At Peter Vardy, they thought, as the coronavirus has somewhat clamped the handbrake on our year, it was about time that we all had a little bit of fun. That’s why today we bring you a quiz on Movie Number Plates. They’ve selected a series of number plates from the most famous cars in film and brought them together to see how many you can guess correctly. Some are easy but some are extremely tough. If you can correctly identify all of them, we’ll be very impressed! The plates range from films dating back to some of the all-time classics, to the car-focussed thrill rides on the big screen today. We’ve also thrown in a couple tailspins to keep you on your toes too. When you’re ready, give the quiz a go then make sure to send it to all your friends and family to see who's the biggest movie motor buff!

2020, Column, Editorial, Home Media, Infographic, Social Media, SPECIALDon ShanahanDecember 10, 2020Comment

EDITORIAL: Is "Casino Royale" the Best Bond Film?

The debate over which of the many great films in the James Bond canon is the best could go on and on for decades. The series has produced some excellent films that balance action and drama around Agent 007 while on Her Majesty’s Secret Service. The films have helped define what an action movie can accomplish and set the standard for film franchises that series like the Marvel Cinematic Universe and the Harry Potter films have tried to emulate, somehow managing to make each movie distinctive and yet fit perfectly into the wider canon. Casino Royale has quickly become a fan favourite and is one of the most financially successful Bond films of any era, but is it the best Bond film? This is what we are going to try and find out.

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

GUEST COLUMN: 5 of the Most Impactful Movies About Climate Change

by Kevin Gardner

Everyone knows that there is nothing that can get you quite as emotional, excited, or invested like a good movie, and there are plenty of good movies out there. Watching movies about health and wellness might have the power to get you to cut down on your sugar intake, and watching movies about rescue pets might push you to adopt an animal. Therefore, watching a movie about climate change might just get you invested in environmental justice.

2020, Column, Editorial, GUEST EDITORIAL, Home Media, Documentary, SPECIALDon ShanahanDecember 9, 2020Comment

MEDIA APPEARANCE: Guest on the "You'll Probably Agree" YouTube channel talking the future for movie theaters

Back in May, I joined Mike Crowley’s You’ll Probably Agree podcast with Ian Simmons of Kicking the Seat and Pat McDonald of HollywoodChicago.com in discussing the state of movie theaters knee deep during this pandemic. Things looked brighter then. Now, six months later, with a spiking virus, streaming business moves, and conpanies closing or circling bankrupcies? Not so much. The four of us took to Mike’s YouTube channel recently to ponder the uncertain future. Enjoy this spirited conversation! I’m sure we’ll be doing it again soon.

Social Media, SPECIAL, Podcast, Media Appearance, 2020, Editorial, Home MediaDon ShanahanDecember 6, 2020Comment

GUEST EDITORIAL: Cinema Experience in the Time of COVID

by Lewis Robinson

As the pandemic has absolutely ravaged the movie industry, leaving it in tatters. It is now up to us, the consumers and movie-goers, to create a similarly satisfying experience in our homes. Even if the theaters were still open, it would arguably be grossly irresponsible to ignore the dangers of the pandemic and potentially spreading it around; alas, we are left to our own devices. With theater chains like Regal Cinemas and AMC closing down their theaters across the country, and in some cases for good, it seems to be the end of an era. No longer will we be able to enjoy a delicious batch of fresh movie popcorn. No longer can watch plots unfold with unexpected twists and turns on enormous screens providing a crystal clear picture quality with audio so clear and so loud that it would shake the very foundation of the seats in which we sat

2020, Column, Editorial, GUEST EDITORIAL, SPECIALDon ShanahanDecember 3, 2020Comment

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!