Tag Archives: Movies

Some Shows Are Only Good When You’re Tired

Posted on July 16, 2011 by Hilary

Since television became available for streaming over the internet, I’ve realized something that was impossible to notice when I used to watch TV on a programmed schedule. There were a few shows, which shall remain nameless, that I used to … Continue reading →

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A Modern Perspective on King Lear

Posted on July 8, 2011 by Hilary

Just a few brief thoughts. . . In watching the 1984 TV version of King Lear last week, it occurred to me that this story would take on quite a different interpretation in modern times. Perhaps it’s over-simplified, but as … Continue reading →

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The Disappearance of the Wide-Eyed, Idealistic Hero

Posted on July 1, 2011 by Hilary

In the last decade, mass media in the United States has seen many changes in the way characters and stories are written. One change which I consider to be particularly unfortunate is the gradual, yet rapid, decline in the use … Continue reading →

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Why Go to Film School? (Part 2)

Posted on June 1, 2011 by Hilary

In my last post, I talked about why production-centered classes might be helpful for a wannabe director/producer/screenwriter. This week, I’ll list a few attributes of the more purely scholastic side of film school (e.g. film history/media studies, Gen. Ed. requirements, … Continue reading →

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Why Go to Film School? (Part 1)

Posted on May 21, 2011 by Hilary

If you look around on the internet, there are some pretty convincing arguments against the idea of going to school to learn about filmmaking, mostly revolving around the cost or the time and effort it takes to earn a degree. … Continue reading →

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Italian Native Americans and German Japanese: The Probable Importance of Verisimilitude in Casting

Posted on May 7, 2011 by Hilary

Perhaps it doesn’t matter, perhaps it does. But no matter how good the acting ability of the players in movies and television, ranging from many of the characters in the 1935 movie Charlie Chan in Egypt to the character Gwen … Continue reading →

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SFX Evolution: How Special Effects Have Changed, and Not Changed

Posted on April 26, 2011 by Hilary

It’s interesting to consider that many of the special effects invented by Melies during the dawn of filmmaking were not only still in use half a century later, but even into the present century. Take, for example, the 1960 version … Continue reading →

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Roger & Me Vs. Capitalism: A Love Story

Posted on April 13, 2011 by Hilary

Because I have seen all of Michael Moore’s recent documentaries, and because he implied that Capitalism: A Love Story might be his last, I decided to see the first documentary he made back in 1989, Roger & Me. It occurs … Continue reading →

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Brooding Females, a Recent Trend Imitating the “Brooding Male” Cliche?

Posted on March 27, 2011 by Hilary

I was watching old episodes of Daria recently and it got me thinking about the introduction and continuing low-level trend of the brooding female teenager character in television shows and movies. Dark, brooding characters are a perennial favorite for screenwriters. … Continue reading →

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Seven Movies For St. Patrick’s Day

Posted on March 16, 2011 by Hilary

Darby O’Gill and the Little People (1959) Aside from the innate humor of seeing Sean Connery sing and dance, in a Disney movie no less, this is actually a very entertaining movie in its own right. The story is basically … Continue reading →

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