List O' Links for Friday, February 3, 2017

Welcome back everybody! I hope you all had a great holiday season (it's weird asking about your holidays when February has already started). It has been far too long since I've written here, and I only have time to show you some cool stuff at other sites, but I'm still worth your time, aren't I?

Oh. Well, here are some fun links anyway.

When I got into comic books heavily at the end of the 80s, I came across an awesome "choose your own adventure" style book featuring Batman; I still have it to this very day! Coincidentally, The Retroist has a brand new article about it. Check it out!

It's that time of year again--time for McDonald's to bring back the ever-popular Shamrock Shake! But they've kicked it up a notch this year. In fact, they've kicked it up three additional notches! This year, McDonald's is offering four versions of the shake! Bring on the calories!

If you love awesome toys from the 70s, then you'll love THESE awesome toys from the 70s! I totally had the green and black Roaring Hot Cycle!

I can never get enough foreign-made posters for popular America movies. Their outtake on our films are always both crazy yet full of insight that we Americans lose. Try these foreign movie posters on for size!

Finally, I have had the new Chocolate Strawberry Oreos, and they are goooooooooood! Don't believe me--check out the word of Stunt Zombie. He likes them too!

Have a great weekend!

List O' Links for Friday, November 6, 2015

I've noticed something about you. You simply don't have enough Internet links to check out! Let me help you with that this weekend!

First, some Halloween leftovers: the Onion AV Club recently identified their 25 best horror movies released since 2000. The Babadook is rightfully present, but [REC] got robbed!

My beloved Halloween animated special Witch's Night Out is now in production as an off-Broadway stage musical. Yay!

I recently came across a blog called Autumnal, which celebrates everything that is..well, you know. Check it out!

Looking ahead to the holiday season, ABC recently announced their 2015 holiday programming. Set your DVRs accordingly!

As a lifelong Peanuts fan, I'm thrilled that the long-awaited Peanuts Movie is finally released today! I'm also excited to see this recently released book Only What's Necessary: Charles M. Schulz and the Art of Peanuts by Chip Kidd. It's on my to-read list!

That's this week's short list of cool links. If you find a link you think is worthy of being mentioned here, please let me know in the comments.

Have a great weekend!

Tuesday's Overlooked Film: The Phantom Tollbooth

For this week's Tuesday's Overlooked Film, I'm going back to a movie I featured several years ago before I was involved with the Overlooked meme--the live action/animation hybrid The Phantom Tollbooth.

Based on the classic young readers novel by Norton Juster and Jules Feiffer, The Phantom Tollbooth stars Butch Patrick (Eddie from The Munsters) as Milo, a boy who is completely bored by the world around him. Nothing gives him a reason to be interested in or care about anything. Lo and behold, a magical tollbooth appears in his bedroom that transports him to an animated wonderland, where he encounters a watchdog (complete with a clock in his belly), a prickly Humbug (think C3P0 or Doctor Smith from Lost in Space), a boy who grows down instead of up, and many other bizarre characters. Along the way, he learns to care and appreciate the world around him.

The animation was designed and supervised by the legendary Chuck Jones, and his style is clearly evident throughout the animated sequences. I only saw the movie once as a child, but I fell in love with it immediately. Just a couple of years ago, I decided to read the book for the first time and enjoyed that as well. Unfortunately, author Juster didn't care for the film and preferred the book be adapted into a completely live action film.

I'll let you judge for yourself whether the existing film is up to snuff. Here it is in its entirety. My previous post from 2009 has a dead link to the film, so I'm happy to showcase a better link here. Enjoy!

List O' Links Halloween Edition Part 2

Holy crap--Halloween is less than a week away! Plus, this is the last weekend before the big day (unless you plan on extending your Halloween celebration into next weekend after the big day, which many of you might). We really need to crank it up several notches. Let's do that with the help of some more awesome Halloween links!

If you haven't heard, some independent filmmakers created a fun but scary movie about two of the most non-scariest places in the world--Disneyland and Walt Disney World. Or are those places so innocent? Learn more about the indie film that's getting so much attention--Escape From Tomorrow!

