GUEST COLUMN: Top 5 Director's Cut Versions of Movies Everyone Should Watch

by Jennifer Holland

When it comes to deciding the final cut of the movie, directors are rarely the ones to make the call: it’s generally the producers that get this privilege. The reason behind this is that the ones who support the production financially usually have a better understanding of what the audience might like or dislike to see. Still, a professional who directs a movie often gets to make their own version of the film—the famous “director’s cut”—a version often longer than the one released to the general audience. Step inside your movie cave and get ready for a few surprises: here are the 5 movies which directors’ cuts you shouldn’t miss.

2020, Column, Editorial, GUEST EDITORIAL, Home Media, LIST, SPECIALDon ShanahanDecember 3, 2020Comment

GUEST COLUMN: Top 10 Movies to Relax After a Hard Working Day

by Jennifer Holland

Sometimes, you just want to relax and watch and a good movie after a long hard day. Watching a good movie allows you to relax and disconnect from your busy world. Watching a movie enables you to experience a wide range of emotions without suffering the side effects. It helps in inspiring motivation, relaxing, and decreasing anxiety so that you can feel energetic in the days to follow. Thanks to rapid technological advancements, you can enjoy your favorite movies without having to step out of your house. Plus, there is nothing better than watching great movies with your loved ones. Here are the top ten movies that you should watch after a long hard day.

2020, Column, Editorial, GUEST EDITORIAL, Home Media, LIST, SPECIALDon ShanahanNovember 11, 2020Comment

Three Alternative Sites You Can Play "Batman" Slots and Win

The Batman franchise has grown to become one of the most successful and profitable franchises in the entertainment industry. It has expanded its reach to land-based casinos and online casinos, where the character is a popular theme in slot games. Various online casino games have Batman-themed slots and electronic games, and there are notable online casino sites that offer good house advantage and high win rate. Read on as we share three alternative sites where you can play Batman slots and win.

2020, Column, Editorial, SPECIAL, Social MediaDon ShanahanNovember 8, 2020Comment

GUEST COLUMN: Best Movies For Bringing Your Sports Team Together

by Kevin Faber

It is a plain and simple fact that sports teams work better when each member feels some kind of bond with one another. This bond may have to be coaxed into existence by a team member who wants it or a coach who thinks his or her team will play better that way. It is definitely worth trying out, so no matter what sport you play, you should consider doing a team bonding activity. A great example of this sort of activity could be watching an inspiring sports film together. Over popcorn, sodas, laughter and maybe even some tears, you may find that your team becomes closer than ever before.

Streaming, SPECIAL, LIST, Home Media, GUEST EDITORIAL, Editorial, Column, 2020Don ShanahanNovember 6, 2020Comment

GUEST EDITORIAL: How Theaters Can Win Back Customers During COVID-19

by Kevin Gardiner

The COVID-19 pandemic has forced millions of people to change their daily routine and activities, particularly recreational activities. Nevertheless, nightly news broadcasts continually show large gatherings of people who refuse to take social distancing seriously. Matters have been made much worse by poor leadership at the highest level of government. The businesses that have been battered as a result of federal and state governments’ failure to take reasonable preventative measures have needed to take matters into their own hands. Movie theaters find themselves at a particularly great disadvantage as so many people have become apprehensive about entering a closed-air environment where they’ll be in close proximity to other people.

2020, Column, Editorial, GUEST EDITORIAL, SPECIALDon ShanahanNovember 6, 2020 Comments

GUEST COLUMN: The Best American Baseball Movies

by Devin Caldwell

Ever since Americans began to fall in love with the game of baseball in the early 20th century, filmmakers have brought the sport to life on the big screen. Most baseball films have focused on the sport’s legendary athletes, historical games or scandalous events. Although several fine films have been produced on the subject, a few excellent baseball movies stand apart from the rest and are considered more than just sports films. With the exception of 42, the following iconic films are not based on factual events or players, but they personify why Americans love baseball.

