PODCAST: Episode 116 of "The Cinephile Hissy Fit" Podcast

For their 116th episode, two Cannon-loving film critics, two Luthor-ian dads, and two nuclear-charged teachers, Will Johnson and Don Shanahan continue a special podcast collaboration. Ian Simmons of the Kicking the Seat podcast and Mark Krawczyk of Special Mark Productions return to close the Christopher Reeve Superman series to discuss Superman IV: The Quest of Peace. Find out if it really is the worst movie of the series or if soft spots are found.

PODCAST: Episode 115 of "The Cinephile Hissy Fit" Podcast

For their 115th episode, two computer-programming film critics, two absentee dads, and two evil self teachers, Will Johnson and Don Shanahan have set up a special collaboration for a pair of episodes. Will and Don recently appeared on Ian Simmons' Kicking the Seat podcast and YouTube channel to discuss Superman: The Movie and Superman II. For the step down of Superman III, Ian and returning guest Mark Krawczyk of Special Mark Productions continue the series the talk to our digital airwaves. We scratch our heads together on everything from Richard Pryor, computer fears, and bad Kryptonite.

Cinephile Hissy Fit, Podcast, 25YL, Media Appearance, 2023Don ShanahanJune 15, 2023Cinephile Hissy Fit, Podcast, Will Johnson, Film Obsessive, Guardians of the Galaxy, Mark Krawczyk, Special Mark Productions, Ian Simmons, Kicking the Seat, Superman III, Superman, Superman: The MovieComment

MEDIA APPEARANCE: Guest on the Kicking the Seat roundtable for "Superman: The Movie"

Folks who know me well know that 1978’s Superman: The Movie is head-and-shoulders my favorite comic book movie of all-time and one of my overall Top 10 favorites, period. Ian Simmons of the Kicking the Seat podcast and YouTube channel is one of those folks who knew and invited me on his airwaves to talk about the first Christopher Reeve Superman movie on the heels of its first-time release to 4K UHD disc as part of Warner Bros.’s year-long 100th anniversary celebration. Ian and I are joined by the #DCshill Mark Krawczyk of Special Mark Productions, who makes it a party.

Media Appearance, Podcast, Social Media, SPECIAL, 2020Don ShanahanMay 18, 2023AMC River East 21Kicking the Seat, Ian Simmons, Mark Krawczyk, Superman, Superman: The MovieComment

MEDIA APPEARANCE: Guest on "E-Man's Movie Reviews" podcast for "Justice League"

Emmanuel Noisette of the newly updated E-Man's Movie Reviews called for a wingman on a team-up movie. He was kind enough to invite me to represent Every Movie Has a Lesson on a recorded SPOILER-FILLED podcast of our immediate reactions after watching the Zack Snyder/Joss Whedon concoction of Justice League. We sit down and discuss what we saw, what we liked, and didn't like.

MOVIE REVIEW: Wonder Woman

The three-part noun definition of “wonder” can be summarized as “a cause of astonishment, the quality of excited admiration, or rapt attention at something awesomely mysterious or new to one’s experience.” Used as an adjective in a proper name, the word could not be more fitting of Princess Diana of Themyscira, better known as Wonder Woman. Whether it represents a cog in a larger universe, a historical watershed for women’s leadership, or the answered prayers of long-suffering fans and idolizing dreamers, Wonder Woman is a valiant, momentous, and satisfying first step fitting of the iconic heroine.

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MOVIE REVIEW: The LEGO Batman Movie

Chock full of more jokes, puns, and references than there are virtual plastic bricks, “The LEGO Batman Movie” is a breezy blast of unabashed fun. Twirling with dazzling animation and saturated with endless character possibilities, these two hours of zippy entertainment offer exhilarating playful engagement for young audiences and many absolute belly laughs for the adults. Like “The LEGO Movie” before it, the biggest flaw will always be the manic pace.

2017, 4 STARS, MOVIE REVIEWDon ShanahanFebruary 14, 2017Classic Cinemas North Riverside Luxury 62017, 2017 Winter Movies, The LEGO Batman Movie, The LEGO Movie, Warner Bros. Animation, Warner Bros. Pictures, Batman, Bob Kane, Bill Finger, Alfred, Robin, Barbara Gordon, Chimera, Bellerophon, The Joker, Will Arnett, Michael Keaton, Christian Bale, Adam West, Dark Knight, The Bright Knight, The Dark Knight, Superman, Jason Mantzoukas, Adam DeVine, Riki Lindhome, Ellie Kemper, Mariah Carey, Hector Elizondo, Jemaine Clement, Seth Green, Eddie Izzard, Conan O'Brien, DC Comics, Billy Dee Williams, Zach Galifianakis, Michael Cera, Seth Grahame-Smith, Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter, Pride and Prejudice and Zombies, Community, Chris McKenna, Emmet Brickowski, Rosario Dawson, Siri, Batcave, Ralph Fiennes, Jerry Maguire, life lessons from film, life lessons from films, life lessons from movies, life lessons, Life lessons, animated films, family films, computer animation, movie review, film review, movie commentary, film commentary, Donald Shanahan, Don Shanahan, Every Movie Has a LessonComment

