December 31, 2018 – SparklyPrettyBriiiight

SNAPSHOTThis video examines one of Christopher Nolan’s trademark techniques—the crosscut—by dissecting The Dark Knight, Inception, and Interstellar. (synopsis (c) Lessons From the Screenplay) By any measure, Christopher Nolan is one of the most inventive, clever and enthrallingly immersive filmmakers working today. So who better than Lesson From the Screenplay‘s Michael Continue Reading

They’re back … and as heartwarmingly hilarious as ever! Thoughts on Muppets Now

As someone who had the distinct pleasure of watching The Muppet Show when it first premiered in 1976, and who thanks also to Sesame Street, has had a lifelong association with and love of the Muppets, it’s always been fascinating to watch how the legacy of Jim Henson’s superlatively wonderful Continue Reading

A mini-mass of movie trailers: Nomadland, On the Rocks, Save Yourselves!, Eternal Beauty, Tom of Your Life

It’s cinema, Jim, but not as we know it … COVID-19 has upended everything when it comes to films and cinema-going – cinemas are either shut or they’re open but barely or they’re showing retro retreads and precious few new films and all the old certainties have well and truly Continue Reading

Movie review: Bill & Ted Face the Music

MINOR SPOILERS LIE AHEAD … Twenty nine years is a long time between films for any franchise, and it’s fair to wonder if after waiting all that time, whether Bill & Ted Face the Music may have lost the zest and sweet, sincere hilarity of the first two instalments Bill Continue Reading

Godzilla vs. Aquaman: Fantastically imaginative pop culture mash-ups

They’re called action figures but let’s be honest – most of the time, OK all of the time, unless you’re an imaginative five-year-old (probably not), they don’t do much more than just sit on your display shelves, giving you warm and fuzzy pop culture vibes. But Instagrammer, Jax Navarro aka Continue Reading

Book review: The Mother Fault by Kate Mildenhall

One of the more noticeable aspects of any authoritarian regime, propaganda extolling its innate, inspiring virtue notwithstanding, is the starkly evident, almost palpable lack of humanity. There is power and control in abundance, toxic micro-managing and surveillance in abundance and a foreboding sense of loss any kind of freedom or Continue Reading

Grab the remote! A terrific trio of sci-fi TV(ish) trailers: The Mandalorian (S2), Time Lord Victorious-Daleks!, Moonbase 8

Staying home isn’t all bad, is it? Well, you could be forgiven for wondering what more than once this year as COVID-19 forced time and again to find shelter in our homes away from a virulent virus, from harm and threat, and sadly, all too often from other people. Even Continue Reading

Movie review: #Alive

If there’s one thing that defines us as a species, it’s a desperate, driving, impelling desire to live … and to do whatever it takes to remain in the land of living when life itself is threatened. It’s a core driver in all kinds of stories but especially in apocalyptic Continue Reading

Pardon her French: The awkwardly funny romance of Emily in Paris

SNAPSHOTCreated, written and executive produced by Star, Emily In Paris centers on Emily (Collins), a driven twenty-something American woman from the Midwest, who moves to Paris for an unexpected job opportunity, tasked with bringing an American point of view to a venerable French marketing firm. Cultures clash as she adjusts Continue Reading

Retro movie review: Bill & Ted’s Bogus Journey

It is well nigh impossible not to love a movie that features Death aka the Grim Reaper in a dress, Martians that resemble the love children of Ewoks and Cling and Clang from H. R. Pufnstuf and good and bad stoner dude robots of various levels of technological sophistication. Which Continue Reading

Happy pop culture new year everyone!

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