Fantastic Balloon Voyage (1975)

Original title: Viaje Fantástico en Globo

Adventure. Mexico. Starring Hugo Stiglitz, Jeff Cooper, Carlos East, Carmen Vicarte & René Cardona. Directed by René Cardona Jr.

DVD: DistriMax Inc. (USA). Spanish language with english subtitles. Fullscreen. Watchable quality.

Wonderful Jules Verne adaption by the Cardona's - dry as dust, just the way you like 'em! 4/5

Un Pirata de Doce Años (1972)

Pirate yarn. Mexico. Starring Hugo Stiglitz, René Cardona III & Christa Linder. Directed by René Cardona Jr.

DVD: DistriMax Inc. (USA). Spanish language with english subtitles. Fullscreen. Watchable quality.

Very obscure pirate flick by René Carona Jr, one of my favorite directors when it comes to stiff genre cinema. A crew of goodhearted English pirates get their ship sunken by the evil spaniards. Their bad luck continues when they are washed ashore on an island used as a Spanish military training camp. Most of the crew are quickly killed off by the spaniards until only the pirates with clear character features remain: The heroic pirate leader (Cardona-favorite Hugo Stiglitz), the kid hero (René Cardona III - aaargh, it never ends!), the Indian (good at scouting and a good listener), the one-eyed brute (good at kicking Spanish asses) and a longhaired, bearded pirate who looks like a overweight middleage hippie (he - uhm- likes to spit a lot). When the pirates realise the spaniards are holding an English noble lady and her kids and chambermaid hostage they decide to go an a rescue mission and try to escape through the jungle. With the Spanish breathing down their neck they encounter cannibals, quicksand and dangerous animals on their way to freedom. I enjoyed this flick quite a lot. The film offers lots of dated swashbuckling fun to be had and there's never long between the swordsplay, crocodile attacks or cannibal ambushs. Fans of bad models will enjoy the sinking of the model ship, Antonio Margheriti would be proud. Add some crisp photography and good locations and you have 90 entertaining minutes. 4/5

The Gorilla Kid (1977)

Original title: El Rey de los Gorillas

Jungle adventure. Mexico. Starring Hugo Stiglitz. Directed by René Cardona Jr.

DistriMax Inc. (USA). Spanish with english subtitles. Fullscreen. Not the best quality but just the subtitles makes it a must!

An infant is raised by men in gorilla costumes and grows up to be Hugo Stiglitz, the mexican and slightly more romantic Tarzan! As you understand this is 100% classic. Films don't get much better than this! 5/5

Fantastic Balloon Voyage (1975)

Original title: Viaje Fantástico en Globo

Adventure. Mexico. Starring Hugo Stiglitz, Jeff Cooper, Carlos East, Carmen Vicarte & René Cardona. Directed by René Cardona Jr.

Westcon Home Video (Sweden). Spanish language with swedish subtitles. Fullscreen. Selltape.

Wonderful Jules Verne adaption by the Cardona's - dry as dust, just the way you like 'em! 4/5

Zindy, the Swamp Boy (1973)

Original title: Zindy, el Fugitivo de los Pantanos

Family/Adventure. Mexico. Starring René Cardona III, René Cardona, Lindy Fields, Gloria Chávez & René Barrera. Directed by René Cardona Jr.

Westcon Home Video (Sweden). English dubbed. Fullscreen. Selltape.

Very obscure mexican family film (quite literally) about a young boy and his grandfather lost in the jungle. Fun to have seen but perhaps not the most interesting film in the world... 2/5

Un Pirata de Doce Años (1972)

Pirate yarn. Mexico. Starring Hugo Stiglitz, René Cardona III & Christa Linder. Directed by René Cardona Jr.

Oscar Video (Greece). Spanish language with greek subtitles. Fullscreen.

Very obscure pirate flick by René Carona Jr, one of my favorite directors when it comes to stiff genre cinema. A crew of goodhearted English pirates get their ship sunken by the evil spaniards. Their bad luck continues when they are washed ashore on an island used as a Spanish military training camp. Most of the crew are quickly killed off by the spaniards until only the pirates with clear character features remain: The heroic pirate leader (Cardona-favorite Hugo Stiglitz), the kid hero (René Cardona III - aaargh, it never ends!), the Indian (good at scouting and a good listener), the one-eyed brute (good at kicking Spanish asses) and a longhaired, bearded pirate who looks like a overweight middleage hippie (he - uhm- likes to spit a lot). When the pirates realise the spaniards are holding an English noble lady and her kids and chambermaid hostage they decide to go an a rescue mission and try to escape through the jungle. With the Spanish breathing down their neck they encounter cannibals, quicksand and dangerous animals on their way to freedom. I enjoyed this flick quite a lot. Even though I don't understand Spanish, the plot is easy enough to follow and the film never gets too talky for its own good. The film offers lots of dated swashbuckling fun to be had and there's never long between the swordsplay, crocodile attacks or cannibal ambushs. Fans of bad models will enjoy the sinking of the model ship, Antonio Margheriti would be proud. Add some crisp photography and good locations and you have 90 entertaining minutes. 4/5

Robinson Crusoe and the Tiger (1970)

Original title: Robinson Crusoe

Adventure. Mexico. Starring Hugo Stiglitz, Ahui Camacho & René Cardona III. Directed by René Cardona Jr.

Nm. International (Sweden). Selltape. English dubbed. Fullscreen.

Stiff adventure by the Cardona's with Hugo Stiglitz as Crusoe, this should be right up my alley... but it's not. It's a bore. 2/5

The Gorilla Kid (1977)

Original title: El Rey de los Gorillas

Jungle adventure. Mexico. Starring Hugo Stiglitz. Directed by René Cardona Jr.

Phoenix Home Video (Holland). Spanish with dutch subtitles. Fullscreen.

An infant is raised by men in gorilla costumes and grows up to be Hugo Stiglitz, the mexican and slightly more romantic Tarzan! As you understand this is 100% classic. Films don't get much better than this! 5/5