As we now know, Adams had a significant amount of input, including writing a new story arc (itself an expansion of the book’s gag about the Jatravartids and the Great Green Arkelseizure), though he did not, as it turns out, see any of the end product. Martin Freeman (“The Office,” Shaun of the Dead) is Arthur, and does a fine job for the most part. Sadly – and thanks to some obvious attempts to make the goings-on more palatable for newcomers – the film doesn’t do as well in retaining the spirit of the novels....

Ludvig von Kahlen (Mads Mikkelsen) is the bastard son of a maid and a nobleman who has overcome his low rank to become a successful army captain. Desiring to seize a noble title himself, the self-possessed Kahlen commits to establishing a settlement in the wild heath, an expanse of desolate wilderness. However, he soon runs afoul of Frederik de Schinkel (Simon Bennebjerg), a wealthy landowner who refuses to share land or profit....

The Sisterhood in question consists of four high school archetypes: Tibby, the artiste (Amber Tamblyn); Lena, the shy one (Alexis Bledel); Bridget, the jock (Blake Lively); and Carmen, the chubby Latina (America Ferrera). All four are poised to spend the summer apart, which would sound like a real bummer, except for the appearance of a pair of jeans (watch for a spike in Levis sales in the coming months) that magically fits all four girls perfectly....

Source: Unsplash The nineties were a time when poker became mainstream. Televised games, usually screened late at night, made household names of the world’s best players. This saw an increase in people taking an interest in the game from the comfort of their homes, who would then venture out to the casino. Of course, this was reflected on the silver screen. Some of the best poker movies in history came from the decade poker exploded in popularity and below, we pick our top three....

Turbo Cola, a dynamic and innovative low-budget gem, triumphed over a field of exceptional independent films, reaffirming the power of creativity and artistic freedom in the world of filmmaking. It’s the story that takes place on the eve of Y2K about a soon-to-be high school graduate planning to rob the gas stop ATM where he works. In his review, Alan Ng says, “Turbo Cola is not so much about the heist but Austin confronting the elements of his life holding him back....

But also like most of you out there, whenever we watch the Trilogy, the awed reverence with which we watch Wars and Empire is replaced during Jedi by laughing, moaning and shouted insults that make MST3K look tame by comparison. Nearly 14 years after its release, it’s become sadly evident that Jedi hasn’t aged well at all, while Wars and Empire increasingly gain acceptance as cinema classics. (We could have just as easily made a list of 100 reasons Star Wars and The Empire Strikes Back are two of the greatest films ever made, but where’s the fun in that?...

Between 2004 and 2018, I was sent on hundreds of meetings with some of the best studio executives, producers, and directors in the business. I loved it. It was an opportunity to chat with like-minded people who love film, grew up with movies and were making them at the highest level. We’d discuss, ideas, plot characters (and their arcs) and who’s the audience. Maybe chat about sub-text and themes. It felt like an episode of John Favreau’s Dinner For Five....

Dr. Loder is an adjunct professor at a prestigious Boston university. For an economics expert, his finances are in shambles, as made evident by his 1980s-era Saab and his dinky apartment. After lectures, he often spends evenings at the bar drinking with his wealthy, anti-intellectual friend Dell (Matt Dillon), one of the city’s premier realtors. Unable to afford the area’s exorbitant housing prices, Loder gives up hope until he finds an impossible ad in the classified section of the newspaper....

Several years ago, journalist Shiori Ito met with Noriyuki Yamaguchi, the Washington bureau chief for the Tokyo Broadcasting System (TBS). That night he drugged Ito and dragged her barely conscious body to his hotel room and raped her. When she awoke, Ito was assured of a prominent future at TBS. As much as Black Box Diaries is Ito’s story is a detailed account of her assault by Yamaguchi, it’s also an examination of the almost impossible task it is to prosecute sexual assault in Japan (and the rest of the world) due to laws that lean in favor of assailants....

An important programming note before I go any further delving into this whimsical production. The version I watched on BBC Previews may not ultimately be the version you gentle readers can watch. You and your children may not get to see the prologue and coda prepared for the cinema with Andy Day. Instead, you might very well be thrust directly into the musical, which would not be a bad thing....

