Holiday DVD And Blu-ray Gift Ideas For The Monster Movie Fan In Your Home

Written By: Ken Hulsey
Source: Amazon.com

Yes we are well into the holiday gift buying season and as it happens every year we are all running around like fury little idiots trying to find the right gifts for the right people. It can be quite a daunting task, so much so that you may be tempted just to buy everyone a bag of cookies and be done with it. Then again ... who do I give the chocolate chip ones to and who gets the peanut butter? Argh it can be maddening!

Well if you have a monster movie buff or just a movie buff in general on your holiday shopping list, and if your reading MIN that's a safe bet, hopefully I can be of some assistance.

I have taken the time to compile a selection of DVD and Blu-ray titles that will make any monster movie nut pop a yule log come Christmas morning.

TCM Greatest Classic Film Collection: Hammer Horror (Horror of Dracula / Dracula Has Risen from the Grave / The Curse of Frankenstein / Frankenstein Must Be Destroyed)

Hey with this one you get four, count em, four great Hammer horror films in one package. What a value!

Order on DVD From Amazon.com for $9.99

Godzilla Vs Megalon (DVD and Blu-ray)

For about a decade Godzilla fans have been going ape-shit crazy waiting for this title to come to DVD!

Here's the plot:

The undersea kingdom of Seatroplis is threatened when Japan begins atomic testing near Tokyo. The angry Seatopians send their secret weapon, Megalon, to destroy Tokyo and eliminate the human race. But earth gets once last chance when the sleeping Godzilla is rudely awakened! It becomes a titanic tag team of apocalyptic dimensions as Godzilla and robot superhero Jet Jaguar fight Megalon and Gigan in an all-out rubber-suit rumble to determine Earth s fate.

Order this film on Blu-ray from Amazon,com $24.99

Order this film on DVD from Amazon.com $14.99

Rise of the Planet of the Apes (Two-Disc Edition Blu-ray/DVD Combo + Digital Copy)

Speaking of going ape-shit crazy, Rise of the Planet of the Apes was this past summers best movie!

Here's the plot:

Rise of the Planet of the Apes is a revolution; an action-packed epic featuring stunning visual effects and creatures unlike anything ever seen before. At the story's heart is Caesar (Andy Serkis), a chimpanzee who gains human-like intelligence and emotions from an experimental drug. Raised like a child by the drug's creator (James Franco), Caesar ultimately finds himself taken from the humans he loves and imprisoned. Seeking justice, Caesar assembles a simian army and escapes -- putting man and primate on a collision course that could change the planet forever.

Order this DVD/Blu-ray combo from Amazon.com $24.99

Green Slime (Remastered Edition)

Another film that sci fi and monster movie fans have been waiting for. This one is so bad that it's good!

The plot:

After a perilous mission to a huge asteroid, a crew returns to its space station, unaware a bit of ooze from the asteroid clings to a crewman's uniform. The green goop grows - into murderous, tentacled monsters. And as station members fight to live, gunk from the monsters' wounds turns into more monsters! That's the story. Now enjoy as our heroes fight to preserve Earth and, unintentionally, our own senses of humor with a movie that Kevin Thomas of the Los Angeles Times called "one of the funniest made-in-Japan sci-fi monster movies ever." Kinji Fukasaku, whose later work was championed by Quentin Tarantino, directs. The world would be a far more bleak and joyless place without marvels like The Green Slime.

Order this film on DVD from Amazon.com $15.99

Godzilla (The Criterion Collection)

It's about time this amazing film got the Criterion treatment! This is a must-have item for any movie fan!

The skinny:

Ishiro Honda’s Godzilla is the roaring granddaddy of all monster movies. It’s also a remarkably humane and melancholy drama made in Japan at a time when the country was still reeling from nuclear attack and H-bomb testing. Its rampaging radioactive beast, the poignant embodiment of an entire population’s fears, became a beloved international icon of destruction, spawning more than twenty sequels and spinoffs. This first thrilling, tactile spectacle continues to be a cult phenomenon; here, we present the original, 1954 Japanese version, along with Godzilla: King of the Monsters!, the 1956 American reworking starring Raymond Burr (Rear Window).

