Eric Parker writes MovieMet's recommendation lists and movie-guide features, focusing on accessible picks for readers who want to find their next watch fast. His work is built around themes, moods, genres, and crowd-pleasing entry points that make discovery easier.
The classic boy-meets-girl film storyline gets jazzed up when one of them starts pretending to be a boy. So of course, that’s the girl pretending! And she ends up falling in love with the boy, but the
The author name of Nicholas Sparks lives up to its shining name. Sparks indeed fly between his characters featured in his penned romantic novels. But somehow, after making us fall in love with the cha
Hollywood loves to titillate us with sexy films that also pose intriguing questions about life. And the characters, while trying to answer such questions, are willing to undergo mysterious new things
For four polarising films The Twilight Saga ruled the box office and made sexy vampires a growing financial concern for movie studios. Based on Stephanie Meyer’s novels, Twilight is The story of teena
When it comes to successfully presenting school cliques and how American youths seem to produce many stereotype personalities, there’s one film we always watch for that: Mean Girls. The 2004 film star
The Hunger Games franchise quickly became more than just another profitable Young Adult adaptation. Following in the path blazed by The Twilight Saga, The Hunger Games was an altogether different prop
When we say “friends with benefits,” that means two people accidentally or purposefully becoming friends at first, only to cross that line later. And by crossing the line, we mean having sex. So what’
The Hollywood dream factory always churns out exciting movies. And there’s nothing more exciting than seeing a mysterious heist story. This is the tale of Now You See Me. This intriguing 2013 film fea
High-tech stuff and thrillers always make for a good movie combination. Add to that the story of a deadly pursuit, like being in a game, and the movie gets more interesting. What if unlikely people ar
Hollywood A-list celebrities are sometimes known to take on roles in films that are initially not designed to become box office darlings. Yet somehow, these films take on a life of its own and become
Martin Scorsese is probably the greatest living filmmaker on the planet. At the age of 7,5 he should be sitting on an island somewhere with his feet up, smoking a huge cigar, and drinking the most exp
Psychological thrillers and identity-questioning narratives are two styles that always hit it big at the box office. For films that contain both, imagine how audiences would react as they journey with
Hollywood loves its teen flicks. But not all teen flicks are generic in nature. One interesting kind is the so-called coming of age film, where a young adolescent transforms slowly or abruptly out of
At the heart of a good science fiction film is the very intriguing science and technology presented in the story. The sci-fi stuff could leave us all wondering about our own future, as we think of wha
For those of you who love romantic movies, like the romantic and comedic touch of rom-coms, we’re very sure that Love, Rosie is in your top ten list of romantic film faves. What’s not to love with th
They might as well call Gone Girl as “gone bonkers” since this is what us viewers would feel after watching the movie. Imagine a story starting nicely, presenting a seemingly happy man and woman as a
Admit it: You probably have a favorite teen flick featuring a parade of high school stereotypes, an oddball person for a protagonist, and an unlikely romance to boot. Bet it’s also a comedy! So that’s
Hollywood loves the universality of romantic films. But there’s another kind of romantic angle that films from La-la Land likes a lot: the tragic love story wherein one character dies of illness. The
A classic tale always features the so-called “hero’s journey” storyline. This means we viewers follow the story of one main character as it unfolds. And we always hope he or she succeeds in this journ
Remember American Pie? Of course, you do! Who could forget a movie so loaded with sophomoric laughs and likeable, memorable characters. With a young, and mostly unknown cast, the move American Pie set
No film has garnered so much theorizing from movie buffs quite like Inception. I’m sure that after watching the film, you’ve heard people say “Is it real, or is it still a dream?” or “Why is the top s
Historically, action films tend to fall into two different categories. The first one is a $200 million explode-a-ganza with whomever the current crop of action studs are (think Michael Bay). The secon
As I wrote in my review of “The Wonder Years: Complete Series,” this coming-of-age TV comedy-drama gets it right. Lots of thin
The woman is a joyful eccentric, full of fanciful stories and extravagant behavior. The man is her opposite, a surly homebody with a curmudgeon’s disdain for the outside world. Still grieving the loss
The revenge film genre is a relatively easy narrative to get viewers to buy into. It taps into most people’s fantasy world while keeping them a safe distance from getting into any real trouble. The re
This is Dwayne Johnson’s movie. Pure and simple. All other characters, plot lines, special effects and miscellaneous film elements are basically irrelevant. “Hercules” represents Johnson’s coming
It began as a TV special aimed at encouraging young people to vote in the 1972 election—the first time 18 year olds could cast a vote for president. But it evolved into a showcase for million-selling
"Blessed be America, a nation reborn. " "The Purge" was one of the surprise hits of 2013. Produced on a meager budget of $3 million, it went on to
Saturday mornings were always about TV cartoons, but during the ‘50s there were also a great many Westerns that young audiences could enjoy. Besides reruns of primetime horse operas like “Broken Arrow
