about contributors submissions book series advertising contests tour dates Mixed Media PopMatters Picks
|
|
Marco LanzagortaAbout Marco Lanzagorta Marco Lanzagorta received a PhD in physics from Oxford University and has worked at prestigious research institutions in England, Italy, Switzerland, Mexico and the US. During the past 18 years, he has conducted research in physics, computer science, and neuroscience. Currently, Marco is a scientific consultant for the US Department of Defense at a major research laboratory in Washington DC, and an affiliate associate professor at George Mason University in Fairfax, Virginia. Features
Dirty Harry: Nothing Wrong with Shooting the Right PeopleThe year Dirty Harry was released (1971) saw several demonstrations of angry cops questioning why criminals had very solid constitutional protections that often interfered with law enforcement work. [21 April 2009] Rambo: In All His GloryRambo is constantly portrayed as judge, jury, and executioner in the national and international spheres. [4 December 2008] Day 5: The Undead as a Life-changing ExperienceOn the last day of our week long celebration of Night of the Living Dead’s 40th anniversary, PopMatters offers six essays that delve on the subjective appreciation of Romero’s landmark film. In strong contrast to the previous installments of this collection, these articles offer a more personal perspective of the everlasting influence of Night of the Living Dead. [31 October 2008] I See Dead PeopleThe real legacy of Night of the Living Dead is the way it became a quintessential icon that perfectly represents the patriarchal conflict for phallic control, as well as the confrontation between the primitive and the civilized. [30 October 2008] Day 4: A Zombie is ForeverOn our fourth day of celebrating the 40th anniversary of Night of the Living Dead, PopMatters presents six articles that discuss the everlasting legacy of Romero’s zombie masterwork. As such, these contributions help us understand why Night of the Living Dead continues to be of relevance to modern audiences. Day 3: Reanimation PoliticsThe race and patriarchal subtexts of Night of the Living Dead deeply resonated with the torrid social and cultural landscape of that bleak period in American history. As such, no discussion of Night of the Living Dead can be complete without considering these important issues. On our third day celebrating the 40th Anniversary of Night of the Living Dead, PopMatters offers six articles that discuss issues related to race conflict and phallic control. [29 October 2008] Day 2: Understanding the UndeadFew would disagree that Night of the Living Dead is one of the most important and talked about films in the history of cinema. On our second day celebrating the 40th Anniversary of Night of the Living Dead, PopMatters offers six articles that give a rationale as to why, after 40 years, Night of the Living Dead continues to provide a frightful and nightmarish viewing experience. [28 October 2008] Day 1: Night of the Living Dead: The Beginning of the EndDay 1 of PopMatters’ celebration of the 40th Anniversary of Night of the Living Dead begins with a brief introduction especially written by Romero for this collection. Following Romero’s lead, our first series of essays concentrate on the possible origins and inspirations that eventually led Romero to create such a masterwork of the horror genre. These essays put this landmark film into context, comparing its visual and narrative structure to other films of the era. This exploration proves valuable to understand why Night of the Living Dead became – and remains -- so popular since its original theatrical release. [27 October 2008] The Phantasmagoric Phantom CarriageThe Phantom Carriage was truly revolutionary in the way it exploited the unique features of motion pictures, and clearly anticipated the sophisticated narrative and visual structure of modern films. [11 June 2008] The Perfect Lean, Mean, Macho MachineThe Die Hard series is a true rollercoaster of visual excesses guaranteed to raise the viewer’s adrenaline levels – while invoking intriguing ideological and cultural subtexts that deal with race, gender, masculinity, and social anxieties. [26 March 2008] Tricked: The Science Fiction Films of Ray HarryhausenOver his career, spanning 25 years and 15 movies, Ray Harryhausen took to new heights the standards of stop-motion animation and optical compositing. [11 February 2005] The Sounds of FearFrom symphonic to choral, electronic and progressive rock, these very different scores reveal innovation that is rarely found outside the horror genre. [30 October 2004] Columns
