Tag Archives: drama

Bruce Wayne vs. Francisco d’Anconia

Batman made his debut in Detective Comics in 1939 and then 18 years later a similar character showed up in the Ayn Rand novel Atlas Shrugged. That character is Francisco d’Anconia. These are two of my favorite fictional heroes, and … Continue reading

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Pleasant Surprises: Swiss Family Robinson

As a kid, I wasn’t a huge fan of Disney’s old live-action movies. They were so boring and quaint, like The Parent Trap (1960) and Freaky Friday (1976). I probably would have had a whole different perspective on the matter … Continue reading

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I Love Problem-Solving Movies

What do Apollo 13, Ghost, and Rudy have in common? Sure, they all came out in the 1990s, but I posit that they share something more substantial than that. They’re all problem-solving movies. What is a problem-solving movie and how … Continue reading

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Movies That Improve on Multiple Viewings: The Deer Hunter

Many years ago I read a review of The Deer Hunter in which the author said that the film is great up until the point where the three main characters get separated on the river in Vietnam. From then on, … Continue reading

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Why This Is My Favorite Scene in Any Superman Film

I love the first two Superman films starring Christopher Reeve. I think they are nearly perfect in just about every way. They’re exciting, funny, dramatic, and emotional. And, best of all, they earn all of their big Superman moments by … Continue reading

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Lethal Weapon and the Fearless Action Hero

We like fearless action heroes. Arnold Schwarzenegger epitomizes the image of the action hero who rarely shows a hint of weakness and kills without remorse. In 1987’s Predator, he does have a few moments where he looks like he could … Continue reading

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Pleasant Surprises: Law Abiding Citizen

I don’t usually describe films as “stunning,” but that’s the best word I can find for 2009’s Law Abiding Citizen. I am stunned by this film, from its opening scene to its finale it’s constantly surprising me and leaving me … Continue reading

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Forgotten Film Gems: Only the Lonely

In between his two Home Alone films, Chris Columbus wrote and directed a little romantic comedy starring John Candy called Only the Lonely. It wasn’t exactly a huge hit like many of Columbus’s other films, but it has a lot … Continue reading

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Fiddler on the Roof’s Story Is in the Tradition of Pride and Prejudice

It is a truth universally acknowledged that a single film in possession of a good story must be in want of a remake. Thus, we see the reimagining of Jane Austen’s classic story of manners Pride and Prejudice as a … Continue reading

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Forgotten Film Gems: Truly Madly Deeply

Would you like a cathartic film to deal with the loss of Alan Rickman? Watch Truly Madly Deeply. It’s a refreshingly low-key ghost movie that came out the same year as Ghost, but attracted much less attention. It also came … Continue reading

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