Category: Z-View

“Abbott and Costello Meet the Invisible Man” (1951) / Z-View

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Abbott and Costello Meet the Invisible Man (1951)

Director:  Charles Lamont

Screenplay:  Robert Lees, Frederic I. Rinaldo, John Grant from a story by Hugh Wedlock Jr., Howard Snyder based on 1897 novel The Invisible Man by H. G. Wells

Stars: Bud Abbott, Lou Costello, Arthur Franz, Sheldon Leonard, William Frawley, Sam Balter, John Daheim and Milt Bronson

Tagline: You’ll shiver… You’ll shudder… You’ll shout with laughter!

The Plot…

Bud (Abbott) and Lou (Costello) are setting up shop after graduating from Private Detective school.  In comes middleweight prize fighter Tommy Nelson (Franz).  He’s on the lam.  Nelson escaped jail after being accused of killing his manager.  Nelson wants Bud and Lou to convince his fiancée’s scientist uncle to inject him with a formula to make him invisible.  Nelson thinks this will get him into places where he can find the true killers!

Bud and Lou reluctantly agree.  Soon they’re in over their heads. The cops and the crooks are after them.  If they don’t find the real killer, they may end up next to Nelson’s manager in the morgue!

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Laughs come from Bud not knowing when the Invisible Man is in the room and Lou being mistaken for a prizefighter with a punch so fast you can’t see it!  Of course you can’t see the punch when it’s thrown by the invisible man.  The funniest scenes involve Lou in a boxing match with the invisible man doing the heavy lifting, er, punching.  This isn’t Bud and Lou’s best, but is still fun.

Abbott and Costello Meet the Invisible Man (1951) earns 3 of 5 stars.

“Yes, We Have No Bonanza” (1939) starring The Three Stooges / Z-View

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Yes, We Have No Bonanza (1939)

Director:  Del Lord

Screenplay:  Searle Kramer, Elwood Ullman

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

Tagline: None.

The Plot…

The boys are singing waiters in a saloon run by a crook in the wild west.  In order to get out of debt and married, the boys decide to try prospecting.  Surprisingly they decide to dig in the exact same spot their boss hid bank robbery loot!  What could go wrong?

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Filming on this one began with no specific title in mind.  When Curly adlibbed, “Yes, we have no bonanza” (a wordplay on  the song, “Yes, We Have No Bananas”) the title was born!

Yes, We Have No Bonanza earns 3 of 5 stars.

Primal: Season 1 (2019 – 2020) / Z-View

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Primal: Season 1 (2019 – 2020)

Written and storyboarded by: Genndy Tartakovsky (episodes 1-2, 9); David Krentz (episodes 3, 7, 10); Don Shank & Genndy Tartakovsky (episode 4); Bryan Andrews & Genndy Tartakovsky (episode 5); Bryan Andrews (episode 6); Nagisa Koyama & Genndy Tartakovsky (episode 8);

Story: Genndy Tartakovsky (episodes 1);  Darrick Bachman & Genndy Tartakovsky (episode 2, 9); Bryan Andrews, Darrick Bachman, David Krentz & Genndy Tartakovsky (episodes 3, 7, 10); Bryan Andrews, Darrick Bachman & Genndy Tartakovsky (episodes 4-6, 8);

Stars: Aaron LaPlante, Laëtitia Eïdo, Fred Tatasciore, Imari Williams

Tagline: None.

The Plot…

A caveman who saw his family devoured by a pack of Tyrannosaurs, develops a friendship with a dinosaur who survived an attack by the same T-Rex pack.  Together Spear and Fang (as we come to know them) travel through a primordial world working together to survive.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

I was late to the Primal party.  Yeah, I’d heard how awesome Primal was.  But, come on.  A cartoon about a caveman and a dinosaur who are friends?  “Maybe if I was seven,” I thought.  Finally, I gave it a chance.  I should have checked out Primal sooner.

