Category: Movies

The “For All of Mankind” Trailer is Here!

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Here’s the synopsis and trailer for For All of Mankind!

Song: “Dream On” by Aerosmith: http://apple.co/DreamOn

For All Mankind is created by Emmy® Award winner Ronald D. Moore (Outlander, Battlestar Galactica), Matt Wolpert and Ben Nedivi. Told through the lives of NASA astronauts, engineers and their families, For All Mankind presents an aspirational world where NASA and the space program remained a priority and a focal point of our hopes and dreams.

For All Mankind stars Joel Kinnaman, Michael Dorman, Wrenn Schmidt, Shantel VanSanten, Sarah Jones and Jodi Balfour.
Ronald D. Moore, Maril Davis, Matt Wolpert, Ben Nedivi serve as executive producers.

The “Primal” Trailer is Here!

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Here’s the synopsis and trailer for Primal!

When Frank Walsh (Nicolas Cage), a hunter and collector of rare and exotic animals, bags a priceless white jaguar for a zoo, he figures it’ll be smooth sailing to a big payday. But the ship bearing Frank’s precious cargo has two predators caged in its hold: the cat, and a political assassin being extradited to the U.S. After the assassin breaks free – and then frees the jaguar – Frank feverishly stalks the ship’s cramped corridors in hot pursuit of his prey, right up until the climax. In select theaters and On Demand on November 8, 2019.

Michael Batista’s First Artist Alley Kickstarter

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Michael Batista did the art above and if you like it (I do!), then you might want to consider backing Michael Batista’s First Artist Alley Kickstarter.

If you want to participate you can simply make a donation or pony up for a digital or physical copy of Michael’s sketchbook or the sketchbook and any of several original art options.  If you do join in, you’ll be helping an artist and getting some cool art at the same time!

John Carpenter’s Most Groundbreaking Characters

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Rodolfo at CBR.com did a piece called Top 10 Groundbreaking John Carpenter Characters.  You just know I’m going to play along by posting my thoughts on three of my favorite John Carpenter characters and one who didn’t make Rodolfo’s list but should have.

  1. Snake Plissken.  I’d be surprised if Snake Plissken wasn’t at the top of anyone’s John Carpenter characters list.  Heck, Plissken should be near the top of any cool characters list.  He’s the classic anti-hero: ex-military, individualist with an attitude, more than capable in any situation and played perfectly by Kurt Russell channeling Clint Eastwood.  I’m surprised that there weren’t more Snake Plissken movies made (besides EFNY and ESFLA) and that Snake has become more popular in other media.

  2. Napoleon Wilson.  Perhaps Carpenter’s least known character with the most potential.  Wilson appeared in Assault on Precinct 13 and like Snake Plissken was an anti-hero.  On his way to prison, Wilson find himself and a small group trapped in an abandoned building under siege by a street gang.  Napoleon Wilson was perfectly played by Darwin Joston in his most famous role.

  3. John Nada.  Roddy Piper was the perfect choice to play John Nada, an average guy just looking to survive in a world unknowingly under the control of aliens.  Nada isn’t a specially trained soldier or cop — he’s just a drifter who discovers a secret that no one would believe and then he takes action to save the world!

  4. Romero.  While Romero didn’t make Rodolfo’s list, there was no way I’d leave him out of mine.  Romero appeared in a relatively small role in Escape from New York.  In a movie full of larger-than-life characters, Romero (as played by Frank Doubleday) was as memorable as any and more frightening than all.

11 Surprising Facts About Sylvester Stallone

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Jake Rossen and Mental Floss posted 11 Surprising Facts About Sylvester Stallone.  How could I not play along even if, my guess is correct, and readers here, aren’t surprised?  Here’s my top three…

1. AN ERRANT PAIR OF FORCEPS GAVE SYLVESTER STALLONE HIS DISTINCTIVE LOOK.
Many comedians have paid their bills over the decades by adopting Sylvester Stallone’s distinctive lip droop and guttural baritone voice. The facial feature was the result of some slight mishandling at birth. When Stallone was born on July 6, 1946 in Manhattan, the physician used a pair of forceps to deliver him. The malpractice left his lip, chin, and part of his tongue partially paralyzed due to a severed nerve. Stallone later said his face and awkward demeanor earned him the nickname “Sylvia” and authority figures telling him his brain was “dormant.” Burdened with low self-esteem, Stallone turned to bodybuilding and later performing as a way of breaking through what seemed to be a consensus of low expectations.

5. SYLVESTER STALLONE WROTE A NOVEL.
In addition to his acting ambitions, Stallone decided to pursue a career in writing. After numerous screenplays, he wrote Paradise Alley, a novel about siblings who get caught up in the circus world of professional wrestling in Hell’s Kitchen. Stallone finished the novel before deciding to turn it into a screenplay. Paradise Alley was eventually produced in 1978. The book, which was perceived as a novelization, was published that same year. (It appeared in hard cover and mass market paperback. – Craig)

10. ARNOLD SCHWARZENEGGER ONCE TRICKED SYLVESTER STALLONE INTO STARRING IN A BOX OFFICE BOMB.
Stallone has often discussed his rivalry with Arnold Schwarzenegger, as the two action stars were believed to be the two biggest marquee attractions in the 1980s. Recalling his 1992 bomb Stop! Or My Mom Will Shoot, Stallone told a journalist in 2014 that he believed Schwarzenegger was to blame. “I heard Arnold wanted to do that movie and after hearing that, I said I wanted to do it,” he said. “He tricked me. He’s always been clever.”

