When Mister Rogers' name comes up, people invariably smile. So do I. Fred Rogers was an unfailingly pleasant part of many Americans' childhoods. It was a comforting thing to see him come through the door, go to the closet, change his coat for a cardigan and leather street shoes for sneakers, all the while singing, … Continue reading Origins: A Beautiful Day In the Neighborhood
Origins: Midway
When I heard there was going to be a movie about Midway, I thought, "Cool!" It's not a topic that's been delved into much in Hollywood, probably because it wasn't as high-profile as Pearl Harbor or Iwo Jima, although it was extremely important to the Pacific theater. My dad's stepdad was at Midway--he was a … Continue reading Origins: Midway
Origins: Harriet
Here's something completely different: A Harriet Tubman movie. I don't know why this woman hasn't been featured in films sooner and more often. Her story has it all--intrigue, espionage, and stealth, with a whole lot of moxie. So yeah, it's about time. Harriet Tubman wasn't the only slave who successfully ran to freedom, and she … Continue reading Origins: Harriet
Be God’s
On September 20, 1997, I was at home reading my e-mail and saw Danl Blackwood's name pop up. My mouse cursor jumped to open it. I was on Danl's Rich Mullins mailing list, where he kept fans up to date on Rich news, interviews, concert schedules, and so on. Danl always had something fun for … Continue reading Be God’s
Pint-sized Poe
It seems I can't get out of October without looking at the work of Edgar Allan Poe, and this year's finding is the 2013 animated anthology, Extraordinary Tales. I discovered this little Raul Garcia product on Netflix, and while it's not the best adaptation of Poe's stories, it's still a fascinating film. Parents beware, though: Extraordinary Tales might be … Continue reading Pint-sized Poe
Origins: The Addams Family
Let's get one thing out of the way first: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZZ5IWRz78DY You're welcome. Good luck getting it out of your head (chuckles fiendishly). So yeah, there's a new Addams Family movie coming out. Among the many voices bringing the characters to life this time around are Poe Dameron as Gomez, Will from Stranger Things as Puggsley, Snoop Dogg from Compton … Continue reading Origins: The Addams Family
Origins: Joker
Another superhero movie? Groan. Oh, wait. We're talking about a villain this time. Still "Groan." Catwoman got there first, guys. Every Batfan knows who the Joker is. Even non-Batfans know who the Joker is. He's been around long enough. The guy is iconic. He's also highly malleable. But we'll get to that. This began as … Continue reading Origins: Joker
Origins: Spider-Man: Far From Home
Another Spider-Man movie. How many of these have we had so far? Well, I guess Batman and Superman have had more, but Spider-Man is hot on their heels. The latest installment is Spider-Man: Far From Home, which stars Tom Holland as the title character, Zendaya as Mary Jane (only called MJ this time around) and … Continue reading Origins: Spider-Man: Far From Home
Origins: Yesterday
We've all heard of the Beatles. That goes without saying. Today's bands have to be some kind of something to be compared to them, and even if they're not, it's not uncommon to bask in Beatle glow (Bay City Rollers, anyone?). But what if someone woke up in a world where no one had heard … Continue reading Origins: Yesterday
Shamedown #5: I Don’t Know How She Does It
Hard to believe we're halfway through the year already, but Shamedown #5 is upon us. For anyone who would like to know what a Shamedown is, please visit Cinema Shame. It's fitting that I picked this movie for one of this year's Shamedowns, because a couple of months ago I got a job with a neighboring … Continue reading Shamedown #5: I Don’t Know How She Does It
Origins: Godzilla: King of the Monsters
I'll be honest: Godzilla isn't really on my radar. I mean, I know about the character and how he's a huge deal in Japan and all, but my experience with him amounts to this itty-bitty epic: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5R-rbzcEM8A Yep. Godzilla and Bambi were memes before memes were a thing. Anywhoo, on to the upcoming movie. It … Continue reading Origins: Godzilla: King of the Monsters
Origins: Aladdin
Ah, yes, another live action Disney remake. Yay. The 1992 original, of course, featured the often-missed Robin Williams as the Genie, as well as Scott Weinger as the titular character and charming songs like the Oscar-winning "A Whole New World," sung by Lea Salonga and Brad Kane. It still holds up today, but Remake Fever … Continue reading Origins: Aladdin
Shamedown #4: The King’s Speech
Our fourth Shamedown, and this time we're getting an extra helping of shame. Not for us, though. For the king. If anyone wants to see the origins of the Shamedown, please visit Cinema Shame. Past 2019 Shamedowns can be found here. I learned a new word last week: Glossophobia. It's said that seventy-five percent of … Continue reading Shamedown #4: The King’s Speech
Origins: Dumbo
Historically, circuses were a way of exposing a largely hometown-bound public to exotic animals they would never see in the wild, and shows have always tried to outdo each other in spectacle and novelty. In 1941, Disney asked, "What could be more novel than a flying elephant?" and released its classic film, Dumbo. In 2019, Tim Burton … Continue reading Origins: Dumbo
You Oughta Be In A Lifetime Movie
And here we go... It's hard to believe the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge have been married for almost eight years now and have three kids. Who doesn't remember all the excitement leading up to the wedding? There were Will and Kate masks, Will and Kate dolls, Will and Kate teaspoons, and let's not forget … Continue reading You Oughta Be In A Lifetime Movie
Hail, Alma Mater
A couple of weeks ago, I returned to my alma mater, Sacramento State University, for the first time since graduating in 2000. My older niece just got her computer science degree there, and my younger niece started her upper division business classes this semester. Being at Sac was kind of a weird feeling, even though I … Continue reading Hail, Alma Mater
Le Scandale
Hello, Mr. Burton... Richard Burton and Elizabeth Taylor's love story is the stuff of legend. It's such a sacred tale that it merits hushed, reverent tones in Hollywood, but for the most part it doesn't seem to be a touchable subject by filmmakers. Lifetime tried, though, in their 2012 TV biopic, Liz & Dick,"tried" very much … Continue reading Le Scandale
Taking Up Room 