Fantasia’s All Abuzz with David Allen’s The Primevals, A Love Letter to More Than The Land of the Lost

The love for all those classic adventure films and the passion put behind bringing The Primevals to life is the only reason why you should go see this film!

3 THE PRIMEVALS Movie PosterThe Primevals is more than a love letter to the pulps of yesteryears. Here, the long production history must be noted before I can go into the review. Back in the late 60s, David Allen (who did the animation in Young Sherlock Holmes and Ghostbusters II) came up with the idea, and this stop-motion animator turned filmmaker had a lot of wonderful ideas which were ahead of its time. It’s tough to say if he knew of Erich von Däniken’s Chariots of the Gods and the theories he posed as it was published in 68, with translations not necessarily emerging until a year or two later.

It probably doesn’t matter. Sadly, to get this movie made back then was tough. That was partially due to how the studio system worked and other politics that held this project back.

While much of this story was filmed back in the late 80s, the project was shelved and this individual’s untimely passing meant it’d never get finished. Thankfully, his work with Chris Endicott, Charles Band and Full Moon Studios meant that everything that was done got carefully warehoused. It wasn’t until 2018 that the team sought crowdfunding in order to finish this project. Other talents volunteered their time as this idea shouldn’t be lost to history too.

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Ready for Fantasia Film Festival 2023? We got our Top 20 Epic Picks!

There’s lots to see and thrill to at Fantasia Film Festival 2023, and we got our choice picks on what fans of animation, horror and fantasy to see!

Fantasia Film Festival 2023 DatesThe best genre movie gala in Canada is almost here, and Fantasia Film Festival 2023  has a lot to offer! Over the three weeks, fans of horror, sci-fi, fantasy, drama and animation have a lot to pick from, and we got our list. Just how much one can take in per day depends on how much sleep and culture from this city one wants to take in (and how deep our pockets are to partake in everything). Montreal, Quebec is a mecca for all things classical and noveau.

As this celebration is back to being an in-person festival, so must the digital side disappear. That’s alright, since watching a film must also include the experience of sharing your joy with fellow movie-goers. This year’s spotlight includes a focus on Korean cinema, honouring Nicholas Cage with a career achievement award. (Update: Due to the writer’s strike, all celebrity guests cannot attend). He stars in SYMPATHY FOR THE DEVIL (playing July 22nd at the Auditorium des diplômés de la SGWU). Just when fans thought he was over the top in Renfield, you ain’t seen nothin’ yet!

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Full Moon Musings on Puppet Master: Axis Termination, Legacy & Laserblast

puppetcrop

By Ed Sum
(The Vintage Tempest)

Hardcore fans are most likely hoping Charles Band’s latest film, Puppet Master: Axis Termination is not spelling out the end of his franchise. This subset of movies brings the pulp-era adventures to completion, perhaps leading into the first movie of the series. There can be more made, as there’s an approximate gap of 40 something years before Puppet Master (it takes place 1989 while the Axis films are during WWII), as the little ones need to find their way home to Bodega Bay Inn. Only time will tell if this producer/director will feel inclined to make more, or is cutting them loose for other filmmakers tell their tale.

With this film, Blade and gang are trading masters yet again. Danny and his girlfriend are not at the helm. Instead, the nefarious Dr. Ivan (George Appleby) gets to be in charge. He needs the boys to help thwart the plans of Gerde Ernst (Tonya Kay) and Krabke (Kevin Scott Allen). These Nazi antagonists have a foothold in Southern California and the war this group of Allies and Nazis are waging is an occult one. Their mission is to discover the key to reanimation. To create a new tiny sized army is the goal, but can either do it?

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Calling Puppet Master: It’s Axis Termination, Full Streams Ahead!

Puppet Master: Axis Termination, the 11th film in the series, is coming! It will premiere on Full Moon’s Amazon channel (U.S., U.K and Germany) first as a three part series, and be offered next month as a full length film.

Puppet Master: Axis Termination (2017)By Ed Sum (The Vintage Tempest)

Puppet Master: Axis Termination, the 11th film in the series, is coming! It will premiere on Full Moon’s Amazon channel (U.S., U.K and Germany) first as a three part series, and be offered next month as a full length film. No date has been set for video release, but anyone with a subscription to either streaming networks will get to see “War Toys” on September 15th, with the as yet titled episodes on the 22nd and 29th within the same month.

Although many years have passed since the last film, hopefully Full Moon will offer a trilogy set filled with extra goodies when the this latest movie hits shelves. I will be one willing to buy these movies again if this is producer Charles Band’s plan. If I can be patient this long (five years), I can keep on going for an ultimate video release package. But before this can happen, the feature-length cut will appear on the El Rey Network in October, in time for Halloween, and see the allied forces do justice.

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The Empire Pictures Collection Pre-Sale is LIVE and I’m in Love

EmpireSetBy Ed Sum (The Vintage Tempest)

If you are a Full Moon Pictures addict like me, I am seriously considering pre-ordering Charles Band’s The Empire Pictures Blu-ray Collection. Pre-sales have begun (it started yesterday) and although I’m hard pressed for money, I’m seriously considering hitting a casino to break the bank so I can buy it! I have been waiting for certain films like Ghost Town to get a release for a long time and while others like From Beyond and Robot Jox are available as singles, to see it all put together in a comprehensive package, which includes a 24-page book with notes from the producer and Empire of the B’s author Dave Jay is very enticing.

This company is working with Shout! Factory to release this box set and only 600 editions will be made. A bit of stock will be held back for sales at conventions Full Moon will be at, but if you do not have any of the titles in your video collection yet, then this set is worth obtaining! Especially if you do the math:
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