PODCAST: Episode 142 of "The Cinephile Hissy Fit" Podcast

For their 142nd episode, two hack critics, two hack-ish dads, and two hacker teachers, Will Johnson and Don Shanahan, begin the first episode of a two-part guest arc with Jordan Puga and Paul Keelan of the Cinematic Underdogs podcast. Both Will and Don have been on their show, it was our time to get them on ours. Our target was a Michael Mann double feature. This first episode covers Mann's maligned 2015 geo-techno thriller Blackhat starring Chris Hemsworth. With a four-man room, the opinions and pixels fly!

Cinephile Hissy Fit, Podcast, 25YL, Media Appearance, 2023Don ShanahanFebruary 4, 2024Cinephile Hissy Fit, Podcast, Will Johnson, Film Obsessive, Michael Mann, Blackhat, Chris Hemsworth, Cinematic Underdogs, Cinematic Underdogs podcast, Paul Keelan, Jordan PugaComment

PODCAST: Episode 138 of "The Cinephile Hissy Fit" Podcast

For their 138th episode, two voyeuristic film critics, two myth-fearing dads, and two well-tested teachers, Will Johnson and Don Shanahan, both knocked out a long-held blindspot recently by giving an audience to Drew Goddard's 2011 breakout horror movie The Cabin in the Woods. Mostly remembered for early Chris Hemsworth flick, the guys talk about the big ideas of the movie that bit off more than they could chew.

Cinephile Hissy Fit, Podcast, 25YL, Media Appearance, 2023Don ShanahanDecember 22, 2023Cinephile Hissy Fit, Podcast, Will Johnson, Film Obsessive, The Cabin the Woods, Chris Hemsworth, Drew Goddard, Sigourney WeaverComment

MOVIE REVIEW: Thor: Love and Thunder

If, from here on out, the Thor series is going to stay in Taika Waititi’s control, so be it. Let him own it and be all things Thor. Hemsworth’s natural charisma and self-deprecating personality, put on blast in Thor: Love and Thunder (buns and all) more than it’s ever been in that shiny armor, match the zany route Waititi has taken with this character. Going back to the bold spirit of Branagh’s mythic origins seems difficult, if not damn near impossible, where Waititi and company would be better off sticking with the fluffy cheese and not even trying. For better or worse, this is Thor now. Maybe at least, even in sideshow comedy mode, this character will finally have consistency.

2022, 2 STARS, ADVANCE MOVIE REVIEW, MOVIE REVIEWDon ShanahanJuly 5, 2022Thor, Thor: Ragonark, Thor: Love and Thunder, Taika Waititi, Chris Hemsworth, Natalie PortmanComment

MOVIE REVIEW: Extraction

Call this a meandering musing, but it’s a tad quizzical how far apart the definitions of “mercy” and “mercenary” are despite their beginning spellings. There is not harming someone you have power over versus a soldier paid to fight for money. You won’t find those two words supporting the old “one hands washes the other” expression. Nonetheless, here in the new Netflix Chris Hemsworth vehicle Extraction one could wring a towel dripping with the unexpected mix of blood and suds. That makes for a messy and albeit entertaining proposition on the wiggle room to have mercy in a mercenary.

2020, 3 STARS, MOVIE REVIEW, StreamingDon ShanahanApril 24, 2020Extraction, Chris HemsworthComment

MOVIE REVIEW: Thor: Ragnarok

Paired perfectly as a double-feature follow-up to this summer’s spacefaring Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2, Taika Waititi’s Thor: Ragnarok is a raucously rad roller coaster that shoots rainbows out of every digitally-rendered pore. Blasting with energetic pace in the complete opposite direction from the dreary and grayish Game of Thrones Lite tone of Thor: The Dark World, this new chapter is a cinematic box of Crayola crayons laced with dynamite.

