The Naked Gun (1988) Director: David Zucker ★★★★☆ The Naked Gun is a hilarious crime comedy spoof told as a goofy film-noir satire. It was based on a television show entitled "Police Squad!" that was cancelled after a mere six episodes. The Naked Gun follows Leslie Nielsen's career-boosting role in Airplane! I also watched the … Continue reading The Naked Gun →

Philadelphia (1993) Director: Jonathan Demme ★★★☆☆ Philadelphia is a heavy, cliché-ridden legal drama starring Tom Hanks in his Academy Award-winning role as Andrew Beckett, an up-and-coming attorney who hides his homosexuality and contracts the AIDS virus. After losing his job when his disease has become apparent (a lesion starts showing on his face), Beckett hires … Continue reading Philadelphia →

For Whom The Bell Tolls (1943) Director: Sam Wood ★★★★☆ For Whom The Bell Tolls is a beautiful technicolor film version of Ernest Hemingway's famous novel of the same name. It is impossible to successfully compare the film version to Hemingway's classic novel, as so much is lost without the modernist reflections of the complex … Continue reading For Whom The Bell Tolls →

The Spanish Earth (1937) Director: Joris Ivens “Before death came when you were old or sick. But now it comes to all this village. High in the sky and shining silver, it comes to all who have no place to run, no place to hide.” Hemingway on the set of the film ★★★☆☆ The Spanish … Continue reading The Spanish Earth →

Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan (1982) Director: Nicholas Meyer "I Have Been...And Always Shall Be... Your Friend." ★★★★☆ In contrast to the first Star Trek motion picture, the sequel The Wrath of Khan is an inspiring return to the series for fans, despite the original creator Gene Roddenbury being forced out of the creative process … Continue reading Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan →

Star Trek: The Motion Picture (1979) Director: Robert Wise ★★★☆☆ After the cancelation of the original Star Trek television series, which lasted for three seasons from 1966-1969 (only achieving cult-like status after its network syndication), Paramount decided to produce a feature film approximately 10 years later in 1979. Paramount was persuaded the film could be … Continue reading Star Trek: The Motion Picture →