Movies
CategoryIn praise of urban movie theaters
When I was in grade school, the nuns brought my class to Duluth’s NorShor Theater to see a revival of 2001: A Space Odyssey. Our little mi..
The Pros and Cons of “Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith”
Pros
“Revenge” throwback in the title. It’s a tidy inversion of George Lucas’s decision to revise the Episode VI title from Revenge of th..
Disney Characters Who Deserve Slow Claps
Baddest Bitch: Maleficent (Sleeping Beauty)
You almost have to respect the pure evil that this chick brings to the table. First of all,..
“Lord of the Rings” Cast Commentary Drinking Game
Take a small sip when…
…someone gratuitously compliments another cast member (if you took a full drink every time this happened, yo..
Lessons Other Blockbusters Could Learn from “The Hunger Games: Catching Fire”
It’s the characters, stupid. A common complaint I have about movies—special-effects extravaganzas are particularly susceptible, but an..
Jay Ga
Several weeks ago, my roommate moved out of our tiny but charming apartment, and I was suddenly overcome by what I can only describe as a ..
Why Yes, In Fact the Hunger Games Victory Tour WAS the Best Thing Ever, Thanks For Asking
In my young life I have seen and felt both the power of the Internet and that of hormonal teenagers. I have been those hormones. I hav..
An Open Letter to Godzilla
Dear Godzilla,
First off, I’d like to start by wishing you a happy 59th birthday and congratulate you on your new movie. I think it’s p..
Is “Titanic” the Most Perfect Movie of Our Time?
Titanic isn’t my favorite movie, and I don’t think there’s much of a case for it being more profound than Citizen Kane or more thrilling t..
Stunning Discoveries Made by “Room 237” Experts Watching Vine
The mysterious beer. “If you pause the Vine my cousin posted at our family’s Labor Day picnic at precisely the 1.7 second mark, you ca..
Questions Raised by a Marathon Viewing of the “Lord of the Rings” Extended Editions
Given that Gandalf seems to be the better, wiser wizard, how did Saruman get to be the boss of the wizards? Was it, like, a political ..
Ten Reasons Why “2001: A Space Odyssey” is Still the Best Science Fiction Movie Ever
It’s a unique writer-filmmaker collaboration.
Stanley Kubrick and Arthur C. Clarke conceived the story together, inspired by some of Cl..