“Dark Side of the Ring”: Season 1 (2019) / Z-View

Posted on by

Dark Side of the Ring: Season 1 (2019)

Created by:  Evan Husney, Jason Eisener

Director:  Jason Eisener

Stars: Dutch Mantell, Scott Hall, Jimmy Hart, Lanny Poffo, Jake Roberts, Eric Bischoff, Lex Luger, Randy Savage, Ricky Steamboat, Hulk Hogan, Bret Hart, James E. Cornette, Bruce Prichard, Earl Hebner, Vince Russo, Ric Flair, Ted DiBiase, Owen Hart, Mick Foley, Tony Atlas, Kevin Von Erich, Abdullah the Butcher and Dave Meltzer.

Tagline: None.

The Plot…

Each episode of Dark Side of the Ring profiles a professional wrestler or event that has become infamous among professional wrestling insiders.  Interviews with those who were there, archival footage and reenactments are used in each episode.

Ep. 1: The Match Made in Heaven.  Randy The Macho Man Savage was one of the most popular wrestlers of his time.  When he brought on Miss Elizabeth as his manager, his popularity went even higher.  Elizabeth became as popular as Savage.  Maybe more so.  They were in love both in the wrestling world and real-life.  But there was no happily- ever-after in their future.  No, their love would end in tragedy.

  • Ep. 2: The Montreal Screwjob.  There was a long pro wrestling tradition that a champion who was retiring, or leaving a territory, would lose the title before going. Bret The Hitman Hart was the WWF Champion. Hart was leaving the WWF to go to the WCW.  Vince McMahon, owner of the WWF, was worried that Hart would break tradition and take the title with him.  So behind the scenes McMahon created a plan to make sure the championship belt didn’t leave with Hart.  McMahon’s conspiracy became known as the The Montreal Screwjob.  It changed the face of professional wrestling forever.  Now there was no doubt that backstage decisions determined in-ring outcomes.

 

  • Ep. 3: The Killing of Bruiser Brody.  Bruiser Brody was intimidating.  He stood 6’8″ and weighed 300 pounds.  Brody had the reputation of being contentious.  What made it worse was Brody was often out of control.  It wasn’t an act.  Brody frequently argued with fellow wrestlers and promoters.  While wrestling in Puerto Rico, Brody got into a locker room argument with José González, better known as Invader 1.  Before the night was over Brody lay dying in the shower the result of stab wounds from González.

 

  • Ep. 4: The Last of the Von Erichs.  Fritz Von Erich (real name Jack Adkisson) was a popular wrestling villain.  Von Erich had six sons.  His first child was killed in a freak accident at the age of six. The five other sons all grew up to become professional wrestlers.  Sadly, four of the five would die at a very young age.  Three from suicide.  Many said the family was cursed.  The only surviving son discusses the family legacy.

 

  • Ep. 5: The Mysterious Death of Gorgeous Gino. Gino Hernandez was a wrestling star on the rise.  He got over in every territory.  The fame and money was starting to come.  Unfortunately Gino got mixed up with the wrong crowd and he was using drugs.  When friends became concerned and busted into his apartment, they found his decomposing body.  Did Gino overdose?  Was he murdered?  The autopsy report was full of errors.  His family never saw his body.  Did Gino fake his own death?

 

  • Ep. 6: The Fabulous Moolah.  Mary Lillian Ellison better known as The Fabulous Moolah was the first woman to be inducted in the WWF Hall of Fame.  She holds the record as longest reigning champion in combination of all of her reigns.  She held the title on and off for 28 years!  Moolah was also THE booker and promoter for women wrestlers across the country.  This is where he reputation goes off the rails. All the promoters worked with Moolah to book women wrestlers.  Moolah wouldn’t sign a woman unless she signed a contract to train with her.  Moolah charged them for training.  They must also live on her compound.  Moolah charged them for rent.  Then, as their agent Moolah got 25% or more of their pay.   Sadly that is not the worst of the accusations.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Dark Side of the Ring is must-see viewing for fans of professional wrestling.  Even if you think you know the stories covered, new information and insights are presented.