Yes, it is about a caveman and a dinosaur who become best friends.  But this ain’t no kiddie cartoon.  There is no spoken dialogue.  There is plenty of cartoon violence.  The violence has “real” repercussions.  People and animals die.  And you will find yourself caring more about the cartoon characters in this world than in most movies or television shows.

Hats off to Genndy Tartakovsky.  Primal contains stories with heart that are beautifully animated.  Each episode is a standalone tale, but builds to tell a bigger story.  Season 1 ends with a cliffhanger and I cannot wait to get to Season 2.

Primal won three Primetime Emmy Awards for Outstanding Individual Achievement in Animation: Stephen DeStefano (character designer) (for “A Cold Death”); Genndy Tartakovsky (storyboard artist) (for “Spear and Fang”); and Scott Wills (art director) (for “Spear and Fang”).

Primal: Season 1 (2019 – 2020) earns 5 of 5 stars.

“Woman Haters” (1934) starring The Three Stooges & Marjorie White / Z-View

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Woman Haters (1934)

Director:  Archie Gottler

Screenplay:  Jerome S. Gottler

Stars: Moe Howard, Larry Fine, Curly Howard, Marjorie White, Walter Brennan, Bud Jamison, Tiny Sandford and Fred ‘Snowflake’ Toones

Tagline: Music! Laughter! Girls!

The Plot…

Tom (Moe), Jim (Larry) and Jack (Curly) are traveling salesmen  and members of the Woman Hater’s Club.  They vow to never get romantically involved with a woman.  Not long after, Jim falls in love with Mary (White).  On a train to their honeymoon Jim and Mary run into Tom and Jack.  Jim tries to play it off, like he’s not married, but Mary is on to him.  Mary decides to get Jim jealous by flirting with Tom and Jack.  What could go wrong?

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Woman Haters is the first Three Stooges Short.  They weren’t even called Stooges yet.  Curly was billed as Jerry Howard.  It is one of the rare Stooges shorts where the boys’ characters don’t go by their Stooge names.

Marjorie White had top billing during Woman Haters original release.  Sadly it was White’s last film as she was killed in an automobile accident the following year.

Woman Haters wasn’t originally considered a Three Stooges film.  It was actually part of Columbia’s “Musical Novelty” series where all dialogue is spoken in rhyme with musical accompaniment.  Woman Haters wasn’t a favorite of Larry, Curly or Moe.

Look for Walter Brennan playing the train’s conductor.

Woman Haters earns 3 of 5 stars.

“The Sitter Downers” (1937) starring The Three Stooges / Z-View

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The Sitter Downers (1937)

Director:  Del Lord

Screenplay:  Ewart Adamson

Stars: Moe Howard, Larry Fine, Curly Howard, Charles Dorety, and James C. Morton

Tagline: None.

The Plot…

When the father of sisters that the boys want to marry refuses to allow it, what to do?  They decide to go on a sit down strike!  As the strike continues the boys become famous. Money and gifts pour in.  Finally the girls’ father allows them to be married!

Moe, Larry and Curly along with their new wives, Florabell, Corabell, and Doorabell head off to start their new lives.  First order of business is for the boys to build their dream house.  What could go wrong?

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

The boys decide which sister to marry by pulling their names out of a hat.  Larry gets Florabell.  Moe gets Corabell.  Curly gets Stetson.  Wait, what?

The names of the Stooges’ fiancées change throughout the short.  They are introduced as June Gittelson playing Corabell, Marcia Healy as Florabell, and Betty Mack is Dorabell.  When their names are drawn from the hat, June is suddenly Florabell, Betty is Corabell, and Marcia is Dorabell.  Then when Marcia is knocked out, Curly calls her Corabell.  Things could get dicey come bedtime.

The Sitter Downers earns 4 of 5 stars.

“Top Gun: Maverick” (2022) starring Tom Cruise / Z-View

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Top Gun: Maverick (2022)

Director:  Joseph Kosinski

Screenplay:  Ehren Kruger, Eric Warren Singer, Christopher McQuarrie from a story by Peter Craig, Justin Marks based on characters created by Jim Cash, Jack Epps Jr.

