Ask me what my favorite Pixar movie is, I'd say The Incredibles. Twist my nipples really, really hard and I'll tell you it's Ratatouille. Hey, I like food movies. But Ratatouille really is a grand film, and one of the reasons is the way it sets up, and knocks down, its opponents. I thought of … Continue reading Ratatouille: How to Write Good Opponents/Villains
Go on the internet and say you don't like something and you'll immediately be graced with misspelled cuss words, racism, sexism, and the general frothing of humanity's dregs. Or at least get a fervent, "Nuh-uh!" But did you know that the way you say something changes the reaction you get? If you experience a book, … Continue reading Why I Hate What You Love
What's more 1950s than a movie about the space age and all the wonders and dangers lurking out there in the cosmos? Rockets! Lasers! Invasions! Golly-Gee Whillakers! THE PLOT: Martians attack Earth. Simple as. IS IT ANY GOOD? Not really. Back in the 1950s this may have been new and scary, but in 2016, there's … Continue reading 75 YOF: “War of the Worlds” and Silly Sci-Fi Scariness (1953)
Sometimes when examining film history, it's good to shine a light on particular, popular actors. This film has two: Humphrey Bogart and Katharine Hepburn. Better yet, Bogart won the Oscar for Best Actor in this film. That's good enough for me! STORY: World War I is in full swing and not even Africa is safe. … Continue reading 75 YOF: “African Queen,”One Ugly-Ass Romance (1951)
I need your opinion on something. Yes, you who found this post because you googled drugs. Do substances like drugs and alcohol really help artists create better works? Or is that an excuse to do drugs and alcohol? See, here's the thing... Do you remember Alice in Wonderland? Of course you do, that movie tripped … Continue reading Disney Discussions: Do Drugs and/or Alcohol Really Help Artists? (Alice in Wonderland)
Before you throw your pitchforks and hand grenades, I'm just as shocked by the title as you are. Books are almost always better than the movie because...well, Hollywood. But every now and then, a movie comes along that actually makes up for the faults of a book, and here we have five shining examples of … Continue reading 5 Times the Movie Was Better Than the Book
I need your opinion on something. Yes, you trying to fill the wee hours of the night with whatever is left on the internet. Is a plot really that necessary in movies? See, here's the thing... Tell me the plot to Bambi. (Patient pause.) You can't. There isn't one. It's a biopic about a cartoon deer. He learns … Continue reading Disney Discussions: Can You Make a Movie Without a Plot? (Bambi)
I need your opinion on something. Yes, you, who just pointed to yourself and said, "Me?" We hear the word "classic" thrown around in movies a lot and...does it mean anything? See, here's the issue... Someone once named Snow White as the best Disney movie ever made because it was the first. I wanted to crucify them … Continue reading Disney Discussions: Are Classic Movies like Snow White Really That Good?
First of all, it can learn that this is how you make a good sequel: take everything that worked in the original and add another teaspoon of awesome. That's it. However, there's another pretty strong, slightly indirect message that the movie gave which our country (as well as businesses, churches, etc.) can take away (mild … Continue reading What America Could Learn from “How to Train Your Dragon 2”
I had zero expectations for this film. Yeah, yeah, the Christian audience lauded it as the greatest movie ever, but I've learned not to trust the opinions of Christians on Christian films. Why? Because they compromise good film-making for a good message or a touching moment of salvation. Christian movies are usually little more than … Continue reading Courageous–A Low-Dairy Film
Fencing With Ink 