Category: Movies

“The Boy Who Cried Werewolf” (1973) / Z-View

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The Boy Who Cried Werewolf (1973)

Director:  Nathan Juran

Screenplay: Bob Homel

Stars: Kerwin Mathews, Robert J. Wilke, George Gaynes, David S. Cass Sr., Tim Haldeman

Tagline: Possible in this day and age? Those who didn’t believe… are dead!

The Plot…

It’s Ritchie’s weekend with his dad.  They decide to camp out.  That night while walking back to the cabin, they are attacked by a werewolf.  Dad is bitten, but manages to impale the creature.  When police arrive they find a dead man on the fence.  Later when Dad starts acting strange, Ritchie knows his dad is becoming a werewolf.  Even worse no one believes him.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Like a bad 1970s tv movie, but we don’t even get the benefit of commercials.

The Boy Who Cried Werewolf (1973) earns 1 of 5 stars.

“The Equalizer 3” (2023) directed by Antoine Fuqua, starring Denzel Washington & Dakota Fanning / Z-View

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The Equalizer 3 (2023)

Director:  Antoine Fuqua

Screenplay: Richard Wenk based on The Equalizer by Michael Sloan, Richard Lindheim

Stars: Denzel Washington, Dakota Fanning

Tagline: Justice knows no borders.

The Plot…

Robert McCall (Washington) finds himself in the small Italian town of Altamonte while he recovers from a gunshot wound,  McCall’s road to recovery is a slow one.  As time passes, McCall is accepted and treated with kindness by the locals.  He begins to think that Altamonte may become his new home.  McCall loves the pace and peacefulness.

When a crime boss and his gang begin to move in on the town businesses, McCall decides to get involved.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

The Equalizer 3 is the fifth teaming of Denzel Washington and director Antoine Fuqua.  Their other collaborations are Training Day (2001), The Equalizer (2014), The Magnificent Seven (2016) and The Equalizer 2 (2018).

The Equalizer 3 is the second teaming of Denzel Washington and his co-star Dakota Fanning.  They first appeared together in Man on Fire (2004).

The Equalizer 3 is a worthy follow-up to the first two films.

The Equalizer 3 (2023) earns 4 of 5 stars.

RIP: Lynne Marta

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It has been announced that Lynn Marta died January 11, 2024, from cancer.  Ms. Marta was 78.

Lynn Marta began her professional acting career with a guest spot on the television show, Gidget starring Sally Field.  Throughout the rest of her nearly 40 year career, Ms. Marta appeared on television and in feature films.

Some of Lynn Marta’s television appearances include: Gidget; The Monkees; Then Came Bronson; Love American Style (18 episodes); Dan August; Cannon (tv movie); Mod Squad; The Roookies; Owen Marshall, Counselor at Law; The F.B.I. (4 episodes); Gunsmoke; Assignment: Vienna; Cannon (2 episodes); Genesis II; Marcus Welby, M.D.; Insight (2 episodes); Kojak; Adams of Eagle Lake (2 episodes); Medical Center (4 episodes); The Streets of San Francisco (2 episodes); Barnaby Jones (4 episodes); Starsky and Hutch (4 episodes); The Rockford Files; CHiPs; The Misadventures of Sheriff Lobo; Charlie’s Angels (3 episodes); Vega$ (2 episodes); Trapper John, M.D. (2 episodes); Matt Houston; Knight Rider; Designing Women (2 episodes); Law & Order; The Young and the Restless; ER; Days of Our Lives (24 episodes) and American Dreams.

Some of Lynn Marta’s feature film appearances include: Red Sky at Morning; Joe Kidd; 43: The Richard Petty Story; Footloose and The First Power.

I’m not sure when I first saw Lynn Marta.  It was probably in her appearance on The Monkees.  She sure did act in many of the shows I regularly watched.  What a career she had!

Our thoughts and prayers go out to Joyce Randolph’s family, friends and fans.

