Apocalypse Now: The Kickstarter for a game based on the classic Vietnam war film.

As I've grown older (but not necessarily wiser) there are a number of laws that I've come to realise which apparently we all must obey without exception. One such law is to complain heartily that the kids of today have it much easier than we did back in the day blah blah blah; another law is that at we seemingly now are not allowed to eat a meal until a picture is taken of it and posted on Facebook (next to ones collection of kitten and puppy pictures). 

Perhaps the daddy of all laws is the absolute necessity when one talks about a movie, such as Apocalypse Now (1979) that you have without fail to repeat the film's seminal quote "I love the smell of Napalm in the morning". Not only do you have to say this line as if it is the first time that it has ever been said, but you have to do it in the pose of Lieutenant Colonel Bill Kilgore. You then have to ( I mean HAVE TO) hum a few bars of Wagner's 'Ride of the Valkyries' whilst the person you are doing it to smiles knowingly and adds their rendition of 'The End' by the Doors to compliment the exchange. It is the law.

It says something that this seminal war movie has now transgressed the confines of movie aficionado's into the wider public consciousness, particularly when it had a relatively lukewarm initial reception on it's release in terms of public and critical acclaim. I will readily claim that I was one of the chosen ones to fall in love with it on it's theatrical release (that's another law by the way, to claim one was there from the very beginning - see also Shawshank Redemption/Blade Runner/Brazil et al to make such bold claims).

But honest, Guv - I was really there in 1979 (I was underage and sneaked in) and by god it was so fine. 

The plot, well even if you haven't sat through all of its psychological madness, is still familiar as we travel during the Vietnam War with Captain Willard (played by the majestic Martin Sheen) who has been given the assignment to hunt down and kill one of his own: Colonel Kurtz, played by Marlon Brando). 

It seems that Kurtz and his merry band of men have holed themselves up deep in the jungle to undertake some serious murder and pillaging. Robin Hood he is not.

The journey that Willard and his men take is a surreal, violent and increasingly insane trip as they encounter military lunacy, surfing and Playboy Bunnies. The greatest war film ever? Er, yes.

So you can imagine my delight when I learnt a few days ago that the film was finally going to get its own video game adaption?! Not only that but it comes not only with the participation of some seriously big hitters in the gaming industry, it also comes with the full blessing and participation of the man who made the film, legendary director Francis Ford Coppola. 

Indeed, the man himself said very recently; 

'Forty years ago, I set out to make a personal art picture that could hopefully influence generations of viewers for years to come. 

'Today, I'm joined by new daredevils, a team who want to make an interactive version of 'Apocalypse Now', where you are Captain Benjamin Willard amidst the harsh backdrop of the Vietnam War,' Coppola said.

There are three essential things that any self-respecting crowdfunding campaign needs to have to stand any chance of success; Firstly a great idea; secondly, some big-hitting individuals complete with talent and ambition. Finally they need a campaign full of tasty backer reward morsels that would entice all ranges of interest. I think it's fair to day that this campaign may just have that........ in spades.

THE IDEA

The combination of perhaps (no, definitely) the greatest ever war film and a video game adaptation is enticing enough. Let me me give you the idea in the words of the makers......

"Apocalypse Now is a first-person RPG with survival and psychological horror elements.

You will explore the jungles and rivers of Vietnam in first person perspective.  

You join a crew of “rock and rollers with one foot in their grave”.

It’s like Fallout: New Vegas on acid in the middle of the Vietnam War.

Your ultimate mission is to assassinate Colonel Kurtz, a rogue American officer who is accused of forming a private army and operating "totally beyond the pale of any acceptable human conduct.”

Combat is often your last resort; the wise soldier will avoid the ever-looming enemy at all costs.

Maintaining resources and relationships is key to your survival and your success.

You will play Captain Willard.

And you have a mission, but between receiving your mission in the hotel room and meeting Colonel Kurtz, how you journey upriver on PBR Streetgang is up to you."

Yep, nailed it.

THE SQUAD

The creative team behind the game sound like a who's who of film and gaming talent. For a start you have Coppola, the writing and directing genius behind The Godfather series, The Conversation, Bram Stoker's Dracula...... to name but a few cinematic delicacies.

