“The Day the Earth Stood Still” to “Dead Alive”
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The Day the Earth Stood Still (1951) B&W science fiction cannot get any better than this! You know the drill; Washington D.C. is invaded by one saucer with one alien humanoid and his quite unstoppable robot Gort. Rennies instruction is simple: the Earth is getting dangerous, lay down all arms or else face annihilation. If your country is invaded, no matter what the reason, what would you do? Puny humans, let us melt your wax weapons and seduce your children, professors, and women. (KWR)
A Day Without a Mexican (2004) In this day and age, this need to be seen by everyone; especially those who interact with immigrants from south of the border, which is probably everyone in the US. (SC)
Dazed and Confused (1993) A great movie about ritual hazing in high school. Watch to help jog your memory of all the fuzzy periods during the 1970’s. (RM)
Dead Again (1991) Inventive mystery and a tale of reincarnation from director/actor Kenneth Branagh; set in L.A. the film takes place in the modern day with flashbacks to the 50s (in B&W). Hints of film noir with marvelous performances from Emma Thompson and Derek Jacobi (as well as an uncredited Robin Williams). (GS)
Dead Alive (1992) I first heard about this film when I was read a review which described it as Monty Python meets Reanimator. How could anyone resist such a film? Peter Jacksons film is gory, funny, and sweetly romantic. My favorite bit is when our hero straps a lawn mower to his chest and begins eviscerating zombies willy nilly until it becomes so encrusted with gore that it stalls and when he tries to get away he slips and slides because the floor is slathered in goo. Okay, its funny when you see it. (GS)
Originally published in Raspberry World – Volume 2, Issue 1 (June/July 2007)