Previews and Reviews that are Z's Views
If you ever get a chance to meet Jim Steranko, don’t sleep on it. Steranko is a master storyteller. He is a legendary artist. This Nick Fury work in progress by Steranko was one that he brought to New York ComicCon 2023.
Source: Steranko Facebook Group.
Island of Lost Souls (1932)
Director: Erle C. Kenton
Screenplay by: Waldemar Young, Philip Wylie based on THE ISLAND OF DR. MOREAU by H. G. Wells
Starring: Charles Laughton, Bela Lugosi, Richard Arlen, Leila Hyams, Kathleen Burke, Arthur Hohl, Stanley Fields, Paul Hurst.
Tagline: THE PANTHER WOMAN lured men on – only to destroy them body and soul!
The Story:
After a dispute with a supply ship’s drunken Captain, Edward Parker (Arlen), is left stranded on the remote jungle island of Dr. Moreau (Laughton). Moreau welcomes Parker to his home. Parker thanks him for the hospitality and says he will leave on the next supply ship. Parker is warned that many wild creatures live on the island. He is then introduced to Lota (Burke) and Montgomery (Hohl), Moreau’s assistant.
Later as Lota and Edward are talking they hear terrible screams coming from Dr. Moreau’s lab. Lota tells Edward the lab is called “the house of pain”. Edward bursts in to find Moreau and Montgomery operating without anesthesia on some sort of human-animal hybrid.
Edward decides to take a small boat and leave. As he walks from the safety of the house, Edward sees dozens of half-human beasts coming towards him. Dr. Moreau shows up with his whip and drives them back into the jungle. Moreau explains that the creatures are results of his failed experiments to turn animals into humans.
Edward is trapped on the island with the crazy Dr. Moreau and his assistant Montgomery. As the jungle creatures get more daring, Edward knows that time for survival is running out.
Thoughts (beware of spoilers)
Paramount decided the role of Lota the Panther Woman would go to an unknown actress. Kathleen Burke, a fashion model and radio actress who had never appeared in a feature film, won the role beating out 60,000 hopefuls. The opening credits read Lota…. the Panther Woman, but the final credits list Kathleen Burke by name. It’s interesting to note that Lota does not appear in H.G. Wells’ novel.
Island of Lost Souls (1932) was made before the Hays Code, which prohibited profanity, suggestive nudity, graphic or realistic violence, sexual persuasions and rape, went into effect. Subsequently, the movie was censored in many countries and re-releases.
H.G. Wells reportedly felt that the film focused on horror at the expense of the “novel’s philosophical themes”.
I can’t remember the last album I bought. It was probably a soundtrack, Albums aren’t as big a thing as they used to be since folks download individual songs. With that said, I’d like to direct you to Dolly Parton’s Rockstar album.
When Dolly was nominated for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, she politely declined. Dolly said, she was known as a country/western singer and had never sung rock and roll. Dolly also said she would change that by doing a rock album.
