ip Man trilogy (2009 - 2016), Yen's body of work has earned him a reputation as one of the all-time greatest martial arts stars and action choreographers. His high-energy blend of fighting styles has been hugely influential on the genre both in the east and west, and his charismatic performances have kept him popular with fans for decades.
However, while his kung fu films have been written about extensively, there's not quite as much about his brief forays into my other favourite genre: horror. He's arguably been on...
- 1/1/2017
- Den of Geek
Craig Lines Dec 14, 2016
The legendary Venom Mob never became kung fu cinema stars as individuals. But as a group? Let us tell their story...
A film critic, an accountant, an orphan and three opera students take on the martial arts world. It sounds like a plot from a crazy kung fu film in itself but, incredibly, forms the basis for the real life story of the legendary Venom Mob...
In 1970s Hong Kong, the film industry was driven by star power. Most of the big names were at some point contracted to Shaw Brothers and actors like Alexander Fu Sheng, Jimmy Wang Yu, Gordon Liu or Ti Lung could always guarantee a crowd. As daring as certain elements of classic Hong Kong cinema still feel, the studios were rarely willing to take risks when it came to the stars, believing that audiences just wouldn't show up if they didn't recognise the name on the marquee.
The legendary Venom Mob never became kung fu cinema stars as individuals. But as a group? Let us tell their story...
A film critic, an accountant, an orphan and three opera students take on the martial arts world. It sounds like a plot from a crazy kung fu film in itself but, incredibly, forms the basis for the real life story of the legendary Venom Mob...
In 1970s Hong Kong, the film industry was driven by star power. Most of the big names were at some point contracted to Shaw Brothers and actors like Alexander Fu Sheng, Jimmy Wang Yu, Gordon Liu or Ti Lung could always guarantee a crowd. As daring as certain elements of classic Hong Kong cinema still feel, the studios were rarely willing to take risks when it came to the stars, believing that audiences just wouldn't show up if they didn't recognise the name on the marquee.
- 12/10/2016
- Den of Geek
Craig Lines Oct 15, 2019
In the 1970s, Hammer joined forces with Shaw Brothers Studios, to try and inject fresh blood into the former's Dracula franchise...
The final film in Hammer's Dracula series is perhaps the least talked about, despite being the weirdest. By 1974, Hammer's star was fading. The seminal British studio struggled to keep up with the changing tastes of genre audiences and attempts to cram their gothic ghouls into modern film styles weren't working. While some experiments - like Dracula Ad 1972 or Satanic Rites Of Dracula - have a certain cult appeal now, they were poorly received at the time and drove their star Christopher Lee to quit the franchise for good.
Not to be dissuaded, Hammer decided to inject new blood into the Dracula franchise one last time by cashing in on the latest cinematic craze – kung fu.
Meanwhile in Hong Kong, Shaw Brothers studios were prolifically exporting high-end...
In the 1970s, Hammer joined forces with Shaw Brothers Studios, to try and inject fresh blood into the former's Dracula franchise...
The final film in Hammer's Dracula series is perhaps the least talked about, despite being the weirdest. By 1974, Hammer's star was fading. The seminal British studio struggled to keep up with the changing tastes of genre audiences and attempts to cram their gothic ghouls into modern film styles weren't working. While some experiments - like Dracula Ad 1972 or Satanic Rites Of Dracula - have a certain cult appeal now, they were poorly received at the time and drove their star Christopher Lee to quit the franchise for good.
Not to be dissuaded, Hammer decided to inject new blood into the Dracula franchise one last time by cashing in on the latest cinematic craze – kung fu.
Meanwhile in Hong Kong, Shaw Brothers studios were prolifically exporting high-end...
- 11/2/2016
- Den of Geek
Craig Lines Oct 31, 2016
24 years after infamous UK horror TV event Ghostwatch aired on the BBC, we chat to its director Lesley Manning...
Although Ghostwatch aired in 1992 and was never shown again on TV, its legacy endures. From the excellent Behind The Curtains documentary to its frequent appearances on “Scariest Moments” lists, people love to talk about what still remains the most controversial drama in broadcast history (and retains the record number of viewer complaints).
See related Marvel's Luke Cage episode 13 viewing notes: You Know My Steez The Punisher: 5 new cast members and 2017 release confirmed
To celebrate the BBC releasing it, at last, through their online store, Den Of Geek talked with director Lesley Manning about making the programme and its enduring influence…
How does it feel that every few years, so many people want to talk to you about Ghostwatch?
Well, because Stephen [Volk, writer] and I felt like lepers for a few years afterwards,...
24 years after infamous UK horror TV event Ghostwatch aired on the BBC, we chat to its director Lesley Manning...
Although Ghostwatch aired in 1992 and was never shown again on TV, its legacy endures. From the excellent Behind The Curtains documentary to its frequent appearances on “Scariest Moments” lists, people love to talk about what still remains the most controversial drama in broadcast history (and retains the record number of viewer complaints).
See related Marvel's Luke Cage episode 13 viewing notes: You Know My Steez The Punisher: 5 new cast members and 2017 release confirmed
To celebrate the BBC releasing it, at last, through their online store, Den Of Geek talked with director Lesley Manning about making the programme and its enduring influence…
How does it feel that every few years, so many people want to talk to you about Ghostwatch?
Well, because Stephen [Volk, writer] and I felt like lepers for a few years afterwards,...
- 10/30/2016
- Den of Geek
Craig Lines Oct 31, 2016
We chatted to Rich Lawden, the maker of documentary Ghostwatch: Behind The Curtains, about the haunting legacy of Pipes...
