Bat-Music #23 - Nelson Riddle - Batman Original Motion Picture Soundtrack

Bat-Music #23 - Nelson Riddle - Batman Original Motion Picture Soundtrack

In July of 1966, in between seasons 1 and 2 of the Batman television series, 20th Century Fox released the full length Batman motion picture to movie theaters.  The movie featured most of the main cast from the TV series, except for Julie Newmar as Catwoman, who was unavailable during filming and was replaced with Lee Meriwether.

The motion picture soundtrack was composed and conducted by Nelson Riddle, who also did the music for the TV series (except for the memorable main Batman TV theme, which was written by Neal Hefti).  Many of the same musical cues from the TV show are repeated here, but expanded upon and drawn out.  It's not really as fun to listen to as the TV soundtrack, though.  The TV soundtrack album's music is shorter and punchier, and has fun dialogue clips from the show worked in to the tracks.  But this is still a must-have album for Bat-Music collectors, and it's excellent for playing in the background as you read through a stack of Batman comic books.

Nelson Riddle - Batman Original Motion Picture Soundtrack - Main Title 


Nelson Riddle - Batman Original Motion Picture Soundtrack - Torpedoes

"Rasputin: The Mad Monk" and "The Reptile" Released 50 Years Ago Today

50 years ago today...
Hammer Films released the horror double feature Rasputin: The Mad Monk and The Reptile.

50th Anniversary of The Ghost and Mr. Chicken

50 years ago today...
The Ghost and Mr. Chicken was released in theaters.

Click here to read my review of this film:
http://misfitdaydream.blogspot.com/2012/10/the-ghost-and-mr-chicken-1966.html

Our Man Flint (1966)

Our Man Flint (1966)

50 years ago today...
"Our Man Flint" was released.  The film was a campy and colorful parody of the James Bond films, starring James Coburn as Derek Flint.  Flint takes James Bond's über-competence and cranks it up to a ridiculous degree.  He speaks 45 languages, is an Olympic medalist, and is an expert in everything from judo to ballet.  It's basically just one joke repeated over and over again throughout the film, but the film still works, largely due to the charm and star power that Coburn brings to the role.

Derek Flint's Exercise Routine

Galaxy Island Secret Headquarters

Our Man Flint Trailer



More screencaps after the break...

Dracula: Prince of Darkness (1966)

Dracula: Prince of Darkness (1966)

50 years ago today...
"Dracula: Prince of Darkness" was released to the theaters on a double bill with "The Plague of the Zombies."

Drac Attack!

Dracula: Prince of Darkness is the third film in Hammer's "Dracula" series.  The first film had Dracula, played by Christopher Lee, squaring off against Professor Van Helsing, played by Peter Cushing, and ended in Dracula's death.  In the second film, Dracula remained dead, and the the film starred Cushing's Van Helsing fighting a new vampire threat. In the third film, Cushing is out, but Christopher Lee returns, as Dracula is resurrected to bite innocent necks once again.

Dracula Awakes!

Christopher Lee's performance in this film is unusual because he doesn't have a single line of dialogue.  Lee claimed that the dialogue in the script was so bad that he refused to speak it, although the screenwriter disputes this.  The screenwriter says the part was written with no dialogue.  Either way, it actually works really well in the film, and gives Dracula a mysterious, unknowable presence.  He seems more like some sort of evil force of nature than a human being.

"Pull my finger."

Dracula "dies" again at the end of this one, trapped under ice and drowning in a frozen-over lake.  However, after coming back to life once, it seems a safe bet he'll be back again in time for the next sequel.

More sreencaps after the break...

Star Wars: The Force Awakens (2016)

The Force Awakens.  I'll avoid any major spoilers here, and won't mention anything specific that you couldn't have already seen in the trailers.

The biggest question I had going in to Star Wars: The Force Awakens was whether or not it would feel like a "real" Star Wars movie, like the original trilogy which are some of my favorite films of all time.  Or would it be more like the prequels, which I found to be so deeply disappointing.  And I'm glad to report that yeah, The Force Awakens very much does feel like a "real" Star Wars movie, whereas the prequels didn't. 