When handing out treats next Thursday, don't be cruel. Do NOT hand out these Top 10 Worst Things to Give Trick-or-Treaters!

A large part of my Halloween horror film watching this season has been spent on the classic Universal Studios Frankenstein films. Here's a handy guide.

If you were a kid in the 1990s, chances are you enjoyed the Goosebumps series of young adults horror books by R. L. Stein. Here is a look at classic horror movies on the covers of fake Goosebumps books.

Surely you're familiar with the famous radio broadcast of War of the Worlds by Orson Welles and the panic it caused, but perhaps you've never actually heard it. Fear not--you can listen to it (and several other Welles broadcasts) right here!

Finally, here is a fun music EP from "geek musician" John Anealio with four songs all about Halloween or horror in some way. John has been doing his thing for some time now as both a musician and as a blogger and podcaster. You can download his EP for free or, if you can, pay what you can--you name your price.

Have a great spooky weekend! Be safe and have fun!

List O' Links for Friday, September 27, 2013

This is the last weekend of September. It's been a busy month for all, I'm sure (it certainly has been for me), so we've all earned a fun, relaxing weekend. Especially since the rest of the year is going to be even busier, but also a lot of fun. The last three months are my favorite of the year: we've got Halloween (and the Countdown to it), Thanksgiving, and my favorite holiday of the year, Christmas!

And appropriately enough, my favorite time of the year kicks off Saturday, which is my birthday! Happy Birthday to me! :)

OK, enough on the passage of time, let's get right to the links!

Check out an actor dressed as Superman at the 1939 World's Fair. This unnamed actor is likely the first live action representation of the hero.

I'd love to hear what the grammar police would say about this author's punctuation proclamation--"Kill the Apostrophe!"

I know it's early, but new Christmas music releases start coming out strong in October. Keep track with Amazon's list of new Christmas music releases here.

Remember Freedom Rock, man? Here's an update on what one of the actors in that famous commercial is doing these days.

The TV series Marvel's Agents of SHIELD debuted this week (and I thought it was awesome!) and Iron Man 3 was released on DVD, Blu-Ray, and Digital HD download this week as well. But did you know that prose novels starring the Avengers were available way back when? Check out their nice cover art here.

Finally, this wouldn't be a decent geek-related blog without some Star Wars cosplay. Here is a video featuring an awesome wookie outfit!

Have a great weekend, and please come back Monday, as next week kicks off--the COUNTDOWN TO HALLOWEEN! See you then!

List O' Links for Friday, May 24, 2013

Happy Memorial Day weekend! I hope you take the opportunity to enjoy your family and friends for an extra day, no matter where you're going or even if you're just staying home. Please take the time to remember those who sacrificed their lives in our wars, as this is why the day exists.

Here are this week's links!

Pop Rewind examines the start-up sounds of Microsoft Windows versions from the very beginning to today's Windows 8. Ah, technological memories!

I'm currently reading and enjoying the new book VJ: The Unplugged Adventures of MTV's First Wave, written by and about the first crew of MTV VJs. Time.com lists 32 facts about the VJs both from the book and new revelations.

The aptly named Network Awesome features a collection of vintage jeans TV commercials from the early 80s. Dig into your closet and put on your old Sergio Valentes!

Freeform FM radio station WFMU has a fantastic blog, featuring such treats as a tribute to the classic 1985 horror film Reanimator.

Finally, my friend Todd Mason at Sweet Freedom showcases some great covers of magazines appearing on newsstands in October 1978.

Have a great and safe holiday weekend!

Star Wars Children's Book and Record from 1977

Today I offer an item I loved as a child--a book and record of the first Star Wars film. The book contained the same text read by the narrator and actors on the record, along with photos from the movie. The actors on the record were clearly not those of the film. Although the record was 33 1/3 RPM, the record's size was that of a traditional 45.

