Category Archives: Movies

How the Terrorists Won, in a Sense

Posted on Saturday 12 September 2026 by Mark R. Kelly

Passing through airport security is an example of how the terrorists won, and maybe what led to MAGA and Trump; Jonathan V. Last on how terrorism sometimes works; (And how terrorists are motivated by religion); The reflecting pool contractor admits … Continue reading →

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Zeus’ Law

Posted on Sunday 2 August 2026 by Mark R. Kelly

The Odyssey and Zeus’ Law; Trump doubles down on reflecting pool vandals; Christian sky evangelist kicked off plane; Headlines from JMG about AI slop, Burgum also doubles down, bullying, executing women who get abortions, criminally charging librarians, permitting ex-gay torture, … Continue reading →

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The Arrogance of the Devout

Posted on Saturday 27 June 2026 by Mark R. Kelly

Texas inserts Bible readings into public school instruction, only some of them related to literary works; Adam Roberts reviews Disclosure Day, with insights similar to my own; Gubbins: Dismal turn-out for Trump’s rally; right-wing paranoia about Dems. – – – … Continue reading →

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Assessing Disclosure Day

Posted on Thursday 25 June 2026 by Mark R. Kelly

National Review is offended by the film’s presumption to redefine “the Judeo-Christian ethic that formerly ruled Hollywood — making it a global, cultural superpower…”; Vox on how faith and UFOs go hand in hand; Slate on how Spielberg’s films are … Continue reading →

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Disclosure Day, Initial Take

Posted on Saturday 20 June 2026 by Mark R. Kelly

First reaction to Disclosure Day, with a link to David Brin’s reaction; then noting the film’s religious themes, its appeal to empathy, and its allusions to past Spielberg films; How the reflecting pool fiasco is emblematic of Trump’s strategy: hire … Continue reading →

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They Precede Us

Posted on Saturday 13 June 2026 by Mark R. Kelly

Not aliens. Aspects of primal human nature. Equus. But perhaps Disclosure Day is more of the same. Several links about Spielberg’s new movie Disclosure Day, which I’ll wait to see for another week or two. Will revisit and comment about … Continue reading →

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Is Consensus History Possible?

Posted on Monday 8 June 2026 by Mark R. Kelly

The Atlantic’s Yoni Applebaum on the idea of consensus history; A review of Steven Spielberg’s film history; How conservatives don’t understand how California voting works, and imagine conspiracies; Ennio Morricone, Marco Polo, and Canzone di Mai-Li. Activity today. – – … Continue reading →

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Aliens, by Spielberg, by the US Government

Posted on Sunday 7 June 2026 by Mark R. Kelly

Steven Spielberg, his obsessions, my takes on some of his films, and the upcoming film Disclosure Day; NYT’s M. Gessen on how the White House identifies dangerous “aliens” with immigrants. – – – It’s hard to criticize a beloved film … Continue reading →

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Will Humanity’s Cognitive Limitations Lead to the End of Human Civilization?

Posted on Monday 27 April 2026 by Mark R. Kelly

Belief in unfounded health care claims about solar energy; how so many people believe unproven claims about raw milk and vaccines; How the Trump administration is ending the EPA and paying to cancel wind farms; Chris Barkley on Trump’s 7-step … Continue reading →

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Skiffy Flix: Red Planet Mars

Posted on Sunday 29 March 2026 by Mark R. Kelly

Now we come to one of the strangest SF movies of the early 1950s, and ultimately the most risible. This is a 1952 movie about an American astronomer — played by Peter Graves, later of Mission: Impossible and Airplane fame … Continue reading →

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