2023's ELEVENTH Shamedown. Wow. Wow. Wow. Number Twelve will be here before we know it, and then it'll be time for a whole new slate of Shame. As always, if anyone is just joining us and wants to know what the heck a Shamedown is, CinemaShame's 2023 call to Shame can be found here. Past … Continue reading Shamedown #11: Calendar Girl
The Two Jacks Blogathon: Wrapup
We have come to the end of the blogathon, people. This is, of course, the part when I would say the usual bit about sending me late posts, but you all got your entries in on time. Woo hoo, you're awesome! I really want to thank everyone for getting on board with this unusual topic … Continue reading The Two Jacks Blogathon: Wrapup
C.S. Lewis, Poet
It's very common knowledge that C.S. Lewis was a brilliant author and professor, but what isn't often talked about is his poetry, probably because a lot of people over the years haven't really liked it, not to mention Lewis's other works, particularly Narnia, cast big, wide shadows. Another possible reason for the avoidance might be … Continue reading C.S. Lewis, Poet
As It Happened
President Kennedy, I presume... The assassination of John F. Kennedy is one of those events that made such an impact, everyone who was alive and aware during that time remembers exactly where they were and what they were doing when they first heard about it. While there's no way to recreate that time exactly, the … Continue reading As It Happened
The Two Jacks Blogathon Has Arrived
It's happening, all. Time to look at a very momentous period in history and honor two lives that were very different yet in their own way intertwined, as each still reverberates througout culture sixty years after their deaths. Of course, if anyone would like to join the blogathon, there are plenty of topics available, so … Continue reading The Two Jacks Blogathon Has Arrived
Announcing the Sixth So Bad It’s Good Blogathon!
It's that time again, friends. I know this is a favorite blogathon of a lot of you, and it's one of mine, too. Seeing how low cinema can go is quite the adventure. I don't know about anyone else, but just in this past year I've not only reviewed the usual raft of badness here … Continue reading Announcing the Sixth So Bad It’s Good Blogathon!
Still More Cuisine, Stars Hollow Style (This Time It’s Official)
It's time for another Stars Hollow food adventure! Those of you who have been around my blog for at least a few years will no doubt remember my reviews of Eat Like A Gilmore and its sequel, Daily Cravings, in which I not only reviewed the books but cooked out of them. So yeah, we're going to … Continue reading Still More Cuisine, Stars Hollow Style (This Time It’s Official)
Andy Hardy In the Big City
We are family... Few families were as quintessential to the nineteen-thirties and forties as the Hardys, with the focal point, being, of course, Andy Hardy. Between 1937 and 1946, movie audiences could expect to see at least one Andy Hardy film from MGM a year. Since they used mostly existing sets, they were not only … Continue reading Andy Hardy In the Big City
Country Crooners Among the Cobwebs
We've kind of had a dearth of horror movies this year, haven't we? Well, at least here on the blog, but Substack has a few, including a review of the new Five Nights At Freddy's movie, although that's not much of a horror movie. Other than that, things have been really skimpy in that regard. Unfortunately, … Continue reading Country Crooners Among the Cobwebs
One Week Until the Two Jacks Blogathon
The Two Jacks Blogathon is getting really, really close, guys. Hope you all are getting psyched to talk about Jack Lewis and Jack Kennedy? I know I sure am. Thanks so much to everyone who signed up! And of course, if anyone else is looking to join us, there are plenty of topics to choose … Continue reading One Week Until the Two Jacks Blogathon
We’ve Been Here Before. More Than Once.
It's a busy week on Taking Up Room and off of it, because not only will we have a post almost every day this week, but it's Conference Week at one of the two schools I serve in my job. It happens every November, and things get crazy because the elementary and middle schools get … Continue reading We’ve Been Here Before. More Than Once.
Take This Jay-Oh-Bee
October was a wild and crazy month in terms of movies, like, really wild and crazy. In a good way, though. Well, mostly--I did go to a fan screening of Crossroads. Not all of the movies I saw got reviewed, though, because there just wasn't room, but I wish there had been because one of … Continue reading Take This Jay-Oh-Bee
Stage To Screen: Grand Hotel
"Grand Hotel. Always the same. People come. People go. Nothing ever happens." So intones the lonely and forgotten Doctor Otternschalg as he watches guests and former guests mill around in the lobby of Berlin's Grand Hotel. For him, a former First World War military doctor and burn victim, nothing ever does happen. No one writes … Continue reading Stage To Screen: Grand Hotel
Taking Up Room 