Previews and Reviews that are Z's Views
It’s no secret I’m a sucker for a great crime/noir/detective story. Steranko wrote and drew one of my favorites: Chandler: Red Tide. A remastered version has been rumored for years. Perhaps one day we’ll get it. Until then I have my original copy to keep me happy.
Blazing Saddles (1974)
Director: Mel Brooks
Screenplay: Mel Brooks, Norman Steinberg, Andrew aBergman, Richard Pryor, Alan Uger story by Andrew Bergman
Stars: Cleavon Little, Gene Wilder, Slim Pickens, Harvey Korman, Madeline Kahn, Mel Brooks, Burton Gilliam, Alex Karras, David Huddleston, Liam Dunn, John Hillerman, George Furth, Jack Starrett, Richard Collier, Dom DeLuise, Richard Farnsworth, Sally Kirkland, Hal Needham, Rodney Allen Rippy and Count Basie.
Tagline: Mel Brooks and the West! Together for the last time!
The Plot…
Quicksand forces the new railroad to change its route. When the dastardly Hedley Lamarr (Korman) learns the railroad will have to go through the town of Rock Ridge, he sees an opportunity to get rich. If Lamarr can get the town’s citizens to leave, he will become owner of all the land.
Lamarr sends his thugs to scare the people into leaving. Instead, they wire the Governor that they need a Sheriff to protect them. Lamarr tricks the Governor into sending an African American who was about to be hung. Lamarr figures that a black Sheriff won’t be much protection and will upset some town folk enough to leave.
Boy, was Lamarr wrong.
Let the fun begin!
Thoughts (beware of spoilers)
Blazing Saddles was nominated for six Academy Awards:
Nominated for
Best Actress in a Supporting Role (Madeline Kahn)
Best Film Editing (John C. Howard, Danford B. Greene)
Best Music, Original Song (John Morris – music, Mel Brooks – lyrics, for the song “Blazing Saddles”)
Blazing Saddles wouldn’t be made today. It almost wasn’t in 1973. John Wayne turned down the Waco Kid role. Wayne thought it would tarnish his image. Gig Young was hired but collapsed during the first scene. It was later discovered Young suffered from alcohol withdrawal. Gene Wilder was brought in to replace Young. Richard Pryor was the first choice to play Bart. The studio wouldn’t hire Pryor due to previous drug arrests. Cleavon Little got the role.
The film makes fun of classic western troupes, breaks the fourth wall, features sight and verbal gags. It is all over the place. Everything is fair game. Blazing Saddles isn’t for those easily offended. Everyone else is in for a comedy guaranteed to entertain.
Blazing Saddles (1974) rates 5 of 5 stars.
Here we have the poster and trailer for Gangnam Zombie. I’m always down for a good drive-in movie. Gangnam Zombie looks to fit the bill.
Zombies done Gangnam Style. ; )
GANGNAM ZOMBIE:
Soon after previously normal people begin viciously attacking other citizens in Seoul’s wealthy Gangnam district, the zombie population grows exponentially and spreads throughout the region. Now, long after injuries forced him to quit the national taekwondo team, an elite former athlete is given one more opportunity to use his talent on behalf of his country as he takes on one final match—this time, against terrifying hordes of the undead.Directed by: Lee Su-seong
Cast: Ji Il-ju, PARK Ji-yeon, CHO Kyung-hoon
Raylan and Carolyn cross the line, as Raylan attempts to make it out of Detroit alive.
Starring Timothy Olyphant, Aunjanue Ellis and Boyd Holbrook. Raylan Givens left the hollers of Kentucky and is balancing life as a U.S. Marshal with being a part-time father. A chance encounter sends him to Detroit and on a collision course with a violent sociopath and a formidable defense attorney.
Chris Berning aka Alt Fiction has created a worthy alt poster for one of my favorite crime/horror mashups, From Dusk Till Dawn. You can see more of Berning’s art here.