You then add a number of key team members of titles such as Lawrence Liberty (Fallout), Rob Auten (Gears of War, Battlefield), Montgomery Markland (Wasteland 2). The team claim that a  'AAA game developers, motion picture professionals and Interactive creatives are coming together to create a truly unique experience.'

Yep, nailed it.

THE REWARDS

The team's funding goal of $900,000 is ambitious to say the least, but already they have reached (at the time of writing) the sum of $92,125 with still 28 days to go. In order to maintain creative freedom and produce a daring and intense game about the horrors of war, the project is being financed outside the traditional publishing system. They need the support of backers like you to make this psychedelic vision a reality.

The KICKSTARTER page has a range of quite frankly stunning rewards that would meet the approval of anyone who wishes to contribute pledges starting from $10 (no reward) right up to the daddy pledge of $10,000 (I think you almost get the planet for that).  Check out the funding page to see for yourself.

Yep, nailed it again. Lets do this.

The Kickstarter page for the Apocalypse Now Game can be found RIGHT HERE. 

The Facebook page for the project can be found RIGHT HERE.

The Apocalypse Now Game Website an be found here at https://apocalypsenow.com

This article can also be found via the 5D website www.5d-blog.com. There you can find a veritable feast of blog articles, news items, pictures and and other mouth-watering salutations to the gods of the geeks and the nerds. We have now inherited the earth, you know.

There is also a newly launched forum on the website designed for ANYONE involved or interested in the Independent film industry related to genres of Sci-Fi, fantasy and horror. Feel free to register and contribute - Everyone is welcome!

In addition the 5D website now has PayPal Donate button. Any donations kindly made will be fed directly back to help with a podcast materials, competition prizes and other general costs etc. If you wish to contribute to the exciting growth of the website & blog then we here at 5D headquarters would be eternally grateful. If you would like your contribution to be acknowledged publicly then simply send a message via the website’s contact section and we’ll send you some love!

If all that was enough to entice to 5D land, should any of you fine people out there wish to advertise on the 5D website then have a look at the offer below.

Star Trek Graphic Novel series

There's a certain something about the Graphic Novel that comes with it it's own very distinctive feel that other mediums simply cannot match. I know that may sound obvious and even a little simplistic, but you should know by now that's just how my mind often works. What I'm trying to get at is the ability of the graphic novel to take a familiar subject and transform it into a powerful medium all of its very own. All the while retaining the comfortable familiarity of it's more familiar version to the masses, usually TV or movies.

For me it doesn't really matter what comes first, the Graphic Novel or the TV series. The thing is, I don't tend myself to get that precious about how the written word will fare under TV or film adaptation. There are some within the Scifi, horror & fantasy community who feel a strong degree of 'ownership' of literary material that to a unknowing third party would seem that it was actually them who had written it in the first place. Don't get me wrong, I can certainly understand the feeling of 'ownership'. But I don't agree with it.

To be honest, I sincerely believe that different mediums are entitled to treat the source material in any way they want. Reading a book is an entirely different experience from watching the same thing on screen, which is as it should be. I could never understand the controversy amongst fans (and I am a big time fan) about the adaptations of The Lord of the Rings, The Hobbit and Game of Thrones, to name but three.

If you love the books then simply don't give a flying fig about an adaptation that deviates from the source material. Honestly, who cares? The original source material will always be there to be cherished. And do you know something else? (I'm saying this quietly now), but sometimes those changes can work.......cough....Haldir's Elves at The Battle of Helms Deep....cough!.......really works in the movie...........cough.

A case in point is that of The Walking Dead. I discovered the Graphic Novels a couple of years after they first appeared back in the dim and distant days of 2003. Yes, yes I know......once again I was quite ineptly behind the times. It certainly wasn't the first or last time. To be precise it was the summer of 2006 in which I first discovered the stunning artwork and storytelling that depicted a world where an unknown apocalyptic event has transformed the majority of the human population into slobbering, rotting flesh-eating zombies (In other words, Sheffield on a Saturday night).

A few years later (2010 to be once again precise) I learnt that the story was going to be adapted for TV, much to the suspicion and jealousy of some of my fellow Walking dead aficionados. I must admit that for a time I too shared their disquiet, though maybe not quite for the same reasons. I had read for months before the show aired many comments of fans worried in regard to such things as the authenticity of the story being lost and the potential of a glossy and insipid watering down of the gore for TV. There were indeed a plethora of other Graphic Novel fan concerns. 