When Ghostwatch screened on BBC1 in 1992, it received a record number of complaints from viewers who were upset, shocked, terrified or angry about it. Worried that perhaps they had gone too far, the BBC refused to rebroadcast it and, as a result of its relative obscurity, the show took on a near-mythical cult status. However, one young viewer it made a huge impression on was Rich Lawden who, twenty years later, would release a passionate and comprehensive documentary (Ghostwatch: Behind The Curtains) that covered everything you could ever want to know about the programme but were afraid to ask.
See related Marvel's Luke Cage episode 13 viewing notes: You Know My Steez The Punisher: 5 new cast members and 2017 release confirmed
With both Ghostwatch and Behind The Curtains released this...
We chatted to Rich Lawden, the maker of documentary Ghostwatch: Behind The Curtains, about the haunting legacy of Pipes...
When Ghostwatch screened on BBC1 in 1992, it received a record number of complaints from viewers who were upset, shocked, terrified or angry about it. Worried that perhaps they had gone too far, the BBC refused to rebroadcast it and, as a result of its relative obscurity, the show took on a near-mythical cult status. However, one young viewer it made a huge impression on was Rich Lawden who, twenty years later, would release a passionate and comprehensive documentary (Ghostwatch: Behind The Curtains) that covered everything you could ever want to know about the programme but were afraid to ask.
See related Marvel's Luke Cage episode 13 viewing notes: You Know My Steez The Punisher: 5 new cast members and 2017 release confirmed
With both Ghostwatch and Behind The Curtains released this...
- 10/30/2016
- Den of Geek
Craig Lines Nov 2, 2016
In the 1970s, Hammer joined forces with Shaw Brothers Studios, to try and inject fresh blood into the former's Dracula franchise...
The final film in Hammer's Dracula series is perhaps the least talked about, despite being the weirdest. By 1974, Hammer's star was fading. The seminal British studio struggled to keep up with the changing tastes of genre audiences and attempts to cram their gothic ghouls into modern film styles weren't working. While some experiments - like the campy Dracula Ad 1972 or Satanic Rites Of Dracula - have a certain cult appeal now, they were poorly received at the time and drove their star Christopher Lee to quit the franchise for good.
Not to be dissuaded, Hammer decided to inject new blood into the Dracula franchise one last time by cashing in on the latest cinematic craze – kung fu.
Meanwhile in Hong Kong, Shaw Brothers studios were prolifically...
In the 1970s, Hammer joined forces with Shaw Brothers Studios, to try and inject fresh blood into the former's Dracula franchise...
The final film in Hammer's Dracula series is perhaps the least talked about, despite being the weirdest. By 1974, Hammer's star was fading. The seminal British studio struggled to keep up with the changing tastes of genre audiences and attempts to cram their gothic ghouls into modern film styles weren't working. While some experiments - like the campy Dracula Ad 1972 or Satanic Rites Of Dracula - have a certain cult appeal now, they were poorly received at the time and drove their star Christopher Lee to quit the franchise for good.
Not to be dissuaded, Hammer decided to inject new blood into the Dracula franchise one last time by cashing in on the latest cinematic craze – kung fu.
Meanwhile in Hong Kong, Shaw Brothers studios were prolifically...
- 10/25/2016
- Den of Geek
The first Ouija film scored at the box office, but few loved it. Ouija 2? A big improvement...
It's possible that many of you clicking on this review just want to know if this is a better movie than 2014's Ouija. The short answer is yes and substantially so. It's being marketed as a new standalone story (and, indeed, you don't need to see Ouija at all to understand Origin Of Evil) but viewers with long/detailed memories will pick up quickly that this is fact an origin story - set 47 years earlier - for evil ghost Doris from the first film. Luckily, between the period setting and the change in creative team, they've done a good job of distancing it and, while the board may look the same, we're playing a very different game.
Here, Doris Zander (Lulu Wilson) is a regular little girl who lives in a nice suburban...
It's possible that many of you clicking on this review just want to know if this is a better movie than 2014's Ouija. The short answer is yes and substantially so. It's being marketed as a new standalone story (and, indeed, you don't need to see Ouija at all to understand Origin Of Evil) but viewers with long/detailed memories will pick up quickly that this is fact an origin story - set 47 years earlier - for evil ghost Doris from the first film. Luckily, between the period setting and the change in creative team, they've done a good job of distancing it and, while the board may look the same, we're playing a very different game.
Here, Doris Zander (Lulu Wilson) is a regular little girl who lives in a nice suburban...
- 10/19/2016
- Den of Geek
Craig Lines Oct 4, 2016
Roger and Adam Hargreaves' lovely, silly, wise Mr Men books celebrate their 45 birthday this year. Here's why they're a guide for living...
Being an adult fan of something aimed at small children (especially when you don't have any of your own), can sometimes lead to awkward moments. A few years ago I went to a book signing at Selfridges so I could meet Adam Hargreaves. Although his name doesn't appear on the covers, Adam took over the writing and illustrating of the Mr Men books after the death of his father Roger (their original creator) in 1988 and both of them are huge heroes of mine.
It was a busy event and Adam was flanked by giant plush incarnations of Mr Bump and Mr Happy, who seemed more popular than he was with the primarily school-age crowd. There were kids everywhere and they were all acting like they'd...
Roger and Adam Hargreaves' lovely, silly, wise Mr Men books celebrate their 45 birthday this year. Here's why they're a guide for living...
Being an adult fan of something aimed at small children (especially when you don't have any of your own), can sometimes lead to awkward moments. A few years ago I went to a book signing at Selfridges so I could meet Adam Hargreaves. Although his name doesn't appear on the covers, Adam took over the writing and illustrating of the Mr Men books after the death of his father Roger (their original creator) in 1988 and both of them are huge heroes of mine.
