18:56 - I like how James just finished telling us his crazy movie idea adapting It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World about Universal monsters - including Norman Bates - on a far flung treasure hunt which takes them onto a boat that gets attacked by Jaws, but tells Mike that replacing the Stooges with Dracula's mistresses was "stretching it".
Honestly I went into "Dracula Untold" expecting it to be pretty bad but I kept waiting for THAT moment where the film gets truly bad and it never happened. It wasn't great but it was entertaining and was a pretty unique take on Dracula.
could not agree more, as a classic horror fan i went in with very low expectations but came out pleasantly surprised. i like how they linked the vlad the impaler historical events, which somewhat inspired the character of dracula, to the legendary myths
The fact that there are people out there that even care about these films is making me so happy I could cry. Thank you James and Mike for helping to keep the memory of these treasures alive, I don't feel as alone anymore in this!
I feel pretty badly for the cast, director and especially legendary makeup artist Rick Baker because the studio came in and insisted on taking out most of the real effects and replacing them with terrible CGI. The late 2000s and early 2010s ruined so many otherwise great movies with sh^tty CGI. Had the studio not interfered so much, the movie would've been a hit.
It's a Mad Mad Mad Mad Mad Mad World with Universal Monsters would be absolutely amazing. I can't decide whether it would have a 30s or 60s feel though.
How do you even bring something like the universal monsters into the modern age? The films couldn't possible be scary, and you wouldn't want them to be comedies or play them up as thrillers and then cap off the narrative with a lumbering mummy. I know classic and B movie film fans want them just to want them, but they'd probably be better served to stay in the past as classics. The only one I'd like to see is a Stokeresque Dracula film, although that's because it's bringing a lot more to the table than just a costume.
+PlagueOfGripes don't know, they could do something more like 30 days of night, but with a more regal lead vampire that would be dracula. the wolfman could cross the best parts of a slasher film with the unrelenting feel of the terminator, and even Ginger snaps was a good take on werewolves. frankinstien and the mummy could be harder, but with 'the monster' it could be done, have the doctor and assistant killing people for parts, and the later half maybe a body horror film where the brain is aware of who they were and what they became.
+PlagueOfGripes I think they could make a decent Creature from the Black Lagoon reboot. Enough people are afraid of large bodies of water and what could be underwater that they could play that fear up. They did well enough with the Benico Del Toro Wolfman that the viability of classic monster reboots aren't entirely out of the question.
+PlagueOfGripes Agreed. Most of these movies are well known to movie viewers in one way or another. There isn't a whole lot of new grounds they can tread with them.
James' ideas sound like something you'd have seen in a cartoon in the 80's. I can just hear the announcer saying "THE UNIVERSAL MONSTERS! WOLFMAN! FRANKENSTEIN! DRACULA! AND THE MUMMY!"
+Animation King#1 They haven't ended them, these discussions are part of monster madness. James has said several times in the past that he loves monster madness almost as much as he loves doing the Nerd videos, they just take a huge time dedication to produce. I think with James having a baby and everything he's just decided to go this unscripted route on a lot of videos this year to cut down on the editing process.
+Animation King#1 He's been reviewing some heavy weight titles on the site. Monster Madness is not over till the end of the month. Blu-ray/DVD sounds good but they should wait till after the 10th Monster Madness is over next year and release the collection right before the 11th season starts.
+Zombiefly Agreed. Personally I am a fan of the more scripted videos, but I'm just so happy that James keeps doing monster madness so I'll take what I can get :)
I respect the Universal Monster films. But Freddy Krueger, Jason Voorhees, Leather face, Chucky hell even leprechaun. In a way they are my "Universal" monsters. I grew up with those films, I honestly didn't discover Universal Monsters until the 5th grade. I know, Sad but true. Wolfman is my favorite Monster Btw. I liked the remake as well, mostly for the gore.
+George Latimer Dude, believe me. I've wanted that since I was a kid and yes, Warwick needs to come back and it'll take that horrible bad taste of 'Leprechaun Origins' out of my mouth. I still can't believe that fuck, Hornswoggle, had the nerve to talk shit about the original films and say their version is better.
"Benders right. Don't fuck with him," - +Animation King#1 Yeah, I'm being rude. Lol. Sorry for just asking a question. I'll remember to tell my professor today at school that it's all of a sudden rude to ask a question.
+Ben Covarrubias " I honestly didn't discover Universal Monsters until the 5th grade" How ol dwer eyou when you discovered Freddie, Jason, and the Leprechaun? 2?
+Harperlarp I lived at Mexico at the time. When I was around 6 is when my cousins showed me 'Childs play' and "Leprechaun" all the other ones I mentioned. There was no where I could find any universal monster films. Until I moved to California and my history teacher showed us 'Dracula' for Halloween and that's when I discovered the rest of them. I never knew about them until I went to California pretty much.
+BdR76 Then they get to it, open the box, and there's just a mirror, and the Creature just says "holy shit have we been in the remake the whole time?" Cut to black, play the wacky music from Clue.
Wizard of Oz with Universal Monsters sounds absolutely hilarious! I actually love these discussion videos, and I think it's awesome that James even wrote up all the cast and alternative plot.