I did try to dislike the TV series, I really did. Even when I heard that the mercurial Frank Darabont was going to be initially at the helm I had decided beforehand that I simply didn't want to be part of of what I saw as the inevitable watering down in the mainstreaming and mass-popularity that would take place. I can remember on that night in 2010 when I sat in front of my television to watch the 1st episode, arms crossed and a fixed facial expression that signified that I wasn't going to enjoy myself, no matter what.

Well five seasons later, that has somewhat changed, Actually, if truth be told it changed about 3 or 4 minutes into that first episode. Yes, the show deviated almost immediately from the comic source material, and in probably in far too many ways that irked many fellow comic fans. In fact there are far too many examples of how the show has changed the original concept and storyline to mention them all here. So I won't.

Is a TV series better then the comic? Is it important that specific narratives and characters are changed, embellished or even removed? Well to be honest I couldn't really care less. The simple fact is that the Graphic Novels should be treated as entirely different mediums - who cares how they differ? I don't. I say just enjoy them for what they are - they are perhaps the most effective and powerful medium of story telling that there is.

So you can imagine by personal geeky delight when the I learnt of the recent release celebrating 50 Years of Classic Star Trek Graphic Novels - oh deep joy!

There are a few people that know me reasonably well (sorry to those of you that includes, I can never stop apologising) who are more than familiar with my Star Trek obsessions, specifically the 2nd in the original movie franchise series Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan

The genius that underpinned Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan was initially two-fold. Firstly it immediately tapped into the nostalgic obsession of the TV series by using the inspiration of the story from a 1967 episode, 'Space Seed' in which Kirk and the Enterprise crew had battled with the genetically modified group of humans and their charismatic leader, Khan. The film sees the fight re-engaged when Khan and his group escape from their 15 year banishment to what had become an inhospitable planet. At the start of proceedings we encounter a recently promoted Admiral Kirk who rather than boldly going etc etc is more concerned with his ever-growing age, failing eyesight and boredom. Kirk's fate however is soon intertwined with Khan, obsessed with taking his revenge together with control of the Genesis device, a secret Starfleet technology than can render life from lifeless planets. The second stroke of genius was the inclusion of the death towards the end of the film of perhaps Star Trek's most iconic character....

Oh bugger, spoiler alert......... too soon?

For the very first time ever, half a century of Star Trek comics have been collected together in a single delicious series. I don't know about you, but a collection that spans 50 years and includes many of the seminal moments in Star Trek lore is mouth-watering to say the very least. Do we really want or need the chance to revisit all the classic characters and incredible art from the STAR TREK comic archives? The chance to experience every edition with a specially-commissioned introduction to provide context to the story? The chance to see a number of collected comics and a bonus reprint of one of the comic archive’s classic stories?

Oh yes we bloody well do!

So excited are we here at 5D headquarters about this release that it is our intention to produce regular features and reviews about a number of the publications - especially in regard to some of the promised 'lost tales and characters'. For example there is the inclusion of the legendary Harlan Ellison's original version of the all time classic episode and frequent headliner of Trek 'best of' lists - City on the edge of forever. In fact the next edition features that very release so it feels particularly fitting that this will mark the first of the blog reviews.

If all that wasn't enough there is the long overdue inclusion of long lost characters such as the Vulcan Xon, who was created by a certain Mr G Roddenberry, plus Arex and M'Ress from the classic animated series. In addition the collection features a veritable star-studded cast of Trek TV writers such as David Gerrold (who created the Tribbles), Robert Orci and Alex Kurtzman (who wrote the re-imagined Star Trek & Star Trek Into Darkeness films) as well as other TV/movie writers including Brannon Braga and D.C Fontana.

Strap yourselves in people, this is going to be a helluva ride!

This article can also be found via the 5D website www.5d-blog.com. There you can find a veritable feast of blog articles, news items, pictures and and other mouth-watering salutations to the gods of the geeks and the nerds. We have now inherited the earth, you know.

There is also a newly launched forum on the website designed for ANYONE involved or interested in the Independent film industry related to genres of Sci-Fi, fantasy and horror. Feel free to register and contribute - Everyone is welcome!

