In ‘The Wrestling Women vs. the Aztec Mummy’ (1964), babes beat a bandaged bloke
Frightening Friday (Movie review): Not quite horror, not quite horrible, the film’s standout feature is the wrestling action.
In ‘Abbott and Costello Meet the Invisible Man’ (1951), vaudeville pair confronts the unseen
Frightening Friday (Movie review): It’s about invisibility, a pair of bumbling detectives, and hilarity. But mostly, it’s about boxing.
‘Cobra Kai’ eventually gets its kicks back in Season 6, Part 1
TV review: The storytelling and characters are at black-belt level, but the fight choreography and camera work have fallen off.
Hitchcock takes a swing at boxing in ‘The Ring’ (1927)
On a Hitchcock kick (Movie review): This silent film has some light comedic punch as it chronicles rivals for a title belt and a woman’s affections.
John’s top 10 TV shows of 2023
2023 television: A couple of old-school network shows break into the streaming-dominated list of my favorite series of the year.
‘Air’ an engrossing chronicle of Nike’s side of the legendary MJ deal
Movie review: Folks on an Eighties hoops kick with “Winning Time” will enjoy this engrossing dive into Nike’s signing of Michael Jordan.
‘Rocky’ saga has post-Stallone life in Jordan-helmed ‘Creed III’
Movie review: The saga’s ninth film riffs on “Rocky V,” but don’t let that turn you away. It significantly improves on that film’s beats.
‘Replacements’ (2000) strikes balance of heart, dumb humor
Throwback Thursday (Movie review): This loose riff on the NFL’s replacement-player period stands out due to Hackman and Reeves.
‘Blue Crush’ (2002) battles breakers to become memorable
Throwback Thursday (Movie review): Revisiting “Blue Crush” 20 years later, this blend of career dreams and romantic hopes stays on its board.
‘American Underdog’ (2021) gets at heart of Kurt Warner
Throwback Thursday (Movie review): Its portrayal of Iowa is a misfire, but this biopic is an uplifting tale of the undrafted QB achieving his dream.