Frightful RomeProfondo Rosso, the Dario Argento store in Rome, hints at a dramatic cultural shift taking place in Italy regarding the appreciation and analysis of classic Italian horror films. [26 October 2009] (more Dread Reckoning) Horrifyingly Close to RealityWestern culture’s perspective of torture is complex and paradoxical; it's considered immoral, illegal, primitive, and indecent, yet it's shocking to see that torture methods continue to be used in the interrogation of prisoners of war. [21 September 2009] (more Dread Reckoning) International d’HorreurThe country that is producing high quality fear flicks these days is not in North America nor anywhere in Asia, but in Western Europe. [30 July 2009] (more Dread Reckoning) Fighting the FluThe mobilization of the military to control the spread of the current outbreak of a rare strain of the swine flu in Mexico City is right out of Stephen King’s The Stand. [4 May 2009] (more Dread Reckoning) By One’s Own Hand, ThenOn the one hand society at large relies on moral and theological arguments to ban suicide; on the other our world is plagued with destructive wars and suicidal conflicts. [18 February 2009] (more Dread Reckoning) Something to Do with DeathBy manipulating mankind’s fear of death, organized religion clearly emerges as the most ruthless and totalitarian authority institution in the history of the world. [6 January 2009] (more Dread Reckoning) Horrors in the Closet: Transgressing All BoundariesDavid Cronenberg and Clive Barker constantly pushed the boundaries of representations of sexual identities, yet their films feel not condemning, paranoid, or xenophobic -- but alluring and fascinating. [18 September 2008] (more Dread Reckoning) Horrors in the Closet: Horrifying Heteronormative ScapegoatingThe artificial connection between homosexuality and communism created the popular myth of evil and undetectable gay subversives living inside 1950s American society. [22 August 2008] (more Dread Reckoning) Horrors in the Closet: A Closet Full of MonstersA closet full of monsters is a scary place where "straight people" can safely negotiate and articulate their fascination and/or dread of "difference" in sexual preferences. [23 June 2008] (more Dread Reckoning) The Demise of Horror Culture?While the horror classics of 1968 may have indeed revitalized the genre, few today are aware of these movies' impact on the canon...if they acknowledge them at all. [13 May 2008] (more Dread Reckoning) A Terrifying Ruby JubileeAs a pivotal year of social change and as a cultural stepping stone, 1968 saw the radicalization of American society, and an accompanying revolution in the realm of horror genre filmmaking. [15 April 2008] (more Dread Reckoning) American GothicGrant Wood's 'American Gothic' is an elegant representation of the American nightmare: the horrors and monsters that constantly lurk behind the face of normality. [19 February 2008] (more Dread Reckoning) Horror Cinema By the NumbersTechnology is not the only reason for the recent worldwide glut in horror films. Ease of access and influence also contribute to their continuing creation. [26 November 2007] (more Dread Reckoning) Bringing Home the HorrorFright film fans have an innate desire to "own" that which they obsess over. Thanks to the ever changing face of home theater technology, and the genre's link to same, they can easily satisfy their creepshow cravings. [1 November 2007] (more Dread Reckoning) The Year of the WolfLeave it to the geniuses running the Hollywood studios to offset each other by delivering three legendary lycanthrope movies, 'The Howling', 'An American Werewolf in London' and 'Wolfen' during the same seminal genre year: 1981. [5 October 2007] (more Dread Reckoning) A