Category: Movies

“We’re No Angels” (1955) directed by Michael Curtiz, starring Humphrey Bogart, Aldo Ray and Peter Ustinov / Z-View

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We’re No Angels (1955)

Director:  Michael Curtiz

Screenplay: Ranald MacDougall; based on La Cuisine Des Anges by Albert Husson

Stars:  Humphrey Bogart, Aldo Ray, Peter Ustinov, Joan Bennett, Basil Rathbone, Gloria Talbott and Leo G. Carroll.

Tagline:  A strangler… A swindler… A safecracker… Yet you’ll love them!

The Plot…

Joseph, a thief, along with Albert and Jules who are murderers escape from the Devil’s Island French Prison.  They make it to a small town where they plan to steal enough funds to make it aboard a ship for their final escape.

The convicts decide to go into a store, steal clothes and money and make their getaway.  Once in the store they discover that the store is failing.  The nice family running the store is on the verge of losing everything.  Against their better judgment the three convicts decide to stay at the store until nightfall.  While there the boys decide to fix the leaking roof… help with sales… cook the family a nice dinner and more.

The longer Joseph, Albert and Jules stay the less likely they are to getaway.  The clock is ticking.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

We’re No Angels is based on the French play La cuisine des anges (The Angels’ Kitchen) by Albert Husson.  Interestingly enough, there was a Broadway play, My Three Angels by Sam and Bella Spewack which was was also based on the French play.  The Spewacks sued Paramount because parts of their play were incorporated into the movie without proper permission or payment.

We’re No Angels (1955) rates 3 of 5 stars

“Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde” (1941) starring Spencer Tracy, Ingrid Berman & Lana Turner / Z-View

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Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde (1941)

Director:  Victor Fleming

Screenplay: John Lee Mahin, Percy Heath, Samuel Hoffenstein; based on STRANGE CASE OF DR. JEKYLL AND MR. HYDE by Robert Louis Stevenson

Stars:  Spencer Tracy, Ingrid Bergman, Lana Turner, Donald Crisp, Ian Hunter, Barton MacLane, Frederick Worlock, Lumsden Hare, Lawrence Grant and Forrester Harvey.

Tagline:  Do you have secret longings that you dare not reveal? If you do, it’s the Mr. Hyde in you – and you can find out all about him from M-G-M’s fascinating, revealing film!

The Plot…

1887.  Dr. Jekyll and Beatrix Emery are in love and wish to be married.  Beatrix’s father is not happy with the relationship.  To delay the marriage Beatrix’s dad takes her on a prolonged trip out of country.

Meanwhile Dr. Henry Jekyll continues his experiments to separate the good and evil in humans.  With Beatrix gone, Jekyll decides to ingest his serum himself.  It works by changing Dr. Jekyll’s appearance and personality.  He’s no longer a calm and kind person.  Now he’s become harsh, crude and sadistic.  Jekyll takes to calling himself Mr. Hyde when he’s under the influence of his serum.

Late one night Hyde saves Ivy Peterson from an attacker as she is walking home.  This leads to Hyde becoming infatuated with Ivy… in an unhealthy relationship.  As time passes Jekyll spends more and more time as Hyde.  Hyde’s behavior becomes more outrageous as he gets into bar fights and instigates mayhem.  His behavior with Ivy also takes a turn for the worst.

Soon Beatrix will return…

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Because of the Hays Code Ivy’s profession was changed from a prostitute to a barmaid.

Spencer Tracy had hoped to play Hyde without use of make-up, but ultimately it was decided to use some.  Even still, the transformation from Jekyll to Hyde isn’t enough to make it believable that Jekyll wouldn’t be recognized.

Spencer Tracy also wanted the roles of Beatrix and Ivy to be played by the same actress.  Just as Tracy’s Jekyll and Hyde were the two sides (good and bad) of the same person, Beatrix and Ivy would be the female version.

Neither Beatrix nor Ivy appear in Robert Louis Stevenson’s novella.  They first appear in the stage play adapted by T.R. Sullivan.

Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde (1941) is basically a remake of the 1931 Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde.  Sadly, the remake falls far short of the original which was nominated for three Academy Awards, winning one.  Part of the problem is the Hays Code and part is that the transformation from Jekyll to Hyde is lacking.

Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde (1941) rates 3 of 5 stars

Sly Stallone is Jack Carter by Rags Morales!

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Sly Stallone is Jack Carter by Rags Morales!

I was able to get this awesome piece through a mail order commission.  It was one of my best commission experiences ever.  I was kept in regular communication as to my place on Rags list and the progress of the completed piece.  It was mailed in secure packaging… and of course the piece itself is a beaut.

“28 Years Later: The Bone Temple” (2026) written by Alex Garland; directed by Nia DaCosta; starring Ralph Fiennes, Jack O’Connell and Alfie Williams / Z-View

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28 Years Later: The Bone Temple (2026)

Director:  Nia DaCosta

Screenplay: Alex Garland

Stars:  Ralph Fiennes, Jack O’Connell, Alfie Williams, Erin Kellyman, Chi Lewis-Parry, Maura Bird, Robert Rhodes, Emma Laird, Sam Locke and David Sterne.

Tagline:  Fear is the new faith.

The Plot…

At the end of 28 Years Later Spike was saved from a zombie horde by Jimmy Crystal and his followers.  Spike feels lucky until it becomes clear Jimmy Crystal is psycho Satan-worshipper.  Sir Lord Jimmy Crystal, as he calls himself, feels he is part of Satan’s plan in this zombie-plagued world.  To that end, the terrorize, mutilate and kill any people they come across… unless the are able to become one of Sir Lord Crystal’s followers.

