September 2024

The Beach Girls and The Monster poster, vintage beach movie poster, 1960s monster movie artwork, retro surf culture image, classic horror film poster

The Beach Girls and The Monster (1965)

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Night surfing just doesn’t sound like a good idea—though, to be fair, I’d need to learn how to surf during the day first. If you’re into surf culture, this movie is a must-watch. Here’s why: The Beach Girls and The Monster includes a fair amount of filler. Normally, I’m not a fan of filler, but it works here. The movie features authentic vintage surf footage, projected within a 1960s high-end home, giving viewers a genuine taste of surf culture and ‘60s technology. This pairs perfectly with the movie’s score. The opening song, “Dance Baby Dance,” written by Frank Sinatra Jr., is a catchy surf rock tune. The soundtrack seamlessly transitions between surf rock and music reminiscent of The Pink Panther skulking around.

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Everly (2014)

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Hello, I’m Gordon Ramsey. Nice to meet you. Today’s meal is a dish called “Everly.” For the main course, we serve Salma Hayek. On the plate, there’s a generous portion of Arnold Schwarzenegger’s Commando and a biscuit drenched in Rambo-style blood and gore. To the right, you’ll find a bowl of soup featuring a mix of Baytown Outlaws and Gotham. Finally, we lightly season the meal with a dash of Japanese weirdness. I’m passing Everly to the next round of Master Chef but will pass on seconds. Alright, it’s just regular ol’ me again – let me explain this analogy in more detail.

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Desperado (1995)

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If you enjoy shoot-’em-up movies, Desperado is a must-see. You can find a complete list of all the guns used in the film here. Some things stand out, though. First, there’s a crotch gun. From what I read, there were alternate scenes featuring the surprise crotch gun. You might recognize this gun from Tom Savini’s character in From Dusk Till Dawn, released a year later. Also, Desperado features an iconic opening scene with a guitar case hiding a beautiful collection of guns. You must watch the whole movie to appreciate the full effect, but the case has a false bottom full of guns. If you’d like, you can watch just this scene here, but I recommend watching the entire film. Later in the movie, there’s another case doubling as a rocket launcher.

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Firepower (1979)

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Firepower reminded me of old James Bond movies, albeit without the spy gadgets—except for the car bombs in the later scenes. These improvised explosive devices resembled bombs but featured period wristwatches, giving them a spycraft gadget vibe. Much like classic 007 films, the movie is packed with action and peculiar weapons. You can see more of the weaponry used in Firepower here. When it comes to action, Firepower is relentless. The constant action made the story hard to follow, as it often seemed to change direction without much foreshadowing. It was difficult to discern character allegiances, especially in the case of Sophia Loren’s character. While I enjoyed the movie, I found it confusing. For two hours, Firepower kept me engaged, but I won’t be watching it again. Instead, I’ll seek out some old-school 007.

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Crazy Joe movie poster, Peter Boyle as Crazy Joe, 1974 mobster film poster, Retro mob movie artwork, Crazy Joe film poster with Peter Boyle

Crazy Joe (1974)

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I recall my college days at Greenville Tech, where a friend from Medellin, Colombia, shared stories about Pablo Escobar. Pablo was known for his generosity towards the local community, which earned him loyalty and respect. This loyalty meant that when authorities came knocking, nobody knew anything. Crazy Joe reflects a similar Italian dedication to their communities. Sammy “The Bull” Gravano talks about “hitting the mattresses” in his latest interview with Soft White Underbelly, which means living with your squad in a hidden location during a mafia war. Crazy Joe features a segment that highlights this custom, showcasing how the mob values loyalty and community.

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