And in true Dolly Parton style she did. Take a look at the songs and artists she teamed with…
1. “Rockstar” (with Richie Sambora)
2. “World on Fire”
3. “Every Breath You Take” (featuring Sting)
4. “Open Arms” (featuring Steve Perry)
5. “Magic Man” (Carl Version) (featuring Ann Wilson with special guest Howard Leese)
6. “Long as I Can See the Light” (featuring John Fogerty)
7. “Either Or” (featuring Kid Rock)
8. “I Want You Back” (featuring Steven Tyler with special guest Warren Haynes)
9. “What Has Rock and Roll Ever Done for You” (featuring Stevie Nicks with special guest Waddy Wachtel)
10. “Purple Rain”
11. “Baby, I Love Your Way” (featuring Peter Frampton)
12. “I Hate Myself for Loving You” (featuring Joan Jett and the Blackhearts)
13. “Night Moves” (featuring Chris Stapleton)
14. “Wrecking Ball” (featuring Miley Cyrus)
15. “(I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction” (featuring P!nk and Brandi Carlile)
16. “Keep On Loving You” (featuring Kevin Cronin)
17. “Heart of Glass” (featuring Debbie Harry)
18. “Don’t Let the Sun Go Down on Me” (featuring Elton John)
19. “Tried to Rock and Roll Me” (featuring Melissa Etheridge)
20. “Stairway to Heaven” (featuring Lizzo)
21. “We Are the Champions/We Will Rock You”
22. “Bygones” (featuring Rob Halford with special guests Nikki Sixx and John 5)
23. “My Blue Tears” (featuring Simon Le Bon)
24. “What’s Up?” (featuring Linda Perry)
25. “You’re No Good” (featuring Emmylou Harris and Sheryl Crow)
26. “Heartbreaker” (featuring Pat Benatar and Neil Giraldo)
27. “Bittersweet” (featuring Michael McDonald)
28. “I Dreamed About Elvis” (featuring Ronnie McDowell with special guest The Jordanaires)
29. “Let It Be” (featuring Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr with special guests Peter Frampton and Mick Fleetwood)
30. “Free Bird” (featuring Lynyrd Skynyrd and Artimus Pyle Band)
Dolly Parton has made Rockstar available on youtube to listen for free.
Cry Terror! (1958)
Director: Andrew L. Stone
Screenplay by: Andrew L. Stone
Starring: James Mason, Rod Steiger, Inger Stevens, Neville Brand, Angie Dickinson, Kenneth Tobey, Jack Klugman, Jack Kruschen, Carleton Young, Barney Phillips, Chet Huntley, Jonathan Hole, Mae Marsh and William Schallert.
Tagline: TERRIFYING…as the time-triggered explosive of a mad bomber ticking-ticking-ticking!
The Story:
Jim Molner (Mason) is sickened to discover that his old army buddy, Paul Hoplin (Steiger) duped him. Molner created a small, but powerful bomb design. He was told it was for the U.S. army. Hoplin instead used it to extort money from an airline. He had one of the bombs placed on a airplane where it would be found with a note demanding $500,000.00. The note said there were other bombs on other planes and gave a deadline for payment.
Now Jim, his wife, Joan (Stevens) and their small daughter are being held by Hoplin’s crime partners. Molner and his daughter are captives of Vince (Klugman) and Eileen Kelly (Dickinson). Joan is at the mercy of Steve (Brand), a convicted rapist. Jim and Joan realize that they and their daughter are going to be killed even if the money is delivered. It will be up to them to figure a way to survive. The clock is ticking.
Thoughts (beware of spoilers
Cry Terror! features an awesome cast:
Kudos to Cry Terror! writer and director Andrew L. Stone for writing/directing a movie that still holds up. This shouldn’t come as a surprise. The year before Cry Terror! was released, Stone wrote and directed a film called Julie. It starred Doris Day as a woman who learns that her insanely jealous husband intends to kill her. Julie featured many of the same actors (Barney Phillips, Jack Kruschen, Carleton Young, Harlan Warde and Mae Marsh) as Cry Terror! Andrew L. Stone received a Best Writing, Best Original Screenplay Oscar nomination for Julie.
Carles Ganya created this wonderful alt poster for Rocky IV. It is available as a regular and variant, limited edition (0f 75) fine art giclee print.
The Killer (2023)
Director: David Fincher
Screenplay by: Andrew Kevin Walker based on The Killer by Alexis “Matz” Nolent, Luc Jacamon
Starring: Michael Fassbender, Tilda Swinton, Charles Parnell, Arliss Howard, Sala Baker, Endre Hules and Monique Ganderton.
Tagline: None
The Story:
When a professional assassin misses his target, his employers mark him for death. The assassin realizes in order to survive he will have to kill his way up the chain of command to get the hit on him called off.
Thoughts (beware of spoilers
This movie is based on the graphic novel The Killer written by Alexis “Matz” Nolent and illustrated by Luc Jacamon.
