Classic Ross Amico

Tag: Santa Claus Conquers the Martians

  • Santa vs Martians A Star Wars Conspiracy?

    None other than Santa himself was kind enough to sit in for me for last night’s discussion of “Santa Claus Conquered the Martians,” and I don’t think Roy has ever laughed so hard. During the course of what might kindly be termed an autopsy, it gradually emerged that George Lucas stole everything from this cult camp masterpiece (including the spiderweb viewports, a Yoda-like mentor, the Wampa snow beast, and the Jedi mind-trick) to create “Star Wars.” Okay, maybe he also borrowed a little from “Metropolis” and Akira Kurosawa, but what are they next to “Santa Claus Conquered the Martians?” Am I joking? Share the pain – watch the movie – and then soothe the burn with this revelatory analysis.

    We’re off next Friday for Christmas, but we’ll be back on Sunday, full of merriment, to end the year on a low note – 20,000 leagues, to be exact – and a 2020 discussion of “20,000 Leagues Under the Sea” (1954).

    Roy’s Tie-Dye Sci-Fi Corner is live-streamed on Facebook most Friday and Sunday evenings at 7:00 EST.

    https://www.facebook.com/roystiedyescificorner/

    Happy holidays, and remember to keep Mars in Christmars!

  • Santa Claus Conquers the Martians Movie Night

    Santa Claus Conquers the Martians Movie Night

    Peace on Earth! Pia Zadora on Mars!

    Not even H.G. Wells, who projected that intellects, vast and cool and unsympathetic, regarded this earth with envious eyes, dreamed that they would ever come for our Christmas. And like that other Welles, Orson – who started out at the top with “Citizen Kane,” only to wind up doing wine commercials – Zadora never made a better film.

    It’s just not Christmas until Santa Claus is on Mars. Join us for our stunned reactions to the cult camp classic “Santa Claus Conquers the Martians” (1964), on the next Roy’s Tie-Dye Sci-Fi Corner, live-streamed on Facebook, this Sunday evening at 7:00 EST!

    https://www.facebook.com/roystiedyescificorner

  • Willie Wonka’s Dark Side Holiday Shopping

    It’s never too early for Oompa-Loompas!

    Actually, this was originally planned to be our Black Friday show, but then things went awry with the internet connection. The choice seemed an oddly appropriate one for the “shopping season,” due to the film’s sharp commentaries on greed, gluttony, and consumerism run amok. I remember in the 1970s, in the days before premium cable channels fragmented our society forever, “Willie Wonka and the Chocolate Factory” was shown on TV on Thanksgiving night. At any rate, it was good to revisit this Gene Wilder classic, which seems to only get better with the passing of time, because, let’s face it, human nature has not changed, and everyone deserves to be sent to the taffy-pulling machine.

    Roy’s Tie-Dye Sci-Fi Corner is livestreamed on Facebook most Friday and Sunday evenings at 7:00 EST.

    https://www.facebook.com/roystiedyescificorner/

    Tonight, it’s our last broadside before Christmas, as our topic will be “Santa Claus Conquers the Martians” (1964). HO HO HO!

  • Willy Wonka Covid Hair Holiday Fun

    Willy Wonka Covid Hair Holiday Fun

    Gene Wilder had Covid hair before it was a thing, in “Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory” (1971). Join us this weekend, as Roy and I take wicked delight in Roald Dahl’s cautionary tale of greed, gluttony, and consumerism run amok. Just in time for Christmas!

    I know, it’s hard to conceive of a week without alien invasions, dystopias, or post-apocalyptic nightmares – but, hey! There’s television teleportation, a glass elevator rocket-launch, and Everlasting Gobstoppers. To borrow from the poster to “Robinson Crusoe on Mars,” “This film is scientifically authentic… It is only one step ahead of present reality!”

    It’s the perfect holiday movie to share with your kids. Watch it, and then take a psychedelic chocolate riverboat ride, on the next Roy’s Tie-Dye Sci-Fi Corner. The Oompa-Loompas will be manning the taffy-pulling machines, live-streamed on Facebook, this Friday evening at 7:00 EST.

    https://www.facebook.com/roystiedyescificorner/

    “Willy Wonka” not your cup of cocoa? Then tune in on Sunday, same Bat-time, same Bat-channel, when we’ll jawbone about Pia Zadora and “Santa Claus Conquers the Martians” (1964).

  • Roy’s Sci-Fi: Christmas Carol, Star Trek, Wonka

    We’ll be taking off this weekend, since Roy is involved with Country Gate Players’ virtual performances of “The Christmas Carol Murders,” Saturday at 8 pm & Sunday at 2 pm. These Zoomed entertainments are free, but registration is required, at billscurato.com.

    Before you misattribute your Seasonal Affective Disorder to “Roy’s Tie-Dye Sci-Fi” separation anxiety, here’s the video of last Sunday’s show, all about “Star Trek: The Motion Picture” (1979). Just a few minutes should be enough to cure you of any romantic delusions.

    We’ll be back next Friday, to take a bite out of “Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory” (1971), and next Sunday, to choose-up sides for “Santa Claus Conquers the Martians” (1964).

    You’ll want to be on the winning team. Roy’s Tie-Dye Sci-Fi Corner livestreams on Facebook most Fridays & Sundays at 7pm EST.

    https://www.facebook.com/roystiedyescificorner

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