B-Movie Gazette: THE SPARKS BROTHERS (2021) - SEMINAL LOS ANGELES BAND FINALLY GETS IT'S JUST DUE IN EDGAR WRIGHT'S OUTSTANDING DOCUMENTARY

B-MOVIE OF THE MONTH - WITHOUT WARNING (1980)

Greetings All - It would be cool to do a post one time called the ten most essential B-flicks, sort of a B-Movie 101 thing. If that ever happened I would have to include this sci-fi horror classic from Graydon Clark (Black Shampoo, Satan's Cheerleaders.) This one's a don't pass go and don't collect $200 folks, just see it, Or watch it again. I'm not even going to begin to explain the plot except you have these flying disc things that attach themselves to people, in this case campers on an outing and kill and feed on them. Eventually these discs are tied to an alien, a hungry alien. A forerunner to 1987's Predator sort to speak and with a flat-out goofy cast. Jack Palance and Martin Landau, say what? And looking drugged out I might add but the real surprise here is veteran character actor Larry Storch, from the '60's, a guy who knew 150 dialects and here he is in this as a boy scout leader lol. Also known as It Came Without Warning, this gem is streaming free now only on Plex. 2.75 stars/2.75

Sunday, November 7, 2021

THE SPARKS BROTHERS (2021) - SEMINAL LOS ANGELES BAND FINALLY GETS IT'S JUST DUE IN EDGAR WRIGHT'S OUTSTANDING DOCUMENTARY

I don't pay much attention to the visitor demographics of this blog but I would imagine there's a good portion of you from California and particularly Los Angeles. If you live in LA and don't know who or what Sparks is then you should get out of LA. All others are excused and encouraged to delve into the wonderful world that is the music of the Mael Brothers.

Some may know them from the early 70's Kimono My House days and others may remember the KROQ hits from the early 80's like Pulling Rabbits Out Of A Hat or I Predict. Still others may associate them with their appearance in the notorious Rollercoaster movie but even the most hardcore Sparks fans rarely know the entire breadth of their musical landscape. Every hardcore Sparks fan will still make a new discovery song wise or album wise when they watch this outstanding documentary.

Edgar Wright manages to make an over two hour documentary on a band most people never heard of go by very quickly and enjoyably as he tackles their almost fifty year career. Editing is phenomenal and I would go so far as to say Mr Wright has created an instant classic in the music documentary genre. 4.5 stars/5