I think The Mummy would be looking for the heart, because of his eternal love that was never realised (He'd explain it to the the kid and there'd be a flashback, like in the movie "The Mummy" (1932))...
The MacGuffin should be The Necronomicon: in case some of you don't know, is The Necronomicon a book of incredible dark/evil magic. It can do anything reviving a loved one, return you to a human, became immortal and so on...
+38cmd Of course the difference between twit light and the universal monsters is that, they don't emphasise the romance as much, and that its out weighed by the monsters being monsters.
+Elgato47914 Or they all get told something different, the thing they desire the most, but then it's a whole other thing, some of them get pissed and chase after the one who started the competition (a monster too, probably the smartest one).. oh and some of them should die on the way and the remaining ones go for revenge.. now I really want to watch this xD
I would love to see a horror movie that has the classic Universal Monsters crossover with the classic Slasher Villains. I know it's a mess of red tape but I still want to see it.
Man, i love hearing James talk about his ideas about how he would make a movie with all the monsters, he seems like a happy child explaining things to his friends.
Norman Bates is definitely a Universal character, I just went to Halloween Horror Nights at Universal Hollywood and they have a photo OP with him in front of the Psycho house...btw that was fucking awesome
I've got your McGuffin right here: The Philosopher's Stone! The beauty of the stone is (according to legend) you can use it for whatever you want. So maybe the Wolfman wants it to cure his Lycanthrope, or Frankenstein's Monster wants it to turn into a real man, Drac wants to use it with a spell to resurrect his favorite bride, etc. You're welcome! ;)
Maybe they all meet up at the start of the film and actually discuss their modern interpretations. Dracula looks at Coppola's film adaptation of him and complains about everything EXCEPT the three women in his castle and then sees twilight and really goes berserk giving us a more hardcore horror version of Hotel Transylvania''s 'this is how we're represented now' line. The other monsters have similar reactions to some of their adaptations and they all go to Hollywood to try and get better movies made.
A beautiful bride could be the Macguffin. Not just any bride though, a heavenly one; compassionate, understanding, maybe w bit of a monster herself but she'll love any one of her suitors; they just need to wake her. Seriously it fits. What does Frankenstein's creature want? A loving bride or companion. Mummy? Oh resurrect a dead princess and mummify her, (but still). Dracula? Well at least in the Coppola film which was good, he wanted his wife as well. The phantom? Ask Queen. :P (Somebody to Love) It makes perfect sense. :)
I used to think the old universal monster movies were stupid and cheesy but I sat through one then I saw monster madness and I decided to sit through the mummy with Boris Karloff and loved every minute so thank James for allowing me to find such great films through your videos
I'm 17 years old and you Know what I grow up on the classic universal monsters movies and their sequels and you know why? it was because James helped me with the horror history and I thank you.
The McGuffin should be some kind of "Monster Cure.' Think about it, the Wolf Man doesn't want to turn into a monster, Frankenstein's Monster doesn't want to be persecuted, being the immortal Dracula is more of a curse than anything else...it should be something that could transform them into normal men...
That Mad Mad Mad Mad World thing reminded me of a very similar Scooby Doo movie. In it Shaggy gets turned into a werewolf and Dracula is hosting a race and Shaggy has to compete to get the cure. It was similar to James's idea but not exact.
Mcguffin would be love or companionship. Every universal monster movie had that concept; all the monsters have a lonely wretched existence and there is usually a romantic element tied to that in each universal monster flick.
Dracula Untold doesn't seem like it was supposed to be canon with any of the "Real" Dracula movies, but Untold was actually pretty good as a standalone, except for the climax... I definitely enjoyed the movie as it was though
I'm only 18 and I have been watching the classic universal since I was 6 when my dad introduced me to Abbot and Costello meets Frankenstein and I have loved them ever since I have every classic on DVD or digital download
I was just at Halloween Horror Nights in Orlando and was so happy that the 25 Years of Terror House included the classic monsters. I was constantly explaining to my friends who everybody was because I was so excited.
I think the Wolfman (2010) is extremely underrated, and had it been released four months earlier on Halloween 2009 it would have performed much better. It really had great atmosphere, and was set up for a sequel at the end with Aberline being bitten. He could have starred in a sequel as the "Werewolf of London". Then the London setting could have been used to springboard Dracula, or the Invisible Man, etc.
Finally, Someone Says It! As Much As I Love Michael Myers And Freddy And Jason On AMC They Need To Show Some Of The Universal Classic Monsters More I Mean They're Either Shown At 1 In The Morning When Everyone's Asleep Or On TCM When Your Out Getting Groceries
I guess they're meant for people who want to stay up late enough to watch them (not to mention the inherently spooky atmosphere of watching a horror film in the early hours at night), or people who want to catch them at any time. It's a shame, they really should be shown when more people have the time to catch them.
Van Helsing is one of my favorite movies, and you made me feel bad for only having seen Phantom of the Opera and Frankenstein, but not since third grade (thank you, Mr. Steele, for showing those movies to the class).
I absolutely LOVE all the old Abbott and Costello meets... movies, those flicks and the Munsters were my gateway into classic horror movies. Great video, guys!!
