“That which does not kill us makes us stronger,” reads the Nietzschean maxim that serves as epigraph for writer-director John Milius’s 1982 adaptation of Conan the Barbarian, thereby encouraging viewers to plumb the philosophical depths of this rousing sword-and-sorcery epic starring Arnold Schwarzenegger from the get-go. So it’s sort of ironic to consider that, given the film’s commercial success and subsequent cult status, Milius no doubt contributed to the seemingly endless proliferation of this slogan across multiple platforms, emblazoned on everything from motivational posters to coffee mugs.
Milius’s seriousness of intent is signaled from the opening scene when Conan’s father (William Smith) advises his young son (Jorge Sanz) to trust nothing in this world but his sword. Critics at the time believed this solipsistic bit of paternal advice to reflect the ruthless individualism of Reagan’s America. But things are a bit more complicated than that,...
Milius’s seriousness of intent is signaled from the opening scene when Conan’s father (William Smith) advises his young son (Jorge Sanz) to trust nothing in this world but his sword. Critics at the time believed this solipsistic bit of paternal advice to reflect the ruthless individualism of Reagan’s America. But things are a bit more complicated than that,...
- 1/30/2024
- by Budd Wilkins
- Slant Magazine
Firestarter is not often mentioned in lists of Stephen King’s classic novels; although it was his sixth published novel (under his own name) and came out during his initial decade of phenomenal success, it’s not exactly held up there with landmarks like The Shining or The Stand.
Of course there was still the inevitable movie, released in 1984 when it seemed like there was a new King adaptation hitting screens every month. Directed by Mark L. Lester (replacing John Carpenter early in development), with a screenplay by Stanley Mann, the ’84 Firestarter is actually very faithful to the book in terms of narrative and incident.
What it lacks, however, is any kind of soul. The ’84 Firestarter is an utterly mechanical effort, with the director putting the actors through their paces in workmanlike fashion and just jumping from plot point to plot point without any sense of the inner workings of...
Of course there was still the inevitable movie, released in 1984 when it seemed like there was a new King adaptation hitting screens every month. Directed by Mark L. Lester (replacing John Carpenter early in development), with a screenplay by Stanley Mann, the ’84 Firestarter is actually very faithful to the book in terms of narrative and incident.
What it lacks, however, is any kind of soul. The ’84 Firestarter is an utterly mechanical effort, with the director putting the actors through their paces in workmanlike fashion and just jumping from plot point to plot point without any sense of the inner workings of...
- 5/13/2022
- by Don Kaye
- Den of Geek
Firestarter, the Stephen King novel-turned-film, is already cemented in pop culture history with the iconic 1984 poster image of child star Drew Barrymore, who’s seen ominously emotionless in front of a blaze caused by her unbridled pyrokinetic powers; an image that was a clear inspiration for Stranger Things’ Eleven. However, the current crop of King-adapting films and television will see a Firestarter remake, which now has a headliner in Zac Efron.
Studios Universal, Blumhouse and Weed Road are moving forward with efforts for a Firestarter remake movie, and have announced its first cast member in Zac Efron, who will serve as one of its headlining stars, although his character was not disclosed. He will be in front of the camera for appointed director Keith Thomas (The Vigil), who works off a script by Scott Teems (Halloween Kills), joined by producers Jason Blum and Akiva Goldsman (who was the originally-tapped director). The project,...
Studios Universal, Blumhouse and Weed Road are moving forward with efforts for a Firestarter remake movie, and have announced its first cast member in Zac Efron, who will serve as one of its headlining stars, although his character was not disclosed. He will be in front of the camera for appointed director Keith Thomas (The Vigil), who works off a script by Scott Teems (Halloween Kills), joined by producers Jason Blum and Akiva Goldsman (who was the originally-tapped director). The project,...
- 9/30/2020
- by Joseph Baxter
- Den of Geek
Alexander Mackendrick’s exhilarating pirate adventure mixes accurate history with a fine story of innocence corrupting the corrupt: Anthony Quinn’s pirate goes soft for a 12 year-old girl, and jeopardizes his highly insecure professional standing. James Coburn is superb as the first mate trying to keep the skullduggery on course with a passel of interfering kids on board. And young Deborah Baxter offers an un-sentimentalized portrait of the ordinary magic of childhood. No Summer Magic this! Region-Free German disc.
A High Wind in Jamaica
Blu-ray Caution This May be Region B only see below
Explosive Media GmbH
1965 / Color / 2:35 widescreen / 106 min. / Street Date July 20, 2018 / Sturm über Jamaika / Available at Amazon.de
11.99 Euros Starring: Anthony Quinn, James Coburn, Deborah Baxter, Dennis Price, Lila Kedrova, Nigel Davenport, Isabel Dean, Kenneth J. Warren, Gert Fröbe, Vivienne Ventura
Cinematography: Douglas Slocombe
Art Director: John Hoesli
Film Editor: Derek York
Original Music: Larry Adler
Written by Stanley Mann,...
