Month: December 2016

Black Rain (1989) / Z-View

Posted on by

Black Rain (1989)

Director: Ridley Scott

Screenplay: Craig Bolotin, Warren Lewis

Stars: Michael Douglas, Andy Garcia, Ken Takakura, Kate Capshaw, John Spencer and Luis Guzman.


The Pitch: “Hey, let’s make a movie with American cops caught up in a Japanese gang war.”

Tagline: An American Cop in Japan. Their country. Their laws. Their game. His rules.

The Overview:  Beware of Spoilers…

A detective [Douglas] under investigation for an ethics violation and his young clean cop friend [Garcia] accidently witness a Japanese gangland killing on US soil.  When they capture the Asian murderer, they are tasked with taking him back to Japan.  Once there they find themselves teamed with a straight-laced and uptight Japanese cop and in the middle of a gang war.

Michael Douglas in arguably his best role.  Andy Garcia is perfect as Douglas’ partner.   Ken Takakura is a joy.  Kate Capshaw has never been more attractive.  Yûsaku Matsuda as Sato is creepy evil.  And they’re all directed by Ridley Scott.  Black Rain is a winner!

Rating:

Ken Meyer Jr.’s Ink Stains 9: Blyberg, Byrne, Kane, Ordway, and More!

Posted on by

If you’re a fan of fanzines, then you’ve got to check out Ken Meyer, Jr.’s monthly column Ink Stains.  Each month Ken (who is an amazing artist) posts… well, let’s let Ken explain…

I have a collection of over 200 fanzines from the 60’s-80’s that I plan to scan and talk about, one at a time. I hope to have some of the participants answer a few questions. Many of those participants are established comics professionals now, while some have gone on to other things. I will show a few snippets from each zine and give you a link to download a pdf of the whole thing, which I hope all of you will do!

For Ink Stains 9, Ken took a look at Woweekazowie 3 and 4, from the Summer and Winter of 1978,  Published by Pete Iro.

Woweekazowie 3 and 4 featured art by Willie Blyberg, John Byrne, Gil Kane, Jerry Ordway, Gene Day, and more.  I owned a few issues of Woweekazowie and always found them to be some of the most professional looking fanzines available.

Willie Blyberg’s art and stories appeared often in Woweekazowie and other fanzines.  Willie went on to become a pro.  For a short while I was in contact with him during the fanzine days.  I always liked Willie and his art.  Anyone know what became of him?

Ah, the memories of the glory days of fanzines.  Thanks to Ken Meyer, Jr. for making these available!

Dig That Uranium (1955)

Posted on by

Dig That Uranium (1955)

Director: Edward Bernds

Screenplay: Bert Lawrence, Elwood Ullman

Stars: Leo Gorcey, Huntz Hall and Bernard Gorcey


The Pitch: “Hey, let’s have the boys go out west!”

Tagline: HE TAME WEST GOES WILD WITH LAUGHTER!…When They Go Huntin’ Uranium!

The Overview:  Beware of Spoilers…

Tricked into buying a worthless uranium mine, the boys head out west to seek their fortune.  Once there they have to deal with claim jumpers, wild indians and a pesky old miner.

Rating:

Spider-Man, Hulk & Dr. Strange by Frank Miller and P. Craig Russell

Posted on by

The Spider-Man, Hulk & Dr. Strange by Frank Miller and P. Craig Russell was one of the plates in the Marvel Portfolio Set Two.

Other plates included:

  • Spider-Man, Thanos, The Thing and the Avengers by Alan Weiss and Josef Rubinstein.
  • Spider-Man, Thor and The Living Monolith by Bill Sienkiewicz and Tom Palmer.
  • Spider-Man and the Silver Surfer by John Byrne and Terry Austin.
  • Spider-Man and Nick Fury is by Ernie Colon.
  • Spider-Man and the X-Men is by George Perez.

There were two sets of Marvel Portfolios released in the early 80’s.  I got mine when they were still released and have them in my portfolio collection. I posted about the first set yesterday.

You can see all of the portfolio pieces at The Bristol Board!

Crossfire (1947) / Z-View

Posted on by

Crossfire (1947)

Director: Edward Dmytryk

Screenplay: John Paxton adapted from the novel by Richard Brooks

Stars: Robert Young, Robert Mitchum, Robert Ryan and Gloria Grahame


The Pitch: “Hey, let’s make a novel based on the novel Crossfire.”

