Gabriele Dell’Otto’s Batman #138 Variant Cover Art!
The above is art that will be used for a Batman #138 variant cover. It’s by Gabriele Dell’Otto. You can see more of Dell’Otto’s art here.
THE LAST ACTION HEROES: THE TRIUMPHS, FLOPS, AND FEUDS OF HOLLYWOOD’S KINGS OF CARNAGE by Nick de Semlyen
The Last Action Heroes: The Triumphs, Flops, and Feuds of Hollywood’s Kings of Carnage by Nick de Semlyen
Hardback: 352 pages
Publisher: Crown (June 6, 2023)
First sentence…
They came from the sky.
The Overview: Beware of Spoilers…
I was sent an advance copy of THE LAST ACTION HEROES: THE TRIUMPHS, FLOPS, AND FEUDS OF HOLLYWOOD’S KINGS OF CARNAGE by Nick de Semlyen. I’d like to thank whoever put me on the list because THE LAST ACTION HEROES is a winner.
Nick de Semlyen takes us back to the time that action heroes ruled movie theaters around the world. Fans eagerly waited for the next outing by Stallone, Schwarzenegger, Willis, Van Damme, Chan, Lundgren and Seagal. The movies (and stars paychecks) kept getting bigger and bigger as each new outing had to outdo the last. de Semlyen focuses on the careers of each of these super stars, taking us behind the scenes to reveal the truth behind the rumors and legends.
de Semlyen did extensive research to create a book that’s easy to read and feels like you’re listening to a conversation. I’m old enough to remember when these action heroes ruled the box office. de Semlyen took me back to that time. He confirmed some stories I’d heard and presented many that were new to me. I love that the book includes an index of sources that were used. Fans will love the behind the scenes stories.
THE LAST ACTION HEROES: THE TRIUMPHS, FLOPS, AND FEUDS OF HOLLYWOOD’S KINGS OF CARNAGE by Nick de Semlyen rates 5 of 5 stars.
Rating:
Justified: City Primeval | Season 1, Episode 4 Trailer – “I Think You’re Trying to Scare Me” | FX
Raylan tangles with the Albanian mob. Mansell forms a new alliance. Carolyn lets her guard down. Watch new episodes of Justified: City Primeval Tuesdays on FX. Stream on Hulu.
“Raging Bull” Print by Grzegorz Domaradzki!
Gotta love this Raging Bull print by Grzegorz Domaradzki. You can check out more of Domaradzki’s art here.
“The Descent” (2005) written & directed by Neil Marshall / Z-View
The Descent (2005)
Director: Neil Marshall
Screenplay: Neil Marshall
Stars: Shauna Macdonald, Natalie Mendoza and Saskia Mulder.
Tagline: Face Your Deepest Fear
The Plot…
A group of six women get together for an annual adventure. This year they’ve decided to explore unmapped caves in the Appalachian Mountains. The women quickly find they are, pardon the expression, in over their heads. A narrow passage collapses, one of the women is badly injured… and the group is targeted by creatures living deep within the caves.
Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…
Kudos to Neil Marshall for writing and directing this gem. The film is filled with action, characterization, and scares. Marshall knows when to give us a brief second to catch our breath before the next danger. If you’re not claustrophobic or afraid of the dark, you may be after viewing this film. The creatures are realistic and frightening.
The Descent (2005) rates 4 of 5 stars.
“Razorback” (1984) / Z-View
Razorback (1984)
Director: Russell Mulcahy
Screenplay: Everett De Roche based on Razorback by Peter Brennan
Stars: Gregory Harrison, Arkie Whiteley
Tagline: No nightmare will prepare you for it…
The Plot…
When his wife is killed covering a story, Carl Winters (Harrison) travels to the Australian outback to find the cause. Soon Winters is caught up in the hunt for a giant Razorback that has been terrorizing the area for years.
Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…
I had wanted to see Razorback for years because it was directed by Russell Mulcahy. I’m a huge fan of Mulcahy’s direction of Highlander. Sadly, Razorback fell waaaay short of my expectations.
Razorback just didn’t resonate with me at all. I didn’t care much for the characters. The story had several dead spots. The way the Razorback was killed came off as just plain silly. Of course your mileage may vary.
Razorback (1984) rates 1 of 5 stars.
Old Dog, Redact One by Declan Shalvey
Old Dog, Redact One by Declan Shalvey will drop on September 19, 2023. Here’s the lowdown…
Jack Lynch was a once-promising C.I.A. operative. On the eve of retirement, looking back at a failed career he is tasked with one final mission…that goes horribly wrong. He wakes years later to a changed world with deeper changes within him. When a shadow group offers Lynch a second chance at a life of adventure, he’s paired with the last person he could ever imagine.
In this collection of six high octane adventures, an old dog learns some new tricks…
OLD DOG is a striking new spy-fi series by Declan Shalvey, the accomplished and innovative creator behind books such as Moon Knight, X-Men Unlimited, Injection and Time Before Time. Winter Soldier meets Mission Impossible in this Bourne-esque action/espionage blowout.
Collects OLD DOG [REDACT ONE] #1-6
“Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow” (2004) starring Gwyneth Paltrow, Jude Law & Angelina Jolie / Z-View
Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow (2004)
Director: Kerry Conran
Screenplay: Kerry Conran
Stars: Gwyneth Paltrow, Jude Law, Angelina Jolie and Giovanni Ribisi.
Tagline: The world will tremble.
The Plot…
The year is 1939. Ace reporter Polly Perkins (Paltrow) is investigating the disappearance of five prominent scientists. During a secret meeting with one of her sources the city comes under attack by giant flying robots! Soon Sky Captain arrives to assist with the defense of the city. Reports come in from around the world of similar attacks.
Polly meets with Sky Captain and convinces him to allow her to assist with his investigation into the source of the robots. Soon they will be involved in an adventure to save the world!
Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…
Kerry Conran, the writer/director created Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow as a love letter to the comics, films and serials that he grew up loving. He perfectly captured the feel of these adventures from his youth. Most of the sets were computer generated using blue screens.
I saw Sky Captain during its initial release and rated it 4 of 5 stars. I recently rewatched the film and have revised my rating to 3 of 5. My feeling this time was the film was a little long, but it could be that I knew the story.
Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow (2004) rates 3 of 5 stars.
“Bad City” – Two Posters and Trailers are Here!
Today we have two posters and two trailers for Bad City. I like the first poster and trailer best, but the second poster and trailer would still be enough to get me on board. Deal me in!
BAD CITY: Watch on Digital August 1, 2023 |
Long plagued by poverty and crime, Kaiko City has been torn apart by rampant corruption and growing violence between the local Yakuza faction and a notorious Korean crime boss. But when a mafia-connected businessman runs for mayor and begins systematically eliminating his opponents, a former police captain imprisoned for a brutal murder is released in a final desperate effort to reclaim the city.Directed by: Kensuke Sonomura
Cast: Hitoshi Ozawa, Akane Sakanoue, Katsuya, Masanori Mimoto, Yoshiyuki Yamaguchi, Yasukaze Motomiya, Tak Sakaguchi, Kazuki Namioka, Mitsu Dan, Masaya Kato, Lily Franky, Rino Katase.
If you’re in the mood for breathtaking street fights, martial arts madness, compelling tales of gangsters, thrilling action sequences, and phenomenal acting, then come on over to Bad City. This is where you’ll find it all.
Welcome to Bad City, but beware: once you step in, you’re in for a wild ride of Japanese action-thriller mayhem, courtesy of director Kensuke Sonomura (known for his work on “Hydra,” “Baby Assassins,” and “I Am a Hero“). With his impressive background in stunts and action coordination, Sonomura delivers a hard-hitting tribute to V-Cinema, featuring the legendary Hitoshi Ozawa.
I’m a big fan of the first season of Interview with a Vampire. Bring on season 2!
asasas
Creepy Archives Volume Four
Creepy Archives Volume Four will drop on December 12, 2023.. It’ll be 232 pages of comic greatness topped by an awesome Frank Frazetta cover.
For over two decades Creepy magazine presented some of the most gripping tales of terror, mayhem, and the supernatural ever told in graphic fiction, and was a showcase of the stellar work of comics legends Archie Goodwin, Frank Frazetta, Reed Crandall, Steve Ditko, and many more.
Long available only as expensive collectibles, Creepy Archives Volume 4 collects Creepy issues #16–#20 in a value-priced paperback edition and includes original letters pages, text features, and ads.
Deal me in. Pre-Orders are available now.
“Alien: Resurrection” (1997) starring Sigourney Weaver & Winona Ryder / Z-View
Alien: Resurrection (1997)
Director: Jean-Pierre Jeunet
Screenplay: Joss Whedon based on characters created by Dan O’Bannon, Ronald Shusett
Stars: Sigourney Weaver, Winona Ryder, Dominique Pinon, Ron Perlman, Gary Dourdan, Michael Wincott, Kim Flowers, Dan Hedaya, J.E. Freeman, Brad Dourif, Raymond Cruz and Leland Orser.
