Posts in 2021
MOVIE REVIEW: The Tender Bar

George Clooney’s The Tender Bar has, above everything else, a crucial mentor character that wins over the entire film with everything he does. When regular dads are absent or inadequate, father-figures are incredibly important for an malleable kid. We’ve seen plenty of them in movies before, but Ben Affleck’s Charlie character feels more spot-on and special than usual. When he’s there putting an arm around a shoulder or mixing a martini, you’ll either wish for or recall your own Uncle Charlie from your life.

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How "The Lord of the Rings" Voiceover Was Used to Craft the World of Middle Earth

How do you craft a world? In screenwriting and publishing terms, ‘world-building’ is the idea of creating a fictional location and making it seem real with specific techniques. Social structures, designing landscapes and visual differences from those on Earth build a rich history full of lore. Creating non-human races, the languages they speak, other-worldly creatures and fictional monarchies are world-building techniques of the fantasy genre specifically – breathing life into the idea of a world.

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6 Unique Ways to Boost Your Immune System

Everyone wants to feel good and to be happy, healthy, and energetic. What would you do if you were told that some simple changes could boost your immune system? The immune system is a complex network of cells, tissues, and organs that work together to identify and destroy harmful foreign invaders—like viruses, bacteria, and fungi—that enter our bodies. To keep your immune system healthy, you need to take care of yourself. When you're well-rested and have plenty of time each day for exercise, good nutrition, and spiritual practices like meditation or prayer, then your body can focus its attention on protecting itself from disease.

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GUEST COLUMN: Differences Between the “Forrest Gump” Film and the Original Book

By Lewis Robinson

The film Forrest Gump solidified Tom Hanks' reputation as a well-rounded film actor capable of performing comedy and drama. The film itself is hard to classify as one or the other. It is a "slice of life" film and, like life, has some funny moments, some tragic ones, and some that are just confusing. If you had already read the book upon which it was based, you may have been even more confused because the filmmakers made some significant changes to the plot and characters when adapting the novel into a motion picture.

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MOVIE REVIEW: Spider-Man: No Way Home

The successes spring forth from the roller coaster of crowd reactions between cheers and tears that you yourself will undoubtedly witness (or share) at your own theater visit. Imagine if everything you eventually see was a protected surprise and that measurement goes through the multiplex roof even further. Top to bottom from a production standpoint and crowned with a smile from ear to ear, this is what big screen escapism and dream fulfillment looks like at the highest level.

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MEDIA APPEARANCE: Guest on the "You'll Probably Agree" podcast talking about "Spider-Man: No Way Home"

Mike Crowley of the You’ll Probably Agree website (and fellow 25YL film critic) collected a few movie friends in the exhaling wake of the Chicago press screening of Spider-Man: No Way Home. Still buzzing, Mike’s digital recorder and microphone array captured the rants and processing compliments of myself, David Fowlie of Keeping It Reel, and Annie Banks of Chuck Load of Comics. This was boozy, sweaty, and fun! Enjoy this energetic conversation and be sure to follow Mike’s work on 25YL.

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GUEST COLUMN: 7 Adventure Movies You Can’t Wait To Watch This New Year

by Emma Wilson

It’s hard to believe it’s almost the end of 2021. And the good thing is people are gradually stepping out of our virtual worlds, although things might never go back to the ‘normal’ before the pandemic struck. But if there’s one thing that’s going back to normal, it’s the numerous new movies coming up. Now, that’s amazing news, especially for all the movie buffs out there.

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GUEST EDITORIAL: What Makes Movie Characters Iconic?

by Adrian Johansen

There are various aspects of a movie that can cause it to transcend its theatrical run to have a lasting influence on our culture. There are shots so recognizable they become part of the long-term language of cinema. Individual scenes — the shower sequence in Psycho and the canyon ending of Thelma & Louise — make for easy parody and reference because they’re so ingrained in our film history. Even great costumes can have a timeless connection to a single movie.

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GUEST COLUMN: 6 Films Architects and Designers Should See

by Lewis Robinson

Architects and designers are both at the helm of creating the iconic buildings and ordinary houses of the world. Both architecture and interior design involve many hands-on steps, like blueprinting the building itself and identifying color schemes and themes. It's also an integral part of cinema for helping to set the scenery and plots. Below are some feature films to source inspiration from that have architecture and design as their major themes.

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GUEST EDITORIAL: Forensic Accounting In the 2016 Film "The Accountant"

by Devin Caldwell

The field of forensic accounting got a lot of attention with the 2016 film The Accountant, and that interest is sure to surge again, with sequel rumors confirmed in September of 2021. While most accountants are not action movie heroes working with the Mob, they can save clients from embezzlement, lawsuits and fees. A forensic accountant is an auditor, a Certified Public Accountant, or an investigator with experience using legal and financial documents to find evidence of fraud. You often see this field represented in legal dramas and banking or finance-related movies as expert witnesses.

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Tips to Win At Teen Patti

Teen Patti is one of the most popular card games played in India and when you access online casinos, you can find this game available. Some sites even have live dealer options for playing this fun and rewarding game. Known for being a game of luck, there are some strategic plans that can be used to improve the chances of winning. This card game is easy to learn, so it is a great choice for players who are just getting started gambling online.

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GUEST COLUMN: 5 Must-Watch Movies and Documentaries Before Decorating Your Home

by Emma Wilson

Plenty of movies show inspiring tips for decorating your high-end home. Most films have set designs that reveal artistically furnished rooms to add to the story’s plot. They also convey a specific time and the main character’s personality you love to watch and follow. The role of set designers in the movie business is tremendous. Here are some Hollywood movies aired on the big screen and OTT platforms that can be a source of inspiration for your home improvement project.

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