Previews and Reviews that are Z's Views
I love this Enter the Dragon poster that Nikos Bogris created. Click on it to see a dragon-sized version. This is Bogris’ third appearance here. You might remember Bogris’ alternative posters for Charles Bronson in The Mechanic or his riff on Escape from New York. You can see more of his awesome art at the Nikos Bogris Instagram Page.
It’s good to see art on a movie poster. The Changed definitely has an Invasion of the Body Snatchers vibe (and that’s a good thing). Deal me in.
Something has taken possession of the hearts and minds of the populace. Kim, Mac, and Jane try to convince themselves it’s paranoia, but before long the city is besieged by the changed. By the time they realize an alien intelligence has merged with their neighbor, Bill, a horde of changed is amassing outside their suburban home.
CAST: Tony Todd, Clare Foley, Jason Alan Smith, Carlee Avers, Doug Tompos, Olivia Freer, Kathy Searle
DIRECTOR: Michael Mongillo
The poster is not bad. The trailer for Project Gemini is better. I’d check this out on streaming.
PROJECT GEMINI: Available on Digital, Blu-ray & DVD beginning March 15, 2022.
After centuries of destroying Earth’s resources, humankind faces the grim reality that its last shot at survival may require creating an entirely new home—in outer space. An international expedition is quickly formed to find a suitable new planet, but when plans go awry, the crew is suddenly stranded without power on a strange planet. Unfortunately, they’ll soon learn that something truly unimaginable has been out there watching, lying in wait for the unwary human scouts.
Humphrey Bogart is one of the world’s most famous actors. Bogart appeared in over 80 films, was nominated for 3 Best Actor Oscars (winning one). Bogart wasn’t your typical leading man. He wasn’t particularly tall (5’8″), or muscular and he didn’t have classical good looks. Yet, the ladies loved him and he was considered a man’s man. On screen Bogart held your attention. Although he was just 57 when he died, Bogart left us with many great films. Here are my five favorites…
1. Casablanca (1942): Many consider Casablanca to be not only Bogart’s best film, but the best film of all time. It is a classic. I never tire of watching Casablanca and had this been the only film on his resume, it would have still made him famous.
2. Key Largo (1948): has grown on me over the years. I’ve always loved it, but Key Largo gets better with each new viewing. Bogart, Lauren Bacall, Edward G. Robinson and Lionel Barrymore round out the cast.
3. The Maltese Falcon (1941): Bogart plays PI, Sam Spade. The film is based on Dashiell Hammett’s classic novel, with a screenplay and direction by John Huston (his first time directing). The Maltese Falcon features an all-star cast; joining Bogart are Mary Astor, Peter Lorre, Sydney Greenstreet, Ward Bond and Elisha Cook, Jr.
4. The Big Sleep (1946): Bogart plays PI, Phillip Marlowe. Howard Hawks directs this classic that also stars Lauren Bacall and Martha Vickers. Dorothy Malone has a small role, but what an impact she makes!
5. To Have and Have Not (1944): Howard Hawks again directs Bogart and Bacall who are joined by Walter Brennan in an adaptation of Ernest Hemmingway’s classic novel.
Bogart made several other films that almost made my top five: In a Lonely Place, The Caine Mutiny, The African Queen, The Treasure of the Sierra Madre and The Harder They Fall are also all excellent films.
The Last Duel (2021)
Director: Ridley Scott
Screenplay: Nicole Holofcener & Ben Affleck & Matt Damon (based on the book by Eric Jager)
Starring: Matt Damon, Adam Driver, Jodie Comer and Ben Affleck.
Tagline: The truth has different versions.
The Overview: Beware of Spoilers…
The Last Duel is the true story of the last trial by combat officially sanctioned by the King of France. The battle took place on December 29, 1386, between Knight Jean de Carrouges (Damon) and Squire Jacques Le Gris (Driver). They had been friends who once fought side-by-side. Over the years de Carrouges felt cheated by Le Gris. He was also jealous of Le Gris’ friendship with Count Pierre d’Alençon (Affleck), a relative of the King. The duel was a result of de Carrouges’ wife accusing Le Gris of rape.
The Last Duel is told in three parts, each being the truth as seen by Jean de Carrouges, Jacques Le Gris, and Marguerite de Carrouges. This is an interesting method of story presentation (a la Rashômon), but adds to the length of the tale, which could benefit from being shorter.
The acting is first rate.
This may be Damon’s best performance ever. His character is a volatile, angry man who feels (and is) slighted by Count Pierre d’Alençon. I admired de Carrouges’ willingness to sue royalty, confront Le Gris and the Count to support his wife’s accusation… but also know his abrasive personality caused him many problems.
