Tag Archive for: movies

10 Movies That You Can Watch for Halloween and Christmas

/1 Comment/in , , /by

​The pumpkin is lit, the lights are dimmed low, the popcorn is in hand… now, what movie to watch? With so many options to choose from nowadays, we thought we would help you out. Here are 10 movies that work for Halloween and Christmas because why not double down, am I right?

1. GREMLINS (1984)

GREMLINS (1984) always holds a place in my heart. It’s funny, it’s weird, it’s spooky, and jolly all rolled into one. I almost always forget how dark it is, which makes it perfect for Halloween. The mom cooking the gremlin in the microwave– classic! Yet, it’s hard not to feel a warm, soft spot for little Gizmo when he’s singing along in a Santa hat. Though the first on our list, I would be so bold to say it may reign supreme for Christmas horror movies in my book.

2. KRAMPUS (2015)

What a pleasant surprise KRAMPUS (2015) was when it came out in theatres. It hits all the seasonal buttons: family, snow, presents, and the mythology of Krampus. As someone who was always wary of toys coming to life in a PUPPET MASTER (1989) tone rather than a plucky Disney one, KRAMPUS gives me chills just thinking about it. The special effects are spot on and the story doesn’t disappoint.

3. SILENT NIGHT, DEADLY NIGHT (1984)

A joyous, timeless romp in all 80s splendor. SILENT NIGHT, DEADLY NIGHT (1984) shows how taking a symbol like Santa and turning him deadly can have negative effects later on in life. That’s putting it mildly, but hopefully, it gets your mind churning.

4. THE NIGHTMARE BEFORE CHRISTMAS (1993)

For a bit of a lighter touch on the holiday, you could opt for Tim Burton’s THE NIGHTMARE BEFORE CHRISTMAS (1993). A beautiful stop-motion film, this movie brings Christmas together with the darker, twisted stylings of Tim Burton. It’s engaging, spooky, and will leave you humming the songs all season long!

5. BLACK CHRISTMAS (1974)

This movie still gives me the creeps. I suppose it’s that feeling that you should be safe somewhere but really anything could happen. That’s what makes BLACK CHRISTMAS so disturbing and wonderful for Halloween. Yet, with all the Christmas decorations you’ll be yelling, “Where’s the eggnog?”

6. RARE EXPORTS (2010)

This Finnish movie is one of the scariest takes on Saint Nick. It will have you repeating to yourself, “I am good. I am good.” It will stick in your mind like any great story does and will leave you haunted well past Christmas.

7. CHILD’S PLAY (1988)

There’s a reason CHILD’S PLAY (1988) and its demonic doll, Chucky, are cult classics. This movie punches all our childhood fear buttons. Chucky is the perfect present for any boy, unfortunately, this one just happens to be possessed by the soul of a serial killer. Want to play? Um, not really, but we’ll watch the movie over and over again!

8. EDWARD SCISSORHANDS (1990)

Another story on the lighter side of Halloween, but fitting nevertheless. EDWARD SCISSORHANDS (1990) brings Tim Burton’s knack of odd and unique characters into the heart of a suburban neighborhood. It’s one I always love watching and one I always forget how wonderful it is until I watch it. Dianne Wiest as the mother– I mean, come on– genius!

9. THE SHINING (1980)

Stanley Kubrick’s THE SHINING (1980) may not seem like a Christmas movie to you but it meets our requirements: family, snow, well wishes… What is more endearing than the love of a father who allows his family to vacation at an incredible resort while he works? Sure he’s going to cut them up into little bits, but it’s not like it’s going to hurt. His love will go on forever, and ever, and ever…

10. CRONOS (1993)

Guillermo Del Toro is a master of monsters and CRONOS (1993) is no exception. It brings a 600-year-old monster to the surface in an incredible visionary dance. As always, Del Toro combines the macabre and dark with a childlike wonder that is delicious for Halloween and magical enough for Christmas. Just watch it and let us know what you decide.

There are many other wickedly horrific Christmas-centered movies that we sadly could not fit on this list. What’s your favorite? Let us know below or give us a shout out on social media! @Blastftp

Why We Love NECA’s 8-Bit Video Game Figure Line

/0 Comments/in , , , , /by

NECA’s 8-Bit Video Game Figure Line hits so many of our joy buttons. They are retro, nostalgic, but modern and so rad. Honestly, I want them all. We currently have several of these action figures in store along with our other collectibles from NECA. For those that we don’t currently have– like the Jason Voorhees V. 1, which was an SDCC exclusive years back– we are always on the lookout to swipe them up. So, it’s always good to keep a pulse on our store for that special item you’re looking for! Here’s a highlight of 5 of our favorite 8-Bit Video Game Figures from NECA’s line.

