Category: Z-View

“Young Mr. Jazz” (1919) starring Harold Lloyd and Snub Pollard / Z-View

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Young Mr. Jazz (1919)

Director: Hal Roach

Screenplay: Hal Roach, Sam Taylor, H. M. Walker

Stars: Harold Lloyd, Bebe Daniels, ‘Snub’ Pollard.

Tagline: None.

The Plot…

Harold is in love.  Unfortunately the girl’s father is way overprotective.  Harold and  his girl make a plan to sneak off for a date.  When Harold picks her up, her father sees and gives chase.  Harold and his girl end up in a dive bar full of thieves and thugs.

Soon enough Harold’s pocket is picked.  When the bill comes due, the hard case bartender will collect one way or another.  Then the girl’s dad enters and in no time at all, his cash is stolen.  Now without a way to pay what is owed, Harold will be in a fight for his life against the bartender and his crook friends.

Last call!

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)… 

Young Mr. Jazz is a short (10 minute) short.  Still, Harold Lloyd has ample time to demonstrate his athletic/acrobatic abilities.

Young Mr. Jazz (1919) rates 3 of 5 stars.

“Forgotten Sweeties” (1927) starring Charlie Chase / Z-View

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Forgotten Sweeties (1927)

Director: James Parrott

Screenplay:  H.M. Walker

Stars:  Charlie Chase, Anita Garvin, Shirley Palmer.

Tagline: None.

The Plot…

Charlie and his new wife, Lillian, are surprised to learn that Charlie’s ex-girlfriend, Shirley has moved into the apartment across from them.  Worse still, Shirley’s new husband Ira is the jealous type.  When Ira learns about Charlie, things take a turn for the worst.

Let the antics begin!

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Charlie Chase was an writer, director and actor.  Although he died at a relatively young age (46), his resume includes 282 acting roles, 174 films as a director and 37 as writer.

Forgotten Sweeties was directed by Charlie Chase’s brother.

Forgotten Sweeties (1927) rates 3 of 5 stars.

“Wounds” (2019) written & directed by Babak Anvari, starring Armie Hammer, Dakota Johnson & Zazie Beetz / Z-View

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Wounds (2019)

Director: Babak Anvari

Screenplay:  Babak Anvari; based on THE VISIBLE FILTH by Nathan Ballingrud

Stars:  Armie Hammer, Dakota Johnson, Zazie Beetz.

Tagline: Don’t call it in.

The Plot…

Will is a bartender in a New Orleans dive tavern.  One night after a vicious fight that left his friend badly wounded, Will finds a cell phone on the floor.  He puts it in his back pocket and forgets about it.  Early the next morning Will remembers the phone.  When Will looks to see who owns it, he discovers grisly photos and videos.

Then the phone rings…  that call will be the start of terrible things.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

I liked the premise and set up for Wounds.  Sadly it never lives up to either.

Wounds (2019) rates 2 of 5 stars.

“Many Scrappy Returns” (1927) starring Charlie Chase / Z-View

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Many Scrappy Returns (1927)

Director: James Parrott

Screenplay:  H.M. Walker

Stars:  Charlie Chase, Eugenia Gilbert, Anita Garvin and Bull Montana.

Tagline: None.

The Plot…

Charlie and his wife have Charlie’s brother, Wellington and Wellington’s wife over for dinner.  Things go sideways when Wellington tries to put a move on Charlie’s maid.  Worse still she thinks that it was Charlie getting fresh.  When the maid’s husband gets wind of the advance, all bets are off!

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Charlie Chase was an writer, director and actor.  Although he died at a relatively young age (46), his resume includes 282 acting roles, 174 films as a director and 37 as writer.

Many Scrappy Returns was directed by Charlie Chase’s brother.

Many Scrappy Returns (1927) rates 3 of 5 stars.

