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Neatorama presents a guest post from actor, comedian, and voiceover artist Eddie Deezen. Visit Eddie at his website.
The Monkees were a Beatles-inspired TV pop group consisting of Micky Dolenz, Davy Jones, Peter Tork, and Mike Nesmith. For two seasons (1966-1968) the band starred in a very entertaining, creative, and ground-breaking TV series, based mainly on the Beatles’ hit movie A Hard Day’s Night, and featuring the band’s zany comedy and some excellent songs.
The genesis of Head, which was to be the one and only film made by The Monkees, was a weekend in early 1968, spent in Ojai, California, in which the four Monkees, plus Bob Rafelson and then B-movie actor Jack Nicholson, turned on a tape recorder and randomly took turns verbally tossing ideas into it. These “ideas” were to become the basis and script for Head.
The ill-fated movie got off on the wrong foot from the first day of filming on February 11, 1968. A rock-bottom budget of $750,000 was scraped together to finance Head (during production, the film had the working title Changes).
The four Monkees wanted a writing credit for the ideas they’d contributed to the script, but producers Rafelson and Bert Schneider denied them their request. This caused an upset resulting in three of the four group members not showing up on the set for the first day of shooting. Only Peter Tork was present, as Davy, Micky, and Mike staged their revolt and stayed home. The three did show up the next day, but the damage was done. The “three Monkee revolt” severely damaged the working relationship (and friendship) between the group and the producers.
The semi-hostile relationship was characterized by Rafelson and Schneider playing cutting edge albums loudly on the set and saying things like “Now that’s really rock and roll!,” in order to bait the Monkees about their pop, bubblegum-style music and image.
The cast of Head was quite eclectic and included Annette Funicello (just two years from her last “beach party” film), boxer Sonny Liston, singer Frank Zappa, a young Terri Garr, Green Bay Packer linebacker Ray Nitschke, and the Radio City Rockettes, plus Mike Nesmith’s wife and Davy Jones’ wife (both in uncredited cameos). Veteran actor Victor Mature signed on, too, after reading the script, which he admittedly did not understand at all: “All I know is, it made me laugh.” Mature’s character in Head was “the Big Victor.” This was reportedly a jab at RCA Victor, the company that released the Monkees’ records and who owned and aired the TV show The Monkees. Even Jack Nicholson and friend Dennis Hopper made brief cameos. But even this mixed group of talented people could not save Head.
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Artist Binksy completely captured the entire problem with The Phantom Menace in one perfect creation.
Link Via The Daily What
This valentine was given to a second grade teacher. If it’s real, it is definitely in the running for the best valentine of 2012. Link
This Valentine’s Day supercut is the perfect way to make the object of your affection go all gushy inside, in case you want to send it to someone you love. It worked for me! This was edited as a labor of love by Matthew Belinkie, who tells about how he selected and organized the clips at his website. Link -via mental_floss
If you invite the comedy duo Tim and Eric, from Tim and Eric Awesome Show Great Job! and Tom Goes To The Mayor fame, on to a relatively conservative morning talk show, expect hilariously awkward and strange things to happen. But the host rolls along quite well with the guys, and T&E get to hang out looking all smiles and rosy cheeks.
Actually, this is one of the most tame T&E appearances I’ve ever seen, but the clips from their Billion Dollar Movie are pure hilarity, and well worth the price of admission.
–via TDW
Ending slavery wasn't the only thing Abraham Lincoln did when he was President of the United States. He also saved the Republic from vampires.
