Movie Review: The Broadway Melody (1929)

Hank, Eddie and Queenie huddle to discuss their plans for Broadway success.

Movie Review: The Broadway Melody (1929) directed by Harry Beaumont Things are looking up for Eddie Kearns (Charles King). The singer/composer/dancer has managed to sell his latest song, “The Broadway Melody” to producer Francis Zanfield (Eddie Kane) to use in his new musical revue, sung by himself! Plus his fiancée Henrietta “Hank” Mahoney (Bessie Love) has… Continue reading Movie Review: The Broadway Melody (1929)

Manga Review: Orochi the Perfect Edition Vol. 3

Manga Review: Orochi the Perfect Edition Vol. 3 by Kazuo Umezz Quick recap: Orochi is a mysterious, seemingly unageing woman with vaguely-defined supernatural abilities. She wanders around Japan observing bizarre occurrences in humans’ lives, and sometimes interfering in them. As of yet, we know nothing of her own past or why she does what she… Continue reading Manga Review: Orochi the Perfect Edition Vol. 3

Movie Review: Jailhouse Rock

Vince sees Hunk's guitar for the first time.

Movie Review: Jailhouse Rock (1957) directed by Richard Thorpe Vince Everett (Elvis Presley) is a nice enough young man, even if he maybe spends too much time in bars. But once he loses his temper, he doesn’t know when to stop. When another patron at the bar starts abusing a woman who was hitting on Vince,… Continue reading Movie Review: Jailhouse Rock

Movie Review: Celtic Thunder: It’s Entertainment!

The big finale

Movie Review: Celtic Thunder: It’s Entertainment (2010) directed by Michael Watt This, I think, is the first “concert film” I’ve reviewed under this program of going through all my old DVDs. Celtic Thunder is a singing group that formed in 2007 and still tours, though with several changes in personnel. (Ryan Kelly is the only one… Continue reading Movie Review: Celtic Thunder: It’s Entertainment!

Book Review: Dick Tracy: The Secret Files

Book Review: Dick Tracy: The Secret Files edited by Max Allan Collins and Martin H. Greenberg In 1990, the venerable Dick Tracy comic strip got a movie adaptation, Dick Tracy, starring Warren Beatty and Madonna. To cash in on the publicity, the then-writer of the strip, Max Allan Collins, was asked to do both a… Continue reading Book Review: Dick Tracy: The Secret Files

Movie Review: Casablanca

Rick doesn't pretend he likes Ugarte, but his honest despite is more valuable to the thief than false friendship.

Casablanca (1942) dir. Michael Curtiz It is early December, 1941. In French Morocco, the port city of Casablanca, the hot night spot is Rick’s Cafe Americain. With an abundant supply of liquor, gambling, and the music of pianist/singer Sam (Dooley Wilson), it’s no surprise that “everyone comes to Rick’s.” The owner, Richard “Rick” Blaine (Humphrey Bogart), was… Continue reading Movie Review: Casablanca

Movie Review: Night and the City

Movie Review: Night and the City (1950) directed by Jules Dassin It is night in the city, and Harry Fabian (Richard Widmark) is returning to the London flat of his girlfriend, Mary Bristol (Gene Tierney). As usual, he owes money to some bad people. But he’s got a great idea for a greyhound race, if he… Continue reading Movie Review: Night and the City

Movie Review: Twin Dragons (1992)

Boomer and John finally meet face to face.

Movie Review: Twin Dragons (1992) directed by Ringo Lam Boomer (Jackie Chan) was raised by a single mom who had a bit of a drinking problem but tried hard to give him a good upbringing in the low-income areas of Hong Kong. She never talked about his father. Now he’s an auto mechanic and street brawler,… Continue reading Movie Review: Twin Dragons (1992)

Manga Review: Miss Me?

Manga Review: Miss Me? by Tomoko Taniguchi Emyu has a flashy but cute fashion sense, favoring bright colors that stand out in a crowd. Many people at her school assume she’s romantically experienced and goes to concerts and clubs all the time. But in reality, Emyu’s a mild-mannered girl who’s never had a boyfriend and… Continue reading Manga Review: Miss Me?

Book Review: Halo in Brass

Book Review: Halo in Brass by Howard Browne (writing as John Evans) Paul PIne, private detective, is hired on a missing persons case. It seems that Laura Fremont, originally from Lincoln, Nebraska, has gone incommunicado in the big city of Chicago. Her plain rural parents are worried sick. The first obstacle pops up in that… Continue reading Book Review: Halo in Brass