Dark Side of the Ring: Season 1 (2019)rates 5 of 5 stars

“The Madness: Season One” (2024) starring Colman Domingo / Z-View

Posted on by

The Madness (2024)

Created by:  Stephen Belber

Directors:  Clément Virgo (Eps. 1-2; 7-8); Jessica Lowrey (Eps. 3-4); Quyen Tran (Eps. 5-6)

Teleplay: Stephen Belber (Eps. 1; 8); Stephen Belber & V. J. Boyd (Ep. 2); Obehi Janice & Dana Kitchens (Ep. 3); Maurice Williams & Liz Ellis (Ep.4; story by Maurice Williams); Katie Swain (Ep. 5); Felicia Hilario (Ep. 6); V. J. Boyd & Dana Kitchens (Ep.7; story by Jeanine C. Daniels)

Stars: Colman Domingo, Marsha Stephanie Blake, John Ortiz, Bradley Whitford, Tamsin Topolski, Thaddeus J. Mixson, Gabrielle Graham, Deon Cole, Ennis Esmer, Hudson Wurster, Lochlan Miller, Alison Wright, Eugene Clark, Rothaford Gray, Chris Henry Coffey and Stephen McKinley Henderson.

Tagline: You can’t escape.

The Plot…

Muncie Daniels is on the verge of making it big.  Muncie is becoming well known, not for being the son of an activist infamous for murder,  but for being a television celebrity.  Muncie’s talk show guest ratings have been high, and an offer for his own show is in the works.  Unfortunately, Muncie’s home life has suffered.  He has a grown daughter from a woman he never married.  He also has an estranged wife and teenage son.

When Muncie decides to take a weekend for himself to decompress, he rents a cabin in the woods.  As he’s getting things in, Muncie meets the man in the next cabin over.  The man informs Muncie that if he ever needs anything to pop over.

Later, Munice is surprised when all the power in the cabin goes out.  Muncie heads over to his neighbor’s to see if the power is on there.  No one answers the knock on the door, so Muncie heads around back.  He is shocked to see…

… two men cutting up his neighbors body!

Muncie takes off running through the woods with the killers in pursuit.  Before it is over, Muncie finds himself framed for the murder of his neighbor.  Worse still Muncie discovers a billionaire in behind the conspiracy. Now wanted by the FBI and every police department in the country, Muncie must find a way to clear his name.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

The story starts of well enough but as the episodes go on it meanders and drags.  The plot is excellent.  The actors, especially Colman Domingo, John Ortiz, Deon Cole, Bradley Whitford and Stephen McKinley Henderson shine.

The problem is the story.  At times it meanders and drags.  If someone had come in with a final edit to make the story leaner, allow the characters to make better (more realistic) decisions, then my rating would have been higher.

The Madness (2024) rates 3 of 5 stars

Sly as Sly by Joe Bluhm!

Posted on by

I discovered Joe Bluhm‘s art back in 2007 while surfing the internet.  I absolutely loved his style.  You can imagine my surprise when I saw that Joe would be a guest at an Orlando Comic convention.  What made that even better was that I was already planning to attend the show.

I was able to meet Joe (what a cool guy) and get two sketches from him.  This the second (the first, Sly Stallone as Rocky Balboa has already been posted).   This time out Joe decided to draw Sly as Sly.  Hope you dig ’em both.  I do.

“Running Scared” (2006) written & directed by Wayne Kramer, starring Paul Walker / Z-View

Posted on by

Running Scared (2006)

Director:  Wayne Kramer

Screenplay: Wayne Kramer

Stars: Paul Walker, Cameron Bright, Chazz Palminteri, Vera Farmiga, Karel Roden, Johnny Messner, Ivana Milicevic, Michael Cudlitz, Bruce Altman, Arthur J. Nascarella, John Noble, Idalis DeLeon, David Warshofsky, Jim Tooey, Thomas Rosales Jr. and Elizabeth Mitchell.