Behold the new trailer from Tim Burton's movie, Abraham Lincoln: Vampire
Hunter, starring Benjamin Walker and directed by Timur Bekmambetov based
on the novel
Hit play or go to Link [YouTube] - via Laughing Squid
The highly-anticipated Lord of the Rings LEGO line was unveiled at a party in conjunction with the International Toy Fare 2012 in New York. Or, at least most of the sets. The Hobbit set is still under wraps. But representatives from TheOneRing.net were there and took pictures. The sets themselves, which feature Lord of the Rings minifigures, are expected to be introduced in stores starting in June. See more photographs in their report. Link -via The Daily What Geek
A Star Wars nerd fantasy come true! Jar Jar gets his in this fan-made trailer. -via Geeks Are Sexy
Oh Disney animators, you know how to breathe life into characters in a way which makes them seem so real, from the dawn of the animated feature (Snow White And The Seven Dwarfs) to your latest hit (Tangled) you’ve almost never disappointed, despite the fact that you’ve been so busy buying up franchises (Marvel Comics,The Muppets) that you haven’t had time to keep your television programming (Mickey Mouse Clubhouse) from becoming utter drek.
This video was created by a true Disney film fan (NkMcdonalds), and while it may not feature enough classics for my taste, it tugs at the heartstrings just enough to make you want to bust out the DVDs and have a Disney marathon. Great Mouse Detective here I come!
–via The Mary Sue
In the Star Wars universe, Tattooine is the home planet of the Skywalker family, but it looks like Tunisia because that’s where many of the exterior shots were filmed. In fact, Tatooine got its name from the town of Tataouine in Tunisia. A lot of the buildings and landscapes you know from the films look pretty much the same today, and many of them welcome tourists. This photo is of a fisherman’s hut which was used as the home of an old hermit named Ben Kenobi. Read about more of these Tunisians locations at LosApos. Link -via reddit
You might not know the name Wayne White, but you’re bound to have seen the works he has created over the last thirty years or so of his artistic career.
From stop motion animation, puppets and set design for PeeWee’s Playhouse, to music videos (Peter Gabriel’s Big Time and Smashing Pumpkins’ Tonight, Tonight) to his fine art series, which features 3-D text painted into classic lithographs.
Wayne White is an amazing artist, his talent is such that he’s left no artistic medium untouched, and there seems to be no limit to what Wayne can accomplish, so why has it taken so long for someone to make a documentary about him? Probably because all the money has been tied up in making supernatural teen love stories and Romcoms. Oh well, better late than never I suppose…
French photographer Cedric Delsaux sees a different setting for the Star Wars saga when he looks through the lens-a post-apocalyptic wasteland full of ruined buildings and bleak landscapes.
It’s the kind of place that seems perfect for devotees of the Dark Side, a world which leaves most droids feeling a bit lost. Here’s a bit on how this photo series came to be:
In his series ‘The Dark Lens’, Delsaux first set out to highlight the decay of the post-apocalyptic modern world, but found the landscapes too plain.
That was when he incorporated notable scenes and characters from Star Wars, with the help of CGI maestro Pierrick Gueneugue, bringing to life two distant worlds.
We’ve featured the works of Cedric Delsaux here on Neatorama over the years (Link and Link), and now he’s back because his series The Dark Lens has been put together in a book, which features a forward by George Lucas (link).
What an interesting way to put a spin on a sub-genre and sci-fi series which are in danger of becoming an artistic cliche. And I quite like the idea of Darth Vader lording over the reconstruction of a massive skyscraper (Death Star Towers, maybe?), while Jabba the Hut is holed up in some rat infested slums, conducting his dirty business from the shadows.
Link –via DesignTAXI
It happens every time some new technology threatens to put people out of work: a public campaign to save jobs. One example was in the 1920s and ’30s, when synchronized sound was added to movies, which meant that theaters no longer had to pay live musicians to accompany the films. The Music Defense League sprang into action, with a $500,000 advertising budget to rally the public against soundtracks recorded by just “300 musicians in Hollywood.” Read about the battle against canned music in theaters at Paleofuture. Link
Sometimes it’s hard to see what’s going on when you look at an ultrasound image of a baby in utero, but in this case the truth is plain to see-this woman’s baby is clearly the supervillain Venom, and he’s coming back for vengeance against Spider Man!