I do love the Universal classic monsters, and every "reboot" past the original couple of cycles, outside of THE MONSTER SQUAD (if one could argue that was one), has been pretty bad. This idea, I've heard being thrown around, of making the monsters some sort of superhero team in a shared universe is something I hope they never go with. I don't want any more VAN HELSING or I, FRANKENSTEIN films, thanks. However, if they could find some good writers to property rip-off Alan Moore's (everyone does it, just ask him) THE LEAGUE OF EXTRAORDINARY GENTLEMEN, or better yet, The Wold Newton Universe, then we might have something to work with.
I like old movies, Buster Keaton is one of my favorite movie makers of all time , but I never watched any of the classic monster movies. Now you convinced me to watch those classics!
I'm still waiting Universal Monsters Vs. Slashers Vs. Creepypasta... I really like them a lot... OR BETTER!!! Imagine this battles, Who would win?? Frankenstein VS Jason Voorhees VS Slender Man The Mummy VS Pinhead Vs Zalgo That would be awesome!
As someone from the Future, the Mummy will bomb and Universal will put aside the idea of a shared universe to instead focus on making solid individual updated films. The Invisible man will be inspired by the original film, but will take things in a more modern direction. It will be a huge hit.
I'm actually extremely interested with what you said in a Monster Madness years ago with Fritz and Ygor. I've wanted to see a movie based around Ygor. You'd start out with Fritz getting caught and put to trial, and he gets hanged. The rest of the movie would be based off what Ygor does before Son, and it would end with his perspective with Ghost.
James' enthusiasm about his second modern Univeral monster's revival idea, that made me smile ear to ear, it took me back 20 years to when I was in middle school and my friends and I would come up with silly/cool ideas like that.
I don't think remakes would encourage people to watch the originals, usually they just overwrite the old film or even make people think the original is a rip off of the remake lol.
When I was younger and saw the Freddy Kruger, Jason, and Michale Myers movies I wanted to know what came before them. That lead me to discover the classic Universal Monsters and still to this day I love those movies. The Universal Classic Monsters are my favorites, I can't imagine another version of Frankenstein, Dracula, the Mummy, Creature From the Black Lagoon and Phantom of the Opera. Those movies are classic and timeless.
The Monster could be looking for a brain, the mummy could be looking for a scroll to revive his mummy princess, and the wolf man could be looking for a cure. The Mad Doctor of Oz!
Mike said at Universal Studios the Classic Monsters section was dead. If I recall there isn't a Classic Monsters section except for the cafe that is designed with the Classic Monsters. That is my favorite place to eat in the park too.
I was given a Book and Record in 1975 called "A story of Dracula, the Wolfman, and Frankenstein". It was a read along with the record narration comic book in the LP cover. I thought it was a great story that used 3 variations of the universal monsters. It would make a good jumping off point for an action oriented retelling. Neal Adams did the art for that book and he did the cover art for some of the marvel horror comic series talked about in this video.
I love the Universal Monster movies. They just have a special quality and uniqueness that a lot of other movies don’t have. Sure, they may be kind of cheesy and slow paced, but I still consider them among some of the greatest movies of all time.
3:05 In late may of this year I went to the monster part of the park and ate at the monster restaurant. It was part of our tour and they gave cool facts about the monster and the actors , they even showed was some real props (not the ones already on display). It was like looking at film's history, from JAWS and Jurassic Park to Frankenstein. I highly recommend that anyone who is a film buff take the tour and see the place , It was super cool. Before that watch all of the movies of course. The tour is cheap as hell and lasts for around 2 to 3 hours. It was the highlight of the park for me.
I like Mike, and I like his opinions. But he needs to let James talk a bit more. there's times where James wants to say something but Mikes been talking for 5 mins straight.
+Cinemassacre I don't think you really did though. If anything it was you who couldn't say much when James went on his 7 minute monster movie fantasy possibilities. Your expressions are priceless.
+FEaddict I agree, like twice James was about to say something but Mike just cut him off and made his own story about what James was about to say. I like Mike 'n all but that always feels so rude.
AMC and TCM got me through a period where I was banned from the internet because I was able to record all the classic Universal and Hammer movies.. those channels introduced me to those movies. Sad to hear that they don't show them anymore. I knew about the monsters before that, but not Hammer, or tons of other great stuff. After the new Mad Max came out I told everyone to check out The Road Warrior. So many people said "oh that's too old". Come on.. how can the age matter if it's good??
I wish they'd do another League of Extraordinary Gentlemen. I love that movie. And that's kind of a monster team up. Although that was made by Fox, and thus why no actual Universal monsters appeared in it.
Its times like these that i feel great to have grown up with Svengoolie. I especially love the B horror movies they play from the 40's and 50's along side the the classics.
Should have tied in Stephen King to the Wizard of Oz. The reason that Dorothy ran away in the actual movie was that they wanted to kill her dog. Have it so, in the horror version, they do kill her dog, she buries it in the Pet Semetery, and Toto comes back without a soul. Like in 'Frankenstein Meets the Wolf Man' Dorothy is told that there is a man (Dr Frankenstein) who can solve her problem (in this instance, by giving Toto his soul back), and so she goes on a quest to find him.
