Shaft
Release date: July 2, 1971
Blaxploitation! Careful: some NSFW language. This is probably the most well-known movie in the Blaxploitation genre, but most of us know it solely as a punch line, or have some vague knowledge of its iconic theme song (probably through references from OTHER movies and TV shows). Does it hold up? Is it worth the hype? Let us know in the comment section of the Blaxploitation! post below. Love the trailer narration: "Shaft's his name; shaft's his game!" Uh, WUT? Remember the 2000 remake starring Samuel L. Jackson? Neither does John Singleton.
Above the Law
Release date: April 8, 1988
'80s Action! I wanted to feature a Steven Seagal movie, because they're ridiculous. And I wanted to feature Hard to Kill, because Mason Storm. But Hard to Kill came out a month and nine days into 1990, just exceeding the 1980's requirement for this category. So, instead, let's take a look at Seagal's only film from the '80s (and his major motion picture debut), Above the Law. This trailer is just perfect. #HeavyAction
The Pom Pom Girls
Release date: May 1, 1976
Free Space! Our first of the month! Weird, right? All this freedom? Benjamin Martin: "May I watch a movie with you?" Charlotte: "It's a free space. Or, at least, it will be." You can either take a breather, or you can keep on keeping on. If you choose the latter, what are you going to watch? Still undecided? The Pom Pom Girls is available in its entirety on YouTube, here!
The House on Sorority Row
Release date: Jan. 21, 1983
Slashers! Well, la-de-da! This movie is also available in-full on YouTube. YOU'RE WELCOME. Question: in order for a movie to qualify as a "slasher film," does the villain need to use a knife? I mean, that's what the designation suggests, right? But there are so many other ways to kill young coeds. The House on Sorority Row, for example, seems to favor the handgun. But "Pistols!" just doesn't have the same ring to it.
Spider Baby
Release date: Jan. 18, 1968
Sid Haig! Sidney Eddy Mosesian was born in Fresno in 1939, which makes him 73 now. According to IMDb, dude's acted in 130 projects (although some were TV appearances, and some were very minor roles). Regardless, the man is prolific, especially when it comes to the 'sploitations. Spider Baby is a film the entire F This Movie! crew collectively fell in love with last October as part of The Massacre horror movie marathon at Chicago's Portage Theater (RIP). Haig plays a demented manchild (no surprise), and served as the go-to oddball in director Jack Hill's stable of characters for years to come.
Enter the Dragon
Release date: Aug. 19, 1973
Kung Fu! Just like with Shaft above, you gotta stick with the classics. Good news is this kung fu movie also has a bit of Blaxploitation thrown in for good measure. Enter the Dragon is widely considered to be Bruce Lee's best film, but is that because it's "the first martial arts film produced by a major Hollywood studio" (i.e., it's well-made and "slick"), or is the story that much better? Bruce Lee died while providing final overdubs for the film later in 1973 at age 32[!]. After complaining about a headache, he took Equagesic, a painkiller containing both aspirin and a muscle relaxant. Allegedly, the medicine aggravated a previously diagnosed acute cerebral edema (brain swelling), which he had been treated for before. Or did it? Some conspiracy theorists argue that his death may have been caused by a delayed reaction to a Dim Mak strike (think Kill Bill) he received weeks before. The world may never know. Sorry to bum you out. We should all watch a Bruce Lee movie in his honor.
The Wasp Woman
Release date: Oct. 30, 1959
Roger Corman! I picked this movie because a.) the titles the best, and b.) the full-length film is also (ALSO!) available for free on YouTube. What more do you want from me?
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