“Pluribus”: Season 1 (2025) created by Vince Gilligan, starring Rhea Seehorn / Z-View

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Pluribus: Season 1 (2025)

Created by: Vince Gilligan

Director:

  • Vince Gilligan (Eps. 1-2)
  • Gordon Smith (Eps. 3; 5; 9)
  • Zetna Fuentes (Ep. 4)
  • Gandja Monteiro (Ep. 6)
  • Adam Bernstein (Ep. 7)
  • Melissa Bernstein (Ep. 8)

Teleplay by:

  • Vince Gilligan (Eps. 1-2)
  • Gordon Smith (Ep. 3)
  • Alison Tatlock (Ep. 4)
  • Ariel Levine (Ep. 5)
  • Vera Blasi (Ep. 6)
  • Jenn Carroll (Ep. 7)
  • Jonny Gomez (Ep. 8)
  • Alison Tatlock & Gordon Smith (Ep. 9)

Starring:  Rhea Seehorn, Karolina Wydra, Carlos-Manuel Vesga, Miriam Shor and John Cena.

Tagline: Happiness is contagious.

The Plot… (beware of spoilers)

Astronomers are shocked when a SETI radio signal turns out to be a legit alien transmission.  The signal is determined to be a code for an RNA sequence.  Scientists begin working on it immediately.  A lab mishap infects one of the researchers.  Soon a geometric infection spreads.  One infected becomes two – two become four.

Within very little time the entire human population has been exposed.  Every person infected becomes part of the hive mind collective.  The infection rate is almost 100%.  There are only thirteen people in the world who remain unaffected.

With the infection what one person knows, they all know.  The infected appear calm and happy and they readily admit that the want to assimilate the uninfected.

Carol Sturka is one of the thirteen uninfected.  Her goal is to find a way to save the human race.

Thoughts…

Vince Gilligan has another winner.

Pluribus is the Latin word meaning “many”.  The Pluribus logo changes the “i” to a “1” which is very clever.

It was an interesting choice to make Rhea Seehorn’s character more than a bit unlikeable.

I look forward to season 2.

Pluribus: Season 1 (2025) rates 5 of 5 stars.

THE HUNTER SAGA: HUNTER / HUNTER’S MOON / THE LAST HUNT by James Byron Huggins

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THE HUNTER SAGA by James Byron Huggins

The Overview:  Beware of Spoilers…

First sentence…

‘That boy dies in four hours.”

In HUNTER, Nathaniel Hunter, one of the world’s best trackers, leads a US Military squad into the wilds of Alaska.  A creature that wiped out a scientific installation is on the loose.  The beast, the result of experiments using prehistoric RNA, is unlike anything ever seen by modern man.  The monster is the ultimate killing machine, an apex predator without hesitation or mercy.

+++

First sentence…

It consumed Angus Staford as it had consumed dead men since the beginning of time, effortlessly crushing bone without removing its scarlet stare from the surrounding night.

In HUNTER’S MOON, Nathaniel Hunter travels to the moors of England.  An army scientist, using protocols that fabricated the prehistoric creature in HUNTER, has infected himself creating a superior beast. This leviathan kills then returns to the savage wilderness of the English moors.  Local police and military units that faced the creature were wiped out.  Hunter barely survived against the original monster.  This new creature is more powerful and resourceful.

+++

First sentence…

‘We’re going to kill Hunter.”

In THE LAST HUNT, Nathaniel Hunter is living a peaceful life in his Montana mountainside cabin unaware that he’s been marked for death. Scipio Dante, the genius sociopathic billionaire scientist behind the prehistoric RNA experiments that created modern day monsters, wants Hunter dead.

Dante has perfected the serum that creates the nearly unkillable beasts.  Now those infected become monsters that retain human consciousness.  Dante along with two others will take the serum. As insurance, Dante has hired a team of mercenaries led by Roska.  Roska is a tracker with skills that match Hunter’s.

Nathaniel Hunter has no idea of the storm that is coming to his doorstep.  Three unkillable prehistoric apex predators with human consciousness, and a mercenary squad led by his equal are en route.

+++

Nathaniel Hunter was created with Sylvester Stallone in mind.  As you read the series, it’s easy to imagine a younger Sly as Hunter.  Sly Stallone optioned the rights to adapt Hunter as a film or television series.  Although one has been rumored for years, it has yet to happen.  Fans would love to see it.

The Hunter Trilogy gets my highest recommendation.  They are fast paced.  Well written and fun rides.  Byron Huggins knows his stuff and it shows.