I was surprised by how good Ben Affleck is in his role as the Count. His performance here was as good as in The Tender Bar!
The Last Duel rates 4 of 5 stars.
Robert “Bob” Wall, martial artist and actor, died yesterday at the age of 82. No cause of death was reported.
Bob Wall was a 9th degree Black Belt who began his career as co-owner of the Sherman Oaks Karate Studio in California. When Mr. Wall’s partner decided to sell his interest in the studio, Chuck Norris became co-owner with Wall.
Bob Wall was also an actor best known for his role as O’Harra in Bruce Lee’s classic Enter the Dragon. Mr. Wall also had roles with Lee in Way of the Dragon and Game of Death. Bob Wall also appeared in several Chuck Norris movies (Code of Silence, Invasion U.S.A., Firewalker, Hero and the Terror and Sidekicks) as well as Norris’ Walker, Texas Ranger series.
Our thoughts and prayers go out to Bob Wall’s family, friends and fans.
That’s a clever poster and enticing trailer for No Exit. Deal me in.
Trust no one. #NoExit starts streaming on @Hulu February 25.
In “No Exit,” Havana Rose Liu (“Mayday”) makes her feature film leading role debut as Darby, a young woman en route to a family emergency who is stranded by a blizzard and forced to find shelter at a highway rest area with a group of strangers. When she stumbles across an abducted girl in a van in the parking lot, it sets her on a terrifying life-or-death struggle to discover who among them is the kidnapper. Directed by Damien Power (“Killing Ground”) from a screenplay by Andrew Barrer & Gabriel Ferrari (“Ant-Man and the Wasp”) based on Taylor Adams’ 2017 novel and produced by PGA Award winner Scott Frank (“The Queen’s Gambit”), the film stars Havana Rose Liu, Danny Ramirez (“The Falcon and the Winter Soldier,” “Top Gun: Maverick”), David Rysdahl (“Nine Days”), Dale Dickey (“Winter’s Bone”), Mila Harris (“Young Dylan”) and Dennis Haysbert (“Breakthrough”).
Vampires vs the Bronx (2020)
Director: Oz Rodriguez
Screenplay: Blaise Hemingway (story by Oz Rodriguez)
Starring: Jaden Michael, Gerald Jones III, Gregory Diaz IV, The Kid Mero, Sarah Gadon, Method Man, Shea Whigham, Chris Redd and Zoe Saldana.
The Overview: Beware of Spoilers…
Four young friends discover a vampire nest in their neighborhood. Who would believe that? No one. So it falls to the kids to wipe out the blood suckers.
Vampires vs the Bronx is much better than you might think. That’s due to a combination of the casting, the direction and right mix of horror/humor. The four lead kid actors are well written and just plain likeable. The same can be said for the neighborhood adults. The kids parents don’t come off as adults typically found in kid comedies. The director provides some cool touches such as a vampire’s hand slowly reaching unseen for a kid, a vampire slowly rising up behind a victim, There’s a subplot about people moving out of the neighborhood thanks to a corporation buying up property that works well with the story.
I thought that Vampires vs the Bronx would be fun based on the trailer, but I was surprised at how much I liked it. If they could get the cast, writer and director back, I’d love to see the kids in a sequel with more monsters. Vampires vs the Bronx earns 4 of 5 stars.
One of my all-time favorite characters is Marv from Sin City. I wish Frank Miller would either do more Sin City yarns or allow others to have a crack. Phillip Tan created the pin up above for one of the new Sin City 30th Anniversary editions.
On December 7, 2021, the news broke that legendary artist George Perez had inoperable stage three pancreatic cancer. Mr. Perez, 67, is known for his amazing art on titles such as The Teen Titans, Crisis on Infinitive Earths, The Avengers and so many more. George Perez released the following at that time:
“I have Stage 3 Pancreatic Cancer. It is surgically inoperable and my estimated life expectancy is between 6 months to a year. I have been given the option of chemotherapy and/or radiation therapy, but after weighing all the variables and assessing just how much of my remaining days would be eaten up by doctor visits, treatments, hospital stays and dealing with the often stressful and frustrating bureaucracy of the medical system, I’ve opted to just let nature take its course and I will enjoy whatever time I have left as fully as possible with my beautiful wife of 40 years, my family, my friends and my fans.”
Since the announcement, Mr. Perez has posted regular updates on his Facebook page. George Perez has displayed amazing grace, peace of mind and love of live. Shelton Drum, owner of the Heroes Aren’t Hard to Find comic store and creator of HeroesCon, is collecting letters/postcards for George Perez that he will personally deliver. All must be received by February 20th. If you’d like to participate the address is:
Letters To George Perez
c/o: Heroes Aren’t Hard To Find
PO Box 9181
Charlotte NC 28299
Ethan Pro created the amazing pencil drawing of Sly Stallone as Rocky. You can see much more of Pro’s art (including more Stallone art) at his Instagram.
