From the DVD Shelf: Platoon (1986)
After watching The Deer Hunter (click here for my review), I decided to move on to another famous Vietnam war movie that I’d never seen: Platoon. Oliver Stone wrote and directed the film, based on his experiences as a soldier in Vietnam in 1967-68. Oliver Stone is an interesti
Josh Reviews The Five-Year Engagement
In the opening scenes of The Five-Year Engagement, Tom (Jason Segel) and Violet (Emily Blunt) get engaged after having been dating for exactly a year. They seem perfect for one another, and the engagement is quickly followed by a movie-perfect sweet/off-color engagement party. Bri
From the DVD Shelf: The Deer Hunter (1978)
A few years ago when I was watching the documentary I Knew it was You: Rediscovering John Cazale (a really incredible short documentary that is well worth checking out — click here for my review), I commented that of Mr. Cazale’s five films, the only one that I hadn’
“Hulk: Smash!” Josh Reviews The Avengers!
Well, here we are at last. The brilliant post-credits scene of 2008’s Iron Man (click here for my original review) promised the beginning of a bold experiment by the fledgeling Marvel Studios — launching stand-alone films starring several of their major characters (Iron
Fifty Years of 007! Josh Reviews Thunderball (1965)
Well, my apologies, gang, for the long delay between installments of my look back at all the James Bond films. I’ve been eager to get back to this Bond re-watching project, but I’ve just found myself busy with other things and continually drawn to other films. In the m
From the DVD Shelf: Raging Bull (1980)
Well, after finally watching, for the first time, Martin Scorsese’s seminal 1976 film Taxi Driver (click here for my review), I decided to move on to another gaping hole in my film-watching history: Raging Bull. I of course knew that Robert De Niro starred in the film as real-li
Josh Reviews The Hunger Games
I came into the film adaptation of Suzanne Collins’ hit novel The Hunger Games without having read any of the novels. So my comments on the film will not contain any reflections on the film’s successes or failures as an adaptation of the source material. My review will
Josh Reviews The Cabin in the Woods
So, yeah, we all know that Joss Whedon (mastermind of Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Firefly/Serenity, Dr. Horrible’s Sing-Along Blog, and many more pieces of beloved work) co-wrote and directed Marvel’s huge film The Avengers, opening in a few weeks (and which I am desperately
Josh Returns to the DC Animated Universe with Justice League: Doom
Justice League: Doom is the latest direct-to-DVD DC Universe animated feature. The story is adapted from the “Tower of Babel” story-line that ran through issues #42-46 of JLA back in 1998. Those original comics were written by Mark Waid and Dan Curtis Johnson and illus
From the DVD Shelf: Taxi Driver (1976)
Can you believe I’d never seen Taxi Driver? I’m fairly well-seen when it comes to famous films, and I’m a big fan of Martin Scorsese. But somehow I’d never seen Taxi Driver or Raging Bull. Well, last month I finally saw them both. I’ll be back next we