The Imitation Game Review

So I Wanna Know....What's The Name Of The (Imitation) Game?

Depicting people with Asperger's Syndrome in media has always been a bit of a difficult challenge, which is a disappointing to me as a person with Asperger's. Most shows fail to even pinpoint characters who display tendencies of Asperger's as actually having that symptom, rather nothing them as "special" or "funny" in order to avoid offending any specific groups if the portrayal comes off as a subpar. That tactic, which is utilized for the main character, Alan Turing, in The Imitation Game, can be put to good use, as this feature demonstrates.

My Current Best Acting Nominee Predictions!! (December 30, 2014 Edition)

Well, the nominations for the next Academy Awards ceremony will be released two weeks from this Thursday.So let's take a look at my current predictions for the two main acting categories, Best Actor and Best Actress, at the ceremony!

My Current Best Picture Nominees Predictions!! (December 28, 2014 Edition)

Well, the nominations for the next Academy Awards ceremony will be released two weeks from this Thursday.So let's take a look at my current predictions for the largest category of the ceremony, Best Picture.

Into The Woods Review

Come, Read This Review For A Spell

If you've been around me for more than five seconds, you're bound to know I'm a big fan of musical theater. Aside from appearing in small parts of performances of Annie and Little Shop of Horrors (I played the first customer who buys Audrey II, thus dooming humanity), I'm seen countless musicals on stage and in cinemas. Into The Woods is one I wasn't a huge fan of, though that was more due to me having only seen the first act of the show than a statement on the quality of the production itself.

Unbroken Review

Don't Go Unbroken My Heart

I find movies that have the elements of greatness and fail to utilize them far more frustrating than an outright terrible film like God's Not Dead or Transformers: Age Of Extinction. Not even Wes Anderson could have made Trans4mers compelling, whereas Unbroken has all the ingredients of being terrific right at it's feet. The story of Louie Zamperini is an astonishing one full of courage and bravery ripe for an effective cinematic depiction, and sadly, Unbroken just doesn't utilize it.

A Charlie Brown Christmas Is The Epitome Of Both Storytelling And Christmas

Peanuts is a fundamental part of my life, to put it lightly. Charlie Brown was the first fictional character I encountered who understood and expressed melancholy emotions, someone who assured me I wasn't alone in feeling like an outsider. He stills remains a terrific and relatable character, and each year I eagerly await watching A Charlie Brown Christmas, a special that never fails to compel me.

My Most Terrifying Cinematic Experience? Why, The Polar Express Of Course!

Here's another exciting entry in this Holiday themed column, 25 Days Of Christmas Pop Culture! From now until Christmas Eve, I'll be tackling one piece of Christmas pop culture! It could be a book, movie, TV special, song....so long as it's festive for this time of the year, it'll be checked out in this daily column!

We all have that one movie we watched as kids that terrified the living hell out of us. When you're 6, it's terrifying, but when you're older it's not only good material for a compelling yarn but a testament to the kind of power film can have over a person. Some have The Goonies, my brother has Gremlins, but me? I've got the scariest movie of them all: The Polar Express.

Fast Five Director Justin Lin Will Go Where No Man Has Gone Before....To Direct Star Trek 3!!

A shortlist was released recently for directors who could potentially direct the third entry in the series of Star Trek movies started by J.J. Abrams 2009 reboot. Among the names was Rupert Wyatt, rumored to be the favorite for the job. Well, it looks like Justin Lin, another name in that shortlist, is getting the job, as he's officially onboard to direct Star Trek 3.

Night At The Museum: Secret Of The Tomb Review

Exhibiting Traits Of Quality

It's...not awful. In fact, it's surprisingly entertaining. Those may sound like statements that are solely damning with faint praise, and they mostly are, but I must admit that with all the elements working against Night At The Museum: Secret Of The Tomb, it turns out OK. A five and a half year long gap since the second movie, sloppy visuals and a middling plot are prominent flaws, but there's at least some moments of redeeming value.

Whiplash Review

Those Who Can't Do, Teach

Devoting oneself to a particular craft is a tremendous challenge. I've dedicated myself to writing about pop culture, while others may devote themselves to the world of acting or painting. It is the world of music, specifically drumming, that drives Andrew (Miles Teller) to push himself far far beyond his limits. His quest to be one of the greats, to make an impact as a drummer is the focus of one of the years best movies, Whiplash.

The Hobbit: The Battle Of The Five Armies Review

Big Battle Brings Brilliance Only Briefly

So now it ends, at least until Peter Jackson manages to convince the Tolkien estate to give him the rights to make a trilogy of movies focusing on Smaug as a student in college. With The Hobbit: The Battle Of The Five Armies, Jackson concludes his trilogy of movies based on The Hobbit, and I must say I've found both of the previous films enjoyable, particularly The Desolation of Smaug. Alas, this one is easily the weakest Hobbit film, a middling affair spiced up by one or two good performances and some nice action moments.

