Star Wars has been a cash cow ever since the first film hit screens back in 1977. There have been countless books, TV shows, comics, and more that have been available for over four decades. Toys have always been a massive part of the brand and make up a huge chunk of profits for it, Disney, and George Lucas. The toys have sold well to children (and adult children like myself) from the beginning, so it puzzled me a bit whenever Disney, Star Wars, and Hasbro announced that a new line of toys and video shorts would be released that specifically targeted at younger audiences. This line, dubbed Star Wars: Galaxy of Adventures, began in 2018.
The series features short animated episodes with stylized animation that is blended with live action moments from the films. Each episode lasts between one and two minutes and includes narration that gives a brief summary of key characters and moments in the Star Wars saga. The first season was used to build up to The Rise Of Skywalker film. A second season, focusing on the sequel trilogy, was also released. The final episode, released on October 28, 2020 in the United States, was Obi-Wan Kenobi. It was the fifty-fourth episode in the series. No word has been given on a potential third season. Disney officially lists the series as “pending” according to a number of sources but nothing else has been mentioned about the series.
Part of the reason that the series is in limbo might be due to the lukewarm reception of the show itself and the coinciding toy line. While both were very popular, they weren’t “Star Wars” popular. The toys have moved slowly off of store shelves and many of the first figures in the line can still be found hanging on pegs at Walmart (which had exclusive rights to the initial toy line). Around Christmas last year, tons of the figures were found in stocking stuffer bargain bins for five bucks each. Seeing this reminded me of the time when Hasbro repacked underselling The Clone Wars toys in “Bonus Value” eight packs at Walmart at Christmas time. If I remember correctly, those packs started out at $19.99 and, at least in my area, they warmed the shelves until well after Christmas where I managed to pick many of them up for under ten bucks apiece.
I’ve seen the Galaxy Of Adventures figures in stores recently selling for $3.99. Just after Christmas they were going for $2.50 on clearance. Their initial price point was around nine dollars. I’ve picked up a few of them over the last couple of months and I have to admit that I rather like them. Each figure is surprisingly well articulated and comes with an action feature that differs from figure to figure. For example, the Han Solo figure features a “Sling and Blast” attack feature where Solo’s right arm flicks the blaster into a shooting position. Darth Maul comes with a “Dual Sith Strike” feature that has him twist his lightsaber which can be split into two pieces. Each figure comes with at least one accessory as well. Some, such as Kylo Ren, come with two accessories (removable cloak and lightsaber). All of the figures have highly stylized features that look similar to the characters on the animated series.
I don’t know if Hasbro will continue making these figures nor do I know if the series will ever have a third season. The series is pretty good but older fans may not care to watch as it’s simply a condensed version of stories from the films. The figures are definitely cool and deserve to get into the hands of little kids and adult collectors, but I believe that the original price point made a lot of parents and collectors shy away from the figures. Five dollars seems to be a more reasonable asking price for this line of five inch figures. Some of these figures have arrived on eBay at the standard bloated prices that scabbers sell them for in the hopes to cash in on desperate fans. I wouldn’t pay more than five to ten dollars for these figures, and I’d only pay ten bucks for a figure that I really want to own.
I do recommend snagging a few of these figures for your collection. As I’ve already mentioned, they stand roughly five inches tall but they are scaled somewhat as you can see the in the Han and Chewie photo above. Darth Maul is especially short, but he’s to scale compared with the other figures in the line. Keep an eye out on clearance shelves for these guys. You might just walk out of the store with a Boba Fett for under five dollars.
Thanks for checking out my review. Some of these figures look amazing and I definitely plan on grabbing a few more of them.
Even with its fiftieth anniversary approaching next year, The Exorcist (1973) is still one of the most impressive supernatural horror films to ever hit the big screen. To this day, many people refuse to watch the film due to its subject matter (demonic possession). It was banned in some countries, was fought over in order to receive an “R” rating, and was initially released on just thirty screens because Warner Bros. wasn’t sure if the film would really have that big of an impact. Boy, were they wrong!
For those of you who haven’t seen it yet, The Exorcist is the story of an actress named Chris MacNeil who notices that her precocious twelve year old daughter, Regan, is starting to act in a bizarre fashion. There are hints early on (noises in the attic that are written off as rats) that something is amiss but it isn’t until we find out that Regan has been playing with a Ouija board and talking to a spirit named Captain Howdy that things really go south. Regan complains about her bed shaking, objects fly across the room, and the young girl urinates in front of a small party of people hosted by her mother and proclaims that one of them, Burke, “will die up there.” Desperate for help, Chris has Regan examined by a number of doctors, all of whom cannot properly diagnose the girl’s issues. One doctor, almost in jest, suggests that Chris should seek out the help of the Catholic Church by having an exorcism performed on Regan. Chris befriends Father Damian Karras, a priest who is having doubts about his faith but also happens to be a psychiatrist. After a brief interview with Regan, Karras is convinced that an exorcism needs to be performed. He enlists the help of Father Lankester Merrin, who we are introduced to early in the film, to perform the exorcism.
