‘Dawn’ Good Remake Of Dead Horror Classic Released 20 Years Ago

Twenty years ago when I first saw the commercials for the Dawn of the Dead remake, I groaned. The original by George A. Romero isn’t perfect but its few flaws are easy to dismiss for how great it’s made. Set mostly at a shopping mall in the suburbs of Pennsylvania, it was social commentary onContinue reading “‘Dawn’ Good Remake Of Dead Horror Classic Released 20 Years Ago”

‘The Phantom Menace’ At 25

In the history of American Cinema, very few movies have been as anticipated as Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace. With the popularity of the Internet in the 1990s, more and more people began to talk about the possibility of the much-rumored prequel movies. The first time I ever saw a URL was whenContinue reading “‘The Phantom Menace’ At 25”

‘Joy Ride’ Is One Helluva Trip

Back in 1971, a young up-and-coming TV director named Steven Spielberg was given the opportunity to direct a TV movie in which Dennis Weaver played a businessman harassed by the driver of a tanker semi on desolate Southwestern highways. The movie was called Duel. There was such critical acclaim for it that the movie thatContinue reading “‘Joy Ride’ Is One Helluva Trip”

‘Lake Placid’ Takes The Plunge

Lake Placid is one of those horror movies where once you’re introduced to the main cast, you can tell that there is no threat to any of them. Normally, that would take some of the thrills out of the plot. But the movie remains one of my guilty pleasures of a creature feature/when nature attacksContinue reading “‘Lake Placid’ Takes The Plunge”

‘Leviathan’ Is A Hodgepodge Of Terror Under The Sea

Picture it, 1989. George H.W. Bush had just been sworn in as President becoming only the second incumbent Vice-President to be elected to the Oval Office. Batman mania was spreading across the nation. The Berlin Wall was going to be torn down by year’s end. And everyone was dancing to “Walk the Dinosaur.” It wasContinue reading “‘Leviathan’ Is A Hodgepodge Of Terror Under The Sea”

Why We Love Dystopia Entertainment

What is it about dystopia that fascinates us? Why do we like stories portraying the end of civilization as we know and even the end of the world. Even The Bible ends with the world coming to an end? It’s like we’re too busy worried about showing how much of an awful future we’ll haveContinue reading “Why We Love Dystopia Entertainment”

‘As You Wish’ Is A Love Letter To The Fans Of ‘The Princess Bride’

Ever since the dawn of cinema, there have been movie productions that were nightmares. And sometimes the hard work pays off and a classic is born. Other times, the problems can be seen in the movie. But sometimes some of the worst movies are filmed without a hitch. Look at Adam Sandler’s comedies with hisContinue reading “‘As You Wish’ Is A Love Letter To The Fans Of ‘The Princess Bride’”

‘Sleepwalkers’ Is The Stuff Lucid Dreams Are Made Of

A movie like Sleepwalkers was advertised as the first movie Stephen King had written for the movies that wasn’t based on a previous body of work. And it shows why King is better at writing novels than he is at writing scripts. I don’t know what it is but his scripts aren’t the best. I’mContinue reading “‘Sleepwalkers’ Is The Stuff Lucid Dreams Are Made Of”

‘The Matrix’ At 25: How It Changed Sci-Fi And Action Movies

T.S. Elliott famously stated “Good writers borrow; great writers steal.” And Aaron Sorkin also updated this by stating “Good writers borrow from other writers. Great writers steal from them outright.” The first I ever heard of The Matrix was during the 1999 Super Bowl where the images of Keanu Reeves bending over backwards as bulletsContinue reading “‘The Matrix’ At 25: How It Changed Sci-Fi And Action Movies”

Rest In Peace, Joe Flaherty, A Great Comic And Scene Stealer

Joe Flaherty was one of those comics and actors who didn’t look like he should be a comic or actor. He had originally served in the United States Air Force before focuses on dramatic theatre. Maybe that was why he was so easy to be cast in numerous movies of versatility. He could flash thatContinue reading “Rest In Peace, Joe Flaherty, A Great Comic And Scene Stealer”