“The Dark Knight Rises” – The Poster is Here!
I like this poster for The Dark Knight Rises!
Author: Craig Zablo
UFC 140 Predictions
UFC 140 is live tonight on pay-per-view with what should be very entertaining fights. Let’s take a look at the card and my predictions…
- Antonio Rogerio Nogueira vs Tito Ortiz – I’m a fan of both fighters. Ortiz, who recently appeared to be on his way out of the UFC, has looked good in recent fights. Although a slight underdog, I’m going with the former Huntington Beach Bad Boy.
Prediction: Ortiz wins via a close decision.
- Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira vs Frank Mir – are two more fighters that I love to watch, although for the record, Mir is my favorite UFC fighter. The two fought before and Mir won by KO. After the fight the news came out that Nog had been dealing with a staff infection and wasn’t at his best.
Prediction: Mir wins with a via TKO.
- Jon Jones vs Lyoto Machida – Jones is the current champ and Machida is the former champ. This is supposed to be a very close fight. I don’t see it that way.
Prediction: Jones wins via KO.
This will probably not surprise regular readers, but I be back in the morning with the results!
Steve Niles’ Photo Blog
Steve Niles at one time had a photo blog where he shared photos from his collection. Some were behind-the-scenes pictures like the one above of William Shatner and Leonard Nimoy, still in costume, on a break from filming the original Star Trek tv series to check out the latest issue of Mad magazine.
Here’s Frankenstein taking a little “me time” for a smoke and a cup of joe.
And here we have one of the flying monkeys from The Wizard of Oz. If you’ve read this far, my guess is you’ll dig Steve’s photos.
10 Remakes That Are Better Than the Original
Here’s an article that looks at 10 Movie Remakes That Are Better Than The Originals. Let’s look at the list…
- Cape Fear (1991) – I’m a fan of the noir classic starring Robert Mitchum and Gregory Peck, but in the remake DeNiro took Max Cady to a level unavailable to movie audiences in 1962. Both versions are excellent, but the nod goes to the remake.
- Invasion of the Body Snatchers (1978) – I totally disagree. The 1956 original is a classic that still holds up. The remake doesn’t come close.
- Little Shop of Horrors (1986) – Didn’t care for either version.
- The Thomas Crown Affair (1999) – I know I’m in the minority, but I never was a big Steve McQueen fan. The original film is definitely a product of the 60’s. The remake was okay, and good enough to get the nod as the better film.
- The Fly (1986) – The remake benefited from advanced special effects and Jeff Goldblum as the off-center scientist. Having Geena Davis was also a plus! The remake was much scarier although who can forget the little voice in the original crying, “Help me! Help me!” as the spider advanced across his web? Nod to the remake.
- The Man Who Knew Too Much (1956) – Neither are Hichcock’s best but the second is better.
- 3:10 to Yuma (2007) – Three things really help the sequel: 1] Russell Crowe 2] Christian Bale and 3] fans hungry for a good western. Both the original with Glenn Ford and the remake are good, but I’ll give the nod to the remake.
- A Star is Born (1954) – I’ve never seen the Judy Garland version, or the 1937 original. Sorry.
- The Ten Commandments (1956) – Since I’ve only seen the remake…
- My Fair Lady (1964) – I’m quite content to say that I’ve never seen either version.
This will probably not surprise regular readers, but I think Stallone’s “Get Carter” [although not a perfect film] is better than the Michael Caine original.
The Nicest Place on the Internet
So you come home from a hard day at work, things just aren’t going right and you’re feeling down. Sounds like you need a hug.
Well, guess what?
You can ALWAYS get a hug at The Nicest Place on the Internet!
Jeff Johnson Knows the Cure
The piece above was drawn by Jeff Johnson at last year’s Heroes Con. Jeff is one of the founding fathers of Drink and Draw [along with Rev. Dave Johnson and Dan Panosian]. When I asked him to autograph my hardcover Drink and Draw, Volume 2, I also asked Jeff about doing a Stallone piece for my collection. Jeff was up for it and chose Cobra. He then proceeded to kill it with this sketch.
Hopefully, Jeff will be up for another Stallone piece in the future.
TUF 14 Results
Last night the Ultimate Fighter Season 14 finale aired live on SPIKE. The fight I was really looking forward to was Bisping vs Miller. I figured Bisping would win in a fairly close, hard fought match. Boy, was I wrong. Bisping dominated Miller before earning a third round TKO. It was such a lopsided win that Dana White said we may not see Miller back in the UFC.
Dennis Bermudez vs. Diego Brandao. A lot of people were surprised when Bermudez took it to Brandao in a standup battle. There were a lot of powerful exchanges and Bermudez appeared to be in control and on his way to a victory when Brandao grabbed Bermudez’s arm and spun into an armbar forcing the tap at 4:51 in round one.
John Dodson vs. T.J. Dillashaw. This was shaping up to be an interesting fight until Dillashaw got cracked across the face and went down. He quickly tried to stand up but was wobbly and when he went down again, Dodson jumped on him with hammerfists. The fight was stopped although Dillashaw wasn’t out and was attempting to get a single leg. Dodson proceeded to run around the cage doing flips, gyrating and screeching his “laugh”. Pretty classless.
Yves Edwards vs. Tony Ferguson. Ferguson won via a unanimous decision.
Johnny Bedford vs. Louis Gaudinot. Bedford won via 3rd round TKO.
TUF Finale & Preview of Lesnar vs Overeem
Tonight the Ultimate Fighter Season 14 finale airs live on SPIKE at 8PM. It’ll be the first time in years that the coaches actually fight on the same card… and that’s the way it should be. Here are the bouts we have to look forward to…
Michael Bisping vs. Jason “Mayhem” Miller
Dennis Bermudez vs. Diego Brandao
John Dodson vs. T.J. Dillashaw
Yves Edwards vs. Tony Ferguson
Johnny Bedford vs. Louis Gaudinot
Although I think we’re in for an entertaining evening of fights, it’s the main event that I’m really looking to see. Bisping goes in as the favorite, but Miller shouldn’t be a pushover. I think the fight is going to go to a decision and I’m taking Bisping.
While we’re on the subject of MMA, have you see this preview for the Brock Lesnar vs Alistair Overeem fight. THAT fight is going to be entertaining. I can’t wait to see those two giants enter the octagon.
Max Allan Collins, Chris Mills & Nolan
Don’t you love the look of the new editions of Max Allan Collins’ Nolan crime novels coming for Perfect Crime Books? For those not in the know, Nolan is an aging thief and Max Allan Collins is the author of the Nate Heller series, the Quarry series, and many, many other books. I’ve never read anything that wasn’t excellent that was written by Max Allan Collins.
Oh, by the way, our buddy, Chris Mills designed the Nolan covers and did a fantastic job. Take a bow, Chris!
Marilyn Monroe: 30 Classic Images
About a month ago we posted a link to some rare photos of Marilyn Monroe taken in 1953 when she was filming [my favorite Monroe film], River of No Return [with Robert Mitchum]? The link cam thanks to The Huffington Post.
If you have any interest in Marilyn Monroe and/or historical fiction you should check out Bye Bye, Baby by Max Allan Collins. It’s one of my favorite Nate Heller books and they are all excellent.
Justified Three Times Over
Justified.
If you’re not watching it, you should give it a go. If it’s not my favorite show it’s definitely in the top 3 [Breaking Bad and Walking Dead are right there, too]. The new season starts in January, but FX has released three new teasers to get our attention,
The first teaser is the weakest of the three, but still makes me want more. The second teaser is my favorite. The third teaser is the most creative in that it makes you think one thing and then realize that you’re totally wrong… the third teaser also hints at what could be a major plot point of the third season.
Ryan Cody Tries on Rhinestone
This his week Ryan Cody is back with Sly from Rhinestone.
Ryan is still running an unbelievable sale [where you get a free sketch with every purchase. That’s right. Buy Volume 1 of his sketchbook for five bucks and get a free sketch. Same if you buy Volume 2 or the Icarus Convention Issue].
If you want to see more of his art then check out Ryan’s blog and his DA site.
Thanks to Ryan! – Craig
Phillips’ Fatale 3 Cover
Yesterday we saw the very cool 12 Angry Men cover that Sean Phillips did for the Criterion dvds. Today we feast our eyes on Phillips’ cover for Fatale 3.
Ah, life is good.
Give Thanks and “You’re Welcome”
Today is Thanksgiving and many of us will come together with family and friends to pause and give thanks for what we have and perhaps what we’ve been spared. Charles Dickens may have said it best…
- “Reflect upon your present blessings, of which every man has many–not on your past misfortunes, of which all men have some.”
Of course not everyone gives thanks. The Sexy Pilgrim doesn’t. Instead he says, “You’re welcome.”
I hope that you and yours have one of the best Thanksgiving Days ever. Count your blessings, eat too much turkey, ignore that family member who irritates you, make big plans, eat too much pie, doze in front of the tube, have a bit more turkey, and remember to watch a bit of the parade and some football!
