Previews and Reviews that are Z's Views
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+.
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)
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.
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.
“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
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
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)
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.
At HeroesCon 2026, I commissioned Mark Stegbauer for two sketch cards: Sly Stallone as Marion Cobretti from Cobra and Stallone as Stanley Kowalski from Lords of Flatbush. This, in case you didn’t guess, is the Stanley Kowalski card.
Each August Mark does an Action Against Alzheimer’s art campaign. It’s a great way to pick up cool art and at the same time help a wonderful cause. Please consider watching for it (and participating if you can).
“That’s the whole thing. That’s the whole thing. You see, I don’t need a bike to go any place, Chico. To go places, I mean to really go places, you gotta have imagination.” – Stanley Rosiello
Frank Miller: American Genius (2021)
Director: Silenn Thomas
Screenplay: Silenn Thomas
Stars: Frank Miller
Tagline: None.
The Plot…
Frank Miller revolutionized comics with his groundbreaking art and writing. Hollywood called and Miller answered. Along the way there were personal struggles which Miller overcame.
Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…
Frank Miller is considered a living legend. This is his story.
Frank Miller created Sin City, my all-time favorite comic series. He also revolutionized comics with Daredevil, The Dark Knight Returns, Ronin, Batman: Year One and so many other stories. I’m glad he overcame his personal issues to see the love fans have for him.
Frank Miller: American Genius (2021) rates 4 of 5 stars.
Mike Ditka died today from natural causes. Mr. Ditka was 86.
Mike Ditka was born Michael Dyczko. His family changed their surname to Ditka because it was so hard to pronounce. Mike played three sports in high school where he excelled at football. After his graduation, Mr. Ditka was recruited by Notre Dame, Penn State, and Pitt. He planned to become a dentist.
Mike Ditka selected Pitt where he was again he was a three sport athlete: football, baseball and basketball. He started all three years in a variety of positions. Mike Ditka was selected as the team captain his senior year. He was also a unanimous first-team selection on the College Football All-America Team.
Mike Ditka was selected by the Chicago Bears fifth overall in the 1961 NFL draft. Mr. Ditka was selected as Rookie of the Year due to his success on the field. He would go on to make the Pro Bowl in each of the next five years.
Unable to reach a contract agreement, Mike Ditka was traded to the Philadelphia Eagles where he played for two years. Injuries plagued Mr. Ditka and after two years he was traded to the Dallas Cowboys. He played five seasons for the Cowboys before announcing his retirement as a player. At the time of his retirement, Mike Ditka’s 427 receptions were the most by a tight end in NFL history.
When Mr. Ditka announced his retirement, Dallas’ Head Coach, Tom Landry, immediately hired him as an assistant coach. Mike Ditka’s successful run with the Cowboys inspired him to express his interest in a head coach position with the Chicago Bears if it became available. It did and in 1982 Mike Ditka was hired to fill it.
In 1984, their third season under Coach Ditka, the Bears went to the National Championship. In 1985, the Bears compiled a 15-1 record and were Super Bowl Champions. Mike Ditka went on to coach the Chicago Bears through the 1992 season. After a four year break, Mike Ditka accepted the head coach position for the New Orleans Saints where he coached for three years. Mike Ditka then moved into broadcasting working for NBC, CBS and ESPN.
Mike Ditka was the first tight end inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
As a lifelong Chicago Bears fan, Mike Ditka is easily my all-time favorite football coach.
Our thoughts and prayers go out to Mike Ditka’s family, friends and fans.
Lioness: Season 3 (2026)
Created by: Taylor Sheridan
Director: Michael Friedman (Eps. 1-3; 7-8); D.J. Caruso (Eps. 4; 6); Robert McLachlan (Ep. 5);
Teleplay: Taylor Sheridan (Eps. 1-8)
Stars: Zoe Saldaña, Nicole Kidman, Morgan Freeman, Michael Kelly, Laysla De Oliveira, Genesis Rodriguez, Jill Wagner, Dave Annable, LaMonica Garrett, James Jordan, Austin Hébert, Jonah Wharton, Thad Luckinbill, Hannah Love, Ian Bohen and Elizaveta Neretin.
Tagline: None.
The Plot…
When Joe McNamara is kidnapped, her team must figure out who took her and locate them before Joe is taken out of the country to a certain tortuous death.
Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…
Season 3 ups the stakes. Each episode amps up the tension and the mystery behind Joe’s kidnapping.
Kyle played by Thad Luckinbill has become a favorite character. He could lead a spin-0ff series.
Lioness remains must-see tv. Bring on Season 4.
Lioness: Season 3 rates 5 of 5 stars.
Extinction (2015)
Director: Miguel Ángel Vivas
Screenplay: Alberto Marini, Miguel Ángel Vivas; based on Y pese a todo by Juan de Dios Garduño
Stars: Matthew Fox, Jeffrey Donovan, Quinn McColgan
Tagline: When the undead can evolve…no one is safe.
The Plot…
The zombie apocalypse came. Jack, his pregnant wife Emma and their friend Patrick were part of a two bus caravan trying to get to a safe zone. When the convoy was overrun by zombies, Emma was bitten. The baby was saved, but Emma died.