Sometimes you just don't connect with a film in any way. A half hour into “Tie Me Up! Tie Me Down!” (1990) I was wondering why anything that was happening was actually happening. After that, I focused
The main body of this review was written by John Puccio in 2002 for the MGM/UA DVD releasethat year. The rest of the review was written by Christopher Long in regards to the 2014 Blu-ray release by Cr
When I took psychology in college, my instructor told the class about a study that was conducted by a well-rounded team of psychologists. The study was to see how a person's IQ measured up to their ov
In 1980, movie audiences watched Jane Fonda, Lily Tomlin, and Dolly Parton take revenge on their lying, cheating, sexist pig of a boss (Dabney Coleman). The movie was “Nine to Five,” and the light com
I remember being a snot-nosed nine year old and seeing the television commercial for "Saturday the 14th. " At the time, it looked to be pretty humorous. I especially remember the line "I have bats in
"A new era has begun. The age of the Transformers is over…" Oh, where to even begin with this movie. We might as well start with the plot, such as it is. "Transformers: Dark of the Moon" concluded
If you watch any international news at all, you’ve no doubt seen clips of bulls hoofing it through the narrow cobblestone streets of Pamplona, chasing, running alongside, and being pursued by throngs
I would put “Raiders of the Lost Ark” up against any action/adventure film made since its 1981 release and feel confident that it would be able to hold its own. C’mon, this thing is a classic. Som
“Girl Most Likely,” an indie comedy produced and starring “Bridesmaids” leading lady Kristen Wiig, finds her playing a similarly damaged and vulnerable character in this film as she did in “Brides
I was going to write that Michelangelo Antonioni is the only director who can really make me care about the crises of beautiful rich people, but that's not entirely accurate. First of all, Sofia Coppo
“V/H/S/2” is not a direct sequel to last year’s found footage horror compilation but more of a second volume following the same format of people breaking into a house and finding some very disturb
Chris Potamitis was able to pull of the biggest heist in U.S. history back in 1982, lifting $8 million from the armored car company he worked for. An elaborate caper such as that surely took a lot of
I’m a fan of puzzlers and mindbenders—as long as it also feels believable. I start to squirm when a brain teaser teases more than it displays braininess, or when a mindbender bends logic just a bit to
Whether you like it or not, author Stephenie Meyer created a worldwide phenomenon with her Twilight series. The books were adapted into a hugely successful film franchise as Twi-hards turned out in
After a handful of daughters, General Jarjayes is in a panic. He has no son, and he desperately needs one to carry on the military tradition in his family. When his wife births yet another daughter, h
It’s hard to argue against the success Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson has achieved in just about everything he has done. Johnson, as a student, won a national championship as a defensive tackle with the Un
Every day, billions of people work with machines they don’t understand. How many of us talking monkeys actually know how a cell phone works? But all around us is the biggest machine of all, complex an
Former ballerina and Mrs. World 2006 winner Sofya Skya stars and co-directs (along with Robert Crombie) the action/revenge story**“Assassins Run.”**The film is kind of “Taken” meets “Haywire” with the
People know from past comments that I’m not a huge fan of 3D movies. Been there, done that—back in the ‘50s and ‘60s, as a matter of fact, when the public’s fascination with stereoscopic vision peaked
“Pawn Stars” meets “Pimp My Ride” in History Channel’s car flipping reality show “Counting Cars.” The 30 minute program, which recently debuted its second season profiles recurring “Pawn Stars” ap
With a title like "The Suicide Forecast," this film sure has an eye-catching and cheerful DVD cover. It turns out that this South Korean film does have a fine edge of humor woven through an entertaini
Oil up the gloves and break out the baseball caps. Baseball season is just three days away. And those three days seem meant for baseball movies to fuel fans' optimism about teams that realistically (w
The historical romance genre is one that can see its movies go one of two ways. The first, less entertaining way sees a movie pick a historical/royal figure, put them in a lot of big wigs and fancy co
The Robert Rodriguez produced and written horror flick “Curandero: Dawn of the Demon” made its debut all the way back in 2005 at the L.A. Screamfest horror movie festival. The film received decent buz
Redneck culture seems to have seeped its way into popular culture in the last year or so, mostly through reality TV, specifically TLC’s “Here Comes Honey Boo Boo.” The show has been a huge success for
News: Recurring “Storage Wars” bidder Mark Balelo was found dead in his car at his auction house in Simi Valley, outside of Los Angeles on Monday. TMZ first reported the story and also says th
“Is This A Zombie?” is the heartwarming story of an average high school guy who is killed, turned into a zombie, then transformed into a magical girl. He lives with a necromancer, another magical girl
Based on the novel Cross by thriller author James Patterson, “Alex Cross” is the third film to be adapted from one of his novels. The first two, 1997’s “Kiss the Girls,” and 2001’s “Along Came a Spide
Mark Tonderai's horror "House at the End of the Street” was a bit of a diamond in the rough for Relativity Media. Shot in Ottawa, Ontario in April of 2010 on a $10 million budget, the biggest name
