Category: Movies

“Blade II” (2002) directed by Guillermo del Toro, starring Wesley Snipes and Ron Perlman / Z-View

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Blade II (2002)

Director: Guillermo del Toro

Screenplay: David S. Goyer based on a character created by Marv Wolfman, Gene Colan

Stars: Wesley Snipes, Kris Kristofferson, Ron Perlman, Leonor Varela, Norman Reedus, Thomas Kretschmann, Luke Goss, Matt Schulze, Danny John-Jules, Donnie Yen, Karel Roden, Tony Curran, Daz Crawford, Samuel Le and Marek Vasut.

Tagline:  In A World Beyond The One We Know, The Forces Of Darkness Fear One Man…Blade!

The Plot…

A new breed of vampire, called “Reapers” have appeared.  The Reapers are primitive, mindless killers, with a need for blood. Their bite can mutate both humans and vampires into Reapers.  When it becomes clear that the Reapers are targeting vampires, Eli Damaskinos, the Vampire Overlord proposes a truce with Blade.  Damaskinos wants Blade to lead his vampire assassins in an effort to wipe out the Reapers.  Blade forms an uneasy alliance with the group of vampires originally assembled to kill him.

Of course not all is as it seems.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)

I was not a fan of the original Blade.  I am a huge fan of Blade II.  I love everything about it.  It’s got a fun story.  The Reapers have a cool design.  The vampire team that joins Blade have unique looks and personalities.  Wesley Snipes was born to play Blade.  Guillermo del Toro understands what makes this type of film work.  I’ve watched Blade II multiple times and like a good vampire, it always sucks me in.

Blade II (2002) rates 5 of 5 stars.

“The Continental: From the World of John Wick” – The Poster & Trailer are Here!

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The three-part event will explore the origin behind the iconic hotel-for-assassins centerpiece of the John Wick universe through the eyes and actions of a young Winston Scott, as he’s dragged into the Hell-scape of 1970’s New York City to face a past he thought he’d left behind. Winston charts a deadly course through the hotel’s mysterious underworld in a harrowing attempt to seize the hotel where he will eventually take his future throne.

“Psycho” (1960) directed by Alfred Hitchcock / Z-View

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Psycho (1960)

Director: Alfred Hitchcock

Screenplay: Joseph Stefano based on Psycho by Robert Bloch

Stars: Anthony Perkins, Janet Leigh, Vera Miles, John Gavin, Martin Balsam, John McIntire, Simon Oakland, Frank Albertson, Patricia Hitchcock, Vaughn Taylor and John Anderson.

Tagline:  The picture you MUST see from the beginning… Or not at all!… For no one will be seated after the start of… Alfred Hitchcock’s greatest shocker Psycho.

The Plot…

Marion Crane (Leigh) in a moment of weakness steals $40,000.00 from her boss.  She packs her bags and heads off to meet her lover (who has no idea of what she has done).  It’s a long drive so Marion decides to spend the night at the Bates’ Motel.  The motel is located off the main road in a remote location.  There’s no one else staying there.  The place is run by mild mannered Norman Bates who takes care of his invalid mother who lives in the house on the hill.

She should be safe for one night…

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)

After reading the Robert Bloch novel, Hitchcock bought the rights to the book and lobbied Paramount Pictures to get the film made.  The studio didn’t have faith in the material.  They agreed to a small budget ($800,000) if Mr. Hitchcock would defer his salary ($250,000) and instead take 60% of the gross.  It worked out well since Hitchcock ended up making about $15 million!

I love that the movie starts out as a crime film and turns into a horror movie.  What other movie has the “lead” actress killed off about an hour in?  The top billed actor, Anthony Perkins, doesn’t even appear until about 30 minutes into the film.

Hitchock loved the score by Bernard Herrmann so much that he reportedly doubled Herrmann’s salary.  Hitchcock also planned to have the shower scene appear as a silent sequence.  After seeing it with the score Herrmann created, Hitch decided it worked better with music.

Anthony Perkins gives a master class in acting when questioned by Martin Balsam.

Simon Oakland shows up for one scene and it’s impact reminded me of Alec Baldwin’s in Glengary Glen Ross.

Psycho is another of Alfred Hitchcock’s classics.

Psycho (1960) rates 5 of 5 stars.

CONAN THE BARBARIAN: THE OFFICIAL STORY OF THE FILM by John Walsh

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CONAN THE BARBARIAN: THE OFFICIAL STORY OF THE FILM by John Walsh comes out today.  Here’s the lowdown…

Official retrospective hardback book telling the story of the making of Conan The Barbarian, including interviews with cast and crew and featuring behind-the-scenes photography from the shoot. Author and filmmaker John Walsh has unearthed a treasure trove of new and archive material for this book.

