Friday, June 7, 2013

Watchin' Trailerz With Doug (June 7)

We're officially one week into #Junesploitation, and the feedback so far has been wonderful. Thanks to everyone who's participating! Just a word of caution: pace yourself -- you still have three weeks to go.

Sugar Hill
Release date: March 20, 1974



Zombies! Get your #ScaryMovieMonth fix early by watching your favorite zombie movie tonight. I went back-and-forth between featuring this zombie flick and another film called A Virgin Among the Living Dead. Sugar Hill won because it has the distinction of being both a zombie movie AND a Blaxploitation movie. That's what we in the biz call a win-win.

Mr. Majestyk
Release date: July 17, 1974



Charles Bronson! I already blew my wad last week by featuring Death Wish 3 on Revenge! day. My bad. So here's Mr. Majestyk, starring Bronson as Vincent Majestyk, an ordinary (OR IS HE?) watermelon farmer. Warning: don't watch this trailer if you can't stand the sight of slaughtered watermelons. Because, YEAH, it gets that bad. Another option: Death Wish 4: The Crackdown, which I've heard is awesome/hilarious, is available in its entirety on YouTube.

The Big Doll House
Release date: April 30, 1971



Prison! WARNING: this trailer contains female nudity. On YouTube? Crazy, I know. But also, awesome? Aside from a brief appearance in Beyond the Valley of the Dolls (in which she's "Partygoer/Fourth Woman" [basically an extra]), The Big Doll House marks Pam Grier's big entrance into motion pictures. That alone makes it worth seeing. And this trailer has nudity. In case I forgot to mention it.

Bloodsport
Release date: Feb. 26, 1988



Cannon Films! Where do you start with a category this broad? I'm no Cannon expert, so I'm going with an easy pick -- Bloodsport. Mike and I share a love for this movie that makes Patrick roll his eyes (Mike even got it for me on DVD several years ago for my birthday [great guy, Mike is]). Just like with The Big Doll House, this film officially introduced "international martial arts sensation" Jean-Claude Van Damme (as "American" Frank Dux) to the world (forget about his previous bit part appearances in Monaco Forever and Breakin', among a few others). Pay close attention to the flashback sequences featuring [what can only be described] as a mentally challenged version of young Van Damme (poor, poor Pierre Rafini). Watch the WHOLE SEQUENCE, here, and just WAIT FOR HIM TO TALK.

Thriller: A Cruel Picture
Release date: June 5, 1974



Badass Chicks! For me, this category has the opposite problem than Cannon Films! day, above. Namely, while there are several "badass chick" movies out there, so few truly satisfy, in my opinion, the "exploitation" angle of our event. Sure, Angelina Jolie was tough in Lara Croft: Tomb Raider (although not really), and yes, Milla Jovovich made a name for herself with the Resident Evil movies. But c'mon, we can do better than that, right? Here's a Swedish(!) movie from the '70s which, honestly, I've never heard of, but it looks pretty perfect. For more examples, check out this list Patrick put together in 2010.

Duck, You Sucker
Release date: Oct. 20, 1971



Spaghetti Westerns! A genre I've wanted to get into for such a long time, but always find an excuse to avoid (I dunno, something about the washed-out colors and stark landscapes pushes me away, even though I know these movies are kind of the best). I picked the above trailer for one simple reason: the title made me chuckle. I have no idea if it's any good. Unfortunately(?), this movie is also known as A Fistful of Dynamite (as it's called in the preview), and I really think that's a shame. BONUS: here's a list of Quentin Tarantino's favorite SWs (I'm going to make this a thing).

The Abominable Dr. Phibes
Release date: May 18, 1971



Vincent Price! Who, as we all know, is a much better actor than his grandson Jody Price, who, as we all know, is more recognized for providing replacement feet for the "Vincent Price's Egg Magic" egg-making game. As we all know.

4 comments:

  1. Frig Patrick, I like Bloodsport too! Also, I'm sorry Patrick, I take it back, please, please, please forgive me!

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  2. brb, gotta go watch The Big Doll House.

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  3. I love how the young Frank Dux in Bloodsport is wearing a San Francisco Giants hat and a New York Giants t-shirt. He just likes Giants!

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    1. Do we know Frank's favorite band? Because, you know, They Might be Giants! (sorry! :-O)

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