Film

Kurt Russell made quite a few movies in his career, a bunch in the 1980's, but there are four in particular that made him a legend in the action star game; Escape from New York (1981), The Thing (1982), Big Trouble in Little China (1986), and Tango & Cash (1989). He could have received a star on the Walk of Fame for those four movies alone, yet he seems to be low on the list, if on the list at all, of the most revered actions stars of our time. When people speak about their favorite action stars you hear the usual Bruce, Steven, Jean, Wesley, Arnold, Sly, etc. But anyone who has seen or was around for the above mentioned movies knows Kurt should be up thee with the rest. Even Sly Stallone recognized it when he cast Russell in the Expendables. So why is Kurt left off the list of greatest action stars of our time? Or am I mistaken in how highly regarded he is as an action hero?

Blending fact and fiction, biopics are not simply stories labeled with a note of "based on a true story/actual events", but narratives that attempt to depict someone's life to some a degree of accuracy. Do biopics educate us on great people, or do they disrupt the truth and distort history? What are some specific times that a biopic has done right and wrong?

We all know the ways of the Jedi: truth, compassion, meditation, wisdom, etc. We also know the path of the Sith: anger, hatred, rage, jealousy, and power. However, the question remains, who is right and who is wrong? Exploring this topic would entail research into the creeds of both the Jedi and Sith and question why their black and white viewpoints cause them to fail. It should also discuss Grey Jedi, as well as Jedi and Sith who have resigned from their beliefs such as Ahsoka Tano, Count Dooku, Jolee Bindo, Asage Ventress and so on. Explore the differences between the teachings of the Old Republic Jedi/Sith and the teachings of Luke Skywalker's generation of Jedi/Sith.

It seems that in most popular movies the set or the setting isn't considered as complexly as the setting of say, a stage play or novel, would be. The article would seek to understand the purpose behind settings in modern films, and if they are (or ever were) an extension of the message the film was trying to get across. Consider the following: Does it really matter that the fight took place in a warehouse instead of an alley? Are there cases where the setting is still heavily influenced by symbolism and imagery? Is it all about the mood or is there something deeper?

Terminator 2: Judgement Day (1991) and Jurassic Park (1993) are considered landmark films in regards to their special effects; the T-1000 and the dinosaurs were considered ambitious projects modeled around still-new computer generated imagery. Two decades later, it feels that the modern summer blockbuster uses these effects to a fault rather than to intimately inform the narratives as was the case in those two films. Have filmmakers taken CGI for granted?

Any genuine Star Wars fan cannot deny how closely the plot of The Force Awakens resembles that of A New Hope. Fans have generally had mixed feelings about this idea, but there are points to be made in the reasons as to why they're so comparable. Just because they have similar plot points does not make The Force Awakens just a re-hash; in fact, The Force Awakens is as every bit as strong as any other Star Wars movie. Any comparable aspect of The Force Awakens has a reason behind it, and that's why people can't say that it's just a remake of A New Hope.

What are your thoughts on the prevalence of live action remakes of animated classics on Disney's upcoming release schedule?
How do you feel about the ones already released e.g. this years The Jungle Book. Is it cheap of Disney to invest only in the cost of CGI for these animal tales, knowing they have a sure thing on their hands financially, rather than in innovation and creativity to produce new stories?
Finally, are you looking forward to your favourite animated classics being retold, live action, with your favourite actors, or would you rather these remain untouched?

What causes people to enjoy watching horror films? Naturally, fear is an emotion meant to keep us away from danger. When it comes to horror movies many people choose to run straight towards fear and the skittish feeling it leaves its viewers with. Why are some people more affected by horror movies than others? In a culture where viewers anxiously await the newest release of horror movies, where did this culture begin and why?