How about the classic gothic horror of the Universal monsters versus the insane, interdimensional creeping chaos of H.P. Lovecraft? Frankenstein versus Herbert West! Creature from the Black Lagoon versus the residents of Innsmouth! Renfield escapes from Arkham Asylum! Imhotep versus Nyarlathotep! Van Helsing teams up with Randolph Carter to solve the mysteries of the Necronomicon and save the world from the combined forces of Dracula and Abdul Alhazred! And then they all team up to take on Cthulhu! It would be fucking crazy.
I wonder if they've ever seen/heard of Penny Dreadful. It doesn't take "Universal Monsters," but it does take a lot of classic monsters (Frankenstein, Dracula, the painting of Dorian Gray, etc.) and spin them into a single, creepy storyline
I agree with needing to have them on TV. I was introduced to the series by watching them on TV as a young kid. I watched Dracula one night became obsessed. I think I went as one of the Universal Monsters every Halloween for years to come (Bela Lugosi's Dracula multiple years).
My great-grandmother got me interested in the Universal Monsters series. Just like James, she has all the films on VHS and is one reason why I look forward to visiting her every weekend.
Here's an idea - remake/reboot "The Monster Squad" (1987). That film had all the classic monsters in it, plus it had humor, heartwarming, action & scary moments throughout. That's the way Universal should go in my opinion....
When james is talking on the OZ bit with the monsters and says a young boy being a fan. You can also think of Monster Party for the NES. A young boy on a monster planet with plenty of monsters. Awesome video guys. Miss the universal monsters.
I'll admit that I had never watched the classic's until I watched a few of your movie collection videos James. Thanks for turning a load of us onto them. My particular favourite was the mummy.
18:56 - I like how James just finished telling us his crazy movie idea adapting It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World about Universal monsters - including Norman Bates - on a far flung treasure hunt which takes them onto a boat that gets attacked by Jaws, but tells Mike that replacing the Stooges with Dracula's mistresses was "stretching it".
Such a funny payoff. How did they not plan that!?
The Monster Madness episode in which James reads his Universal monster fanfiction.
Honestly I went into "Dracula Untold" expecting it to be pretty bad but I kept waiting for THAT moment where the film gets truly bad and it never happened. It wasn't great but it was entertaining and was a pretty unique take on Dracula.
I really liked it
could not agree more, as a classic horror fan i went in with very low expectations but came out pleasantly surprised. i like how they linked the vlad the impaler historical events, which somewhat inspired the character of dracula, to the legendary myths
I honestly, didnt have high expectations but i did think it had good moments
I liked it
The Maguffin would be their humanity back. most of these monsers were human once, and cursed or changed into what they are.
+Jeremy Lackey Great idea!
+Jeremy Lackey That could actually work.
+Jeremy Lackey Like in dark souls?
..... yep. YOU'VE BEEN INVADED BY WOLFMAN
Jeremy Lackey
wolfman vs giantdad
The fact that there are people out there that even care about these films is making me so happy I could cry. Thank you James and Mike for helping to keep the memory of these treasures alive, I don't feel as alone anymore in this!
I love the universal monsters
Their re-make of "The Wolf man", I felt, was underrated & incredible. I've watched it more times then I can count.
I feel pretty badly for the cast, director and especially legendary makeup artist Rick Baker because the studio came in and insisted on taking out most of the real effects and replacing them with terrible CGI. The late 2000s and early 2010s ruined so many otherwise great movies with sh^tty CGI. Had the studio not interfered so much, the movie would've been a hit.
It was awesome 😎
Haven't seen it since 2010 no interest or desire to go back to it
It's a Mad Mad Mad Mad Mad Mad World with Universal Monsters would be absolutely amazing. I can't decide whether it would have a 30s or 60s feel though.
Definitely 60s...the universal monster movies in the 30s weren't funny.
What was even the point of that cameo by the Three Stooges? The camera looks at them (as firemen) for three seconds and that's it.
How do you even bring something like the universal monsters into the modern age? The films couldn't possible be scary, and you wouldn't want them to be comedies or play them up as thrillers and then cap off the narrative with a lumbering mummy. I know classic and B movie film fans want them just to want them, but they'd probably be better served to stay in the past as classics. The only one I'd like to see is a Stokeresque Dracula film, although that's because it's bringing a lot more to the table than just a costume.
+PlagueOfGripes OMFG, you are griping everywhere. Plese, keep it up!!!
+PlagueOfGripes I'd totally watch an action movie with the Universal Monsters
Even if it was awful it'd be the kind of awful I could get behind
+PlagueOfGripes don't know, they could do something more like 30 days of night, but with a more regal lead vampire that would be dracula. the wolfman could cross the best parts of a slasher film with the unrelenting feel of the terminator, and even Ginger snaps was a good take on werewolves.
frankinstien and the mummy could be harder, but with 'the monster' it could be done, have the doctor and assistant killing people for parts, and the later half maybe a body horror film where the brain is aware of who they were and what they became.
+PlagueOfGripes I think they could make a decent Creature from the Black Lagoon reboot. Enough people are afraid of large bodies of water and what could be underwater that they could play that fear up. They did well enough with the Benico Del Toro Wolfman that the viability of classic monster reboots aren't entirely out of the question.
+PlagueOfGripes Agreed. Most of these movies are well known to movie viewers in one way or another. There isn't a whole lot of new grounds they can tread with them.
Looking at thing as they are now, it seems that the future of these monsters is Hotel Transylvania, lol
haha that's true
+Ričardas Marozas agree, great movie
and that is Sony, too. Universal needs to get it together.
