Menander ("Menandros") has been called the last of the great Greek comedians from antiquity, a sign of the declining and changing tastes among the people of Athens. He carried on the legacy of Aristophanean comedy ("Old Comedy"), even though Aristophanes focused primarily on satirizing heroes and political leaders, while so-called "New Comedy" satirized the ordinary … Continue reading Menander and Dyskolos
Misery
Misery (1990) Director: Rob Reiner This twisted and delightfully awkward horror film is based on the 1987 Stephen King novel of the same name. The film tells the story of a successful novel series writer, Paul Sheldon (James Caan) who escapes to the remote Colorado countryside to write in the winter. He is hoping to … Continue reading Misery
The Shawshank Redemption
The Shawshank Redemption (1994) Director: Frank Darabont The Shawshank Redemption is the film that made Morgan Freeman's classic narration a household staple. The film is based on the Stephen King novella, Rita Hayworth and Shawshank Redemption published in 1982. Frank Darabont directed other Stephen King stories put to film, such as The Green Mile. The Shawshank Redemption was nominated for seven … Continue reading The Shawshank Redemption
Gone with the Wind
Gone with the Wind (1939) Director: Victor Fleming The film is based on the 1936 celebrated and controversial sole novel by Margaret Mitchell, a southern woman who grew up hearing stories of the "old south" in all its graces and vices from her grandmother. The novel was told in five parts, while the film condensed … Continue reading Gone with the Wind
Notes on Plato’s Seventh Letter
Of the thirteen surviving epistles of Plato (coming from the Greek for "to send along" or "to send news" -a letter) the seventh letter is perhaps the most important, and longest of his letters, buried in the middle of thirteen letters. Also the central teaching of Plato's political philosophy is also buried in the middle … Continue reading Notes on Plato’s Seventh Letter
Thoughts on the “Newness” of the New Testament
Christianity, as exemplified in the Gospels, poses a new way for human beings. By creatively reformulating, and thus revitalizing, the mores of the ancient Hebrews, and claiming to fulfill their prophecies, Christianity sows the seeds for a new morality. Jesus completes the public revealing of the new morality in the so-called "sermon on the mount" … Continue reading Thoughts on the “Newness” of the New Testament
The Wizard of Oz
The Wizard of Oz (1939) Director: Victor Fleming et al 1939 is possibly the greatest year in cinematic history with the release of films like Gone with the Wind, and The Wizard of Oz. Interestingly, both films have a storied history and even overlapping directors. Victor Fleming was the primary director of the film (replacing two other … Continue reading The Wizard of Oz
Memento
Memento (2001) Director: Christopher Nolan The idea for Memento came from a screenplay idea by Christopher Nolan's brother, Jonathan Nolan. Memento is the second feature film by Nolan, the first being self-funded called Following. Guy Pearce stars in the film as a man suffering from acute amnesia, in which he can only remember things that happened within the … Continue reading Memento
Gladiator
Gladiator (2000) Director: Ridley Scott Gladiator is the modern warrior-revenge epic film. Of course, the film stars Russell Crowe, in his finest performance as the Spaniard-Roman general, Maximus Decimus Meridius, alongside Joaquin Phoenix, the pale and greedy son, Commodus, who murders his father, the noble Marcus Aurelius, in pursuit of power. Maximus is favored by Marcus … Continue reading Gladiator
The Adventures of Prince Achmed
The Adventures of Prince Achmed (1926) Director: Lotte Reiniger The Adventures of Prince Achmed is remarkable primarily because it is the oldest surviving animated feature film. Apparently there were two even earlier animated films created in Argentina, but those are now lost. Several avant-garde and abstract artists and filmmakers were involved in the creation of this … Continue reading The Adventures of Prince Achmed
