A couple of years back, I ranked the original Halloween series (before the era of Rob Zombie and reboots). This year, it’s time to turn to a different and (blessedly) shorter horror franchise: The Exorcist. Keep in mind, I’m only talking about movies here. Those looking for an in-depth analysis of The Exorcist and Legion will have to wait for another day. Like last time, let’s start with the best and work down.
For many people, the 1975 film Jaws from Steven Spielberg stands as one of the best “blockbusters” ever made. With such a large cultural influence, it is sometimes easy to forget that, one year before the shark took to the screen, Jaws was published as a novel from then struggling author, Peter Benchley. While the success of the novel came as a complete surprise, the success of film should not. Through a mix of fate and decision, Jaws is one of the smartest adaptations of book-to-film.
Every now and then, Toho Pictures astounds with a Godzilla movie that is more than the standard giant monster mash. The studio can, at times, infuse realism, cultural commentary, and political consequence into something as “silly” as kaiju. Shin Godzilla, which is currently enjoying a limited run in the United States, is one of those times.
Continue reading Shin Godzilla Review: Bureaucracy and the King of the Monsters
Colin McMahon 