Order this film on Blu-ray from Amazon.com $27.99

Order this film on DVD from Amazon.com $19.99

Paul (Two-Disc Blu-ray/DVD Combo + Digital Copy)

Simon Pegg and Nick Frost have done it again! This was another great film that may have slipped under some people's radar. Trust me, you will pee yourself from laughing!

The propaganda:

Simon Pegg and Nick Frost (Hot Fuzz, Shaun of the Dead) reunite as sci-fi geeks taking a pilgrimage to America's UFO heartland. There they meet a smart-ass alien, Paul (voiced by Seth Rogen), who takes them on an insane road trip. As they struggle to return Paul home, the little green man might just take the outcasts from misfits to intergalactic heroes.

Order this DVD/Blu-ray combo From Amazon.com $12.99

Order this film on DVD from Amazon.com $10.49

Kingdom Of The Spiders [Special Edition]

William Shatner covered in tarantulas, do I have to say more?

The crawling facts:

William Shatner stars as veterinarian Rack Hansen in this cult classic about an Arizona town infested with a horde of arachnids that turn on the humans whose insecticides have depleted their natural food supply.

After livestock belonging to rancher Walter Colby fall victim to a spider attack, entomologist Diane Ashley (Tiffany Bolling) arrives and tries to help Rack deal with the crisis: but with the big county fair fast approaching, Mayor Connors refuses to let them quarantine the ranch. Soon the remaining residents of the town must barricade themselves at Emma Washburns lodge in an effort to save themselves from the eight-legged invaders in the ultimate man vs. spider showdown.

Order this movie on DVD from Amazon.com $15.99

New Trailer & Images From RISE OF THE APES Lack Charm Of Original

Written By: Ken Hulsey
Source: Rise of the Planet of the Apes / Facebook

Weta Digital has just released several concept images from "Rise of the Planet of the Apes" (I liked 'Rise of the Apes' better) via the film's official Facebook page. Though the images are pretty cool I can't help thinking that the film lacks the basic charm of the original film series. Granted, the apes .... well look like 'real' apes, it was the human-like qualities of using actors in ape make-up that allowed audiences back in the 60s and 70s to identify with with them. I wonder how much modern audiences will embrace these apes?

For me ..... I'm just not feeling it right now.

Some of these new concept photos look really cool, apes attacking soldiers in downtown San Francisco, apes scaling the Golden Gate bridge and apes with spears on top of a building. The others kinda look rather comical, apes jumping on cars like they used to do at Lion Country Safari and apes scaring shoppers at the mall.

A mixed bag in my mind.

It, of course, is way too early to pass any kind of judgement on this one. Part of me wants to like it, the other wants to ignore it and watch Taylor, Cornelius and Zira on DVD.

Check these out and formulate your own opinion:








See Also: The First Image Of Caesar From RISE OF THE APES

Digital Effects House Turns To Columbia Professor For "Rise Of The Apes"

Planet of The Apes - Chimpin' Ain't Easy T-Shirt

The 100 Greatest Monsters From Movies And Television #21 - #30

Harry Potter Star Felton Cast In RISE OF THE APES

Brian Cox To Be The Bad Guy In RISE OF THE APES / Andy Serkis To Play Caesar In RISE OF THE APES / James Franco Cast In The New PLANET OF THE APES film / Planet of the Apes: Caesar Set To Begin Production In July / Scott Frank Plans To Take Planet Of The Apes In A New Direction / Is Fox Planning To Re-Boot The Planet Of The Apes? / Escape From The Planet Of The Apes (1971)(20th Century Fox) / Beneath The Planet Of The Apes (1970)(20th Century Fox) / Actress Profile - Linda Harrison / Planet Of The Apes (1974)(TV) / Planet Of The Apes (1968)

The First Image Of Caesar From RISE OF THE APES

Written By: Ken Hulsey
Source: Obsessed With Film

When 20th Century Fox first announced way back in 2008 that they were planning to reboot the "Planet of the Apes" movie franchise using modern computer generated effects many in the fan community spoke out in objection. How would CGI Apes stand up against the legendary makeup effects created by John Chambers for the original films?