In addition the 5D website now has PayPal Donate button. Any donations kindly made will be fed directly back to help with a podcast materials, competition prizes and other general costs etc. If you wish to contribute to the exciting growth of the website & blog then we here at 5D headquarters would be eternally grateful. If you would like your contribution to be acknowledged publicly then simply send a message via the website’s contact section and we’ll send you some love!

If all that was enough to entice to 5D land, should any of you fine people out there wish to advertise on the 5D website then have a look at the offer below.

Award-winning creature feature HUNTING GROUNDS for a Feb 7 release. (Uncork’d Entertainment) - includes review.

Thanks to the trust and kindness of various filmmakers I am often in the lucky position of having an early access to view their work. The chance to do so usually comes with any number of veiled threats - often including ritual disembowelment with a rusty Pizza cutter from the roof of the highest building in the city if I was to share their work before the actual release. I suppose that's fair enough, thankfully I'm an honest kind of soul so it hasn't yet had to come to that.

This article is a case in point (the early viewing, not the ritual disembowelment with a rusty Pizza cutter) with the piece actually dating back to March 2015. Writer and director, John Portanova had let me have a sneaky preview of his new Sasquatch feature well before it was due for release - which was nice for two reasons. Firstly that even though i'm something of a real-life bigfoot cynic, I'm a sucker for a decent Sasquatch movie, I really am. Secondly, because the film also boasts an appearance from a friend of mine (no, he really is - you can ask him!), horror icon Bill Oberst Jr.

The film in question was originally titled Valley of the Sasquatch and it's basically a thrilling Bigfoot romp with a host of genuine chills. In September 2016 it was announced that U.S. distribution for the film will come from Uncork’d Entertainment and the film’s title will be changed to Hunting Grounds. It should be noted though that the film will retain its original title and poster art  in foreign territories. 

A couple of days ago I received this email from Uncork'd stating the following;

"Uncork’d Entertainment has set award-winning creature feature HUNTING GROUNDS for a Feb 7 release.

Winner Best Sci-Fi Horror Film at the Toronto Independent Film Festival 2015, writer-director John Portanova’s acclaimed film sees a fractured family forced to go up against an angry clan of Bigfoot.

Festival audiences and horror critics have gone crazy for the story of a father and son, forced to move to an old cabin in the woods after a devastating tragedy, who unearth a tribe of Sasquatch.

Written and directed by John Portanova and produced by horror label The October People, Hunting Grounds stars Miles Joris-Peyrafitte, Jason Vail, David Saucedo, D'Angelo Midili, and Emmy winner Bill Oberst Jr (Criminal Minds).

HUNTING GROUNDS available On Demand from Feb 7."

So in order to celebrate this upcoming release I thought it would be fitting to reproduce the original review, with a couple of adjustments; Firstly correcting the inevitable spelling and grammar mistakes; secondly, having changed the title of the film to reflect it's U.S distribution. 

So here you are with the 5D review of the wonderful 'Hunting Grounds'.

"After losing their home following a devastating tragedy, a father and son are forced to move to an old family cabin. Neither reacts well to being thrown into this new world. The son's attempts to relate to his father are complicated when two old friends arrive for a weekend of hunting. 

This trip into the forest will unearth not only buried feelings of guilt and betrayal, but also a tribe of Sasquatch that are determined to protect their land."

Well slap me in the face with a wet fish and call me Josephine. In the 2 1/2 years that I've been scribbling my self-indulgent ramblings here on this blog I had never actually written a piece on a Bigfoot type creature. That is, until this past week when two films about that very chap came along in quick succession. The first of them was the Australian version of the mythical creature, The Yowie, which featured in my previous blog article but one for the review of the marvellous Throwback (2015) which has recently found its way into DVD & Bluray here in the UK.

A few days after posting the Throwback piece I received a messaged from a familiar name to 5D readers (well, reader), that of John Portanova. Though if indeed this is actually the first ever blog article that you've read from me then just where the hell have you been??!!??!! Having said that, it's not too late to run away now, you know. I won't think any less of you. In any case, if you haven't read any of my quite remarkable scribblings you probably aren't aware of the two previous films that I've championed from John and the other main players in the Seattle-based production company, The October People. Both The Invoking and The Device were both excellent examples of complex characterisation plus an intelligently patient narrative - the former being a tale of supernatural terror, the second, a story of Alien abduction.

