CRT Cinema

Certainly HBO/Cinemax, Showtime/TMC and Starz/Encore are familiar names in households across the country, offered by nearly every service provider. However, while name recognition is alive and well, the differentiation between these channels in the mind of common consumers leaves plenty to be desired. All are what you would call “premium movie channels,” but as fans of film above all else, which of the Big 3 stays truest to this moniker? Let’s take a look.

1. Starz/Encore With arguably the best selection of movie channels on the market, Starz grades out as the best choice for movie lovers simply because it chooses to focus more on movies. What it lacks in terms of portfolio diversity (you won’t find any Starz Sports Specials), it makes up for by doing one thing and doing it well. Though in recent years Starz has branched out somewhat recent years, in an attempt to match the success of HBO and Showtime original series, Starz currently broadcast only 4 such shows. The Starz Super Pack gives subscribers access to Encore as well, specializing in blockbuster Hollywood movies.

2. Showtime/TMC Showtime’s original series are entertaining and well-done, if you are into that sort of thing, and Showtime’s movie selection is top notch. The Movie Channel provides some additional balance with a blend of major releases and less heralded titles deserving more recognition. Perhaps the biggest gripe is the issue of timeliness, as newly released movies are subject to a longer time frame before making their way from the big screen to your TV screen. Read the rest of this entry »

The best actor can vary as there is such a wide range of talented people to choose from, but with being nominated and receiving several awards including a Golden Globe for Best Actor in 2004 with his role in The Aviator, Leonardo DiCaprio has earned his title as the greatest actor of our time. His international fame started with his role in Titanic, still making it one of the highest grossing movies in the world, but his growing success only skyrocketed from there. Read the rest of this entry »

It’s only natural for a parent to think highly of their own children. Physical flaws, social anomalies and lack of talent are overlooked when it comes to a parent’s expectation of their little pumpkin. It must be especially bizarre for celebrities whose children are in a precarious position of following in their Superstar Mom or Dad’s footsteps. Case in point: Coppola’s grave mistake of having cast his daughter in Godfather: Part III.

Granted, she has Read the rest of this entry »

Citizen Kane is one of the best films ever made. The Welles/Mankiewicz script, which won an Academy Award, weaves the story around flashbacks, present day, and, as a result, gives a glimpse of the future. The actual script is as detailed as any literary work, not simply a collection of shots and dialogue.

The other thing that strikes me every time I watch Kane is the photography, which also won an Oscar. There is no wasted space in any frame Read the rest of this entry »