The Trailer for NBC’s “Taken” Series is Here!
I like the looks of NBC’s Taken series. The twist that he failed to protect his sister in saving others adds a new level to the character.
Alex Toth Conan Gallery!
This Alex Toth Conan piece is just one of seven on display in the Toth Conan gallery at The Bristol Board!
The Adventures of Robin Hood (1938)
The Adventures of Robin Hood (1938)
Director: Michael Curtiz, William Keighley
Screenplay: Norman Reilly Raine and Seton I. Miller based upon the legends of Robin Hood
Stars: Errol Flynn, Olivia de Havilland, Basil Rathbone, Claude Rains, Patric Knowles, Eugene Pallette, Alan Hale, Melville Cooper and Ian Hunter.
The Pitch: “Hey, let’s make the definitive Robin Hood movie…”
Tagline: Excitement…Danger…Suspense…as this classic adventure story sweeps across the screen!
The Overview: Beware of Spoilers…
Sometimes lightning strikes and a perfect movie gets made. The Adventures of Robin Hood is such a film.
Perfectly cast with each supporting character getting a chance to shine, Errol Flynn was born to play Robin Hood. He is everything you’d want in a hero. Brave, dashing, handsome and humble. The Adventures of Robin Hood hits all the right marks in telling the tale of Robin Hood and his merry men – meeting Little John, bringing Friar Tuck into the fold, going to the archery contest with a price on his head and winning – and leading his band of Merry Men in revolt against the King’s brother who is attempting to take over the kingdom.
The Adventures of Robin Hood is a classic.
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The Traditional Jim Ivey Bi-Annual Get-Together
Earlier today, I picked up Jim Ivey [the gent getting the finger-point] and we headed to Robinson’s Diner in Apopka.
Once at Robinson’s, Jim and I met up with (from left to right) Rob Smith, Mike Sikes, Cliff Weikal, and Bill Black. We’ve all been friends since the 1970’s and met through Jim Ivey’s Cartoon Museum.
I try to get the group together a couple of times a year [Jim’s birthday and Christmas] and it is always a blast spending time with the crew and reminiscing. This time was no exception. We always bring Jim gifts and this time he received some of his favorites: cigars, lottery tickets, and a Roy Crane book. After breakfast Jim and I made the traditional trip to pick him up some Mint Chocolate Chip ice cream for him for later.
It’s always a blast seeing Jim [still “full of prunes and macaroons” at 91] and the gang. Hopefully John Beatty will be able to join us next go round.
If any of Jim’s old friends are reading this — he loves snail mail. Contact me and I’ll forward you his address!
Eduardo Risso’s Punisher and Travis Bickle [Updated]
I just can’t get enough of Eduardo Risso’s Punisher and Travis Bickle piece. I love it.
Also it makes me think about potential commissions of Sly as Jack Carter with…
- Digger McCrae from Gravedigger
- Marv from Sin City
- Bolo from 100 Bullets
- and although not a comic character, John Wick
Source: Cool Comic Art.
Update: I’ve pulled the trigger and commissioned Drew Moss for Sly as Jack Carter with…
Digger McCrae from Gravedigger- Marv from Sin City
Bolo from 100 Bulletsand although not a comic character, John Wick
The Brides of Dracula (1960)
The Brides of Dracula (1960)
Director: Terrence Fisher
Screenplay: Jimmy Sangster & Peter Bryan & Edward Percy and Anthony Hinds (uncredited)
Stars: Peter Cushing, Martita Hunt, Yvonne Monlaur and David Peel.
The Pitch: “Hey, let’s make a Dracula movie without Dracula…”
Tagline: The most evil Dracula of all!
The Overview: Beware of Spoilers…
If you come to this movie looking for Dracula or even a focus on the Brides of Dracula you’re in for a let down.
Instead you get…
- A vampire who is kept chained up by his mother. Yes, his mother.
- A vampire hunter who always arrives right before the vampire is to rise for the evening — even though he knows vampires are powerless during the day.
- A vampire who isn’t smart enough or cunning enough or strong enough to escape from the chain around his ankle put there by his mother. Yes, his mother.
- A supposedly intelligent woman who releases the vampire (not knowing he’s a vampire — Hey! But maybe he’s chained up by his mother for a reason) and falls in love with him after one meeting.
- A vampire hunter bitten by a vampire who takes a hot metal branding iron and places it on the bites on his neck and then pours Holy water on the wound… and fully recovers! [Who knew he had that cure in his back pocket.]
- A vampire who has blonde hair and is supposed to be good-looking and scary but isn’t much of either.
- A vampire hunter who kills vampires with a shadow.
- A movie that only die hard vampire or Peter Cushing fans should seek out.
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Chris Weston’s “Escape from New York” – “The Thing” and “Big Trouble in Little China” Posters
Today we have this very cool Escape From New York poster by Chris Weston. As a bonus we also have Chris’ riffs on The Thing and Big Trouble in Little China. You can see larger versions if you click over to Bendis!
Holy Death (A Billy Lafitte novel) by Anthony Neil Smith
Holy Death (A Billy Lafitte novel) by Anthony Neil Smith
Paperback: 264 pages
Publisher: Down & Out Books
First sentence…
One-thirty in the morning in a truck stop outside of Hattiesburg, Mississippi.
The Overview: Beware of Spoilers…
Holy Death is the fourth yarn in Anthony Neil Smith’s Billy Lafitte series. If you’re not familiar with it and you like crime stories, then you’re in for a treat.