A High Wind in Jamaica
Blu-ray Caution This May be Region B only see below
Explosive Media GmbH
1965 / Color / 2:35 widescreen / 106 min. / Street Date July 20, 2018 / Sturm über Jamaika / Available at Amazon.de
11.99 Euros Starring: Anthony Quinn, James Coburn, Deborah Baxter, Dennis Price, Lila Kedrova, Nigel Davenport, Isabel Dean, Kenneth J. Warren, Gert Fröbe, Vivienne Ventura
Cinematography: Douglas Slocombe
Art Director: John Hoesli
Film Editor: Derek York
Original Music: Larry Adler
Written by Stanley Mann,...
- 8/31/2019
- by Glenn Erickson
- Trailers from Hell
The chase is on: a mix of icy ruthlessness and warm romanticism enliven Ken Follett's novel of pre-invasion esponage intrigue. Kate Nelligan heats up the screen with Donald Sutherland, the 'seventies most unlikely sex star. Plus a lush and wondrous music score by Miklos Rozsa. Eye of the Needle Blu-ray Twilight Time 1981 / Color / 1:85 widescreen / 112 min. / Street Date September 13, 2016 / Available from the Twilight Time Movies Store29.95 Starring Donald Sutherland, Kate Nelligan, Christopher Cazenove, Ian Bannen, Philip Martin Brown, Bill Nighy, Stephen MacKenna, Sam Kydd. Cinematography Alan Hume Original Music Miklos Rozsa Written by Stanley Mann based on the novel by Ken Follett Produced by Stephen Friedman Directed by Richard Marquand
Reviewed by Glenn Erickson
We're all familiar with this kind of thriller -- over shots of fresh-faced troops moving off to war, a portentous scrolling text tells us about the desperate situation of London -- and the Free World -- as Hitler's Luftwaffe threatens.
Reviewed by Glenn Erickson
We're all familiar with this kind of thriller -- over shots of fresh-faced troops moving off to war, a portentous scrolling text tells us about the desperate situation of London -- and the Free World -- as Hitler's Luftwaffe threatens.
- 10/25/2016
- by Glenn Erickson
- Trailers from Hell
Rebecca Lea Oct 24, 2016
Our lookback at the screen adaptations of Stephen King arrives at 1984's Firestarter...
The film: After they take part in an experiment for an enigmatic organisation called ‘The Shop’, Andy (David Keith) and Vicky (Heather Locklear) discover that they have developed psychic abilities. Andy can influence people to do as he bids, whilst she can read minds. They later get married and have a child together, Charlie (Drew Barrymore), who develops pyrokinesis, capable of setting things alight with little more than a clenched fist and an angry frown. The strength of her powers attracts the attention of The Shop once more and Andy is forced to take his daughter on the run to prevent her powers from falling into their hands.
See related Supergirl season 2 episode 2 review: The Last Children Of Krypton Supergirl season 2 episode 1 review: The Adventures Of Supergirl Supergirl season 2: episode 4 trailer teases alien...
Our lookback at the screen adaptations of Stephen King arrives at 1984's Firestarter...
The film: After they take part in an experiment for an enigmatic organisation called ‘The Shop’, Andy (David Keith) and Vicky (Heather Locklear) discover that they have developed psychic abilities. Andy can influence people to do as he bids, whilst she can read minds. They later get married and have a child together, Charlie (Drew Barrymore), who develops pyrokinesis, capable of setting things alight with little more than a clenched fist and an angry frown. The strength of her powers attracts the attention of The Shop once more and Andy is forced to take his daughter on the run to prevent her powers from falling into their hands.
See related Supergirl season 2 episode 2 review: The Last Children Of Krypton Supergirl season 2 episode 1 review: The Adventures Of Supergirl Supergirl season 2: episode 4 trailer teases alien...
- 10/23/2016
- Den of Geek
Oscar-nominated screenwriter Stanley Mann has died. He was 87. Mann died almost two weeks ago in his Los Angeles home, his wife Joan confirmed to The Hollywood Reporter on Friday, saying he died after a long sickness. Mann was nominated for an Academy Award for his work on the 1965 film The Collector, a screenplay he co-wrote as an adaptation of John Fowles' novel of the same title. The film, which starred Terence Stamp as a man who kidnaps and holds a young woman (Samantha Eggaralso) hostage, earned him and screenwriter John Kohn a Golden Globe nomination. The Hollywood veteran also...
