Category: Z-View

“Leap Year” (1924) starring Fatty Arbuckle / Z-View

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Leap Year (1924)

Director:  James Cruze, Roscoe ‘Fatty’ Arbuckle (uncredited)

Screenplay: Walter Woods from a story by Sarah Y. Mason

Stars: Roscoe ‘Fatty’ Arbuckle

Tagline: None.

The Plot…

Stanley Piper (Arbuckle) lives with his rich uncle.  As his Uncle prepares for a trip, he warns Stanley about falling in love with every woman he meets.  Stanley is in love with just one woman.  But through a series of mix-ups several women believe that Stanley has proposed to them… and they’re all heading to see Stanley at his Uncle’s mansion.  What could go wrong?

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Roscoe Fatty Arbuckle was at one time arguably the most popular actor in Hollywood.  He was also one of the highest paid!  Arbuckle was a breakout star from his appearances in shorts for Keystone Studios.  Roscoe Arbuckle served as a mentor to Charlie Chaplin, Buster Keaton and Bob Hope.

Arbuckle was making his move into feature length films when he was charged with rape and manslaughter in the death of actress Virginia Rappe.  He was tried three times!  The first two trials resulted in hung juries.  Arbuckle was acquitted in the third trial.  For all intents and purposes, Roscoe Arbuckle was finished as a big Hollywood star.  He didn’t work much and when he directed it was under the name William Goodrich.  Roscoe Arbuckle died in his sleep in 1933.  He was just 46 years old.

Leap Year was completed in 1921, but because of the scandal it wasn’t released in the United States until 1981 for a limited run.  1924 is listed as the year of release due to the film being shown in Finland.  Leap Year showcased Fatty Arbuckle in his final feature length film.

Leap Year earns 3 of 5 stars.

Half-Wits Holiday (1947) starring The Three Stooges / Z-View

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Half-Wits Holiday (1947)

Director:  Jules White

Screenplay: Zion Myers

Stars: Moe Howard, Larry Fine, Curly Howard, Vernon Dent, Barbara Slater, Theodore Lorch, Symona Boniface, Emil Sitka and Al Thompson

Tagline: None.

The Plot…

Half-Wits Holiday is a reboot of the Stooges’ 1935 short Hoi Polloi (which was an adaptation of George Bernard Shaw’s 1913 play Pygmalion).  The Stooges’ would rework the same plot again in their 1958 short Pies and Guys.  Two college professors make a bet: one believes he can turn anybody into a gentleman.  The other professor chooses three bumbling repair men (Larry, Curly and Moe) as the test subjects.  What could go wrong?

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Half-Wits Holiday features Curly’s last outing as one of The Three Stooges.  For the previous two years Curly had suffered a series of small strokes. They were taking a toll.  Curly’s endurance was down. His timing was off.  During the final day of filming a giant pie fight was scheduled..  Curly was to play a major part in the mayhem.  As the scene was being prepared, Curly suffered a major stroke and was rushed to the hospital.  The scene had to be shot without him.

In 1947, in the third Stooges short filmed with Shemp, Hold that Lion!  Curly gets a cameo. and is nearly unrecognizable with a full head of hair.  This is the only time all four Stooges appeared together.

Half-Wits Holiday earns 5 of 5 stars.

“Crime Scene: The Texas Killing Fields” (2022) / Z-View

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Crime Scene: The Texas Killing Fields (2022)

Director:  Jessica Dimmock

Stars: Tim Miller

Tagline: None.

The Story…

There’s a 25 acre area of land a little over 25 miles south of Houston that runs along Interstate 45.  This area is known as The Texas Killing Fields.  Thirty-three bodies of brutally murdered young girls and women were found in this patch of land.  Even more young girls and women from this area are still missing.

Crime Scene: The Texas Killing Fields focuses on four of these victims.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

I don’t know which is crazier: that so many girls and women disappeared with no trace and no murderer caught for years, or that there were TWO killers working independently using the same dumping ground.