Billy Lafitte is an ex-cop, an ex-con and is on the run from a prison escape. Lafitte’s in bad shape from steroid abuse and the wear and tear of escaping from the joint during a prison riot. Lafitte wants to make it back to his one true love to give her the merciful death she wants and then he hopes to disappear.
As luck [at least Lafitte’s luck] would have it, he crosses paths with DeVaughn Lagrenade, a professional gambler, ex-gang banger and brother of a kid that Lafitte killed. Now in addition to all the cops looking for him, Lafitte has Lagrenade, his psycho girlfriend and members of Lagrenade’s gang hunting him down. As they close in on him, Lafitte knows it’s his last chance to make it right [or as right as he can] for the love of his life and his dead child’s mother.
Holy Death is not for the faint of heart of the sqeemish, but if you like a gritty, modern crime story, then this may be for you. Holy Death is the fourth in the Billy Lafitte series and I’m hoping there’s more.
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Christopher Cox’s “Seven” Print
Today we have this very cool Seven poster by Christopher Cox. You can see a lot more of Christopher‘s art by clicking on the link.
Source: XombieDirge.
The “John Wick: Chapter 2” Trailer is Here!
The John Wick: Chapter 2 trailer is here and the movie will hit theaters February 10, 2017.
Starring Keanu Reeves, Common, Riccardo Scamarcio, Laurence Fishburne, Ruby Rose, Bridget Moynahan, Lance Reddick, Franco Nero, with John Leguizamo, and Ian McShane
The Devil Doesn’t Want Me by Eric Beetner
The Devil Doesn’t Want Me (A Lars and Shaine Novel Book 1) by Eric Beetner
Paperback: 280 pages
Publisher: 280 Steps
First sentence…
Seventeen years is a long damn time.
The Overview: Beware of Spoilers…
The Devil Doesn’t Want Me is the first in Eric Beetner’s Lars and Shaine series. Lars is a semi-retired hitman living on the west coast. His boss, Nikki Senior, is one of the old guard mobsters who finds himself being pushed out by his son, Nikki Junior.
In an effort to clear the books and show his pop he can run things, Nikki sends a young hitman out to find Mitch the Snitch — a job given to Lars seventeen years prior. Although Mitch was in government protection and killing him could cause more problems than it would solve, Nikki wants it done.
Enter Trent. A cocky young hitman who immediately rubs Lars the wrong way. Although Lars and Trent are at odds, they know they have to work together to find Mitch the Snitch. And they do. Without planning, Trent guns down Mitch and when the Snitch’s sixteen year old daughter stumbles in, Mitch turns to kill her as well. Lars steps up and saves her and finds himself on the run with a sixteen year old orphan in tow.
It takes all of Lars’ skills and then some to keep himself and Shaine alive now that Nickki Junior has called out a team to kill them both. And of course Trent killing a government protected witness has the feds on their trail as well.
Eric Beetner has never disappointed me. I really liked The Devil Doesn’t Want Me and have the sequel, When the Devil Comes to Call waiting in my to be read pile.
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Stephen Sampson’s “Goodfellas” Poster
Today we have this very cool Goodfellas poster by Stephen Sampson. You can see a lot more of Stephen’s art by click on the link.
Source: JoBlo.com.
The Prowler (1951)
The Prowler (1951)
Director: Joseph Losey
Screenplay: Hugo Butler and Dalton Trumbo from a story by Robert Thoeren and Hans Wilhelm
Stars: Van Heflin, Evelyn Keyes and John Maxwell
The Pitch: “Hey, let’s make a cheating couple and a murdered husband…”
Tagline: She had to keep THE PROWLER from telling…
The Overview: Beware of Spoilers…
Police officers Webb Garland [Heflin] and Bud Crocker [Maxwell] respond to a prowler call made by a woman [Keyes] waiting up for her husband to get home. Although no evidence of a prowler is found, Garland returns later alone under the pretense of checking on her. She invites him in and it becomes clear that he’s there for more than just a wellness visit. One thing leads to another and her husband ends up murdered… by Garland.
The Prowler is a low-budget noir that is under-rated. If you’re a fan of noir you owe it to yourself to check out The Prowler.
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“Tango & Cash” Customs and More
Check out this very life-like custom of Sly Stallone as Ray Tango. You’ll also get to see Kurt Russell as Gabrial Cash, Sly in two customs as Rocky from Rocky IV along with Paulie’s robot. Thanks to SZoner, Gino for sharing! – Craig
3 Things We Learned from Joe Dante’s “Gremlins” Commentary
Rob Hunter and Film School Rejects present 40 Things We Learned from Joe Dante’s Gremlins Commentary. Although the article is no longer available here are three of my favorites from it…
7. Galligan is the first to point out that the “don’t feed after midnight” rule is silly because it’s always after midnight somewhere. “Well we make fun of all that stuff in Gremlins 2 anyway,” says Dante.
10. The titles on the theater marquee are an in-joke for producer Steven Spielberg’s benefit. A Boys Life was the working title for E.T., and Watch the Skies was the one for Close Encounters of the Third Kind. “I think we did this mainly so that when Steven saw the dailies he’d be happy.”
15. Cartoonist legend Chuck Jones is the guy at the bar teaching Billy (Galligan) how to draw. There was originally more of a plot involving Billy’s hopeful career as an artist.