I won’t spoil the conclusion to this film for you but I will say that this is a surprisingly intelligent horror film that doesn’t take its plot devices lightly. The exorcism itself is only a small part of the film. It’s the build up to the exorcism that makes this film truly frightening. Karras has a number of interactions with Regan and the demon inside of her. These are some of my favorite moments in the film. They range from casual threats to intense accusations by the demon. The priests and the Catholic Church are treated with respect but we also see the shortcomings of some of the clergy. We also get to see the priests bravely standing against the demon.
The special effects created by Dick Smith and his makeup work were simply amazing. From having Regan levitate over her bed to making the words “Help Me” rise out of her stomach, all of the effects were quite believable. Ron Nagle headed up the sound effects group who generated the agonizing sounds that came out of Regan while she was possessed. Mercedes McCambridge was brought in to provide the guttural voice of the demon. Actress Eileen Dietz handled many of Regan’s brutal scenes. She also portrayed the demon itself whenever it would flash across the screen.
Linda Blair portrayed Regan. She received an Academy Award Nomination for Best Supporting Actress and two Golden Globe nominations. She won Best Supporting Actress at the Golden Globes. Her mother, Chris, was portrayed by Ellen Burstyn. Max von Sydow, only forty four years old at the time, portrayed Father Merrin, a character that was in his early seventies. Jason Miller portrayed Father Karras, the young priest battling with his own faith and purpose in life. He’s probably my favorite character in the film. Kitty Winn portrayed Sharon, Chris’ assistant who witnesses many of the horrors displayed by Regan. Lee J. Cobb played Lt. Kinderman, who begins an investigation into the death of Burke (Jack MacGowran), who falls to his death from Regan’s window. This group made up the primary cast of the film but it should be noted that two actual Catholic priests appeared in the film. Father William O’Malley portrayed Father Dyer and Father Thomas Bermingham played Tom, the president of Georgetown University.
The film was based upon the book The Exorcist, released in 1971 and written by William Peter Blatty. Blatty also wrote the screenplay for the film. The movie would go on to become one of the highest grossing films of all time and when adjusted for inflation it is the highest grossing “R” rated film of all time. It received ten Academy Award nominations, winning in two categories: Best Screenplay Based Upon Material From Another Medium and Best Sound. It was also the first horror film to be nominated for Best Picture. It fared better at the Golden Globes, winning four out of seven of the categories it was nominated in including Best Motion Picture-Drama, and Best Director-Motion Picture.
This is a great film. It’s currently available to watch on Netflix in the United States It’s also available on many other streaming services including Amazon Prime, for a small fee. It has been released multiple times on VHS, DVD, and Blu-ray and has been released with previously deleted scenes as well. I highly recommend checking out this movie. It’s creepy, yes, but definitely worth getting spooked over for a couple of hours.
Thanks for reading my post. Let me know what you think about this film in the comments section.
When an alien crash lands while attempting to destroy all of the humans on Earth, he goes undercover as Dr. Harry Vanderspeigle, a doctor who the alien kills in self defense in the SyFy series Resident Alien. As he searches for the device that he needs to finish his mission, he becomes the town doctor in Patience, CO when the original doctor, Sam Hodges, is found dead in his practice. Harry attempts to blend in with the citizens of the sleepy Colorado town by “researching” the show Law & Order. He forms a friendship with Asta Twelvetrees, who worked for Dr. Hodges, and eventually develops relationships, some quite uneasy, with various members of the community. Some of the primary folks that he interacts with are the local sheriff, “Big Black” Mike Thompson, Deputy Liv Baker, Mayor Ben Hawthorne, and Dan Twelvetrees, owner of the local diner and Asta’s adoptive father. Harry also becomes close with Asta’s best friend, D’Arcy Bloom, a former Olympic skier, who falls briefly for Harry.
Harry also comes into conflict with Mayor Hawthorne’s son, Max, who just so happens to be one of the few humans that can see Harry’s true form. The two go after one another with Harry attempting to kill Max on a number of occasions. Max attempts to reveal Harry’s true identity to many people in the town but no one believes him except for his young friend, Sahar, an intelligent girl who, along with Max, manages to outwit Harry on numerous occasions.
As the series’ first season plays out, Harry unintentionally begins to have feelings for the very people that he is supposed to wipe out. He forms a strong bond with Asta. They are both outsiders in their own way and they become close friends as a result. D’Arcy is attracted to Harry but they end up simply being good friends. Max has the biggest influence on Harry. Without giving too much away, the duo end up helping one another in the long run, especially when a secret agency begins looking for Harry and his spaceship. Other relationships explored in the series include the mayor and his wife, Asta and Dan, Sheriff Thompson and Deputy Baker, and Max and Sahar.
