Angry Marv by Simono Bisley!
Marv from Frank Miller’s Sin City is one of my all-time favorite characters. I love seeing artists do their “take” on the big lug. Today we have Marv by Simon Bisley.
Source: Jeremy Mehring.
Jack Carter and John Wick by Dean Beattie!
Sly Stallone as Jack Carter and Keanu Reeves as John Wick is one of the commissions I got from Dean Beattie when he opened up a commission list. I jumped on board, got this beauty, a Rocky piece, a Rambo head sketch and two of his sketchbooks. If you’d like to see more of Dean’s art you can at his webpage or his Instagram.
THE LONG LAVENDER LOOK: A TRAVIS MCGEE NOVEL by John D. MacDonald / Z-View
THE LONG LAVENDER LOOK by John D. MacDonald
First sentences…
Late April. Ten o’clock at night. Hustling south on Florida 112 through the eastern section of Cypress County, about twenty miles from the intersection of 112 and the Tamiami Trail.
The Overview: Beware of Spoilers…
At night on a deserted Florida back road after a long day, Travis McGee and his buddy Meyer are making good time. Eighty miles an hour good time. Suddenly a scantily clad woman runs across the road. McGee is able to avoid hitting her but his car goes off the road. It hits hard and begins sinking.
McGee and Meyer are bruised and battered but nothing is broken. They make it out and to the shore. Then watch as the car sinks in swamp water.
With no options but to walk to the nearest town, they begin their trek. There’s little hope of a passing car so late at night on a deserted road. McGee and Meyer are happy to see a truck with a burly driver approaching. They feel their luck has turned.
Then the driver starts shooting at them.
+++
THE LONG LAVENDER LOOK features Travis McGee at his best. (John D. MacDonald too.)
Rating:
“Carlito’s Way” (1993) directed by Brian De Palma; starring Al Pacino & Sean Penn / Z-View
Carlito’s Way (1993)
Director: Brian De Palma
Screenplay: David Koepp; based on CARLITO’S WAY and AFTER HOURS by Edwin Torres
Stars: Al Pacino, Sean Penn, Penelope Ann Miller, John Leguizamo, Ingrid Rogers, Luis Guzmán, James Rebhorn, Richard Foronjy, Frank Minucci, Adrian Pasdar, John Ortiz, Al Israel, Rick Aviles, Jaime Sánchez and Viggo Mortensen.
Tagline: In his world, you got to shoot your way out. He wanted out. He’d do anything to get there.
The Plot…
The year is 1975. When Carlito Brigante gets released from prison after serving just five years of a thirty year stretch, he is determined to leave a life of crime behind. Carlito hopes to get back with his ex-girlfriend Gail. Once he has the cash, they’ll retire to the Caribbean.
How hard should it be to walk the straight and narrow?
Carlito’s cousin, Guajiro, asks Carlito to accompany him on a drug deal. Guajiro just wants Carlito there for moral support. It will be an easy exchange. Of course things go south. Guajiro is killed. Carlito shoots his way out with the cash from the drug deal.
Carlito’s buddy Dave Kleinfeld, is the lawyer who used a legal technicality to get Carlito out of prison. Now Dave wants Carlito’s help with some thing not exactly legal. How can Carlito turn him down?
Plus Benny Blanco, a young hotshot gangster wanna-be wants to go into “business” with Carlito. Carlito turns Benny down repeatedly.
Carlito’s dream of a life free of crime in paradise with Gail is put at risk with every move he makes.
Will Carlito’s way become a dream or nightmare?
Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…
Carlito’s Way is based on two novels (CARLITO’S WAY and AFTER HOURS) by Edwin Torres. Torres also wrote the novel Q&A which was the basis for the movie of the same name. Torres, in addition to being a novelist, was a New York State Supreme Court Judge.
Carlito’s Way is based on two novels. Most of the film comes from the second book, AFTER HOURS. The title of the first novel was kept as the title of the movie, mostly to void confusion with Martin Scorsese’s movie After Hours.
When folks think of Al Pacino’s greatest films, they think Godfather I & II, Heat and Dog Day Afternoon. Carlito’s Way should be on that list.
Carlito’s Way (1993) rates 5 of 5 stars
Rocky Balboa by Kyle Baker!
I met Kyle Baker at HeroesCon 2007. I was (and still am) a huge fan of Kyle Baker’s art and comics. You can imagine how happy I was to get Kyle’s take on Sly Stallone as Rocky Balboa.
“Predator” (1987) directed by John McTiernan; starring Arnold Schwarzenegger / Z-View
Predator (1987)
Director: John McTiernan
Screenplay: Jim Thomas, John Thomas
Stars: Arnold Schwarzenegger, Carl Weathers, Kevin Peter Hall, Elpidia Carrillo, Jesse Ventura, Sonny Landham, Richard Chaves, R.G. Armstrong, Shane Black,
Franco Columbu and Sven-Ole Thorsen.