Tagline: Hate Is Like A Loaded Gun!

The Overview:  Beware of Spoilers…

Homicide Detective Finlay [Young] investigates the murder of a man.  Evidence points to one of a group of soldiers on leave but something just doesn’t feel right…

Rating:

Spider-Man & Daredevil by Frank Miller and Klaus Janson

Posted on by

The Spider-Man & Daredevil by Frank Miller and Klaus Janson was one of the plates in the Marvel Portfolio Set One.

Other plates included:

  • The Fantastic Four fighting Daredevil, Spider-Man and Thor by John Byrne and Terry Austin.
  • Spider-Man fighting the Hulk and the Green Goblin by Walt Simonson.
  • Spider-Man fighting Luke Cage and Iron Fist by Kerry Gammill and Bob McLeod.
  • Spider-Man by Michael Golden.
  • Spider-Man fighting D’Spayre and Man-Thing by Brent Anderson.

There were two sets of Marvel Portfolios released in the early 80’s.  I got mine when they were still released and have them in my portfolio collection. (Any of you remember when portfolios were a thing?]

You can see all of the portfolio pieces at The Bristol Board!  We’ll be back tomorrow with Marvel Portfolio Set Two!

Knock Knock (2015) directed by Eli Roth, starring Keanu Reeves, Lorenza Izzo & Ana de Armas / Z-View

Posted on by

Knock Knock (2015)

Director: Eli Roth

Screenplay: Eli Roth & Nicolás López & Guillermo Amoedo

Stars: Keanu Reeves, Lorenza Izzo, Ana de Armas, Aaron Burns and Colleen Camp.

Tagline: ONE NIGHT CAN COST YOU EVERYTHING

The Overview:  Beware of Spoilers…

Evan decides to stay home to get caught up on work while his wife and two young children take a weekend trip. Working late, Evan is surprised when two young women show up at his door.  They were dropped off for a party, had the wrong address and are soaked.  Evan calls a cab but it will be forty-five minutes.

He allows them to wait inside.  Despite his best efforts one thing leads to another and Evan learns that all is not what it seemed and “one night can cost you everything.”

Thoughts…

Knock Knock is a remake of Death Game (1977), which co-starred Colleen Camp and Sondra Locke.  Camp and Locke co-produced Knock Knock.  Colleen Camp also had a role in this remake.

Co-star Lorenza Izzo was Director Eli Roth’s wife at the time.  Keanu Reeves said this made  filming the nude scenes awkward.

Rating:

Jail Busters (1955) / Z-View

Posted on by

Jail Busters (1955)

Director: William Beaudine

Screenplay: Edward Bernds and Elwood Ullman

Stars: Leo Gorcey, Huntz Hall and Bernard Gorcey

The Pitch: “Hey, let’s put the boys in prison.  That ought to be funny!”

Tagline: It’s Real Stir-Crazy!

The Overview:  Beware of Spoilers…

When a reporter friend of the boys gets put in the hospital by the mob, the boys decide to get the scoop by getting sent to prison to sort out the corruption.

Rating:

Cabin Fever 3: Patient Zero (2014) / Z-View

Posted on by

Cabin Fever 3: Patient Zero (2014)

Director: Kaare Andrews

Screenplay: Jake Wade Wall

Stars: Sean Astin, Currie Graham and Ryan Donowho

The Pitch: “Hey, let’s make another Cabin Fever movie!”

Tagline: The BIRTH OF FEAR.

The Overview:  Beware of Spoilers…

A group of young friends get dropped off on a remote island for a weekend of fun.  Sadly, a flesh-eating virus has escaped from the island research facility.  And they thought sun burn was the worst of their worries.

Rating:

The Blob (1958) / Z-View

Posted on by

The Blob (1958)

Director: Irvin S. Yeaworth Jr. and Russell S. Doughten Jr. (uncredited)

Screenplay: Theodore Simonson and Kay Linaker

Stars: Steve McQueen, Aneta Corsaut and Earl Rowe

The Pitch: “Hey, let’s make a monster movie that will appeal to teenagers!”

Tagline: The management of this theatre disclaims any responsibility for heart attacks or damage to nerves.

The Overview:  Beware of Spoilers…

When a couple of teenagers discover that a blob-like alien life form has landed on Earth and is consuming people, no one in town believes them… until it is too late.

Rating: