Cinematic Catharsis Posted by Barry P. on April 27, 2012

Diabolique (aka: Les diaboliques) (1954) Don’t be surprised if you experience a distinct sense of déjà vu while watching Diabolique (The French pun is purely unintentional). From a modern perspective it’s easy to dismiss all of the plot twists and turns as clichéd, instead of seeing the   read more

Cinematic Catharsis Posted by Barry P. on April 27, 2012

Diabolique (aka: Les diaboliques) (1954) Don’t be surprised if you experience a distinct sense of déjà vu while watching Diabolique (The French pun is purely unintentional). From a modern perspective it’s easy to dismiss all of the plot twists and turns as clichéd, instead of seeing the   read more

Cinematic Catharsis Posted by Barry P. on April 22, 2012

The 1950s represented a truly golden age for monster movies. You could fill volumes with the sheer variety and quantity of different creatures from that amazing cinematic decade. Some of them came from space, while others were purely terrestrial. While a few of these creatures’ origins cou   read more

Cinematic Catharsis Posted by Barry P. on April 22, 2012

The 1950s represented a truly golden age for monster movies. You could fill volumes with the sheer variety and quantity of different creatures from that amazing cinematic decade. Some of them came from space, while others were purely terrestrial. While a few of these creatures’ origins cou   read more

Cinematic Catharsis Posted by Barry P. on April 17, 2012

(1954) Directed by Joy Batchelor and John Halas; Written by Lothar Wolff, Borden Mace, Philip Stapp, John Halas and Joy Batchelor; Based on the novella by George Orwell; Starring: Gordon Heath and Maurice Denham; Available on DVD Rating: *** ½ “All animals are equal, but some animals ar   read more

Cinematic Catharsis Posted by Barry P. on April 17, 2012

(1954) Directed by Joy Batchelor and John Halas; Written by Lothar Wolff, Borden Mace, Philip Stapp, John Halas and Joy Batchelor; Based on the novella by George Orwell; Starring: Gordon Heath and Maurice Denham; Available on DVD Rating: *** ½ “All animals are equal, but some animals ar   read more

Cinematic Catharsis Posted by Barry P. on April 11, 2012

(1953) Directed by Ray Rowland; Written by Dr. Seuss and Allan Scott; Starring: Mary Healy, Hans Conried, Tommy Rettig and Peter Lind Hayes; Available on DVD Rating: **** One of the common criticisms about the recent glut of Dr. Seuss-themed flicks is that they don’t adequately capture his s   read more

Cinematic Catharsis Posted by Barry P. on April 11, 2012

(1953) Directed by Ray Rowland; Written by Dr. Seuss and Allan Scott; Starring: Mary Healy, Hans Conried, Tommy Rettig and Peter Lind Hayes; Available on DVD Rating: **** One of the common criticisms about the recent glut of Dr. Seuss-themed flicks is that they don’t adequately capture his s   read more

Cinematic Catharsis Posted by Barry P. on April 7, 2012

(1957) Directed by Jacques Tourneur; Written by Charles Bennett and Hal E. Chester; Based on the story "Casting the Runes" by Montague R. James; Starring: Dana Andrews, Peggy Cummins and Niall MacGinnis; Available on DVD Rating: **** “But where does imagination end and reality begin? What is   read more

Cinematic Catharsis Posted by Barry P. on April 7, 2012

(1957) Directed by Jacques Tourneur; Written by Charles Bennett and Hal E. Chester; Based on the story "Casting the Runes" by Montague R. James; Starring: Dana Andrews, Peggy Cummins and Niall MacGinnis; Available on DVD Rating: **** “But where does imagination end and reality begin? What is   read more

Cinematic Catharsis Posted by Barry P. on April 2, 2012

(1958) Directed by Nathan Juran; Written by Kenneth Kolb; Starring: Kerwin Mathews, Kathryn Grant, Richard Eyer and Torin Thatcher; Available on DVD and Blu-ray Rating: **** What’s It About? The 7th Voyage of Sinbad is pure Saturday matinee fodder, best experienced in a movie theater with an   read more

Cinematic Catharsis Posted by Barry P. on April 2, 2012

(1958) Directed by Nathan Juran; Written by Kenneth Kolb; Starring: Kerwin Mathews, Kathryn Grant, Richard Eyer and Torin Thatcher; Available on DVD and Blu-ray Rating: **** What’s It About? The 7th Voyage of Sinbad is pure Saturday matinee fodder, best experienced in a movie theater with an   read more

Cinematic Catharsis Posted by Barry P. on March 31, 2012

Remember sock hops, poodle skirts and Sputnik? I don’t either (Hey, I’m not that old!). Even though I didn’t grow up in the 50s, the movies of that decade dominated my consciousness. Many of my early childhood memories were shaped by the constant barrage of 50s flicks that were   read more

Cinematic Catharsis Posted by Barry P. on March 31, 2012

Remember sock hops, poodle skirts and Sputnik? I don’t either (Hey, I’m not that old!). Even though I didn’t grow up in the 50s, the movies of that decade dominated my consciousness. Many of my early childhood memories were shaped by the constant barrage of 50s flicks that were   read more

Cinematic Catharsis Posted by Barry P. on March 25, 2012

(1971) Directed by Anthony Harvey; Written by James Goldman; Starring: George C. Scott, Joanne Woodward and Jack Gilford; Available on Netflix Streaming Rating: *** ½ “If we never looked at things and thought of what might be, why we'd all still be out there in the tall grass with the...   read more

Cinematic Catharsis Posted by Barry P. on March 25, 2012

(1971) Directed by Anthony Harvey; Written by James Goldman; Starring: George C. Scott, Joanne Woodward and Jack Gilford; Available on Netflix Streaming Rating: *** ½ “If we never looked at things and thought of what might be, why we'd all still be out there in the tall grass with the...   read more

Cinematic Catharsis Posted by Barry P. on March 17, 2012

(1982) Directed by Ridley Scott; Written by Hampton Fancher and David Webb Peoples; Based on the novel “Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep” by Philip K. Dick; Starring: Harrison Ford, Rutger Hauer, Sean Young, Edward James Olmos and Daryl Hannah; Available on DVD and Blu-ray Rating: **   read more

Cinematic Catharsis Posted by Barry P. on March 17, 2012

(1982) Directed by Ridley Scott; Written by Hampton Fancher and David Webb Peoples; Based on the novel “Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep” by Philip K. Dick; Starring: Harrison Ford, Rutger Hauer, Sean Young, Edward James Olmos and Daryl Hannah; Available on DVD and Blu-ray Rating: **   read more

Cinematic Catharsis Posted by Barry P. on March 11, 2012

(1991) Directed by Joe Johnston; Written by Danny Bilson and Pal De Meo; Based on the graphic novel by Dave Stevens; Starring: Bill Campbell, Jennifer Connelly, Timothy Dalton, Alan Arkin, Paul Sorvino and Terry O’Quinn; Available on DVD and Blu-Ray. Rating: **** Today’s Once Over Twice   read more

Cinematic Catharsis Posted by Barry P. on March 11, 2012

(1991) Directed by Joe Johnston; Written by Danny Bilson and Pal De Meo; Based on the graphic novel by Dave Stevens; Starring: Bill Campbell, Jennifer Connelly, Timothy Dalton, Alan Arkin, Paul Sorvino and Terry O’Quinn; Available on DVD and Blu-Ray. Rating: **** Today’s Once Over Twice   read more