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Website copyright © 2002-2025 by Dennis D. McDonald. From Alexandria, Virginia I support proposal writing & management, content and business development, market research, and strategic planning. I also practice and support cursive handwriting. My email: ddmcd@ddmcd.com. My bio: here.

www.ddmcd.com Research & writing about data, technology, movies, media, and books

Jul 5
Jul 5 Rod Lurie's NOTHING BUT THE TRUTH

Dennis D. McDonald
Drama, Intelligent
It’s a pleasure watching an intelligent adult film. It’s even better to see one that treats a difficult subject with great clarity despite underlying moral and legal ambiguities. Most of all, it’s great to see such a film with a great cast working from a great script.
Keiichi Sugiyama's ORIGIN: SPIRITS OF THE PAST
Jun 24

Jun 24 Keiichi Sugiyama's ORIGIN: SPIRITS OF THE PAST

Dennis D. McDonald
Animated, Another Time & Place, Disappointing, Japanese, Science Fiction, Anime
The visuals and artwork are impressive but the characters and story are a letdown.
Tony Scott's “THE TAKING OF PELHAM 123”
Jun 24

Jun 24 Tony Scott's “THE TAKING OF PELHAM 123”

Dennis D. McDonald
Action, Crime, Thriller
This is an enjoyable Summer action vehicle that’s held together by Scott’s taught action direction, witty dialog, and effective performances by Washington, Travolta, and Gandolfini.
McG's TERMINATOR SALVATION
Jun 22

Jun 22 McG's TERMINATOR SALVATION

Dennis D. McDonald
Action, Aircraft, Robots, Science Fiction, Thriller, War
This is a worthy continuation of the Terminator franchise. There’s enough new stuff here to keep your attention, the action is spectacular, and the characters are sufficiently differentiated to create some dramatic tension despite being frequently out-staged by the savage action sequences.

Jun 4
Jun 4 Tarsem Singh’s THE FALL

Dennis D. McDonald
Action, Another Time & Place, Drama, Fantasy, One of a Kind, Quirky
Although visually arresting, I thought Tarsem Singh’s THE CELL was inuman, inhumane, and tawdry. THE FALL is also visually gorgeous. It’s also clever, imaginative, and touching.
Mamoru Oshii's “THE SKY CRAWLERS”
Jun 3

Jun 3 Mamoru Oshii's “THE SKY CRAWLERS”

Dennis D. McDonald
Action, Aircraft, Animated, Another Time & Place, Drama, Fantasy, Japanese, Oshii, Quirky, War, Steampunk
Wonderfully animated, this moody anime adventure combines elements of 1984 (perpetual warfare), Blade Runner (androids with fuzzy memories), Royal Space Force: The Wings of Honneamise (alternate history and retro-futuristic aircraft), and Dark City (constant recycling of character experiences and events).

May 22
May 22 Oliver Hirschbiegel's THE INVASION

Dennis D. McDonald
Drama, Fantasy, Horror, Popcorn, Science Fiction, Thriller
The “invisible aliens among us” story has been done many times before. This one focuses less on wild histrionics than continually escalating terror.
Yoji Yamada's LOVE AND HONOR
May 19

May 19 Yoji Yamada's LOVE AND HONOR

Dennis D. McDonald
Drama, Japanese, Cooking
A young samurai lives comfortably with his wife in an apartment on the grounds of a rich, aged feudal lord. His complaint: his job as a royal food taster leaves him dissatisfied and longing for more challenging and personally rewarding responsibilities.
J.J. Abrams' STAR TREK
May 14

May 14 J.J. Abrams' STAR TREK

Dennis D. McDonald
Action, Science Fiction, Space Travel, War
I wasn’t a big fan of the original Star Trek TV series, but I did enjoy the movies and subsequent TV shows. Having a new Star Trek movie that reinvents original series and charcater premises is a welcome event, escpcially when you see and hear the results on a huge IMAX screen, which I just did.

May 13
May 13 Gavin Hood's X-MEN ORIGINS: WOLVERINE

Dennis D. McDonald
Action, Disappointing, Drama, War
David Fincher's THE CURIOUS CASE OF BENJAMIN BUTTON
May 11

May 11 David Fincher's THE CURIOUS CASE OF BENJAMIN BUTTON

Dennis D. McDonald
Drama, Fantasy, One of a Kind, Romantic, Spouse Approved
The special effects are the most impressive I’ve seen since Peter Jackson’s King Kong.
Timur Bekmambetov's “WANTED”
Apr 24

Apr 24 Timur Bekmambetov's “WANTED”

Dennis D. McDonald
Action, Fantasy, Popcorn, Thriller, Guilty Pleasure
Talk about no redeeming social value! But it’s great fun.
Lilo & Stitch
Mar 29

Mar 29 Lilo & Stitch

Dennis D. McDonald
Animated, Comedy, Fantasy, One of a Kind, Science Fiction, Sentimental, Sweet
This movie is one of the sweetest movies I’ve seen in years. And I mean that as a sincere compliment.
Spike Lee's “MIRACLE AT ST. ANNA”
Mar 13

Mar 13 Spike Lee's “MIRACLE AT ST. ANNA”

Dennis D. McDonald
Action, Drama, History, War
There’s enough creativity, truth, history, drama, and excitement here for three movies.
Takeshi Yamazaki's “RETURNER”
Mar 7

Mar 7 Takeshi Yamazaki's “RETURNER”

Dennis D. McDonald
Action, Japanese, Science Fiction, Time Travel
This movie is 1000% better than it should be. Credit the director (Takeshi Yamakazi) and his top-notch crew and cast.
Kurt Neumann’s “Kronos”
Mar 7

Mar 7 Kurt Neumann’s “Kronos”

Dennis D. McDonald
One of a Kind, Quirky, Robots, Science Fiction
Farah Khan's “OM SHANTI OM”
Mar 6

Mar 6 Farah Khan's “OM SHANTI OM”

Dennis D. McDonald
Comedy, Drama, Fantasy, Indian, Music, Shahrukh Khan
This is the most entertaining movie I have seen since Andrew Stanton’s WALL-E.

Jan 31
Jan 31 Movies I Don't Get Tired of Watching

Dennis D. McDonald
Favorites
In no particular order:
Peter Jackson's LORD OF THE RINGS: RETURN OF THE KING
Jan 28

Jan 28 Peter Jackson's LORD OF THE RINGS: RETURN OF THE KING

Dennis D. McDonald
Action, Another Time & Place, Drama, Fantasy, Peter Jackson, War
Many of the scenes in the Theatrical Return beg for more exposition. I don’t know if that’s because the story has been too highly compressed, or if I’m just aware that an Extended Edition is due out in a couple of months. Probably a bit of both.
George Lucas' THE PHANTOM MENACE
Jan 28

Jan 28 George Lucas' THE PHANTOM MENACE

Dennis D. McDonald
Action, Fantasy, Star Wars, War
When I first saw this movie in the theater I was bored. My reaction is much more positive with this 2-DVD set.
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Copyright © 2002-2026 by Dennis D. McDonald. I support proposal writing & management, content and business development, market research, and strategic planning. I also support democracy, respect for the law, and cursive handwriting. My email address: ddmcd@ddmcd.com.