The Menu and the Impact of Criticism

By Joan Amenn Food has always been a crucial centerpiece to my life, almost as much and perhaps more than movies, largely because of my heritage. My father had a deep obsession with eating in restaurants to discover what was new and trendy during the organic food movement of the 1970’s. My mother was and remains an outstanding cook whose dinner parties are literally the … Continue reading The Menu and the Impact of Criticism

Hearing Women’s Voices: Films of 2022

By Joan Amenn Rarely, if ever, has a single year contained more film releases that focused on women’s issues and concerns. From epic adventures to ensemble dramas to historical biopics, 2022 offered many opportunities for women’s voices to be heard. Personally, there were some that resonated deeply and still leave me thinking about them even now. Before we delve into a whole new year of … Continue reading Hearing Women’s Voices: Films of 2022

From “Sugarland” to “The Fabelmans”: Mother Figures by Steven Spielberg

By Brian Skutle In “The Fabelmans” (2022), Steven Spielberg finally turns the lens on his own family after spending nearly five decades taking bits and pieces of his upbringing for stories as varied as “Close Encounters of the Third Kind” (1977), “E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial” (1982), “Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade” (1989) and “Catch Me if You Can” (2002). Here, we follow his surrogate, Sammy … Continue reading From “Sugarland” to “The Fabelmans”: Mother Figures by Steven Spielberg

DragonCon: Versatile Guests, Ever-Changing Experiences and Unforgettable Moments

By Brian Skutle When I first began to attend DragonCon in 2009, I didn’t know what I was doing. I had never been to a convention before, and I didn’t really research the first thing to do in terms of how to plan in terms of funds to prepare to go down there. I saw some of the guests on the site, and was like, … Continue reading DragonCon: Versatile Guests, Ever-Changing Experiences and Unforgettable Moments

Jennifer Connelly: Warmth and Heart, Even in Darkness

By Brian Skutle We all have points of reference for when we’re introduced to an actor, and whatever that is has a tendency to imprint on us, and influence us whenever we see them in other movies. If your first time really seeing, say, Robert Downey Jr., was in “Iron Man” (2008) or any of his performances as Tony Stark, you’re not going to be … Continue reading Jennifer Connelly: Warmth and Heart, Even in Darkness

The Women of the Watery World of Atlantis: The Lost Empire

By Joan Amenn Over twenty years ago, Disney did something extraordinarily out of character. They allowed animators to create a world more like a live action film than had permitted previously. No doubt it helped that the directors of “Atlantis: The Lost Empire” (2001) were Kirk Wise and Gary Trousdale, who had collaborated on the blockbuster hit “Beauty and the Beast” in 1991. However, the … Continue reading The Women of the Watery World of Atlantis: The Lost Empire

The Musical Force is Female: Natalie Holt’s Score for “Obi-Wan Kenobi”

By Brian Skutle When Disney first purchased Lucasfilm in 2012, naturally, one of the first thoughts for many a “Star Wars”(1977) fan was the idea of getting more films and TV shows. “Clone Wars”(2008-2020) was going on Cartoon Network, but the prequel era had divided the fan base. New stories were not just on my mind, however. A new trilogy of films meant, of course, … Continue reading The Musical Force is Female: Natalie Holt’s Score for “Obi-Wan Kenobi”