“Dracula” by Zachary Jackson Brown!
The vintage feel on this Dracula poster by Zachary Jackson Brown is fire.
“For one who has not lived even a single lifetime, you’re a wise man, Van Helsing.” – Dracula
“The Incredible Mr. Limpet” (1964) starring Don Knotts / Z-View
The Incredible Mr. Limpet (1964)
Director: Arthur Lubin
Screenplay: Joe DiMona, Jameson Brewer, John C. Rose; based on MR. LIMPET by Theodore Pratt
Stars: Don Knotts, Carole Cook, Jack Weston, Andrew Duggan and Paul Frees (voice).
Tagline: The man who turned into a fish… and became America’s deadliest secret weapon!
The Plot…
War War II rages. Henry Limpett, a mild-mannered bookkeeper, would love nothing more than to enlist and help the war effort. Each time Henry’s tried he’s been rejected due to his many health issues.
Henry, his wife and his best friend George go to Coney Island for the day. As Henry is looking down into the ocean water, he falls. Henry can’t swim so George dives in to save him. Despite several attempts, George is unable to find Henry. Everyone believes Henry has drowned.
But he hasn’t. Somehow Henry Limpet has turned into a fish! Even more amazing as a fish, Henry has a power that may help turn the tide of the war!
Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…
The film moves from live action to animation once Limpet turns into a fish.
It’s funny how much the fish looks like Don Knotts — or is it how much he looks like a fish?
I saw the film when it was first released. I was five and the theater was full of kids. We loved it. I recently re-watched it again with my grandson who is six. He enjoyed it as well. Your mileage may vary depending on your age and the audience you’re watching with.
The Incredible Mr. Limpet (1964) rates 4 of 5 stars.
“Detective Hole”: Season 1, starring Tobias Santelmann & Joel Kinnaman / Z-View
Detective Hole (2026)
Created by: Jo Nesbø
Director:
- Øystein Karlsen (Eps. 1; 5; 7-9)
- Anna Zackrisson (Eps. 3-4; 6)
Teleplay by: Jo Nesbø
Starring: Tobias Santelmann, Ellen Helinder, Anders Baasmo, Pia Tjelta and Joel Kinnaman.
Tagline: Not every devil hides in the dark.
The Plot… (beware of spoilers)
Detective Harry Hole is tormented by the accidental death of his partner, killed in a high speed chase when Hole was driving. The killer that they were after was never caught.
It’s been five years. Hole drinks too much and his work and social life is suffering. Harry’s investigation of a series of brutal ritualistic murders pushes Harry to the limit. When clues indicate the killer / killers may have ties to the police, Harry doesn’t know who to trust.
Harry’s refusal to stand down puts him and everyone he loves in the killers crosshairs.
Thoughts…
This season adapts THE DEVIL’S STAR, the fifth book in the Harry Hole series.
Tobias Santelmann and Joel Kinnaman are excellent.
Detective Hole starts slow but builds to an exciting climax. I look forward to future seasons.
Renato Casaro’s “Cliffhanger” Movie Poster Prelim!
Renato Casaro was a famous Italian artist famous for his paintings for movie posters. The piece above is the rarely seen prelim for Casaro’s Cliffhanger movie poster. Click on the photo above to see a mountain-sized version.
AVALON STATION: A JOE LEDGER AND ROGUE INTERNTIONAL NOVEL by Jonathan Maberry
Jonathan Maberry’s next Joe Ledger novel, AVALON STATION has been announced! Here is the lowdown…
In the next novel in the Joe Ledger and Rogue Team International series, things get personal as the team goes up against a group of genetically and biomechanically amplified soldiers to save Joe’s kidnapped fiancée.
Joe Ledger and Rogue Team International embark on a desperate mission to rescue kidnapped American aide workers in Ukraine – one of whom is Mr. Church’s adopted son, and the other is Joe Ledger’s fiancée. When the bad guys take anyone that Joe is tasked with protecting, he will find them. But take someone he loves? Take the most important person in Ledger’s world? That’s a card that can’t be un-played. Joe goes after them with all of his skill and every ounce of his combat savagery.
However, the group responsible is a team of Paramilitary Contractors (PMCs) who are the first wave of amplified soldiers with genetic and biomechanical upgrades. These superior soldiers are faster, stronger, and more dangerous than anything Ledger and his team have ever faced. And they have a secret agenda to destroy NATO and other alliances in order to pave the way for a new era of empire building.
As Ledger goes after these PMCs, he discovers that these enhanced soldiers have also been scavenging Broken Arrows – lost nuclear weapons. Joe Ledger and Rogue Team International will have to level up in order to stop these super-soldiers and prevent a new world war! This is a level of action that even Joe hasn’t been to before. But this time the enemy has taken the woman he loves, and he’ll stop at nothing to get her back.
AVALON STATION drops on March 9, 2027.
FAREWELL, AMETHYSTINE : AN EASY RAWLINS MYSTERY by Walter Mosley / Z-View
FAREWELL, AMETHYSTINE : AN EASY RAWLINS MYSTERY by Walter Mosley
First sentences…
“Naw, naw, man. They wanna kick her outta that school because she a Black woman want the Constitution to practice what it preach. All kinda white revolutionaries and, and, and activist teachers up there at UCLA and they don’t make a peep about them.”
The Overview: Beware of Spoilers…
Monday morning. Ezekiel “Easy” Rawlins is chatting with his buddies when she comes in. She is Amethystine Stoller, an extremely beautiful, young black woman. Amethystine wants to hire Easy to find her missing ex-husband. Her ex, Curtis Fields is an accountant. He’s also white. An interracial couple, even in 1970, still raises a lot of eyebrows.