HUNTER rates 5 of 5 stars.

HUNTER’S MOON rates 5 of 5 stars.

THE LAST HUNT rates 5 of 5 stars.

Rating:

“The Rink” (1916) written, directed and starring Charlie Chaplin / Z-View

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The Rink (1916)

Director: Charlie Chaplin, Edward Brewer (technical director)

Screenplay:  Charlie Chaplin, Vincent Bryan, Maverick Terrell

Stars:  Charlie Chaplin, Edna Purviance, Eric Campbell, Henry Bergman, Albert Austin.

Tagline: Can you imagine the excruciatingly comedy capers of Charley on a pair of roller skates?

The Plot…

Charlie is a terribly clumsy waiter.  On his lunch hour Charlie likes to go to the skating rink where he is graceful beyond belief.  Still, Charlie being Charlie…

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Charlie Chaplin was a man of many talents.  He wrote screenplays, acted, directed, produced, composed music and wrote songs.  Who knew he could also skate so well?

In addition to his physical comedy, Chaplin made me smile when as a waiter he figured a fat man’s dinner bill by the stains on his clothes.

The Rink (1916) rates 4 of 5 stars.

“Are Brunettes Safe?” (1927) starring Charlie Chase / Z-View

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Are Brunettes Safe? (1927)

Director: James Parrott

Screenplay:  H.M. Walker

Stars:  Charlie Chase, Lorraine Eason Will Walling.

Tagline: You can only choose one.

The Plot…

Charlie plays a newspaper advice columnist.  Charlie gets a letter from a man saying he hasn’t seen his mother in years and he will not be able to return home.  The man encloses a photo of himself.  Charlie is surprised to see that the man looks exactly like him.

That’s when Charlie gets an idea.  Charlie will travel to the man’s small town.  He’ll visit the man’s mother and see if he can impersonate the man.  It’ll make a great human interest story.

What Charlie doesn’t know, but is about to find out: the man is infamous in the town!  He is wanted for robbing the town’s bank.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Are Brunettes Safe? is a 20 minute silent film from Hal Roach, the producer famous for Laurel & Hardy, Harold Lloyd and Our Gang shorts.

Are Brunettes Safe? (1927) rates 4 of 5 stars.

“Eternity” (2025) starring Mile Teller, Elizabeth Olsen and Callum Turner / Z-View

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Eternity (2025)

Director: David Freyne

Screenplay:  Pat Cunnane, David Freyne

Stars: Miles Teller, Elizabeth Olsen, Callum Turner, John Early, Olga Merediz, Da’Vine Joy Randolph, Barry Primus and Betty Buckley.

Tagline: You can only choose one.

The Plot…

Larry and Joan have been married for 65 years.  Although they’ve been together for a lifetime, it is Joan’s second marriage.  When she was very young, Joan was briefly married.  Her husband, Luke, was killed in the Korean War.

Although Joan has terminal cancer, it is Larry who dies first when he chokes on a pretzel.

When Larry awakens as a young man, he discovers he’s in the afterlife.  Anna, Larry’s Afterlife Coordinator explains that he must decide in which themed afterlife he wants to spend his eternity.  Once selected, a person cannot change their theme.  Eternity theme salespeople are constantly touting their products.

Larry decides to wait for Joan to make his eternity selection.  That way they can always be together.  Soon enough Joan arrives.  Larry is surprised to find that Joan’s first husband, Luke has also waited for her.  He also wants to spend eternity with her.

Joan is faced with an impossible choice.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Eternity is better than I anticipated.  The Afterlife Coordinators are a hoot.  I also got a kick out of the different themes available for eternity.

Eternity (2025) rates 4 of 5 stars.

“The Incredible Mr. Limpet” (1964) starring Don Knotts / Z-View

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The Incredible Mr. Limpet (1964)

Director: Arthur Lubin

Screenplay:  Joe DiMona, Jameson Brewer, John C. Rose; based on MR. LIMPET by Theodore Pratt

Stars: Don Knotts, Carole Cook, Jack Weston, Andrew Duggan and Paul Frees (voice).

Tagline: The man who turned into a fish… and became America’s deadliest secret weapon!

