by Byron Bixler From the December 2015 IssueWhen I think of Studio Ghibli, I think of the magic its stories evoke. I think of the wondrous worlds its directors create and the deep, emotional wells they draw from. I think of its uniquely youthful perspective and the delicate earnestness with which it expresses its truths. … Continue reading
by Byron Bixler From the December 2015 IssueFor those unaware of the magic of the samurai genre, “Zatoichi” is the James Bond of Japanese Jidaigeki cinema as far as longevity goes. Spanning nearly three decades with a 26-film series as well as a popular television show and multiple remakes and rip-offs, the adventures of Zatoichi … Continue reading
Favorite scenes, beloved characters and personal stories from a galaxy far, far away. From the December 2015 Issue Han Solo and the Art of Cool “Han Solo or Luke Skywalker” was the “Beatles or Rolling Stones” of my childhood. The kids that were “little angels” were always Luke Skywalker kids. Incorruptible. But I was always … Continue reading
by Byron BixlerStar Wars means a great deal to me – I suppose that’s as good a place to start as any. Perhaps it’s a frivolous aside to make, but when confronting the long awaited seventh installment of the most widely beloved franchise out there, I think you should know where I’m coming from. I … Continue reading
by Byron Bixler Part of our coverage of the 2015 Ithaca International Fantastic Film FestivalAs with nearly all Sion Sono films, Love & Peace defies classification. It’s a deeply weird and tonally bonkers odyssey with a narrative that strays all over the place, but somehow it works, and the result is one of the most … Continue reading
by Byron Bixler From the October 2015 IssueTwo brothers and a friend take a drive on New Year’s Eve. Run down truck. Dog in the back. It’s around midday when they reach a nature preserve. Woods to the left. Farm to the right. One narrow, snow-covered road splitting them up. A fox emerges, fresh out … Continue reading
Just as with comedy, the effect of horror is unique for every movie-goer. The same image that makes you yawn might very well have traumatized your friend for life. From masked slashers and hulking monsters to pale ghouls and the exaggerated surreality of a troubled mind, almost everyone seems to have that one thing that … Continue reading
Review by Byron Bixler From the October 2015 Issue As someone who generally finds bodybuilding to be kind of repulsive, I’m pleasantly surprised to say that I found Pumping Iron to be an enthralling documentary on the subject. The film brings attention to the many personalities training at Gold’s Gym in California and beyond as … Continue reading
by Byron Bixler & Eli Hayes From the April 2015 Issue Basket Case (Henenlotter, 1982) A hideous growth vaguely resembling a partial human being is separated from a boy at a young age only to be reunited and carried about in a large wicker basket, occasionally released to exact its revenge on those who dared … Continue reading
by Byron Bixler From the April 2015 Issue Gang Tapes (Adam Ripp, 2001) Released just two years after The Blair Witch Project popularized the found footage genre, Gang Tapes was – to my knowledge – the first film to use the approach to chronicle the day-to-day life of black urban youth. It’s not a bad … Continue reading
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