EDITORIAL: Movies and the 9/11 impact

ANNUAL UPDATE: I'm here for an editorial on the anniversary of 9/11 to showcase a few movies, both serious and not-so-serious, that speak to that day whether as a tribute, remembrance, or example of how life has changed since that fateful day. Enjoy!

Column, Editorial, SPECIALDon ShanahanSeptember 11, 20169/11, 9/11 films, 9/11 movies, Films based on 9/11, Movie based on 9/11, Films affected by 9/11, Movies affected by 9/11, 9/11 anniversary, War on Terror, Ghostbusters, Independence Day: Resurgence, Independence Day, The Walk, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Godzilla, Star Trek Into Darkness, Transformers: Dark of the Moon, Man of Steel, Olympus Has Fallen, White House Down, Patriots Day, Billy Lynn's Long Halftime Walk, Sully, American Sniper, Captain America: The First Avenger, Live Free or Die Hard, We Are Marshall, Hitch, National Treasure, Miracle, Million Dollar Baby, Ladder 49, Elf, Gangs of New York, Spider-Man, The Amazing Spider-Man, The Amazing Spider-Man 2, Spider-Man 2, We Were Soldiers, Black Hawk Down, Behind Enemy Lines, The Last Castle, Pearl Harbor, The Patriot, Air Force One, Rambo III, Charlie Wilson's War, Jarhead, Courage Under Fire, V for Vendetta, The Sum of All Fears, Fight Club, Arlington Road, Munich, Syriana, The Dark Knight Rises, The Siege, True Lies, Pushing Tin, Turbulence, Executive Decision, Passenger 57, Airplane!, Cloverfield, War of the Worlds, Watchmen, Deep Impact, Armageddon, The Day After Tomorrow, King Kong, Home Alone 2: Lost in New York, Superman, Boyhood, The Fifth Estate, Snowden, The Reluctant Fundamentalist, Source Code, Bridesmaids, Iron Man, Harold and Kumar Escape Guantanamo, Snakes on a Plane, Soul Plane, Anger Management, The Terminal, An Inconvenient Truth, Fahrenheit 9/11, 25th Hour, Whiskey Tango Foxtrot, 13 Hours: The Secret Soldiers of Benghazi, 13 Hours, Good Kill, Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit, A Most Wanted Man, Lone Survivor, Zero Dark Thirty, Act of Valor, Restrepo, Green Zone, Dear John, The Lucky One, Brothers, Taking Chance, The Messenger, Stop-Loss, Body of Lies, In the Valley of Elah, Lions of Lambs, The Kingdom, Rendition, Grace is Gone, The Hurt Locker, Home of the Brave, Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close, Remember Me, Reign Over Me, World Trade Center, United 93, Big Trouble, The Time Machine, Serendipity, Zoolander, Men in Black II, Sidewalks of New York, City by the Sea, Collateral Damage, The Glass House, Hardball, Rock Star, Soul Survivors, The Musketeer, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone, Ocean's 11, The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring, New York, New York City, The Pentagon, Afghanistan, Iraq, Editorial, War movies, film commentary, movie commentary, social commentary, SPECIAL, ANNUAL, Donald Shanahan, Don Shanahan, Every Movie Has a LessonComment

MOVIE REVIEW: Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice

"Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice" is constantly intense, powerfully suspenseful, and operatically enthralling on an emotional and sensory level. It is a remarkable experience on the big screen. We are in a new era with a new tone. There is room in the cinematic superhero landscape for important and formidable urgency like this. Let Marvel stick to the shiny sparkles and corner their piece of the market. This new franchise has chosen its mature path and they are showing the resolute fortitude to stick with it, haters be damned. What follows is spoiler-free!

EDITORIAL: My picks for the greatest movie scores

Here's my official list of my top 10 movie scores with three unbreakable ties. I can't call them the "greatest," but I'll put my list next to anyone's and defend my choices. My friends and followers kind of poked the bear and encouraged me to make and rank my own list. Well, I love a good challenge and I knew this one would be easy. Movie scores and I get along.