Category: Z-View

“The Chinese Ring” (1947) starring Roland Winters & Mantan Moreland / Z-View

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The Chinese Ring (1947)

Director:  William Beaudine

Writer:  Scott Darling based on the character by Earl Derr Biggers

Stars:  Roland Winters, Mantan Moreland, Victor Sen Yung  and Paul Bryar

Tagline:  None

The Plot…

When a Chinese Princess is murdered while visiting Charlie Chan, she leaves behind a note which reads “Captain K”.  As the police work to find the killer, Chan follows the clues as well.  With multiple suspects, and the clock ticking more people will die if the murderer isn’t found.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

The Chinese Ring was Roland Winters first outing as Charlie Chan.  He would play the character 5 more times.

Mantan Moreland provides comedy relief as usual.  I wish he was given more screen time.

The Chinese Ring earns 3 of 5 stars.

“The Hatchet Wielding Hitchhiker” (2023) / Z-View

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The Hatchet Wielding Hitchhiker (2023)

Director:  Colette Camden

Writer:  Colette Camden

Stars:  Kai Lawrence, Jessob Reisbeck  

Tagline:  None

The Plot…

In 2013, an interview with Caleb Lawrence McGillvary. who called himself Kai, went viral. A reporter had interviewed Kai after he stopped a man from attacking a woman.

Kai had been hitchhiking.  When Jett McBride suddenly drove into a pedestrian pinning him to another vehicle, a passing woman came to the man’s aide. McBride attacked her.  Kai, sensing the woman would be killed, grabbed a hatchet from his backpack.  Kai repeatedly struck the man in the back of the head, incapacitating him.  The police arrived and took McBride into custody.  They questioned and released Kai.

A reporter interviewed Kai at the scene.  When the interview aired Kai came off as a free-spirited hero. The interview was placed on Youtube.  It received millions of views. Suddenly everyone wanted a piece of Kai.  He was on Inside Edition and Jimmy Kimmel Live.  On the surface, Kai appeared to be a fun-loving nonconformist. He didn’t have a job, a driver’s license or a social security number.  Kai didn’t consider himself homeless, he referred to his situation as homefree.  Kai’s appearances were off-the-wall and funny.  But beneath the surface of Kai’s easy-going exterior lurked a killer…

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

At first glance Kai seemed to be harmless.  A modern day hippie just getting by and having fun.  Yet anyone who spent a little time with Kai would realize his mental issues.  But who would think that Kai would be a cold-blooded murderer?

The Hatchet Wielding Hitchhiker earns 4 of 5 stars.

“Solace” (2015) starring Anthony Hopkins, Jeffrey Dean Morgan, Abbie Cornish & Colin Farrell / Z-View

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Solace (2015)

Director:  Afonso Poyart

Screenplay:  Sean Bailey, Ted Griffin

Stars:  Anthony Hopkins, Jeffrey Dean Morgan, Abbie Cornish, Colin Farrell, Matt Gerald, Jose Pablo Cantillo, Marley Shelton, Xander Berkeley, Kenny Johnson, Joshua Close, Janine Turner  and Jordan Woods-Robinson 

Tagline:  How do you stop a killer who can read your mind?

The Plot…

FBI agents Merriwether (Morgan) and Cowles (Cornish) are coming up empty while working a serial killer case.  Out of desperation, Merriweather reaches out to his friend, Dr. John Clancy (Hopkins).  Clancy reluctantly agrees to assist with the case.  Agent Cowles is skeptical even after Clancy begins to display abilities that assist with the case.

Soon enough Clancy’s paranormal skills alert him to two things: 1) the serial killer is a more powerful psychic; 2) both Agent Merriweather and Agent Morgan have tragic futures.  People will continue to be murdered unless Merriwether, Cowles and Clancy unless they figure how to catch the psychic killer… but there is no changing the future.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Solace has a cool concept – a psychic serial killer who is able to stay a step ahead of the FBI, despite them also having a clairvoyant of their own.  There are a couple of unexpected twists and a killer with a rationale that will keep you thinking.

Solace earns 4 of 5 stars.

