Category: Movies

THE LEGEND OF MAD MAX: THE COMPLETE SAGA FROM MAD MAX TO FURIOSA by Ian Nathan

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THE LEGEND OF MAD MAX: THE COMPLETE SAGA FROM MAD MAX TO FURIOSA by Ian Nathan sounds like a winner.  Here’s the lowdown…

The Complete Story from Mad Max to Furiosa.

The Legend of Mad Max is the ultimate guide to the high octane post-apocalyptic film series, directed by visionary filmmaker George Miller.

This comprehensive history delves into the making of each film, exploring the unique vision and groundbreaking live action and special effects that have made Mad Max a cultural touchstone for over five decades. From the unforgettable characters and thrilling action sequences to the complex themes and deep mythology, this stunningly illustrated book provides an in-depth look at the world of the iconic road warrior from Mad Max to Furiosa.

Buckle up and get ready for a wild ride through The Wasteland as you discover the full story behind this classic film franchise.

With detailed production information, behind-the-scenes stories, and stunning photography, The Legend of Mad Max, is a must-read for fans of this celebrated series.

THE LEGEND OF MAD MAX: THE COMPLETE SAGA FROM MAD MAX TO FURIOSA by Ian Nathan will be released on June 18, 2024.

“Interview with the Vampire: The Vampire Chronicles (1994) directed by Neil Jordan, starring Tom Cruise & Brad Pitt / Z-View

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Interview with the Vampire: The Vampire Chronicles (1994)

Director: Neil Jordan

Screenplay: Anne Rice based on INTERVIEW WITH THE VAMPIRE by Horace McCoy

Stars: Brad Pitt, Tom Cruise, Antonio Banderas, Kirsten Dunst, Christian Slater, John McConnell, Bellina Logan, Thandiwe Newton, Indra Ové, Helen McCrory, Roger Lloyd Pack and Stephen Rea.

Tagline: Drink From Me And Live Forever

The Plot…

Daniel Molloy (Slater) is a writer looking for a story.  After a chance meeting with Louis de Pointe du Lac (Pitt), he may have found it.  Louis claims to be a vampire.  Although Molloy is skeptical at first, Louis quickly proves he is what he says.

As Molloy records and takes notes, Louis tells his story. In 1791 Louis was a young, wealthy Louisiana plantation owner.  That changed the evening the vampire, Lestat (Cruise) turned him.  No longer human, Louis and Lestat moved through the night.  Undead but living.  Forced to leave Louisiana, when folks began to suspect Louis and his new friend were behind many disappearances, Louis and Lestat head to New Orleans…

Louis’ tale spans 200 years.  New Orleans.  A new vampire joins them.  Betrayal.  A journey to Europe where they discover the Théâtre des Vampires.  True Vampires putting on plays where they pretend to be humans playing vampires! The victims are real.  To tell more of Louis story would be to say too much.

But I will leave you with this… can an interview with a vampire end well?

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Interview with the Vampire: The Vampire Chronicles was nominated for two Academy Awards

  • Best Art Direction-Set Decoration: Dante Ferretti Francesca, Lo Schiavo
  • Best Music, Original Score: Elliot Goldenthal

Anne Rice was not initially happy when Tom Cruise was cast as Lestat.  When Rice wrote the novel she envisioned Rutgar Hauer in the role.  She thought of Alain Delon when writing the screenplay.  Then when it was time to cast the role she suggested John Malkovich, Peter Weller, Jeremy Irons or Alexander Godunov.  When Cruise and Pitt were selected for the two leads she suggested that Pitt play Lestat.  That wasn’t to be.  When the film was released, Rice had come around to the Tom Cruise casting.  She said he brought something to the role that she had not foreseen.

While I’m a fan of many of Tom Cruise’s movies and I do really like Interview with a Vampire, I think he was miscast as Lestat.

River Phoenix was set to play Daniel Malloy before his untimely death.  Christian Slater then got the part.  Slater donated his salary from the film to two of River Phoenix’s favorite charities.

The initial scene Stephen Rea shares with Brad Pitt is both funny and a bit scary.  It’s a favorite of mine.

Interview with the Vampire: The Vampire Chronicles (1994) rates 4 of 5 stars.

“Killer’s Game” – The Trailer is Here!

