Previews and Reviews that are Z's Views
While it’s true that this trailer for “12 Rounds” starring WWE wrestler, John Cena, looks like it will be a “by-the-numbers” action movie, it’s also true that it looks like it might be a fun way to spend a couple of hours.
The full trailer for the new “Fast and Furious” is here!
Today I received my limited edition, Rambo statue from the good folks at Hollywood Collectibles. The statue was placed inside a molded styrofoam shell which was then put in a well designed packaging box which was then placed in a larger shipping container filled with packing nuts. If you think I’m making too big a deal about how pleased I was with the secure packaging, then you don’t know my delivery guy.
The statue, about 12 inches tall, is a thing of beauty. Sculptor, Edinho Maga shows Rambo standing triumphant. Each statue was hand painted by Dan Cope who did a wonderful job. Hollywood Collectibles always turns out quality items and this Rambo statue is no exception. Although this piece is sold out, there are other Rambo collectibles, Rocky items, and many other movie collectibles as well.
I want to thank Mark from Hollywood Collectibles. Mark contacted me once I had posted photos of Edinho’s work on the StalloneZone. Mark was impressed. I put the two into contact with each other and the rest, as they say, is history. Throughout the whole process Mark kept me informed on the statue’s progress. It was also Mark who made it possible for SZoners to get a discount if they ordered a statue. Mark and Hollywood Collectibles have been great to deal with. I hope that future Stallone projects are given the same treatment. I could say more, but it’s time to go clear off a place on the mantle for my Rambo statue.
I’m not an artist, but I’ve always loved art. I believe that comic books were the start of it all. Like most kids of my generation, I loved comic books. Unlike most, I never outgrew them.
In junior high I met John Beatty. He was also into comic books and original art. He wanted to be a comic book artist. During our high school and my college years, Beatty and I spent a lot of time at Jim Ivey’s Cartoon Museum. Jim’s was THE place for comics and original art. We also started attending conventions. I was in college and Beatty had become a comic book artist.
I sold off my art collection when I was ready to graduate college. I kept just one piece, a Paul Gulacy commission of Sylvester Stallone [my favorite actor]. Over the years some of my artist friends gifted me pieces of Stallone art. When my sons were in their mid-teens we started attending comic conventions. I realized that getting sketches of Stallone from my favorite comic artists was a perfect mesh of my hobbies.
So, no, I don’t draw ’em, I just collect ’em.
Mood: Joy
Listening to: 70’s Music
Reading: The Wildwood Boys by James Carlos Blake
Watching: “Serenity”
Playing: Internet Hearts
Eating: Wings
Drinking: Tea
Kliph Nesteroff is going to make many ZONErs happy when they click on this link to see a rare interview from 1971 with Bruce Lee. The videos run about 26 minutes total and are worth every second. Lee talks about:
It was great seeing Bruce Lee in a new interview. He was an amazing talent and died way too young. I think it’s time for another viewing of “Enter the Dragon.” What better way to honor his memory than to enjoy his ultimate performance?
Variety has reported that Mickey Rourke has signed on to co-star in Sly Stallone’s action flick, “The Expendables.” Rourke will join Sly, Jason Statham, Jet Li, Dolph Lundgren and Forrest Whitaker in what many are calling the can’t miss movie of the coming year. The National Post even published an article today with the title: “Early Prediction: Stallone’s The Expendables will be the greatest action movie of all time.”
The Defamer.com also has an interesting [and positive] article on “The Expendables.” Here are a few quotes:
The Second Coming of Mickey Rourke owes itself in part to Stallone’s faith in him a decade ago, when he recommended Rourke for a minor role in the remake of Get Carter. Their brooding, mangle-faced chemistry was about the only thing that clicked while the film imploded around them. We wanted more, and we’ll get it.
…Sir Ben Kingsley rumored to have an eye on the project…
Unless you count Denzel Washington (we don’t) and his Where the Wild Things Are voice work for Spike Jonze, Forest Whitaker hasn’t worked with a real director since Kevin Macdonald shepherded him to an Oscar in 2006.
You gotta love it. Rourke and Stallone together again on the big screen. Yeah, we did want more. And, yeah, we’re getting it. It’s also interesting to note that the author of the piece must consider Sly a “real director.”
Now if we can just get Kurt Russell and Bruce Willis on board and a cameo for Arnold, I say let the filming begin!
If you have any interest at all in “The Watchmen” then you owe it to yourself to check out this featurette of Zack Snyder talking about his movie adaptation. It runs just a bit over 4 minutes and when it’s over you’ll wish it wasn’t. Thanks to the fine folks at CBR.com for the link.
I hadn’t heard of “Give ‘Em Hell, Malone” until I saw this trailer today. Thomas Jane and Ving Rhames directed by Russell Mulcahy. I’m in.