The message that I received from John saw him reaching out because his new film "Hunting Grounds", starring Jason Vail and Bill Oberst Jr, (another old friend of the 5D.....whether he likes it or not!) recently had its world premiere at the Nevermore Film Festival. In addition to that, the next screening is at the Crimson Screen Horror Film Festival in May. 

Now, not only was this Johns very first film as director, he was producer on The Invoking & The Device, but I know for a fact that he is also something of a Sasquatch obsessive so consequently the subject matter of the film is very close to his heart. If you add to that mix the inclusion of the fabulous Bill Oberst Jr. as part of an excellent cast (more of which later) then what option did I actually have but to accept? If all that wasn't enough, Johns cunning ploy of using the words  "I've enjoyed the writing you've done on previous films I've been involved with, so I would love to read your opinions on Sasquatch" at the beginning of his request, well.........Sneaky bastard - he knows I'm a pushover with flattery.

However, what John may not know is that while I may be something of a sucker (steady on) for a good old 'lost mythical monster who attacks overconfident vulnerable lost souls in the land that time forgot' type of adventure story genre - and if it's not a proper genre description, well it blooming well should be. 

The famous Roger Patterson footage

However, if truth be told, there isn't one solitary molecule within my physical make-up that actually believes in the reality of such creatures. That non-belief may seem something of a controversial statement to make to some people I've met through writing this blog........cough......, sorry, John.....cough......because there are many otherwise normal people out there that genuinely believe in this stuff. And who is to say that I'm right? Because judging from the seemingly endless books one online sources of sightings and statements, I may be outnumbered in my beliefs.

The fact is that I simply do not believe in Bigfoot/Sasquatch, the Yeti. Yowie or indeed anything of the like. Nor do I believe that we've already been visited by extra-terrestrials or intrepid time travellers. However, I do love stories about such things, especially well made and thoughtful stories. And so here I am.

Once again, The October People don't disappoint. For a start we have their now trademark appreciation of measured character development and respectful treatment of the subject matter. To begin with there is the nicely intelligent story of complex and fraught relationship between father and son.  As the father, Roger (Jason Vail) confidently conveys the feelings of a man who has not only seen his wife's life end but also is witnessing his own existence wither away into unfulfilled regret. His son, Michael played by Miles Joris-Peyraffitte provides a nice performance as the boy who sees his opportunities of an academic future being replaced by the prospect of experiencing the same banal existence of his father. 

In fact, such is the authenticity of their relationship, it somewhat reminded me of my own experiences with my father. Well, except for the moving to an old Cabin in the woods and being attacked by a tribe of Sasquatch, that is.

Once the pair have relocated to the dilapidated cabin in the woods we are introduced to the bullying and slightly unhinged friend Sergio (excellently played by David Saucedo). Added to the group of misfits is Will, Rogers' more successful brother who is played by the excellent D’Angelo Midili (The stellar performance from The Invoking). If that wasn't enough there are an inspirational couple of sub-plots featuring Bill Oberst Jr. as Bauman who experiences his own particular brand of excruciating encounters with the Sasquatch tribe and you have a veritable gluttony of textured characterisation. 

I really don't want to become overly sycophantic but Bill Oberst Jr's performance alone is pretty much worth the cost of seeing this film. It's been my pleasure to get to know ever so slightly this man who throws himself so much into a part that he often has little recollection of the experience. His role as Bauman is a tour de force.

Bill perfecting his best Sasquatch killing look.

So, the plan for our little group of social misfits is for them to go on a nice relaxing venture into the wilds for a weekend of hunting and drinking. What could possibly go wrong? Well, erm, plenty as it turns out. Because don't worry, you adrenaline horror freaks, proceedings get more than a little exciting in the third act as the plot quickly moves into a by the seat of your pants  'Assault in Precinct 13 with Sasquatch' scenario.

Hunting Grounds is the respectful and sympathetic treatment of Bigfoot-lore. This may seem strange thing to say coming from a confirmed Bigfoot cynic such as myself but that having my philosophy shouldn't mean that you don't treat the subject matter in a proper and respectful way. This considered approach in the film shouldn't really come as any surprise given the fact that John Poronova is a confirmed cryptozoologist and his inherent Sasquatch passions as such could have resulted in a story that lacked the required menace and horror in an effort to provide a level of authenticity. Thankfully, the horror comes at an extremely satisfying level.  I don't regard myself in any way an expert in Saquatch history, but if any of the stories told as conversation pieces in the film have any basis in history then I may have to do some further research of my own. 

