This is a big one, and a long time coming. Sir Sean Connery, the definitive James Bond and elder statesman actor for a generation has gone to his reward at the age of 90. "Goodbye, Mr. Bond" Sir Sean was an interesting figure on screen: one of the old school of actors who came from … Continue reading RIP Sir Sean Connery
Movies
Thoughts on ‘Mulan’
With the unnecessary and unwanted remake becoming the ‘who the heck thought this was a good idea?’ film of the season (previously occupied by such luminary pictures as Birds of Prey and The Rise of Skywalker), I decided to revisit the original Mulan, which I had not seen in many, many years. Mulan came near … Continue reading Thoughts on ‘Mulan’
RIP John Saxon
At the same time that the last leading lady of old Hollywood passed away, another veteran actor joined the great majority. Most people probably don't recognize the name John Saxon, but I guarantee you know some of his films. Saxon was one of those reliable character actors who throve in the world of B-pictures, with … Continue reading RIP John Saxon
The Last Star has Gone Out
Olivia de Havilland, star of Gone with the Wind, The Adventures of Robin Hood, and dozens of other classic films, has passed away at the age of 104. She was Errol Flynn's chief leading lady -- they starred in eight films together, including his star-making role Captain Blood -- one of the principle leads of … Continue reading The Last Star has Gone Out
Thoughts on ‘King Kong’
Chatting a little while ago with a friend (whose site you should definitely check out and whose work you should buy), we touched on the subject of the original King Kong and its relation to later versions of the story. It got me thinking about the film, and different aspects about it, and so I … Continue reading Thoughts on ‘King Kong’
Movies I Will Never Review: The Godfather I and II
My experience with the Godfather films is really a strange one for me. It is usually very easy for me to get invested in a story; any story. I may lose investment afterwards, but I tend to be easily drawn in. But these films left me utterly cold in a way that very few films ever have. The … Continue reading Movies I Will Never Review: The Godfather I and II
The Gods of Progress
Recently, I saw two classic films for the first time; Blade Runner and Network. I enjoyed both, but there was also something intensely sad about them. They both expressed such…hopelessness. They’re very much modern films, that is to say, films made from the perspective of a modernist / progressivist worldview, though a self-reflective one. Blade … Continue reading The Gods of Progress
Thoughts on a Movie I Haven’t Seen
My extreme antipathy towards Rian Johnson left me with no interest in seeing Knives Out, much as I love good mystery stories. I still haven't seen it, but I have learned the solution from someone who did, and, having confirmed it by a perusal of Wikipedia, I am about to say something about it. Though take … Continue reading Thoughts on a Movie I Haven’t Seen
Call of the CGI Wild
Before seeing Sonic, the only trailer playing was for Call of the Wild, one of the first times I'd even heard that such a film existed. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h1LG9So2ZBk Honestly, despite the presence of Harrison Ford, I think this looks pretty bad. The biggest problem is not just that this looks like it only bears the slightest resemblance to the … Continue reading Call of the CGI Wild
Thoughts on ‘Sonic the Hedgehog’
The story behind the Sonic the Hedgehog movie is, in its way, more interesting than the story of the film itself. About a year ago the first trailer dropped, revealing the film's design for the title character. It should be noted that Sonic is one of the top-draw characters of video-game history. His games are not … Continue reading Thoughts on ‘Sonic the Hedgehog’
Serpent's Den 