But that turns out to be both it's strength, and it's weakness.  In a lot of ways, this feels like a "greatest hits" style remake of the original films, like J.J. Abrams picked out the most popular bits and pieces from the originals and then regurgitated them back to us in slightly different packaging.  If you go back and watch the original Star Wars film, you can see all of George Lucas's influences on the screen, things like Japanese samurai movies, old school Hollywood westerns, and vintage movie serials.  In The Force Awakens, the only influence you can see onscreen is from other Star Wars movies.  There are scenes on a desert planet, and ice planet, and a forest planet.  There is a bar full of weird aliens.  There is a new planet destroying super weapon that is basically The Death Star 3.0.  Kylo Ren is analogous to Darth Vader, BB-8 is basically a cuter version of R2-D2, Han Solo is now an older veteran mentoring a new generation of young heroes, which in a weird way makes him the new Obi-Wan Kenobi...  after awhile it gets to be a bit much, and I would have liked to see something a little more original on display.

But maybe after the disaster that was the prequels, revisiting what it was we loved about the first films was exactly what was needed to get the series back on track.  I think I'll be okay with it if the next films in the series use this one as a launching point to move in some new and original directions.  In fact, it's really hard to judge this film on it's own anyway, because it just feels like the first chapter in a new series.  It isn't really structured like a stand-alone film.  So I guess you can check back with me in about four years, after the next two films have been released, and I'll tell you how I really feel about it then.

One thing I do like about the film is the cast, pretty much all the new actors are great, and I'm really looking forward to seeing how their characters develop over the next few films.  And the fact that I am already eagerly anticipating the next films must mean this film was successful, even if I wasn't entirely satisfied with it.  Plus, the fact that Rian Johnson is directing the next film is a good sign, as he has directed some really creative and interesting movies and TV shows, and I could easily see him becoming the Irvin Kershner (director of The Empire Strikes Back) to J.J. Abrams' George Lucas.  Unless they reveal that the next movie will be entitled "Star Wars Episode VIII: Jar-Jar's Revenge."  Then all bets are off.

The Children (2008)

Your Weird Uncle's Winter Wonderland Family Film Festival

Well, I think I've finally done it.  I think I finally found the perfect family Christmas movie.  If you've been reading my movie reviews for the past week, you know I've had some bad luck with the movies I've been watching with my three young nephews for the holidays.   Every Christmas movie I've tried to watch has turned out to be a creepy horror movie!  Who even knew there was such a thing as Christmas-themed horror movies?  Not me!  Those are two things that just don't go together as far as I'm concerned.

But I think I finally found a good one this time.  It's called "The Children."  It's about two adult sisters who get together with their children and their husbands to celebrate Christmas.  It's full of cute little kids getting into snowball fights, sledding, making snowmen, playing with toys, eating Christmas dinner... it sounds wonderful!  I can't wait to watch it with my three young nephews.  We're going to watch it right now and then I'll be back with my review.

My Three Nephews (Jimmy, Timmy, and Jimmy) Watch "The Children."

The Children (2008)

Sweet Mother of Murgatroyd!  What was that?!?!  This movie started out just like I thought it would as we watch a family get together to celebrate the Holy Holiday in the snow.  Then the children got some kind of disease... a disease that turned them all into crazed psycho killers!  This movie was a blood filled kill-fest!   Sweet adorable innocent children murdering their parents!  Mothers forced to kill their own children!  Stabbings!  Beatings! Broken bones!  And the blood!  Blood everywhere!   Why God?  Why is this happening?  It's as if this Christmas has been cursed by demons from Hell!  The blood, the blood... so much blood!!!

A Blood Streaked Kill-Kid

Oh, gosh... excuse me folks... I need a moment to calm down.

