http://www.thefish.com/blogs/theculturebeat/ Blogger Feed en-us Copyright 2012 - TheFish.com Salem Web Network - RSS Generator rss@TheFish.com Wed, 08 Feb 2012 04:53:07 GMT Wed, 08 Feb 2012 04:53:07 GMT http://www.thefish.com/blogs/theculturebeat/ http://www.thefish.com/blogs/theculturebeat/ http://media.salemwebnetwork.com/thefish2/sys/gr/RSS_250x43.jpg 43 250 http://www.thefish.com/blogs/theculturebeat/11637460/The-Next-Video-Revolution/ There’s been much buzz about the way Apple’s iPad will change personal computing, but there’s another big factor shaping the way we use electronic media and it’s related to devices. Fri, 03 Sep 2010 05:55:00 GMT http://www.thefish.com/blogs/theculturebeat/11637460/The-Next-Video-Revolution/ The Culture Beat There’s been much buzz about the way Apple’s iPad will change personal computing, but there’s another big factor shaping the way we use electronic media and it’s related to devices. http://www.thefish.com/blogs/theculturebeat/11636902/Are-Superhero-Films-Past-Their-Prime%3f/ That was the question being asked last week as this year’s San Diego Comic-Con launched another festival of all things pop culture including of course, comic books, wannabe blockbuster movies, video games, television and other attractions. Tue, 24 Aug 2010 08:55:00 GMT http://www.thefish.com/blogs/theculturebeat/11636902/Are-Superhero-Films-Past-Their-Prime%3f/ The Culture Beat That was the question being asked last week as this year’s San Diego Comic-Con launched another festival of all things pop culture including of course, comic books, wannabe blockbuster movies, video games, television and other attractions. http://www.thefish.com/blogs/theculturebeat/11632223/Summer-Movie-Kick-Off%3a-Iron-Man-2/ The kids aren’t out of school yet but the onset of the summer movie season, having crept back to make room for earlier releases, scores a box office touchdown with the sequel to 2008′s superhero funfest Iron Man, with Robert Downey Jr. Wed, 26 May 2010 02:44:00 GMT http://www.thefish.com/blogs/theculturebeat/11632223/Summer-Movie-Kick-Off%3a-Iron-Man-2/ The Culture Beat The kids aren’t out of school yet but the onset of the summer movie season, having crept back to make room for earlier releases, scores a box office touchdown with the sequel to 2008′s superhero funfest Iron Man, with Robert Downey Jr. http://www.thefish.com/blogs/theculturebeat/11629277/The-Doctor-is-In%2c-Again/ American media companies aren’t the only ones who have successfully relaunched pop culture franchises. The BBC series,<i> Dr. Who </i>originally aimed at family audiences when it began in 1963, and running till 1989, was brought back on the air in 2005 as a filmed hour series with much higher production values. Thu, 22 Apr 2010 03:50:00 GMT http://www.thefish.com/blogs/theculturebeat/11629277/The-Doctor-is-In%2c-Again/ The Culture Beat American media companies aren’t the only ones who have successfully relaunched pop culture franchises. The BBC series,<i> Dr. Who </i>originally aimed at family audiences when it began in 1963, and running till 1989, was brought back on the air in 2005 as a filmed hour series with much higher production values. http://www.thefish.com/blogs/theculturebeat/11628907/Crises-on-Multiple-Realities/ This is a big year for alternate universes in pop culture. Where to begin? Last summer’s movie hit Star Trek rebooted the franchise. And the J. J. Abrams sci-fi series Fringe, offered a mind-blowing revelation of a parallel universe impinging on the one of the main characters. And viewers of Abrams infamous series, Lost, are now experiencing alternate reality whiplash as the new and final season has left behind the series famous flashbacks and flash forwards to “flash-sideways.” Wed, 14 Apr 2010 07:23:00 GMT http://www.thefish.com/blogs/theculturebeat/11628907/Crises-on-Multiple-Realities/ The Culture Beat This is a big year for alternate universes in pop culture. Where to begin? Last summer’s movie hit Star Trek