Night time is the best time to catch the Sasquatch

What Portonova does do is to nicely provide the creature(s) with a more sophisticated mode of behaviour and doesn't just portray some one-dimensional blood-thirsty monster in the woods psychopath which some films of this nature have done. It's nice to see someone with a genuine appreciation (some may say obsession, eh John?) of a subject dear to their heart. 

The result in this movie is to provide overall an authentic and eerie Bigfoot. There is no convoluted CGI here so yes while we do have a man-in-a-suit the lighting & filming provide for the most part a convincing monster. I say 'for the most part' because there are a couple of occasions where the Sasquatch effect is less than convincing, but not enough to detract overall.

The only other negative gripe I would have is that  D'Angelo Midili's character seemed somewhat underused. Midili is his usual excellent self but the part itself seems slightly underwritten to my eyes. Once again however, but a small negative.

What we have with Hunting Grounds is clearly something of a labour of love for its maker. Contained within are more than enough thrills, chills and blood all wrapped up in an intelligent narrative. The acting is of a good standard, the story feels fresh and original whilst the action set pieces are simply terrific. I swear that the final hold-out in the cabin will have even the most hardened Sasquatch cynic on the edge of their seat!

More information on the company that is The October People can be found at www.theoctoberpeople.net

The Facebook page for Hunting Grounds can be found RIGHT HERE

This article can also be found via the 5D website www.5d-blog.com. There you can find a veritable feast of blog articles, news items, pictures and and other mouth-watering salutations to the gods of the geeks and the nerds. We have now inherited the earth, you know.

There is also a newly launched forum on the website designed for ANYONE involved or interested in the Independent film industry related to genres of Sci-Fi, fantasy and horror. Feel free to register and contribute - Everyone is welcome!

In addition the 5D website now has PayPal Donate button. Any donations kindly made will be fed directly back to help with a podcast materials, competition prizes and other general costs etc. If you wish to contribute to the exciting growth of the website & blog then we here at 5D headquarters would be eternally grateful. If you would like your contribution to be acknowledged publicly then simply send a message via the website’s contact section and we’ll send you some love!

If all that was enough to entice to 5D land, should any of you fine people out there wish to advertise or offer swag as 5D competition prizes on the 5D website then contact us now!

Baby you can drive my car - The 5D Top 5 Dream Cars.

I haven't been well recently, not well at all. In fact you could say that I've been as sick as the proverbial dog - I know, what an attractive image that image produces. Now before the Internet goes into a terminal spin with the knowledge that I've been sick and so resulting in countless (well maybe just a couple) women plus fellow pop culture geeks going into an emotional breakdown at the thought of no more from the 5D Universe, let me put your mind at rest. It was just a cold, mixed with a little minx of a stomach bug which laid me up in bed for a number of days with just my wandering feverish thoughts for company. 

I know what you're thinking - Just what the hell is important about this? Why should we care? Why can't you just get to the point of this article? Why don't you stop bothering us and stop blogging? ....... I completely understand, all fair comments, In fact all too regular comments about me if truth be told. However in the time-honoured tradition of flying in the face of all criticism and abuse I will continue boldly on.

The point is that while I was in the 'death throes' of illness and feeling more than a little sorry for myself (because it's all about me, you know) I started thinking about a number of things: Would the Doctor Who Christmas special be any good? Would Rogue One be better than A Force Awakens? Would The Walking Dead mid-season finale make me cry? Would Santa reward my begging letters? - As it turned out, the answer for all those questions was a resounding yes. 

There was also something else that I began thinking about, though I'm not too sure where or why the thought began, or indeed why over the next day or two it became something of an uncontrollable 'ear worm' to the extent that it soon became an obsession. The thing is, in my life I have certain irrational pet hates, you know, the type of things that shouldn't really annoy, but invariably do. The over-use and incorrect modern use of the word 'literally' is one thing that makes my blood boil for example. Another is the propensity at this time of year for all and sundry to produce their 'year best of' lists........you know, 'My favourite 10 pictures of food that I took in 2016' etc etc etc. God save me. 

