“Hope” – The Poster and Trailer are Here!

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The poster and trailer for Hope is here.  The poster piques my curiosity and the trailer pulls me on board.  Hope has already been released to great reviews in France.  It premieres in the US this fall.

Deal me in.

In the remote South Korea village of Hope Harbor, police chief Bum-seok (Hwang Jung- min) and officer Sung-ae (Hoyeon) are called to find a mysterious creature that has wreaked havoc on the village.

In the nearby forest, a coterie of hunters, including Sung- ki (Zo In-Sung) set out to track the beast and find themselves hunted instead.

But all is not as it seems, and perceptions can be misleading. What begins as ignorance plants the seed of disaster, escalating through human conflict into a tragedy of cosmic proportions.

HOLE by Gerry Brown with art by Eduardo Risso / Z-View

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HOLE by Gerry Brown with art by Eduardo Risso

First sentences…

They came for Hole while he was in the library.

The Overview:  Beware of Spoilers…

Emile Hole’s size didn’t fit his demeanor.  Emile was very large, long haired man with small round glasses that looked too small for his face.  Emile’s voice didn’t help either.  It was way too light.  You wouldn’t find Emile in the weight room.  No, he’d be found in the prison library sitting alone in a small chair reading.

Even in the best conditions prison would be rough on men like Emile.  Moundsville State Prison was about as far as you could get from the best conditions.  The guards either were crooked or looked the other way.  Gangs ran Moundsville.  Davie and his Warlords were at the top of the heap.

The Warlords ran a profitable business.  One of their best money-making endeavors was to video-tape the beating of a new inmate.  They’d then send the video to the inmate’s family with a request for on-going payments to prevent further beatings.  It always worked.

So when the gang gave Emile a tune-up and sent the video to Emile’s brother Vint, they expected the money to come rolling in.

Man, were they wrong.

Vint’s going to pay the Warlords, but not in the way they’re expecting.  See Vint’s got skills.  Skills better left contained.  But now, Vint’s got reason to let loose.  And he’s going to.

+++

Eduardo Risso’s art was what got me interested in HOLE.  Then I read the sample and was hooked.  Gerry Brown has crafted a fun prison/revenge story that’s a fast, fun read.

HOLE is only available on Kindle but the price is less than a buck.  It’s worth a buck just to see Risso’s illustrations.

Rating:

“War Machine” (2026) starring Alan Ritchson / Z-View

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War Machine (2026)

Director: Patrick Hughes

Screenplay: Patrick Hughes, James Beaufort; story by Patrick Hughes

Stars: Alan Ritchson, Stephan James, Jai Courtney, Esai Morales, Keiynan Lonsdale, Daniel Webber and Dennis Quaid.

Tagline:  None.

The Plot (beware of spoilers)…

Soldiers wishing to become Army Rangers are called by numbers, not names.  These warriors are put through months of grueling training.  Each week a percentage of the GIs wash.  In the final days the remaining potential rangers are sent on a mission.  If successful, they become Army Rangers.

Despite his avoidance of leadership roles in training, Soldier #81 is put in charge of the final mission.  Dropped in a remote wilderness area, the trainees are on there own.  Against all odds, the potential rangers find themselves fighting an unstoppable war machine from another planet.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Alan Ritchson performed many of his own stunts.

Director Patrick Hughes appears onscreen in a cameo as Master Sergeant Hughes.

Dennis Quaid is great in a small, but important role.

War Machine (2026) rates 4 of 5 stars

“Ballerina” (2025) starring Ana de Armas, Anjelica Huston, Gabriel Byrne, Lance Reddick, Norman Reedus, Ian McShane and Keanu Reeves / Z-View

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Ballerina (2025)

Director:Len Wiseman; Chad Stahelski (uncredited for reshoots)

Screenplay: Shay Hatten; based on characters created by Derek Kolstad

Stars: Ana de Armas, Anjelica Huston, Gabriel Byrne, Lance Reddick, Norman Reedus, Ian McShane and Keanu Reeves.

Tagline:  The past can be a trigger.

The Plot (beware of spoilers)…

Eve Macarro was the child of assassins.  After the death of her mother, Eve was being raised by her father.  When a cult came to kill him, Eve’s father helped her escape before he was murdered.  Eve was then raised by the the Ruska Roma.

The Ruska Roma appeared to be an academy that trained children to become experts in ballet.  It is actually a front.  Although trained to be dancers, the children’s real instruction was so they would become proficient assassins and body guards.

Eve becomes one of the best.

After one of her missions, Eve discovers that her target was in the same cult that killed her father.  Despite being warned to take no action against them, Eve is determined to avenge her father’s death.

Even if it turns the Ruska Roma against her.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Ana de Armas did most of her own stunts.

Ballerina is set in the world of John Wick and takes place between John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum and John Wick: Chapter 4.

