Here’s another movie post! I recently watched Planet of the Vampires, and while it wasn’t exactly a great movie (not bad though), it was visually fantastic. Gorgeous planet vistas with lots of coloured lighting and smoke, and some of the coolest space suits ever.

I think it’s possible that the opening scenes of the exterior and interior of the space ship may have been the inspiration behind the opening scenes of Earth Girls are Easy, one of my favourite movies.

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I really don’t know why Modern Girls isn’t better known. I only discovered it a few years ago, but it’s one of the perfect 80s movies to me. If I want to watch something that perfectly captures my favourite things about the 80s I watch this or Desperately Seeking Susan.

The movie is basically about three girls who are going clubbing, and the adventures that happen to them during one night. All of the sets are so beautifully designed, and one of my favourite parts is a short scene at the beginning of the movie when we get to see each of the girls hanging out in their respective, and very different, rooms. The sets instantly tell us so much about their personalities.

I love how in many 80s movies, the homes of young people often have tons of mid century decor. This was before mid century design was once again considered sophisticated and modern, and when it was probably really cheap and easy to find at flea markets and such. This mix of 80s and mid century is one of my favourite things, and there’s plenty of it in this movie.

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Jack the Giant Killer was, according to IMDB, made to cash in on the success of The 7th Voyage of Sinbad. The director, lead actor and villain are even the same, and there’s lots of stop motion (the giants are basically two eyed copies of Harryhausen’s cyclops).

It’s been quite a while since I saw The 7th Voyage of Sinbad, but I think this amazing movie definitely lives up to it, and in some ways even exceeds it. It has nothing to do with Jack and the Beanstalk, and is loosely based on another English folk tale.

This movie is visually stunning and filled with amazing things. A stepmother with my dream fairytale wardrobe, a wonderfully flamboyant villain, beautiful magic effects, some of the best costumes I’ve seen, and best of all, some of the best monsters ever. The villain’s hench-monsters are almost shockingly scary in the context of a fairytale movie from the early 1960s.

At one point I was thinking “the only thing that could make this movie any better would be a living skeleton”, and what appears in the next scene but a living skeleton! Though admittedly not nearly as cool as Harryhausen’s stop motion skeletons in the next Sinbad movie to come.

If you love gorgeous costumes and monsters, you have to watch this movie.

A few screencaps! »

Since I watch an insane amount of movies my boyfriend has persuaded me to post more movie tips on the blog. I’ve posted about a few movies before, but these movie tips will be shorter and with just a few pictures.

I’ll try to recommend movies that aren’t too well known or that I think are under appreciated. I might post a few famous movies as well though if I feel they can’t be missed!

First out is the Australian 1982 movie Starstruck. It’s a very playful, feelgood movie with a kind of rebellious attitude and tons of great style and sets. It’s sort of a musical and the music is great. I wish I had the soundtrack. The spinning/rolling down the stairs ending is so beautiful.

A few more screencaps »

I loved finding these backstage photos from my favourite sequence of one of my favourite movies, The Ziegfeld Follies, at the LIFE Archive. One of the most beautiful and spectacular movies ever!

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Cover Girl (1944) is one of Rita Hayworth’s most famous movies. I love watching it, despite the fact that I dislike the whole “stay in your place and don’t try to be special” message. What makes it great are the amazing fashions and colours, and the wonderful Eve Arden!

There’s a definite style to the cover girl fashions, lots of sharp suits and spectacular hats in saturated colours, and I’ve been very inspired by the look lately.

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Äktenskapsleken is a Swedish movie from 1935. It stars Zarah Leander as a (gorgeous!) sculptor and serial divorcee, who tries to save her current marriage by letting her sculptor husband win a sculpture competition.

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In my quest to watch more old Swedish movies I recently watched Hennes lilla majestät (Her Little Majesty) from 1939. It’s a romantic comedy starring Anders Henrikson and a wonderful Sonja Wigert.

Sonja Wigert is Miss Hauge, a rich and spoiled Norwegian party girl whose car crashes on her way to a Stockholm wedding, and she’s stuck with a broken car and a sprained foot in a country vicarage. Although they initially don’t like each other, the priest and Miss Hauge eventually fall in love, and things happen.

It’s not the best movie ever but it’s pretty cute and Sonja Wigert’s character Miss Hauge is the highlight of the movie. She also has a terrific wardrobe, which you will see in my screencaps!

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