‘A Nightmare On Elm Street’ Turns 40

By the Fall of 1984, the slasher subgenre of horror was at the bottom of the barrel of movies. The critics hated them. Parental groups were trying to get them removed from theaters. And major studios realized they weren’t making the money they once did. Most of the movies were independently produced on the pre-soldContinue reading “‘A Nightmare On Elm Street’ Turns 40”

Hank Hill Wouldn’t Support Trump I Tell You What, As That Man Ain’t Right

When King of the Hill premiered in January 1997, Bill Clinton was about to be sworn in for a second time as President of the United States. The show made some jokes about Clinton, with Hank Hill locking his truck doors, when he sees he’s entered Hope, Ark., the former President’s birthplace. However, I don’tContinue reading “Hank Hill Wouldn’t Support Trump I Tell You What, As That Man Ain’t Right”

‘Brothers’ Is A ‘Twins’ Clone

Several years ago, I was discussing with some friends how Hollywood is remaking/rebooting movies or doing too many legacy sequels. I told them I could imagine a sequel or remake of Twins but this time it’s Peter Dinklage and Dwayne Johnson. I’m sure the idea went around the Hollywood executives. But the talks fizzled. However,Continue reading “‘Brothers’ Is A ‘Twins’ Clone”

Teri Garr, Gone But Not Forgotten

Growing up in the 1980s and 1990s, it seemed Teri Garr was in just about every other movie that was popular. She started out acting in 1963 mostly as a background dancer in musicals when she was a teenager. But mainstream success didn’t happen until a decade later when she was cast by Francis FordContinue reading “Teri Garr, Gone But Not Forgotten”

‘The Watchers’ Shouldn’t Be Seen

M. Night Shyamalan went from being one of the hottest filmmakers people were watching in 2000. Yet by 2010, he was mostly a joke thanks in part to a gag on Robot Chicken where he is is parodying with the catchphrase, “What a twist!” Yet some filmmakers have hits and misses. It happens to everyoneContinue reading “‘The Watchers’ Shouldn’t Be Seen”

‘Fight Night’ Goes The Distance But Falls Short Of A Knockout

Kevin Hart is one of those actors who seems to work mostly when he’s in comedic roles. However, he’s been wanting to branch out in more serious roles lately. I haven’t seen him in Lift but I heard he’s miscast. And that’s part of the problem with Fight Night: The Million Dollar Heist, a limitedContinue reading “‘Fight Night’ Goes The Distance But Falls Short Of A Knockout”

‘The Blob’ Remake Makes A Bigger Splash On Reassessment

While it seems remakes/reboots are all the trends now with most of them failing, filmmakers decades ago seemed to get it right. John Carpenter’s The Thing is seen now as one of his best movies with a thrilling score by the late great Ennio Morricone. When Mel Brooks tapped David Cronenberg to do a remakeContinue reading “‘The Blob’ Remake Makes A Bigger Splash On Reassessment”

‘Your Monster’ A Modern Retelling Of Beauty And The Beast

I saw Your Monster at an advanced screening at the Regal Warren Theater in Broken Arrow, Okla. as they have a Monday Mystery Movie every week. For $5, you can see a movie about to be released later that week or month. But they won’t tell you what it is. I was skeptical going in.Continue reading “‘Your Monster’ A Modern Retelling Of Beauty And The Beast”

‘Woman Of The Hour’ Has Great Power

Statistically, they say the average person passes by about 36 murderers in their lifetime. You never know what’s going to happen. Years ago, when I was still working at the Wagoner Tribune, I read a police report on a man arrested in nearby Coweta, Okla. that said he had considered abducting a woman near theContinue reading “‘Woman Of The Hour’ Has Great Power”

‘Fight Club’ Has 25th Anniversary: How So Many Got It So Wrong

Warning: This post contains spoilers. When Fight Club opened on Oct. 15, 1999, so many critics hated it. But did they get it all wrong? The year 1999 was a great and wonderful year as many directors made many great movies. Even though time has changed against it following the sexual abuse allegations on KevinContinue reading “‘Fight Club’ Has 25th Anniversary: How So Many Got It So Wrong”