Tagline: Witness the resurrection.
The Plot…
Over two hundred years have passed since the events of Alien 3. On a remote space station military scientists are using DNA from Ellen Ripley (Weaver) to create clone hosts for Xenomorphs. The current clone, Ripley 8 (Weaver), due to the melding with the alien embryos has increased strength, reflexes and acidic blood.
A group of mercenaries arrives at the space station with cargo for the military. Soon after two adult Xenomorphs escape. It then becomes a battle for survival as more adult aliens are released throughout the ship!
Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…
I am a huge fan of Alien Resurrection mainly due to the unique characters and actors playing them. The mercenary crew could be stars of their own movie(s)! I would love to see some of their adventures. The mercenary crew consists of…
- Annalee Call (Ryder) – the newest member of the team. She’s hiding a secret that will be revealed.
- Dom Vriess (Pinion) – the mechanic. He’s a paraplegic with a motorized wheelchair (that also has secrets)!
- Ron Johner (Perlman) – a battle scarred warrior with a bad attitude and short temper.
- Gary Christie (Dourdan) – the second-in-command who exudes cool.
- Frank Elgyn (Wincott) – the leader. He’s cynical and willing to do questionable things to make a buck, but is committed to his team.
- Sabra Hillard (Flowers) – the co-pilot of the mercenary ship and Elgyn’s woman.
In addition, we have…
- General Martin Perez (Hedaya) – the commanding officer of the space station.
- Dr. Jonathan Gediman (Dourif) – one of the scientists experimenting with the adult aliens. He should know better than to poke the bear.
- Vincent DiStephano (Cruz) – one of the space station soldiers who joins the mercenaries in an effort to survive.
- Larry Purvis (Orser) – a civilian who joins the mercenaries. Purvis carries a deadly secret.
There is also a subplot which involves Weaver and Ryder. For me that takes a backseat to the the characters — the military, mercenaries and civilians in a battle against the aliens on a spaceship heading towards Earth! There are so many fun scenes –
- The mercenaries entering the ship under military guard.
- Johner (Perlman) flirting with Ripley 8 (Weaver) and being put in his place.
- Johner’s (Perlman) interactions with Dom Vriess (Pinion).
- Dr. Jonathan Gediman (Dourif) as he realizes the adult aliens have outsmarted him.
- The long shot of a grenade bouncing down a walkway to drop into an escape pod just as an alien does the same.
- The underwater escape and the discovery that the aliens are following! Plus Gary Christie (Dourdan) and Dom Vriess’ (Pinion) solution to Dom being unable to swim!
Many people have complained about Ripley 8’s relationship to the aliens as well as the look of the Xenomorph Queen. I understand the complaints and would agree that these are the weakest parts of the movie. Still, the things I love about the film far outweigh these concerns. Alien Resurrection is one that I have watched and enjoyed multiple times.
Alien: Resurrection (1997) rates 4 of 5 stars.
“Rambo, First Blood Part II” by Yvan Quinet!
I love this alt poster for Rambo, First Blood Part II by Yvan Quinet. My guess is you do as well. You can see more of Quinet’s art here.
“Along Came a Spider” starring Morgan Freeman / Z-View
Along Came a Spider (2001)
Director: Lee Tamahori
Screenplay: Marc Moss based on Along Came a Spider by James Patterson
Stars: Morgan Freeman, Michael Wincott, Monica Potter, Anton Yelchin, Jay O. Sanders, Michael Moriarty,
Penelope Ann Miller and Christopher Shyer.
Tagline: A tangled web of danger and deceit…
The Plot…
When a senator’s daughter is kidnapped, the kidnapper contacts retired Detective and author, Alex Cross (Freeman). The abductor wants to become famous by taunting the police with the hope that Cross will write a book about the case. Not all is as it seems…
Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…
Morgan Freeman and a twist ending are the highlights of this one.
Along Came a Spider (2001) rates 3 of 5 stars.
The All-Time Best Action Movies!
Variety posted The 50 Best Action Movies of All Time. Like all lists of this sort it included some films that most might not consider (as action films) and left off others. Still, lists can be fun. I decided to see how I’d rank the same films. *** means I haven’t seen the movie. (And I cannot believe I still haven’t seen Hard Boiled.)
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Variety 01. The Road Warrior (1981)
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Zablo 01. Enter the Dragon (1973)
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