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Michael Raso of RetroSeduction Cinema has contacted me with the sad news that writer-director Joseph W. Sarno passed away this evening at his home in Manhattan after a short illness. He was 89. Sarno toiled in the sexploitation industry, but I dislike referring to him as a sexploitation or even an exploitation director, though his films were certainly sold this way.

Presenting to you, this weekend, from pcottraux and rzenjikj at stout: From “King Kong” (1933) By Pcottraux (a.k.a Philip) A publicity still from “King Kong.” “King Kong” is one of my personal favorite movies, and unquestionably one of the greatest American films. It was a pioneering breakthrough in film special effects technology, as well as one of the most technically influential movies ever made. “Aliens” and “Jurassic Park” are its grandchildren.However, since its original premiere in 1933, the movie itself has taken many forms. Five years after its release, “Kong” began to fall under the scissors of the editors. For...

LOS ANGELES, July 15 — Miramax Films will take the unusual and potentially risky move of releasing "Kill Bill," the much-anticipated Quentin Tarantino martial arts action-adventure film, as two movies, the first to open in the fall. Miramax will in effect be taking a three-hour film with a 200-page script and turning it into a serial. Harvey Weinstein, a co-founder of Miramax, which is financing the film, said in an interview on Monday that the first installment would be in theaters on Oct. 10. The second release date is in still being negotiated, but it could be two to six...