Giving birth to a supervillain might seem like a scary scenario, but really there are a lot of perks-your kid won’t get picked on at school, they will generally be able to take care of themselves, and every time they knock over a bank you’re in the money.
And at least her baby doesn’t look like Green Goblin, now that would have been terrifying!
I’m a certified cake-o-holic, so when I feel like a cake is too pretty to eat it either means I’m running a fever, or the cake is truly a work of art. Enter the newest batter and fondant sculptural masterpiece, an Amazing Spider Man cake that definitely lives up to the hype.
It’s shaped like my Web Headed hero, and look at the linework, oh the LINES! If this was an illustration people would be wowed, but when the lines are drawn with delicious, sugary frosting my stomach starts doing flips, begging for a slice.
But who has the nerve to cut into Spidey’s head and take out a chunk? Better call Venom if you really want a slice of this super cake!
This might just be a better movie than both the Phantom Menace or The Adventures of Tin Tin. Would you go see it?
This might just be one of the strangest scenes in The Shining, but The New York Times Correction on the matter might just be even weirder. Here goes:
Correction: January 29, 2012
An earlier version of this article incorrectly described imagery from “The Shining.” The gentleman seen with the weird guy in the bear suit is wearing a tuxedo, but not a top hat.
It’s darn good they changed that. I mean how would the readers possibly lived without knowing the bear was not, in fact, wearing a top hat?
I'm sure you all agree that a little Jar Jar Binks goes a long way to improving your filmgoing experience. Why, just take a look at these 8 movies recast with the famous Gungan. After all, he rose from humble beginnings to become a Senator of the Galactic Republic.
Link - Thanks Andie!
No? Then you're just a Gungan hater.
Are you tired of catching flack from hardcore Harry Potter fans about how you’ve never sat through all eight of the movies?
Do you want to check out all the films without committing more than a minute of your time to the task?
Is watching a recap of Harry going from apprentice wizard to defeater of Voldemort the only way you can start your day?
Well then this snack sized video should satisfy any/all of these requirements as quickly as possible.
–via The Mary Sue
He’s so cuddly you might just be tempted to let your kids play with him, until they actually see the movie and suddenly start refusing to go to bed and having nightmares every day.
For many of us, the 1939 film is the first thing that comes to mind when we think of The Wonderful Wizard of Oz. But it wasn’t the first movie version of Baum’s book. This version, based on a 1902 stage musical, was produced by the Selig Polyscope Company just ten years after the publication of the novel. If the 1939 film is your standard, then this version is surreal to watch. You can find part two at the link.
As many films as there are available on TV and for home viewing, they are only a small percentage of the movies that have been made. Most of the others will never be available on DVD, for one reason or another. Some sound just plain awful, while others could be called intriguing, like the 1969 film Troika!
In the film’s final segment (which sounds awesome) an eight-foot high insect wandering a Martian landscape is attacked by blue-skinned aliens (led by NBA All-Star Nate Thurmond) as a cowboy plays Wabash Cannonball.
There are 24 films in this list at io9. Link -via mental_floss
A cat makes a great listener, and therefore makes a great sidekick for pop culture characters. How well do you know feline sidekicks from movies, and TV? The challenge at today’s Lunchtime Quiz at mental_floss is to match 10 kitty sidekicks with the main character he/she goes with. I only got half of them correct. You will do better! Link
These Victorian style portraits of Star Wars characters by Terry Fan lead one to believe that C3PO is powered by steam, and that droids actually enjoy wearing three piece suits. Everyone knows that these things are untrue, of course, but it’s a romantic version of the Space Opera that hasn’t been fully explored yet, so let’s just go with it.
