Watchin' Trailerz with Doug (May 31)

Tomorrow is the first day of Junesploitation, a 30-day celebration of exploitation films. Excited? You are excited. Just like last year, I'm going to feature trailers this month that highlight each day's chosen theme. Obviously, this year is a little more broad, so please watch whatever you want that correlates to a particular category. I mean, just because I'll be watching Coffy on June 4 (Pam Motherfucking Grier!), doesn't mean that you'll be watching it. But, really, if you haven't seen Coffy yet, what are you waiting for? When you're done, post a 50-word (or less [much less]) review in the comment section of that day's post. Fun? You are having fun. #junesploitation

Smokey and the Bandit
Release date: May 27, 1977



Cars! Read all about out our very own Hollywood Heath Holland's complicated relationship with this iconic car movie here.

Death Wish 3
Release date: Nov. 1, 1985



Revenge! Patrick introduced this movie to me (and Mike and Adam Beta) a few months ago, and HOLY SHIT IS IT THE BEST. If you haven't picked out a revenge film yet, I strongly recommend this one. Don't let this humorless trailer dissuade you -- it is brilliant and funny and violent and JUST THE BEST.

The Beyond
Release date: March 1, 1983



Italian horror! If you're into that sort of thing! I'm not! But you might be! And that's fine! Enjoy!

Foxy Brown
Release date: April 5, 1974



Pam Motherfucking Grier! This is probably the movie most closely associated with "classic" Pam Grier, so why not feature it? "You tell me who you want done, and I'll do the hell out of them." I can't believe I've never seen it, and now I'm thinking ...maybe I need to? Right now? Based on this trailer? "Have no fear, Pam Grier is here ... as Foxy!" Coffy, you may have to wait.

American Ninja
Release date: Aug. 30, 1985



Samurai & Ninjas! For whatever reason, I always get American Kickboxer 1, Bloodsport and this movie (never mind the original title, American Warrior, featured in the trailer) mixed up in my no-good brain. Probably because they were all an integral part of my summers growing up the suburbs. I have fond memories renting low-budget action titles from Video Plus Emporium (RIP), watching them on a loop at various friends' houses, dressing up like ninjas and staging elaborate fights in each other's living rooms. One of my older friends -- let's call him JOSH B. -- was a fan of all things ninja, and his out-of-state dad used to buy him "authentic" (we presumed) Japanese weapons, including heavy, sharp throwing stars (he made me call them "shurikens"); heavy, wooden nunchucks; a goddamn metal katana; and, most impressive to me, two metal sai short swords. Unbelievable. The things a divorced father will do to curry favor with his son. And it worked! Because we all thought Mr. B. was the coolest. Ahhh ... what were we talking about again?

Barbarella
Release date: Oct. 10, 1968



Sci-fi! "She makes science fiction ... something else." Yeah. Sexy fiction. AmIright? #dodougsjobforhim