Ten years after its theatrical release, the Oscar-nominated Flight still holds up as Denzel Washington turns in one of his best performances. Veteran airline pilot Captain William “Whip” Whitaker (Denzel Washington) crash lands a MD-80 series aircraft and somehow survives the event. It’s a miracle that even made it beyond the departure, what with a storm and all. After that, things went from a sigh of relief to G-d help us all in a matter…
"Flight Holds Up Ten Years Later"Tag: Robert Zemeckis
Disney has given Pinocchio the live-action treatment so please prepare yourself to be horrified again by children turning into donkeys. The fact that Disney isn’t lifting the review embargo until the film’s Disney+ launch means they don’t have much faith in it. In all fairness, it would have gotten a theatrical release but then Covid meant releasing the film on Disney+. While Robert Zemeckis directs the film, it’s hard to believe that Sam Mendes and…
"Pinocchio: Disney Gives It Live-Action Treatment"
Light & Magic is a 6-part documentary series that goes back into the archives to give us the deep history of Industrial Light & Magic (ILM). The history of ILM cannot be told without George Lucas, John Dykstra, Ken Ralston, Richard Edlund, Dennis Muren, Robert Blalack, Joe Johnston, Phil Tippett, Steve Gawley, Lorne Peterson, and Paul Huston. It’s because of them that filmmaking would change as a result of a sci-fi film, Star Wars. Dennis Muren would also join the list of…
"Light & Magic Tells The Rich History of ILM"
Back to the Future Part II continues the adventures of Marty McFly and Doc Brown by going to 2015, back to 1985, and then 1955. Robert Zemeckis and Bob Gale would only return if Michael J. Fox and Christopher Lloyd signed on for a sequel. Things were different in the 1980s because sequels were not a sure thing. Even now, they aren’t a sure thing. Part of it is fans demanding a sequel. Crispin Glover…
"Back to the Future Part II Goes On A New Adventure"
Back to the Future is not only an instant classic for the ages but the film kicked off a successful trilogy of classic movies about time travel. This film never gets off the ground without Steven Spielberg. It’s very much an old-fashioned film that brings together a number of themes. As Spielberg says, the script brings together two different generations. But even with Spielberg coming on board, Robert Zemeckis and Bob Gale still had their…
"Back to the Future: One of the Best Films Ever Made"
The Beatles arrived to the United States during a time when America needed them and I Wanna Hold Your Hand captures the Beatlemania. Americans were still mourning the late President John F. Kennedy in February 1964. They needed this almost as much as The Beatles themselves. All eyes were tuned into The Ed Sullivan Show on CBS that evening for a record-setting 73 million Americans tuned in for their first U.S. performance. Television programmers today…
"I Wanna Hold Your Hand Celebrates Beatlemania"
Cast Away, which landed Tom Hanks another nomination for Best Actor, is the most 2020 film to be celebrating its 20th anniversary in 2020. Think about it. FedEx systems analyst executive Chuck Noland (Tom Hanks) finds himself in the most 2020 position possible: stranded on a deserted island. The film takes place in 1995 and Noland is in the worst possible position with no food, water, shelter, or company. His only food comes by whatever…
"Cast Away Marks 20th Anniversary" Back to the Future: The Ultimate Trilogy features new bonus features and is currently available for fans to bring home on 4K Ultra HD. There are a few franchises where every film is a classic. This is one of them. From the opening frames of the first film to the closing minutes of the final installment, everyone will have a good time. This isn’t to say that the franchise doesn’t have its flaws because it…
"Back to the Future Trilogy Gets 4K Ultra HD Upgrade"
The Oscar-winning Forrest Gump, directed by Robert Zemeckis and starring Tom Hanks, marks its 26th anniversary since opening in theaters. Forrest Gump‘s 26th anniversary comes at a time when we are having a national conversation about race. Along with this conversation comes a simultaneous discussion about monuments and such that honor the Confederacy. Personally, I’m not of the belief that we should outright cancel this film. At the same time, I think we do need…
"Forrest Gump Marks Its 26th Anniversary"
Robert Zemeckis and Steve Carell team up in Welcome to Marwen but this story is better told as a documentary rather than narrative feature. The town of Marwen is a fictional Belgian town that Mark Hogancamp (Steve Carell) creates while recovering from the brutal attack. An artist in real life, Hogancamp loses many of his memories following the attack. Basically, an American fighter pilot, Captain Hogie (Carell), crashes during World War 2, gets attacked by Nazis,…
"Welcome to Marwen: The Downsizing of 2018"