‘Movie Corner’ Archives
Movie Corner – August 2018
BY HOWARD McQUITTER II oldschoolmovies.wordpress.com howardmcquitter68@gmail.com A few summer movies for 2018 worthwhile and inspirational "I Can Only Imagine" (2018) Roadhouse Pictures 5/5 Stars I read about "I Can Only Imagine" back in March, I believe in USA TODAY, one of a handful of films with inspirational-religious theme films such as "God's Not Dead: A Light in Darkness," "Paul, Apostle of Christ," and "Samson." I have known for a long time that religious (Christian in particular) films have audiences out there across America although Hollywood for years has pretended the audiences hardly existed, if at all. Mel Gibson's "The Passion of the Christ" (2004) more than proved the naysayers, the cynical secularists, wrong. When I viewed "I Can Only Imagine" (encouraged by my friend, Marvin Windom) I can say the film is one of the most inspirational films of the year. It doesn't hit one over the head with Christian thunderbolts, as one might think. In the midst of [...]
Movie Corner “I like you just the way you are.” “Won”'t You Be My Neighbor?””¦ Fred Rogers, 1928-2003
By HOWARD McQUITTER II “Won”'t You Be My Neighbor?” is one the kindest titles given to any film. It is a benevolent, heartfelt, energetic portrayal of Fred Rogers, a man of exemplary status who revolutionized children”'s programs on television. Rogers, an ordained Presbyterian minister, took a route, not to a church pulpit, but to PBS (Public Broadcasting Service) with a new method of programming for children. He brought children into his studio from different races and backgrounds engaging them by speaking in ways up to the time, circa 1968, unheard of on children”'s programs which usually concentrated on using cartoons and superheroes. Soon, young and not so young were glued to TVs “Mister Roger”'s Neighborhood”, starting on February 19, 1968; eventually lasting 31 seasons and 912 episodes. He did not shy away from certain topics, such as producing a primetime special that spoke directly to children about Robert F. Kennedy”'s [...]
Is the horror genre improving?
By HOWARD McQUITTER II oldschoolmovies.wordpress.com howardmcquitter68@gmail.com Over the last few decades, I generally have distanced myself from the horror genre because of the gratuitous violence and absence or weakness of plots. I still can say with conviction I really like John Carpenter”'s “Halloween”(1978),though, I begin to peter out in interest with the inglorious sequels (by an assortment of directors”“Rick Rosenthal, Tommy Lee Wallace, Rob Zombie, etc.). I think I can live quite well with “Nightmare on Elm Street” (1984), but the sequels get down-right crass and redundant. I remember back in the 1950s and 60s, one horror director in particular, William Castle, scared us kiddies pretty well with flicks like “The Tinker” (1959), “House on Haunted Hill”(1959), “13 Ghosts” (1960) and “Macabre” (1958) without all the sanguinary stuff that could at times make you skip dinner. By the 1970s, [...]
