Format: Book
Date Released:
Now
Publisher:
Bazillion
Points Publishing
Book
Information
HEAVY METAL MOVIES,
by Mike McBeardo" McPadden. It's an in-depth investigation of
the unholy marriage between metal and films. A compelling alternate
history of heavy metal, told through the sights and scenes that
shaped its visions, an exhaustive and hilarious look for origins
behind the silver screen instead of the buzzing amplifier.
Author Bio
McBeardo is the
defining moniker of the Brooklyn-born miscreant occasionally still
known as Mike McPadden and Selwyn Harris. Mr. McBeardo’s ongoing
rampage through the most gloriously ignoble gutter-rungs of show
business began with his early-’90s sleaze-zine HAPPYLAND, followed
by a stint as Entertainment Editor at Hustler, and gigs at numerous
subsequent slap-mags, mo(i)st notably, Celebrity Skin.
As a screenwriter,
McBeardo gave us the softcore epic Animal Instincts 3: The Seductress
(1995), as well as the XXX-rated milestones Devil in Miss Jones 5:
The Inferno (1994), Sex Freaks (1995), Gregory Dark’s Flesh (1996),
and at least one more he can’t remember.
For two weeks in the
late ’90s, McBeardo labored for Troma Films. Unpaid. Plus Mike is
the head writer for celeb nude site – Mr Skin.
Review: Heavy
Metal Movies: Guitar Barbarians, Mutant Bimbos & Cult Zombies
Amok in the 666 Most Ear- and Eye-Ripping Big-Scream Films Ever!
How
close have Films and Heavy Metal music been linked over the past 50
years or so? It was never really a question I thought about until
now. It seems that both of these mediums have influenced each other
in a big way.
Remember
those big encyclopaedia books of film reviews from the 70s/80s that
offered a personal review of 1000’s different films. They were used
religiously by film fanatics to compare different films against. The
books themselves held mini reviews, which offered a brief synopsis of
the plot, and the reviewers own personal thoughts of the film. Some
of the reviews usually pointed out some fun film facts.
Now
we have things like IMDB and Rotten Tomatoes to fill that role where
everyone can be a critic and explain why this film is so lauded or
hated in equal measure. In addition, that brings me onto my book
review of – Heavy Metal Movies. A forthright and downright
hilarious disturbing book outlining 666 reviews of the most insane
Heavy Metal movies around. Now these reviews are not all about proper
Heavy Metal Movies. Mike offers his critical eye over films such as
Star Wars & Twilight. You should read why he feels these movies
should be classed as Heavy Metal movies. The Star Wars review had me
laughing out loud for hours. Have a read yourself.
“Since
the release of Star Wars on May 25 1977, no aspect of human existence
has gone untouched by the movie, especially not heavy metal. But
which came first, the effect of Star Wars on heavy metal or heavy
metal's effect on Star Wars? Consider, below, how each can be seen as
interlocked with one another.
The
opening crawl is symphonic metal. The Death Star is drone metal, The
Jawas are doom metal. The Tusken Raiders are crust punk. The land
speeder is 70s van rock. The Max Rebo band is groove metal. Han Solo
is thrash. Han Solo shooting Greedo first is death metal.
Chewbacca
is stoner rock. Obi-Wan Kenobi is prog metal. The Force is pagan
metal. C-3PO is mathcore. R2-D2 is Nintendo-core. The Empire is black
metal ,with more than a few particular nods to NSBM. Grand Moff
Tarkin is New Wave of British Heavy Metal. The giant eel in the
garbage compactor is sludge metal. Luke and Leia's incestuous kiss is
that weird corner of metal occupied by Anal Cunt, the Melvins, the
Mentors and the Butthole Surfers. The aerial dog-fight between the
X-wings and the TIE fighters is power metal. The big ceremony at the
end where everybody gets a medal is Viking Metal.
And
Darth Vader, of course, is all aspects of all forms of heavy metal in
every possible permutation. Only perpetually heavier. And perpetually
more metal, as proven by the awesome Polish Death Metal band Vader.
Star
Wars. That's all. It's Star Wars.”
Mike
has had a passion for movies and Heavy Metal music for the best part
of 35 years or so. He has seen, breathed and lived through almost
every terrible film imaginable. He offers a deep hysterical insight
on his youth and how he became a fan of certain genres and music.
Mike has even included a section by Alice Cooper describing his very
own Heavy Metal Movies. How cool is that. Alice Cooper discussing his
own work. You don't see that on IMDB or Rotten Tomatoes.
The
book goes through an A to Z format of reviews featuring different
genres of films you know and love. Mike even includes movies you may
hate with a passion or never even heard of. It is to Mike’s credit
that he offers a thrilling historical insight into some of the movies
featured. I discovered a ton of great facts from reading this book as
Mike has definitely done his homework here.
The
book can be quite disturbing at times as Mike points some of the most
horrific and disturbing scenes from classic horror and science
fiction movies. Though Mike does feature proper heavy metal movies
from such well-known artists as: Kiss, Lamb of God, Alice Cooper,
Black Sabbath and Blue Oyster Cult. Nearly all widely praised and
derided if Mike feels the mood calls for it.
Heavy
Metal Movies truly comes alive when Mike lets rip on a “so bad it’s
good” classic movie as he gives the movie both barrels with a
string of insults. That happens quite a lot as Mike has picked a few
B and Z listed movies to check out. Mike even criticizes his own
invaluable contributions to movies. Wonder if he will allow me to say
which movies he has been involved in. I will state one. Animal
Instincts 3. Another one the book's stand-out reviews.
The
best part of each review is why Mike thinks this movie should be
classed as Heavy Metal and the reasons for. He name checks all of
your favourite metal/hard rock bands from a whole range of different
genres. Thrash, Noise, Stoner, Sludge, Doom, You get the point. I may
disagree with a few of the film choices he has included here.
Twilight. Mike – that film series will never be Heavy Metal, no
matter how funny and fantastic your mini review is.
Heavy
Metal Movies has a lot of pages devoted to the fantastic posters from
the films featured in the book. Some are very disturbing indeed. Some
you may recognise and some you will not. Heavy Metal Movies is a
brilliant read from start to finish. Mike has written a hilarious,
heartfelt, disturbing and in-depth book that is a must have book even
if you are a Heavy Metal Movie fan or not.
I
hope Mike writes another instalment of Heavy Metal Movies as I think
he is onto a winner here.
Thanks
to Magnus at Bazillion Points Publishing for sending me a copy to review. Heavy Metal Movies is
available to buy now.
Written
by Steve Howe
