Previews and Reviews that are Z's Views
The fine folks at MeTV posted a quiz: Which Gunsmoke character best matches your personality?
As you can see above, I took the quiz and came out a Matt Dillon; hardworking and dedicated to do what’s right. I’m okay with that.
Who would you be in Dodge City?
Ben Sherlock at ScreenRant posted his choices for Sylvester Stallone Vs Arnold Schwarzenegger: Each Actor’s 5 Best Performances. I thought I’d compare Sherlock’s Top 5 for Sly and Arnold to mine (using just his five best) and then what I’d include from all of each actor’s filmography.
First up: Sherlock’s choices and both of our ratings…
|
Sherlock’s |
Zablo’s |
Sherlock’s |
Zablo’s |
| 5. John Rambo In First Blood | 5. Lt. Marion Cobretti In Cobra | 5. Wade Vogel In Maggie | 5. Wade Vogel In Maggie |
| 4. Johnny D. Kovak In F.I.S.T. | 4. John Rambo In First Blood | 4. Sheriff Ray Owens In The Last Stand | 4. Sheriff Ray Owens In The Last Stand |
| 3. Lt. Marion Cobretti In Cobra | 3. Johnny D. Kovak In F.I.S.T. | 3. Dutch In Predator | 3. Doug Quaid In Total Recall |
| 2. Sheriff Freddy Heflin In Cop Land | 2. Sheriff Freddy Heflin In Cop Land | 2. Doug Quaid In Total Recall | 2. Dutch In Predator |
| 1. Rocky Balboa In Rocky | 1. Rocky Balboa In Rocky | 1. The T-800 In The Terminator | 1. The T-800 In The Terminator |
Now what I would’ve included from each actor’s filmography.
|
Zablo’s Sly All Films |
Zablo’s Arnold All Films |
| 5. Deke DaSilva in Nighthawks | 5. Harry Trasker in True Lies |
| 4. John Rambo In First Blood | 4. John Matrix in Commando |
| 3. Sheriff Freddy Heflin In Cop Land | 3. John ‘Breacher’ Wharton in Sabotage |
| 2. Jack Carter in Get Carter | 2. Dutch In Predator |
| 1. Rocky Balboa in Rocky | 1. The T-800 In The Terminator |
To this day it’s hard for me to believe that anyone would greenlight a TV comedy about a World War II prisoner of war camp. But that’s exactly what happened. Hogan’s Heroes ran for 168 episodes, premiering in September 1965 and airing the last original episode in April 1971. Hogan’s Heroes is the longest running American TV series inspired by World War II. Who would’ve thunk it?
MeTV recently posted 12 Incredibly True Facts about Hogan’s Heroes. Here are three of my favorites and my thoughts on each…
The actors playing the four main German roles were Jewish. Klemperer (Klink), Banner (Schultz), Leon Askin (Burkhalter) and Howard Caine (Hochstetter) were Jewish, and all but the latter had fled the Nazis during WWII. Additionally, Robert Clary, who played the cooking French corporal, LeBeau, had been interned at a concentration camp. Klemperer stated at the time, “I am an actor. If I can play Richard III, I can play a Nazi.” The actor insisted that Hogan always won out over his captors.
(I remember at the time there was a bit of controversy from World War II vets, and some who had been in POW camps, as well as those who felt nothing about WW2 was funny. – Craig)
The set was blown up during the making of Ilsa, She Wolf of the SS. What an ignominious fate. Hogan’s Heroes was filmed on Desilu Productions’ RKO Forty Acres backlot. In the making of the trashy 1974 exploitation film Ilsa, She Wolf of the SS, the set was destroyed for the final scene. Hogan’s producers were okay with it, as it saved the cost of having the set demolished.