Dead Daddy

I've had it up to here with all these sick freaky movies, I'll tell you what!  I don't know what to think about my buddy Larry over at Hollywood Blockbuster Video.  He must be some kind of creep-o if he thinks these are appropriate films for family fun time!  Well, I'm not going to watch anymore of these sick flicks, that's for sure!  I'm going to return them all tonight, and I plan on giving Larry a piece of my mind while I'm at it.  Hopefully I'll be back tomorrow with some REAL family Christmas movies, like "Miracle on 34th Street," or "Frosty the Snowman."  Tune in next time, when the family fun will finally begin like it should have from the beginning!  Until then, Merry Christmas!

A Pack of Murder-Happy Kill-Kids

More screencaps after the break...

Black Christmas (1974)

Your Weird Uncle's Winter Wonderland Family Film Festival

Hi, folks, Your Weird Uncle here.  If you've been reading my posts for the last few days, you'll know I've been trying to watch family friendly Christmas movies with my three nephews: Harry, Mark, and John.  But all the movies we've watched have turned out to be creepy horror movies disguised as Christmas movies.  I had no idea that such a thing even existed.  Honestly, me and the little tykes are all feeling a little psychologically traumatized by these films.  If we don't pick a good one soon, I think our brains are going to explode.

Today's picture is called "Black Christmas."  Judging by the title, I'm assuming it's about an African-American family getting together for the holidays.  There is not nearly enough "diversity" in the movies Hollywood, California puts out, so I'm really glad that movies like this are being made.  I think it will be a great experience for my whole family to watch.  Especially my nephew Harry, who is African-American himself.  It will do Harry good to see people that look like him on the big screen.  Personally, I'm hoping that nice Tyler Perry will be in it as the matriarch of the family; that lady is a hoot!  So, excuse me for a bit while I watch "Black Christmas" with my boys.  I'll be back afterwards for my review...

Me and my three nephews are ready to learn the true meaning of Christmas with a loving African-American family.

Black Christmas (1974)

It turns out that there are only two black people in this entire movie, and they were just extras in the background of one scene!  Then why did they call it "Black" Christmas, you ask?  Try black as in "darkness," black as in "shadows," black as in "death!"  That's right, it's another MURDER MOVIE disguised as a CHRISTMAS FLICK!  This one is about a crazy psycho killer who murders a bunch of girls in a sorority house on Christmas Eve!  It's a lot like the movie "Halloween," if that one had taken place on Christmas instead of The Devil's Holiday.

"Agnes?  Is that you?  It's me, Billy!"

The movie had a good cast, including Margot Kidder, Keir Dullea, John Saxon, and that "Edith Prickley" lady from SCTV, and it was a very good example of the "slasher" film genre, if that's the sort of thing your in to.  But it's a lousy Christmas movie!  The creepiest part was the killer's voice.  He talked in a weird sing-song voice, imitating what I assume were his parents and family members.  My nephews actually got a big kick out of that, and have been running around imitating his voice all day long.  The worse part was that he kept calling all of his victims "Agnes," saying things like Agnes... it's me, Billy," before he murdered them.  And now my nephews have started to call me "Agnes!"  I don't like where this is heading...

A Pile of Dead Sorority Girls on Christmas Eve

MORE SCREENCAPS AFTER THE BREAK...

Silent Night (2012)

Your Weird Uncle's Winter Wonderland Family Film Festival


"Silent night, holy night, all is calm..."  Oh, hi there folks, Your Weird Uncle here, just trying to calm myself down by singing that sacred Christmas hymn "Silent Night." I've had a rough time of it the last couple of days, watching holiday movies with my three nephews.

First, we watched the movie "Frozen," which I thought was a Disney Princess cartoon, but turned out to be a movie about people freezing to death in the mountains!

Then we watched "Rare Exports: A Christmas Tale," which I thought was a Santa Claus movie.  It was, but one where Santa was an evil demon!

Finally, we watched "The Minion," which I thought was a cartoon starring those adorable little yellow critters The Minions.  That one turned out to be a movie where Dolph Lundgren punches holes through people's skulls on Christmas Eve!


