One of the earliest movies I remember seeing is 9 to 5, so I had known who Dabney Coleman was for a long time. His performance as the sexist, egotistical, lying, hypocritical bigot Frank Hart in the movie was so perfect. Coleman was able to balance the awful, cold-hearted sleaze with the sardonic, goofy, gullibleContinue reading “RIP Dabney Coleman”
Category Archives: Movie Flashback
‘The Stand’ Doesn’t Deliver As Well 30 Years Later
The Stand may be Stephen King’s best novel according to all of his fans and critics. The novel was published so early in his career as a published novelist that such a massive book could’ve very easily ended his career if it wasn’t so well-received. Set mostly in an apocalyptic world where a superflu calledContinue reading “‘The Stand’ Doesn’t Deliver As Well 30 Years Later”
Roger Corman Was The John The Baptist Of American Cinema
In the mid-1970s, Ron Howard was attempting to make a name for himself as a movie director after he had grown up over the years as a child actor. For a man who had appeared on two popular TV shows, been in the Oscar-nominated American Graffiti and even co-starred alongside The Duke himself John WayneContinue reading “Roger Corman Was The John The Baptist Of American Cinema”
‘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’”