Previews and Reviews that are Z's Views
“An American Werewolf in Edinburgh” by Gene Gonzales. I was totally blown away by this piece. Here’s what Gene had to say about it…
We’ve been to Edinburgh, Scotland numerous times. Our home away from home, really. I think it would be a great setting for a werewolf story. Maybe a remake of the classic film “American Werewolf in London”?
I’d love to see Gene draw a werewolf story in this style!
“Alien: Earth” Season 1 (2025)
Created by: Noah Hawley; Based on Alien by Dan O’Bannon, Ronald Shusett
Teleplay by:
Directed by:
Stars: Sydney Chandler, Alex Lawther, Essie Davis, Samuel Blenkin, Babou Ceesay, Adarsh Gourav, Erana James, Lily Newmark, Jonathan Ajayi, David Rysdahl, Diêm Camille, Moe Bar-El, Adrian Edmondson and Timothy Olyphant.
Tagline: Fear takes new forms.
The Plot…
The year is 2120. Five companies control the planet and colonized outposts in the solar system. The USCSS Maginot, a spacecraft owned by the Weyland-Yutani Corporation is returning from a successful mission in space to retrieve alien life forms. When the ship crash lands into a city owned by the Prodigy Corportation, the race is on to secure the alien specimens.
Prodigy is owned by Boy Kavalier. The world’s youngest trillionaire and a genius to boot. Kavalier created the world’s first first human-synthetic hybrids by placing the minds of terminally ill children in adult synthetic bodies. These hybrids were mentored by a synth named Kirsh. Wendy, one of the hybrids, was given AI intelligence making her even smarter than Boy Kavalier.
The Weyland-Yutani Corporation sends notice that they want the “cargo” of their crashed ship. Boy Kavalier responds that any incursion into Prodigy territory will be seen as an act of war. Kavalier then sends Kirsh, Wendy and the four other hybrids on a mission to the crash site to retrieve the alien specimens.
At the same time a city rescue team arrives at the crash site. They are unaware what the craft was carrying or that a Xenomorph has escaped. Worse still, there are other creatures on the ship equally as dangerous. As tensions mount, lives are lost and it becomes clear that the shipwreck wasn’t accidental.
It could be “we were safer in space”.
Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…
Alien: Earth has a lot going on. There’s several different dangerous alien life forms, synthetic beings, human-syn hybrids, a boy genius with plans of his own, corporate intrigue, betryals and more. On one hand, I’m not sure eight episodes was enough to get into everything. I wanted more with the escaped alien specimens. Also, I wasn’t sold on the “relationship” between Wendy and the Xenomorph.
That’s not to say that I didn’t like Alien: Earth. I did. But not as much as I had hoped. Still, I hope we get a season two.
“Alien: Earth” Season 1 (2025) earns 3 of 5 stars.
The Inspector General (1949)
Director: Henry Koster
Screenplay: Philip Rapp, Harry Kurnitz; Suggested by the play by Nikolai Gogol
Stars: Danny Kaye, Walter Slezak, Barbara Bates, Elsa Lanchester, Gene Lockhart, Walter Catlett, Rhys Williams, Leonard Bremen, Albert Cavens and Alan Hale.
Tagline: We Won’t Tell, Danny!!! But wait till that luscious little lovely finds out you’re not the Inspector General!!!
The Plot…
Georgi, an uneducated but kind-hearted fool, is kicked out of a band of gypsies for revealing that a miracle potion being sold is anything but. Georgi wanders into the small town of Brodny.
Brodny is governed by a corrupt Mayor who along with his council are making themselves rich at the expense of the town’s citizens. The Mayor has learned that an Inspector General has secretly been sent to each city by the King. The Inspector General’s job is to find corruption and make the guilty pay.
The Mayor believes that Georgi is the Inspector General. Which is all well and good until the REAL Inspector General arrives.
Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…
The Inspector General is a fun movie. Be aware that the film is in the public domain so there are several versions available, some with cut scenes or songs.
