Yearly Departed: In Memoriam for 2020

While Yearly Departed featured a top-notch roast, a special musical sequence included everything we said goodbye to in 2020. The biggest surprise of all, and spoiler alert to anybody who didn’t watch yet: Christina Aguilera sings “I Will Remember You” during the In Memoriam tribute to everything we said goodbye to in 2020.  This sequence is no different than the Oscar or Emmy telecasts.  Unfortunately, you have to be paying special attention to see everything…

"Yearly Departed: In Memoriam for 2020"

Always: My Least Favorite Steven Spielberg Film

Always departs from the rest of Steven Spielberg’s 1980s filmography in that the film goes for sentimentality more than anything else. It’s not uncommon for Spielberg to release multiple films in the same year.  The summer saw Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade.  While there is some nice action in the aerial scenes in Always, the two films couldn’t be further apart.  Maybe this is why it has taken me until now to watch Always. …

"Always: My Least Favorite Steven Spielberg Film"

Yearly Departed Roasts The Dumpster Fire Of 2020

Yearly Departed, the new all-star comedy special premiering on Amazon Prime Video, roasts the dumpster fire that is the year 2020. Dearly beloved, we are gathered here to bid farewell to this dumpster fire year.  Qubi came and went faster than you could say MoviePass!  Sorry, not sorry!  I’m going to include a photo to break between writing because of possible spoilers.  But honestly, I recommend watching before reading.  This is really the best way…

"Yearly Departed Roasts The Dumpster Fire Of 2020"

E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial: Another Spielberg Classic

Following Raiders, Steven Spielberg gets back to science fiction and gives us his most personal film in E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial. I have a confession to make.  It wasn’t until the late 1990s/early 2000s before I watched E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial.  A lot of this is because I am prone to nightmares and like Mars, Inc. at the time, I thought E.T. was scary.  Let me tell you how wrong I am for this line of thinking.…

"E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial: Another Spielberg Classic"

Close Encounters of the Third Kind: A Classic

In spite of the logistical challenges in putting the film together, Close Encounters of the Third Kind is a Steven Spielberg classic. Much like George Lucas and Star Wars, Steven Spielberg also continued working on Close Encounters.  Ultimately, Spielberg kept working on it and gave us his ultimate version in 1998.  Most of the reason for the Special Edition is because the studio wanted to go inside of the ship.  In the end, Spielberg would…

"Close Encounters of the Third Kind: A Classic"

Warner Bros. An Open Letter After WW84 Rollout

Warner Bros. Pictures botched the theatrical and streaming rollout of Wonder Woman 1984 in one of the worst ways possible. I was very outspoken on Twitter upon learning that the Wonder Woman 1984 embargo would be lifting on December 15.  Why?  Because once again, the studio decided to screen their film for select press–including those press members participating in press junkets and receiving swag for doing so.  In choosing who got to see the film…

"Warner Bros. An Open Letter After WW84 Rollout"

Thirteen Days Marks 20th Anniversary

Thirteen Days may have been critically acclaimed but the film takes some major dramatic licenses in revisiting the Cuban Missile Crisis. If we want to get technical with the anniversary, the wide release didn’t come until January 12, 2001.  But for the sake of Oscar qualification, New Line released the film on December 25, 2000.  There weren’t many critics groups giving the film many awards.  The Critics Choice Awards were among the few to honor…

"Thirteen Days Marks 20th Anniversary"

We Can Be Heroes: A Superhero Film With Heart

One can look at We Can Be Heroes as being a copycat of films like The Avengers (and with children) but this film is so much more. Perhaps what is the most surprising is that this is a stand-alone sequel to The Adventures of Sharkboy and Lava Girl.  Taylor Lautner does not reprise his role.  The film finds a way to hide this, of course.  While this may be a stand-alone sequel, the film makes…

"We Can Be Heroes: A Superhero Film With Heart"

The Solzy Awards for 2020: The Best in Film

An annual tradition, Solzy at the Movies presents the Solzy Awards for 2020 as a way of honoring the best achievements this year in film. When it comes to the Solzy Awards, my criteria are usually the same as the Oscars with the traditional 7-day minimum release in Los Angeles and New York.  What differs this year is that I am not adding on January and February.  Personally, I would prefer that my awards-voting groups…

"The Solzy Awards for 2020: The Best in Film"

HBO Max: Coming and Leaving in January

HBO Max announced the list of films, series, and specials that are coming and leaving the streaming service during January 2021. New and returning subscribers can sign up for a pre-paid offer and get 6 months of HBO Max at a discounted rate of $69.99 plus applicable taxes. Find out more at HBOMax.com. TITLES COMING TO HBO MAX IN JANUARY Exact Dates to be Announced: Arthur’s Law, Max Original Series Premiere The unemployed Arthur Ahnepol (Jan…

"HBO Max: Coming and Leaving in January"