It’s an incredible song, but the chest-beating refrain of “I’m still alive,” speaks as more than just a mere hooky, accessible line that’s easily sung by an arena’s worth of ecstatic fans. It serves as a quip on the grunge band’s post-“Yield” legacy, which is more remarkable for its longevity than the ragged quality of […]
DVD reviews
Posted inArts & Culture
Downtown Abbey
“Downtown Abbey” begins with a telegraph. It’s April of 1912, and as the family and staff of the palatial mansion called Downton Abbey wake up and start their day, the news travels fast: The Titanic has sunk, and the master of the home, Robert Crawley, the Earl of Grantham, is suddenly without an heir. Because […]
Posted inArts & Culture
Downtown Abbey
“Downtown Abbey” begins with a telegraph. It’s April of 1912, and as the family and staff of the palatial mansion called Downton Abbey wake up and start their day, the news travels fast: The Titanic has sunk, and the master of the home, Robert Crawley, the Earl of Grantham, is suddenly without an heir. Because […]
Posted inArts & Culture
Clarence, the Cross-Eyed Lion
As kids’ movies of that era go, it’s unspectacular, but also harmless, charming and agreeable. Let’s put it this way: The phrase “a fine howdya do” is spoken without irony. Marshall Thompson (“It! The Terror from Beyond Space”) is Dr. Tracy, the veterinarian in an African village whose natives fear a lion. But it’s Clarence, […]
Posted inArts & Culture
Clarence, the Cross-Eyed Lion
As kids’ movies of that era go, it’s unspectacular, but also harmless, charming and agreeable. Let’s put it this way: The phrase “a fine howdya do” is spoken without irony. Marshall Thompson (“It! The Terror from Beyond Space”) is Dr. Tracy, the veterinarian in an African village whose natives fear a lion. But it’s Clarence, […]
Posted inArts & Culture
The Hangover Part II
Bottom line: While this sequel doesn’t offer the surprise factor of its big brother of two summers ago, I still laughed. A lot. The “wolf pack” reassembles — somewhat reluctantly — for the wedding of mild-mannered dentist Stu (Ed Helms, TV’s “The Office“) to a lovely Asian woman (Jamie Chung, “Sucker Punch“), whose father hates […]
Posted inArts & Culture
The Hangover Part II
Bottom line: While this sequel doesn’t offer the surprise factor of its big brother of two summers ago, I still laughed. A lot. The “wolf pack” reassembles — somewhat reluctantly — for the wedding of mild-mannered dentist Stu (Ed Helms, TV’s “The Office“) to a lovely Asian woman (Jamie Chung, “Sucker Punch“), whose father hates […]
Posted inArts & Culture
Jessicka Rabid
This hateful effort — apologies to the word “effort” — not only gives exploitation film a bad name, but represents a strong argument against DIY movies. Jessicka (Elske McCain, “Poultrygeist: Night of the Chicken Dead”) is treated like a dog, literally. Her male captors keep her caged and feed her dog food, and occasionally put […]
Posted inArts & Culture
Jessicka Rabid
This hateful effort — apologies to the word “effort” — not only gives exploitation film a bad name, but represents a strong argument against DIY movies. Jessicka (Elske McCain, “Poultrygeist: Night of the Chicken Dead”) is treated like a dog, literally. Her male captors keep her caged and feed her dog food, and occasionally put […]
Posted inArts & Culture
Intruder
Such was the world of “Intruder,” the directorial debut of Scott Spiegel, forever a god among cult filmdom for co-scripting “Evil Dead II.” That sequel, of course, was directed by longtime pal Sam Raimi, who grew up shooting homemade shorts with brother Ted, Spiegel and Bruce Campbell. “Intruder” is a feature-length version of the inventive, […]