It was a busy event and Adam was flanked by giant plush incarnations of Mr Bump and Mr Happy, who seemed more popular than he was with the primarily school-age crowd. There were kids everywhere and they were all acting like they'd...
- 10/3/2016
- Den of Geek
Craig Lines Oct 5, 2016
Hiroshi Inagaki's Samurai trilogy is a feast best enjoyed in one go. We revisit the groundbreaking films right here...
The 1950s are widely regarded as a golden age of Japanese Cinema. To enormously simplify a complex period in history (so we can get talking about swords and duels and all that badass stuff), a lot changed between the end of WWII in 1945 and the end of the Allied Occupation of Japan in 1952. Censorship was simultaneously lifted and imposed. The Occupation restrained Japan in terms of what it could say in films being produced (for example, anything that 'promoted feudal values' was not allowed), yet at the same time, exposed it to all kinds of western material that had been forbidden in the pre-war years. When the Americans left, the restrictions were lifted but the new influences survived, unleashing a tsunami of innovative, passionate cinema, much of...
Hiroshi Inagaki's Samurai trilogy is a feast best enjoyed in one go. We revisit the groundbreaking films right here...
The 1950s are widely regarded as a golden age of Japanese Cinema. To enormously simplify a complex period in history (so we can get talking about swords and duels and all that badass stuff), a lot changed between the end of WWII in 1945 and the end of the Allied Occupation of Japan in 1952. Censorship was simultaneously lifted and imposed. The Occupation restrained Japan in terms of what it could say in films being produced (for example, anything that 'promoted feudal values' was not allowed), yet at the same time, exposed it to all kinds of western material that had been forbidden in the pre-war years. When the Americans left, the restrictions were lifted but the new influences survived, unleashing a tsunami of innovative, passionate cinema, much of...
- 9/28/2016
- Den of Geek
Craig Lines Sep 26, 2016
A few words about H G Lewis, 'the godfather of gore', who died yesterday...
This week is a sad one for horror fans, as it marks the passing of Herschell Gordon Lewis (June 15, 1929 - September 26, 2016), a man whose pioneering splatter movies changed the genre forever. While even his most well-known work is perhaps still not widely seen outside of horror circles, this is part of what makes him one of the quintessential purveyors of it. Horror - especially at its extreme end - has always been an outsider's genre, offputting and disturbing to wider crowds. Sure, a lot of the tropes and extremities that Lewis introduced are commonplace now in major pictures but his work (although shot primarily to make money from the drive-in circuit in the early 60s) has remained on the fringes. A cult favourite for those in the know.
For me personally, he carved...
A few words about H G Lewis, 'the godfather of gore', who died yesterday...
This week is a sad one for horror fans, as it marks the passing of Herschell Gordon Lewis (June 15, 1929 - September 26, 2016), a man whose pioneering splatter movies changed the genre forever. While even his most well-known work is perhaps still not widely seen outside of horror circles, this is part of what makes him one of the quintessential purveyors of it. Horror - especially at its extreme end - has always been an outsider's genre, offputting and disturbing to wider crowds. Sure, a lot of the tropes and extremities that Lewis introduced are commonplace now in major pictures but his work (although shot primarily to make money from the drive-in circuit in the early 60s) has remained on the fringes. A cult favourite for those in the know.
For me personally, he carved...
- 9/26/2016
- Den of Geek
Craig Lines Jul 6, 2016
From The Boxer's Omen to the genuine unpleasantness of Calamity Of Snakes, we take a look at a stomach-churning subgenre of cinema...
In 1975, Ho Meng Hua’s Black Magic cast its spell over Chinese audiences and summoned up a subgenre that produced some of the most extreme, esoteric and stomach-churning horror films of all time. Between the late 70s and early 80s, Chinese black magic movies were pumped out en masse, feeding audiences their fill of evil sorcery and twisted moralizing. The formula usually featured some poor schmuck enlisting a dark wizard to help them achieve something (more often than not, something sexual) and finding that the forces they’ve unleashed are more than they can handle. Cue the flamboyant special effects and abundant nudity.
These films took inspiration from authentic folk magic for their various spells and rituals which, sadly, means they frequently feature real animal slaughter.
From The Boxer's Omen to the genuine unpleasantness of Calamity Of Snakes, we take a look at a stomach-churning subgenre of cinema...
In 1975, Ho Meng Hua’s Black Magic cast its spell over Chinese audiences and summoned up a subgenre that produced some of the most extreme, esoteric and stomach-churning horror films of all time. Between the late 70s and early 80s, Chinese black magic movies were pumped out en masse, feeding audiences their fill of evil sorcery and twisted moralizing. The formula usually featured some poor schmuck enlisting a dark wizard to help them achieve something (more often than not, something sexual) and finding that the forces they’ve unleashed are more than they can handle. Cue the flamboyant special effects and abundant nudity.
These films took inspiration from authentic folk magic for their various spells and rituals which, sadly, means they frequently feature real animal slaughter.
- 6/28/2016
- Den of Geek
facebook
twitter
google+
James Wan's Conjuring sequel has its moments, but it also points at a format that's coming to the end of its time...
The Conjuring felt like a breath of fresh air in 2013. Although similarly plotted to a glut of other ghost films and old-fashioned to the point of being simple, it had energy, style and jump-scares as huge as the box office receipts, perpetuating the idea that director James Wan had a golden touch. Three years and a spin-off later, its official sequel (also helmed by Wan) continues to plunder the case files of celebrated paranormal experts Ed and Lorraine Warren (played again by Patrick Wilson and Vera Farmiga), albeit to far less exciting effect.