High Noon (1952)
Director: Fred Zinnemann
Screenplay: Carl Foreman based on The Tin Star short story in Collier’s by John W. Cunningham
Stars: Gary Cooper, Grace Kelly, Thomas Mitchell, Lloyd Bridges, Katy Jurado, Otto Kruger, Lon Chaney Jr., Harry Morgan, Morgan Farley, Harry Shannon, Lee Van Cleef, Sheb Wooley and Jack Elam.
Tagline: Simple. Powerful. Unforgettable.
The Plot…
Will Kane (Cooper) and hi bride are ready to start a new life. It’s their wedding day. Kane is retiring as Marshal of a small western town. He and his young wife Amy (Kelly) are moving to another town to open a store and raise a family.
Shortly after Will and Amy are married, they learn that Frank Miller is set to arrive on the noon train. Miller is a killer that Kane sent to prison. Miller’s trial resulted in a death sentence. Miller swore he would return to kill Kane. Instead of being hung, Miller’s death sentence was commuted. Now Miller is on his way to keep his word. Things get worse when Kane learns that three of Miller’s gang are already in town..
Will Kane knows it’s too late to run. Nobody in town is willing to help Kane face down the killers. What chance does one man alone have against four gunslingers?
Thoughts (beware of spoilers)
High Noon was nominated for seven Academy Awards and won four:
Nominated for…
Best Picture
Best Director (Fred Zinnemann)
Best Writing Screenplay (Carl Foreman)
Won for…
Best Actor in a Leading Role (Winner – Gary Cooper)
Best Film Editing (Winner – Elmo Williams, Harry Gerstad)
Best Music Original Song (Winner – Dimitri Tiomkin: music, Ned Washington: lyrics, for the song “High Noon aka Do Not Forsake Me, Oh My Darlin'”)
Best Music, Scoring of a Dramatic or Comedy Picture (Winner – Dimitri Tiomkin)
John Wayne hated High Noon. Every time I revisit the film, I like it better. It’s a great film, expertly directed, with a first rate cast and a story that rings true. At first Will Kane is willing to leave before the train arrives. Then he realizes that Miller and his gang will track him down. Kane thinks it’s better to meet them head on. Kane is sure that he will get support from some of the town members.
It’s interesting the way each person he approaches finds a rationale to not help.
Standouts in the cast include Gary Cooper, Lloyd Bridges, Katy Jurado, Lon Chaney Jr., Lee Van Cleef and Harry Morgan. High Noon was a comeback film for Gary Cooper. Lloyd Bridges is great as the cocky, immature Deputy who wants to be Marshal. Katy Jurado owns every scene she’s in. In High Noon, Lon Chaney Jr. gives the finest performance of his career. Harry Morgan is a coward doing his best to not appear so to his wife. High Noon was Lee Van Cleef’s feature film debut! Look for Jack Elam in a cameo as a drunk. His part was supposed to be bigger, but it was determined it took away from the suspense of the impending gunfights.
High Noon (1952) rates 5 of 5 stars.
Terry Funk died today. Mr. Funk was 79 years old.
Terry and his older brother, Dory Jr., were the sons of Dorothy and Dory Funk. Their father, Dory Funk Sr. was a high school state and college champion amateur wrestler. After a stint in the Navy, Dory Sr. became a professional wrestler and later a wrestling promoter. So both Funk boys grew up in a professional wrestling family and both would become professional wrestlers.
Terry Funk began his professional wrestling career in 1965, competing in his father’s Western States Sports Promotion. His older brother, Dory was already an established wrestler. They made a formidable team. Terry would go on to wrestle and win championships for all the major promoters as well as on the independent circuit. Later in his career when many wrestlers contemplate retirement, Terry Funk excelled as a hardcore champion, participating in extremely violent matches.
Terry Funk won multiple championships in promotions across the country. Mr. Funk is in the following Professional Wrestling Halls of Fame:
Terry Funk also branched out into acting. His first role was a major one in Sylvester Stallone’s Paradise Alley. Mr. Funk would go on to act in television and feature films.
Some of Terry Funk’s television appearances include: Wildside (6 episodes); Timestalkers, Swamp Thing; Quantum Leap; Tequila and Bonetti (11 episodes); The Adventures of Brisco County, Jr. and Thunder in Paradise.