The Plot…

War War II rages.  Henry Limpett, a mild-mannered bookkeeper, would love nothing more than to enlist and help the war effort.  Each time Henry’s tried he’s been rejected due to his many health issues.

Henry, his wife and his best friend George go to Coney Island for the day.  As Henry is looking down into the ocean, he falls.  Henry can’t swim so George dives in to save him.  Despite several attempts, George is unable to find Henry.  Everyone believes Henry has drowned.

But he hasn’t.  Somehow Henry Limpet has turned into a fish!  Even more amazing as a fish, Henry has a power that may help turn the tide of the war!

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

The film moves from live action to animation once Limpet turns into a fish.

It’s funny how much the fish looks like Don Knotts — or is it how much he looks like a fish?

I saw the film when it was first released. I was five and the theater was full of kids.  We loved it.  I recently re-watched it again with my grandson who is six.  He enjoyed it as well.  Your mileage may vary depending on your age and the audience you’re watching with.

The Incredible Mr. Limpet (1964) rates 4 of 5 stars.

“Detective Hole”: Season 1, starring Tobias Santelmann & Joel Kinnaman / Z-View

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Detective Hole (2026)

Created by: Jo Nesbø

Director:

  • Øystein Karlsen (Eps. 1; 5; 7-9)
  • Anna Zackrisson (Eps. 3-4; 6)

Teleplay by: Jo Nesbø

Starring:  Tobias Santelmann, Ellen Helinder, Anders Baasmo, Pia Tjelta and Joel Kinnaman.

Tagline: Not every devil hides in the dark.

The Plot… (beware of spoilers)

Detective Harry Hole is tormented by the accidental death of his partner, killed in a high speed chase when Hole was driving.  The killer that they were after was never caught.

It’s been five years.  Hole drinks too much and his work and social life is suffering.  Harry’s investigation of a series of brutal ritualistic murders pushes Harry to the limit.  When clues indicate the killer / killers may have ties to the police, Harry doesn’t know who to trust.

Harry’s refusal to stand down puts him and everyone he loves in the killers crosshairs.

Thoughts…

This season adapts THE DEVIL’S STAR, the fifth book in the Harry Hole series.

Tobias Santelmann and Joel Kinnaman are excellent.

Detective Hole starts slow but builds to an exciting climax.  I look forward to future seasons.

FAREWELL, AMETHYSTINE : AN EASY RAWLINS MYSTERY by Walter Mosley / Z-View

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FAREWELL, AMETHYSTINE : AN EASY RAWLINS MYSTERY by Walter Mosley

First sentences…

“Naw, naw, man.  They wanna kick her outta that school because she a Black woman want the Constitution to practice what it preach.  All kinda white revolutionaries and, and, and activist teachers up there at UCLA and they don’t make a peep about them.”

The Overview:  Beware of Spoilers…

Monday morning.  Ezekiel “Easy” Rawlins is chatting with his buddies when she comes in.  She is Amethystine Stoller, an extremely beautiful, young black woman. Amethystine wants to hire Easy to find her missing ex-husband.  Her ex, Curtis Fields is an accountant.  He’s also white.  An interracial couple, even in 1970, still raises a lot of eyebrows.

Easy feels an immediate attraction to Amethystine.  He also doesn’t trust her.  Two reasons not to take the case.

But he does.

When Easy finds Curtis’ dead body, things get complicated.  Curtis was involved with gangsters, gamblers, blackmail and corrupt politicians. Easy tries to reach his buddy on the LAPD, Detective Melvin Suggs,  but he’s surprised to find Suggs is also missing.  Suggs’ wife has been implicated in a blackmail murder.

As Easy follows the clues, he realizes that the cases may be related and the corruption runs deep.  Easy is going to need backup, so he reaches out to his friend, Fearless Jones.  Together, Easy and Fearless will follow the clues that take them deep into LA’s dangerous underbelly where murders, double-crosses and blackmail are the norm.

+++

This is Walter Mosley’s sixteenth Easy Rawlins novel.  They never disappoint.

Rating:

“Kill” (2023) / Z-View

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Kill (2023)

Director: Nikhil Nagesh Bhat

Screenplay:  Nikhil Nagesh Bhat

Stars: Lakshya, Raghav Juyal, Ashish Vidyarthi, Abhishek Chauhan, Harsh Chhaya and Tanya Maniktala.

Tagline: This journey is one-way.

The Plot…

Amrit and Tulika are in love and wish to be married.  Amrit is an Army commando.  Tulika, the daughter of a wealthy businessman.  Tulika’s father has arranged for her to be married to the son of a wealthy business associate.

Tulika’s father has arranged for the family to travel by train to New Delhi for the wedding.  Amrit and his commando buddy Viresh have secretly booked passage on the train as well.  Amrit’s plan is to get Tulika to elope with him.

All of that changes when a large group of ruthless bandits enters the train. There plan was to rob everyone, but when they learn that a rich business man is on board they decide to rob everyone and kidnap his daughter.

As the express train barrels along it will be up to Amrit and Viresh to save the day.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Reportedly this film is based on a real event.  In 2010, a retired Nepal commando traveling on the Maurya Express single-handedly took on 30 – 4o bandits.  Although he was severely wounded, he killed three and wounded eight of the terrorists.

Kill was nominated for eight International Indian Film Academy Awards and won five.  It was nominated for fourteen Filmfare Awards and won six.

Most reviewers like this film better than me.  I thought it was good, but became a bit redundant.  As always, your mileage may vary.

Kill (2023) rates 3 of 5 stars.

“4Got10” starring Dolph Lundgren, Johnny Messner, Vivica Fox and Danny Trejo / Z-View

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4Got 10 aka The Good, the Bad, and the Dead (2015)

Director: Timothy Woodward Jr.

Screenplay: Sean Ryan

Stars: Johnny Messner, Dolph Lundgren, Danny Trejo, Vivica A. Fox and Michael Paré.

Tagline: Who can you trust?

The Plot…

Brian Barnes comes to.  He’s in the desert, has been shot and is surrounded by several dead bodies.  The sound of a cop car pulling up is what woke him.  Brian closes his eyes and plays dead.

Sheriff Olson and his Deputy get out.  They quickly survey the scene.  In the van they find cocaine and bags of money.  A drug deal gone sideways.  There’s three or four million in cash just sitting there.  The Deputy says he’s going to call in for backup.  Sheriff Olson says, “Hold up… That’s a lot of money…”

Olson throws out the idea that they keep the cash.  The Deputy thinks Olson is joking.  He moves to make the call.  Sheriff Olson shoots the Deputy in the back.  As Olson moves to get the cash, he realizes Brian is alive.

Brian wounds Sheriff Olson and takes off with the cash.  As Brian fights to remember why he was at the drug deal, he must stay on the run.  Sheriff Olson, a relentless FBI agent and the drug lord who lost his son and cocaine when the drug deal went bad are closing in.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

The plot is better than the finished film.

4Got 10 aka The Good, the Bad, and the Dead (2015) rates 2 of 5 stars.

“Patient Zero” (2018) starring Matt Smith, Natalie Dormer and Stanley Tucci / Z-View

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Patient Zero (2018)

Director: Stefan Ruzowitzky

Screenplay: Mike Le

Stars: Matt Smith, Natalie Dormer, John Bradley, Clive Standen, Agyness Deyn and Stanley Tucci.

Tagline:  Find the Disease. Find the Cure.

The Plot…

A virus has wiped out most of the population. Once infected humans quickly become enraged, unable to think or communicate.  A large group of civilians, soldiers and CDC scientists have found shelter in an underground bunker.

The scientists bring in captured infected for study to find a cure.  They’re surprised to discover that one of their test subjects, a former professor, doesn’t show the normal signs of infection.  Even more shocking is the professor’s ability to understand and communicate  with those infected.   The scientists believe the professor could be the key to a cure.  The professor believes that he (and others like him) are the next step in human evolution.

As the scientists work on a cure, the professor has a plan of his own…

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Fans of Jonathan Maberry’s Joe Ledger tales will be disappointed to learn that this film has nothing to do with the first novel in his series.  Still, fans of zombie movies should enjoy this one.

Patient Zero (2018) rates 3 of 5 stars.