What is film? More specifically, what do films, or the folks who make them, want to accomplish with their film? The answer to this question can be different for every film and every filmmaker out there. But I believe we could find on a very broad overview, that 99% of all films every made intend to tell you a story, and entertain you while doing it. No matter the genre, no matter the subject, no matter true story or fictional, filmmakers want you to be enthralled and engaged and to enjoy the great telling of a good story. Let’s start there for Birdman. Did the film enthrall me? Did it engage…

Many are calling this latest trailer for Exodus: Gods and Kings “epic.” While I understand what they mean, I have to say that this trailer would not get my attention like the last one did. This trailer seesm to focus on the action and the heart pounding. The previous theatrical trailer has much more balance and nuance and things that I was interested in. But that’s not what’s going to seel people on this film, and Ridley Scott and the rest of the team know that. So they’ve given us this trailer.

The film opens in theaters on December 12.

Well now, while I’m still looking forward to this film, this trailer just isn’t half as good as any of the previous trailers. I sure hope the film is better than this latest trailer suggests.

It is directed by Matthew Vaughn, who has done some quite good work prior to this. And the film stars Colin Firth, Samuel L. Jackson, and Michael Caine, so I still think it’s going to be good.

In theaters on February 13.

Next month, Philadelphia Film Society & Geekadelphia will present six days of celebratory screenings of the original Star Trek films on 35mm, entitled STAR TREK – 35 Years on 35mm: A Retrospective.

From Friday, December 5th through Wednesday, December 10th, the first six films in the franchise will be presented at the PFS Roxy Theater in downtown Philadelphia.

Individual tickets for each screening are $10.00. An all-access pass for all six films with reserved seating is $50.00. There is also a $35.00 general admission pass that will allow the buyer into four films of their choosing.

Man…

I do not speak French so I have no idea what any of the onscreen text in this trailer is saying. Nevertheless, I enjoyed getting a look at some things we haven’t seen for this film before.

I continue to hold out at least a little bit of hope that I will like this film despite a lot of warning signs and red flags.

The film comes to theaters on February 6, 2015.

Katniss is a hero because she has no desire to be a hero. “I never wanted any of this, I never wanted to be in the Games,” she says during the film. “I just wanted to save my sister and keep Peeta alive.” Her mission isn’t one of power, wealth, or fame; it’s of love. With a film industry still reluctant to give us a strong, female superhero (at least one with her own movie), Katniss is one of the better heroines in recent young adult memory. She’s not perfect, but she thinks for herself (certainly the opposite of a damsel in distress). She can’t stand to see her loved ones hurting and…

Most Christians think that holiness in art can be achieved superficially. As in, if it is “safe for the whole family,” then it is free from impurity. This is incorrect. Pure art is not necessarily safe art. Sometimes purity of heart demands a vulgar expression. And judging art on the basis of a superficial rating is misguided. Some of the most innocent-seeming children’s movies are chock full of unholiness. And some of the most disturbing, unsettling, and seemingly “vulgar” things are included in the Bible for our edification.

This is a fantastic article from Michael Minkoff (co-host of

There are a lot of things I’m unsure of. For instance, I’m not sure what attracted Hugh Jackman to this project. I’m not sure why Rooney Mara was cast as Tiger Lily — a native American Indian whom Rooney Mara could not be further from, ethnically. I’m not sure why James Hook appears to be a good guy in this film. A tragic story about a man gone bad?

I am, admittedly, somewhat intrigued by Hugh Jackman playing Blackbeard, but that may be the only thing here I’m interested in. I literally don’t care about anything else going on in this film. But, on the off chance that any of you do, here’s…

“House of Cards” season three will debut on Netflix on Feb. 27, the streaming service announced Monday.

The news broke with Frank Underwood’s typical panache — through a video posted to Twitter and Facebook featuring stars Kevin Spacey and Robin Wright ascending the steps of Air Force One.

Oh yes!

Here’s the video from Twitter:

A special message from the White House. https://t.co/YxFcHfA5qy

— House of Cards (@HouseofCards) December 1, 2014