Kevin Hart & Chris Rock: Headliners Only (2023) / Z-View

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Kevin Hart & Chris Rock: Headliners Only (2023)

Director:  Rashidi Natara Harper

Stars: Kevin Hart, Chris Rock, Cedric The Entertainer, D.L. Hughley, Keith Robinson, Tony Rock and Wanda Sykes.

Tagline: None.

The Plot…

Kevin Hart and Chris Rock take us behind the scenes and back to their humble starts in comedy as they prepare for a series of New York shows.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

I was expecting to see some of the show highlights featuring the comedy of Kevin Hart and Chris Rock.  That’s not the focus of this documentary which instead features each comedian (and others) talking about the rise to the top.

Kevin Hart & Chris Rock: Headliners Only (2023) earns 3 of 5 stars.

“Asteroid City” (2023) written and directed by Wes Anderson / Z-View

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Asteroid City (2023)

Director:  Wes Anderson

Screenplay:  Wes Anderson; story by Wes Anderson, Roman Coppola

Stars: Jason Schwartzman, Scarlett Johansson, Tom Hanks, Jeffrey Wright, Bryan Cranston, Edward Norton, Hope Davis, Steve Park, Liev Schreiber, Steve Carell, Tilda Swinton, Jeff Goldblum, Adrien Brody, Rita Wilson, Willem Dafoe, Margot Robbie and Matt Dillon.

Tagline: None.

The Plot…

Set up as a television documentary of a play written by a famous playwright, Asteroid City follows the story of the play as well as the making of it.  The play is in color and widescreen. Set in an imagined 1950s where futuristic and retro designs are merged.  The behind the scenes “making of” is in black and white, television ratio.

The play concerns the happenings at a Science convention for children being held in Asteroid City.  When a UFO appears, the military gets involved.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

I was attracted to Asteroid City because of it’s amazing cast and the look of the trailer.  It is interesting at the start, but when the movie was over I felt like I’d seen an experimental play that fell short.  It’s not terrible and it held my attention, but left me feeling flat.  Your mileage may vary.

Asteroid City (2023) earns 2 of 5 stars.

“Room 237” (2012) / Z-View

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Room 237 (2012)

Director:  Rodney Ascher

Screenplay: Rodney Ascher

Stars: Archival footage featuring Stanley Kubrick, Stephen King, Jack Nicholson, Shelley Duvall, Danny Lloyd, Scatman Crothers, Joe Turkel, Barry Nelson, Tom Cruise and Nicole Kidman.

Tagline: Some movies stay with you forever…and ever…and ever.

The Plot…

Room 237 features nine segments that explore theories that Stanley Kubrick imbedded hidden messages and themes within The Shining.  Some of the theories include that Kubrick directed fake footage of the first moon landing since we really didn’t land with Apollo 11, cultural assimilation of Native Americans or American Imperialism or Genocide are the real themes of the film.  There are more.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

If you don’t like one of the theories, don’t worry, another will soon be presented.  A lot of sizzle, but no steak.

Room 237 (2012) earns 2 of 5 stars.

“The Underground: Director’s Cut” (2021) / Z-View

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The Underground: Director’s Cut (2021)

Director:  Darcy Weir

Stars: Darcy Weir

Tagline: A hidden reality and the true story of Phil Schneider.

The Plot…

In 1995, Phil Schneider made a splash at UFO conventions.  Schneider claimed his father was a former German U-boat commander who came to the US after the war. Schneider said his father worked as part of the Philadelphia Experiment. According to legend the US did an experiment to make a US destroyer disappear.  The ship was teleported briefly from the Philadelphia Naval Shipyard to Norfolk, Virginia.  When the ship returned some members of the crew had disappeared, while others were melded into the ship and some went insane.

Phil Schneider said that he worked for the government as part of the team making Deep Underground Military Bases across the United States.  Schneider claimed that on one of the deep digs he and marines became involved in battle with aliens.  Schneider said he was gravely wounded, and that a marine died saving his life.  Schneider said the US government knows that we have aliens among us and some have evil intent.