+Ričardas Marozas I never thought I'd say this, but Adam Sandler is our only hope.
+Ričardas Marozas I was honestly surprised how good that movie was when I watched it on Netflix, any idea if the sequel is any good?
James' ideas sound like something you'd have seen in a cartoon in the 80's. I can just hear the announcer saying "THE UNIVERSAL MONSTERS! WOLFMAN! FRANKENSTEIN! DRACULA! AND THE MUMMY!"
This is some sort of wet dream/fan fiction he probably has keep around for years and years and now he finally get to release his ideas on video haha
@Joe Blow ever seen, Scooby doo and the reluctant werewolf?
These discussion videos are my favorite ones.
Just finished watching this on the site.
+Animation King#1 They haven't ended them, these discussions are part of monster madness. James has said several times in the past that he loves monster madness almost as much as he loves doing the Nerd videos, they just take a huge time dedication to produce.
I think with James having a baby and everything he's just decided to go this unscripted route on a lot of videos this year to cut down on the editing process.
+Animation King#1
He's been reviewing some heavy weight titles on the site. Monster Madness is not over till the end of the month. Blu-ray/DVD sounds good but they should wait till after the 10th Monster Madness is over next year and release the collection right before the 11th season starts.
+Zombiefly Agreed. Personally I am a fan of the more scripted videos, but I'm just so happy that James keeps doing monster madness so I'll take what I can get :)
I respect the Universal Monster films. But Freddy Krueger, Jason Voorhees, Leather face, Chucky hell even leprechaun. In a way they are my "Universal" monsters. I grew up with those films, I honestly didn't discover Universal Monsters until the 5th grade. I know, Sad but true. Wolfman is my favorite Monster Btw. I liked the remake as well, mostly for the gore.
+George Latimer Dude, believe me. I've wanted that since I was a kid and yes, Warwick needs to come back and it'll take that horrible bad taste of 'Leprechaun Origins' out of my mouth. I still can't believe that fuck, Hornswoggle, had the nerve to talk shit about the original films and say their version is better.
+Animation King#1 why are you replying the same thing and asking the same question to everyone?
"Benders right. Don't fuck with him," - +Animation King#1 Yeah, I'm being rude. Lol. Sorry for just asking a question. I'll remember to tell my professor today at school that it's all of a sudden rude to ask a question.
+Ben Covarrubias " I honestly didn't discover Universal Monsters until the 5th grade"
How ol dwer eyou when you discovered Freddie, Jason, and the Leprechaun? 2?
+Harperlarp I lived at Mexico at the time. When I was around 6 is when my cousins showed me 'Childs play' and "Leprechaun" all the other ones I mentioned. There was no where I could find any universal monster films. Until I moved to California and my history teacher showed us 'Dracula' for Halloween and that's when I discovered the rest of them. I never knew about them until I went to California pretty much.
The McGuffin is a reboot film, the stooges are 3 assistant characters and Monsters of Oz is a brilliant idea.
+The4thSnake Yeah, a reboot movie and they want to prevent it from being released. xD Nice.
+BdR76 Then they get to it, open the box, and there's just a mirror, and the Creature just says "holy shit have we been in the remake the whole time?" Cut to black, play the wacky music from Clue.
+The4thSnake The McGuffin is a contract for a new film. The monsters are actors and they're all trying to make a comeback.
+Brian Sager Genius. Sheer Genius.
Wizard of Oz with Universal Monsters sounds absolutely hilarious! I actually love these discussion videos, and I think it's awesome that James even wrote up all the cast and alternative plot.
I think The Mummy would be looking for the heart, because of his eternal love that was never realised (He'd explain it to the the kid and there'd be a flashback, like in the movie "The Mummy" (1932))...
I miss when SciFi would show old Hammer and Universal Horror Films on October.
That channel is shit now. Same with Chiller.
TCM does that these days.
The MacGuffin should be The Necronomicon: in case some of you don't know, is The Necronomicon a book of incredible dark/evil magic. It can do anything reviving a loved one, return you to a human, became immortal and so on...
yes, love this idea
@@thetruewolfio4150 Army of Darkness/Evil Dead 3 was distributed by Universal, so get Ash into the cast ASAP.
Shop Smart. Shop S-Mart.
What would all the monsters want. Hmm.
Love?
+aperson22222 love... Im getting a bad taste of Twilight from this comment :P
38cmd And don't forget the Phantom.
+38cmd kind of pathetic, isn't it?
+38cmd Of course the difference between twit light and the universal monsters is that, they don't emphasise the romance as much, and that its out weighed by the monsters being monsters.
+Abe Lincoln I agree.
The maguffin is a renewed movie deal, which monster wouldn't want that?
The maguffin will be a genie lamp, and whom every gets it can make 1 wish.
+Elgato47914 very nice macguffin
+Elgato47914 Or the Holy Grail.
+Elgato47914 Or they all get told something different, the thing they desire the most, but then it's a whole other thing, some of them get pissed and chase after the one who started the competition (a monster too, probably the smartest one).. oh and some of them should die on the way and the remaining ones go for revenge.. now I really want to watch this xD
Dano Schwab Or it could be something beyond all of them like some kind of Cosmic Horror Entity that entices them to chase after the macguffin.
