Bios

Dorothy Woodend

Dorothy Woodend has been the film critic for The Tyee since 2004. Her work has been published in magazines, newspapers and books across Canada and the US, as well as a number of international publications.

Dorothy worked with the Vancouver International Film Festival, the Whistler Film Festival and the National Film Board of Canada. She is a member of the Vancouver Film Critics Circle, and sits on the Board of Directors of the Alliance for Arts and Culture in Vancouver. Dorothy is also the Director of Programming for DOXA Documentary Film Festival in Vancouver.

Reporting Beat: Film.

Dorothy's Connection to BC: Born in Vancouver and raised in the wilds of the Kootenay, Dorothy's favourite spot is her family's farm on Kootenay Lake.

Twitter: @dorothywoodend

Stories by Dorothy Woodend

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Where Can You Go for a Real Movie Experience Anymore?

Real as its popcorn butter, Vancouver's Rio Theatre is a classic worth defending.

By Dorothy Woodend, 27 Jan 2012

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'The Iron Lady'

Film as cultural crime. This is how they create historical amnesia.

By Dorothy Woodend, 13 Jan 2012

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Hollywood's Icy Heart

From 'Mission Impossible' to 'The Descendants,' current films fail to arouse.

By Dorothy Woodend, 30 Dec 2011

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'Shame' and 'No Sexual Rapport'

A fictional sex addict, and the real life of pornographers who feed his hunger.

By Dorothy Woodend, 2 Dec 2011

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Occupy the Movie Theatres

Could money-sucking, worker-shedding Hollywood be more out of touch?

By Dorothy Woodend, 28 Oct 2011

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'Real Steel'

Ghost of Steve Jobs looks on as mechanical fighting flick shadow boxes with old classics.

By Dorothy Woodend, 14 Oct 2011

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'Attack the Block'

Young toughs mug the wrong crash-landed alien. Satisfying cinema ensues.

By Dorothy Woodend, 16 Sep 2011

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Cinema's Season of Revenge

Hollywood's heavily into payback lately. Now comes the remade 'Straw Dogs.'

By Dorothy Woodend, 2 Sep 2011

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'Rise of the Planet of the Apes'

In a world gone ape, this monkey learns some hard lessons of humanity.

By Dorothy Woodend, 12 Aug 2011

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'Captain America: The First Avenger'

One more super hero released from storage. But how much moral high ground is left to protect?

By Dorothy Woodend, 29 Jul 2011

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Movies and Memory

Films seen long ago meld with personal dramas, making the mind one weird Cineplex.

By Dorothy Woodend, 8 Jul 2011

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Malick's 'Tree of Life' Is Profound (Don't Snicker)

Is it a masterpiece if it makes you think about big stuff... maybe too much?

By Dorothy Woodend, 24 Jun 2011

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Sorry Women, Summer Films Are for Boys

Surviving the season of guns, explosions, cool gadgets, bad guys, pretty ladies, aliens, Nazis, that sort of thing.

By Dorothy Woodend, 10 Jun 2011

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Kristen Wiig, Screwball Genius, I Salute You!

Is 'Bridesmaids' really that funny? Yes, miraculously, it is.

By Dorothy Woodend, 27 May 2011

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Aliens! They Just Keep Coming!

From 'Paul' to 'Prometheus' to 'Battle: Los Angeles,' the invasion appears unstoppable.

By Dorothy Woodend, 15 Apr 2011

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'Jane Eyre'

The film is swoon-worthy. But what carries the power of a young girl's first reading of Charlotte Brontë's masterpiece?

By Dorothy Woodend, 1 Apr 2011

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This Year's Annoying Film Prize Faves

Here come the Oscar nomination announcements. Sheesh.

By Dorothy Woodend, 21 Jan 2011

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The Big Tease

Mathieu Amalric's film 'On Tour' is a love story with passels of swinging tassels.

By Dorothy Woodend, 7 Jan 2011

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Have Yourself a Cinematic Christmas

'True Grit' and other options for those in search of stories instead of stuff.

By Dorothy Woodend, 17 Dec 2010

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Woman on the Edge of a Drag

It's 1950s again but with a thick layer of porn on top: an anti-review of 'Burlesque.'

By Dorothy Woodend, 26 Nov 2010

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'Out of the Blue'

There's more to this Dennis Hopper picture than meets the eye. It's a snapshot of a bygone punk rock Vancouver.

