“Red Dawn” (1984) directed by John Milius; starring Patrick Swayze, C. Thomas Howell, Lea Thompson, Charlie Sheen, Jennifer Grey, Ben Johnson, Harry Dean Stanton, Ron O’Neal, William Smith, Frank McRae, Lane Smith and Powers Boothe / Z-View

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Red Dawn (1984)

Director: John Milius

Screenplay:  Kevin Reynolds, John Milius; story by Kevin Reynolds

Stars:  Patrick Swayze, C. Thomas Howell, Lea Thompson, Charlie Sheen, Jennifer Grey, Ben Johnson, Harry Dean Stanton, Ron O’Neal, William Smith, Frank McRae, Lane Smith and Powers Boothe.

Tagline: In our time, no foreign army has ever occupied American soil. Until now.

The Plot…

The United States is surprised by a sneak attack.  The combined forces of the Soviet Union, Cuba and Nicaragua did the unthinkable.  Foreign paratroopers land across the midwest.  One groups touches down outside the small town of Calumet, Colorado.  The invaders come in blasting.

A group of teenagers, with a small amount of supplies and weapons escape into the mountains.  From their vantage point, they see their town taken over and learn that the World War III has begun.

As supplies run low, they learn that the war is raging.  The US military responded and turned back the advancement of foreign powers.  There is a current stalement and the nearest safe zone is 40 miles away.

When a couple of soldiers accidentally come across a few of the teens, they respond by killing the foreign fighters.  When the invaders discover their dead comrades, they respond by executing several townsfolk.

The teens decide they are through with just hiding.  They launch guerilla attacks on the invaders. They leave “Wolverines” signs behind after each attack. The Wolverines are surprisingly successful.  Word spreads and provides hope to the oppressed.  The leaders occupying the town decide that the  Wolverines must be caught and executed.

As World War III rages, what chance of survival do a ragtag group of teens have against the combined invading armies of three countries?

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Red Dawn was the first film released with a MPAA PG-13 rating.

In the original screenplay there was a love story subplot between Jed (Patrick Swayze) and Toni (Jennifer Grey).  The subplot was cut. Swayze and Grey later appeared as lovers in Dirty Dancing.

A love scene between Lea Thompson and Powers Boothe’s characters was cut after preview audiences found the age difference uncomfortable.

Red Dawn features Charlie Sheen’s feature film debut.

I saw Red Dawn when it was first released.  I was a first year teacher.  The scene of the invading paratroopers landing outside the school was chilling.  I’ve watched the film several times over the years (and recently) — it still provides chills.

Red Dawn (1984) rates 4 of 5 stars.

Hulk Hogan: Real American (2026) / Z-View

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Hulk Hogan: Real American (2026)

Director: Bryan Storkel

Stars:  Hulk Hogan, Linda Hogan, Jimmy Hart, Jessie Ventura, Vince McMahon, Gene Okerland, Nick Hogan, Bruce Prichard, Bret Hart, Ted DiBiase, Cody Rhoads, Kevin Nash, Roddy Piper, Randy Savage, Ric Flair and Paul Levesque.

Tagline: None.

The Plot…

Hulk Hogan: Real American  documents Terry Bollea’s (Hulk’s real name) life…

  • from before his entry into professional wrestling
  • his early days trying to find his way
  • his rise to become the biggest star in professional wrestling
  • to a Hollywood leading man
  • to a wrestling veteran no longer a fan favorite

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Hulk Hogan became a wrestling star so big, it can truly be said that he took sports entertainment to levels it had never achieved.

I attribute a lot of Hulk Hogan’s popularity to his role as Thunderlips in Rocky III.   This brought Hogan to the attention of millions of people who never watched wrestling.  It’s also interesting to note that Hogan and Mr. T (another co-star in Rocky III) headlined Wrestlemania 1.

Hulk Hogan’s daughter refused to participate in this documentary.  She and her father were estranged.

Hulk Hogan: Real American (2026) rates 4 of 5 stars.

“The Bluff” (2026) starring Priyanka Chopra & Karl Urban / Z-View

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The Bluff (2026)

Director: Frank E. Flowers

Screenplay:  Joe Ballarini, Frank E. Flowers

Stars:  Priyanka Chopra, Karl Urban, Ismael Cruz Córdova, Safia Oakley-Green and Temuera Morrison

Tagline: None.

The Plot…

Captain Connor and his buccaneers have arrived at the small island community of Cayman Brac.  They’ve come for Ercell Bodden. Ercell is a housewife and mother, but in her past life Ercell was known as the pirate Bloody Mary.  She was also Captain Connor’s lover… until she stabbed him, stole his gold and disappeared.