In this series you get Darth Vader looking quite dapper, Yoda with a top hat that somehow makes his head look even smaller (and his ears even bigger), C3apo as a gentleman about town and Boba Fett fresh from overseas service in the military. These portraits look like they were taken a long long time ago, in a place that’s not so far away after all…
Link –via Rampaged Reality
I’m pretty sure the only way a fan film can have this many celebrity cameos packed into one short film is if the fan in question is John Landis’ son Max, with co-collaborator Bryan Basham on hand to keep all that Hollywood cred from going straight to his head.
Watch as Max and Bryan, and a handful of really famous friends, make The Death And Return Of Superman, “a somewhat-mostly-accurate educational parody film” about the time Superman got “killed” by Doomsday, then came back a little while later.
It’s like Drunken History, only about comic books instead of, you guessed it, history, and I really hope this picks up where DH has fallen short over the years and they run with this concept, because it’s gold I tell ya GOLD!
Oh, and in case you missed it in the title, this hilarious vid is for grown folks and is extremely NSFW, so if adult language ruins your day don’t watch, just ask someone who’s seen the vid to give you a recap!
–via The Mary Sue
As you can tell by the soundtrack music in this parody trailer for A Muppet Wicker Man, it isn’t referencing the excruciatingly bad version with Nic Cage from about five years back, but rather the much more enjoyable 1973 version that still gives me the creeps.
I’m still on the fence about this trailer, and why a room full of Muppet faced children creeps me out when I love the Muppets so much I’d name my son Gonzo just to have them perform at his first birthday party.
However the comic book that tells the whole story, and for which this trailer is a bit of creative advertising, is amazingly well done and available to read for free online.
It’s full of Muppet style humor, creepy moments and puppet heads photoshopped on to human bodies that enhance the eerie nature of this tale of witchcraft and human puppet sacrifice. And yes, I’m aware that it’s been around since 2009, but does that really make it any less neat, or any more o-rama?
–via Topless Robot –comic book LINK
Hill Valley of the future is such a wonderful place to live, or at least it is when created by Lego artist Alex Jones. He has even more cool movie sets on his Flickr page for the viewing enjoyment of any Lego enthusiast.
Link Via Geekologie
In order to examine the way that the human brain evolved differently from that of other primates, scientists arranged for selected humans and monkeys to watch the Clint Eastwood movie The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly:
All the study participants watched 30 minutes of the Clint Eastwood spaghetti western, listening to the dialogue through headphones. The humans watched it once and the monkeys saw it six times, during which the participants’ eye movements were scanned and their neural activity monitored via functional magnetic resonance imaging.
The researchers found some similarities in brain activity locations among the species, but several differences, too. Monkey brain areas that fired up during movements on screen were quiescent in the humans, yet both species shared activity in other areas. This is a function of the species‘ separate evolutions — brain regions that may once have been very similar have adapted to focus on different tasks.
“The method may clarify whether specific functions are preserved in areas that anatomically correspond, are absent in one of the two species, or are shifted to other cortical locations,” Mantini and colleagues wrote. This, in turn, could shed light on how human cognitive function evolved, as compared to cognitive function in our closest cousins.
Which movie would you compel monkeys to watch?
Link | Image: United Artists
Come for the reference to popular building bricks LEGO, stay for the graphic animated violence that makes bricks fly like never before. LEGO Captain America may be the most badass incarnation of the Marvel Comics character ever created, and that’s saying a lot since he’s been kicking tail in the comics since the 40s. Warning: Scenes of intense violence against toys ahead!
–via Comics Alliance
Illustrator Tim Doyle had a rather clever premise in mind while creating the pieces for his debut art show “Unreal Estate”- give various locations from pop culture an artistic makeover. Here’s what Tim has to say about this series:
“Unreal Estate” is a collection of locations that many of us know and have been to on a weekly basis at times, but we can never actually visit. These places are in our memories- transmitted and entrenched there through a cathode-ray tube. Some of us have been going to these places for decades- some of these places were taken from us, way too soon.
Man, giving the Kwik-E-Mart a realistic edge makes it look even scummier than it does on The Simpsons!
