Tag: Movies

Star Wars, Episode VII success not a surprise

What is with Entertainment Weekly?: So now what? Just as it was hard to predict The Force Awakens’ opening weekend, it’s also hard to predict what it’ll do from here. Because of the holidays, movies opening in December usually see a smaller debut but much, much bigger multiples. A December opening like this is unheard… Continue reading Star Wars, Episode VII success not a surprise

Django doesn’t make light of slavery (and random other thoughts)

I've been reading a lot of news stories (and, unfortunately, comments as well) about Tarantino's newest film, Django, and here are some of my random thoughts.RaceFirst of all, I'm a big admirer of Spike Lee, but he admittedly has not seen (and refuses to see) Django, so his opinion on the film shouldn't be a… Continue reading Django doesn’t make light of slavery (and random other thoughts)

Disappointed with the way Pixar’s storytelling is going

I’m a big Pixar fan. Have been for a long time. Basically every Pixar movie I’ve seen has either been good, great, or fantastic. They have no duds… so far, anyway. If you read or hear interviews with the creators at Pixar, you’ll often hear that the most important process in creating a movie is… Continue reading Disappointed with the way Pixar’s storytelling is going

Misogyny hits the cinema

After not seeing a movie in the theater in what felt like forever (my wife and I are movie buffs), we finally saw two in one weekend—The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo and Hot Tub Time Machine. Both movies surprised me. The former surprised me with how serious, disturbing, and graphic it was. I knew… Continue reading Misogyny hits the cinema

Cinema Rewriting History

Spoiler Warning: If you want to eventually see Avatar or Inglorious Bastards, I reveal plot details here. There has been quite a bit written about James Cameron’s Avatar. Here are two examples: Annalee Newitz’s “When Will White People Stop Making Movies Like Avatar?” Ariel Boone’s “Avatar: Count the ‘isms’” I get it. I understand all… Continue reading Cinema Rewriting History

Christopher Nolan finally living up to the hype

I remember when Memento came out and everyone was telling me how amazing a film it was. I was sorely disappointed. I found it trite, and the whole film-in-reverse-chronology gimmick’s novelty wore off quickly. Then Batman Begins came out. Same deal. Everyone said it was amazing. I thought it was a disgrace to the Batman… Continue reading Christopher Nolan finally living up to the hype

For the Bible Tells Me So documentary is subversive

As you may know if you’ve read my post from four years ago “Subversive” Saved!? I get annoyed when people use the word subversive inappropriately. Well, I just saw a movie called For the Bible Tells Me So, and I have to say it’s pretty subversive. Unlike Jesus Camp and Hell House, this film doesn’t… Continue reading For the Bible Tells Me So documentary is subversive

Wall-E doesn’t live up to Pixar’s usual standards

I know I’m in the minority opinion on this one, but I found Wall-E disappointing. It wasn’t a bad movie. I don’t think it’s possible for Pixar to make a bad movie. It was, however, disappointing. See, what’s great about Pixar movies is the whole package. Pixar movies (Wall-E excluded) tend to have it all.… Continue reading Wall-E doesn’t live up to Pixar’s usual standards

Raping 13-year-olds is now okay. Thanks, Roman!

The New York Daily News recently published this article: ‘Wanted’ man Roman Polanski dodges legal bullet. Let me translate some chunks for you. Polanski was, and remains, a brilliant film director. But to many people, particularly in America, he is most famously remembered for fleeing the country after pleading guilty to “unlawful sexual intercourse” with… Continue reading Raping 13-year-olds is now okay. Thanks, Roman!