After a confusing and unnecessary prologue in the Amityville house, the action cuts to Enfield in 1977, where the inhabitants of a damp and dingy - yet abnormally spacious - council house are being troubled by a poltergeist whose aim is to "hear them scream". Peggy Hodgson (Frances O'Connor with a Dick Van Dyke accent) is a long-suffering single mum with four kids who’ve been recently abandoned by their deadbeat dad. With no money to even buy biscuits, the last thing she needs to deal with is the ghost of a nasty old man who likes moving her furniture in an inconsiderate manner (more often than not, it breaks before reaching its destination) and possessing her youngest daughter Janet. The police, a group of psychical researchers and even some TV reporters all take a look inside the Hodgson house and raise the haunting's profile, so eventually the church calls in the Warrens in from America to stay at the house and find out if the it's real or not...
The Enfield Poltergeist is, of course, a well-documented case that's already had its share of books, documentaries and films written about it (including, loosely, Stephen Volk's immaculate Ghostwatch). It is widely believed to be a hoax but this is a studio horror picture so obviously it's going to play fast and loose with the truth and opt for a supernatural explanation. Fine in theory but it's a shame that the one it goes for is so flavourless because it actually winds up being somehow less interesting than the real story. Despite a noisy torrent of house-trashing visual FX it's an indulgent, overlong half-plot with very little meat on its bones.
While the first film was hardly subtle, it knew where to draw a line to keep its scares the right side of effective. This one, however, overplays everything and not in a fun audacious way either. It just takes its good ideas and drives them off a cliff, time and time again. For example, the Crooked Man zoetrope (this film's obligatory yet inexplicable Victorian-style toy) and the dog bell both seem like strong setups for the kind of inventive scares The Conjuring pulled off so well but the payoff is bewildering; a Burton-esque CGI dogman hybrid in a candy striped suit that stomps all over the screen like it's escaped from Night At The Museum.
Likewise, the characterisation takes a similar trajectory. There's a scene where Ed sings an Elvis song with the Hodgsons to bring everyone together and, when it starts, it's a rare moment of levity; warm, funny and tender. Then it's smothered with a string section that swells and swells until any emotion is lost beneath the heavy-handed soundtrack schmaltz. Joseph Bishara's score is irrationally bombastic throughout in fact, and the use of use of contemporary (or thereabouts!) music is so hysterically on-the-nose it's hard not to laugh. There is an opening montage of the local tourist sights set to The Clash's London Calling and then – with just a few cor blimeys in between - it cuts straight to a bus stop, while playing Bus Stop by The Hollies, in case we still weren't sure we were in Britain.
The worst offence, however, is the runtime. 133 minutes! Only the most ambitious genre films should dare to go over 90 and a simple one like this, focused as it is on scares, finds it impossible to sustain that much tension. Far too many of the shocks fall flat. At their best, the long takes of characters staring into darkness channel our universal fears of being alone in the house at night, uncertain of what we've just seen or heard. At their worst, it's literally just someone staring into space. I'd estimate there’s somewhere in the region of 40 minutes worth of staring into space in this film.
Ultimately, between the first Conjuring, the Annabelle film and three Insidious chapters (also Wan-directed or produced), this format seems exhausted. There's nothing here we've not seen done before and better. From the possessed kids to the pale-faced demons to the creepy use of a corny old vaudeville tune, what once was fresh now feels stock and predictable. Even the way that Lorraine is investigating one haunting (the Enfield Poltergeist) while having ominous visions of a different one (some kind of demon nun that looks like Marilyn Manson) is exactly what happens with Lin Shaye's character in Insidious 3. I hate to make the obvious gag but if there's going to be another Conjuring, it may be time they learned a few new tricks...
The Conjuring 2 is in UK cinemas now.
Follow our Twitter feed for faster news and bad jokes right here. And be our Facebook chum here.
Movies The Conjuring 2 The Conjuring James Wan Patrick Wilson Vera Farmiga Frances O'Connor Joseph Bishara Review Craig Lines 13 Jun 2016 - 05:56...
google+
James Wan's Conjuring sequel has its moments, but it also points at a format that's coming to the end of its time...
The Conjuring felt like a breath of fresh air in 2013. Although similarly plotted to a glut of other ghost films and old-fashioned to the point of being simple, it had energy, style and jump-scares as huge as the box office receipts, perpetuating the idea that director James Wan had a golden touch. Three years and a spin-off later, its official sequel (also helmed by Wan) continues to plunder the case files of celebrated paranormal experts Ed and Lorraine Warren (played again by Patrick Wilson and Vera Farmiga), albeit to far less exciting effect.
After a confusing and unnecessary prologue in the Amityville house, the action cuts to Enfield in 1977, where the inhabitants of a damp and dingy - yet abnormally spacious - council house are being troubled by a poltergeist whose aim is to "hear them scream". Peggy Hodgson (Frances O'Connor with a Dick Van Dyke accent) is a long-suffering single mum with four kids who’ve been recently abandoned by their deadbeat dad. With no money to even buy biscuits, the last thing she needs to deal with is the ghost of a nasty old man who likes moving her furniture in an inconsiderate manner (more often than not, it breaks before reaching its destination) and possessing her youngest daughter Janet. The police, a group of psychical researchers and even some TV reporters all take a look inside the Hodgson house and raise the haunting's profile, so eventually the church calls in the Warrens in from America to stay at the house and find out if the it's real or not...
