AFTERTHOUGHTS (101)

101.1 PIMP MY BOOK


So my online novel Pelicula is now completely available on the ‘net, all its reels and chapters safely floating out there in the aether.
If you haven’t checked it out, or were perhaps waiting for it to boast a proper ending, well, this is your chance.
Just turn off the main infobahn here.


(Thanx to Carl, for all things Pelicula website-y, and to Budj, for co-producing.)

101.2 AUGUST AMERICAN CINEMATHEQUE HIGHLIGHTS


August 2, Saturday, 5:00 PM
Aero Theatre
A marathon of the extended versions of Peter Jackson’s Lord of the Rings trilogy (a whopping total of 682 minutes!), to be introduced by legendary fantasy artist Greg Hildebrandt.
[Special admission price: $3.00.]


A Tribute to Stan Winston [August 15-16]
Aero Theatre
August 15, Friday, 7:30 PM
A double feature of James Cameron’s Aliens and Winston’s directorial debut, Pumpkinhead.
August 16, Saturday, 7:30 PM
A double feature of John McTiernan’s Predator and Stephen Hopkins’ Predator 2.


August 21, Thursday, 7:30 PM
Egyptian Theatre 85th Anniversary Double Feature
The original versions of Ridley Scott’s Alien and James Cameron’s Aliens.
(Both films originally premiered at the Egyptian Theatre.)

101.3 PUSHING DAISIES AT SDCC08


With all the news that has flooded out of this year’s recently concluded edition of the San Diego Comic-Con, one of the bits that has got me giddy is this: a Wonderfalls/Pushing Daisies cross-over!


Mary Ann Marie Beetle, from Wonderfalls’ “Muffin Buffalo” episode, will appear in Pushing Daisies. (And the crowd goes wild…) At the moment, I’m unsure whether Beetle will again be played by Beth Grant (I certainly hope so).


And, and, and… Diana Scarwid appears in the first 3 episodes of Season 2. (Sadly, I don’t think it’s as Karen Tyler.)
Is Caroline Dhavernas far behind?

(Images courtesy of ew.com [Peter Jackson on the set of The Return of the King]; wired.com [Stan Winston]; horrorphile.net [Alien image]; aintitcool.com [Pushing Daisies and Wonderfalls DVD cover art]; and hollywoodjesus.com [Wonderfalls promo image of Diana Scarwid].)

(Pelicula logo by Carl Vergara; Habagat icon and pin-up by Ian Sta. Maria.)

AFTERTHOUGHTS (93)
ARGENTO AT THE EGYPTIAN

Argento fans down Hollywood way should be quite the happy bunch.
Kicking off tomorrow and on through till July 24, American Cinematheque runs Italian Grindhouse: Assault of the Deadly Celluloid, exclusively at the Egyptian Theater (6712 Hollywood Boulevard), where these classic Argento gems will be screening:



As part of Saturday’s (July 12) Giallo Triple Feature, 1971’s 4 mosche di velluto grigio (Four Flies on Grey Velvet) and Argento’s feature debut, L’uccello dalle piume di cristallo (The Bird with the Crystal Plumage), from 1970.
Note that 4 Mosche di velluto grigio is not currently available on DVD, so that one’s a rarity.
The third title of the Triple Feature is Alberto Negrin’s Enigma rosso (Red Rings of Fear), from 1978, also currently unavailable on DVD.


More classic Argento can be had on Thursday (July 17), when 1975’s Profondo rosso (Deep Red) screens as part of a Double Feature.
The other half of the bill: Massimo Dallamano’s Il dio chiamato Dorian (The Secret of Dorian Gray), from 1970, and also currently unavailable on DVD.


So, till Argento’s upcoming Giallo—starring Adrien Brody—hits the screens next year, these’ll have to do…
A full schedule can be found at AmericanCinematheque.com; also in the line-up, a clutch of spaghetti westerns, crime films, and some Tinto Brass rarities.

Parting shot: Reviews of Argento's Suspiria and Inferno can be found in the Archive.

(Images courtesy of impawards.com [Four Flies on Grey Velvet OS]; princeplanetmovies.blogspot.com [L’uccello dalle piume di cristallo OS]; cinefantastiqueonline.com [Deep Red OS]; and darioargento.it [Argento directing Brody on the set of Giallo].)