Kung Pow: Enter the Fist Intermission

OLD SCHOOL APRIL 2025 - Week One

 SO WEEK ONE WAS A BARN-BURNER!!! 

Yep, I came out of the gate with all guns blazing and did, I think, really well for my team The Scoobies.  All except the first Curve Ball; which I completely forgot to look at so I dint do dat one.  Of course, for week two's curve ball, I already have 2 of the 4 planned (both movie watches) -- I don't expect to get the book curve balls read, though.  Anywhoozis, below is everything I completed in week one; separated between books read, movies watched, TV shows watched & activities dooded.

BOOKS READ 

COLD FRONT by Barry Hammond - 

        This well-remembered and highly anticipated out-of-print horror novel from the 1970's was just now republished by Fathom Press and boy, was it ever a bonkers, trashy ride.  I loved it!  Fulfilled the prompts:  Retro, Time Warp, Teen Witch, The Young & the Restless, The Breakfast Club, Ferngully, I Know You Are But What Am I?, The Monster Squad, Freddie's Nightmares, and New Kids on the Block.  Total:  10 points.  

STAR TREK:  HOLO-WEEN by Chris Sequiera & Joe Eisma - 

        This graphic novel came to my attention watching one of Kelsi's SLIME AND SLASHERS yootuberz videos so I read the damn thing.  Halloween time on the Starship Enterprise and the Next Gen crew decide to celebrate it.  Sadly, Red Jack (from the OG series episode "WOLF IN THE FOLD" is back and causing havoc.  Can even the returning Montgomery Scott defeat the spirit of Jack the Ripper?!?!?  Fulfilled the following prompts:  Time Warp, Neon, The Fifth Element, Muppet Babies, Monster Squad, Halfway to Halloween & New Kids on the Block.  Total:  7 points. 

GOOSEBUMPS:  THE GIRL WHO CRIED MONSTER by R.L. Stine - 

        My first GOOSEBUMPS of the month but surely not the last!  This one was recommended to me by my co-worker Jezzer Okey-Dokey and it was pretty fun.  And now I get to watch the TV episode of it . . . which will earn me MORE points!  Fulfilled the following prompts:  Retro, Time Warp, Scary Spice, I Love Lucy, Beware...You're In For A Scare, The Sixth Sense, Monster Squad, The Goonies & My Girl.  Total:  9 points. 

WHAT IS THE STORY OF SCOOBY DOO? by M.D. Payne - 

        I first stumbled across these "WHO HQ" books last Old School April (or was it the year before???) and they're kind of addictive like candy.  I love the "big head" cover art.  I love the interior line drawings which are on nearly every page.  And I even learn some new things; case in point here.  I learned a lot about the development and production of SCOOBY-DOO, WHERE ARE YOU? and all the other TV shows and movies that I actually didn't already know.  Not bad for a kids book.  Fulfilled the prompts:  Time Warp, Air Bud, Ferngully, Giallo, The Goonies and True Life.  Total: 6 points.  

THERE'S SOMETHING IN MY ATTIC by Mercer Mayer  

       I'm not sure but I think it was Mimi (fellow Scoobies team member) who posted she read this on the Discord and the cover looked so awesome, I got myself a copy and read it.  Hell, it was a picture book and I needed one of those to fulfill that prompt.  The art in this children's book was really beautiful and atmospheric.  Great one.  Fulfilled the prompts:  Retro, Scary Spice, I Love Lucy, Muppet Babies, Monster Squad and New Kids on the Block.  Total:  6 points.  

THE BOXCAR CHILDREN:  THE HAUNTED CLOCK TOWER MYSTERY by Gertrude Chandler Warner - 

        Several years ago on one of his LIBRARY MACABRE videos, Cameron Chaney talked about THE BOXCAR CHILDREN series and how they were comfy comfort reads for him.  I have since read several and agree.  This book is from much later in the series (#84) and seemed a little tired to me; not as magical as the earlier ones I've read.  Still good, though.  Fulfilled the prompts:  Retro, Time Warp, I Love Lucy, VHS, The Sixth Sense, Singing in the Rain, The Breakfast Club, Saved By the Bell, The Goonies, My Girl, Scooby Doo & Nirvana/Grunge.  Total:  12 points. 

MOVIES WATCHED 

GHOSTBUSTERS - 

    I decided to kick off OSA this year by watching the OG 2 Ghostbusters movies.  I had seen the original a thousand times but had never seen the sequel.  The first movie fulfilled the following prompts:  Made before 2006, a family friendly film, Red on the poster & a comedy film.  Total:  4 points

GHOSTBUSTERS 2 -

        The OG sequel which, as I said, I'd never seen before.  Yeah . . . not so hot. Fulfilled the prompts:  A sequel, Made before 2006, family friendly film, Red on the poster & a comedy.  Total: 5 points.

ONCE A THIEF - 

        A John Woo action film starring Chow Yun Fat which is NOT either THE KILLER or A BETTER TOMORROW!  Fulfilled the following prompts: A Host Rec, Film from a country outside my own, Made before 2006, An action film, Red on the poster & a comedy (it's an action/comedy.  Total:  6 points.