Ever since writer-director Quentin Tarantino shot to fame with “Reservoir Dogs” (1992) and “Pulp Fiction” (1993), fans have eagerly awaited his films. The reason Tarantino stands out from the rest is
A beautiful, blonde woman is taking a shower in a movie shown in a theater. The theater audience calmly watches her. Screechy music begins to play. A man stands outside the theater doors, listening to
Few films have successfully mined the territory of high concept special effects comedy since the genre-shaping release of “Ghostbusters” in 1984. That film’s singular blend of eye-popping effects, def
Toward its memorable climax, Pi Patel (Irfan Khan), the lead protagonist and narrator of director Ang Lee’s 2012 film “Life of Pi,” explains the meaning of his journey at sea by saying, “Without Richa
Lucasfilm has confirmed the new theatrical release dates for the upcoming 3D versions of the next two films in the Star Wars prequel trilogy. "Star Wars: Episode II Attack of the Clones" will release,
You have to wonder if Seth MacFarlane ever has time to sleep. The man has built himself an animation empire at Fox as the creator of "Family Guy," "American Dad," and "The Cleveland Show. " He writes,
What starts out as a quest to confront her mother turns into a new life and new family for Nicoletta, the heroine of "Ristorante Paradiso," the first title released by Nozomi under their new "Lucky Pe
Bond returns to the cinema to celebrate his 50 year anniversary in "Skyfall. " Daniel Craig plays James Bond again, opposite the villain Silva, played by Spanish actor Javier Bardem. The story is sim
Set in a historical fantasy version of ancient China, "Incredibly Ever After" weaves a campy, delightful tale that explores the relationship between a husband and wife with a unique twist - they are s
As the 2012 Presidential race gathered steam, we saw political candidates and political pundits working overtime to acquire vital gains in votes. That is obvious given the nature of the closely-fought
“Because even though success is a reality, its effects are temporary. You get hungry, even though you’ve just eaten.” – Don Draper, “Mad Men,” Season Five Late in season five of the enthralling “Mad
Director Anurag Basu’s “Barfi!” (2012) is the latest Bollywood blockbuster that has got everyone talking. The hype is immense, and the film is already generating an Oscar buzz as one of the films in t
One of the most-anticipated movies of 2012, “The Hunger Games” arrived in theaters in March, with record box-office receipts for a non-sequel in midnight showings, as well as a record for the highest
In the near future, the world reels from an outbreak of a mysterious illness called the Medousa Virus. It is so named because it reduces the human body to a stone-like corpse. There is no cure, and th
In a recent conversation with my friend about horror movies, she remarked something that made me think about the modern horror genre as a whole. She said, “Horror movies by their nature are meant to s
It’s a fascinating idea to use a child who’s an arithmetic prodigy as the central character of the film’s plot in “Safe” (2012). An eleven-year old, Mei (Catherine Chan), can memorize long numbers and
YA Entertainment brings us yet another great Korean drama - the hilarious romantic comedy, “Protect the Boss.” With a title like that, you might think this was some sort of show about bodyguards or ma
Recently, Swedish author Stieg Larsson has received a lot of accolades for his bestselling three-part book series popularly known as the “Millennium” series. But, even before Larsson’s unstoppable pos
There are so many heartbreaking moments in “A Separation” (2012) that it would be difficult to write about all of them in this review. But one scene that specifically stayed with me came in the film’s
Jean Renoir’s “La Grande Illusion,” a.k.a “Grand Illusion” (1937), is hailed by film critics as one of the greatest films ever made, also appearing in the all-time top-ten French films list. By the ti
I completely forgot that the original “Total Recall” (1990) is still so much fun, until I watched the latest “Total Recall” (2012). The new remake is a very serious, “blast-them-all” ride, lacking cha
“Ultimate simplicity leads to purity” --Yamato, “Jiro Dreams of Sushi” There is a famous saying in India: “Work is Worship,” which is well applicable to the main protagonist in the documentary “Jiro
“Oblivion Island: Haruka and the Magic Mirror” opens with a story told in the manner of a fairy tale, accompanied by simple artwork in the style of a child's picture book. The story is about a nearby
Dr. Wheeler "likes to do things her own way. " I don't know about you, but I love conspiracy theories. I mean, wouldn't it be cool if the government really did recover space-alien bodies at Roswell,
“God Bless America” (2011) starts with a pulsating opening sequence. In these scenes, the main protagonist, Frank (Joel Murray), enters a house with a shotgun and goes on a shooting spree, killing a f
In 1973, “Pink Floyd” released their record-breaking achievement, “Dark Side of the Moon.” It went on to sell approximately 34,000,000 copies worldwide, and the album is listed in the “Guinness Book o
"Talking pictures? That means I'm out of a job. At last I can start suffering and write that symphony. " Some people consider "Singin' in the Rain" the greatest musical ever made, and it isn't just t
“Fractale” tells the story of a boy named Clain Necran who lives alone on a small, sparsely populated island. His only company is a pair of “Doppels,” a sort of virtual reality hologram projection con
Richard Hannay is a remarkably adaptable fellow. After enjoying a night at the music hall, he thinks he has received an unexpected bonus when an exotic young beauty asks to go back to his London flat.