This was made by Buena Vista Records, Disney's audio records division; even from the beginning, Disney and Star Wars had a relationship. Disney also made book and record combinations of Tron and Raiders of the Lost Ark that I enjoyed. The Star Wars book is long gone, but I believe the record still exists at my parent's house to this day, albeit with a large crack in it (the record that is, not the house).

Thanks!

List O' Links for Friday, January 18, 2013

It's not just any Friday, but the Friday before a nice three-day weekend! If you have Monday off (or even if you don't), enjoy it. Until then, here are a few fun links to while away the time.

Remember that time Mr. Rogers visited the set of the Incredible Hulk TV show? I did in a previous post back in 2008, but Christopher Mills takes a recent look at the hallowed event this week.

Longtime readers know that I'm one of the biggest lovers of McDonald's food you'll find, but even I don't touch the McRib sandwich. Here are several good reasons why.

My kids are starting to explore the Star Wars universe in earnest for the first time this year, and in introducing them to it, I've had a renewed interest as well. Here's a useful list if you want to get into the Star Wars universe as presented in the many books written about it.

What is this, some kind of ancient archaeological discovery? Nope--it's my family's first ever VCR from 1981!

Finally, a sober link, but one that is worth reading in keeping with the theme of the upcoming Martin Luther King Jr. holiday.

Have a great weekend!

List O' Links for Friday 6/15/12

I haven't posted a List O' Links in awhile, so let me rectify that problem now. Surf away!

I posted my own tribute to the Incredible Hulk in honor of his 50th anniversary previously, but the LA Times Hero Complex created their own fine tribute as well

Speaking of tributes, Histories of Things to Come has a touching one in honor of late astronomer Jack Horkeimer.

For fans of both old time radio or science fiction, here is a collection of episodes of the great 50s sci-fi radio program X Minus One.

His name is Shawn Robare, and he's a mechanical pencil addict. "Hi Shawn!"

A vending machine that prints and sells a book on the spot? Why not!

Lastly, Laurel and Hardy made fantastically funny films, yet they sometimes ended on a bizarre note. Tom Ruegger of Cartoonatics shows just how bizarre.

Have a great weekend!

Tuesday's Forgotten Film: Memoirs of An Invisible Man

This week's Forgotten Film is one I really enjoyed when it was released in 1992 but didn't seem to connect with audiences. It's the John Carpenter-directed Chevy Chase vehicle Memoirs of an Invisible Man.

Chase plays Nick Halloway, a stock analyst who is turned invisible while napping in a building that experiences a scientific experiment gone awry. Halloway captures the attention of an unscrupulous CIA agent (Sam Neill) who wishes to use him as a spy, even if he has to coerce Halloway into the job. Halloway spends the film fleeing from the agent while searching for a cure for his invisiblility.  There is also a subplot involving Halloway and love interest Alice, played by Daryl Hannah.

The film is a mix of comedy and action with amazing special effects. Detractors of Chase won't likely be won over by his performance here, but I found him more than competent in the role.

The movie is based on a 1987 novel of the same name by author H.F. Saint, which is held in fairly high regard. Saint is a literary one hit wonder--this is the only book he's written.

Here is the film's trailer. Enjoy!

Mr. Men and Little Misses

As Google so happily pointed out to us, today would have been the 76th birthday of Roger Hargreaves, the creator of the popular line of children's books Mr. Men and Little Misses.  I knew that very recently there existed a cartoon TV series featuring the adventures of the characters, but I didn't know until today that a series of cartoons previously existed.

Here is one example, featuring Mr. Tickle.  After you watch it, you may find him as creepy as I did.  The dude literally lives to go out and tickle unsuspecting innocents with his extremely long arms.  This is yet another example of how innocent children's stories can have an unintentional ick factor.  Enjoy anyway!

Charles Schulz's Non-Peanuts Work

One of my favorite blogs to read is I'm Learning to Share by blogger The In-Crowd. There you will find lengthy articles on all sorts of pop culture chock-full of information, pictures, audio, and video. Today I stumbled upon two articles there about a subject I thought I knew a great deal about--Peanuts creator Charles Schulz.