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This morning we got the poster.  This afternoon, the trailer.

US Release Date: September 13, 2024
Starring: Dave Bautista, Ben Kingsley, Sofia Boutella, Terry Crews
Director: J. J. Perry
Synopsis: In the new action-comedy THE KILLER’S GAME, when top hitman Joe Flood (Dave Bautista) is diagnosed with a terminal illness, he decides to take matters into his own hands – by taking a hit out on himself. But when the very hitmen he hired also target his ex-girlfriend (Sofia Boutella) , he must fend off an army of assassin colleagues and win back the love of his life before it’s too late.

“The Convert” starring Guy Pearce – Two Posters and a Trailer are Here!

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Two posters and a trailer for The Convert starring Guy Pearce and I’m on board.

Lee Tamahori’s action-filled historical epic stars Guy Pearce as Thomas Munro, a newly arrived preacher in a colonial town in early 19th-century New Zealand who finds himself at the centre of a long-standing battle between two Māori tribes.

Directed by Lee Tamahori
Starring Guy Pearce, Tioreore Ngatai-Melbourne, Antonio Te Maioha, Jacqueline McKenzie, Lawrence Makoare

“Alien: Romulus” – The Trailer is Here!

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The more I see for Alien: Romulus, the more I want to see it.

“Alien: Romulus” takes the phenomenally successful “Alien” franchise back to its roots: While scavenging the deep ends of a derelict space station, a group of young space colonizers come face to face with the most terrifying life form in the universe.

The film stars Cailee Spaeny (“Civil War”), David Jonsson (“Agatha Christie’s Murder is Easy”), Archie Renaux (“Shadow and Bone”), Isabela Merced (“The Last of Us”), Spike Fearn (“Aftersun”), Aileen Wu.

Fede Alvarez (“Evil Dead,” “Don’t Breathe”) directs from a screenplay he wrote with frequent collaborator Rodo Sayagues (“Don’t Breathe 2”) based on characters created by Dan O’Bannon and Ronald Shusett.

“Alien: Romulus” is produced by Ridley Scott (“Napoleon”), who directed the original “Alien” and produced and directed the series’ entries “Prometheus” and “Alien: Covenant,” Michael Pruss (“Boston Strangler”), and Walter Hill (“Alien”), with Fede Alvarez, Elizabeth Cantillon (“Charlie’s Angels”), Brent O’Connor (“Bullet Train”), and Tom Moran (“Unstoppable”) serving as executive producers.

“Bad for Each Other” (1953) starring Charlton Heston & Lizabeth Scott / Z-View

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Bad for Each Other (1953)

Director: Irving Rapper

Screenplay: Irving Wallace, Horace McCoy based on SCALPEL by Horace McCoy

Stars: Charlton Heston, Lizabeth Scott, Dianne Foster, Mildred Dunnock, Arthur Franz, Ray Collins, Lester Matthews, Chris Alcaide, Frank Sully, Ann Robinson, Dorothy Green and Blackie Whiteford.

Tagline: Ghost Surgeon! Forced into the medical shadow world by the love of a money-hungry woman!

The Plot…

Colonel Tom Owen M.D. (Heston) returns to Coalville, Pennsylvania to attend his brother’s funeral.  His brother, the mining company’s safety engineer was killed with several others in a mining explosion.  Although Tom is a straight arrow military leader and doctor, he discovers that his brother was taking kickbacks to allow the purchase of substandard mining equipment.

When Tom investigates further he becomes enchanted with Helen Curtis (Scott), the wealthy daughter of the mine owner.  Tom decides to retire from the military.  He takes up residence at a medical facility run by Dr. Homer Gleeson (Matthews).  Dr. Matthews caters to the rich.  Soon the easy money and Helen begin to change Tom’s point of view.

Tom is blind to the fact that he, Helen (and the easy money) are bad for each other.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Made several years before Heston became a big star.

“Power” (2024) / Z-View

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Power (2024)

Director: Yance Ford

Screenplay: Yance Ford, Ian Olds

Tagline:  None.

The Plot…

Power explores the history of police in the United States.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

It’s crazy to think that the idea of a city police force didn’t start in the United States until 1838.

The focus of this documentary reminds me of the saying that when the only tool you have is a hammer, you begin to see everything as a nail.