Easy feels an immediate attraction to Amethystine. He also doesn’t trust her. Two reasons not to take the case.
But he does.
When Easy finds Curtis’ dead body, things get complicated. Curtis was involved with gangsters, gamblers, blackmail and corrupt politicians. Easy tries to reach his buddy on the LAPD, Detective Melvin Suggs, but he’s surprised to find Suggs is also missing. Suggs’ wife has been implicated in a blackmail murder.
As Easy follows the clues, he realizes that the cases may be related and the corruption runs deep. Easy is going to need backup, so he reaches out to his friend, Fearless Jones. Together, Easy and Fearless will follow the clues that take them deep into LA’s dangerous underbelly where murders, double-crosses and blackmail are the norm.
+++
This is Walter Mosley’s sixteenth Easy Rawlins novel. They never disappoint.
Rating:
Conan by Rob De La Torre!
Some artists are just born to create Conan art. Rob De La Torre is one of them.
“Rambo III” – Mick McGinty’s Rare Prelims for the Announcement Poster!
Rambo III was initially going to be directed by Russell “Highlander” Mulcahy. Two weeks into production, Mulcahy left due to creative differences. Peter MacDonald was brought in, and the rest is history.
But when Rambo III was first announced one of the ads had Rambo on horseback with a crossbow. The art above is some of the studies created by Mick McGinty before the final piece was created. Click on the photo above to see a trilogy-sized version.
Sly Stallone is Jack Carter by Eli Powell!
As I was going through the Zablo vault I came across Eli Powell‘s take on Sly Stallone as Jack Carter. I cannot believe I haven’t posted this piece until now. I commissioned this piece at HeroesCon 2017. Powell not only captured the likeness, but added some blood splatter for character. I dug it then and I still do.
“Kill” (2023) / Z-View
Kill (2023)
Director: Nikhil Nagesh Bhat
Screenplay: Nikhil Nagesh Bhat
Stars: Lakshya, Raghav Juyal, Ashish Vidyarthi, Abhishek Chauhan, Harsh Chhaya and Tanya Maniktala.
Tagline: This journey is one-way.
The Plot…
Amrit and Tulika are in love and wish to be married. Amrit is an Army commando. Tulika, the daughter of a wealthy businessman. Tulika’s father has arranged for her to be married to the son of a wealthy business associate.
Tulika’s father has arranged for the family to travel by train to New Delhi for the wedding. Amrit and his commando buddy Viresh have secretly booked passage on the train as well. Amrit’s plan is to get Tulika to elope with him.
All of that changes when a large group of ruthless bandits enters the train. There plan was to rob everyone, but when they learn that a rich business man is on board they decide to rob everyone and kidnap his daughter.
As the express train barrels along it will be up to Amrit and Viresh to save the day.
Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…
Reportedly this film is based on a real event. In 2010, a retired Nepal commando traveling on the Maurya Express single-handedly took on 30 – 4o bandits. Although he was severely wounded, he killed three and wounded eight of the terrorists.
Kill was nominated for eight International Indian Film Academy Awards and won five. It was nominated for fourteen Filmfare Awards and won six.
Most reviewers like this film better than me. I thought it was good, but became a bit redundant. As always, your mileage may vary.
Kill (2023) rates 3 of 5 stars.
Rocky Balboa & 5 Other Rockys by Walter James Brogan!
Here’s a photo of an original Walter James Brogan painting once owned by Sly Stallone. It features Rocky Balboa surrounded by other famous Rockys: boxers Rocky Graziano and Rocky Marciano, DC Comics hero Sgt. Rock(y), and Rocky the Flying Squirrel.
This image is from the Sylvester Stallone Heritage Auction.
Renato Casaro’s Rare “Cliffhanger” Movie Poster Prelim!
Here’s a rare one. It’s one of Renato Casaro’s preliminary sketches for a Cliffhanger movie poster. Casaro was an Italian artist famous for his over 2,000 movie posters!
Mauricio Vilchex’s Rocky & Rambo Tattoo Ideas!
Mauricio Vilchex recently posted several ideas for Sylvester Stallone character tattoos. Here are my two favorite of the batch.
“4Got10” starring Dolph Lundgren, Johnny Messner, Vivica Fox and Danny Trejo / Z-View
4Got 10 aka The Good, the Bad, and the Dead (2015)
Director: Timothy Woodward Jr.
Screenplay: Sean Ryan
Stars: Johnny Messner, Dolph Lundgren, Danny Trejo, Vivica A. Fox and Michael Paré.
Tagline: Who can you trust?
The Plot…
Brian Barnes comes to. He’s in the desert, has been shot and is surrounded by several dead bodies. The sound of a cop car pulling up is what woke him. Brian closes his eyes and plays dead.
Sheriff Olson and his Deputy get out. They quickly survey the scene. In the van they find cocaine and bags of money. A drug deal gone sideways. There’s three or four million in cash just sitting there. The Deputy says he’s going to call in for backup. Sheriff Olson says, “Hold up… That’s a lot of money…”
Olson throws out the idea that they keep the cash. The Deputy thinks Olson is joking. He moves to make the call. Sheriff Olson shoots the Deputy in the back. As Olson moves to get the cash, he realizes Brian is alive.
Brian wounds Sheriff Olson and takes off with the cash. As Brian fights to remember why he was at the drug deal, he must stay on the run. Sheriff Olson, a relentless FBI agent and the drug lord who lost his son and cocaine when the drug deal went bad are closing in.
Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…
The plot is better than the finished film.
4Got 10 aka The Good, the Bad, and the Dead (2015) rates 2 of 5 stars.