(What a way to go! – Craig)
The show used the tagline If you liked World War II, you’ll love Hogan’s Heroes! The tagline was sarcastically suggested by comedian and author Stan Freberg in an interview with Bob Crane in The Sunday Times, on September 15, 1965. “Shall we say, ‘If you liked World War II…you’ll love Hogan’s Heroes?'” Freberg dryly asks. “No, let’s not say that, no,” Crane responds. Nevertheless, it became the tagline.
(I wonder if in this age of political correctness, would Hogan’s Heroes ever make it to production? – Craig)
Tony Stella has created a poster worthy of the classic movie Spartacus. Although we’re not about to die (we hope), Tony Stella, we salute you!
That’s John Wayne, John Ford and Ward Bond. They’re considered three real-life tough guys.
Most folks know a bunch about John Wayne and to a lesser extent, director John Ford. If you’re like me, you know that Ward Bond appeared in dozens (and dozens) of movies and starred in the TV series Wagon Train. But that’s about it… until I read 13 fascinating facts about Ward Bond and “Wagon Train” at MeTV. Sadly the post is now longer available but here are three of my favorite facts and my thoughts…
Bond appears in more films on the American Film Institute’s 100 Greatest American Movies than any other actor. Bond has perhaps the most enviable filmography of any actor, past or present. Just look at his credits. He acted in seven of the 100 Greatest American Films according to the AFI — It Happened One Night (1934), Bringing Up Baby (1938), Gone with the Wind (1939), The Grapes of Wrath (1940), The Maltese Falcon (1941), It’s a Wonderful Life (1946) and The Searchers (1956).
(Wow! I had no idea Bond appeared in more of the 100 Greatest American Films than any other actor! THAT is an amazing fact and a testament to his abilities as an actor. – Craig)
John Wayne accidentally shot Ward Bond on a hunting trip. Even a gun wound could not break up the best friends. Ward left the shotgun to Wayne in his will.
(That’s how tough Ward Bond was – not even John Wayne shooting him could put him down! – Craig)
Bond appeared on ‘Wagon Train’ in crutches after injuring his leg. At the end of “The Clara Beauchamp Story,” Bond stands in a row of military men on a pair of crutches. It was no prop. The actor had suffered an injury in a car accident. The poor (but certainly tough) guy was also hit by a car on his way to John Wayne’s wedding, but he performed his best man duties on crutches.
(Ward Bond was one tough son of a buck! That dude was Marv from Sin City come to life. – Craig)
Mort Drucker, perhaps the world’s best and best known caricaturist has died at the age of 91. Odds are even if you don’t know Mr. Drucker’s name, you know his art. Starting in 1956 and for over fifty years after that Drucker’s art appeared in Mad Magazine’s wildly popular movie and tv satires.
Mr. Drucker’s work also appeared in comic books, movie posters and advertising. His distinctive style made his art recognizable often before you saw his signature. In 2014, Mort Drucker received the National Society of Cartoonists’ Medal of Honor for lifetime achievement.
Our thoughts and prayers go out to Mort Drucker’s family, friends and fans.
Two Sentence Horror Stories are pretty popular. Here are three of the best from a batch of the best…
It’s been almost a decade since I last saw my mother.
And she still reminds me everyday that if I misbehave she’ll take my hearing too.
I gazed into his adoring eyes as I watched him take every bite with such enjoyment.
I waited for the poison to kick in, but was caught off guard by his evil grin as I sipped my wine.
For my last wish, I wished for my dad to be alive again.
I stood atop his grave and smiled, imagining him screaming and clawing at his coffin lid as he did the previous two times I wished him back.