#1. Batman

Flying in at #1 and standing 7″ tall is Batman! Based on the 1989 NES Game following the Michael Keaton BATMAN (1989), this dark knight brings all that 80s-awesomeness from the side-scrolling game that we absolutely love. He’ll have you saying, “POW! BAM! BANG!” all-day-long no matter your age.

 

#2. Mohawk

He’s up to no good in your neighborhood, it’s Mohawk from the GREMLINS 2: A NEW BATCH (1990) NES Video Game! He wreaks havoc at 7″ tall and is painted to replicate the game’s pixelated look. This one we definitely recommend getting wet and feeding after midnight.

 

#3. RoboCop

Call him Murphy. He’s here in his 8-Bit blues to serve the public trust, defend the innocent, and uphold the law while being totally tubular. He’s part man, part machine, and all heart. Yes, please!

 

 

#4. Godzilla

Stomping in above 6″ tall and nearly 12″ long from head to toe, Godzilla is rockin’ his 1980’s look. His paint deco is a throwback to the pixelated look from the 1988 classic video game. RAWR hell yasss! This guy is going to fight all my action figures.

 

#5. Freddy Krueger

The man of our dreams, Freddy Krueger, looks amazingly killer in his classic video game colors. He’s fully articulated like the other action figures in this line and even comes with his dashing smile. It’s prime time!

 

 

 

NECA’s 8-Bit Video Game Figures Line makes me so happy I think I may break out the NES, grab some Tab and Pixie Stix, sit curled up surrounded by these action figures, and live my best narly vintage life. Who’s totally boss? NECA.

Stay groovy friends!

8-Bit Diane

•••

Give us a call at 818-557-7724 or Email us at blastfromthepastinc@yahoo.com to learn more about what NECA figures we have in store. You can also hit us up on Facebook at www.facebook.com/blastfromthepastinc, Instagram @Blastftp, or on Twitter @BlastFTP.

4 Fun Ways to Pass Time During a Pandemic

/0 Comments/in , /by

Normally this would be a fun doomsday prep-type blog, but seeing how the current climate has shifted, we thought the following would be even more useful.  If you are planning to hunker down for awhile we’ve got some great ideas on how to pass the time!  After all, let’s face it, there’s only so much of the Marvel’s movie/tv line we can binge watch straight.  I love the movies, don’t get me wrong, but a break is in order every now and then.  Am I right?  Here are 4 Fun Ways to Pass Time During a Pandemic!

Puzzle The Time Away

Puzzles — classic and timeless.  They are fun for the whole family and they are a wonderful way to pass the time.  If you’ve ever wanted to start your own Youtube Channel, you can show your mad puzzle skills and get tons of viewers.  I only know this because of babysitting.  I.  Am.  Amazed.  On what is out there.  We also have puzzles for just about anyone: DC and Marvel-folk, Jim Henson fans, Lunchbox fans, music fans, the list goes on!  You can have a contest and time to see who has the best puzzle-fitting score, or when you finish, throw some glue on that puppy, throw it in a frame, and voila instant wall art!

Get Comical

Stash-up on comics!  Comics are an excellent way to pass the time!  Endless story options, endless adventures, you might even get an idea for a project or find your next hairdo by reading one.  Even better yet, you won’t get a headache from staring at a screen all day.  That might make me sound old, but trust me… it happens.

CDeese CDs

For a lot of us, you know what I’m talking about when I say CDs, but just in case you don’t, I’m talking about compact discs… they play music or just about anything.  Rewind it back to the time of CDs and pass the hours by listening to some amazing movie scores!  We carry older movie/tv soundtracks but we also carry more relevant ones too!  So no matter your taste, you’ll be sure to find several that will transform you into another world from your very own living room.  CDs also ship really easily if you are putting together a care package for someone!

Bring the Arcade to You

Why not bring something home that’s new-to-you and oh-so-cool-old-school?  This Sears Video Arcade II which is Atari compatible is sure to give you a nice break from your usual console.  It comes with 23 games, 2 joysticks, and 2 controllers.  The games include E.T. The Extraterrestrial, Ms. Pac-Man, and Space Invaders!  There’s nothing quite like playing those games on a system they were meant to be played on, it just brings a sense of peace.

Do you agree or disagree on this list?  What other ways do you like to pass the time?  Let us know!  Make sure to also follow us on instagram @blastftp and facebook for other fun ideas, products, and pop-culture deliciousness.

Stay safe out there!

Your Pals at Blast From the Past