The Enfield Poltergeist is, of course, a well-documented case that's already had its share of books, documentaries and films written about it (including, loosely, Stephen Volk's immaculate Ghostwatch). It is widely believed to be a hoax but this is a studio horror picture so obviously it's going to play fast and loose with the truth and opt for a supernatural explanation. Fine in theory but it's a shame that the one it goes for is so flavourless because it actually winds up being somehow less interesting than the real story. Despite a noisy torrent of house-trashing visual FX it's an indulgent, overlong half-plot with very little meat on its bones.
While the first film was hardly subtle, it knew where to draw a line to keep its scares the right side of effective. This one, however, overplays everything and not in a fun audacious way either. It just takes its good ideas and drives them off a cliff, time and time again. For example, the Crooked Man zoetrope (this film's obligatory yet inexplicable Victorian-style toy) and the dog bell both seem like strong setups for the kind of inventive scares The Conjuring pulled off so well but the payoff is bewildering; a Burton-esque CGI dogman hybrid in a candy striped suit that stomps all over the screen like it's escaped from Night At The Museum.
Likewise, the characterisation takes a similar trajectory. There's a scene where Ed sings an Elvis song with the Hodgsons to bring everyone together and, when it starts, it's a rare moment of levity; warm, funny and tender. Then it's smothered with a string section that swells and swells until any emotion is lost beneath the heavy-handed soundtrack schmaltz. Joseph Bishara's score is irrationally bombastic throughout in fact, and the use of use of contemporary (or thereabouts!) music is so hysterically on-the-nose it's hard not to laugh. There is an opening montage of the local tourist sights set to The Clash's London Calling and then – with just a few cor blimeys in between - it cuts straight to a bus stop, while playing Bus Stop by The Hollies, in case we still weren't sure we were in Britain.
The worst offence, however, is the runtime. 133 minutes! Only the most ambitious genre films should dare to go over 90 and a simple one like this, focused as it is on scares, finds it impossible to sustain that much tension. Far too many of the shocks fall flat. At their best, the long takes of characters staring into darkness channel our universal fears of being alone in the house at night, uncertain of what we've just seen or heard. At their worst, it's literally just someone staring into space. I'd estimate there’s somewhere in the region of 40 minutes worth of staring into space in this film.
Ultimately, between the first Conjuring, the Annabelle film and three Insidious chapters (also Wan-directed or produced), this format seems exhausted. There's nothing here we've not seen done before and better. From the possessed kids to the pale-faced demons to the creepy use of a corny old vaudeville tune, what once was fresh now feels stock and predictable. Even the way that Lorraine is investigating one haunting (the Enfield Poltergeist) while having ominous visions of a different one (some kind of demon nun that looks like Marilyn Manson) is exactly what happens with Lin Shaye's character in Insidious 3. I hate to make the obvious gag but if there's going to be another Conjuring, it may be time they learned a few new tricks...
The Conjuring 2 is in UK cinemas now.
Follow our Twitter feed for faster news and bad jokes right here. And be our Facebook chum here.
Movies The Conjuring 2 The Conjuring James Wan Patrick Wilson Vera Farmiga Frances O'Connor Joseph Bishara Review Craig Lines 13 Jun 2016 - 05:56...
- 6/1/2016
- Den of Geek
facebook
twitter
google+
The Five Deadly Venoms is a martial arts classic, that comes with one of the best opening sequences we've seen...
You don't need to do much more than whisper "I had five pupils..." to send shivers up the spines of most martial arts fans. It's a line that kicks off one of the most dazzling opening sequences in the history of cinema, as the dying Master of the Poison Clan explains to his sixth and final pupil that there were five more before him, each trained in a unique fighting style.
The Five Deadly Venoms wear masks that hide their identity and represent their particular style. There's the Centipede, the Snake, the Scorpion, the Lizard and the Toad, and the ways in which they fight draw from each animal's characteristics. As the Master explains, Centipede and Snake know one another's identity, as do Lizard and Toad. None of the others know Scorpion.
google+
The Five Deadly Venoms is a martial arts classic, that comes with one of the best opening sequences we've seen...
You don't need to do much more than whisper "I had five pupils..." to send shivers up the spines of most martial arts fans. It's a line that kicks off one of the most dazzling opening sequences in the history of cinema, as the dying Master of the Poison Clan explains to his sixth and final pupil that there were five more before him, each trained in a unique fighting style.
The Five Deadly Venoms wear masks that hide their identity and represent their particular style. There's the Centipede, the Snake, the Scorpion, the Lizard and the Toad, and the ways in which they fight draw from each animal's characteristics. As the Master explains, Centipede and Snake know one another's identity, as do Lizard and Toad. None of the others know Scorpion.
- 2/5/2016
- by simonbrew
- Den of Geek
facebook
twitter
google+
The Five Deadly Venoms is a martial arts classic, that comes with one of the best opening sequences we've seen...
You don't need to do much more than whisper "I had five pupils..." to send shivers up the spines of most martial arts fans. It's a line that kicks off one of the most dazzling opening sequences in the history of cinema, as the dying Master of the Poison Clan explains to his sixth and final pupil that there were five more before him, each trained in a unique fighting style.
The Five Deadly Venoms wear masks that hide their identity and represent their particular style. There's the Centipede, the Snake, the Scorpion, the Lizard and the Toad, and the ways in which they fight draw from each animal's characteristics. As the Master explains, Centipede and Snake know one another's identity, as do Lizard and Toad. None of the others know Scorpion.
google+
The Five Deadly Venoms is a martial arts classic, that comes with one of the best opening sequences we've seen...
You don't need to do much more than whisper "I had five pupils..." to send shivers up the spines of most martial arts fans. It's a line that kicks off one of the most dazzling opening sequences in the history of cinema, as the dying Master of the Poison Clan explains to his sixth and final pupil that there were five more before him, each trained in a unique fighting style.
