My companion saw the 1974 original film adaptation of John Goday’s novel, remade here by Serious Director Tony Scott, and he reported that the original was just not this serious in tone. At the time, I couldn’t imagine a movie taking itself more seriously; the more I thought about it, though, the less serious it [...]
It’s hard to imagine an actual die-hard fanboy for the TV show Land of the Lost. All the Sid & Marty Krofft shows seem to inspire fond, indulgent affection rather than geek loyalty. This movie tips its cap to our favorite aspects of the series (Sleestaks! Chaka! Craziness! The theme [...]
I actually enjoyed this prequel novel better than its more famous companion, The DaVinci Code. Angels and Demons the film makes good use of the lessons learned from treading on the Catholic Church’s toes last time, and almost completely defangs the author’s voice and intent. As directed by Ron Howard, who is solid [...]
We’re not here to discuss what a watershed the 1986 Alan Moore graphic novel is/was. They said a movie of it couldn’t be done, but no one dared to suggest it shouldn’t be done (unless you count Alan Moore taking his name off this film). As a movie, as a flickering visual narrative, [...]
I was intrigued by this cast of fun actors, all of whom I enjoy in different ways, bringing to life a non-fiction advice book (which, I was later told, grew out of a line and then episode of Sex and the City). This movie is funny, sweet, diverting, and frustrating, and reminds one of [...]
Catch it on HBO with Snacks
I know I am the only person who can’t stand watching the Nightmare Before Christmas. It puts me to sleep within 30 minutes (I have tried multiple times) despite its incredibly detailed and beautiful characters and sets. Corpse Bride has the same aesthetic but kept my interest with [...]
After a dark horse Oscar nomination for Best Picture, we got a chance to see this movie at last. Kate Winslet had been gobbling nominations and wins right and left for her work in this and in Revolutionary Road, and I must say that this is the performance of the two to honor. [...]
So many plays, when adapted to film, fail to shake the layer of theatricality that is easy to accept live, but feels oddly wrong on screen. Interestingly, playwright John Patrick Shanley wrote the screenplay and directed the film – and it feels like it was perfectly suited for the big screen. He takes [...]
Films based on video games tend to be light on substance and heavy on style. Max Payne, in this respect, does not disappoint. Visually, this movie is quite gorgeous – more like a graphic novel adaptation than a video game adaptation. It has a stylized, pushed look, designed with razor perfection, punctuated [...]
As works of consumption, books and films occupy different strata of our consciousness. Novels are richer and more in-depth while films can convey thoughts or feelings through music or even a single image. To compare movies based on books to their source is folly to a degree, as their inherent differences in scope [...]
