Previews and Reviews that are Z's Views
I like the poster and trailer for Viking Wolf. Since it will be on Netflix, watching will be a no-brainer. Deal me in.
17-year-old Thale must move with her parents to a small town when her mother gets a job at the local police department. After a student is brutally murdered at a party that Thale attends, she suddenly becomes a key witness. Who, or rather what, was the killer?
Season four of Vikings premieres on February 18th.
Want a taste now? Check out the trailer below.
Vikings is on of the best keep secrets on tv. Here’s the teaser to season four.
Vikings, on the History Channel, continues as one of the most under-rated, unknown, good shows producing new episodes. Season Three doesn’t start until January which gives folks plenty of time to get on board.
In the mean time, here’s a teaser for Season Three.
Vikings was the surprise hit show for me last year.
I’m looking forward to Vikings‘ return on February 27th. If you’ve seen Vikings, you probably are as well.
But what if Vikings slipped under your radar and you missed out on season one? You’re in luck. You can stream every episode here.
History Channel’s Vikings was my biggest surprise series last year. Although on the History Channel, Vikings isn’t a documentary, but instead a very well done drama. I was happy to see that Vikings was renewed for a second season and that the first is now available on dvd and Blu-Ray.
Thanks to Coming Soon’s Report from the Set of History’s Vikings for reminding me.
We were just talking about The Walking Dead yesterday and today Newsarama.com posted a preview of the latest issue. And to sweeten the deal, Newsarama also posted previews of the latest issues of Viking [you are reading Viking, aren’t you??] and Proof. Click on over.
I can’t wait to pick up my copy of Ivan Brandon and Nic Klein’s first issue of Viking. If you feel the same, I hope that you’ve already put your order in with your local comic retailer. If you haven’t you could be out of luck — at least if you’re hoping for a first printing.
What’s crazy about this unprecedented situation is that the comic hasn’t even reached stores yet and won’t until April 22nd. It’s sold out at from Image Comics and the distributor. Stores will still get the copies that they’ve ordered, but once they’re gone, they’re gone. The good news is there will be a second printing.
I’m looking forward to is “Viking” by Ivan Brandon [writer] and Nic Klein [artist]. Who wouldn’t want to read a Viking crime story?
If this sounds like something you’d like then check out CBR.com’s mini-interview with Ivan Brandon and a six page preview of Nic Klein’s art.
Then be sure and reserve a copy at your local comic book shop!
A series that I’m looking forward to is “Viking” by Ivan Brandon [writer] and Nic Klein [artist]. Who wouldn’t want to read a Viking crime comic set in the 9th century? If this sounds like something you might like, then check out this Newsarama interview with Nic Klein [who also previews more of the art].
I love crime stories. Movies, comics, novels, it doesn’t matter if it’s well done. I’ve read modern crime stories, futuristic crime stories, but I’ve never read a viking crime story. That’s about to change in April. Check out what writer Ivan Brandon had to say about his project:
“VIKING is everything I love about crime fiction filtered through one of the most violent and fascinating periods of human history. It’s been in the works for so long at this point that I’m overwhelmed to finally get to show it to people. The overwhelmingly positive response to the teaser alone has Nic and I humbled.”
Predator: Killer of Killers (2025)
Director: Dan Trachtenberg
Screenplay: Micho Robert Rutare, story by Dan Trachtenberg, Micho Robert Rutare, based on characters created by Jim Thomas, John Thomas
Stars: Voices of Michael Biehn, Doug Cockle, Rick Gonzalez, Lauren Holt, Lindsay LaVanchy, Jeff Leach, Piotr Michael and Andrew Morgado.
Tagline: Hunt the enemy, before they hunt you!
The Plot…
In the year 841, Vikings, led by warrior woman Ursa, have just defeated the Krivich clan. The Krivich’s leader, Zoran killed Ursa’s father when she was a child. Now Ursa and her son Anders will have revenge. A Predator is invisibly watching. Once a victor has been determined, the Predator will attack. It will be a vicious battle to the death.
In the 1629, Kenji returns to confront his brother. Twenty years prior, Kenji and his brother Kiyoshi had been boys. Each child was given a sword. Ordered to battle. The winner would become the clan’s new Warlord. Kenji refused to fight, even as Kiyoshi attacked. Rather than battle his brother, Kenji ran off.
