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Invasion of the Star Creatures, a review by Danae Cassandra

Invasion of the Star Creatures
Year of Release: 1962
Directed By: Bruno VeSota
Starring: Bob Ball, Frankie Ray, Gloria Victor, Dolores Reed
Genre: Science-Fiction, Comedy
Rating: NR

Overview:
On an assignment to investigate a crater, two dimwitted soldiers (Bob Ball and Frankie Ray) stumble upon a scary plant-like creature. Upon following the VegeMonster into a cave, the bumbling buddies are taken prisoner by two beautiful women who have come from outer space to take over Earth. Soon, the not-so-dynamic duo discover the alien vixens lacking in the love department...and think they might've found a way to save the planet!

My Thoughts:
This is a no-budget comedy spoof of 50's sci-fi cheapies.  I didn't know that going into it, but it's obvious from the get go.  The VegeMen are costumes are the cheapest monster suits I've ever seen.  The dialog is absurd, the men are all complete idiots, the jokes are flat ... yet the film kept me laughing.  Normally I'd be offended by the sexism, and the racial stereotyping of the Indians, but the film doesn't take any of that seriously (or take any part of the film serious, for that matter) and I didn't either.  It's a pretty bad film, but they obviously intended to make a bad film so I'm giving it a better rating than something that had other intentions.  It's funny, mindless, and recommended for fans of schlock.  I had a good time.

Bechdel Test: Pass

Overall:  2/5

(From B-Movie mini-marathon on March 14th, 2013)

Lips of Blood, a review by Danae Cassandra

Year of Release: 1975
Directed By: Jean Rolin
Starring: Jean-Loup Philippe, Annie Belle, Natalie Perrey
Genre: Horror

Overview:
LIPS OF BLOOD (Levres de sang) was considered by Jean Rollin to be the best, or most developed, story he ever wrote. Of all his films, it perhaps best transcends his tendencies toward the poetical and arcane, while remaining at the same time true to his most personal, recurring obsessions: childhood, nostalgia, lost love, romantic quests, the cinema, obsolescence. In the course of its telling, it may also touch on such unsavory topics as vampirism and incest, but it would not be an exaggeration to call LIPS OF BLOOD "Jean Rollin's Somewhere in TimeForever EmanuelleMy Thoughts:
This is my second Rolin film (we watched The Iron Rose last year), and I continue to be impressed with his work.  This is another beautiful film.  It's like visual poetry, dark, romantic, atmospheric.  The visuals, as in The Iron Rose, are simply gorgeous at points.  There isn't much dialog - large parts of the film are silent, leaving us to the ethereal, lyrical beauty of Rolin's visuals - and the pace is relatively slow.  This is horror as art, or art as horror.

I can't say I'd recommend it outright.  I think Rolin is likely an acquired taste.  I've enjoyed both films I've seen of his, and since watching this bought two more (Fascination and The Living Dead Girl), so I definitely enjoy his style, but I don't think it's for everyone.

I have to say, however, that the trailer does absolutely no justice to this film.  It shows most of a single scene near the end of the film, and gives one a completely different idea about the content of the film.  My mom, who had the same opinion of The Iron Rose as I did, was so completely turned off by the trailer that I watched Lips of Blood while she wasn't home.  She wants to see it now, though, after I told her about it.

Bechdel Test: Fail

Overall: 3.75/5

(From Month Long Horror/Halloween Marathon on November 9th, 2014)

Veronica Mars Marathon, a review by addicted2dvd

17. Debasement Tapes
An ex-rock star living off nostalgia and his deceased partner's talent arrives at Hearst -- but his backing tapes don't. Mac's romantic relationships become almost as tangled as Veronica's.

My Thoughts:
A good episode... as I liked the mystery.... but not one of my favorites. What with my dislike of music and this being about a rock star really is wasted on me.

My Rating:

18. I Know What You'll Do Next Summer
Veronica's new case involves a fellow student, a Ugandan who authored a memoir about his heart-rending experiences as a child soldier. Everybody's making summer plans, from internships to jobs to surfing.

My Thoughts:
An interesting episode. The mystery wasn't that hot in my opiniion. But I liked that this episode started telling us what is happening in the future for some of our favorite characters.

My Rating:


19. Weevils Wobble
A bum knee and a bum rap. Weevil injures his knee on the job, then is fingered as the mastermind of a campus fraud ring. Luckily, he knows this smart blonde who just got her PI license.

My Thoughts:
This is an awesome episode. I enjoyed every minute of it. From beginning to end Weevil proves to be the same old Weevil from beginning to end.

My Rating:

20. The Bitch is Back
When someone starts circulating a compromising video of Veronica, she gets mad, she gets even and she gets a harrowing blast from the past.

My Thoughts:
Another excellent epsiode! Personally I would have liked to seen some more of the video that was talked about... but that is neither here nor there. But I enjoyed everything about this episode. Well everything except the ending for Keith Mars... while it is the ending that had to be for the episode... it is not the ending I would have preferred to see.

My Rating:




Bonus Material:
Season 4 Presentation - This is the idea they had for the fourth season. It is a jump into the future... and Veronica Mars is an agent in the FBI. It is not the length of a full episode... it is only about 12 minutes long. But I really enjoyed where they were planning to go... I would have loved to of seen it!

Pitching Season 4 - 18 minute featurette about the hopeful 4th season. I only watched a portion of this tonight.

Going Under Cover with Rob Thomas - a 9 part featurette for the third season. Once again... only watched a portion tonight.

Webisode Gallery - pretty self explanitory... there is 5 different web features here.

Additional Scenes with Introduction by Show Creator Rob Thomas - several deleted scenes for season 3. Some of which I wish stayed in the show... some I can see why they were cut.

Gag Reel - One of my all time favorite DVD extras... I just think it is a lot of fun seeing the actors goof off or messing up their lines. This one lasts 7 minutes.

Not bad collection of extras... but I would have liked to have seen a bit more... maybe a few cast commentaries or something. I must say my favorite of the extras has to be the Season 4 Presentation followed by the Gag Reel.

(From Veronica Mars Marathon on April 20th, 2010)