Category: Movies

“EXPEND4BLES” (2023) – The Official Red Band Trailer is Here!

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EXPEND4BLES – Only In Theaters September 22. Starring Jason Statham, Sylvester Stallone, Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson, Megan Fox, Dolph Lundgren, Tony Jaa, Iko Uwais, Randy Couture, Jacob Scipio, Levy Tran, with Andy Garcia.

A new generation of stars join the world’s top action stars for an adrenaline-fueled adventure in Expend4bles. Reuniting as the team of elite mercenaries, Jason Statham, Dolph Lundgren, Randy Couture, and Sylvester Stallone are joined for the first time by Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson, Megan Fox, Tony Jaa, Iko Uwais, Jacob Scipio, Levy Tran, and Andy Garcia. Armed with every weapon they can get their hands on and the skills to use them, The Expendables are the world’s last line of defense and the team that gets called when all other options are off the table. But new team members with new styles and tactics are going to give “new blood” a whole new meaning.

“Extraction 2” directed by Sam Hargrave, starring Chris Hemsworth / Z-View

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Extraction 2 (2023)

Director: Sam Hargrave

Screenplay: Joe Russo based on Ciudad by Ande Parks, Joe Russo, Anthony Russo, Fernando León González

Stars: Chris Hemsworth, Golshifteh Farahani, Adam Bessa, Idris Elba and Daniel Bernhardt.

Tagline:  Prepare for the ride of your life.

The Plot…

Tyler Rake barely survived his last mission.  For nine months he’s been in physical therapy.  When Rake learns that his ex-wife’s sister Ketevan and her two children are being held in foreign prison, he is determined to break them out.  Ketevan’s husband, Davit Radiani, is a high ranking member of the Nagazi, one of the most powerful crime syndicates in the country.   If Rake can break into the prison and get them out, the Nagazi will go to the ends of the earth to kill Rake and bring them back.

Cue the action!!

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)

Sam Hargrave (director), Joe Russo (writer) and Chris Hemsworth (star) return from the original.  There is talk of them reteaming for a third Extraction film. Fingers crossed.

Although Extraction 2 doesn’t start as quickly with action as the original, there is a “one take” action sequence that runs over 20 minutes in the first act.  Once the action starts, it doesn’t let up.

The extended prison break scene is getting a lot of positive buzz (and rightly so), but my favorite scene is a fight that takes place on the glass overhang of a skyscraper.

I would love to see a third Extraction film.

Extraction 2 (2023) rates 5 of 5 stars.

“Rebel Moon” – The Official Teaser Trailer is Here!

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A new universe awaits on Netflix, starting December 22. From Zack Snyder, the filmmaker behind 300, Man of Steel, and Army of the Dead, comes REBEL MOON, an epic science-fantasy event decades in the making. When a peaceful colony on the edge of a galaxy finds itself threatened by the armies of a tyrannical ruling force, Kora (Sofia Boutella), a mysterious stranger living among the villagers, becomes their best hope for survival. Tasked with finding trained fighters who will unite with her in making an impossible stand against the Mother World, Kora assembles a small band of warriors — outsiders, insurgents, peasants and orphans of war from different worlds who share a common need for redemption and revenge. As the shadow of an entire Realm bears down on the unlikeliest of moons, a battle over the fate of a galaxy is waged, and in the process, a new army of heroes is formed.

The Top 10 Best Action Adventure Movies!

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Josh Keslinger at CBR came up with a list of The Top 50 Greatest Action Adventure Movies.  I decided to play along and using just his list of 50, came up with my top ten.  Below you can see my top ten compared to his, as well as some movies that didn’t make his top 50 that would have made mine.

The Top 10 Best Action Adventure Movies

Keslinger

Zablo

10. Terminator 2: Judgment Day

09. Raiders of the Lost Ark

08. Police Story

07. The Dark Knight

06. The Matrix

05. Leon: The Professional

04. Aliens

03. Gladiator

02. Lord of the Rings: Return of the King

01. Die Hard

10. Terminator – Arnold was originally going to be Reese and O.J. Simpson the Terminator!

09. Highlander – There can be only one. All the sequels fell short.

08. Predator – THAT Predator design was so unique!

07. Mad Max: Fury Road – Took “car” movies to a new level.

06. Terminator 2: Judgment Day – A rare sequel that improves on the original.

05. Last of the Mohicans – A movie I can watch anytime.

04. John Wick – Took Keanu Reeves to the next level of stardom and kickstarted a franchise.

03. Aliens – James Cameron did it again. He made a sequel that improved on the original.

02. Enter the Dragon – Bruce Lee’s finest film and the best martial arts movie, by far, of it’s time… or ever.

01. Die Hard – Gets better with every viewing. Spawned a ton of “knock offs”.

Movies That Didn’t Make Keslinger’s Top 50 That Would Have Made Mine Include:
Rambo (2008); World War Z; The Army of the Dead; Extraction; Apocalypto

