Category: Z-View

Z-View: “The Cat and the Canary”

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The Cat and the Canary  [1939]
Director: Elliott Nugent
Screenplay: Walter DeLeon and Lynn Starling based on the stage play by John Willard
Starring: Bob Hope and Paulette Goddard.

The Pitch: ”Hey, let’s team Bob Hope in a film with Paulette Goddard.  We could do a remake of the 1927 silent film The Cat and the Canary which is based on the 1922 stage play of the same name.”

The Tagline: “A Chill-and-Chuckle Chase!… A Fortune at Stake and a Monster at Large!”

The Overview:  Beware of Spoilers…

Ten years after the death of an eccentric millionaire, Cyrus Norman, his remaining family members are brought to his spooky-looking mansion deep in the bayou.  Before the will is read, his former caretaker informs the group that the spirits have said one of them will die that night. Sadly there is no way to leave the mansion until the next day.

Norman left two wills: The first leaves everything to Paulette Goddard [much to the disappointment of all except Bob Hope]; the second will is to be opened only if Goddard dies or goes insane before the month is out.  The second will leaves everything to one of the others [although who is unknown until Goddard dies] which of course puts Goddard’s life in danger.  To make matters worse, the group learns that a homicidal maniac known as the Cat has escaped from a nearby insane asylum and is in the area.

As the night wears on things get progressively worse – lights go on and off, people disappear, real eyes in paintings are watching, secret passages are found and what? Someone has been murdered!

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Z-View: “Creed”

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Creed  [2015]
Director:  Ryan Coogler
Screenplay: Ryan Coogler and Aaron Covington
Starring: Michael B. Jordan, Sylvester Stallone and Tessa Thompson.

The Pitch: ”Hey Sly, my name is Ryan Coogler and I have an idea to continue the Rocky legacy…”

The Tagline:  “Your legacy is more than a name.”

The Overview:  Beware of Spoilers…

Sylvester Stallone was content that after six feature-length films Rocky’s story had been told.  Ryan Coogler had a different outlook and movie fans are better for it.

Creed  isn’t a sequel as much as an expansion of the Rocky Balboa universe.  In the past films, Rocky was the center of attention and Rocky’s struggle was the reason for the movie.  Now the focus shifts to Adonis Creed, Apollo’s illegitimate son.

In less adept hands Creed could have been a straight-to-video attempt to squeeze out the last few dollars from a series that many (including Stallone) thought was over.  Instead we’re treated to one of the most satisfying, emotional and uplifting movies that I can remember ever seeing.

Michael B. Jordan is an amazing actor.  He is required to go through a gauntlet of emotions throughout the film but they are never overstated or hammy.  He and Stallone share a couple of scenes where the actor talking isn’t the most important part of the scene.  The range of emotions that they go through is subtle and all the more powerful because they pull us into the scenes.

Sly has never been better.  Never.  An Oscar nomination should be in the bag.  Don’t believe me? Rewatch the scene with the doctor when she tells Rocky his diagnosis.  Or when Rocky returns to the gym.  Or when Rocky talks to Adonis about Adrian, what she went through and what he would go through for one more day with her.  Heck, think about the scene with Rocky and Adonis in the holding cell.

Ryan Coogler deserves special mention for making Creed happen.  Not only can Coogler write, but his direction is spot-on.  Coogler creates a world where all of the characters are believable.

There are so many cool touches Coogler puts in the film – Adonis watching the second fight between Rocky and Apollo with Adonis mimicking Rocky’s punches – Rocky talking about how everything he cared for has moved on [Adrian and Paulie have died, his son lives in Vancouver, even his turtle tank now only contains one turtle] – the fact that Rocky is still recognized as a celebrity “When were you going to tell me your uncle was Rocky Balboa” is just one example] but that time has moved on as well..

Coogler made what could have been a simple boxing movie into a drama about so much more than boxing… yeah, I guess you could call Creed a modern day Rocky.  And you know for me, there is no higher compliment.

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Z-View: The Expendables #4 by Dixon and Polls

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The Expendables #4 is part of a four-issue mini-series published by Dynamite Comics.

Writer: Chuck Dixon
Artist: Esteve Polls
Colorist: Marc Rueda
Cover Artist: Lucio Parrillo

The action-packed comic book prequel to the action-packed movie even of Summer, 2010 concludes! Read the story BEFORE the story and find out more about the characters BEFORE they hit the big screen this summer! In this final issue, the crap has hit the fan. Plus: explosions!

