Actress Liv Tyler (1977)

The American sci-fi flick, Ad Astra (2019), was produced, co-written, and directed by James Gray. Set in the early 22nd century, humanity faces a looming threat as unexplained power surges threaten to disrupt civilization. Roy McBride, a military major, receives word that these surges are linked to the ‘Lima Project’, a space station orbiting Neptune on a mission to discover intelligent life. Coincidentally, Roy’s father, H. Clifford McBride, leads this project. Desperate for answers, Roy agrees to journey to Mars to investigate the fate of the station’s crew. Unfortunately, his trip is derailed ...

The American superhero film, The Incredible Hulk (2008), is based on the Marvel Comics character and marks the second installment in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. At Virginia’s Culver University, General Thaddeus ‘Thunderbolt’ Ross meets with Dr. Bruce Banner, who happens to be his daughter Betty’s colleague and boyfriend. Ross discusses an experiment that is meant to make humans immune to gamma radiation, part of a World War II-era ‘super soldier’ program he wishes to revive. Unfortunately, the experiment fails and Banner is exposed to gamma radiation causing him to transform into the Hulk whenever his heart rate rises ...

Jersey Girl (2004), a American comedy-drama film written, co-edited and directed by Kevin Smith, follows the story of Oliver ‘Ollie’ Trinké. Ollie is a successful media publicist who falls in love with Gertrude Steiney, a young Latina woman. The two quickly get married and are overjoyed with their relationship. However, after six or seven months of marriage, Gertrude discovers she is pregnant. Despite this exciting news, Ollie becomes consumed with his work and neglects Gertrude in favor of his job. He ignores any signs of her struggling and continues to pile on more responsibilities for himself. Eventually, ...

The epic high fantasy adventure film, The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (2003), was directed by Peter Jackson and written by Fran Walsh, Philippa Boyens, and Jackson. Based on J. R. R. Tolkien’s third volume of the novel series, The Return of the King (1955), it follows the journey of Sméagol, a hobbit who becomes consumed by the power of the One Ring after murdering his cousin Déagol to obtain it. As ...

The film, The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers (2002), directed by Peter Jackson and written by Fran Walsh, Philippa Boyens, Stephen Sinclair, and Jackson himself, is based on J.R.R. Tolkien’s second volume of The Lord of the Rings trilogy, titled The Two Towers. In one of his dreams, Frodo Baggins envisions Gandalf battling a Balrog in Moria, before ...

The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (2001) is an epic fantasy adventure film directed by Peter Jackson and written by Fran Walsh, Philippa Boyens, and Jackson. It is based on the first volume of J. R. R. Tolkien’s novel, also titled The Fellowship of the Ring, which was published in 1954. The story takes place during the Second Age of Middle-earth and revolves around the Rings of Power given to the ...

Armageddon (1998), an American science fiction disaster film, was both produced and directed by Michael Bay with Jerry Bruckheimer also on board. In the film, a colossal meteor shower obliterates the orbiting Space Shuttle Atlantis and proceeds to pummel various cities including New York City, Boston, Philadelphia, Moncton, Halifax, and Newfoundland. Later in the film, we learn that these meteors were knocked out of the asteroid belt due to a collision with a rogue comet. In addition, this same collision caused a massive asteroid – comparable in size to Texas ...

That Thing You Do! (1996) is an American musical comedy-drama film written and directed by Tom Hanks, making his debut as a feature writer and director. Set in 1964, the story follows Guy Patterson, a budding jazz drummer from Erie, Pennsylvania who works at his family’s appliance store. One day, his friends Jimmy and Lenny ask him to fill in for their regular drummer Chad, who broke his arm, at a talent show where they plan to perform a song Jimmy wrote. The trio practices the slow-tempo ballad ‘That Thing You Do!’ in Jimmy’s garage. In need of a band name, Jimmy’s girlfriend Faye suggests ...

Silent Fall (1994) is a gripping psychological thriller directed by Bruce Beresford. The film follows the story of Timothy ‘Tim’ Warden, an autistic child who may have witnessed his parents’ brutal murder. In an attempt to crack the case, former child psychiatrist turned therapist Jake Rainer is tasked with delving into Tim’s mind. However, Tim remains unresponsive even to Jake’s probing, adding to the suspense of the film. As Tim’s protective sister Sylvie warms up to Jake and his efforts, she becomes wary upon discovering that he was involved in the death of another child under his ...