“The Lion in the Winter” (1968) starring Peter O’Toole, Katharine Hepburn, Anthony Hopkins & Timothy Dalton / Z-View

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The Lion in the Winter (1968)

Director:  Anthony Harvey

Screenplay:  James Goldman

Stars: Peter O’Toole, Katharine Hepburn, Anthony Hopkins, John Castle, Nigel Terry, Timothy Dalton, Nigel Stock and O.Z. Whitehead 

Tagline: “The Lion in Winter” is about love and hate between a man and a woman and their sons. It’s also about politics, vengeance, greed and ambition. It other words it’s about life.

The Plot…

The year is 1183.  King Henry II (O’Toole) has brought his family together as he prepares to name his successor.  Henry has three sons.  He is leaning towards his youngest son, John (Terry), getting the throne.  King Henry’s estranged wife,  Eleanor of Aquitaine (Hepburn) wants their son, Richard (Hopkins) to be the next king.  Of course all three sons want to be King.  To complicate matters, King Philip II of France (Dalton) arrives with demands of his own.

As King Henry contemplates who will be the next king, family members are plotting against him and each other. A confrontation exposes the alliances, schemes and long held secrets.  Who will be the next king takes a backseat to who will survive the face-off when King Henry confronts all three sons about their conspiracies against him.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

The Lion in the Winter is an amazing film.  It was nominated for 7 Academy Awards (Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actor <O’Toole>; Best Actress <Hepburn – won>; Best Screenplay – Based on Material from Another Medium; Best Costume Design; Best Original Score for a Motion Picture (Not a Musical) <John Barry – won>.  It was also nominated for 8 British Academy Awards (winning two – Best Actress <Hepburn> and Best Film Music <John Barry>); 7 Golden Globe Awards (winning two – Best Drama Motion Picture and Best Actor <O’Toole>.

The Lion in the Winter is outstanding in all areas – from story to direction, acting, music, and editing.  It’s deserving of all the awards and accolades it received.  As it came time for my rating, I settled on 4 stars.  I really liked the film, but didn’t love it.  So keep in mind, your mileage may vary.  And if someone said the movie deserves five of five stars, I wouldn’t argue.  My mileage may vary as well.

The Lion in the Winter earns 4 of 5 stars.

“The Trap (1946) starring Sidney Toler & Mantan Moreland / Z-View

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The Trap (1946)

Director:  Howard Bretherton

Screenplay:  Marl Derr Biggers based on the character created by Miriam Kissinger

Stars: Sidney Toler, Mantan Moreland, Victor Sen Yung, Larry J. Blake, Kirk Alyn and Howard Negley 

Tagline: GORGEOUS SHOWGIRLS DOOMED TO DEATH!

The Plot…

Cole King (Negley) is vacationing with his troupe of showgirls at a beach house.  When one of the girls is found strangled, it isn’t long before Charlie Chan (aided by his son, Jimmy (Yung) and valet, Birmingham (Moreland) are called in to determine the murderer or murderess!

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

This was Sidney Toler’s last outing as Charlie Chan.  Toler had been suffering from cancer and passed away within 3 months of the film’s release.

The Trap follows the same format as all Charlie Chan films. There is a murder with multiple suspects and Chan is brought in to investigate.  He’s assisted by his son and valet (for comedy effect).  Chan determines who the killer is (and it’s usually not one suspected by the audience).  Everything wraps up in about an hour or a little more.  Charlie Chan films are a great way to end an evening.

My main reason for checking out the Charlie Chan films is Mantan Moreland.  He’s one of the most underrated comedians of his era.  The more screen time Moreland gets, the better the film.

The Trap earns 3 of 5 stars.

“Higher Than a Kite” (1943) starring The Three Stooges / Z-View

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Higher Than a Kite (1943)

Director:  Del Lord

Screenplay:  Monte Collins, Elwood Ullman

Stars: Curly Howard, Larry Fine, Moe Howard, Vernon Dent and Dick Curtis 

Tagline: None.

The Plot…

Our boys are mechanics and want to be pilots to fight Nazis.  When they find themselves behind enemy lines, Curly and Moe disguise themselves as German officers.  Larry is forced to disguise as a woman.  When German Generals become enamored with the beautiful  fraulein, what else could go wrong?

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Any time the Stooges go up against Nazis a fun time is guaranteed.

Higher Than a Kite earns 5 of 5 stars.