Meanwhile, Dr. Ian Kelson has made progress with his work to find a cure for the rage virus.  If successful, it could mean a chance to free the world of the rage virus’ effects.

When Jimmy Crystal spots Dr. Ian in the distance, Sir Lord decides he and his followers will pay the good doctor a visit.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

The final scenes of 28 Years Later had a comic bent that seemed out of place.  I was worried that 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple would have the same feel.  I shouldn’t have been concerned.  We learn that Jimmy Crystal and his followers are nothing to laugh about.

While I enjoyed 28 Years Later and 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple, both fell short of 28 Days Later (which I consider a classic).  With that said, I think both 28 Years Later and Bone Temple work better when viewed as a whole.

There’s a scene at the end of Bone Temple that could set up the next movie in the franchise.  I hope that that film gets made.

28 Years Later: The Bone Temple (2026) rates 4 of 5 stars

“The Vampire Lestat” – The Poster and Trailer are Here!

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Although I’m a huge fan of Interview with the Vampire (both the Tom Cruise movie and the AMC series), I was a bit concerned when I heard that the next season would be titled The Vampire Lestat.   A rock-and-roll vampire?  Not sure how that could work. (And no, I’ve never read the novels.)

After seeing this trailer, I think my concerns were misguided.  Time will tell.

Deal me in.

It’s time to set the record straight.

#TheVampireLestat debuts June 7 exclusively on AMC and AMC+.

“Primitive War” (2025) / Z-View

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Primitive War (2025)

Director: Luke Sparke

Screenplay: Ethan Pettus, Luke Sparke; based on PRIMITIVE WAR by Ethan Pettus

Stars: Ryan Kwanten, Tricia Helfer, Nick Wechsler, Anthony Ingruber and Jeremy Piven.

Tagline:  This ain’t no walk in the park.

The Plot…

1968.  Viet Nam.  A squad of Green Berets has gone missing while on a mission deep in the jungle.  The Vulture Squad led by Sergeant Ryan Baker, second-in-command Sergeant Xavier Wise, snipers Keyes and Stovall as well as soldiers Verne, Taylor and Miller are sent in to find the missing Berets.

What they find instead seems impossible.  Dinosaurs.  Living, breathing and very hungry dinosaurs.

This mission won’t be a walk in the park.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Primitive War is based on a self-published book by Ethan Pettus.

Soldiers vs dinosaurs, cowboys vs dinosaurs, heck anyone vs dinosaurs should be fun.  Primitive War is good, but I was hoping for better.  Still, it’s not a bad way to spend a couple of hours.

Primitive War (2025) rates 3 of 5 stars.

“Primate” (2025) / Z-View

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Primate (2025)

Director: Johannes Roberts

Screenplay: Johannes Roberts, Ernest Riera

Stars: Johnny Sequoyah, Jessica Alexander, Victoria Wyant, Gia Hunter, Benjamin Cheng, Troy Kotsur, Stuart Whelan  and Ben Pronsky.

Tagline:  Something’s wrong with Ben.

The Plot…

Lucy Pinborough is heading home with some girlfriends from college.  Home is a remote Hawaiian house owned by her father.  Her dad is a famous novelist who is going to be away for the weekend on a book tour.  Lucy plans to have a party at her house with her girlfriends and some guys they met on the plane.  Oh, and Ben will be there as well.

Ben is a chimp that Lucy’s family adopted when he was just a baby.

What nobody knows is that Ben has contracted rabies.  And is about to become murderous.

Party on!

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Here’s a little known fact: Hawaii is the only state in the US that maintains rabies-free status due to its strict rabies vaccination and quarantine requirements.

I had never seen Johnny Sequoyah before this.  She was excellent.

Primate (2025) rates 3 of 5 stars.

“Greystoke, The Legend of Tarzan, Lord of the Apes” by Leo Leibelman!

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Leo Leibelman is a freelance artist who has provided art for comics, trading cards, novels, instructional materials, film storyboards and more.  Leo Leibelman takes commissions.

How cool is that that Leibelman chose to paint Greystoke, The Legend of Tarzan, Lord of the Apes?  Such a cool, underated movie, that deserves more recognition!

“Listen to me John. How many other white apes have you seen? You’re like me, not them. You have another family, far away, one you have never seen.” – Capitaine Phillippe D’Arnot

“Sisu: Road to Revenge” (2025) written & directed by Jalmari Helander, starring Jorma Tommila and Stephen Lang / Z-View

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Sisu: Road to Revenge (2025)

Director: Jalmari Helander

Screenplay: Jalmari Helander

Stars: Jorma Tommila, Richard Brake, Stephen Lang.

Tagline:  When they took his family, he took revenge.

The Plot…

After the events in Sisu, Aatami Korpi returns to his homeland to retrieve the lumber he used to build the home where Russians murdered his wife and children.  Korpi plans to rebuild the house in a new land.

After his family was murdered Korpi became obsessed with revenge.  His exploits as  “the commando who refuses to die” were spoken in hushed whispers by Russians and Nazis alike.  Korpi killed untold numbers of enemy soldiers and became a legend.

Now as Korpi makes his way home with his truckload of lumber, it has become known he has returned.  The KGB wants Korpi dead as revenge for the many Red Army soldiers he killed.  Yeagor Draganov, the man who killed Korpi’s family, is released from prison with the promise of his freedom and riches if he can kill Korpi.  Draganov is given as many soldiers and weapons as he needs to get the job done.

Let the fun begin!

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Sisu: Road to Revenge reminds me of the Road Runner cartoons I loved as a kid.  And that’s a good thing.

Sisu: Road to Revenge (2025) rates 4 of 5 stars.