This has been driving me nutso!  These aren't the kind of family friendly movies I want to watch with my young nephews!  Luckily, I think I've finally got a good one.  It's called "Silent Night," and it's about a town that has an annual Santa Claus parade.  Now that sounds like family fun!  I'll be back with my review after I watch the movie...

Morty was so excited to watch this family movie that he stood up and stared directly into the TV screen!

 
Silent Night (2012)
 
 

How is this even possible?  How can every Christmas movie I try to watch with my nephews turn into a sick, depraved, murder flick?  Me and my beloved boys just watched "Silent Night."  Was it a movie about a Santa Claus parade?  Yes, kind of... but one of the Santas in the parade was a SERIAL KILLER! The movie was filled with violent, graphic, onscreen murder scenes, all perpetrated by Jolly Old Saint Nick himself!  What kind of freaks over in Hollywood, California would put something like that in a kiddie movie?

Axe-wielding Santa Stalks His Latest Victims

And if that wasn't bad enough, the film also featured SEXUAL CONTENT!  At one point they even showed A WOMAN'S EXPOSED BOSOM!  For several minutes even!  In a kid's movie!  My three nephews Morty, Ferdie, and Merde couldn't believe it!  Little Morty actually rolled around on the ground yelling, "I'm so confused!  What are those things!  Make it stop!"  It was like those exposed Santa penises in "Rare Exports" all over again!  I explained to my nephews that naked women do not exist in real life, and that they are only Hollywood, California special effects.  But once again, I don't think the boys believed me.  Damn you Hollywood, California!  Your ruining innocent young minds!

A Pornographic Photography Session... In a Kid's Movie?!?!

And I'll tell you what... next time I see Larry over at Hollywood Blockbuster Video, I'm going to give him an earful.  He's clearly not the film expert he makes himself out to be.  Oh, well, I guess I'll try again tomorrow.  The law of averages pretty much guarantees that the next picture will be wholesome family entertainment.  I mean how many Holiday Horror movies can there even be?  Who would want to watch them?  I'm sure the next one will be wholesome... it'll be wholesome, or my name isn't Your Weird Uncle!

Santa Claus Covered in the Blood of His Victim

MORE SCREENCAPS AFTER THE BREAK... 

The Minion (1998)

Your Weird Uncle's Winter Wonderland Family Film Festival

Oh boy!  I think I'm going to have a nervous breakdown!  Hi there, folks, I'm Your Weird Uncle.  Recently I picked up a stack of Christmas movies from my buddy Larry over at my local Hollywood Blockbuster video, in order to entertain my three nephews who are visiting for the holidays.  But if you've read my past two movie reviews, you'll know it hasn't gone as planned.  Both of the movies we've watched so far, "Frozen" and "Rare Exports: A Christmas Tale," turned out to more like horror movies then holiday movies.  They were both full of violence, blood, and freakiness, which is not at all what I expected.

I gotta say, my buddy Larry was way off when he recommended those two movies. Hopefully, this next one will be better suited for my three adorable little nephews.  It's called "The Minion" and takes place on Christmas Eve.  Even though I'm not up on all of the latest kiddie cartoons, even I have heard of these "Minions" characters.  They are these little yellow critters, I think they might be talking bananas, or Twinkies, or something.  Well, whatever they are, I know the kiddies go bug-eyed for 'em, so this one ought to be right up their alley.  Apparently it stars the voice of Dolph Lundgren, which is great casting.  His goofy foreign accent is perfect for a cartoon character.

Larry also says this one has a religious theme to it as well, which pleases me to hear.  After all, we should never forget that "Jesus is the Reason for the Season."  So, let's fire up the VCR, it's time for another trip to my Winter Wonderland Family Film Festival!  I'll be back after we watch the film with my review...

"Alright boys!  Are you ready for your little cartoon friends, The Minions?"

The Minion (1998)

Okay, so the movie begins and it's Christmas Eve, 1999 in New York City.  But apparently, they couldn't afford to shoot it in the winter or something, so they have a voice over from the weatherman saying there is a record heatwave so there will be no snow this year.   Boo!  C'mon, guys, what fun is a family fun Christmas movie without snow?

