reviews by genre
Watching the Watchers of The Cabin in the Woods
April 24th, 2012
The Cabin in the Woods takes a step back from the stereotypical horror movie to look at those who watch this classic, recycling narrative, this movie’s meta-commentary provides unique insights and conversation starters on why WE culturally create and watch scary movies, what it appeals to or appeases within us (and others) and what part “sacrifice” plays in dealing with humanity and atoning for our corporate transgression.
Fans of Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Angel, Firefly/Serenity and other endeavors involving Drew Goddard and Joss Whedon are sure to be pleased by this film, and I think it deserves three stars. Its content, however, is not for everyone.
The video review dances around the details and avoids the big spoilers: we’ll follow up with a spoiler-laden, written review later this week for those who want to go deeper. For more on why we engage scary movies and the horror movie in general, read this post.
Watch the review of The Cabin in the Woods on Youtube or on Cinemagogue here…
Read More...Adjusting our view of God
September 12th, 2011
“All I have are the choices I make.” – David Norris, The Adjustment Bureau Really? Is this a truism about humanity, or a truth we really want to live with? I left this film with an acrid taste in my mouth, though not for the reasons one might expect. True, I was in the minority that [...]
Read More...Gritty Reality Hints at True Hope
August 21st, 2011
“You must pay for everything in this world, one way or another… there is nothing free except the grace of God.” Following the murder of her father by hired hand Tom Chaney, a 14-year-old farm girl sets out to capture the killer and hires Reuben J. “Rooster” Cogburn, the toughest U.S. marshal she can find, known [...]
Read More...A Final Bit about TRON: Legacy
June 7th, 2011
Greetings, programs! As we’re steeling ourselves for a summer of mind-bending blockbusters that will take us from Ohio to Oa, I took one last visit to The Grid with several hundred attendees at a viewing of TRON: Legacy where I was asked to provide an exploration of the film’s narrative themes in greater detail than [...]
Read More...Let’s bring up a THOR subject
May 25th, 2011
Thor continues the string of connected MARVEL comics films that began with Iron Man. Although different in tone, it soars to similar heights thanks to director Kenneth Branagh and the cast. The film deals with some core issues of sin, (particularly arrogance and jealousy) and emphasizes the need for strong discipline from a loving father that [...]
Read More...A “god’s” legacy in TRON
January 8th, 2011
“Your father was the creator.” – Quorra, from Tron: Legacy Jeff Bridges doesn’t play a divine trinity in Tron Legacy, but he does present a curious trifecta of world creator, absent father, and slightly Lebowski-channeling aging 80s hipster. While the last one provided vocal audience response with claps and laughter, the first two are what [...]
Read More...The Worldview of an ELF (via Will Ferrell)
December 17th, 2010
A special son raised in a Christmas paradise is sent south to a much harsher world where he sees the darkness in the world and overcomes it with a light in his eyes that refuses to be extinguished… the story of Buddy the Elf is an atypical type of Christmas cheer that feels like modern-day [...]
Read More...TRON proves ’82 debut was not the “end of line”…
December 13th, 2010
In 1982, TRON was passed over for an Academy Award nomination for Best Visual Effects because the Academy felt the movie “cheated” by using a computer (seven years later, The Abyss would win for it’s computer generated effects), showing how out of touch the Academy has ALWAYS been… Meanwhile, in the real world… 28 years later, [...]
Read More...IRON MAN 2: The Legacy of Howard Stark
May 19th, 2010
All I can give you is my knowledge. – Howard Stark From the opening, smirking speech Tony delivers at the beginning of Iron Man 2 to old newsreel footage of the impetuous Stark’s very 50s father, “legacy” is a key theme of the film (as mentioned in our inaugural video review). What kind of legacy are [...]
Read More...A SUPERNATURAL Affection
May 13th, 2010
I’ll confess, I’m more than a little excited about the season finale of Supernatural tonight, the culmination of a five-year escalation of biblical proportions for the Winchester boys, Sam and Dean. One miraculous byproduct of the show is that I’m still even watching it; my wife and I canned our viewing regimen in season one [...]
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