Jack and Patrick and baby Lu found refuge in a small remote deserted town.
Nine years passed. The climate changed. Now it is perpetual winter.
Jack and Lu live in a house with boarded windows and security fencing. Patrick lives next door with his dog. Jack and Patrick are no longer friends and they rarely interact. Although they haven’t seen other people or zombies for years, Lu is safer with both men close.
They believe the zombies died off due to the cold. They’re soon to find out, they didn’t die out… they evolved.
Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…
Extinction’s opening is awesome. It’s everything you’d want. Quick concise character developement, tension, suspense and horror. It then becomes more of a character study until the end when we get the zombie attack we’ve been waiting for.
Extinction (2015) rates 3 of 5 stars.
Eva Marie Saint died yesterday from natural causes. Ms. Saint was 102.
Eva Marie Saint graduated from Bowling Green State University in Ohio where she studied acting. While there Ms. Saint was a member of Theta Alpha Phi, the theater honorary fraternity. She also earned the lead in the stage production of Personal Appearance.
Eva Marie Saint began her career as a page for NBC. A role on the television show Campus Hoopla followed. Eva Marie Saint appeared in Life Magazine twice before becoming a star. The first time was in a photograph in an essay about television. The second time Ms. Saint was profiled as a struggling actress trying to make it.
Eva Marie Saint began getting roles and good notices for her acting. In 1954, Ms. Saint won the Outer Critics Circle Special Award for her Broadway role in The Trip to Bountiful. In 1955, she nominated for her first Emmy Award for “Best Actress In A Single Performance” for her role on The Philco Television Playhouse production of Middle of the Night by Paddy Chayefsky. She won another Emmy nomination for the 1955 television musical version of Our Town. In between, these two awards Eva Marie Saint co-starred with Marlon Brando in On the Waterfront. This role won her the Academy Award for Best Actress in a Supporting Role.
Eva Marie Saint’s career spanned 75 years on stage, television and feature films.
Some of Eva Marie Saint’s television performances include: A Christmas Carol; Kraft Mystery Theater; The Chevrolet Tele-Theater; Lights Out; Suspense; Actor’s Studio (4 episodes); The Clock (3 episodes); Buck Rogers (3 episodes); The Prudential Family Playhouse (2 episodes); One Man’s Family (12 episodes); City Hosital; Man Against Crime; A Trip to Bountiful; The Web (2 episodes); Martin Kane, Private Eye (40 episodes); Studio One (3 episodes); Goodyear Television Playhouse (2 episodes); The Philco Television Playhouse (5 episodes); Producer’s Playhouse (2 episodes); The First Woman President; How the West Was Won (4 episodes); The Love Boat (2 episodes); Love Leads the Way; Fatal Vision; A Year in the Life (3 episodes); Breaking Home Ties; Moonlighting (6 episodes); American Masters; Titanic (2 episodes); Fraiser and The Legend of Korra (5 episodes).
Some of Eva Marie Saint’s feature film appearances include: On the Waterfront; A Hatful of Rain; Raintree County; North By Northwest; Exodus; All Fall Down; 36 Hours; The Russians Are Coming, The Russians Are Coming; Grand Prix; Superman Returns and Mariette in Ecstasy.
My favorite Eva Marie Saint roles are in On the Waterfront and North by Northwest. She was so good in both (and everything she did).
Our thoughts and prayers go out to Eva Marie Saint’s family, friends and fans.
Marjoe Gortner died on October 2nd from congestive heart failure.
Marjoe was born into a family that had a long line of preachers. His father, Vernon Gortner, was a third-generation Christian revival preacher. Marjoe’s name was a combination of the biblical names Mary and Joseph. As a small child Marjoe had the ability to mimick adults. They trained him in what to say and what gestures to make as his spoke. Marjoe’s parents had him ordained at the age of four. Marjoe became a hit on the revival circuit.
As an adult Marjoe came forward to decry his days as a child preacher. Marjoe exposed the lies, fake “healing” items, and scams perpetrated on the unsuspecting public. Marjo went so far to participate in Marjoe, an exposé documentary which won the Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature.
The success of the documentary opened opportunities for Marjoe to act. Marjoe began his acting career in 1973 with a role in the pilot for Kojak. For the remainer of his career Marjoe acted on television and feature films.
Some of Marjoe Gortner’s television performances include: The Marcus-Nelson Murders; Barnaby Jones; Medical Center; Police Story (2 episodes); Viva Knievel; Laugh-In (2 episodes); Fantasy Island (2 episodes); The A-Team; Matt Houston; Streethawk; Otherworld; Airwolf; T.J. Hooker (2 episodes); Hotel; Half Nelson and Falcon Crest (17 episodes).
Some of Marjoe Gortner’s feature film appearances include: Earthquake; Bobbie Joe & the Outlaw; The Food of the Gods; Starcrash; American Ninja 3: Bloodhunt and Wild Bill.
I first became aware of Marjoe Gorter in the movie Earthquake. He played a psycho Nationalguardsman. His most famous role was probably in Bobby Jo & the Outlaw. He played the outlaw and Bobbie Jo was played by a pre-Wonder Woman Linda Carter.
Our thoughts and prayers go out to Marjoe Gortner’s family, friends and fans.
