Tag Archives: movie review

I Hated Avatar, But Here’s Why I’m Going to Watch Avatar 2

So, Avatar 2 has finally received a release date, and it’s going to arrive 11 years after the original film. I watched Avatar in the theater on Christmas Day 2009, and I haven’t seen it since. The first year that … Continue reading →

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

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 →

Posted in Pleasant Surprises | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

The Right Way and the Wrong Way to Do a One-Joke Comedy

One-joke comedies are so hard to pull off. It’s Pat, The Hot Chick, Chairman of the Board, Bio-Dome, Dude, Where’s My Car? and just about anything by the Wayans brothers and/or Jason Friedberg and Aaron Seltzer are just terrible. And … Continue reading →

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

Bad Problem-Solving Movies Are Just Frustrating

As I noted last week, I love problem-solving movies – when they’re done right. Unfortunately, every now and then a movie comes along claiming that it has some great puzzle to solve, but it turns out to be just an … Continue reading →

Posted in Movie Matchups | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

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 →

Posted in Movie Matchups | Tagged , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Bill vs. Ted

Bill S. Preston, Esquire, and Ted “Theodore” Logan. The Great Ones, as some call them, are quite possibly the best duo in history. But who is the greatest Great One? Years ago I saw a tongue-in-cheek list of the best … Continue reading →

Posted in Movie Matchups | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Big Trouble in Little China vs. Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl

I’ve heard it said that 1986’s Big Trouble in Little China was ahead of its time. It introduced American audiences to Asian mysticism and style of filmmaking before they were ready to embrace them in a big-budget action film. With … Continue reading →

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

What About Bob? What About Chiasmus?

When I get an idea for a Cinematic Chiasmus, I get excited about it because it’s a chance to look at a film in a way that no one has ever done before. A few months ago, the good folks … Continue reading →

Posted in Cinematic Chiasmus | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 5 Comments

The Dynamic Do-Over

The LEGO Batman Movie looks to be a dynamic do-over for the Dynamic Duo. And thank goodness for that. I loved Christopher Nolan’s Dark Knight Trilogy, and I certainly don’t mind a dark interpretation of the World’s Greatest Detective. But … Continue reading →

Posted in Random Stuff | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

11 Things I’ve Come to Like About Superman III

Superman III is one of those movies that is really hard to pin down. It’s not good, but it’s not terrible, either. I can’t fault it for daring to try something new and be really creative. I liked the movie … Continue reading →

Posted in Movies That Improve | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 6 Comments