Nolan’s ‘Interstellar’ blends science and spirituality
Movie review: Like “2001” and “Contact,” “Interstellar” shows science and spirituality can coexist in a grand space adventure.
‘Star Wars’ flashback: ‘MedStar II: Jedi Healer’ (2004) (Book review)
While I disagree with the canceling of the Expanded Universe, one positive aspect of the new Disney canon is that all future projects will be connected to each other. On the other hand, part of the fun of the old system was seeing how the EU and canonical George Lucas projects sometimes accidentally fit together.
‘The Fault in Our Stars’ romanticizes cancer … beautifully (Movie review)
Have the Kleenex ready for “The Fault in Our Stars,” a story about a teen stricken with the death sentence of cancer. Or have your stress pills ready. This movie, based on the popular young-adult novel by John Green and now available on DVD, has garnered its share of backlash from those who believe it romanticizes cancer.
‘The Maze Runner’ has lots of maze running, not enough world building (Movie review)
Considering how shallow and incomplete the story is, “The Maze Runner” is a fairy engaging tale about teenage boys forming a society while trapped in the center of a gigantic maze. But as the first of four book adaptations in James Dashner’s young-adult series, it leaves a ton of unanswered questions, and that ultimately renders this installment […]
Is ‘The Walking Dead’ embarking on a ‘Dark Rick’ arc? (TV commentary)
Everyone is (rightly) reacting to the shocking end of Sunday’s mid-season finale of “The Walking Dead,” but the biggest moment in terms of reverberations for future stories might’ve happened before the opening credits. Bob No. 2 is running back to the hospital and doesn’t stop when Rick orders it from the police car’s loudspeaker. Rick rams Bob […]
The speculation begins as ‘Jurassic World,’ ‘The Force Awakens’ trailers debut (Movie commentary)
Trying to parse out the plot and character details of a movie based on a trailer – particularly a teaser trailer – is a ridiculous exercise. But – if only to give myself something to look back and laugh at after the movies come out – here are my thoughts on the buzzed-about trailers for “Jurassic […]
Miller’s world building, Disney’s heavy hand clash in ‘Star Wars: A New Dawn’ (Book review)
John Jackson Miller was the perfect choice to pen “A New Dawn” (September, hardcover), the prequel to “Rebels” that launches the Disney era of “Star Wars” books, as he had proven his world-building mettle with “Knights of the Old Republic,” “Knight Errant” and “Lost Tribe of the Sith.” He really came into his own as a character […]
Fincher’s stylish touch makes flawed ‘Gone Girl’ more engaging than it deserves to be (Movie review)
Since it’s the latest film from director David Fincher, who has a stylish knack for capturing the gritty essence of neighborhoods and bars and police stations, I recommend seeing “Gone Girl,”albeit in the cheap theater or when it gets to Redbox. At the same time, this marks Fincher’s second-straight adaptation of a mainstream beach read, following […]
After 10 episodes, let’s check in on ‘Gotham’s’ rogues gallery
TV commentary: “Gotham” may not have a full-grown Batman, but it definitely has villains.
With 2 episodes left … whodunit on ‘Gracepoint?’ (TV commentary)
With just two episodes left on “Gracepoint” (8 p.m. Central Thursdays on Fox), it seems like a good time to revisit the question I posed earlier in the 10-episode run: Who killed Danny Solano? As with my first set of theories, I’m basing this analysis not so much on detective work – that’s the job of Emmett […]