When Star Trek first came out in 2009 I didn't think I would like it. As a fan of the original films, I was a little put off by a the young cast of Hollywood newcomers attempting to represent the characters I had come to love. I mean, come on, Harold as Sulu? I wasn't buying it and I wasn't planning on watching it. But I ended up seeing it, and sometimes it's nice when you're completely wrong. It was much more of an homage than a ripoff, a origin story rather than a remake, and it actually came across as more than an attempt to make money. I mean, it made money, but you could tell by watching it that these actors and Abrams all liked Star...Read the entire review

I was very surprised when The Great Gatsby got such terrible reviews. It had just been out for a couple days and already it was getting slammed by audiences and critics alike. I just couldn't believe it; wasn't this the same film who's trailer had me and everyone I knew wanting to rush to the theatre that day? What could be so awful that it would get such bad critique across the board? I assumed it wasn't Baz Luhrmann's style, because people would be expecting that. After all, if you've seen Romeo + Juliet, Moulin Rouge!, or Australia you know what to expect from his movies; larger than life characters & costume...Read the entire review

I'm a strong believer that there is a difference between a "film" and a "movie". A film is artistic, it's a statement, it relies heavily on great acting and great directing. A film has deeper meaning than what you see on screen, and it's tailor made to be discussed and picked apart. A movie is entertaining, it's a fun time, it relies on mostly action, either comedic or intense. A movie can be taken at face value, and the less you critique it the more enjoyable it is. Now, some actors can switch back and forth between films and movies with little effort; Tom Hanks, for example, can move from funny to dramatic, heavy to lighthearted. Others se...Read the entire review

If you're interested in 80s zombie movies, do yourself a favor and check out my review of Zombie Lake. It's a staple of the genre, and is worth a watch if that's your thing. Also, reading about/seeing that will set the table for this, my review of the very similar Oasis of the Zombies. Also known as The Treasure of the Living Dead, it has a lot of connections to Jean Rollin's 1981 horror click, as both were written by Jesus Franco, the Spanish actor, director, writer, producer, you name...Read the entire review

This movie had disaster written all over it from the beginning. When I first saw the trailer I thought it was a joke. I couldn't imagine that someone actually thought that it would be a good idea to produce this film. But then I got to thinking, as I sometimes do. Maybe I was the one who was stupid for not seeing the genius behind this project. I mean, it must have cost about five dollars to make; it's set in a house and at a local high school, the only star who's popularity would demand any money is Chenoweth, and the director did his own producing & editing. And you know it's going to make some money; Chenoweth herself...Read the entire review

This was one of those movies that could only exceed expectations, but only because expectations were decidedly low. CBS produced this version of the classic Baroness Orczy novel in 1982, casting Seymour (Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman), Andrews (The King's Speech), and McKellan (The Lord of the Rings). However, The Scarlet Pimpernel was aired long before these actors became known for these projects. So, what we have is a made-for-TV movie about a swashbuckling fop starring relative unknowns broadcast on network TV in the 80s. Sounds like a recipe for disaster. But looks can be deceiving, and that, as the saying goes, i...Read the entire review

If you want to see a documentary about a relevant and intriguing topic, you would be hard pressed to find one more fitting than Out in the Open. The issues of gay rights and marriage equality are on the table right now in our country, and in ten years laws, cultures, and mindsets may be completely different than they are today. It's exciting to be alive in a time of change, whichever side you may be on, and that fervor comes through very clearly in this film. But putting equal rights aside, there are other issues confronting homosexual culture, and they may be the most important of all; AIDS, suicide, acceptance, bullying. A documenta...Read the entire review