Ward Hazel at Listverse took a look at his choices for the Top 10 Movies About Plague, Pestilence, And Deadly Disease. Using just Hazel’s list, let’s see how I’d rank them…
|
Hazel |
Zablo |
| 10. The Omega Man, 1971 | 10. Death in Venice, 1971 (I have never seen this.) |
| 09. Blindness, 2008 | 09. Blindness, 2008 (I haven’t seen this either, but it sounds more appealing than Death in Venice.) |
| 08. Outbreak, 1995 | 08. The Andromeda Strain. 1971. (It’s been a while since I’ve seen TAS. It was okay.) |
| 07. I Am Legend | 07. I Am Legend (2007). (The special effects hurt my enjoyment of this one.) |
| 06. The Andromeda Strain | 06. The Omega Man, 1971 (I loved this as a kid, but TOM hasn’t held up as well – still a fun romp.) |
| 05. Contagion, 2011 | 05. Contagion, 2011 (I remember liking this a lot but feeling it wrapped up the ending a bit too fast. Perhaps another viewing is due.) |
| 04. 28 Days Later, 2003 | 04. 12 Monkeys, 1995 (Brad Pitt steals this one!) |
| 03. Train to Busan, 2016 | 03. Outbreak, 1995 (Hard to believe it’s been 25 years. Definitely ahead of the curve.) |
| 02. 12 Monkeys, 1995 | 02. Train to Busan, 2016 (The biggest surprise of 2018. I’m looking forward to Pennisula – the follow-up set in the same universe, but with different characters.) |
| 01. Death in Venice, 1971 | 01. 28 Days Later, 2003 (I love this one and it gets better with each viewing.) |
For this list I would have definitely included World War Z, Night of the Living Dead, Dawn of the Dead (remake) and The Crazies. Seems like I’m forgetting a few others…
How about a new Extraction poster and a trailer. I like the looks of this and will be watching come April 24th.
Tyler Rake (Chris Hemsworth) is a fearless black market mercenary who embarks on the deadliest mission of his career when he’s enlisted to rescue the kidnapped son of an international crime lord. Directed by Sam Hargrave, this action-packed, edge-of-your-seat thriller is produced by Joe and Anthony Russo, the visionary directors of Avengers: Endgame.
Here’s a Frazetta painting you don’t see often. Frazetta was commissioned to create a poster for Robert Rdriguez’s From Dusk Til Dawn. Sadly, according to Frazetta’s granddughter, his health prevented him from finishing it in time for it to be used to promote the film.
I’m a huge Frazetta fan. (Who isn’t?) I’m also a fan of Robert Rodriguez. (I guess you could say I ride with El Rey.) It’s cool that Rodriguez commissioned the poster and now owns it. I wonder the reason the creatures in Frazetta’s painting don’t match those in the film.
Speaking of Dusk Til Dawn, I think it is greatly underrated. I love the mashup of crime and horror. Hats off to Rodriguez, Tarantino and all involved.
Source: Frank Frazetta Art.
Joey Pauer at GeekTyrant posted 23 Fun Facts About James Cameron’s TRUE LIES with Behind the Scenes “Making Of” Videos. Here are three of my favorite facts and my comments on each…
Jodie Foster was originally cast as Helen Tasker, but was forced to turn the role down because she was signed on to star in Nell. Rosanna Arquette, Kim Basinger, Annette Bening, Joan Cusack, Geena Davis, Melanie Griffith, Jennifer Jason Leigh, Madonna, Demi Moore, Michelle Pfeiffer, Sharon Stone, Emma Thompson, Lea Thompson, Debra Winger, Sigourney Weaver, Julianne Moore, Julia Roberts, Claudia Wells, Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio, Sandra Bullock and Madeleine Stowe were also all considered for the role of Helen.
(Sometimes casting is perfect and it’s hard to imagine anyone else in the role. Look at the number of actresses considered and we can begin to realize sometimes it’s just luck to get the right person. – Craig)
Curtis said that in his contract Schwarzenegger gets top billing then the title then it would have said starring Jamie Lee Curtis but when Cameron finished editing the film and he saw that the film was really “a domestic epic, it’s a film about a marriage.” So Cameron called Schwarzenegger and asked him if it would be ok to put Jamie Lee Curtis’ name before the title, to which Schwarzenegger immediately agreed. In the world of show business, as Curtis said, “The credit is such a coveted, negotiable, commodity” that for Schwarzenegger to give her billing before the title “was a real mensch move on his part.”