The Five Deadly Venoms wear masks that hide their identity and represent their particular style. There's the Centipede, the Snake, the Scorpion, the Lizard and the Toad, and the ways in which they fight draw from each animal's characteristics. As the Master explains, Centipede and Snake know one another's identity, as do Lizard and Toad. None of the others know Scorpion.
- 2/5/2016
- by simonbrew
- Den of Geek
facebook
twitter
google+
Police Story might just be the greatest action franchise of all time. But which movies are the best in the series?
After his disappointing experience in America filming The Protector, Jackie Chan returned to Hong Kong determined to make his own cop film his own way. The result - Police Story - kickstarted perhaps the greatest action franchise of all time; a series of films that still deliver thrills of a near-religious magnitude for genre fans.
Aside from the two reboots, the Police Stories revolve around Jackie's maverick Hong Kong cop Ka-Kui Chan (or Kevin Chan, in the English dubs) with frequent appearances from his lovably inept superior 'Uncle Bill' (Bill Tung) and his long-suffering girlfriend May (Maggie Cheung). The story continuity is a little ropey but instead each instalment offers a new, and usually more improbable, case for Ka-Kui to crack.
There's a blend of comedy,...
google+
Police Story might just be the greatest action franchise of all time. But which movies are the best in the series?
After his disappointing experience in America filming The Protector, Jackie Chan returned to Hong Kong determined to make his own cop film his own way. The result - Police Story - kickstarted perhaps the greatest action franchise of all time; a series of films that still deliver thrills of a near-religious magnitude for genre fans.
Aside from the two reboots, the Police Stories revolve around Jackie's maverick Hong Kong cop Ka-Kui Chan (or Kevin Chan, in the English dubs) with frequent appearances from his lovably inept superior 'Uncle Bill' (Bill Tung) and his long-suffering girlfriend May (Maggie Cheung). The story continuity is a little ropey but instead each instalment offers a new, and usually more improbable, case for Ka-Kui to crack.
There's a blend of comedy,...
- 1/5/2016
- by simonbrew
- Den of Geek
facebook
twitter
google+
We continue our hunt for an overlooked Christmas classic in the DVD bargain bin. Our latest treat? Grumpy Cat...
Grumpy Cat’s Worst Christmas Ever is a hard film to write about.
Without wishing to exaggerate its effect, it almost makes you feel like you need to unlearn everything you thought you knew about cinema in order to give it a reasonable assessment. I suppose I should start by saying it’s not a 'good film', but then value judgements feel futile in the (adorable and super-smooshy) face of Grumpy Cat. Besides, whatever insult you could level at this film’s content is redundant. Odds are it’s already been covered by the mega-meta self-loathing that oozes from every scene.
What makes it so compelling, though, is the simple fact that it exists. That you can buy it on DVD. That you didn’t just pass out...
google+
We continue our hunt for an overlooked Christmas classic in the DVD bargain bin. Our latest treat? Grumpy Cat...
Grumpy Cat’s Worst Christmas Ever is a hard film to write about.
Without wishing to exaggerate its effect, it almost makes you feel like you need to unlearn everything you thought you knew about cinema in order to give it a reasonable assessment. I suppose I should start by saying it’s not a 'good film', but then value judgements feel futile in the (adorable and super-smooshy) face of Grumpy Cat. Besides, whatever insult you could level at this film’s content is redundant. Odds are it’s already been covered by the mega-meta self-loathing that oozes from every scene.
What makes it so compelling, though, is the simple fact that it exists. That you can buy it on DVD. That you didn’t just pass out...
- 12/5/2015
- by simonbrew
- Den of Geek
facebook
twitter
google+
Our latest martial arts focus takes a look back at what might just be Ireland's only martial arts film to date...
There are many things that I love about Fatal Deviation, Ireland's first and - as far as I can tell - only martial arts film. What I love most however is that James Bennett, the mastermind responsible, has never apologised for it. So often, when something appears so many times on 'Worst Movies Of All Time' lists and has been ridiculed to the extent this has, the filmmakers step back. They claim they were in on the 'joke' all along or that external forces ruined their picture or that they were on the wrong drugs and made a grave mistake.
Bennett, on the other hand, has never sold out his film like that. He has stuck behind it no matter what. Even now, his official Facebook...
google+
Our latest martial arts focus takes a look back at what might just be Ireland's only martial arts film to date...
There are many things that I love about Fatal Deviation, Ireland's first and - as far as I can tell - only martial arts film. What I love most however is that James Bennett, the mastermind responsible, has never apologised for it. So often, when something appears so many times on 'Worst Movies Of All Time' lists and has been ridiculed to the extent this has, the filmmakers step back. They claim they were in on the 'joke' all along or that external forces ruined their picture or that they were on the wrong drugs and made a grave mistake.
Bennett, on the other hand, has never sold out his film like that. He has stuck behind it no matter what. Even now, his official Facebook...
- 11/3/2015
- by simonbrew
- Den of Geek
Craig Lines Aug 11, 2019
We salute some of the finest work of The Shaw Brothers, as we look back at The 36th Chamber films...
This article comes from Den of Geek UK.
If you've watched more than a handful of Chinese martial arts films, you'll be familiar with the iconic Shaw Brothers logo that adorns so many credits sequences. The brothers in question - Runme, Runje and Runde, later joined by little brother Run Run - set up the first incarnation of their film studio (Tianyi) in 1925 and, by the 1960s, dominated the Chinese film industry. Their Movietown studio in Hong Kong was one of the largest and most technically advanced in the world and the martial arts films it made in the 1970s led the charge of bringing Chinese cinema to the west.
