Previews and Reviews that are Z's Views
Today we have a plate from the Mike Zeck Punisher Portfolio Volume 1.
I’m proud to own a copy and revisit it from time to time. If you have one you should as well – classic Punisher, amigo. If you don’t click over to Bendis! and see all the plates!
How about the new Blood Father posters and trailers?
American Heist (2014)
American Heist (2014)
Director: Sarik Andreasyan
Screenplay: Raul Inglis
Stars: Hayden Christensen, Adrien Brody, Jordana Brewster and Akon.
The Pitch: “Let’s make a crime movie!”
No Tagline
The Overview: Beware of Spoilers…
James Kelly [Christensen]’s older brother, Frankie [Brody], just got out of prison for a crime they did together. Now Frankie’s back in town just at the time James was making a real go of things with his business and girlfriend.
Despite his best efforts, James gets pulled into a bank heist that could cost him everything.
Rating:
Yesterday we had Phil Hester‘s variant cover for American Monster by Brian Azzarello and Juan Doe. Today we have an interview with Brian Azzarello at The Outhousers.
Wild Card (2015)
Director: Simon West
Screenplay: William Goldman
Stars: Jason Statham, Milo Ventimiglia, Stanley Tucci, Sofía Vergara, Jason Alexander and Anne Heche.
The Pitch: “Jason Statham and a bunch of star cameos in a William Goldman script about a Vegas bodyguard.”
Tagline: “Never bet against a man with a killer hand.”
The Overview: Beware of Spoilers…
Nick Wild [Statham] is a Vegas bodyguard who helps a female friend out of a tough situation only to learn that he was messing with the son of a powerful mobster. What’s a bodyguard to do but play the hand he was dealt.
I’m a Jason Statham fan, but Wild Card was a letdown. I was disappointed that most of the all-star cast show for a scene or two and then are never to be seen again. It also didn’t help that Wild is a gambler who does something very stupid towards the end of the movie. Stanley Tucci is great in his limited screen time.
Rating: 2 of 5 stars.
I’m a fan of Phil Hester‘s art. I’m also enjoying American Monster by Brian Azzarello and Juan Doe.
So how much do you think I’m diggin’ Phil Hester’s American Monster variant cover. Yeah, that was such an easy question. Hope you love it as much!
Source: Mike Zagari.
10 Cloverfield Lane (2016)
Director: Dan Trachtenberg
Screenplay: Josh Campbell & Matthew Stuecken and Damien Chazelle.
Stars: John Goodman, Mary Elizabeth Winstead, John Gallagher Jr. and Bradley Cooper (voice).
The Pitch: “JJ Abrams wants to make a film in the Cloverfield Universe.”
Tagline: Monsters come in many forms.
The Overview: Beware of Spoilers…
Michelle [Winstead], after leaving her boyfriend, is involved in a terrible car wreck. When she wakes up she is in an underground bunker with two men; Howard [Goodman] and Emmett [Gallagher]. Michelle is told that she was saved by Howard who saw the wreck and brought to the bunker for her protection. Howard further explains that the United States is under attack. He’s not sure if it’s another country or aliens. Communications are down. The air outside is poisonous.
Emmett confirms Howard’s story and claims he forced his way into the bunker when the attack was just getting underway. Because they are deep underground and the attack is on-going there is no way for Michelle to verify their story. But why would they lie…
Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…
10 Cloverfield Lane is a throwback to movie-making that relies on an excellent script and great acting. I really, really enjoyed this movie and would love to see more Cloverfield yarns. (And this is coming from someone who did not like the original Cloverfield!)
Mary Elizabeth Winstead and John Goodman are amazing in their roles.
Michelle’s fiance is never seen, but she does get a message from him on her cell. His voice is Bradley Cooper’s.
10 Cloverfield Lane (2016) rates 5 of 5 stars.
Rating:
I absolutely love Chris Weston’s Die Hard poster. To get the full effect check out a Nakatomi Plaza-size version!
Source: XombieDIRGE.
Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit (2014)
Director: Kenneth Branagh
Screenplay: Adam Cozad and David Koepp based on characters created by Tom Clancy
Stars: Chris Pine, Kierra Knightley, Kevin Coster and Kenneth Branagh.