I was surprised to learn that Tim Miller’s (founder of Texas EquuSearch) daughter was one of the victims.  Miller founded Texas EquuSearch Mounted Search and Recovery Team.  They provide assistance to families of lost and missing persons.  I became aware of Miller and his organization when he participated in the search for Caley Anthony.  I had no idea Miller’s daughter was the victim of a serial killer.

Crime Scene: The Texas Killing Fields has a compelling story, but was a bit padded at three episodes.  I felt bad for the innocent men accused of being the killers.  I was glad to find that two killers (could there have been more) were arrested and convicted.

Crime Scene: The Texas Killing Fields earns 3 of 5 stars.

“A Ducking They Did Go” (1939) starring The Three Stooges / Z-View

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A Ducking They Did Go (1939)

Director:  Del Lord

Screenplay: Andrew Bennison

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

Tagline: None.

The Plot…

The boys (Larry, Curly and Moe) are tricked by conmen into selling tickets to a non-existent duck hunting club. Surprisingly the boys sell all of their tickets… to policemen and the mayor.  Now our guys have to find some ducks for hunting and fast.  What could go wrong?

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

A Ducking They Did Go is solid from start to finish.  The highlight is Curly having it out with a duck who gets the best of him.

A Ducking They Did Go earns 3 of 5 stars.

“Bullet Train” (2022) directed by David Leitch, starring Brad Pitt / Z-View

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Bullet Train (2022)

Director:  David Leitch

Screenplay: Zak Olkewicz based on Bullet Train by Kōtarō Isaka (Sam Malissa – Translator)

Stars: Brad Pitt, Joey King, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Brian Tyree Henry, Andrew Koji, Hiroyuki Sanada, Michael Shannon, Sandra Bullock, Bad Bunny and Zazie Beetz

Tagline: The end of the line is just the beginning.

The Plot…

An operative with the code name Ladybug (Pitt) boards a bullet train with a simple job: Retrieve a briefcase full of cash.  Ladybug has had a string of bad luck. He hopes this easy assignment is just what he needs.  Little does Ladybug know that several assassins are on the train.  Each killer has his/her own agenda, but when paths cross people die…

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

When Bullet Train was first announced, I was stoked.  I loved the idea of several assassins on a bullet train fighting it out.  David Leitch’s track record as a director: John Wick, Atomic Blonde, Fast & Furious Presents: Hobbs & Shaw made him the perfect choice to helm the production.  The novel by Kōtarō Isaka was a best-seller.  Everything was coming together to make a cool movie.

I bought Isaka’s book and could not get into it.  The assassins were high school students.  One of them droned on and on about Thomas the Train.  It’s rare that I don’t finish a book.  I quit this one.  Then the ads started to appear for the movie.  They made it look like a COMEDY with a little action.  Not what I was hoping for.  Still, I was willing to give Bullet Train a chance.

I’m glad I did.  Yes, Bullet Train is full of quirky characters.  Yes, it has comedy.  But there’s more than enough action to balance it out.  I liked the story.  Leitch keeps things moving.  His background in stunts and previous directing gigs serves him well.  The cast plays things straight so as an audience we buy in.  Brad Pitt was the perfect choice to star and he’s got a great supporting cast.  Channing Tatum and Ryan Reynolds have uncredited cameos that are the icing on the cake.

Bullet Train exists in it’s own universe.  It’s crazy, quirky and I’m glad I made a visit.

Bullet Train earns 4 of 5 stars.

“Uncivil Warriors” (1935) starring The Three Stooges / Z-View

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Uncivil Warriors (1935)

Director:  Del Lord

Screenplay: Felix Adler

Stars: Moe Howard, Larry Fine, Curly Howard, Heinie Conklin and Bud Jamison

Tagline: Two Laughtereels with Moe Howard, Jerry Howard, Larry Fine.