Based on the novel by Julia Leigh, writer-director Daniel Nettheim presents “The Hunter” (2011) as one man’s journey in the Australian landscape. While the film’s title might suggest some sort of a hu
“Meatballs” (1979) occupies a special place in the comedy genre for a couple of reason. First and foremost, the film launched the big-screen careers of director Ivan Reitman (“Stripes” and “Ghostbuste
"Everyone and everything is interconnected in this universe. Stay pure of heart and you will see the signs. Follow the signs, and you will uncover your destiny. " --Jeff Understand, 2011's "Jeff, Who
Stories of underdogs in the sports genre are nothing new for Hollywood. Since sports movies date back to the silent era, the list of sport movies is growing every year, making the stories more familia
"Princess Jellyfish" is based on a comic aimed at adult women by Akiko Higashimura. There are 9 volumes of the series out in Japan, the first 4 of which have been used to create this delightful animat
Note: No spoilers in this review. Only description of the tone and mood of the movie. I need to set a few ground rules. First, I'm not a reviewer. I'm the Editor-in-Chief and I'm a programmer.
The premise of “Albert Nobbs” (2011) tells a touching tale of a woman, who has disguised herself as a man Albert Nobbs (Glenn Close) for the last thirty years. Albert works as a hotel waiter in Dublin
Just when you thought Disney missed the royal barge by pitching “The Princess Diaries”(2001) to an audience a little older than the ones snapping up all those princess toys and accessories, along
Only God in Heaven could create a physical beauty as breathtakingly stunning as French actress Emmanuelle Beart's. Depressingly, Beart's first American film was the hellish disaster "Date With an Ange
Bollywood cinema has changed a lot for the better in the last decade or so, partly due to the arrival of new filmmakers willing to break the conventional Bollywood format and style for more substance
The opening shot of “Haywire” (2012) introduces us to the main protagonist, Mallory Kane (Gina Carano), in a laid-back manner. The camera stays firmly focused on Mallory as she tries to closely inspec
From YA Entertainment comes a Korean drama that I had looked forward to seeing for a long time - the romantic comedy, “Lie to Me.” Gong Ah-Jung is a smart, confident career woman who is good at her j
Director Ti West’s “The House of the Devil” (2009) made him a fan favorite in the horror genre. Although the film offers nothing new to the genre, it was praised for creating horror elements from real
The Wisconsin Film Festival features a wide variety of feature-length films from different countries, allowing moviegoers to sample films from many genres. This year was no different than previous yea
The Wisconsin Film Festival features a wide variety of feature-length films from different countries, allowing moviegoers to sample films from many genres. This year was no different than previous yea
James Mangold’s “Kate & Leopold” (2001) offers something new, at least in its attempt of not adopting a formulaic romantic approach seen countless times now. The idea of time travel is nothing new in
“Why does God allow capital punishment?” – Werner Herzog, “Into the Abyss” Director-screenwriter Werner Herzog certainly knows how to produce realistic emotions from his characters. This becomes appa
There's something comforting about seeing old, familiar faces in old, familiar roles. That's Clint Eastwood in 2002's "Blood Work," the actor back doing one of the things that appeared most natural fo
One of the most-anticipated movies of 2012, “The Hunger Games” finally arrives in theaters, with record box-office receipts for a non-sequel in midnight showings, as well as a record for the highest s
By its nature, film is a visually dynamic medium, carrying power to entertain us, be it a drama, documentary, or an action film. There are different components at work; the mix of visual images with s
Has HBO set a new standard in television with its new series “Game of Thrones”? With the huge success of “Six Feet Under,” “The Sopranos,” “Deadwood,” and “Rome,” HBO remained synonymous with the best
The complicated and unhappy life of nurse Jackie continues in the third season of the “Nurse Jackie” series. Before I go any further, I want to highlight that this review is, in fact, for the third se
Sometime in the late 1700's, during the era when Korea was known as "Josun," a young girl named Yoon-hee struggles to support her mother and ailing younger brother. Unusually well-educated for a girl,
Wikipedia lists about 420 full-feature TV shows and films capturing the plays and life of Shakespeare, making him one of the most-filmed author of all time. So why is Shakespeare so important? And why
