A Reel Look Back: TAPS

Earlier this week, the Valley Forge Military Academy in Wayne, Pennsylvania, announced that it would close after the 2025-2026 academic year, after 97 years in operation. The campus was the primary filming location for the 1981 drama, TAPS. Although this year is not a significant anniversary for the film, the closure makes this a good time to look back, for the film’s plot ironically resembles this week’s news.   

 

TAPS was directed by Harold Becker and was based on the 1979 novel Father Sky. It followed a group of military school students who decide to take over their school to prevent it from closing. Leading the way was a 21-year-old Timothy Hutton, who would earn a Golden Globe nomination for his performance. Behind Hutton would be Sean Penn in his first role, and Tom Cruise in his second film and first major role. Hutton, Penn, and Cruise would undergo military training to prepare for filming. Giancarlo Esposito and Evan Handler also starred, along with veteran actors Ronny Cox and George C. Scott. Filming would take place at the Academy along with locations at Valley Forge National Historical Park, with actual cadets serving as extras. Maurice Jane would provide the score. TAPS would be met with good reviews and turn a profit at the box office. 

 

*

 

TAPS was a film that was revisited often at home growing up, as this Blogger’s dad loved a good military drama (and also a big George C. Scott fan). Similar to A FEW GOOD MEN (the best military drama of all time), TAPS explores military duty and loyalty; themes that work just as well today as they did in 1981. 

 

Through history, Valley Forge Military Academy was the stepping off point for many careers; J.D. Salinger, author of The Catcher in the Rye, was a graduate. TAPS also served as a stepping-off point for many film careers; launching the careers of Timothy Hutton, Sean Penn, and future film maverick and mega-star Tom Cruise. When the Academy does close its gates, it will have a lot to be proud of. 

Robert Redford: 1936 - 2025

Robert Redford has passed away at 89. 

 

A legend of acting and directing, Charles Robert Redford, Jr. was born in Santa Monica in 1936. He started his career in television, appearing in ALFRED HITCHCOCK PRESENTS and THE TWILIGHT ZONE. 

 

He made his film debut in 1962 in WAR HUNT, before finding leading-man stardom after his roles in BAREFOOT IN THE PARK (1967), BUTCH CASSIDY AND THE SUNDANCE KID (1969), JEREMIAH JOHNSON (1972), THE CANDIDATE (1972), and the Best Picture-winning THE STING in 1973, which would earn him an Oscar nomination for Best Actor. 

 

His career as an actor would continue through notable films such as THREE DAYS OF THE CONDOR (1975), ALL THE PRESIDENT’S MEN (1976), THE ELECTRIC HORSEMAN (1979), BRUBAKER (1980), and THE NATURAL (1980). He would star in yet another Best Picture winner, OUT OF AFRICA (1985), and continued with roles in SNEAKERS (1992), INDECENT PROPOSAL (1993), SPY GAME (2001), and THE OLD MAN AND THE GUN (2018). He would join the MCU in CAPTAIN AMERICA: THE WINTER SOLDIER in 2014, and its follow-up, AVENGERS: ENDGAME in 2019…which would be his final on-screen role. 

 

He would have just as much success in front of the camera as he did behind it. His directorial debut, ORDINARY PEOPLE (1980), would win four Oscars, including Best Picture and Best Director. He would also helm acclaimed films such as A RIVER RUNS THROUGH IT (1992), QUIZ SHOW (1994), THE HORSE WHISPERER (1998), and THE LEGEND OF BAGGER VANCE (2000).

His awards would include five Golden Globes, a BAFTA Award, the Cecil B. DeMille Award, and Screen Actors Guild Life Achievement Award, the Kennedy Center Honors, and the Presidential Medal of Freedom. He would co-found the famed Sundance Film Festival in 1981. 

 

*

 

The world “legend” gets tossed around a lot in print when recapping the life and times of a filmmaker or actor that has been around a long time, but for Robert Redford, the term is spot-on. He acted and directed in some of the best films of all time, and his name itself carried a weight to it. With his boyish good looks and sandy blonde hair, the man was simply born to be on the big screen. 