The Plot…

The boys (Larry, Curly and Moe) are sent behind enemy lines to spy on the Confederate army.  They take on the identities of Lieutenant Duck, Captain Dodge and Major Hyde.  All is going well until Major “Bloodhound” Filbert arrives with news that there could be spies about.  What could go wrong?

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Uncivil Warriors marks the first time that the Stooges use the “Everybody knows Charlie” gag to get past a guard.  It also contains the popular gag where something is coated with icing and the Stooges eat it.  This time it’s a feather potholder. (In later productions they use bubble gum or soap.)

Uncivil Warriors features as much wordplay humor as physical gags and it works.  Every scene has laughs.  It’s especially funny seeing the boys work together to try to fool “Bloodhound” Filbert.  Larry slipping out to pose as Moe’s father; Curly coming in as Moe’s wife!  The scene with the African-American baby was cut for many early television broadcasts!

Uncivil Warriors earns 5 of 5 stars.

“Beer Barrel Polecats” (1946) starring The Three Stooges / Z-View

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Beer Barrel Polecats (1946)

Director:  Jules White

Screenplay: Gilbert Pratt, Felix Adler, Clyde Bruckman

Stars: Moe Howard, Larry Fine, Curly Howard, Robert B. Williams, Vernon Dent, Bruce Bennett, Al Thompson and Blackie Whiteford

Tagline: None.

The Plot…

The boys (Larry, Curly and Moe) can’t find a beer anywhere.  Their solution?  Become bootleggers.  Making the beer shouldn’t be a problem.  But it is.  Selling the beer to a cop, an even bigger one.  Life in prison is never easy.  Especially if you’re a Stooge.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Beer Barrel Polecats was first short filmed after Curly had suffered a stroke.  Curly looks much thinner than usual.  In fact he’s not much larger than Moe or Larry.  The stroke also affected Curly’s endurance and performance.  Because of this, director Jules White used footage from In the Sweet Pie and Pie (1941) and So Long Mr. Chumps (1941) to pad the production.  In those scenes Curly is noticeably heavier with more expressions and body language.

Beer Barrel Polecats earns 4 of 5 stars.

“Three Loan Wolves” (1946) starring The Three Stooges / Z-View

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Three Loan Wolves (1946)

Director:  Jules White

Screenplay: Felix Adler

Stars: Moe Howard, Larry Fine, Curly Howard and Harold “Tiny” Brauer

Tagline: Here Today – Pawn Tomorrow

The Plot…

The boys (Larry, Curly and Moe) own a pawn shop and have a young son named Eggbert.  Eggbert wants to know which of the Stooges is his real father.  So the boys explain that years ago a woman left Eggbert there. She never returned.  The story is told in flashback.  There’s a subplot with gangsters trying to shake down our guys.  This is the first Stooges short where Larry gets center-stage!

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Three Loan Wolves was filmed near the end of Curly’s career.  He’d had several small strokes and lost a lot of weight prior to filming.  His timing was off and he didn’t have much stamina.  By all reports his performances were becoming unpredictable.  Director Jules White decided to make Larry the central character for this one.  Most of Curly’s lines were then given to Larry.  Larry does a, pardon the expression, fine job.  It’s bittersweet knowing that the change was due to Curly’s illness.

Harold “Tiny” Brauer is one of two people (the other being Emil Sitka) to work with all six Stooges.

Three Loan Wolves earns 4 of 5 stars.

“The Raven” (1935) starring Boris Karloff & Bela Lugosi / Z-View

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The Raven (1935)

Director:  Lew Landers aka Louis Friedlander

Screenplay: David Boehm based on the poem by Edgar Allan Poe

Stars: Boris Karloff, Bela Lugosi, Lester Matthews, Irene Ware, Samuel S. Hinds, Spencer Charters and Ian Wolfe

Tagline: While this mad surgical genius chanted “The Raven,” horrible screams rose up from his torture chamber below!

