Still kickin' it on eBay

Just in case anyone reads or follows this blog anymore... I do have some fine VHS titles on eBay at the moment. Just started listing again last week after a nearly 2 year hiatus. Look for the z-grade sign of quality on the bay.

BLOODY FEUD of THE EWOKS

It's already another week, and time for another batch of Z-Grade goodness. First off, we have a couple of sacriligious STAR WARS items, THE EWOK ADVENTURE and EWOKS: THE BATTLE FOR ENDOR. Sacriligious because most hard core fans do not consider these made-for-TV gems as part of the rich STAR WARS pantheon. We actually agree, but it doesn't mean that we can't enjoy the cheesiness of watching midgets trounce around in teddy bear outfits hitting others with sticks. And, just for the record, the second entry actually has some moments of stop-motion animated creatures that at least look cool. On a slightly grittier note (...cough...ahem...), we have an over-the-top bloody yakuza film from Nikkatsu Studios in '71 entitled appropriately, BLOODY FEUD (aka: RYUKETSU NO KOSO). Tons of sword slashing and skewering in this modern age samurai in suits actioner. And a lot of red stuff splashing everywhere. This film stars puffy-cheeked idol JOE SHISHIDO along with the ultra sexy MEIKO KAJI, better known for her roles in FEMALE CONVICT SCORPION and STRAY CAT ROCK series of exploitation gems. And she is also known as the star of LADY SNOWBLOOD! But is that all you ask? Of course not. HK gems this week include the rare crime actioner CITY WARRIORS as well as the slapstick horror comedy of MR. VAMPIRE SAGA 4, which at times borrows some scenes from EVIL DEAD 2: DEAD BY DAWN. Also, we have a sort of mystery Taiwanese production entitled MISS GHOST, which we can find very little info about anywhere. It's a fly-by-wire wizards and weirdness fantasy gem that is quite entertaining to watch. If anyone out there in blogland knows more about this film, please leave us a comment. To round out this week's stuff, we've got a modern giant insect movie... BLUE MONKEY aka: INSECT, made-for-TV espionage... A BLADE IN HONG KONG, bully vs nerd spectacle THREE O'CLOCK HIGH, '70s conspiracy theory gem... THE DOMINO PRINCIPLE, the obscure French musical comedy GOLDEN EIGHTIES directed by CHANTAL AKERMAN and starring cult actress DELPHINE SEYRIG, vintage mad scientist anime LOVE CITY aka: AI CITY, made-for-TV Los Angeles period crime drama SHAKEDOWN ON SUNSET STRIP starring JOAN VAN ARK as the madam of a prostitution ring, and last but not least, the stupendous breasts of USCHI DIGARD in the outrageous skit comedy gem from 1977, THE KENTUCKY FRIED MOVIE. Get to clicking on the widget above and get your bid on... and remember NO BOOTLEGS EVER with Z-Grade!

MARGHERITI in Outer Space

Well, this will be short little note. This week we have the truly epic TREASURE ISLAND IN OUTER SPACE 4-VHS set (aka: STAR LEGEND - Japanese VHS box title / L' TESORO DEL ISOLA - original Italian title) for auction. I think it's nearly 8 hours of uncut viewing pleasure here, with the legendary ANTHONY QUINN in the part of Long John Silver, Billy Bones played by the manic ERNEST BORGNINE, and euro-star DAVID WARBECK as the Doc. But the most pleasant surprise was discovering Mr. BOBBY RHODES of DEMONS fame playing the part of Black Dog! As you might have guessed, the title of this film mini-series says it all. It's basically ROBERT LOUIS STEVENSON's classic novel translated into a space actioner with lots of kitschy futuristic gadgets everywhere. This is pure genius and I believe it to be ANTONIO MARGHERITI's space cinematic triumph, but you will find plenty here to remind you of PLANET ON THE PROWL or THE WAR OF THE PLANETS including some truly awesome miniature sets and space-suit fitted Barbie dolls floating around space stations. Now just because I have an obvious bias towards this particular item, doesn't mean there aren't more cinematic treasures to be had on our listings! Some sleaze, HK horror, action-schlock galore, are all for the taking. But, the TREASURE ISLAND IN OUTER SPACE set is the one item that shouldn't be missed. Just click on the widget above to see a sampling of all the other fine Z-Grade cinema for offer this week. And remember, NO BOOTLEGS EVER at Z-Grade!

DARK ANGEL vs. DEATH SPA

Hello again. Back with another fine selection of Z-Grade gems. I'll make this brief today as there is a large batch of Japanese VHS to choose from this round. Starting off with action, we have I COME IN PEACE aka: DARK ANGEL starring the ever towering DOLPH LUNDGREN, the car crash spectacular from H.B. HALICKI... THE JUNKMAN, HEATHER THOMAS in the super-bike sci-fi schlock actioner from FRED OLEN RAY entitled CYCLONE, HK assassin gem BLACK CAT starring SIMON YAM, and a Western all-star epic BITE THE BULLET featuring the talents of JAN-MICHAEL VINCENT, JAMES COBURN, and SALLY KIRKLAND. What else? Sleaze you ask? How about DEATH SPA, the notorious gore and sleaze gem about a hi-tech work-out gym gone awry. Some classic horror is available as well including the gothic tale THE OBLONG BOX from '71 starring CHRISTOPHER LEE and SALLY GEESON and the 80s sequel to the '70s classic, THE HILLS HAVE EYES PART 2. And my favorite of this batch, the charming TOUCH OF DEATH directed by maestro LUCIO FULCI. Lots of dismemberment and bloody grue on hand for this one. Well, I'm sure I've left out quite a few choice VHS tapes in this post, so just check out our listings for yourself. Just click on any of the rotating VHS tape images in the widget shown above. And remember... NO BOOTLEGS ever with Z-Grade!

