Film Buffs

In the cold, winter months, a trip to the theater, braving the weather, sometimes isn’t as appealing as enjoying a warm cup of hot chocolate by the fire, as a movie plays on TV. Many viewers choose to subscribe to a premium movie channel package, adding a little bit of variety and depth to the paltry by comparison DVD collection. Choosing which movie channel is right for you is a task in and of itself. But, the options are pretty much the same, whether you’re a DIRECT TV, DISH or cable household. Here’s a look what to expect from the most prominent channels available, with some providers allowing to mix and match 2 or more:HBO Not only the most famous name in movies on the small screen, Home Box Office is the most widely watched of the movie channels as well, currently serving 28.5 million subscribers. Combining some of the biggest names in major release motion pictures, slightly dated throwbacks, popular original series (i.e. Entourage), boxing, documentaries, stand-up and more, the proven platform can suffice for many a viewer’s every need.Cinemax Owned by Home Box Office, Cinemax is often packaged with it in when purchasing channels. Cinemax focuses almost exclusively on movies, with less sports or original series presence, hence maximum cinema, the concept from which it takes its name. Cinemax is noted not only for its varied movie selection but also its special feature and erotica programming.Showtime Historically praised for its selection of movies, many a little less mainstream than HBO (in fact, at one point Showtime was officially branded with the slogan “Showtime has the hits HBO misses), the channel has recently increased viewership through popular series programming. Dexter, Weeds and Californication have all been critically acclaimed successes for Showtime as it continues to diversify its programming selection. Read more »

I took my kids to see the movie Toy Story 3 and I loved it, but the end made me cry. It was sad that Andy gave his beloved toys away. Although, I know he had grown up and didn’t play with them anymore. He left them in good hands with cute little Bonnie and the toys were happy to have a child play with them again.

I know that the reason my heart melts during this movie is the reminder that someday Read more »

Cupid has been spotted flying his little naked bottom through the skies of the world, getting ready to launch arrows of love into the innocents below! That’s right; Valentine’s Day is coming right around the corner and millions of faithful celebrators are getting ready to cozy up next their lovers on the love seat. What better an idea for a romantic evening alone with your lover than to pop in a blockbuster romance? There are many of them out there, but do not be mistaken; not all romance movies Read more »

The art of cinematography has always been important throughout its history. It has been actively developed during the twentieth century. During the last decades a number of cinema genres appeared, among them being: drama, action, love story, comedy horror and many others.Horror films are informed to enjoy an immense popularity in the entire world. This genre along with psychological thriller was significantly promoted by a legendary director Alfred Hitchcock. His is famous for his unique techniques copied and taken over by a number of brilliant directors who made their famous horror movies in the ’80s.In fact, there are a plenty of horror movies made in the ’80s that are worth seeing. First of all, the “Hell Motel” (1980) of Kevin Connor should be mentioned. It has got a reputation of being a “light-weight” movie, a mixture of humor and cannibalism. “An American Werewolf in London” (1980) is considered to be a classical film in the “werewolf” subgenre. “The Return of the Living Dead” (1984) by Dan O’Bannon is one of the first screened versions of the “dead men walking” idea. “Hellraiser” (1987) by Clive Barker has got an international acknowledgment due to the plot and exclusive special effects.

Christmas is a time for family. How better to spend it than by sharing a few laughs that cross generational borders? The Christmas miracle is finding a flick that entertains adults encouraging terribly inappropriate antics that would earn otherwise nice boys and girls a lump of coal from Santa Claus. When in doubt, these three Christmas comedy classics are sure to keep the holiday spirit bellowing from deep within your candy-cane filled gut. 1. A Christmas Story What could be more perfect for the family to enjoy on Christmas than a movie explicitly titled A Christmas Story. Not only does it guard against the dangers of licking frozen objects and asking your parents for potentially dangerous presents, but same quirky family anecdotes have stood the test of time, capturing the hearts and minds of audiences since 1983. With a The Wonder Years style narration and youthful perspective of household dynamics, this timeless tale has reverberated with viewers of all ages for generations now. Best of all, it airs for 24 hours straight on TBS every Christmas Day, so no need to waste time or money on a rental.2 & 3.Home Alone & Home Alone 2: Lost in New York Want to appreciate the comfort of family this holiday season? A three hour double feature of Kevin McAllister with no one to turn to but his bag of tricks, learning to appreciate the idiosyncrasies of relatives alongside the true meaning of Christmas is sure to provide a little entertainment and perspective. Read more »