The Plot…

Dr. Richard Vollin (Lugosi), who is obsessed with Edgar Allan Poe, is called out of retirement to perform a life-saving operation on Jean Thatcher (Ware).  The operation is a success.  Jean and Dr. Vollin become friends.  As the friendship grows, Vollin becomes obsessed with Jean.

When escaped killer Edmond Bateman (Karloff) shows up at Dr. Vollin’s mansion asking for a facelift, Vollin comes up with a sick plan.  He performs the operation, but turns Bateman into a hideous looking monster.  Vollin says he will fix Bateman’s face if Bateman will help him kill Jean’s fiance and father.  Vollin plans to murder them using methods based on Edgar Allan Poe stories.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Although Bela Lugosi had the leading role in The Raven, Boris Karloff got top billing.  In addition Karloff earned $10,000 to Lugosi’s $5,000.  Lugosi was reportedly unhappy to learn this news.

The idea of disfiguring an escaped murderer to make him do your bidding is an interesting take.  Credit to the writers to wrap that idea around an obsession with Edgar Allan Poe.   I wish the end result was as good as the ideas.

The Raven earns 2 of 5 stars.

“Three Smart Saps” (1942) starring The Three Stooges / Z-View

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Three Smart Saps (1942)

Director:  Jules White

Screenplay: Clyde Bruckman

Stars: Moe Howard, Larry Fine, Curly Howard, Vernon Dent and Bud Jamison

Tagline: None.

The Plot…

The boys (Larry, Curly and Moe) are about to be married to three sisters.  That’s when they learn that their future father-in-law, the warden at a local jail has been locked up.  Gangsters have turned the jail into a club for crooks to gamble, dance and booze it up.  It’s up to Larry, Curly and Moe to break into the jail, get incriminating photos and save their father-in-law.  What could go wrong?

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Three Smart Saps is a rare Stooges short where the humor is less dependent on Moe hitting Larry and Curly.  The laughs come (mostly) from the situations the boys put themselves in.  There’s an extended dance scene where Curly takes center stage and really performs.  He was light on his feet and able to move for a big man.

Three Smart Saps earns 5 of 5 stars.

“The Guardians of the Galaxy: Holiday Special” (2022) starring Dave Bautista, Pom Klementieff and the Legendary Kevin Bacon / Z-View

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The Guardians of the Galaxy: Holiday Special (2022)

Director:  James Gunn

Screenplay: James Gunn

Stars: Chris Pratt, Dave Bautista, Karen Gillan, Pom Klementieff, Vin Diesel (voice), Bradley Cooper (voice), Sean Gunn, Michael Rooker (voice) and Kevin Bacon

Tagline: None.

The Plot…

Mantis and Drax want to get the perfect gift for Peter “Starlord” Quill.  They decide that Peter’s boyhood hero, Kevin Bacon would fit the ticket.  So Mantis and Drax head to earth to kidnap the legendary Kevin Bacon! What could go wrong?

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

I love that Marvel is putting together these one hour specials.  The Guardians of the Galaxy: Holiday Special is a great follow up to the Halloween Werewolf by Night Special.  It’s also cool that Chris Pratt, Dave Bautista, Karen Gillan, Pom Klementieff, Vin Diesel, Bradley Cooper, Sean Gunn, and Michael Rooker reprise their roles. Drax is always a hoot, and Kevin Bacon running for his life from aliens is more fun than it should be.

Of course like all good Holiday Specials, this one will leave you will a smile and warm feelings.

The Guardians of the Galaxy: Holiday Special earns 4 of 5 stars.

“Interview with the Vampire” Season 1 (2022) starring Jacob Anderson, Sam Reid, Eric Bogosian, and Bailey Bass / Z-View

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Interview with the Vampire Season 1 (2022)

Directors:  Alan Taylor (episodes 1-2); Keith Powell (episodes 3-4); Levan Akin (episodes 5-6); Alexis Ostrander (episode 7)

Teleplay: Rolin Jones (episode 1); Jonathan Ceniceroz & Dave Harris (episode 2); Rolin Jones & Hannah Moscovitch (episode 3); Eleanor Burgess (episode 4); Hannah Moscovitch (episode 5); Coline Abert (episode 6); Rolin Jones & Ben Philippe (episode 7)

Stars: Jacob Anderson, Sam Reid, Eric Bogosian, Assad Zaman, Bailey Bass, Rae Dawn Chong and Dana Gourrier

Tagline: None.