“Shane” (1953) directed by George Stevens, starring Alan Ladd, Jean Arthur & Van Heflin / Z-View

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Shane (1953)

Director: George Stevens

Screenplay: A. B. Guthrie Jr., Jack Sher based on  Shane by Jack Schaefer

Stars: Alan Ladd, Jean Arthur, Van Heflin, Brandon De Wilde, Jack Palance, Ben Johnson, Edgar Buchanan,
Elisha Cook Jr., Douglas Spencer, John Dierkes, Ellen Corby, Edith Evanson and Leonard Strong.

Tagline:  There never was a man like SHANE. There never was a motion picture like SHANE.

The Plot…

Shane (Ladd), a gunfighter hoping to escape his past, befriends Joe Starrett (Heflin), his wife Marian (Arthur) and their young son Joey (De Wilde) when he stops for water at their small farm.  When Joe invites Shane to stay on, Shane sees the possibility of a quieter life.  But when Rufus Ryker’s men show up trying to run Starrett off, Shane knows that his gunfighter days aren’t over.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)

Shane was nominated for six Academy Awards: Best Picture; Best Actor in a Supporting Role (Palance); Best Actor in a Supporting Role (De Wilde); Best Director; Best Writing Screenplay; and won for Best Cinematography, Color (Loyal Griggs).

Shane is a classic western.  Everything came together to make it so.  George Stevens’ direction, coupled with a first rate story, and top notch cast make for a film deserving the accolades and love it’s received.

Shane is Alan Ladd’s best film and it reinvigorated his career.  It is Jean Arthur’s final feature film.  She came out of retirement to make it as a favor to director George Stevens.

Shane (1953) rates 5 of 5 stars.

“While the City Sleeps” (1956) directed by Fritz Lang, starring Dana Andrews & Rhonda Fleming / Z-View

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While the City Sleeps (1956)

Director: Fritz Lang

Screenplay: Casey Robinson based on The Bloody Spur by Charles Einstein

Stars: Dana Andrews, Rhonda Fleming, George Sanders, Howard Duff, Thomas Mitchell, Vincent Price, Sally Forrest, John Drew Barrymore, Ida Lupino, Robert Warwick, Mae Marsh, Larry J. Blake and Celia Lovsky.

Tagline:  Sensational LIPSTICK Murderer

The Plot…

The Lipstick Killer has the city on edge.  He continues to murder women and leave taunting messages.  The killings are coming with greater frequency. The news media is having a field day.

Amos Kyne (Warwick) died leaving his son, Walter (Price) in charge of the Kyne News Media conglomerate (newspaper, television, wire service).  Walter has little business sense. He decides his best bet is to create an Executive Director to run the corporation.  Walter offers the job to his top reporter/television commentator, Edward Mobley (Andrews).  Mobley turns him down flat.

Walter then tells the head of each arm of the conglomerate that whoever breaks the story of the capture of The Lipstick Killer will become the new Executive Director of Kyne News Media.  All three men want the job and are willing to go to great lengths to get it.  Although Mobley doesn’t want the position, he agrees to help his friend get it. Mobley goes on live tv and taunts the killer.  This puts Mobley and his fiancé in the killer’s path.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)

Vincent Price is perfectly cast as the smarmy son placed in charge of a business that he has no idea how to run.

There’s a lot of romance drama at the expense of serial killer drama.

There was a real serial killer dubbed The Lipstick Killer a decade prior to the release of While the City Sleeps!

While the City Sleeps (1956) rates 3 of 5 stars.

“Out of the Past” (1947) directed by Jacques Tourneur, starring Robert Mitchum, Jane Greer and Kirk Douglas / Z-View

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Out of the Past (1947)

Director: Jacques Tourneur

Screenplay: Daniel Mainwaring based on Build My Gallows High by Daniel Mainwaring

Stars: Robert Mitchum, Jane Greer, Kirk Douglas, Rhonda Fleming, Richard Webb, Steve Brodie, Virginia Huston, Paul Valentine and Dickie Moore.

