George Lucas’s remastering the original Star Wars trilogy has gone down as perhaps the most controversial decision in film history. Even without discussing the merits of the changes made (many of which stand out like a sore thumb or detract from the original meaning), Lucas’s permanent alterations to the films’ negatives effectively erased the original […]
Continue readingAlternative programming: Before he was Finn, John Boyega saved London
Much of the early coverage of Star Wars: The Force Awakens has focused on the likely career booms of Daisy Ridley and John Boyega, two actors thrown into the global spotlight by their starring roles. While we have almost nothing to go by for Ridley (a music video and some commercials, basically), we had a […]
Continue readingStar Wars was probably not “brutalizing children” in 1983
With its Disney-fication complete, the Star Wars series has become embraced (or begrudgingly accepted) as a family-friendly sci-fi adventure series. That wasn’t always the case. Not that the series was ever adult or hyper-violent – it was meant for kids! – but at least a few cultural critics still objected. Specifically, watch this bizarre, recently […]
Continue readingThe Star Wars saga, as seen for the first time by kids
The Star Wars series has understandably become a major cultural touchstone for several generations. For parents of a certain nerdy persuasion, introducing a child to R2-D2 and the Jedis for the first time can be a make-or-break moment. What order do you show the films in? Does the “I am your father” twist matter? What […]
Continue readingYep, it’s Star Wars Week
As almost every human being on the continent is aware, Star Wars: The Force Awakens hits theaters this Friday (with some early showings Thursday). We recognize cultural critical mass when we see it, so we’re dedicating this week of blog posts to the juggernaut movie franchise. We realize that Star Wars exhaustion has also reached […]
Continue readingThe future of film copyright could rest in the Hands of Fate
Beloved by fans of Mystery Science Theater 3000 but unknown to the rest of the world, horror film Manos: The Hands of Fate is often considered the worst commercially released movie ever made. Nearly everything about the movie is a disaster, most famously the bizarre characterization and knee-heavy costuming of the evil henchman Torgo (pictured). […]
Continue readingAlternative programming: Why run when you can ride?
Tonight is the library’s annual Final Perk study boost event, this year rechristened as the marathon-themed Final Lap. That’s a great metaphor, but we’ll admit that this is a difficult topic for our collection. Frankly, not many running or track movies exist, almost all of them besides Forrest Gump are about the Olympics or Steve […]
Continue readingNeed a finals break? See The Danish Girl on Thursday!
Welcome to finals week! We know it might be a rough time of year, so best of luck. We’re kicking off this hellacious week with a little present: advance passes to see The Danish Girl on Thursday, December 10th at 7pm in Friendship Heights. The story of transgender woman Lili Elbe is fascinating and timely, […]
Continue readingThe Hateful Eight makes the case for physical film, so what if it backfires?
The upcoming release of Quentin Tarantino’s The Hateful Eight is a pivotal moment for physical film. Tarantino famously loves film stock (having shelled out money to keep film production plants running); the director wants his upcoming movie to showcase the rich power of film in a way that’s undeniable to studios and audiences. But showing […]
Continue readingSpecial event film screenings grow with audiences and theaters alike
Archipelago Cinema, via the KT Wong Cinema In a little over two weeks, Star Wars: The Force Awakens debuts, and insiders hope that raises the tide for the whole film industry. Like Jurassic World this summer, a new Star Wars movie is a cultural event, and although that usually spells huge profits for theaters and […]
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