The Plot…

Interview with a Vampire is an adaptation of Anne Rice’s novel, Interview with a Vampire.

In 1910, Louis de Pointe du Lac (Anderson) is a successful black business man.  He owns several brothels and rubs shoulders with many of the city’s civic leaders.  Louis meets and befriends  Lestat de Lioncourt (Reid).  Lestat is handsome, charismatic and somewhat mysterious.  He’s also a vampire! As Louis and Lestat spend time together, their friendship grows.  Ultimately, Lestat turns Louis into a vampire.

Louis is shocked and sickened by what he’s become.  He vows to never see Lestat again… but that doesn’t last.  Lestat teaches Louis how to hunt, the things that will kill a vampire, and how to blend in among humans.  Louis makes Lestat agree to some concessions.  They will prey only on the worst humans.  Lestat agrees, but he’s a remorseless killer.  The promise is a sham. There is more that Lestat keeps secret.

When a fire breaks out in a poor part of town, Louis pulls Claudia (Bass), a young girl, from a burning building.  Claudia is on the verge of death.  Louis saves Claudia by turning her.  Louis and Lestat become her “uncles” and the three vampires live together.

Over time Claudia sees the differences between Louis and Lestat. Louis is compassionate and caring.  Lestat is self-centered and heartless.  A rift forms.  Louis and Lestat are already having issues with their toxic relationship.  Problems increase with Claudia’s need for independence. Plus rumors are growing about strange goings on in Louis and Lestat’s mansion…

All of this is relayed in flashbacks as Louis is interviewed by Daniel Malloy (Bogosian), a cynical writer planning a book on Louis’ life.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Interview with the Vampire Season 1 is a tour de force.  Well written with extremely well cast actors joined by top notch direction results in a wonderful viewing experience.

Jacob Anderson (Louis) and Sam Reid (Lestat) have chemistry.  I knew Anderson from his impressive role on Game of Thrones.  I had seen Reid a decade ago in the mini-series Hatfields & McCoys, but didn’t remember him until looking up his credits.  Reid makes an impact here! Baily Bass as Claudia is an actress to watch.  I’d never seen her before, but imagine she’ll be a household name soon.  She’s that talented.  Eric Bogosian is great as the cynical writer.  I’ve never been a big fan of Bogosian’s but he’s perfect here.

Interview with a Vampire isn’t your typical vampire tale.  These vampires have more desires than just drinking blood. It’s interesting how different aspects of a vampire’s life are explored.  First there’s the loneliness. A vampire is a rare creature that if discovered by humans would be killed.  All of a vampire’s relationships change.  Family and friends know something is different.  Vampires never age.  They are rarely seen during the day.  How  to get rid of the bodies they feed on?  How long before missing people are linked to the vampire?

Interview with a Vampire Season 1, like Anne Rice’s novel, doesn’t shy away from the homosexual aspects of Louis and Lestat’s relationship.  Nothing graphic is shown.  Louis was a closeted homosexual in 1910.  Lestat was uninhibited and took whatever he desired whether it was a woman or a man.  Who’d think that a toxic vampire relationship would make great television.

I loved every episode of Interview with a Vampire Season 1.  There’s a lot of ground to cover between 1910 and 2022.  While many questions were an answered even more were not.  I look forward to Season 2.

Interview with the Vampire Season 1 earns 5 of 5 stars.

“Oily to Bed, Oily to Rise” (1939) starring The Three Stooges / Z-View

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Oily to Bed, Oily to Rise (1939)

Director:  Jules White

Screenplay: Andrew Bennison, Mauri Grashin

Stars: Moe Howard, Larry Fine, Curly Howard and Dorothy Comingore

Tagline: None.

The Plot…

The boys (Larry, Curly and Moe) are hobos.  After a run-in with a farmer who catches our guys stealing eggs, Curly makes a wish… and it comes true.  Then every time Curly makes a wish, something happens to make it come true.

The boys meet a farm lady with three daughters.  The lady was just swindled out of her land for the oil it contains.  Will the boys be able to make things right?  I’d bet on it!

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Oily to Bed, Oily to Rise is the only Stooges’ short where Moe never hits Larry!  There’s some funny business with the boys trying to work off their debt to the farmer.  The real laughs occur when Larry, Curly and Moe try to get the farm lady’s pump to work.  Although you might think that Curly got the worst of it (and he does in the film); it was Moe who really got an eye injury during that scene.

Oily to Bed, Oily to Rise earns 5 of 5 stars.

“Who Killed Santa? A Murderville Murder Mystery” (2022) starring Will Arnett, Jason Bateman & Maya Rudolph / Z-View

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Who Killed Santa? A Murderville Murder Mystery (2022)

Director:  Laura Murphy

Screenplay: Krister Johnson

Stars: Will Arnett, Jason Bateman, Pete Davidson, Maya Rudolph, Sean Hayes and Dennice Cisneros

Tagline: None.

The Plot…

Detective Terry Seattle (Arnett) and his new partner in training, Jason Bateman, have an easy shift. They’re providing security for a photo op at city hall with Santa, the mayor and some orphans.  It’s a cakewalk assignment until the lights go out and Santa is killed.  Seattle and Bateman have until sunrise to solve the crime.  Luckily there are two surprise guests coming to help…

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Murderville has a great set-up.  The guests on the show don’t ever see a script.  They don’t even get to see the sets until filming starts.  Then there is a murder. The guest stars try to solve who did it using real clues as they adlib their way through the episode.  At the end, each guest star is given three suspects.  The star then picks the suspect he/she believes is the killer as well as the clues that led to the decision.  It’s fun to play along as a viewer.

Jason Bateman, Maya Rudolph and Pete Davidson are the guest stars.  It’s hilarious that not one of the stars thinks a provided suspect is the killer.  At one point Pete Davidson does something unexpected and Arnett quickly adlibs to keep the bit working.  Oh and Sean Hayes as Santa cannot stop cracking up… even after he’s been murdered!

Who Killed Santa? A Murderville Murder Mystery earns 3 of 5 stars.

“Troll” (2022) / Z-View

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Troll (2022)

Director:  Roar Uthaug

Screenplay: Espen Aukan from a story by Roar Uthaug

Stars: Ine Marie Wilmann, Kim Falck, Mads Sjøgård Pettersen and Billy Campbell

Tagline: Mountains Will Move

The Plot…

A drilling operation accidentally sets of a large explosion in the Norwegian Dovre mountains.  Something huge is unleashed. Whatever was set free is destroying everything in it’s path.  Surprisingly there is little evidence left behind the destruction.

The government brings in a diverse group of military leaders and scientists to brainstorm next steps.  Nora Tidemann (Wilmann), after studying blurring camera images and evidence comes to believe the monster could be a giant troll.  She’s nearly laughed out of the room.

By the time it’s understood that Nora is right, the giant mythological beast is heading for the nation’s capital destroying all that gets in it’s way.  While the city evacuates, Nora and Captain Kristoffer Holm (Pettersen) put together a plan that may stop the creature. If it doesn’t kill them first.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Troll is so much fun!  If someone came to me with the idea of a giant troll movie, I would have passed.  It’s a great thing I wasn’t in charge of greenlighting this movie.  Everyone plays it straight which sets up both comedic and scary scenes.  The troll design is awesome.  If you’re a fan of King Kong and Godzilla, you should love Troll.  Keep an eye out for Billy Campbell of Rocketeer fame in a small role!

Troll earns 4 of 5 stars.