When I was a kid and the original “The Fast and the Furious” came out, I’m pretty sure I loved it because car chases and explosions were basically what I was after back then. “2 Fast 2 Furious” was so terrible and “Tokyo Drift” was so ridiculous that the franchise became a bit of a […]
Film
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Art House Cinema Survives in Bend
How one of Oregon’s smallest theaters weathered the pandemic and came out the other side
COVID-19 affected everyone, human and business alike, completely differently. Bend institutions like Sargent’s Cafe and Pilot Butte Drive-In didn’t survive the virus, while newer spots like San Simon managed to pivot and thrive. It became almost impossible to predict which businesses would make it through the toughest and scariest time many of us could possibly […]
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Personal Journals
Bo Burnham is alone inside
“I don’t know about you guys, but, um, you know, I’ve been thinking recently that…that you know, maybe, um, allowing giant digital media corporations to exploit the neurochemical drama of our children for profit …you know, maybe that was, uh…a bad call by us. Maybe…maybe the…the flattening of the entire subjective human experience into a…lifeless exchange […]
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Do the Right Sing
“In the Heights” brings Broadway home
I didn’t know this before yesterday, but apparently musicals are an acquired taste. I thought everyone liked musicals. Isn’t “The Sound of Music” one of the most popular movies of all time? I also don’t know a single human person who doesn’t love “The Rocky Horror Picture Show” or “Hedwig and the Angry Inch.” With all […]
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Never Trust a Demon
The Conjuring series returns Strong…if subdued
I don’t like to say that I’m obsessed with “The Conjuring” Universe but…yeah, I’ve watched most of the movies in the series at least two or three times each and sometimes write fan fiction that’s set in the world. I’m even aware that some of the movies in the series are terrible, but that didn’t really […]
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May the Source Be With You
June Edition: A prediction for “Sweet Tooth,”
a comforting podcast from “Frasier”
Happy beginnings of summer, everyone. Now that blockbusters are starting to hit movie theaters again and people are actually going to them (sorry “Tenet”), it feels like things are getting back to normal more than ever. Since I’m a sucker for the theatrical experience, I’ve been psyching myself up for entering the public sector again […]
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The Snyder Cult
“Army of the Dead” mixes zombies and guns
I keep thinking I’ll eventually get sick of zombie movies, but it just never happens. Don’t get me wrong: I’m fully aware that most of them are terrible, but even the worst zombie movie usually has a moment or two worth watching. The truly memorable zombie movies really only need to nail a couple of elements […]
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Those Who Wish the Woman in the Window Dead
Adams and Jolie face off on streaming giants
The streaming services are at war. This isn’t new or even really a surprise, but there’s a new little wrinkle that makes the entire battle pretty fun to witness. Since theaters haven’t really been a thing for a while, streaming services are still premiering movies that were initially supposed to be theatrical releases, leading to […]
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May the Source Be With You
May’s edition of podcasts and shows
So, for the last few months I’ve been putting together a book of poetry that compiles some of the pieces I’ve written over the last 10 years. It’s called “The Sad Bastard Chronicles” and, as you might have guessed, the book is filled with some pretty heavy memories that have, as the kids used to […]
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Here’s Wallace!
Michael B. Jordan launched a new franchise and we’re there for it
I know we all know this by now, but Michael B. Jordan is easily in the top two or three most charismatic actors of his generation. Ever since his unforgettable turn as Wallace in “The Wire,” Jordan has slowly and systematically built one of the smartest and most durable careers in Hollywood. As well-balanced as his […]