COLUMN: 5 Great Movies you need to Watch Before Going to College

Before you join college, it would be nice to get an idea of how it would be like. Not to say that you should live your life according to what you see in movies. Movies are not only a good source of entertainment, but they also teach you a thing or two. There are countless movies out there you will enjoy as a student looking forward to join college. Before you can get to the life of always asking who will solve my homework, why not indulge in a little entertainment. Here are five incredible movies you should check out.

2020, Column, Editorial, GUEST EDITORIAL, Home Media, SPECIALDon ShanahanMarch 10, 2020Comment

MEDIA APPEARANCE: Guest on the "Feelin' Film" podcast for "If Beale Street Could Talk"

As a special for Black History Month, I was honored to join Aaron White and Patrick Hicks of the Feelin' Film Podcast for an opportunity to love all over my #1 film of 2018, If Beale Street Could Talk from Moonlight Oscar winner Barry Jenkins. Joining me as another guest and bringing the dais to four was Kolby Mac, the new host of FF’s “Black Label” podcast. This was such a wonderful episode! Listeners are in for a treat! Take a listen to the episode here or below:

GUEST COLUMN: 6 Finnish Movies You Need to Watch

by Anna Nilsen

Finland has a rich cinematic history, although it is not as widely talked about on the international scene as many other nations. To fix that and get more people into Finnish film culture, here are just a few of the top movies that the country has produced.

2020, Column, Editorial, Foreign Film, GUEST EDITORIAL, Independent Film, Home MediaDon ShanahanFebruary 27, 2020Comment

MOVIE REVIEW: The Night Clerk

Like it or not, there’s something carnal and entirely compelling about voyeurism. From trainwrecks to Peeping Toms, gazes can be easily fixated by the energy of those moments. There is an addictive draw that can be interest, mystery, surprise, titillation, or all of the above. The invasive level of wrongness in watching something you are likely not meant to see is measured by what one is doing or getting out of these observations. That’s a bit of the hook of The Night Clerk which allows a little gray hue on that potential wrongness.

2020, 3 STARS, Home Media, Independent Film, MOVIE REVIEWDon ShanahanFebruary 21, 2020 Comment

EDITORIAL: We Should Be Careful with What We Put in Movies

Well, it's pretty much evident by now what this place is all about. But one thing that we rarely talk about is how lessons in movies work. You think that every one of them is excellent and intentional. Well, it sort of isn't. Sometimes, movie makers will put a point unintentionally, or they'll teach you about something terrible as well. So, we should talk about being careful when it comes to movies. If you're interested in that, then stick around and read this full article. Maybe you'll even learn something, or you just might gain some insight into movie making. Either way, let's begin!

2020, Column, Editorial, GUEST EDITORIAL, Home MediaDon ShanahanFebruary 14, 2020Comment

MEDIA APPEARANCE: Guest on the "The Cinescope Podcast" reflecting on "John Carter"

This past week, I was invited and welcomed back to The Cinescope Podcast, hosted by Chad Hopkins. With appreciation for its zest and its history, Chad and I shared our love for Andrew Stanton’s 2012 Disney adventure John Carter. It was an excellent chat. This was my third time on Cinescope after previous episodes on E.T the Extra Terrestrial and The Karate Kid. I look forward to the next chance to join Chad. Enjoy the podcast! Listen or download below!

Media Appearance, MOVIE REVIEW, Podcast, Retrospective, Social Media, SPECIAL, Vintage Review, 2020, Home MediaDon ShanahanFebruary 14, 2020John CarterComment

GUEST COLUMN: Lessons Found in "The Fast and Furious" Movies

by Kevin Gardner

Movies are a great way to escape the real world and place yourself in the middle of a new life. Films that extend from one to a series are some of the most exciting to watch because the storyline continues. “The Fast and Furious” set is no exception. Many watch it for its thrills and action scenes, but if you pay close attention, you can find some important life lessons. Here are nine messages these movies teach.

2020, Column, Editorial, GUEST EDITORIAL, Home Media, Social Media, SPECIALDon ShanahanFebruary 11, 2020Comment

MEDIA APPEARANCE: Guest on the "Feelin' Film" FF+ podcast for "Sgt. Stubby: An American Hero"

Aaron White and Patrick Hicks of the Feelin' Film Podcast were offered the chance to review Sgt. Stubby: An American Hero from animator and voice actor Jordan Beck. With its educational aims, the two brought me in to be the third man and the teacher voice in their interview with Mr. Beck. The three of us loved the film, its values, and its themes. It was a please to speak with Jordan, who couldn’t have been more gracious and accomodating! Take a listen to the episode here or below:

GUEST COLUMN: 7 Best Movies About Advertising and Marketing That You Must Watch

by Marie Barnes

Do you watch movies just for fun? Well, we are sure that movies may have a more significant influence than only amusement. What’s more, some of them may even reflect on our careers and teach us valuable lessons. Here is a list of 8 best movies for those who are into advertising and marketing. The movies mentioned below can teach us many valuable marketing lessons. They are just a few examples that can trigger all sorts of marketing insights and motivation. What movies have been useful in your career as a marketer or have inspired your inner marketer?

2020, Column, Editorial, GUEST EDITORIAL, Home Media, SPECIALDon ShanahanJanuary 31, 2020Comment

GUEST EDITORIAL: Go See a Movie

by Kevin Gardner

Going to the movies used to be a special event. Getting there early enough to get the best seats was a plus. Buying a big tub of popcorn drenched in salt and "butter" and of course a giant-sized soft drink to wash it down was a must. However, something has changed in the last several years. Streaming services such as Netflix or Hulu are offering more and more stay-at-home fare for one low monthly price. Now it seems staying home with family or a group of friends seems to be the way to go for many people.

2020, Column, Editorial, GUEST EDITORIAL, Home Media, SPECIALDon ShanahanJanuary 28, 2020Comment

COLUMN: Feel-Good Movies for the Science Fiction Fan

Science fiction is a genre that's inherently pessimistic. It was invented as a tool for authors to point out the flaws of the current society by enlarging it and placing it in a far-off land, perhaps at another time. This is maybe the reason why the vast majority of science fiction books - and movies - are pretty bleak. While most of them have happy endings - the readers and the viewers love those - they are almost always pervaded by a sense of doom, fear, perhaps disgust. And this is perhaps the reason why there are almost no works of science fiction among the best feel-good movies you can watch.

2020, Column, Editorial, GUEST EDITORIAL, Home Media, Social Media, SPECIALDon ShanahanJanuary 27, 2020Comment

GUEST COLUMN: The Best Inspirational Hollywood Athletes

by Kevin Gardner

What makes an athlete great? Is it their determination or sportsmanship? Perhaps it is some indescribable quality that makes them stand out in the crowd. If Hollywood has anything to say about it, it is all of these qualities wrapped into a lovable underdog story. These players all faced challenges, both personal and professional, and learned to overcome them to become the best. Enjoy this list of some of the best underdog athlete stories in Hollywood.

Editorial, Column, Home Media, GUEST EDITORIALDon ShanahanJanuary 22, 2020Comment