Usually "The Minions" are portrayed as cartoons, like this...

...but in this movie, "The Minions" are played by live action actors wearing yellow hard hats and blue jumpsuits!

The first characters we meet are workers in blue jumpsuits and yellow hard hats.  But real live people, not cartoons.  So I'm thinking, maybe this is a live-action version of the Minions?  That sounds like fun!  Then people start getting possessed by a demon, and a priest played by Dolph Lundgren shows up and punches them in the back of the head while wearing a spiked glove... because the portion of the brain in the back of the head (the part that gets pierced by the spikes) is the part where the demons live!  What the heck?  Does that even make sense?  Then there are a bunch more fights, the Antichrist's apocalypse is averted, and then, the end.

A Minion helps an archaeologist investigate a skeleton.

This is driving me crazy!  What the heck kind of coo-coo bananas Christmas movies are they making these days?  What family would want to gather around the television roasting chestnuts, drinking egg nog, and watching this garbage?  Honestly, it wasn't even a good "Dolph Lundgren Punches People" movie, and that is a hard genre to screw up.  But as a Christmas movie? No stars, thumbs down, it's a stinker.  My three young nephews were not entertained by this one, and neither was I.  I'm starting to think that my buddy Larry isn't as big of a movie expert as I was giving him credit for. Hopefully the next Christmas flick won't be this bad.



MORE SCREENCAPS AFTER THE BREAK...

Rare Exports: A Christmas Tale (2010)

Your Weird Uncle's Winter Wonderland Family Film Festival

Hi!  I'm Your Weird Uncle.  That's right, first name "Your," middle name "Weird," and last name "Uncle."  If you're family is anything like the Uncle family, you might have children visiting your home for the holidays.  That's why it's a good idea to stock up on family friendly holiday movies, so the little tykes have something to do and don't get bored.  My buddy Larry over at the local Hollywood Blockbuster Video just hooked me up with a big stack of all the latest and classic Christmas movies, so I'm all set!

Larry's kind of a creepy guy, and honestly, some of these movies look kind of... odd.  But he works at the video store, so he must know what he is talking about.  Larry assures me that they are chock full of Sleigh Rides, Mistletoe, Gingerbread Men, and all that Christmas stuff that the kiddies go coo-coo for.  But "Frozen," the movie we watched yesterday, turned out to be a movie about freezing to death in the mountains, not at all what I expected from a "Disney Princess Musical."

But don't worry, I'm sure today's movie will be better.  It's called "Rare Exports: A Christmas Tale."  Heck, it's got "A Christmas Tale" right there in the title!  Larry tells me it's about a young boy who has a magical adventure in the North and meets Santa Claus.  Just the sort of thing that my three nephews will go bonkers for!  I'll be back with my review after I watch the movie...

"Fire up the VCR!"  Me and my three nephews are watching "Rare Exports: A Christmas Tale!"
 

Rare Exports: A Christmas Tale (2010)

Oh for Pete's sake!  What is this malarkey?  Was it about a boy meeting Santa?  Yeah, but this version of Santa was some monstrous evil demon!  There was blood, and explosions, and creepiness!  Plus the end had a Santa Claus group shower scene that showed Santa Claus's penis!  Imagine that!  I had to explain to my nephews what penises were, and trust me, they were not happy about it!  I explained to them that it was just a movie, and there was no such thing as a penis in real life, but I'm not sure if they believed me.

A father butcher's a pig in front of his son, who is in his underwear.  Merry Christmas, everybody!

Plus, they were speaking "Foreign," so I couldn't understand a word they said.

Nothing says "Christmas" like a creepy voodoo doll!

Still, this actually was a pretty entertaining movie, although I would say it was more for grown-ups than kids.  Unless your kids are creepy weirdos, in which case they'll probably love it.

A dozen filthy Santas are hosed down in a group shower, exposing their genitals and butt cracks to the audience.  Hopefully they didn't hang any mistletoe in there.

More screencaps after the break...