However, in my pit of despairing illness it soon dawned on me that I too had fallen into the 'best of lists' trap, the details of which I'll talk about shortly. Earlier that morning I had decided that once I had escaped from the jaws of sickness and impending death I would get way for a few days and go on a road trip around god's own country of Scotland. The slight problem with that proposal was that my car is 'incapacitated' in the local garage over the Christmas period, in other words, I am without transport. 

In my fevered brain I started looking at websites  - I would rent one, dammit. The first site I came across, Turo had a very bold claim that they would have the very car I needed and one that I could afford. After perusing their rentals site at https://turo.com/rentals I thoughts they may be onto something. After looking at this car, The Aviato, I KNEW I was onto something - if you don't believe me then check out the baby at https://turo.com/aviato. Hmmm, I've just realised that I have just gone and provided Turo with a tidy amount of free publicity - well, I suppose that it's Christmas and all that so a modicum of good will to all etc etc should be displayed........... Don't worry, people - my god cheer won't last too far into 2017 so it will hopefully be a swift return to my selfish and self-absorbed self.

I soon realised that leaving on a road trip was going to be unrealistic just now, and so I started to ponder if given the chance to choose and car/vehicle from Sci-fi, fantasy & horror culture just what would I choose? And so we return (eventually) to my list, or to be specific;

THE 5D TOP 5 DREAM 'CARS'

As you may have noted, the word cars in the title is something of a loose term as you will see.....

5) The Ford Club Wagon from The Texas chainsaw Massacre (1974) 

Those of you who me reasonable well will know that this film is my favourite ever film..... ever, ever, ever.

I'm not going to give anything near a detailed synopsis of the plot as any self respecting horror devotee will be at least familiar with the rudimentary elements - the other two people in the world can watch it for themselves. However, to basically sum it up...

Ever so loosely based on the true crimes of Ed Gein, The Texas Chainsaw Massacre tells the story of five teenage friends who are travelling across the state in their battered Ford Club Wagon. Their intention is to pay a visit to their grandfather's grave after stories of vandalism and desecration have reached them. However 'the best laid plans' and all that...... because as they travel cross-country to the homestead they chance upon an old run-down property. Here, they are hunted and terrorised by a chain-saw wielding murderer and his not so lovable family of grave-robbing cannibals.

Perhaps this film as much as any in horror history suggests that friends who travel together across desolate parts of the States in any sort of van are simply on a one way journey to Slasherville. The early scenes of the film featuring the travelling group perfectly sets the tone for the upcoming kill-fest, particularly empathising the already fractured relationships of the group. The fact that the confined filming in the van took place in an intense sticky Texas heat was bad enough. If you add the fact that Paul Partain, who portrayed the wheelchair-bound Franklin, and co-actor Marilyn Burns didn’t get on it resulted in a good deal of genuine argument and resentment.

Ahh, the genius of director Tobe Hooper, soul sapping heat, claustropobic filming conditions and arguing actors....... the van scenes perfectly set up the horrors to come. So while the Ford Club Wagon in my mind will always equate to the mass murder of teenage travellers - I want one.

4) The Star Wars Landspeeder

For those of us that experienced the first wave of the force back in 1977/78, we were quite simply blessed to be part of the whole insane adventure. Prior to the arrival of Messrs Skywalker, Solo, Vader et al, the science fiction scene in the 1970's was dire. Star Trek was nothing but a distant memory and the genre was wallowing in memories of well meaning (and some not so well meaning) B-movies. 

Yes we had Doctor Who on TV (thank god), but every other attempt at producing good science fiction television was either good but short-lived (Planet of The Apes) or just plain rubbish (most everything else). The injection that George Lucas provided to sci-fi was seismic in proportions and arguably the greatest revolution in cinematic history that can still be felt in the genre today.

To those that weren't around in those heady days it is difficult to explain just how exciting and new the Star Wars universe was. It was everywhere; in film, literature, merchandising, music. In fact there wasn't one facet of popular culture that wasn't affected during those mad early years which evolved into living through the release of three truly iconic films.  

All my friends wanted a Lightsabre, a stormtrooper helmet or a blaster..... Me, I wanted a Landspeeder.

Oh I wanted one so much! I truly wanted this car-like transportation which hovered a little over ground level whilst travelling as fast as an F1 car. Of course people tried to ruin my dreams by stating that the Landspeeder wasn't actually real, that the production crew disguised the wheels to create the illusion that the speeder was hovering.

Nonsense. It was real. I still want one.