Fans of 1970s sitcoms will get a kick out of the aliases the Killer uses: Felix Unger (The Odd Couple), Archibald Bunker (All in the Family), Oscar Madison (The Odd Couple), Howard Cunningham (Happy Days), Reuben Kincaid (The Partridge Family), Lou Grant (The Mary Tyler Moore Show / Lou Grant), Sam Malone (Cheers), George Jefferson (The Jeffersons), and Robert Hartley (The Bob Newhart Show).
This is the second teaming of David Fincher and Andrew Kevin Walker. Their first was Se7en.
The Killer features an awesome fight scene between The Killer and a huge guy.
The Monsieur Spade trailer is here. Lookin’ good.
Sam Spade (Clive Owen) is back for a brand-new chapter. When six beloved nuns are brutally murdered at the local convent, secrets emerge and new leads are established. Turns out, the murders are somehow connected to a mysterious child who is believed to possess great powers.
#MonsieurSpade premieres January 14 on AMC and AMC+.
If you follow Tony Stella you’ve probably already seen his amazing Terminator poster. Even so, it’s worth another look.
A Haunting in Venice (2023)
Director: Kenneth Branagh
Screenplay by: Michael Green based on Hallowe’en Party by Agatha Christie
Starring: Kenneth Branagh, Michelle Yeoh, Jamie Dornan, Tina Fey, Riccardo Scamarcio.
Tagline: Death is just the beginning.
The Story:
The year is 1947. The world famous detective Hercule Poirot (Branagh) is retired and living in Venice. Because of Poirot’s fame, people from all over the world attempt to hire him. Poirot turns down every offer.
When Poirot’s old friend, mystery author Ariadne Oliver (Fey) visits, she tells Poirot about psychic Joyce Reynolds (Yeoh). Poirot scoffs. All psychics are frauds. Ariadne agrees, but says that she couldn’t figure out how Joyce Reynolds pulls off her readings. Ariadne says that if the smartest person she knows (herself) can’t figure it out, perhaps the second smartest (Poirot) can.
Ariande invites Poirot to attend a Halloween séance. It will be held in a building that was once an orphanage. It is now said to be haunted by orphans who were locked in and left to die during a plague. Joyce Reynolds will lead the séance. Poirot agrees to come along. Ariande figures Poirot will either expose Reynolds as a fraud or not. Either way she will have a story.
Everyone invited arrives for the séance. Reynolds while channeling a spirit says that one of the people in attendance is a murderer! In short order, Joyce Reynolds is found impaled on a statue. Periot locks everyone in. One of them is the killer.
Hercule Poirot is out of retirement.
Thoughts (beware of spoilers
Kenneth Branagh filmed on location in Venice. He also didn’t tell the actors in advance about things like doors slamming, lights suddenly going out, etc. He wanted to get their actual responses to startling events.
This was Tina Fey’s first appearance in a feature film or television production that wasn’t a comedy. She was excellent as Ariadne Oliver.
This is Kenneth Branagh’s third outing as Hercule Poiroit. He starred and directed Murder on the Orient Express (2017), Death on the Nile (2022) as well as A Haunting in Venice (2023). I hope he does more.
Fast Charlie is based on Victor Gishler’s novel GUN MONKEYS. I read the books years ago. If the movie is as good, we’re in for a treat. The trailer looks like it might be.
Deal me in.
Charlie Swift is a fixer with a problem: the target he’s whacked is missing his head and the only way Charlie will be paid is if the body can be identified. Enter Marcie Kramer, the victim’s ex-wife and a woman with all the skills Charlie needs.
Starring: Pierce Brosnan, Morena Baccarin, James Caan
Directed by: Phillip Noyce
Release Date: 12/8/23
Here’s a rare behind-the-scenes photo of Jean-Claude Van Damme in the original Predator suit design before he was let go and the design changed.
Source: All the Right Movies.