 

Off the screen, he did his best to make the world a better place, doing extensive work as a political activist where he was an advocate for the environment, and the rights for Native Americans and the LGBT community. 

 

For this Blogger, Redford was certainly a household name…with my parents big fans of THE STING and BUTCH CASSIDY. For me, my lasting memory of Redford would be his towering home run in THE NATURAL, which would ultimately be one of the greatest, stand-up-and-cheer and cry moments in all of cinema; rounding the corner amidst the lights and sparkles and that magnificent score…going home. 

A Reel 20: September of 2005

This month marks the 20^th anniversary of four notable films. 

The first to arrive in that glorious month of September 2005 was Tim Burton’s CORPSE BRIDE. 

 

It was a fantasy-musical that followed a groom-to-be that falls into the underworld and becomes engaged to a dead bride. Co-directed by Mike Johnson, CORPSE BRIDE was a return to stop-motion animation for Burton, and also re-united Burton with his regulars: Johnny Depp, Helena Bonham-Carter, and Christopher Lee. With mixed-to-good reviews, CORPSE BRIDE would be a moderate hit, and earn an Oscar nomination for Best Animated Feature. 

 

Next up would be the action thriller A HISTORY OF VIOLENCE. 

Directed by David Cronenberg, VIOLENCE was an adaptation of the 1997 graphic novel, and had Viggo Mortensen playing a mob assassin in hiding. Co-starring Ed Harris, William Hurt, and Maria Bello, VIOLENCE was quickly regarded as one of Cronenberg’s best films and one of the best films of the year, and earned two Oscar nominations: Best Adapted Screenplay and Supporting Actor for Hurt. 

 

The drama would continue with the biopic drama, CAPOTE. 

The late great Phillip Seymour Hoffman would play famed writer Truman Capote during his efforts to write and publish one of his most famous works, In Cold Blood. Directed by Bennett Miller, CAPOTE would earn five Oscar nominations: Best Picture, Director, Supporting Actress (Catherine Keener), Adapted Screenplay, with Hoffman winning for Best Actor. 

 

The drama would ease up a little towards the end of the month with Joss Whedon’s SERENITY. 

A space-western, SERENITY was the finale to Whedon’s cancelled-yet extremely popular TV series, FIREFLY, and followed his collection of smugglers and outlaws evading the law while protecting one of their own. The cast of FIREFLY returned (Nathon Fillion, Alan Tudyk, Adam Baldwin, Summer Glau, Sean Maher, Morena Baccarin, Ron Glass, and Jewel Staite), and they were joined by the always-excellent Chiwetel Ejiofor. Reviews were good and the film would win the Hugo Award for Best Dramatic Presentation.

 

*

 

September of 2005 was in that period of time before things really started to change. Only two years before, THE LORD OF THE RINGS had kickstarted a new era of big-budget, high-profile franchises, and studios were gearing up for the Marvel Cinematic Universe. But the MCU was still three years away, and although HARRY POTTER was in the middle of its run in 2005, theatres were not jammed with franchises. This left the door wide-open for smaller films to come in and make an impact. 

 

September of 2005 had an excellent collection of films that hit every cinematic note; action, drama, sci-fi, animation, horror, and Oscar-winners and nominees. It was a month full of options, and a far-cry from today’s slim-pickings at the theatre. This month stands as a snapshot of the good-ol-days. 

 

 

 

 

 

A Reel Preview: The Year in Film 2025 - Episode IX

The fun of the Summer Movie Season is over, and the glorious winds of Fall sweep in with serious dramas. This month also brings in re-releases for significant anniversaries: TOY STORY (30 years), THE SOUND OF MUSIC (60 years), and APOLLO 13 (30 years). Here now is a preview for everything else coming to the big screen: 

 

 

 

THE CONJURING: LAST RITES – The ninth and final (ha), installment of the CONJURING horror franchise. This time, the paranormal investigators (Patrick Wilson, Vera Farmiga), take on the real-life supposed haunting of the Smurl family. 