The series is full of hilarious moments. Most of the laughs are generated when Harry attempts to interact with people in the town. He gets drunk with Asta and D’Arcy, becomes ecstatic when he performs an autopsy, and is often humbled by the townsfolk when he attempts to show off his intelligence. The biggest laughs come via the interactions between Harry and Max. The pair are brutal to one another. Max makes fun of Harry’s attempts to blend in and Harry calls the young boy a ton of inappropriate names.
This is an excellent series that I discovered late last year on Peacock. Having been out of my home for almost a year due to Hurricane Laura, I missed a ton of programs on television. I played catch up in July and August and Resident Alien was a welcome surprise. It provided a much needed break from the reality of dealing with contractors, the COVID-19 pandemic, and insurance companies. The first season of the series is currently available on Peacock and Hulu. Season Two recently began on SyFy and new episodes arrive on Peacock one day later. I am not sure if Hulu is releasing the second season as of yet.
The series stars the hilarious Alan Tudyk as Harry, Sara Tomko as Asta, and Judah Prehn as Max. It also features Corey Reynolds as the sheriff, Alice Wetterlund as D’Arcy, Levi Fiehler as Mayor Hawthorne, and Elizabteh Bowen as Deputy Baker. Gary Farmer (Dan), Meredith Garretson (Kate Hawthorne, the mayor’s wife and Max’ mom), Jenna Lamia (Judy, D’Arcy’s friend), and Gracelyn Awad Rinke (Sahar) are also featured in the series. Linda Hamilton makes an excellent appearance as the director of a secret group that’s hunting Harry.
I can’t recommend this series enough. It’s funny, heartwarming, and features the perfect amount of drama and action. Tudyk and Tomko shine as does Wetterlund and Prehn. The entire cast is brilliant. Be sure to check out this series if you haven’t had the chance. You won’t regret it!
Thanks for checking out my brief look as Resident Alien. I appreciate all of you!
Just a few months after releasing their debut album in February of 1974, KISS’ second album, Hotter Than Hell, hit record store shelves on October 22nd. Sales of the album were worse than the group’s debut. Live shows weren’t the problem and many critics then and now believe that the album’s poor performance was due to the production quality and lack of any major promotion. In any case, the album would reach gold status in 1977 much like the debut.
The album is perhaps best known for its iconic front and back covers. The front cover features the band (all inebriated except for Gene) surrounded by Japanese images and phrases. It’s been said that in the photo Peter Criss is holding Paul Stanley up in order to prevent him from falling due his excessive drunkeness. The back cover features an illustrated mock up of all four members’ face paint and images of each member from a huge photo shoot that allegedly turned into a big orgy.
The gang having a lot of fun.
There were ten tracks on the album. Only one of the album’s tracks, “Let Me Go, Rock N’ Roll,” was released as a single. Despite this, many of the album’s tracks remained in the band’s tour playlists over the years, especially “Let Me Go, Rock N’ Roll” and “Hotter Than Hell.” The album peaked at #100 on the Billboard charts.
Track Listing:
Got To Choose
Parasite
Goin’ Blind
Hotter Than Hell
Let Me Go, Rock N’ Roll
All The Way
Watchin’ You
Mainline
Comin’ Home
Strange Ways
Personnel: Paul Stanley (vocals, backing vocals, rhythm guitars), Ace Frehley (lead guitar, backing vocals), Peter Criss (drums, vocals), Gene Simmons (vocals, bass, backing vocals).
Even though this album has been criticized for its “sludgy” production quality, I personally believe that this sludge actually improves the album overall. There’s something rawer about this album that almost all of the other releases from KISS lack. From the plodding guitars on tracks like “Goin’ Blind” to the rapid fire lead in on “Parasite,” this album sounds like it was made by a hungry band wanting to make it big and that’s exactly what KISS was when this album was produced.
Note Ace’s half makeup. Due to an accident prior to the shoot, Ace’s face had to be altered on the album cover because he couldn’t apply makeup to the right side of his face.
I really like this album. Standout tracks for me are “Parasite,” “Goin’ Blind,” and “Mainline.” I really love the guitar work on “Parasite.” It’s a meaty rocker that, at least to me, is one of KISS’ best songs from their entire catalog. The bizarre and rather creepy lyrics of “Goin’ Blind” had me a bit perplexed, but I love how it just slowly rolls along without a care about what you think about it. It’s a cool track. “Mainline” is simply a great rock n’ roller that is only strengthened by Peter’s amazing vocals.