But no! At that blog I learned about two non-Peanuts projects Schulz authored that I had no idea existed. One is a book called Two-By-Fours, and another a comic strip called Young Pillars.

I strongly encourage you to check out these articles here and here. Great stuff!

The Phantom Tollbooth Movie

Just yesterday I finished the 1961 children's book The Phantom Tollbooth by author Norton Juster and illustrated by Jules Feiffer. It's a great story about a boy named Milo who finds a magic tollbooth that takes him on a fantastic journey through the lands of words and numbers in search of two princesses who can restore the scism between the two lands. It features clever plays on words and strange characters, similar in vein to Alice's Adventures in Wonderland.

I was inspired to finally read this children's book (at the age of 34) because of my rememberance of a film version released in 1969, which I saw on TV back in the early 80s (possibly on my beloved channel WKBS Channel 48 in Philadelphia). Unfortunately, the film was only available on VHS once and has never been released on DVD. The last I saw any TV appearance was on cable channel Turner Classic Movies (after it finished airing, much to my dismay).

However, through the magic of YouTube, I can feature it here! As tough as some may find it to watch a full movie off of YouTube, please do yourself a favor, regardless of your age, and enjoy this delightful film version, a combination of live action and animation (the latter of which is directed by the legendary Chuck Jones). Thanks!



As an added bonus, here is another Chuck Jones project based on a book by Juster, a short cartoon called "The Dot and the Line". I've always loved this cartoon, but I had no idea it was based on a book by the same author as Tollbooth until today!

Whisperers of Lore--Dack's Way by D.R. Polsz

Yesterday I attended the launch party for a friend publishing his first novel. It's called Whisperers of Lore--Dack's Way by D.R. Polsz. It's a fantasy novel about the division of an island into two warring factions and the attempts of the main character, Dack, to unite the two peoples. Through his adventures, he discovers details about both his past and who he is as a person. For more details about the book, and to purchase your own copy, visit his Web site, drpolsz.com.

Raymond Briggs' "When the Wind Blows"

As promised from my post last month regarding author Raymond Briggs' book-turned-animated film The Snowman, here is more from Briggs, and it is another animated adaptation. When the Wind Blows is both charming and heartbreaking simultaneously, as it follows the efforts of a retired English couple to survive a nuclear holocaust according to the suggestions of the government. Such Cold War-era subject matter may seem dated--or maybe not.

Best of 2007

Hello everyone, and I'm sorry it's taken so long for me to post again. This is the longest I've gone without posting since my blog's inception. It's taken me longer than expected to get back in the swing of things after the holidays (technically, I'm still not completely there), but I want to get back on track.

Perhaps I'm too late to get into the "let's look back at the previous year" routine, as most of you have finished looking back and are moving forward into the new year. But if you would humor me, I'd appreciate it.

I love lists, especially best-of lists, and especially best-of-the-year lists. I'd like to hear yours. Unfortunately, I can't reciprocate, as I usually don't see/listen to/read enough stuff to warrant creating one myself. I think I've seen three movies in 2007: Spider-Man 3 (what a disappointment), I Now Pronouce You Chuck and Larry (it was OK), and License to Wed (don't ask). That's it!

As for music, my only purchase: Paul McCartney's Memory Almost Full, which I enjoyed quite a bit (almost as much as his 2005 release, Chaos and Creation in the Backyard).

And books--what are they?

I hope your exposure to what was new in 2007 was more expansive than mine. Let me know in the comments section. Also, don't limit your mentions to movies/music/books. You can include TV shows, Web sites, blogs (ahem), whatever you'd like. Thanks!

Raymond Briggs' "The Snowman"

This is an Oscar-winning animated short about a boy's trip to the North Pole courtesy of a magical snowman. A beautiful film with a bittersweet ending. The narration at the very beginning is read by David Bowie. I'll have more from Raymond Briggs after the holidays.