Special Coverage: Movie Mix

Summer Blockbusters: Why Do We Insist on Watching Really Bad Movies?

Sameer Pandya, Miller-McCune.com. July 4, 2009.
Maybe they are more like summer flings -- despite all the signs that should stay far away, you fall intensely anyway.

I Saw 'Food Inc.' -- Now What?

Sarah Newman, Huffington Post. July 3, 2009.
Here's how to transition off of a corn-based diet, lessen your carb(on) footprint, support local farmers and humanely raised meats.

Obama's "Open Government" Project Censors Popular Proposal to "End Imperial Presidency"

David Swanson, After Downing Street. June 4, 2009.
Is irony even the word for this? As soon as people vote online to push Obama to talk about empire, it's quietly removed from the list.

This Time, Pixar Has Gone Too Far

Eileen Jones, eXiled Online. June 3, 2009.
Pixar, the inheritor of Disney's cheesy style, has been pushed to dangerously high glucose levels with their new animated film.

Motherhood, Sex, and a Woman's Deepest Fears

Deborah Orr, Independent UK. May 28, 2009.
The new Lars von Trier movie "Antichrist" makes us face our unhealthy assumptions about motherhood and sexuality.

Terminator Salvation Will Win the Prize for Most Interesting Cast Names, Not Much Else

Steve Burgess, The Tyee. May 23, 2009.
Fourth in the killer robot series, the film takes place in a future controlled by machines. Could have used some more human movie-making skills.

"17 Again" Pushes Sexist Abstinence Message

Amanda Marcotte, RH Reality Check. May 4, 2009.
The message of the film is clear -- only bad people use condoms to have sex for pleasure.

"Screwing Their Brains Out": Plato's Retreat and the Rise of Swinging

Cynthia Fuchs, PopMatters. April 16, 2009.
A new film about Plato's Retreat shows how the swinger's club helped challenge gender stereotypes and regressive ideas about sex.

Battlestar Galactica: Immersion Therapy for Post 9/11 World

Michael Dudley, AlterNet. March 25, 2009.
One can almost make a checklist of contemporary issues the series explored: abortion, torture, prisoner rights, terrorism, drugs, and on and on.

Why We Love/Hate "Chick Flicks"

Melissa Silverstein, Women's Media Center. March 23, 2009.
What's a film-loving feminist to do? Don't let the label deter. There are many films worth seeing that get pegged as chick flicks.

America Is a Dangerous Vigilante, Heroes Are Sociopaths: The Not-So-Mythical World of 'Watchmen'

Michael Dudley, AlterNet. March 12, 2009.
"Watchmen" depicts what happens when an individual or a nation assumes unwarranted and unlimited powers.

"Slumdog Millionaire": A Hollow Message of Social Justice

Mitu Sengupta, AlterNet. February 23, 2009.
Despite all the hype, "Slumdog" delivers a patronizing and ultimately sham statement on social justice.

Ratings for Reality Are Down -- Love and Sex Storm Back on TV

Vanessa Richmond, The Tyee. February 23, 2009.
In these tough times, people are choosing fantasy, love and sex over reality.

The Best Movies About Sex Work

Monica Shores, The Rumpus Sex Section. February 17, 2009.
Here's a handy guide to help navigate the wealth of sex work-centric films Hollywood has to offer.

Frozen River: Oscar's 2009 Cinderella Story

Melissa Silverstein, Women's Media Center. February 14, 2009.
Hollywood decides to tangle with a film dedicated to poverty and desperation, directed by a woman. Amazing.

Fame! I Wanna Live Forever: How Narcissism Conquered Reality

Chris Hedges, Truthdig. February 12, 2009.
Our celebrity-centered culture plunges us into a moral void. It offers the illusion of immortality and promotes self-love over the common good.

The Best Movies About Gays

John Farr, Huffington Post. January 5, 2009.
Here are some outstanding gay-themed films beyond the more evident mainstream titles.

'Waltz with Bashir' Makes War Look Stupid

Sheerly Avni, Truthdig. January 1, 2009.
Documentary filmmaker Ari Folman's new film, 'Waltz with Bashir," shows the horror of war, beyond human comprehension.

Love Bites: What Sexy Vampires Tell Us About Our Culture

Sarah Seltzer, RH Reality Check. November 28, 2008.
Pop culture vampires have always reflected cultural anxieties about sex. "Twilight", the new teen box office blockbuster, is no exception.

"Milk": We Need Him Now More Than Ever

Matt Budd, Huffington Post. November 26, 2008.
Harvey Milk inspired hundreds of thousands of people in his lifetime. The new film "Milk" will let him reach millions more.

Quantum of Solace: New Bond Film an Enviro Thriller?

Michael Fox, AlterNet. November 22, 2008.
The scary fact is that the plot of the new Bond film is eerily true and an environmental nightmare.

Honeytrap Lies and Women Spies

Rosie White, American Sexuality Magazine. November 21, 2008.
Female spies have been the subject of cultural fascination since Mata Hari, but the realities they face are quite different from fiction.

In Praise of Baadasssss Supermamas

Stephane Dunn, Ms. Magazine. November 15, 2008.
The women in Blaxploitation pics didn't accept victimization and often fought for causes larger than themselves. Imagine what they would do today.

Jesus Politics: Religion in the 2008 Election

Cynthia Fuchs, PopMatters. November 13, 2008.
A new documentary looks at the troubling -- and mystifying -- mix of religion and politics in America.

Landmark Films About the Fight for Racial Equality

John Farr, Huffington Post. November 11, 2008.
The movies that help illuminate the centuries-old struggle for racial freedom and equality in America.

Oliver Stone's "W." -- A Catastrophe Worthy of the Worst President

Eileen Jones, eXiled Online. October 22, 2008.
You can practically feel Oilver Stone sitting behind you, breathing on the back of your neck and willing you to see the brilliance of his vision.

The Lee Atwater Story: Meet the Man Responsible for Karl Rove and the GOP's Hate-Driven Politics

Isaac Fitzgerald, AlterNet. October 16, 2008.
A new documentary by Stefan Forbes shows the origins of the GOP's playbook -- the manual of scare tactics on which McCain's campaign is based.

Portrait of an Army Cemetery: An Interview With the Directors of HBO's "Section 60"

Katie Halper, AlterNet. October 15, 2008.
"When you stand there and see the rows of tombstones ... you realize what the price of war can be."

Is 'Taking it to the Streets' Worth the Bruises, Tear Gas and Arrests?

Mark Engler, AlterNet. September 29, 2008.
The 1999 protests against the WTO were dramatic enough to inspire a new feature film, but did they actually make a difference?

FLOW: The Film that Will Change the Way You Think About Water

Tara Lohan, AlterNet. September 27, 2008.
The Sundance hit "FLOW: For Love of Water" is taking the country by storm and waking people up to our water crisis.

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About

Aside from being the most popular art form of all time, movies can also be a powerful tool for social change. This content file seeks to celebrate both the joy and power of the silver screen.

While we'll give weight to socially conscious and underrepresented movie-makers we acknowledge the significant cultural trends evident in even the most wispy Hollywood fare. And, yes, there will be the occasional review.

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