At the height of the kung fu boom, the Shaws were producing 30 to 40 films per year and the quality was shockingly high.
We salute some of the finest work of The Shaw Brothers, as we look back at The 36th Chamber films...
This article comes from Den of Geek UK.
If you've watched more than a handful of Chinese martial arts films, you'll be familiar with the iconic Shaw Brothers logo that adorns so many credits sequences. The brothers in question - Runme, Runje and Runde, later joined by little brother Run Run - set up the first incarnation of their film studio (Tianyi) in 1925 and, by the 1960s, dominated the Chinese film industry. Their Movietown studio in Hong Kong was one of the largest and most technically advanced in the world and the martial arts films it made in the 1970s led the charge of bringing Chinese cinema to the west.
At the height of the kung fu boom, the Shaws were producing 30 to 40 films per year and the quality was shockingly high.
- 8/6/2015
- Den of Geek
Many films tried to capitalise on the popularity of the late, great Bruce Lee. Here are our ten favourites...
1973 was the year that kung fu broke in America. The release of the popular Five Fingers Of Death (aka King Boxer) in March set the fuse and when Enter The Dragon (the first Hong Kong martial arts film co-produced by a major Us studio) followed in August, it exploded.
Although Bruce Lee was billed as a co-star in Enter The Dragon alongside John Saxon because casting an Asian actor in the lead role of an American film was unheard of at the time (and would remain so until 1982 when Sho Kosugi topped the bill for Revenge Of The Ninja), it was Bruce who captured the public's imagination. His amazing look and style, his astonishing talent for acting, writing and directing, and his unparalleled martial arts ability made him an icon for...
1973 was the year that kung fu broke in America. The release of the popular Five Fingers Of Death (aka King Boxer) in March set the fuse and when Enter The Dragon (the first Hong Kong martial arts film co-produced by a major Us studio) followed in August, it exploded.
Although Bruce Lee was billed as a co-star in Enter The Dragon alongside John Saxon because casting an Asian actor in the lead role of an American film was unheard of at the time (and would remain so until 1982 when Sho Kosugi topped the bill for Revenge Of The Ninja), it was Bruce who captured the public's imagination. His amazing look and style, his astonishing talent for acting, writing and directing, and his unparalleled martial arts ability made him an icon for...
- 7/5/2015
- by simonbrew
- Den of Geek
As Deliver Us From Evil lands on disc in the UK, we look back at key lessons the movies teach us about possession...
The idea of demonic possession goes back thousands of years, to before we had film. Most religions carry their own interpretation of what it means for a person to be 'possessed' by a demon or a spirit and it's a complicated, arcane subject shrouded in mystery and ritual.
The Sumerians, thousands of years before Christ, believed all diseases were caused by 'sickness demons' and had their sorcerers attempt early exorcisms as cures. The Quran talks extensively of Jinn (demons) that can drive people to insanity and may only be expelled via worship. In the Bible, Satan and his demons are very much at large using human beings as vessels for devilish deeds. Jesus casts a whole bunch of them out before he's accused of being demon-possessed himself...
The idea of demonic possession goes back thousands of years, to before we had film. Most religions carry their own interpretation of what it means for a person to be 'possessed' by a demon or a spirit and it's a complicated, arcane subject shrouded in mystery and ritual.
The Sumerians, thousands of years before Christ, believed all diseases were caused by 'sickness demons' and had their sorcerers attempt early exorcisms as cures. The Quran talks extensively of Jinn (demons) that can drive people to insanity and may only be expelled via worship. In the Bible, Satan and his demons are very much at large using human beings as vessels for devilish deeds. Jesus casts a whole bunch of them out before he's accused of being demon-possessed himself...
- 1/4/2015
- by simonbrew
- Den of Geek
As nominated by our writers, here are the books of 2014 we can’t recommend highly enough…
Closing the final page on the very best books leaves you with a single urge: to share it. We’re talking about the kind of books that make you want to follow strangers down the road, tugging at their elbow and saying “seriously, you’ve got to read this”.
Here then, is our equivalent of doing that. These are the books published in 2014 that our writers felt compelled to share. If there’s one that you feel similarly enthused about, feel free to recommend away in the comments section...
Half A King – Joe Abercrombie
Unless you’ve been living in hermit-like seclusion recently, you can’t help but notice that Young Adult fiction is having its moment. Not even a genre a few years ago, it burst into the public consciousness with a flurry...
Closing the final page on the very best books leaves you with a single urge: to share it. We’re talking about the kind of books that make you want to follow strangers down the road, tugging at their elbow and saying “seriously, you’ve got to read this”.
Here then, is our equivalent of doing that. These are the books published in 2014 that our writers felt compelled to share. If there’s one that you feel similarly enthused about, feel free to recommend away in the comments section...
Half A King – Joe Abercrombie
Unless you’ve been living in hermit-like seclusion recently, you can’t help but notice that Young Adult fiction is having its moment. Not even a genre a few years ago, it burst into the public consciousness with a flurry...
- 12/22/2014
- by louisamellor
- Den of Geek
Craig Lines Oct 25, 2019
Paul Naschy was arguably Spain's finest maker of horror movies, many of which were little seen.
It's been 10 years since the death of Paul Naschy, Spain's finest purveyor of horror, and it still seems somehow unreal and unfair. He was 75 years old and boasted an acting career that lasted from 1960 to only months before he died, with well over a hundred credits (often lead roles) to his name, yet Naschy still had so much to give. Despite suffering long-term depression and undergoing major heart surgery, his spirit, enthusiasm and unpretentious adoration of genre cinema made him feel irrepressible. I could well imagine his barrel-chested form wrestling the Grim Reaper into submission and stealing his gown as a prop for use in a later film but no, Naschy has gone...
