Music is thought to be nearly as old as civilization itself, and perhaps is older than that. Some people teach that music was invented by the ancient Mesopotamians, who sent drummers out to the fields to frighten away evil spirits (who comes up with this nonsense?)....
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The art of movie-homage has exploded on the silver screen over the past decade. Hollywood has lost some of its creative spark and is seeking new inspiration in the past. [more]

'The Wizard of Oz' is without doubt, unquestionably, the best, most greatest fantasy movie of all time. It has a little bit of everything: beautiful women, violence, danger, terror, good acting, bad acting, Busby Berkeley dance routines, hot dogs,...
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The growing American peace insurgency threatens American lives and interests around the world. I call it a peace insurgency because the anti-war movement's organizers and sympathizers increasingly rely on lies and half-truths to rewrite history. They claim we haven't learned the lessons taught to us by Vietnam, and yet, they clearly are following the same self-dooming path of deception that has shamed this country for 30 years.

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Cindy Sheehan and her antiwar pals have put our soldiers into a dangerous position. [more]

This year, the Xenite.Org network has finally taken steps to reduce the amount of hotlinking we are subjected to. [more]

Halle Berry goes crazy and 'rings' a little to close to another popular horror film. [more]

Some may call acclaimed director Ron Howard, a chameleon but in his latest film little maybe missing as he once more takes a bold move to expand his repertoire. [more]

Set on the backdrop of the Napoleonic Wars, Russell Crowe stars as Captain Jack Aubry, the steadfast captain of the H.M.S. Surprise. Aubry’s ship barely survives a sneak attack from a vicious French frigate, The Acheron. Aubry sets his eye on repairing his bewildered ship and taking down the Acheron, once and for all. His men are exhausted and his best friend Ship Surgeon Stephen Maturin (Paul Bettany) is frustrated at his captain’s persistence especially when it takes the ship away from the doctor’s naturalist endeavors. But their mission is clear, stop the Acheron at any cost. [more]

Screenwriter Richard Curtis makes his directorial debut with the holiday comedy, 'Love Actually'.... [more]

Melding the world of human beings and cartoon characters on the silver screen has been a horrendous and often disastrous task for filmmakers. The biggest success and still the staple of this genre was the revolutionary 1988 film, 'Who Framed Roger Rabbit?' The film showed that humans and toons could interact given a good script and an understanding of the toons themselves. [more]

The little movie that could is what 'The Station Agent' is being heralded as across the country. So what is all the fuss about and could it house one of the most overlooked talents in movies today? [more]

Gwyneth Paltrow returns the silver screen as she embarks to bring life to legendary poet Sylvia Plath. The woman's life was a tormented but strong one. Can the Oscar-winning actress embody such a troubled woman? [more]

'Everything that has a beginning has an end.' It is a ho-hum tagline for the conclusion to the epic sci-fi series, The Matrix. Will it finally reach an satisfactory conclusion? [more]

Why does the controversial human drama 'The Human Stain' belong on my Top 10 list for 2003? Read on. [more]

A lot of people when witnessing 'In the Cut', the new suspense drama from director Jane Campion ('The Piano'), will wonder where Meg Ryan went and what she has become upon her return to the silver screen. Maybe it's a butterfly returning to the cocoon to become a larva. Whatever it is, it's a shocking but poignant metamorphose for the actress. [more]

Hands down, my favorite comedy of all time is 1980’s 'Airplane!' which was conceived by the comedy writing team of ZAZ or David Zucker, Jim Abrahams and Jerry Zucker. ZAZ were responsible for some of the funniest films of the past 20 years. From the 'Naked Gun' series to the 'Hot Shots' movies to 2001’s 'Rat Race'. Their parody comedy and comedic timing was second to none and is still emulated in a lot of the comedies of today. [more]

Filmed on an epic scale and shadowed with an impossible script, 'Beyond Borders' has a lot of interesting things but fails to sizzle.
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There seems to be a trend in all Clint Eastwood directed films that don't star the iconic actor. Starting in 1973's 'Breezy', Eastwood really began to explore with the camera as just a director. With a gap of 15 years, Eastwood returned to sole-directing with 1988's "Bird" where he found a new depth and ability to move an audience with subtly.... [more]

The maniacal mind of director Quentin Tarantino has always been fixated with the world of samurai and kung-fu action genre films. The director has embraced a lot of films in the vein of those old subtitled Bruce Lee movies we all loved in the 1970s. But were they really that great that they need a double-film homage to them. That is basically what the two films that comprise the 'Kill Bill' films are. [more]

Director Carl Franklin is probably one of the most under-rated directors working today. [more]

Having spent time in Japan myself, I found 'Lost in Translation' to be a mockery of what the wonder of the orient is and could be to the casual observer. [more]

What ever happened to the buddy-action comedy? After years of recycling the action-comedy in the style of 'Lethal Weapon', Hollywood had almost given up. With the disaster that was last summer's 'Hollywood Homicide' and the mediocre success of 'Bad Boys 2', it seemed that the genre had finally run its course. [more]

