The Pick My Movie Tag is back, guys, and it won't be the last time this year. This go-round, J-Dub of Dubsism nominated me (thank you, J-Dub!) because backsies are not only acceptable but encouraged. The challenge, should I choose to accept it, is to review a movie everyone likes but I can't stand. While … Continue reading An Embarrassment of Superhero Movies
During World War Two: Frank Capra
Frank Capra often stood alone. He was an underdog. He had no choice. He was, however, also a teacher of high ideals and human worth, and connected with his audience in ways the more cynical were always surprised at and maybe a little jealous. Born in 1897 in the Sicilian town of Palermo, Italy, Capra … Continue reading During World War Two: Frank Capra
Stage To Screen: Much Ado About Nothing
One of Shakespeare's most popular plays (and one of my favorites, too), is Much Ado About Nothing. Written in either 1598 or 1599, it's full of biting wit, passionate romance, and manipulation of both the shameful and shameless varieties. While it has a long production history, it has a short filmography. For those who might not be … Continue reading Stage To Screen: Much Ado About Nothing
During World War Two: William Wyler
William Wyler was born Willi Wyler on July 1, 1902 in Mülhausen in the Alsace-Lorraine region of what used to be Germany and is now France. He was initially not supposed to work in movies, as his apparent destiny was to inherit his father's haberdashery business. His training included college in Paris and a job … Continue reading During World War Two: William Wyler
Page To Screen: Jane Eyre
Jane Eyre is a very personal heroine who, once encountered, is hard to forget, and everyone has their own ideas as to how she should be portrayed. The proof is in the dozens of film and TV movies made about her over the past century (see a complete list here). For those who might not … Continue reading Page To Screen: Jane Eyre
In the Year of Our Shame, 2023
We're back for another twelve doses of Shame in 2023, and since last year's jaunt through Poverty Row was so much fun, I thought it would be cool to go back there--it's kind of unexplored country in terms of blogging and film history. Plus, over the past year I've found a lot of intriguing titles … Continue reading In the Year of Our Shame, 2023
Five Unusual Christmas Movies
OK, last year in my "Christmas Movies Are All the Same (And I'm Still Here For It)" post, I said that every Christmas movie ends idyllically. All i's are neatly dotted and all t's neatly crossed, with everyone holding a cup of cider or hot chocolate and smiling prettily while Grandma hands out cookies. Heh, … Continue reading Five Unusual Christmas Movies
Stage To Screen: Peter Pan
Who's up for a trip to Neverland? I know I could sure use one. J.M. Barrie's immortal story has been delighting children and children at heart for over a century with its joyful, sparky melée of pirates, mermaids, Lost Boys, Native Americans (although the story calls them Indians), happy thoughts, fairies, and of course, the … Continue reading Stage To Screen: Peter Pan
The Remake of the Remake
It takes two, baby... There's much more to The Parent Trap than meets the eye. While it might seem like the beloved 1961 Disney film is the original, and in a way it is, it's actually a remake of a 1950 German film, Das Doppelte Lottchen, which was based on a novel of the same … Continue reading The Remake of the Remake
Page To Screen: The Three Musketeers
It's been a long time since we've looked at a literary leviathan, adapted countless times for the large and small screen, part of our cultural lexicon, and something we can't imagine life without. The 1844 Alexandre Dumas classic is an absolute titan in that regard, right up there with Robin Hood, King Arthur and Romeo and … Continue reading Page To Screen: The Three Musketeers
They’re Watching Us
Time to crack open those books... H.G. Wells's The War of the Worlds seems to be the Michael J. Fox of sci-fi in that plenty of other sci-fi stories want to be it really, really badly, and some are more overt about it than others. John Christopher's wonderful Tripod series is definitely an homage to … Continue reading They’re Watching Us
Page To Screen: The Hobbit and the Lord of the Rings
As pretty much everyone knows by now, next month Amazon Prime will premier its new Lord of the Rings series, The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power. Hi, my name's Fred. What's my name? Sorry, I think the series title looks redundant. Anywhoo, the trailers have been royally dragged by Tolkien fans and rightly so, … Continue reading Page To Screen: The Hobbit and the Lord of the Rings
Getting There Is Half the Fun
We all know travel can be a big ol' crapshoot. Just two weeks ago my parents and son and I took a whirlwind two-day trip to Carson City and Virginia City, which was really great, by the way (see some of the photos here), and we decided to come back via Reno and I-80. While … Continue reading Getting There Is Half the Fun
Happy Again and Again: The Filmography of “Singin’ In the Rain”
The sun's in my heart and I'm ready for love... Who can forget Singin' In the Rain? Who can forget Gene Kelly dancing down the street singing the title song? It is magic. Pure film and pure magic. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gAI6hhsDNxc The 1952 movie is far from the only time the song has been featured on the … Continue reading Happy Again and Again: The Filmography of “Singin’ In the Rain”
The Art of the Anne Frank Biopic
Today it's eighty years exactly since Anne Frank started her diary, and as of July sixth, eighty years exactly since the Frank family went into hiding. Anne once wrote that she wanted to go on living even after her death, and therefore she was grateful to God for the gift of writing. She has certainly … Continue reading The Art of the Anne Frank Biopic
Page To Screen: Dick Tracy
Amidst all the capes, spandex, super powers, super weapons, and super heroes is the relatively unappreciated and underrated Dick Tracy. Sharp of chin and nose. Inscrutable stare. Cool head. Laserlike focus on rooting out crime and corruption. Always with the bright yellow fedora and the trench coat. And let's not forget Tracy's uber-cool two-way wrist … Continue reading Page To Screen: Dick Tracy
The Strange, Strange World of Chinese ‘Star Wars’ Bootlegs
Ever seen a Chinese bootleg Star Wars movie? While nothing should surprise us in this day and age, well...yikes. These movies are nightmares for grammarians and linguists and paydirt for Star Wars fans. Heaven help those who can tick off more than one of those boxes. Here's the lowdown for the unfamiliar: Some unknown individual translated … Continue reading The Strange, Strange World of Chinese ‘Star Wars’ Bootlegs
Taking Up Room 