Well today we have our first glimpse of what the main character, Caesar, in "Rise of the Apes" will look like.

Fox revealed many images from their upcoming releases at the Las Vegas’ CinemaCon including the above image, albeit only the nose and eyes, of Andy Serkis as the genetically altered ape who will bring about the fall of mankind.

The apes in "Rise" are being digitally created by Weta Studios with hair effects by Columbia University’s Eitan Grinspun, who created brand-new state of the art animation software for the Disney animated feature "Tangled".

The look of the character has some flair of Chambers work ..... but then again ..... not really.

I guess the jury will be out until we get a good look at the whole design.

Pity, I really loved the look actual actors in ape make-up.

See Also: Digital Effects House Turns To Columbia Professor For "Rise Of The Apes" / The 100 Greatest Monsters From Movies And Television #21 - #30 / Harry Potter Star Felton Cast In RISE OF THE APES / Brian Cox To Be The Bad Guy In RISE OF THE APES / Andy Serkis To Play Caesar In RISE OF THE APES / James Franco Cast In The New PLANET OF THE APES film / Planet of the Apes: Caesar Set To Begin Production In July / Scott Frank Plans To Take Planet Of The Apes In A New Direction / Is Fox Planning To Re-Boot The Planet Of The Apes? / Escape From The Planet Of The Apes (1971)(20th Century Fox) / Beneath The Planet Of The Apes (1970)(20th Century Fox) / Actress Profile - Linda Harrison / Planet Of The Apes (1974)(TV) / Planet Of The Apes (1968)

Digital Effects House Turns To Columbia Professor For "Rise Of The Apes"

Written By: Ken Hulsey
Source: Techeye

It seems that Peter Jackson’s effects studio is having fits trying to make realistic computer generated hair for the stars of Fox’s upcoming "Planet of the Apes" prequel "Rise of the Apes." In fact Weta Studios is having so much trouble trying to get it right that they have turned to Columbia University’s Eitan Grinspun, who created brand-new state of the art animation software for the Disney animated feature "Tangled", to work on two of their upcoming projects. The other being Steven Spielberg's "Tintin", where the title characters dog Snowy apparently needed a shampoo and a clip as well.

I would like to go into all the details of how Grinspun has used geometry and advanced mathematics to create a program that can simulate "real" human, or in this case, simian / canine, hair, but after reading the professor’s remarks about it, I have to admit, I know probably less now then when I started. That’s why he is a Columbia professor and I’m some dude behind a keyboard trying to write about it.

To sum it all up, the Apes were having a hair issues, Fox hired a genius to figure out how to fix it and now they will be ready to overthrow us human types in grand cinematic glory.

"Where there is fire, there is smoke. And in that smoke, from this day forward, my people will crouch, and conspire, and plot, and plan for the inevitable day of man's downfall, the day when he finally and self-destructively turns his weapons against his own kind. The day of the writing in the sky, when your cities lie buried under radioactive rubble! When the sea is a dead sea, and the land is a wasteland, out of which I will lead my people from their captivity! And we will build our own cities, in which there will be no place for humans, except to serve our ends! And we shall found our own armies, our own religion, our own dynasty! And that day is upon you...NOW!! "