By Dorothy Woodend, 12 Nov 2010

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Old Horrors and New Monsters

Good old-fashioned demonic possession isn't what it used to be but new creeps are always scratching at the window.

By Dorothy Woodend, 29 Oct 2010

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How Do We Animate the Spirit of Empathy?

Some beautiful films at the Vancouver International Film Festival show the way.

By Dorothy Woodend, 15 Oct 2010

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Vancouver International Film Festival: Woodend's Picks

A Czech visual masterpiece, a García Márquez magical dream, and much, much more.

By Dorothy Woodend, 24 Sep 2010

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Summer Trash Cinema

From 'Cannibal Girls' to 'Idiocracy,' four fun films that won't make your brain sweat.

By Dorothy Woodend, 20 Aug 2010

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'The Kids Are All Right'

How did a film about lesbian parents and sex end up so very old-fashioned?

By Dorothy Woodend, 30 Jul 2010

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Eyes on the Future

A cinema classic with a live orchestra. A literary mash-up manifesto. Everything is new. Nothing is new.

By Dorothy Woodend, 23 Jul 2010

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She's Baaaack! 'Metropolis' Revived

New extended restoration of iconic 1927 film is fresh as a whiff of G20 tear gas.

By Dorothy Woodend, 2 Jul 2010

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'Winter's Bone'

Sundance winner portrays the growing, alienated American underclass that used to be called hillbillies.

By Dorothy Woodend, 18 Jun 2010

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Lonely? You're Not Alone

'Sex and the City' makes family, friends, fashion, love look easy. A lie to salve our aching solitudes.

By Dorothy Woodend, 4 Jun 2010

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'The Trotsky' and 'The Maid'

Two small films offer an antidote to Hollywood's idiotic portrayals of class division.

By Dorothy Woodend, 21 May 2010

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Sex and the Modern Documentary

'The Erection Man,' 'Orgasm Inc.' and 'Male Domination' are among DOXA's offerings next week in Vancouver.

By Dorothy Woodend, 30 Apr 2010

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The Docs Are Out!

There's a fresh bunch of documentaries in Vancouver, bringing messages of hope, fear and beauty.

By Dorothy Woodend, 16 Apr 2010

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Best of the Worst Teen Horror Flicks

Hell hath no fury like a teenage girl with a daddy fixation in Nobuhiko Obayashi's cheesy, psychedelic and occasionally scary 'House.'

By Dorothy Woodend, 9 Apr 2010

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Love is Hell

Down, down, into fiery depths of French auteur Clouzot's imagination, and his unfinished masterpiece 'Inferno.'

By Dorothy Woodend, 19 Mar 2010

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Canada's Top Ten Films, 2010

Let the year's best, showing at Vancouver's Pacific Cinematheque, cure your Olympics hangover.

By Dorothy Woodend, 7 Mar 2010

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'Reel Injun' and 'Salute'

Feeling manipulated by the Olympics' brand boosters? See these two timely documentaries.

By Dorothy Woodend, 19 Feb 2010

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Keeping up with Today's Modern Consumer of Romance

'This is why we're f'd up about love,' says my sister as we listen to old movie soundtracks. We are, indeed.

By Dorothy Woodend, 5 Feb 2010

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'The Wild Hunt'

Well worth pouncing on while prowling next week's Victoria Film fest.

By Dorothy Woodend, 22 Jan 2010

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Kill Your Idols

No! to the boomers, yes! to the Yes Men.

By Dorothy Woodend, 8 Jan 2010

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'Fantastic Mr. Fox' Is, Well, Fantastic

A brilliant, beautiful film about marriage, cages and one's own inescapable nature.

By Dorothy Woodend, 11 Dec 2009

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Heading up the Hill

Above the boozy parties and orgiastic groans at the eclectic Whistler Film Festival.

By Dorothy Woodend, 4 Dec 2009

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'Collapse'

Your chance to spend a bit of quality time with the world's foremost doomer.

By Dorothy Woodend, 13 Nov 2009

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Suck It Up Cinema

Vampires are everywhere nowadays, but weirdly drained of menace.

By Dorothy Woodend, 30 Oct 2009

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Sifting the VIFF

A few picks from the wonderful (small) world of Vancouver's film fest.

By Dorothy Woodend, 2 Oct 2009

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Who Needs Art, Anyway?

Politicians don't value it. Why would they? It threatens them.