2020, Column, Editorial, Home Media, LIST, GUEST EDITORIAL, SPECIALDon ShanahanNovember 6, 2020Comment

MEDIA APPEARANCE: Guest on the "Kicking the Seat" podcast and YouTube channel talking "Rebecca"

In my social circles, I tend to be the “movie guy” that offer suggestions on what to see, both new and old, when it comes to movies. It’s a fun rarity when I get to do that with a fellow movie critic. With the arrival of the new Rebecca starring Lily James and Armie Hammer, it created an opportunity for friend Ian Simmons of the Kicking the Seat podcast to watch both Netflix’s remake and the revered Alfred Hitchcock classic. I nudged him into this one and it made for a good conversation. We cover a bit of both of them here on his podcast and YouTube channel. Enjoy!

Media Appearance, Podcast, Social Media, SPECIAL, 2020Don ShanahanOctober 30, 2020AMC River East 21Kicking the SeatComment

GUEST EDITORIAL: Importance of Soundtracks in Movies

It is not easy to find a good soundtrack, so much so that if you investigate in search of something original you find those that already exist. There are many movies that their OST is an incredible and memorable subject, since it is 100% identifiable and fits perfectly with the time and the scenes. You can say that this soundtrack is an inseparable part of the film, since it gives it a more than necessary essence.

2020, Column, Editorial, GUEST EDITORIAL, SPECIALDon ShanahanOctober 26, 2020Comment

COLUMN: Five Most Impactful Movie Speeches of All-Time

For years, magnificent movie speeches stand-and-delivered by top actors have been making their way from the movie screen right to the hearts of the viewers, inspiring people for real changes, accomplishments, and acts of bravery. Indeed, they have gained a legacy status and have been carved in human minds for many years to come. Many movie speeches are worth mentioning, but these five are the most memorable and affecting ones.

2020, Column, Editorial, GUEST EDITORIAL, Home Media, LIST, Social Media, SPECIALDon ShanahanOctober 20, 2020Comment

GUEST COLUMN: 17 Best Relationship Lessons We Learned From Retro Movies

by Bethany Langston

Every film can provide us with some food for thoughts, especially those classic films with a simple plot and a natural range of emotions. Owing to the film plot, which represents any aspect of the relationship between people, we might not only get invaluable experience of acting in a certain situation but also collect plenty of powerful life lessons. So, let’s discover what are those relationship lessons we learned through watching old-fashioned films of the last century.

2020, Column, Editorial, GUEST EDITORIAL, Home Media, SPECIALDon ShanahanOctober 20, 2020Comment

GUEST COLUMN: Tips for Creating the Ultimate Home Cinema

by Mike Cahill

Colder weather is approaching, and the average American’s options for outdoor activities are beginning to dwindle. While winter recreation can be a blast, there’s truly no better time to hunker down and enjoy the comfort of your own home. What better way to do that than building your own home theater? From cables and sound to projectors and comfy seats, we’re delivering the best tips on creating your perfect home theater from the professionals who know best. Whether you’re in Bedford or Portland, read on and learn how to create the best home theater experience on the block.

2020, Column, Editorial, GUEST EDITORIAL, Home Media, SPECIALDon ShanahanOctober 11, 2020Comment

MEDIA APPEARANCE: Quoted on Redfin Blog Talking Home Theaters

My website was approached recently by the home buying website Redfin and their blogging area through writer Mike Cahill. They were looking for contributors to offer some insights on home theater setups to be included in a collected piece. Funny thing is, I’m not fancy. I don’t own a single 4K device or even a big screen TV either. What I do have is a 1080p-enabled DLP projector and a big blank white wall. That setup makes a 120-inch picture that costs half as much as a super-nice TV half that screen size. Call me a home cinema MacGyver because I’ll take that kind of look and savings. I impart a little of that recommendation in Redfin.