THE MIAMI CONNECTION Is So Bad It's Good

In the late 1980s, a film was made in Miami that has lately taken on that legendary mantle of a film that's "so bad it's good."  Joining the ranks of SHOWGIRLS, THE APPLE and THE ROOM, THE MIAMI CONNECTION is on it's way to theatres' courtesy of Alamo Drafthouse Films.  You can read more about the bizarre cinema concoction of drugs, ninjas, motorcyles and 80s' synth pop on WIRED. Or you can watch the utterly terrible trailer below.

Was The Summer of '82 The Best Summer Ever For Movies?

There was a piece online this week from CBS This Morning where film critic David Edelstein of New York magazine called the summer of '82 Hollywood's Best Summer Ever for movies.  If you look at the lineup, you just might agree; E.T., POLTERGEIST, STAR TREK II: WRATH OF KAHN, CONAN THE BARBARIAN, ROCKY III and even TRON.  He says it was the last summer of big movies with personal themes before the marketeers took over. He is not alone in his assessment.

In fact, down in Texas at one of my favorite local movie houses The Alamo (where I've had a few films play myself!), they are doing a summer retrospective of the summer of '82.  They have these movies playing on their original release dates even.  What a fun idea!  Anyway, you can watch the segment below and post your comments about whether you agree with Edelstein.

SATURDAY SPECIAL: Mary J. Blige Rocks ROCK OF AGES

When I first saw the trailer for this movie, I have to admit I was excited.  First, there's all the great 80's pop/rock music from Journey, Pat Benatar, and Night Ranger.  But even more exciting to me as a filmmaker was knowing that this was all being directed by HAIRSPRAY helmer Adam Shankman.  The musical adaptation of the John Waters classic was one of my favorite movie musicals in a long time and I dragged a number of friends to see it in the theatre. I went 3 times that summer!

Now, a new clip from ROCK OF AGES has surfaced featuring Mary J. Blige giving her own spin to "Any Way You Want It".  Forget Tom Cruise singing...I can't wait to see more Mary J.!

The Soundtrack Of Our Youth

I'm probably being a tad presumptuous with that headline, which assumes that everyone reading my blog spent the majority of their wasted youth in 1980's. If, in fact, you did, I can guarantee you will love this link to a site where you can listen to audio playback of 80's video games sound effects.

Some industrious geeks in Falmouth, Mass. spent endless nights at their local arcade (Time Out?) not only playing but recording all the action on cassette tapes. What's even better than the sound efx is all the random background chatter; "how do you learn how to die?" was my personal favorite during a game of Berzerk.

As you listen, the memories will flood back...not just of the gaming hits like Pac-Man or Donkey Kong, but also gems like Q-Bert, Dig-Dug and yes, even Rootbeer Tapper. (Anyone who played and loved this game is my new best friend!) So listen and, if you become obsessed, you can even purchase a DVD for hours of home listening pleasure for only 20$. And that is a nostalgia bargain!