Typically a franchise reboot takes years, if not decades of studio hand-wringing, failed screenplays and casting speculation. Not so with Spider-Man, which proves that in the high-speed, Internet age there's no such thing as "too soon." In fact, the entire Spider-Man franchise debuted ... [More]

  While making the movie "Haywire," director Steven Soderbergh overheard actor Channing Tatum talking about his days as a male stripper in Tampa, Fla. Thinking a movie lay somewhere in Tatum's exploits, Soderbergh encouraged him to proceed and Tatum had his production partner, Reid Caroli... [More]

  When Pixar is at the top of its game it cranks out warm, heartfelt, exciting, funny, wholly-original movies. "Brave" is a wonderful example of Pixar at its best. It's become frighteningly easy to take Pixar for granted as even when this venerable animation studio slips up (like with l... [More]

  Since I became a dad, I've earned a greater appreciation for Father's Day, and not just because it meant there was another holiday where I got presents (which, I'm not going to lie, is a perk). It now gives me pause to think about what it truly means to be a parent and the incalculable valu... [More]

  The legend of America is closely intertwined with the legend of Abraham Lincoln. Even the most nit-picky historian will credit his leadership through the Civil War with saving the United States, and every school-aged child can tell you of the humble, log-cabin origins of our greatest pre... [More]

  A few months ago, I was fortunate enough to catch the touring production of "Rock of Ages" when it came through the Fox Theater, fully knowing that a movie version was not far behind. I really dug the show for what it was, an 80s time-warp, jukebox-musical that served up a smorgasbord o... [More]

  I am a long-time Wes Anderson apologist who freely admits that the writer/director's mannered filmmaking and off-kilter sensibilities are not for everybody. I happen to love Anderson's work, not just for his oddball sense of humor, but for how humanely and sweetly he treats all of his c... [More]

  In 1979, Ridley Scott burst on to the scene with "Alien" by shocking audiences, exploding chests and giving the science fiction genre a grisly kick in the pants. Scott's sinister take on sci-fi (which he also used to great effect on his next film, "Blade Runner") simultaneously combined ... [More]