Previews and Reviews that are Z's Views
VIN DIESEL‘s next film, A Man Apart, has Diesel playing a narcotics cop whose wife is murdered when when drug dealers attempt to kill him. Man, if they think he was after them before…Although the advance word has been mixed, the trailer looks pretty good and with Diesel in the lead, ya gotta imagine that it’ll do well.
Personally, I can’t wait until DIESEL returns in “Pitch Black II: The Riddick Chronicles” but this will help get me through the wait.
Dreamfield Entertainment announced today that it has reached a licensing agreement with Paramount Pictures to market action figures and accessories based on WALTER HILL‘s 1979 classic “The Warriors.” The toys are expected to be released this summer. I remember seeing “The Warriors” during it’s initial theatrical release. I’m somewhat surprised that they’re making aciton figures of it twenty years after its premiere. But then again, it is considered a cult classic and it does have characters that will make cool looking action figures.
Can you dig it? I knew you could.
Anyone here like BRUCE WILLIS? Ok, hands down. Anyone here enjoy “Training Day?” Good, good.
Anyone want to see BRUCE WILLIS team up with the director of “Training Day” for an action – adventure movie? I thought so.
Well then, click below to see the trailer and HERE to visit the official site. Class dismissed. See you tomorrow!
It’s been a while since there’s been a movie that I’ve really looked forward to as much as Narc. The positive buzz has been building, the trailer looks like the real deal and the web site made me want to see it even more.
“Narc” stars RAY LIOTTA, JASON PATRIC, and CHI McBRIDE. It’s written/directed by JOE CARNAHAN [who may be a guy to watch], produced by RAY LIOTTA and TOM CRUISE. I’m plan to catch Narc opening weekend.
I really wasn’t planning an update on Christmas, but I just read that Kenneth Tobey died on December 22nd at the age of 85. Mr. Tobey appeared in 100 movies and nearly as many tv shows usually playing a cop or soldier. He is probably best known for his role as Captain Patrick Hendry in the original “The Thing From Another World.” Reading that Mr. Tobey had passed, reminded me of just how many times he entertained me.
Some of Kenneth Tobey’s feature film appearances include: He Walked by Night; Twelve 0’Clock High; The Gunfighter; The Thing From Another World; The Beast from 20,000 Fathoms; It Came from Beneath the Sea; The Man in the Gray Flannel Suit; Gunfight at the O.K. Corral; Marlowe; Billy Jack; The Candidate; Walking Tall; Dirty Mary Crazy Larry; Baby Blue Marine; Airplane; The Howling; Strange Invaders; Innerspace; Big Top Pee-wee; and Single White Female.
Some of Kenneth Tobey’s television appearances include: The Lone Ranger; Rawhide; Dragnet; Davy Crockett: King of the Wild Frontier; Father Knows Best; The Magical World of Disney (5 episodes); Wanted: Dead or Alive; Alfred Hitchcock Presents; Bat Masterson; The Rebel; 77 Sunset Strip; Bronco; Death Valley Days; The Danny Thomas Show; Have Gun – Will Travel; Sea Hunt; Perry Mason (3 episodes); Our Private World (10 episodes); Daniel Boone; Daktari (2 episodes); I Spy (7 episodes); Judd for the Defense; Family Affair; It Takes a Thief; The Virginian (4 episodes); The F.B.I.; Lassie (6 episodes); Bonanza (2 episodes); Longstreet; Cade’s County; Cannon; Gunsmoke (4 episodes); Night Gallery; Alias Smith & Jones (2 episodes); Kung Fu; Mannix (3 episodes); Adam-12 (3 episodes); Ironside (2 episodes); The Rookies (3 episodes); McMillan & Wife; Police Story (2 episodes); Get Christie Love (2 episodes); Columbo; Starsky & Hutch; Little House on the Prairie; The Streets of San Francisco (3 episodes); Days of Our Lives (4 episodes); The Rockford Files (2 episodes); Emergency! (4 episodes); Barnaby Jones (3 episodes); Falcon Crest; The Twilight Zone (1986); Hunter; Night Court (2 episodes); LA Law (2 episodes) and Star Trek: Deep Space Nine.
I’m not sure where I first saw Kenneth Toby. He appeared on so many favorite television shows and movies of my youth. I’ll always remember him best from The Thing From Another Planet. Any production that he appeared in was better for him being part of it. If any actor had just his movie or just his television resume, they would have a fulfilled career. Kenneth Toby had both and that speaks to his level of talent and professionalism.
On October 11th, there are three films coming out that I want to see. My bet is that you’ve heard of two of them.
The films are Below, Knockaround Guys, and The Transporter. The Transporter has been advertised everywhere. It looks to be an, action-packed thrill ride. Knockaround Guys has a great cast including Vin Diesel. Despite the fact that it’s been sitting on the shelf for quite a while, I think Knockaround Guys is going to be enjoyable. It should do well at the box office. Surrpisingly, the one I want to see most has had the least press.