- 1/23/2016
- by Naja Rayne, @najarayne
- PEOPLE.com
Oscar-nominated screenwriter Stanley Mann has died. He was 87. Mann died almost two weeks ago in his Los Angeles home, his wife Joan confirmed to The Hollywood Reporter on Friday, saying he died after a long sickness. Mann was nominated for an Academy Award for his work on the 1965 film The Collector, a screenplay he co-wrote as an adaptation of John Fowles' novel of the same title. The film, which starred Terence Stamp as a man who kidnaps and holds a young woman (Samantha Eggaralso) hostage, earned him and screenwriter John Kohn a Golden Globe nomination. The Hollywood veteran also...
- 1/23/2016
- by Naja Rayne, @najarayne
- PEOPLE.com
Reviewed by Kevin Scott, MoreHorror.com
Damien: Omen II (1978)
Written by: Harvey Bernhard, Stanley Mann, Mike Hodges
Directed by: Don Taylor
Cast: William Holden (Richard Thorn), Lee Grant (Ann Thorn), Jonathan Scott-Taylor (Damien Thorn), Sylvia Sidney (Aunt Marion), Robert Foxworth (Paul Buher), Lance Henriksen (Seargent Neff), Meshach Taylor (Dr. Kane)
I know it may be a bit peculiar to review a sequel without doing a retrospective of a whole series of films, but I actually have never seen this one. I watched it and the third movie “The Final Conflict” with Sam Neill back to back. While I haven’t seen the fourth entry, I can say this is probably the last one that has the feel of the original. I can compare this to “Jaws 2”. While not as powerful as the original, it still seems like it exists in the same world. Also like all the “Jaws” sequels after part two,...
Damien: Omen II (1978)
Written by: Harvey Bernhard, Stanley Mann, Mike Hodges
Directed by: Don Taylor
Cast: William Holden (Richard Thorn), Lee Grant (Ann Thorn), Jonathan Scott-Taylor (Damien Thorn), Sylvia Sidney (Aunt Marion), Robert Foxworth (Paul Buher), Lance Henriksen (Seargent Neff), Meshach Taylor (Dr. Kane)
I know it may be a bit peculiar to review a sequel without doing a retrospective of a whole series of films, but I actually have never seen this one. I watched it and the third movie “The Final Conflict” with Sam Neill back to back. While I haven’t seen the fourth entry, I can say this is probably the last one that has the feel of the original. I can compare this to “Jaws 2”. While not as powerful as the original, it still seems like it exists in the same world. Also like all the “Jaws” sequels after part two,...
- 8/20/2014
- by admin
- MoreHorror
Stars: Patricia Gozzi, Dean Stockwell, Melvyn Douglas, Gunnel Lindblom, Leslie Sands, Murray Evans, Sylvia Kay, Peter Sallis, Ellen Pollock | Written by Stanley Mann | Directed by John Guillermin
John Guillermin, the London-born director of the classic disaster film The Towering Inferno directed this moving drama set in France called Rapture in 1965. I am familiar with some of Guillermin’s catalogue, from the aforementioned Towering Inferno to his ’76 version of King Kong to his 60’s war film The Blue Max. I hadn’t seen this though, so it was a treat to see that Masters of Cinema, Eureka’s brilliant line of classic titles, was putting a new version of the film out.
The first thing that struck me upon watching the film was the cinematography. It is just beautiful, and with the new transfer it looks even better than I can imagine it did when it was released those many years ago.
John Guillermin, the London-born director of the classic disaster film The Towering Inferno directed this moving drama set in France called Rapture in 1965. I am familiar with some of Guillermin’s catalogue, from the aforementioned Towering Inferno to his ’76 version of King Kong to his 60’s war film The Blue Max. I hadn’t seen this though, so it was a treat to see that Masters of Cinema, Eureka’s brilliant line of classic titles, was putting a new version of the film out.
The first thing that struck me upon watching the film was the cinematography. It is just beautiful, and with the new transfer it looks even better than I can imagine it did when it was released those many years ago.
- 8/4/2014
- by Chris Cummings
- Nerdly
These days, after "Lord of the Rings" and "Game Of Thrones," fantasy isn't just big business, but a genre that's spawned critically acclaimed awards favorites, and picked up Oscars and Emmys by the handful. As such, it's easy to forget that prior to the 1980s, the genre barely existed on screen, with animated takes on Tolkein's works the only really significant blip on the radar. But in 1977, "Star Wars," a film that owed as much to high fantasy as to science-fiction, became the biggest hit in history, and that opened the door to all kinds of new fantasy worlds.
The 1980s would see many, many examples of the genre, from "Labyrinth" and "Legend" to "Krull" and "Ladyhawke," but the film that started it all -- and was probably the finest of that decade's wave in the genre, was 1982's "Conan The Barbarian." Written and directed by gonzo, gun-loving genius John Milius...