rebooted the franchise. And the J. J. Abrams sci-fi series Fringe, offered a mind-blowing revelation of a parallel universe impinging on the one of the main characters. And viewers of Abrams infamous series, Lost, are now experiencing alternate reality whiplash as the new and final season has left behind the series famous flashbacks and flash forwards to “flash-sideways.” http://www.thefish.com/blogs/theculturebeat/11628619/Theatrical-3-D-Revolution%3f/ Occasionally there are a cluster of news items, usually at my favorite entertainment media site, Studio Briefing, that demand a series of comments. This week saw that happen and what follows is my gloss on those items. So read the linked item and then my comments. Wed, 07 Apr 2010 07:42:00 GMT http://www.thefish.com/blogs/theculturebeat/11628619/Theatrical-3-D-Revolution%3f/ The Culture Beat Occasionally there are a cluster of news items, usually at my favorite entertainment media site, Studio Briefing, that demand a series of comments. This week saw that happen and what follows is my gloss on those items. So read the linked item and then my comments. http://www.thefish.com/blogs/theculturebeat/11628618/Once-was-Lost%2c-Now-is-Found%3f/ This is my first post on Lost since the sixth and final season began in February. I’ll assume those reading this are familiar with the epic series’ dense storyline and mythology of airline crash survivors facing strange perils and their own tragic histories on the weird island that seems in control of their fates. The endgame that started in the two-hour February season premiere has continued in bringing to a head the conflicts that will gradually be explained by season’s end. Wed, 07 Apr 2010 07:34:00 GMT http://www.thefish.com/blogs/theculturebeat/11628618/Once-was-Lost%2c-Now-is-Found%3f/ The Culture Beat This is my first post on Lost since the sixth and final season began in February. I’ll assume those reading this are familiar with the epic series’ dense storyline and mythology of airline crash survivors facing strange perils and their own tragic histories on the weird island that seems in control of their fates. The endgame that started in the two-hour February season premiere has continued in bringing to a head the conflicts that will gradually be explained by season’s end. http://www.thefish.com/blogs/theculturebeat/11628186/Reboots-in-Multiple-Franchises/ The ongoing saga of Hollywood’s recycling of once-profitable movie properties continues. Mon, 29 Mar 2010 06:42:00 GMT http://www.thefish.com/blogs/theculturebeat/11628186/Reboots-in-Multiple-Franchises/ The Culture Beat The ongoing saga of Hollywood’s recycling of once-profitable movie properties continues. http://www.thefish.com/blogs/theculturebeat/11627283/Comics-Relief%3a-Superheroes-Go-Towards-the-Light/ This winter both Marvel and DC are taking their superheroic characters through dark times. As I discussed months ago, the two premier comics companies have been stuck in ever darker big crossover stories that have shaken up their respective universes. Tue, 09 Mar 2010 06:45:00 GMT http://www.thefish.com/blogs/theculturebeat/11627283/Comics-Relief%3a-Superheroes-Go-Towards-the-Light/ The Culture Beat This winter both Marvel and DC are taking their superheroic characters through dark times. As I discussed months ago, the two premier comics companies have been stuck in ever darker big crossover stories that have shaken up their respective universes. http://www.thefish.com/blogs/theculturebeat/11625967/Preparing-to-Get-Lost-One-Last-Time/ I absolutely love the series but, perhaps by temperament, have never immersed myself into the vast ocean of website, plot minutiae or peripheral activities spun off by ABC. Mon, 08 Feb 2010 07:59:00 GMT http://www.thefish.com/blogs/theculturebeat/11625967/Preparing-to-Get-Lost-One-Last-Time/ The Culture Beat I absolutely love the series but, perhaps by temperament, have never immersed myself into the vast ocean of website, plot minutiae