See Also: The 100 Greatest Monsters From Movies And Television #21 - #30 / Harry Potter Star Felton Cast In RISE OF THE APES / Brian Cox To Be The Bad Guy In RISE OF THE APES / Andy Serkis To Play Caesar In RISE OF THE APES / James Franco Cast In The New PLANET OF THE APES film / Planet of the Apes: Caesar Set To Begin Production In July / Scott Frank Plans To Take Planet Of The Apes In A New Direction / Is Fox Planning To Re-Boot The Planet Of The Apes? / Escape From The Planet Of The Apes (1971)(20th Century Fox) / Beneath The Planet Of The Apes (1970)(20th Century Fox) / Actress Profile - Linda Harrison / Planet Of The Apes (1974)(TV) / Planet Of The Apes (1968)

Harry Potter Star Felton Cast In RISE OF THE APES

Written By: Ken Hulsey
Sources: Hollywood News / Backstage.com

With production set to begin any day now in Vancouver, the cast of the "Planet of the Apes" prequel, "Rise of the Apes", is starting to take shape.

On Wednesday veteran character actor Brian Cox joined the production and now Fox has announced that Tom Felton has been cast .

According to sources, Felton, who is best known for his role as Draco Malfoy in the "Harry Potter" film series, will play the son of Cox's evil primate sanctuary owner.

As reported in earlier articles, "Rise of the Apes" boasts a rather interesting cast including Freida Pinto, James Franco, John Lithgow and Andy Serkis, who will once again be used as a model for a CGI rendered character, Caesar, the leader of the apes uprising against humanity.

Based loosely on the 1972 movie "Conquest of the Planet of the Apes", "Rise" is a "prequel to the 'Planet of the Apes' movies, set in the present day, which tells the story of the genetic experiments that led to apes developing human-like intelligence, and the beginning of the end of the era of man."

“Rise of the Apes” is slated to be released in theaters on June 24, 2011.

See Also: Brian Cox To Be The Bad Guy In RISE OF THE APES / Andy Serkis To Play Caesar In RISE OF THE APES / James Franco Cast In The New PLANET OF THE APES film / Planet of the Apes: Caesar Set To Begin Production In July / Scott Frank Plans To Take Planet Of The Apes In A New Direction / Is Fox Planning To Re-Boot The Planet Of The Apes? / Escape From The Planet Of The Apes (1971)(20th Century Fox) / Beneath The Planet Of The Apes (1970)(20th Century Fox) / Actress Profile - Linda Harrison / Planet Of The Apes (1974)(TV) / Planet Of The Apes (1968)

Brian Cox To Be The Bad Guy In RISE OF THE APES

Written By: Ken Hulsey
Source: MTV

The cast for the upcoming "Planet of the Apes" reboot, "Rise of the Apes" is becoming wider in scope, and in depth, with the addition of veteran character actor Brian Cox (X2, The Bourne Identity) as the film's prime antagonist.

According to sources, Cox's character is, "the villainous owner of a primate sanctuary who runs the facility without compassion for the animals that live there."

You can bet dollars to donuts that it will this meanie who will play a major role in persuading Caesar to unite his brothers in a revolt to destroy mankind.

Filming on "Rise of the Apes" is set to begin filming any day now under the direction of Rupert Wyatt.

Cox joins an already talented cast that includes Freida Pinto, James Franco and John Lithgow.

Interestingly enough, "Conquest of the Planet of the Apes", which will serve as the inspiration for "Rise of the Apes", was filmed just down the street from my home at UC Irvine. The university stood in for the futuristic city where the apes were forced into slavery.

See Also: Andy Serkis To Play Caesar In RISE OF THE APES / James Franco Cast In The New PLANET OF THE APES film / Planet of the Apes: Caesar Set To Begin Production In July / Scott Frank Plans To Take Planet Of The Apes In A New Direction / Is Fox Planning To Re-Boot The Planet Of The Apes? / Escape From The Planet Of The Apes (1971)(20th Century Fox) / Beneath The Planet Of The Apes (1970)(20th Century Fox) / Actress Profile - Linda Harrison / Planet Of The Apes (1974)(TV) / Planet Of The Apes (1968)

Andy Serkis To Play Caesar In RISE OF THE APES

Written By: Ken Hulsey
Source: WENN

Actor Andy Serkis, who has the pleasure of playing both King Kong and Gollum, will now have the chance to play another of cinema's greatest simians, Caesar, from the "Planet of the Apes."