By Dorothy Woodend, 4 Sep 2009

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'Malls R Us'

God is goods, says the architecture that enfolds retail worship.

By Dorothy Woodend, 21 Aug 2009

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'The Cove'

After watching this, can you summon empathy for a dolphin killer? Should you?

By Dorothy Woodend, 10 Aug 2009

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'The Hurt Locker'

Director Kathryn Bigelow's war makes men choose pain over nothing.

By Dorothy Woodend, 24 Jul 2009

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'Food Inc.'

Film offers a broad menu of gross facts. Where's the recipe for action?

By Dorothy Woodend, 10 Jul 2009

life

The Art of Living for Free

Want to get by on almost nothing? I'm glad to share some (free) tips.

By Dorothy Woodend, 26 Jun 2009

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'The Hangover'

Ninety minutes with my head in the toilet.

By Dorothy Woodend, 12 Jun 2009

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Festival of Love

DOXA's documentary film fest is a living, breathing, sighing communal moment.

By Dorothy Woodend, 29 May 2009

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See this Shock Doc

'Act of God' explores death by lightning. Plus, more electrifying films at DOXA.

By Dorothy Woodend, 15 May 2009

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From Muck Grows Disneynature

Don't let Uncle Walt near the kids and the animals.

By Dorothy Woodend, 24 Apr 2009

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'Recipes for Disaster'

A family tries to give up oil, and home life seizes up.

By Dorothy Woodend, 10 Apr 2009

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Too Much Eco-Elder Worship?

A few cranky notes on watching 'Earth Days' at the otherwise cool Projecting Change Festival.

By Dorothy Woodend, 3 Apr 2009

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'RiP: A Remix Manifesto'

We're all pirates now, so how will films and journalism get made?

By Dorothy Woodend, 27 Mar 2009

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Bloody Awful Oz Flicks

No one did exploitation like Aussies in the '70s.

By Dorothy Woodend, 13 Mar 2009

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Take the Kids to Reel2Real

Film fest proves it's universal. Parents and children drive each other crazy.

By Dorothy Woodend, 20 Feb 2009

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'Welcome to the Sticks' and 'Ballast'

Two very different travels down country roads.

By Dorothy Woodend, 6 Feb 2009

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Is Your Child Too Young to Watch that Horror Film?

A parent's guide to scaring your kid.

By Dorothy Woodend, 23 Jan 2009

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'Gran Torino'

Is this Clint Eastwood's self-pitying swan song?

By Dorothy Woodend, 2 Jan 2009

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Escape from Christmas

Not feeling It's a Wonderful Life? Try these.

By Dorothy Woodend, 19 Dec 2008

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Films Full of Biophilia

'Fierce Light' and 'Food Fight' at the Whistler fest.

By Dorothy Woodend, 5 Dec 2008

life

Generation Velcro

What will become of the children who could not tie their shoes?

By Dorothy Woodend, 21 Nov 2008

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Hollywood's Bully Problem

Big studios teach kids to insult casually, crudely. It takes a Dutch film to tell the truth.

By Dorothy Woodend, 7 Nov 2008

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The Funhouse Mirrors of Political Films

Blurring the line between telling the truth and just telling tales.

By Dorothy Woodend, 17 Oct 2008

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Igloos and Cannibalism

For now at least, we have NFB films to set our history right.

By Dorothy Woodend, 3 Oct 2008

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Reeling at Vancouver's Film Fest

An insider's guide to the best of this year's VIFF.

By Dorothy Woodend, 19 Sep 2008

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Love? Are You Kidding?

What does Woody Allen really know about the human heart?

By Dorothy Woodend, 29 Aug 2008

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'Pineapple Express'

America's violent haze produces a bad buzz.

By Dorothy Woodend, 9 Aug 2008

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'Jack Brooks: Monster Slayer'

Beware the horrific rage of this Canadian working man.

By Dorothy Woodend, 25 Jul 2008

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'Wall-E'

Looking for love and meaning on a garbage planet.

By Dorothy Woodend, 4 Jul 2008

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Hot Times!

Four summer campy movie classics to kick off the lazy season.

By Dorothy Woodend, 27 Jun 2008

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'Kung Fu Panda'

More self-esteem cinema for today's coddled cuties.

By Dorothy Woodend, 13 Jun 2008

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Screwed by 'Sex and the City'

What terrible hold do these aging Barbies have on us?

By Dorothy Woodend, 30 May 2008

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Gender Bending at the Leos

Fluid sexuality in 'Crossing' and 'she's a boy i knew.'

By Dorothy Woodend, 16 May 2008

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Lots of Good Stuff

In Vancouver, a bunch of great film events.

By Dorothy Woodend, 2 May 2008

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'Bevel Up'

Nettie Wild's new doc about nurses in the trenches.

By Dorothy Woodend, 18 Apr 2008

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'The End of Suburbia'

After peak oil comes what fresh hell?

By Dorothy Woodend, 4 Apr 2008

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'Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day'

A frantic return of great dames.

By Dorothy Woodend, 21 Mar 2008

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'Semi-Pro'

Will Ferrell, America's noble idiot poster boy.

By Dorothy Woodend, 7 Mar 2008

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Real Good for Kids

Reel 2 Real's film fest of gems for children.

By Dorothy Woodend, 22 Feb 2008

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Canada's Top Ten Films

'Continental, a Film Without Guns' is one of the best.

By Dorothy Woodend, 15 Feb 2008

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Opera Goes to the Movies

As the two forms mix, we've entered a new aria.

By Dorothy Woodend, 8 Feb 2008

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'Starting Out in the Evening'

Aging novelist, sexy grad student. Who's got the write stuff?

By Dorothy Woodend, 1 Feb 2008

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Age of Apathy

The mumbly new wave of films for young people.

By Dorothy Woodend, 25 Jan 2008

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The Net Reboots Cinema

How long until films are wired straight into our minds?

By Dorothy Woodend, 18 Jan 2008

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'Electroma'

Daft Punk's wordless ode to robot 'heroes.'

By Dorothy Woodend, 11 Jan 2008

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The Best of Film, and Intentions

Bright spots of 2007, resolutions for the new year.

By Dorothy Woodend, 4 Jan 2008

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The Princess Consumer

Women who yearn to shop, not grow up. They're 'Enchanted.'

By Dorothy Woodend, 7 Dec 2007

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Nourishing Movies

Avoid the plexes, tuck into these filmic fests and feasts.

By Dorothy Woodend, 23 Nov 2007

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'Bee Movie' Leaves a Bad Buzz

Hey kids, learn to love the hive.

By Dorothy Woodend, 9 Nov 2007

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Oh, the Horror!

Scary films are hot. Where's the art of empathy?

By Dorothy Woodend, 26 Oct 2007

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Vancouver International Film Fest's Best Flicks

It's a feast of films this year.

By Dorothy Woodend, 5 Oct 2007

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Climate for Change

Best of the Vancouver International Film Fest's new green flicks.

By Dorothy Woodend, 28 Sep 2007

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What Can 'Mad Men' Tell Us?

Smart TV show recalls when men were men, and women weren't glad.

By Dorothy Woodend and Steve Burgess, 21 Sep 2007

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How the West Was Undone

'3:10 to Yuma' mans up.

By Dorothy Woodend, 14 Sep 2007

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Sick of Sex?

Mr. Bean's cure for summer smut.

By Dorothy Woodend, 31 Aug 2007

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One Big Wank

'Superbad' is fun. But girls need not apply.

By Dorothy Woodend, 24 Aug 2007

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Going Out With a Bang

Why we're hardwired for explosion movies.

By Dorothy Woodend, 3 Aug 2007

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How the Sea Dries Up

'Plagues & Pleasures on the Salton Sea'

By Dorothy Woodend, 20 Jul 2007

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Oh Rats!

'Ratatouille' dishes up imagination and tasty thoughts.

By Dorothy Woodend, 6 Jul 2007

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'Sicko' Diagnosis

Moore or less, can America heal itself?

By Dorothy Woodend, 29 Jun 2007

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Hollywood Is 'Knocked Up' with Fake

But 'In Vanda's Room' is the real thing.

By Dorothy Woodend, 22 Jun 2007

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Like Alice in Wonderland on Acid and Speed

'Paprika' is a pure giddy delight.

By Dorothy Woodend, 15 Jun 2007

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How Two Filmmakers Lure You Into Their Brains.

David Lynch and Guy Maddin's new unfiction flicks.

By Dorothy Woodend, 8 Jun 2007

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Less Gas, More Ass

'You Never Bike Alone' suggests a new, bike-based world order.

By Dorothy Woodend, 1 Jun 2007

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'Iraq': the New Four Letter Word in Film

Why Hollywood's lens is blurry.