2017, 4 STARSDon ShanahanNovember 2, 2017AMC Navy Pier IMAX2017 Holiday Films, 2017, Thor, Thor: The Dark World, Thor: Ragonark, Marvel Cinematic Universe, Marvel Phase 3, Marvel Films, Marvel, Marvel Comics, Marvel Entertainment, Disney/Marvel, Marvel Studios, Taika Waititi, Chris Hemsworth, Tom Hiddleston, Cate Blanchett, Guardians of the Galaxy, Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2, Mark Mothersbaugh, Mjolnir, Kat Dennings, Hunt for the Wilderpeople, What We Do in the Shadows, Team Thor, YouTube, Vacation, Ghostbusters, Benedict Cumberbatch, Mark Ruffalo, Planet Hulk, Tessa Thompson, Jeff Goldblum, The Grandmaster, Clancy Brown, Surtur, Hela, Loki, Anthony Hopkins, movie review, film review, movie commentary, film commentary, film critic, movie critic, God of Thunder, Goddess of Death, God of Mischief, Ragnarok, Odin, comic book films, Comic Book Guy, comic book movies, comic book movie, DC Comics, life lessons, life lessons from movies, life lessons from film, Every Movie Has a Lesson, Don Shanahan, Donald ShanahanComment

MOVIE REVIEW: Doctor Strange

Now in its third phase, Marvel continues to take C-level and D-list comic book characters and titles, breath cinematic life into them with top-notch talent in front of and behind the camera, and turn the obscure in newly minted household names and merchandising windfalls. "Doctor Strange" continues the studio's blueprint of Midas Touch success while jubilantly kicking down the door for magic and mysticism in the MCU. You may not know him yet, but Stephen Strange is a major player and huge addition to an already-loaded heroic panorama.

2016, ADVANCE MOVIE REVIEW, MOVIE REVIEW, 3 STARSDon ShanahanNovember 1, 2016Regal City North Stadium 14 IMAX2016, 2016 Holiday Movies, 2016 Fall Movies, Doctor Strange, Benedict Cumberbatch, Scott Derrickson, Kevin Feige, C. Robert Cargill, Jon Spaihts, Steve Ditko, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Rachel McAdams, Mads Mikkelsen, Tilda Swinton, Benedict Wong, Michael Stuhlbarg, Benjamin Bratt, Scott Adkins, Chris Hemsworth, Robert Downey Jr., Marvel Comics, Marvel Entertainment, Marvel Films, Marvel Cinematic Universe, Marvel Phase 3, Marvel, Disney/Marvel, Disney, Sinister, The Exorcism of Emily Rose, Ben Davis, Michael Giacchino, Kathmandu, Nepal, Kaecilius, The Ancient One, Stephen Strange, Christine Palmer, Karl Mordo, Mordo, Dormammu, Eye of Agamotto, Cloak of Levitation, film commentary, film review, movie commentary, movie review, comic book movie, comic book films, The Avengers, Infinity War, Thor, Thor: Ragonark, life lessons from films, life lessons from film, life lessons from movies, life lessons, life lesson, Life lessons, Donald Shanahan, Don Shanahan, Every Movie Has a LessonComment

MOVIE REVIEW: Ghostbusters

The success of a remake, reboot, or sequel is contingent upon matching the tone of the original work to the best of its ability. If a film gets that tone right, it can be a drastic revision full of changes and updates and still feel respectfully aware and in tune with the previous well-remembered greatness the new film is trying to emulate. I stand by that rationale and now bring that gauge to “Ghostbusters” and the wave of misguided hatred that follows it. I say misguided because the overprotective nostalgia and/or sexist gender complaints are false sources of this film’s problems.

MOVIE REVIEW: Vacation

To this writer, the success of a remake, reboot, or sequel is contingent upon matching the tone of the original work to the best of its ability. If a film gets that tone right, it can be a drastic revision full of changes and updates and still feel respectfully aware and in tune with the previous well-remembered greatness the new film is trying to emulate. That's the taste test that should be put on "Vacation," the new long distance sequel/update of the 1983 National Lampoon comedy classic.

EDITORIAL: The 10 best movies set in Hawaii

Let's look at the best films set in and about Hawaii, its people, citizens, and history. To make this list, the film has to actually be about and predominantly set in Hawaii. Any movies that start or end somewhere else, where Hawaii is purely a side trip or vacation, are not good enough. Here are the top ten as they stand before the arrival of "Aloha" this weekend. Can that film crack this list? We shall see.

MOVIE REVIEW: Avengers: Age of Ultron

Raising the stakes and swinging for the fences like a good film sequel should, Joss Whedon’s latest Marvel film pays off the studio’s Phase 2 initiative with both a new level of groundbreaking effort beyond the first peak three years ago and a continued dedication to the master blueprint of a grander big picture.

EVERY MOVIE HAS A LESSON

by Don Shanahan

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