Features
Cinephile goodness in the form of insightful editorials and entertaining, analytical features from the CinemaNerdz writers.
Trailer Trashin’ A Portrait of the Artist in Drew: The Man Behind the Poster
First off, like everyone else, I was shocked and horrified to learn about the shooting at the movie theater in Aurora, Colorado on the morning of Friday, July 20th, 2012. My thoughts and prayers go out to the victims, along with their families and friends. This was an act of senseless, unconscionable evil, and it has cast a cloud over what should have been a day of joy and celebration for movie fa...[Read More]
Batman on Film: Christopher Nolan Resurrects the Dark Knight
In the first half hour of Batman Begins, Thomas Wayne asks young Bruce this question after he falls into a well: “Why do we fall Bruce?” The answer to the elder Wayne’s question is so we can learn to pick ourselves up. Batman fell down pretty hard during Joel Schumacher’s watch and it was up to Christopher Nolan to pick the franchise back up. And pick it up Nolan did…so much so, that I don’t think...[Read More]
Trailer Trashin’: We’re off to See the Wizard in Oz The Great and Powerful
It’s almost here, Bat-fans. After four long years of waiting, the release of The Dark Knight Rises is mere days away. And appropriately, the past week has brought us the first look at the new cinematic incarnation of a franchise that has been a fixture of popular culture even longer than Batman. This week’s Trailer Trashin’ takes a look at the upcoming fantasy film Oz: The Great ...[Read More]
Batman on Film: Joel Schumacher Almost Kills the Batman Franchise
Like most fans of the feature length, live-action Batman motion pictures, I tried to pretend Joel Schumacher’s offerings don’t exist. I usually do a pretty good job of it too, but because I’m a fanatic, and a completist, they get watched once every couple years when a new Batman film is released in the multiplexes across the globe. This time around though, I’m taking you with me. You got to revel ...[Read More]
Trailer Trashin’: Generic but entertaining, thy name is Alex Cross
As we battle the summer heat, the air-conditioned interiors of our local movie theaters are a welcome sanctuary, where the new trailers give us things to look forward to besides cooler weather. For your reading pleasure this week, Trailer Trashin’ takes a look at the first trailer for this fall’s upcoming crime thriller Alex Cross. Premise: Dr. Alex Cross (Tyler Perry) meets his match ...[Read More]
Batman on Film: Tim Burton Brings the Dark Knight to the Modern Cinema
As I mentioned in part one Batman on Film, Batman (1966) was my first experience with the Batman character. Even though Adam West will always hold a special place in my heart and I’m able to separate his Batman from any of the “modern” interpretations of the character, it’s Tim Burton’s vision of the Batman universe that I grew up with and considered the one true cinematic representation (until Ch...[Read More]
Trailer Trashin’: It’s Up Meets Short Circuit in Robot & Frank
Happy Fourth of July, everyone! Whatever you do to celebrate – have a barbecue, go to the movies, watch fireworks – enjoy yourself. I’ll be watching my local parade, having lunch at the Coney Island, and then watching my traditional double feature of Jaws (1975) and Independence Day (1996). But in the meantime, let’s take a look at the first trailer for the upcoming indie sci-fi comedy...[Read More]
Batman on Film: Batman (1966)
My first real exposure to Batman came as a kid with the 1966 movie starting Adam West as the Caped Crusader and Burt Ward as his faithful ward Robin. Sure, I saw a few Super Friends episodes from time to time, but it was that movie that really hooked me. There I was, watching it for free at an outdoor summer festival in Ann Arbor, Michigan called Top of the Park. I look back on that first viewing ...[Read More]
Trailer Trashin’: Pixar Enters the Prequel Game with Monsters University
Well, faithful readers, this is a day I’ve awaited since I started writing this column – I finally get to write about a Pixar movie! This week brings us the first teaser for the first Pixar prequel, Monsters University. Premise: Set about ten years before the events of Monsters, Inc., this is the story of how James P. “Sulley” Sullivan and Mike Wazowski met during their college days at the U...[Read More]
Dear White People: A Reason to Return to the Theater
Never mind the group-specific title. Dear White People is a movie we can all be excited about. Billing itself “a satire about being a black face in a very white place,” Dear White People follows the events leading up to a race riot at a prestigious, predominately white university through the perspectives of four, very different, black students. “While the script was culled from my own college expe...[Read More]
Trailer Trashin’: The Resident Evil Series Continues to Not Interest Me with Resident Evil: Retribution
I’ve been on a good run with Trailer Trashin’ these last couple weeks, but I knew it would happen eventually – I have to write about a movie I have no interest in. On the chopping block this week is the second trailer for Resident Evil: Retribution, the fifth entry in the film series loosely based on the Resident Evil video game franchise. Premise: Alice (Milla Jovovich) is captured by...[Read More]
Trailer Trashin’: Tarantino’s Django Unchained Looks Off the Hook
As I said last week, the summer is a time when movie studios start promoting their big films and Oscar hopefuls that are coming out in the fall and winter. And just like last time, this week’s installment of Trailer Trashin’ is looking at a promising December release – Django Unchained, the new film from writer/director Quentin Tarantino. Premise: Django (Jamie Foxx), a freed slave, tr...[Read More]