MEDIA APPEARANCE: Included in Rotten Tomatoes "First Reviews" for "The Batman"

Every now and then for the big new releases, Rotten Tomatoes will collect the tip-of-the-spear “first reviews” and highlight them in an editorial news column piece. If I can get my work in fast enough and it gets noticed, I have the chance of being selected and included in these round-up features. Recently, I was cited twice for The Batman. For a guy like me, it’s the closest I’ll get to a pull quote anytime soon. It’s an honor to see my work recognized and mentioned next to some of my peers and the best critics in the business.

2022, Media AppearanceDon ShanahanMarch 8, 2022Rotten TomatoesComment

MEDIA APPEARANCE: Included in Hollywood Critics Association "Gradebook" for "The Batman"

Upon being accepted into the Hollywood Critics Association, their fine site-runners and admins assemble “Gradebooks” collecting early reviews and grades from their critics on popular releases. When I can get more work completed and review submitted early enough, my take and connected quotes have the chance to make these shout-out posts. My first appearance on the HCA Gradebook came for Death on the Nile. My newest was being included for The Batman.

2022, Media AppearanceDon ShanahanMarch 8, 2022Comment

MOVIE REVIEW: Turning Red

The good storytellers at Pixar take all the possible cringeworthy “red” jokes and mask them through creatively conceived metaphors that soften the obligatory embarrassment with heart, humor, and courage. After all, to the Chinese culture on display in Turning Red, the potentially frightening shade of crimson counts as a lucky color of vitality, success, and happiness. Leave it to the ever-reliable Pixar to swim freely within that intrinsic good fortune as they so often do.

2022, 4 STARS, ADVANCE MOVIE REVIEW, MOVIE REVIEW, StreamingDon ShanahanMarch 7, 2022Turning Red, Pixar, Pixar PunchComment

Tips on How You Can Maximize the Chances of Winning in The Online Casino

Lots of people all over the world enjoy playing at casinos. These can include traditional games like roulette, poker or blackjack but also slot machines which make online gambling quite popular. If you're using real money to gamble and want to win as much as possible, it's best not to go overboard with what you bet each time. There are certain things you need to keep in mind when you are playing casino games or betting on sporting events.

2022, Column, EditorialDon ShanahanMarch 7, 2022Comment

AWARDS: Winners of the 1st Annual Celebrity Film Awards

This past year, I was invited to join the new international group of the Celebrity Film Awards. Founded by Walter Nicoletti, this fine group completed their first awards cycle announcing their winners in a streaming YouTube presentation. I was among the enlisted award presenters. The video package is excellent and I’m both proud and excited to represent Walter’s organization. Enjoy!

2022, AWARDS, Streaming, SPECIAL, Social MediaDon ShanahanMarch 7, 2022Celebrity Film AwardsComment

GUEST EDITORIAL: Iconic Smoking Scenes in Movies

by Lewis Robinson

At an elemental level, movies are simply a series of images woven together. Skilled filmmakers carefully select striking pictures to anchor their narratives and navigate through from one to the next with an orienting sense of reality. While that may sound very heady and organic, it’s simply another way of saying great movies are made of iconic images.

2022, Column, Editorial, GUEST EDITORIALDon ShanahanMarch 7, 2022Comment

GUEST EDITORIAL: 5 Tips for the Perfect Movie Night

by Andrew Adams

Movie nights are great occasions. Whether you invite a few friends over or just have your own private affair, they're the perfect excuse to eat junk food and grab a drink while laughing at terrible jokes. But it doesn't always go so smoothly so here are 5 tips for how to create the perfect movie night.

2022, Column, Editorial, GUEST EDITORIAL, Home MediaDon ShanahanMarch 7, 2022Comment

GUEST COLUMN: "The Aviator" Movie Review

by Lewis Robinson

There are some movies that have been called classics over the years that don't really stand up to the hype. Others become cult classics due to their popularity growing over time, while others will stay on the Top 10 lists for years to come. The Aviator is one of the most recent movies to be deemed a classic by many lists, but does it deserve that categorization?

2022, Column, Editorial, GUEST EDITORIAL, GUEST CRITICDon ShanahanMarch 3, 2022Comment

INFOGRAPHICS: What Americans Really Think of Movie Nominations

During awards season, no one can escape the pop culture buzz around which nominated movies, directors, or actors will bag the Oscar. But do all those movie nominations and reviews have a real impact on the movies people see in theaters or at home? As part of the DISH promise to “tune in to you,” USDISH went and found out. We asked one thousand American adults what they think of movie reviews, nominations, and awards.

2022, Column, Editorial, GUEST EDITORIAL, Home Media, Infographic, AWARDSDon ShanahanMarch 3, 2022Comment

GUEST EDITORIAL: 5 Date Nights to Avoid for a Couple Healing From Addiction

by Lisa Walker

If your relationship has experienced a rough patch in the wake of addiction, it will take some time to heal. Broken trust, emotional pain, and physical health issues are all significant concerns caused by addiction. For the relationship to achieve full recovery, there’s a long road ahead that includes individual therapy sessions, follow-up meetings, and couples counseling. You will also need quality time together.

2022, Column, Editorial, GUEST EDITORIALDon ShanahanMarch 3, 2022Comment

GUEST EDITORIAL: What Movies About Real-Life Scandals Can Teach Us

by Adrian Johansen

Everyone loves a good scandal on the big screen. Heist movies are always popular. Thrillers never go out of style. Fictional tales of celebrities and political figures in hot water draw in huge audiences. But, what about movies that depict real-life scandals? Plenty of films are based on true stories. Although many take some creative licenses, popular movies like The Big Short, American Hustle, The Informant!, and even Erin Brockovich have given moviegoers a peek into real-life scandals that changed the course of history in one way or another.

2022, Column, Editorial, GUEST EDITORIALDon ShanahanMarch 3, 2022Comment

AWARDS: Winners for the 5th Annual Hollywood Critics Association Awards

Last night, the Hollywood Critics Association, founded by Scott Menzel, bestowed their fifth annual film awards in Los Angeles at the Avalon Hollywood. I am a newly elected member of this fine group and I’m endlessly impressed by the quality, impact, and diversity of this year’s winners. CODA was the Best Picture recipient next to acting winners Andrew Garfield, Kristen Stewart, Troy Kotsur, and Ariana DeBose. The HCA put on an excellent event. Someday, you’ll find me at that awards show covering them in person! Someday!

2022, AWARDS, EVENTDon ShanahanMarch 1, 2022Hollywood Critics AssociationComment