The Pitch: “Maybe Chris Pine is the right guy to bring back Tom Clancey’s Jack Ryan!”
Tagline: Trust No One.
The Overview: Beware of Spoilers…
Let’s call this Jack Ryan: Year One.
Jack Ryan (Pine) is an economic major in college when 9-11 hits. Ryan enlists in the service and is severely injured when his chopper is shut down in Afghanistan. Ryan earns the attention and (affection of his female doctor – Knightley) as well as the attention (but no so much affection) from CIA agent Thomas Harper (Costner) for Ryan’s strong will in rehab. Costner secretly recruits Ryan to become a CIA analyst.
Several years pass with Ryan secretly working for the CIA (not even his longtime girlfriend and former nurse know). Ryan uncovers a Russian’s (Branagh) plot to destroy the US economy. Harper sends Ryan to Russia strictly as a behind-the-scenes agent to dig into financial reports — things go south and Ryan finds himself in 007-land. Before it’s over Ryan has to save his wife and the good ole USA.
Rating:
Today we have a new poster and the second official trailer for Hell or High Water.
Maggie (2015)
Director: Henry Hobson
Screenplay: John Scott 3
Stars: Arnold Schwarzenegger, Abigail Breslin and Joely Richardson.
The Pitch: “Let’s make a zombie movie with Arnold!”
No Tagline.
The Overview: Beware of Spoilers…
A viral outbreak is causing people to turn into zombies. Wade Vogel’s [Schwarzenegger] daughter, Maggie [Breslin] has been bit. She will slowly turn into a zombie. There is no cure.
Rather than take her to quarantine, Vogel brings her back to his farm much to the dismay of Maggie’s stepmother. Vogel elects to stay by her side to protect her until she turns. Schwarzenegger and Breslin turn in heart-wrenching performances as the father helpless to save his daughter, and the young daughter who has had her future stolen.
If a zombie character study is your cup of java, then you’ll love Maggie.
Rating:
This week we have Rocky by Jamie Cosley. This piece was gifted to me by my pal (and fellow sketch collector) LittleJohn and his wife Patricia. I think Patricia was sending LittleJohn and I a subtle message about “What the Fox Says.” Thanks to Jamie, LJ and Patricia! – Craig
Way back in 2007, December 31st to be exact, I wrote about my five favorite novels of the year. The Terror by Dan Simmons made the list. Here’s what I said then:
The Terror by Dan Simmons is a novelization of the true doomed 1840s Franklin expedition to find a Northwest passage. History tells us there were no survivors and the men died from exposure, starvation and worse. Simmons’ story combines all of the interesting historical details and adds a new menace, a creature which feeds on men. The Terror was a national best seller. Stephen King listed it as one of his favorite books of the year. Who am I to argue with Stephen King?
AMC has greenlit 10 hour long episodes to air in 2017 with Ridley Scott and David W. Zucker serving as Executive Producers and David Kajganich on board to write and take the reins as showrunner. This is a project worth keeping an eye on.
Source: Variety.
Murders in the Rue Morgue (1932)
Director: Robert Florey
Screenplay: Robert Florey from a story by Edgar Allan Poe
Stars: Sidney Fox, Bela Lugosi, Leon Ames (aka Leon Waycoff) and Arlene Francis.
The Pitch: “Horror movies sell. Let’s combine Edgar Allan Poe and Bela Lugosi.”
The Tagline: “Innocent Beauty – this was her wedding eve. On the wall a shadow . . the beast was at large grinning horribly-cruelly. What was Her Fate?”
The Overview: Beware of Spoilers…
Bela Lugosi is the insane scientist, Dr. Mirakle who secretly experiments with blood transfusions from his circus ape to women he kidnaps. Despite the fact that each woman dies, Mirakle continues his experiments. (Hey! Isn’t that the definition of insanity – doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different result?)
When the ape takes a liking to a woman in the audience, she becomes his next victim… Camille L’Espanaye [Fox] is up for the next Apefusion unless her fiance can convince the police what the madman is doing.
If you’re a Bela Lugosi fan, then you’ll enjoy this more than those who aren’t.
Rating:
One of the things the fourth of July weekend means is Syfy’s Twilight Zone Marathon. About one third of all the episodes will be shown and you can see the schedule here. Hope you rediscover a classic or discover a new gem!
