Classics -

Star Trek II: The Wrath Of Khan. This is the Director’s Edition which means they’ve tacked lots of useless stuff onto this disc in hopes of drawing you in for another purchase.  Even despite the wooden acting of Shattner this is one of the best of the ST flicks even though there’s not a pooch (unless you count Shattner’s belly) in sight.  Might as well buy this one if you haven’t already got a copy.

The same thought process that went into the making of the Anne Rice book took over Harry Hamlin’s brain when he agreed to be in Clash Of The Titans.  I think the part with the mechanical owl, booboo, should have been enough to make him run screaming away.  This is what happens when you give a film to an animationist and let him have his way.  Pretty clay models right at the end of this kind of special effects in flicks.  Everything after this was done different.  I wonder if there’s a connection?  I’m sure Hamlin, assuming anyone can find him now, has the answers, although I’m just as sure that if you ask him he’ll tell you you’re barking up the wrong tree.

Not a dog in site but plenty of giant ants to go around in Them, the classic 50’s giant monster radiation flick.  No plot except the giant ants coming to get you.  Drop the picnic baskets and run for your life.  There’s no amount of raid that will stop these things.  Call out the army.  Call out the national guard.  Call out the handsome scientists and reporters.  There’s no hope and we’ve got two and a half reels of film to fill.  Pretty high up there in the giant bug section of the genre.

Time travel has been done in some interesting ways with some interesting characters.  Time After Time, puts together H. G. Wells and Jack The Ripper in present day Los Angeles.  Seems old H. G. is the inventor of the time machine and Jack is one of H. G.’s dinner guests who just so happens to enjoy time travel.  Rip steals the machine, Wells chases after and much comedic mayhem ensues.  It takes Wells entirely too long to find Rip although it’s a wonder he found him at all in the big strange city.  Surely a dog would have helped.  Not what you’d expect and some decent acting to boot.  Worth a watch if only for the interesting plot device. 

The Blob. This 1988 remake tries to stay true to the original but just can’t help itself and adds conspiracy theory, stupidity and enough dumb luck to make this an almost new film.  Even with all the additions it’s still a big pass.  Watch the original if you really need a fix for big slimy alien things.  Better yet, watch something good with your dog instead.