Videoscope74

VIDEOSCOPE #74

Now, I know a lot of people say that magazines are a lost cause a relic of the past that has been dying a slow death for years with the internet taking hold of news, updates, reviews, etc… I say screw that crap! I still like holding in my hands the printed word on paper. Is that very ECO of me probably not? However, I am not one of those loons sniffing the paint and drinking the Kool-Aid that Al Gore and his ilk of smut peddlers like to push. So in saying all of this I will continue to buy magazines until the final nail has been driven into their coffin.

This issue of Videoscope really covers it all and if you like a crap ton of reviews and a lot of in depth articles over some of the genres we all dig this is the magazine for you. The cool thing about Videoscope is that they cover it ALL. Were you have many magazines just cover horror or Sci-Fi or whatnot here they cover that and so much more. The get Exploitation, TV, Asian, Drama, and even big Hollywood fare a fair shake. This issue in particular has over 80 reviews and they are all well written and have a lot of nice info in them regarding plot and background info on the people involved.

Now the interviews are truly outstanding in my humble opinion. First there is a nice interview with the co-director of The Blair Witch Project Eduardo Sanchez. Now to be honest I am not a fan of this film, but appreciate it for what it is and what it means to horror. There really are no revelations here and he really just rehashes the same behind-the-scenes turmoil after the film was completed as he has done before.

Next, we have my “hero” Tony Todd. Now many of you guys know I am not his biggest fan, but John loves him and everything he has done and thinks of him in the highest regard. So, I must confess that the interview he gives here is very good. He really covers his entire career and the people who have been put into his life and how they effected him and made him who he is today as an actor. He gives a lot of respect to these people. He also talks a lot about his theater work, which I never knew about him. So this is an interview I say that is a must.

You have a small interview with Gary Streiner over the documentary Autopsy of the Dead. There is nothing that blows your pants off here just a lot about ALL the people that were involved in the landmark film Romero’s Night of the Living Dead.

This next interview is what dreams are made of and what I feel is lacking on internet sites. You have a wonderful interview with Richard Harrison. It is a sprawling 4-page spread over his entire work in film and the stories he is able to share are priceless. He talks a lot about the early days as an actor and about his modeling career that helped pay the bills. Some of the topics that are discussed are AIP, Vincent Price, Charles Bronson, sword and sandal films, his time in Italy and Clint Eastwood. This is such a great piece and worth the price of the magazine.

The last two interviews are very good as well and really hit all cylinders. First, we have Tom Towles. Now, this article has a lot to do with his BIG movies, which are fine, but just like the Sanchez interview nothing much will be uncovered that has not already been talked about else where. He talks about the horror genre in general and about his most popular films. He does talk about Tupac and working with him on the film Gridlock’d. Never saw anything about that before so that was pretty cool. Next, we have the final interview with stuntman and legend Dick Warlock. Dick, talks about how he got started in the business and what it was like in the old days as a stuntman and how unsafe it was to be in that profession. He also talks about being petrified working with John Wayne which was a great story. I loved this interview and it made me want to meet Mr. Warlock again and ask him a whole new batch of questions.

I hope I have encouraged you fine folks to give the old rags another chance and get your hands on something that is real and tangible. I really feel that there is nothing like sitting down at your home or a restaurant with a good magazine or book and just read and relax then hunched over a computer. Please do yourself a favor and pick this magazine up along with any back issues that you may find. I do believe you will be glad you did.

reviewed by Jason Payne