I would love to see a horror movie that has the classic Universal Monsters crossover with the classic Slasher Villains. I know it's a mess of red tape but I still want to see it.
Man, i love hearing James talk about his ideas about how he would make a movie with all the monsters, he seems like a happy child explaining things to his friends.
He's a genius 👓👔📝🖋🖊🏅
Norman Bates is definitely a Universal character, I just went to Halloween Horror Nights at Universal Hollywood and they have a photo OP with him in front of the Psycho house...btw that was fucking awesome
What do you guys think of the hammer takes on Dracula and Frankenstein?
Horror of Dracula = Superb! 👍
I've got your McGuffin right here: The Philosopher's Stone! The beauty of the stone is (according to legend) you can use it for whatever you want. So maybe the Wolfman wants it to cure his Lycanthrope, or Frankenstein's Monster wants it to turn into a real man, Drac wants to use it with a spell to resurrect his favorite bride, etc. You're welcome! ;)
All the monsters could be on a trip to get a movie deal! Lol
I actually like that. Sounds like a fun time. They could have a dramatic breakdown, dracula fights the idea of being obsolete in the modern world.
+DvC yea!!!
Maybe they all meet up at the start of the film and actually discuss their modern interpretations. Dracula looks at Coppola's film adaptation of him and complains about everything EXCEPT the three women in his castle and then sees twilight and really goes berserk giving us a more hardcore horror version of Hotel Transylvania''s 'this is how we're represented now' line. The other monsters have similar reactions to some of their adaptations and they all go to Hollywood to try and get better movies made.
I absolutely love the idea of both the Wizard of Oz and It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World with monsters!
A beautiful bride could be the Macguffin. Not just any bride though, a heavenly one; compassionate, understanding, maybe w bit of a monster herself but she'll love any one of her suitors; they just need to wake her.
Seriously it fits. What does Frankenstein's creature want? A loving bride or companion. Mummy? Oh resurrect a dead princess and mummify her, (but still). Dracula? Well at least in the Coppola film which was good, he wanted his wife as well. The phantom? Ask Queen. :P (Somebody to Love)
It makes perfect sense. :)
I used to think the old universal monster movies were stupid and cheesy but I sat through one then I saw monster madness and I decided to sit through the mummy with Boris Karloff and loved every minute so thank James for allowing me to find such great films through your videos
I'm 17 years old and you Know what I grow up on the classic universal monsters movies and their sequels and you know why? it was because James helped me with the horror history and I thank you.
The McGuffin should be some kind of "Monster Cure.' Think about it, the Wolf Man doesn't want to turn into a monster, Frankenstein's Monster doesn't want to be persecuted, being the immortal Dracula is more of a curse than anything else...it should be something that could transform them into normal men...
That Mad Mad Mad Mad World thing reminded me of a very similar Scooby Doo movie. In it Shaggy gets turned into a werewolf and Dracula is hosting a race and Shaggy has to compete to get the cure. It was similar to James's idea but not exact.
The inner passion is so clear when golden age films are discussed with you two.
Mcguffin would be love or companionship. Every universal monster movie had that concept; all the monsters have a lonely wretched existence and there is usually a romantic element tied to that in each universal monster flick.
I like Dracula and Frankenstein the most
Dracula Untold doesn't seem like it was supposed to be canon with any of the "Real" Dracula movies, but Untold was actually pretty good as a standalone, except for the climax... I definitely enjoyed the movie as it was though
Same here
+Daniel Bonnett You haven't learn the history of Vlad do you? They say he is a Real Life Dracula.
Apparently there's gonna be a remake of "The Monster Squad"
That would be cool
It was cancelled unfortunately.
@@Bubbabyte99 *fortunately
I'm only 18 and I have been watching the classic universal since I was 6 when my dad introduced me to Abbot and Costello meets Frankenstein and I have loved them ever since I have every classic on DVD or digital download
Wolfman's got nards!
I was just at Halloween Horror Nights in Orlando and was so happy that the 25 Years of Terror House included the classic monsters. I was constantly explaining to my friends who everybody was because I was so excited.
love the classics, some of the best movies ever
I think the Wolfman (2010) is extremely underrated, and had it been released four months earlier on Halloween 2009 it would have performed much better. It really had great atmosphere, and was set up for a sequel at the end with Aberline being bitten. He could have starred in a sequel as the "Werewolf of London". Then the London setting could have been used to springboard Dracula, or the Invisible Man, etc.
14:26 - You two just came up with the plot for Hotel Transylvania 3 :B
Your topics of discussion rock guys , love your vintage horror images and style , really captures the old vibe that you dont see much of today
Finally, Someone Says It! As Much As I Love Michael Myers And Freddy And Jason On AMC They Need To Show Some Of The Universal Classic Monsters More I Mean They're Either Shown At 1 In The Morning When Everyone's Asleep Or On TCM When Your Out Getting Groceries
Franandlar Why Are You Starting Every Word With A Capital Letter?
I guess they're meant for people who want to stay up late enough to watch them (not to mention the inherently spooky atmosphere of watching a horror film in the early hours at night), or people who want to catch them at any time. It's a shame, they really should be shown when more people have the time to catch them.
Van Helsing is one of my favorite movies, and you made me feel bad for only having seen Phantom of the Opera and Frankenstein, but not since third grade (thank you, Mr. Steele, for showing those movies to the class).
>all the munchkins will be Dwight Frye
I'm in fucking hysterics.
I absolutely LOVE all the old Abbott and Costello meets... movies, those flicks and the Munsters were my gateway into classic horror movies. Great video, guys!!
I do love the Universal classic monsters, and every "reboot" past the original couple of cycles, outside of THE MONSTER SQUAD (if one could argue that was one), has been pretty bad. This idea, I've heard being thrown around, of making the monsters some sort of superhero team in a shared universe is something I hope they never go with. I don't want any more VAN HELSING or I, FRANKENSTEIN films, thanks. However, if they could find some good writers to property rip-off Alan Moore's (everyone does it, just ask him) THE LEAGUE OF EXTRAORDINARY GENTLEMEN, or better yet, The Wold Newton Universe, then we might have something to work with.
Personally, I think a shared universe could work.
I like old movies, Buster Keaton is one of my favorite movie makers of all time , but I never watched any of the classic monster movies. Now you convinced me to watch those classics!
"some people refuse to watch B+W movies"
that disturbs me..
Though the 2017 Mummy film didn’t launch the Universe, 2020’s Invisible Man’s success come lead to a come back of more Universal Monsters.
I'm still waiting Universal Monsters Vs. Slashers Vs. Creepypasta... I really like them a lot... OR BETTER!!! Imagine this battles, Who would win??
Frankenstein VS Jason Voorhees VS Slender Man
The Mummy VS Pinhead Vs Zalgo
That would be awesome!
As someone from the Future, the Mummy will bomb and Universal will put aside the idea of a shared universe to instead focus on making solid individual updated films. The Invisible man will be inspired by the original film, but will take things in a more modern direction. It will be a huge hit.
you know what be better than this: The Munsters meet The Addams Family
+darkservantofheaven Addams family would be a fun revival...with a dark tone like the original movie. Would like to see a form of Munsters back
+Derek Kunze The Munsters came back. Eddie Izzard was in it.
I'm actually extremely interested with what you said in a Monster Madness years ago with Fritz and Ygor. I've wanted to see a movie based around Ygor. You'd start out with Fritz getting caught and put to trial, and he gets hanged. The rest of the movie would be based off what Ygor does before Son, and it would end with his perspective with Ghost.
Yeah, The Universal Monsters part of Universal Studios was my favorite part, but it was very under appreciated.
Dang. Mike got reeeeally into this discussion. Never seen him this emotional about something.
I am 13, I watched Frankenstein (1931) when I was 7, Then I watched all the other universal monster movies.....
I am addicted!!!!😍😍😍😍
AMC does show the universal monster movies but it is on like at 2:00 am in the middle of the night
When I was a little kid back in the 1980's the universal classic monster movies were on TV...alot!
"It's like Jager"
No Jager is awful forever.
James' enthusiasm about his second modern Univeral monster's revival idea, that made me smile ear to ear, it took me back 20 years to when I was in middle school and my friends and I would come up with silly/cool ideas like that.
I don't think remakes would encourage people to watch the originals, usually they just overwrite the old film or even make people think the original is a rip off of the remake lol.
I completely agree with James about the Van Helsing film, just wasn't quite the film it could have been and I can't think why
Its weird how Mike always looks like he doesn't want to be there
Seeing how the 2017 Dark Universe movie the Mummy turned how its off to a rocky start
Even Dracula Untold did it better.
I've come from the future to warn Mike, he's not gonna be happy about the new mummy
When I was younger and saw the Freddy Kruger, Jason, and Michale Myers movies I wanted to know what came before them. That lead me to discover the classic Universal Monsters and still to this day I love those movies. The Universal Classic Monsters are my favorites, I can't imagine another version of Frankenstein, Dracula, the Mummy, Creature From the Black Lagoon and Phantom of the Opera. Those movies are classic and timeless.
I hope you guys have a review of Roman Polanskis " Dance of the vampires " also called "The fearless vampire killers" coming up.
The Monster could be looking for a brain, the mummy could be looking for a scroll to revive his mummy princess, and the wolf man could be looking for a cure. The Mad Doctor of Oz!
I have the blurays of the classics. :D
That sounds like a conflict of interest xD
+Aliens Exist Conflict of interest?
***** yeah. Because they're Classic movies on New technology.
+Aliens Exist They are but even the new technology isn't as good as the actual film they were shot on, haha.
+The Gamer Dragon I have them in DVD.
Mike said at Universal Studios the Classic Monsters section was dead. If I recall there isn't a Classic Monsters section except for the cafe that is designed with the Classic Monsters. That is my favorite place to eat in the park too.
Did James ever review the 2010 Wolfman?
I was given a Book and Record in 1975 called "A story of Dracula, the Wolfman, and Frankenstein". It was a read along with the record narration comic book in the LP cover. I thought it was a great story that used 3 variations of the universal monsters. It would make a good jumping off point for an action oriented retelling. Neal Adams did the art for that book and he did the cover art for some of the marvel horror comic series talked about in this video.