My 12 Favorite Movie Trailers Of 2014

You won't see a ton of "Best of 2014" lists on this site at this time of the year, mainly because a good chunk of notable 2014 movies (Inherent Vice, Selma, American Sniper) won't come to a theater near me until mid-January. Expect lists revolving around my favorite 2014 features around that time, but I'll still toss a few retrospective lists in the next few days, starting with the one, which covers my 12 favorite 2014 trailers.

You Asked For It; Alvin And The Chipmunks 4 (Yes, FOUR) Gets New Release Date And Director

With Kung Fu Panda 3 moving out of its Christmas 2015 release date, there's no family movie in that lucrative time of the year now. 20th Century Fox, which distributes KFP3, has now announced Alvin And the Chipmunks 4 will move up form 2016 to December 23, 2015, taking it's release date on the schedule.

The Simpsons, The Most Influential TV Show In History, Turns 25 Today

Pop culture can have a tremendous impact on a person, the kind of impact one can't fully comprehend right away. That's The Simpsons for me, a show whose first episode (Simpsons Roasting On An Open Fire) aired today twenty-five years ago. Yep, it's been a quarter of century since that yellow clan entered our lives, and it's truly unimaginable to think of a world without this wonderful family.

Frosty The Snowman Is Simple, But Charming

Here's another exciting entry in this Holiday themed column, 25 Days Of Christmas Pop Culture! From now until Christmas Eve, I'll be tackling one piece of Christmas pop culture! It could be a book, movie, TV special, song....so long as it's festive for this time of the year, it'll be checked out in this daily column!

God that's a creepy image.

Like Rudolph, Frosty The Snowman was a song long before it was TV special, but it's this 1969 cartoon that many identify as the ultimate incarnation of the frosty fellow. The special, turning 45 this year, is a special that isn't quite perfect, but does manage to find itself some moments of quality, albeit moments have more than an ounce of cheesiness to them.

Editorial: Recent Hacking Activity Is A Hideous Display Of Cowardice

Today, another development in the Sony hacking scandal occurred, this time with threats of violence involved. The terrorist group that hacked Sony is now threatening movie theaters showing The Interview and people who see the film, saying those who show or watch the movie will suffer a "bitter fate" , that on Christmas Day (when the movie is released) "The world will be full of fear" and then note their attacks will remind people of 9/11.

Wanna See Movie Directors Like Spielberg And Hitchcock Have A Rap Battle? Who Doesn't!! (From The Interwebs)

I've focused on the Epic Rap Battles Of History YouTube program before, but as a major cinema fan, I couldn't pass up the opportunity to highlight their most recent endeavor, which pits Steven Spielberg, Alfred Hitchcock and other famous movie directors against each other in a truly epic rap battle. Check it out below!

There is graphic language ahead, just so ya know.

The Trailer For Terrence Malicks New Movie, Knight Of Cups, Has Christian Bale Doing Things

When I saw Tree Of Life in 2011, it was the first Terrance Malick film I'd ever seen. I had no idea what to expect, except for dinosaurs, I knew dinosaurs were in it. Well, I got the dinos, but nothing much else of substance. The film was ambitious, I'll give it that, and the cinematography was beautiful. But it felt like it was trying too hard to be impactful without doing anything actually impactful. It sort of became blur of visuals after a while.

Kung Fu Panda Continues To Defy Expectations With Its Christmas Special

Here's another exciting entry in this Holiday themed column, 25 Days Of Christmas Pop Culture! From now until Christmas Eve, I'll be tackling one piece of Christmas pop culture! It could be a book, movie, TV special, song....so long as it's festive for this time of the year, it'll be checked out in this daily column!

Kung Fu Panda shouldn't work. On any level. But the entire endeavor made one crucial decision that changed everything; they got Jack Black to play the titular kung fu warrior. Black plays Po with undying eagerness that's always fun to watch, especially when his exuberance has to be used against tremendous antagonists. Even after two movies (the second of which hadn't come out when the subject of this review came out) that were excellent, a Christmas special should have simply a cash grab, not a reaffirmation of the franchises quality.

Top Five Review

Top Five Is Alive!

Whenever one hears about celebrities having problems, it can be easy to brush off such problems by thinking their large wealth means their problems are inconsequential. But the likes of Tom Hanks and Angelina Jolie can have everyday quandaries and worries; they are human beings after all, and human beings are naturally going to have problems to face. This kind of scenario is at the crux of Top Five, a feature written, directed and starring Chris Rock that's surprising in it's depth and effectiveness.