Stars: Tom Cruise, Jennifer Connelly, Miles Teller, Val Kilmer, Bashir Salahuddin, Ed Harris, Jon Hamm, Charles Parnell, Lewis Pullman, Danny Ramirez, Glen Powell, Jack Schumacher, Kara Wang, Greg Tarzan Davis, and Raymond Lee

Tagline: Feel the need… The need for speed.

The Plot…

Over thirty years into his military career, Pete “Maverick” Mitchell is still pushing limits… as a test pilot and the tolerance of his superior officers.  By now, Maverick should have been a two-star admiral or better.  Maverick’s love of altitude and his attitude have hindered advancement.  If not for Maverick’s friendship with Admiral Tom “Iceman” Kazansky (Kilmer), the commander of the U.S. Pacific Fleet, Maverick might have been discharged.

Now Maverick is tasked with training a team of the very best Top Gun pilots for a nearly impossible suicide mission.  Four U.S, Super Hornets will fly below radar to slip into an enemy area guarded by surface to air missiles and the latest enemy fighter jets.  The U.S. pilots will have one shot at taking out an underground bunker that will house a nuclear arsenal.

The mission is on a strict timeline.  Maverick needs to devise a plan, train the pilots and pick four for a mission they likely won’t survive.  To complicate matters, Maverick’s superior officer disapproves of Maverick’s methods and one of the trainees is Lt. Bradley ‘Rooster’ Bradshaw (Teller), the son of Maverick’s best friend, Nick “Goose” Bradshaw.  Rooster blames Maverick for his father’s death and for slowing his Naval advancement.  If Maverick picks Rooster for the mission, he may be responsible for his friend’s son’s death.  If he doesn’t pick him, Rooster will blame Maverick for again hindering his career.

The clock is ticking…

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Top Gun: Maverick‘s writers have created a plausible reason for Maverick to still be a test pilot.  Their storyline creates a logical rationale for Maverick to lead the mission instead of a younger Top Gun pilot.  There are several great call backs to the original film.

Having Rooster feel Maverick is responsible for his dad’s death isn’t surprising.  It adds drama to the situation.  The added twist of Maverick slowing Rooster’s career advancement is a nice touch.  Most movies would have Maverick explain to Rooster that Rooster’s mother requested it.  Maverick say why he doesn’t, “Rooster would always resent me for what I did. Why should he resent her too?”  That is gold.

Making sure that Val Kilmer was in the film was a no-brainer.  Having his character suffer from cancer (as Kilmer did in real life) adds gravitas to his character.  Having Kilmer’s character be Maverick’s “protector” takes things to a whole other level… and then when Kilmer’s character dies, all bets are off.

Giving Maverick a love interest rounds out his character.  This whole subplot was well done.  It adds context and broadens Maverick’s universe.

The training and mission is full of exciting and tense moments (with just the right amount of humor).  Getting Maverick and Rooster together behind enemy lines was inspired.  As was their method of escape.

Kudos to director Joseph Kosinski.  He had the chops to handle a $170 million production starring one of Hollywood’s biggest stars.  Plus Kosinski had to deal with a large cast giving each their moment to shine.  There was also pressure to make a sequel to a beloved film from 36 years ago.  Kosinski succeeded all on counts.

Top Gun: Maverick features a great cast.  Cruise and Kilmer were essential.  It would be hard to find a better love interest than Jennifer Connelly.  Miles Teller is excellent and looks like he could be Anthony Edwards’ son. Jon Hamm and Ed Harris are welcome additions to the cast.

I saw Top Gun on it’s initial release.  I liked Top Gun, but didn’t love it.  Top Gun: Maverick exceeded my expectations.  It works on every level.  You don’t need to see the original film to enjoy Maverick, but if you have seen it, viewing the sequel should be an even better experience.

Top Gun: Maverick earns 5 of 5 stars.

“Ants in the Pantry” (1936) starring The Three Stooges / Z-View

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Ants in the Pantry (1936)

Director:  Preston Black

Screenplay:  Al Giebler

Stars: Moe Howard, Larry Fine, Curly Howard, Charles Dorety, and Bud Jamison

Tagline: Three assorted nuts…driving you bugs with laughter!

