“Dawn of the Planet of the Apes” Trailer
I’m going ape over this trailer for Dawn of the Planet of the Apes. [Yeah, I know, but I just had to.]
Category: Movies
20 Surprising Things About National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation
If you read 20 Surprising Things You Might Know About National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation…
… You’ll learn, among other things…
- The connection between the Griswald’s, Mel Gibson in Lethal Weapon, Kurt Russell in Overboard and the Bewitched tv series.
- Why Cousin Eddie clicks his tongue when he eats.
- Who is on the cover of the People magazine that Chevy Chase reads in bed.
- Where you can score Christmas Vacation swag.
- Cousin Eddie’s ties to Rocky Balboa.
Source: Uproxx.
“Farewell, My Lovely” – Pulp Writer, Jim Thompson’s Only Acting Role
I’m sure you’re aware that this version of Raymond Chandler’s classic Farewell, My Lovely has an all-star cast that includes Robert Mitchum, Charlotte Rampling, John Ireland, Sylvia Miles, Anthony Zerbe, Harry Dean Stanton. Jack O’Halloran, Joe Spinell, and Sylvester Stallone. Did you know that it also features pulp writer Jim Thompson in his first and last acting role!
Neal Adams’ Billy Jack
I was really sorry to hear about Tom Laughlin’s passing. His Billy Jack character really made an impact on me my generation.
So it was nice to come across this great Neal Adams’ cover painting of Billy Jack when I was cruising the web today.
Source: Steve Niles’ Tumbler.
Nazi Zombies are Coming Our Way Again!
Zombies are bad.
Nazi zombies are even worse.
If you agree, then you probably saw the cult film Dead Snow. If you enjoyed it, you’ll be happy to know that the sequel Dead Snow: Red vs Dead will soon be creeping your way.
Source: Arrow in the Head.
“Sin City: A Dame to Kill For” Teaser Poster
Man, I can not wait for this one. It will great to see Marv and the rest of the Sin City crew back up on the big screen.
Now if only Frank Miller would come up with some new Sin City yarns.
Manny Aguilera Takes Us “Over the Top”
Manny Aguilera makes his first, but not last appearance in my Stallone Sketch Gallery with his take on Sly as Lincoln Hawk from Over the Top.
I highly recommend Manny to sketch collectors. He’s fast, his prices are reasonable and he’s one of the genuine nice guys!. – Craig
Four Cool “Dawn of the Planet of the Apes” Posters
I am diggin’ this poster [as well as these other three] for Dawn of the Planet of the Apes.
Source: IMPAwards.
“Edge of Tomorrow” Poster/Trailer… “Live, Die & Repeat”
If you like the poster to Edge of Tomorrow starring Tom Cruise and Emily Blunt, you’re gonna love the trailer below…
New “Godzilla” Poster and Trailer!
I’ve never been a big Godzilla fan. Sure, I’ve seen the original with Perry Mason Raymond Burr in the starring role.
No, Burr didn’t play Godzilla. Okay, Burr in the co-starring role then.
I’ve seen the many sequels. The one I liked best was the 1998 version with Matthew Broderick and Leon Jean Reno. That one was okay.
So I wasn’t expecting much from the latest Godzilla remake. Boy, could I be wrong. Check out the trailer below. This version of Godzilla has potential.
Z-View: “The Mechanic” (2011)
The Pitch: “Hey, We could remake “The Mechanic” with Jason Statham in the Charles Bronson role and Ben Foster in the Jan-Michael Vincent role.”
“Let’s do it!”
The Tagline: “Someone has to fix the problems.” [Where was this person when this remake was made?]
The Overview: Jason Statham is Author Bishop aka The Mechanic. Bishop is a hit man — the best in the business and able to kill without leaving a clue. Often his hits look like fatal accidents. Bishop works alone, is precise, methodical and logical. When Bishop’s mentor is killed, Bishop takes on the mentor’s son as an apprentice. This will lead to the death of many including one or both of them.
*** Beware – minor spoilers can be found below ***
The Good:
- The original Charles Bronson version.
- Ben Foster’s fight scene with a huge guy.
The Bad:
- Statham and Foster lacked chemistry.
- It seemed out-of-place that Statham would take on a partner.
- You know you’re in trouble when the best fight in the movie doesn’t involve the star [who is known for fighting].
- A black water swimming pool? Swimming underwater below the guy you just killed, moving his arms to make it appear he is alive and swimming?
The Ugly:
- Remaking a classic and falling this short.
