Film reviews

Popcorn and Inspiration: ‘Anchors Aweigh’ From 1945: Music, Patriotism, and Helping Others

2h 20min | Comedy, Fantasy, Music | August 1945 (USA) A great first classic film for lovers of musicals is “Anchors Aweigh” from 1945. With an all-star cast, many types of music, and a patriotic story, ...

May 12, 2020BY Tiffany Brannan

Popcorn and Inspiration: ‘Stand by Me’: Ode to Boyhood and the Ingredients of Male Bonding

R | 1h 29min | Adventure, Drama | 26 November 1986 (USA) Rob Reiner’s magical movie “Stand by ...

May 8, 2020BY Mark Jackson

Popcorn and Inspiration: ‘The Bucket List’: A Touching Tale of Friendship and Last Wishes

PG-13 | 1h 37min | Comedy, Drama | 11 January 2008 (USA) Before seeing director Rob Reiner’s 2008 ...

May 7, 2020BY Ian Kane

Iconic Films: ‘American Graffiti’ Versus ‘Dazed and Confused’: American Innocence Slowly Evaporates

American Graffiti: PG | 1h 50min | Comedy, Drama | 11 August 1973 (USA) I have a personal ...

May 4, 2020BY Mark Jackson

Rewind, Review, and Re-Rate: ‘Thelma & Louise’: An Unfair Fight for Feminism

R | 2h 10min | Adventure, Crime, Drama | 24 May 1991 (USA) I saw “Thelma & Louise,” ...

May 1, 2020BY Mark Jackson

Popcorn and Inspiration: ‘The King’s Speech’: An Unlikely Friendship Helps a King

Being able to communicate with others is something that a lot of folks take for granted—yours truly included. ...

April 27, 2020BY Ian Kane

Popcorn and Inspiration: ‘Apollo 13’: Space Exploration Needs New Science

PG | 2h 20min | Adventure, Drama, History | 30 June 1995 (USA) Fifty years ago, the Apollo ...

April 27, 2020BY Mark Jackson

‘The Grapes of Wrath’ Versus ‘The River’: Desperation in Rural America

Movies about common people fighting oppressors, nature, and poverty are as endearing in recent times as in 1940. ...

April 26, 2020BY Tiffany Brannan

Popcorn and Inspiration: ‘Napoleon Dynamite’: A Bully-Proof Nerd of Great Coolness

PG | 1h 36min | Comedy | 27 August 2004 (USA) What’s the inspirational takeaway of the cult ...

April 23, 2020BY Mark Jackson

Popcorn and Inspiration: ‘Midnight Run’: Uproarious Odd Couple on the Road Film

R | 2h 6min | Action, Comedy, Crime | 20 July 1988 (USA) For “Popcorn and Inspiration” this ...

April 21, 2020BY Mark Jackson

Film Review: ‘Peaceful Warrior’: A Deep, yet Uncomplicated Tale About Self-Discovery

PG-13 | 2h| Drama, Romance, Sport | 23 June 2006 The year 2006 was certainly an interesting one ...

April 20, 2020BY Ian Kane

Seeing Red: Top 10 Films That Expose the Chinese Communist Party’s True Colors

While the pandemic proliferates across continents, so too does a global awareness of the duplicitous and insidious nature ...

April 19, 2020BY Masha Savitz

Rewind, Review, and Re-rate: ‘Welcome to the Men’s Group’: Watch ‘The Work’ Instead

Unrated | 2h 10min | Comedy, Drama | 18 May 2018 (USA) Let me preface this review of ...

April 15, 2020BY Mark Jackson

Popcorn and Inspiration: ‘Rocky’: A Good-Hearted Classic About One Shot at Self-Respect

PG | 2h | Drama, Sports| 3 December 1976 (USA) “Rocky,” the timeless underdog story that captured the ...

April 14, 2020BY Ian Kane

Popcorn and Inspiration: ‘The African Queen’: A Real Adventure

PG | 1h 45min | Adventure, Drama, Romance | 21 March 1952 (USA) How many films from 1934 to 1954 have you seen? Everyone recognizes titles ...

April 11, 2020BY Tiffany Brannan

Documentary Explores the Origins of the CCP Virus

As the documentary shows, the CCP's delay in sharing information about the virus with other countries was not ...

April 9, 2020BY Catherine Yang

Popcorn and Inspiration: ‘Force 10 From Navarone’: An Inspiring Mission to Save Lives

PG | 1h 58min | Action, Drama, War | Dec. 8, 1978 (USA) When Great Britain’s military high ...

April 8, 2020BY Ian Kane

Popcorn and Inspiration: ‘Click’: Adam Sandler Fails to Remote Control His Life

PG-13 | 1h 47min | Comedy, Drama, Fantasy | 23 June 2006 (USA) A workaholic architect (Adam Sandler) ...

April 8, 2020BY Mark Jackson

Popcorn and Inspiration: ‘Battle of Britain’: An Inspiring Epic Depicting the Best of Great Britain

G | 2h 12min | Action, Drama, History | 24 October 1969 British Prime Minister Winston Churchill once ...

March 31, 2020BY Ian Kane

Popcorn and Inspiration: ‘The Secret Life of Walter Mitty’: Ben Stiller Tells a Manhood Rite of Passage Tale

PG | 1h 54min | Comedy, Drama, Fantasy | 25 December 2013 (USA) Ben Stiller’s “The Secret Life ...

March 31, 2020BY Mark Jackson

Coronaphobia and Films: How Epidemic Films Could Contribute to CCP-Virus Panic

Throngs of masked people. Locked-down cities. Abandoned theme parks. Infected cruise ships. Schools closed indefinitely. Public gatherings restricted. ...

March 29, 2020BY Tiffany Brannan

Popcorn and Inspiration: ‘The Milagro Beanfield War’: A Vastly Underrated Magical Comedy

R | 1h 57min | Comedy, Drama, Fantasy | 18 March 1988 (USA) In this time of the ...

March 27, 2020BY Mark Jackson

Popcorn and Inspiration: ‘Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World’

PG-13 | 2h 18min | Action, Adventure, Drama | 14 November 2003 (USA) An inordinate number of naval ...

March 23, 2020BY Ian Kane

Film Review: ‘I Still Believe’: Faith-Based Healing Wholesomeness

PG | 1h 55min | Drama, Music, Romance | 13 March 2020 (USA) One look at the title, ...

March 18, 2020BY Mark Jackson

Film Review: ‘The Informer’: A Capably Crafted Crime Drama With Thrills, Chills, and Spills

R | 1h 53min | Crime, Drama, Thriller | 13 March 2020 (USA, Limited) Crime-drama films can be ...

March 16, 2020BY Ian Kane

Popcorn & Inspiration: ‘Going My Way’ From 1944: Faith From the Emerald Isle

Celebrating all things Irish on St. Patrick’s Day can mean more than leprechauns and green beer. The Feast ...

March 14, 2020BY Tiffany Brannan

Film Review: ‘The Way Back’: Ben Affleck’s Art Imitates Life

R | 1h 48min | Drama, Sport | 6 March 2020 (USA) Ben Affleck stars in a movie ...

March 11, 2020BY Mark Jackson