Author Archive: Caress Thirus
Caress is a grad student from Chicago who has a deep fascination with film. Her love for movies began as an undergraduate at Roosevelt University, where her teacher suggested she write a movie review. Caress' favorite genres include indie dramas, foreign films, experimental films, and psychological thrillers. When she's not watching movies, Caress enjoys writing, photography, travel, and music.
Inside Hana’s Suitcase
Inside Hana’s Suitcase is the incredible story of a young girl named Hana and her brother George’s trek through the concentration camps during the holocaust, and of a woman’s journey to learn more about them. When Fumiko Ishioka, the director of the Tokyo Holocaust Center in Japan, receives a suitcase in the mail that still [...]
Becoming Santa
From the studio that brought you the lighthearted and hilarious romantic comedy Mark of Love comes Becoming Santa, a heartwarming documentary sure to put any scrooge into the Christmas spirit. After the loss of his parents fairly close to the holiday season, Jack Sanderson’s Christmas spirit was gone. The holiday became a time of tragedy [...]
Spy Kids: All the Time in the World
Spy Kids: All the Time in the World (2011) is Robert Rodriguez’s attempt to make a comeback on the successful franchise that dominated the 2000s. Unfortunately, the higher budget, new characters, and distance between this movie and the last one make it seem disconnected. It doesn’t look like the old Spy Kids movies; the cinematography [...]
Nora’s Will
Nora’s Will (2008) is a film that explores the clash of realism and religion when death rears its ugly head. After the death of his Orthodox Jewish ex-wife Nora (Silvia Mariscal), atheist Jose Kurtz (Fernando Lujan) is faced with a dilemma. Because she died the day before Passover, and because Jewish law requires that the [...]
Strawberry Shortcake: Bright Lights Big Dreams
From the pop-rock inspired theme song to the emphatic cheers accompanying every little accomplishment, it’s immediately obvious to whom Strawberry Shortcake: Bright Lights Big Dreams is targeted. The high-pitched voices, flowery fields, and abundance of pink immediately rule out a certain demographic. The three episodes included on the DVD are chock full of adventure, as [...]
Hoax for the Holidays
Casey McMullan (Martha McIsaac) is the only atheist in the small, Catholic town of Nately. As the Christmas season draws near, she tries with all of her might to distance herself from the holiday cheer and spirituality that normally takes over the town during the holidays. One day, in a fit of rage, Casey throws [...]
Justice
It takes a determined person with a passion for life to turn a city around, and sometimes rules and restrictions set by authorities just get in the way. Judge Patrick Coburn (Robert Pugh) is an enthusiastic judge in the town of Liverpool. He believes that “It’s better to be effective than popular,” and this view [...]
Judy Moody and the Not Bummer Summer
Judy Moody and the Not Bummer Summer (2011) is an adventure that’s fun for the whole family! It’s a bright and colorful tale that tweens will enjoy and recognize from the books by Megan McDonald. Schools out and it’s summer time! That only means one thing: tons of adventure for Judy Moody (Jordana Beatty) and [...]
Larry Learns to Listen
“Oh, Pistachio, you need to listen to those who love you the most: your parents.” Larry Learns to Listen is fun from start to finish. The included imperfections in this hilarious tale made up of two shorts reassure kids that nobody’s perfect, not even talking vegetables! You never really know what to expect from moment [...]
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