Monday, April 29, 2024
Sunday, April 28, 2024
Classic Movie Flashback 'The Last Emperor' 1987 with John Lone
THE LAST EMPEROR distributed by COLUMBIA pictures (1987). The production budget climbed to $23 million and grossed $44 million at the worldwide box office. Film critics gave the movie rave reviews. The U.S., release started in limited theaters and gained word-of-mouth popularity. It had earned a lot more money after the 9 Oscar Nominations and 9 Oscar Wins (1988).
The story surrounds a boy named Puyi who was crowned the "Last Emperor" of China. His life began in 1908 inside "The Forbidden City" at Beijing, China. That city was like a prison for the boy who couldn't leave. He remained there after China became a Republic and he was no longer an Emperor.
In adulthood, he was forced out of the imperial city after a Beijing Coup. He became a playboy in a region he still ruled until the Soviet Red Army captured him. He remained a prisoner until 1959 who worked as a simple gardener until his death.
During the 1980's. Minorities were all subjected to stereotypes in Hollywood. That included the Asian community. The stereotypes were demeaning. Plus, there was no representation of Asians in films and on Television. When the historical, "Last Emperor" was released in the U.S. It was refreshing to see real Chinese and Japanese character portrayals.
"Emperor" swept the 1988 Academy Awards (Oscar) including Best Picture and 8 other awards. It is now part of the Criterion Collection on Blu-Ray. It was restored in 4K in its original 2.35:1 aspect ratio on Blu-Ray and UHD 2023. But, only in the United Kingdom.
No Saturday Night TV Ratings '48 Hours'
48 HOURS on CBS. Last night's episode was called, "Kristen Trickle: Autopsy of the Mind" 4/27/2024). The TV ratings for Friday and Saturday will be reported on Monday by websites.
Click the CBS logo for 48 HOURS.
Top Box Office 'Challengers' Hits Number #1 with $15 Million
TOP BOX OFFICE / WEEK-ENDING / APRIL 28, 2024 / ESTIMATED
1. Challengers Amazon MGM S… $15,011,078
2. Unsung Hero Lionsgate $7,750,000
3. Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire Warner Bros. $7,200,000
4. Civil War A24 $7,004,038
5. Abigail Universal $5,250,000
6. The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare Lionsgate $3,860,000
7. Kung Fu Panda 4 Universal $3,550,000
8. Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire Sony Pictures $3,250,000
9. Dune: Part Two Warner Bros. $1,985,000
10. Boy Kills World Roadside Att… $1,600,000
Saturday, April 27, 2024
Action Trailer 'The Round-Up: Punishment' in theaters on May 3, 2024
THE ROUND UP: PUNISHMENT from CAP-LIGHT Pictures. This is the 4th installment surrounding police detective Ma Seok-do (Don LEE).
I've seen the first 3 films in the mystery/comedy/action/series. They are all good.
"Punishment" has already opened in South Korea and nabbed $4.9 million on its' first day. It is very popular.
It reaches the U.S. in limited theaters on May 3, 2024. I can't wait.!!!
Teaser Trailer
Friday Night's 'Dateline' episode 'Chameleon' 4/26/2024
DATELINE on NBC. Last night's episode was called, "Chameleon." The TV Ratings are not available on Weekends anymore. This according to websites that follow TV ratings numbers. Friday and Saturday numbers will be reported on the following Monday.
You have to Sign-Up to Sign-In to watch the latest episode.
Click the NBC logo below for DATELINE.
Friday, April 26, 2024
REVEAL inside the Trailer 'Trap' from M. Night Shyamalan 2024
TRAP from M. NIGHT SHYAMALAN. The trailer was released and the film will hit theaters on Aug. 9, 2024.
The story surrounds a father and daughter who attend a concert. The dad discovers that the FBI is there to "Trap" a serial killer. It appears that the father is the killer... Or is he?
M. Night Shyamalan is known for his movie "Twists" and gave one away in this trailer. It is the father.
I noticed something in this trailer that no one has talked about yet. If you blink. You will miss it.
WATCH CLOSELY.... There is a "dead man" and an "old lady" near the end of the trailer. Who is he? Who is she? Does the father know them?
Thursday, April 25, 2024
New Podcast from '48 Hours' with Peter Van Sant 'Blood is Thicker: The Hargan Family Killings'
CBS "Millionaire businesswoman Pam Hargan and her youngest daughter Helen are found dead in their family home in McLean, Virginia. The strange and haunting crime scene puzzled investigators – was it a murder suicide or was it staged to look like one? There was conflicting evidence all around."