 

 

 

DOWNTON ABBEY: THE GRAND FINALE – The third and final (ha), film in the DOWNTON franchise, which began as a TV series in 2010. This time, the Crawley family enters the 1930’s and battles a scandal.

 

 

 

THE LONG WALK – In this adaptation of the 1979 Stephen King novel, a group of young men enter a walking contest where they must maintain a certain speed or face execution. 

 

 

 

WALTZING WITH BRANDO – Billy Zane (TOMBSTONE, TITANIC), undergoes a stunning-looking transformation into famed actor Marlon Brando in this biopic. Richard Dreyfuss and Jon Heder (NAPOLEON DYNAMITE) co-star. 

 

 

 

SPINAL TAP II: THE END CONTINUES – Rob Reiner returns behind the camera to helm this legacy sequel to his definitive mockumentary about a rock band. Christopher Guest, Michael McKean, and Harry Shearer reprise their roles. 

 

 

A BIG BOLD BEAUTIFUL JOURNEY – This romantic fantasy film stars Colin Farrell and Margot Robbie as two strangers on an amazing journey. 

 

 

ONE BATTLE AFTER ANOTHER – Master director Paul Thomas Anderson (THERE WILL BE BLOOD), returns with this action thriller about a group of ex-revolutionaries re-uniting to rescue one of their own’s daughter. The cast includes Leonardo DiCaprio, Sean Penn, Benicio del Toro, Regina Hall, and Alana Haim. 

 

 

 

THE STRANGERS: CHAPTER 2 – The fourth film in the STRANGERS horror franchise, and the second installment of a new trilogy that re-launched last year. 

 

*

 

Next month, Reel Speak previews the massive month of October. 

A Reel Opinion: Classics Reborn

Hollywood has long been a copycat business. If one studio has a hit doing sci-fi, then the rest will follow. We’ve seen this with 3D, fantasy, franchises based on books, monster movies, and connected universes. It’s a pattern that’s become predictable, yet profitable. 

 

This year, Hollywood found a new, shiny toy: The Re-release. This year has seen many re-issues into theatres celebrating significant anniversaries. Earlier this year, STAR WARS: EPISODE III – REVENGE OF THE SITH returned to the big screen for its 20^th anniversary and turned in a surprising box office result. And just like that, multiplexes are loaded with films that are anywhere from 15 to 50 to 60 years old. BLACK SWAN from 2010 returned this month for its 15th anniversary, as will JAWS in IMAX for its 50^th. And later this year, we’ll be seeing big-screen comebacks for BACK TO THE FUTURE, THE BREAKAST CLUB, TOY STORY, APOLLO 13, and THE SOUND OF MUSIC. It’s become such a popular thing that STAR WARS (1977), has already been announced for a theatrical run for its 50^th anniversary…two years from now in 2027. 

 

This has been good business for studios and theatres, with the latter still battling the shadow of the mishandled pandemic and the convenience of streaming. Re-releases have been an easy way to make a few bucks; the films reputations do the selling for them. Nostalgia is a big selling point, with audiences remembering where they were 20 or 25 years ago when they first experienced these films in theatres…along with the opportunity to introduce the next generation to old favorites. 

 

The flip side to this is newer films may struggle to find footing when they are going up against legends. Darren Aronofsky’s newest film, CAUGHT STEALING, could not secure premium IMAX screens, thanks to the return of JAWS the same weekend. Original films may struggle just like they do when they go up against remakes, but hey…a re-release is better than a lazy remake. 

 

Re-releasing old films reminds us that the big screen is where cinema began. It delivers nostalgia and triggers strong memories, and reminds us why these films remain culturally relevant and powerful. The only mystery is why Hollywood didn’t start doing this sooner. 

 

 

A Reel 30: BRAVEHEART and APOLLO 13

Thirty years ago this month, there were two historical dramas in theatres competing for box office glory and Oscar gold: Mel Gibson’s BRAVEHEART and Ron Howard’s APOLLO 13. 

 

The first to arrive (in May), was BRAVEHEART. 