ACE VENTURA:  WHEN NATURE CALLS - 

        Another sequel that I had never seen before.  One of Kelsi's faves so I had to watch it!  Fulfilled the following prompts: A film with animals, a sequel, Made before 2006, Red and/or Blue on the poster & a comedy.  Total:  5 points. 

A LEAGUE OF THEIR OWN - 

        Haven't seen this one in donkey's years.  Fulfilled the following prompts:  Directed by a woman, Featuring a sport, Made before 2006, Family friendly, Red on the poster, a comedy & a Host Rec.  Total:  7 points. 

DEMONIC TOYS - 

        Talk about nostalgic.  Back to the early 1990's when Cheeks & I would road trip on Friday nights and, at some point, end up at Blockbuster to see what was on the shelf.  One or the other of us would spot a new Full Moon VHS tape release and we'd go back to his apartment and watch it.  And it was even cooler when nobody knew there was a Video Zone after the end credits finished; an early easter egg that wasn't mentioned at all on the case (and those of us who knew relished that secret!).  Love those days!  Fulfilled the following prompts:  Featuring a woman lead protagonist, a "weird" film, Made before 2006, Red on the poster, a movie that might cause you nightmares and a Host Rec.  Total:  6 points.

DUEL FOR GOLD - 

        In the newest Shaw Brothers box set released by Shout Factory, I watched this 1970's Kung Fu classics that I had just read about in THE MARTIAL ARTS MOVIES ALMANAC - 1971.  It sounded really interesting and good described in that book and, lo and behold, a week later when I received my Shaw Bros. box set, there it was among the other movies inside.  This is the first film Chor Yuen directed for the Shaw Bros and it was like a 70's cross between THE USUAL SUSPECTS and a wuxia film.  Absolutely fantastic.  Fulfilled the following prompts:  Features a sport or physical activity, From a country outside your own, made before 2006, an action film, Features a colour in the title & from the 1970's.  Total:  6 points.  

TV SHOWS WATCHED

 

PERRY MASON  -

        My Dad loves PERRY MASON.  I had never seen a single episode until last year but now I love it too.  Every night I get home from work about 3 minutes before Perry comes on MeTV and we watch it together.  watched 5 episodes = 5 points.  

THE TWILIGHT ZONE -     

        After Perry on MeTV weeknights, THE TWILIGHT ZONE follows.  Long a favourite, I've seen all the episodes multiple times so I don't always watch - but week one I did watch 4 episodes = 4 points. 

ALFRED HITCHCOCK PRESENTS - 

        I have all the seasons of this show on DVD box sets; however I have definitely NOT seen them all.  This follows the TWILIGHT ZONE on MeTV nightly but I usually go up to bed to read a while so I don't always watch.  Watched 3 episodes = 3 points. 

SEINFELD - 

        I have every episode of SEINFELD on DVD as well but this time, I ended up watching a couple eps while visiting Sweet Cheeks & Dee Dee DeLite.  Watched 2 episodes = 2 points. 

THE OFFICE - 

        I never watched the OG British version OR the US version of this show.  The only eps of the US version I've ever seen is when I'm at Cheeks & Denise's and they have it on.  That's what happened again so I watched 2 episodes = 2 points.  

ACTIVITIES DOODED 

Attended a Sprint on 4/1  -  

        I attended the first Sprint of the month.  This was the "unhinged" one.  Total:  1 point. 

DO A CRAFT - Bujo'd -    

        I bujo'd practically every day but I'm only counting this as 1 point.  

MAKE A NOSTALGIC RECIPE - 

        Corned Beef & Cabbage.  Missed making this for St. Patrick's Day but this was a meal my mother made ever since I was a lil leprechaun.  Total:  1 point. 

Attended a Sprint on 4/4 - 

        This sprint was known as the "hinged" one because host Kelsi and many of us were low energy, melancholic or just plain sick with the Lurgi (not me, thankfully!!!!).  Total:  1 point.  

MAKE A PIZZA - 

        Yep.  After coming home from work one night this week, my Dad & I made a pizza. And yes . . . it happened to be a box of Ellio's Pizza.  Making this fulfill TWO prompts.  The first is just the "make a pizza" prompt but the second is a nostalgic meal prompt.  When I was a tiny tot still living in Maple Surple, every now and again my grammar school Steinhauer would give us a "treat" by gathering the class together and making us all Ellio's pizza.  Now, I'm not talking this was a school lunch.  No, this was later towards the end of the day (and probably before a holiday or towards the end of the school year).  Weird but true.  And oh yeah, Ellio's is NOT as good as it used to be.  The 1970's cheapness and non-melting plastic cheese has been replaced by a perhaps more edible but less nostalgic version.  It's boring now.  Like Hydrox cookies.  Which I used to love but now just taste like a bland Oreo wannabe.  As I always say, just because time passes doesn't mean we progress.   Total:  2 points. 