THE BIKINI SHOP tops this latest batch of VHS gems!

Welcome back my friends to this week's latest batch of Z-Grade VHS goodness. Sorry for the lateness in getting this post out as the missus and I were in the Big Apple. Anyway, let's get right into this since there is only 2 days left on these babies! Topping the list this week is the fashion-challenged T&A cinematic masterpiece known as THE BIKINI SHOP. If you like neon colors and granny panties... this wrong-headed 80s exercise in schlock sex comedy 101 should be right up your alley. Pick up SCHOOL SPIRIT and you can have a matching pair of jiggle features. Also available this week is the Hong Kong Cat. III sleaze horror sequel to THE UNTOLD STORY, uninspiringly titled... THE UNTOLD STORY 2. Strange thing on this rare Japanese VHS letterbox release, as there is no optical pixelation or censorship on any of the nudity! Pubic hair fans rejoice! There is also a fine varied horror selection including CREEPSHOW 2 (a guilty pleasure of The Chooper's) along with monster-themed features BLUE MONKEY along with the purposely schlock Troma feature... MONSTER IN THE CLOSET. Also, the interesting 70s GORDON HESSLER POE-based gem, MURDERS IN THE RUE MORGUE starring JASON ROBARDS, LILLI PALMER, and MARIA PERSCHY. Odder esoteric fare includes the strange live action/anime hybrid from Japan entitled THE TWILIGHT OF THE COCKROACHES as well as the BRAD PITT & CATHERINE KEENER pseudo art house vehicle... JOHNNY SUEDE! And don't forget the near religious propaganda horror rarity, the ultra low-budget direct-to-video period piece... A DAY OF JUDGMENT along with super explosive drug-fueled kidnapping action of PRIMARY TARGET starring JOHN ERICSON and the oddball karate schlock GYMKATA starring ex-gymnastics champ KURT THOMAS. If I forgot to list any other titles, just check out the widget posted here and get all the info on this week's latest batch of gems. And remember... NO BOOTLEGS EVER with Z-Grade.

The latest Z-Grade VHS gems on eBay!

Here is a selection of the latest batch of rare factory original Japanese VHS Z-Grade collectibles currently on auction this week on e-Bay. On tap this week is some rare J-horror (The rarest JIGOKU film version from '79) to a Pink exploitation gem (MOMOJIRI MUSUME: LOVE ATTACK - part of the PEACH BUTT GIRL film franchise by NIKKATSU) along with some assorted horror (GHOULIES and NIGHTLIFE), schlock comedy (BABY LOVE aka: LEMON POPSICLE 5), and sci-fi (the stupendously stupid SPACE MUTINY starring the late JOHN PHILLIP LAW). Z-Grade pick of the week has to be the extremely rare WHISTLE DOWN THE WIND (1961) starring a young HAYLEY MILLS (fresh off her starring role in THE PARENT TRAP) in glorious black & white and presented in widescreen. A twisted strange religious-themed UK drama, based on a novel written by Hayley's mother... MARY HAYLEY BELL. Check out the widget posted here and get all the info on this week's latest batch of gems. And remember... NO BOOTLEGS EVER with Z-Grade.

DEATH WEEKEND

1976 {aka: THE HOUSE BY THE LAKE}
This is a lesser-known entry into the backwoods brutality genre of films started by the classic DELIVERANCE. Derivative exploitation, but pretty good nonetheless. Please note that a majority of the reviews listed for this film (also known as THE HOUSE BY THE LAKE) in the IMDb are littered with errors in the who, what and where of the storyline... so let me set the record straight, at least based on my own viewing of this rare Japanese VHS release. Fashion model Diane (BRENDA VACCARO) accompanies her playboy swinger dentist friend Harry (CHUCK SHAMATA) to his country house to join several others for a weekend-long party. On the way, he allows her to take the wheel of his souped-up Corvette sports car and she engages a gang of hillbilly hoodlums in a dangerous road chase, which ends with the four miscreants crashing their hot rod Camaro off the road and into a creek bed, and the Vette speeding away. The menacing gang leader Lep (veteran DON STROUD) swears vengeance on the pair, especially the driver. Up at the house, Diane is observed by Harry (the voyeur) via a two-way mirror taking off her clothes and nude in the shower. Nice guy this Harry. Not surprisingly, Diane soon discovers that there are no other guests coming up to the lake for the weekend. She also realizes that sleazy Harry just wants a quickie sex romp and another notch on his belt. Meanwhile, the psychotics in the Camaro are causing havoc all over town, nearly killing a local man of the law, in search of the two in the black Corvette. Of course, the vicious thugs arrive at the lake house, terrorizing Diane and Harry, and really begin messing up the place. Two of the gang members even take Harry's expensive speedboat for a spin out on the lake and kill some drunken hicks in a rowboat, who were out to help the dentist. When doctor Harry is revealed to be a bit of a wimp and the chaos really begins to ramp up, Diane in desperation, takes matters into her own hands and begins to exact her revenge, but not before she is sexually assaulted by Len, the crazed ringleader... and dry-humped by one the creepy gang flunkies while locked in one of the rooms of the house. Strangely enough, the ending of this film has a bit of an ambiguous tone. You'll have to watch it for yourself to see what I'm talking about. Recommended backwoods brutal shocker that is destined for Z-Grade glory. On auction right now, if you are interested in checking this one out!