Mel Gibson directed and starred in this epic which recounted the legendary Scottish warrior William Wallace in the First War of Scottish Independence. Written by Randal Wallace (no relation), the 178-minute epic would also star Sophie Marceau, Patrick McGoohan, Catherine McCormak, Angus McFadyen, David O’Hara, and Brendan Gleeson. It would finish as the 19^th highest earner at the worldwide box office. 

 

In June, Ron Howard’s APOLLO 13 blasted off. 

It was a dramatization of the aborted Apollo 13 mission to the Moon, and was an adaptation of the book Lost Moon: The Perilous Voyage of Apollo 13 by astronaut Jim Lovell (who crewed the mission), and Jeffrey Kluger. The ensemble cast included Tom Hanks, Bill Paxton, Kevin Bacon, Ed Harris, Gary Sinise, and Kathleen Quinlan. It would finish as the third-highest earner of the year worldwide, behind TOY STORY and SE7EN. 

 

At the 68^th Academy Awards, BRAVEHEART led all nominees with ten nominations, and APOLLO 13 came in second with nine. The late great James Horner, who composed music for both films, would be nominated for both. BRAVEHEART would be the big winner, taking home five Oscars including Best Picture. APOLLO 13 would win two (Best Sound and Film Editing). 

 

Today, debate still rages over BRAVEHEART’s win over APOLLO 13. BRAVEHEART gets criticized for its historical inaccuracies (although APOLLO 13 took liberties too), and also for the much-later bad behavior of Mel Gibson. Despite this, both films are remembered as two of the best of 1995 and of the 1990’s. Both films pack an emotional punch, and provide some of the most memorable big-screen moments. Both Gibson and Howard are at the top of their game, and both films deliver iconic characters and quotes. The two could not be further apart in form, style, and timeframe, but share a kinship in telling stories of human resilience. If you happen to have 318 minutes to spare, this will make for a great double-feature.    

A Reel 50: THE ROCKY HORROR PICTURE SHOW

“I’m just a sweet transvestite, from Transexual Transylvania!” 

 

This week marks the 50^th anniversary of THE ROCKY HORROR PICTURE SHOW. 

 

Directed by Jim Sharman and based on the 1973 musical stage production of the same name, ROCKY HORROR was a musical comedy horror centered around a young, engaged couple (Susan Sarandon and Barry Bostwick), whose car breaks down near a castle. Seeking help, they meet the head of the house, Dr. Frank-N-Furter (Tim Curry, in his debut), a mad scientist and alien transvestite. 

 

After the stage production made its debut in London in 1973, the following year it came to the United States, where the theatrical rights were bought. The film would then head back to England, where filming would take place at the famed Elstree Studios and a country house in Berkshire, England. Most of the cast was from the original stage production, and the sets re-used many dressings from the Hammer horror films. 

 

The film would open in England in August of 1975, before its American debut a month later. Reactions were mixed and audiences were small. A new marketing campaign was put together with a re-designed poster with the tagline “A different set of Jaws”, a spoof of the poster of JAWS which had released the same year. By using midnight showings, ROCKY HORROR would find its audience and become one of the biggest cult-favorites of all time. By never being officially pulled from release, it still runs in midnight showings today, and is considered to be the longest-running film in history. 

 

*

 

Over the years, THE ROCKY HORROR PICTURE SHOW has become more than a cult classic. It is a phenomenon whose legacy is defined by its enduring influence on film, theater, and pop culture. Through midnight showings, where audiences interact with the screen shouting lines, and dressing as characters, it transformed into a living performance, blurring the line between spectator and performer. Its brash celebration of queerness, camp, and sexual liberation was groundbreaking for the time. The film’s themes of self-expression resonated and made a safe space for people to explore identity without judgment. Characters like Dr. Frank-N-Furter challenged gender norms decades before such conversations entered the mainstream. Its legacy lies not only in its longevity but in how it empowered audiences to embrace individuality, turning a flop into a timeless celebration of self-expression and community.

 

“And crawling on the planet’s face, some insects, called the human race, lost in time, and lost in space..”

A Reel Preview: The Year in Film 2025 - Episode VIII

The final month of the Summer Movie Season for 2025 includes a legacy sequel to a beloved comedy series, a new film from one of our best working directors, and two re-releases in celebration of their respective, significant anniversaries. Here is everything coming to the big screen in August: 

 

THE NAKED GUN – Liam Neeson plays the son of Frank Drebin, as famously played by Leslie Nielsen in the popular NAKED GUN films in this legacy sequel. The co-stars include Pamela Anderson, Paul Walter Hauser, Kevin Durand, and Danny Huston. 

 

 

THE BAD GUYS 2 – The direct sequel to the 2022 Dreamworks animated film, which this time sees the crew of animal outlaws adjusting to being good guys. The voice-cast includes Sam Rockwell, Marc Maron, and Awkwafina. 

 

 

WEAPONS – In this mystery/thriller, seventeen kids from the same classroom vanish without a trace. It stars Josh Brolin, Julia Garner, Benedict Wong, and Alden Ehrenreich. It is directed by Zach Cregger, who brought us the horror hit BARBARIAN in 2022. 

 

 

FREAKIER FRIDAY – The long-overdue (ha), sequel to the 2003 hit, with Jamie Lee Curtis and Lindsay Lohan reprising their roles. 

 

 

TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES – The 1990 hit film returns to the big screen in celebration of its 35^thanniversary. 

 

 

CAUGHT STEALING – Master filmmaker Darren Aronofsky (BLACK SWAN, THE WRESTLER), returns with this dark comedy about a former baseball player getting caught up in underworld crime. It stars Austin Butler, Regina King, Zoe Kravitz, Matt Smith, Vincent D’Onofrio, and Liev Schreiber. 

 

 

JAWS – Steven Spielberg’s masterpiece returns to the big screen in celebration of its 50^th anniversary.

 

*

 

Next month, Reel Speak previews the first month of Oscar Season. 

 

 

 

A Reel Review - THE FANTASTIC FOUR: FIRST STEPS

Since 2008, the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) has produced 36 (!) films, bringing us some iconic cinematic moments and elevating their legendary superheroes into a new level of pop culture. But, as a good friend of Reel Speak has often said, Marvel may not have played their best hand yet. And that hand starts with THE FANTASTIC FOUR: FIRST STEPS. 

 

On another Earth, in another universe, The Fantastic Four; Reed Richards (Pedro Pascal), along with his wife Sue Storm Richards (Vanessa Kirby), her brother Johnny Storm (Joseph Quinn), and their best friend Ben Grimm (Ebon Moss-Bachrach), are the protectors of humankind. When a planet-devouring entity, Galactus (Ralph Ineson), threatens the Earth, the F4 travel into space to face him…

 

Directed by Matt Shakman and serving as the Fantastic Four’s first film in the MCU, FIRST STEPS does what Marvel does best: a team of super-powered individuals coming together to stop a planet-ending threat. What makes it different this time are several clever choices. First, despite the title of the film, this is no origin story. The setting of an alternate universe allows the team to be assembled at the film’s beginning. Although the backstory for the team is given, there is no waiting around for them to suit up and get to work. 

 

Second, despite the galactic threat and eventual devastation, this FANTASTIC FOUR film has a strong emphasis on family. This team is a family by blood, and Reed and Sue’s newborn baby plays into Galactus’ plans. Familiar, down-to-earth elements such as new parents figuring things out, proud uncles, and guys trying to figure out car seats…all give the film a familiar feel that really works. The heart and emotion behind it makes this 37^th MCU flick feel new. 

 

Once the action and fun starts, FIRST STEPS delivers in that special MCU way. The fights and tension building are teriffic, and each character’s powers used very well. The design is outstanding; a futuristic 1960’s world that looks like it fell out of a sci-fi pulp comic. Visual effects are excellent; Ben Grimm’s The Thing is stunning to look at. 

 

Acting is great all around. Pedro Pascal and Vanessa Kirby have great chemistry and we buy into their relationship in the first few minutes. Joseph Quinn and Ebon Moss-Bachrach are a blast. Julia Garner flies in as a version of the Silver Surfer and is fascinating. Ralph Ineson is perfectly cast as Galactus. 