In 1982, Robert E. Howard’s iconic literary anti-hero, Conan, slashed his way from page to screen after a perilous decades-long journey. With its potent mix of epic vistas and bloody battles, Conan the Barbarian thrilled moviegoers around the world and launched the career of Arnold Schwarzenegger.

Forty years after its release, this cult-classic film is celebrated in CONAN THE BARBARIAN: THE OFFICIAL STORY OF THE FILM, a lush hardback volume that tells the full story of how the film was made. Brand new interviews with cast and crew, as well behind-the-scenes photography from the set and concept art created for the production, give fascinating insights into the development of one of the best-loved fantasy films of the 1980s.

“The Warriors” (1979) directed by Walter Hill / Z-View

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The Warriors (1979)

Director: Walter Hill

Screenplay: David Shaber, Walter Hill based on The Warriors by Sol Yurick

Stars: Michael Beck, James Remar, Dorsey Wright, Brian Tyler, David Harris, Tom McKitterick, Marcelino Sánchez, Terry Michos, Deborah Van Valkenburgh, Roger Hill, David Patrick Kelly, Mercedes Ruehl and Lynne Thigpen.

Tagline: These are the Armies of the Night. They are 100,000 strong. They outnumber the cops five to one. They could run New York City. Tonight they’re all out to get the Warriors.

The Plot…

Cyrus, the leader of the biggest, most powerful gang in New York City has called a truce and requested every gang send nine representatives to a late night meeting at a Park in the Bronx.  Thousands of gang members show up to hear Cyrus announce his plan.  Gang members outnumber police 5 to 1.  If the gangs join together they can take over the city.

Suddenly Cyrus is shot by someone in the crowd.  Luther, the leader of Rogues is the assassin.  As eyes turn towards Luther, he yells, “It was the Warriors!  The Warriors killed Cyrus!”  At this same time, police arrive.  All hell breaks loose as gang members are running from the sound of the shot and the police.

When the Warriors regroup they realize that they have been marked as Cyrus’ killer.  They are 27 miles from home with every gang in between looking to kill them.  It’s going to be a long night.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)

Walter Hill was on a great directing streak when he made The Warriors.  His previous films were Hard Times and The Driver.  He would follow The Warriors with The Long Riders, Southern Comfort, 48hrs and Streets of Fire.  Hill was on fire!

Hill’s co-writer was David Shaber who would go on to write the screenplay for another of my favorite films, Nighthawks starring Sly Stallone.

Hill was smart to use mostly unknown actors for The Warriors.  James Remar was the standout.  One of my favorite scenes in the movie has Remar and another Warrior chased by some members of the Baseball Furies.  The Furies dress like baseball players and carry bats.  Remar’s partner is winded and says, “I can’t make it.”  Remar, “Are you sure?” His partner: “Yes, I’m sure.” Remar stops running and says,  “Well, good! I’m sick of runnin’ from these wimps!”

The Warriors (1979) rates 5 of 5 stars.

RIP: Arthur Schmidt

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Arthur Schmidt, the two-time Academy Award winner for Best Film Editing, died on August 5, 2023.  Mr. Schmidt was 86.

Arthur Schmidt followed in his father, Arthur P. Schmidt’s footsteps and became a film editor.  His father edited films such as Sunset Boulevard; Ace in the Hole and Some Like It Hot.

Arthur Schmidt’s filmography includes films such as: The Last Remake of Beau Geste; Jaws 2; The Jericho Mile (TV movie); Coal Miner’s Daughter; The Idolmaker; Back to the Future; Ruthless People; Who Framed Roger Rabbit; Back to the Future II; Back to the Future III; The Rocketeer; The Last of the Mohicans; Adams Family Values; Forrest Gump; Tales from the Crypt (TV); The Birdcage; Contact; What Lies Beneath and Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl.

Arthur Schmidt’s two Oscars for Best Film Editing were for his work on Who Framed Roger Rabbit and Forrest Gump.

What an amazing resume Arthur Schmidt cultivated.  If I had to pick just one favorite from his credits it would be Last of the Mohicans.  The truth is I loved so many of his films.  Two of his lessor known films that are really good are The Idolmaker and The Jericho Mile.  I also think that Contact and What Lies Beneath are both underrated.  It’s hard to go wrong with anything that Arthur Schmidt edited.

Our thoughts and prayers go out to Arthur Schmidt’s family, friends and fans.

RIP: William Friedkin

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William Friedkin died today from complications of heart failure and pneumonia.  Mr. Friedkin was 87.