THE HAMMER DRACULA-FRANKENSTEIN PROJECT

 AS PART OF THIS YEAR'S OLD SCHOOL APRIL, I AM FOLDING IN THIS SUBSIDIARY BUT RELATED CHALLENGE. 

As we all know, OSA is a nostalgic readathon/watchathon/activityathon and I'm participating for my third year in a row {GO SCOOBIES!!!!}.  As part of that, I thought nothing could be more fitting than to do a complete rewatch of every Hammer Frankenstein & Dracula film.  These movies have been cherished since I was a kid and first read about them in Alan Frank's wonderful book MONSTERS AND VAMPIRES.  I've told this story before but, in a bat's coffin, here's a Cliff's Notes version. 

In 1978, my grandparents moved about a couple blocks away and I would spend weekends with them (as I did when they lived in Pennsauken).  Across Route 73, there was a TWO GUYS department store and my grandfather & I would walk across the highway (back in the days when that was actually possible without immediate squashing death under the wheels of a car).  Well, I found a hardcover (I'm sure remaindered) of Alan Frank's stupendous MONSTERS AND VAMPIRES book and my Pop Pop bought it for me.  All that weekend, I read and re-read that book from cover to cover.  At this point, though I was already a long-time established monster kid, I had never ever seen a Hammer Horror film.  I know, right?!?!?!  But this book gave a running synopsis of every Hammer Frankenstein and Dracula film.  I was in monster heaven!  And I was desperate to see these films.  Several years later, in the early 80's I would finally catch them on TV or at the burgeoning VHS rental store (EROL'S, dontchaknow).  So these Hammer Horrors were a cherished part of my early teens before I ever saw them thanks to Alan Frank's incredible book.  And OH those photographs; many in full colour!!!  

Therefore, I couldn't think of a more appropriate rewatch project for Old School April and, come hell or high blood, I plan to rewatch every one of them in order.  Yes, that includes the Hammer/Shaw Brothers co-production LEGEND OF THE 7 GOLDEN VAMPIRES.  And I just might throw in the documentary IN SEARCH OF DRACULA starring Christopher Lee as a bonus.  This also is a strong nostalgic memory from my teens which I've told before.  Basically, I was sick at home in the early 80's and (I think) USA Network played first HOUSE OF DARK SHADOWS followed by IN SEARCH OF DRACULA.  I grabbed my Kino Video tape of the 1922 NOSFERATU (which for some reason has TONS of tape left after the movie was over) and I was able (on the slow speed) to record both movies on it.  My father was asleep (because he worked night work) and my mother was at work, so I was in the house alone and what a spectacular double feature this was!!!  I had never seen either film before, so this was a treat (with no tricks).  I still have that store-bought NOSFERATU Kino VHS because it has tremendous sentimental value to me.  Come to think of it . . . another good rewatch for OSA would be exactly that:  HOUSE OF DARK SHADOWS and IN SEARCH OF DRACULA double feature.  After all, they're both 1970's movies!  HEY CHEEKS!!!!  WHADDAYA THINK?!?!?!

So there you have it.  I'll be rewatching all the Hammer Frankies and Drackies:  

• THE CURSE OF FRANKENSTEIN
  
  
  
• THE REVENGE OF FRANKENSTEIN
  
  
  
• THE EVIL OF FRANKENSTEIN
  
  
  
• FRANKENSTEIN CREATED WOMAN
  
  
  
• FRANKENSTEIN MUST BE DESTROYED
  
  
  
  
  
• HORROR OF FRANKENSTEIN
  
  
  
• FRANKENSTEIN AND THE MONSTER FROM HELL
  
  
  
• HORROR OF DRACULA
  
  
  
• THE BRIDES OF DRACULA
  
  
  
• DRACULA PRINCE OF DARKNESS 
  
  
  
• DRACULA HAS RISEN FROM THE GRAVE
  
  
  
• TASTE THE BLOOD OF DRACULA
  
  
  
• SCARS OF DRACULA
  
  
  
• DRACULA A.D. 1972
  
  
  
• THE SATANIC RITES OF DRACULA
  
  
  
• THE LEGEND OF THE 7 GOLDEN VAMPIRES  
  
  
  

Oh yeah.  And the back cover of that Alan Frank book?  Well, the front cover had Christopher Lee as Dracula . . . and the back cover had David Prowse as the Frankenstein monster!  Heavenly!

March 2025 Top Ten List

 HERE ARE MY 10 FAVE MOVIES I WATCHED FOR THE VERY FIRST TIME IN MARCH 2025:  

1. DINNER WITH LEATHERFACE  (2024)
2. WALLACE & GROMIT: VENGEANCE MOST FOWL (2024)
3. GHOSTBUSTERS  (2016)
4. SHADOW IN THE CLOUD  (2020)
5. TROJAN WARRIOR  (2002)
6. THE HOLE IN THE WALL  (1929) 
7. RINGS OF FEAR  (1978)
8. ROPE OF SAND  (1949)
9. LOCKOUT  (2012)
10. WATCH ON THE RHINE  (1943) 

And here is everything else I watched during the month of March:  

Now for my reading adventures in March: