Welcome to Retro Time. In this blog, I’ll be covering topics related to film and television from past decades. These won’t be reviews, but rather a selection of memories, thoughts, and ideas designed to spark a little nostalgia and maybe inspire a conversation or two.  Spoilers will likely come up, so please keep that in mind. Thanks for stopping by, and if you have any thoughts or ideas, feel free to chime in. I’d love to get your feedback. Now, let’s get ready to take a look back…

Tombstone

LSG Media’s recent coverage of historical drams such at 310 to Yuma and The Last of the Mohicans inspired me to take my own look at another period-based film that I consider to be one of the greatest ever made.

Tombstone, released in 1993 and directed by the late George P. Cosmatos, was a watershed moment in movie fandom for me. I’d grown up on a steady diet of westerns, so I was no stranger to the genre. But this film captured my imagination in that special way that only a perfect piece of work can. In the near quarter of a century since its release, its mystique and grandeur continues to have a hold of me. To this day, I still believe that it’s one of the best movies ever made, and here’s why. Continue reading →

Welcome to Retro Time. In this blog, I’ll be covering topics related to film and television from past decades. These won’t be reviews, but rather a selection of memories, thoughts, and ideas designed to spark a little nostalgia and maybe inspire a conversation or two.  Spoilers will likely come up, so please keep that in mind. Thanks for stopping by, and if you have any thoughts or ideas, feel free to chime in. I’d love to get your feedback. Now, let’s get ready to take a look back…

2016 in Review

Okay, so this post is a little bit of a cheat. Typically, my blog is about “retro” entertainment, movies and TV from past decades. But as 2016 prepares to hit the road (and hopefully take its celebrity-slaying bloodlust with it), I feel compelled to take a look back at the films from this year and reflect on some that I feel deserve to be seen. Besides, it’s all going be considered retro someday, right?

So all in all, I felt that the nectar of the film gods was a bit sour this year. There was definitely some good stuff to be had, but this was no 1984 by any stretch of the imagination. Even still, I’m happy to list out a few that I truly liked. A link to the film’s trailer is attached to each title.

Keep in mind, I didn’t see every release that came out. And since I try to be a positive dude, and this is a best of list, I will refrain from mentioning those I saw but didn’t care for. cough BvS cough 

Here we go in no particular order.  Continue reading →

Welcome to Retro Time. In this blog, I’ll be covering topics related to film and television from past decades. These won’t be reviews, but rather a selection of memories, thoughts, and ideas designed to spark a little nostalgia and maybe inspire a conversation or two.  Spoilers will likely come up, so please keep that in mind. Thanks for stopping by, and if you have any thoughts or ideas, feel free to chime in. I’d love to get your feedback. Now, let’s get ready to take a look back…

Great Tracks from Classic Movie Scores

In today’s post, I’d like to talk about a particular element of film that is near and dear to my heart: the musical score. First, I’d like to start by saying that I have absolutely no musical background what-so-ever. I don’t play an instrument nor do I have the slightest clue how someone can figure out how to make sixty other people who DO play instruments sound so good together. That might be part of the appeal for me, the mystery of it, the magic that happens outside of my ability to comprehend it all. Either way, I have always looked to a score to give me the movie’s true voice.

It’s hard to write about something like music. No combination of words can adequately describe a particular piece of music with any real clarity or depth. You just have to listen to it and experience it for yourself. So for the purposes of this post, I thought I’d pick a few tracks from several different films and talk about how these notes help to elevate a particular scene.  Continue reading →

Welcome to Retro Time. In this blog, I’ll be covering topics related to film and television from past decades. These won’t be reviews, but rather a selection of memories, thoughts, and ideas designed to spark a little nostalgia and maybe inspire a conversation or two.  Spoilers will likely come up, so please keep that in mind. Thanks for stopping by, and if you have any thoughts or ideas, feel free to chime in. I’d love to get your feedback. Now, let’s get ready to take a look back…

1984

For some, the mention of 1984 brings up images of George Orwell’s classic dystopian and its bleak look at a totalitarian future where “Big Brother” is always watching. But don’t count out its good name just yet.  The true year of 1984 had something going for it that no piece of dark and brooding literature can ever tarnish.  Something that will make that particular year sparkle with fond memories and warm thoughts for all time.

1984 was the best year in movie history.

At least in my mind.  And here’s why… Continue reading →