Matter of Morbid EleganceWhile it may be hard to believe, horror imagery has its direct links in the visual variances of classic painting. It's all a matter of melancholic grace. [25 June 2007] (more Dread Reckoning) The Unseen Masters of HorrorFright fans love to praise the visionary efforts of their favorite horror directors. But behind every great terror auteur is usually an unsung macabre master. [16 May 2007] (more Dread Reckoning) Fear Factoring: Part 2In this second of a two-part examination on the roles that fan appreciation, critical consideration, and subject matter play on categorizing horror film, our resident macabre master argues that unlike other cinematic genres, the basic tenets of the terror experience can change from year-to-year, generation-to-generation. [7 November 2006] (more Dread Reckoning) Fear Factoring: Part IWhat elements categorize a horror film? Monsters? Murders? Mood and atmosphere? In this first of a two part examination on the subject, our resident macabre master argues that unlike other cinematic genres, the basic tenets of the terror experience can be difficult to clearly delineate. [28 September 2006] (more Dread Reckoning) The Gruesome Gazettes Part 2: Fangoria and BeyondHorror fandom finds its gruesome, gory touchstone in this second half of our look at genre publications, and its arrival signals a real renaissance in the power and influence of motion picture macabre. [17 August 2006] (more Dread Reckoning) The Gruesome GazettesIn the first of a two part examination on the subject, our scholar of scares looks back at the role genre magazines played in the creation of the rabid macabre movie fanbase we see today. [27 July 2006] (more Dread Reckoning) Legends of the FangWant to know why Richard Matheson's I am Legend is one of the most important horror novels of all time? Our resident scare scholar offers up this comprehensive overview of the man, the book, and the enduring legacy. [16 June 2006] (more Dread Reckoning) Trilogy of (T)errorsWhat do murderous Halloween masks, a monster enclosed in a Carpathian fortress, and a legion of interstellar soul suckers have in common? According to our resident scare scholar, they are part of a trio of '80s horror films that have been unfairly maligned by critics and fans alike. [4 May 2006] (more Dread Reckoning) A New Kind of Magic: Part III: Cinematic SymbiosisIn the final installment of his three-part look at the evolution of special effects in movie macabre, our horror historian looks at Fritz Lang, Lon Chaney, and a certain oversized ape's place in the dynamic of dread. [23 March 2006] (more Dread Reckoning) A New Kind of Magic: Part II: The Modern PrometheusIn the second of a three-part look at the symbiotic relationship between the horror film and special effects, our Dread specialist shows how Mary Shelley's mythical monster, and a unique approach to art design, forever changed the horror film. [22 February 2006] (more Dread Reckoning) A New Kind of Magic: Part I: The Power of PrestidigitationIn the first of a three-part look at the symbiotic relationship between the horror film and special effects, our Dread specialist argues for magician George Melies' place as the father of all F/X-based fright flicks. [24 January 2006] (more Dread Reckoning) One Wedding and Lots of FuneralsWhile many consider it a horror classic, Lanzagorta reveals the sensationally subversive underbelly -- thanks to director James Whale -- of 1935's Bride of Frankenstein. [30 November 2005] (more Dread Reckoning) Not Just ZombiesEven though George Romero is famous for his zombie flicks, he has directed a variety of other equally interesting fright films that are usually overlooked by the casual fan. [26 October 2005] (more Dread Reckoning) A Fistful of MaggotsIn his second column, Lanzagorta focuses his attention on a ferocious Italian filmmaker whose gore-laden lunacy redefined the zombie horror genre. [28 September 2005] (more Dread Reckoning) A Horror RenaissanceHorror is hot again. In his new column, Lanzagorta explains how the current scary movie revival is but a regurgitation of the fears and paranoias of the 1970s, and quite apropos for these times. [2 September 2005] (more Dread Reckoning) Reviews
