“Black Belt Jones” (1974) starring Jim Kelly / Z-View

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Black Belt Jones (1974)

Director:  Robert Clouse

Screenplay: Oscar Williams, story by Fred Weintraub, Alexandra Rose

Stars: Jim Kelly, Gloria Hendry, Scatman Crothers, Alan Weeks, Andre Philippe, Eddie Smith, Alex Brown, Earl Jolly Brown, Marla Gibbs, Ted Lange, Robert Wall  and Eric Laneuville.

Tagline: Enter Jim ”Dragon” Kelly. He clobbers the mob as BLACK BELT JONES.

The Plot…

When the mafia learns of a new civic center set to be constructed, they buy up all of the land except for one building.  It is owned by “Pop” Byrd and houses his karate dojo.  When “Pop” refuses to sell out, they send in a local drug dealer and his crew.  They figure after a beating or two, “Pop’ will happily sell out.

They didn’t know “Pop” was friends with Black Belt Jones.  Their mistake.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

 Warner Bros. made Black Belt Jones after the success of Enter the Dragon (and death of Bruce Lee).  Black Belt Jones reteams Enter the Dragon‘s director, Robert Claus and co-star Jim Kelly.  The film was marketed to make sure fans wouldn’t miss the connection.

If you’re a fan of kung fu and blaxploitation movies, you should enjoy Black Belt Jones.

Black Belt Jones (1974) rates 3 of 5 stars

“A Southern Yankee” (1948) starring Red Skelton / Z-View

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A Southern Yankee (1948)

Director:  Edward Sedgwick

Screenplay: Harry Tugend, written by Melvin Frank, Norman Panama; based on  Buster Keaton‘s The General.

Stars: Red Skelton, Brian Donlevy, Arlene Dahl, George Coulouris, Lloyd Gough and  John Ireland.

Tagline: HE’S A SPY FOR BOTH SIDES!

The Plot…

The year is 1865.  The Civil War is winding down, but spies are still a danger. Especially in a Union Army town. Aubrey Filmore (Skelton) is a hotel bellman who dreams of catching a rebel spy.  Problem is, Aubrey struggles to be an effective bellman.  He just isn’t soldier material.

When word arrives that the rebel spy known as The Grey Spider is coming to town, Aubrey goes on full alert.  Totally by accident, Aubrey discovers The Grey Spider’s identity and plans.  When The Grey Spider discovers Aubrey, Aubrey accidentally knocks him out.  Aubrey then turns The Grey Spider over to Colonel Baker.  Because nobody knows what The Grey Spider looks like, it is decided that Aubrey should impersonate him and go behind enemy lines.

It’s a suicide mission, but as Colonel Baker, “What do we have to lose.”

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

 A Southern Yankee is loosely based on Buster Keaton’s The General.  Buster Keaton was on set some during filming of A Southern Yankee and helped come up with the gags.

A Southern Yankee (1948) rates 3 of 5 stars

“Raging Bull” (1980) directed by Martin Scorsese, starring Robert DeNiro, Cathy Moriarty and Joe Pesci / Z-View

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Raging Bull (1980)

Director:  Martin Scorsese

Screenplay: Paul Schrader, Mardik Martin; based on RAGING BULL: MY STORY by Jake LaMotta, Joseph Carter, Peter Savage

Stars: Robert De Niro, Cathy Moriarty, Joe Pesci, Frank Vincent, Nicholas Colasanto, Theresa Saldana, Mario Gallo, Frank Adonis, Bernie Allen  and Charles Scorsese.

Tagline:  None.

The Plot…

The rise and fall of former middleweight boxing champion Jake LaMotta.  LaMotta was known as the Raging Bull because of his quick temper and violence in the ring.  Sadly out of the ring, he was just as fast to fly into a rage and get physical with his family and friends. Life is hard on everyone when you’re your own worst enemy.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Raging Bull was nominated for eight 1981 Academy Awards and won two…

  • Nominee for Best Picture – Irwin Winkler, Robert Chartoff
  • Nominee for Best Actor in a Supporting Role – Joe Pesci
  • Nominee for Best Actress in a Supporting Role – Cathy Moriarty
  • Nominee for Best Director – Martin Scorsese
  • Nominee for Best Cinematography – Michael Chapman
  • Nominee for Best Sound – Donald O. Mitchell, Bill Nicholson, David J. Kimball, Les Lazarowitz
  • Winner for Best Film Editing – Thelma Schoonmaker
  • Winner for Best Actor in a Leading Role – Robert De Niro

Robert DeNiro worked for over four years to convince Martin Scorsese to make Raging Bull.  Scorsese was coming off New York, New York, which had failed to live up to expectations, and a cocaine overdose.  Although he didn’t like sports movies, Scorsese gave in.  The movie revitalized Scorsese’s career and shot DeNiro to superstardom.