After his high school graduation, William Friedkin got a job in the mail room at WGN-TV.  Within two years, he began working on live shows and documentaries.  William Friedkin would go on to have a career primarily as a director of television productions and feature films.  He occasional took on the role of producer and/or writer of some of his projects.  In 1972, William Friedkin won an Academy Award for Best Director for his work on The French Connection.  He was nominated again for an Academy Award for Best Director in 1974 for The Exorcist.  

Some of William Friedkin’s television projects include: The People vs Paul Crump; The Bold Men; The Alfred Hitchcock Hour; Pro Football: Mayhem on a Sunday Afternoon; The Thin Blue Line; The Twilight Zone; C.A.T. Squad; Tales from the Crypt; 12 Angry Men and CSI: Crime Scene Investigation (2 episodes).

Some of William Friedkin’s feature films include: The Night They Raided Minsky’s; The Boys in the Band; The French Connection; The Exorcist; Sorcerer; The Brink’s Job; Cruising; The Deal of the Century; To Live and Die in LA; Jade; Rules of Engagement; The Hunted; Killer Joe and The Caine Mutiny Court-Martial.

My favorite William Friedkin movie is The Exorcist.  If that was the only film he ever directed, William Friedkin would still be famous for it.  

Our thoughts and prayers go out to William Friedkin’s family, friends and fans.

“The Last Voyage of the Demeter” Movie Clip – Clemens Confronts Dracula (2023)

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Check out the new movie clip for The Last Voyage of the Demeter starring Corey Hawkins and Javier Botet!

US Release Date: August 11, 2023
Starring: Jon Jon Briones, Javier Botet, Corey Hawkins, Aisling Franciosi, Liam Cunningham
Director: André Øvredal
Synopsis: Dracula’s unholy presence dooms the crew of the merchant ship Demeter as it sails from Carpathia to London.

“Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One” (2023) directed by Christopher McQuarrie, starring Tom Cruise / Z-View

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Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One (2023)

Director: Christopher McQuarrie

Screenplay: Christopher McQuarrie, Erik Jendresen based on Mission: Impossible created by Bruce Geller

Stars: Tom Cruise, Hayley Atwell, Ving Rhames, Simon Pegg, Rebecca Ferguson, Vanessa Kirby, Esai Morales, Pom Klementieff, Henry Czerny, Shea Whigham, Greg Tarzan Davis, Frederick Schmidt, Mariela Garriga, Cary Elwes, Charles Parnell and Indira Varma.

Tagline: None.

The Plot…

Ethan Hunt (Cruise) and his team have accepted a mission to retrieve a two part key that will ultimately help them control/destroy artificial intelligence that has become sentient.  The AI is known as Entity and all world governments hope to find the keys.  Also in the race to get the key is Gabriel (Morales) who is using Entity to predict Ethan’s moves before he makes them.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)

If you’re a fan of Tom Cruise’s Mission Impossible films, Dead Reckoning Part One should not disappoint.  Cruise is back doing what he does best.  The rest of the team also returns, although all may not survive.  We also get the tropes we’ve come to expect: chases, fights, crazy stunts, perfect disguises from masks that come off with a single pull and more.

A lot has been made of Tom Cruise’s motorcycle leap/parachute jump.  Perhaps too much has been shown in advance, but my favorite stunts involved the train scenes at the end.  It was also announced that a team member doesn’t survive.  There were several scenes where it could have been different characters.

I enjoyed Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One.  I’m not a fan of two-part movies, but there is a resolution of sorts to hold us until Part Two opens.

Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One (2023) rates 4 of 5 stars.

“Being There” (1979) starring Peter Sellers, Shirley MacLaine & Melvyn Douglas / Z-View

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Being There (1979)

Director: Hal Ashby

Screenplay: Jerzy Kosiński based on Being There by Jerzy Kosiński

Stars: Peter Sellers, Shirley MacLaine, Melvyn Douglas, Jack Warden, Richard Dysart, Richard Basehart and David Clennon.

Tagline: A story of chance

The Plot…

Chance (Sellers) is a simpleminded man who never learned to read or write.  Chance has lived his whole life without ever leaving the property of the old man who raised him.  Although Chance is an excellent gardener, he has learned most of what he knows from watching television (which he dearly loves).  When the old man dies, Chance is forced to leave the old man’s property.

For the first time he ventures out into the world.  When Ben Rand’s limousine accidentally strikes Chance, Rand’s wife, Eve (MacLaine) demands that Chance is brought back to their mansion.  On the ride back, Eve mishears “Chance the gardener” and thinks that Chance’s name is Chauncey Gardiner.”  Eve introduces Chauncey to her much older and sickly husband, Ben.  Ben takes a liking to Chauncey.  Ben misunderstands Chauncey and thinks that he’s a businessman who has fallen on hard times.  As they discuss business, Ben is impressed with Chauncey’s straight talk and comparisons of the economy to taking care of a garden.

