De Palma a la Mod

The Hollywood Reporter's John Gaudiosi posted an interview with Bruce Campbell today in anticipation of the actor's appearance this upcoming weekend at the San Diego Comic-Con, where he will be promoting the new video game, "The Amazing Spider-Man." Gaudiosi asked Campbell to share a fond video game memory...
------------------------------
Watching Sam Raimi beat Brian De Palma at the game Berzerk in New York City around 1981. It was an arcade called Fascination around 42nd Street and Brian De Palma was working on his movie Blow Out and we were working on our movie Evil Dead in the same building, where you do post production sound. It’s a very tedious process so you always have to get out, go have lunch, go somewhere else. Right around the corner was this video arcade where Sam and I would always go to play Berzerk, Asteroids, some Pac-Man – although Pac-Man was always lame to me. Brian De Palma was playing Berzerk and Sam Raimi came up and challenged him. They played a duel match and Sam kicked his ass. That was probably one of the most fulfilling experiences, watching Sam Raimi kick a young Brian De Palma’s ass in Berzerk.

Posted by Geoff at 6:20 PM CDT
Updated: Wednesday, July 11, 2012 6:21 PM CDT
Post Comment | View Comments (3) | Permalink | Share This Post

Comments Page

Wednesday, July 11, 2012 - 7:18 PM CDT

Name: "Randy Aitken"
Home Page: http://musi-cine-howlwithlaughter.blogspot.com/

I have not seen all of Sam Raimi's films. Of the films that I have seen, A Simple Plan and Darkman are my favorites.
It has been a long time since I have seen The Evil Dead. Sam Raimi may have kicked De Palma's ass in playing Berzerk in an NYC video arcade, but I think there is something more important to remember.
If you compare directorial skills and storytelling talents in a battle of Blow Out vs. The Evil Dead, there is only one cinematic director left standing. The vanquishing of the villain would occur visually in a manner to rival the best of the Road Runner vs. Coyote Warner Brothers cartoons.

With Blow Out, De Palma dragged Sam's little body up to the top of Mount Everest and then kicked Raimi's ass up and over the clouds as Sam began a furious descent through the stratosphere towards the Earth's surface and finally into a void where we would see a little poof! before an avalanche buried the strewn body parts from view.

I enjoy Raimi's work but when it comes down to technique and talent, De Palma wins by a TKO in the first round and in the first 15 minutes of the first reel. Here endeth the lesson.

Sincerely,

Randy Aitken

Brian De Palma fan

Reply to this Comment

Wednesday, July 11, 2012 - 7:22 PM CDT

Name: "Randy Aitken"

http://musi-cine-howlwithlaughter.blogspot.com/2010/11/burke-and-terry-in-blow-out.html

Reply to this Comment

Thursday, July 12, 2012 - 9:32 AM CDT

Name: "James Curran"
Home Page: http://www.honestillusion.com

Odd that he says "a young Brian DePalma" as at the time, DePalma would have been 41, and Raimi only 22 (Campbell himself would have been 23)

Reply to this Comment

Comments Page

View Latest Entries