DeNiro gained sixty pounds to play LaMotta in later life.  They shot the early scenes and then shut down production for a four months to give DeNiro time to add the weight.

Jake LaMotta gave his autobiography to Robert DeNiro with an inscription saying DeNiro was the only actor to play him.  When the film was made LaMotta was often on the set.

Raging Bull features Cathy Moriarty’s film debut.

John Turturro makes his film debut as the man at table at Webster Hall.

When Jake LaMotta saw the finished film, he asked his former wife, Vickie LaMotta, if he was really that bad.  ‘Worse” she replied.  And he really was.  The movie just touches on some of the worst aspects of his life.

Raging Bull (1980) rates 5 of 5 stars

“Isle of Fury” (1936) starring Humphrey Bogart / Z-View

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Isle of Fury (1936)

Director:  Frank McDonald

Screenplay: Robert Hardy Andrews, William Jacobs; based on THE NARROW CORNER by W. Somerset Maugham

Stars: Humphrey Bogart, Margaret Lindsay, Donald Woods, E.E. Clive and George Regas.

Tagline: IN LOVE WITH THE MAN SWORN TO CAPTURE HER HUSBAND DEAD OR ALIVE!

The Plot…

On a terrible stormy night on the island of Tankana, Val Stevens and Lucille Gordon are being married.  During the ceremony word is brought that a ship has hit the off shore reef and is sinking.  Val rushes the wedding vows, calls for some of his workers and goes with them in an attempt to find survivors.

Val is able to save two.  Deever, the ship’s Captain and a man named Eric Blake.  In short order, Val and Blake become good friends. Such good friends in fact, that Val offers Blake to join him in Val’s pearl harvesting business.  What Val doesn’t know is that Eric and Val’s wife are falling in love.  And maybe worse, Val came to the island to bring Val back to the United States where he is wanted for murder!

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

 Humphrey Bogart wears a mustache that gets my vote for one of the worst in cinema history.

Isle of Fury at just one hour.  Perhaps that’s why it feels short on characterization.

Isle of Fury (1936) rates 2 of 5 stars

The RETURN OF THE MALTESE FALCON by Max Allan Collins is Coming!

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Dashiell Hammet’s THE MALTESE FALCON is not only a classic noir novel, but also the same could be said for the 1941 John Huston (writer/director) movie adaptation.  On January 6, 2026, Max Allan Collins and Hard Case Crime present RETURN OF THE MALTESE FALCON.  Here’s the lowdown…

Hardboiled noir that picks up where legendary author Dashiell Hammett left off, telling the story of iconic private eye Sam Spade and the quest for the priceless Maltese Falcon.

THE GREATEST PRIVATE EYE OF ALL TIME RETURNS TO FINISH THE JOB

Legendary mystery writer Dashiell Hammett only wrote one novel about detective Sam Spade: THE MALTESE FALCON, the most famous private eye story ever told. But the case was never really solved – the priceless golden, bejeweled bird that men and women had been dying to possess turned out to be a fake.

Now, Mystery Writers of America Grand Master Max Allan Collins (author of ROAD TO PERDITION) brings closure to this crime classic, reuniting all the surviving members of the original cast alongside femme fatales, crooked collectors, and greedy gangsters for one more thrilling, deadly chase through the streets, wharves, morgues, bars, and back alleys of 1920s San Francisco – and finally answers the question, Whatever became of the Maltese falcon…?

Pre-orders are available now.

“Havok” (2025) written & directed by Gareth Evans, starring Tom Hardy, Jessie Mei Li, Timothy Olyphant and Forrest Whitaker / Z-View

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Havok (2025)

Director:  Gareth Evans

Screenplay: Gareth Evans

Stars: Tom Hardy, Jessie Mei Li, Justin Cornwell, Quelin Sepulveda, Serhat Metin, Gordon Alexander, Forest Whitaker, Michelle Waterson, Jill Winternitz and Timothy Olyphant.

Tagline: No law. Only disorder.

The Plot…

Lawrence Beaumont is a politician with clout.  Beaumont also has info that he uses to blackmail Detective Walker into doing his bidding.  Beaumont’s only son, Charlie, gets caught up in a drug deal where a cartel leader’s son is killed.  Charlie is blamed and marked for death.  Beaumont tells Walker he’ll never bother him again if he brings Charlie safely home.