Tagline: Its Find The Gun, Or Death…

The Plot…

When a drug deal goes bad, a shootout occurs.  Several people are killed.  Tommy Perello and his crew are the only survivors.  Perello orders Joey Gazelle, an up-and-comer, to get rid of the guns his gang used in the drug deal.

Joey takes the guns, but heads home before ditching the weapons.  Once home, Joey hides the arms in the basement.  Joey doesn’t realize that his son Nicky and Nicky’s friend from next door, Oleg, saw where the weapons were hidden.  Oleg steals one of the revolvers.

As soon as Oleg gets home his abusive stepfather, Anzor, starts in.  Oleg has had enough and shoots his stepdad.  Oleg runs off taking the gun with him.

Hearing the shot, Joey next door. Anzor is wounded. He explains Oleg shot him.  Joey realizes that Oleg used a gun that Joey was supposed to have ditched.  That gun will link Joey and Perello’s crew to the drug deal’s multiple murders.

The police will be out in full force looking for Oleg.  Joey’s got to find Oleg before the cops.  If they find Oleg first, Joey and his crime partners will get life in prison.  If they’re lucky.  If Tommy Perello or the crew discover what happened, the end result will be even worse.

Oleg is on the move.  So is Joey.  Both are running scared.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Running Scared has more twists than a rollercoaster. The movie starts in the middle of a drug deal that suddenly goes bad. An insane shootout takes place and we’re off an running. Along the way we’ll meet drug dealers, pimps, crooked cops, child molesters, and Russian mobsters.

The movie maintains momentum as Joey [Paul Walker] attempts to retrieve a stolen gun used in a mob killing. Then finds himself on a mission to save a kid.

Paul Walker does a fine job in the starring role.  The supporting cast is first rate: Chazz Palminteri, Vera Farmiga, Michael Cudlitz, Arthur J. Nascarella, John Noble, Elizabeth Mitchell, Bruce Altman and David Warshofsky shine.

Writer/director Wayne Kramer is a talent to keep an eye on.  His direction of the action scenes is inventive.  His story doesn’t take us on the expected journey.  Kudos to him.

Paul Walker’s brother appears in the scene retracing the path of a bullet and Walker’s character is shown in both houses.  It is actually Paul’s brother sitting at the kitchen table.

Running Scared is an underrated gem.

Running Scared (2006) rates 5 of 5 stars

Jack Carter vs John Wick by Andrew Farago!

Posted on by

When I saw artists were doing commissions in support of The Cartoon Art Museum in San Francisco. How could I pass on a chance to get a new commission for my Stallone-themed Sketch Collection AND support a good cause at the same time?

I couldn’t.

I looked at the list and decided to go with Andrew Farago. Andrew is not only an artist and author but also the Chairman of the Northern California chapter of the National Cartoonists Society and the curator of the Cartoon Art Museum! I asked for Jack Carter and John Wick and Andrew came through like a champ!

If you’re a sketch collector, The Cartoon Museum’s Sketch-A-Thon gets my highest recommendation. The prices are super reasonable, there are several artists to choose from and there is even a digital sketch option!

Thanks again to Andrew Farago for the cool sketch and super service!

“War of the Worlds” starring Ice Cube & Eva Longoria – The Poster and Trailer is Here!

Posted on by

The poster and trailer for a re-imagined War of the Worlds (based on H.G. Wells classic novel) is here.   War of the Worlds stars Ice Cube and Eva Longoria.

While it hasn’t sold me completely, I’d give it a shot.  Who doesn’t love a story about invading aliens trying to take over the world?

War of the Worlds premieres on Prime Video streaming on July 30th.

Ice Cube fights aliens to save his family and the world.

Premieres exclusively on Amazon Prime Video on July 30, 2025.

