Category Archives: Reviews

Mission Impossible Retrospective Part 5

Posted on August 1, 2015 by castordurden

So far this summer I’ve covered retrospectives and reappraisals of three major franchises with roots in nostalgia. Each of them is embarking on their fifth cinematic journey. To say that Terminator: Genisys and Vacation (2015) were coolly received would be … Continue reading →

Posted in Movies, Reviews | Tagged jeremy renner, mission impossible, rebecca ferguson, rogue nation, simon pegg, tom cruise, ving rhames | Comments Off

Vacation Retrospective Part 5

Posted on July 31, 2015 by castordurden

VACATION (2015) To scrutinize what went irredeemably wrong with the latest Vacation reboot is to pinpoint exactly where comedy went awry in the mid-90’s. The Farrelly Brothers came to providence and their movies slathered both gross-out, scatological humor with pathos … Continue reading →

Posted in Movies, Reviews | Tagged chevy chase, comedy, ed helms, franchise, vacation | Comments Off

Vacation Retrospective Part 4

Posted on July 30, 2015 by castordurden

VEGAS VACATION Chevy Chase serenading The Beach Boys’ “Good Vibrations” is a cue to the insipidness ahead for us in Vegas Vacation, the toothless, regurgitated swan song for Chase’s reign over the Vacation label. Stephen Kessler is an inept hack … Continue reading →

Posted in Movies, Reviews | Tagged chevy chase, cousin eddie, griswolds, vegas vacation, wayne newton | Comments Off

Vacation Retrospective Part 3

Posted on July 29, 2015 by castordurden

NATIONAL LAMPOON’S CHRISTMAS VACATION If the dreary European Vacation proved anything, it’s that the Griswolds are at optimal dysfunction when they are stateside which explains why Christmas Vacation is a mirthful, gregarious return-to-form for the franchise. While the ensemble of … Continue reading →

Posted in Movies, Reviews | Tagged chevy chase, christmas vacation, cousin eddie, franchise, john hughes, national lampoon | Comments Off

Vacation Retrospective Part 2

Posted on July 28, 2015 by castordurden

NATIONAL LAMPOON’S EUROPEAN VACATION Odd that the theme song for these films is “Holiday Road” and so far in the series, they haven’t acknowledged any holidays except for the yuletide season. Much to my chagrin, the Pig in a Poke … Continue reading →

Posted in Movies, Reviews | Tagged amy heckerling, chevy chase, european vacation, franchise, john hughes, travelogue | Comments Off

Review: True Detective (Season 2, Episode 6)

Posted on July 27, 2015 by castordurden

I try to avoid speculative rumors about where this season is headed but if the theological conversations about Ray trapped in limbo are true, I’ll be sorely disappointed. This might not be the best season of any crime drama but … Continue reading →

Posted in Reviews, TV | Tagged colin farrell, HBO, nic pizzolatto, taylor kitsch, true detective, vince vaughn | Comments Off

Mission Impossible Retrospective Part 4

Posted on July 26, 2015 by castordurden

MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE- GHOST PROTOCOL Of the films thus far, Ghost Protocol is the most giddy and exuberant. The first film was a Tom Clancy potboiler. The second film was an operatic ballet. The third was a gritty crime drama. Part … Continue reading →

Posted in Movies, Reviews | Tagged franchise, mission impossible, simon pegg, spy film, tom cruise | Comments Off

Mission Impossible Retrospective Part 3

Posted on July 25, 2015 by castordurden

MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE 3 J.J. Abrams attempts to tether Mission: Impossible with both forlorn heart and continuity neither of which is required. This series of films are episodic by design and can be stripped down to the elemental pleasures of globe-trotting … Continue reading →

Posted in Movies, Reviews | Tagged espionage, franchise, mission impossible, philip seymour hoffman, spy film, tom cruise | Comments Off

Mission Impossible Retrospective Part 2

Posted on July 24, 2015 by castordurden

MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE 2 John Woo has been and will always be one of the action directors that I genuflect to. His movies are hyperkinetic extravaganzas with dollops of elegiac poetry (the dove trademark, the slow-motion theatrics, etc.). This is the … Continue reading →

Posted in Movies, Reviews | Tagged espionage, franchise, john woo, mission impossible, spy, tom cruise | Comments Off

Vacation Retrospective Part 1

Posted on July 22, 2015 by castordurden

Only a week away from the release of the new sequel reboot of the Vacation series on July 29th and now would be the apt time to revisit the zeitgeist when Chevy Chase was a comedy demigod.

Posted in Movies, Reviews | Tagged chevy chase, harold ramis, national lampoon, vacation, wally world | Comments Off