Recently the excellent post by OldFashionedMillenial, titled "Is Disney Monopolizing Hollywood?," has been getting a lot of hits and general buzz. So the Editors That Be asked the Present Author to weigh in. What a fortunate pass this is because I happen to have a lot on my mind about Disney. See, I grew up in Southern California, in the south of L.A., and quite a bit of my time was spent in Anaheim, California, home to Disneyland itself. My step-dad worked there as a night engineer. He'd score me free passes and Disney swag all the time. On top of that, going to school in Southern California meant that every time there was a field trip, the whole class would go to Disneyland. And yet again on top of that, whenever I had friends from out of town to visit, I'd hopefully offer a few activities from the bountiful recreation opportunities in the golden state. We could go surfing, or check out a swanky restaurant I know, or take the Universal Studios tour in Hollywood, or - nope, I was always…
I will start by saying that I am a fan of Psychological Thrillers, not anything involving horror. Unfortunately, however, recently those two genres seem to be hand in hand. Despite this, there is one film that has made waves across the board with thriller spectators; which surprised everyone when it’s author was a man who up until this point has almost exclusively been known for his comedic talents. Could this film be the start of a whole new era for the psychological thriller genre, or is it just a fleeting enigma? History of Psychological Thriller The genre of “thriller” is used in entertainment - literary, film or otherwise - works that utilize suspense, tension and excitement to color plot devices. These attributes stimulate the viewer's moods causing them feel anticipation, ultra-heightened expectations, uncertainty, surprise, anxiety and most often, terror. The most common use of subgenre to thriller is mystery, crime and psychological thrillers, however there are also many other…
Let me preface this by saying that this review is not a reflection on the actors or the people who put this show together, this is strictly a review of content and show writing and conception. Dealing with divorce - as many who have struggled through this type of life event - is not just a difficulty felt by the two people who are separating. It is felt by the parents of each person, friends, children, and even pets. It can be terrible, horrible, heart wrenching, and life disrupting among so many other things. My parents were divorced when I was six years old and at the time I had no idea what to think. All I knew at the time was that my dad left and he didn’t want me anymore and that was enough to send my head spinning. Though this is not a reality shared by all. I am a part of a C.O.D. group (aka Children of Divorce) where we have all discussed the details of our parents’ separations and what our lives look like now. And for the most part, we all had very similar realities -…
One of the best films about the Golden Age of the Studio System in Hollywood - in my opinion - is “Singin’ in the Rain” filmed in 1952. Starring Debbie Reynolds, Gene Kelly, and Donald O’Connor, this film about the switch from silent films to “talkies” gives the audience a glimpse into how studios were run once upon a time. The movie business was once run by a few large studio conglomerates that made all the films and didn’t really allow for anyone outside of the Studio System to make films or gain any recognition or notoriety in the field. In the past thirty to forty years, this system has all but been either broken up by the federal government or dissolved over time. However, as news broke about Disney’s latest acquisition, many are beginning to question whether or not Disney should be allowed to continue on their current trajectory. Disney’s Take Over Begins According to D23: The Official Disney Fan Club Archives, the company that we know today to be Disney began in October of 1923…
Ever since I was little, I lived for storytime. Whether done through voice, animated cartoon, or something I created inside my own mind, the process of crafting a story and giving someone an experience in some made believes realm where everything can happen and happy ever afters are just over the horizon. And if anyone was good at peddling an idyllic make-believe world for children and adults alike, it’s Disney. Disney got ahead of literally everyone else when they animated almost every fairytale and princess story imaginable, and then they went on to create their own. Up until Tiana, and Merida, many of these stories - in one form or another - already existed. But once the 2010s began, I noticed a shift in Disney’s film factory. Tiana was a surprise as she was the first African American princess as well as being the most modern of the Disney film princesses. Merida was a shock when the movie “Brave” came out in 2012 because it was the first film without any romantic story plot. This…
When you are young, there are so many things that affect how you mold yourself into who you want to be.Whether you model yourself after who your parents are (or aren't in some cases); characters you saw on television or in movies, or you mold yourself the way I did: through books. When I was younger if you couldn't find me, I was probably holed up with some new book, or an old favorite, imaging the characters and the thick descriptions of settings and places I would never get to visit. But through all of the books I read and every world, I traveled to; one name sticks out in my head. There are very few literary characters that had done for me what Luna Lovegood did when I was a young adult. To those who are unfamiliar with the Harry Potter series, and even for those of you who are familiar, you may be questioning why I would choose a character outside of the triad that remained the focus of the novels: Harry, Hermione, and Ron.While I loved every moment, I spent reading and learning…
When the fantastical character of the Doctor first graced the the screens across the UK in 1963, no one was sure what to make of it. From the cheap production and the obviously fake aliens, many thought that it wouldn’t be more than a silly children's sci-fi show. However, after facing cancellation, being off the air for almost 20 years and then returning with the new generation in 2005, Doctor Who has managed to cement itself not just as a british classic but as a science fiction mainstay. However, some fear that Doctor Who is no longer the show so many have watched and loved for over 50 years. Why? Because the roll of the Doctor - having previously been played by thirteen strong male actors (I am including John Hurt’s portrayal as the War Doctor from the 50th anniversary special) - is regenerating as a woman. The backlash from this was loud and shocking. From people petitioning the BBC to fans putting the actress and showrunner on blast for this choice, I was worried that this show…
Score: 1.22
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