Ben Stiller is a genius when it comes to explosive and reactionary comedy. We have seen his brilliance in films like 'There's Something About Mary', 'Meet the Parents' and his hysterical guest stint on TV's 'Friends'. We have seen him take comedic risks with cult faves such as 'Zoolander', 'Mystery Men' and the critically acclaimed 'The Royal Tenenbaums'. His latest film 'Duplex' is another bold risk by the broadening comedian. [more]

Beneath our city streets and deep within our darkest sewers, a masquerade lives on. This masquerade must not be revealed to human eyes as a blood-thirsty war brews on. For centuries vampires have hunted 'lycans' or werewolves in hopes of committing a final act of complete genocide. [more]

Jerry (Jason Biggs) is a guy afraid of being alone. He just wants the perfect girl and the perfect writing gig. But as all writers know happily ever after only exists in fairy tales. [more]

Cops, terrorists, city under siege and an elite crime-fighting unit are just of the elements that appealed to viewers in the late 1970s as a new television show burst onto the scene. The series showcased the best-of-the-best of law enforcement and starred TV veteran Steve Forrest as 'Hondo' Harrelson and young actor Robert Urich as Jim Street. When SWAT debuted it was yet another TV show that showcased policemen as everyday superheroes and it but only lasted 34 episodes. [more]

Most of my fellow media writers have said that 'Gigli' is probably the worst film of the year. Some have compared it to being as awful as 'Ishtar'. I usually don't let my fellow writers influence my critiques but the backlash towards this film seems unavoidable. [more]

2001's 'American Pie 2' was some what of a disappointment to a lot of die-hard fans of the 1999 original film. There were a lot of awkward moments, useless cameos and returning regulars who had little purpose of being there. Placing that aside the second film did have the classic superglue scene and the Stifler-lesbians scene. The sequel was fun but didn't even come close to the original. Now it has come down for one more trip back to the bakery with 'American Wedding'. [more]

Director Michael Bay has made a career of pushing the envelope on budgets as well as overtly excessive action. His work on the bombing of 'Pearl Harbor' or a fragile shuttle crashing across the surface of an asteroid, Bay knows all about being bold. [more]

In the 1950s, 3D films burst on the screen and thrilled movie-goers of all ages. The craze was very similar to what we felt when we first witnessed the first CGI in motion pictures. Since the 50s, a lot of films have tried to bring back the craze. Films like Jaws 3-D, Friday the 13th 3-D and most recently 'Ghosts of the Abyss' have all benefited from the use of the third dimension to woo audiences. The latter was quite a success and proved that 3-D's makeover was here. Well that was until Spy Kids 3. [more]

Brittany Murphy has always been an enigma to me. Here you have a young funny actress who has a very quirky and off-setting screen charisma. She is difficult to cast unless you put her in a role that pushes her to the extremes. Casting agents are often confused when casting Murphy. So instead of finding a place for her, why not make a film that is her. 'Uptown Girls' is that vehicle. This is all Brittany Murphy is. [more]

Back in 2001, I was dismayed and almost heart-broken to see the character of Lara Croft brutalized into a fake, choppy and often repulsive film. The filmmakers lost the magic that was Lara Croft. Her long history that gamers have been entranced with for years wasn't even touched. This brings me to the 2003 film incarnation of Lara Croft.
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Ever imagined or played the game where you fantasize if you could invite any five literary figures over for dinner, who would they be? What would they talk about? What would they have in common? And what would it be like to go on an adventure with them. That is what acclaimed comics writer Alan Moore must have thought when he created the League of Extraordinary Gentlemen. [more]

Shiver me, timbers! The pirate movie is back!

Throughout recent history of the silver screen, putting a pirate in a major blockbuster almost meant certain doom at the box office. Hollywood has tried desperately to reinvent or resurrect the genre that made Douglas Fairbanks and Burt Lancaster household names way back when. With so many huge pirate flops like Roman Polanski's 'Pirates', Renny Harlin's 'Cutthroat Island' and even last year's 'Treasure Planet' that the genre itself seems to have a curse. [more]

One of the biggest science-fiction blockbusters of all time was probably 1991’s 'Terminator 2: Judgment Day'. The film was a giant success on so many fronts and revolutionized CGI-graphics in film. Now twelve years later, the story continues… [more]

Well director McG's vision of the classic television show returns to the big screen. His breathless trio of Natalie (Cameron Diaz), Dylan (Drew Barrymore) and Alex (Lucy Liu) cascade back into the celluloid arena with a new Bosley and an all new lethal couple. Is the same old business or just more freakish summer-filled saccharine? [more]

Sinbad the Sailor, probably the greatest anti-hero of the Arabian Knights, has seen many incarnations over the years. This time a new animated film from DreamWorks delves into the myth with some celebrity voices in tow. [more]

The rage-filled green-skinned goliath looms read to tear down your local multiplex. But how is Hollywood's latest superhero themed film? Is there room at the top of the box-office for a 12-foot angry hulk? [more]

Director Rob Reiner, Kate Hudson and Luke Wilson have decided to square-off against a green-skinned behemoth. They are packing a weapon to help stall the green goliath. What is their secret weapon? Heart-strings, of course. [more]

Can you remember those sleepless nights you had when you were a child after watching a really intense zombie movie? Perhaps it was 'Night of the Living Dead' or 'Return of the Living Dead' or 'Dawn of the Dead' but each generation has had their own zombie film that broke out and continued to shock horror fans. '28 Days Later' could be that film for this generation.
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One part 'The Score', two parts 'Ocean's Eleven', a twist of 'The Heist' and shake then serve chilled at a European locale. This is the almost recipe for 'The Italian Job'. [more]

What's worse than a leather-faced madman chasing you through the bush with a chainsaw? How about three!!

