Season eight of ER is among the series’ most powerful yet.
While ER can occasionally veer off into soap opera territory, the long-running series about the medical staff and patients of Chicago's fictional County General Hospital remains one of the best written shows on television today. One of the reasons ER has been able to stay on the cutting edge is the writers' and producers' ability to…

One of the most popular, most-quoted, most beloved films of all time.
Casablanca is perhaps the most popular film of all time. It is probably the most-quoted film, too, although one of the lines most associated with the film – “Play it again, Sam” – is actually a misquote. One of the film’s other prominent lines, “Here’s lookin’ at you, kid,” was not in the…

The winners were the epitome of smooth.
America’s Ballroom Challenge is a Public Broadcasting System production that is in its third season. This episode, “International Standard,” is the third in a five-week series covering the four main categories of ballroom dance: American Smooth, American Rhythm, International Standard, and International Latin.International…

Like oil, There Will Be Blood sticks to the fingertips and remains difficult to wash away.
“I have a competition in me. I want no one else to succeed. I hate most people … There are times when I look at people and I see nothing worth liking. I want to earn enough money that I can get away from everyone … I see the worst in people. I don't need to look past seeing them to get all I need. I've built my hatreds up over…

A fun and interesting look into her life.
Written by Pollo Misterioso Becoming Jane wants to play out like a Jane Austen novel (Pride and Prejudice, Emma), with fierce wit, integrity, and romance; however, this isn’t a film about one of her characters, but about the authoress and her life, which doesn’t always translate to screen the way her novels do. Directed by Julian…

The best film of 2007.
Atonement is the best film of 2007. With films like this one and like No Country For Old Men, my previous pick for best film of 2007, 2007 is most assuredly notable for being one of the finest years of cinema in recent memory. Certainly, 2006 was also a stellar year for film, so there’s a reason to look ahead with confidence at some of the…

A little better than the original pilot, but still has a ways to go.
(For a quick recap of what the series is about, click here.)For those who watched Firefly on TV, "The Train Job" was the first episode they saw. As I mentioned in my last article, the FOX executives didn't care for the original pilot, "Serenity," and asked for a second one. I can only imagine the confusion viewers must have…

With money stolen from his mother’s purse, Michael buys bullets for his gun.
After stealing money from his mother's purse, Michael made his way to the docks and bought bullets for his gun. Mike showed up and confronted his grandson. After searching his pockets, probably suspecting drugs, he found the bullets and made him throw them in the river before trying to call Sonny. On the sly, Michael was able to palm one…

An average action movie with fun fight sequences.
Without wires or cheap CG, the fights in Kiss of the Dragon carry a high impact, brutal feel. It saves the rather mundane story from a pit of generic plot points, and lifts the film above other recent martial arts extravaganzas. It’s enjoyable when it delivers on its promises. A sub-standard revenge script is the basis for this Jet Li action…

The house of repression can only stand for so long before “life” starts playing its dirty tricks by throwing in chaos.
Blue is a true treasure of a movie. The story of a woman’s path through grief, sorrow, and self-discovery which ultimately leads to joy can be quite complicated for a film to take on, yet through Krzysztof Kieslowski’s direction, along with contributions from cast and crew, it is done quite smoothly to end up a splendid film.The film is…