TheArchive: Reviewing the Rare, Retro, and Restored

This post was published on (4/14/22) and updated on (4/3/23) . If ever a holiday needed its own cinematic equivalent to "It's a Wonderful Life," then Passover is the likeliest recipient.  Look no further because  When Do We Eat?  is that film. And it is not this writer's opinion but that of critics far and wide.  So this Wednesday, ask yourself, what makes this movie different from all other movies? Well, it's a Passover movie to start.  When Do We Eat? is definitely a memorable one that even draws comparisons to a little Greek farce that roiled our funny bone - or in this case, shank bone, some years ago. But don't get us started on the Greeks. With the tagline, “My big fat Jewish Seder” the viewer has a sense of what’s on the table. And it’s hard to dispute Jmerica.com whose review of the movie exalts it as, “History’s most hilarious Passover comedy.” That is only if Shalom Sesame: It's Passover, Grover! Is not as funny as it potentially sounds.  That b...

This post was originally published on (1/16/22) and updated on (1/15/23) . This is no time to engage in the luxury of cooling off or to take the tranquilizing drug of gradualism. Now is the time to make real the promises of democracy; now is the time to rise from the dark...now is the time to make justice a reality for all of God's children. It would be fatal for the nation to overlook the urgency of the moment. - Martin Luther King, Jr.  Aside from inspiring the world to take action through his own work and words, Martin Luther King Jr. also often quoted other iconoclasts to punctuate his messages. One such quote from Victor Hugo’s Les Misérables was especially prophetic and came during King’s 1968 appearance on the Mike Douglas Show. "Where there is darkness, crimes will be committed. The guilty one is not merely he who commits a crime but he who causes the darkness.”  King went on to explain that sometimes those who commit acts of atrocity are mere byproducts of a darkness ...

Each holiday season we dig deep into TheArchive  to provide something nostalgic that brings back that festive feeling. This year, for each day of Christmas, we're giving you another reason to watch.  So grab a comfy place to relax, curl up with some cocoa and popcorn (or just a splash of eggnog) because we've got 12 streaming stocking stuffers waiting to be unwrapped.  What better way to start than the antithesis of current release, Violent Night.  In  MY SANTA, MY DAD,  Gordon Covington's job keeps him from numerous family obligations. When he misses Christmas with his wife and kids, a grievous situation leads to his transformation into Santa Claus himself. You can see how one may confuse the two.... Next up is a "Soviet-based film" to celebrate the recent release of Brittney Griner. CANDLES IN THE DARK features Alyssa Milano, Chad Lowe, and Max Schell. Set in Soviet-occupied Estonia, a beautiful young American falls in love with a handsome rebel leader. ...

Keeping it Real   with true stories on TheArchive: This Easter, celebrate the majesty of nature and mystery of faith with the true story of a ski-loving Pope. The Secret Life of John Paul II (2004) The Skiing Pope that will inspire and melt away your winter blues. Behold the true story of Pope John Paul II when, in July of ‘84, his Holiness met a young man by the name of Lino Zani on the Italian slopes. Indulging in his beloved Winter hobby (held privately dear to the Pope), divine chance--perhaps a miracle-- brought these two together, under an umbrella for their shared love of skiing.  The Secret Life of John Paul II (2004) The unsuspecting ski lodge expert, Lino Zani, witnesses much upon the mountain and, over the years, remain friends with His Majesty, the Pope. Brothers of the mountain, united in adventure, the two would fulfill a magnificent journey of friendship, perseverance, and faith.  …Not to mention, adventure.   The Secret Life of John Paul II (2004) ...

Written by Multicom's Nicole Bajorek (artwork by Nicole Bajorek) This post was originally published on (2/15/21) and updated on (3/27/22) . CODA has won Best Picture tonight at the 94th annual Academy Awards, a a historic win for the Deaf community. Deaf characters and actors have long been underrepresented, stereotyped, and ignored in the history of cinema and television. A majority of the few deaf characters featured or included in movies and shows were often played by hearing actors (usually with no ties to the Deaf community), and painted as highly-dependent beings. A deaf character was also often dismissed by the majority of (hearing) characters, and regarded as slow-minded and gullible.   While I cannot speak for deaf people, as a #CODA (acronym for Child of Deaf Adults), I’ve grown up among the Deaf community and have experienced, understood, admired, and respected Deaf culture firsthand. My mother was born deaf, while my father became deaf at the age of three due to tubercu...

Bank Robber is legit.  If ever you wanted to see McDreamy in his birthday suit, no less on his birthday, then fire up Bank Robber now! McDreamy is everything and a bag of chips (and a pizza - you'll see why) and Lisa Bonet is super legit hot in every way. And the two of them...magic. Here's the premise. After robbing a bank, Billy hides out from the police in a seedy hotel where he is forced to bribe various tenants for their silence. Soon the tenants begin to up the price for their trouble. It is fun, silly, and totally watchable. And did we mention Lisa Bonet is super hot? And it has a ridiculous cast: Patrick Dempsey, Lisa Bonet, Judge Reinhold, Forest Whitaker, Olivia d'Abo, Mariska Hargitay, Michael Jeter, and JB Rogers, better known as the director of American Pie 2.  Say it Isn't So?! (JB Rogers fan humor). The premise is fantastic. A guy robs a bank because his gold digging girl is simply unsatisfied. Utterly unimpressed she bails anyway, so he hides out in a h...

Christmas movies have that timeless nostalgia that keeps us coming back for more. It's hard to find ones you have not seen so  this holiday season we decided to curate a list of ten old school classics you can only stream on  TheArchive . Hopefully you will keep coming back for more! Let's start with our favorite.... CHARLES DICKENS A CHRISTMAS CAROL : How do we not start with the best? Does this one really need explaining? Grab a kid, hopefully your own, and enjoy a journey through time that will take you back. THE CHRISTMAS STALLION : Horses. Snow. Sad. It's the joys of the holidays. When Gwen’s grandfather dies, he leaves her the farm and horses that they’ve raised together, but places her under the legal care of her uncle. When a greedy land developer pesters the family, a decision regarding whether to sell the farm rests solely on her uncle’s shoulders. SPEND THE HOLIDAYS WITH LIBERACE : This one's a serious throw back and oozes nostalgia thicker than the Macassar ...