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Ever find yourself staring into a fish tank unable to look away? Have you ever yearned to sprout fins and live among the fishes of the Great Barrier Reef? Have you ever wanted to speak to the fish during a snorkel or dive? [more]

The fate of the world rests in the hands of a television journalist? Perish the thought. [more]

Near the dawn of the new millennium, a sci-fi film changed the way we looked at martial arts films and boldly molded a new form of sci-fi... [more]

Drunks, half-naked co-eds, hot sun and lots of alcohol. Hmmm, sounds like my college days. Well, almost. [more]

A new 'odd couple' is born with a new spy-film twist. [more]

Eddie Murphy takes another swing at family comedy and this time he has half a dozen tots standing in his way. [more]

The mutants have run amok once more as the Marvel Comic series, "X-Men", once more hits the silver screen with its second chapter. [more]

Skate fast, dodge bullets and smell the cold hard cash. Now can you say; been there done that. That is basically what '$teal' is. [more]

Some have said that this is a departure from the normal thriller. It has been said that formula thrillers and mysteries are dead... [more]

Nick Nolte plays Bob Montagnet, a France-based thief on his last legs, pursuing hopefully his last great heist and trying to get his good luck back. In pursuit of Bob and his crew is crafty police detective, Roger (Tcheky Karyo) who wants nothing more than to watch Bob squirm and eventually slip up. [more]

Oscar winning director James Cameron takes another journey into the ocean's depths as he revisits the final resting-place of the ill-fated ship, Titanic. [more]

One of Hollywood's most respected actors squares off against one of comedies biggest talents for a little therapy. [more]

A Tibetan monk with no name (Chow Yun Fat) is left to protect a scroll of immense power when his master passes on the cursed responsibility. For some sixty years, the monk has wanders the world trying to fend off evil around every corner. [more]

Some law-enforcement guy loses his wife to the gangster-mobster-bad-guy after he gets to close or ends up arresting the big-cheese himself. Gee, have we seen this before?
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Colin Farrell answers the call to fame as he steps up to the plate in his second teaming with director Joel Schumacher. [more]

It’s always hardest to do the middle film in a proposed trilogy of films. The second film is always the maker or breaker of a franchise. In some of the most successful franchises of all time, the second film has gone on to eclipse its predecessor. [more]

Hidden within the colorful history of New York City, a dark period beckons. During that period men were savages and the streets were their war zone. It was a struggle for power through the blood of corruption. [more]

Deep Elf has seen 'The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers' and he sent us the following review. Warning, mates! Thar be spoilers ahead! [more]

Pierce Brosnan returns in his fourth outing as James Bond and the film franchise’s 20th film. Has Pierce found his own take on the character? How will a new Bond for a new millennium change the way we see our favorite secret agent? Or is this 40-year old franchise ready to lay down its Walther PPK? [more]

This week Xenite.Org discontinued its Reciprocal Links program. That program has been in place since 1998. Here is why we have thrown in the towel. [more]

Hardball Jones talks about reducing debt. [more]

The 'Rock' and the 'Relic' try to thwart a nuclear weapon bound for America. Hmm, doesn’t that sound familiar? [more]

It isn’t all that much of a breakthrough when a Saturday morning cartoon character jumps to the silver screen these days.... [more]

In the spirit of 'Steel Magnolias' and 'Fried Green Tomatoes' comes another look into the tales of women and their plights through each generation. [more]

Not since 'Black Hawk Down' has a war film been this harrowing or graphic. 'Windtalkers' delivers. [more]

It has been a long time since I have been so captivated by a special effects film. You know those films where you walk out of the theatre and say, 'Oh my, god!'.... [more]

Who is Jack Ryan? Why is he a lot different than other spies? Is he America's version of James Bond? What exactly makes Jack tick? [more]

Time can force my body to grow old, but it can’t force me to grow up. [more]

They made me tell you up front that I ain't no financial expert. I don't git paid to tell people what I think. I just tell ya. [more]

There are movies where you come out of the theater saying, "The trailers were the best part of the show." Nonetheless, how often do we go see a three-hour movie just to catch a trailer? All right, I did it. So did about 50 other people. [more]

Five years ago I decided to create my own domain, chiefly to consolidate a growing number of Web sites which were scattered across 2 or 3 ISP services. I didn't realize what I was getting into. [more]

"Is your cheese dip white?

That's a pretty simple question, but you should have seen the expression on the face of the beautiful young lady I was talking to yesterday when I asked her that. I have to admit that, if I didn't know what was so special about white cheese dip, I'd probably have a similar reaction, were someone to ask me the same thing. [more]