Features
Monday, May 3 2010
2010 Summer Movie Preview - May
May blasts the summer season off with two mega-movies, Iron Man 2 and Robin Hood, while offering up yet more Shrek and Sex and the City.
Tuesday, January 27 2009
Superheroes Versus Comics
There can be no doubt that the summer of 2008 stands as a high-water mark for superheroes. But in the wake of a superhero renaissance and the growing cultural legitimacy of the genre, the question must be posed: Has the superhero genre evolved beyond the comics medium?
Tuesday, January 13 2009
Off the Radar - The Top 30 DVDs of 2008
Oddly enough, while the major studios continue scratching their heads over how to sell yet another new format (Blu-ray) to disinterested consumers, several outside distributors made sure that this would be a digital year to remember.
Friday, September 5 2008
What the World Needs Now: Society’s Desperate Need for Superheroes
Hollywood has finally discovered what comic book fans have known all along: superheroes serve as brightly-colored, two-dimensional extensions of ourselves.
Monday, April 28 2008
The Return of the Popcorn Circus: May 2008
In the first act of this four-part production, Tinsel Town decides to do some unbelievable front loading. Will there be room for independent offerings, or former HBO carnal comedy divas? Who knows? Without a doubt, it's an interesting way to start the season.
Reviews
Wednesday, January 4 2012
'Cowboys & Aliens': Is as Obvious as It Sounds
Jon Favreau's adaptation of a little-known comic book was supposed to be a breath of genre-mixing fresh air in a summer dominated by sequels and superheroes.
Friday, July 29 2011
'Cowboys & Aliens': Be a Man
As always, the men's transformations -- from selfish, ignorant individuals into something like a community -- are helped along by their union against a common enemy.
Tuesday, September 28 2010
'Iron Man 2': Heavy Metal
This film provides both a damn good time and a reflection on technology, democracy and, as always with the world of superpowers, the nature of the hero itself.
Friday, May 7 2010
'Iron Man 2': It's Not About Me Or Is It?
Iron Man 2 careens between self-awareness and self-promotion, which is not to say these are opposite conditions.
Monday, October 6 2008
Iron Man (Two-Disc Special Collector's Edition)
Every explosion and punch-line lives and dies by Downey's performance, but he proves more than up to the task, making the ride all the more enjoyable.
Blogs
Monday, August 1 2011
The All-Sex Hex: Why Olivia Wilde Deserves More Credit
Now that Olivia Wilde has put rumors of a turbulent post-divorce love life to bed by revealing a "no sex hex" on her new home, it's confront the all-sex hex that has plagued valuations of her acting.
Friday, July 29 2011
Close Encounters of the Worst Kind?: 'Cowboys and Aliens'
The result is a solid disappointment, a movie that's been presold as an epic when it can barely break out of the genres it's junking.
Friday, July 29 2011
‘Cowboys and Aliens’ is Better Faux-Spielberg Than ‘Super 8’
Jon Favreau proves a better pupil of the master’s than the more slavish J.J. Abrams.
Friday, May 7 2010
I... Am... Iron Man's ...Overstuffed Sequel
This is the very definition of slam-bang entertainment, beating one over the head with as much potential amusement as possible until they surrender with a stunned if satisfied popcorn smile.
Monday, June 16 2008
Dear Marvel Comics
Dear Marvel Comics: Get ready. If rumors are true, and you are indeed lowballing Jon Favreau out of participation in Iron Man 2 (a story…
News
Monday, September 29 2008
Stan Lee's 'Iron Man' leads way for latest Blu-ray titles
Ten years ago, Stan Lee was frustrated about the inability to get impressive versions of Marvel Comics super heroes to the movie screen. "It seemed…
Wednesday, July 30 2008
Pop 20: Super hero formula evolving
In only 10 days, the Batman defeated the Joker, delivered a one-two punch to Harvey Dent and amassed more than $300 million at the box…
Friday, May 2 2008
Jon Favreau's preparation pays off in 'Iron Man'
Jon Favreau heard the whispers, the murmurs of "What the hey?" when he was selected by Marvel Studios to turn the comic-book empire's Iron Man…
Wednesday, April 30 2008
It's Super Year for once-troubled actor Robert Downey Jr., starting with 'Iron Man'
The Summer of Downey? On Friday, "Iron Man" -- easily one of the smartest, most satisfying comic-book superhero movies since Tim Burton's first "Batman" --…
