by Mike Parnell | Jun 3, 2011 | Opinion
Summer means movie sequels, and for those of you who are counting, there are 27 sequels coming out this year. That’s a record. Stories in sequels are usually watered-down versions of the original; the desire to strike a massive profit again overrides story...
by Mike Parnell | May 13, 2011 | Opinion
The summer movie season began with Marvel Studios’ “Thor,” an adaptation of their comic based on Norse mythology. The impetuous son of Odin, Thor (Chris Hemsworth), is full of bluster and arrogance. Odin (Anthony Hopkins) attempts to groom Thor to...
by Mike Parnell | Apr 29, 2011 | Opinion
Back in the day, “The Wonderful World of Disney” came on every Sunday night, showing one half of a Disney movie over two Sundays. One of my favorites was “Toby Tyler, or Ten Weeks with a Circus.” It was the story of a boy who ran away from...
by Mike Parnell | Apr 15, 2011 | Opinion
“Win Win” focuses on the life of a New Jersey attorney named Mike Flaherty (Paul Giamatti). Mike has a small practice in a little house shared by his friend, Stephen Vigman (Jeffery Tambor). Their boiler is about to blow, and their toilet stays continually...
by Mike Parnell | Apr 14, 2011 | Opinion
I have loved Hollywood’s products my entire life. I sat in the dark of the Carolina Theater in Lumberton, N.C., as a boy and became enthralled by the figures that danced across that screen. Yes, I heard the preacher say I shouldn’t go there. He told me I...
