31 Days of Horror 2024 Day 02 Bring it On Cheer or Die

 

TITLE-Bring it On Cheer or Die

SOURCE-Universal DVD

Yea everyone kind of remembers the first Bring it On movie. Cheerleaders,comedy and not a bad film. Who remembers the 6 or 7 sequels? Yea not many. In 2021 a new sequel came out. This time switching genres. Nope not a comedy aimed at teens this one is a SLASHER!!!

The Diablos are a cheer squad that loses at meets cause they aren't allowed to do stunts. Something about a girl dying doing them decades ago. 

Abby talks the lady in charge of them into allowing them for one big meet to do stunts. But the Diablos need a huge place to practice these new moves in. Only place big enough of course is the old abandoned school on the other side of town.

So the cheer squad goes. Not long after they start practicing one of the  girls twists her ankle. The dude ass stoner dude on the team packed a cooler but no ice,and they see that the bag with all their cells in it is missing now. 

After finding a list,with each member of the cheer squad listed as Hot Guy,Total slut,etc they realize something is up. Then 2 people in Mascot outfits show up and start killing off the Diablos.

Fairly decent kills,mostly practical FX work. And the reveal of who the killers is ain't bad. Like it isn't a total surprise but it also fits the feel of the film.

The surviving members of the Diablos a year later are at a meet and we get a twist that changes the film. Then boom credits roll.

Went into this expecting total junk. Over the past decade I have seen all the Bring it On movies and yea after that first one it is a fast downhill slide. Was surprised at how well done this movie was. And it is a modern slasher that doesn't feel like a Scream ripoff.

Bring  It On Cheer or Die gets a C+

31 Days of Horror 2024 Day 01 Ninja Vampire Busters

 

TITLE-Ninja Vampire Busters aka Vampire Busters

SOURCE-Video Asia DVD

Yes that is stolen Eerie Publications artwork on that DVD cover. Those covers are why I grabbed a pile of those Video Asia double features. Most  which have sat on my shelf unwatched. Wanted something I had never seen today and the title Ninja Vampire Busters caught my eye.

Made in 1989 this is a Hong Kong horror/fantasy/comedy. We  see a bunch of rebels attacking a place. The fat owner only wants to make sure they do not disturb a urn. Seems an EVIL SPIRIT is in that urn. The urn ends up going off a cliff and into the ocean.

500 years later the son of a rich man bids on this urn as a joke. The urn is won and ends up in the rich man's lavish apartment. Now yea I get that in a crowded place like Hong  Kong lavish means a place bigger than normal,but this apartment appears to be half the size of my home and my home is not that big.

The son's asshole friends are around and one of them uses the urn as an ashtray. Which releases the spirit. Who possesses various members of the family.

Leading up to a long fight at the end between someone who is possessed and what looks like the fat guy from the prologue but now with a shit stache.

No vampires in the film,mostly demon looking  things after someone becomes possessed by the evil spirit. And really no ninjas. Thinking this was retitled in the states to tap into that Ninja and Vampire trend in the 80s.

Way way more comedy than horror. And very broad comedy. But I have come to expect that with Hong Kong movies. 

This being from Video Asia I am sure they just toook some old ex rental VHS they found and did a straight dupe from that to a dvd-r. It looks like that was the case. The picture has that blurry look old cheap vhs had. The sound for the last 10 minutes goes up and down. And the film cuts off before thhe credits finish.

Ninja Vampire Busters gets a D+

No Holds Barred DVD

 

TITLE-No Holds Barred

SOURCE-WWE DVD

Oh man the late 80s. I was watching any wrestling on tv. Renting ppvs as soon as the tapes hit the video stores. And buying every wrestling mag I could find. You would think that I was there opening night to see No Holds Barred I bet. Nope.

Situation is unique. Growing up in the heart of Mid South Wrestling territory I was never a Hulk Hogan fan. Had  a feeling the movie was going to be really bad. Rented it once it hit VHS. Hated it and never bothered seeing it again.