The Inspector General (1949) rates 4 of 5 stars.
I like this art for The Lost Boys by 𝐒𝖚𝖘𝖕𝖎𝖗𝖎𝖆 𝐕𝖎𝖑𝖈𝖍𝖊𝖟 at least as much as I like the movie. What say you?
I’d been a fan of Ryan Kelly’s art for some time. When I saw that he was taking mail order commissions, I jumped on board. I requested Sly Stallone as Jack Carter from Get Carter. Kelly killed it. This was my first commission from Ryan Kelly. I hope it’s not my last.
I’m always up for a new alt poster for Escape from New York. Angora came through like a champ.
The Invisible Man by Ryan Kelly!
When I was a kid I loved horror movies. I still do. But when it came to The Invisible Man, I just didn’t care for it. Re-visiting the film as a young adult (and now an older one) I’ve come to love the movie.
I can honestly say, I’ve loved Ryan Kelly’s riff on The Invisible Man from the first time I saw it. ; )
Final Score (2018)
Director: Scott Mann
Screenplay: David T. Lynch, Keith Lynch, Jonathan Frank
Stars: Dave Bautista, Ray Stevenson, Martyn Ford, Gordon Alexander, Peter Pedrero, Craig Conway, Bill Fellows and Pierce Brosnan.
Tagline: 35,000 lives. 90 minutes. No extra time.
The Plot…
Michael Knox, an ex-U.S. soldier visiting London, takes his teenage niece to a soccer game. When terrorists take control of the stadium, it is up to Knox to save the day.
Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…
If you said that Final Score sounds like “Die Hard in a Stadium“, you wouldn’t be wrong. If you said that Final Score sounds like a knock-off of Jean-Claude Van Damme’s Sudden Death you’d be right.
Final Score (2018) rates 2 of 5 stars.
The poster and trailer for Icefall starring Joel Kinnaman is here!
To Find Redemption, You’ll Have to Break Through.
#IceFallMovie starring Joel Kinnaman is on digital and on demand November 4.
“The Pitt” (2025)
Created by: R. Scott Gemmill
Teleplay by:
Directed by:
Stars: Noah Wyle, Patrick Ball, Katherine LaNasa, Supriya Ganesh, Fiona Dourif, Taylor Dearden, Isa Briones, Gerran Howell, Shabana Azeez, Amielynn Abellera,
Jalen Thomas Brooks, Brandon Mendez Homer, Kristin Villanueva, Tracy Ifeachor, Joanna Going, Johnath Davis, Brad Dourif and Shawn Hatosy.
Tagline: 15 episodes. 15 hours. 1 shift.
The Plot…
The Pitt follows Dr. Michael “Robby” Robinavitch in real time as he works a major hospital emergency room that is understaffed and overworked. It is the anniversary of the death of Dr. Robby’s mentor and the first day he has worked it since.
Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…
The Pitt was nominated for 13 2025 Primetime Emmy Awards and won 5…
Taylor Dearden (Dr Mel King) is Bryan Cranston’s daughter. She is excellent in this role.
Dr. Cassie McKay and her father Neil McKay are played by real-life daughter and father Fiona and Brad Dourif.
The Pitt was must-see tv for me.
Noah Wyle and Kathernine LaNasa won well deserved Emmys.
“The Pitt” (2025) earns 5 of 5 stars.
Eric Powell presents Universal Monsters Big Four – Frankenstein Monster, Dracula, The Mummy and The Creature from the Black Lagoon!
Quentin Tarantino fans are gonna love this. THE MAKING OF QUENTIN TARANTINO’S ONCE UPON A TIME IN HOLLYWOOD by Jay Glennie premieres soon. Here’s the lowdown…
Legendary filmmaker Quentin Tarantino personally introduces the definitive and official examination of his entire oeuvre with the Quentin Tarantino Library written by Jay Glennie.
