National Lampoon: A Christmas Vacation (1989), Lookback/Review

A quick lookback at the John Hughes directed National Lampoon: A Christmas Vacation (1989). It’s good for a laugh or two or three this time of year. What ensues is a lot of, well lampoonery… For NATIONAL LAMPOON: A CHRISTMAS VACATION its the in-laws visiting over Christmas. Hughes appears to have thought that just having the in-laws around was enough. Although Randy Quaid is back as the hilarious Cousin Eddie Johnson....

December 27, 2012 · 1 min · 105 words · Heather Porter

Horror Movie Showdown: Jack Frost vs. Saint Nick

Our special Christmas gift to you: two Christmas horror movies, back-to-back, Jack Frost and Saint Nick. And they are masterpieces. Were talking B-rated masterpieces. All of these films are generally the same. And as a dear friend of the author pointed out, they are almost all named SILENT NIGHT. They are full of holiday-themed killings, evil snowmen/evil Santa/evil reindeer and a whole lot of blood. These are the kinds of films only true horror fans could love....

December 26, 2012 · 3 min · 552 words · Sandra Romero

The Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai Across the 8th Dimension (1984) Review

With The Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai Across the 8th Dimension (1984) they just tried too hard. There was money and status in that midnight movie circuit. And sometimes you had to wait for home video before that word of mouth really started to spread. Richter (whod written the screenplay for the 1978INVASION OF THE BODY SNATCHERS) left nothing to chance. Their tale of the neurosurgeon/two-fisted physicist/adventurer/rock n roll star had all the above elements and much, much more....

December 26, 2012 · 2 min · 273 words · Douglas Meadows

A Werewolf Boy, Review

What’s not to like? There is something supernatural about love. Its an inexplicable sensation that draws one person to another and creates a sense of intimate belonging. The younger the love, the more powerful and otherworldly it can seem. Perhaps that is why there are so many paranormal-based love stories these days? Still, it works best when you remove all the frills and focus on the unrequited suffering of youth....

December 24, 2012 · 2 min · 384 words · Mark Garner

Batman & Robin, Lookback/Review

Yes, it’s that bad. Although, who doesn’t love icy puns? For, there is only one absolute in this universe: Everything freezes…and BATMAN & ROBIN sucks. Could this just be an overreaction to a mediocre superhero flick? Or is it really one of the seven signs that the world will end on Friday? Join me as we return to Schumachers Batcave…One. After the wild success of BATMAN FOREVER, Warner Bros. grew anxious to sell that movies vision on steroids....

December 24, 2012 · 3 min · 479 words · Michael Garrett

Batman Begins, Lookback/Review

The movie that brought the Bat-man back from the dead. For the geek community it was like a loved one was killed in a horrific accident. Many were interested in taking a new crack at the character. However, that also meant that Warner Bros. was unsure in what direction to take the series. Ultimately, the studio wisely kept looking until they found a young filmmaker named Christopher Nolan. The British-American director was known in Hollywood for intense small crime thrillers like MEMENTO and INSOMNIA....

December 24, 2012 · 3 min · 582 words · Brittany Harris

Elf, Lookback/Review

The best way to spread Christmas cheer is singing loud for all to hear! So is the credence of Jon Favreaus bizarrely delightful ELF. And its largely all thanks to the song in Will Ferrells oversized heart. When ELF hit holiday screens, Ferrell was still on the cusp of stardom. As it turns out, its that very earnest, do-anything-to-hey-you attitude that makes ELF so special. Buddy is a lonely Elf....

December 23, 2012 · 2 min · 267 words · Mary Logan

The Shining (1980), Lookback/Review

Yes, it’s a Christmas movie. I occasionally go on Kurt Vonnegut jags. Ill reread his entire catalogue. I do that with several artists, Stanley Kubrick among them. King had written a book about an external, malevolent force that infected the energies that encountered it. Kubrick wanted to reimagineThe Shiningas a Christmas parable. Kubricks vision is ultimately optimistic, with a lesson to be learned by the whole family. SoThe Shiningis perfectly reasonable family fare to me....

December 22, 2012 · 3 min · 601 words · Elizabeth Coleman

10 Ways the World Will End According to Movies

There are 10 ways the world will end according to some of our favorite movies… Besides Doomsday Preppers, you know what else really likes talking about the end of the world? Apocalyptic movies really take the cake when it comes to stretching the imagination. This list includes post-apocalyptic films as well as close-apocalyptic films (thank you Bruce Willis). It covers some of the most common methods of destroying Earth. [Related: The 10 Best Post-Apocalyptic Books]...

December 21, 2012 · 4 min · 838 words · Jeanette Mccarty

Crisis on Infinite Earths Novelization (1985), Book Review

The famousCrisis on Infinite Earthswas a 12-part groundbreaking comic series published in 1985. Perhaps youve heard of it? The main purpose of this incredible storyline was to simplify the DC continuity. At that point, characters and storylines had become convoluted. The crisis came about as an explanation thereof and an eraser. But this novel also added a layer of detail and internal monologue that didnt exist in the comic. Crisisslams the forces of good and evil together in a big way....

December 21, 2012 · 3 min · 530 words · Eric Scott

How the Grinch Stole Christmas! (1966), Lookback/Review

Even after 46 years, the Grinch is a welcome relief from the never ending commercialization of Christmas. He even takes the roast beast, the staple of the annual Who-ville Christmas feast.

December 21, 2012 · 1 min · 31 words · Kelsey Harris

Interview with Patrick Macias of Crunchyroll Comics

Special comics correspondent Tamara Carrion spoke with Patrick Macias about the new anime, Asian drama site Crunchyroll Comics. Everything on the site is 100 percent legal and officially licensed. PM I think its the global reach of Crunchyroll. Viewers can access our content and site from over 216 countries. And I think its also the quality of service. PM I cant say for sure. Im not aware of anything, nor could I comment on that even if I were aware....

December 21, 2012 · 2 min · 261 words · Darren Shelton

Jack Reacher, Review

The premier of Jack Reacher was pushed back in light of the horrific events in Connecticut. It should probably have been pushed back further. Paramount Pictures 130 Mins. In the interrogation, hes given the opportunity to write out his confession and the police and D.A. are thrilled when Barr picks up a pen and starts writing. Reacher quickly figures out that things are not what they seem. Of course that will happen when youre being chased down and attacked at every turn....

December 20, 2012 · 2 min · 237 words · Kelsey Wheeler