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Review of “Ghoulies II” (1987)

We’re still on delayed viewing with Svengoolie because of our bout of Covid. I’m enjoying it—the delayed viewing. Covid was wretched. We zip through commercials and get to choose an earlier start time, which leads, of course, to an earlier bedtime. There is indeed a silver lining to every cloud. And then there’s this movie…Continue reading “Review of “Ghoulies II” (1987)”

Review of “Hurricane: The Miraculous Journey of Rubin Carter”

The Stuff:This is a biography of Rubin “Hurricane” Carter, a boxer who was wrongfully convicted along with his friend, John Artis, of a 1966 triple homicide in a bar in Paterson, New Jersey. Carter and Artis were convicted twice and finally exonerated in 1985 in a federal court. The book follows not only his legalContinue reading “Review of “Hurricane: The Miraculous Journey of Rubin Carter””

Review of “Ghoulies” 1984

We’re still watching these a week behind schedule, catching up from our Covid sleep-in. It’s nice to watch these on delayed viewing, fast-forward through the commercials, and go to bed early. I don’t know if it’s the summer heat, the Covid hangover, native laziness, or a combination of the three, but staying awake is harderContinue reading “Review of “Ghoulies” 1984″

Review of “The Car” 1977

Recovering from “mild” cases of Covid, the dearly beloved and I watched this silly movie last night. We’re doing a lot better, mostly coughing up an occasional lung and sleepy. I wouldn’t wish this on anyone, though. Plot:The film opens with a reworked “Dies Irae,” “Day of Wrath” perhaps by Thomas of Celano, according toContinue reading “Review of “The Car” 1977″

Review of “Reading Like a Writer” by Francine Prose

In discussing writing workshops and classes, author Francine Prose writes, “But that class, as helpful as it was, was not where I learned to write. Like most—maybe all—writers, I learned to write by writing and by example, by reading books.” (p .2) But using what the author calls “close reading,” a writer can learn variousContinue reading “Review of “Reading Like a Writer” by Francine Prose”

Review of “Attack the Block” (2011)

This was our Saturday pizza and bad movie night movie, a little something different. I’m glad it came with subtitles. Plot:On Guy Fawkes Night in South London, nurse Sam (Jodie Whittaker) walks home after work, on the phone to her mother, explaining that she got stuck at work. Young gang members— Pest (Alex Esmail), DennisContinue reading “Review of “Attack the Block” (2011)”

Review of “Banned Books: The World’s Most Controversial Books, Past and Present”

The Stuff This is a survey of approximately one hundred books that have been banned or challenged, beginning with the fourteenth-century work, The Decameron by Giovanni Boccaccio, and ending with the 2021 book by Chinese author Ai Weiwei, 1000 Years of Joys and Sorrows. The entries are arranged chronologically. One or two pages are dedicatedContinue reading “Review of “Banned Books: The World’s Most Controversial Books, Past and Present””

Review of “The Curse of the Demon” (1957)

This is this week’s Saturday night pizza and bad movie offering, a decent movie with a goofy-looking but punctual demon who seemed to pop out of some sort of firecracker explosion and liked to hang out in the trees. Plot:Professor Henry Harrington (Maurice Denham) drives through the dark woods to arrive at Lufford Hall, theContinue reading “Review of “The Curse of the Demon” (1957)”

Review of “In the Devil’s Snare: The Salem Witchcraft Crisis of 1692”

The Stuff:Author Mary Beth Norton, Professor Emerita at Cornell University, writes that the Salem witch crisis took place in the midst of another crisis—the devastation of the First and Second Indian Wars (King Philip’s War) of the late seventeenth century, which wreaked havoc. Traumatized refugees fled south. While the “afflicted” people spoke of the devilContinue reading “Review of “In the Devil’s Snare: The Salem Witchcraft Crisis of 1692””

Review of “Puss in Boots: The Last Wish” 2022

This was a different sort of Saturday night pizza and bad movie fare for us. The dearly beloved took a recommendation from The Critical Drinker (more on him at a later date), who spoke highly of the flick. Plot: The opening scenes tell a fairy tale about a star that fell to earth, scorching aContinue reading “Review of “Puss in Boots: The Last Wish” 2022″