Below is co-written and directed by David Twohy. Twohy did the same duties on Pitch Black. Below is the story of an American submarine facing Nazi war ships on the surface and something worse below. Harry Knowles calls it “a haunted house flick, where there is no door to sneak out of… (that) combines elements of CAINE MUTINY, Robert Wise’s THE HAUNTING, LEGEND OF HELL HOUSE, DAS BOOT and some stuff that I haven’t seen in any of those movies.” Stuff that Harry hasn’t seen?!
Whew!
Still not sold? Check out the full review.
It’s been a while since there have been three movies coming out on the same day that I want to see.
Any bets on which one I’m gonna see first?
The Mechanic (1972)
Director: Michael Winner
Writers: Lewis John Carlino,Monte Hellman
Stars: Charles Bronson, Jan-Michael Vincent, Keenan Wynn, Jill Ireland andFrank DeKova.
The Plot…
Bronson is a hit man… perhaps the best in the business. If he takes a job, the target is as good as dead. Jan Michael Vincent is the son of a mafioso who becomes Bronson‘s protege… not knowing that Bronson has recently murdered his father…but he’s about to find out!
Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…
Charles Bronson had a long career staring in a bunch of great movies. The Dirty Dozen. The Magnificent Seven. Death Wish. Hard Times. The Mechanic is one of my favorite Bronson films.
The opening scene shows Bronson setting up a hit and goes on for 16 minutes without a word of dialogue!
Be prepared for a great “surprise” ending.
The Mechanic (1972) rates 5 of 5 stars.
Updated 5/8/23
Vin Diesel has a great streak going… Pitch Black… The Fast and the Furious…
…and now XXX.
All of these films are/will be in my dvd library.
With talk of sequels for both Pitch Black and XXX, Vin could actually join Sean Connery, Sly Stallone, and Harrison Ford who all have had TWO movie franchises going at the same time!
XXX works. Diesel is believable as the extreme sports junkie recruited to become a government agent. The set-up and “training” sequences are really fun and include some of the best scenes in the movie. [And ya gotta love how they show a James Bond type trying to survive in this new world.] Samuel L. Jackson is always a plus and I hope we get to see more of him [in action] in the sequel.
Vin Diesel‘s next film could be the sequel to Pitch Black followed by the sequel to XXX. Both of these are fan favorites so it looks like the streak will continue to grow…
… and so will my movie collection!
The signs were all there.
M. Night Shyamalan was back. He had already written and directed the oh-so-cool “Sixth Sense” and the well done “Unbreakable.” Mel Gibson and Joaquin Phoenix were to co-star. The trailers were suspenseful. They left you wanting more. Yeah, the signs were all there.
But you never know.
I saw Signs yesterday and it’s been on my mind. The story involves aliens.. but not in the way I was expecting. It’s as much about family, redemption, and faith as it is aliens. And it is scary. Very scary! It will also make you laugh, move you to the verge of tears, and more than likely leave you feeling happy.
Signs rates a solid 5 of 5 stars.
I think you’ll enjoy it. The signs are all there.
Rating:
This is the prelim to the Jack Carter piece that Mike Zeck did for me. You can see the finished piece here.
– Craig Zablo (July 20, 2002)
“Reign of Fire” boasts a screenplay by three people [Gregg Chabot, Kevin Peterka, Matt Greenberg], that I’ve never heard of. Its stars are Christian Bale, and Matthew McConaughey [neither considered “A” list], and is directed by Rob Bowman [who didn’t impress me with the “X-Files” movie]. The odds were that the film would be entertaining at best… the odds were wrong. This film rocks.
Bale did an excellent job in his role but McConaughey OWNED every scene he was in. The direction, production values, special effects were all top notch. I must admit that the ending did let me down a bit but not enough to stop me from adding this baby to my library when it is released on dvd.
“Reign of Fire” rates a B+.
Sergio Toppi is one of the Italian masters that people like Frank Miller, Bill Sienkiewicz, Mike Mignola, Walt Simonson, Mike Zeck, and many others go crazy for. Big John Beatty was raving about how nice this piece is when he saw it. And who could disagree?
– Craig Zablo (April 28, 2002)
Artwork © Sergio Toppi
Hellboy is one of the few comics that I buy EVERY time it comes out. Mignola never disappoints. Here are a couple of trade paperbacks that could help you get up to speed if you’ve missed out…
I’m really excited about the prospects for the movie Hellboy. Del Toro is a fan of the comic, Mignola is working closely with him and Pearlman completes the trio. This could be really cool. I’ll keep ya posted!
I finally got an opportunity to see “Training Day” — what a powerful movie. No doubt, if you’re a movie fan, you’ve heard the hype. This is one movie that lives up to it.
Denzel Washington turns in a truly Oscar-worthy performance (his best yet, in my humble opinion). Ethan Hawke is excellent as well. While this movie isn’t for everyone, it is for my money one of the best movies that I’ve seen in months.
If you’ve seen it, I’d love to hear your thoughts… if you haven’t, consider it on your next trip to the video store. As for me, this baby is gonna end up in my personal collection!