The summer of 2010 saw laughs, tears and thrills that will have big screen images forever etched in our mind. Over the past 3 months audiences were treated to some of the highest grossing, top notch films on record across all niches, here’s a look at the most memorable films to make their mid-year debut

1. Inception – Starring Leonardo DiCaprio and directed by Christopher Nolan, Inception is undisputedly the most talked about movie of the summer, with raving reviews from movie critics and fans alike. Nolan follows up his history of summer box-office success, most notably with The Dark Knight, as this out-there science fiction flick bent the minds of sold out theaters. Walking the thin line between dreams and reality, Inception explores the levels of human consciousness and how they shape the perception of reality. Read more »

With Guillermo del Toro’s announcement that he’s no longer directing the Hobbit films, the writer, director, and producer is freed up to follow more of his own properties. Many fans are hoping these will include Hellboy 3, which del Toro says he has definite plans for, but isn’t on his list of upcoming projects. Instead, the always-interesting filmmaker is involved with a variety of films across several genres. The most recent of these, Don’t Be Afraid of the Dark, premiered at San Diego Comic-Con last month.Del Toro’s influences have always included classic horror and weird fiction like H.P. Lovecraft’s. His previous films like Hellboy and Pan’s Labryinth pop with eye-catching creatures and old-fashioned scares. With Don’t Be Afraid of the Dark, he takes his first shot at actually updating such a sourcein this case, a 1973 made-for-television film of the same name. Read more »

Inception, the new sci-fi actioner from director Christopher Nolan, is only his first film since 2008′s blockbuster The Dark Knight. However, it’s also his first film since 2000′s Memento to be based on an original idea, rather than a novel or comic book. So what are the results? According to many reviewers, nothing short of stunning.To ensure proper enjoyment of the plot, most of it must remain a mystery (as it has, in fact, since the film’s inception). The premise is simple if surreal: Leonardo DiCaprio enters people’s dreams and changes them to suit the ends of his clients. He works with a team with pulpy names like “The Architect”, “The Forger”, and “The Chemist”, but rather than coming off as simply Ocean’s 11 in a sci-fi world (which, let’s admit, would be awesome), Nolan crafts a twisting story that holds its own with his earlier Memento. Read more »

In the last few years there has been an insurgence of vampires into the film and literary world. These historically dark creatures have also taken on a whole new persona that can actually be good and virtuous. Stephenie Meyer introduced us to the Cullen family in her the first book of the series, Twilight. This non-biologically related group of people is bound together by their commitment to overcome the inherent evil of being a vampire. Read more »

With Hollywood apparently running low in the fresh ideas department, studios seem to be serving up repackaged leftovers, sometimes throwing in a big budget to try to make an old classic shine again. Unfortunately, this approach is often either done too soon or strays too far from why audiences fell in love with the original film. Here is a list of the 5 most unnecessary remakes out there.5. The Karate Kid (2010) When it was first rumored Mr. Miyagi was being brought out of retirement, a lot of people thought Karate Kid was being rereleased for a new generation to enjoy on the big screen. After all, it came out in 1984, just long enough ago for some of its original young fans to share it witht there kids today. An entirely new remake was nowhere near necessary, but sentiments are tempered in that this movie could probably survive on its own. With some key setting and plot changes, at least the new version offers a fresh spin on the classic, as opposed to just recasting it wish new stars and better effects.4. The Day the Earth Stood Still (2008) At first glance it would seem this 1951 film could use a freshen-up. Studios were probably licking their chops at the chance to apply today’s new technology to one of science fiction fans favorite scripts, but in doing so they missed the point of why fans today still rave about the golden oldie. The black and white version is quirky, engaging and believable in its naivety and doesn’t fit with the modern day script updates and thematic relevance re-writers forced down viewers’ throats.3. Lolita (1997) It takes guts to remake a Kubrick film, with his notorious reputation as a perfectionist, and Adrian Lyne’s new version is far from terrible, but a lot of the genius in the 1962 film lies in crafting Nabokov’s novel to be not only suitable for the sensors of the early 60′s but true to the story’s central motifs. Remaking Lolita under today’s relaxed societal norms turns the film from a masterpiece into a mere movie. Read more »