Cover art for a future issue of Cartoon Cuties

 

Tara of the Femforce commission drawing

A Quick Look: THE X FROM OUTER SPACE (1967 - color)

   Here's one of Japan's oddest giant monster movies (and consider that statement...), THE X FROM OUTER SPACE. This is the closest thing we ever got to an Italian Godzilla movie (as if feels more closely related to Italian space operas than it does the typical Godzilla cash-in). A space flight to Mars is turned back when it encounters a strange flying saucer just beyond the moon. The ship picks up a weird spore and brings it back to Earth. There, the spore grows into a gigantic dinosaur-like fungus creature that draws energy from the attacks arrayed against it. THE X FROM OUTER SPACE was one of numerous Japanese films AIP-TV imported directly to the small screen, understanding that a big rubber monster is a reliable ratings bonanza. It later became a popular rental video when Orion released a set of giant monster tapes in the 80's. Here's another one where the superior AIP dub is becoming increasingly rare. The monster itself, Guilala, recently returned for a genre spoof that re-created the original costume so perfectly that footage from the '67 film was mixed in. THE X FROM OUTER SPACE isn't considered the best of it's breed, but it is a fun, breezy space opera/monster movie perfectly evocative of the 60's aesthetic. (In the most bizarre bit, the film's ending moral seems to be a plea against racially mixed marriages! Still something of a taboo in 60's Japan.)

She-Cat of the Femforce

 

She-Cat commission sketch

 

A Quick Look: UHF (1989 - color)

UHF was basically a live-action cartoon of the Tex Avery school. Each scene was a wacky gag, parody, or slapstick silliness. The result is one of the most enjoyable, good-time viewings one could hope for. "Weird Al" Yankovic makes his motion picture debut as George Newman, constant daydreamer and career loser who finds his fortune turned around when he's placed in charge of tiny TV station U-62. When his failing station suddenly becomes a massive success, it places him at odds with tyrannical network executive Kevin McCarthy. I really can't describe the film, other than to say it's wall-to-wall fun and laughs. Unfortunately, it had the misfortune to premiere the same weekend as several large films, including the Disney blockbuster HONEY, I SHRUNK THE KIDS. Unable to find an audience, the film flopped and "Weird Al" didn't get any more starring features. The film found it's audience on video and (ironically) on television. Today, it's considered a cult classic.

A Quick Look: THE DAY OF THE TRIFFIDS (1962 - color)

   THE DAY OF THE TRIFFIDS tells of a double-fold calamity that strikes the world. First, a meteor shower leaves nearly every human being blinded. Simultaneously, curious small flowers that came to earth from space suddenly begin to grow into carnivorous mobile plants known as Triffids. The Triffids increase in number as mankind does the opposite, while a handful of survivors try to reach safety. Based on the popular novel, the film originally ran too short. A brilliant subplot was constructed concerning some married research scientists stationed on an isolated island. When the Triffids appear at their door, they must find some means of combating them. This story weaves through the main plot, reflecting it and yet entirely apart from it. Kudos to the writers. Although the film was a hit, and was a pretty fine feature, critics felt it weak tea compared to the more politically charged novel. A more faithful version was created as a BBC teleserial in the 1980's. Meanwhile, it's been pointed out that the quasi zombie movie 28 DAYS LATER was basically an adaptation of the novel which replaced the killer plants with insane animal-men.