Some of Terry Funk’s feature film appearances include: Paradise Alley; Over the Top; Road House; Rambo III (stunts) and Rocky V (stunts).
I was familiar with Terry Funk’s wrestling as a kid growing up in Indiana. Then when we moved to Florida, Terry Funk was a popular bad guy for years. My favorite Terry Funk role, by far, is when he played Frankie the Thumper in Paradise Alley. Mr. Funk and Sylvester Stallone got along well as evidenced by Terry Funk’s appearances in Over the Top, stunt work for Rambo III and Rocky V.
The fact that Terry Funk was able to wrestle for decades is evidence that he was a legitimate tough guy. It’s impressive that everywhere Mr. Funk wrestled, he excelled. Look at the number of Wrestling Hall of Fames feature him. He was one of a kind.
Our thoughts and prayers go out to Terry Funk’s family, friends and fans.
EXPEND4BLES – Only In Theaters September 22. Starring Jason Statham, Sylvester Stallone, Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson, Megan Fox, Dolph Lundgren, Tony Jaa, Iko Uwais, Randy Couture, Jacob Scipio, Levy Tran, with Andy Garcia.
A new generation of stars join the world’s top action stars for an adrenaline-fueled adventure in Expend4bles. Reuniting as the team of elite mercenaries, Jason Statham, Dolph Lundgren, Randy Couture, and Sylvester Stallone are joined for the first time by Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson, Megan Fox, Tony Jaa, Iko Uwais, Jacob Scipio, Levy Tran, and Andy Garcia. Armed with every weapon they can get their hands on and the skills to use them, The Expendables are the world’s last line of defense and the team that gets called when all other options are off the table. But new team members with new styles and tactics are going to give “new blood” a whole new meaning.
“Kill a few people, they call you a murderer. Kill a million and you’re a conqueror.”
John Cordero created this cool alt Cliffhanger poster and even added the quote with his post of it. THAT is a true Stallone fan. You can see more of Cordero’s art here.
Extraction 2 (2023)
Director: Sam Hargrave
Screenplay: Joe Russo based on Ciudad by Ande Parks, Joe Russo, Anthony Russo, Fernando León González
Stars: Chris Hemsworth, Golshifteh Farahani, Adam Bessa, Idris Elba and Daniel Bernhardt.
Tagline: Prepare for the ride of your life.
The Plot…
Tyler Rake barely survived his last mission. For nine months he’s been in physical therapy. When Rake learns that his ex-wife’s sister Ketevan and her two children are being held in foreign prison, he is determined to break them out. Ketevan’s husband, Davit Radiani, is a high ranking member of the Nagazi, one of the most powerful crime syndicates in the country. If Rake can break into the prison and get them out, the Nagazi will go to the ends of the earth to kill Rake and bring them back.
Cue the action!!
Thoughts (beware of spoilers)
Sam Hargrave (director), Joe Russo (writer) and Chris Hemsworth (star) return from the original. There is talk of them reteaming for a third Extraction film. Fingers crossed.
Although Extraction 2 doesn’t start as quickly with action as the original, there is a “one take” action sequence that runs over 20 minutes in the first act. Once the action starts, it doesn’t let up.
The extended prison break scene is getting a lot of positive buzz (and rightly so), but my favorite scene is a fight that takes place on the glass overhang of a skyscraper.
I would love to see a third Extraction film.
Extraction 2 (2023) rates 5 of 5 stars.
Wow! Original recordings of Ed Gein interviews. Deal me in.
Psycho: The Lost Tapes of Ed Gein premieres September 17th, 2023- only on MGM+
This MGM+ original docuseries follows the horrifying grave robber and serial killer Ed Gein whose crimes inspired such iconic films as Psycho and The Silence of the Lambs. With new reveals and never-before-heard recordings, viewers will be transported to late-1950s Middle America and submerged in Gein’s perverse mind. The series explores Gein’s upbringing and twisted relationship with his mother, his early grave robbing and murders, and the police’s discovery of his terrifying house of horrors.