The Bride of Frankenstein is a classic. Here’s a photo from a deleted scene.
Source: Hammer Horror Films.
BLOOD STANDARD (An Isiah Coleridge Novel) by Laird Barron
Publisher: G.P. Putnam’s Sons
Hardcover: 336 pages
First sentence…
As a boy, I admired Humphrey Bogart in a big way.
The Overview: Beware of Spoilers…
Isiah Coleridge had been a hit man and enforcer for the mob. Working out of Alaska (yeah, the mob wets their beak there too), Coleridge was the gold standard. He was a big, tough half-Maori, half-Caucasian, able to handle himself. And he had more brains than you’d expect.
If Coleridge had given it any thought, he wouldn’t have punched Vitale Night, a mob captain, in the throat. Normally that would be a death sentence. Even if the jabroni deserved it. Which Night did. But Coleridge got lucky when his boss went to bat for him. Coleridge was exiled from the mob and Alaska. He was told to lay low because Vitale Night still wanted revenge.
Living in upstate New York, Isaiah Coleridge begins to adjust to a quiet life. Keeping a low profile isn’t so bad. Coleridge begins to make new friends. All is going well until a teenage girl disappears and Coleridge agrees to look into it. As the big man digs deeper, he begins to make waves and attract the kinds of attention that can be dangerous.
BLOOD STANDARD is stylish, brutal, witty, and fun.
Laird Barron is as adept at storytelling as Isaiah Coleridge is at handling a violent situation. Both Barron and Coleridge have jumped to the top of my must-read list.
Rating:
If you ever get a chance to meet Jim Steranko, don’t sleep on it. Steranko is a master storyteller. He is a legendary artist. This Nick Fury piece by Steranko was one that he brought to New York ComicCon 2023.
Steranko has said that his Nick Fury was based on Burt Lancaster. For some reason this Steranko Nick Fury headsketch reminds me of Kirk Douglas. And that’s not a bad thing.
Source: Steranko Facebook Group.
The Wolfman (2010)
Director: Joe Johnston
Written by: Andrew Kevin Walker, David Self based on The Wolf Man by Curt Siodmak
Starring: Benicio Del Toro, Anthony Hopkins, Emily Blunt, Hugo Weaving, Art Malik, David Schofield, Roger Frost, Geraldine Chaplin, Rick Baker and Clive Russell.
Tagline: The legend is alive.
The Story:
The year is 1891. Lawrence Talbot (Del Toro), the famous actor, received word that his brother has disappeared. By the time Lawrence arrives at the family estate, his brother’s mutilated body has been found in the woods.
Some townsfolk believe that a wild animal did the deed. Others blame a group of gypsies that have moved into the area. A few believe that a werewolf has returned. When Lawrence visits the gypsy camp, a wild animal attacks killing several people and badly wounding Lawrence.
When Lawrence makes a unnatural recovery from wounds that should have been fatal, people believe that he was bitten by a werewolf. Anyone who survives such a bite, becomes a wolfman when the moon is full. Now Lawrence is marked for death. They believe he will turn into a werewolf at the coming full moon.
The truth is much worse.
Thoughts (beware of spoilers)
The Wolfman won Rick Baker and Dave Elsey the 2011 Academy Award for Best Achievement in Makeup. Their werewolf design looked like a cross between the monsters in The Wolf Man (1941) and Curse of the Werewolf (1961).
Benicio Del Toro and Emily Blunt would reteam five years later for Sicario. I’m a fan of both. Kudos also to Hugo Weaving for his performance as Inspector Francis Aberline.
Danny Elfman did the score. When the film was recut for release, Elfman was already at work on another movie and couldn’t return to adjust his music. Ultimately other composers were brought in to reshape Elfman’s work.
The Wolfman has an excellent cast. Rick Baker created a great looking werewolf. I wish Art Malik, as Singh, got more to do. He was an interesting character. You can never go wrong with Del Toro and Blunt. Getting Hopkins was a bonus.