Connor and his crew will kill anyone and everyone to get Ercell and the treasure.  They came for Ercell, but they’re going to get Bloody Mary.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Zoe Saldaña was originally set to star.  Although Saldaña didn’t end up in the picture, she stayed on as an Executive Producer for the film.

Karl Urban is always good.  This role is no exception.

The Bluff (2026) rates 3 of 5 stars.

HANGING AND BURNING: A KING OLIVER NOVEL by Walter Mosley!

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A new Walter Mosley tale is always welcome.  We have one coming on October 20th when HANGING AND BURNING: A KING OLIVER NOVEL drops.  Here’s the scoop…

A dying gangster’s plea sends Joe King Oliver on a quest for a missing woman across America’s coasts ― unraveling a dark and violent family history along the way―in this engrossing new novel from one of the most celebrated and acclaimed crime writers at work today.

Joe King Oliver is the big man you call to solve the most delicate and dangerous of problems. Fresh off unraveling the mystery of his own parents’ fates, King finds himself accepting (again at his grandmother’s request) a case from Arman Babylon, a powerful Los Angeles gangster now dying from cancer.

Babylon’s granddaughter, Twyla Mann, has been missing for years, and he’s desperate to find her before he passes. The search pulls King into the Babylons’ stained past and the cold case of Dalia Shorts, a torch singer who vanished without a trace and whom Arman was once suspected of killing.

As King follows her trail from L.A. to New York and back, he’ll realize nothing is what it seems as he uncovers a pattern of violence that has targeted the women around Babylon for decades. How much will King be willing to risk to finally set things right?

Pre-orders are available now.

“The Green Pastures” (1936) / Z-View

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The Green Pastures (1936)

Director: Marc Connelly, William Keighley

Screenplay:  Sheridan Gibney; based on OL’ MAN ADAM AN’ HIS CHILLUN by Roark Bradford and Ol’ Man Adam an’ His Chillun by Marc Connelly.

Stars:  Rex Ingram, Oscar Polk, Eddie Anderson, Ernest Whitman.

Tagline: None.

The Plot…

A group of six young black children are listening to an elderly black man during Bible study.  One of the little girls begins to visualize her perception of the stories…

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

The Green Pastures was one of only six feature films in the Hollywood Studio era to feature an all-black cast.  They were Hallelujah! (1929); Hearts in Dixie (1929); The Green Pastures (1936); Cabin in the Sky (1943); Stormy Weather (1943) and Carmen Jones (1954).

The Green Pastures was banned in Australia, Finland and Hungary because in the film God is shown as dark-skinned.

The Green Pastures was based on the novel OL’ MAN ADAM AN’ HIS CHILLUN by Roark Bradford and the Ol’ Man Adam an’ His Chillun Pulitzer Prizing winning Broadway stage play by Marc Connelly.

At times the film comes off as a bit patronizing.

The Green Pastures (1936) rates 3 of 5 stars.

Steven Fain Gets Carter!

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Steven Fain is a fan artist who occasionally takes commissions.  I first saw Fain’s art on a bookmark for Anthony Neil Smith’s character Billy Lafitte (I highly recommend the Lafitte novel series if you like crime/hardboiled fiction).  I subscribed to Steven Fain’s substack and saw more of his art which I liked.

So I reached out to request a sketch.  I suggested two characters (Stallone from Tulsa King or Get Carter).  Steven liked both ideas, so I ordered both!

“Night and the City” (1950) starring Richard Widmark / Z-View

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Night and the City (1950)

Director:  Jules Dassin

Screenplay:  Jo Eisinger, Austin Dempster, William E. Watts based on NIGHT AND THE CITY by Gerald Kersh.

Stars:  Richard Widmark, Gene Tierney, Googie Withers, Hugh Marlowe, Francis L. Sullivan, Herbert Lom and Mike Mazurki.

Tagline: The inside story of London after dark.

The Plot…

Harry Fabian is a hustler and con man.  Fabian believes he is one big idea away from riches. Only his ideas never pan out.  Fabian’s a hustler. His enthusiasm has brought others along only to see him fail.  Fabian has worn out his chances with the few folks with money to invest.

Then Fabian gets THE idea that will TRULY make him wealthy.

Through a chance encounter Fabian befriended, Gregorius the famous Grecko-Roman wrestler.  Although older now, Gregorius is still a tough man.  Gregorius’ son, Kristo is a professional wrestling promoter.  Kristo’s star attraction makes him a lot of money.  Gregorius cannot stand fake professional wrestling.

Fabian’s plan is to promote a professional wrestling match.  It will put him at odds with Kirsto; which is a dangerous place to be.  But Fabian will maneuver Gregorius to take his side.  A match between Kristo’s star and Gregorius will be a huge money-maker.