Ben is a close advisor to the President of the United States. He plans to introduce Chauncey to the leader of the free world.  What could go wrong.  (And here’s a hint, nothing!)

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)

Being There is Hal Ashby’s highest rated film according to the IMDb.  It’s also my favorite Hal Ashby film.  Ashby is supported by a great cast.  Peter Sellers is wonderful as Chance.  He received a nomination for a Best Actor Oscar for his role.  Melvyn Douglas also received an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor (and he won)!  Shirley MacLaine, Jack Warden, Richard Dysart and Richard Basehart (in his last feature film role) are all excellent.

Being There is a comedy with heart that also comments on modern life.  There’s an underlying message that may be different for each viewer, but the film leaves the audience with something to think about.  I first saw Being There in 1980 and wondered how it would hold up.  I’m happy to report it’s as wonderful as I remembered.

Being There (1979) rates 5 of 5 stars.

RIP: Mark Margolis

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Mark Margolis, the actor best known for his portrayal of Hector Salamanca in Breaking Bad and Better Call Saul, died yesterday after a short illness.  Mr. Margolis was 83.

After high school Mark Margolis moved to New York where he was a student at the Actors Studio.  He worked in both television and feature films throughout his career.  In 2012, Mr. Margolis was nominated for a Prime Time Emmy Award as the Outstanding Guest Actor in a Drama series for his portrayal of Hector Salamanca in Breaking Bad.

Some of Mark Margolis’ television appearances include: Kojak;  Muggable Mary, Street Cop; Rage of Angels; Crime Story; The Equalizer (16 episodes); Quantum Leap; Columbo Cries Wolf; Star Trek: The Next Generation; Jake and the Fatman; Tales from the Darkside; Santa Barbara (13 episodes); Guiding Light; Prince Street (6 episodes); Law & Order (3 episodes); Oz (10 episodes); Ed (2 episodes); Sex and the City; Law & Order: Criminal Intent; Crossing Jordan; Waterfront (4 episodes); Kings (2 episodes); Blue Bloods; Breaking Bad (8 episodes); The Good Wife; Law & Order: Special Victims Unit; Person of Interest (3 episodes); Fairly Legal (2 episodes); American Horror Story (3 episodes); Elementary; Gotham (2 episodes); The Affair (3 episodes); The Blacklist; Snowpiercer; Prodigal Son; Better Call Saul (22 episodes) and Your Honor (5 episodes).

Some of Mark Margolis’ feature film appearances include: The Opening of Misty Beethoven; Short Eyes; Short Eyes; Going in Style; Dressed to Kill; Arthur; Eddie Macon’s Run; Scarface; The Cotton Club; The Secret of My Success; Glory; Ace Ventura: Pet Detective; Absolute Power; The Thomas Crown Affair; End of Days; Requiem for a Dream; Hannibal; Daredevil; Gone, Baby, Gone; The Wrestler; Stand Up Guys and My Big Fat Greek Wedding 2. 

My favorite role of Mark Margolis’ is probably most everyone’s, when he played Hector Salamanca in Breaking Bad and Better Call Saul. I also loved him in Scarface and Oz.

Our thoughts and prayers go out to Mark Margolis’ family, friends and fans.

“Body Heat” (1981) written & directed by Lawrence Kasdan, starring William Hurt & Kathleen Turner / Z-View

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Body Heat (1981)

Director: Lawrence Kasdan

Screenplay: Lawrence Kasdan

Stars: William Hurt, Kathleen Turner, Richard Crenna, Ted Danson, J.A. Preston, Kim Zimmer and Mickey Rourke.

Tagline:  The called it love. The DA called it murder.

The Plot…

One night in the middle of a brutal Florida heat wave, Ned Racine (Hurt) meets a beautiful woman on the boardwalk.  The woman is Matty Walker (Turner).  She’s married, but Racine, a notorious womanizer, isn’t fazed.  There’s a definite sexual attraction and soon the two are involved in a torrid affair.  Matty’s husband is rich, but has an airtight prenup.  As Ned and Matty’s affair heats up their thoughts turn to cold blooded murder.

All is not as it seems…

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)

Body Heat is a classic noir.  If you’re a fan of Double Indemnity and The Postman Always Rings Twice, this should light your fire.  It made stars of Kathleen Turner and Mickey Rourke.  It’s my favorite film written by Lawrence Kasdan.  It’s also my favorite film directed by Kasdan.  It’s my favorite William Hurt movie.

Body Heat features a twist ending that plays out slowly and adds a whole new layer to everything we’ve seen.

Body Heat (1981) rates 5 of 5 stars.