*** Beware – spoilers may be found below ***

The Good

  • The Expendables in a comic prequel.
  • “Our evac strategy?”  “Fluid”  “Like usual then.”

The Bad:

  • It is still bugs me that the comic characters don’t look more like the movie characters.
  • A lot of headshots this issue.

The Ugly:

  • “Sorry, baby, I didn’t make you any breakfast.”  “Then why do I smell bacon?”

 

The Expendables #4 would get a two star rating if I wasn’t such a Stallone/Expendables fan, but since I am…

 

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Z-View: The Expendables #3 by Dixon and Polls

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The Expendables #3 is part of a four-issue mini-series published by Dynamite Comics.

Writer: Chuck Dixon
Artist: Esteve Polls
Colorist: Marc Rueda
Cover Artist: Lucio Parrillo

After years of corruption, murder of American hostages, and betrayal of foreign policies, the US – with the help of other Nations who secretly put together a squad of their most highly trained military personal – will finally attempt to overthrow the dictator who has caused devastation in South America for over 20 years.
This is the story before the movie…

*** Beware – spoilers may be found below ***

The Good

  • The Expendables in a comic prequel.
  • Tool giving a car thief directions off of his property with buckshot.
  • The art for the series hasn’t been a bright spot but I really like the first panel on page 22.
  • Tool with a shotgun and flamethrower going to meet those breaking into his house.

The Bad:

  • It is still bugs me that the comic characters don’t look more like the movie characters.

The Ugly:

  • “Attacking a battleship with three men…”

 

The Expendables #3 would get a two star rating if I wasn’t such a Stallone/Expendables fan, but since I am…


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Z-View: The Expendables #2 by Dixon and Polls

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The Expendables #2 is part of a four-issue mini-series published by Dynamite Comics.

Writer: Chuck Dixon
Artist: Esteve Polls
Colorist: Marc Rueda
Cover Artist: Lucio Parrillo

After years of corruption, murder of American hostages, and betrayal of foreign policies, the US – with the help of other Nations who secretly put together a squad of their most highly trained military personal – will finally attempt to overthrow the dictator who has caused devastation in South America for over 20 years.
This is the story before the movie…

*** Beware – spoilers may be found below ***

The Good

  • The Expendables in a comic prequel.
  • A one million dollar payday for a snatch and grab.
  • “Embracing the gloom again, huh?”

The Bad:

  • It is starting to bug me that the comic characters don’t look more like the movie characters.  Toll Road has long hair, a mustache and no cauliflower ears.  Hale Caesar doesn’t look much bigger than everyone else… and so on.
  • Being a kid in the store when your dad won’t give a drug dealer requested information.
  • Repeatedly calling Gunar “Tweaker” and everyone complaining about how terrible he screws things up and yet they keep bringing him back.

The Ugly:

  • When a drug dealer warms up your bath.

 

The Expendables #2  would get a two star rating if I wasn’t such a Stallone/Expendables fan, but since I am…

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Z-View: The Expendables #1 by Dixon and Polls

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The Expendables #1 is part of a four-issue mini-series published by Dynamite Comics.

Writer: Chuck Dixon
Artist: Esteve Polls
Colorist: Marc Rueda
Cover Artist: Lucio Parrillo

After years of corruption, murder of American hostages, and betrayal of foreign policies, the US – with the help of other Nations who secretly put together a squad of their most highly trained military personal – will finally attempt to overthrow the dictator who has caused devastation in South America for over 20 years.
This is the story before the story…
Featuring the skillful scripting of Chuck Dixon, the masterful art of Esteve Pols and an incredible painted cover by Lucio Parrillo, Dynamite’s all-original Expendables comic features a story you won’t see on the big screen, serving as a prequel to the hottest action film of 2010!

*** Beware – spoilers may be found below ***

The Good

  • The Expendables in a comic prequel.
  • Barney: “Now I’m going to show how strong my kung fu is Yin.”   Yin: “Laying semtex is not a martial art.”  Barney: “It is the way I do it…”
  • How Barney deals with the gangbanger with a gun.
  • Cliffhanger on the last page — who wants to hire The Expendables and what is the nature of the secret assignment?

