R.I.P. Menahem Golan 1929-2014

You may not recognize the name but if you were a boy that grew up in the 80s this guy put out some great action movies back in the day.  Menahem and Yoram Globus were producers that purchased the Cannon Group, Inc. in 1979 and put out around 120 movies by the time they sold Cannon in 1989.   Charles Bronson and Chuck Norris were the face of the studio during this time as they helped build Cannon on Death Wish and Missing in Action sequels. The two Chucks also did some very good non sequel movies during this time too like 10 to Midnight and Invasion USA.

Menahem mainly produced but got behind the camera on occasion and directed one of Norris’s best movies, The Delta Force.  In the mid to late 80s Cannon stayed with action as their bread and butter but got into some other fares as well like the drama Barfly with Mickey Rourke, Runaway Train with Jon Voight and then got into the break dancing craze with Breakin' and Breakin' 2: ELECTRIC BOOGALOO. 

In the late 80s Menahem and Cannon got a little more aggressive or the saying maybe “too big for his britches” and took a big gamble to get even bigger movie stars and make more expensive movies to make Cannon a large studio.  Menahem went out and got Sly Stallone for the big money action arm wrestling flick Over the Top and lost money.  He then tried to get the popular toy franchise He-man and the Masters of the Universe franchise launched and it failed and then tried to resurrect Superman with Superman IV: The Quest for Peace and it crashed too and so did Cannon.

After Cannon folded Menahem went to make other movies but none that were noteworthy compared to his earlier works and owned the rights to Spiderman for awhile and almost got the movie made with director James Cameron behind it.   The guy put out some great movies in the 80s and I proudly have most of them in the library at home and watch them all the time.  Thank you sir.

First Blood at the Alamo!

The Alamo Drafthouse DFW will drawing First Blood on Monday, August 11 as they get ready for the Expendables 3.  They have more great action movies that week starring some of the other Expendables so take a look at their calendar and come join me on Monday night for one of the best action movies ever.  See you then.

Alamo Drafthouse DFW- First Blood

And in 35mm!

Clint Eastwood Take Pride In America PSA

Sons of Anarchy- Final Season Trailer

New Release Tuesday

A disfigured composer sells his soul for the woman he loves so that she will perform his music. However, an evil record tycoon betrays him and steals his music to open his rock palace, The Paradise.  I remember seeing clips of this during 1984’s horror trailer movie Terror in the Aisles wondering what it was.  I just finally checked out this horror/comedy/ rock opera earlier this year and was impressed.  Director Brian De Palma has never done anything else like this to my knowledge and it still holds up nicely as a dark satire of the music business today.  Great turns by the late William Finley as the Phantom and Paul Williams as Swan.  Paul will always be little Enos Burdette to me.  This is from Scream Factory so it will look and sound awesome and will be packed with plenty of extras and that is some fantastic art work!

The next new book series to hop on the movie train.  I will watch this is the wife wants to watch it again.

An alien creature stalks human prey.  That sounds good to me!  Another Scream release so check it out.

A grizzly stalks human prey.  Also sounds great to me! 

Movie Poster Monday- Bobbie Jo and the Outlaw

New Release Tuesdays

I have been on vacation so let's ketchup:

New action from is Arnold is always welcome and I regret not catching this at the theater.  Arnold stars as members of his elite DEA task force find themselves being taken down one by one after they rob a drug cartel safe house.

This is one of those movies that went unappreciated at the time because Arnold was trying to do something different.  This flick has gained some respect over the years and deserves another watch.  This is a second release on this now from Millcreek on blu but I will get this release because it has original poster artwork.  This movie has an awesome soundtrack too!

I have never seen this 80s cult classic that has finally scored a DVD and blu ray release.  This can also be scored on a four pack of 80s teen drama pack in the $5 bin.

Love any spaghetti western with the late great Lee Van Cleef in it.  This was a beginning of a trilogy of films with Yul Brynner taking the Sabata role later.  Good stuff.

A man is chosen by his world's creator to undertake a momentous mission before an apocalyptic flood cleanses the world.  I may check out this adaption one day.

I have never checked out this what I considered a grown up movie back in the day.  Just look at the cover and see the great cast and it is directed by The Empire Strikes Back and Episode VII writer Lawrence Kasdan.

Just look at that cover!  How could you not wanna see this 80s horror?

Lieutenant McAllister is ordered to transport several ammunition wagons to another fort through Apache territory with only a small troop of rookie soldiers to guard them.  RIP James Garner.

Cartoon Network has completely ruined their DC Nation coverage by getting rid of Green Lantern and Beware the Batman as this is the only DC show they have on right now.  I must admit it is not bad for a superhero comedy.