By Dorothy Woodend, 25 May 2007

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'The Killer Within'

What makes someone commit mass murder? A doc's answers.

By Dorothy Woodend, 11 May 2007

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On the Silver (Haired) Screen

Must 60 be the new 40?

By Dorothy Woodend, 27 Apr 2007

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Vancouver Stars as 'Pretty but Shallow'

In 'Everything's Gone Green' and 'Crossing.'

By Dorothy Woodend, 20 Apr 2007

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Trashaholics Anonymous

What Quentin Tarantino needs to learn from guilty pleasure flicks.

By Dorothy Woodend, 13 Apr 2007

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When Horror Flicks Rebel

'The Host' screams with politics, family and the monster within.

By Dorothy Woodend, 30 Mar 2007

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Sex, Screams and not enough Satire

Zombies 'r' us? Can B.C. horror film 'Fido' hack it?

By Dorothy Woodend, 16 Mar 2007

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Blaxploitation in 'Black Snake Moan'

When bold aims turn into bad stereotypes.

By Dorothy Woodend, 1 Mar 2007

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The Tyee's Own Oscars

Who really won? George W., dresses and lesbians, among others.

By Dorothy Woodend, Steve Burgess and Shannon Rupp, 26 Feb 2007

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We're Smarter than Americans

Or so say our top movies.

By Dorothy Woodend, 23 Feb 2007

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Put Your Child on 'Horror Bus'

And catch more smart kid flicks at Reel 2 Real.

By Dorothy Woodend, 16 Feb 2007

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When Is it Right to Remember Wrong?

Sex, art and totalitarianism in 'The Lives of Others.'

By Dorothy Woodend, 9 Feb 2007

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Sarah Polley's Triumph and More Gems

Fine Canadian talent on screen at Victoria film fest.

By Dorothy Woodend, 2 Feb 2007

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The Big Celebritease

Flogged, blogged, whined and opined 'til Oscar night.

By Dorothy Woodend, 26 Jan 2007

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A Shocking Fairytale

‘Pan’s Labyrinth’ winds through sex, tragedy and death of innocence.

By Dorothy Woodend, 19 Jan 2007

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Filming the Future, Thinking about Today

'Children of Men' asks what it means to be human.

By Dorothy Woodend, 12 Jan 2007

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'Old Joy' Near Perfect

Friends reunite, toke and soak in this indie gem.

By Dorothy Woodend, 5 Jan 2007

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Woodend's 2006 Flick Picks

These movies changed my life.

By Dorothy Woodend, 22 Dec 2006

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Rockin' Cinema

From Jack Black to Frank Black, it's three chords to salvation.

By Dorothy Woodend, 8 Dec 2006

life

My Back to the Land Fantasy

And why it feels more real every day.

By Dorothy Woodend, 29 Nov 2006

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Sam Sullivan, Movie Star

And more rad indie flicks at Whistler Film Festival.

By Dorothy Woodend, 24 Nov 2006

life

A Tyee Series

Stalking the Perfect Coat

It's cold! Time to bundle up with an old friend.

By Dorothy Woodend, 15 Nov 2006

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Americans Are Crazy

'Dixie Chicks: Shut Up and Sing' makes it too clear.

By Dorothy Woodend, 10 Nov 2006

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'Flags of Our Fathers' and War Porn

Battle to make an honest war film has yet to be won.

By Dorothy Woodend, 27 Oct 2006

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'Open Season' on Dumb Kids' Movies

Enough with the animals and stereotypes already.

By Dorothy Woodend, 13 Oct 2006

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And Now the Good News

Best of the Vancouver International Film Fest. Part Two.

By Dorothy Woodend, 21 Sep 2006

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Must-See Bad News

Best of the Vancouver International Film Fest. Part One.

By Dorothy Woodend, 14 Sep 2006

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Drivin' Movies

Cars R Us in 'Talladega Nights' and 'Little Miss Sunshine'

By Dorothy Woodend, 18 Aug 2006

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God and Mann

'Miami Vice' icons seek readmission to the religion of cool.

By Dorothy Woodend, 4 Aug 2006

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In Vogue: Bashing Female Bosses

'The Devil Wears Prada'...and there's only one queen.

By Dorothy Woodend, 14 Jul 2006

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Slackers, through 'A Scanner Darkly'

Next chapter in the war on drugs is a cartoon.

By Dorothy Woodend, 7 Jul 2006

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God, Those Girls Can Fight

Is girls’ b-ball about savagery, courage, religion or all three?