Few weeks back vending at a indie wrestling event down on the gulf coast. Another vendor walks over sees I got a figure he wants. Asks if I wanted to work a trade. Walk over see his DVD rack and grabbed a few to make the deal.

Thinking ok maybe it is a so bad it is good film. NOPE. 

Hogan is Rip the biggest star in wrestling. Tiny Lister is Zeus the star of a tough man contest like sport. Where they fight in an 8 sided ring.

Hogan asks a guy if he is smelling dookie. Joan Severence shows her boney butt in some panties. And Hogan shows off his orange ass cheeks in a dumb scene.

The story behind the writing and filming of this film are much more entertaining than the movie. Stories of Vince and Hogan staying up 2 days in a hotel room writing the script,with rumored mounds of cocaine.

Love seeing people hate on Ready to rumble,which is WCW's version of No Holds Barred,then claiming NHB is good.

Nah they are both bad. Just that Ready to Rumble is bad in a watchable way. And this is bad in a "Oh man I loved this as a kid so now I watch it again to go back to my childhood" way.

No Holds Barred gets a F-

Wonder Woman DVD

 

TITLE-Wonder Woman

SOURCE-Double Feature WB DVD

Years back when Wonder Woman came out I skipped it. Lots of it having to do with me just not enjoying most DC movies.

But yea part of it is I have never been a huge Wonder Woman fan. As a kid growing up in the 70s I saw her on Superfriends and the live action Linda Carter TV show. But when I would find her comic it was eitheer issues from the Kung fu era or she was fighting the dumbest villains ever.

Really it wasn't until her revamp after Crisis on Infinite Earths by George Perez that I really enjoyed Wonder Woman in comics. 

Add in how she was portrayed in the Justice League and then JLU sequel series I was a small fan.

Set back during World War 1 this movie from my memory of it shows Wonder Woman's origin as it was back in the pre-Crisis days.

Born from clay on Paradise Island. Heads to man's land after Steve Trevor lands on the island during WW1. And becomes Diana Prince.

What this film does so well is takes that basic story that I had been told in 8 pages in a reprint and makes it a fully fleshed out movie with 3 acts. And this was 2 hours 20 somethng minutes and didn't feel padded or bloated like most other capeshit films.

Our leads are all great in their roles. Gal is a believable Wonder Woman. I was worried cause she isn't as big as say Linda Carter was. But she makes it work. The guy playing Steve is good. Balancing comedy and heroism. And Ares oh so damn good.

Great battle scenes. The one with Wonder Woman jumping out of a trench and just runniing full force at a machine gun nest is so well shot,edited and everything.

Hearing the sequel isn't nearly as good. Got it on this DVD pack with the first one cheap.

Wonder Woman gets a B+

Venom Let there be Carnage DVD

 

TITLE-Venom Let There Be Carnage
SOURCE-Sony DVD

Venom hit the Spidey comics around the time I was dropping them. When the first Venom movie came out I caught it late one night on STARZ and it wasn't bad. 

Found this sequel new sealed at a pawn shop for a buck and took the chance. 

Eddie has a deal with Venom. Venom gets to eat chicken brains and chocolate,aand Eddie and Venom will fight crime.

Kletus Kasaday the serial killer wants to speak to Eddie and only Eddie. Offering him a exclusive interview. While doing the interview Kletus bites Eddie. 

Not long after this when Kletus is being put to death he doesn't die. Nope somehow part of the Symbiote is in him now. And Kletus is Carnage ready to destroy the world. Along side his girlfriend Shriek.

Only Eddie and Venom can stop them. But after a argument Venom leaves and is body hopping. Which a trip to a rave that is one of the best scenes in the film.

Leading up to a big battle at a church. Pure capshit spectacle and it was glorious.

Big and dumb,but fun...Venom Let There Be Carnage is worth seeing. And gets a C.

Shazam Fury of the Gods DVD

 

TITLE-Shazam Fury of the Gods

SOURCE-WB DVD

Never noticed back then but in the late 70s when I was a young kid DC was pushing Captain Marvel,AKA Shazam now,hard. Live action SatAM show. Cartoon,new comic,piles of merch. And it never seemed to work.