(Don’t you love it when you hear a star not acting like a sterotypical star? – Craig)
The appearance and traits of Spencer Trilby (Charlton Heston) is based on Nick Fury. Like Fury, Trilby has an eyepatch, and the same mannerisms; as well as heading a peacekeeping organization.
(Interesting. So Cameron is a comic book fan? – Craig)
Don’t forget to click over and check out the rest of 23 Fun Facts About James Cameron’s TRUE LIES with Behind the Scenes “Making Of” Videos.
Boxing Clever at the Boxing Scene recently posted Quentin Tarantino Breaks Down His Top 5 Boxing Movies. The first one mentioned was Rocky and here is what Tarantino had to say…
“If we talk about boxing and cinema, the first thing that comes to mind is Rocky. By far the most successful boxing film in history. The story of the Italian-American boxer Rocky Balboa was written by and starred Sylvester Stallone, in the role that catapulted him to stardom.
“The history of cinema mixes the necessary ingredients to be liked by most of the public. The humble man who attains fame by pure heart, a love story behind the rise of relevance in a super emotional finale. And some action in a fight worthy of the great boxing evenings in boxing history.
“The film won 3 Oscars and was a huge box office success, as well as being the kickoff for its sequels.”
Tarantino rounded out his top five with Million Dollar Baby, The Fighter, Cinderella Man and Raging Bull. Click over and check out Tarantino’s thoughts on each film. (If it was my list I would have found a spot for The Set-up! – Craig)
Peter Botte at the New York Post took on the task of Ranking All Eight Movies in ‘Rocky’ Series with his comments. I thought it would be interesting to compare Botte’s rankings with mine.
|
Botte |
Zablo |
| 1. Rocky (1976) | 1. Rocky (1976) |
| 2. Creed (2015) | 2. Rocky Balboa (2006) |
| 3. Rocky II (1979) | 3. Creed (2015) |
| 4. Rocky III (1982) | 4. Rocky III (1982) |
| 5. Creed II (2018) | 5. Creed II (2018) |
| 6. Rocky Balboa (2006) | 6. Rocky II (1979) |
| 7. Rocky IV (1985) | 7. Rocky IV (1985) |
| 8. Rocky V (1990) | 8. Rocky V (1990) |
So, what do you think? (And for those of you following closely, my rankings have changed just a bit since the last time I did this!)
Ben Sherlock, at ScreenRant, posted They Drew First Blood: 10 Behind-The-Scenes Facts About The Rambo Movies. Before you click over, here are three of my favorite facts and my comments on each…
The Fifth Movie Had A Ton Of Unused Scripts.
…A script called Rambo 5: Savage Hunt was a horror movie in which Rambo led a Special Forces team into the Arctic Circle to track down a flesh-eating mutant creature.…Another script called Rambo 5: Last Stand pitted Rambo against a band of meth dealers who were terrorizing a small town. There were also a few drafts about Rambo saving a kidnapped girl from a Mexican cartel before the final script was written.
(The Rambo 5: Savage Hunt script was based on James Byron Huggins’ Hunter novel. While this would have made an interesting Rambo movie, it might have been too much of a genre change. I hope that someday Sly will turn Hunter into the film it deserves. Rambo 5: Last Stand sounds a lot like Arnold’s Last Stand movie. – Craig)
Dolph Lundgren Was Initially Cast As The Villain In First Blood Part II. The role of Russian Lieutenant Colonel Sergei Podovsky, the only villain in Rambo: First Blood Part II with any lines in English, was originally offered to Dolph Lundgren. Lundgren even accepted the part and signed a contract.
(I did not know this. – Craig)
…Burmese Freedom Fighters even adopted some dialogue from the movie to use as battle cries. In particular, they were known to say, “Live for nothing, or die for something.” When he heard about this, Sylvester Stallone said, “That, to me, is one of the proudest moments I’ve ever had in film.”
(And we thought people only quoted Rocky for inspiration! – Craig)
