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Since the saga’s launch in 1977, the irresistible force of the Star Wars phenomenon has affected young and old alike. It’s nearly impossible to get through a day without being brushed, bumped, or bombarded by a Star Wars image, allusion, or advertisement. This week week, the seventh installment, The Force Awakens, hits theaters. No less than Steven Spielberg predicts it will be “the biggest movie ever.” So why do so many across generations, cultures, and religions find Star Wars so captivating? Is it the dynamic characters? The spectacular score? The breathtaking special effects? Sure, these contribute to the magic of Star Wars. But I don’t think any of them can explain the mystery that...

Two stormtroopers and R2-D2 surprised reporters with an appearance in the White House briefing room while President Obama rushed to finish a press conference so he could watch the latest Star Wars film.

The Star Trek film franchise, which first took flight with 1979’s The Motion Picture, is something many of us hold near and dear to our hearts. For some of us, these are the DVDs, Blu-Rays and even VHS tapes we reach for when we want to spend time with our old friends -- Kirk, Spock, Scotty, Bones, Sulu, Uhura and Chekov.With the recent release of the first trailer for Star Trek Beyond, I thought it was a good a time as any to revisit some of those classic big screen moments. Nick Bosworth over at JoBlo edited and compiled a...

The Oscar-winning documentary filmmaker discusses his new film 'Where to Invade Next,' gun violence in America, the Sandy Hook anniversary, and his anti-Trump campaign. Trump Tower is, in many ways, a 68-story monument to the hypocrisy of Donald Trump. The Midtown Manhattan monstrosity, whose gold entryway sign bearing his name screams off-Strip Vegas casino, used concrete from a firm owned by the Genovese and Gambino crime families. It was built by 200 undocumented Polish immigrants who claimed they were paid meager off-the-book wages. And if that weren't enough, Haitian dictator Jean-Claude "Baby Doc" Duvalier, who massacred thousands of his people,...

The appearance of a new episode of the Star Wars film series is an important moment for Christian witness. To be sure, we can shrug our shoulders, since Star Wars is old news. Or we can enthusiastically introduce our grandchildren to what we might think is a beloved, harmless yarn. Or we can—and should—discover in the series an occasion to sharpen our presentation of the gospel message and help our children and grandchildren, and anyone else who might be interested, to understand the culture in which they live.In this famous and creative saga, which we must respect for its artistic...

From director Justin Lin comes STAR TREK BEYOND starring Idris Elba, Chris Pine, Simon Pegg, Zach Quinto, Zoe Saldana, John Cho, Anton Yelchin and Karl Urban. In theaters July 22nd.

Robert Loggia, durable and versatile star of movies and TV shows including Brian De Palma’s 1986 “Scarface” and “Big,” died Friday in Los Angeles, his widow Audrey confirmed to Variety. He was 85. He was nominated for a Supporting Actor Academy Award for “Jagged Edge” in 1986 for his portrayal of a private detective. Among the films he appeared in were “An Officer and a Gentleman,” “Prizzi’s Honor,” “Problem Child” and “Big,” in which performed a memorable duet on a giant piano with Tom Hanks. He was nominated for an Emmy in 1989 for his portrayal of FBI agent Nick...

The legendary leading man of Akira Kurosawa turned down offers from George Lucas, said his daughter at an event with Steve Wozniak to announce Tokyo Comic Con. Toshiro Mifune, the legendary actor and star of numerous Akira Kurosawa films including Seven Samurai, Yojimbo and Rashomon, turned down the roles of Obi Wan Kenobi and Darth Vader, worried that Star Wars was going to look cheap, according to his daughter Mika.

Elmo Williams, the celebrated Hollywood film editor who won an Academy Award for his clockwork, minute-by-minute efforts on the classic 1952 Gary Cooper Western High Noon, has died. He was 102. Williams, who received another Oscar nom for his editing on the 1954 sci-fi film 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea, died peacefully Wednesday at his home in Brookings on the coast of Oregon ...

"I gave Hillary a hug and shook her hand. And she said we are going to have the filmmaker arrested who was responsible for the death of my son" said Charles Woods, father of Ty Woods, who died defending the CIA annex and diary notes the entry says. Clinton continues to blame the filmmaker despite the filmmaker's connections to her government. If this is Hillary's alibi then she should own it since evidence reveals that her government was responsible of the film and the FBI and the U.S. government were dumber than a doornail having left a trail of evidence....

