Sly Stallone as Barney Ross from “The Expendables” by Andrew Charipar!

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Andrew Charipar is a Florida artist that I met going to conventions throughout the state.  Andrew was always friendly.  Getting a sketch at any show Andrew attended was mandatory.

In addition to his work as an artist, Andrew owns and manages Misfit Corner Comics in Jacksonville, Florida.

Here we have Andrew’s take on Sly Stallone as Barney Ross from The Expendables!

The 25 Best One Man Armies in the Movies

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Way back in 2009, EmpireOnLine.com posted their list of The 25 Best One Man Armies in the Movies.  Of course, Rambo came in at #1.  Who could argue with that?  Using just their choices I made my top ten list.  You can check it out here should you desire.

But since that list was made so long ago, I felt it was time to come up with an updated list of The 25 Best One Man Armies in the Movies.   These choices can [and should] be debated.  Isn’t that the purpose of lists?

Here are my suggestions…

  1. Rambo played by SYLVESTER STALLONE in the RAMBO franchise
  2. Lee played by BRUCE LEE in ENTER THE DRAGON
  3. John Wick played by Keanu Reeves in the JOHN WICK franchise

The rest appear in alphabetical order

Alejandro played by BENECIO DEL TORO in SICARIO

Billy Jack played by TOM LAUGHLIN in the BILLY JACK franchise

Bryan Mills played by LIAM NEESON in TAKEN

Chance Boudreaux played by JEAN-CLAUDE VAN DAMME in HARD TARGET

Detective Dave Bannon played by GLENN FORD in THE BIG HEAT

Geno Felino played by STEVEN SEAGAL in OUT FOR JUSTICE

Jack Reacher played by TOM CRUISE in the REACHER franchise

John Matrix played by ARNOLD SCHWARZENEGGER in COMMANDO

John McClane played by BRUCE WILLIS in the DIE HARD franchise

John Patrick Mason played by SEAN CONNERY in THE ROCK

Leon played by JEAN RENO in LEON THE PROFESSIONAL

Martin Riggs played by MEL GIBSON in the LETHAL WEAPON franchise

Marv played by MICKEY ROURKE in the SIN CITY franchise

Max Rockatansky played by MEL GIBSON in the MAD MAX franchise

Porter played by MEL GIBSON in PAYBACK

Scott Ward played by DAVE BAUTISTA in ARMY OF THE DEAD

Snake Plissken played by KURT RUSSELL in the ESCAPE FROM franchise

Tom Sharky played by BURT REYNOLDS in SHARKY’S MACHINE

Toorop played by VIN DIESEL in BABYLON A.D.

Tyler Rake played by CHRIS HEMSWORTH in the EXTRACTION franchise

Walker played by LEE MARVIN in POINT BLANK

Walker played by TOM HARDY in HAVOC

“Predator: Badlands” – The Final Trailer is Here!

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Here is the final trailer for Predator: Badlands.

Watch the new trailer for Predator: Badlands.

Experience the film only in theaters and IMAX November 7.

Set in the future on a deadly remote planet, “Badlands” follows a young Predator outcast (played by newcomer Dimitrius Schuster-Koloamatangi) who finds an unlikely ally in Thia (Emmy and Golden Globe nominee Elle Fanning) as he embarks on a treacherous journey in search of the ultimate adversary.

Produced by John Davis, Dan Trachtenberg, Marc Toberoff, Ben Rosenblatt and Brent O’Connor, “Predator: Badlands” opens exclusively in movie theaters on November 7 in IMAX, Dolby Cinema, RealD (3D), Cinemark XD, 4DX, ScreenX and premium screens everywhere.

“The Outfit” (1973) starring Robert Duvall, Karen Black, Joe Don Baker and Robert Ryan / Z-View

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The Outfit (1973)

Director:  John Flynn

Screenplay: John Flynn, Walter Hill (uncredited); based on THE OUTFIT by Richard Stark

Stars: Robert Duvall, Karen Black, Joe Don Baker, Robert Ryan, Timothy Carey, Richard Jaeckel, Sheree North, Felice Orlandi, Marie Windsor, Jane Greer, Henry Jones, Joanna Cassidy, Tom Reese, Bill McKinney, Anita O’Day, Archie Moore, Tony Young and Elisha Cook Jr..