Director Len Wiseman’s original cut fell short of expectations. Chad Stahelski reportedly reshot much of Ballerina without Len Wiseman’s involvement.  This pushed back the release date about a year.

Ballerina (2025) rates 4 of 5 stars

“Bent” (2018) starring Karl Urban, Sofía Vergara and Andy García / Z-View

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Bent (2018)

Director: Robert Moresco

Screenplay: Robert Moresco; based on DEADLY CODES by JP O’Donnell

Stars: Karl Urban, Sofía Vergara, Andy García and Vincent Spano.

Tagline: Corruption has its own set of rules.

The Plot (beware of spoilers)…

Detective Danny Gallagher was framed and sent to prison.  He’s out now and bent on revenge.  Danny trusts his mentor Jimmy Murtha and a sexy government agent named Rebecca.

But his trust may be misplaced.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

I’m a fan of Karl Urban, Sofía Vergara and Andy García.  I was hoping Bent would be a lot better.

Bent (2018) rates 3 of 5 stars

“Bunker” (2022) / Z-View

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Bunker (2022)

Director: Adrian Langley

Screenplay: Michael Huntsman

Stars: Roger Clark, Luke Baines, Patrick Moltane, Kayla Radomski and Julian Feder.

Tagline: None.

The Plot (beware of spoilers)…

World War I.  A squad of British soldiers have been hunkered down in their trench.  Word reaches them that the Germans they’ve been fighting have retreated.  The British commander orders his men to move along the trench and take over the German outpost.

Along the way, the British soldiers see several mutilated bodies.  Once at the outpost they find a door barricaded shut.  When they break through, they discover a German soldier secured to a cross.  Shelling begins and the doorway collapses sealing the British soldiers in.

Now trapped in the darkness, they begin to hear and see strange things.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Bunker moved at a sloooow pace.  The British soldiers were trapped, but I had to get out.

Bunker (2022) rates 1 of 5 stars

“Apex” starring Charlize Theron and Taron Egerton / Z-View

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Apex (2026)

Director: Baltasar Kormákur

Screenplay: Jeremy Robbins

Stars: Charlize Theron, Taron Egerton

Tagline: Hunt. Survive.

The Plot (beware of spoilers)…

Five months ago, adrenaline junkie Sasha and her boyfriend were mountain climbing when an avalanche knocked him unconscious.  As he hung limp the safety line attached to Sasha began to pull her down.  Either she had to cut him loose or they both would die.

She did the unthinkable.

Now Sasha has come to a remote part of the Australian outback. The remote mountains, raging rapids and harsh conditions are unforgiving.  Perhaps Sasha has a death wish.

Sasha’s will to live will be tested when she crosses path with a psychopath.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Charlize Theron was quoted as saying this is her favorite of all the films she’s made.  Stars often say that their current film is their favorite.  In this case it may be true.  Theron and Apex director Baltasar Kormákur are signed to make another film together.

Taron Egerton is believable as the psycho but his portrayal isn’t as frightening as it could be.  He’s more manic than maniac.  Some of the background characteristics (the jerky, what happened to the family that was missing) could have worked to make Egerton’s killer much more scary and dangerous.  They would have had to lean a bit more into tension and terror and I don’t think they wanted to do that at the expense of action.

Apex (2026) rates 3 of 5 stars

“Dark Winds” Season 4 / Z-View

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Dark Winds Season 4 (2026)

Created by: Graham Roland

Director:

  • Craig Zisk (Ep. 1),
  • Zahn McClarnon (Ep. 2)
  • Chris Eyre (Eps. 3, 5, 7)
  • Jim Chory (Ep. 4)
  • Steven Paul Judd (Ep. 6)
  • Erica Trimblay (Ep. 8)

Teleplay by:

  • John Wirth & Steven Paul Judd (Eps. 1, 4),
  • Max Hurwitz & Wenonah Wilms (Eps. 2, 5)
  • Thomas Brady & Erica Tremblay (Eps. 3, 6)
  • Shaandiin Tome & Shandton Williams II (Eps. 7)
  • Max Hurwitz & Thomas Brady (Ep. 8)
    Based on the Leaphorn & Chee novels by Tony Hillerman

Starring:  Zahn McClarnon, Kiowa Gordon, Jessica Matten, Deanna Allison, A Martinez.

Tagline:  None

The Plot… (beware of spoilers)

Lt. Leaphorn, Sgt. Chee, and Sgt. Manuelito find themselves on the trail of a teenage runaway.  The girl left her boarding school with her boyfriend.  They’re on the run but from who?  And why?

Things become even more confusing when a mysterious female assassin shows up looking for the kids.  Leaphorn, Chee and Manulito follow the trail that leads to LA.  They’re a step behind the assassin and if they don’t catch up, the kids will die along with the reason they’re being hunted.  

Thoughts…

 Moving the action to LA was an interesting idea.   I did miss the feel of action on the reservation since that location is almost like an additional character.

Dark Winds continues to entertain and the set-up for season 5 is a winner.