In the first book in the series, THE MAKING OF QUENTIN TARANTINO’S ONCE UPON A TIME IN HOLLYWOOD, writer Jay Glennie pulls back the curtain on the visionary writer/director/producer’s ninth film, with unprecedented access to the filmmaker, cast, and crew. This epic tome is a stunning and faithful deep dive into the mind of a masterful auteur and a must-have book for all film lovers and Quentin Tarantino fans.
For the first time ever Academy Award winning filmmaker Quentin Tarantino has granted respected journalist and author Jay Glennie unique access revealing the never-before-told behind-the-scenes making of one of the most iconic films of all time, Once Upon a Time… in Hollywood.
Quentin Tarantino personally introduces the volume, as well as providing hundreds of behind-the-scenes photographs, along with production memos, concept art, and costume and production design sketches. There are also exclusive reproductions of letters, studio documents and film ephemera. The result is an account of the monumental effort undertaken to produce Once Upon a Time… in Hollywood and is the official record of how it was achieved, from inception to the world premiere and on to ten Academy Award nominations, resulting in two Oscars.
The book includes new and exclusive interviews undertaken by Jay Glennie with key cast and crew members, including Oscar winning actors Leonardo DiCaprio and Brad Pitt, Oscar nominee Margot Robbie, and the brilliant supporting cast including Oscar winner Mikey Madison, Margaret Qualley, Oscar nominee Austin Butler, Lena Dunham, Kurt Russell, Dakota Fanning, Emile Hirsch, Damian Lewis, Maya Hawke, and Sydney Sweeney.
First book in the series!!
THE MAKING OF QUENTIN TARANTINO’S ONCE UPON A TIME IN HOLLYWOOD Hardcover
THE MAKING OF QUENTIN TARANTINO’S ONCE UPON A TIME IN HOLLYWOOD Kindle
I think this Cujo alt poster by Huan Do is much better than the original theatrical poster. Right?
It was announced that Drew Struzan died yesterday. Mr. Struzan had dealt with Alzheimer’s disease for may years . Drew Struzan was 78.
Drew Stuzan was born in Oregon City, Oregon. He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree with honors from the ArtCenter College of Design in Los Angeles. After graduation Drew Struzan began working for the design studio Pacific Eye & Ear. During his time there Mr. Struzan designed many record album covers including covers for the Beach Boys, the Bee Gees, Roy Orbison, Black Sabbath, Glenn Miller, Earth, Wind & Fire, and many others. Perhaps the most famous of Drew Struzan’s album art is Welcome to My Nightmare created for Alice Cooper.
Drew Struzan and a friend decided to start their own company, Pencil Pushers. In these early days, Mr. Struzan began to get movie poster work, but it was mostly for B-films such as Empire of the Ants. In 1977, Drew Stuzan was asked to work with Charles White III on a poster for the re-release of Star Wars. Mr. Struzan painted the human likenesses and Mr. White worked on the spacecraft, robots and Darth Vader. The poster was a hit.
Drew Struzan was considered by many to be THE go-to guy for a great movie poster. Steven Spielberg said that Drew Struzan was his favorite artist and “I had to almost live up to the art that we later were going to ask Drew to create for the poster.” High praise indeed.
