Marv by Johnny Desjardins!
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 Johnny Desjardins.
“Room 237” (2012) / Z-View
Room 237 (2012)
Director: Rodney Ascher
Screenplay: Rodney Ascher
Stars: Archival footage featuring Stanley Kubrick, Stephen King, Jack Nicholson, Shelley Duvall, Danny Lloyd, Scatman Crothers, Joe Turkel, Barry Nelson, Tom Cruise and Nicole Kidman.
Tagline: Some movies stay with you forever…and ever…and ever.
The Plot…
Room 237 features nine segments that explore theories that Stanley Kubrick imbedded hidden messages and themes within The Shining. Some of the theories include that Kubrick directed fake footage of the first moon landing since we really didn’t land with Apollo 11, cultural assimilation of Native Americans or American Imperialism or Genocide are the real themes of the film. There are more.
Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…
If you don’t like one of the theories, don’t worry, another will soon be presented. A lot of sizzle, but no steak.
Room 237 (2012) earns 2 of 5 stars.
RIP: Joyce Randolph
Joyce Randolph died yesterday in her sleep. Ms. Randolph was 99.
After high school in Detroit, Joyce Randolph auditioned for a part in a touring company of Stage Door. She earned the role and finished the tour. She then moved to New York City to pursue an acting career. Joyce Randolph began getting roles on Broadway and television. When Jackie Gleason offered her the role of Trixie on The Honeymooners, she became a household name.
Some of Joyce Randolph’s television appearances include: Gander Sauce; Rocky King, Detective; Buck Rogers; The Ed Sullivan Show; The Plainclothesman (5 episodes); The Jack Benny Program; The Honeymooners (39 episodes); The Jackie Gleason Show (79 episodes); Hi Honey, I’m Home and Everything’s Jake.
Because Joyce Randolph became so typecast from her role on The Honeymooners, it became hard for her to get roles. She turned to acting in summer stock, commercials and the occasional television guest spot. Joyce Randolph was the last surviving cast member of what many consider the best television comedy ever made.
Our thoughts and prayers go out to Joyce Randolph’s family, friends and fans.
“The Underground: Director’s Cut” (2021) / Z-View
The Underground: Director’s Cut (2021)
Director: Darcy Weir
Stars: Darcy Weir
Tagline: A hidden reality and the true story of Phil Schneider.
The Plot…
In 1995, Phil Schneider made a splash at UFO conventions. Schneider claimed his father was a former German U-boat commander who came to the US after the war. Schneider said his father worked as part of the Philadelphia Experiment. According to legend the US did an experiment to make a US destroyer disappear. The ship was teleported briefly from the Philadelphia Naval Shipyard to Norfolk, Virginia. When the ship returned some members of the crew had disappeared, while others were melded into the ship and some went insane.
Phil Schneider said that he worked for the government as part of the team making Deep Underground Military Bases across the United States. Schneider claimed that on one of the deep digs he and marines became involved in battle with aliens. Schneider said he was gravely wounded, and that a marine died saving his life. Schneider said the US government knows that we have aliens among us and some have evil intent.
Phil Schneider died in 1996. The official result was suicide although some conspiracy theorists believe he was murdered.
Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…
The Underground: Director’s Cut presents video footage of Schneider speaking at a UFO convention. Most of the film is stock footage and anecdotal theories. If you’re looking for solid evidence of aliens or government coverups, this isn’t the place.
The Underground: Director’s Cut (2021) earns 2 of 5 stars.
Flash Gordan and Dale by Mike Manley
This year marks the 90th anniversary of Flash Gordon. What better way to celebrate than with this cool drawing of Flash and Dale by Mike Manley?
“World War II: From the Frontlines” (2023) / Z-View
World War II: From the Frontlines (2023)
Director: Rob Coldstream
Stars: John Boyega (narrator)
Tagline: None.
The Plot…
Using remastered archival footage and interviews with participants from all sides, this six episode docuseries presents an overview of World War II.
Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…
You will want to watch World War II: From the Frontlines for the remastered, colorized footage and interviews. Although there are six episodes, this is more of a Cliff Notes version of World War II. There is often a lack of context, some facts are mistaken and major events ignored. I was disappointed that Iwo Jima wasn’t even mentioned.
World War II: From the Frontlines (2023) earns 3 of 5 stars.
“Lights Out” starring Frank Grillo, Mekhi Phifer, Jaime King, Dermot Mulroney and Scott Adkins – The Poster and Trailer are Here!
The poster and trailer for Lights Out starring Frank Grillo, Mekhi Phifer, Jaime King, Dermot Mulroney and Scott Adkins is here.
Deal me in.
A drifting ex-soldier turns underground fighter with the help of a just released ex-con, pitting them both against corrupt cops and hired killers gunning for them and all those they care about.
