Distant Relatives: Metropolis and District 9

Robert here, with my series Distant Relatives, where we look at two films, (one classic, one modern) related through a common theme and ask what their similarities and differences can tell us about the evolution of cinema. Upstairs/DownstairsThey tell bird owners to avoid putting your new pet in one of those high hanging Tweety-bird cages.  See, if the bird spends most of his time positioned

Yes, No, Maybe So: "Green Lantern"

Another round of insta-judgments. Just add trailer. Suddenly we know if... yes) we're buying ticketsno) we're shunning the movie, or... maybe so) withholding the judgments until we have more info. Maybe so is usually the correct answer. Sometimes great trailers lead to disappointing movies. And sometimes virtually every piece of marketing for a movie will practically beg you not to see it when

Yes, No, Maybe So: "Sucker Punch"

This goes out to anyone who caught the Sucker Punch trailer and anyone who cares about women as action heroes. Which, as you know, The Film Experience does. Unfortunately caring about something and enjoying it in practice are two different things. In practice there are so many things that can go wrong...The trailer begins with an abused girl fights back set-up (a blouse ripped off and a  button

First and Last, Eye

first and last images from a film.  first and last lines of dialogue for another clue. first ~"Some call _______ the perfect society."last ~ "To live only once... but with hope."Can you guess the movie?Yes, it's the sci-fi adaptation [Highlight for the answer] AEON FLUX (2005) starring Charlize Theron... who probably needs to get back to work in some major surprising way that reinvigorates