Now Walker is looking for Charlie.  So are members of the triad as well as every honest and crooked cop in town.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

 I absolutely loved everything about Havok.  It has a great story and direction.  Kudos to writer/director Gareth Evans.  It is extremely well cast.  Standouts include: Tom Hardy, Jessie Mei Li, Timothy Olyphant, Forest Whittaker, Yann Yann Yeo and Michelle Waterson.  The violence and action are over-the-top without being excessively gory.

I know I will revisit Havok in the future since I’ve already watched it twice!

Havok (2025) rates 5 of 5 stars

Val Kilmer as Doc Holiday by Steve Bryant!

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My favorite Val Kilmer role is Doc Holiday in Tombstone.  It’s a shame that Kilmer didn’t win a Best Supporting Actor Oscar for that performance.  In fact he wasn’t even nominated.  Kilmer’s performance may not have won the Academy Award, but movie fans have not forgotten how amazing he was.

Steve Bryant created the awesome piece above.  You can see more of Bryant’s art here.

“The Bondsman”: Season 1 (2025) starring Kevin Bacon / Z-View

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The Bondsman: Season 1 (2025)

Created by Grainger David

Directors: Sanaa Hamri (Eps.1-2); Thor Freudenthal (Eps. 3-4); Lauren Wolkstein (Eps. 5-6); Catriona McKenzie (Eps.7-8)

Teleplay: Grainger David (Ep. 1); Erik Oleson (Ep. 2, 6, 8); Erik Oleson & Grainger David (Eps. 3-4, 7); Erik Oleson & Satinder Kaur (Ep. 5)

Starring: Kevin Bacon, Jennifer Nettles, Beth Grant, Damon Herriman, Maxwell Jenkins, Jolene Purdy, Denitra Isler, Mike Kaye, K.D. O’Hair, Jay Ali, Dave Macomber and Robert Daniel Souris.

Tagline:  He’s gonna catch hell.

The Overview:  Beware of Spoilers…

Bounty hunter Hub Halloran has tracked his latest bail jumper to a seedy hotel when he is ambushed.  Despite his best efforts, Hub’s throat is cut and he dies.

The next day Hub is resurrected.  In short order Hub learns that…

  1.  He really did die.
  2. “Lucky” Callahan, his wife’s boyfriend set up the ambush.
  3.  He’s been brought back by the devil to kill demons that escape hell.  Should he refuse to accept the jobs, then he will be returned to hell.

Hub now has two things on his mind, protecting his ex-wife and son from “Lucky” Callahan and killing the next demon to escape from hell.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

The series episodes are less than 30 minutes each.  Not a bad way to spend half an hour.

Matlock: Season 1 (2025) earns 3 stars.

“Stand Your Ground” starring Daniel Stisen, Peter Stormare and Eric Roberts – The Poster and Trailer are Here!

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https://craigzablo.com/?p=38805

Stand Your Ground is what I affectionately call a “drive-in” movie.  Check out the poster and trailer.  Directed by Fansu Njie, Stand Your Ground stars Daniel Stisen, Peter Stormare and Eric Roberts.

Deal me in.

Former Special Forces operative, Jack Johnson, seeks vengeance after his wife’s murder, igniting a brutal war against a local crime lord’s family.

“Wolf Man” (2025) directed by Leigh Whannell, starring Julia Garner and Christopher Abbott / Z-View

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Wolf Man (2025)

Director:  Leigh Whannell

Screenplay: Leigh Whannell, Corbett Tuck

Stars: Julia Garner, Christopher Abbott, Matilda Firth, Sam Jaeger, Ben Prendergast, Leigh Whannell, Rob MacBride and Benedict Hardie.

Tagline: Protect your own.

The Plot…

Blake and Charlotte still love each other (and their daughter, Ginger), but their marriage has been strained lately.  So when Blake gets notice that his father has been declared dead, after going missing for seven years, Blake decides that a trip to his childhood home in the remote Oregon woods might be the right move.  Charlotte reluctantly agrees.

The home is deep in the wilderness.  No cell phone reception.  No neighbors close by.  No towns either.  A one lane dirt road in/out.  As darkness falls, and they’re close to the old home, a creature appears standing in the road.  Blake swerves to miss it and crashes through brush down the incline.  The creature attacks them and Blake’s arm is terribly clawed.  They make it to the farmhouse.  All the windows have bars and the door is reinforced as well.

As they huddle inside, the creature attempts to get in.  Unable to call for assistance, and unsure how long before the creature finds a way in, Charlotte wonders how things could be worse.

Then she notices her husband is starting to change…

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

 There are some cool scenes where we get what the people are saying and hearing and as the camera pans it changes to how the Wolf Man perceives it.

I wish Blake and Charlotte were better developed characters.  Also they both make bad choices that put their families in danger.

Wolf Man (2025) rates 3 of 5 stars