Category: Movies

“Why Worry?” starring Harold Lloyd / Z-View

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Why Worry? (1923)

Director: Fred Newmeyer, Sam Taylor

Screenplay: Sam Taylor (story), H.M. Walker (titles)

Stars: Harold Lloyd, Jobyna Ralston, John Aasen, Wally Howe.

Tagline: Come and See the Enormous Giant, 8ft. 9in. high, who helps Harold Quell a Revolution in Six reels of the cleverest and funniest humor imaginable.

The Plot…

Harold Van Pelham (Lloyd) is a wealthy hypochondriac.  Pelham decides to go to the South American island of Paradiso for his health.  There Pelham finds himself in the middle of a revolution… winds up rooming with men who are to be shot at dawn… befriends a giant… takes on an army… and finds true love!

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)

Why Worry really takes off when Lloyd befriends the giant with a toothache.  Repeated attempts to remove the giant’s tooth bring laughs.

The funniest scene has Lloyd repeatedly jumping on a commandant and hitting him until the soldiers he was leading (from the rear) realize what is happening.  Lloyd then runs off with the soldiers after him and the Captain again leading from behind.  Lloyd then knocks the Captain down and starts beating him again.  This happens several times with Lloyd using some inventive means to get his licks in.

It’s hard to believe Why Worry premiered 100 years ago.

Why Worry? (1923) rates 3 of 5 stars.

“Rumble Through the Dark” starring Aaron Eckhart & Bella Thorne – The Poster and Trailer are Here!

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The poster and trailer for Rumble Through the Dark have done their job.

Deal me in.

Rumble Through The Dark – Watch the trailer now!

In Theaters on November 3 and On Digital and On Demand November 10.

Golden Globe® nominee Aaron Eckhart (The Dark Knight) stars as a desperate, bare-knuckle cage fighter battling for the only thing he has left in Rumble Through The Dark, a riveting action thriller based on Michael Farris Smith’s celebrated novel THE FIGHTER. Bella Thorne (The DUFF) shines alongside Eckhart in this gripping film about one man’s last-ditch effort to save his family home against the strongest of foes and the longest of odds.

Starring Aaron Eckhart, Bella Thorne, Ritchie Coster, Amanda Saunders, Joe Hursley, Mike McColl, Derek Russo, Christopher Winchester, and Marianne Jean-Baptiste.

“The Beekeper” written by Kurt Wimmer, directed by David Ayer, starring Jason Statham – The Poster and Trailer are Here!  

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The Beekeeper is written by Kurt (Sons of Anarchy) Wimmer, directed by David (Sabotage, Fury) Ayer and stars Jason (The Transporter) Statham.

Deal me in.

Expose the corruption. Protect the hive.

Watch the trailer for #TheBeekeeper, directed by David Ayer and starring Jason Statham. Only in theaters January 12.

In The Beekeeper, one man’s brutal campaign for vengeance takes on national stakes after he is revealed to be a former operative of a powerful and clandestine organization known as “Beekeepers.”

Directed By: David Ayer

Starring: Jason Statham, Emmy Raver-Lampman, Josh Hutcherson, Bobby Naderi, Minnie Driver, with Phylicia Rashad and Jeremy Irons

Written By: Kurt Wimmer

The 10 Greatest 1930s Horror Movies!

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Vincent LoVerde at CBR came up with his list of the 10 Greatest Classic Horror Films of the 1930s, Ranked. Before you click over, here is how I’d rank them along with a thought on each.

Loverde

Zablo
10. The Black Cat (1934) *** Vampyr (1932) – I haven’t seen this yet, but hope to this month!
09. Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde (1931) 09. Freaks (1932) – Doesn’t resonate with me. Most folks love it.
08. The Invisible Man (1933) 08. Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde (1931) – Kids miss stuff, adults will see.
07. Island of Lost Souls (1932) 07. Island of Lost Souls (1932) – Another underrated winner!
06. Dracula (1931) 06. The Black Cat (1934) – Underrated. Karloff & Lugosi!
05. King Kong (1933) 05. King Kong (1933) – Who doesn’t love King Kong?
04. Frankenstein (1931) 04. The Invisible Man (1933) – Didn’t care for it as a kid. Love it now.
03. The Bride of Frankenstein (1935) 03. Frankenstein (1931) – was my favorite horror film at one point.
02. Freaks (1932) 02. The Bride of Frankenstein (1935) – Even better than the original.
01. Vampyr (1932) 01. Dracula (1931) – The King of Vampires gets my #1 spot.

“Beast” (2022) starring Idris Elba / Z-View

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Beast (2022)

Director: Baltasar Kormákur

Screenplay: Ryan Engle, story by Jaime Primak Sullivan

Stars: Idris Elba, Sharlto Copley, Iyana Halley, Leah Jeffries.

Tagline: Sometimes the rustle in the bushes actually is a monster.