A new universe awaits on Netflix, starting December 22. From Zack Snyder, the filmmaker behind 300, Man of Steel, and Army of the Dead, comes REBEL MOON, an epic science-fantasy event decades in the making. When a peaceful colony on the edge of a galaxy finds itself threatened by the armies of a tyrannical ruling force, Kora (Sofia Boutella), a mysterious stranger living among the villagers, becomes their best hope for survival. Tasked with finding trained fighters who will unite with her in making an impossible stand against the Mother World, Kora assembles a small band of warriors — outsiders, insurgents, peasants and orphans of war from different worlds who share a common need for redemption and revenge. As the shadow of an entire Realm bears down on the unlikeliest of moons, a battle over the fate of a galaxy is waged, and in the process, a new army of heroes is formed.
Richard Stark’s Parker The Complete Collection by Dawyn Cooke gets my highest rating. If you’re a fan of great crime fiction, then this is for you!
The groundbreaking and multiple award-winning graphic novels by Darwyn Cooke, collected in their entirety for the first time in one softcover volume.
Collecting the four Parker graphic novels (The Hunter, The Outfit, The Score, and Slayground) as well as two shorts (The Man with the Getaway Face and The Seventh). These stories encompass all Darwyn Cooke’s sequential stories of Parker.
American comic book fans probably know Goran Parlov for his work with the Punisher character. I love Parlov’s art and this is my favorite piece by him. You can see more of Goran Parlov’s art here.
The Family Stallone: Season 1 (2023)
Stars: Sylvester Stallone, Jennifer Flavin-Stallone, Sophia Rose Stallone, Sistine Rose Stallone, Scarlet Rose Stallone, Frank Stallone, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Dolph Lundgren, Vincent Piazza and Al Pacino.
Tagline: None.
The Plot…
The Family Stallone gives us a peek at the life of, you guessed it, the Stallone family: Sly, Jennifer, Sophia, Sistine and Scarlet.
Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…
Season 1 feature eight episodes…
S1.E1 ∙ Meet the Stallones: We get a peak behind the scenes on Tulsa King. The girls pull a prank on Sly that looks to set him off!
S1.E2 ∙ The Currency of Time: Sly realizes the clock is ticking and nothing is more valuable than time and how you spend it. The girls visit Uncle Frank’s house. Any time Frank is on, expect great tv. I’d love a tour of his house since it contains so much memorabilia. A reality show with Frank would be out of control.
S1.E3 ∙ Leaving the Nest: The focus is on Scarlet (who is heading off to college) and Jennifer who is suffering from empty nest syndrome.
S1.E4 ∙ The Show must Go On: Scarlet and her boyfriend break up and the girls worry how she’ll take it. Sly heads to Atlantic City with Frank who will be performing. Right before showtime, Frank gets unexplained nose bleeds. (I wish we got more of Sly & Frank in Atlantic City.)
S1.E5 ∙ Unwaxed and Unfiltered: Scarlet and Sly head to Oklahoma for their roles in Tulsa King. I love the behind-the-scenes stuff for the series. Frank, who admits he’s never watched Sistine & Sophia’s Unwaxed podcast, wants to be featured on an episode. The girls have some concerns. They don’t know what Frank may say and they don’t want any blowback. Sly encourages them to have Frank on since he’s family.
S1.E6 ∙ The Stallones Go West: Sophia was born with a hole in her heart and it’s time for her annual check-up. The reality is there are some things that fame and fortune can’t control.
S1.E7 ∙ Green Light Fight: Sophia is working on a novel. Sistine sells her first script for a horror movie. Sister drama ensues.
S1.E8 ∙ Philadelphia Story: Sly wants a family trip to Philadelphia, but Scarlet has just started college and doesn’t want to leave for the weekend.
I’m not a fan of most reality shows. Truth be told if this wasn’t about Sly and his family, my interest level wouldn’t be near as high. It’s cool to see Sly hanging out for pizza with Al Pacino and Dolph Lundgren, visiting Arnold’s office, Sly’s office and the Stallone house. The affection that the Stallone’s have for each other is evident.
Bring on Season 2!
The Family Stallone: Season 1 (2023) earns 5 of 5 stars.
