Not only does the man sing and dance (tap!) he also knits! And look at how he’s holding the yarn! Post by Springwools – Ireland’s Largest Wool...

I know I could be risking much by reviewing this film, what with hosting a literature podcast and all, but hear me out. I like to judge a film (or a book for that matter) on whether or not the end goal was achieved. For me, To Kill a Mockingbird is pretty much the pinnacle of book-to-film that you can find. Sure you lose 98% of the subplots and a lot of important subtext — but was the book represented in a way that did justice to...

Disclaimers first: I loved Les Mis when I saw it in London in 1987. I have owned the soundtrack since then. Yes, I do think Colm Wilkinson is the yardstick by which every Jean Valjean should be measured. I’ve only just started reading the book (I’m up to where Valjean is running to get young Cosette–that would be about 70,000 pages in). I majored in theatre. I love theatre. I love theatre tricks. I love theatricality. I even...

I occasionally write about movies here, but only occasionally. Mostly because I don’t get out much any more, but also because being a movie critic—let me amend that—being a good movie critic is a tricky art. I truly feel that to be useful as a critic you have to look at what the writers and directors were trying to accomplish and then analyze whether they achieved their goal. This means going a fair bit beyond “two...

Dear Mr. Riordan, As an educator, a former production and executive assistant in Hollywood, and an aspiring YA novelist I just wanted to send some sympathy your way. My 9 year old son and I—both fans of your book The Lightning Thief—went to see the new film version of it last Friday. My 9 year old really loved it—with caveats. I was willing to go along with the inevitable book-to-film discrepancies for most of the movie. I...

But I am SO into Wizards. Or I would be if I were 15. But seriously. If you’re in the Potter Fandom, you may have already seen the film. If not, no spoilers here, just this: If the film-makers set out to make a roller-coaster ride of a movie, where all the kids quite obviously have to grow up through the course of the film, then they did a fine job. It’s not the book. How could it be? The book is a freakin’ mini-series on...