Aug 13

Aug 13 William Wellman's “ISLAND IN THE SKY” and “THE HIGH AND THE MIGHTY”

These two long-out-of-circulation movies present a version of John Wayne to the public that we have all but forgotten: the strong silent type who doesn’t go around smashing people with fists or blasting them with a gun. Instead he exerts his authority through quiet determination and professionalism.

Mar 9

Mar 9 Hayao Miyazaki's “NAUSICAÄ OF THE VALLEY OF THE WINDS”

Dennis D. McDonald

Aircraft, Animated, Japanese, Miyazaki, Anime, Dragons

What is it about Miyazaki and Studio Ghibli that are so consistently impressive? Seeing 1984’s Nausicaä of the Valley of the Winds for the first time reminded me of some of the answers to this question.

Jan 2

Jan 2 Martin Scorsese's THE AVIATOR

Dennis D. McDonald

Aircraft, History

The Aviator is a grand and unique combination of glamour, adventure, intrigue, spectacle, humor, tragedy, and melodrama. It's about big, famous people doing things that we expect big, famous people to do. And it uses all the power that modern filmmaking technology has to offer. But its focus, ultimately, is on people and the things they do. The fact that the people inhabit (and helped create) the world of today is a definite plus, and Scorsese makes the most of this.

Sep 22

Sep 22 SKY CAPTAIN AND THE WORLD OF TOMORROW

Dennis D. McDonald

One of a Kind, Action, Aircraft, Robots, Science Fiction

The most interesting extra on this DVD is the long documentary that tracks the production of the film. It documents with great detail and enthusiasm what I think is the main message of this film, that people “outside the mainstream” who have a vision can produce blockbuster entertainment that depends heavily on modern technology managed and used in a tightly controlled temporary business environment.