“Rocky IV” Poster by Tom Ralston!
This Rocky IV alt poster was created for a special screening by Tom Ralston.
“He is not human, he is a piece of iron.” – Drago
“Desperado” (1995) written & directed by Robert Rodriguez, starring Antonio Banderas, Joaquim de Almeida & Salma Hayek / Z-View
Desperado (1995)
Director: Robert Rodriguez
Screenplay: Robert Rodriguez
Stars: Antonio Banderas, Joaquim de Almeida, Salma Hayek, Steve Buscemi, Cheech Marin, Carlos Gómez, Carlos Gallardo, Danny Trejo and Quentin Tarantino
Tagline: He came back to settle the score with someone. Anyone. EVERYONE.
The Plot…
A man known as El Mariachi arrives in a small Mexican border town. He’s come to kill the drug cartel crime lord Bucho. As Mariachi works us way up the chain of command, it becomes clear, he’ll kill anyone and EVERYONE who gets in his way.
As one of the taglines says, “When the smoke clears, it just means he’s reloading.”
Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…
Antonio Banderas directed the bathroom scene that takes place before the second tavern shootout.
Robert Rodriguez and Danny Trejo are second cousins.
Desperado is a remake of Robert Rodriguez’s earlier film El Mariachi. Rodriguez self-financed El Mariachi using credit cards and his personal finances. The budget was just $7,000.00.
Carlos Gallardo played the title role in El Mariachi and also plays one of the two musicians who comes to assist El Mariachi in Desperado.
Desperado (1995) rates 4 of 5 stars.
The “Tulsa King” Season 4 Poster is Here!
Tulsa King Season 4 has started!
The Lastest and Best (So Far) Best Poster for “I Play Rocky”!
This is the latest (and my favorite so far) poster for I Play Rocky.
“The Greatest” – The Poster and Trailer are Here!
The poster and trailer for The Greatest is here!
Deal me in.
The Greatest is an intimate exploration of the incomparable life of the boxing champion, humanitarian and global icon.
Executive produced by Ben Watkins, Michael B. Jordan, Shawn Carter, and Lonnie Ali, the widow of the late luminary, The Greatest is the first authorized scripted series about the life of Muhammad Ali, offering unprecedented access and going beyond the amazing victories and defeats that made Ali a legend, both in and out of the ring.
Arriving November 4 only on Prime.
“Frisco King” – The Poster and Trailer are Here!
The poster and teaser trailer for Frisco King is here!
Lee Washington (Samuel L. Jackson) lands in Frisco, Texas and discovers a hustler’s playground hidden beneath the polished surface of American suburbia.
New series streaming December 18, only on Paramount+.
“Animal Crackers” (2017) / Z-View
Animal Crackers (2017)
Director: Scott Christian Sava, Tony Bancroft
Screenplay: Scott Christian Sava, Dean Lorey
Stars: Emily Blunt, Danny DeVito, John Krasinski, Ian McKellen, Sylvester Stallone, Patrick Warburton, Raven-Symoné, Harvey Fierstein, Wallace Shawn, Gilbert Gottfried, Tara Strong, James Arnold Taylor, Kevin Grevioux and Lydia Rose Taylor.
Tagline: A magical adventure in every bite!
The Plot…
Owen and Zoe meet at Owen’s family circus as children. Years later, they marry. Owen leaves the circus to work at his father-in-law’s dog biscuit factory as a taster. When Owen inherits the circus, Zoe decides to give it a go.
The circus has seen better days. Then Owen and Zoe find a box of magical animal crackers. Eating an animal shaped cracker turns the person into the real animal! Owen eats different crackers and becomes the circus’ star attraction.
Owen’s evil uncle, wants the circus and plans to steal the magic animal crackers.
And now if I can direct your attention to the center ring… the show is about to start!
Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…
Animal Crackers is based on a graphic novel that co-Director Scott Christian Sava wrote for his two children. He set the story in his hometown of Franklin, Tennessee.
Emily Blunt and John Krasinski, who voice the married couple, Zoe and Owen, are married in real-life.
I watched this with my grandchildren (ages 3 and 7), they loved it. Their laughter was contagious!
Animal Crackers (2017) rates 4 of 5 stars.
Jim Fern’s Sly Take on Stallone!
Jim Fern created his take on Sly Stallone at a small Florida convention (Daytona? Jacksonville? Tampa?) several years ago and somehow it was placed in the vault without every being posted… until now.
Jim Fern is a freelance artist best know for his work at DC Comics and Marvel on titles such as Adventures of Superman, Batman, Detective Comics, Spiderman, X-Men, Transformers and Wolverine.
“Rambo” (2008) directed by and starring Sylvester Stallone / Z-View
Rambo (2008)
Director: Sylvester Stallone
Screenplay: Art Monterastelli, Sylvester Stallone
Stars: Sylvester Stallone, Julie Benz, Paul Schulze, Matthew Marsden, Graham McTavish, Rey Gallegos, Tim Kang, Jake La Botz, Maung Maung Khin and Ken Howard.
Tagline: Live for nothing, or die for something.
The Plot…
Twenty years have passed since Rambo’s rescue of Colonel Trautman in Afghanistan. Rambo makes his living as a snake catcher and ferryman.
