Some films become legendary not because of their great quality but due to the incredible difficulties overcome in their making.  Waterworld, for instance, is better known for being supremely expensive due to disruptions by two hurricanes and disagreements between its […]

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Movies based upon historical events — especially historical events which were classified until a few years ago — hold a great deal of interest for me.  This World War II adventure was largely unknown because Winston Churchill wanted it kept […]

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I cannot recall a more depressing movie that I have ever seen than Civil War.  What a downer.  It should have been titled The Fall of America or something as equally pessimistic about the future, because that’s what it is.  Pure pessimism. […]

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Horror films are supposed to horrify.  Many fail to do so.  Barbarian begins with a solid premise, one which might lead in any one of several directions, and eventually leads us underground to a genuinely harrowing scenario.  While it eventually […]

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Some movies can win you over with sheer chutzpah.  The brutal Christmas adventure Violent Night is, for me, one of those movies.  I didn’t expect to like it at all, but I found it to be amusing and occasionally funny, with […]

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As I simply have not seen many movies (at all) in theaters over the last few months, I am making the choice to use “Recent Releases” to catch up on some of the more notable films I have not seen […]

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Espionage films can be dramatic and suspenseful, or comic and silly.  Both approaches work; many classics have resulted.  And of course they can be combined, with various levels of success.  A few of the James Bond adventures approach the level […]

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A couple of years ago Martin Scorsese publicly complained about the negative effects of Marvel superhero movies on the prospects of moviemaking and the future of cinema.  I didn’t agree with his comments about the Marvel movies then (the MCU […]

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Rather than a traditional sequel, Twisters is more of a remake or reboot, since it does not feature any of the original characters from Twister (1996).  However, there are all sorts of references, in-jokes and thematic nods to the first tornado adventure. […]

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Some films bank on personal experiences or memories to connect to viewers.  I think IF attempts to remind viewers of childhood experiences to connect to its fantastical story, and I wouldn’t be surprised to learn that this approach works for some. […]

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