By Dorothy Woodend, 30 Jun 2006

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Film Critic Bash-a-Thon

Are we helpful, bitchy or out-to-lunch?

By Dorothy Woodend, 23 Jun 2006

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Flee the City!

Urban phobia on film, with a stop at ‘District B13.’

By Dorothy Woodend, 16 Jun 2006

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A Tyee Series

'If One Meets an Architect, Slap Him'

Cities, slums and 'The Sketches of Frank Gehry.'

By Dorothy Woodend, 9 Jun 2006

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Gored

Thoughts while sitting through 'An Inconvenient Truth.'

By Dorothy Woodend, 2 Jun 2006

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Confession Obsession

Dear documentary makers: give us better stories.

By Dorothy Woodend, 26 May 2006

life

A Tyee Series

Clothes Make the Me

So who's making my personal statement fashion?

By Dorothy Woodend, 10 May 2006

life

A Tyee Series

The Human Race

Running together at dawn, chasing small ecstasies.

By Dorothy Woodend, 5 May 2006

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Not Your Usual Sex Movie

'Battle in Heaven' is a messy war of the flesh.

By Dorothy Woodend, 28 Apr 2006

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'The Devil and Daniel Johnston'

Doc flirts with fame, fear and far-fetched realities.

By Dorothy Woodend, 14 Apr 2006

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Sex, Madness and Hero Worship

James Toback, a puzzle other directors try to solve.

By Dorothy Woodend, 7 Apr 2006

life

A Tyee Series

The Thrill of Thrift Hunting

An antidote to silly, feckless fashion?

By Dorothy Woodend, 31 Mar 2006

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Terribly, Terribly Pretty

In ‘Kings and Queen’, female beauty is a brutal curse.

By Dorothy Woodend, 24 Mar 2006

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'Spirit of the Beehive' Buzzes with Beauty

Looking for meaning in Franco's shadow.

By Dorothy Woodend, 10 Mar 2006

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Time to Award the Tyeeies!

Obscure, maybe, but irresistible. The year's most underrated film moments.

By Dorothy Woodend, 3 Mar 2006

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'The Three Burials of Melquiades'

The sun of the American dream sets out west.

By Dorothy Woodend, 24 Feb 2006

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The Real Casualties of War

Old and new documentaries make the political personal.

By Dorothy Woodend, 17 Feb 2006

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'Tristram Shandy' Is a Cock and Bull Story

With laughter to soothe the unbearable darkness of being.

By Dorothy Woodend, 10 Feb 2006

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It's a Child's Life

Movies love 'em. But let's see some real kids.

By Dorothy Woodend, 3 Feb 2006

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Sundance? Stick with Victoria

Charms of the Victoria Independent Film and Video Festival.

By Dorothy Woodend, 27 Jan 2006

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'Touch the Sound' and Let It Touch You

Films you've got to hear.

By Dorothy Woodend, 20 Jan 2006

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Louis Malle's Tortured Bliss

His amazing documentary of India, all six hours.

By Dorothy Woodend, 13 Jan 2006

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Eeek! Horrors at New Vancouver Film Centre

But where are the women?

By Dorothy Woodend, 6 Jan 2006

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The Year in Film

'As my ragged eyes scuttled across the screens…'

By Dorothy Woodend, 30 Dec 2005

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Naughty and Nice Holiday Films

What to watch in a turkey coma?

By Dorothy Woodend, 23 Dec 2005

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The Lying, The Which, and the Why God?

Tricked by 'The Chronicles of Narnia.'

By Dorothy Woodend, 16 Dec 2005

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Brave New World

Films have some 'splainin' to do about food and our future.

By Dorothy Woodend, 9 Dec 2005

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It's Out There!

Canadiana heads to the Whistler Film Festival.

By Dorothy Woodend, 2 Dec 2005

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The State of the 'European Union Film Festival'

Quirky answers to questions of national identity.

By Dorothy Woodend, 25 Nov 2005

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A Tyee Series

'Terrible, Beautiful, Ordinary and Kiss-inducing'

What I learned about Africa from film.

By Dorothy Woodend, 11 Nov 2005

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Porn People UNTIE!

'East Van Porn Collective' isn't about what but who you do.

By Dorothy Woodend, 4 Nov 2005

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Worlds Collide, and Who Survives?

Amnesty International Film Festival offers up beauty and hope.