“Rambo: Last Blood” (2019) / Z-View

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Rambo: Last Blood (2019)

Director: Adrian Grunberg

Screenplay:  Matthew Cirulnick & Sylvester Stallone from a story by Dan Gordon & Sylvester Stallone based on the character created by David Morrell.

Stars: Sylvester Stallone, Paz Vega and Yvette Monreal.

The Pitch: “Sly Stallone is ready to do another Rambo!”

Tagline: They Drew First Blood. He Will Draw Last.

The Overview:  Beware of Spoilers…

Rambo: Last Blood takes place ten years after Rambo has returned home to the farm of his childhood.  All of his friends and family are dead except for his adopted family of Maria (his housekeeper) and her granddaughter Gabrielle who is about to leave for college.

When Gabrielle doesn’t return from a trip across the border to confront the father that deserted her years ago, Rambo goes to find her.  In Mexico, Rambo learns that Gabrielle has been kidnapped by a gang led by two brothers who are sex-traffickers.  It’s not giving away anything to say that he goes to rescue her and the fight begins in Mexico and culminates on Rambo’s ranch in Arizona.

Rambo: Last Blood is not for everyone (is any film?).  It is excessively brutal.  It’s not a feel-good film.  I liked it, but understand why some folks don’t.  I’ll tell you more about what I liked and address some criticisms after the trailer — be advised spoilers will follow.

Rating:

Rambo: Last Blood seemed like a natural extension of Rambo (the last movie).  Rambo has returned to his childhood farm where he lives with his adopted family.  I liked that while Rambo has made progress, he still suffers from memories of the war, but is getting medical help.  I liked that although Gabrielle’s father is a horrible person, he wasn’t a member of the gang.

I’m not a fan of overly gory movies.  I don’t like slasher movies.  I agree that the violence in Rambo: Last Blood is excessive, but complaining about violence in a Rambo movie (especially one that advertises itself as being “savage”) is like going out into the rain and complaining when you get wet.

It is strange to me that folks who loved First Blood (where Rambo did terrible physical damage to innocent police officers and National Guard troops, and destroyed businesses of innocent citizens) are finding fault with the violence in this movie.

There were a couple of twists that I liked: Rambo being caught watching the house and when he tries to walk away is met by overwhelming force.  It was unexpected of how bad a beating he took and that Gabrielle died after Rambo rescued her.  I liked that Rambo went back in without his gun or knife and used a hammer.  It seemed like a real choice.

Some folks are complaining that all Mexicans are being portrayed as evil.  I get the concern but it reminds me of the same complaints that Italians made about The Godfather.  Not all Mexicans are bad and to get that message from the movie is extremely simplistic.

The movie focuses on Rambo and the revenge he takes upon the gang members that kidnapped, drugged, raped and killed his adopted  niece.  The people who did that are not good people.  These outlaws don’t represent all of Mexico just as Rambo doesn’t represent all of America.  Had the movie focused on the Mexican reporter or other good people in Mexico it would have been a different film.  Perhaps some would have liked that film better, but to judge a movie on what it isn’t, doesn’t seem right to me.

There has been a lot of criticism leveled at the last act where Rambo has lured the gang members back to his ranch which has been riddled with traps.  Did these people not see a single trailer?  Wouldn’t that be like going to a McDonalds after watching ads for a Big Mac and then complaining when you got what you saw in the commercial?

I think that some of the complaints against Rambo: Last Blood may have been from folks who’ve romanticized John Rambo.  Don’t get me wrong, he’s the guy you’d want in the fox hole next to you. He’s also the same guy who was described as “slipping up” when he didn’t kill Teasle and all his deputies in First Blood.  Rambo is a guy fighting to keep the lid on and when he loses it, he becomes war.  And war is brutal and unforgiving.

I’m a huge Stallone fan and that plays into my enjoyment of his movies.  I liked Rambo: Last Blood a lot more than I thought I would.  As with anyone’s review of anything, your mileage may vary.

The “Fractured” Poster and Trailer are Here!

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The Fractured poster and trailer are here.  I hooked and will be watching!

Ray Monroe (Sam Worthington), and his wife Joanne (Lily Rabe) rush their daughter to the emergency room of a nearby hospital after she is hurt in an accident. After being sent away for further testing, his wife and daughter vanish and all records of their visit disappear. Ray’s concern turns into a desperate race to find his family and discover the truth of what happened to them.

“Corporate Monster” Sci-Fi Horror Short is Here!

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Corporate Monster is a well done horror/scifi short that could easily be set in the world of John Carpenter’s They Live.  It’s almost as if Ruairi Robinson saw They Live and then said, ‘Hold my beer.”  Robinson’s monsters are cooler looking (thank you improvements in computer technology) and scarier — look at what that monster is eating for lunch!

I could easily see Corporate Monster being made into a feature length film.

From acclaimed filmmaker Ruairi Robinson (Blinky™, The Leviathan) comes a new vision of fantastic horror. After being fired from his job, a dangerously unstable man’s life spirals out of control when he starts to see parasitic beings that puppeteer our world from the shadows.


Source: First Showing.