Previews and Reviews that are Z's Views
Love seeing A Fistful of Dollars getting some love from David Ball.
“You see, I understand you men were just playin’ around, but the mule, he just doesn’t get it. Course, if you were to all apologize…” – Joe
Honey Don’t (2025)
Director: Ethan Coen
Screenplay: Ethan Coen, Tricia Cooke
Stars: Margaret Qualley, Aubrey Plaza, Chris Evans, Charlie Day, Kristen Connolly, Don Swayze, Christian Antidormi, Billy Eichner, Kinna McInroe and Gabby Beans.
Tagline: She only has two desires, and one of them is justice.
The Plot…
Honey O’Donahue learns that Mia Novotny was found stabbed to death. Honey is a private investigator who Mia had planned to meet the following day. When Mia called Honey she said she couldn’t go to the police and was afraid.
Obviously for good reason.
Honey is determined to find Mia’s killer. The clues will lead to the Four-Way Temple led by Reverend Drew Devlin. Devlin is interested in a lot more than saving souls. Devlin also has another money-making enterprise that could have something to do with Mia’s murder.
Honey won’t rest until she finds Mia’s assassin… even if it kills her.
Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…
I loved the film’s creative use of opening credits.
Margaret Qualley, the star of Honey Don’t, is the daughter of actress Andie MacDowell. They look so much alike they could be twins.
The film earns an “R” rating because it doesn’t shy away during the lesbian sex scenes.
Honey Don’t (2025) rates 3 of 5 stars.
If you’re following Rich Davies, you might have already seen his haunting Sinners art. Even so, it’s worth another look.
“You keep dancing with the devil… one day he’s gonna follow you home.” – Jedidiah
Chuck (born Carlos Ray) Norris died yesterday at the age of 86. No cause of death was given.
Surprisingly, Carlos Ray Norris described himself growing up as a shy, nonathletic and mediocre student. His parents divorced when Carlos was 16. His family suffered financially, since his father didn’t always work and had a drinking problem.
When Carlos was 18 he joined the Air Force. That move changed his life. Carlos was was sent to Osan Air Base, South Korea. That’s where he folks began calling him Chuck (which stuck) and he started learning the martial arts.
Upon his discharge, Chuck Norris opened a chain of martial arts schools and he began entering martial arts competitions. Mr. Norris competed from 1968 to 1974 compiling a 183 win, 10 loss, 2 draw record. Chuck Norris was a six-time undefeated World Professional Middleweight Karate champion. He held multiple black belts in serveral different martial arts forms. It was during this time, that Chuck Norris met Bruce Lee. They became friends and occassionally trained together.
Mr. Norris’ martial arts schools attracted several celebrities including Steve McQueen, Bob Barker, Priscilla Presley, as well as Donny and Marie Osmond.
Chuck Norris’ first acting role was in a small part in the Dean Martin film, The Wrecking Crew. It was his role in Bruce Lee’s Way of the Dragon (titled Return of the Dragon in the US) that brought Chuck Norris to the attention of Hollywood. Chuck Norris became a star, headlining dozens of feature films as well as Walker, Texas Ranger the hit television series that ran for nine seasons and several made-for-tv movies.
Some of the television projects that feature Chuck Norris acting include: Room 222; Chuck Norris: Karate Kommandos (5 episodes); Wind in the Wire; Walker, Texas Ranger (196 episodes); Logan’s War: Bound by Honor; Sons of Thunder (4 episodes); Martial Law; The President’s Man; The President’s Man: A Line in the Sand; Walker Texas Ranger: Trial by Fire; The Goldbergs and Hawaii 5-0.
Some feature films that Chuck Norris appeared in include: The Wrecking Crew; The Way of the Dragon; Breaker! Breaker!; Good Guys Wear Black; A Force of One; The Octagon; An Eye for an Eye; Silent Rage; Forced Vengeance; Lone Wolf McQuade; Missing in Action; Missing in Action II: The Beginning; Code of Silence; Invasion USA; The Delta Force; Firewalker; Braddock: Missiing in Action III; Hero and the Terror; Delta Force 2: The Columbian Connection; The Hitman; Sidekicks; Dodgeball: A True Underdog’s Story and The Expendables 2.
I first saw Chuick Norris acting in Way of the Dragon. What an impression he made! I was always excited to see each film when Mr. Norris began starring in action movies. Favorites include A Force of One and The Octagon. Of course I loved when Chuck Norris showed up in Expendables 2. Chuck Norris is one of the few actors that I like as much off screen as on.
Out thoughts and prayers go out to Chuck Norris’ family, friends and fans.
Leo Leibelman is a freelance artist who has provided art for comics, trading cards, novels, instructional materials, film storyboards and more. Leo Leibelman takes commissions.
Leibelman presents the movie that launched a franchise and made Arnold Schwarzenegger a star!