“The Raven” (1963) starring Vincent Price, Peter Lorre, Boris Karloff and Jack Nicholson / Z-View

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The Raven (1963)

Director:  Roger Corman

Screenplay:  Richard Matheson based on “The Raven” by Edgar Allan Poe

Stars: Vincent Price, Peter Lorre, Boris Karloff, Hazel Court, Jack Nicholson and Leo Gordon (voice uncredited)

Tagline: Wits and wizardry run a-fowl!

The Plot…

A talking raven shows up at the castle of Dr. Erasmus Craven (Price).  It turns out the raven is actually Dr. Adolphus Bedlo (Lorre)!  Bedlo was transformed into a raven by Dr. Scarabus (Karloff) when the two had a duel of magic.  Craven is able to restore Bedlo to human form.  They decide to go to Scarabus’ castle for a confrontation.  Bedlo wants revenge for being turned into a bird.  Craven is on a mission to find his missing wife Lenore.

Before it is over Bedlo, Craven and Scarabus will be in a battle of magic with the losers facing certain death!

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

The Raven is very loosely based on Edgar Allan Poe’s poem.  Director, Roger Corman, and writer, Richard Matheson wanted more humor and less terror for this film.  It was shot in just 15 days and Corman allowed the actors to play loose with their dialogue.  This suited Peter Lorre, who improvised many of his lines.  Boris Karloff didn’t enjoy this method, while Vincent Price caught on quickly.  It’s interesting to note that Peter Lore and Jack Nicholson reportedly didn’t get along when the cameras weren’t rolling.

The highlight is the duel between Price and Karloff.  It’s an extended sequence that kids of all ages will enjoy.

The Raven earns 3 of 5 stars.

“Three Little Sew and Sews” (1939) starring The Three Stooges / Z-View

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Three Little Sew and Sews (1939)

Director:  Del Lord

Screenplay:  Ewart Adamson

Stars: Curly Howard, Larry Fine, Moe Howard, Ned Glass, Charles Dorety, Lane Chandler, Vernon Dent, Bud Jamison, Al Thompson and Cy Schindell

Tagline: None.

The Plot…

Our boys are Navy tailors getting ready for shore leave.  As they clean up, Curly gets the bright idea to “borrow” an Admiral’s uniform.  Using Curly’s new identity the boys get into a high class party.  Nazi spies decide to take advantage of “the Admiral and his two escorts”.  It will be up to our boys to save a US submarine.  What could go wrong?

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Three Little Sew and Sews uses the tried and true gag of a spring getting attached to a person’s rear.  In this case it is Curly’s and is the funniest example of them all.  Curly really shines in this one.  He has a scene where he’s taunting Moe and Larry while they are in jail.  It’s a simple scene but Curly makes it work.  Of course the same could be said of his other moments.

This is also one of the few Stooges shorts where they die at the end… the good news is they earn their wings.  ; )

The Little Sew and Sews earns 5 of 5 stars.

“Last Looks” (2021) starring Charlie Hunnam & Mel Gibson / Z-View

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Last Looks (2021)

Director:  Tim Kirkby

Screenplay:  Howard Michael Gould based on this novel Last Looks

Stars: Charlie Hunnam, Mel Gibson, Lucy Fry, Clancy Brown, Robin Givens, CC Castillo, Method Man, Dominic Monaghan, Paul Ben-Victor and Josh McDermitt

Tagline:  This city is a bad place to be a good guy.

The Plot…

Charlie Waldo (Hunnam) is an ex-cop who has withdrawn from society.  He lives a quiet life in a trailer outside the city.  All of that changes when he is convinced to look into the murder of a Alastair Pinch’s wife.  Pinch (Gibson) is a an arrogant, alcoholic, but extremely popular tv star.  Pinch is also the prime suspect in his wife’s murder.  He claims he was blackout drunk when she was killed.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Last Looks has a great cast with Gibson and Hunnam leading the way.  Although Hunnam gets top billing, Gibson steals the show with his take on Alastair Pinch.  It’s fun to see see Clancy Brown, Dominic Monagham and Josh McDermitt show up as well.

Last Looks has the feel of a quirky detective show from the 1970s or 80s. You know the shows where the “guest star” gets the flashy part and there’s plenty of interesting characters along the way. I enjoyed Last Looks and could see it producing a sequel if the box office would support it.

Last Looks earns 4 of 5 stars.

“Merry Mavericks” (1951) starring The Three Stooges / Z-View

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Merry Mavericks (1951)

Director:  Edward Bernds

Screenplay:  Edward Bernds

Stars: Shemp Howard, Larry Fine, Moe Howard, Emil Sitka, Al Thompson and Blackie Whiteford

Tagline:  Meet The Three Stooges as up-and-coming… always leave-’em-laughing con-men in the wild and woolly west!

The Plot…

The boys are kicked out of a frontier town as vagrants.  When they arrive at the next town, our guys are mistaken for gunfighters who’ve come to clean up the place. What could go wrong?

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Merry Mavericks finds the Stooges in the old west PLUS we get a haunted house!

Merry Mavericks earns 5 of 5 stars.

“Tulsa King”: Season 1 starring Sylvester Stallone / Z-View

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Tulsa King: Season 1 (2022 – 2023)

Teleplay by: Taylor Sheridan and Terence Winter (episode 1); Terence Winter & Joseph Riccobene (episodes 2, 7); Regina Corrado (episode 3); Dave Flebotte (episodes 4, 6); Joseph Riccobene (episode 5), Terence Winter & Tom Sierchio (episode 8), Terence Winter (9)

Directed by: Allen Coulter (episodes 1, 2); Ben Richardson (episode 3); Ben Semanoff (episodes 4,5); Guy Ferland (episodes 6,7); Lodge Kerrigan (episodes 8,9)

Stars: Sylvester Stallone, Andrea Savage, Martin Starr, Jay Will, Max Casella, Domenick Lombardozzi, Vincent Piazza, A.C. Peterson, Garrett Hedlund, Dana Delany, Chris Caldovino, Ritchie Coster, Tatiana Zappardino, McKenna Quigley Harrington, Scarlet Rose Stallone,  John Cenatiempo and Joseph Riccobene

Tagline: None.

The Plot…

After serving a 25 year prison sentence, Dwight “The General” Manfredi (Stallone) believes he will be rewarded by the Invernizzi crime family. Manfredi could have talked to the Feds for a lighter sentence, but he stood the full load.  When Manfredi meets with Pete Invernizzi, the Don of their family, Manfredi  learns that he’s being exiled to Tulsa, Oklahoma. Manfredi will be expected to earn money for the Invernizzis, but will be far enough away, he won’t have the influence he once held.  Although Pete and Dwight were once good friends, Pete’s son, Chickie, has always been jealous of their relationship.  Dwight knows that Chickie now makes most of the family decisions due to Pete’s illness.  What Dwight doesn’t know is that Chickie wants him dead.

After 25 years in the joint, it’s a new world for Dwight.  And Tulsa isn’t New York City.  Still, Dwight begins to build a crew and put deals together.  Soon enough Dwight finds himself in a relationship with an ATF agent (Savage), at odds with a deadly motorcycle gang, brought to the attention of the FBI and in the crosshairs of Chickie Invernizzi.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Sylvester Stallone is perfectly cast as Dwight Manfredi.  That should be no surprise since Tulsa King series creator, Tyler Sheridan, built it around Stallone.  Plus Stallone has been welcomed to tweak dialogue and Manfredi’s character to better suit his personality.

The writing is first rate.  Tulsa King is populated by memorable characters.  We learn more about them as the series continues but it never feels like exposition.  They writers create scenes that feel natural with twists that are surprising.

The casting is superb.  Without a doubt, Stallone is the perfect star for this series.  Stallone is supported by an amazing cast. Every single actor/actress no matter how small their role is spot on.  Standouts include Andrea Savage, Jay Will; Dominic Lombardozzi, Garrett Hedlund, Ritchie Coster and Tatiana Zappardino.

I cannot wait for Tulsa King: Season 2.

Tulsa King: Season 1 (2022 – 2023) earns 5 of 5 stars.

“Shot in the Frontier” (1954) starring The Three Stooges / Z-View

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Shot in the Frontier (1954)

Director:  Jules White

Screenplay:  Felix Adler

Stars: Shemp Howard, Larry Fine, Moe Howard, Diana Darrin, Kenneth MacDonald, Mort Mills and Emil Sitka

Tagline:  Hey! Here’s hilarious horseplay!

The Plot…

Our guys are cowboys in the wild west.  Immediately after getting hitched, they guys learn that the dastardly Noonan brothers are coming to kill them and steal their wives.  The boys can run or fight.  They decide to run, but they’re too late!  Now Shemp, Larry and Moe was go gun to gun and toe to toe with the Noonan brothers. What could go wrong?

