Small Soldiers at 25: Design for Living

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Small Soldiers at 25: Design for Living

Joe Dante's 1998 teens n' toy creatures v killer toy commandos flick boasts marvelous character and design work for its titular playthings, which in turn lead to thoughtful observations on toymaking.

Festivals

TIFF 2021: Jane Campion’s neo-western The Power of the Dog is a haunting study of masculinity and repressed desire

By: Reyzando Nawara

The great director Jane Campion and a stupendous cast dig deep into dread and melancholy in one of 2021's finest films.

Reviews

Exploring the ever-diminishing returns of the “Crow” franchise

By: Gena Radcliffe

While the first movie in the series was stylish & unexpectedly moving, it was tainted by cheap, empty sequels that forgot what made it special.

Unraveling pop-culture one thread at a time

The Spool is an irreverent, informative source for film and television coverage, focused on diverse, thoughtful opinions that seek out a greater understanding of the media we love.

Filmmaker of the Month

“Spider-Man” swung us into the brightness of the modern superhero era

Sam Raimi brought his camp sensibilities to Marvel's friendly neighborhood Spider-Man, launching a bright new era for superhero filmmaking.

Features

From page to screen, “Spider-Man 2” brought New York to life

Despite attempts to recapture its magic, Sam Raimi's second superhero entry remains the best in energy and empathy.

Anniversaries

20 years on, “Bring It On” scores high on spirit and voice

Kirsten Dunst and Gabrielle Union's cheerful high-school comedy finds ways to pepper charming rivalry with digs at cultural theft.

A Dream Goes On Forever: “The Virgin Suicides” At 20

Sofia Coppola's dreamy, empathetic adaptation of Jeffrey Eugenides' novel about troubled teens has only improved with time.

Features

The Christmas Spirit of the 1994 “Little Women”

Gillian Armstrong's 1994 adaptation of the Louisa May Alcott novel is a perfect balm for the holidays.

Features

The Top 25 TV Shows of 2019

From HBO (Chernobyl, Watchmen, Succession) to Netflix (Russian Doll, The Crown, Stranger Things) and beyond, we break down the best TV of the year.

Goodbye to the Light: “Interview With the Vampire” at 25

Remembering when Tom Cruise defied audience expectations in a campy, sumptuous adaptation of Anne Rice's vampire soap opera.

On Becoming a God in Central Florida: “Go Getters Gonna Go Getcha”

One character’s ending results in some unexpected new beginnings as the season comes to a close.

On Becoming a God in Central Florida Recap: “Birthday Party”

The road to success (whatever that means) suddenly gets a little more convoluted as Krystal receives some unexpected career counseling.

On Becoming a God in Central Florida Recap: “Flint Glass”

The lies & deception are piling up like FAM boxes as Cody dedicates himself yet again to the holy church of Obie.

On Becoming a God in Central Florida Recap: “American Merchandise”

The true insidiousness of FAM is revealed as Krystal rubs elbows with the upper crust, and a shocking event pushes Ernie into action.

On Becoming a God in Central Florida Recap: “Many Masters”

Masks slip & things are weirder than ever as Krystal gets an audience with the man himself.

On Becoming a God in Central Florida Recap: “Manifest Destinee”

Things get weird, Krystal meets a new adversary, and a partnership take a heated turn.

On Becoming a God in Central Florida Recap: Everybody Into the Pool in “A Positive Spin!”

Krystal levels several playing fields in an uneven third episode.

On Becoming a God Recap: Confronting “The Gloomy-Zoomies”

Krystal finally understands the gravity of her situation in a bleak second episode.

On Becoming a God in Central Florida Recap: “Stinker Thinker” Thinks Big

The first episode of Showtime’s new series sets up a dark comedy that satirizes pyramid schemes & hustle culture. We’ve all encountered one of them online. The high school classmate, or former co-worker from more than a decade ago, that you forgot you were Facebook “friends” with, announces, either publicly or through DM, that they’ve ... On Becoming a God in Central Florida Recap: “Stinker Thinker” Thinks Big

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