Category Archives: Film

Ebert and Roeper eat your heart out.

Film, Short Stories

Lunch and a Story, Dinner and a Movie

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The Minority Report ~Philip K. Dick

–published 1956 in Fantastic Universe
–31 pages, read online here , recommended on Best SF Stories.
–4.25/5 stars

The Minority Report ~Steven Spielberg (based on the short story by Philip K. Dick)

–theatrical release, 2002
–146 minutes, Dreamworks/20th Century Fox
–4.25/5 stars

After this past weekend’s experience with Cordwainer Smith, I have been practically binging on short stories. This trend is thanks in no small part to the rediscovery of Best SF Stories (dot) com. Rusty’s reviews include not only links to where stories can be read online but also a handy page count feature which makes it easy to determine if I can grab a quick literary bite while grabbing a literal bite during lunch hour. I had read a different Philip K. Dick short story on Monday (which you will read about on this weekend’s Short Story Sunday) and enjoyed it so much I thought I would try another one today. When I clicked on 1950’s in Rusty’s sidebar, up near the top I found The Minority Report. At 31 pages it was not just lunch, but also a late afternoon/early evening snack. A very, very good one too.

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Book Reviews, Film

Peter Jackson: A Film-Maker’s Journey ~Brian Sibley

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Peter Jackson: A Film-Maker’s Journey ~Brian Sibley

–2006
–569 pages, Harpercollins UK
–5/5 rings…er…stars

It is no great secret that I am immensely fond of Peter Jackson. I consider myself to be just on the sane side of being obsessed about him and his work. It doesn’t take too much searching to find a vocal and occasionally intelligent group of haters out there who delight in branding all fans of Peter Jackson as sheep, as band-wagon fans, etc. I disagree and honestly don’t mind their misguided criticism. Peter Jackson has earned my devotion. He did so with both with his spectacular rendering of the Lord of the Rings novels on the silver screen and with his equally spectacular behind the scenes access made available in the appendicies of the the extended editions of all three films.

Peter Jackson took my appreciation and understanding of film-making to an entirely new level that has fueled an interest that goes far beyond merely watching a film play out on the big screen. At the same time the quality of his work caused me to pick up the work of another master that I had not considered before the release of these movies: J.R.R. Tolkien. Since the release of the Lord of the Rings trilogy I have read The Hobbit, the trilogy, and The Silmarillion. I have read sections of these books more than once. I have also collected and read an impressive array of Tolkien biographies and critical essays on his work.

I consider my reading life and my movie watching life to be immensely richer due to the vision and passion of Peter Jackson. It was no surprise then that this book, not as readily available as it should be, wound up on my Amazon wish list the moment I first heard of it. And this past Christmas my lovely wife tracked down a copy for me.

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Film

The Dark Knight

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A Non-Spoiler Review

It is perhaps an understatement to write that the second film in Chris Nolan’s reboot of the Batman franchise, The Dark Knight, has been the most anticipated film of the summer. Partially because of the fact that it is Batman, but no doubt mostly due to Joker actor Heath Ledger’s death, The Dark Knight has been a movie that many have been looking forward to seeing. This weekend’s record setting box office receipts certainly supports that assumption.

With all the hype leading up to this past Friday’s release, the biggest question was whether or not The Dark Knight would be a worthy movie-going experience or another in a long line of summer blockbuster’s that just don’t quite measure up.

I’ll tell you this: the Nolan brothers sure do crank out the hits.

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Film

Hellboy II: The Golden Army

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A Non-Spoiler Review

The unexpected pleasure of 2008 summer films continues with the release of the second film in what will hopefully be, at least, the Hellboy trilogy. Once again director Guillermo del Toro combines his unique vision with the creations of Mike Mignola in the movie Hellboy II: The Golden Army.

The short review of Hellboy II can be summed up fairly quickly: this movie is fun! It is safe to say that if you enjoyed the first film, then Hellboy II will not disappoint.

But when did I ever quit with a short review? Let’s talk:

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