You just want to slap the handsome right off of Alain Delon's ridiculously flawless face. The 24-year old star of “Purple Noon” (1960) is a walking special effect who no doubt had a very special effec
“Manhattan”(1979) was Woody Allen’s comedic follow-up to “Annie Hall” (1977), with his drama “Interiors” wedged in-between. In “Manhattan,” Allen has more to say about people, relationships, and h
In the 1970’s, rock music was literally riding the waves of an epic foundation. Most bands delivered the core sounds that would influence, shape, and mold the music that followed in its tracks. For th
It’s always the way, isn’t it? When one sibling shines, the shadow all but enshrouds the other. Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart was born into a musical family in which his sister, five years older than he, w
There is an interesting interview segment with Paul Schrader on the Blu-ray edition of “Tiny Furniture” (2010). In this interview, Schrader discusses how “Tiny Furniture” fits into a new form of indie
“The Mighty Macs” sounds a little like “The Mighty Ducks,” which is unfortunate, because viewers might think they’re getting another lovable loser sports comedy like “The Bad News Bears.” But this
A gangster, “A,” tells a person, “B,” that he is not happy with another gangster “C,” and that person, “C,” is not happy with a gangster “D.” The gangster “D” kills a gang member, “E,” and later finds
A biopic is normally a tricky affair to produce. It is easy to get off track and lose sight of expected objectives. A biopic, the way I see it, represents a character study of a person who has left a
"Ga-Rei-Zero" explores the relationship between two girls who are not related by blood, but who are as close as sisters. When betrayal and tragedy befall them, it is the strength of their bond that wi
I thinks it’s safe to say anytime a conversation arises concerning epic pop and rock bands of the 1960’s, The Doors are sure to come up at some point. Granted, the five multi-platinum records The Door
In a far off distant future, in a far off distant galaxy, a motley collection of humans and aliens gather to take part in one of the craziest, most dangerous events ever imagined. It is the Redline, a
Over the years, I have developed a love-hate relationship with “The English Patient” (1996). On one hand, I appreciate its epic grandeur and opulent images, but on the other hand, its characters leave
Jane Campion’s “The Piano” (1993) is a powerful testament to blind passion, bringing in a wave of unexpected consequences for its protagonist, Ada (Holly Hunter). The opening sequence shows Ada with h
“Indian recipes are like ragas” – Akbar, “Today’s Special” I clearly remember the day I clashed with my brother--who is a professional cook and has been a sous chef at several restaurants--about how
Hollywood often tinkers with real-life stories, exaggerating or adding sensational elements to make them more suspenseful as films. But no one had to do much to the story of Kathryn Bolkovac, the form
Bringing together a blend of documentary, music, and dance, Alma Har’el’s “Bombay Beach” is able to pull together a story of a community living on the fringes of society, with almost no contact with a
“Favelas” is a word popularly used to describe the shantytowns of Rio de Janeiro. These places are not controlled by any state or federal agency. Rio’s favelas are located on the edge of the city, wit
I wonder if there is such a thing as being too good to be true, when that thing really is true? The preface to "Reach for the Sky" tells us that "Douglas Bader has become a legend in his own life tim
“And in a perfect act of serendipiocity or serendipaciousness, he runs into in a beautiful, attractive English girl with a boyfriend.” – Jonathan, “Serendipity” In the opening moments of “Serendipity
To begin, let me be clear that I’ve never been the biggest fan of “The Rolling Stones,” and for good reason: In 1981, they went on a world tour and claimed it would be their last world tour ever. The
The release of “Warrior” (2011) clearly suffered from bad timing. If this movie came out before the theatrical release of “The Fighter” (2010) or after a considerable gap, then “Warrior” could have do
Like some intellectuals, Woody Allen has a pretentious streak that occasionally comes out in his films. But with “Midnight in Paris” he confronts that attitude head-on through a know-it-all character
"There are three ways to make a living in this business: Be first. Be smarter. Or cheat. " --John Tuld, "Margin Call" Director J.C. Chandor´s "Margin Call" (2011) opens with a long, notable sequence
"Cowboys & Aliens" has one of those high-concept titles that tells you exactly what you're going to get. Just like "Snakes on a Plane" had snakes on a plane, "Cowboys & Aliens" has cowboys and aliens.
