In the summer of 2008, a relatively modest superhero film was released with tempered expectations. Iron Man, starring a comeback-seeking Robert Downey Jr. and directed by Jon Favreau (then best known for Swingers and Elf), wasn't projected to be a cultural watershed moment. Yet seventeen years later, we recognize it as the cornerstone of what … Continue reading The Importance of Iron Man
The Character Couch – Jack Torrance
Welcome to another exciting edition of The Character Couch! This is that section of The Confusing Middle where we take a look at well-known movie and TV characters and examine them from a psychological point of view. What makes them tick? Grab some popcorn because today we're diving into the fractured psyche of one of … Continue reading The Character Couch – Jack Torrance
The Character Couch – Joey Tribianni
Welcome to another exciting edition of The Character Couch! This is that section of The Confusing Middle where we take a look at well-known movie and TV characters and examine them from a psychological point of view. What makes them tick? Grab some popcorn because today we're going to dive into the psyche of everyone's … Continue reading The Character Couch – Joey Tribianni
Rewatching Smallville – Episode 43
Welcome back to Rewatching Smallville, my weekly dive into the iconic series that explores Clark Kent’s journey before becoming Superman. Whether you’re a long-time fan or new to the show, you’re invited to join in each Tuesday as I revisit episodes and share my thoughts and observations. Be sure to share your own memories and … Continue reading Rewatching Smallville – Episode 43
Disney 11 – The Adventures of Ichabod and Mr. Toad
The Adventures of Ichabod and Mr. Toad 1949 Directed by Ben Sharpsteen, Jack Kinney, Clyde Geronimi, James Algar Welcome back to Movie Monday, dear readers! Since it's the first Monday of the month, we're taking our regular break from my ongoing countdown of the 100 worst movies I've ever seen to cleanse our palates with … Continue reading Disney 11 – The Adventures of Ichabod and Mr. Toad
Shimmer and Shadow
The fairy perched on the edge of a neon sign in downtown Tokyo, her translucent wings catching fragments of pink and blue light. Below her, humans hurried past with their anti-fairy nets and protective goggles, standard equipment now in most major cities. Thistle – the name she'd chosen for herself – watched them with a … Continue reading Shimmer and Shadow
A to Z Challenge Reflections 2025
Whew! What a month it's been! As April comes to a close, I'm sitting here with a mixture of exhaustion, pride, and genuine disbelief that I've actually done it—I've written an entire novel in just 26 days as part of the A to Z Blogging Challenge. For those who haven't been following along, the A … Continue reading A to Z Challenge Reflections 2025
Question of the Week #432
In life's most crucial moments, we often face decisions that test not just our judgment, but our values. This week's question, drawn from Gregory Stock's thought-provoking collection The Book of Questions, presents exactly such a dilemma: You need to have dangerous brain surgery and must choose between two surgeons: one extremely gifted but a dishonest … Continue reading Question of the Week #432
Good Bye Yellow Brick Road
When L. Frank Baum published The Wonderful Wizard of Oz in 1900, he could hardly have imagined that his "modernized fairy tale" would become one of the most analyzed works of American literature. While Baum consistently maintained that he wrote simply "to please children," the rich tapestry of symbolism and allegory woven throughout his narrative … Continue reading Good Bye Yellow Brick Road
Westworld: Reimagining a 1970s Sci-Fi Film for the Peak TV Era
When Michael Crichton's Westworld hit theaters in 1973, it introduced audiences to a prescient nightmare: a theme park where life-like robots, indistinguishable from humans, malfunction and turn against their creators. Four decades later, HBO's ambitious reimagining would transform this straightforward cautionary tale into something far more complex – a philosophical meditation on consciousness, free will, … Continue reading Westworld: Reimagining a 1970s Sci-Fi Film for the Peak TV Era
The Confusing Middle 