Something I’ve learned in the past few weeks basking in the success of James Gunn’s universal starter Superman is that something the “S” on that costume can stand for more things than the name of the hero or some Kryptonian translation of hope. On a recent livesteam joining “Earth’s Mightiest Critics” led by Ian Simmons of the Kicking the Seat podcast and YouTube channel, the “S” stands for SPICY. With supporters and contrarians clashing, this roundtable got heated.
Read MoreI’ll go right ahead and admit. Summer has been busy. I’m a school teacher on summer vacation where every day is a Saturday and the memories blend together. I forgot about one of the opportunities I had this past month to joing Ian Simmons on his Kicking the Seat podcast and YouTube channel. A few weeks back, Ian, myself, and Mark Krawczyk of Special Mark Productions talked about the thrills and spills of Jurassic World: Rebirth. Enjoy this recorded live chat!
Read MoreIn a world brimming with stories, two of the most powerful vehicles for cultural expression are film and travel. While film allows us to experience lives and landscapes from the comfort of our homes, travel places us inside those stories—letting us breathe the air, walk the streets, and connect with the people who inhabit them. When these two forces combine, something magical happens: storytelling in motion. It’s a dynamic, immersive journey where culture is not just observed but felt, lived, and remembered.
Read MoreShe Rides Shotgun puts these two through hell with slivers of hope pushing them to carry on. The connection built through the close quarters performances of Ana Sophia Heger and Taron Egerton to lift that sense of drama is exceptional. The camera rarely leaves Heger, making the point of view one of fragility, callousing over with experiences of toughness.
Read MoreBased on the popular juvenile graphic novels written and illustrated by Aaron Blabey, which have now spanned 20 episodes in nine years, this series of books and movies is a perfect place to start a future cinephile’s love affair with a good caper flick. Give yourself due credit and earn your cool points, moms, dads, aunts, uncles, grandparents, and family buddies.
Read MoreThe true crispness in The Naked Gun, ensured with no hesitation, relies on the actors hitting their marks. Verbal choreography becomes just as important as the physical variety. Director Akiva Schaeffer found two fantastic lead vessels for this type of precision in Liam Neeson and Pamela Anderson.
Read MoreLoyalty is a common theme in pet-centered films, and for good reason. Pets tend to be incredibly loyal to their owners, sometimes doing incredible things to get back to their family or to see their owner again. They provide the companionship needed for the owners while just asking for care and love in return. Some of the films that highlight the loyalty pets offer include the following.
Read MoreAs wellness trends keep changing, people are looking for new ways to feel better and learn about themselves. One way that is becoming more popular is taking psychedelics, often in small doses or for therapy under advisability. Because of digital changes, online platforms help people get psychedelics in a way that is easy, private, and made for those in the wellness community.
Read MoreThroughout Four Letters of Love, two 1970s families in Ireland—one living on a remote western island and another from a more urban city home—experience difficult roads of distressing life events. Between them, there’s a drastic career change, the transition to a new school, future career uncertainty, parental abandonment, a few cases of writer’s block and artist’s block, relationship woes and competing affections before marriage, parental approval of their children’s paths, a handicapping injury, and two losses of parents and spouses.
Read MoreThere’s nothing quite like a cozy movie night to unwind after a long week. Whether you're hosting a group of friends or planning a solo night in, the right combination of atmosphere, snacks, and entertainment can turn an ordinary evening into a memorable experience. But if you're someone who enjoys pairing your cinematic indulgence with a little cannabis, there's another factor to consider: having the perfect bong setup—especially the right bowl capacity.
Read MoreExamining the backstage operations of big-budget films offers valuable insights into leading teams, dealing with ambiguity, and producing outcomes. Here are some lessons from the director's chair on project management that we can learn from blockbusters.
Read MoreLiving up to its subtitle to venture into a higher level of solidarity, The Fantastic Four: First Steps presents the proper elevated level of accountability and character connection that comes with family. From that genealogical bedrock, all of the other emerging drama and tension is granted extra ounces, pounds, and tons of importance. By addressing and including such emphasis, this new foray succeeds mightily where previous cinematic interpretations have failed.
Read More
