Previews and Reviews that are Z's Views
I like the looks of Heart of Stone. Deal me in.
Gal Gadot, Jamie Dornan, Alia Bhatt, Matthias Schweighöfer in HEART OF STONE. Only on Netflix August 11.
Gal Gadot is Agent Rachel Stone, the only intelligence operative who stands between her global, peace-keeping organization and the loss of its most valuable — and dangerous — asset, codenamed: The Heart.
How about some behind the scenes footage from Zack Snyder’s Rebel Moon? I’ll be honest, initially I wanted more Army of the Dead. I still do, but the more I hear and see of Rebel Moon, the more excited I am for it. I love the cast which includes Sofia Boutella, Charlie Hunnam, Anthony Hopkins, Cary Elwes and Djimon Hounsou. I’m fully on board for Rebel Moon. Deal me in!
Only on Netflix December 22.
From Zack Snyder, the filmmaker behind 300, Man of Steel, and Army of the Dead, comes REBEL MOON, an epic science-fantasy event decades in the making.
When a peaceful colony on the edge of a galaxy finds itself threatened by the armies of a tyrannical ruling force, Kora (Sofia Boutella), a mysterious stranger living among the villagers, becomes their best hope for survival. Tasked with finding trained fighters who will unite with her in making an impossible stand against the Mother World, Kora assembles a small band of warriors — outsiders, insurgents, peasants and orphans of war from different worlds who share a common need for redemption and revenge. As the shadow of an entire Realm bears down on the unlikeliest of moons, a battle over the fate of a galaxy is waged, and in the process, a new army of heroes is formed.
Inmate #1: The Rise of Danny Trejo (2019)
Director: Brett Harvey
Writers: Scott Dodds, Brett Harvey
Stars: Danny Trejo, Cheech Marin, Michelle Rodriguez and Robert Rodriguez.
Tagline: I owe a debt. A debt to society
The Plot…
The life and times of Danny Trejo.
Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…
Danny Trejo is one of the most easily recognized stars in Hollywood. Trejo has over 445 acting credits on his resume. With that said, it was an amazing journey to get to his current status since Trejo spent much of his childhood addicted to drugs and in juvenile detention. As a young adult Danny Trejo served time at San Quentin for drug and robbery convictions.
Yet despite all that, Danny Trejo turned his life around. Now when he’s not on location filming for his latest project, Danny Trejo spends his time speaking at prisons, youth centers and giving back to the community that used to fear him.
Inmate #1: The Rise of Danny Trejo (2019) rates 3 of 5 stars.
Black Magic (1944)
Director: Phil Rosen
Screenplay: George Callahan based on characters created by Earl Derr Biggers
Stars: Sidney Toler, Mantan Moreland, Frances Chan and Frank Jaquet.
Tagline: Weirdest case of the screen’s top sleuth!
The Plot…
Charlie Chan (Toler) is ready to head home to Honolulu when he gets called to investigate a murder that occurred during a seance attended by his daughter. The occultist was killed by a gun that cannot be found and a bullet that didn’t go through his body but also cannot be found!
Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…
This is the only Charlie Chan film where he is assisted by his daughter instead of one of his sons. Also his daughter, Frances Chan is played by an actress named Frances Chan!
Mantan Moreland is back to provide comedy relief.
When Charlie is asked a question about his investigation, Chan asks the man, “Can you keep a secret?” The man responds, “Of course.” Charlie says, “So can I” as he walks away.
Black Magic (1944) rates 3 of 5 stars.
Cold Pursuit (2019)
Director: Hans Petter Moland
Screenplay: Frank Baldwin based on In Order of Disappearance by Kim Fupz Aakeson
Stars: Liam Neeson, Laura Dern, Micheál Neeson, Tom Bateman, Domenick Lombardozzi, Jim Shield, Aleks Paunovic, Glenn Ennis and Emmy Rossum.
Tagline: Revenge is best served cold.
The Plot…
Citizen of the Year, Nels Coxman (Neeson), is a mild-mannered Colorado snowplow driver. When Coxman learns that his son was murdered by members of a drug cartel, he decides to take out as many members of the cartel as he can.
Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…
Cold Pursuit is one of those movies that gets better as it goes along. That’s because it doesn’t take itself too seriously, provides interesting characters and more plot twists that expected in a “revenge flick”.
Liam Neeson is always good. Standouts in the supporting cast include…
Stick around for the end credits — there’s not another scene but the credit design adds to the fun.
Cold Pursuit (2019) rates 4 of 5 stars.
Blacula (1972)
Director: William Crain
Screenplay: Joan Torres, Raymond Koenig, Richard Glouner
Stars: William Marshall, Vonetta McGee, Denise Nicholas, Thalmus Rasulala, Elisha Cook Jr. and The Hues Corporation.
Tagline: Blacula! – Dracula’s Soul Brother!
The Plot…
In 1780, Dracula turned Prince Mamuwalde (Marshall) into a vampire and mockingly gave him the name Blackula. Dracula then sealed Prince Mamuwalde in a coffin where he remained a prisoner for nearly 200 years. When the coffin is opened in 1972, Blackula is released to terrorize modern day LA.
Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…
I had avoided watching Blackula for decades because I thought it was going to be all-out comedy. I was wrong. Blackula, despite the funny title, is a straight up horror film. Before William Marshall accepted the title role, he demanded that the character be treated with dignity. Changes were made to the character’s background and the movie is played straight. Blackula is the first black vampire to appear on film!