Tagline: If it bleeds, we can kill it…
The Plot…
A helicopter carrying a diplomat is shot down in a Central American jungle. The CIA sends in Agent Al Dillon to oversee the rescue mission led by Major “Dutch” Schaefer and his team of mercenaries.
Shortly after their drop-off in the jungle, the team finds three skinned corpses strung upside down from a tree. Dutch learns that his team was sent in under false pretenses. Even worse, as the team will soon discover, an alien predator with advanced technology is stalking them.
It wants warrior trophies.
Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…
Jean-Claude Van Damme (5’9″) was originally cast as the Predator. It was soon decided that JCVD’s Predator (much shorter than Schwarzenegger and the rest of his squad) was not imposing enough. Kevin Peter Hall (7’2″) ended up playing the Predator.
John McTiernan was chosen to helm Predator after Ridley Scott, James Cameron, John Milius, John Carpenter, Renny Harlin and others turned it down. McTiernan proved to be the right choice.
Kevin Peter Hall can be seen as one of the helicopter pilots at the end of the film. John McTiernan gave him the role as a reward for his performance in the Predator suit.
Shane Black, the actor who plays one of the rescue squad soldiers is better known as the screenwriter for Lethal Weapon and other films.
Both Arnold Schwarzenegger and Jesse Ventura would go on to become state governors in real life.
Predator is a classic.
Predator (1987) rates 5 of 5 stars
Sly Stallone (and Marvin) by Tom Armstrong!
Tom Armstrong is the creator/writer/artist of the long-running Marvin cartoon strip. I met Mr. Armstrong way back in 2004 at the Cavalcade of Comics 2nd Annual Benefit to fight Tourette’s Syndrome. Comic’s legend Don Perlin and his wife spearheaded the event.
Tom Armstrong was one of the artists sketching and he did his take on Sly Stallone for me. As Tom was signing it, he added a little Marvin peeking over Sly. How cool is that?
“Die Hard 2” directed by Renny Harlin; starring Bruce Willis / Z-View
Die Hard 2 (1990)
Director: Renny Harlin
Screenplay: Steven E. de Souza, Doug Richardson; based on 58 MINUTES by Walter Wagner
Stars: Bruce Willis, Bonnie Bedelia, William Atherton, Reginald VelJohnson, Franco Nero, William Sadler, Dennis Franz, Art Evans, Fred Thompson, Tom Bower, Sheila McCarthy, Don Harvey, Tony Ganios, Robert Patrick, John Leguizamo and John Amos.
Tagline: Wrong Place, Wrong Time, Same John McClane
The Plot…
Christmas Eve two years after the events at Nakatomi Tower. John McClane is now a lieutenant with the LAPD.
While waiting to pick up his wife at the at Dulles International Airport, McClane notices two men sneaking into a restricted area. McClane pulls his police ID and follows. When McClane identifies himself, the two men pull guns and begin shooting. McClane returns fire. After a short gun battle, McClane kills one. The second man escapes.
McClane meets with Carmine Lorenzo airport police chief, and Ed Trudeau, air traffic control director. McClane is concerned that the two men were part of a bigger team planning a major terrorist attack. Neither Lorenzo or Trudeau are willing to accept that.
McClane is right. What nobody knows is the Ramon Esperanza, a cartel drug lord, is in custody. He’s on a plane headed for Dulles International. A squad of ex-military mercenaries led by disgraced US Colonel William Stuart have plans to liberate Esperanza. It will be up to McClane to stop them.
What chance does one cop have against a group of heavily armed terrorists? Anyone remember Nakatomi Tower?
Yippi-Ki-Yay, mother*******.
Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…
Die Hard 2 is loosely based on the Walter Wagner novel 58 MINUTES. A lot was changed for the film. Don’t read the book expecting Die Hard 2 the movie.
Die Hard was loosely based on Roderick Thorp’s novel NOTHING LASTS FOREVER. Thorp was given credit in Die Hard 2 for creating “certain original characters”. His name was misspelled as Thorpe in the credits.
Because Willis’ ad-libbed many of the most popular lines in Die Hard, he was given free reign to ad-lib all he wanted in Die Hard 2.
Die Hard 2 did almost twice the box office of Die Hard. This insured that the franchise would continue.
Roman Esperanza, the drug lord, was said to be from Val Verde. This is the same fictional country used in Commando. John McClane and John Matrix could have teamed up!
Die Hard 2 is a worthy follow-up to the original.
Die Hard 2 (1990) rates 4 of 5 stars
Victor from 100 BULLETS by Eduardo Risso!
Every now and again with need something from 100 Bullets by Eduardo Risso.
Rambo – Stick Fighter by Jason Shawn Alexander!