Although in 2001 he was awarded the Gold Medal For Fine Arts (a Spanish equivalent of a knighthood), he...
Paul Naschy was arguably Spain's finest maker of horror movies, many of which were little seen.
It's been 10 years since the death of Paul Naschy, Spain's finest purveyor of horror, and it still seems somehow unreal and unfair. He was 75 years old and boasted an acting career that lasted from 1960 to only months before he died, with well over a hundred credits (often lead roles) to his name, yet Naschy still had so much to give. Despite suffering long-term depression and undergoing major heart surgery, his spirit, enthusiasm and unpretentious adoration of genre cinema made him feel irrepressible. I could well imagine his barrel-chested form wrestling the Grim Reaper into submission and stealing his gown as a prop for use in a later film but no, Naschy has gone...
Although in 2001 he was awarded the Gold Medal For Fine Arts (a Spanish equivalent of a knighthood), he...
- 10/22/2014
- Den of Geek
We answer more of your letters, with topics this time ranging from bad posters to Muppets to our inability to spell.
We've delved deep into our bulging post bag to look at some more of our readers' correspondence. As usual, here's a broad cross-section of your thoughts, suggestions and other stuff, ranging from classic Italian giallo movies, Muppets questions, and lots more.
If you want to send us a letter, a painting, or even a postcard while you're on holiday, our address is at the bottom of the page. We look forward to hearing from you. In the meantime, here's the latest selection of geek missives...
You Can't Speel!
Most people groan and roll their eyes when people talk about grammar and spelling but as I have to put up with the general mass bad grammar etc. that is Facebook and the internet en mass I expect better from pages such as yours.
We've delved deep into our bulging post bag to look at some more of our readers' correspondence. As usual, here's a broad cross-section of your thoughts, suggestions and other stuff, ranging from classic Italian giallo movies, Muppets questions, and lots more.
If you want to send us a letter, a painting, or even a postcard while you're on holiday, our address is at the bottom of the page. We look forward to hearing from you. In the meantime, here's the latest selection of geek missives...
You Can't Speel!
Most people groan and roll their eyes when people talk about grammar and spelling but as I have to put up with the general mass bad grammar etc. that is Facebook and the internet en mass I expect better from pages such as yours.
- 10/16/2014
- by ryanlambie
- Den of Geek
Spotted those shiny boxed horror movies in your local Tesco? Craig's watched them. All of them.
There's a certain type of horror film fan who enjoys a challenge. Perhaps they like a sense of adventure with their films. Perhaps there's also an element of gambling. It starts small. Low odds. For example, they might buy a boxset of the Alien Quadrilogy. Four seemingly reasonable films but there's an element of both chance and endurance. Can you sit through nearly eight hours of Alien films? And, if you can, how many of them will you like? Eventually not only does the thrill become harder to chase as the product's effect gets weaker (anyone who's bought Hellraiser boxsets will know the rules of diminishing returns) but there are only a finite number of franchises in the world and the hardened need to find new, strange ways of getting their kicks.
So bear with me.
There's a certain type of horror film fan who enjoys a challenge. Perhaps they like a sense of adventure with their films. Perhaps there's also an element of gambling. It starts small. Low odds. For example, they might buy a boxset of the Alien Quadrilogy. Four seemingly reasonable films but there's an element of both chance and endurance. Can you sit through nearly eight hours of Alien films? And, if you can, how many of them will you like? Eventually not only does the thrill become harder to chase as the product's effect gets weaker (anyone who's bought Hellraiser boxsets will know the rules of diminishing returns) but there are only a finite number of franchises in the world and the hardened need to find new, strange ways of getting their kicks.
So bear with me.
- 10/2/2014
- by sarahd
- Den of Geek
Craig Lines Oct 27, 2016
The 'live' broadcast Ghostwatch scared many people witless back in 1992. It's still spooking Craig right to this day...
Like many who are old enough to remember Halloween 1992, I watched Ghostwatch when it aired on BBC1 and was just the right age; poised somewhere between old enough to love it and young enough to believe it was real. I was staying over at a friend's house and his mum had no problem letting us stay up late. We were giddy with excitement because we already loved all things supernatural and the possibility of seeing actual, real live ghosts on actual, real live TV was irresistible. Never mind that it was billed quite clearly as a fictionalised drama. Like a significant slice of the UK population, I conveniently missed the writer's credit at the start and bought into the conceit hook, line and sinker...
The premise involved a team of TV presenters (Michael Parkinson,...
The 'live' broadcast Ghostwatch scared many people witless back in 1992. It's still spooking Craig right to this day...
Like many who are old enough to remember Halloween 1992, I watched Ghostwatch when it aired on BBC1 and was just the right age; poised somewhere between old enough to love it and young enough to believe it was real. I was staying over at a friend's house and his mum had no problem letting us stay up late. We were giddy with excitement because we already loved all things supernatural and the possibility of seeing actual, real live ghosts on actual, real live TV was irresistible. Never mind that it was billed quite clearly as a fictionalised drama. Like a significant slice of the UK population, I conveniently missed the writer's credit at the start and bought into the conceit hook, line and sinker...
The premise involved a team of TV presenters (Michael Parkinson,...
- 6/6/2007
- Den of Geek
IMDb.com, Inc. takes no responsibility for the content or accuracy of the above news articles, Tweets, or blog posts. This content is published for the entertainment of our users only. The news articles, Tweets, and blog posts do not represent IMDb's opinions nor can we guarantee that the reporting therein is completely factual. Please visit the source responsible for the item in question to report any concerns you may have regarding content or accuracy.