Author: Jill Florio
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The Weirdest Moments in Classic Christmas Specials
Old Christmas TV specials can be downright bizarre. I grew up watching the animated cartoons like Frosty the Snowman and The Grinch, and eagerly lapped up the clay stop-motions like Rudolph the Red-nosed Reindeer, and The Year Without a Santa Claus. Joyous holiday fun, right? Yes. And no. They’re enjoyable shorts, but as an adult I’m…
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Who at RunPee Writes the Facebook Posts?
In case any RunPee fans are wondering who answers our active and engaging Facebook posts: Mostly RunPee Jilly writes the posts, puts up the Quick Quotes, and creates the polls. Jilly sweeps through on Wednesdays, the day before the films come out, but checks in nearly daily to update the page. RunPee Dan creates the…
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Dune – What is the Litany Against Fear (and why should we care)?
Can an old science fiction book from the 60s offer modern man any surfeit from pain? Do we allow fears — both great and small — to rule our lives? Can we train ourselves to be greater than our anxieties? I’d say yes, although I’ve yet to achieve this enlightened state myself. But, there’s this:…
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A Novice Watches Rocky (1976)
I’d never seen the original 1976 Rocky in the past, because it seemed to be a “boxing” movie, and watching people hit each other into a bloody mess has never been my bag. Somewhere along the line I watched Rocky III, which was a decent enough film. It was sad and then triumphant. But I…
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Why Newt Scamander is a Fantastic, Yet Underrated Hero
Not every hero has to fit the typical mold we’re so very used to in epic storytelling. It’s always either the manly man’s man who is the big, strong, authoritative handsome guy, like Thor and Captain Kirk. (This really doesn’t even have to be a man — look at fighters like Black Widow and Wonder…
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Movie Rewatch Review – The Birdcage
When The Birdcage opened as a feature film in 1997, I don’t remember people being quite so terrified of gay men…so it surprised me, 21 years later, to see such fear in the hearts of the young straight couple to admit the groom-to-be had two fathers. Or, as this movie made clear, one male father,…
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In Defense of the Grinch (1966)
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To start with, the Grinch doesn’t seem all that bad. He doesn’t like a lot of dissonant noise. That’s hardly a crime. I don’t know why he seems to hate Roast Beast, but maybe he’s on a diet. And he’s never directly mean to anyone. Look how sweet he was to Cindy Lou Who. He…
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Movie Rewatch Review — Dr. Seuss’ How The Grinch Stole Christmas (1966)
I don’t know if you can technically call a 26-minute television Christmas Special a movie, but let’s go with it, since it’s almost Christmas, and I owe the nice people who like sappy holiday shows a kind-hearted review. Filmed in 1966 and based off the classic 1957 children’s tale by the beloved Dr. Seuss (who…
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Yes, it’s about Dune – The Lyrics to Fatboy Slim’s Weapon of Choice
If you know anything at all about Dune, the grand brick-sized novel by Frank Herbert, you know there are gigantic, dangerous, and strangely helpful Sandworms featured in it. It doesn’t matter if you’re a fan or hater of the Lynch movie version, Sy Fy’s mini-series, or the potential interpretation by Jodorowsky. One thing they all…
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Virgin Movie Review – Magic Stocking (half of it, maybe)
I didn’t realize this was one of those Hallmark Specials until I already had my workout pad and weights all spread on the floor and got comfy. (Yes, a little fitness routine during my evening shows is comfort food for me.) But when “HallMark’s Magic Stocking” came onscreen, I gave my mother the stink eye. What…