Howard Hesseman, actor and comedian, has died at the age of 81 of complications from colon surgery. Best known for his starring roles on WKRP in Cincinnati and in Head of the Class, Mr. Hesseman has over 150 credits on his acting resume.
Howard Hesseman alternated between roles on television and feature films. In addition to the tv shows mentioned, some of Mr. Hesseman’s major television appearances included roles on The Andy Griffith Show, Sanford and Son, The Bob Newhart Show, Soap, One Day at a Time, The New WKRP in Cincinnati, That ’70s Show, Boston Legal and Fresh Off the Boat. Some feature film appearances include: Billy Jack, The Sunshine Boys, Silent Movie, The Jerk, and Heat.
Surprisingly, I never watched WKRP in Cincinnati or Head of the Class. I still enjoyed seeing Howard Hesseman whenever he appeared in a tv show or movie. I first saw (and remembered him from) Billy Jack. Mr. Hesseman always made whatever show or movie he was in funnier.
Our thoughts and prayers go out to Howard Hesseman’s family, friends and fans.
The Beast from 20,000 Fathoms (1953)
Director: Eugène Lourié
Screenplay: Lou Morheim, Fred Freiberger (based on a short story by Ray Bradbury)
Starring: Paul Hubschmid, Paula Raymond, Cecil Kellaway, Kenneth Tobey and Lee Van Cleef.
Tagline: They couldn’t believe their eyes! They couldn’t escape the terror! And neither will you!
The Overview: Beware of Spoilers…
When a nuclear blast frees a prehistoric monster, the terror mounts as the dinosaur makes its way to New York City! The true star of The Beast of 20,000 Fathoms is Ray Harryhausen’s Rhedosaurus.
There are a couple of surprisingly frightening scenes when the dinosaur devours some folks! I was also impressed when a bazooka wounds the Rhedosaurus and its blood releases a prehistoric virus that is fatal to humans! That’s a plot twist I wasn’t expecting in a movie made in 1953. A military sharpshooter (played by Lee Van Cleef) with a radioactive shell is humanity’s last hope. The final scenes at a amusement park’s wooden roller coaster are still pretty impressive.
The Beast from 20,000 has some fun moments and rates 3 of 5 stars.
The Sunshine Boys (1975)
Director: Herbert Ross
Screenplay: Neil Simon
Starring: Walter Matthau, George Burns, Richard Benjamin, F. Murray Abraham and Howard Hesseman.
Tagline: For the price of a movie, you’ll feel like a million!
The Overview: Beware of Spoilers…
At one time Lewis & Clark, aka The Sunshine Boys, were the Kings of Vaudeville. Audiences loved their routines and the comedy duo had a long, successful run. Sadly, when Lewis & Clark broke up, they’d reached the point that neither could stand the other. They haven’t talked in years.
Now an opportunity to perform together on television has appeared. Will The Sunshine Boys be able to put aside past differences and catch lightning in a bottle once again?
As I watched The Sunshine Boys I couldn’t help but think how our perception of the elderly has changed. When Lewis got lost, couldn’t open a door and yelled at people, audiences in 1975 probably thought, “This old guy is quite a character.” I couldn’t help but think, I wonder if he has onset dementia.
I was expecting more laughs from The Sunshine Boys. The best scene is when Lewis & Clark first get together to rehearse the routine they’ll perform on tv. Sadly the rehearsal is funnier than the actual performance. Also Lewis comes off as a real jerk. It’s no wonder Clark didn’t want to perform with him any longer.
Still The Sunshine Boys does have it’s moments. George Burns is a joy and it’s no wonder he won an Oscar for his performance (which was the first movie he’d made in over 30 years)! The scene of Lewis auditioning for a potato chip commercial is funny. The interactions of Lewis & Clark are the heart of the movie and I wish we had more of them.
The Sunshine Boys earns 3 of 5 stars.
When you think of titles associated with Howard Chaykin, names like American Flagg, Cody Starbuck, Dominic Fortune, Black Kiss, The Scorpion and Monark Starstalker probably come to mind fairly quickly. Then Chaykin’s work on comics like Star Wars, Wolverine, Nick Fury, The Punisher and Avengers may be next. You’d have to go pretty far down the list before you get to Savage Sword of Conan. But that’s what we have today.
Howard Chaykin isn’t an artist most folks think of when talking Conan. (Myself included.) Perhaps we should though since Chaykin created the cover to Savage Sword of Conan #31 shown above. I’ve always liked it. I hope you do as well.
