Seldon's Blog

THE COMPARISONS BETWEEN "MAYTIME" (1937) and "TITANIC" (1997)

While watching the 1937 operetta that starred Jeanette MacDonald and Nelson Eddy - "MAYTIME", I noticed that the story and main characters bore a strong resemblance in story structure to a movie that was released sixty years later . . . namely the 1997 Oscar winning movie, "TITANIC", which starred Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet. Note the following: ( Read more... )

"THE CELEBRATION OF MEDIOCRITY AND UNORIGINALITY IN “STAR WARS: THE FORCE AWAKENS"

Look … I liked the new “STAR WARS” movie, “THE FORCE AWAKENS”. I honestly do. Heck, I feel it is better than J.J. Abrams’ two “STAR TREK” films. But I am astounded that this film has garnered so much acclaim. It has won the AFI Award for Best Picture. It has been nominated by the Critics Choice Award for Best Picture. ( Read more... )

"BODY OF LIES" (2008) Review

Based upon David Ignatius’ 2007 novel, ”BODY OF LIES” tells the story of a CIA operative assigned to track down a Middle Eastern terrorist responsible for a series of bombings in Europe. Directed by Ridley Scott, the movie stars Leonard DiCaprio and Russell Crowe. When I first saw the trailer for ”BODY OF LIES”, I thought it would be about a CIA operative in the Middle East that ends up clashing with his handler over an assignment. As it turned out, the trailer ended up being misleading. In the end, I had no choice but to sit back and see what the movie’s plot would lead me. Despite Warner Brothers’ very misleading trailer. ( Read more... )

"DJANGO UNCHAINED": CONTROVERSY AND MYTH

Ever since the release of the 2012 Academy Award winning film, "12 YEARS A SLAVE", Quentin Tarantino's 2012 film, "DJANGO UNCHAINED" has been the target of a good deal of backlash and derision. Wait . . . I take that back. The film has received a good deal of derision even when it first reached the movie theaters during the early winter of 2012-2013. ( Read more... )

Below is a gallery featuring photos from the 2004 biopic about aviator/movie producer Howard Hughes. Directed by Martin Scorsese, the movie starred Leonardo DiCaprio in the title role: ( Read more... )

"THE WOLF OF WALL STREET" (2013) Review

I can think of only three previous times in which one of director Martin Scorsese's films has courted controversy. The first time the director courted real controversy was the release of his 1976 film, "TAXI DRIVER". He also encountered controversy from two other movies - "THE LAST TEMPTATION OF CHRIST" (1988) and 1997's "KUNDUN". Scorsese and controversy have met once again . . . this time in the form of his latest release, "THE WOLF OF WALL STREET". ( Read more... )

Below are images from "THE WOLF OF WALL STREET", Martin Scorsese's cinematic adaptation of Jordan Belfort's memoirs. The movie stars Leonardo Di Caprio, Jonah Hill and Margot Robbie: ( Read more... )

Below is my current list of favorite movies set in the 1920s: ( Read more... )

Below are images from "THE GREAT GATSBY", the recent adaptation of F. Scott Fitzgerald's 1925 novel. Directed by Baz Luhrmann, the movie stars Leonardo DiCaprio, Tobey Maguire, Carey Mulligan and Joel Edgerton:( Read more... )

Below is a list of my favorite movies released in 2012: ( Read more... )