Some of the movies that featured posters by Drew Struzan include: Escape to Witch Mountain; Robin and Marian; Harry & Walter Go and New York; Food of the Gods; Futureworld; Car Wash; The Seven-Per-Cent Solution; Tentacles; Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope; Empire of the Ants; The Last Remake of Beau Geste; March or Die; California Suite; The Muppet Movie; The Frisco Kid; Star Wars: Episode V – The Empire Strikes Back; Fame; Oh, Heavenly Dog; Raise the Titanic; All Night Long; Raiders of the Lost Ark; The Cannonball Run; The Great Muppet Caper; The Fox and the Hound; I, the Jury; E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial; The Thing; Blade Runner; Tron; First Blood; The Dark Crystal; The Sting II; The Pirates of Penzance; Star Wars: Episode VI – Return of the Jedi; Under Fire; Risky Business; To Be or Not to Be; Police Academy; Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom; Ladyhawke; Police Academy 2: Their First Assignment; The Goonies; Back to the Future; Better Off Dead; White Nights; Police Academy 3: Back in Training; Big Trouble in Little China; The Name of the Rose; An American Tail; Police Academy 4: Citizens on Patrol; Harry and the Hendersons; Adventures in Babysitting; Masters of the Universe; Coming to America; The Land Before Time; Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade; Harlem Nights; All Dogs Go to Heaven; Back to the Future Part II; Back to the Future Part III; Hook; Aladdin; The Muppet Christmas Carol; The Flintstones; Angels in the Outfield; The Mask; The Shawshank Redemption; Mallrats; Cutthroat Island; Mars Attacks; The Lost World: Jurassic Park; Star Wars: Episode 1 – The Phantom Menace; The Green Mile; Harry Potter and the Sorcer’s Stone; Star Wars: Episode II – Attack of the Clones; Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets; Hellboy; Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith; War of the Worlds; Pans Labyrinth; The Mist; Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull; This is the End; Star Wars: Episode VII – The Force Awakens and Animal Crackers.
I first became aware of Drew Struzan’s art before I even knew who he was. I saw a drawing of Sly Stallone for First Blood on a paperback cover. I actually wrote to the publishing company with a self-addressed stamped envelope asking for the name of the artist that did the art. I held out little hope for a response, but I got one. Sadly, the person who responded didn’t know the name of the artist. They did tell me that the company used was Pencil Pushers. Since this was the days before the internet, I never found where Pencil Pushers was located. Or that Drew Struzan created the art. I would learn that later when I like every other movie fan fell in love with his beautiful movie posters.
My favorite Drew Struzan posters are the First Blood paintings he did followed very closely by his artwork for I, the Jury starring Armand Assante. Thanks to the internet, as well as Drew Struzan’s personal website and his instagram page, we’ve been able to see many pieces of his art that weren’t movie posters. I love Drew Struzan’s sketches, drawings, commissions and personal work. There’s always a thrill to see a Drew Struzan piece for the first time. Like all great artists, the thrill of repeated viewings is always there.
Out thoughts and prayers go out to Drew Struzan’s family, friends and fans.
The Conversation (1974)
Director: Francis Ford Coppola
Screenplay: Francis Ford Coppola
Stars: Gene Hackman, John Cazale, Allen Garfield, Frederic Forrest, Cindy Williams, Michael Higgins, Elizabeth MacRae, Teri Garr, Harrison Ford, Mark Wheeler, Ramon Bieri, Gian-Carlo Coppola, Robert Duvall and Robert Shields.
Tagline: Harry Caul is an invader of privacy. The best in the business. He can record any conversation between two people anywhere. So far, three people are dead because of him.
The Plot…
Harry Caul is an audio recording specialist. Perhaps the best in the business. That’s why Harry is hired to secretly record conversations for high priced clients. Harry says he doesn’t care how the recordings are used once he turns them over. Truth is Harry feels guilty that some of his recordings may have led to the murders of three people.
When on his current job Harry pieces together muffled audio, the conversation indicates someone is going to be murdered. Now Harry feels it is his responsibility to stop the killing.
Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…
The Conversation was nominated for three 1975 Academy Awards…
Francis Ford Coppola’s screenplay for The Conversation, written in 1966, couldn’t get financing until his success with The Godfather.
Harrison Ford’s part was originally written as a cameo. His character didn’t even have a name. Ford’s suggestion to play the character as gay (an unusual choice in 1974) and his suggestions to Coppola, led to the part being expanded.
Gene Hackman and Terri Garr would also appear together in Young Frankenstein the same year.
Most folks rate The Conversation higher than me. It currently has a 7.7 rating on IMDB and on Rotten Tomatoes it has a 94% reviewers rating and 89% users’ rating. So, as always, your mileage may vary.
The Conversation (1974) rates 3 of 5 stars.