The 1980s would see many, many examples of the genre, from "Labyrinth" and "Legend" to "Krull" and "Ladyhawke," but the film that started it all -- and was probably the finest of that decade's wave in the genre, was 1982's "Conan The Barbarian." Written and directed by gonzo, gun-loving genius John Milius...
- 5/14/2012
- by Oliver Lyttelton
- The Playlist
Chicago – I’m going to withhold judgment until I see it but, on paper, it makes no sense to remake John Milius’ 1982 fantasy/action classic “Conan the Barbarian” for one simple reason — there’s only one Ah-nuld. The movie weighed heavily on the charisma of its unique star, someone who was essentially catapulted to the A-list by this film and lightning only strikes once. Does anyone think that Jason Momoa, star of the August 19th remake from Marcus Nispel (remake “King” after desecrating “The Texas Chainsaw Massacre” and “Friday the 13th”) will find the same magic? Check out the originals, now on Blu-ray, and see the standard he has to live up to.
In 1982, Arnold Schwarzenegger was far from the icon he is today. This is before affairs with nannies, political office, and even breakout hits like “Predator,” “Commando,” and “The Terminator” were yet to come. He was still a...
In 1982, Arnold Schwarzenegger was far from the icon he is today. This is before affairs with nannies, political office, and even breakout hits like “Predator,” “Commando,” and “The Terminator” were yet to come. He was still a...
- 8/2/2011
- by adam@hollywoodchicago.com (Adam Fendelman)
- HollywoodChicago.com
Mark L. Lester is a friend to horror and wild cinema in general. Though his name may not be instantly recognizable to some, a quick look at his credentials will rectify that!
He produced and contributed to the script for Tobe Hooper’s wonderfully weird The Funhouse. As a director, his savage and prophetic Class of 1984 still disturbs to this day, for an unnerving amount of reasons. His adaptation of Firestarter captured a freakish tornado of both unintentional and deliberate violence. And the battering ram impact of Commando, his most successful feature, remains respected worldwide.
Recognize him now? And do you want a chance to win an autographed DVD of Class of 1984 or Commando (see details below)?
Indeed, Firestarter and Commando are lined up for remakin’. Surprise, surprise. While the two 80’s staples are being put back through the machine, Lester is staying busy ushering new films onto...
He produced and contributed to the script for Tobe Hooper’s wonderfully weird The Funhouse. As a director, his savage and prophetic Class of 1984 still disturbs to this day, for an unnerving amount of reasons. His adaptation of Firestarter captured a freakish tornado of both unintentional and deliberate violence. And the battering ram impact of Commando, his most successful feature, remains respected worldwide.
Recognize him now? And do you want a chance to win an autographed DVD of Class of 1984 or Commando (see details below)?
Indeed, Firestarter and Commando are lined up for remakin’. Surprise, surprise. While the two 80’s staples are being put back through the machine, Lester is staying busy ushering new films onto...
- 1/11/2011
- by Chris Haberman
- DreadCentral.com
Established 1974! Our news column hears the lamentations of your women.
Robert E. Howard’s fabled hero, Conan the Barbarian, is riding closer to a silver screen incarnation, with director Marcus Nispel in charge.
Updates
The new Conan film, Variety reports, finally has a director—Marcus Nispel, who previously helmed Pathfinder and the Texas Chainsaw Massacre and Friday The 13th remakes so we know he can handle primal action scenes, swordslinging, bloodletting and gore. This version of Robert E. Howard’s barbarian hero has been scripted by Thomas Dean Donnelly & Joshua Oppenheimer (A Sound Of Thunder, Sahara). A new effort to turn Conan into a franchise series, it’ll shoot in Bulgaria and South Africa later this year for Nu Image/Millennium and a Lionsgate theatrical release in 2010. No casting yet. As fans know, the two 1980s films starring Arnold Schwarzenegger employed some impressive talent: Conan The Barbarian was scripted by John Milius and Oliver Stone,...
Robert E. Howard’s fabled hero, Conan the Barbarian, is riding closer to a silver screen incarnation, with director Marcus Nispel in charge.
Updates
The new Conan film, Variety reports, finally has a director—Marcus Nispel, who previously helmed Pathfinder and the Texas Chainsaw Massacre and Friday The 13th remakes so we know he can handle primal action scenes, swordslinging, bloodletting and gore. This version of Robert E. Howard’s barbarian hero has been scripted by Thomas Dean Donnelly & Joshua Oppenheimer (A Sound Of Thunder, Sahara). A new effort to turn Conan into a franchise series, it’ll shoot in Bulgaria and South Africa later this year for Nu Image/Millennium and a Lionsgate theatrical release in 2010. No casting yet. As fans know, the two 1980s films starring Arnold Schwarzenegger employed some impressive talent: Conan The Barbarian was scripted by John Milius and Oliver Stone,...
- 6/12/2009
- by no-reply@starlog.com (DAVID McDONNELL)
- Starlog
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