GUEST EDITORIAL: Was the film version of "The Lion King" worth it?

by Justin Osborne
Everyone remembers The Lion King, the great animated movie that was released by Disney in 1994. It features animals, from lions to meerkats and warthogs. It showed what “the Circle of Life” means and it rapidly gathered popularity among children and their parents. After 25 years, Disney decided to make a remake of the original animated movie and released the new animation in July. While the story is the same, the effects are impressive. But the reviews are both good and bad. So, was the film version of The Lion King worth it?

2019, Column, Editorial, GUEST EDITORIAL, Home MediaDon ShanahanNovember 23, 2019 Comments

GUEST EDITORIAL: Top 10 Films Starring Only Two Actors

By Ashley Halsey

Most commercially successful films tend to have big budgets, large cast and action taking place over several locations. But there are some films which take the risk of featuring just two actors, often limiting the action to one location and placing the emphasis on dialogue and the delivery of memorable performances. These ten films are as notable for their captivating and often poignant content, as they are for the skillful, powerful performances delivered by just the two actors who carry the weight of the entire film.

2019, Column, Editorial, GUEST EDITORIAL, Home Media, LIST, Social Media, SPECIALDon ShanahanNovember 17, 2019Comment

MOVIE REVIEW: Lady and the Tramp

This new film is a wise and modest update to one of Disney’s best romances of its Silver Age. By utilizing actual dogs, many of which are rescued pets at that, with a mild computerized varnish, feels more tangible than fake in one of these Disney re-imaginings for the first time in a long time. This restraint of creative prudence is what defines its humble disposition and winning achievements. All year long, its mainstream blockbuster peers tried every costly artificial and technological height to be a blaring chorus of bells and whistles, when all that was really needed were some cute, real animals backed often by a swanky band.

2019, Home Media, MOVIE REVIEW, Video on Demand, Streaming, 4 STARSDon ShanahanNovember 12, 2019Comment

GUEST EDITORIAL: 7 Best Movies about Cybersecurity and Hacking

By Betty Lockwood

Discover all-time cybersecurity movies that let you learn more about how hackers take advantage of peoples’ negligence and ignorance and what drives them to indulge in different cyber crimes. Cybersecurity is a concern of many governments that struggle with uncontrolled hacking activity. A few decades ago, it was just a thrilling picture you could enjoy at the movie theater. Today, it is no longer a made-up story on the big screen but a reality facing thousands of people falling victim to cybercrime.

2019, Column, Editorial, GUEST EDITORIAL, Home Media, Social Media, SPECIALDon ShanahanNovember 7, 2019Comment

MEDIA APPEARANCE: Guest on the "Feelin' Film" podcast for "Memphis Belle"

I had the honor and pleasure this past week to join the war-movie-loving hosts on the Feelin' Film Podcast talking about a true underseeen throwback geme: 1990’s Memphis Belle directed by 90s hitmaker Michael Caton-Jones. This podcast plane ride was celebrating Veteran’s Day week in conjunction with the new Midway movie arriving in theaters this week. Memphis Belle was a worn-out VHS childhood favorite of my brother and me. Patrick had that lifelong affinity as well and Aaron, the former Navy man, had nothing but respect

GUEST EDITORIAL: Top 10 Movies About Food, Restaurants, and Chefs

by Nellie Rodriguez

Movies are great for captivating your sense of sight and sound. If the bass is high enough, you can feel 'touch' in the film. But, it is harder for a movie to make you taste or smell something. Or is it?

Films that captivate your senses connect with us on all levels. But that feat is easier said than done. When we try to remember our most memorable moments of movies about cooking and food, we can almost experience the synesthetic power via images, sizzling sounds, etc. that make our mouths water.

2019, Column, Editorial, GUEST EDITORIAL, Home Media, LIST, Social Media, SPECIALDon ShanahanOctober 24, 2019Comment

REWIND REVIEW: The Lion King

Anyone who seeks to own this version of The Lion King is doing so with a “how did they do that?” curiosity. The technical brilliance is its biggest selling point. That interest is answered very well by this disc release. Unlike its Pixar and Marvel offerings, Disney compiled a legitimate look into this re-imaginings wholly revolutionary bells and whistles. This movie will look gorgeous on your high-end television at home.

2019, Home Media, MOVIE REVIEW, Video on Demand, VIDEO REVIEW, DISC REVIEW, 2 STARSDon ShanahanOctober 21, 2019Avengers: EndgameComment

REWIND REVIEW: Toy Story 4

I should rename this section from “Late Homework Excuse” to “Inciting a School Riot” for my participation with the June release of Toy Story 4. I saw the film early for press, covered a fun family event at Navy Pier, and was very unimpressed by the final product. My review was one of the initial wave of four that broke the Rotten Tomatoes perfect 100% Tomatometer score for the movie. The trolling comments and death threats followed and I wrote about that experience. I didn’t want to be that guy, but I just couldn’t call this sequel worthwhile trying to follow the near-perfection of Toy Story 3.

2019, Home Media, MOVIE REVIEW, Video on Demand, VIDEO REVIEW, DISC REVIEW, 2 STARSDon ShanahanOctober 8, 2019Avengers: EndgameComment

INFOGRAPHIC: Landmarks Destroyed by Movie Monsters

There’s something so visceral and alluring about the spectacle of it. And it’s that spectacle that Hollywood loves to create for the silver screen over and over again. These monumental destructions then most likely feature in all of the marketing materials too, as there is such an appeal to it. On this theme, Vibrant Doors made these travel posters from landmarks destroyed by movie monsters in a vintage, retro style and I’ve featured them here for you to check out!

2019, Column, Editorial, Home Media, Infographic, Social MediaDon ShanahanOctober 5, 2019Comment

GUEST EDITORIAL: 7 Movies You Might Not Know Were Based on Books

There are so many great movies out there that we all know and love that you’re often sat there at the end wondering where on earth the director go their ideas. Well, to give you some food for thought we’ve tracked down a whole host of timeless classics that were available in book form years before they ever made it to the big screen. Here are a few that will surprise you.

2019, Column, Editorial, Home Media, Social MediaDon ShanahanOctober 4, 2019 Comment

GUEST EDITORIAL: 7 Best Films About the World of Translation

Nowadays, in today’s globalized world, translators are more important than ever before. The experts from The Word Point explain that” Translators are the ones that enhance communication by conveying information accurately from one language to another, thus, eliminating any language barriers that exist across the world. And, unlike computer-generated translations, professional interpreters can provide 100% accurate language translation”. Although there are very few movies who revolve around this profession, those who do, succeed to perfectly capture the challenges the translators and interpreters face. Here are the 7 best movies about the world of translation and its importance:

2019, Column, Editorial, GUEST EDITORIAL, Home Media, LIST, Social MediaDon ShanahanSeptember 26, 2019Comment

VINTAGE REVIEW: The Untouchables

History and popularity have been kind to Brian De Palma’s crime movie achievement. The American Film Institute nominated the movie in five categories (Movies, Thrills, Hero, Villain, Film Score, and Gangster Film) during its “100 Years” series last decade. Then and now, The Untouchables earned a city’s pride and spurred new popularity to the Capone legend. Its success also fueled a star’s rise (Costner), secured another’s lasting legacy (Connery), and reminded audiences just how sharply talented its steward was. Once the end credits hit and Morricone plays us all out, you can also feel Brian De Palma channeling tough-guy Jimmy Malone with a “here endeth the lesson.” The hitmaker never lost his edge.