The Bad:

  • Gunar: “Everybody with a piece is out of bed and looking this way…”
  • When someone steals Barney’s 1956 Ford F-100.

The Ugly:

  • Gunar: “…and everybody has a piece.”
  • When Barney catches up to the folks who stole his 1956 Ford F-100.

 

The Expendables #1  would get a two star rating if I wasn’t such a Stallone/Expendables fan, but since I am…

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Z-View: Punisher Annual (2009) #1 by Remender and Pearson

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Punisher Annual (2009) #1  is a one-shot published by Marvel.

Writer: Rick Remender
Artist: Jason Pearson
Colorist: Dave Stewart
Cover Artist: Jason Pearson

“REMOTE CONTROL”  The Punisher faces his greatest challenge yet: Trapped in the throes of a hypnotic spell, Spider-Man’s gone psycho and he wants to grind Frank Castle’s bones to paste! And since Spidey’s not really to blame for his actions, Castle faces a dilemma: Fight (the only way he knows how) or die. Can the Punisher survive a bloodthirsty Wall-Crawler long enough to disconnect him from the control of the Dirty Dozen’s leaders, Letha and Lascivious? Super-star artist Jason Pearson joins regular series writer Rick Remender. Parental Advisory

*** Beware – spoilers may be found below ***

The Good

  • Remender and Pearson!
  • I like Pearson’s take on Spider-Man.

The Bad:

  • “I told you that goatee was ridiculous.”  Indeed.
  • This is not the Punisher that I prefer.  His motorcycle has a skull face on the front — is it his version of the Batcycle?
  • The Punisher with pumpkin grenades.
  • When Spidey is mind-controlled to kill the Punisher.
  • Spidey throwing the Punisher over a building.

The Ugly:

  • Mind-control mayhem at the wounded vets meeting.
  • The Punisher pushing a pinless pumkin grenade into a villain’s mouth.
  • When Spidey is mind-controlled that he is in love with the Punisher.

 

Punisher Annual (2009) #1

I’m a fan of both Rick Remender’s writing and Jason Pearson’s art but the Punisher Annual wouldn’t be the example I’d use of their best work.  Your mileage my differ.

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Z-View – Criminal Special Edition by Brubaker and Phillips

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Criminal Special Edition is a one-shot published by Image.

Writer: Ed Brubaker
Artist: Sean Phillips
Colorist: Elizabeth Breitweiser
Cover Artist: Sean Phillips

CRIMINAL COMES TO IMAGE! To celebrate the return of CRIMINAL to print, BRUBAKER & PHILLIPS return to their awardwinning title for the first time in years for a 48-page special sure to thrill their readers, old and new alike! It’s 1976, and Teeg Lawless is doing 30 days in county jail with a price on his head, his only safe company from the savagery a beat-up old comic magazine his dead cellmate left behind. It’s CRIMINAL like you’ve never seen it before, with a comic within the comic and all those slick ‘70s thrills!

*** Beware – spoilers may be found below ***

The Good

  • Brubaker and Phillips!
  • Criminal is back with a new story!
  • “I wasn’t done reading that yet.”
  • “It’s ****** jail, Wilson.  Just assume everything in here is bad.”
  • Cameo by Tracy Lawless.

The Bad:

  • Teeg Lawless.
  • When Mr. G wants to talk to you and you find out he doesn’t.
  • “So you understand you don’t have that protection? … You’re on your own Lawless.”
  • I could have done with less Savage Sword of Criminal and more Teeg Lawless.

The Ugly:

  • Magazine-Fu to the eye.
  • Nightsticks to the head and body topped off with a stomp to the wrist.
  • Meal tray-fu.  Cast-fu.  Thumb to the eye-fu.  Three on one with a cast in the shower-fu.  Bloody-beat down hanging on the jail cell followed by acid trip attack.

 

Criminal Special Edition

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Z-View – Conan Red Sonja: The Age of Adventure #2 by Simone & Zub and Panosian

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Conan Red Sonja: The Age of Adventure is a mini-series published by Dark Horse.

Writer: Gail Simone, Jim Zub
Artist: Dan Panosian
Colorist: Dave Stewart
Cover Artist: Dan Panosian

Conan and Red Sonja unite to stop a sorcerer-priest from creating a new age in Hyborian warfare! Exposed to a deadly toxin, barbarian and she-devil race against time to save themselves!

