Recently someone talked about how when we rewatch a movie, we get a different message. During a second, third or more viewing, we refocus who or what we identify with on the screen if we went through an experience similar to the one in the…
Once again, the real world is seriously encroaching on my time to read and relax, but instead of skipping a column (which I’m going to be doing in a couple of weeks), I thought I’d share what I managed to get through this week. Hopefully…
Martin Scorsese and Francis Ford Coppola should feel lucky that the Yakuza films of Kinji Fukasaku weren’t imported into American theater during the ’70s. People might not have been so blown away by Mean Streets and The Godfather if they’d…
Nothing good comes from being around the Arctic Circle. Little kids imagine this is where Santa and his elves live with Rudolph in their giant toy shop. But once you get old enough to read, you notice all the toys are made in Japan or…
There is no denying the immense success and popularity of Marvel movies in recent years. With blockbuster hits such as The Avengers, Black Panther, and Captain Marvel breaking box office records, it’s clear that these superhero movies have…
The gaming world has witnessed the meteoric rise of Fortnite, a battle royale game that has captivated millions of players globally. Developed by Epic Games, Fortnite quickly grew from a creative concept into a cultural phenomenon,…
Bob Byington’s last three feature films will be available via OnDemand on June 25. Lousy Carter, Infinite Baby and Francis Ferguson feature three different tales with a bit of crossover in cast. David Krumholtz, Steven Root, Martin Starr…
There has to be at least one plucky Sunday school student who raised their hand and questioned if Jesus wasn’t really turned into a zombie when he rose on the third day. The Sunday school teacher’s jaw dropped and rambled on a panicked…
Have you seen the photos of Billy Zane in the upcoming Waltzing with Brando movie? The man looks exactly like Marlon Brando in the mid ’70s. I do hope the film gets him nominated for a few awards. He’s always been great on the screen even…
Show Note: This episode was originally recorded on May 9nd. Streaming platforms have become the norm. Netflix, Paramount+, Amazon Prime Video, Disney+, Hulu, Max(HBO) and many, many others. All of them have the same thing in common. They…
This summer’s paltry theatrical box office returns have generated plenty of editorials about what is necessary to get people back in the seats. The one thing nobody seems eager to propose is finding a new William Castle. If you’re a fan of…
While wrapping up film school, there’s a bit of a rush to make your first feature film. Nowadays you can make your debut film using the 4K camera in your cellphone and post it online with the hopes of getting the attention of a bigger…
In the wake of Jaws being a massive hit in the mid-70s, Studios and distributors large and small wanted their man-eater to chew up the box office. You couldn’t visit the drive-in without a fear of nature attacking you from the giant screen…
Director King Hu revolutionized the Hong Kong cinema with the release of Come Drink With Me in 1966. The wuxia film was a major hit locally and around the world. People couldn’t get enough of the dynamic swordfights. The film got the Shaw…
It feels good to be caught up on my weekly reading again! I might be able to get back to my Retro Review columns soon too! Best Comic of the Week: Precious Metal #1 – I really liked Little Bird, the last series made by writer Darcy Van…
Owning a timeshare can seem like a dream come true, offering the promise of a guaranteed vacation spot and a touch of luxury. However, it’s essential to recognize that timeshares come with a range of costs that go beyond the initial…
Modern times come with numerous wonderful things, but the reality is that, sometimes, they put us under a lot of stress that can oftentimes be extremely challenging to cope with. In these instances, people have a tendency to look for some…
After taking a year off, Arrow Video is back with Shawscope Vol. 3. While the previous two collections focused on the martial arts films from the legendary Shaw Brothers Hong Kong studio, this collection focuses on the Wuxia movies that…
Bill & Ted’s Excellent Adventure was a must see movie in 1989. The story of two goofy kids who use a time machine to pass their history class and save the future of humanity clicked. Keanu Reeves and Alex Winter become cultural icons. They…
During the glory days of the BMG and Columbia House Record clubs when they offered 10 CDs for the price of 1/2; I found myself going deep on Ella Fitzgerald’s albums. I grabbed as many of her seminal Songbooks. She also had fine series of…
The music of Michael Nyman is extremely familiar to anyone that spent time at the Art House in the ’80s and ’90s. His music helped define the cinema of Peter Greenaway. The director had Nyman’s music score The Falls, The Draughtsman’s…
Observe and Report gives us the dark side of being a mall cop back when we had shopping malls in 2009. Seth Rogen plays the somewhat disturbed Ronnie. He’s doing his best to keep his mall safe, but trouble hits when a flasher is on the…
Are you tired of flipping through channels and never finding anything interesting to watch on your traditional cable or satellite TV? Are you looking for a more customizable and cost-effective way to stream your favorite shows and movies?…
Normally when you talk about a 44-year-old movie, the director and the star are mentioned in the past tense. A serious exception must be given to American Gigolo since writer-director Paul Schrader and star Richard Gere were recently on…
During the early ’90s when the VHS era was going strong, I’d often find myself poking through the “Foreign Film” section at The Video Bar looking for movies that wouldn’t be taught in my international cinema class. I was eager to see the…
The Sopranos was groundbreaking in its depiction of the Mafia. One of the more revealing storylines was when the mobster Vito Spatafore turned out to be gay and having a major crush on a short order breakfast cook he called Johnny Cakes.…
Gen Z has no clue what Gen X had to endure in the ’70s when it came to watching TV. Today’s kids can track down any show in a few seconds via a Google search and streaming services. In the rare instance they want to watch something on…
Dragonkeeper is about the last dragon on a quest to not go extinct. Part of this plan includes tracking down a dragon egg that might be under the control of the Emperor. Can it survive with the help of others? The animated film arrives on…
The Last Unicorn will look even better at home when the animated classic arrives on 4K UHD. The film came out in 1982 and has built a loyal following over the decades on VHS, DVD and even Blu-ray. Now it will make another step up in…