Fear not for I still live and breath!

Hey everyone! Just wanted to check in quick and let you all know that I'm still alive and kicking. I've spent thousands of dollars on upgrading my entertainment center, got a ton of new video games, and have just been busy as hell at work and at home, so I haven't had much time on my hands to update the Vault (or post in the Blog or Forum). I'll fill all of you in on the details of my disappearance later tonight, but for now, I must get to work. Blog ya later b-movie fans!

The Vault Master is now a quarter-of-a-century old!

Yes, you read that right folks: I am now 25 years old! My birthday isn't really a big deal to me, but it seems like everyone else I know thinks otherwise. Thanks to everyone who offered me birthday greetings today; thanks to my best bud who will be throwing me a birthday party this weekend; thanks to my coworkers for chipping in to get me a peanut butter cup cheesecake for my b-day (and thanks for the card Carli!); and a big thanks to my folks and my girlfriend who show continued love and support for this obsessive cult movie fanatic.

Well, I'm going to go watch a movie and enjoy the last bit of my birthday, so have a great night fellow b-movie fans and stay tuned for some new review-age on the site!

I have discovered the "Black and White Ecstasy" of ZEBRAMAN!

Taskshi Miike is best known for the shockers he's made, such as "Ichi the Killer" and "Audition," but would have thought that this man had a lighter, more family-friend side? "Zebraman" is proof that Miike can branch out from doing horrifically violent films, and is one of the better superhero comedies I've come across.

Mild mannered Shinichi Ichikawa is never taken seriously by anyone. Then, one fateful night, while running around his neighborhood in a homemade Zebraman costume (styled after his favorite tokusatsu hero), he engages in battle with a rapist wearing a crab-mask. After utilizing some amazing acrobatic moves and delivering a face-crushing blow to the perpetrator, Shinichi runs off and soon embraces his destiny of becoming the REAL Zebraman!

This was a very fun film, and I can't help but recommend it. Check out my capsule review for "Zebraman" HERE, and feel free to post your thoughts about the film and/or review HERE.

Stay tuned for an updated review from the OLD Vault archives, plus a roundtable review for 1981's "The Burning." Oh, and don't forget to cast your vote for what bad movie I should review in the "TORTURE THE VAULT MASTER" poll! Blog ya later b-movie fans!

Torture the Vault Master + upcoming reviews.

Hey b-movie fans! Have you ever wanted to inflict a bad movie on a b-movie webmaster? Well here is your chance! I have selected NINE bad movies and have posted a poll here on the blog (top right corner of the page) and one HERE in the Forum. All you need to do is vote for what film I should review, or films if, God help me, there is a tie between one or more titles. Voting is open to the public and will continue all through the month of August, so cast your votes now!

Also, stay tuned for a capsule review for Takashi Miike's wonderfully bizarre superhero film, "Zebraman!" I have everything ready to go for the update, I just need to sit down and write the review. Expect that to pop up on the site later this weekend.

And also expect a new full-length review in two weeks for the lost 80's slasher classic, "The Burning," which will be part of the "What I Did On My Summer Vacation" roundtable. This mini-roundtable event will appear online between August 15th - 17th, so keep an eye out for that!

That's it for now b-movie fans, so enjoy the rest of your weekend and keep fighting the good fight!

Resurrection Plant Rose of Jericho Dinosaur Plant

This plant pictured above is in a teacup. It's a very small plant compared to most of the plants I have (although the smaller ones would be great for doll houses, in my opinion!)

Resurrection Plant or Rose of Jericho

Selaginella pilifera also known as the Resurrection flower, is a desert plant growing in the sands of Egypt, Arabia, Syria and Mexico. For long periods, these 'roses' live in desert regions, growing and reproducing as any other plant until the environment no longer supports an adequate existence. When this time comes, the flowers and leaves are dead and fallen, they lose moisture and the drying branches curl inwards, forming a round ball.They retract their roots from the soil and allow the desert winds to carry them across the desert, until one day they arrive in a damp place where they can continue to grow and spread.

The ball then expands again, opens flat on the ground and deposits its seeds, which germinate. Once watered, the dried-up looking young plants soon begin to bud. You could say they feel their way through this process,
as they don't necessarily remain in the first place they stop, but feel into the nature of the place to see if it is adequate to enhance growth. There they may stay, and grow, or indeed they may move again many times.

This amazing little resurrection plant is often sold as a novelty due its incredible ability to turn from a dry ball to a lush looking plant ove night when placed in a dish of water. These plants have used this ability to survive since prehistoric times.Therefore another common name given to them is "the dinosaur plant." Great for show and tell, too, as every kid is amazed at watching one of these wonders of nature unfold and seemingly come to life again.

You can buy a plant at Resurrection Plants for Sale