How does “Boondock Saints” show the occasionally vast divide between critical and audience reception?
"The Boondock Saints" is a movie panned by critics, but which has a huge cult following thanks to its cheap, fun entertainment quality.
What does the title “The Constant Gardener” mean?
The title of "The Constant Gardener" evokes the idea of endless investigation in the pursuit of information.
Is “Grave of the Fireflies” based on a true story?
"Grave of the Fireflies" is a 1988 Japanese anime film based on the 1967 short story of the same name by Akiyuki Nosaka.
Will the special episode of BBC series “Sherlock” work in its original Victorian setting?
A special "Sherlock" episode will set the contemporary show back in Victorian Britain. Will it work?
How does “The Grinder” build on a tradition of show-within-a-show television?
Fox’s The Grinder (2015) is the latest in a long history of show-within-a-show television. It is different though, it its approach and its philosophy, which is a reflection of the metamodernism…
How did the “Harry Potter” series evolve as the directors changed?
Each director who helmed a film in the "Harry Potter" universe provided unique talents to match the changing nature of the material over time.
How did the Weasley twins in “Harry Potter” finance their store after dropping out of school?
The films say nothing about it, but Harry Potter financed the Weasley twins' joke shop using his TriWizard Tournament funds.
Why does “Being There” highlight “Basketball Jones” so prominently?
"Being There" calls a lot of attention to Cheech & Chong's "Basketball Jones" as Chance first arrives at the Rand mansion. Its lyrical and cultural content work both on…
How does “Grave of the Fireflies” critique the concept of nationalism?
"Grave of the Fireflies" is largely a story about two people surviving the devastating consequences of war. But it also contains themes about the dangers of nationalism when unchecked,…
What is wrong with the McCallister family in the “Home Alone” films?
The McCallisters in "Home Alone" are a bit off. Perhaps that's why the films look elsewhere for sources of holiday sentiment.
Does Seita in “Grave of the Fireflies” make the right decisions?
Seita certainly doesn't make all the right decisions in "Grave of the Fireflies," but we know that from the film's first few minutes. What's more important is the way he…
Why did “Goblet of Fire” depict the other wizarding schools as single-gender institutions?
"Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire" represented Durmstrang and Beauxbatons as single-gender schools, likely to simplify their identities within the confines of the film.