I think the mcguffin would be for them to be believed in as actual monsters again
I love the Universal Monster movies. They just have a special quality and uniqueness that a lot of other movies don’t have. Sure, they may be kind of cheesy and slow paced, but I still consider them among some of the greatest movies of all time.
Pssst...... Why not Castlevania the Movie??
+Justin Read It be interesting...
That would be awesome
3:05 In late may of this year I went to the monster part of the park and ate at the monster restaurant. It was part of our tour and they gave cool facts about the monster and the actors , they even showed was some real props (not the ones already on display). It was like looking at film's history, from JAWS and Jurassic Park to Frankenstein. I highly recommend that anyone who is a film buff take the tour and see the place , It was super cool. Before that watch all of the movies of course. The tour is cheap as hell and lasts for around 2 to 3 hours. It was the highlight of the park for me.
I like Mike, and I like his opinions. But he needs to let James talk a bit more. there's times where James wants to say something but Mikes been talking for 5 mins straight.
+FEaddict I get worked up when discussing the Universal Monsters. They are my favorite movies of all time =D
- Mike
Cinemassacre Wow, hey! I guess I can see how that can happen. I would be the same way towards Star Wars :)
+Cinemassacre I don't think you really did though. If anything it was you who couldn't say much when James went on his 7 minute monster movie fantasy possibilities. Your expressions are priceless.
+FEaddict I agree, like twice James was about to say something but Mike just cut him off and made his own story about what James was about to say. I like Mike 'n all but that always feels so rude.
+Cinemassacre I enjoy you both commenting conversation style, you guys are great.
The Mummy vs The Wolfman:
Scene 1: The Wolfman attacks the Mummy, leaping from the cover of the woods.
Scene 2: * roll credits
Also, I had a MASSIVE crush on Dwight Frye when I was a kid xD
The "it's a mad mad mad mad world" with monsters you talked about.... already been done. "Scooby Doo and the reluctant werewolf"
AMC and TCM got me through a period where I was banned from the internet because I was able to record all the classic Universal and Hammer movies.. those channels introduced me to those movies. Sad to hear that they don't show them anymore.
I knew about the monsters before that, but not Hammer, or tons of other great stuff.
After the new Mad Max came out I told everyone to check out The Road Warrior. So many people said "oh that's too old". Come on.. how can the age matter if it's good??
I wish they'd do another League of Extraordinary Gentlemen. I love that movie. And that's kind of a monster team up. Although that was made by Fox, and thus why no actual Universal monsters appeared in it.
Dracula (1931) is one of my favorite movies of all time. I watch it every October.
Mike. If you're reading this, I am also a big fan of the Universal Monster movies and I'm 16 years old and I still enjoyed them
Its times like these that i feel great to have grown up with Svengoolie. I especially love the B horror movies they play from the 40's and 50's along side the the classics.
Should have tied in Stephen King to the Wizard of Oz. The reason that Dorothy ran away in the actual movie was that they wanted to kill her dog. Have it so, in the horror version, they do kill her dog, she buries it in the Pet Semetery, and Toto comes back without a soul. Like in 'Frankenstein Meets the Wolf Man' Dorothy is told that there is a man (Dr Frankenstein) who can solve her problem (in this instance, by giving Toto his soul back), and so she goes on a quest to find him.
How about the classic gothic horror of the Universal monsters versus the insane, interdimensional creeping chaos of H.P. Lovecraft? Frankenstein versus Herbert West! Creature from the Black Lagoon versus the residents of Innsmouth! Renfield escapes from Arkham Asylum! Imhotep versus Nyarlathotep! Van Helsing teams up with Randolph Carter to solve the mysteries of the Necronomicon and save the world from the combined forces of Dracula and Abdul Alhazred! And then they all team up to take on Cthulhu! It would be fucking crazy.
I wonder if they've ever seen/heard of Penny Dreadful. It doesn't take "Universal Monsters," but it does take a lot of classic monsters (Frankenstein, Dracula, the painting of Dorian Gray, etc.) and spin them into a single, creepy storyline
I agree with needing to have them on TV. I was introduced to the series by watching them on TV as a young kid. I watched Dracula one night became obsessed. I think I went as one of the Universal Monsters every Halloween for years to come (Bela Lugosi's Dracula multiple years).
My great-grandmother got me interested in the Universal Monsters series. Just like James, she has all the films on VHS and is one reason why I look forward to visiting her every weekend.
Cool I showed my grandmother frankenstein and she liked it
Here's an idea - remake/reboot "The Monster Squad" (1987). That film had all the classic monsters in it, plus it had humor, heartwarming, action & scary moments throughout. That's the way Universal should go in my opinion....
I really liked Dracula untold, it was almost like watching a Castlevania movie.
Just a heads up, Marvel already got the jump on Dracula . He was featured in Blade 3.
The Franken Castle Arc in The Punisher was really good and called back to Marvel's past monster comics. I highly recommend it.
When james is talking on the OZ bit with the monsters and says a young boy being a fan. You can also think of Monster Party for the NES. A young boy on a monster planet with plenty of monsters. Awesome video guys. Miss the universal monsters.
Make them tragic heroes like the wolfman in Monster Squad. They're after some talisman that can release them from their horrific fate.
I'll admit that I had never watched the classic's until I watched a few of your movie collection videos James.
Thanks for turning a load of us onto them. My particular favourite was the mummy.