It’s kind of amazing how close the “Purge” movies come to being biting satires of modern American culture. All four films have some extremely powerful moments that elevate them into the rarified air of intelligent commentary, but also seem content to wallow in the excess of schlock and mid-’80s action movies. Sometimes it’s impossible to […]
Film
Posted inCulture
The Bad, the Worse and the Deadly
“Sicario: Day of the Soldado” will blow you away
When the announcement of a sequel to 2015’s sleeper hit “Sicario” landed last year, the controversy around the screenwriter ditching the lead female character completely overshadowed the novelty that movies for adults could actually make enough money to warrant a follow-up. Upon the release of “Sicario: Day of the Soldado,” the controversy shifted and became […]
Posted inCulture
East Meets West
Post-Muslim ban approval, six films exploring Middle Eastern culture
A week ago, the U.S. Supreme Court upheld #45’s ban on travel for people from predominantly Muslim countries—even with extreme dissent from the bench, comparing the decision to the detainment of Japanese Americans during WWII. As of early 2018, the odds of being killed by an illegal immigrant terrorist is one in 138,324,873, and by a […]
Posted inCulture
Everybody Schlock the Dinosaur
Is it better than the last one?
I can’t with any sort of seriousness state that “Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom” is a good movie. There really hasn’t been a great movie in the franchise since the original. Even though “Lost World” had its moments, the series has been too afraid to step outside of its comfort zone and escalate it into new and […]
Posted inCulture
Good Neighbors
Mister Rogers really did believe you’re a special snowflake and that’s OK
One of my earliest memories was sitting in front of my babysitter (I mean TV) and having Mister Rogers teach me about death. He came home and got into his comfy shoes and happy sweater—but when he went to feed his fish, he found one floating near the bottom of the tank. He wrapped it […]
Posted inCulture
The Ayn-Credibles
Superheroes as objectivist theory
I know it’s somewhat insane to search for philosophical meaning in cartoons, but something about “The Incredibles 2” rubbed me the wrong way. The movie is beautifully designed with several jaw-dropping action sequences and deeply immersive 3D, so the kids will probably love it, as will those who grew up with the original film. If you’re […]
Posted inCulture
Two Hand Touching
Tag aims for the heart
So far, 2018 has been a dismal year for comedies. “Super Troopers 2” and “Action Point” were so numbingly horrible that they made the fairly generic “Life of the Party,” with Melissa McCarthy, seem like a comedic gem. Hopefully, “Tag” is a sign of things to come, because it balances big laughs, a ton of […]
Posted inCulture
Terror in the Blood
“Hereditary” will mess you up
Horror movies are a lot like Frankenstein’s monster. They’re ugly and scary, but mostly misunderstood; shambling through the village inspiring terror when all they want is to be held. It’s a genre that’s never earned the respect it deserves because it’s seen as disposable, a forgettable diversion to have in the background while we Netflix […]
Posted inCulture
Here’s What’s Hot
Missing Angel, guilty pleasures and cosmic death cults in this month’s dispatch
Isn’t this exciting?? Another month brings another episode of May the Source Be With You and our look at the most interesting things coming out of pop culture related to streaming, podcasts and DVD and Blu releases. There’s always too much to talk about, but if you’ve discovered something you’d like to share, feel free […]
Posted inCulture
Whack Ass
If you were looking for the lowest bar for comedy, it’s right here
There’s a moment toward the end of “Action Point” that encapsulates why the film is such a huge missed opportunity. It only lasts for a few seconds and there’s zero context for the image, but there’s a beautiful slow-motion shot of a terrified little kid riding an ostrich and hanging on for dear life. That’s […]