It was cool to see Elisha Cook, Jr. in a small role as well as the singing group, The Hues Corporation, best known for the hit Rock the Boat.
Blackula (1972) rates 3 of 5 stars.
The poster and trailer for The Channel is here.
After their bank heist goes wrong, a desperate criminal, his out-of-control brother, and their motley crew of ex-marines must escape New Orleans and the determined FBI agent who pursues them.
I was a fan of the first season of Dark Winds. From the looks of the trailer, season 2 will be even better. Deal me in.
For Lieutenant Leaphorn, this is about more than just uncovering the truth. This is personal.
Follows Leephorn and Chee, two Navajo police officers in the 1970s Southwest that are forced to challenge their own spiritual beliefs when they search for clues in a double murder case.
Starring: Zahn McClarnon, Kiowa Gordon, Jessica Matten, Noah Emmerich
Dark Winds Season 2 Premieres July 30 | AMC+
Here’s the trailer for What We Do In The Shadows: Season 5. I’ve watched every season, so let’s go!
It’s an afterlife crisis. Watch the Official Trailer for FX’s What We Do in the Shadows. Returns 7.13 on FX. Stream on Hulu.
What We Do in the Shadows, based on the feature film by Jemaine Clement and Taika Waititi, documents the nightly exploits of vampire roommates Nandor (Kayvan Novak), Laszlo (Matt Berry), Nadja (Natasia Demetriou) and Colin Robinson (Mark Proksch) as they navigate the modern world of Staten Island with the help of their human familiar, Guillermo (Harvey Guillén), and their vampire bureaucrat acquaintance, The Guide (Kristen Schaal).
Beneath the Planet of the Apes (1970)
Director: Ted Post
Screenplay: Paul Dehn from a story by Paul Dehn, Mort Abrahams based on characters created by Pierre Boulle
Stars: James Franciscus, Kim Hunter, Maurice Evans, Linda Harrison, Paul Richards, Victor Buono, James Gregory, Jeff Corey, Natalie Trundy, Thomas Gomez, Gregory Sierra and Charlton Heston.
Tagline: The bizarre world you met in ‘Planet of the Apes’ was only the beginning… What lies beneath may be the end!
The Plot…
A spaceship sent on a rescue mission crashes on an unidentified planet. Brent (Franciscus), the sole survivor, realizes he has somehow gone forward in time. As he explores his new surroundings, Brent comes across Nova (Harrison) a beautiful, but mute woman. Nova is wearing Taylor’s dogtags. Taylor is one of the astronauts his crew was sent to rescue.
Brent soon sees that the planet is populated by intelligent apes and humans are speechless savages. Hunted by apes, Brent and Nova hope to escape into the Forbidden Zone where something even more dangerous than apes awaits them.
Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…
I loved (and still love) Planet of the Apes. I had such high hopes for Beneath the Planet of the Apes. Charlton Heston was set to return. This time Heston would be joined by James Franciscus (who I liked in Valley of Gwangi and various guest spots on tv). How could this go wrong?
Let me count the ways… Heston’s role amounts to a glorified cameo. The ape civilization is made less threatening when we see young apes protesting the war (shades of Viet Nam). The whole subplot with disfigured humans who worship a nuclear bomb seems like it was cribbed from a bad episode of Star Trek. Other than Highlander to Highlander 2, I’ve never been as disappointed in a sequel.
Beneath the Planet of the Apes (1970) rates 2 of 5 stars.
The anticipation builds…
“Marshal, welcome to Detroit.” FX’s Justified: City Primeval premieres July 18 on FX. Stream on Hulu.
Starring Timothy Olyphant, Aunjanue Ellis and Boyd Holbrook. Raylan Givens left the hollers of Kentucky and is balancing life as a U.S. Marshal with being a part-time father. A chance encounter sends him to Detroit and on a collision course with a violent sociopath and a formidable defense attorney.
John Romita Sr. died on June 12, 2023. Mr. Romita was 93.
John Romita began his career in 1949 providing art for Timely Comics. From 1958 through 1965, Mr. Romita created art for DC Comics. In 1965, John Romita moved to Marvel Comics where he worked on the Daredevil comic series. When an artist was needed to replace Steve Ditko on Spider-Man, John Romita was chosen. In 1973, John Romita was named Marvel’s Art Director. In this role, he influenced the look of all Marvel Comics. He designed covers as well as the look of new characters such as the Punisher, Wolverine and Luke Cage.
John Romita was inducted into he Will Eisner Award Hall of Fame in 2002, and the Inkwell Awards Joe Sinnott Hall of Fame in 2020.
I was and remain a big fan of John Romita’s amazing art. By all accounts Mr. Romita was just as nice a human being as he was an outstanding artist. We’ve lost a legend.
Our thoughts and prayers go out to John Romita’s family, friends and fans.
I’m a sucker for a good crime story. Mob Land starring John Travolta, Stephen Dorff and Kevin Dillon looks to fit the bill. Deal me in.
A young father gets in over his head after a robbery goes wrong. Some debts can’t be repaid with money.
MOB LAND Official Trailer (2023) John Travolta, Stephen Dorff, Ashley Benson, Kevin Dillon
The Bristol Board has a small gallery of Mike Zeck Master of Kung Fu covers that feature the original art along with the printed versions!