Rating: 2 out of 5
Jerry Gaylord and Rambo
Jerry Gaylord aka The Franchize makes his fourth, but not his last appearance in my Stallone Sketch Gallery with his take on Sly as John Rambo.
I highly recommend Jerry to all sketch collectors. He quickly responds to e-mails, his turnaround time is quick and he packages the art to ensure it arrives safely.
To check out more of Jerry’s art, head here. – Craig
“Homefront” / Z-View
The Pitch: “Hey, Sly has a great action screenplay that he was gonna use for Rambo available. It’s based on a book by Chuck Hogan. Sly says Jason Statham is up for the lead.”
“Let’s do it!”
The Tagline: “How far would you go to protect your home?”
The Overview: Jason Statham plays Phil Broker, a retired under-cover DEA agent who moved to rural Louisiana to raise his 9 year old daughter after the death of his wife. When his daughter bloodies the nose of a class bully (who happens the be the child of the local meth dealer) things quickly escalate and Statham’s past as a DEA agent becomes known. Soon an outlaw motorcycle gang and local thugs are both looking for revenge.
*** Beware – minor spoilers can be found below ***
The Good:
- The cast. Kate Bosworth kills in her role as, Cassie Bodine Klum, a redneck, methhead who is used to getting her way thanks to her brother being the local “Walter White.” James Franco as “Gator” Bodine is surprisingly effective in a role that wouldn’t at first seem to fit him. Winona Ryder, Clancy Brown and Chuck Zito all make welcome appearances. Jason Statham is of course Jason Statham (that’s good).
- Broker does his best to avoid trouble, but there is a line he won’t cross and God help you if you cross it!
- The fight scenes and the fact that they avoided Statham giving “wise-cracks.”
- Broker mistakenly thinks that Jimmy Klum is behind the threats to him.
The Bad:
- What happens when you don’t let Broker finish filling his tank.
- When you are a friend of Broker’s and go to pick up his horses.
- If you’re the class bully and you decide to pick on Broker’s daughter.
- Being married to Cassie Bodine Klum.
The Ugly:
- One of Gator Bodine’s thugs ankles after Broker has had enough.
- When you raise your gun towards dozens of cops who are armed, hyped up and have warned you to drop it.
- That Homefront is doing better at the box office.
Rating: 4 out of 5
(Re)Discovering Hitchcock’s Rope
When movie fans talk about the films of Alfred Hitchock the first ones mentioned are usually, Vertigo, Psycho, North by Northwest, and Rear Window. Often the list goes on a bit more before Rope is mentioned. And that’s too bad because many folks never get around to seeing it.
Rope stars Jimmy Stewart in Hitchock’s adaptation of a play based on the infamous Leopold-Loeb murder case. (Another excellent movie based on the Leopold-Loeb murder case is Compulsion starring Orson Welles, Dean Stockwell and Bradford Dillman.) It’s interesting to note that Hitchcock filmed Rope as if it was done with one continuous shot to keep the feel of a stage play!
Z-View: “Rififi”… Means Trouble
The Pitch: “Hey, Jules Dassin the director behind American films such as “Brute Force” and “The Naked City” has been blacklisted in America. I bet we could get him on the cheap to make a low-budget heist film!”
“Let’s do it!”
The Tagline: “Rififi …means Trouble!”
The Overview: After returning home after a five-year stint in prison for a jewelry heist, Tony le Stéphanois is recruited by his old crime partners for a hit and run heist on a jewelry store. Tony declines, but later counters with a bigger plan… against all odds they’ll pull a robbery that will get them millions if they’re successful and dead if they’re not. Before it is over one of the crew will betray them. A child will be kidnapped and both the cops and gangsters will be after them.
The Good:
- The planning for the heist. It’s interesting how the characters work out their elaborate plan where any mistake – any sound – could cause it to go sideways.
- The heist itself – around 30 minutes without dialogue. It’s tense, brilliant film-making.
- The fact that the robbery isn’t at the climax of the film. It would be the endgame in a normal film. In “Rififi” it is the catalyst for a bigger story.
- The characters in this film are perfectly cast.
- The director’s stylistic choices. I love this movie! “Rififi” is a classic!
The Bad:
- What happens when Tony finds out his girl has taken up with a mobster.
- How a foolish mistake [to impress a dame!] causes everything to unravel.
- What happens [even when you are sincerely sorry] for breaking “the rules.”
The Ugly:
- Even the best laid plans…
Rating: 5 out of 5