Indeed, the performer who has the uncanny ability to mimic animal movements, has been cast as the leader of an ape rebellion over mankind in 20th Century Fox's reboot of the popular "Apes" franchise entitled, "Rise of the Apes."

Though many news outlets are reporting that Serkis will be donning an ape costume and makeup similar to the kind made famous by John Chambers in the 1960s and 70s, it is safe to assume from the reports that have surfaced that the actor will once again be used as a model for a CGI character.

Of course, the fact that Peter Jackson's effects house, WETA Digital, has been hired to work on the film's effects probably is a dead giveaway here.

Not much is known about the film as of yet, but early reports stated that the film would center around the genetic engineering of apes to be used as slaves for mankind, similar to the plot of "Conquest of the Planet of the Apes". As can be expected, these intelligent primates soon get sick of being treated like animals and join forces to turn the tables on us human types.

"Rise of the Apes" is set to begin filming next month in San Francisco under the direction of Rupert Wyatt. Other cast members include Slumdog Millionaire star Freida Pinto, James Franco and John Lithgow.

See Also: James Franco Cast In The New PLANET OF THE APES film / Planet of the Apes: Caesar Set To Begin Production In July / Scott Frank Plans To Take Planet Of The Apes In A New Direction / Is Fox Planning To Re-Boot The Planet Of The Apes? / Escape From The Planet Of The Apes (1971)(20th Century Fox) / Beneath The Planet Of The Apes (1970)(20th Century Fox) / Actress Profile - Linda Harrison / Planet Of The Apes (1974)(TV) / Planet Of The Apes (1968)

James Franco Cast In The New PLANET OF THE APES film

Written By: Ken Hulsey
Source: Variety

According to Variety, actor James Franco has been cast to play a young scientist in the 20th Century Fox, "Planet of the Apes" reboot, entitled, "Rise of the Apes".

The film, which will begin production in July, is being directed by Rupert Wyatt ("The Escapist").

So far, the film which was first announced way back in 2008, has had it's share of development problems, and has changed directors already once.

This past April Wyatt, a relatively unknown UK film maker, stepped in after Fox gave Scott Frank the boot.

The film has also gone through a long line of name changes. Originally it was to be called, "Genesis: Apes", then simply "Caesar". As of last month it was to be called, "Planet of the Apes: Caesar", now the film is set to begin production under the title, "Rise of the Apes".

No matter what it will be called, I have a feeling the name will change again, this new "Apes" film will essentially relaunch the popular movie franchise in a similar fashion as the 1972 movie "Conquest of the Planet of the Apes."

This time, however, the apes won't be slaves who were lead to rebellion by the spawn of Cornelius and Zira. No sir, these intelligent apes will be the product of genetic engineering.

Not much else is known about the film, except that it is to take place in San Francisco, and that the apes will rise up and kick the crap out of us humans.

Oh, and CGI effects, provided by Peter Jackson's effects house WETA Digital, will replace human actors in ape makeup and costumes (made famous by the late John Chambers in the original "Apes" movie and television series).

Fox has targeted June of 2011 for a release.

See Also: Planet of the Apes: Caesar Set To Begin Production In July / Scott Frank Plans To Take Planet Of The Apes In A New Direction / Is Fox Planning To Re-Boot The Planet Of The Apes?

Escape From The Planet Of The Apes (1971)(20th Century Fox) / Beneath The Planet Of The Apes (1970)(20th Century Fox) / Actress Profile - Linda Harrison / Planet Of The Apes (1974)(TV) / Planet Of The Apes (1968)