We Marched for Women, We Marched for Equality

I am a son. I am a husband. I am a father. I am an educator. I am a man who marched for women's rights today.

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Top 10 of 2016

As we close the door on each year it is always good to reflect. We all reflect in different ways and on different things, but one thing we all should reflect on is the things in our lives that we can be grateful for. Focus on the positive versus the negative. That doesn't mean to ignore the negative, instead confront it and do away with it. Rid yourself and others of those negatives. That said, let's get on to reflecting all the great movies of 2016!

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Thoughts on Batman v Superman

For better or worse "Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice" is out. People around the world have had a chance to see it and react to it. Critics have been very harsh on it while general audiences have given it more favorable scores. As you may have guessed reading this post I too felt like putting my opinion out into the fray. I don't write regularly like I did a few years back for many reasons, yet BvS has left me compelled to get my thoughts out on the film as well as the universe DC and Warner Brothers have built with two films now under the direction of Zack Snyder. Everything below includes massive spoilers, so if you haven't seen the film you may want to steer clear from this post. This is something to read and enjoy following your own viewing(s). This conversation will continue in my own draft but this is how I feel after having seen Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice three times.

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Top 10 of 2015

As an avid movie watcher it is important to reflect on the year. What I've seen. What I liked and disliked. Keeping a running tally of what I'm watching as the year moves on week by week and month by month brings me pleasure. Logging not only what I've seen, but what stood out to me. By the end of the year I generally have a substantial list of standout films that will be narrowed down into a Top 20. This is a process I've done annually since before starting my site in 2008. It is a practice that I intend to continue until the day I die. Not because ranking movies is important, but more so because it allows me a chance to reflect on what called to me over a year. Trends that were noticed. A chance to think about why a particular film spoke to me. What's the value I found in it? These lists are an easy conversation starter along with being a gauge on my taste(s) as an omnivorous movie watcher.

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Thoughts on The Force Awakens

There's a new Star Wars movie out if you hadn't noticed. This started simply as me keeping a running stream of my thoughts on the new Star Wars movie "The Force Awakens" but then I started thinking it would be fun to share it with others who also want to discuss and talk about the latest chapter in Star Wars and its ramification on the saga. Everything below includes massive spoilers, so if you haven't seen the film you may want to steer clear from this post, This is something to read and enjoy following your own viewing(s). Something for us fans to geek out about. Dissecting the story and supposing what may come. This conversation will continue in my own draft but this is how I feel after having seen The Force Awakens twice.

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In Defense of, Intense Violence

Today's mainstream movies are plagued by bloodless violence. Violence missing the kind of intensity that stays with you after the fact. How many PG13 movies where alien lifeforms, mutants, heroes and villains alike die without spilling one drop of blood have we seen? While studios are trying to increase their profit margin with ratings that allow kids into theaters without adult supervision this trend, fad or whatever you want to call it is bad for the youth. Audiences need to see death with real impact not death with no impact. They need to see violence that hurts. In defense of intense violence...

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Review - The Duke of Burgundy

Two lovers test the limits of happiness within their relationship.

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Help 'What We Do in the Shadows' Into Your City

The Creators of "Flight of the Conchords" and "Eagle vs. Shark" need your help. Jemaine Clement and Taika Waititi have a brand new comedy on their hands and they want to give people across America a chance to see it in a darkened theater with a crowd. "What We Do in the Shadows" is currently set for a limited release on February 13th in only Los Angeles and New York City. This Kickstarter intends to expand that number to 70 cities and you could help with as little as $10.

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In Defense of, Vegetables

Vegetables get a bad wrap, whether children or adults, all too often you see people turn their nose to vegetables. Why? That's a good question. Perhaps an auto response remembering the years of pureed baby food. Maybe it has something to do with parents nagging children to "eat their vegetables" since their toddlers years, like a mental block that won't allow you to enjoy certain veggies. Whatever it is, it doesn't make sense why people neglect their vegetables and I felt it necessary to spread a little veggie love. In defense of vegetables...

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15 Anticipated in 2015

A new year is here which means there's more movies to watch. In order to ready myself for the weekly barrage of movies releasing, I've complied a bunch of films I am eager to see in 2015. Titles that perked my interest for a variety of reasons including; a favorite director or an engaging concept. Below I've ranked 15 I'm highly anticipating seeing along with a brief explanation why they made the list.

