Han Solo Tames the Shrew Or How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love “Gone With the Wind”.

Disclaimers:

“ Gone With the Wind” has some deep problems in terms of its portrayal of African-Americans and slavery that I’m not going to get into in detail here. If you see the film and aren’t frustrated with this element, examine your soul
I’m going to be making some generalizations in regards to men and women in [...]

The Role of Intermediaries in Avatar

James Cameron’s Avatar succeeds in its epic storytelling by taking a number of familiar myths and stories and subverting their preordained outcome to create a familiar but new story. These myths and stories include the classic intermediaries of Gandhi, George Steven’s Shane, Prometheus, and Moses. By taking elements from each one of these [...]

Two Journeys: Producer Ralph Winter on the Spiritual Influences in The Book of Eli and Avatar

Recently took in two movies, BOOK OF ELI and AVATAR. One ostensibly religious, the other more vague.
BOOK OF ELI, set in a post-apocalyptic world, shows a hero driven against all odds to fulfill his mission.  Not as much of an emotional journey as it could have been, except in approved sound bites that Christians might [...]

“Rarified” Air - Justin Godley Reviews Up in the Air

How do you de-Clooney George Clooney?
From Clooney’s work with Soderbergh, back to his stint on ER, the man oozes charisma and charm. He epitomizes calm, cool and collected.
Director Jason Reitman (Juno, Thank You for Smoking) knew exactly what he wanted from the star in his latest film, Up In the Air. Luckily for us, it [...]

My “Favorite” Movie or A Confession from an Elitist Snob

If you’re not a cinephile it may not make much sense that a film history teacher and a rabid film goer/watcher/maker/snob wouldn’t have a favorite film, but I don’t. My top 10 are constantly changing and are never in order of importance (that’s if I can get to 10. Usually I get to 9 and [...]

Andrew Jenks, Room 335

She knew about paintball guns. This little old lady doing yard work in a purple jogging suit and bright white tennis shoes—as bright as her short and curly, bright white hair—knew about paintball guns. I met her recently while on a walk through my neighborhood.