The Plot…

The boys are going to lose their jobs as pest exterminators if they don’t get some business soon!  So they sneak into a mansion and distribute ants, assorted bugs and mice.  Then they get hired by the mansion’s owner to exterminate the pests.  What could go wrong?

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Clarence Nash, who voiced Donald Duck for Disney, provided the sounds needed for cats in the piano.

In a scene where ants were supposed to be crawling all over Moe, actual ants were!  The bottle of the critters broke in his pocket and Moe didn’t realize until too late.  Everyone on set was cracking up thinking Moe was really into acting it out.

Ants in the Pantry earns 4 of 5 stars.

“Resurrection” (1999) starring Christopher Lambert / Z-View

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Resurrection (1999)

Director:  Russell Mulcahy

Screenplay:  Brad Mirman based on a story by Christopher Lambert, Brad Mirman

Stars: Christopher Lambert, Leland Orser, David Cronenberg, Jayne Eastwood, David Ferry, Rick Fox, Karen Glave, Rothaford Gray  and Robert Joy

Tagline: Be afraid. For he is coming.

The Plot…

Detectives Prudhomme (Lambert) and Hollinsworth (Orser) are assigned a murder case.  The victim’s arm was sawed off and taken.  At the crime scene, they find written in blood, “He is coming”.  Soon other victims are found. Each is missing a body part.  The victims are all 33 years old and have biblical names (Matthew, Peter, etc.).  They discover the madman is taking the parts in an effort to recreate Christ’s body.  More people will die, if Prudomme and Hollinsworth don’t crack the case.  But how do you catch a madman?

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

I watched Resurrection hoping that director, Russell Mulcahy and star, Christopher Lambert would be able to catch lightning in a bottle.  The pair meshed perfectly in Highlander.  Could they do it again?

The short answer is, “No.”

In Highlander, Mulcahy’s direction provided amazing camera movements, inventive scene transitions and creative framing.  In Resurrection we don’t get that.  Christopher Lambert was the exact right choice to play Connor MacLeod. Lambert’s character in Resurrection is so generic that anyone could have played him as long as they could run and scream… a lot.

The serial killer’s motive is insane.  That should have been played up more.  There was shock because of the brutality of the murders, but the movie, for the most part lacked tension.  I had hoped for better, but it’s near impossible for lightning to strike in the same place twice.

Resurrection earns 2 of 5 stars.

“Busy Buddies” (1944) starring The Three Stooges / Z-View

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Busy Buddies (1944)

Director:  Del Lord

Screenplay:  Del Lord, Elwood Ullman

Stars: Moe Howard, Larry Fine, Curly Howard, Heinie Conklin, and Vernon Dent

Tagline: Laugh-leaders in the two-reel comedy field…these crazy cuckoos are busier than ever…creating more fun than ever!

The Plot…

The boys are going to lose their diner if they can’t come up with $97 by Monday.  When Moe spots a cow milking contest that pays $100 to the winner, he hatches a plan.  What could go wrong?

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

For my money the funniest part of this short is Curly cooking in the diner.  The rest of the short is pretty generic stuff.  I’m not complaining.  Nyuk-Nyuk-Nyuk.

Busy Buddies earns 3 of 5 stars.

“Gone in the Night” (2022) starring Winona Ryder / Z-View

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Gone in the Night (2022)

Director:  Eli Horowitz

Screenplay:  Eli Horowitz, Matthew Derby

Stars: Winona Ryder, Dermot Mulroney, John Gallagher Jr., Owen Teague and Brianne Tju 

Tagline:  None.

The Plot…

When Kath (Ryder) and her younger boyfriend Max (Gallagher) arrive at a remote cabin they’d rented, it’s occupied by another couple.  Al (Teague) and Greta (Tju) claim to have booked the cabin as well.  Unable to reach the owner, the four decide to make the best of it and share the cabin for the night.