Then a few years ago a Shazam film came out and like I do with so many of these capestuff movies I buy it let it sit on my shelf for a long time then watch it. Loved it and when I found the second film cheap not that long ago I grabbed it.

Got told "Go find us a Marvel movie we haven't seen off the comic book movie shelf". Grabbed Shazam Fury of the Gods cause well they are the MARVEL family.

Billy and the rest of the Marvel family still living with their foster family. Helen Mirren and Lucy Liu show up in Greece and get the wizards staff from the first film. Get the wizard to repair it and put a bubble up around the city.

While this is going on Freddy is trying to impress the new girl at school,who turns out to be the sister of Helen and Lucy. Mary Marvel is about to head off to college and the rest of the Marvel Family has their various issues.

Seems the three sisters are the Daughters of Atlas. And are trying to take over the mortal world. 

Big battles ,decent FX work,a cool looking dragon. And we are lead to believe Billy has died. But a cameo from another DC Heroine saves the day.

Yea this ain't nearly as good as the first film. Not sure what is missing. Story,acting and FX work are all good. Also it is LONG. Like at least 20 minutes longer than needed. 

Shazam Fury of the Gods gets a C+

Euro Western Double Feature Fighting Fists of Shanghai Joe/Any Gun Can Play DVD

TITLE-Euro Western Double Feature The Fighting Fists of Shanghai Joe/Any Gun Can Play

SOURCE-Alpha Video DVD

As a kid I hated westerns. Mostly cause we had one Color TV in the house,yea I'm that old. And many times I would be watching  something and Dad would walk in and turn the channel to usually some shitty John Wayne movie or Gunsmoke.

Over the past 20 years I have started dipping my toes into westerns. Finding ones I enjoy. And it was thanks to LCOTL over at Sleaze Fiend Magazine that I discovered this channel on YT packed with westerns. 

Late one night couldn't sleep so wanted something brainless to watch. Saw on that YT channel was a martial arts/western combo. The Fighting Fists of Shanghai Joe was it's title. And I watched it and loved it. Amazing widescreen print and good sound. 

Once the  film was over rushed to Amazon ordered  a pack of 8 westerns,with one of them being Shanghai Joe and his Fighting Fists. 

Got that set and the print on there is a VHS rip. Looks like ass sounds like ass. Made a note to get a better copy one day.

That day was a few months ago. Once  a week I do a circuit of the thrifts,junkstores and pawn shops locally. Buying up stuff. Found sealed at the church thrift the above pictured DVD.

The print is better than my old one. Sound is better but still not as good as what is on YT.

Shanghai Joe is a Chinese worker. He wants to find work. Ending up working for a ranch. Coming into a conflict with a gang that is enslaving latinos they get from across the border.

Basic kung Fu plot mixed with standard Western plot. The fights are what elevates this. The big bad hires a pile of assassins to kill Shanghai Joe. One of whom is the madman Klaus Kinski. 

Now Any Gun can Play is odd. I had never heard of it and before the first reel was over I realized this was a satire of the popular westerns of it's era. A decently done satire. With Edd Kookie Byrnes as a greaser looking cowboy. Yes Edd Kookie Byrnes,best known to anyone under 50 as the washed up Celebrity Peg and Al met on Married with Children,the same episode with Anthrax appearing.

Any Gun Can Play is a widescreen print. With some damage but nothing major. The sound is fairly decent.

Only  extras on this disc is a pile of trailers. For the 50 cents or buck I paid for this I was happy with 2 films.

Now time to continue the search for a good copy of Shanghai Joe on DVD or Blu Ray.

The Fighting Fists of Shanghai Joe gets a B. Any Gun Can Play gets a C+
 

Teen Titans Go Vol 1 Party,Party TPB

 

TITLE-Teen Titans Go VOL Party,Party
SOURCE-DC TPB

Yea I know the cartoon is hated. I saw it here and there and it was ok at best. This tpb supposedly reprints the first 6 isssues of the Teen Titans Go comics series.

