Serendipitously so, the opposite becomes the case. That line, among many others that follow, could sneakily summarize the FilmRise Sundance darling Marvelous and the Black Hole. Little wonders and big feelings percolate, intersect, smear, and overwhelm a collection of very unique yet relatable people in this film, and the effects could not be more touching and soul-stirring. For folks willing to seek it out in limited theaters, a rewarding hidden gem awaits you.
Read Moreby Lewis Robinson
The original anime of Ghost in the Shell was a hit with fans for its portrayal of a young woman injured in an accident whose body has been enhanced with cyborg abilities. The 2017 film Ghost in the Shell is a brilliant adaptation of that anime and is sure to please diehard fans as well as those new to the genre.
Read Moreby Lewis Robinson
Adapting a beloved work of literature for the screen is always a risky procedure. Stick too close to the source material and people will call it derivative and unimaginative. Depart too far from the source material, and people will call it unrecognizable. The stakes are even higher when adapting a work of children's literature because while people are eager to relive a bit of their childhood, they fear having beloved memories usurped or tainted.
Read Moreby Lewis Robinson
Cyber security is a hot topic among many and with good reason. With more purchases being done online and with websites storing a slew of data, your private information is ripe for the picking by potential hackers. That's why a movie such as Blackhat, starring Chris Hemsworth and directed by Michael Mann should have been a blockbuster sparking interest and debate about security issues threatening society
Read Moreby Lewis Robinson
The series of Jason Bourne movies are among the most popular and successful in the action-adventure genre. The 2016 installment has the character's name as the title and continues the story from the previous four movies.
Read Moreby Lewis Robinson
As any alumnus will tell you, college can be stressful! Luckily, you can always put a movie on and relax. So, if you're sorely in need of some downtime, here are four excellent movies to watch as a college student.
Read MoreA virtual private network or VPN safeguards your privacy on the internet. It may also help you stay anonymous by hiding your location and personal information. However, do you know that you can use a VPN to change your location? The process can bring many benefits and help you access blocked content on the web. But, how to use a VPN to change location? Let’s find out.
Read MoreIn being part of the Ruminations Radio Network with my Cinephile Hissy Fit podcast, I’ve been able to meet and digitally commiserate with fellow creative people. As a newbie to the podcast medium, all of them have impressed me with their work ethic in putting spoken words to their passions. Recently, I was invited to be episode guest on the Brevity Box podcast hosted by, as I know them, “Brando” and “CCC.” They had me on to tell my journey as a film critic and what makes me tick as a man juggling all the work that makes me a critic, teacher, husband, and father.
Read MoreFor their 59th episode, two manipulative film critics, hose-wielding dads, and ax-sharpening dads brought their oxygen and gasoline to the firefighter hero worship action-drama. HBO Max had Ron Howard's Backdraft available for Will Johnson while Don Shanahan hit the national big screen with a Fathom Event celebrating its 30th anniversary. As the Chicagoan, Don gets all the big brother feels from it and cites it as a beloved personal favorite. Will, on the the other hand, thinks Ron Howard, as well as the movie, blows. Folks, this is a good tiff! Give it a listen!
Read MoreGood movie fans know horror movies come in all shapes, sizes, and, most importantly, descriptors. The newest mini-odyssey from the Chicago-based Splatter Brothers filmmaking team, Darcy Collis, lives up to and stamps those three possible measurements. The shape is something reality-based. The size is that of a short film. Best of all, the descriptor of choice for this writer out of all the possibilities is “chilling.”
Read MoreAfter two weeks of conflicts, I was finally able to join Ian Simmons’ “Wednesday Knight Live” roundtable of “Earth’s Mightiest Critics” for the new Disney+ Marvel series Moon Knight. I was lucky enough to see the first four episodes in advance for press, but it was finally time to join the chat on Ian’s Kicking the Seat YouTube Channel. As always, it was a blast to join Ian, Mark Krawczyk of Special Mark Productions, and Annie Banks of Chuck Load of Comics for a conversation that goes right off the rails beyond the TV show. Enjoy the hearty laughs!
Read MoreRecently, I was welcomed back to Vinnie Green’s MDK Productions, this time as a guest on his Invasion of the Pody Snatchers podcast channel. That arm of MDK specializes in horror films and the theme was zombie movies. Vinnie and co-host Noel John Tuohy took my request of going very old school with 1964’s The Last Man on Earth, pre-dating George Romero’s Night of the Living Dead by four years. We un-swaddle this cradle movie for zombies for a fun show! Enjoy the episode! Follow Vinnie and Noel on Twitter and Facebook!
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