Tagline: Nobody plays rougher than The Outfit…Except maybe Earl, Cody and Bett!

The Plot…

When Earl Macklin gets out of prison, his girlfriend Bett picks him up.  She drives to a motel and informs Earl that his brother was recently murdered.  Late that night a man breaks into the hotel room and attempts to kill Earl.  Earl survives and gets the upper hand.  He then tortures the man for information.

Earl’s brother robbed a syndicate bank.  That’s the reason he was killed.  They sent the killer to take out Earl so he wouldn’t seek revenge.  Earl lets the killer live on the condition he takes a message to the people that hired him.  The message: The Outfit owes him $250,000.00.  If they pay, Earl will go away.  Until they do, Earl is going to cost them money that he’ll keep.  And they will still owe him the quarter million.

Earl wants his money.  And he doesn’t care how many people he has to kill to get it.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Film legend, Robert Ryan’s last released film. He was also in Executive Action filmed after The Outfit, but released first.

The Outfit features Joanna Cassidy’s film debut.

Former Light Heavyweight Champion Archie Moore has a role as a tough guy.  Moore held the light heavyweight boxing title for ten years — longer than any champ in that division.

The great (and eccentric) character actor Timothy Carey appears in a supporting role.  Same could be said of Elisha Cook, Jr.

The Outfit (1973) rates 4 of 5 stars.

“Die Alone” (2024) starring Carrie-Anne Moss, Douglas Smith and Frank Grillo / Z-View

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Die Alone (2024)

Director:  Lowell Dean

Screenplay: Lowell Dean

Stars: Carrie-Anne Moss, Douglas Smith, Jonathan Cherry, Sari Mercer, Steven Roy, Harlan Blayne Kytwayhat and Frank Grillo.

Tagline: None.

The Plot…

A zombie outbreak is underway.  Ethan and his girlfriend Emma planned to make it to a remote cabin which they hoped w0uld provide sanctuary.

That’s all that Ethan remembers since he woke up alone.

As Ethan begins looking for Emma he is attacked by several armed men.  He’d have been killed if Mae, a middle-aged woman, hadn’t rescued him.  Ethan thanks Mae and says that he since he woke up, he can’t remember much, only that his girlfriend is missing.  Mae hasn’t seen her.  Mae says that Ethan is in no condition to continue his journey.  She says he’s welcome to stay at her farm until he’s better.

Ethan agrees.  Mae’s definitely a survivalist.  Her farm is remote and full of booby-traps.  As time passes Ethan starts remembering more and more.  Before long he’s sure all is not as it seems.

But he has no idea of what is to come.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Frank Grillo appears in just a few (but very memorable) scenes.

I figured out the twist early on, but wasn’t sure how it would play out.  The final scenes of the movie were unexpected.

Die Alone (2024) rates 2 of 5 stars.

Get Carter by Jarrod Alberich aka The Yard Sale Artist!

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Jarrod Alberich aka The Yard Sale Artist created the Jack Carter piece for pick-up at HeroesCon.  I’ve known Jarrod for years.  He’s a fun guy and an easy artist to deal with.

Jarrod calls himself The Yard Sale Artist because he uses materials that he finds at yard sales, thrift stores and so on. Jarrod passes those savings on to his customers with reasonable prices.

“Long Gone Heroes” (2024) / Z-View

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Long Gone Heroes (2024)

Director:  John Swab

Screenplay:  John Swab; story by Santiago Manes Moreno

Stars: Eden Brolin, Melissa Leo, Frank Grillo, George Carroll, Beau Knapp, Wendy Moniz, Josh Hutcherson, Mekhi Phifer and Andy Garcia.

Tagline: None.

The Plot…

When a retired special forces vet’s niece is kidnapped by a Venezuelian drug cartel, he recruits two of his old teammates and heads down to get her back.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

I was expecting Long Gone Heroes to be a lot better considering the cast includes Frank Grillo and Andy Garcia.