“Listen, and understand! That Terminator is out there! It can’t be bargained with. It can’t be reasoned with. It doesn’t feel pity, or remorse, or fear. And it absolutely will not stop… ever, until you are dead!” – Kyle Reese
Dead of Winter (2025)
Director: Brian Kirk
Screenplay: Nicholas Jacobson-Larson, Dalton Leeb
Stars: Emma Thompson, Judy Greer, Marc Menchaca, Laurel Marsden and Brían F. O’Byrne.
Tagline: Wrong place. Wrong crime.
The Plot…
Barb and Karl had their first date ice fishing on Lake Hilda in Northern Minnesota decades ago when they were young. They fell in love, were married and had a great life. Now that Karl has passed, Barb has returned to the remote lake to spread his ashes.
It’s the dead of winter. Lake Hilda is still a wilderness location. No cell service. No people.
Barb is shocked when she sees in the distance a woman with her hands bound trying to run from a man. The man catches the woman and takes her away. Barb follows them to a cabin.
If the woman is to survive, it will be up to Barb.
Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…
Emma Thompson’s daughter, Gaia Wise, plays young Barb.
Dead of Winter (2025) rates 3 of 5 stars.
I absolutely love Thobias Daneluz’s take on Sly Stallone as Rocky Balboa. It would be so cool to see Thobias adapt all of the Rocky films. Well, one can dream, right? Check out Thobias’ Instgram to see more of his art.
“Nobody’s ever gone the distance with Creed, and if I can go that distance, you see, and that bell rings and I’m still standin’, I’m gonna know for the first time in my life, see, that I weren’t just another bum from the neighborhood.” – Rocky Balboa
This sweet John Wick: Chapter 3 – Paradbellum alt poster was created by Mark Levy.
“Are services still off limit to me?”
James Byron Huggins’ THE LAST HUNT (the third in the Hunter trilogy) is a hit! It currently has a 4.5 / 5 star rating at Amazon. Its Goodreads rating is even better – 4.65 / 5 stars.
Perhaps even more impressive is that THE LAST HUNT sits in Goodreads’ Listopia #1 spot on the list of Best Action & Thrillers Ever. Huggins is in the company of legends (Child, Clancey, Lundlum and Evanovich) and leads the pack! (See chart below.)
Long time readers of this site know that James Byron Huggins wrote HUNTER with Sylvester Stallone in mind as the lead character. In fact Sly discussed ideas with Byron prior to the novel being written and the second edition is dedicated to Sylvester Stallone.
Sly Stallone has held the movie rights to HUNTER since the start. A couple of times it appeared that the movie adaptation of Hunter would be soon on Sly’s agenda. But the movie business proceeds in mysterious ways, and HUNTER has yet to reach the production stage. Sly’s Balboa Productions still has the rights and hopefully fans will get to HUNTER as a feature film or television series.
Every book in the HUNTER trilogy gets my highest recommendation.
Matt Taylor created a very cool alt poster for John Wick: Chapter 4. You can see more of Taylor’s art here!
“Friendship means little when it’s convenient.” – Shimazu
Bronson (2008)
Director: Nicolas Winding Refn
Screenplay: Brock Norman Brock, Nicolas Winding Refn
Stars: Tom Hardy.
Tagline: The Man. The Myth. The Celebrity.
The Plot…
Since he was a small boy, Michael Peterson got into trouble. In 1974, at the age of 19, Peterson took a sawed-off shotgun and attempted to rob a post office. He was caught and sentenced to seven years in prison. His mother hoped he’d be out in four.
Michael Peterson is still in prison. Peterson’s continued savage acts of violence repeatedly added years to his sentence. He was sent to a psychiatric hospital, but the violence continued, so he returned to regular prison. Peterson has served over 50 years with the majority of them spent in solitary confinement.
Along the way Peterson changed his name to Charles Bronson and took pride in his notoriety.
This is his story.
Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…
Tom Hardy met with Charles Bronson several times prior to filming. After seeing the film, Bronson said that Hardy had his mannerisms, voice and personaity down pat.
If male frontal nudity offends you, avoid this film.
One of Bronson‘s taglines called it “A Clockwork Orange for the 21st Century“. I agree.
Bronson (2008) rates3 of 5 stars.
Here are the poster and trailer for One Spoon of Chocolate. I’m diggin’ ’em both.
Deal me in.
ONE SPOON OF CHOCOLATE Official Trailer (2026)
Quentin Tarantino Presents, RZA, Shameik Moore, Paris Jackson
The art above features Sly Stallone as Jack Carter teamed with Lono from 100 Bullets. It was created in 2016 by Megan Levens at HeroesCon. It is one of my first “team” pieces where Jack Carter is paired with another pop art character.
This teaser for Life, Larry and the Pursuit of Unhappiness works.
Deal me in!
Larry David returns. We’re celebrating. Everybody’s kissing.
Life, Larry and the Pursuit of Unhappiness is coming June 26 to HBO Max.
This cool art titled Meathouse Rocky was created by Dosbrak and is available as a signed, limited edition print with three variants.
“All I wanna do is go the distance” – Rocky