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Shot in the Frontier uses sets from the classic western High Noon!

Shot in the Frontier earns 4 of 5 stars.

“Jurassic World: Dominion” (2022) / Z-View

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Jurassic World: Dominion (2022)

Director: Colin Trevorrow

Screenplay by: Emily Carmichael, Colin Trevorrow from a story by Derek Connolly, Colin Trevorrow based on characters created by Michael Crichton

Stars: Chris Pratt, Bryce Dallas Howard, Laura Dern, Sam Neill, Jeff Goldblum, DeWanda Wise, Mamoudou Athie, Isabella Sermon, Campbell Scott, BD Wong, Omar Sy, Daniella Pineda  and Scott Haze

Tagline: The epic conclusion of the Jurassic era.

The Plot…

It’s four years after the events of the last Jurassic Park sequel.  Dr. Ellie Sattler (Dern) is trying to determine a way to stop genetically enhanced locusts from destroying crops around the world.  Alan Grant (Neil) is studying dinosaur fossils.  Owen Grady (Pratt) and Claire Deering (Howard) are raising Maisie Lockwood (Sermon) and their “pet” raptor.  Meanwhile Ian Malcolm (Goldblum) is the guest on a billionaire’s dinosaur island that — you know what, let me cut to the chase.  All the stars are going to end up together battling dinosaurs as they attempt to thwart a billionaire’s evil plans.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Dinosaurs are cool.  Dinosaurs in a modern world are even cooler.  It’s great that all the past stars of the Jurassic Park films return for this one.  There are some excellent scenes with dinosaurs chasing / attacking people, but we know that our stars are going to survive.

Part of the problem with Jurassic World: Dominion is the writing.  Any time a dinosaur is about to attack (and it doesn’t matter if it’s a raptor or a t-rex), raise your right hand in front of you and your left hand away from your side.  This stops them in their tracks.

Characters who should know better, do stupid things.  You’re walking across thin ice and it begins to crack.  Instead of flattening out, moving away from the person next to you and sliding across the ice, you look at the other person next to you and both begin to run.  When the group is moving through the jungle, you have the ones with weapons talking to each other behind the group and the weakest leading.  I could go on, but why?  We get plenty of dinosaur action and that’s the selling point.

Jurassic World: Dominion earns 3 of 5 stars.

“Rockin’ Thru The Rockies” (1940) starring The Three Stooges / Z-View

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Rockin’ Thru The Rockies (1940)

Director:  Jules White

Screenplay:  Clyde Buckman

Stars: Curly Howard, Larry Fine, Moe Howard, Dorothy Comingore, Dick Curtis and Cy Schindell

Tagline:  None.

The Plot…

The boys are frontier guides taking a female acting troupe through Indian territory.  The chief of a local tribe has given them a deadline to be out of the area (with an emphasis on DEAD).  Time is running out.  What could go wrong?

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Rockin’ Thru The Rockies gives Curly a lot of solo screen time!  There’s also an fun gag with Curly and Moe ice fishing in different holes.  They both catch a big fish at the same time.  You can guess the rest!

Rockin’ Thru The Rockies earns 4 of 5 stars.

“Up in the Air” (1940) starring Frankie Darro & Mantan Moreland / Z-View

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Up in the Air (1940)

Director: Howard Bretherton

Screenplay: Edmond Kelso

Stars: Frankie Darro, Mantan Moreland, Tristram Coffin, Dick Elliott, John Holland and Carleton Young

Tagline: Murder in a radio station…while the public listens!

The Plot…

Frankie Ryan (Darro) is a radio station page.  Jeff Jefferson (Moreland) is a janitor at the same station.  They dream of becoming a comedy team.  Their antics have almost gotten them fired more than once.  When one of the radio’s singers is murdered at the station, Frankie and Jeff hope to solve the crime before the cops.  What could go wrong?

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Mantan Moreland was the reason I decided to check out Up in the Air.  Mantan is good, the movie less so.

Up in the Air is a low-budget production that clocks in at just 62 minutes.  If you’re a Mantan Moreland fan, then it’s worth a view.  Even so, be advised that there’s a scene where Darro and Moreland do a comedy bit with Darro in blackface. Darro and Moreland made several films together.  I plan to check out as many as possible.

Up in the Air earns 2 of 5 stars.