SUPERMAN'S MOST STUPENDOUS SKIRMISHES! Part I

Carrying on our Superman theme in recognition of the Big Blue's new movie, I've decided to showcase some of his greatest encounters from the last 60 years! This being Poptique, we'll be taking a jolly jaunt into undulating, uncharted waters...

First up : SUPERMAN VS. KING KONG

This one-of-a-kind regrettable rendevous took place in the Philippines, shortly after the bloated 1976 King Kong debacle from Dino De Laurentiis, or possibly around the release of the first Christopher Reeve adventure two years later.

It was a cataclysmic clash of the titans to say the least, with Kong thundering through a fairground, holding Supes' perennial squeeze Lois Lane captive in a cage around his neck - just like a big old hairy medallion man.

Luckily Superman was available to fly to her rescue in the nick of time - not that I actually have the faintest idea what is going on in any of these incredibly obscure, and obviously unauthorised bubble-gum cards...

Just goes to show that our Turkish friends are far from alone in their outlandish appropriation of other people's Pop Culture heroes...

SUPERMAN RETURNS - Bryan Singer, 2006.

Superman has Returned and to celebrate here is some genuine Superman Pasteurised Process Imitation Cheese Spread! Bon Appetite!

This is a pretty big event, especially for a slightly reformed Comic Book Fan like myself. Superman may have been far from a massive favourite, but I always had the utmost respect for his unequalled place in the annals of comic book history. (But you've got to admit - an all-powerful chap with his initial blazoned across his chest, able to run faster than a speeding bullet and the like, - but afraid of little green rocks?).


Superman Returns perfectly illustrates how the film industry has gone full circle since the Golden Age of Hollywood, when all ol' Supes had to his name was a series of outstanding animated cartoons and some energetic, cheap jack, but loveable B-Movie serials. Now the Big Man is the star of perhaps the most expensive film ever made. Yup - times change...

Doing their bit towards the new movie, "This Is Pop Culture" is housing a gallery of Superman Memorabila from the last 60 years. Pop over there to witness an incredible collection of power-packed paraphernalia!

CHOCA LOTTA LOCO ROCO

In my late teens and early twenties one of my more pointless, (albeit more achievable), ambitions was to own every video game console ever released. With age comes not only wisdom but also an increased need for space, and after a period of rabid accumulation my video game-related ambitions lie in the other direction - I remain resolute that each new technical marvel will tempt me not...until something strange and beguiling comes along to inevitably change my mind...

Sneaking out in the UK for the PSP is just the kind of funky little cute-weird title which draws me in the direction of Sony's pocket marvel :



Squidgy, squashy and oh-so-Japanesy platform fun - surely now it's only a matter of time before I fork over my hard earned lolly for another gadget destined to gather dust along side my Atari Lynx, Sega Game Gear and Pocket Neo Geo.

The swines.

BOLLYWOOD BUBBLEGUM

Actually it's more like Lollywood Lollypop, as this was produced in Lahore, Pakistan during the late 70s or early 80s.

Depending on you sensibilites, you'll find this little sequence instantly intolerable or the best thing you've see all week - either way, remember to stick around for the stunning denouement!



Can anyone help identify this amazing movie?

LET'S GO FOR BROKE - GONE FOR GOOD?
dir. Ron Walsh 1974

I love a lost movie. It's a dubious habit, but tell me a film is missing and I'll be more interested in it.

Massive chunks of cinema history from the last 100+ years have gone walkabout - misplaced movies, neglected, destroyed, or turned to dust. For every sought after Rogue Song or Convention City, an inestimable number of forgotten films have also vanished into thin air. Take for example...

Fellow blogger Booksteve regularly delves into Movies That Fell Through the Cracks, and over the last few weeks he's carried out an investigation into Let's Go For Broke, a long gone example of mid-70s femsploitation.

Produced by a US crew in Haiti during the glorious days of Grindhouse cinema, it headlined blonde bombshell Christa Helm as crusading reporter Jackie Broke - hot on the trail of international crime and random nastiness. It looks pretty similar to a whole slew of femaction movies, like Ginger, Stacey, and the classic Coffy - all dumb fun in their own exploitative way.

Helm, one-time Playboy Bunny, saw this as her ticket to the big time, but just three years (and a couple of minor roles) later Let's Go For Broke remained unreleased - and it's star brutally murdered in still unsolved circumstances. Her one and only lead role seems to have well and truly gone for good - it hasn't been seen since a 1974 premiere in Cincinnati, Ohio.


The trifling matter of it’s complete and utter disappearance hasn't stopped Booksteve rummaging around for more startling information, and you can get up to speed by reading the following reports: Part 1 - Part 2 - Part 3 - Part 4

Will it ever turn up? Well, stranger things have happened, although it's surprising this didn't sneak out during the early 80s Video boom when virtually anything and everything spewed forth onto Rental Shelves. Chances are a print is awaiting discovery, albeit happily decaying in some corner of the world as you read this...

SUBURBAN HARMONY - TELEMETRY ORCHESTRA.

Lazy Summer Choon of the Week.

After a brief sabbatical, Poptique is back - thoroughly enjoying the gorgeous weather along with the footie. Perfect time of year for BBQs soundtracked with lazy-backed music, and one track that immediately springs to mind has been getting some well deserved attention recently, due to it's beautiful video.



Suburban Harmony is opening track on Children Stay Free- the 2003 album from Australian indie-folk trip-hoppers Telemetry Orchestra. Reminiscent of Morcheeba and Lemon Jelly with Dubstarry vocals, its just the sort of thing that sounds even better when the sun is out.

The psychedelic video, heavily inspired by Heinz Edelmann's production design for Yellow Submarine, was produced by animator Steve Scott, who is also a member of the Telemetry Orchestra.

Frankly, some people are too bloody talented for their own good...



(The Youtube version does have a rather irritating audio glitch throughout, so you might want to download this Quicktime, which sounds - and looks - much cleaner. Better still, go buy the album...)