“Shade” (2003) written & directed by Damian Nieman; starring Stuart Townsend, Gabriel Byrne, Thandie Newton, Jamie Foxx, Melanie Griffith and Sylvester Stallone / Z-View

Posted on by

Shade (2003)

Director:  Damian Nieman

Screenplay: Damian Nieman

Stars: Stuart Townsend, Gabriel Byrne, Thandie Newton, Jamie Foxx, Melanie Griffith, Sylvester Stallone, Dina Merrill, George Tovar, Frank Medrano, Jason Cerbone, Mark De Alessandro, Glenn Plummer, Carl Mazzocone, Bo Hopkins, Mark Boone Junior, Tony Burton, Michael Dorn and Hal Holbrook.

Tagline: When gambling your life, leave nothing to chance.

The Plot…

Tiffany and Miller are card hustlers and con artists.  They are pulling off scams to get enough money to get Vernon into a high stakes underground poker game.  Vernon is a card shark as well as a sleight of hand artist.  With a $250,000.00 buy-in, there will be enough money in the game to set the three for life… if Vernon can win.

The main obstacle will be Dean “the Dean” Stevens.  His poker skills are legendary.  Of course if Vernon can’t beat the Dean fairly, there are other ways to win… if he’s willing to bet his life and those of Tiffany and Miller.

Let’s deal.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Damian Nieman, the writer/director of Shade is also a professional card magician. Nieman taught the cast the skills needed to perform their tricks on camera.

Shade (2003) rates 4 of 5 stars

RIP: Hulk Hogan

Posted on by

It was announced that Hulk Hogan died today from cardiac arrest at the age of 67.

Born Terry Gene Bollea, he was discovered by Jack and Jerry Brisco when they saw Mr. Bollea playing with his band at a local Tampa club.  Impressed by his size, they spoke to Terry about trying out as a professional wrestler.  Terry agreed and began training.

Terry had his first match in 1977, after a little more than a year of training for the CWF (Championship Wrestling from Florida). Terry often appeared as a masked wrestler called The Super Destroyer.  After about a year Terry decided to quit wrestling.  He managed a club and opened a gym.  In his spare time Mr. Bollea worked out with his buddy Ed Leslie (later known as Brutus the Barber Beefcake).  It occurred to Terry that because both he and Ed were big and muscular, they might make a good wrestling team.

The two began wrestling as The Boulder Brothers.  It was during this time that Terry was on a talk show with Lou “The Hulk” Ferrigno.  Terry was bigger than Lou and so he was given the wrestling name Terry “The Hulk” Boulder.  During this time Terry also wrestled under the name Sterling Golden.

In 1979, Vince McMahon, owner and promoter of the WWF, signed Terry to a contract.  McMahon gave Terry the name Hulk Hogan.  For his initial run with the WWF, Hogan was cast as a villain.  When Hulk Hogan was offered a role in Rocky III, he accepted.  Mr. McMahon was against the idea and cut Hulk Hogan from the WWF roster.  Hulk Hogan’s role in Rocky III gave him more nation and world-wide recognition than professional wrestling.

After filming was completed, Hulk Hogan signed with the American Wrestling Association.  He was initially given the role of a bad guy, but proved to be so popular with fans, Hogan soon became a babyface (good guy).

In 1983, Vince McMahon had plans to take his WWF promotion nation-wide.  He had secured television time and just needed a superstar to be the face of the company.  Mr. McMahon decided that Hulk Hogan was the wrestler he needed.  McMahon offered Hogan a contract.  In short order, Hogan was made champion.

“Hulkamania” ran wild.  Fans loved him.  Hulk Hogan was at the top of the card for eight of the first nine Wrestlemania pay-per-views.  He was a five time WWF champion.  He was the first wrestler to win back to back Royal Rumble matches.  Hulk Hogan’s match with André the Giant on February 5, 1988, still holds the American television viewership record for professional wrestling.  It scored a 15.2 Nielsen rating with 33 million viewers.

Hulk Hogan’s popularity gave him opportunities outside of wrestling.  He starred in several movies, a couple of television series and made guest appearances on television shows as well.