Long Gone Heroes (2024) rates 2 of 5 stars.

CEREMONY: A SPENCER NOVEL by Robert B. Parker / Z-View

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CEREMONY: A SPENCER NOVEL by Robert B. Parker

First sentences…

“She’s a goddamned whore,” Harry Kyle said.  “And I don’t want her in this house again.”

The Overview:  Beware of Spoilers…

April Kyle, a high school student ran away from home.  Although her parents don’t know exactly where she is, they know what she’s become.

A teenage prostitute.

Susan Silverman, a counselor, meets with her parents.  Susan’s lover, a hard case private eye named Spenser could find April.  Spenser could bring her home.  But April’s dad is too self-righteous to care for his daughter because of what she’s become.  Dad doesn’t want April back.  April’s mom is too weak to stand up for her child.  Spenser is ready to walk away.  He can’t stand April’s father.

But Susan cares.  She convinces Spenser to find April.  If April stays on the streets she certain for an early grave.  Spenser agrees to find April, but will only bring her home if she agrees.

What sounds like an easy job, find a high school girl who has gone down the wrong path, turns out to be anything but.  Spenser is soon at odds with Trumps, a pimp with a stable of hoes, as well as people (some who are very “connected”) who specialize in trafficking kids.

Spenser and Hawk are on the case.  Let the fun begin.

+++

CEREMONY was published in 1982.  It’s as relevant today as it was over 40 years ago.  Maybe even more relevant now since it deals with child-trafficking.  Also if written today, I have no doubt that many would make accusations that Parker was making a comment by naming a pimp Trumps.

I’m a huge fan of Robert B. Parker’s tales… especially those involving Spenser.  Not many authors would be willing to have their main character save a teenage girl from a life on the streets using Spencer’s solution.

Rating:

“Dredd” (2012) starring Karl Urban, Olivia Thirlby and Lena Headey / Z-View

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Dredd (2012)

Director:  Pete Travis

Screenplay:  Alex Garland; based on Judge Dredd by John Wagner, Carlos Ezquerra

Stars: Karl Urban, Olivia Thirlby, Lena Headey, Jason Cope, Tamer Burjaq and Deobia Oparei.

Tagline: Judgment is coming

The Plot…

In a dystopian future law officers are given authority to become judge, jury and executioner (as needed).  These police are called Judges.  The bring law and order to the Mega-City One where 800 million residents eke out a living.

Judge Dredd, a veteran officer is tasked to assess Cassandra Anderson. If Anderson survives the day making appropriate decisions and leving correct setences, she will become a Judge.

Dredd and Anderson are called to the Peach Tree Towers.  There they find three murder victims who had been tortured and skinned before being tossed from one of the 200 storey towers.  The Peach Tree Towers are the home base of Madeline “Ma-Ma” Madrigal.  Ma-Ma is head of a notorius drug cartel.  She was sending a message through the torture murders of the three victims.

Dredd and Anderson capture one of Ma-Ma’s soldiers and decide to take him in for questioning.  Ma-Ma is not going to let that happen.  Ma-Ma and her crew take control of the building’s security room.  They disrupt communications going in or out of the towers.  Ma-Ma then lowers the Tower’s nuclear blast shields.  No one is getting in or out.

Ma-Ma then announces over the Towers communication system that a bounty has been placed on the heads of Dredd and Anderson.  Anyone who kills them will be rewarded.  Anyone who helps them will, along with their families, be executed.

Alone and outnumbered, with no help coming, Dredd and Anderson decide to take the fight to Ma-Ma and her cartel.

Prepare to be judged.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

In the comics that Judge Dredd is based on, Dredd is never seen without his helmet on.  Karl Urban refused to take his helmet off for any scenes.

Although Pete Travis is listed as the director of Dredd, many say that Alex Garland directed most of the movie.  Karl Urban has stated this as well.

Karl Urban is excellent as Judge Dredd.  The same for Lena Headey as Ma-Ma.

Dredd (2012) (1932) rates 4 of 5 stars.