“One Ranger” (2023) written & directed by Jesse V. Johnson, starring Thomas Jane / Z-View

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One Ranger (2023)

Director: Jesse V. Johnson

Screenplay: Jesse V. Johnson

Stars: Thomas Jane, Dean Jagger, Dominique Tipper, Nick Moran, Patrick Bergin, David Sakurai and John Malkovich.

Tagline:  London is About to Get a Taste of Texas

The Plot…

Texas Ranger Alex Tyree is a throwback.  Tyree is a tough, no-nonsense Texas Ranger with no quit in him.  When Tyree and his partner track a bank robber named Declan McBride into the desert, Tyree’s partner is killed and Tyree is badly wounded.

It turns out that McBride is a terrorist with plans to detonate a bomb in London.  British Intelligence wants Tyree on the case.  Tyree wants McBride caught.  Sounds like a match made in heaven.  Far from it.

Tyree has a way of doing things that doesn’t align with Agent Smith, his British liaison.  The two are going to have to find a way to work together before McBride detonates his bombs.

Mount up.  We’re burning daylight.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)… 

One Ranger echoes Clint Eastwood in Coogan’s Bluff and Dennis Weaver in McCloud.  In both a cowboy lawman is sent to New York City on a case.  Substitute a Texas Ranger and London and you have the outline for One Ranger.

Although Thomas Jane’s character comes off as a caricature, Jane plays it straight which makes for the best part of the movie.  Still, I was expecting more.

One Ranger (2023) rates 2 of 5 stars.

“The Internship” – The Poster and Trailer are Here!

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The poster for The Internship is okay, but I really liked the trailer.  Check it out and see what you think.

Deal me in.

A ruthless, highly trained assassin, raised from childhood in a top-secret CIA program known only as The Internship, is ready to dismantle the institution that stole her youth. Assembling her fellow interns, she leads a bloody uprising – forcing the CIA to unleash equally lethal force to stop them.

Featuring: Lizzy Greene, Megan Boone, Sky Katz, Philip Winchester, Alix Villaret, Ollie Roddy, Sullivan Stapleton, & more!

“The Great Flood” (No, not THAT great flood.) – The Poster and Trailer are Here!

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Check out the poster and trialer for The Great Flood.

I must be in the right frame of mind for a disaster movie.  When I was a kid, they were the big thing for a bit.  You know, movies like Earthquake, The Towering Inferno and The Poseidon Adventure.

The Great Flood looks promising.  We shall see.  It premieres on December 19th.

When a raging flood traps a researcher and her young son, a call to a crucial mission puts their escape — and the future of humanity — on the line.

“House of the Rising Sun” directed by Brian A. Miller, starring Dave Bautista, Amy Smart, Danny Trejo, Dominic Purcell and Craig Fairbass / Z-View

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House of the Rising Sun (2011)

Director: Brian A. Miller

Screenplay: Chuck Hustmyre and Brian A. Miller; based on HOUSE OF THE RISING SUN by Chuck Hustmyre

Stars: Dave Bautista, Amy Smart, Dominic Purcell, Craig Fairbrass, Tim Fields, Jesse Pruett, Joe Ochman and Danny Trejo.

Tagline:  They took his badge. He kept the gun.

The Plot…

Ray Shane is an ex-cop and ex-con.  Shane did a five year stretch for corruption.  Now he’s head of security for the strip club called “The House of the Rising Sun”.  The strip club is actually a front for an illegal gambling club.  That’s where the real money is made.

One night on Shane’s watch, the club is robbed.  Things go from bad to worse when Shane discovers the safe was holding $300,000.  That much cash should never have been on hand.  Worse still, the club owner’s son is killed during a shootout with the masked thieves.

Both the cops and Ray’s underworld boss consider Ray the prime suspect.  The cops are looking for just enough to arrest Ray.  His boss needs just a bit more info to place a hit on Ray.

If Ray doesn’t find the real killers soon, it will be too late.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)… 

House of the Rising Sun features Dave Bautista’s first starring role in a feature film.  Bautista is backed up by a decent supporting cast for a low-budget crime film: Amy Smart, Dominic Purcell, Craig Fairbrass and Danny Trejo.

The movie had potential but falls short of expectations.

The movie is based on HOUSE OF THE RISING SUN by Chuck Hustmyre.  Here’s what Hustmyre said in the paperback release of his novel:

If you’ve seen the low-budget Lionsgate action movie, “House of the Rising Sun”, first let me apologize.  I wish I could give you back those wasted ninety minutes of your life.  The movie is a TERRIBLE adaptation of my novel.  And yes, I wrote the screenplay, but director Brian A. Miller hijacked my original script and turned what could have been a decent neo-noir crime thriller into a godawful mess…

Hustmyre wrote more, but I think you get the gist.

