At The Movies

The Lone Ranger Rides Again Runtime: 265 minutes Studio: Republic Pictures Franchise: Lone Ranger Franchise Position: 2 A 15-chapter serial continuing the masked hero’s frontier battles for justice. Ratings: My Rating: N/A The Dove Foundation: Not rated IMDb: 6.8/10 Rotten Tomatoes: N/A Metacritic: N/A Plot Summary: The Lone Ranger and Tonto face a new enemy, Captain Barnett, and his band of outlaws who aim to seize land needed for a railroad expansion. Robert Livingston now dons the mask of the Ranger as he protects settlers, safeguards railroad workers, and thwarts Barnett’s schemes. Across fifteen chapters, the duo demonstrates courage, intelligence, and teamwork while upholding justice on the frontier. Critics Review: Praised for higher production values and more polished performances, this sequel adds greater scope with large-scale battles and inventive stunt work. While some story elements are formulaic, the serial effectively continues the Lone Ranger legend, maintaining suspens...

The Lone Ranger Runtime: 270 minutes Studio: Republic Pictures Franchise: Lone Ranger Franchise Position: 1 First live-action adaptation of the masked hero, told as a 15-chapter serial. Ratings: My Rating: N/A The Dove Foundation: Not rated IMDb: 6.6/10 Rotten Tomatoes: N/A Metacritic: N/A Plot Summary: The story begins with six Texas Rangers ambushed by a ruthless outlaw gang. Only one survives, nursed back to health by Tonto. He dons the mask of the Lone Ranger, swearing to fight injustice and bring law and order to the frontier. Across fifteen chapters, he takes on outlaws, rescues innocents, and works with Tonto to bring down the villainous Captain Mark Smith. Critics Review: Praised at the time for its fast-paced action, cliffhanger structure, and moral clarity, the serial was especially popular with young audiences. While low-budget, Republic Pictures’ stunts and practical effects were seen as impressive for 1938. Modern viewers note dated pacing and character tropes but recogniz...

VIDEO:  The Mariana’s Trench Runtime: 12 minutes Studio: No Budget Productions Country of Origin: United States Franchise: Star Trek Franchise Position: N/A A Star Trek fan film in which the USS Constar crew explores the depths of an alien ocean trench, discovering mysterious phenomena and facing unforeseen dangers. Ratings: My Rating: 7.0/10 The Dove Foundation: PG IMDb: 6.9/10 Rotten Tomatoes: N/A Metacritic: N/A Plot Summary: "The Mariana's Trench: An Orville Fan Film" tells the story of Derek Minard, stationed in a desolate region of space known as the Mariana’s Trench. Through a series of personal messages to his friend Matt, Minard shares both support for Matt’s struggles with Kelly and his own frustrations with his assignment. He describes feeling trapped in a toxic environment where gossip and anger have overtaken the crew, eventually earning his first official warning. As tensions rise, Minard feels the weight of leadership and responsibility pressing on him. In ...

Batman (1943 Serial) Year: 1943 Franchise: Batman serial Franchise #: 1 (first Batman serial) MPAA Rating: Not rated Total Runtime: Approx. 210 minutes Tagline: “Your favorite superhero comes to life in thrilling cliffhangers!” Main Cast Lewis Wilson as Bruce Wayne / Batman Douglas Croft as Robin (Dick Grayson) J. Carrol Naish as Dr. Daka (villain) Shirley Patterson as Linda Page William Austin as Alfred Pennyworth Reviews Synopsis: This 15-chapter serial follows Batman and Robin as they try to stop Dr. Daka, a Japanese agent with plans to sabotage America during World War II. Filled with cliffhangers, action, and early superhero spectacle, it’s campy by today’s standards but thrilling for its time. Batman uses his gadgets and brains to thwart evil in Gotham and protect the nation. Overview: As the first live-action Batman adaptation, this serial laid the groundwork for superhero storytelling on screen. It’s a product of its time, with wartime propaganda themes and straightforward hero...

Batman and Robin (1949 Serial) Year: 1949 Franchise: Batman serial Franchise #: 2 (second and final classic serial) MPAA Rating: Not rated (pre-MPAA system) Total Runtime: Approx. 264 minutes  Tagline: “Action! Thrills! The Dynamic Duo battles The Wizard!” Main Cast Robert Lowery as Bruce Wayne / Batman Johnny Duncan as Dick Grayson / Robin Lyle Talbot as Commissioner Gordon Jane Adams as Vicki Vale Leonard Penn as The Wizard (main villain) Reviews Synopsis: In this follow-up serial, Batman and Robin face off against a mysterious hooded villain called The Wizard, who’s using a device that controls vehicles remotely. As they race through the streets of Gotham to stop him, the Dynamic Duo uncovers a plot involving theft, deception, and high-tech sabotage (for the 1940s, anyway). Each chapter ends with a suspenseful cliffhanger that keeps viewers coming back for more. Overview: This 1949 serial takes the formula from the first and adds a little more sci-fi flair. It’s campy, yes, but ...

Superman Year: 1948 Franchise: Superman serial Franchise #: 1 MPAA Rating: Not rated Total Runtime: ~244 minutes (15 chapters, ~16 minutes each) Tagline: “Faster than a speeding bullet… it’s Superman on the screen!” Main Cast Kirk Alyn as Clark Kent / Superman (billed as “Superman” to preserve illusion) Noel Neill as Lois Lane Tommy Bond as Jimmy Olsen Pierre Watkin as Perry White Carol Forman as Spider Lady (villain) Reviews Synopsis: This first-ever live-action version of Superman shows his origin on Krypton, his adoption on Earth, and his battle with the evil Spider Lady, who seeks a mysterious "Reducer Ray." Superman, disguised as Clark Kent, works with Lois Lane and Jimmy Olsen at the Daily Planet while secretly saving the day. Overview: The 1948 serial is a charming, old-school take on Superman. Kirk Alyn plays the role with earnestness, and while the special effects are dated (flight scenes are animated), the sense of adventure and heroism rings true. This serial set t...

Atom Man vs. Superman Year: 1950 Franchise: Superman serial Franchise #: 2 MPAA Rating: Not rated TV Parental Guidelines: TV-PG equivalent Total Runtime: ~252 minutes (15 chapters) Tagline: “Lex Luthor threatens humanity! Only Superman can stop him!” Main Cast Kirk Alyn as Superman / Clark Kent Noel Neill as Lois Lane Lyle Talbot as Lex Luthor / Atom Man Tommy Bond as Jimmy Olsen Pierre Watkin as Perry White Reviews Synopsis: Lex Luthor, hiding behind the persona of Atom Man, plans to terrorize Metropolis with teleportation and a disintegration ray. Superman must battle Luthor's traps while maintaining his identity as Clark Kent. It's a high-stakes game of cat-and-mouse across 15 thrilling chapters. Overview: This sequel steps up the villain game with Luthor as the first big-screen version of Superman’s arch-nemesis. The gadgets and schemes are delightfully campy. While the serial still uses animation for flying, the tone is more refined, with stronger pacing and more comic boo...