"48 Hours correspondent Peter Van Sant examines the suspenseful case in this 6-episode series, Blood is Thicker: The Hargan Family Killings."
"Detectives try to untangle mixed motives from mother-daughter discord, to sibling rivalry, jealousy and a family fortune. Find out if blood is really thicker when it comes to the Hargan family."
Saturday Night '48 Hours' with Erin Moriarty on April 27, 2024
48 HOURS on CBS. The next episode is called, "Kristen Trickle: Autopsy of the mind" that will air this Saturday at 10/9 p.m.
CBS says, "A Kansas woman is found dying from a gunshot wound. Evidence at the scene doesn’t add up, so a prosecutor gets creative. "48 Hours" correspondent Erin Moriarty reports."
Animation Trailer 'Batman: Mask of the Phantasm' 1993 now in 4K ULTRA HD
BATMAN: MASK OF THE PHANTASM from WARNER BROS. (1993). The production budget climbed to $6 million and grabbed $5.6 million at the box office. It has finally been released on Blu-Ray 4K ULTRA HD (2023).
"Warner Bros./Animation" had slated a last minute theatrical release in late December of 1993. It earned rave reviews from critics and fans. The home video VHS release grabbed huge rentals ($$$) in 1994. It wasn't released on DVD until 1999.
Inside Gotham City. The Phantasm wears a mask who is an angry vigilante. He kills a mobster when Batman appears on the scene. He is mistaken for this Phantasm who later kills another mobster. Batman has to uncover the truth and clear his name.
Fans consider "Phantasm" the best film ever made of the DC comics character. I totally agree. The "Warner Bros./Animation" team created a drawing style that reaches back to the 1960's. It has deep, rich colors and characters who come alive on the screen. Classic animation that isn't computer generated.
Mark Hamill (Star Wars) provides the voice of "The Joker."
Wednesday, April 24, 2024
Podcast 'Unsolved Mysteries' episode called 'Dead in the Driveway'
DEAD IN THE DRIVEWAY from the UNSOLVED MYSTERIES podcast. 2005. Mr. Wheeler was a local pastor who tried to help prison inmates. He pulled up into his home driveway and climbed from his car. An unknown killer(s) walked up and shot Wheeler several times. He died in that driveway.
He was a devoted family man who had good friends with no enemies. Until the day he was murdered. There are no security cameras and no eye witnesses. Investigators discovered that Wheeler may have interrupted a burglary inside of his home. There are no fingers or footprints left behind in the house. Plus, no hair samples or DNA evidence. The killer(s) left the home in disarray who seemed to be looking for something. They didn't find it.
This killing is still unsolved to this day. It's a mystery folks.!
Tuesday, April 23, 2024
Donald Trump's past is coming back to haunt him in court 4/23/2024
Donald Trump has pleaded not guilty to 34 felony counts in the state of New York. He is accused of falsifying business records to cover up "hush money" payments to a female Porn Star. All so that their affair wouldn't be made public after he announced his campaign run for U.S. President in 2016.
There is a reason Trump tried to "delay" this criminal trial in New York City. The truth is coming out after the first witness took the stand. David Pecker is the former president of the gossip rag, "The National Enquirer." He claims that Trump used the magazine to "Catch and Kill" stories about himself. Plus, he asked Pecker to target his enemies. Trump never paid him either for using the "Enquirer."
You can make this stuff up.!!
NBC News and the full day coverage 4/23/2024.
Monday, April 22, 2024
Classic Movie Flashback 'Peggy Sue Got Married' 1986 with Kathleen Turner
PEGGY SUE GOT MARRIED distributed by TRI-STAR pictures (1986). It was directed by Francis Ford Coppola (The Godfather). It stars Kathleen Turner. The production budget climbed to $18 million and nabbed $41 million at the box office.
Many critics say this is a complete rip-off of the popular time-travel movie, "Back to the Future" 1985. It wasn't.
Peggy Sue (Turner) attends her 25th anniversary high school reunion. She left her husband (Nicolas Cage) and went to the reunion with her daughter. She is crowned homecoming queen again and faints. Peggy wakes up in 1960 during her senior year in high school. She relives teen life up until the prom.
Turner never used make-up or special effects. She looked like a teen while in her late 30's. She's totally believable and is beautiful as Peggy. The movie came out one year after, "Back to the Future" and Time Travel looked like so much fun. The 1980's pop culture returned to the 1950's many times over with films, music and television.
"Peggy Sue Got Married" received 3 Oscar nominations including Best Actress for Turner, Best Cinematography and Best Costume Design.