The Fire Within (Le Feu Follet)We ought to thank Louis Malle for authoring an intelligent film that aptly deals with a delicate and controversial topic. [22 August 2008] 
Death of a Cyclist: CriterionA dramatic story that deeply resonates with the cultural anxieties that Spanish society endured under the regime of General Francisco Franco. [30 July 2008] 
Blast of SilenceA true film noir classic that deserves to be rediscovered by modern audiences. [10 July 2008] 
The Andromeda Strain MiniseriesGiven current fears about the prospect of biological weapons deployed by terrorists in our cities, the science and procedures behind this story are as relevant as ever. [7 July 2008] 
The Red Balloon (Le Ballon Rouge)In spite of its short running time, this film gives a satisfactory telling of an emotional story of friendship, savagery, and salvation. [20 June 2008] 
America at War MegasetThe US has been involved in so many wars and conflicts that comparably the depth of this DVD set is very thin [29 April 2008] 
Pierrot le FouThis film illustrates the genius and brilliance of Godard, who always was a step or two ahead of most critics, academics, and viewers. [25 April 2008] 
DresdenA rather accurate historical recreation of the fiery destruction of the German city, and a comment on the difficult moral issue of justifying or condemning the strategic bombing of densely populated areas. [10 March 2008] 
The John Frankenheimer CollectionThe rather complex ideological issues and unique sense of aesthetics that Frankenheimer infused in his films can be fully appreciated in this collection. [29 February 2008] 
Doctor Who: The Complete Third SeriesEven though Doctor Who has never been as ideologically sophisticated as the Star Trek franchise, as the new millennium accelerates and the specter of war continues to haunt the entire world, the liberal attitude of the Doctor seems far more palatable than the militarism of Captain Kirk. [21 December 2007] 
C.S.I. Miami: The Fifth SeasonBy possessing a superior moral stand and a precise sense for justice, and by never having to justify his actions to anybody, Horatio is the perfect embodiment of the quintessential Old West crime fighter. [6 December 2007] 
Hitler: The Rise of EvilThe list of deliberate historical blunders that Hitler: The Rise of Evil shamelessly uses to enhance its moralistic agenda is unacceptably large for a production that claims to be a biographical epic. [12 November 2007] 
CasshernIt's disappointing that Casshern is unable to take full advantage of its outstanding visual assets; the production design and special effects are top-notch, but the narrative feels illogical and convoluted. [8 November 2007] 
The War: A Film By Ken Burns and Lynn NovickOverall, The War is one of the most educational, informative, enlightening, and inspiring documentaries ever made. [26 October 2007] 
Robinson Crusoe on MarsThis is not a film that will challenge our intellect or astonish us with eye popping visual effects. But then again, it's charming in its naïve re-envisioning of Defoe’s legendary character. [18 October 2007] 
Saturday Night FeverUnfortunately, even though our collective cultural memory has rightfully situated Saturday Night Fever as the film that launched disco music into the mainstream, it also has ignored or forgotten the powerful story it told. [12 October 2007] 
The Milky WayIn this surrealist masterpiece, Luis Buñuel poses important questions about religious beliefs and organized religion. [18 September 2007] 
Voyage to the Bottom of Sea - Season 3, Vol. 1This landmark TV series was one of the first cultural products that successfully generated a large demand for tie-ins and collectibles such as toys, books, comics, and lunchboxes. [4 September 2007] 
20 Million Miles to EarthThis flick faithfully subscribes to the major conventions that characterized the science fiction genre during the paranoid '50s, but it's so well done that it's required viewing for those interested in modern cinema. [16 August 2007] 
Bones - Season OneThe real mystery for me is why someone of the academic caliber of Reichs, who is also the creator and producer of the series, allows for such evident blunders and inaccuracies. [25 April 2007] 