*** Beware – spoilers may be found below ***

The Good

  • The art by Dan Panosian!
  • Pages 2 & 3 = Double page splash!
  • “She’s my sister, Conan.  You wouldn’t understand.”
  • “A world at peace.”  “Yes.”
  • “He’s quite good, you see.  And he tagged you, first try.”  “To be fair, you were busy looking at her at the time.”
  • Preview of the next cover by Panosian!

The Bad:

  • How Belit and Dark Annisia feel when Conan and Red Sonja become reunite.
  • Thoth-Amon!
  • “With you as its Lord and Master.”  “Yes.”

The Ugly:

  • “Go Bak Only Deth Lies Heer”

 

Conan Red Sonja #2

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Z-View: Men of Wrath #5 by Aaron and Garney

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Men of Wrath is a five issue mini-series created by Jason Aaron & Ron Garney published by Marvel.

Writer: Jason Aaron

Artist: Ron Garney

Colorist: Matt Milla

Letterer: Jared K. Fletcher

“Jason Aaron and Ron Garney pull no punches in this darkly magnetic read” – IGN “This is one messed up comic book that I took sheer delight in reading” – Comics Beat “These are talented creators telling a gut punching tale” – Comicosity Bear witness as JASON AARON (Southern Bastards, Original Sin) & RON GARNEY (Wolverine:Weapon X, Thor: God of Thunder) bring the story of the Raths to a bloody conclusion. It all started with some sheep. It won’t end until everyone is dead.

*** Beware – spoilers may be found below ***

The Good

  • Another nice cover!
  • “There’s somethin’ else I sure hate to tell ya…”  “Then don’t.”
  • Love the last panel on page 10.
  • Being smart enough to build your house to withstand bullets — you’re a killer after all.
  • “Molotov cocktails.  Shoulda done that first, ya morons.”
  • Page 17 – panels 2 and 3 are sweet.
  • Saying grace before a meal…
  • Nice twist at the end of the scene in the hospital between Rath and his daughter-in-law.
  • Final page is Rath true to form.

The Bad:

  • Read the first bullet to “The Ugly” and then jump back to read the rest of this…. “Oh wait, … we’re already in a hospital.”
  • Being the cop that shows Rath his son has been killed.
  • Not knowing Rath is behind you with a gun to your head as you finish saying grace before a meal…

The Ugly:

  • The opening splash.  “Oh my God! Somebody get this man to a hospital!”
  • Finding Rath’s bear trap when you’re on your way to kill him.
  • When the last thing you see says “Front Towards Enemy.”
  • What happens when Rath is behind you as you finish grace before a meal.

 

Men of Wrath #5 is for mature readers due to mature language and violence.

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Z-View: Shaft #3 by Walker and Evely

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Shaft #3 is part of an on-going series published by Dynamite. Shaft created by Ernest Tidyman.

Writer: David F. Walker

Artist: Bilquis Evely

Colorist: Daniel Miwa

Cover Shown: Denys Cowan, Bill Sienkiewicz & Ivan Nunes

John Shaft didn’t go looking for trouble; it came looking for him, and in the process, a lot of people died. Devastated by the murder of a friend, Shaft wants answers and revenge-though not necessarily in that order. With vengeance on his mind and cold steel in his hand, Shaft finds himself caught up in a brewing gang war that threatens to consume the city. Everyone from the Mafia to the police wants Shaft to do their dirty work, but no one realizes that’s all part of his plan.

*** Beware – spoilers may be found below ***

The Good:

  • “This guy Shaft is a bad…”  “Vic, What would Mama Anderozzi say if she heard you talkin’ like that?”
  • “I’m going to regret this.”
  • The construction site used to dispose of bodies.

The Bad:

  • The cover isn’t as cool as the two previous [but not many rise to that level].
  • Returning to Arletha’s apartment.
  • Wedding nightmares.
  • Compared to the first two issues Shaft #3 felt a little slow.  I look forward to #4 kicking it back up a notch or two.

The Ugly:

  • What they’ve done and what they do to Jimmy Style.

 

Shaft #3 should appeal to fans of the Shaft movies and is for mature audiences due to adult language.

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Z-View: The Martian by Andy Weir

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The MartianThe Martian by Andy Weir

 The Martian by Andy Weir is one of the most unique and enjoyable novels that I’ve read in years. Weir’s stranded [on Mars!] astronaut, Mark Watney, is intelligent, witty, and just enough of a wise guy.