Sunday, April 21, 2024
Classic '48 Hours' podcast 'The Curious Case of Colonel Shue' with Troy Roberts
This classic "48 Hours" episode aired on 10/24/2009 with Troy Roberts.
CBS says, "In April 2003, Air Force Colonel Philip Shue died in a violent car crash when his vehicle struck trees alongside a Texas interstate highway. After a year-long investigation, all the agencies involved -- the Air Force, and both local and state police -- agreed that Col. Shue had suffered a psychological breakdown and died by suicide."
"However, Tracy Shue, his widow, was adamant that her husband had been abducted and tortured, and then somehow broken free."
Note: I had recorded and then watched this episode multiple times. I don't believe it was a suicide. It appears that he was tortured. This case is still unsolved even though the Air Force closed the file.
Saturday Night '48 Hours' episode 'Death By Eye Drops'
48 HOURS on CBS. Last night's episode was called, "Death By Eye Drops" (4/20/2024). This murder case grabbed huge TV Ratings on "Court TV." Click on the CBS logo below for the episode.
Note: This caregiver spent all of the victim's money $250,000. Before and after the victim supposedly died from suicide.
Top Box Office 'Civil War' Still Number #1 with $11 Million
TOP BOX OFFICE / WEEK-ENDING / 4/21/ 2024 / ESTIMATED
1. Civil War A24 $11,127,753
2. Abigail Universal $10,200,000
3. Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire Warner Bros. $9,455,000
4. The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare Lionsgate $9,025,000
5. Spy x Family Code: White Crunchyroll $4,875,000
6. Kung Fu Panda 4 Universal $4,600,000
7. Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire Sony Pictures $4,400,000
8. Dune: Part Two Warner Bros. $2,900,000
9. Monkey Man Universal $2,200,000
10. The First Omen 20th Century... $1,700,000
Saturday, April 20, 2024
Fun Trailer Reaction 'Trap' from M. Night Shyamalan
There are so many movie fans and critics. They are all over You-Tube. I like those fans who have fun reacting to filmmaker trailers and movies.
The latest movie from M. Night Shyamalan is called, "Trap" which comes to theaters on August 9, 2024.
"React to the World" have great trailer reactions on You-Tube. They are below.
"Trap" has a cool concept and a "Reveal" which might or might not be the major "Twist." Shyamalan is known for his film "Twists" in the story.
Friday Night's 'Dateline' was called 'Evil Walked Through The Door'
DATELINE on NBC. In order for you to watch last night's episode, "Evil Walked Through The Door" (4/19/2024). You have to Sign-Up to Sign-In by clicking on the NBC logo below.
Congratulations to Josh Mankiewicz for losing 75 pounds. Watch the latest episodes for the big change.
Thursday, April 18, 2024
Wednesday, April 17, 2024
Tuesday, April 16, 2024
Podcast 'Dateline' episode 'Justice for Joy' with Blayne Alexander
DATELINE on NBC. I missed this episode "Justice for Joy." Check it out.
NBC says, "When Joy Hibbs is found dead in a house fire, an autopsy shows she was murdered beforehand. Even with multiple suspects, the investigation stalls, leaving the case cold for years. Decades later, a shocking secret is revealed. Blayne Alexander reports."
Monday, April 15, 2024
Classic Movie Flashback 'Dragnet' 1987 with Dan Aykroyd
DRAGNET distributed by UNIVERSAL pictures (1987). Dan Aykroyd is a Saturday Night Live (SNL) sketch comedy alumni. He portrays Joe Friday who is the nephew of Sergeant Joe Friday from the classic "Dragnet" radio series (1949-57) and the TV series, (1951-59) plus the revival series, (1967-70).
The production budget climbed to $20 million. It grossed $66 million at the world-wide box office. It was a hit for Universal but there was no sequel planned. Even though Hollywood is a town built on sequels.
Joe Friday (Aykroyd) and his new partner Pep Streebek (Tom Hanks) investigate a series of thefts that lead to a pornographic magazine called, "Bait." A church group fights against this magazine posing as a cult. Friday and Streebeck go deep undercover to reveal something much worse.
Dan Aykroyd earned rave reviews with his spot-on portrayal of Joe Friday. Many critics believed that he deserved an Oscar nomination as "Best Actor." Comedy films never get respected by the Academy. That's just the way it is... Aykroyd is absolutely hilarious in this film.
Today in 2024 - The original "Dragnet" is long forgotten. Joe Friday is a classic character with his classic line, "Just the facts ma'am." Plus, the theme song introduction... (Older fans follow it on the Internet. I love the radio series which gave us crime in Los Angeles of the early 1950's).