Phil Schneider died in 1996.  The official result was suicide although some conspiracy theorists believe he was murdered.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

The Underground: Director’s Cut presents video footage of Schneider speaking at a UFO convention.  Most of the film is stock footage and anecdotal theories.  If you’re looking for solid evidence of aliens or government coverups, this isn’t the place.

The Underground: Director’s Cut (2021) earns 2 of 5 stars.

“Lights Out” starring Frank Grillo, Mekhi Phifer, Jaime King, Dermot Mulroney and Scott Adkins – The Poster and Trailer are Here!

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The poster and trailer for Lights Out starring Frank Grillo, Mekhi Phifer, Jaime King, Dermot Mulroney and Scott Adkins is here.

Deal me in.

A drifting ex-soldier turns underground fighter with the help of a just released ex-con, pitting them both against corrupt cops and hired killers gunning for them and all those they care about.

CAST: Frank Grillo, Mekhi Phifer, Jaime King, Dermot Mulroney and Scott Adkins

“Badland Hunters” starring Don Lee – The Trailer is Here!

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The full trailer for Badland Hunters starring Don Lee is here.

Hunt or die.
Welcome to the badlands.

Don Lee from《Train to Busan》《The Roundup》 and《Eternals》 is now a tough hunter in the dystopian world, who fights for survival and salvation.

Will hunters save us all?
or will villains take us all?

2024 Netflix action blockbuster film
Badland Hunters | January 26, only on Netflix

“The Creator” (2023) / Z-View

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The Creator (2023)

Director:  Gareth Edwards

Screenplay: Gareth Edwards, Chris Weitz; story by Gareth Edwards

Stars: John David Washington, Madeleine Yuna Voyles, Gemma Chan, Allison Janney, Ralph Ineson and Ken Watanabe.

Tagline: Humanity evolves.

The Plot…

When a nuclear warhead is exploded over Los Angeles, Artificial Intelligence is blamed.  In turn, most Western nations declare war and move to exterminate all A.I. “beings”.  One of the end goals is to exterminate Nirmata, the genius behind recent A.I. advancements.

Former U.S. Army sergeant Joshua Taylor (Washington) is called back to duty.  Taylor had worked undercover and was married to Nirmata’s daughter.  She was thought to have been killed in a US military strike.  Recent video has surfaced and she may be alive.  Taylor is led to believe that if he participates in the mission, he may find his wife is still alive.  The mission is to destroy the next generation of A.I. before it reaches full power.

Taylor agrees.  The team is dispatched.  Taylor discovers that there has been an advancement in AI.  It is in the form of a young girl.  Taylor also learns that he and the world have been lied to.  Now, Taylor and the “girl” are on the run.  The fate of the world could hang in the balance.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

For a film dealing with artificial intelligence, it has a lot of heart.

Allison Janney may surprise a lot of folks in her role as a hardened military commander.  She’s excellent.

The Creator (2023) earns 4 of 5 stars.

“Abbott and Costello Meet Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde” (1953) starring Bud Abbott, Lou Costello & Boris Karloff / Z-View

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Abbott and Costello Meet Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde (1953)

Director:  Charles Lamont

Screenplay: Lee Loeb, John Grant; story by Sid Fields, Grant Garett;inspired by The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde by Robert Louis Stevenson

Stars: Bud Abbott, Lou Costello, Boris Karloff, Helen Westcott, Reginald Denny, John Dierkes, Harry Cording and Craig Stevens.

Tagline: The Laughs Are Twice as MONSTER-OUS as Ever Before!

The Plot…

A maniacal serial killer stalks the streets of London.  Slim (Abbott) and Tubby (Costello), American cops sent over to study England’s police methods, are pulled into the case.

Let the good times roll!

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

In this version, Dr. Jekyll isn’t such a nice guy.  In most outings, it isn’t until he becomes Mr. Hyde that he becomes evil.

Boris Karloff appeared with Abbott and Costello four years earlier in Abbott and Costello Meet the Killer.

Abbott and Costello Meet Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde (1953) earns 5 of 5 stars.