Groundhog Day is a 1993 American comedy-drama fantasy film directed by Harold Ramis. The film stars Bill Murray as Phil Connors, a cynical television weatherman stuck in a time loop, reliving the same day repeatedly. Throughout the movie, Phil learns important life lessons and ultimately transforms into a better person as he struggles to escape the time loop. Groundhog Day is considered a classic and praised for its humor, heart, and philosophical themes. It has since become a cultural phenomenon and is often cited as one of the greatest comedies of all time.
Decades after Thunderdome, Tom Hardy slipped into the role of Max Rockatansky, with Charlize Theron joining him as the original character Furiosa. A box office success and critical darling, we ask in retrospect: Is Fury Road worth following, or a victim of its own hype?
Once again starring Mel Gibson and this time featuring Tina Turner - as well as a chart-topping, Golden Globe-and Grammy-nominated hit song - Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome stood as the final chapter in Max Rockatansky’s saga for decades. A modest success, is the film deserving of its cult status?
George Miller returned to the apocalyptic landscape with The Road Warrior/Mad Max 2. Propelling Max Rockatansky further into a collapsed world fighting for resources and desperate for hope, did this 1981 flick kick it up a notch or benefit from home video audiences desperate for content?
George Miller exploded onto the scene with 1979’s Mad Max, which held a world record for box office success for 20 years. Starring the unknown Mel Gibson, what made this apocalyptic tale such a darling? Was it the script? The editing? The score? Or was it something else, and does it captivate today?
Nearly 20 years after the disappointment of Rocky V, Stallone brought Rocky back for an unexpected sequel about an aging idol trapped by past fame and coming to terms with mortality. But does Rocky Balboa speak to our times, or is it just an early product of Hollywood’s desire for nostalgic reboots?
Sly Stallone never intended Rocky to go beyond a trilogy but directed him back into the ring for a fight that meant more than a title, but a statement on Cold War tensions, the struggle to see the humanity in our opponents, and forgiveness for past wrongs. Does Rocky IV deserve its revered status, or is it a curio of a bygone era?
After proving himself with Rocky II, Sylvester Stallone got back in the ring, and the director’s chair, for Rocky III. Launching Mr. T into the stratosphere and making “Eye of the Tiger” a catchphrase for decades ever after, is this pop culture mainstay a true classic or just a nostalgic whirlpool?
After the hit film and creation of an icon in 1976, Stallone took over the reins as director in 1979 with Rocky II. One major criticism has been that the sequel feels like a redressing of the original. Houselights explores this to find validity or, hopefully, originality.
After taking a break to deliver Scott Pilgrim vs. the World, Edgar Wright re-teamed with Simon Pegg and Nick Frost in 2013 to try to get audiences to The World’s End. A 6-year gap and successful careers often change the chemistry of artistic teams. Was The World’s End another bull’s-eye for this dynamic trio, or was it trying too hard to recapture the magic?
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