3) Christine

When the master, John Carpenter brought Stephen king's story of a demonically possessed car to the big screen in 1983, the star of the book immediately became the star of the film.

Quite simply, the 1958 Plymouth Fury is a vehicle of genuine beauty. The car itself was a genuine classic of its time with only 5,300 ever produced of the V-8 engine which produced 290 horsepower and came equipped with the legendary quad headlamps, tube grille and lollipop taillights. As you may gather, I adore this car.

The film is quite rightly regarded as one of Carpenters classics, skillfully achieving the one thing that he needed to do to make the film convincing - after all, this is a film about a possessed automobile and the audience had to be convinced, they had to be scared. From the initial scenes where we first see Christine on the production line, the single gleaming red car inn-amongst the sea of plain white versions, the pleasing aesthetics of the car are immediately established. It's not long after, thanks to the deaths of a couple of factory workers, that the violent malevolence of the car is also established.

The car is the star of the story. Christine looks beautiful but there's never a moment when the murderous menace isn't clearly lurking just below the surface. 

Around 20 separate cars were used in the making of the movie after Carpenter advertised throughout southern California for any models. It is true that not all of the cars used in the film were Furys (the Belvedere and Savoy models were also used), the Fury is the model that still reasonates. Of all the cars used in the making of the Christine, just two Furys still exist. I want one

2) 1973 XB GT Ford Falcon from Mad Max

Star Trek has the Enterprise; Star Wars has the Millennium Falcon; Back to the Future has the De Lorean.... the original Mad Max film has the Ford Falcon.

If there was anything that was going to upstage that young upstart Mel Gibson (and just whatever the heck ever happened to him after this film?) then it needed something with a monster charisma that could fill the screen. I think that it's safe to say that the car in this film just about did that..... in spades.

Director George Miller wanted a car that could match the revenge induced viciousness of Max, so they plumped for the 1973 XB GT Ford Falcon. They painted it midnight black (of course) and then gave it matt black stripes and finished it off with a roof spoiler. Well I say, 'finished it off', because the final touch was actually the quintessential element - the supercharger. This addition was intentionally set up so ridiculously high off the intake that it became a nonfunctional item. - but who cares, because it sounded and looked stunning.

I want one.

1) The Time Machine 

This masterpiece was made in 1960 and directed by the excellent George Pal, who had not only already directed the first H.G Wells adaptation of The War of the Worlds, but was also responsible for a notable body of work with perhaps most famously, the wonderful When Worlds Collide.

The magnificent Rod Taylor plays George Wells (see what they did there?), who has asked one friends to attend his dinner party. However, George isn't yet present so, in accordance with his prior wishes, they begin without him. Not before long, a clearly stressed and exhausted George stumbles into the dining room and so begins to recount a quite remarkable tale of time travel and adventure. 

However, for myself and many others,  the real star of the film is the time machine itself. It is a thing of genuine beauty. MGM art director Bill Ferrari created the Machine, a sled-like design with a big, rotating vertical wheel behind the red plush seat, together with with a plethora of knobs and levers that is a attention to a detailers wet dream. It is a movie prop that has become an integral part of the wider entertainment history. Even those few that may never have seen the whole of this wonderful movie will recognise the truly beautiful design of the machine and from which film it comes from. It is a contraption that quite simply screams out Victorian Steampunk charm. 

If anyone was to give me a full size, half size or even mini-sized Time machine copy, I would love them forever. I want one.

This article can also be found via the 5D website www.5d-blog.com. There you can find a veritable feast of blog articles, news items, pictures and and other mouth-watering salutations to the gods of the geeks and the nerds. We have now inherited the earth, you know.

There is also a newly launched forum on the website designed for ANYONE involved or interested in the Independent film industry related to genres of Sci-Fi, fantasy and horror. Feel free to register and contribute - Everyone is welcome!

In addition the 5D website now has PayPal Donate button. Any donations kindly made will be fed directly back to help with a podcast materials, competition prizes and other general costs etc. If you wish to contribute to the exciting growth of the website & blog then we here at 5D headquarters would be eternally grateful. If you would like your contribution to be acknowledged publicly then simply send a message via the website’s contact section and we’ll send you some love!

If all that was enough to entice to 5D land, should any of you fine people out there wish to advertise on the 5D website then have a look at the offer below.