Ghost Writer in the Machine
We’re inundated with AI stories as of late, laughing and marveling at its varied mistakes and achievements, but the what-if phase of artist replacement has already passed.
Overdue Return: The Past and Possible Future of Blockbuster Video
The Blockbuster company marked the height and veritable end of a once multi-billion-dollar industry, but is Blockbuster really gone?
2D or Not 2D: Our On-Again/Off-Again Romance with 3D
3D cinema has existed in some capacity since the early 20th century, with an ebb and flow of public interest.
The End, Or is It?
The ending of a movie is the final impression that movie will make on a movie-goer’s brain. Studios must do their best to make it perfect and sometimes that requires a cinematic overhaul.
The House That Horror Built
Blumhouse Productions is now a household name, known for its variety of low-budget, high-profit horror franchises, but that’s only the beginning.
Richard Donner
Donner left so many quality films behind, films that I have watched dozens of times and will watch dozens more. When I want action, a fright, or a laugh, Donner’s got my back.
The History of Pixar
From George Lucas to Steve Jobs, Pixar supporters helped them along their 21-year journey to create their dream.
Black Horror Cinema
Aside from Blaxploitation movies of the 70s like Blacula and one-offs like Vampire in Brooklyn, black horror has been largely ignored at the box office, and the coveted horror franchise has been elusive.
Action Stars Through the Ages
Before the need for backstory and motivation engrossed modern cinema, our heroes were simple creatures with one focus – to kick ass.
The MacGuffin
The MacGuffin has fueled the creativity of filmmakers for decades. It has sent heroes running into danger and villains on murderous rampages.
Alphabet Soup
I still often use the term ‘B Movie,’ without considering its origins or the possibility there are other letter designations for subpar filmmaking. There are.
The Rankin/Bass Legacy
Rankin and Bass brought us holiday classics that have become Christmas traditions, and their legacy lives on.
Fear of the Unknown: The Masks That Make Them
The great horror movie icons wear masks to hide the terror beneath, but what about the mask itself? What’s its story?
October Horror Releases
Terrifying new titles are releasing this October. While most are coming to your favorite streaming services, a handful will also be at the theaters. See when and where to get your next film fright.
Shermer, Illinois
Shermer, Illinois is the fictitious suburb of Chicago which characters from The Breakfast Club, Sixteen Candles, and Ferris Bueller’s Day Off called home.
Console to Screen: The Highs and Lows of Video Game Adaptations
Video game movies have had a checkered past. Maybe the formula for video game adaptations is no more elusive than other films, or maybe the genre has just yet to hit its stride.
Premium Cuts
Director’s Cuts. Special editions. Extended editions. With the ability to create so many different versions of films, audiences can get lost in the naming conventions, and not really know what they’re getting.
Not Today, Satan!
How many times have you heard someone say, “Hollywood is running out of ideas?” Should all the reboots get the boot, or could horror be immune to retake overkill?
Parody Parity
Some people think parody is dead, or rather that it’s been diluted by half-hearted disjointed efforts, and on the surface they may be right, but what I see is an expansion of parody moving into new types of films.
The Write Stuff
There are several attributions for screenwriters: ‘Screenplay by,’ ‘Screen Story by,’ ‘Adaptation by,’ ‘Written by’ and ‘Story by.’ Making sense of these is hard, and incredibly specific.
Mystifying Mystifications
Unsolved Mysteries introduced us to cold cases, ghost stories, alien abductions, and now it’s back!
The Necessary Evils of the Horror Genre
A lot of people dismiss the horror genre. Sure, not every horror film is steeped in metaphors or moral lessons, but horror films can often be the purest reflection of humanity.
The New Home Theater
Remember going to the movies? Like many other facets of Pandemic Life, going to the movies is no more. Or at least…not for now.
The Future of Special Effects
As things change in how Hollywood makes movies, there have been questions by those on both sides of the movie screen as to the future of special effects, and the future of actors in a CG-fueled world of film.
Animation in Film
From Pete’s Dragon to Better Off Dead and The Smurfs, animation has enhanced the fantastic world of cinema for over a century.
Foreign Cinema
There is a vast and expanding catalog of movies out there that most American movie-goers will never watch, and it’s mainly because they’re foreign. People are hesitant to venture outside their comfort zones, and for many, foreign languages are a big barrier to overcome.
The Big Director You’ve Never Heard Of
He’s directed almost 50 movies and a dozen television show episodes across 30 years, and you’ve never heard of him.
Bruckheimer: The Big Budget Ad Man
Sometimes producers just throw money at the movies, and reap the rewards, but their overall influence on how the film is made varies a great deal.
What’s in a Name?
A renaming process is something that happens very often in Hollywood. Here’s some well-known movies that were almost known by a completely different name.