Some of the television projects that feature Hulk Hogan include: CWA Wrestling (2 episodes – Terry “The Hulk” Boulder); WWF World Championship Wrestling (1 episode – Sterling Golden); Wrestling at the Chase; Spectrum Wrestling (3 episodes); The War to Settle the Score; Goldie and the Bears; Search for Tomorrow (2 episodes); Hulk Hogan’s Rock ‘n’ Wrestling (2 episodes); The Love Boat; The A-Team; WWF Championship Wrestling (29 episodes); WWF All-Star Wrestling (10 episodes); Dolly; The All New Mickey Mouse Club; WWF Prime Time Wrestling (6 episodes); WWF Challenge (14 episodes); WWF on MSG Network (14 episodes); WWF Superstars (32 episodes); Thunder in Paradise (22 episodes); Baywatch; WCW Saturday Night (6 episodes); WCW Bash at the Beach; Assault on Death Mountain; Suddenly Susan (2 episodes); WCW Thunder (23 episodes); WCW Monday Nitro (176 episodes); Biography; Walker, Texas Ranger; American Dad; TNA Impact Wrestling (131 episodes); China, IL (19 episodes); WWE Next (2 episodes); Robot Chicken (4 episodes); The Goldbergs; WWE Smackdown! (35 episodes) and WWE Raw (47 episodes).

Some of Hulk Hogan’s feature film appearances include: Rocky III; No Holds Barred; Gremlins 2: The New Batch; Suburban Commando; Mr. Nanny; Spy Hard; Santa with Muscles; The Ultimate Weapon and Muppets from Space.

Hulk Hogan is arguably the All-Time most well-known and popular professional wrestler.  He came at a time when professional wrestling broke away from regional territories and went nation-wide.  Hogan’s charisma and ability to talk when given a microphone outweighed his wrestling ability, but it didn’t matter.  Fans loved him.  As he got older, Hogan was able to stay at the top of the card when he switched from babyface to heel.  He had a long career and professional wrestling was better for it.

I saw Hulk Hogan wrestle at live events twice.  The first was in Indianapolis.  Hogan thrilled the fans in the sold out venue.  The second time was in Daytona Beach, Florida.  My wife and I took our two sons and nephew.  The crowd was shocked when Hogan turned heel.  The next day, I taught summer school.  Everyone (kids and adults) were talking about Hogan’s reversal.  No one could believe it.  Which is just what Hogan wanted.

Out thoughts and prayers go out to Hulk Hogan’s family, friends and fans.

“The Last Frontier” Teaser is Here!

Posted on by

The teaser for The Last Frontier is here and I like it.  The concept reminds me of a mash-up of Con Air with Arnold Schwarzenegger’s The Last Stand (hopefully minus the comedy).  Sam “Extraction” Hargrave directs!

The Last Frontier premieres October 10th.

Deal me in.

The only thing scarier than a plane crash is a plane crash full of violent inmates.

The Last Frontier premieres October 10 on Apple TV+ https:/apple.co/TheLastFrontier

The Last Frontier follows Frank Remnick (Jason Clarke), the lone U.S. marshal in charge of the quiet, rugged barrens of Alaska. Remnick’s jurisdiction is turned upside-down when a prison transport plane crashes in the remote wilderness, setting free dozens of violent inmates. Tasked with protecting the town he’s vowed to keep safe, he begins to suspect the crash wasn’t an accident, but the first step of a well-crafted plan with far-reaching and devastating implications.

In addition to Clarke, the ensemble cast includes Dominic Cooper (“The Gold”), Haley Bennett (“The Magnificent Seven”), Simone Kessell (“Yellowjackets”), Dallas Goldtooth (“Reservation Dogs”), and Tait Blum (“For All Mankind”), with Academy Award Nominee and multi-Emmy winner Alfre Woodard (“Clemency”).

Hailing from Apple Studios, The Last Frontier is executive produced by Bokenkamp and D’Ovidio, who also serve as writers, alongside Jason Clarke, Laura Benson (“The Big C”), Glenn Kessler (“Bloodlines”), Albert Kim (“Nikita”), and series episodic director Sam Hargrave (“Extraction”).