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The Black Scorpion, a review by GSyren

The Black Scorpion (888574-100049)

United States 1957 | Released 2014-12-09 on DVD from Warner Home Video

88 minutes | Aspect ratio Anamorphic 1.85:1 | Audio: English Dolby Digital Mono

Directed by Edward Ludwig and starring Richard Denning, Mara Corday, Carlos Rivas, Mario Navarro, Carlos Muzquiz

My thoughts about The Black Scorpion:

I recently double-dipped on The Black Scorpion because it was finally released in its proper widescreen format. Unlike what many seem to think, the animation in this film was not done by Willis O'Brien. It was done by Pete Peterson. And it's a quite remarkable achievement since Peterson suffered from multiple sclerosis. O'Brien is credited as Supervisor of Special Effects. You can read more about Pete Peterson here. The Black Scorpion may not be a cinematic masterpiece, but it certainly didn't deserve being ridiculed in MST3K. It's a fine example of fifties monster bug movies. Yes, it starts out slow, but that's the way most of these films did it. They built up to the reveal of the monster(s). The worst aspect of the movie is the silly close-ups of the drooling scorpion head. They don't match the animation model, and they're used way too long and too often. Another problem is that they apparently ran out of money before they could finish all the effects, so a few of the animation scenes just have the black matte of the scorpion, presenting it as a silhouette. But it kind of works anyway. Finally, the little Mexican boy, Juanito, is really both annoying and unnecessary. But all this doesn't stop me from liking this movie. I guess it helps that I'm a huge fan of fifties monster movies in general, and stop motion movies in particular. On first viewing I rated this movie three stars. Now, after seeing it in widescreen, I add half a star to that rating.

I rate this title

(From Reviews and ramblings by Gunnar on February 17th, 2015)

Gunman From Bodie, a review by Rogmeister

Gunman From Bodie (1941)  62m
Directed by Spencer G. Bennet
Cast: Buck Jones, Tim McCoy, Tim McCoy, Raymond Hatton, Robert Frazer, Christine McIntyre, Frank LaRue

This is the second film in the "B" western series of the Rough Riders which starred Buck Jones, Tim McCoy and Raymond Hatton and is considered the best of the series.  It is a slightly confusing plot (as was the the first of the series, Arizona Bound).  In it, Buck Jones is apparently an outlaw while Tim McCoy is a marshal and Hatton is a cook on a ranch.  Unbeknownst to the other characters, the three are really friends working secretly together.  The story actually begins one rainy stormy night where Buck (as Bodie) comes across a couple who have been murdered by rustlers and he finds them dead but their baby is still alive and he find the woman still holding a note naming their killers.  It's okay...not great...and the picture quality is just so-so.   

(From DCO third annual November Alphabet Marathon - discussion/review/banter thread on November 30th, 2009)

Pete's Pilots, a review by addicted2dvd

C.S.I.
It's all here. All the cases. All the evidence. All the solutions. All 23 episodes of the Golden Globe nominated first season of CSI. Now available in this special edition DVD set, containing special features and behind-the-scenes extras.

Pilot
Gil Grissom is the supervisor of the graveyard shift of Las Vegas' elite crime scene investigators. Holly Gribbs, fresh out of the academy, joins the team. Jim Brass is head of the unit and is trying to scare Gribbs from CSI. Catherine Willows, mother of a young daughter, is the number two CSI on this shift. Warrick Brown and Nick Stokes are competing to solve their 100th case to earn a promotion to CSI 3. Grissom investigates a murder staged to look like a suicide with precious little evidence. Warrick and Catherine take the case of a drunk who breaks into the house where he had been staying and is shot to death. Nick talks to a man who picked up a woman who drugged and robbed him.

My Thoughts:
This is an excellent series. The whole cast is great and the stories are very engrossing. I was glued to the set from the opening to the ending of the episode... and still wanted more. If you never checked out this series I highly recommend it. I really don't think you will be sorry.

My Rating:

(From Pete's Pilots on November 16th, 2009)