or peripheral activities spun off by ABC. http://www.thefish.com/blogs/theculturebeat/11625636/Spidey-Goes-Gritty/ The long-running effort to return Spider-Man to the big screen just took a big left turn with this news release that Sony has decided to scrap the current franchise with director Sam Raimi and star Toby McGuire and reboot the character as a contemporary teenager. Fri, 29 Jan 2010 03:39:00 GMT http://www.thefish.com/blogs/theculturebeat/11625636/Spidey-Goes-Gritty/ The Culture Beat The long-running effort to return Spider-Man to the big screen just took a big left turn with this news release that Sony has decided to scrap the current franchise with director Sam Raimi and star Toby McGuire and reboot the character as a contemporary teenager. http://www.thefish.com/blogs/theculturebeat/11625402/DVD-Review%3a-Funny-People/ Writer-Director Judd Apatow’s third film fared poorly at the box office and with many critics but I hope he won’t be discouraged for this anomaly; the film is a risky effort at engaging the psyche of entertainers, specifically comedians who have a love-hate relationship with their audience and the people around them. Mon, 25 Jan 2010 08:45:00 GMT http://www.thefish.com/blogs/theculturebeat/11625402/DVD-Review%3a-Funny-People/ The Culture Beat Writer-Director Judd Apatow’s third film fared poorly at the box office and with many critics but I hope he won’t be discouraged for this anomaly; the film is a risky effort at engaging the psyche of entertainers, specifically comedians who have a love-hate relationship with their audience and the people around them. http://www.thefish.com/blogs/theculturebeat/11625135/Avatar-Vs.-District-9/ I had heard good things about one of the year’s biggest sci-fi movies of 2009 and finally saw it this week. A bunch of aliens is oppressed by human corporate military forces who seek to move the weird-looking aliens from their home to another location. The special effects were amazing, like nothing I’d ever seen and the inventiveness of the filmmakers was endless. And after watching it, I was reminded of another film with a very similar plot that I’d seen last week, <i>Avatar</i>, which wasn’t nearly as good. You see, I finally watched <i>District 9</i> on Blu-Ray DVD. Tue, 19 Jan 2010 04:05:00 GMT http://www.thefish.com/blogs/theculturebeat/11625135/Avatar-Vs.-District-9/ The Culture Beat I had heard good things about one of the year’s biggest sci-fi movies of 2009 and finally saw it this week. A bunch of aliens is oppressed by human corporate military forces who seek to move the weird-looking aliens from their home to another location. The special effects were amazing, like nothing I’d ever seen and the inventiveness of the filmmakers was endless. And after watching it, I was reminded of another film with a very similar plot that I’d seen last week, <i>Avatar</i>, which wasn’t nearly as good. You see, I finally watched <i>District 9</i> on Blu-Ray DVD. http://www.thefish.com/blogs/theculturebeat/11624548/The-Blind-Side%3a-Reel-and-Real/ The lives of this Memphis power couple and their two children changed when, seeing a hulking black teen walking along the road one cold night, they take him home and make him one of their family. Tue, 05 Jan 2010 09:21:00 GMT http://www.thefish.com/blogs/theculturebeat/11624548/The-Blind-Side%3a-Reel-and-Real/ The Culture Beat The lives of this Memphis power couple and their two children changed when, seeing a hulking black teen walking along the road one cold night, they take him home and make him one of their family. http://www.thefish.com/blogs/theculturebeat/11624546/Movie-Review%3a-Avatar/ With a record-breaking December opening, it remains to be seen whether the film with all the aforementioned elements, will have anything like the sustained box office of his last film, Titanic. Tue, 05 Jan 2010 09:11:00 GMT http://www.thefish.com/blogs/theculturebeat/11624546/Movie-Review%3a-Avatar/ The Culture Beat With a record-breaking