Tagline:  A MAN – Trying to run away from his past… A WOMAN – Trying to escape her future!

The Plot…

Jeff Markum (Mitchum), a private eye, is hired by an underworld figure named Whit (Douglas).  Whit wants his girl back.  She shot him and stole $40,000.  Whit doesn’t care about the money, he just wants Kathie back.  Whit promises no harm will come to Kathie (Greer).  He loves her.  Whit says Markum will understand once he meets Kathie.  Money is no object.  Kathie could be anywhere in the world, but Whit trusts Markum will find her and Whit will pay for it.

Markum catches up with Kathie in  Acapulco.  She is beautiful. There’s a mutual attraction between Markum and Kathie.  Kathie admits she shot Whit, but denies taking his money.  Markum doesn’t contact Whit.  As the days (and nights) drag on, Markum and Kathie decide to run away together.

They know that Whit will send someone to find them…

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)

Much of Out of the Past is told in flashback that brings us up to speed and then the story is carried forward.  This storytelling device is effectively used.

Out of the Past is a classic for many reasons:

  • Director Jacques Tourneur is at the top of his game.
  • Mitchum was born to play these kinds of roles.
  • Jane Greer is excellent as the good girl/dangerous dame.
  • Kirk Douglas had only played supporting roles up to this point in his career.  I cannot think of a better actor for the role of the rich, confident man who always gets what he wants.
  • Steve Brodie plays Mitchum’s PI partner who turns out to be not much of a partner.
  • Paul Valentine is impressive as Douglas’ right hand hood.
  • Out of the Past is as noir as it gets.  There are tough guys, beautiful but dangerous dames, multiple double crosses, murders, and a shocking ending.  I love this movie more with each viewing.

Out of the Past (1947) rates 5 of 5 stars.

“Stormy Weather” (1943) starring Lena Horne, Bill Robinson, Cab Calloway, Fats Waller, The Nicholas Brothers & Dooley Wilson / Z-View

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Stormy Weather (1943)

Director: Andrew L. Stone

Screenplay: Jerry Horwin, Seymour B. Robinson (story), Frederick J. Jackson, H.S. Kraft (adaptation)

Stars: Lena Horne, Bill Robinson, Cab Calloway and His Cotton Club Orchestra, Fats Waller, The Nicholas Brothers, Dooley Wilson, and Matthew ‘Stymie’ Beard.

Tagline:  If you like good singing, dancing and fun you are sure to get your money’s worth from this picture! We heartily recommend it as a cure for “the blues.”

The Plot…

Through a series of flashbacks Bill Williamson (Robinson) tells the story of his life from his return from fighting in World War I to being a respected performer.  He tells of the struggle to get started and all of the ups and downs along the way… and of meeting the love of his life, the talented performer Selina Rogers (Horne).

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)

Bill Williamson’s story is the fictionalized account of Bill Robinson’s life.  The character played by Lena Horne was created for the movie.  Although it is Bill Robinson’s story, Lena Horne got top billing.

The flashback aspect of Bill talking to some children and then fading to scenes he’s describing took me out of the story and reminded me each time, we’re watching a movie.

My favorite scenes (other than the performances) occur early in the film when Bill and his buddy, Gabe (Wilson) are just back in the states from the war.  Gabe is broke, but trying to impress a girl and things keep getting worse and worse as he convinced her money is no object and she believes him!

As to the performances, they are the reason to watch the film.  Performers include Lena Horne, Bill Robinson, Cab Calloway and His Cotton Club Orchestra, Fats Waller (in his final film; Waller died at the age of 39, before the year was out), The Nicholas Brothers, Dooley Wilson and Cab Calloway.

Stormy Weather (1943) rates 3 of 5 stars.

“My Animal” – The Poster and Trailer are Here!

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The poster and trailer for My Animal has my attention.  This one looks like a winner.

Bobbi Salvör Menuez (Euphoria) and Amandla Stenberg (Bodies Bodies Bodies) ignite in this genre-bending supernatural love story. Tormented by a hidden family curse, Heather is forced to live a secluded life on the outskirts of a small town. When she falls for the rebellious Jonny, their connection threatens to unravel Heather’s suppressed desires, tempting her to unleash the animal within.