Film fans: Thanks for the memories

posted 09:15 AM 12/31
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Nine years ago - Dec. 15, 2000, to be exact – I created The Video Guy column with the simple premise of a regular guy reviewing movies.

I thought the paper’s Weekend section could use a local voice to help people figure out what they wanted to watch, plus, I always secretly wanted to be a movie critic.

The first three films I reviewed were “Gladiator,” “Mission: Impossible 2” and “X-Men”, of which the latter would be the only one I’d be interested in seeing today despite me giving it a mere two stars at the time.

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Hollywood puts its take on history

posted 05:18 PM 12/18

Sociologist Peter Berger once said, "The past is malleable and flexible, changing as our recollection interprets and re-explains what has happened."

Sequels: From shameful to satisfying

posted 08:51 AM 12/03

Sequels always are a risky proposition. Even the surest of bets from a financial standpoint can suffer from artistic sacrifice, and films that may have a natural continuation to the story could be ignored by audiences.

Facing death is only the beginning

posted 08:47 AM 11/26

Facing one's mortality always is a difficult thing to deal with in real life. It's a little easier if you're in the movies, where the plot almost always saves the day.

Some have buttons, others push them

posted 09:50 AM 11/19

There are some people in this world who are simply adept at pushing other people's buttons. More often than not, these people serve simply to annoy, but every so often, there's a benefit to knowing a nuisance.

Still yearning for something more

posted 11:48 PM 11/11

You know that old saying that after eating Chinese food, you’re hungry again an hour later? That can apply to movies as well.

Dim the lights for fright, fun on film

posted 06:39 AM 10/29

In the words of the immortal Geto Boys, "This year Halloween fell on a weekend," which means it's the perfect opportunity to grab that spare bag of candy and watch a bunch of scary movies.

No room for error for comedians

posted 09:15 AM 10/15

Comic actors have the toughest jobs, simply because they are expected to be funny every single time out, no questions asked.

Classic films for kids radiate

posted 09:00 AM 10/08

While it seems as if every week there is a new kids film being introduced, it's important to remember that children's entertainment has long played a role in the movie industry, dating back to the cartoons they used to show before the main feature.

Romantic flicks that defy formula

posted 10:47 AM 10/01

There's a complex alchemy that makes up all intimate relationships, but to boil it down to basics, love, sex and marriage are the most crucial elements.