 

After 17 years of superhero adventures, it’s easy to say that Marvel has done it all. FIRST STEPS brings something new to the table with an emphasis on family, and it speaks to every mom, dad, uncle, and best friend that we are and that we know. That gives it a very special identity, and judging by the traditional mid-credits scene…that best hand is ready to be played. 

 

BOTTOM LINE: See it 

A Reel History: THE FANTASTIC FOUR on Film

This week, famed superheroes THE FANTASTIC FOUR finally enter the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), as the 37^th film in the series that began in 2008. The “first family” of superheroes, which had its comic book debut in 1961, has had an up-and-down career on the big screen. Here is how it began, and what’s next: 

 

The F4 was created by Marvel legends Jack Kirby and Stan Lee as a reaction to rival DC Comics’ success with The Justice League of America. It was Marvel’s first superhero team, and it was made up of Reed Richards (Mister Fantastic), the leader of the group with super-stretchy ability, Sue Storm (The Invisible Woman), Reed’s girlfriend and later wife who can turn invisible and render force-fields, Johnny Storm (The Human Torch), Sue’s younger brother who can generate flames, and Ben Grimm (Thing), who has stone-like flesh and tremendous strength. The team was often at war with Dr. Doom; arguably Marvel’s greatest Big Bad. With various personalities and (ahem), fantastic abilities, the team was ripe for big-screen adventure. And it began with: 

 

THE FANTASTIC FOUR (1994, unreleased)

 

This now infamous abortion of a movie was made by low-budget effects specialists Roger Corman and Bernd Eichinger, with no intention of ever releasing it. It was made only for Eichinger to keep the film rights to the property. Although never officially released, the film has been around online via pirated copies. With low budgets, lousy acting, and hilarious special effects, this F4 was probably better off never hitting the big screen, as it may have killed the superhero genre for decades. 

 

 

FANTASTIC FOUR (2005)

 

The movie rights to the F4 eventually went to 20^th Century Fox, and they produced this earnest and fun origin story. Despite mixed reviews and dodgy early CGI in places, this F4 was a box office hit, finishing as the 11^thhighest grossing film worldwide. The cast included Ioan Gruffud as Reed, Jessica Alba as Sue, Chris Evans as Johnny, Michael Chiklis as Ben, and the late great Julian McMahon as Doom. It would be nominated for Best Science Fiction Film at the Saturn Awards, losing to STAR WARS: REVENGE OF THE SITH. 

 

 

 

FANTASTIC FOUR: RISE OF THE SILVER SURFER (2007)

 

The team and cast were re-assembled for this 2007 sequel that had them meeting another one of Marvel’s iconic characters, The Silver Surfer (voiced by Laurence Fishburne), and teaming up to save the Earth from yet another one of Marvel’s Big Bads: Galactus. It was again met with mixed reviews and was a box office hit, although it earned less than its predecessor. 

 

 

 

FANTASTIC FOUR (2025)

 

A third film with the original cast was planned but scrapped, leaving Fox to reboot the series and delivering this joyless mess that deserved to flop. Supposedly directed by Josh Trank, this F4 had chaos behind the scenes, a ho-hum cast (Miles Teller, Michael B. Jordan, Kate Mara, Jamie Bell), and watching the film…it was apparent it had gone through a wood-chipper in the editing. It was met with bad reviews and bombed. 

 

 

THE FANTASTIC FOUR: FIRST STEPS (2025)

 

In 2019 Disney acquired 20^th Century Fox and mercifully brought the F4 back home to Marvel. This reboot will forgo any origin story and have the team active in an alternate universe, doing battle with Galactus. The cast includes Pedro Pascal (TV’S THE MANDALORIAN), as Reed, Vanessa Kirby (THE CROWN), as Sue, Joseph Quinn (Eddie from TV’s STRANGER THINGS), as Johnny, and Ebon Moss-Bachrach (TV’s THE BEAR), as Ben. Galactus will be voiced by Ralph Ineson (NOSFERATU). The film opens wide July 25^th in IMAX and standard formats.