The 10 Greatest Radio Dramas

The 10 Greatest Radio Dramas

Article by: Witney Seibold

Thanks to the mad over-cataloguing of all human knowledge brought on by the popularity and ubiquity of the Internet, the words “nerd” and “geek,” while superficially gaining ascendency in popular culture, have, in fact, lost much of their meaning. Whereas a “nerd” or “geek” was once a specialist in a back corner of pop culture, it now just describes any run-of-the-mill enthusiast.

Avatar: The Extended Cut

Avatar: The Extended Cut

Review by: Witney Seibold

I already wrote a review of James Cameron’s “Avatar” on this site, and my opinions of the film haven’t changed, but the good people over at Geekscape.net implored that I re-watch the extra-long version of the film on home video just to compare and contrast. This may be a little bit too thorough on my part, but, upon reflection, I feel that I’m being fully holistic on this matter.

The Top-10 Imaginary Sci-Fi Religions

The Top-10 Imaginary Sci-Fi Religions

Article by: Witney Seibold

As Christmas is tomorrow, I thought I’d post a link to the Geekscape website to this article I wrote about imaginary religions from sci-fi film, TV and literature. My only regret is that I couldn’t narrow down to a single religion from “Star Trek,” so I left them off altogether. But, let it be known, for the record, the cult of Vaal nearly made the cut.

The Top-10 Incidentally Fat Characters in Pop Culture

The Top-10 Incidentally Fat Characters in Pop Culture

Article by: Witney Seibold

It’s always bugged me that fat characters in movies and TV were never just incidentally fat. Either their fatness was an indicator of their comic, buffoonish gluttony, or it was an indicator of their wicked, cigar-chomping hedonism. And while the fat men were either buffoons or villains, the fat women had it even worse, being either greedy harpies or weepy wannabes.

The Tempest (2010)

The Tempest (2010)

Film review by: Witney Seibold

The players are all in place.

Kuroneko (1968)

Kuroneko (1968)

Film review by: Witney Seibold

Just like his great “Onibaba” (1963), Kaneto Shindo‘s masterful “Kuroneko” is a beautifully lurid and creepily atmospheric ghost story, tinged with subtle political gravitas, and vengeful feminist empowerment.

Winter’s Bone

Winter’s Bone

Film review by: Witney Seibold

Debra Granik‘s “Winter’s Bone” is one of the best films of 2010. It is set up like a detective story, but more resembles one of the unsentimental backwoods poems of David Gordon Green; it depicts a world of an almost happy life, that is just barely hanging on by its fingernails, surrounded by a blackened mist of suspicion and expectations of failure.

Marwencol

Marwencol

Film review by: Witney Seibold

Mark Hogancamp was minding his own business in a bar one evening a few years ago. He was badgered by a few drunken college students, who called him named, and demanded a fight. Mark exited the bar, somewhat drunk, trading surly put-down with the kids. The kids jumped him outside of the bar, and beat him savagely.

“The Phantom Menace” and The Crisis of Faith

“The Phantom Menace” and The Crisis of Faith

Article by: Witney Seibold

So, I have this cockeyed theory about how certain elements of popular culture are consumed in today’s society, and try to draw a (perhaps shaky) parallel to ancient questions of faith and adherence to religious belief systems. I even try to illustrate where the newest “Star Trek” movie falls in terms of modern Christianity.

The Tourist

The Tourist

Film review by: Witney Seibold

Like this year’s “Salt” and “The Ghost Writer” before it, Florian Henckel von Donnersmarck‘s “The Tourist” is a typical genre thriller on paper, but is so impeccably acted and directed, that it becomes transcendent.