Heartstopper (2006)The most interesting thing about Heartstopper is viewers will feel compelled to identify the dozens of films it references. [23 October 2006] 
The Prophecy: Forsaken (2005)Here the angels are evil, God never makes an appearance, and humans are unreliable and fragile. [22 December 2005] 
The Saint: The Early Episodes, Set 2The Saint reveals some complexity in the way it combines Templar's capitalistic values and Moore's arresting masculinity. [26 October 2005] 
Heimat: A Chronicle of Germany (1984)Even though the series focuses on German suffering, it does not avoid German racism, anti-Semitism, and intolerance. [12 October 2005] 
Criminal MindsCriminal Minds confuses critical thinking with supernatural abilities. [5 October 2005] 
Oldboy (2003)Oldboy feels more like an existential drama by Ingmar Bergmann than a brainless action bloodbath. [30 September 2005] 
The Mexican Masked Wrestler and Monster Filmography by Robert Michael “Bobb” CotterOne of just three books published about Mexican wrestling films, Cotter's excels in providing the most information and the best laid out history of the genre so far. [20 July 2005] 
The Prophecy: Uprising (2005)This may well be the first film where the Prince of Darkness is merciful, tolerant, and even politically centered. [30 June 2005] 
The Saint - The Early Episodes, Set 1Such righteousness could have easily overwhelmed another TV series, but Roger Moore's charisma saves the day. [1 June 2005] 
Séance (2004)As Koji and Junco drift apart, not only is their dialogue minimal, but they also appear repeatedly framed by windows and doorways. [23 May 2005] 
Séance (2004): Koji Yakusho, Jun Fubuki, Tsuyoshi Kusanagi, Hikari Ishida - PopMatters Film RevAs Koji and Junco drift apart, not only is their dialogue minimal, but they also appear repeatedly framed by windows and doorways. [16 May 2005] 
Star Trek: Enterprise - The Complete First SeasonOne could argue that Star Trek: Enterprise's liberal ideology is a reflection of the Clinton years. [13 May 2005] 
Whispering Corridors (1998)Whispering Corridors' ghost story comments on the harsh South Korean education system. [7 April 2005] 
Millennium: The Complete Second SeasonFrank's newly troubled family life was the first of many alterations made to the format of Millennium during its second season. [24 February 2005] 
Jesus, Mary, and DaVinciAttempting to capitalize on the success of Brown's book, ABC News' Jesus, Mary, and DaVinci attempts to discern fact from fiction in The DaVinci Code. [2 February 2005] 
Species III (2004)Following the law of diminishing returns, the straight-to-video Species III is the least effective entry in the trilogy. [17 January 2005] 
The 4400: The Complete First SeasonThe 4400 intimates that most of the returnees' integration problems boil down to fear approximating a post-9/11 'dread of difference'. [3 January 2005] 
Stargate SG-1: Season 7Colonel O'Neill's principal interest is neither exploration nor humanitarian support, but the search for novel weapon technologies. [1 November 2004] 
Star Trek: The Original Series - The Complete First SeasonStar Trek's message of 'tolerance' is highlighted in the few episodes that explicitly showcase the dangers of racism and bigotry. [29 September 2004] 
Sniper 3 (2004)While Sniper 3 is certainly a derivative action film, it does create a complex web of problematic father-son relationships. 
Star Trek: Voyager, Season TwoMore maternal than Amazonian, Captain Janeway serves simultaneously as the crew's protector and counselor. [22 June 2004] 
Night of the Living Dead: Millennium Edition (1968)The casting of Duane Jones provides the film with a racial subtext, overtly linked to the social and political turmoil of late 1960s U.S. [14 June 2004] 
Replay (2003)Replay is an intriguing film that knows how to take advantage of current audiences' fascination with reality shows. [20 May 2004] 
Day of the Dead (1985)The 'domesticated' zombie Bud has learned to appreciate the most important elements of modern culture: classical music, Stephen King novels, and handguns. [26 April 2004] 