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Top 10 of 2014

As an avid movie watcher it is important to reflect on the year. What I've seen. What I liked and disliked. Keeping a running tally of what I'm watching as the year moves on week by week and month by month brings me pleasure. Logging not only what I've seen, but what stood out to me. By the end of the year I generally have a substantial list of standout films that will be narrowed down into a Top 20. This is a process I've done annually since before starting my site in 2008. This is a practice that I intend to continue until the day I die. Not because ranking movies is important, but more so because it allows me a chance to reflect on what called to me over a year. Trends that were noticed. A chance to think about why a particular film spoke to me. What's the value I found in it? These lists are an easy conversation starter along with being a gauge on my taste(s) as an omnivorous movie watcher. Below you'll find my Top 10 of 2014. Enjoy!

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In Defense of, Adam Sandler

There's a lot of dislike for Adam Sandler. He's a polarizing comedian. Not because he's vulgar or crass. Not because he uses controversial material. Mainly because he's a buffoon and has stayed that way for twenty years. If you've seen one of his many movies, you know his comedy is not shooting for much higher than middle school mentality. One thing he has shown over the years is his ginormous heart, and that huge heart has made him into a genuine movie star people should celebrate versus tear down. In defense of Adam Sandler...

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Enthusiasm Awakens for the Force

In case you didn't know, a new Star Wars movie is coming out in 2015 titled "The Force Awakens" and JJ Abrams is directing it. For some people, this is a really big deal. For others, another Star Wars movie is coming out. The first trailer dropped (in a big way) and I feel it necessary to weigh in. Below I've included my thoughts on not only this new trailer, but a chronicling of my love/hate relationship with all things Star Wars.

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AFI FEST 2014: Day Five

AFI FEST 2014 is a wrap, 73 features and 45 shorts screened across eight (8) days. This year I highlighted 24 films I found to be a high priority, of those 24 films I caught 15 of them across five (5) days. In order to give a fair amount of coverage to the 15 films viewed, I've broke my festival coverage down by day(s) including a brief review of each feature.

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AFI FEST 2014: Day Four

AFI FEST 2014 is a wrap, 73 features and 45 shorts screened across eight (8) days. This year I highlighted 24 films I found to be a high priority, of those 24 films I caught 15 of them. In order to give a fair amount of coverage to the 15 films viewed across five (5) days, I've broke my festival coverage down by day(s) including a brief review of each feature.

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AFI FEST 2014: Day Three

AFI FEST 2014 is a wrap, 73 features and 45 shorts screened across eight (8) days. This year I highlighted 24 films I found to be a high priority, of those 24 films I caught 15 of them. In order to give a fair amount of coverage to the 15 films viewed across five (5) days, I've broke my festival coverage down by day(s) including a brief review of each feature.

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AFI FEST 2014: Day Two

AFI FEST 2014 is a wrap, 73 features and 45 shorts screened across eight (8) days. This year I highlighted 24 films I found to be a high priority, of those 24 films I caught 15 of them. In order to give a fair amount of coverage to the 15 films viewed across five (5) days, I've broke my festival coverage down by day(s) including a brief review of each feature.

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AFI FEST 2014: Day One

AFI FEST 2014 is a wrap, 73 features and 45 shorts screened across eight (8) days. This year I highlighted 24 films I found to be a high priority, of those 24 films I caught 15 of them. In order to give a fair amount of coverage to the 15 films viewed across five (5) days, I've broke my festival coverage down by day(s) including a brief review of each feature.

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AFI FEST 2014: Top Priority

AFI FEST 2014 kicks off tonight with "A Most Violent Year" directed by J.C. Chandor. The free film festival runs November 6-13, 2014. The Opening Night Gala will serve as the first of 118 films programmed representing 39 countries in this year's festival including (6) Galas/Tributes, (8) Special Screenings, (8) American Independents, (10) New Auteurs, (29) World Cinema, (4) Midnight, (4) Breakthrough, (4) Cinema's Legacy and (45) Short Films. There are 29 films directed/co-directed by women, 16 documentaries, 17 animated films, and 9 official Foreign Language Film Oscar® submissions. Check out a more detailed breakdown of what you can see for free during AFI FEST 2014 below.

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Less Copycatting, More Innovating...

There's a lack of innovation going on at the movies. Not necessarily in the independent marketplace, but by major studios. 85% of what we see in multiplexes is borrowed, copied, or recycled. For the choosy movie goer you may have been lucky enough to not notice. Maybe you have noticed because you are choosy, and the wave of run-of-the-mill releases hasn't directly affected you, yet... For the rest of us who ride this general release wave of mediocrity year-in and year-out, we've noticed and quite frankly I'm starting to get upset.

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