The Plot…

Dr. Nate Samuels (Elba) was separated from her wife when she developed cancer and died.  Now, in an effort to reconnect with his two teenage daughters he’s taken them on vacation to Africa.  Samuels’ old friend, Martin Battles (Copley) is a biologist with access to restricted areas of the preserve.  As they drive across the savannah they are able to get close to many wild animals.  When they reach a small village on the preserve  they are shocked to find all the villagers dead.  A rouge lion is on the loose.  Before Nate, his daughters and Martin can get back to the truck, the lion attacks.  Martin is badly injured.  Now the group is stranded.  The lion will return.  Their only hope for survival rests with Nate.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)

Watching Beast is an okay way to spend an hour and a half if you’re willing to put your brain on hold.

Beast (2022) rates 2 of 5 stars.

“Reptile” (2023) starring Benicio Del Toro, Justin Timberlake, Eric Bogosian, Alicia Silverstone & Domenick Lombardozzi / Z-View

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Reptile (2023)

Director: Grant Singer

Screenplay: Grant Singer, Benjamin Brewer, Benicio del Toro from a story by Grant Singer, Benjamin Brewer

Stars: Benicio Del Toro, Justin Timberlake, Eric Bogosian, Alicia Silverstone, Domenick Lombardozzi, Frances Fisher, Ato Essandoh, Mike Pniewski, Catherine Dyer, Michael Beasley, James Devoti and Matilda Lutz.

Tagline: Shed the Lies

The Plot…

When real estate agent Summer Elswick (Lutz) is brutally murdered, Detective Tom Nichols (del Toro) and his partner, Detective Dan Cleary (Essandoh) get the case.  As they dig into the murder several suspects begin to appear.  There’s Summer’s boyfriend, Will Grady (Timberlake), co-owner of the real estate company she worked for.  The murder victim’s ex-husband also looks good for it.  Then there’s the guy who thinks Grady was responsible for his father’s death.  Maybe he did it to get revenge.

The twisted truth is there.  Nichols will just have to dig through the lies and alibies.  He won’t like what he discovers.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)

Reptile features an excellent cast.

  • Benicio del Toro always brings his “A” game.
  • Justin Timberlake surprised me.  He plays the boyfriend of the murder victim.  The guy’s just drained due to her death… or is he?
  • Alicia Silverstone is great as del Toro’s sexy wife.  She appears to be devoted and in love.  But is she?
  • I love when Domenick Lombardozzi shows up in a movie/series.  I first took notice of him in Tulsa King.  Then I went, “Yeah, that’s the guy from…”  Lombardozzi is always solid.
  • Eric Bogosian,  Frances Fisher and Mike Pniewski are in smaller, but important roles.  They are welcome additions to the cast.

Hats off to director and co-writer Grant Singer for creating a murder mystery populated by characters that all feel real.  Singer handles the action and quiet moments well.  I look forward to his next project.

Reptile (2023) rates 4 of 5 stars.

“No One Will Save You” (2023) written & directed by Brian Duffield, starring Kaitlyn Dever / Z-View

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No One Will Save You (2023)

Director: Brian Duffield

Screenplay: Brian Duffield

Stars: Kaitlyn Dever, Zack Duhame, Geraldine Singer, Dane Rhodes.

Tagline: None.

The Plot…

Brynn (Dever) is a young woman living on the outskirts of a small town.  A tragic event turned many of those in town against Brynn. Now she suffers from anxiety and is a bit of a recluse.  When Brynn wakes one night to discover that aliens are invading, she realizes that to survive, she will have to save herself.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)

Hats off to Brian Duffield who wrote and directed No One Will Save You.  The film is engaging from the start.  Duffield knows how to tell a story.  He chooses interesting camera angles and shots.  Duffield’s scares don’t rely on jump takes and he knows how to create tension.

No One Will Save You is basically a one woman show.  Thankfully, Kaitlyn “Justified” Dever is up to the task.  She was excellent.  Dever’s performance is even more impressive taking into account there are less than ten words spoken in the entire movie.

Stephen King said this about “NO ONE WILL SAVE YOU: Brilliant, daring, involving, scary. You have to go back over 60 years, to a TWILIGHT ZONE episode called ‘The Invaders’ to find anything remotely like it. Truly unique.”

I agree with everything Stephen King wrote.  If you feel a “but” coming, you’re right.  No One Will Save You is all that Mr. King said…

…BUT, movies are sometimes like trips.  It’s not about the destination, but the journey.  Where No One Will Save You fell short is the ending. I didn’t hate how the film concluded, but for me, it was a step below everything that came before.  The ending provides plenty to think about and discuss.  I loved everything up to the end.  I hope that doesn’t put potential viewers off watching No One Will Save You, because the journey is worth the trip.

No One Will Save You (2023) rates 3 of 5 stars.

“Blood and Snow” – The Poster and Trailer are Here!

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I like the concept, the poster and trailer for Blood and Snow.  Yes, I get that it looks like a poor man’s version of John Carpenter’s The Thing.  So call me a poor man and deal me in.

Two scientists uncover a meteorite impact site in the Arctic tundra, but it kills one scientist and infects the other. A nearby base takes in the lone survivor whilst trying to understand what happened. The lone survivor may not be the person they think she is.