"Dragnet" 1987 is on Blu-Ray. Check it out. You won't be disappointed.
Sunday, April 14, 2024
Top Box Office 'Civil War' is Surprise Number #1 with $25 Million
TOP BOX OFFICE / WEEK-ENDING / APRIL 14, 2024 /ESTIMATED
1. Civil War A24 $25,712,608
2. Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire Warner Bros. $15,450,000
3. Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire Sony Pictures $5,800,000
4. Kung Fu Panda 4 Universal $5,500,000
5. Dune: Part Two Warner Bros. $4,320,000
6. Monkey Man Universal $4,100,000
7. The First Omen 20th Century… $3,781,000
8. The Long Game Mucho Mas Media $1,390,000
9. Shrek 2 Universal $1,350,000
10. Sting Well Go USA $1,200,000
No TV Ratings for Saturday '48 Hours'
48 HOURS on CBS. Last night's episode was called, "The Disappearance of Maddi Kingsbury" (4/13/2024). There are no TV ratings for Saturday evening's segment.
Click on CBS logo for 48 HOURS.
Saturday, April 13, 2024
TREND: No Weekend TV Ratings until Monday
DATELINE on NBC. Last night's episode was called, "Justice for Joy" (4/12/2024). I checked all of the TV ratings websites and this might be a change in reporting. They are not posting TV ratings for Friday-Saturday-Sunday. They report those numbers the following Monday.
No TV ratings for Friday Night "Dateline."
You have to Sign-Up to Sign-In to watch the latest episode.
Click NBC logo for DATELINE.
Saturday Night Mystery '48 Hours' on April 13, 2024
48 HOURS on CBS. The next episode is called, "The Disappearance of Maddi Kingsbury" that will air this Saturday at 10/9 p.m.
CBS says, "When Madeline 'Maddi' Kingsbury, a 26-year-old Minnesota mom vanished, her distraught sister turned to the social media platform to help find her. Correspondent Peter Van Sant has a preview of this week's all-new - 48 Hours."
Trailer 'Civil War' in theaters April 12, 2024
Friday, April 12, 2024
O.J. Simpson dies at age 76 from cancer
DATELINE on NBC. It was 25 years after the double murder of Nicole Brown Simpson and her friend Ron Goldman. O.J. Simpson was the main suspect in those killings. Josh Mankiewicz reported and focused on the white Ford Bronco "chase" from police on the LA Freeway. The episode was called, "Dateline: Chasing O.J. Simpson" 2019.
I have to admit that I never watched anything on this huge news story (1994). I also never watched the court trial and the "Not Guilty" verdict. Interesting that I had other things that I was doing.
Simpson died from cancer on April 10, 2024 at age 76. Many believe he got away with a double murder. Since his acquittal in the 1995 Criminal Trial. He became a social "pariah" after being found liable in the wrongful deaths of Nicole and Ron after a Civil Trial 1997. He was ordered to pay $33.5 million which still hasn't been paid. Evidence was revealed in the civil trial that wasn't in the criminal trial. It pointed toward his "guilt."
In 2009 - Simpson was convicted of armed robbery at Las Vegas, Nevada. He served 9 years in prison and was paroled with good behavior 2017.
Funny... I was absolutely glued to "Dateline: Chasing O.J. Simpson." I missed it all and understood quickly why the "Trial of the Century" was wall-to-wall news coverage. In my opinion... The evidence against Simpson reveals his "guilt."
It will always be a mystery on the night Nicole and Ron were stabbed to death 1994. Simpson is now gone too and the real truth went with all of them.
Click the NBC logo below for "Dateline: Chasing O.J. Simpson" at Daily-Motion.
Wednesday, April 10, 2024
Dev Patel's 'Monkey Man' is stylish, violent, action-packed, directorial debut
MONKEY MAN distributed by UNIVERSAL pictures (2024). Dev Patel co-wrote the screenplay, co-produced and this his directorial debut.
The story surrounds an underground fighter who puts on a monkey mask in the ring. His job is to take the fall in order to make money for a greedy manager. This fighter had always worshipped the legend of the "The White Monkey." He is the protector of the weak and impoverished people. This fighter also worshipped his mother who was brutally killed by a corrupt police officer. Outside the ring. This fighter makes a plan to find and kill this officer who murdered his mom.
First - I was intrigued by the movie trailer. I love a good action film and many critics are calling this the, "John Wick of Mumbai, India."
Second - There is criticism about the middle of the movie which slows down the story. I disagree because the first big action sequences were to introduce this fighter's inexperience. He has to re-group and become, "The White Monkey" for modern times. That brings him to his second try to take down the corrupt leaders of his country.