Oddly enough, my least favorite track is the album’s lone single, “Let Me Go, Rock N’ Roll.” The entire album is gritty and I love the sound. Gene and Paul handle most of the lead vocal duties but Peter shines on his two lead vocal performances on “Mainline” and “Strange Ways.” Ace wrote “Parasite” and “Strange Ways” and co-wrote “Comin’ Home.” Those songs feature some of his best work on lead guitar.
Another shot from the album’s photo shoot. Note Ace’s “patched up” makeup.
Hotter Than Hell best captures KISS’ raw grit and power on a studio album in my opinion. Only one other album comes close, 1975’s Dressed To Kill. I’ll be talking about that album next month. If you haven’t heard Hotter Than Hell before, I highly recommend giving it a listen. It might sound a bit off initially but, given time, I’m sure that you’ll grow to love it.
L To R: Christa McAuliffe, Gregory Jarvis, Judith Resnik, Francis “Dick” Scobee, Ronald McNair, Michael Smith, Ellison Onizuka.
“I really don’t want to say goodbye to any of you people.” Christa McAuliffe
Tomorrow marks the 36th anniversary of the Challenger disaster. As a kid who was hooked on science fiction, had a subscription to Odyssey magazine, visited the Johnson Space Center, and dreamed of being an astronaut in the 1980’s, the Challenger mission was a huge part of my youth. I have fond memories of watching Christa McAuliffe, who would have been the first teacher and first civilian in space, training with NASA and getting a crash course in all things outer space. Much of her experience was documented with videos, photographs, and news articles that focused on her and her plans for the Teacher In SpaceProject. Thankfully I had teachers who went out of their way to allow myself and other students to consume as much information about Mrs. McAuliffe and the rest of the Challenger crew that we could get our hands on in a small town school.
1985 Barbara Morgan (2Nd From Right) Training With Christa Mcauliffe And Crew In The Zero-G Aircraft, (Photo By Nasa/Getty Images)
I idolized the crew. I wanted to be a pilot just like Michael Smith. I thought that Commander Francis “Dick” Scobee was cool and that his last name was even cooler. All of the mission and payload specialists, Ellison Onizuka, Ronald McNair, Gregory Jarvis, McAuliffe, and Judith Resnik, had a special place in my heart as well. I had a puppy love crush on Resnik. Onizuka, McNair, and Jarvis were all doing something that I wanted to do when I grew up. Mrs. McAuliffe was a teacher who was about to go into space. I envied her and her students.
Sadly, Mrs. McAuliffe never made it into space. As you probably all know, the Challenger exploded shortly after lift-off. There were no survivors. The space program was heavily questioned. It was also the end for NASA in many people’s eyes. Thankfully NASA is still around.
President Reagan and others look on as the Challenger explodes.
I vividly remember the day that the Challenger exploded. Myself and my fellow students along with a couple of other classes were all crammed into the library of my school. Our librarian, the wonderful Mrs. Malveaux, trucked out a TV stand and turned it on so that we could see the Challenger lift into space. I remember being shocked when the shuttle exploded. I remember the national news cutting to their studio and hearing the reporter (I believe it was Tom Brokaw) repeatedly say that the Challenger was destroyed and their were likely no survivors. I remember a few students crying and others like myself simply sitting there stunned. I will never forget that day.
The nice lady that we all claimed as our teacher, the country’s teacher, Mrs. McAuliffe, was gone. So were the other members of the crew. The awesome Michael Smith, Commander Scobee, Resnik, Onizuka, McNair, and Jarvis were gone.
I refuse to post a photo of the actual explosion. You can look that up for yourself. Instead, I hope that each and every one of you reading this take a moment to think on the lives lost on that fateful day in 1986. Think about the wonderful things that they had done prior to the mission and all of the great things that they could have accomplished had they successfully launched. Say a prayer for them and their families and any and every student who was ever inspired by a teacher or an astronaut.
The last couple of years have been pretty brutal to everyone. In my case and in the case of many others in southwest Louisiana, 2020 and 2021 were downright evil. From COVID-19 shutting down everything to Hurricane Laura destroying my family’s home to last year’s February freeze out that myself and my family lived through in a camper, I’m ready to have some fun.
I got to attend the Lake Charles Film Festival late last year, but the venue that normally hosts two other events that are near and dear to my heart, the Calcasieu Short Film Festival and Calcasieu Serial Fest, was literally wiped out by Hurricane Laura. That venue, the Brimstone Museum in Sulphur, LA, is still recovering from the hurricane. The Lake Charles Civic Center, which hosts CyPhaCon and a number of other events throughout the year, was also heavily damaged by the hurricane, but enough of it has been repaired that some events are going to take place.
With a few things finally getting back to normal, I plan on attending CyPhaCon in April. Most of the guests that were originally going to attend the event that was postponed two years ago are returning including Doug Jones. Also in attendance will be one of my favorite bands, The Suzaku 7! As usual the event will be heavy on anime so if that’s your thing, be sure to attend CyPhaCon in the early spring. I’ll be there with my good friend, Patrick Bennett, to help him promote the Lake Charles Film Festival, Calcasieu Serial Fest, and the Calcasieu Short Film Festival. We’ve submitted a panel and hopefully it will be approved.
THE Rob Cerio, Jason Carter, and the almighty Rafe White will all be guests at this year’s CoastCon!
CoastCon will make it’s triumphant return to the Mississippi Gulf Coast on March 4-6th. Unfortunately I won’t be able to attend this year’s event but it looks like it’s going to be amazing. Not only will Jason Carter be in attendance, but my good friends, THE Rob Cerio and Rafe White will be guests as well! CoastCon always feels like a family get-together for me as many of my best friends attend that event. I have some personal things to take care of in February and early March that will prevent me from attending, but I hope to make it next year.
Louisiana Comic Con almost happened in 2020 when COVID-19 first reared its ugly head, but the event was cancelled at the last minute. Then it was abruptly cancelled again in 2021 whenever Hurricane Ida threatened the area. Plans are in motion to have the event return in 2022, but no dates nor any guests have been announced yet. I attend this convention every year and have presented panels at the last two events. There were plans for me to present panels at both of the cancelled events as well. I look forward to submitting a panel to the convention again this year and hope to attend this great event.
One event that I’ve never been able to attend but have also wanted to check out is the Houston Horror Film Fest. It has taken place during the summer for the last couple of years and I’m hoping to attend this year. Why? Because Rachel True will be in attendance. She starred in one of my favorite films of all time, the very 90’s The Craft! There will be many other awesome guests in attendance and there are going to be some great horror films to watch as well. I’ll keep all of you posted if and when I make it to this event!
I cannot wait to get back into the swing of things with conventions! I’ve missed attending these events for over two years now! Get ready for coverage of each event that I attend and be sure to look me up if you attend any of these events. Tell me hello and let’s hang out!
Thanks for reading my post. It’s FINALLY convention season again!
Formed in 1973 from the ashes of a band called Wicked Lester, KISS began recording their debut album, KISS, in October of that same year. Just a few months later on February 18, 1974, the album was released. Despite heavy promotion from Casablanca Records, the album only managed to sell around 75,000 copies. It wouldn’t achieve gold status until 1977. Poor album performance was a trend that KISS and Casablanca would experience with the band’s first three studio albums. Only their massively successful live album, Alive, in 1975, would save them and Casablanca Records from falling to the wayside.
L to R: Ace “Space Ace” Frehley, Peter “Catman” Criss, Gene “The Demon” Simmons, and Paul “Starchild” Stanley.
There were nine tracks on the original album. Most of them would go on to become staples of KISS’ live shows. “Kissin’ Time” was added to later presses of the record in July of 1974. Three singles were released and the album peaked on the US Billboard Chart at #87.
Track Listing:
Strutter (single)
Nothin’ To Lose (single)
Firehouse
Cold Gin
Let Me Know
Kissin’ Time (single released in May of 1974, added to track list in July, 1974)
Deuce
Love Theme From “KISS”
100,000 Years
Black Diamond
Personnel: Paul Stanley (rhythm guitars, vocals), Ace Frehley (lead guitar, backing vocals), Peter Criss (drums, vocals), Gene Simmons (bass, vocals).
This is one of my favorite KISS albums. Of the ten tracks that were on it, seven of them have consistently been played by the band on tour for nearly fifty years. I keep waffling between which track is my favorite on the album. Some days I say that “Black Diamond” is my favorite song and then I’ll turn around and say that “Strutter” is my favorite one. All that I know for sure is that both of those songs feature amazing drum work from Peter Criss and great vocals by Criss on “Black Diamond” and Paul Stanley on “Strutter.” Another song that I really love is the Ace Frehley penned “Cold Gin” that is sung by Gene Simmons. The bass on “100,000” years is also amazing. For lack of a better term it’s just a sexy groove. Ace really shines on all of his solos on this album, especially on “Black Diamond.” “Love Theme From KISS” is a surprisingly solid instrumental track. “Firehouse” is a sludgy rocker that signals the sound for KISS’ next album, Hotter Than Hell.
The album and the band are unique in that three of the four band members sang lead vocals. Paul Stanley, Peter Criss, and Gene Simmons all sang lead vocals. In some cases, they would trade off vocals in the same song. Ace Frehley would eventually take the lead on “Shock Me” in 1977 on the album Love Gun.
There really isn’t a bad track to be found here. It should be noted that I am biased in my opinion because KISS is my favorite band. I hope this little review helps out anybody that might be interested in the group. If you like gritty, punchy hard rock, KISS is for you.
Everyone already knows that some of the coolest toys to ever grace a peg or a store shelf were the 3 3/4 Kenner Star Wars action figures and all of the playsets, vehicles, and blasters that came with them. I can’t tell you how many hours I spent playing with those action figures. Each film brought new characters (which meant new figures) and vehicles so I was always hoping to get my hands on at least a few of them.
Not my old Speeder Bike and Biker Scout.
I never had a lot of the vehicles or playsets. I mainly received figures. Of the few vehicles and playsets that I did receive, almost all of them were exclusively from Star Wars: Return Of The Jedi. One of my absolute favorites was the Speeder Bike that was featured prominently in the film on the planet Endor. Much cooler than the pod race on Tatooine and better than most of the battles in space in my opinion, the Speeder Bike chase had me dreaming of blitzing through dense forests with massive trees (and Ewoks). When I received the toy for Christmas circa 1983 or so, I was captivated.
The Speeder Bike came in three pieces: 1) the long extended front piece, 2) the control panel with handlebars, and 3) the rear piece with the legs and engine flaps. You simply snapped those three pieces together and took off on an adventure! When you lifted the bike off of any surface, the engine flaps would swing open. They would close whenever you “landed” your vehicle. The handlebars moved and the turret gun on the underside of the bike swiveled. When it was time to blow up the bike, you simply pushed a button on the rear piece (disguised as a pack) and the three pieces would fly apart. Snap them back together again and you’re ready for more action!
I still have my Biker Scout action figure (and his blaster) but have no idea what happened to my Speeder Bike. I wish that I still had one in my possession as I loved that toy. There have been model kits, a Power of the Force version, and even a Black Series version of the vehicle released over the years but I’ve never broken down and purchased one. Who knows? Maybe I’ll snag one someday and it will be 1980-something all over again.
Thanks for taking a stroll down memory lane with me today. See you again soon!
This is a spoiler-free review. Read on with no worries.
Taking place twenty-five years after the events of the original Scream, the new Scream film is a surprisingly well done sequel. It could have easily been just another whodunit that trucks out Sid, Dewey, and Gale. Instead, it brings those characters back along with a couple of other characters from prior installments and then swirls them around with a new batch of teenagers ripe for slicing. The basic plot remains the same as it is in all of the other sequels: a new killer (or killers) dons the Ghostface mask and systematically takes out members of a tight-knit group of teens. Those teens in turn attempt to discover the identity of the killer(s) and tries to stop them, usually with the help of Sid, Dewey, and Gale. In this new film, however, there are ties that bind all of the victims and potential victims and ghosts of Scream sequels past that also come into play.
As with the other films in this series, Scream pokes fun at other horror franchises, tropes of the genre, and itself. Despite this, there’s a much darker tone to this film. Directors Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett do a brilliant job of generating some decent scares, doubt about the killer’s identity, and making Ghostface a legitimate and looming threat. This was the first time that I watched a Scream film and was actually impressed by the menacing presence of Ghostface. Sure, the villain trips, stumbles, and takes a beating from his/her victims, but Ghostface is much more sure of himself/herself this time around. This movie bumps the masked villain up a step or two in my opinion.
For folks like myself that saw the original film in theaters, this film is something of a love letter. Yes, Neve Campbell, Courteney Cox, and David Arquette are back, but we also get to see another old friend pop up. I won’t mention who that is, but at the end of the film that character’s presence and influence leaves things wide open for the next sequel if one is ever made. There are other things that pop up in the film, some that are hiding right in plain site, that tug a little at the hearts of the older crowd. As far as their performances are concerned, Campbell, Cox, and Arquette knock it out of the park. They could have easily phoned in their performances but they put a lot of heart into their roles and it shines through in this film.
The new batch of victims and suspects…..uh…..actors and actresses that appear in this film do solid jobs. You’ll get to know some of them better than others. Melissa Barrera stars as Samantha Carpenter, the estranged older sister of Tara (Jenna Ortega) Carpenter that is drawn back to Woodsboro after her sister is attacked. Samantha is accompanied back home with her new boyfriend, Richie (gamely played by Jack Quaid) and the two of them (with eventual help from our beloved original film trio) decide to fight the killer(s) and end the threat to Woodsboro. The list of suspects include a pair of twins named Chad and Mindy (Mason Gooding and Jasmin Savoy Brown), Amber (Mikey Madison), Liv (Sonia Ben Ammar), and Wes (Dylan Minnette). Kyle Gallner appears as Vince. Heather Matarazzo and Marley Shelton reprise their respective roles of Martha and Judy. Shelton gets a much more expanded role in this film. All of the cast do a great job, but I have to say that Mikey Madison delivered the best performance of the bunch.