Fabian borrows money from a few dangerous people.  Then puts his plan in motion.  If it doesn’t work perfectly… if Kristos doesn’t kill him, the loansharks will.

“The best laid plans of mice and men…”

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Mike Mazurki is one of my old-time chacter actors.  Here he plays a professional wrestler called the Strangler.  Mazurki was once a professional wrestler in real life.

Stanislaus Zbyszko, who plays Gregorius, the Greco-Roman wrestler was a Greco-Roman wrestler in real life … and this was his only film role.

Richard Widmark is perfect as Harry Fabian.  This is my favorite Widmark film.

Night and the City is one of the classic noirs.

Night and the City (1950) rates 5 of 5 stars.

THE NOWHERE MAN: AN ORPHAN X NOVEL by Gregg Hurwitz / Z-View

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THE NOWHERE MAN: AN ORPHAN X NOVEL by Gregg Hurwitz

First sentences…

A naked selfie.

      It starts with that.

The Overview:  Beware of Spoilers…

Evan Smoak was a child with no family. Raised in a secret government off-the-books program, Evan and other children like him became known as Orphans. Evan was Orphan X.

As children the Orphans were trained to become the ultimate assassins. As adults, they were perfect for black bag assignments. Able to kill with their hands, or any weapon, the Orphans possessed every strategy to covertly and alone complete a mission. The added bonus, if caught or killed, because they had no family, the government had plausible deniability.

Orphan X became legendary among the Orphans and their handlers. Outside of the program, Orphan X was someone spoken about in whispers.

Finally, Evan Smoak had enough of the killing. He escaped and set up a new life. Instead of taking lives, he saved them. Smoak found people with nowhere to turn and rescued them.

Smoak is aware that in just a few days a young woman will be taken from a cargo ship and sold as a sex slave.  Smoak’s plan to rescue her goes sideways when he is kidnapped.

Smoak wakes from his drugged stupor to discover he’s in a remote mountain mansion. He’d been out long enough that he’s not sure he’s even in the United States.  René Peter Cassaroy kidnapped Smoak to gain access to his considerable bank account.  Cassaroy has a squad of trained mercenaries, 24 hour camera and audio surveillance, guard dogs and snipers.   Come Monday morning, Smoak will give him access and then be set free.

Yeah, right.

Smoak knows that it will take all of his skills and training to overcome the odds and escape.  Plus the clock is ticking.  He needs to not only escape but do so in time to save the young woman on the cargo ship.

The clock is ticking.

+++

I love that Smoak was kidnapped not because he was an Orphan, but because of his wealth. 

René Peter Cassaroy doesn’t provide a physical challenge.  It’s his brains (and mercenaries) that make him so dangerous.  Cassaroy would make a great James Bond villain.

It’s interesting to see how Smoak’s mind works and that each set-back makes his escape (or survival) less likely.  And if he doesn’t escape, the girl is doomed.

And if that wasn’t enough, Hurwitz ups the ante.  To say more would be to say too much.

Rating:

“WWE Unreal” Season 3 / Z-View

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WWE: Unreal – Season 3 (2026)

Director: (Eps. 1-5) Terrell Riley, Chris Weaver

Stars: John Cena, April Menendez (AJ Lee), Phillip Brooks (CM Punk), Colby Lopez (Seth Rollins), Rebecca Quin (Becky Lynch), Bronson Rechsteiner (Bron Breakker), Brock Lesner, Allen Jones (AJ Styles), Dominik Óscar Gutiérrez (Dominik Mysterio), Gionna Jene Daddio (Liv Morgan).

Tagline: It’s More Real Than You Think

The Plot…

WWE Unreal gives fans unprecedented access behind-the-scenes at how professional wrestling works.  Cameras are allowed into the writers’ room as the executives on the creative team prepare for the WWE next big events.

This season…

  • John Cena’s farewell tour comes to an end
  • AJ Styles returns
  • Bron Breakker gets a big push when Seth Rollins is injured
  • Preparations for the Royal Rumble play out
  • Injuries to Breakker and Bronson Reed cause plans to change again
  • Wrestlemania 42 arrives

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

When I was a kid professional wrestlers went out of their way to make sure that fans thought it was “real”.  In 1989, Vince McMahon announced professional wrestling was sports entertainment.  The bumps and injuries are real, but the match outcomes are predetermined.  Pro wrestling fans didn’t care.

I haven’t regularly watched pro wrestling in years, but I continue to be interested in the behind-the-scenes access.  WWW Unreal let’s us see behind the curtain and I’m here for it.

WWE: Unreal – Season 3 (2026) rates 4 of 5 stars