Retro Nostalgia: Logan’s Run (1976) and the Infantilization of Humanity
(Note: There are a few spoilers below. If you have not seen Logan’s Run and want to, I recommend watching it before you read this post. I’m not ruining the entire movie or anything; I just know that I would prefer a completely untainted first viewing. If you don’t care about a few spoilers, then read […]
Death Star Economics and Ethics? (Or, What Would You Do With a Death Star?)
I find it amusing when smart people take science fiction concepts seriously enough to question their validity in the real world. From rocket packs to hover cars to laser guns, the smart ones have destroyed our childhoods, one reality-based argument at a time. The Death Star is no different (and I’m going to add to […]
I Don’t Care Who Benedict Cumberbatch is in Star Trek Into Darkness…
And neither should you. I’ve been avoiding all the discussion about Benedict Cumberbatch’s mysterious role in the newest Star Trek film. IMDB still thinks he’s Khan; other people think he’s Gary Mitchell. Me? I used to speculate, but have officially taken the “I don’t give a shit” attitude. Why? Because isn’t part of the fun […]
10 Movies I’m Looking Forward to in 2013
The other day, I released my “top 10” list for television shows premiering or continuing in 2013. Now it’s time for movies. Why? Because movies are where it’s going to be hot this year. Here goes: The Award Contenders Elysium From the writer and director of District 9 comes this promising new science fiction wonder starring […]
Pixar Feature Films (from the worst to the best) — A List That Will Get Me Killed
No long introductions necessary. The following are all of Pixar’s feature films in order from favorite to least favorite. I’ve grouped the films into degrees of “great” for a specific reason: almost all of Pixar’s films are good by any measure. Note: I have left Brave off the list because I have no seen it […]
Retro Nostalgia: The Bourne Identity (2002) and the Politics of Amnesia
One of the things that fascinates me about the Bourne movies is the question raised by his amnesia within the ideology of terrorism (read: War on Terrorism, etc.). To think about Bourne’s amnesia as a symptom of a particular form of national ideology is to understand that his amnesia is not simply a convenient plot device (though […]