Welcome to Pottersville

War films are a dime a dozen, so much so that even individual wars are now their own genre of film. There is a distinction between World War II films, Vietnam Films, the wars of old, and even fictional conflict. As a history major I am required to write a long essay for my degree and give a presentation, and mine will involve Vietnam films – I might dedicate a whole entry to that later. I am a big fan of the war genre, and could probably turn this entry into a top ten list if I really wanted to. My favorites are the ones with the best photography of the wars – All Quiet on the Western Front, Paths of Glory, and The Thin Red Line. These films instill the fear and despair in the audience that is felt by the soldiers during battle. As a student of history, I am also a big fan of war films that recount stories, such as Joyeaux Noel, Downfall, and Gallipoli. Although dramatized, they offer a bit of insight into the events in a way that differs from a primary source. Thirdly, I love war f...

Note: I originally wrote this article in 2011, and in July 2015 accidentally deleted it. When I reinstated it I decided to revise a lot of it. I find that I miss Roger Ebert whenever a great film is released, as I would love to be able to read his thoughts on films like Birdman or Boyhood. I highly recommend the documentary about his life, titled Life Itself.   The film critic – perhaps, in many ways, the most useless job on the planet. Nobody lives or dies, goes hungry or starves, or makes any important life change whatsoever based on the opinion of a film critic. I decided not to go to film school because I could not see myself doing anything important with a film degree. Most audiences pay no attention to these journalists, and often critics are the butt of a joke for poorly rated popular filmmakers. Still I am very grateful for those who have taken up the occupation – I personally read film criticism and, obviously, write it for my own enjoyment. I am a fan of AO Scott, Pe...

I have alluded to being a student of history, and not film, a number of times, and this fact becomes especially relevant when I watch old movies – for our purposes, 1939 and before. To most film buffs, an old movie is appreciated for everything it achieved with its limitations, and for how well the story has stood up over time. While I would agree with them, I get a little something more out of it as well. An old movie is a relic of its time; we, the viewer, can see a contemporary portrayal of the great depression thanks to Frank Capra, we can see German innovation thanks to Fritz Lang, and we can laugh with the long deceased Groucho, Chico, and Harpo. The actors and directors are long dead by now, yet we are forever linked to them through this wonderful medium. Many young people today think this man launched the world into the biggest war in history What really sets my generation apart is that we will be the first generation without a single living link to these old films. Soo...

When I was a kid I used to watch Home Movies on Adult Swim, a show about kids who try to make movies with a hand held camera. I remember the main character, who was the director, saying at one point that he was going to switch roles with his friend and become the actor, because every director wants to act, and every actor wants to direct. Hollywood keeps proving this statement true. Spike Lee regularly appears in his own movies, Tarantino has done it, Kevin Smith wrote Silent Bob for himself, David Lynch acted in Twin Peaks, Martin Scorsese, Mel Brooks, Woody Allen, Fritz Lang, the list goes on of directors who have appeared in their own films. Then there are those who have had full time jobs as both actors and directors, most notably Orson Welles and Clint Eastwood. Both of them can be studied in either context, and often appear in their own work. But what I’m getting to are the actors, who make it big in Hollywood, and then try their hand at directing. These films are what interest...

I apologize for the second lapse in updates. I moved back to America from England, and have not been moved to update since returning to my native country. I’ve still been watching new films on a daily basis, however, and have a whole list of new entries I want to put in eventually. As long as I am sure my opinions are better than yours, I will continue writing. Anyway, now that I have put myself on a pedestal I suppose I must deliver, so here’s an entry I have been wanting to write ever since I began this blog, a best to worst list of the films of Quentin Tarantino. I, like every other college age male, am a huge Tarantino fan. He is at the same time subtle and extreme, and his overall style is so personal that within minutes you can tell you are watching a Tarantino film. So, from the bottom, here is a list of his films. Missing from the list will be True Romance, Four Rooms, Sin City, and the episode of CSI he directed, as I don’t classify them as Tarantino enough to make the cut...