Trumbo, a biographical movie about the famed screenwriter, Dalton Trumbo, goes into national release today. Here are some reviews and other pertinent items about the film: Review: Bryan Cranston in 'Trumbo,' as a Screenwriter in a Hollywood Under Siege "Trumbo" resurrects Hollywood's darkest chapter "Trumbo" and the long, dark shadow of the blacklist: How a Hollywood gossip columnist launched the culture wars 'Trumbo' is a whitewash of an unrepentant Hollywood commie Movie Review: Bryan Cranston compelling as blacklisted writer in 'Trumbo' Trumbo Review The Real Story Behind the Movie Trumbo Bryan Cranston's First Amendment Crusade: On 'Trumbo,' Trump, and Why...

A license to kill is also a license to not kill,” M lectures his new boss in the 24th James Bond film, “Spectre.” Well, it’s not a license to bore as much as this bloated drag manages to do. After a smashing opening sequence with a rooftop chase set against Day of the Dead observances in Mexico City, we’re plunged into a patchy plot (basically the same as the last “Mission: Impossible” outing) that’s little more than an excuse for random homages to the series’ illustrious past — reminding us how utterly mediocre this one is.

... AFTER 52 HOURS, 22 bags of popcorn, and a trashcan-size soda, the editors at Air & Space have finished watching all of the Bond flicks, counting more than 160 aircraft and spacecraft (both fictional and non-). Bond and company have flown just about everything from "Bird 1" (Ernst Blofeld's fictional two-stage rocket used to capture U.S. and Soviet spacecraft) in You Only Live Twice to the Aerospatiale/Eurocopter helicopter operated by psychopath Xenia Onatopp (who uses her thighs to crush her opponents to death) in GoldenEye to the hot-air balloon blown up by the Cigar Girl assassin in The World...

They reveal how Nicholson, despite his maniacal performance and playboy reputation, acted as a father-figure and mentor for the then 10-year-old girls from London, England. The pair say Nicholson took naps on the floor between scenes to stay in character, talked about missing his daughter Jennifer from his first marriage to Sandra Knight and appeared to be a more devoted family man than his public image ever personified. Lisa, who today is a lawyer and Louise, a published scientist, both 46, also revealed their role in the hit flick did more harm than good to their fledgling acting careers. They...

Six rather relatively well known dystopian themed movies. Excerpts taken from IMDB. If you like dystopian themed movies you've probably seen all 6. My favorite is Rollerball. Which one do you think the world is striving for? --- THX1138 -- Set in the 25th century, the story centers around a man and a woman who rebel against their rigidly controlled society. Director George Lucas. Logan's Run -- An idyllic sci-fi future has one major drawback: life must end at 30. Director Michael Anderson Roller Ball (1975) -- In a corporate-controlled future, an ultra-violent sport known as Rollerball represents the world,...

The oldest and most incredible footage of New York City ever, including where the WTC would be built. With added maps carefully researched to show where the camera was. 28 shots of classic footage with a new twist and a new soundtrack.... This collection of footage was taken between 1896 and 1905 and shows various places around New York City, all identifiable by location on a map.

At least $335 million of the state’s controversial film tax credits have been sold off to corporations and individuals that critics say likely have nothing to do with the movie the perk was intended for, in a secondary market largely shrouded from public view, a Herald review of state records has found. --SNIP-- Established in 2006, the film tax credit is a 25 percent rebate filmmakers earn if they spent at least $50,000 in Massachusetts. But many don’t end up owing enough in state taxes, and the credits are legally transferable, meaning that filmmakers can sell them — on average...

Star Wars: The Force Awakens opens in just two months, and today it's finally time to see the movie's official poster. No, not the teaser poster from last year, and not the promo item handed out at D23; this is the real deal. The poster features the key members of the cast that audiences have met thus far: Daisy Ridley as Rey, John Boyega as Finn, and Oscar Isaac as Poe Dameron, with some other faces that you just might recognize (hi, Han and Leia). What's even more interesting is the sight of some sort of orb in the upper...

That's a wrap! "Star Trek Beyond" officially completed filming on Thursday in Dubai. Director Justin Lin will now begin a lengthy post-production process for the film, scheduled to hit theaters on July 22, 2016.

LOS ANGELES — “We got nobody backing us up here. Nothing.” If things go by the script, that line will soon be spoken by the actor John Krasinski in Michael Bay’s movie version of the Sept. 11, 2012, terrorist attack in Benghazi, Libya. But Hillary Rodham Clinton, who was secretary of state when the United States ambassador to Libya, J. Christopher Stevens, was killed in the assault, may be the one feeling exposed.