CAST: Frank Grillo, Mekhi Phifer, Jaime King, Dermot Mulroney and Scott Adkins
“Parish” starring Giancarlo Esposito – The Teaser is Here!
The first teaser for AMC’s Parish, a six episode limited series starring Giancarlo Esposito is here!
Lead us not into temptation, and deliver us from evil.
#Parish , starring Giancarlo Esposito, premieres this Spring on AMC and AMC+.
“Badland Hunters” starring Don Lee – The Trailer is Here!
The full trailer for Badland Hunters starring Don Lee is here.
Hunt or die.
Welcome to the badlands.Don Lee from《Train to Busan》《The Roundup》 and《Eternals》 is now a tough hunter in the dystopian world, who fights for survival and salvation.
Will hunters save us all?
or will villains take us all?2024 Netflix action blockbuster film
Badland Hunters | January 26, only on Netflix
BLUEBERRY & CHIHUAHUA PEARL by Enrico Marini!
BLUEBERRY & CHIHUAHUA PEARL by Enrico Marini.
“The Creator” (2023) / Z-View
The Creator (2023)
Director: Gareth Edwards
Screenplay: Gareth Edwards, Chris Weitz; story by Gareth Edwards
Stars: John David Washington, Madeleine Yuna Voyles, Gemma Chan, Allison Janney, Ralph Ineson and Ken Watanabe.
Tagline: Humanity evolves.
The Plot…
When a nuclear warhead is exploded over Los Angeles, Artificial Intelligence is blamed. In turn, most Western nations declare war and move to exterminate all A.I. “beings”. One of the end goals is to exterminate Nirmata, the genius behind recent A.I. advancements.
Former U.S. Army sergeant Joshua Taylor (Washington) is called back to duty. Taylor had worked undercover and was married to Nirmata’s daughter. She was thought to have been killed in a US military strike. Recent video has surfaced and she may be alive. Taylor is led to believe that if he participates in the mission, he may find his wife is still alive. The mission is to destroy the next generation of A.I. before it reaches full power.
Taylor agrees. The team is dispatched. Taylor discovers that there has been an advancement in AI. It is in the form of a young girl. Taylor also learns that he and the world have been lied to. Now, Taylor and the “girl” are on the run. The fate of the world could hang in the balance.
Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…
For a film dealing with artificial intelligence, it has a lot of heart.
Allison Janney may surprise a lot of folks in her role as a hardened military commander. She’s excellent.
The Creator (2023) earns 4 of 5 stars.
Rocky, Pauly and Thunderlips by Patrick Ganino!
Patrick Ganino created the huge Rocky mural on the back of the Sly Stallone Shop located at the Rocky Steps in Philly. But before that, he painted the art above and then got it autographed by Sly Stallone, Burt Young and Hulk Hogan. Click here to see it signed by all three!
“Abbott and Costello Meet Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde” (1953) starring Bud Abbott, Lou Costello & Boris Karloff / Z-View
Abbott and Costello Meet Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde (1953)
Director: Charles Lamont
Screenplay: Lee Loeb, John Grant; story by Sid Fields, Grant Garett;inspired by The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde by Robert Louis Stevenson
Stars: Bud Abbott, Lou Costello, Boris Karloff, Helen Westcott, Reginald Denny, John Dierkes, Harry Cording and Craig Stevens.
Tagline: The Laughs Are Twice as MONSTER-OUS as Ever Before!
The Plot…
A maniacal serial killer stalks the streets of London. Slim (Abbott) and Tubby (Costello), American cops sent over to study England’s police methods, are pulled into the case.
Let the good times roll!
Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…
In this version, Dr. Jekyll isn’t such a nice guy. In most outings, it isn’t until he becomes Mr. Hyde that he becomes evil.
Boris Karloff appeared with Abbott and Costello four years earlier in Abbott and Costello Meet the Killer.
Abbott and Costello Meet Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde (1953) earns 5 of 5 stars.
“3 Body Problem” – The Trailer is Here!
This looks interesting. I want to see more.
There’s someone behind everything. You just have to dig.
3 Body Problem premieres on Netflix March 21st, 2024.From multiple Emmy Award-winning creators David Benioff and D.B. Weiss (Game of Thrones), and Emmy-nominated Alexander Woo (The Terror: Infamy, True Blood) comes 3 Body Problem, a thrilling story that redefines sci-fi drama with its layered mysteries and genre-bending high stakes. Based on the acclaimed, international bestselling book trilogy, The Three-Body Problem.
A young woman’s fateful decision in 1960s China reverberates across space and time to a group of brilliant scientists in the present day. As the laws of nature unravel before their eyes five former colleagues reunite to confront the greatest threat in humanity’s history.
