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Archive for the 80s Category

Cult Film Club Episode 10: Miami Connection (1987)

Posted in 80s, movies, nostalgia, podcast, pop culture with tags Cult Film Club, martial arts, movies, ninjas, podcasts, pop culture on September 4, 2013 by Paxton

So not only did Nerd Lunch hit triple digits last week, now Cult Film Club is hitting double digits. Welcome to Episode 10 in which we discuss the independent movie sensation of the year, Miami Connection.

Released to very little fanfare in Orlando (and Germany?!) back in 1987, the film was found on eBay last year and bought by Drafthouse Films for $50. Now it’s getting worldwide theater and home video releases with the actors reunited for special fan events like every damn week. It’s nuts how popular this movie has become. So, being that we are Cult Film Club, we felt it was our duty to forgo our original movie pick for this month and check out this masterpiece of dramatic biker ninja action. Do you like feathered hair, white ninjas, aligator earrings and orphans reuniting with their dads? Then you’ve come to the right place.

Download this episode from iTunes or listen to it online right here.

Cult Film Club Episode 8: Karate Kid Part III

Posted in 80s, movies, nostalgia, pop culture, sequels with tags Cult Film Club, Karate Kid, movies, nostalgia, podcasts, pop culture, sequels on June 26, 2013 by Paxton

We pulled a sneak attack on you guys. Just when you thought CFC was going to miss our June episode, BOOM, here we are with under the wire with Episode 8 in which we talk about our first sequel, Karate Kid Part III.

There is just so much to love in this retardedly bad movie. Terry Silver, the return of Kreese, “Karate’s Bad Boy” Mike Barnes, Daniel-san forgetting everything he’s learned from the first two movies, Snake and extremely valuable grand daddy banzai trees. It’s all there and Jaime, Shawn and I cover ALL of it because we unabashedly love every single moment in this film. If we could, we’d review this movie every week.

So, download the latest CFC episode from iTunes or listen to it online right here.

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Nerd Lunch Episode 91: GI Joe: A Real American Hero action figures

Posted in 80s, cartoons, pop culture, toys, TV shows with tags GI Joe, Nerd Lunch Podcast, nostalgia, podcasts, pop culture, toys, TV show on June 25, 2013 by Paxton

Our long, slow crawl to episode 100 continues. While Jeeg is off searching for the third constituent element in his Weather Dominator this week, we are joined by our good friend Shawn Robare and first time guest Howie Decker of the Under Scoop Fire Blog and Podcast. And in this very special episode, CT, the guests and I are discussing the GI Joe A Real American Hero toys.

(Via herocomplex.latimes.com)

We talk about the ones we had, we talk about the ones we wanted. We talk about some of our favorites and least favorites. We also talk about our current relationship with the property. It’s a fun, nostalgia filled discussion, join us won’t you?

Download this episode from iTunes or listen to it on Feedburner.

Cult Film Club Episode 4: The Beastmaster (1982)

Posted in 80s, movies, podcast, pop culture with tags Cult Film Club, movies, nostalgia, podcast, The Beastmaster on February 14, 2013 by Paxton

The Clubhouse is now open. For this installment of Cult Film Club we are discussing the awesomely phantasmagorical 1982 fantasy movie, The Beastmaster.

We all discuss our personal recollections of watching the movie, we talk about the things we love. We talk about the things that makes us cringe. We discuss the awesome glory that is Marc Singer all muscle-y and oiled up. We even attempt to simulate the “hawk cry” with varying degrees of success.

If you also loved this movie, download this episode from iTunes or listen to it online here.

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The Real West: Kenner’s failed western toy line from 1980

Posted in 80s, Billy the Kid, movies, pop culture with tags Billy the Kid, LEB, movies, pop culture, toys on January 15, 2013 by Paxton

I’m a big fan of westerns. Movies, books, comics, toys. Whatever. If you listen to episode 68 of the Nerd Lunch podcast, you will hear me lamenting the lack of good western toy lines on shelves today. The best western toy line is probably the Gabriel Lone Ranger toys from the 70s and 80s. Most especially the large scale toys and accessories. Here’s an ad for a western town for the Gabriel 3-3/4″ Lone Ranger toys.

Gabriel also released a 12″ scale Lone Ranger series of figures. Both were extremely popular and set the standard for well done western figures. However, there aren’t many other toy lines that even tried to create western figures, other than generically packed cowboy figures on sale in the discount aisles of Wal-Mart. See the True Heroes Wild West Action Figure Playset 5-Pack. To be fair, the True Heroes stuff is actually fairly well made for generic figures. Check out the True Heroes Wild West Sheriff’s Town Playset. Like I said, actually not that bad. But it’s generic. I want a figure line that’s more specific.

The toys I actually want to talk about today I briefly mentioned in the latest episode of Nerd Lunch. I consider it to be the closest we’ll get to an actual, well realized “Legends of the Old West” action figure line. It was first made by Kenner in 1979 as a tie in to the movie Butch and Sundance – The Early Days. The movie was a prequel to the classic 1969 western Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid starring Paul Newman and Robert Redford, respectively. The movie had a nice compliment of stars. Tom Berenger played Butch, William Katt played Sundance, Peter Weller played La Fors, Christopher Lloyd played Carver and Brian Dennehy played Hanks. The studio had high hopes for the movie and created a toy line featuring figures of the characters. Here are pics of the carded figures of the title characters.

(via Toys You Had)

There were also figures of La Fors, Sheriff Bledsoe and Hanks. Kenner also produced the hero’s horses, Bluff and Spurs, as well as an awesome armored stagecoach called The Mint Wagon. Here they are in a Kenner catalog from 1980.

(Via Plaid Stallions)