Movies

Creed II Year: 2018 Rating: PG-13 Length: 130 minutes / 2.17 hours While I have only ever seen the original Rocky (1976) and the spinoff/reboot Creed (2015), I’m still aware of some of the details of the Rocky franchise as a whole. I know who some of Rocky Balboa’s (Sylvester Stallone) opponents were over the years, including James “Clubber” Lang (Mr. […]

Green Book Year: 2018 Rating: PG-13 Length: 130 minutes / 2.17 hours Every once in a while, a movie comes along that has the right balance of themes and execution to make it into an instant classic. When I first saw trailers for Green Book (2018), I initially thought it was just going to be an inverse […]

Mortal Engines Year: 2018 Rating: PG-13 Length: 128 minutes / 2.13 hours If I were to look at Mortal Engines (2018) critically, I’d notice a number of flaws. From fairly flat characters to a string of movies and directors that it tries to imitate, this film should be terrible. And yet, given that I’d already suspended my […]

BlacKkKlansman Year: 2018 Rating: R Length: 135 minutes / 2.25 hours The idea that an African American could become a member of the Ku Klux Klan is silly enough that it became a joke on Dave Chapelle’s television show. Of course, this movie isn’t a comedy sketch, as it is based on true events. Obviously, […]

For the most part, each individual who acts in a movie only has one character to play. In order to get the amount of emotional depth of a single character, these actors will often devote themselves to this singular role. But what about those actors who portray more than one character? Furthermore, what if the... Read more.

The more things change, the more they stay the same. This is partly due to those people who don’t learn from history and are therefore doomed to repeat it. While most movies usually span a short timeframe, there are a few out there that manage to cover almost the entirety of human existence. Some even... Read more.

Some directors may have been prolific, but then there are directors like D.W. Griffith. In the 23 years of his career, he directed over 500 movies. Most of these films were directed before 1914, as Griffith made the newfound medium of filmmaking his playground to discover and cement many of the film techniques we know... Read more.

We all have that one thing we’re ashamed of. Whether it’s a guilty pleasure, like enjoying a children’s television show, or something more sinister, like breaking the law, individuals will usually have something in their life that they want everyone to forget. While many of these shameful things can be common for a large number... Read more.

It is rare to find a director who can direct across the spectrum of film genres. Often, a director’s style will dictate their genre. I mean, we’re not likely to see a horror film by Michael Bay. And while versatile directors like Christopher Nolan can span many genres, there are still a few that are... Read more.

In war, nobody wins. However, each side inevitably has those extraordinary people who went out of their way to show heroism in the face of the odds against them. These are the true winners of war: the war heroes. Often, it’s much easier to “run away to fight another day,” than it is to stand... Read more.

Unlike the Anglo-Zanzibar War, World War II is likely to be the war with the most films featuring it as part of their plot. There are numerous reasons for this, including the rise of Hollywood during the same timeframe, as well as a distinct “good guy vs. bad guy” conflict. Unlike the Civil War, World War... Read more.

The end is in sight, folks! 2018 marks the last full year of Cinema Connection posts. There will still be some more connections to come in 2019, but it won’t last until the end of the year. While the end of this blog is nigh, I just want to remind you that the book form... Read more.

With the New Year fast approaching, it’s time to look back and see what resolutions we accomplished in 2018. While many factors contribute to successful resolutions, including realistic goals with measurable results, the most significant factor that can lead to success is dedication. Even the most impossible of resolutions can be accomplished with enormous amounts... Read more.

It is sobering to realize how little you’ve accomplished in your life when you start to compare yourself to individuals like Damien Chazelle. While he’s only eight months older than I am, he’s already become the youngest individual to win a Best Director Oscar. Not only that, but he won with a mere two films... Read more.