Movie Monday: Frozen
Sorry, Katniss. You may shoot a mean arrow, but sometimes there’s just no beating a talking snowman. OK, so Olaf the snowman is really a secondary character in Disney’s Frozen. A pair of princesses anchor this frosty film. But really, all we really need to know is that Frozen rolled and patted its way to […]
The Kindness of (Cyber) Strangers
You’ve heard of Black Friday and Cyber Monday of course—both signs and symptoms of our very modern consumerist Christmas. But yesterday was a day celebrating a different aspect of Christmas. And what Giving Tuesday lacks in a snappy name, it perhaps makes up for in heart. Google connected interested surfers to worthy charities on Google+, and […]
Movie Monday: Frozen Can’t Chill Catching Fire (But Does Just Fine Anyway)
Every once in a while, pundits will complain there aren’t enough strong women in the movies. The box office (these critics say) is dominated by an old boys’ club of manly superheroes and hairy hobbits, with nary a Wonder Woman or female elf in sight. Call this weekend, then, the exception to the rule. On […]
The Chairs Are Alive With the Sound of Thanksgiving
I was in my early teens when Julie Andrews became inexplicably linked with cranberry sauce for me. My family—mom, dad, sister and I—were paying a Turkey Day visit to my grandparents in Sun City, Ariz. They’d moved out there not too long before, and I was still young enough that seeing them was a special […]
Movie Monday: Catching Fire
A word to the wise: Never, ever, ever bet against Katniss Everdeen in anything. Not in the Hunger Games, not in an archery competition, not even in a friendly game of Clue. And certainly never question her dominance at the box office. Are you listening, President Snow? The arrow-slinging diva and her Hunger Games: Catching […]
Eye of Newt, Tail of Bat, TV Remote …
Perhaps we should call today’s prime-time television “the witching hours.” Perhaps you haven’t seen the witches. Perhaps your television diet consists (like mine does) of old Dick Van Dyke Show reruns and Downton Abbey on Blu Ray. But they are everywhere, it would seem, brewing potions on broadcast television, cackling on cable. Yes, witches are […]
Movie Monday: Thor Takes a Holiday
An ensemble comedy had an impressive opening at North American theaters this weekend. But when all the receipts had been counted and estimated, Thor still proved to be the best man. Thor: The Dark World, earned an estimated $38.5 million to claim its second straight box office crown, trumping the upstart The Best Man Holiday, […]
Movie Monday: Thor’s Dark World Lights Up Box Office
Don’t argue with the man with the hammer. Particularly when the hammer flies. Thor: The Dark World pounded its way to an estimated $86.1 million, with Thor chortling heartily at the puny human movies attempting to block his way from the top of the box office. It wasn’t much of a contest, really. The next closest […]
The Bend of the Spears: Britney and Jesus Meet on Broadway
Tonight, audiences will see the story of Jesus Christ as told by Britney Spears. SPEARS: The Gospel According to Britney is a one-night-only production by 23-year-old Patrick Brute. It’ll use such Spears’ tunes as “Stronger,” “One More Time” and “Crazy” to musically narrate Jesus’ life, death and resurrection. And, according to Brute, the production is […]
Movie Monday: Ender’s Game
Newfangled videogaming warfare led by a bunch of wet-behind-the-ears whippersnappers? It was all too much for a certain bad grandpa. Last week’s mustachioed champion opted to take a nap as Ender’s Game topped Jacka‑‑ Presents: Bad Grandpa for the weekend’s box office crown. Ender’s Game gunned down the rest of the field in short order. […]