House of the Rising Sun (2011) rates 2 of 5 stars.

“Rocky” Alt Poster by Sahin Düzgün!

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Sahin Düzgün is a graphic designer and poster artist from Berlin, Germany.  Sahin is also a movie enthusiast with great taste as you can see from his alt Rocky poster above.

Here is what Sahin had to say about his design:  Against the odds, under the lights, and with the heart of a champion — a design inspired by the ultimate underdog story.

Apollo: Ain’t gonna be no rematch.
Rocky: Don’t want one.

“Conan the Barbarian” Alt Poster by Yvan Quinet!

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I love the intensity that Yvan Quinet brings to his Conan the Barbarian alt poster.  Quinet has made it available in a limited edition…

Available here:
https://www.yvanquinet.com/giclee-print

– 24″x 36″ GICLEE print
– Printed on Studio Etching Rag 295gsm
– 20 copies
– Signed and Numbered

You can see more of Yvan Quinet’s art at his website and/or his Instagram page.

Steranko’s “Outland” Adaptation!

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One of the greatest movie to comic adaptations is Steranko’s Outland.  It ran for six months in Heavy Metal.  Sadly, the adaptation has never been reprinted.  John Dell called the series “Steranko’s narrative masterpiece”.  Who could argue that?

Click on the source link below to see more Steranko Outland art in an Outlandish size.

Source: John Dell at the Official STERANKO Fan Page

“Eeinie Meanie” (2025) written & directed by Shawn Simmons, starring Samara Weaving, Karl Glusman and Andy Garcia / Z-View

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Eeinie Meanie (2025)

Director: Shawn Simmons

Screenplay: Shawn Simmons

Stars: Samara Weaving, Karl Glusman, Andy Garcia, Jermaine Fowler, Marshawn Lynch, Randall Park, Mike O’Malley, Elle Graham, Kyanna Simone, Chris Bauer, Chelsey Crisp, Phuong Kubacki, Tim Neff and Steve Zahn.

Tagline:  She can get away from anything. Except him.

The Plot…

Edie Meaney had a rough childhood.  When she was 14 her drunk, drug-abusing parents had her driving them home.  When a cop pulled Edie over, her dad ordered her to speed away.  She did and a high speed chase was on.  Edie crashed.  The wreck killed her mom and left her dad a paraplegic.

Edie spent the rest of her teen years in one terrible foster home after another.  Finally on her own as a young woman, Edie fell in love with John.  John was a small time hood who worked for a crime boss named Nico.  Nico planned robberies.  John did them and Edie drove the getaway car.  It was Nico who nicknamed Edie, Eeeny Meanie.

Edie finally came to her senses.  She realized her life could only end in jail or dead if she didn’t change.  So she did.  A few months ago she left John and a life of crime behind.  She got a job at a bank to put herself through college.  Things were finally off to a good (and legitimate) start.

Then Edie discovers she’s pregnant.

The baby is John’s.  So she decides to let him know.  That’s when she learns John owes Nico a lot of money.  Enough to get him killed.  Of course if Edie will drive getaway on a big score, Nico will forgive the debt… and save John’s life will be saved.

Buckle up!

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)… 

The framework for Eenie Meanie is well known but there are twists to keep it interesting.

Andy Garcia is having a great second career as THE bad guy.

Eeinie Meanie (2025) rates 3 of 5 stars.

“Wick is Pain” (2025) starring Keanu Reeves, Chad Stahelski, David Leitch / Z-View

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Wick is Pain (2025)

Director: Jeffrey Doe

Stars: Keanu Reeves, Chad Stahelski, David Leitch, Scott Adkins, Daniel Bernhardt, Halle Berry, Hu Chen, Common, Jason Constantine, Jonathan Eusebio, Laurence Fishburne, Daniel Hernandez, Anjelica Huston, Basil Iwanyk and Mark Dacascos.

Tagline: The making of a killer franchise.

The Plot…

Wick Is Pain takes us behind the scenes detailing how the John Wick franchise came into existence.  Wick is Pain features current interviews with Keanu Reeves, Chad Stahelski, David Leitch as well as Wick franchise co-stars and stunt people.  Integrated into the interviews are behind-the-scenes footage from the Wick films.

We learn how the screenplay initially titled scorn morphed into John Wick.  How and why the first film almost wasn’t made… and the surprising celebrity that saved the day.  We are taken on a journey that explores why two men best known as for stunts were given the reins of the first movie.  How the first film changed action films forever.  We also learn that the road for each film had its own challenges both in front and behind the camera.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)… 

Wick is Pain is a fun, informative ride.

Keanu Reeves enthusiasm is contagious.

Wick is Pain gets my highest recommendation.

Wick is Pain (2025) rates 5 of 5 stars.