Author Archives: Batesy

Third Time’s A Charm: JP:III and MI:III

Posted on June 12, 2013 by Batesy

Sometimes a film series gets it the most right the third time around. My examples are from two big-budget- B-movie franchises. I originally had this idea shortly after seeing Peter Jackson’s bloated retelling of “King Kong” (2005). Among other problems, … Continue reading →

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FYI Bob Hope was funny

Posted on June 10, 2013 by Batesy

Growing up in the 70’s and 80’s, Bob Hope was the guy that showed up on t.v. every Christmas telling stale jokes and awkwardly interacting with up and coming talent of the day on his NBC Variety show. Hope was … Continue reading →

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Trekking Back To 1982: Star Trek Into Darkness

Posted on May 15, 2013 by Batesy

J.J. Abrams’ s original re-boot of “Star Trek” in 2009 was an inspired, highly entertaining take on Gene Roddenberry’s “Wagon Train” to the stars. Its main priority was to show the viewer a good time and make the “Trek” world … Continue reading →

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The Art of Monsters: R.I.P. Ray Harryhausen

Posted on May 8, 2013 by Batesy

I would be remiss if I didn’t say a few words about the great Ray Harryhausen who passed away Tuesday at the age of 92. Ray Harryhausen’s creatures were all over T.V. in the 1970’s. As a kid, I saw … Continue reading →

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The Future of Superhero Movies: Iron Man 3

Posted on May 2, 2013 by Batesy

After “Die Hard (1988)” was released, the bar was set. Action films from that point foreword had to get to that level of intensity or people would say “Well, it wasn’t no Die Hard”. Last summer, “The Avengers (2012)” kinda … Continue reading →

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Critical Love: R.I.P. Roger Ebert

Posted on April 4, 2013 by Batesy

Sad news today. After a long battle with cancer, Roger Ebert passed away at age 70. He won the Pulitzer Prize for his film criticism in 1975; one of only three film critics to receive that honor. His multiple tv shows … Continue reading →

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Great Big 70mm: Film Festival highlights from Chicago

Posted on February 25, 2013 by Batesy

I just spent 3 days in Chicago attending screenings of 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968), Playtime (1967) and West Side Story (1961) in the film format they were photographed in: 70mm (technically the actual film image is 65mm with the … Continue reading →

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I Laughed,Cried & Embraced the Mysteries of the Universe: My Lists ~ Part One

Posted on February 15, 2013 by Batesy

My Desert Island Comedies: I decided to just include the ones that immediately popped in my head. There are films that I may have had more laughs in but for whatever reason I don’t really go back to them. These … Continue reading →

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The Apeal of Dignity & Integrity: Downton Abbey

Posted on January 18, 2013 by Batesy

So my wife and I were very late to the whole Downton Abbey thing. Friends were either prompting us to watch or they were asking whether or not we had seen it because they kept hearing about how it good … Continue reading →

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2012: Wrapping up my first year blogging

Posted on December 31, 2012 by Batesy

I will keep this short. I started this blog on April 3rd of this year. Since that time I have posted 21 reviews/essays. I thought that number would be bigger but I am reasonably happy with what I have been … Continue reading →

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