film criticism by maryann johanson | handcrafted since 1997
We know how it is: You’d like to go to the movies this weekend, but there’s all this vengeance to be doled out and all those injustices to be put right. But you can have a multiplex-like experience at home with a collection of the right DVDs. And when someone asks you on Monday, “Hey, … more…
Fun for Wednesdays! We look at an image from an upcoming movie and write snarky, witty, or otherwise entertaining captions for it. No prizes, it’s just for fun. Avatar is the long-awaited epic science fiction film from James Cameron that is going to change cinema forever, cure world hunger, and bring peace to the Middle … more…
He is a mouse. He is tiny — even for a mouse. He is smart and brave. He longs for adventure. He is a gentleman. He is adorable.
All this weekend! 5 movies I’m psyched for in December and 5 reasons why. No. 1: The Tale of Despereaux [opens in the U.S. and the U.K. on December 19]. 1. He’s a cute little mouse with big ears, and he’s wielding a sewing needle as a sword. How adorable is that? (Actually, the first … more…
Would The X-Files exist without 1984’s Ghostbusters? Would Buffy? Would world-weary sarcasm and snarky self-reference ever have reached the level of art form if not for Peter Venkman? The answers, okay, more than likely, are Yes, Yes, and Yes. But they’ll all more fun because Ghostbusters seared its way through our impressionable adolescent brains at just the right time to inflict the most grievous psychological injury.
Just as those who don’t understand the appeal of Star Trek will never get it, the charm of Galaxy Quest is probably limited to those of us already within the geek realm. So, it’s one more bit of fun we’ll hog for ourselves.
The body count is huge, and vats of blood and entrails are spilled — all the gore is not scary in the least.
What was intended as dark gothic horror just comes off as something out a Renaissance Festival gone horribly wrong.