As the evening wears on, Greta appears to be a wild child.  And attracted to Max.  Kath decides to call it a night and heads to bed.  Max says he’ll be in shortly.  When Kath wakes up the next morning, it’s clear she’s slept alone.  She goes out looking for Max.  Instead she finds Al who is upset.  He says that Greta and Max took off in the night.

Kath is visibly shaken.  She drives home.  She’s done with Max, but obsessed with the girl who stole her boyfriend.  As she follows clues to learn about Greta, Kath finds that the evening at the cabin wasn’t as random as it appeared.  Digging too deep could get her killed.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

It’s interesting that Gone in the Night and Barbarian both have a similar start.  But then Gone in the Night becomes a mystery thriller while Barbarian is straight up horror.

Winona Ryder’s character is obsessed with finding out the truth about the evening / Greta, but also with having a man.  I wish her character was stronger and made better decisions.  The writers did give her a smart move near the end of the movie.  Dermot Mulroney doesn’t have a lot to do, but it’s good seeing him on screen.  The surprise star was Brianne Tju.  She owns every scene she’s in.  I’d seen Tju before in 47 Meters Down: Uncaged, but she didn’t make the impact she does here.  Tju is someone to watch.

The plot twist in Gone into the Night isn’t one you’ll see coming, even if you do kind of figure out what’s going on.  I almost gave Gone into the Night a higher rating, but I don’t do half stars, so…

Gone in the Night earns 2 of 5 stars.

“Healthy, Wealthy and Dumb” (1938) starring The Three Stooges / Z-View

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Healthy, Wealthy and Dumb (1938)

Director:  Searle Kramer

Screenplay:  John Grey

Stars: Moe Howard, Larry Fine, Curly Howard, Bud Jamison and Lucille Lund

Tagline:  Larry Lets On It’s “LOVELY!”  Moe Murmers It’s “MARVELOUS!” Curly Calls It “COLOSSAL!”

The Plot…

When Curly wins $50,000 in a radio contest, the boys begin living like millionaires.  Fine clothes, BIG cigars and a room at Hotel Costa Plente.  Unfortunately the boys realize they’re in hot water when the winning check after taxes comes to $4.85.  They’ll end up in jail if they can’t pay their hotel bill and it’s huge.  Luckily the boys discover four rich widows are in the room down the hall.  What could go wrong?

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

There’s a fun set-up scene before Curly wins the radio contest.  Moe and Larry are playing poker for pancakes.  Curly is cooking ’em as fast as Moe is losing.  Could Larry be cheating?

The plot twist of the women needing money and hoping to marry three rich men just as our boys need to marry three rich ladies is a good one.  Plus the writers through in a monkey for good measure.

Healthy, Wealthy and Dumb earns 4 of 5 stars.

“No Exit” (2022) / Z-View

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No Exit (2022)

Director:  Damien Power

Screenplay:  Andrew Barrer, Gabriel Ferrari based on the novel  No Exit by Taylor Adams

Stars: Havana Rose Liu, Danny Ramirez, David Rysdahl, Mila Harris, Dennis Haysbert, Dale Dickey and Jen Van Epps

Tagline:  How far would you go for a stranger?

The Plot…

Darby (LIu) received word that her mother experienced a life threatening brain aneurysm.  Despite a developing blizzard, Darby steals a car and heads for home.  As the storm worsens, Darby is forced to take shelter in a remote mountain visitor’s center.  The roads are closed and the storm has already knocked out cell towers.  Darby is going to have to hunker down in the shelter.

In the refuge Darby finds a married couple, Ed (Haysbert) and Sandi (Dickey), and two guys, Ash (Ramirez) and Lars (Rysdahl).  Everyone seems in pretty good spirits, except for Lars who is obviously a loner and a bit strange.  When Darby goes outside she hears a noise coming from a van in the lot.  She peeks inside and sees a little girl bound and gagged.  When Darby hears someone coming to check on her, she sneaks away from the van and acts like she’s just checking for cell service.