When Michael Burnett approaches Rambo to take his missionary group up river, Rambo refuses. Burnett wants to go into a war zone to render humanitarian aide to villagers brutalized by the Burmese Army. Burnett’s fiancée, Sarah, makes an appeal to Rambo, but he again refuses. Burnett’s group believes in nonviolence. They’re traveling without weapons or additional security. Odds would be against their survival.
Later that night Sarah speaks to Rambo again. Burnett’s group is going with or without him. Against his better judgment, Rambo agrees to take them up river, drop them off and return home.
Not long after, Arthur Marsh informs Rambo that Burnett’s group are held prisoner by Burmese soldiers. Marsh has hired mercenaries to rescue them. He wants Rambo to take the mercs up river.
Rambo agrees. But this time, Rambo’s not just doing a drop off. This time, he’s going to war.
Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…
Rambo’s creator, David Morrell had this to say about the movie: “I’m happy to report that overall I’m pleased. The level of violence might not be for everyone, but it has a serious intent. This is the first time that the tone of my novel FIRST BLOOD has been used in any of the movies. It’s spot-on in terms of how I imagined the character – angry, burned-out, and filled with self-disgust because Rambo hates what he is and yet knows it’s the only thing he does well.”
Rambo, like Rocky Balboa is such a great bookend to its franchise. While it is true that each had more movies to come, at the time it was thought that each would end the series.
One of my favorite John Rambo scenes is when the river pirates stop the group. Stallone’s direction, shows Rambo silently assessing the situation. Rambo determines the greatest dangers and the order he needs to eliminate them. I also love the scene when Sarah returns in the pouring rain to try to convince Rambo to take them up river.
I know it’s sacrilege, but if push came to shove, I’d pick Rambo over First Blood.
Rambo (2008) rates 5 of 5 stars.
Rocky Balboa Book Page Sketch by Jarrod Alberich!
Jarrod Alberich aka The Yard Sale Artist created the Sly Stallone as Rocky on a page from a book about boxing. If you check out Jarrod’s site, you’ll find that he has tons of cool BOOK PAGE SKETCHES of different characters drawn on a page from a book appropriate to the character.
I’ve known Jarrod for years. He’s a fun guy and an easy artist to deal with.
Jarrod calls himself The Yard Sale Artist because he uses materials that he finds at yard sales, thrift stores and so on. When Jarrod comes across books that with torn covers, missing pages, etc., instead of discarding them, he repurposes the pages for art.
Sylvester Stallone is Rocky by Reggy The Marker Artist!
Sylvester Stallone is Rocky by Reggy The Marker Artist.
“Rocky, what did you think going into the last round?” – Reporter
“I don’t know. That I should have stayed in school or something.” – Rocky
“War of the Worlds” (2005) directed by Stephen Spielberg; starring Tom Cruise / Z-View
War of the Worlds (2005)
Director: Steven Spielberg
Screenplay: Josh Friedman, David Koepp; based on THE WAR OF THE WORLDS by H.G. Wells
Stars: Tom Cruise, Dakota Fanning, Justin Chatwin, Miranda Otto, Tim Robbins and Gene Barry, Ann Robinson.
Tagline: They’re already here.
The Plot…
Ray Ferrier is divorced and has his kids for the weekend. Robbie is sixteen. Rachel is ten. Ray’s not been a good father. He hardly knows his children.
When an alien invasion starts, Ray hits the road with Robbie and Rachel.
The nightmare has just begun.
Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…
War of the Worlds was nominated for three Academy Awards…
- Nominee for Best Achievement in Visual Effects – Dennis Muren, Pablo Helman, Randal M. Dutra, Daniel Sudick
- Nominee for Best Achievement in Sound Editing – Richard King
- Nominee for Best Achievement in Sound Mixing – Andy Nelson, Anna Behlmer, Ron Judkins
The original War of the Worlds film is a five-star classic. It starred Gene Barry and Ann Robbinson, who appear in the final scene of Spielberg’s remake. The remake was Barry’s final feature film appearance.
There are so many jaw-dropping and terrifying scenes.
Like some many apocalyptic movies, the humans can be as dangerous as the terrors (aliens, zombies, etc.) being faced.
Spielberg’s War of the Worlds is also a classic. It gets better with each viewing.
War of the Worlds (2005) rates 5 of 5 stars.
“North by Northwest” Alt Poster by Nicholas Joret!
A classic film, especially one as great as Alfred Hitchcock’s North by Northwest deserves only the best alt posters… like this one by Nicolas Joret.
“That’s funny, that plane’s dustin’ crops where there ain’t no crops.” – Man at the crossroads
“Sinners” Alt Poster by Nicholas Joret!
I can’t get enough of Sinners or cool alt posters for it, like this one by Nicolas Joret.
“I am your way out. ” – Remmick
“A Flirt’s Mistake” (1914) starring Fatty Arbuckle / Z-View
A Flirt’s Mistake (1914)
Director: George Nichols
Stars: Fatty Arbuckle
Tagline: None.
The Plot…
Fatty, a married man who flirts with any woman mistakes a Rajah for his next target. It turns out the Sultan has a beard… and a sword!
Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…
A Flirt’s Mistake is an eight minute short.
A Flirt’s Mistake (1914) rates 3 of 5 stars.
