Social Commentary on Reality: Inception and Pleasantville

The first time I watched Pleasantville and Inception I was quite young, still in high school. Looking back my understanding of these movies was limited because I lacked experience in life. Watching them again at age 26 they have a whole new meaning. Both speak about a person’s place within reality, our perception of that…

Society and Technology Reflected in Avatar and Inception

The writers and directors of Avatar and Inception, James Cameron and Christopher Nolan respectively, each created a film true to their ever-present styles, using technology and society to amaze audiences all over the world. The film Inception claims for itself the category of mainstream film in no uncertain terms. It’s easy to follow storyline, big…

More Mainstream Than You Think: My Bloody Valentine & Twin Peaks

While watching the first two episodes of Twin Peaks and the film My Bloody Valentine, I wasn’t really expecting to find so many similarities between the two. Both are set in small towns, both feature an ensemble cast, and both deal with mysterious circumstances regarding murder. Released in 1981 My Bloody Valentine is a slasher…

The Terminator and Tales From the Crypt: Minor Budgets, Major Consequences

Other than each missing an eye in the stills above, The Terminator and Tales From the Crypt  might appear to have absolutely nothing in common at first glance. Tales From the Crypt was a campy horror film from the 1970’s, while The Terminator was a science fiction landmark for practical effects. Even the storytelling format is completely different, with Tales From the…

Blockbuster films: The Terminator & House of The Flying Daggers

The Terminator and House of The Flying Daggers are two different films that somehow have similar things to compare. The Terminator is a 1984 American science fiction film directed by James Cameron. It stars Arnold Schwarzenegger as the Terminator, a cyborg assassin sent back in time from 2029 to 1984 to kill Sarah Connor (Linda…