Previews and Reviews that are Z's Views
I usually enjoy Will Smith’s movies. I definitely like the idea of him in “I am Legend.” If the movie is a cool as this poster, we’re in for a fun couple of hours.
The trailers for “Shoot ‘Em Up” and “American Gangster” became available today. Enjoy!
My buddy, Bill Black, CCABW [Chief Cook and Bottle Washer] at AC Comics has decided to take the plunge and regularly produce movies based on his comic book characters. Bill has jumped in with both feet and fan reaction has been extremely positive. Bill is currently finishing production on The Blue Bulleteer: Captured by The Cloak.
Zombies are a popular genre here at the ZONE. Still, I’m not totally sold on “Fido” yet. I did enjoy “Shaun of the Dead” so maybe “Fido” will work. The jury is out. Watch the trailer and let me know your thoughts.
Ain’t It Cool News scored 3 minutes and 29 seconds of premiere footage of “John Rambo.” Although it is amazing… it is exciting… it is NOT for all ages. Sly assembled the footage to show overseas distributors.
Click HERE or HERE to see it. Big props to Harry at Ain’t It Cool News for getting the ball rolling!
It’s a great time to be a Stallone fan! – Craig
Ron Decker was on top of the world. Barely old enough to be considered an adult, yet he had it all — money, cars, a woman, and a thriving drug business. Thriving that it until he was busted. Suddenly it was all gone. What didn’t go to his lawyers was taken by his girl and soon enough she was gone too.
Decker ends up in San Quentin where he’s got a shot at getting out in two years if he can stay out of trouble. Trouble is, he’s young and not built for prison. Now he’s surrounded by hardened cons who can’t be trusted. A race war is brewing and Decker realizes that he’s in way over his head. When a powerful older con offers his friendship, Decker isn’t sure how to react. One wrong move and his two year stint will become a death sentence.
Animal Factory was written by real-life ex-con Eddie Bunker who not only wrote several critically acclaimed books [No Beast So Fierce and Education of a Felon, to name two], but also had a career as an actor.[probably best known for his role as Mr. Blue in Reservoir Dogs].
Interestingly enough, the book was also made into a movie starring Edward Furlong, Willem Dafoe, Danny Trejo, Mickey Rourke and Eddie Bunker and directed by Steve Buscemi.
Animal Factory the book rates a B
Animal Factory the movie rates a C+
I loved “28 days later.” So when “28 weeks later” was announced, along with the fact that the original writer [Alex Garland], the original director [Danny Boyle] and the original cast were not returning, I felt we might be in for a letdown.
“28 weeks later” has an ambitious screenplay by Rowan Joffe, Juan Carlos Fresnadillo, Jesus Olmo and Enrique Lopez Lavigne. Juan Carlos Fresnadillo takes the director’s chair and does an admirable job of retaining the feel and style of the original. Robert Carlyle [who is always good] is the biggest name actor in the new cast although many will recognize Harold Perrineau, from “Lost” in a small but important role.
Spoilers will follow…
The movie opens with perhaps the best scenes in the film. A band of survivors [including a husband and wife who hope that their children are still alive] have barricaded themselves in a remote farm house. As they settle down for dinner, it is obvious that their situation is wearing them down. When a child is heard yelling to be let in the house, the theme of the movie comes into play… who/how many will you sacrifice to save yourself? There’s hesitation, but they let the boy in and soon enough all of the “infected” that were chasing the boy, are breaking into the house. They succeed and the survivors run and fight for their lives. A horrible moment occurs when the husband makes it to the window and his wife hesitates so that she can bring along the boy. A group of infected get between them and the husband is faced with a choice: try to save his wife and the boy or himself. He chooses to save himself. The last image that he sees as he runs from the farm house is of his wife being pulled from the window.
The husband makes his way to safety and is part of a group brought in to repopulate London. The virus is gone, and the military are everywhere insuring a quick end should it return. And return return it does…
The Good: “28 weeks” retains much of the feel of “28 days.” Robert Carlyle. Jeremy Renner who almost steals the show in his role as Doyle. The way that the virus is brought back into play. The infection spreading through the crowded underground safe haven. No one is safe… no one! The potential for “28 months later!”
The Bad: The way that Robert Carlyle is always able to find the survivors who are on the run. The killing of Jeremy Renner’s character.
The Ugly: The helicopter taking out “the infected” with it’s blades and not crashing.
“28 weeks later”
Rating:
My best bud, John Beatty has a post over at his blog that I think will interest most ZONErs. Big John presents storyboards that he’s created for another of Wild Bill Black’s low budget cheese-o-ramas. Not only has John done the storyboards, but he will also return in the film as the evil “Patch.”
Jason Statham. 
About two years ago I first mentioned how cool “Shoot ‘Em Up” sounded. Then last November advance word started to come in that it was definitely a great ride! We’ll finally get a chance to see it in September and my guess is that we’ll enjoy it as much as these folks who’ve already seen it!
It looks like Jason Statham may take the starring role as “Frankenstein” in the remake of Roger Corman’s cult classic “Death Race 2000.” Paul W.S. Anderson has written and is set to direct the updated actioner.
I’m looking forward to “28 weeks later” even more after reading THIS REVIEW.
I told you HERE just how excited I was about the release of “Payback – The Director’s Cut.”
