An entrepreneurial ghost-removal service runs into opposition from the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) -- and other creatures of evil. Ghostbusters credits: [Dir: Ivan Reitman/ Bill Murray, Dan Aykroyd, Sigourney Weaver, Harold Ramis/ 105 min/ Comedy, Sci-Fi Fantasy, Horror/ Creator-as-Hero, Anti-Regulation, Pro-Capitalism] "Personally, I like the university. … [Read more...]
Shin Godzilla (2016)
Godzilla returns to attack Japan, but this time with an unlikely ally: a sclerotic Japanese government that is disastrously slow to respond. Shin Godzilla credits: [Dir: Hideaki Anno, Shinji Higuchi/ Hiroki Hasegawa, Yutaka Takenouchi, Satomi Ishihara/ 120 min/ Action-Adventure, Sci-Fi/ Incompetent Government, Individualism/ a.k.a. Godzilla Resurgence/ Japan] Mary Shelly … [Read more...]
Captain America: Civil War (2016)
#1 HIGHEST-GROSSING FILM OF 2016 When political pressure mounts for the Avengers to submit themselves to UN control, Captain America refuses, leading to a violent split among the superheroes. Captain America: Civil War credits: [Dir: Anthony Russo, Joe Russo/ Chris Evans, Robert Downey Jr., Scarlett Johansson/ 147 min/ Action-Adventure, Sci-Fi/ Individualism, … [Read more...]
Wild Palms (1993)
In the near future a wealthy senator combines politics, religion, and virtual reality to create a dangerous authoritarian cult hell-bent on world domination—opposed only by “libertarians.” [Dir: Peter Hewitt, Keith Gordon, Phil Joanou, Kathryn Bigelow/ James Belushi, Dana Delany, Robert Loggia, Kim Cattrall, Angie Dickinson/ 278 min/ SciFi-Fantasy, Drama/ Power Corrupts, … [Read more...]
The Giver (2014)
When a 16-year-old boy discovers that the "perfect" managed society in which he lives is simply a drugged potemkin village, he must decide whether its superficially happy character is worth the price in terms of foregone human experience and lost liberty. [Dir: Phillip Noyce/ 94 min/ SciFi-Drama/ Individualism & Independence, Government enforced morality, Equality & … [Read more...]
Captain America: The Winter Soldier (2014)
A WWII veteran, transformed into a superhero by an experimental serum, discovers that the counter-terrorism unit for which he works has been corrupted and that its plans to preemptively eliminate threats through global surveillance may be a cover for something more insidious. [Dir: Anthony Russo, Joe Russo/ Chris Evans, Samuel L. Jackson, Scarlett Johansson/ 136 min/ … [Read more...]
2081 (2009)
In a future America, all exceptional human intelligence and achievement is stamped out in order to eliminate the destructive consequences of envy. Based on the Kurt Vonnegut story, Harrison Bergeron. [Dir: Chandler Tuttle/ James Cosmo, Julie Hagerty, Armie Hammer /25 min/ Short Film, Drama, SciFi/ Equality & Envy, Individualism & Independence] External Reviews of … [Read more...]
Equilibrium (2002)
In a future dystopian world, government forcibly drugs the population to keep it passive--until one of its own agents turns renegade and sets in motion a rebellion. [Dir: Kurt Wimmer/ Christian Bale, Emily Watson, Taye Diggs/ 107min/ Action-SciFi/ Government Enforced Morality] Equilibrium is very much in the tradition of anti-authoritarian cinema. Indeed, you may have … [Read more...]
The Lord of the Rings Trilogy (2001, 2002, 2003)
ACADEMY AWARD WINNER: BEST PICTURE (2003) ACADEMY AWARD NOMINEE: BEST PICTURE (2001, 2002) A small band of heroes embark on a journey to destroy an all-powerful ring before its evil conjurer can use it to enslave the world. [Dir: Peter Jackson/ Elijah Wood, Ian McKellen, Viggo Mortensen/ 178min/ Fantasy/ Power Corrupts] Tolkien's Lord of the Rings literary trilogy has … [Read more...]
Escape from L.A. (1996)
A resourceful enemy of the state is given a choice: help the government retrieve a stolen high-tech weapon—or die. [Dir: John Carpenter/ Kurt Russell, Stacy Keach, Steve Buscemi/ 101 min/ SciFi-Fantasy, Action-Adventure/ Government Enforced Morality] “The United States is a no-smoking nation—no smoking, no drinking, no drugs, no women (unless, of course, you’re married), … [Read more...]