Tag Archives: films

10 Successful Actors Who Have Never Starred in a Sequel

It’s nice to have a steady paycheck. Actors have a notoriously hard time hitting the big time, and even for those who do, there’s no guarantee that they’ll continue to land great roles. That’s probably why it’s so tempting to … Continue reading

Posted in Random Stuff | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 5 Comments

Movie Matchups: Atlantis: The Lost Empire vs. Stargate

Stargate debuted in theaters exactly 20 years ago today. It was so good that they released it again seven years later, except that time it was called Atlantis: The Lost Empire. These movies are so closely related that it’s crazy that Roland … Continue reading

Posted in Movie Matchups | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | 7 Comments

‘I’ll Be Back’ Takes on New Meaning: Terminator 2: Judgment Day’s First Half Mirrors Its Second Half

October 26, 2014 marks the 30th anniversary of the theatrical release of The Terminator. That was James Cameron’s first real directing job, and he followed it up with the even better Aliens and The Abyss. In 1991, he returned to … Continue reading

Posted in Cinematic Chiasmus | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 28 Comments

10 Good Sequels That Sowed the Seeds of Their Series’ Destruction

It’s really hard to make a good sequel to a hit movie. The filmmakers have to please fans of the first film while also adding something new to the mix to make the sequel stand on its own. But something … Continue reading

Posted in Random Stuff | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Another Reason to Love Aliens – It’s a Symmetrical Film

I’ve heard Aliens described as a “rollercoaster” because it’s such a thrilling ride. It turns out that that metaphor is true on an entirely new level. The first and second halves of that movie closely mirror each other, creating another … Continue reading

Posted in Cinematic Chiasmus | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 46 Comments

Marvel’s Unique Approach to Secret Identities

Marvel superheroes don’t have secret identities in the same way that we usually associate secret identities with superheroes. The Fantastic Four, Iron Man, Captain America, and the Guardians of the Galaxy all have completely public identities. Everyone knows who they … Continue reading

Posted in Random Stuff | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

The 10 Most Obscure Movies That Earned More Than $300 Million (Adjusted for Inflation)

This summer’s crop of big-budget movies struggled to get into true blockbuster territory in the U.S. and Canada. Domestically, only one film has managed to gross more than $300 million in 2014 – Guardians of the Galaxy, a film that … Continue reading

Posted in Random Stuff | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 10 Comments

How to Fix Star Trek Generations

In 1994, the first film starring the Star Trek: The Next Generation crew arrived in theaters. I’ve had a lot of time since then to think about what went wrong with it. Star Trek Generations is a puzzling film because … Continue reading

Posted in Random Stuff | Tagged , , , , , , , | 14 Comments

Movie Matchups: Who Framed Roger Rabbit vs. Chinatown

Some people have speculated that Who Framed Roger Rabbit is some sort of sequel, remake, or homage to Chinatown. But it’s none of those things. Who Framed Roger Rabbit is actually a perfect parody of that classic murder mystery. I … Continue reading

Posted in Movie Matchups | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 5 Comments

Bill and Ted’s Symmetrical Adventure

In my last Cinematic Chiasmus, I demonstrated how the entire Back to the Future Trilogy follows the same pattern backwards and forwards. This time I’ll delve into another classic ‘80s time-travel movie: Bill and Ted’s Excellent Adventure. Wait. A seemingly … Continue reading

Posted in Cinematic Chiasmus | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 14 Comments