Because I don’t see that many movies in theaters anymore, I’m much more selective about what I choose to see on the big screen. Most of the time I’m confident that the movie I’m seeing deserves the big screen treatment or is something so good that I don’t want to wait for the dvd release. I saw “Seven Pounds” last night at a theater, and left really disappointed. Stop reading now if you’re concerned about spoilers — although I won’t give away specifics, I will give my reasons for not liking the film.
Before we go into why I didn’t like it, let’s talk about why I thought I might. First of all, the cast — Will Smith is good in everything he does, including “Seven Pounds” — Rosario Dawson is one of my favorite actresses and she does a fine job here — Woody Harrelson beautifully plays a small but important role — Barry Pepper also has a small role and although he does what is asked, closer examination would reveal that his character’s actions don’t ring true. The second thing that the movie had going for it was that it was supposed to be a mystery that made the audience think as it slowly revealed why the events were unfolding in the manner shown. This is where the movie fell apart for me.
Will Smith plays a character that we’re supposed to care about. A man tortured by some past event who is now trying to make amends by granting life altering wishes to strangers. It just didn’t work for me. Instead of coming off as a sympathetic, hurting, kind-hearted person, Smith’s character was more of an egotistical, self-centered, short-sighted man who did things for his own benefit [although his actions did help some others] without thought to the feelings of those who knew and loved him most. Every thing that his character did, was done in an effort to make himself feel better. Sure, he helped others, but he did so more for himself than them. And let’s think for a minute about those that he hurt through his efforts. If you do, it would be more than his character did.
The tragic event that sets the stage for everything that is to come happens because of Smith’s character. Then we are led to believe that his character is tortured by the destruction that he caused. Is it because of the loss of his loved one? Not really, he seems to have gotten over her pretty quickly [of course Rosario could have that effect]. Perhaps he is mourning for the others whose lives he destroyed. If so, why doesn’t he do things to help their survivors? No, he instead determines that he will help strangers. He will determine if these strangers are worthy. I guess his character believes that kindness should only be shown to those we believe deserve kindness. The movie’s theme seems to be that stealing, lying, and hurting those closest to you, so you can provide the ultimate sacrifice to strangers is admirable.
I should have waited for the dvd.
The Overview: Hancock [Will Smith] is a super hero with a bad attitude. Of course you’d probably be a bit grumpy if you didn’t have any friends or relatives, didn’t know anything about your past, didn’t know how you got your powers and felt unappreciated for your good deeds. All of that changes when Hancock meets Ray [Jason Bateman] and his wife, Mary [Charlize Theron]. To say more would be to say too much.
The Good: Will Smith, isn’t he always? Jason Bateman. The story had some interesting plot twists — some which you can see coming and others that surprise.
The Bad: The advertising for “Hancock” — I had no desire to see this when it was at theaters, but heard some good things later from those who’d seen it on dvd. There is much more to this movie than the trailers would have you believe!
The Ugly: What happens to the two guys in prison who push Hancock just a bit too far. Yeech!
The Summary: “Hancock” isn’t a great film, but it’s much better than I thought it would be and there‘s a lot worse ways to spend an hour and a half.
The Overview: Mr. Brooks [Kevin Costner] has just been named Portland’s Man of the Year. He is a rich, successful business man with a beautiful wife and a lovely college aged daughter. Life would be perfect if he wasn’t overcome with urges to kill. You see, Mr. Brooks is a serial killer. After his last double-murder, his first in two years, the demon in him is loose again. But Mr. Brooks’ days may be numbered. He’s being blackmailed by a man [Dane Cook] who accidentally stumbled on to the truth and there’s that determined police detective [Demi Moore] hot on his trail.
The Good: The cast. The story. I especially enjoyed all the subplots. Dane Cook trying to control the situation in which he is out of his league. Demi Moore and the escaped killer after her. Mr. Brooks’ daughter’s terrible secret that was slowly unfolding. The way that Mr. Brooks was torn between his urge to kill and the knowledge that it was terribly, terribly wrong. The plot twists. How everything wraps up. And Mr. Brooks’ relationship with Marshall [William Hurt].
The Bad: What happens to those who fall into the path of Mr. Brooks.
The Ugly: The dreams of a serial killer.
The Summary: “Mr. Brooks” is definitely worth a look — you’ll have a killer good time.
MTV Movies scored a first look at the new “Fast & Furious” poster. This is not to be confused with a new poster for the original “Fast & Furious” movie, but instead a new poster for a new movie of the same name. It’s actually the fourth in the series… but has the same name as the original.
Confused?
Let’s hope that movie-goers aren’t because the new “Fast & Furious” looks like it will be as much fun as the original. You can check out a larger photo of the poster here.
We’ve been talking about Ed Brubaker’s “Angel of Death” for a while. The trailer is now available on line. Before you go check it out, let me say that it has a lot of violence, at least one shocking/gross scene and comes off like a movie that you’d see in a drive-in. If like me, you’re okay with that, then click here.
A new trailer for “Knowing” is now available. You can see it at the 
The trailer for “Wolverine” is now on-line and can be seen in all it’s glory here. I have to admit, that it doesn’t look half bad.
