The “Better Call Saul” Season 5 Trailer is Here!
Check out the trailer for Season 5 of Better Call Saul which premieres Sunday, February 23rd, at 10/9c.
“Once Upon a Time… in Hollywood” A Love Letter to Making Movies – Documentary is Here!
Quentin Tarantino, Leonardo DiCaprio, Brad Pitt, Margot Robbie and the filmmakers showcase the artistry that went into creating this story of an enduring friendship in a time of change. A special look at Quentin Tarantino’s acclaimed 9th movie, #OnceUponATimeInHollywood.
Quentin Tarantino’s ONCE UPON A TIME IN HOLLYWOOD visits 1969 Los Angeles, where everything is changing, as TV star Rick Dalton (Leonardo DiCaprio) and his longtime stunt double Cliff Booth (Brad Pitt) make their way around an industry they hardly recognize anymore. The ninth film from the writer-director features a large ensemble cast and multiple storylines in a tribute to the final moments of Hollywood’s golden age.
Who was the All-Time Most Evil Dracula?
Yesterday we looked at the best movie Dracula. Today we’ll answer who is the most evil Dracula. The answer is, of course, the real person Dracula was based on: Vlad III aka Vlad the Impaler, the Prince of Wallachia (now known as Romania).
Most folks know that the real-life Vlad III was infamous for killing his enemies by impaling them, but that’s just one of the many evil things he did. Eli Nixon at Listverse details much more in 10 Fascinating Facts About The Real Dracula. Normally, with posts like this, I list my three favorite facts, but here there were no favorites. Vladd III was truly a horrible human being and much worse than any movie Dracula.
Who is the All-Time Best Dracula?
Kayleigh Donaldson created a ranking of her choices for the best movie Dracula in her post BATTLE OF THE DRACULAS: WHO IS KING OF THE VAMPIRES? at Syfy.com. Her list is a good one although our top three choices are different. Christopher Lee did make both of our lists (coming in second on her list and third on mine).
Here are our top three with my final thoughts following…
|
Kayleigh Donaldson |
Craig Zablo |
| 1. Gary Oldman – Bram Stoker’s Dracula (1992) | 1. Claes Bang – Dracula (2020) |
| 2. Christopher Lee – Dracula (1958) | 2. Bela Lugosi – Dracula (1931) |
| 3. Zhang Wei-Qiang – Dracula: Pages From a Virgin’s Diary (2002) |
3. Christopher Lee – Dracula (1958) |
1. Claes Bang – Dracula (2020): Until this year Bela Lugosi was the definitive Dracula for me. Claes Bang changed all of that with his performance in Dracula (2020). Bang’s Dracula is truly terrifying, seductive and powerful. Like Lugosi’s Dracula, it’s a movie that I will enjoy revisiting.
2. Bela Lugosi – Dracula (1931): Lugosi was perfectly cast as Dracula and until this year his performance had risen above all others in playing the Count. I still love his performance and find it sad that he was never able to shine so brightly in another movie.
3. Christopher Lee – Dracula (1958): It’s only been in recent years that I’ve come to appreciate Lee’s Dracula. The Hammer films didn’t resonate with me when I was younger. I guess I was spoiled by the Universal Monsters. Christopher Lee’s Dracula is the favorite of many folks and it’s hard to argue against him because he was great in the role.
Click over and check out how your favorite Draculas faired in BATTLE OF THE DRACULAS: WHO IS KING OF THE VAMPIRES?.
The Making of “Animal House”
The Making of Animal House is well done and full of interviews with the folks who made the movie. If you liked the movie, you’ll enjoy the documentary.
“The Burnt Orange Heresy” Poster and Trailer are Here!
The Burnt Orange Heresy poster and trailer starring Claes (Dracula) Bang, Elizabeth Debicki, Donald Sutherland and Mick Jagger are here!
Mike Zeck’s Vintage Shang-Chi Sketch!
Today we have a vintage Mike Zeck Shang-Chi sketch. That is all… but it should be enough. ; )
“Us” Poster by Son Tuyen Huynh
If you’ve seen Jordan Peele’s Us, you’ll truly appreciate the cleverness of Son Tuyen Huynh’s poster.
Source: Alternative Movie Poster Movement.
“Bloodshot” Starring Vin Diesel Poster
Here’s the latest poster for Bloodshot starring Vin Diesel.
Rot & Ruin Novels or Webtoon by Jonathan Maberry
Ask most folks if they are familiar with Rot & Ruin and if they are, they’ll begin talking about Jonathan Maberry’s award-winning four book series that takes place in a zombie-infested, post-apocalyptic America. The series is good enough to have twice won the Bram Stoker Award for Best Young Adult Fiction.
But that’s not the Rot & Ruin I’m talking about today.
Today I’m talking about the Rot & Ruin webtoon. Adapted by Mayberry with art by Alempe, this Rot & Ruin posts an update every Monday.
Benny Imura and his friends must navigate a post-apocalyptic zombie-infected America in which teenagers are forced to find labor or face starvation. When Benny grudgingly joins his annoying older brother Tom as an apprentice zombie hunter, he soon discovers that almost everything he believed about his sheltered life is wrong–and zombies aren’t the greatest thing to fear in the Rot & Ruin. Based on the novel Rot & Ruin by Jonathan Maberry.