The legend of King Arthur has been told countless times and through numerous interpretations. Some of the most well-known versions include the 1960 Broadway musical, John Boorman's dark fantasy "Excal
"You vultures…circling the city…tearing off the flesh from everything that is innocent. " --Hobo Directors Robert Rodriguez and Quentin Tarantino reignited the horror-exploitation genre with their do
For the longest time, the so-called problems "Entourage" characters dealt with on-screen were so far fetched to the average non-movie star viewer that in some cases it was difficult to relate. Guys wi
Most television networks strive for at least one gritty program or two. It seems everyone has a cop or detective series these days, but these so-called "dramas" usually wind up being about fast talkin
Adam Sandler's career has come a long way in a short time. The guy who got his start as Opera Man on "Saturday Night Live" eventually became much better known for outrageous stuff like "Happy Gilmore"
I didn't think it was possible, but "True Blood," HBO's smash hit television series about vampires in rural Bon Temps, Louisiana, has officially weirded me out. Season two dug a bit deeper into the So
Director Alejandro González Iñárritu should be crowned the undisputed King of Pain. I am not talking about a WWF champion who derives pleasure from inflicting pain on his opponents, but a director who
The summer in between my freshman and sophomore years at the University of Oregon, I worked new student orientation and helped incoming students get acclimated to campus before starting classes in the
Note: In the following joint Blu-ray review both John and Eddie provide their opinions of the film, with John also writing up the Video, Audio, Extras, and Parting Thoughts. **The Film According to
Paul W.S. Anderson is not one of my favorite filmmakers. He has consistently destroyed franchises that I had high hopes for and he decides to hand the reins of "Death Race" over to "The Marine 2" dire
Owen Gleiberman of Entertainment Weekly was quoted as saying "It's Jaws gone wild! " when discussing Piranha 3D. By ‘gone wild,' I'm certain that my fellow reviewer was comparing Alexandre Aja's
"What has become of our nation? The human life is less than the cost of a drink. " -- Sabrina Lall For Delhiites, the Jessica Lall story is well known for its tragedy and injustice, but it is still a
Director Robert Rodriguez started his filmmaking career with 1992's "El Mariachi," a Spanish language action film that introduced a character and a trilogy. Three years later, Rodriguez continued his
"I was an only child. He was an only dog. " You say you like warm family dramas, especially ones that involve sweet, lovable canines? Say, a movie in the "Old Yeller" tradition? Then you may have fou
In Chinese cinema, the era between the 1960's and 1970's was dominated by renowned studios like Shaw Brothers and Golden Harvest with their array of martial arts (kung-fu) films and costume dramas. In
"Come in this world with nothing, leave with nothing. But at least the world knows who the fuck we are. " It's debatable as to exactly how much of the world "knows who the fuck" the White family of B
Ever since "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon" wowed audiences worldwide with its breathtaking brand of artistic martial arts, many period films from then on have tried to emulate or surpass that same fo
"Joey, do you like movies about gladiators? " "Spartacus: Blood and Sand" has almost nothing in common with Stanley Kubrick's classic film that starred Kirk Douglas in the title role. The hit serie
I challenge you to find a more perfect scenario under which to review "Community: The Complete First Season" on DVD from Sony Pictures Home Entertainment. For you see, my "real job" is in undergraduat
The opening credits of "Everlasting Moments" (2008) are comprised of close-ups of various parts of a vintage Contessa photo camera: the shutter, the lens, and the focusing mechanism. The tight framing
It's rare to find an animated series that appeals to both kids and adults. "Avatar: The Last Airbender" is one such show. It never talks down to its audience and doesn't feel like an extended commerci
On February 15, 2010, I published a review of the Sony Pictures Classics film "The Damned United" and wrote "‘The Damned United' might be the best Blu-ray release in 2010 thus far. " I'm happy to repo
I do not, and never will, consider myself an expert on vampires, which makes me even less qualified to review "True Blood: The Complete Second Season" on Blu-ray from HBO Home Entertainment. Some guys
It has been a couple years since I watched "Traffic. " There have been a few times I've wanted to throw the disc in and sit back and kill nearly three hours. Usually I am wondering whatever happened t
Over the years, the direct-to-video model has usually been used for lousy, B-movie flicks that studios deem not good enough for theaters. However, once in a while there comes a superior movie that rai
In anticipation of the upcoming release of the Michael Bay-Jerry Bruckheimer production of "Pearl Harbor," Twentieth Century Fox is re-releasing "Tora! Tora! Tora!," its own Pearl Harbor film, on DVD
A Viking warrior rode his horse through the forest and over the rocky hills. As the sun set, he pulled up and shouted to the heavens "I Am Thor! " His horse turned around and said "That'th because yo
Director Pedro Almodovar's work emphasizes many different themes, and for a man among the most prolific Spanish directors in the past half-century, Almodovar has an extensive filmography that hits on
I vividly remember the day I first received a DVD copy of the "Frailty. " I think I may have won a contest on a DVD Web site. I am glad I watched the movie and happy to have it now on Blu-ray disc. "F
Visually stunning, superbly acted and brilliantly packaged, HBO's "Rome: The Complete Series" is without question a winner. The short lived but extremely popular and well-received television show is n
Seeing publicity shots of Robert De Niro as the monster looking like a stitched-up version of an ugly rag doll was enough to make me suspect that this version of "Frankenstein" would be no match for t
Like most law enforcement television shows these days, "The Beast: The Complete First Season" is super slick. Everyone has a shiny cell phone, loaded weapon, fancy car, trendy laptop computer and the
SEX. Good, I have your attention. Now, let's talk about "Orgies and the Meaning of Life," a new release from Cinema Epoch. I won't waste your time as mine was wasted during this 89-minute indepen
Franchises in the horror genre live and die by the strengths of their villains. They are built around and survive by the primary baddie. Uncommon is it that a great horror franchise is remembered beca
*"In each of us, two natures are at war—the good and the evil. All our lives the fight goes on between them, and one of them must conquer. But in our own hands lies the power to choose---what we want
I don't know how much you'll enjoy "Chasing the Green" unless you enjoy sports metaphors. Seriously. This independent, small market film relies on a good sports metaphor to work, and it does…sort of.