Now Kenji sneaks into his brother’s fortress. As the brothers battle, a Predator, undetected, silently watches. The predator will fight the winner to the death.
The year is 1941. World War II rages. A small group of US Airmen take off to engage the enemy in aerial battle. On the ground, mechanic John Torres sees a strange craft destroying both US and enemy planes. Torres gets a beat-up plane working. He takes off to warn his squad. When Torres arrives, he and Captain Vandy are the only survivors. The Predator space ship is ready to engage them. It will be a fight to the death.
Ursa, Kenji and Torres are awakened from suspended animation. They are on a foreign planet. Predators led the three to the center of an arena. A large Predator incites the crowd. Ursa, Kenji and Torres will fight to the death. The winner will face the Predator gladiator/warlord. To make it even more interesting, a giant dragon-like beast is released. Who/what will survive?
Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…
Michael Biehn now joins Bill Paxton and Lance Henriksen as the only actors to have roles in Alien, Terminator and Predator films.
Predator: Killer of Killers has many Easter eggs that are open to speculation. Is the Gladiator Predator wearing a cape made of Xenomorph tails? In one of the Predator cryo-tanks we get a glimpse of a muscular make human. Is he Dutch from Predator? Maybe it is Royce from Predators? Naru from Prey is definitely in one of the cryo-tanks. The flintlock pistol from Predator 2 and Prey makes an appearance.
I liked Predator: Killer of Killers, but not as much as most folks. It currently has a 7.6 rating on IMDb and at Rotten Tomatoes in has a 95% rating from reviewers and 90% from viewers. There were too many unanswered questions (including the final resolution) for my taste. Still, I enjoyed the film, just not as much as most everyone else. Your mileage may vary.
Predator: Killer of Killers (2025) rates 3 of 5 stars
Rebel Moon: Part One – A Child of Fire (2023)
Director: Zack Snyder
Screenplay: Zack Snyder, Kurt Johnstad, Shay Hatten
Stars: Sofia Boutella, Djimon Hounsou, Ed Skrein, Michiel Huisman, Bae Doona, Ray Fisher, Charlie Hunnam, Staz Nair, Stuart Martin, Alfonso Herrera, Cary Elwes, Rhian Rees, Jena Malone and Anthony Hopkins.
Tagline: War comes to every world.
The Plot…
A peaceful farming village is informed by Admiral Atticus Noble (Skrein) that he will return with his warship to collect all of their crops once the harvest is complete. When the village leader complains that his people will starve without crops, Noble kills him in cold blood. Admiral Noble posts soldiers in the village and leaves in his warship.
Kora (Boutella) informs the villagers that once the crops have been collected, Noble will kill them all. She believes that the villagers only chance is to recruit soldiers of fortune to teach them to fight. Seeing no other alternative, they agree. Kora sets out to find warriors willing to go to battle against the empire in a suicide mission.
Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…
It’s a well known fact that Zack Snyder at one point pitched this as a Star Wars story. Some folks are complaining Rebel Moon is too derivative. Let’s take that head on. George Lucas was influenced by westerns, movie serials, the Vietnam War, Flash Gordon and more to create Star Wars. Zack Snyder has been very open that he wanted to create a movie influenced by Star Wars and The Seven Samurai. I also felt nods to Riddick, Gladiator, the Third Reich, Tarzan, Conan, westerns, Vikings and more. Whether you like or dislike these homages is up to you.
If you’re familiar with Snyder’s directing style, you know what to expect. I’m a fan.
Rebel Moon: Part One – Child of Fire has an excellent cast. Each character gets a brief spotlight as they are introduced or brought on to the team. Standouts include Sofia Boutella, Djimon Hounsou, Ed Skrein and Ray Fisher.
The pacing isn’t what you’d normally expect. Time is taken to set up the village dilemma. Each character gets an action scene as they are brought onto the team. This takes most of the film. Then there is a twist. What would normally be an extended sequence, the recovery and ultimate battle gets wrapped up fairly quickly. BUT, keep in mind this is just part one. Also, there is a second plot twist (that I don’t think works as well).
I enjoyed Rebel Moon: Part One – Child of Fire. It’s not my favorite Zack Snyder film, but I didn’t expect it to be. I’m looking forward to his director’s cut and then Rebel Moon: Part Two – The Scargiver. (And of course, I’d be remiss not to say we need more Army of the Dead!)