Darby goes back into the shelter but has no idea who came in the van.  The little girl will freeze to death if something isn’t done soon.  But who can Darby trust?

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

No Exit has a great set-up with strangers stuck in an isolated visitor’s center.  They’re cut off from help and one (or more) of them is a killer.

It’s fun trying to guess who the kidnapper is.  I was right, but No Exit contained two huge twists that I didn’t see coming.

No Exit earns 3 of 5 stars.

“False Alarms” (1936) starring The Three Stooges / Z-View

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False Alarms (1936)

Director:  Del Lord

Screenplay:  John Grey

Stars: Moe Howard, Larry Fine, Curly Howard and Stanley Blystone

Tagline:  None.

The Plot…

Larry, Curly and Moe are firemen one the verge of losing their j0bs.  They’ve missed too many calls due to card playing and womanizing.  Curly sneaks off for a date only to discover his girl has two friends.  What could go wrong?

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

False Alarms was filmed on location!

False Alarms earns 4 of 5 stars.

“Farewell, My Lovely” (1975) starring Robert Mitchum / Z-View

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Farewell, My Lovely (1975)

Director:  Dick Richards

Screenplay:  David Zelag Goodman based on Farewell, My Lovely by Raymond Chandler

Stars: Robert Mitchum, Charlotte Rampling, John Ireland, Sylvia Miles, Anthony Zerbe, Harry Dean Stanton, Jack O’Halloran, Joe Spinell, Sylvester Stallone, Kate Murtagh, Ted Gehring  and Logan Ramsey

Tagline:  I need another drink … I need a lot of life insurance … I need a vacation … and all I’ve got is a coat, a hat, and a gun !

The Plot…

Moose Malloy (O’Halloran) just finished a seven year prison stretch.  Now the big lug wants to reconnect with his girl, Velma.  He hasn’t heard from her in years, but believes once he sees her all will be as it was.  So Moose hires Marlowe (Mitchum) to find her. Marlowe explains that seven years is a long time, they have little to go on and Velma has probably moved on.  (That last part nearly gets Mitchum’s face rearranged.)

So Mitchum reluctantly takes on the case.  As he digs deeper, people start dying… and Marlowe may be next.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Farewell, My Lovely is a classic tale of love and betrayal.  It’s been adapted as a film three times and all are good.

My first thought was Mitchum (legend that he is) was a bit old to play Phillip Marlowe.  But as the movie progressed, my thinking changed to, “Why not an older world weary take on the PI?”.  Jack O’Halloran (in his first role!) is perfectly cast as the slow thinking mountain of a man determined to find his old flame.  The supporting cast includes many familiar faces including Charlotte Rampling, John Ireland, Sylvia Miles, Anthony Zerbe and Harry Dean Stanton.  Sly Stallone and Joe Spinell have small roles, but would go on to appear in Rocky the following year! Kudos to Kate Murtagh for her take on a tough madam who can take a punch as good as she gives!

Dick Richards does an excellent job of creating a world that feels like LA in 1941.  David Shire’s wonderful soundtrack adds to the feel of the era.

Every version of Farewell, My Lovely is worth a look. This one is no exception.

Farewell, My Lovely earns 4 of 5 stars.

“Three Sappy People” (1939) starring The Three Stooges / Z-View

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Three Sappy People (1939)

Director:  Jules White

Screenplay:  Clyde Bruckman

Stars: Moe Howard, Larry Fine, Curly Howard, Lorna Gray, Don Beddoe, Bud Jamison and Ann Doran

Tagline:  None.

The Plot…

The boys are telephone repairmen mistaken for three psychiatrists with “unusual methods” of treating mental illness.  A rich man hires our guys to treat his free-spirited manic wife.  What could go wrong?

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Larry, Curly and Moe get another opportunity to create havoc at a high society party.

There’s a rumor that Lorna Gray nearly choked on a pastry during the concluding “pie fight”.  While Ms. Gray was surprised (watch her reaction) by the pastry hitting the bullseye of her open mouth, she later denied that she was in in any trouble.

Three Sappy People earns 4 of 5 stars.