Note: In the following joint DVD review, both John and Eddie provide their opinions of the films, with John also writing up the Video, Audio, Extras, and Parting Shots. Whadaya mean, Who's Nicholas
In recent memory, I can't think of any film to receive such high critical praise more than Sweden's "Låt Den Rätte Komma In" ("Let the Right One In"). So far the foreign production has topped a multit
"Schoolboy Crush" aspires to tell a complete story about a teacher caught in the scandalous web of a former trick when that student transfers to a boarding school. The teacher, Mr. Aoi (Yoshikazu Kota
"King Kong" was one of the early blockbuster titles for the dearly departed HD-DVD format. The disc shipped with each Microsoft Xbox 360 HD-DVD add-on and did solid business at retail for those that h
"And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others. " --Marianne Willi
By the early 1960s, the spy movie had begun to supplant the Western as America's genre of choice a transformation prompted largely by the staggeringly successful screen debut of James Bond in "Dr. No"
Note: In the following joint review, Henning and Eddie provide their opinions on the film, with Jason writing up the Video, Audio, Extras, and Parting Thoughts. Henning Molbaek´s Thoughts: Firs
I had so much anticipation for Ang Lee's big screen adaptation of Marvel's "Hulk. " The film starred Eric Bana, an actor I had been telling my friends would be one of the next great ones. I had watche
Sean Connery is Bond, James Bond. Many fans of Ian Fleming's long running super spy franchise consider Connery to be the only true Bond and look less favorable at others who portrayed Bond which inclu
Paramount's "Star Trek" franchise has spawned 10 feature films (including the upcoming "Nemesis"), 5 television shows, and a pop sub-culture with world-wide penetration. No other tele-film series has
In spite of its origin, "The Secret" manages to craft a compelling, thought-provoking and heart breaking narrative of love and loss thanks to an outstanding performance from Olivia Thirlby and solid t
Note: Non technical portions of this review share text with the review of the Blu-ray release of this film. The "Stargate" feature film starring Kurt Russell and James Spader is not new to me. I ha
Beneath the sex and titillation, "The Houseboy" is about one thing: a young man trying to find one person to treat him as an equal. Ricky (Nick May) is the third leg of Simon and DJ's (Tom Merlino, Br
For all the real world misery and inhumanity the Holocaust has caused, films (and the novels which inspire them) are in love with the material. Not so much because any particular story knows how to mi
NBC's "Saturday Night Live" has been hitting airwaves for over three decades. The Lorne Michaels creation has been criticized for losing its humor and edge over the past thirty-three years and while m
By the 1930s most moviegoers came to know certain of the major studios for the kinds of movies they specialized in. Disney made cartoons, Universal had their monster flicks, MGM had the musicals, and
"My Lovely Sam-Soon" is a hilarious, yet touching romantic comedy about a woman who is tough and opinionated on the outside, yet soft and craving love on the inside. It follows her as she takes contro
Margaret Weis and Tracy Hickman wrote the first "Dragonlance" novel in 1984. As the first novel of the Dragonlance Chronicles, "Dragons of the Autumn Twilight" was reluctantly supported by then-parent
"The Pianist" is Roman Polanski's best film since the 1974 classic "Chinatown. " The fugitive director earned an Academy Award for Best Director and Adrien Brody earned a Best Actor Oscar. The film al
There is no greater argument to Science Fiction aficionados than that of whether or not James T. Kirk or Jean-Luc Picard. I've always been a Kirk man, myself. His interstellar gunslinging and blue ali
R.L. Stine is often called the Stephen King of children's literature. His Goosebumps series of novels were a phenomenal success and inspired a television series that aired on Fox in the mid 90's. Hi
What can one say about Dino Stamatopoulos' "Moral Orel"? As a claymation kid, he's a mixed up, confused, little do-gooder trying his best to please God. As a TV show "Moral Orel" is a twisted, sometim
There is a generous portion of films that never needed to be made and a huge percentage of those are the dreaded biopics of entertainers. Let's not kid ourselves about these films: The majority of the
I must bow in admiration for Mr. Leonardo DiCaprio. He could have sold out and used his good looks and early success to become a huge box office star. Instead, DiCaprio has chosen the righteous path a
Regardless of what has happened over the past two years with Tom Cruise and his TomKat behavior and involvement with the cult religion of Scientology, he is still a big star. He is a very talented act
The absolutely most horrific moment of the Neil Marshall directed "The Descent" happens quite early in the film. In fact, it occurs before the monsters crawl from the darkness of the caves. The moment
Maybe I shouldn't admit to this, but one of the very first DVDs I purchased was Steven Seagal's "The Glimmer Man. " Back in 1997, Seagal still had a semblance of a movie career and was still considere
One of the best films of 2006 is "Lucky Number Slevin. " I feel as if I could end my review of this wonderful little film and know the world would take my word for it. I'd be wrong and I'm sure most p
As the DVD cover suggests, "Paniponi Dash" is not a serious show. In fact, it's rather insane. The best way I can describe it is like a cross between two other releases from ADV: the school days comed