I loved how real science was used. I loved how Weir widened the scope of the story to include not only the people on Earth [who’ve learned of Watney’s plight] but also the only astronauts in a position to attempt a rescue.

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Z-View – Red: Eyes Only by Cully Hamner

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Red: Eyes Only is part of a one-shot published by Wildstorm Comics.

Writer: Cully Hamner
Artist: Cully Hamner
Colorist: Val Staples
Cover Artist: Cully Hamner


Cully Hamner writes and draws the prequel to the Red mini-series that he co-created with Warren Ellis.

*** Beware – spoilers may be found below ***

The Good:

  • Cully Hamner on the art and writing!
  • Nice misdirection on page 2.
  • Wanting to get out of “the business.”
  • Silent but deadly page… when Paul Moses comes calling.
  • The final line of the comic has a great payoff.

The Bad:

  • Disowned by family because “You’re a murderer.”
  • Finding out that getting out isn’t easy.
  • “You’ll be assassinated, sir.  Today.”
  • “I have information!”
  • “What…what… my God… What did I just do?”

The Ugly:

  • Trapped in a moving elevator with an assassin.
  • Thinking you always had a choice but finding out you were wrong.

Red: Eyes Only

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Z-View – Criminal Macabre / The 30 Days of Night: Final Night #4 by Niles and Mitten

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Criminal Macabre / The 30 Days of Night: Final Night #4 is part of a four issue mini-series published by Dark Horse Comics / IDW Publishing.

Writer: Steve Niles
Artist: Christopher Mitten
Colorist: Michelle Madsen
Cover Artist: Justin Erickson


With Alice Blood in Eben’s hands, Cal will do anything—including using voodoo—to help fight the vampires. But that might not be enough as the ghouls and the vampires clash in an all-out brawl to the death—with Cal and Eben smack dab in the center.

Will it be Cal or Eben who survives?

*** Beware – spoilers may be found below ***

The Good:

  • Steve Niles and Christopher Mitten are worth the price of admission.
  • “So he needs… What, brains?”  “What good would that do, Officer?”  “I don’t know I’m just trying to keep up here.”
  • The body language of the detective willing to give some of his blood to [hopefully] save Cal.
  • “Never felt better.”
  • “What are you doing? Let me stop him.”  “No… we stay.”

The Bad:

  • “Blargh!”
  • “Not enough.”
  • “Enough talk!  ATTAAAACK!”
  • “They’ll be back.”

The Ugly:

  • The Ugly starts on page one: “I’m right Fl–ere…”
  • The Ghoul, er, bloodbath.
  • Vampire attacking the fine folks on Sunset Blvd.
  • SHRIP on page 18.

Criminal Macabre / The 30 Days of Night: Final Night #4

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Z-View – Criminal Macabre / The 30 Days of Night: Final Night #3 by Niles and Mitten

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Criminal Macabre / The 30 Days of Night: Final Night #3 is part of a four issue mini-series published by Dark Horse Comics / IDW Publishing.

Writer: Steve Niles
Artist: Christopher Mitten
Colorist: Michelle Madsen
Cover Artist: Justin Erickson


Eben Olemaun is on the hunt and he’ll rip both human and vampire limb from limb to get to the person who took everything from him—Federal Agent Alice Blood. Can Cal fight off the hordes of new vampires in time to save her?

*** Beware – spoilers may be found below ***

The Good:

  • Steve Niles and Christopher Mitten are worth the price of admission.
  • Cal’s bravado at having to fight vampires… “Yeah, well I’ve yet to meet a vampire that wasn’t a whiny little – ”  BOOM!
  • “It can’t end like this.”
  • “You’re all going to die.”

The Bad:

  • Page 2: “Sweet Christ” indeed.
  • The “Blarrgh!” continues.
  • “The future of the ghouls is very bleak indeed.”
  • “You should have done more research, vampire…Fire can kill us… but it is not very fast.”
  • “I think turning you would be much better than death.”
  • “Where’s Cal?”

The Ugly:

  • What happens when you don’t tell Eben what he wants to know.
  • What Eben does to Cal three times on page 18.
  • Page 21.
  • Mo’ Lock losing it on the vampires.

Criminal Macabre / The 30 Days of Night: Final Night #3

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