You get a pile of 4 to 8 page stories. Imagine the old Archie digests but the stories got a slight superhero bend to them. And you will get cameos from people like Red Bee and Darkseid.

The art ? It looks like the cartoon so it works. The stories? They aren't bad. Lots of pop culture references. Like the story about the team going on a America's Got Talent like show,and facing the Brotherhood of Evil.

Or the really well done Slumber Party story. Starfire,Raven,Jynx and Bumblebee are having a slumber party. The guys all get sent out. And wacky hijynx happen.

Never would have bought this for cover price. 13 bucks when you factor in sales tax. The buck or so I paid is about what it was worth to me.

Cause these short stories made perfect reading material for when eating or when on the throne.

Teen Titans Go Vol 1 Party,Party gets a C+

The New Adventures of Batman The Complete Collection Blu Ray

TITLE-The New Adventures of Batman Complete Collection

SOURCE-Warner Brothers Blu Ray

I would have loved to been a kid in the past 20 years. When you got a new comic movie or tv show almost every month. Back in the mid to late 70s I was lucky if every 5 years we got a new cartoon. Which is why when this Batman cartoon debuted in the late 70s I was there every Saturday to see it. Loving Bat Mite and wondering why Bat Mite wasn't appearing in Superfriends on ABC.

Then the show stopped airing and I just forgot about it. Sometime in the late 80s had just got in my new CBG issue,Comic Buyers Guide,and in the classifieds saw someone selling COLLECTOR copies of this series on VHS. Not wanting to take a chance I passed.

Then I found this blu ray set cheap. And found the show is mixed bag to me know. It has the goofy plots of the Batman 66 tv show,which makes sense with Adam West and Burt Ward voicing Batman and Robin in this. 

Thinking this has to be the first Batgirl in animation. She is decent  in here. And very much like her Batman 66 portrayal.

With only 16 episodes they didnt go through that much of Batman's rogues gallery. You get Joker of course,and Penguin. Mr Freeze,who is one that became bigger thanks to BTAS. And a odd costume for Catwoman that I only remember seeing on this show.

As  a kid seeing this once a week and not having much else that was comic book related ot watch I loved it. Now seeing all 16 episodes over a weekend and it's flaws are very much there in your face often.

The prints used look and sound good. Only extra is a 18 minute short titled The Dark Knight Revisited. I think I have seen this before on another set. You get the same talking heads you got on all the Batman the Animated Series BTS extras on those releases.

The New Adventures of Batman Complete Collection Blu ray gets a C-.

 

The Barbarians Blu Ray

 

TITLE-The Barbarians

SOURCE-Scorpion Blu ray

Oh Cannon,they never saw a hit they weren't ready to rip off. Conan was big. So Cannon wanted a Barbarian movie. Hired Peter Paul and David Paul (Known as the Barbarian Brothers) and made this cheap. It failed the Paul Twins made 2 more films then kind of faded away. Not that many years ago one of them passed.

The movie? It is your standard Conan the Barbarian 80s era rip off. Big muscle having hero,or heroes in this case. Attractive woman in little clothing as a love interest,being Eva Larue in this film. Then some crazy cult leader/magician villian,Richard Lynch in this film.

Watching this for the first time in decades,I am sure this is one of the many Cannon films I saw late at night on Showtime and TMC in the early 90s,I notice how the Paul Twins looked and were outfited in a way that made them look like live action versions of the Masters of the Universe figures that were huge in the mid 80s. Really this is a better He Man movie than the one we got so far.

The blu ray looks good sounds good. Extras is a pile of trailers. Then a commentary from Troy Howarth and Nathaniel Thompson.

Oh crap can't forget got Michael Berryman as one of the henchmen of Richard Lynch. Dude was just made for a film like this.

Out of the three Barbarian Brothers films I have seen,the other 2 being Think Big and Twin  Sitters,this is the best.Yea it's dumb. But you knew that when you looked at the cover.

The Barbarians gets a B.