I absolutely love this sketch of Rambo – Stick Fighter by Jason Shawn Alexander. I got it way back in 2003. You could tell Jason was destined for great things.
“Die Hard” (1988) directed by John McTiernan; starring Bruce Willis and Alan Rickman / Z-View
Die Hard (1988)
Director: John McTiernan
Screenplay: Jeb Stuart, Steven E. de Souza; based on NOTHING LASTS FOREVER by Roderick Thorp
Stars: Bruce Willis, Alan Rickman, Bonnie Bedelia, Reginald VelJohnson, Paul Gleason, De’voreaux White, William Atherton, Hart Bochner, James Shigeta, Alexander Godunov, Andreas Wisniewski, Clarence Gilyard Jr., Lorenzo Caccialanza and Al Leong.
Tagline: High above the city of L.A. a team of terrorists has seized a building, taken hostages and declared war. One man has managed to escape. An off-duty cop hiding somewhere inside. He’s alone, tired… and the only chance anyone has got.
The Plot…
New York City detective John McClane has flown to LA on Christmas Eve. McClane is hoping to get back with with his estranged wife, Holly. But first they have to attend Holly’s work Christmas party at the Nakatomi Towers. Holly’s moving up in the Nakatomi corporation and that’s one of the problems in the McClane marriage.
The party is just getting underway when John arrives. He excuses himself to clean up in one of the company restrooms. Everyone else is gathered together for the party’s kick-off. That’s when a group of heavily armed terrorists led by Hans Gruber busts in. They take everyone at the party hostage. Except for John McClane.
McClane realizes what is happening. He’s alone and unarmed. The terrorists have cut off all communications to/from the tower. When they realize McClane is there, one of the armed terrorists is sent to retrieve him. McClane manages to kill the terrorist. He takes the assassins machine gun and radio.
As the terrorists move forward with their plan (and it ain’t getting a ransom for the Nakatomi party-goers), they begin to hunt for John McClane. Killing him with be a bonus. What chance does one tired off-duty cop have against a band of armed mercenaries?
Yippi-Ki-Yay, mother*******.
Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…
Die Hard was nominated for four 1989 Academy Awards…
- Nominee for Best Visual Effects – Richard Edlund, Al Di Sarro, Brent Boates, Thaine Morris
- Nominee for Best Sound Effects Editing – Stephen Hunter Flick, Richard Shorr
- Nominee for Best Film Editing – Frank J. Urioste, John F. Link
- Nominee for Best Sound – Don J. Bassman, Kevin F. Cleary, Richard Overton, Al Overton Jr.
Die Hard is loosely based on the Roderick Thorp novel NOTHING LASTS FOREVER. A lot was changed for the film. Don’t read the book expecting Die Hard the movie.
Sly Stallone, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Robert De Niro, Clint Eastwood, Charles Bronson and many other big name movie stars were offered the role of John McClane. Even Frank Sinatra was courted to play the lead. Everyone asked turned it down. Bruce Willis, a television lead at a time when tv was seen as way below feature films, was paid $5 million to star. In many of the first posters and ads for Die Hard, Willis’ name was not played up. The movie went on to be a hit with audiences and shot Bruce Willis into the top tier of movie actors.
Die Hard features Alan Rickman’s first feature film role. He is perfect as Hans Gruber.
Die Hard was added to the National film registry by the Library of Congress in 2017 for being “culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant.”
Hart Bochner is on point as the smarmy executive that overplays his hand with Hans Gruber.
Die Hard is one of the best action movies ever made. Scratch the word action and the sentence is still true.
Die Hard (1988) rates 5 of 5 stars
Brad Pitt from “Seven” by Zinsky!
I came across this awesome painting of Brad Pitt from Seven by Zinsky on Instagram. What a talented artist.
Jack Carter by Jarrod Alberich “The Yard Sale Artist”!
Jarrod Alberich aka The Yard Sale Artist created the Jack Carter piece above for me after I won a contest he was running.
Jarrod calls himself The Yard Sale Artist because he uses only materials that he finds at yard sales, thrift stores, dumpsters and so on. Jarrod is a great guy and his prices are reasonable. This was my second piece by Jarrod that he did way back in 2017. Jarrod’s art has improved since then as you’ll see in future posts.
Frankenstein and the Wolfman by Tony Moore!
Tony Moore has an interesting take on Frankenstein and the Wolfman… and I like it!
Source: Longbox of Darkness.
Jack Carter & John Wick by Karl Slominski!
The Jack Carter & John Wick piece above was created as a commission for me at HeroesCon 2017 by Karl Slominski. It was my first piece by Slominski. It wasn’t my last.
My second piece by Karl was Jack Carter and Marv from Frank Miller’s Sin City.
My third piece from Karl was Carter and Raylan Givens from Justified.
I wonder what my fourth piece will be.