The “Spenser Confidential” Poster and Trailer are Here… with Z’s Thoughts
Ok. Above is the poster for Spenser Confidential. Directed by Peter Berg, Spenser Confidential stars Mark Wahlberg, Winston Duke and Alan Arkin. Below is the synopsis and trailer. I’ll be back below the trailer with some thoughts.
When two Boston Police officers are murdered, ex-cop Spenser (Mark Wahlberg) teams up with his no-nonsense roommate, Hawk (Winston Duke), to take down criminals in this action-comedy.
Spenser (Mark Wahlberg) — an ex-cop better known for making trouble than solving it — just got out of prison and is leaving Boston for good. But first he gets roped into helping his old boxing coach and mentor, Henry (Alan Arkin), with a promising amateur. That’s Hawk (Winston Duke), a brash, no-nonsense MMA fighter convinced he’ll be a tougher opponent than Spenser ever was. When two of Spenser’s former colleagues turn up murdered, he recruits Hawk and his foul-mouthed ex-girlfriend, Cissy (Iliza Shlesinger), to help him investigate and bring the culprits to justice. From director Peter Berg, SPENSER CONFIDENTIAL is an action-comedy co-starring Bokeem Woodbine, Marc Maron, and Post Malone. Inspired by Robert B. Parker’s Wonderland, a best-selling novel by Ace Atkins.
As a long-time fan of Spenser (the Robert B. Parker novels, the Ace Atkins novels and the Robert Urich tv show), let me say, this is NOT Spenser… at least the Spenser created by Robert B. Parker and carried on by Atkins and Urich. If you’re going to make Spenser (or ANY known character) stay true to the source material or create a new one.
Marv by Frank Miller (Rarely Seen Art!)
Today we have a rarely seen Frank Miller drawing of Marv from Sin City. This art was used in the Sin City Collector card series. Man, I wish we had more Sin City yarns. Click on the photo above to see a Sin City-sized version.
John Carpenter Documentary “Big John” is Here!
If you’re a John Carpenter fan, you should enjoy the French documentary Big John which is embedded below. It features a lot of Carpenter talking frankly about his career making movies and music, plus interviews with celebs who’ve worked with him and more. If you don’t speak French, you can fast forward through those sections since they don’t have subtitles.
“Tread: Desperate Men Do Desperate Things”
Desperate men do desperate things. What a great tag line!
On June 4th, 2004, a sixty-three-ton bulldozer, fortified with steel and concrete, systematically destroyed numerous businesses and homes in the small mountain town of Granby, Colorado. The rampage lasted over two hours and resulted in more than eight million dollars in damage. State and local police were incapable of even slowing the machine. Though it was armed with three high-powered firearms, no one but the driver was killed. His name was Marvin Heemeyer. TREAD explores the polarizing perspectives on this man, his motives, and what drove him to the breaking point.
I remember the event but didn’t realize that Heemeyer had fortified the bulldozer.
Ranking John Carpenter’s Movies
The folks at Film School Rejects decided to Rank The Movies Directed By John Carpenter. This sounded like fun, so I decided to play along. Below are my rankings and thoughts…
The Ward (2010)
Village of the Damned (1995)
Memoirs of an Invisible Man (1992)
Prince of Darkness (1987)
In the Mouth of Madness (1994)
The films above I haven’t seen.
15. Dark Star (1974) I don’t know if I have ever seen the whole thing. It just didn’t resonate with me. Most folks really like it.
14. The Fog (1980) I saw this on its theatrical release and it left me flat. Which surprised me because I was expecting a lot.
13. Someone’s Watching Me! (1978) Watched this before I knew who John Carpenter was. It was good.
12. Vampires (1998) I thought James Woods was miscast.
11. Elvis (1979) Who knew Kurt Russell could impersonate Elvis (and later Clint Eastwood)?
10. Christine (1983) Saw this at the theater and thought it was well done.
9. Ghosts of Mars (2001) Sci-fi action directed by Carpenter. What’s not to like?
8. Escape from L.A. (1996) I was so excited about the return of Snake Plissken under the creative team of Carpenter and Russell. Sadly the film played up the camp more than I would have liked.
7. Big Trouble in Little China (1986) My wife and I along with another couple saw BTiLC on its opening weekend. I really liked it. No one else in the group did. Kurt Russell steals the show.
6. They Live (1988) Surprisingly good. Roddy Piper was the perfect lead. I felt the ending was a bit off but not enough to really matter.
5. Starman (1984) Big budget and big stars. Perhaps my wife’s favorite Carpenter flick because it’s a good one.
4. Halloween (1978) Another Carpenter classic. I first saw it in a drive-in and had sound problems through part of the film. The movie still worked. That is a sign of great direction!
3. The Thing (1982) I saw it on it’s initial theatrical release in a nearly empty theater. Reaction from fans and critics wasn’t good. Over the years that has all changed. I thought it was a mistake remaking a classic but Carpenter pulled it off.
2. Assault on Precinct 13 (1976) This is the movie that made me a John Carpenter fan. Thank God for VHS. Low budget but man, does Carpenter make it work. Darwin Joston was perfect casting. I always thought we’d see more from him.
1. Escape from New York (1981) I saw EfNY several times on it’s first theatrical release and loved it. I still do.