Third - This was a stylish looking film which captures every part of the fighter's story. He keeps going back to this "Monkey" legend visually and how he embraces it internally. It makes his second comeback more meaningful with power-house fighting.
Check it out in movie theaters right now. You will not be disappointed.
Tuesday, April 9, 2024
Monday, April 8, 2024
Classic Movie Flashback 'Porky's' from 1981
PORKY'S distributed by 20TH CENTURY FOX (1981). The sex comedy had unknown actors and found financing in Canada where it was filmed. It opened in Colorado and North Carolina on Nov. 13, 1981. The North American wide release was on March 19, 1982.
The production budget climbed to $5 million. It would go onto become a blockbuster hit at the world-wide box office with $130 million. The re-release was in 1983 and added $30 million to its' box office take.
Synopsis from 1981 - "In 1954, a group of Florida high schoolers seek out to help their buddy lose his virginity, which leads them to seek revenge on a sleazy nightclub owner and his redneck sheriff brother for harassing them."
Note: This movie could never be made in 2024. Political Correctness would not allow racism, objectification and misogyny against women. The story is set in 1954 and reflects the "time" and "social attitudes."
Good Grief - I was 16-years-old when "Porky's" was released. Every high school teen went to see this and reported back to classes. The most popular conversation was about the female character of "Honeywell." She jumped on the PE Teacher inside the locker room. She "Howled" like an animal. She was played by a very young Kim Cattrall (Sex and the City).
"Porky's" spawned two sequels that were not as successful as the first. It also spawned dozens of awful teen-sex movies throughout the 1980's.
The Blu-Ray Disc was released in 2012. (Below is the original 1981 Trailer).
No TV Ratings for Saturday Night's '48 Hours'
48 HOURS on CBS. Last night's episode was called, "The Conspiracy to Murder Jennifer Dulos" (4/6/2024).
Click CBS logo for 48 HOURS.
Top Box Office 'Godzilla x Kong' Remains Number #1 with $31 Million
TOP BOX OFFICE / WEEK-ENDING / APRIL 7, 2024 / ESTIMATED
1. Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire Warner Bros. $31,700,000M
2. Monkey Man Universal $10,150,000M
3. Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire Sony Pictures $9,000,000M
4. The First Omen 20th Century $8,363,000M
5. Kung Fu Panda 4 Universal $7,850,000M
6. Dune: Part Two Warner Bros. $7,200,000M
7. Someone Like You Fathom Events $3,002,382M
8. Arthur the King Lionsgate $1,540,000M
9. Immaculate Neon $1,405,000M
10. Late Night with the Devil IFC Films $1,114,000M
Saturday, April 6, 2024
No TV Ratings for Friday Night 'Dateline'
DATELINE on NBC. Last night's episode was called, "The Night Time Stopped' (4/5/2024). There are no TV Ratings for last night's segment.
You have to Sign-Up the with Sign-In to watch the latest episode.
Click the NBC logo below for DATELINE.
Thursday, April 4, 2024
Wednesday, April 3, 2024
Tuesday, April 2, 2024
Classic Movie Flashback 'Romancing the Stone' 1984 with Michael Douglas
ROMANCING THE STONE distributed by 20TH CENTURY FOX (1984). The behind-the-story goes... Executives didn't like the rough cut of the film that Robert Zemeckis directed. They fired him from their slated movie, "Cocoon." Ron Howard replaced him.
Executives also believed "Stone" was going to be a flop. They were wrong.
It was a box office hit. It grabbed $115 million at the world-wide box office. The production climbed to $10 million. ($3.36 movie ticket price for 1984). Because of that success. Robert Zemeckis got to direct Fox's "Back to the Future" 1985.
The story surrounds a female novelist (Kathleen Turner) who travels to the country of Columbia. Her sister was kidnapped. The novelist runs into a fortune hunter (Michael Douglas). They uncover a priceless "stone" and are chased by other jewel hunters.
Film audiences at the time were hungry for more action and adventure movies. All because of "Raiders of the Lost Ark" 1980.
The real success of "Stone" is the great chemistry between Turner and Douglas. This is a "fun" film which also includes Danny DeVito.
Podcast 'Dateline' episode 'Part of the Plan' with Keith Morrison
DATELINE on NBC. This podcast is a repeat of the episode called, "Part of the Plan."
NBC says, "After a U.S. Air Force airman is shot multiple times inside his garage, a trail of clues leads Las Vegas detectives to a secret love affair and a murderous plan. Keith Morrison reports."
This was a very sad episode for some reason. Even though there have been multiple segments that are sad involving murder.