This is a really enjoyable film. It’s the best sequel in the Scream franchise in my opinion and it blows another recent sequel, Halloween Kills, completely out of the water. Scream is a sequel done right. It gives fans all of the familiar scares, kills, and humor that’s expected of it, but it also makes the villain more impressive and tosses in a few pieces of dynamite to leave plenty of room for newer and spookier growth. It’s no masterpiece, not at all, but it’s a fun ride that breathes new life into a franchise that was on the verge of becoming stale and predictable.
Thanks for checking out my post. Go see this film in a theater and enjoy it. You won’t regret it!
With my first official album review in The Year Of KISS coming next week, I thought that I’d give a very brief glimpse at the band’s lineup changes over the years. I’ll start with the original members and make my way to the newest one. I’ll list the primary personnel on each KISS album review as well.
Paul Stanley/The Starchild
Along with Gene Simmons, Paul Stanley exited the band known as Wicked Lester and formed one of the most iconic groups in rock history, KISS. While all members of the band take turns on vocals, Paul is the primary frontman for the group. He does almost all of the talking between songs during live shows and often takes charge in interviews. Stanley is, in my opinion, the most talented member of the band overall and the true heart of KISS. He sings lead vocals and backing vocals and plays rhythm guitar.
Gene Simmons/The Demon
Considered to be the face of KISS and the one member that everyone in the world seems to be most familiar with, Gene Simmons has used his makeup and his mind to make a ton of money off of the brand that is KISS. Simmons tromps around stage, apes to cameras, breathes fire, vomits blood, flies into the rafters, and sticks out his iconic tongue. Simmons and Stanley are the only members that have been in the band for its entire existence. Simmons plays bass and sings lead and backing vocals.
Ace Frehley/Space Ace
Ace Frehley is a founding member of KISS. He designed the band’s iconic logo. He’s also considered by many to be the “sound” of the band because of his unique playing style. He left the band in 1982 for a solid solo career but eventually reunited with all of the founding members in 1996. He remained with the band until he exited a second time in 2002. Frehley has often stated that he is an unorthodox guitar player who has never taken a guitar lesson. Despite this, Frehley is considered to be one of the most influential guitarists in rock music. Mike McCready (Pearl Jam), Scott Ian (Anthrax), Tom Morello (Rage Against The Machine), and Dimebag Darrell (Pantera) are just a few of the many guitarists that consider Ace to be one of their biggest influences. His playing style is only made more memorable by the fact that he rigged his guitars to smoke and shoot rockets during live performances. Ace was the band’s lead guitarist and sang backing and lead vocals.
Peter Criss/The Catman
Peter Criss was the first founding member of KISS to exit the group. He left the band in 1980, rejoined in 1996, left again in 2001, came back in 2002, and made his final exit in 2004. Criss is best known for his raspy vocals that can be heard on some of KISS’ most popular tracks like “Black Diamond” and “Hard Luck Woman” and my personal Criss favorite, “Getaway.” He’s also the vocalist and co-writer for the band’s biggest charting track, “Beth,” which made it all the way to #7 on the Billboard Charts in 1976. Criss played drums and sang backing and lead vocals.
Eric Carr/The Fox
Eric Carr replaced Peter Criss in KISS in 1980. Of all of the “new guys” to join the band, Carr seems to be the most beloved. Carr went out of his way to connect with fans of the band and according to numerous interviews, he was the most approachable member of the group. He brought a loud, pounding style of hard rock to the band that would carry them through the 1980’s. He sang lead vocals on Criss’ tracks that were performed live but only some of the time. His best known original vocal contribution to the band was “Little Caesar” from 1989’s Hot In The Shade. Carr stayed in the band until his death on November 24, 1991 due to heart cancer. His death was sadly overshadowed by the death of another famous rocker, Freddie Mercury, of Queen. Carr played drums and provided backing and lead vocals.
Vinnie Vincent/The Ankh Warrior
Something of an anomaly in KISS, Vinnie Vincent joined the band officially in 1982 with the departure of Ace Frehley. A wizard on guitar, Vincent immediately had an impact on the band in both good and bad ways. Vincent was a prolific songwriter and cranked out tons of material that the band used including tracks like “Lick It Up.” He was also heavily used as a guitar player on Creatures of the Night despite not being featured on the album cover. Vincent was known for playing unplanned extended solos that disrupted many of KISS’ shows. He supposedly locked horns with members of the band, especially Paul Stanley, and would never sign a contract with the group. This and other things led to his exit from the group in 1984. He formed Vinnie Vincent Invasion that same year with Robert Fleischman, Dana Strum, and Bobby Rock. He would eventually return to the band as a songwriter with 1992’s Revenge. Since that time, Vincent has made sporadic public appearances, released an EP, and did a few interviews. Vincent played lead guitar and provided backing and lead vocals.
Mark St. John
After the unceremonious exit of Vinnie Vincent, KISS quickly replaced him with Mark St. John. St. John is the shortest tenured member of the group, lasting less than a year in 1984. He appeared on the band’s 1984 album, Animalize, but is the only member of the group to have never been featured on an album cover. Apparently St. John clashed immediately with the group. That and the fact that his reactive arthritis made him only able to play two live shows meant that his time in the group was cut short. Eventually St. John would form the band White Tiger. St. John’s incarnation of the group lasted from 1985 to 1989 when St. John attempted to form another band, The Keep, with former KISS drummer Peter Criss. Unable to secure a record deal, the group dissolved. St. John made a few more attempts at recording and forming bands but eventually faded into obscurity. He made a few limited public appearances, got in trouble with the law, was severely beaten and stabbed in prison, and eventually passed away at the age of fifty-one on April 5, 2007. His story is perhaps the most heartbreaking in the band. St. John provided lead guitar and backing vocals.
Bruce Kulick
With Mark St. John unable to perform live and due to his frequent clashes with the band, KISS needed a reliable performer to take his place quickly. That performer was Bruce Kulick. Kulick joined the group officially in September of 1984. He was already playing with the band prior to that time. He toured with the group along with Mark St. John and whenever St. John couldn’t perform, sometimes mid-concert, Kulick was brought in to take over guitars. Both Bruce and his brother, Bob, had auditioned with KISS prior to getting hired. Bruce Kulick would go on to perform with the group until the original lineup’s reunion in 1996. Kulick is noted for being able to put his own spin on the memorable solos performed by Ace Frehley, Vinnie Vincent, and Mark St. John but still making it sound like traditional KISS tracks. Since 2000, Kulick has been performing with Grand Funk Railroad and has done many more projects, including solo albums, over the years. Kulick is also noted for being a very easygoing guy who is very approachable. Kulick provided lead guitars, backing and lead vocals, and keyboards.
Eric Singer/The Catman
After the untimely death of Eric Carr, KISS hired journeyman drummer Eric Singer. Don’t let the title “journeyman” fool you, Singer is perhaps the most technically gifted drummer the band has ever had in its lineup. Singer has performed with some of the biggest acts in rock music such as Brian May, Alice Cooper, Black Sabbath, and Lita Ford. He’s also extremely versatile, being able to play numerous musical styles. Singer joined the band during their “unmasked” period but was the first person to take on the persona of a previous member of the group when he donned the Catman makeup in 2001. This has resulted in many members of the KISS Army disliking Singer and Tommy Thayer, who took on the Space Man persona. Singer has been with KISS longer than any other member of the band except for Gene Simmons and Paul Stanley. Singer also has his own group, ESP, that he performs with when he isn’t behind the kit for KISS or any of the many other bands he performs with when KISS has some downtime. Singer provides drums, piano, backing vocals, and lead vocals.
Tommy Thayer/The Spaceman
We’ve arrived at the final member of KISS. He’s been with the band longer than any other member except for Gene Simmons, Paul Stanley, and Eric Singer, but he’s still considered the “new guy.” He’s also both loved and hated for his tenure with the group. He’s Tommy Thayer and he’s one of the most solid guitarists that KISS has ever had in their lineup. After Ace Frehley’s final exit from KISS in 2002, Tommy Thayer took up Space Ace’s guitar and his persona. This enraged many fans even more than when Eric Singer took on the Catman persona. This is probably because Ace Frehley is one of the most beloved members of the original group. It also might be due to the fact that Thayer not only played in a KISS tribute band but that his involvement with the actual group goes all the way back to 1989’s Hot In The Shade where he did session work and co-wrote some of that album’s tracks. Thayer was something of an “every man” for the group. He did whatever functions Gene and Paul requested of him including production, videography, and being a gofer for the band. He went as far as reteaching both Ace Frehley and Peter Criss their original parts from KISS’ classic tracks so that they could perform them on the Reunion tour. When Frehley eventually left, Thayer slipped right into the role as the Spaceman. Since then, Thayer has contributed to the band’s last two albums, Sonic Boom (2009) and Monster (2012), providing songs and playing guitars. In my opinion, Thayer is an excellent guitarist who is only hindered by the fact that many people consider him nothing but a cover artist who got lucky. The fact of the matter is that Tommy Thayer can play all of the KISS tracks exactly as they sounded nearly fifty years ago, comes across as a nice guy despite how some people see him, and he put in a ton of work to get where he is today. Thayer provides the group with lead guitar and backing and lead vocals.
In Summary
Well, there you have it. I’ve listed all of the members of KISS from the group’s history. Sure, there are a few players that appeared on albums who were never officially members of the group such as Anton Fig and Bob Kulick, but I’ll mention them in reviews later this year. I just wanted to give everyone a brief introduction to the faces and personalities that turned KISS into the juggernaut that it has become over time.
Thanks for reading! The first album review hits next Friday!
Ken's Alternate Universe! 