Samantha Porter (Monica Young) is a renowned jazz pianist who leads a three-piece jazz ensemble with her namesake. An upright bass player and a clarinetist accompany her. Pressure is on Samantha to tour Europe and take her group to the next level, but for the time being, she is content establishing a short-term residency at a small venue. Meanwhile, Samantha is confronted with a new personal battle. She has noticed sporadic difficulties in hearing recently....

The businessman leads Michael to a particular concrete square on the sidewalk and instructs him to stand there until 5:30 pm that day. Michael does so with ease, and the man offers him a full-time job to stand inside that same square every day. Michael accepts… and time goes by. Full Time by writer/director Jon Ryan Sugimoto is a short film that serves as a not-so-subtle analogy for working in a corporate world....

Everyone remembers “Garfield:” the ubiquitous suction cup plush toys that adorned every Chrysler Caravan in the 1980s; the comic strip compilation books that were seemingly released every equinox; the cast of characters who were so well-drawn they sported three whole facial expressions (except for Odie, I think he had two). Problem is, the strip stopped being mandatory suburban refrigerator decoration around the time of the first Bush Administration. Better strips have come (and, in the case of “Calvin and Hobbes,” gone) in that time, and “Garfield” now shares the dubious “Does anybody read this crap anymore?...

Unfortunately, after the young man’s best friend, a prize-winning goldfish named #1, dies, his sunny disposition wanes. But a chance encounter with Jolene, a cockroach, reignites something within Hank. Soon, Hank and Jolene are undertaking a surreal and emotional journey. But is it enough to bring Hank back to himself once again? To go along with its relatively simple plot, Hank And Jolene offers authentic emotions. While Aki and Nobu don’t entirely understand Hank’s relationship with Jolene, they never question it....

So which is better: Traditional Hollywood fame or becoming a YouTube influencer? Let’s compare the two. The Power of Creative Control YouTube is an amazing platform for creative people who want to make art precisely how they see fit. Literally, anyone can make these easy steps: – create a channel; – make videos about anything – the secret life of insects, how to apply eyeliner, dad jokes, or – whatever interests you; – and in any niche, you may gain many subscribers for YT....

The setting of a film is more than just something to look at on screen; the backdrop can help tell the story, push the narrative along, and even become part of the plot itself. While some movies and TV shows rely entirely on studios and CGI to create their settings, others will film on location – and that means that anywhere you go in the world you will be able to visit an iconic film location....

Directed by Caroline Keene and Dan Kennedy from a screenplay by Keene, it starts with Lucy (Raye Levine) trying to get out of the office for the holidays. First, she has to survive an elevator ride with her Christmas sweater-wearing co-worker Peg (Marcia DeBonis). Peg is festive as f**k, asking Lucy about her plans and spouting off about how much she loves Christmas. Lucy despises the season and is not looking forward to going to her mom’s house....

Venture to northern Europe and Finland is no different. The nation has a thriving independent movie scene. Here, we introduce some Finnish movies, both old and new, that are well worth seeking out. The Unknown Soldier Released in 1955, a decade after the events it describes, this is arguably the most important movie in Finland’s history. It tells the story of the Continuation War, which raged between Finland and the Soviet Union while the rest of Europe was in the midst of World War II....

As for the narrative, Dave (Bryan Ferriter) is stuck in a rut. He works in a cubicle, surrounded by insufferable nerds, and can’t seem to make life work for him despite the fact that he looks like a Disney prince. It’s difficult to accept that ridiculously attractive people don’t get everything they want but if that’s center to the film’s premise, you just have to accept it. His friends aren’t much better than his coworkers but at least they mean well....

Nochebuena, known as “the Good Night,” is a traditional Christmas Feast in Spanish and Latin cultures that goes hand-in-hand with prepping for the holidays. Jennifer (Tanairi Sade Vazquez) arrives at her mother’s house, where her childhood best friend Melissa (Carmen Morales) greets her enthusiastically. They then prepare for the homecoming of Junior (Rene Rosado), who was their other partner in crime growing. As Jennifer’s mother, Alba (Rose Bianco), prepares her traditional dishes with plenty of coquito loaded with rum, the mood is set....