December opening, it remains to be seen whether the film with all the aforementioned elements, will have anything like the sustained box office of his last film, Titanic. http://www.thefish.com/blogs/theculturebeat/11624323/Movie-Review%3a-Up-in-the-Air/ The film is Jason Reitman's third, after the satirical <i>Thank-You for Smoking</i>, and last years wonderful <i>Juno</i>. This kid, son of comedy director Ivan Reitman (<i>Ghostbusters</i>), got his dad’s talent plus a whole lot more savvy at capturing the secrets of the human soul. Tue, 29 Dec 2009 06:43:00 GMT http://www.thefish.com/blogs/theculturebeat/11624323/Movie-Review%3a-Up-in-the-Air/ The Culture Beat The film is Jason Reitman's third, after the satirical <i>Thank-You for Smoking</i>, and last years wonderful <i>Juno</i>. This kid, son of comedy director Ivan Reitman (<i>Ghostbusters</i>), got his dad’s talent plus a whole lot more savvy at capturing the secrets of the human soul. http://www.thefish.com/blogs/theculturebeat/11624061/TV-Review%3a-Looking-Back-at-Mad-Men-Season-3/ After the third season finale, the AMC drama about early 1960s Madison Ave advertising executives did what it needed to cement viewers for next season. A game changer that had been in the works through the season, it felt exciting and logical but managed to surprise and delight nonetheless without being an unsettling cliffhanger. Mon, 21 Dec 2009 10:02:00 GMT http://www.thefish.com/blogs/theculturebeat/11624061/TV-Review%3a-Looking-Back-at-Mad-Men-Season-3/ The Culture Beat After the third season finale, the AMC drama about early 1960s Madison Ave advertising executives did what it needed to cement viewers for next season. A game changer that had been in the works through the season, it felt exciting and logical but managed to surprise and delight nonetheless without being an unsettling cliffhanger. http://www.thefish.com/blogs/theculturebeat/11623738/Movie-Preview%3a-Avatar/ Now that the trailer for James Cameron’s Avatar is out, we can get a better idea of its plot. Cameron has said he had the idea for the 3-D film (due out Dec. 18) many years ago but waited until digital technology caught up with his vision. However, based on what the trailer tells us, that vision now looks pretty stale. Tue, 15 Dec 2009 09:32:00 GMT http://www.thefish.com/blogs/theculturebeat/11623738/Movie-Preview%3a-Avatar/ The Culture Beat Now that the trailer for James Cameron’s Avatar is out, we can get a better idea of its plot. Cameron has said he had the idea for the 3-D film (due out Dec. 18) many years ago but waited until digital technology caught up with his vision. However, based on what the trailer tells us, that vision now looks pretty stale. http://www.thefish.com/blogs/theculturebeat/11623732/DVD-Review%3a-Superman%2fBatman%3a-Public-Enemies/ For the last couple of years, Warner Premiere,has been releasing direct to video animated features of DC Comics superheroes. The most recent release, Superman/Batman: Public Enemies, is right behind The New Frontier in successfully bringing comic book thrills to home video. Tue, 15 Dec 2009 09:21:00 GMT http://www.thefish.com/blogs/theculturebeat/11623732/DVD-Review%3a-Superman%2fBatman%3a-Public-Enemies/ The Culture Beat For the last couple of years, Warner Premiere,has been releasing direct to video animated features of DC Comics superheroes. The most recent release, Superman/Batman: Public Enemies, is right behind The New Frontier in successfully bringing comic book thrills to home video. http://www.thefish.com/blogs/theculturebeat/11610743/Classic-Movie-Review%3a-The-Man-Who-Laughs/ "The Man Who Laughs" reminds me how great silent Hollywood films could be and how under-appreciated that era is. Wed, 04 Nov 2009 05:29:00 GMT http://www.thefish.com/blogs/theculturebeat/11610743/Classic-Movie-Review%3a-The-Man-Who-Laughs/ The Culture Beat "The Man Who Laughs" reminds me how great silent Hollywood films could be and how under-appreciated that era is.