Rebel Moon: Part One – A Child of Fire (2023) earns 4 of 5 stars.
Robert Vaux came up with his list of the 10 Most Underrated ’90s Movie Heroes. Vaux’s list is an interesting one, although we only had one hero in common. Before you click over, below is my list and rationale for my choices of the 10 Most Underrated ’90s movie heroes.
10. Frank Horrigan from In the Line of Fire (1993): Horrigan was a young Secret Service agent who was part of the team assigned to protect President Kennedy the day he was assassinated. Now he’s older, guilt ridden and determined to save the current President from a clever psycho. Horrigan could be retired on a beach somewhere, but he’s still willing to give his life to protect the leader of the free world. Yeah, that’s a hero.
09. Butch Coolidge from Pulp Fiction (1994): Although Butch accepts money to take a dive, he gets two chances to redeem himself (and does both times). Butch doesn’t follow-through on the set-up. Later Butch and the a man who wants to kill him are captured by two sadistic rapists. Butch has a chance to escape but puts his life on the line to save the man who wants him dead. Wouldn’t you say that qualifies as a hero?
08. Samantha Cain (Charly) from The Long Kiss Goodnight (1996): Samantha begins the movie as a small town school teacher. We could stop right there since most teachers are heroes. But if that isn’t enough for you, by the end of the movie the President offers Samantha a chance to return to the CIA.
07. Lornette “Mace” Mason from Strange Days (1995): Mason is a bodyguard who puts her life on the line repeatedly to save a friend. Hero? Check.
06. John Patrick Mason from The Rock (1996): Despite being held without a trial for 30 years, Mason agrees to help take down an elite military unit threatening to kill untold thousands. Qualifies as a hero in my book.
05. Cameron Poe from Con Air (1997): is a former Army Ranger which by itself makes him a hero. Then when three men attempt to assault his wife, he takes them on. Hero again, right? Well, since Poe accidentally kills one and is sent to prison, maybe not. But when Poe is on a flight of convicts who take over the plane, Poe works to assist the police. So, hero again, right?
04. William Wallace from Braveheart (1995): William Wallace led the battle to free his Scottish countrymen from the rule of the tyrant King Edward I of England. Anyone willing to give their life for the greater good is a hero.
03. Ahmed Ibn Fahdlan from The 13th Warrior (1996): Ahmed is a lover and poet. When he is banished to the North, Ahmed ends up traveling with Viking warriors. Ahmed, despite his fears, joins the warriors to defend a small village from bearlike human cannibals. John Wayne said, “The definition of a hero is someone who is scared but saddles up anyway.” Ahmed qualifies.
02. Freddy Heflin from Cop Land (1997): When Heflin learns of the corrupt police living in his community, he risks his life to save another cop and expose the criminals. Heflin does this despite the NY Detective shutting down his investigation and no other cops willing to take a stand. Heflin is a hero.
01. Hawkeye from Last of the Mohicans (1992): Hawkeye risks his life repeatedly to save others, even people who have wronged him. Hawkeye even offers his life in exchange for the life of another. Hawkeye is recognized as an honorable man by his friends and enemies. If only all heroes were as worthy of the title “HERO” as Hawkeye.
Cold Pursuit (2019)
Director: Hans Petter Moland
Screenplay: Frank Baldwin based on In Order of Disappearance by Kim Fupz Aakeson
Stars: Liam Neeson, Laura Dern, Micheál Neeson, Tom Bateman, Domenick Lombardozzi, Jim Shield, Aleks Paunovic, Glenn Ennis and Emmy Rossum.
Tagline: Revenge is best served cold.
The Plot…
Citizen of the Year, Nels Coxman (Neeson), is a mild-mannered Colorado snowplow driver. When Coxman learns that his son was murdered by members of a drug cartel, he decides to take out as many members of the cartel as he can.
Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…
Cold Pursuit is one of those movies that gets better as it goes along. That’s because it doesn’t take itself too seriously, provides interesting characters and more plot twists that expected in a “revenge flick”.
Liam Neeson is always good. Standouts in the supporting cast include…
Stick around for the end credits — there’s not another scene but the credit design adds to the fun.
Cold Pursuit (2019) rates 4 of 5 stars.