Dawn of the Dead (1979)George Romero's apocalyptic vision looks more like prophecy than fiction. [5 April 2004] 
BarbariansBarbarians challenges some common misconceptions about these tribal nomads. [22 March 2004] 
The Complete UFO MegasetUFO's primary appeal lies in its sometimes brutal battles between humans and aliens. [23 February 2004] 
The PersuadersFollows the adventures of two millionaire playboys who divide their time between enjoying the good life and fighting crime. [2 February 2004] 
Winged Migration (2001) - PopMatters Film Review )Some of the images presented here are so astonishing and exquisite that one can hardly believe that they came from unaltered wild animal footage. [9 December 2003] 
Returner (2002)Surprise: humans have caused the war after all, and the demonization of the aliens was just a government cover-up. [17 November 2003] 
Lawrence of Arabia (1962)Illustrates the many complexities found in the relations between colonized and colonizer. [21 October 2003] 
Navy NCISSolving the crime does not seem to be NCIS' goal, as it's more focused on preventing other agencies from conducting the investigation. [29 September 2003] 
Versus (2000)Versus and Ichi the Killer challenge the concept of righteous motivation, offering protagonists so morally ambiguous that it's difficult to distinguish who is 'good' and who is 'evil'. [22 September 2003] 
The Century of Warfare (1993): CASTThese wars not only shaped geographical boundaries, but also influenced political ideologies and cultural products. [25 August 2003] 
Santo & Blue Demon vs. Dracula & the Wolfman (1972)Combining his worldly wrestling celebrity with a mythological aura, Santo ascended to another plane altogether. [18 August 2003] 
Das Experiment (2001)Forget about Freddy and Dr. Lecter. Das Experiment is a truly terrifying film. [14 July 2003] 
Two Evil Eyes (Due occhi diabolici) (1990)Romero's films often feature a family that is fragile, a prime target for destructive forces. [23 June 2003] 
S.W.A.T.: The Complete First SeasonWhen the regular police force are in trouble, they call S.W.A.T. [17 June 2003] 
King of the HillAs good as he tries to be, Hank comes into repeated conflict with the rapidly changing world around him. [31 March 2003] BlogsShort Ends and Leader: Surround Sound: The Standalone Experience [1 May 2008]Short Ends and Leader: Surround Sound: Soundtracking (Part 1) [4 January 2008]Consuming Consumables: Saturday Night Fever: 30th Anniversary Special Collector’s Edition [$19.99] [16 December 2007]Consuming Consumables: The War - A Film By Ken Burns and Lynn Novick [$129.99] [9 December 2007]Short Ends and Leader: Summer Bliss - The Bourne Ultimatum/ Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix/ No Reservations [27 September 2007] |
Now on PopMatters
Columns
Moving Pixels: Parent-Child Bonding: Video Games that Bridge the Generation Gap The Rockist: Metal, Back from Purgatory
Blogs
Short Ends and Leader: Shameless! Tasteless! Hilarious! The Films of Yakov Levi Marginal Utility: A Quick Theory of the Self Mixed Media: Monsters of Folk - “Temazcal” (video) Sound Affects: Masters of the Form: Rage Against the Machine (1992) Moving Pixels: Cut Scenes Can Work in Games Notes from the Road: Fuck Buttons + Growing: 4.Nov.09 - Washington DC
Music
:. Say Anything: Say Anything :. Wolfmother: Cosmic Egg :. The Swell Season: Strict Joy :. Neon Indian: Psychic Chasms :. Karen O and the Kids: Where The Wild Things Are :. Slaraffenland: We’re on Your Side :. Gloria Jones: Share My Love
Film
:. The Men Who Stare at Goats :. Endgame :. The Fourth Kind :. Precious: Based on the Novel Push by Sapphire :. Disney’s A Christmas Carol :. Gentlemen Broncos
DVDs
:. Adult Swim in a Box :. The 39 Steps :. Planes, Trains and Automobiles (Those Aren’t Pillows Edition)
News
:. Craig Ferguson’s autobiography is a testimony to America’s eternal appeal to immigrants :. INTERVIEW:Jeff Bridges abides, and works like crazy :. Roland Emmerich’s latest big-budget doomsday extravaganza is his ‘darkest film’ to date :. INTERVIEW:Hit repeat with Steely Dan and ‘Aja’ :. INTERVIEW:Lily Tomlin has had an extraordinary career being ordinary :. Film changes student’s course: ‘Precious’ star pursuing acting
|