Warren Beatty is an Academy Award winning director. I'm certain the majority of people are not aware of this fact. Of course, considering his 1981 film "Reds" that earned him his golden statue has jus
Oliver Stone is a director that is known for stirring up a little controversy. He has a knack for covering historical topics that have a bit of controversy surrounding them and bringing his theories t
Tom Cruise's "Mission: Impossible" franchise is making a huge splash onto Blu-Ray with the simultaneous release of the third film on all three current formats and the simultaneous release of the "Ulti
Franchises in the horror genre live and die by the strengths of their villains. They are built around and survive by the primary baddie. Uncommon is it that a great horror franchise is remembered beca
There's always a sense of trepidation when a remake is announced. Why tread on hallowed ground? Fans had every right to worry when NBC decided to do their own version of the British hit series, "The O
If you recall, Disney's original "Brother Bear" from 2003 was one of the studio's last traditionally animated, big-screen theatrical releases, and it acquitted itself pretty well. Naturally, that crie
It is redundant to describe a Luis Bunuel film as strange or eccentric – that's what the term "a Luis Bunuel film" means. In fifty years of filmmaking, Bunuel produced a body of images and ideas that
*Note: John wrote the primary review as well as the Film Value paragraph. Eddie wrote the Video, Audio, and Extras sections. The number ratings at the bottom of the page match what was written about e
The first time Buena Vista issued this movie on DVD, it was a bare-bones affair, with little more than an opening menu and some chapter selections. This time out, the studio has gone the extra mile an
A rapid rise to stardom, replete with wealth, fame, fans, and groupies clamoring for a piece of the newly formed celebrity can be hard to take for the best-rounded individual. When it happens to a chi
Warner Bros. studios continue their extraordinary series of two-disc special edition classics with this re-release of "My Fair Lady" on DVD. It's appropriate that the film celebrate its fortieth anniv
Movies about rape are almost always losing propositions. If you depict a rape onscreen, then you run the risk of sensationalizing the act and titillating the audience. However, if the rape occurs offs
One of the best-known literary pieces of American horror is the Washington Irving tale The Legend of Sleepy Hollow. Everybody knows the story of Ichabod Crane and his fateful encounter with the legend
Charlie Chaplin paved the way. Clint Eastwood and Robert Redford made a successful transition. So did Mel Gibson, Kevin Costner and most recently, George Clooney and Ethan Hawke. Successful actors are
During the season of autumn, every Saturday afternoon finds millions of Americans watching a game of College Football. Stadiums are built to hold over a hundred thousand people, and the heritage and p
For the better part of 2002, I have been reviewing Paramount's massive output of "Star Trek" DVDs. With 6 seasons of "The Next Generation" and 2-disc special editions of "The Wrath of Khan" and "The S
Every fall brings a slew of new television shows. Most don't last beyond a few episodes, and even fewer get to finish their first years. Despite the fact that science-fiction as a genre (in any media)
Paramount's "Star Trek" franchise has spawned 10 feature films (including the upcoming "Nemesis"), 5 television shows, and a pop sub-culture with world-wide penetration. No other tele-film series has
Corporate siblings Warner Bros. and New Line Cinema dominated the box office during late-2001 with "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone" and "The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring". "HP
For the second year in a row, The Criterion Collection and the Sundance Channel are partnering to present a selection of cinematic works from around the world in the "The Sundance Channel Presents Cla
Paramount's "Star Trek" franchise has spawned 9 feature films (and counting), 5 television shows (and counting), and a pop sub-culture with world-wide penetration. No other telefilm series has such a
It's remarkable how much Jackie Chan's movies have improved since his 1985 American starring debut in "The Protector. " Maybe Chan should have not have placed so much trust back then in writer-directo
Warner Bros. has Batman and Superman. MGM has James Bond. Fox has "Star Wars" and "Alien. " So what? Paramount has "Star Trek," a franchise that has spawned 9 feature films (and counting), 5 televisio
Warner Bros. has Batman and Superman. MGM has James Bond. Fox has "Star Wars. " So what? Paramount has "Star Trek," a franchise that has spawned 9 feature films (and counting), 5 television shows (and
"Instead of asking us to identify with this couple, as an American film would, [director] Wong [Kar-Wai] asks us to empathize with them; that is a higher and more complex assignment, with greater rewa
I have very fond memories associated with watching the TV series "Buffy the Vampire Slayer. " Since its Spring 1997 debut, "Buffy" has been good to me. I remember watching an episode of the show the n
The television mini-series used to constitute a major event. At one time, they captured large audiences and during the early Eighties, the mini-series format enjoyed quite a boon in popularity. One be
"Nosferatu" has the distinction of being the original theatrical telling of Bram Stoker's "Dracula. " The film is widely regarded as one of the great films of the silent era and true cinematic classic