In the early 1990s I was watching the syndicated Friday the 13th, The Series when I had a “Eureka” moment. The premise of that series had nothing to do with the film series save for the title… But what if…
Category: Movies
Movies, Neglected Cinema
1994’s Maverick is a forgotten delight
In the history of Western films, 1994’s Maverick stands out as a delightful blend of comedy, adventure, and charm. Directed by Richard Donner and starring Mel Gibson, Jodie Foster, and James Garner, Maverick wears its heart on its sleeve, offering…
Movies
RIP Roger Corman, Legend of Independent Cinema
I mourn the passing of a true legend, Roger Corman. As a director, producer, and mentor, Corman’s impact on the film industry is immeasurable. Known as the “Pope of Pop Cinema,” he leaves behind a legacy that shaped and inspired…
Geek, Movies, Technology
The Rise and Fall of RCA Videodiscs: A Forgotten Era of Home Video
In the history of home entertainment, few stories are as fraught with ambition and failure as the tale of the RCA Videodisc. This relic from the early 80s serves as a fascinating case study of technology that almost was. Let’s…
Movies, Reimaging the Reels
Fixing The Hobbit films: Two is better than three
The decision to expand J.R.R. Tolkien’s enchanting (and short – pun unintended) “The Hobbit” into a sprawling trilogy was met with skepticism from fans. The overall sentiment was… Why? The answer, of course, was money. Peter Jackson originally wanted it…
Disney, Movies, Reimaging the Reels
Fixing the Disney Star Wars trilogy
Adapt Timothy Zahn’s “Heir to the Empire” trilogy. That was easy.
Movies, Reimaging the Reels
Fixing Spider-Man 3
When Spider-Man 3 swung into theaters in 2007, it carried the weight of sky-high expectations. Following the critical and commercial success of the first two films, fans and critics alike were eager to see how Sam Raimi would conclude his…
Movies, Reimaging the Reels
Fixing ALIEN 3
This one wasn’t that hard to figure out. The original film had lots of problems, primarily killing off Newt and Hicks in the first act. Let’s change that… Alien 3: Resurgence is a revised version of the original Alien 3…
Movies, Reimaging the Reels
Fixing Indiana Jones: The Crystal Skull and The Dial of Destiny
The last two Indiana Jones movies were… Well, not very well received. While Crystal Skull was… OK, the followup The Dial of Destiny was roundly panned by critics and audience members alike. It didn’t have to be that way. So,…
Movies
The best movies of the 1970s: My list
The 1970s was a defining decade for American cinema, marked by a mix of groundbreaking blockbuster films and auteur-driven masterpieces. Recently, Rolling Stone posted an article listing the top 100 movies of the decade. It is here. It is also,…
Movies, Neglected Cinema
The Last Picture Show is Peter Bogdanovich’s masterpiece
The Last Picture Show, directed by Peter Bogdanovich and adapted from Larry McMurtry’s novel, is a film that captures the essence of a fading era in a small Texas town. Set in the early 1950s, it portrays the lives of…
Movies, Reimaging the Reels
Fixing Star Wars: Episode One
We were SO excited. We watched the first trailer (which took three hours to download over pre-high speed intenet), ten times. I went to the Toys R Us midnight toy sale where they released the tie-in toys. And She Who…
Movies, Neglected Cinema
Auto Focus is an unflinching look at a TV star’s dark life
Auto Focus, a film that delves into the complex and often turbulent life of TV star Bob Crane, is a cinematic journey that is both intriguing and unsettling. The movie’s portrayal of Crane’s descent from a beloved television personality into…
Movies, Reimaging the Reels
Re-Imaging the Reels: Fixing Halloween Ends
This is the first in a new series of articles revisiting films that could have been so much better. The movie opens with a tense flashback to the immediate aftermath of “Halloween Kills.” Michael Myers, severely wounded, stumbles as an…
Geek, Movies, Reimaging the Reels
Re-imagining the Reels: Fixing movies that could have been so much better
Introducing a new blog series. As movie enthusiasts, we’ve all experienced the disappointment of watching a film that didn’t live up to its potential. Whether due to a lackluster plot, underdeveloped characters, or a central premise that just doesn’t work,…
Movies, Neglected Cinema
Conquer “superhero fatigue” with the underrated Hero at Large
In an era where superhero films dominate the box office, often dazzling us with their high-octane action and larger-than-life characters, it’s easy to experience a bit of superhero fatigue. That’s where “Hero at Large” comes in as a refreshing antidote.…