By Dorothy Woodend, 28 Oct 2005

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Truly Truman

'Capote' asks whether art and artists are above morality.

By Dorothy Woodend, 21 Oct 2005

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Wallace & Gromit, Bless Their Lumpy, Bumpy Hearts

They're so NOT computer-generated.

By Dorothy Woodend, 14 Oct 2005

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Saddle up, Space Man!

'Serenity' will twang your little heart strings.

By Dorothy Woodend, 7 Oct 2005

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Killing for Peace?

'A History of Violence' is Cronenberg's latest question through film.

By Dorothy Woodend, 30 Sep 2005

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More Film Fest Picks by Woodend

This year, close your eyes and open your ears.

By Dorothy Woodend, 23 Sep 2005

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Woodend's Vancouver Film Fest Picks

I've watched dozens of films and lived to tell the tale.

By Dorothy Woodend, 16 Sep 2005

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Oh Goodness, Such Badness!

Warning: 'A Sound of Thunder' is god-awful good.

By Dorothy Woodend, 9 Sep 2005

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Where Are All the Big Villains?

Sure they’re in the news. Sadly, not in 'Red Eye'.

By Dorothy Woodend, 2 Sep 2005

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My Date With the 40-Year-Old Virgin

Let's just say the film tries to have it both ways.

By Dorothy Woodend, 26 Aug 2005

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What Has Digital Done to the Movies?

As '2046' proves, everything’s available, for better or worse.

By Dorothy Woodend, 12 Aug 2005

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The Emptiness of Geek Chic

A crop of trendy films reward our desire to be the cool, ironic bully.

By Dorothy Woodend, 5 Aug 2005

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Woodend's Summer Kids' Movie Round Up

Hollywood wants to 'rejuvenile' us. Fight the feeling.

By Dorothy Woodend, 29 Jul 2005

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Wake Up!

It's a tough mission for the middle of summer. But two movies, 'Saraband' and 'YES' rouse the mind.

By Dorothy Woodend, 22 Jul 2005

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Flock to this Film

'The Wild Parrots of Telegraph Hill' documentary is a rare bird.

By Dorothy Woodend, 15 Jul 2005

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Entertained to Death?

'The Land of the Dead' kills off the working stiffs. Shocked?

By Dorothy Woodend, 8 Jul 2005

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Summer Watchin'

'Batman Begins' is part of the movie slump.

By Dorothy Woodend, 1 Jul 2005

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Girl-Kissing-Girl Cinema

Is it still revolutionary?

By Dorothy Woodend, 24 Jun 2005

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'Turn Up the Good, Turn Down the Suck'

It’s All Gone Pete Tong kicks Canadian movie butt.

By Dorothy Woodend, 17 Jun 2005

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Marred Stars

Strangely, the stranger some get, the more they sell.

By Dorothy Woodend, 10 Jun 2005

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Drugs, Hypocrisy Flavour 'Layer Cake'

Brit gangster flick pushes stylish, irony laden narcotics.

By Dorothy Woodend, 3 Jun 2005

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Keep Out!

New doc on Komagata Maru puts the lie to a welcoming Canada.

By Dorothy Woodend, 27 May 2005

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Women at Work at DOXA

“You damn women,” my grandfather would say, with equal parts exasperation and respect.

By Dorothy Woodend, 20 May 2005

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'Darth Vader Is My New Friend!'

My son and kids all over embrace the evil superstar. Thanks, George.

By Dorothy Woodend, 13 May 2005

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Movies to Watch While the Sky Is Falling

'Hitchhiker's Guide,' 'War of the Worlds,' Disney's 'Chicken Little,' and more.

By Dorothy Woodend, 6 May 2005

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Kung Fu Hustle

When bullies rumble with poor people, the slum dwellers win. Sublime or ridiculous?

By Dorothy Woodend, 29 Apr 2005

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‘Sahara’ Aims at Mind of a Sand Flea

Escapism worked better in a huge world where you were fine to know squat about global politics.

By Dorothy Woodend, 22 Apr 2005

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In Sport and War, All Is Love

What fires up those crazy manboys in the stands? Love or bloodlust?

By Dorothy Woodend, 15 Apr 2005

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Hollywood and Race: Black, White and Green

‘Guess Who’ begs the question: How far have we come since 1967?

By Dorothy Woodend, 8 Apr 2005

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This Old Movie House

Say goodbye to the Capitol Six and others theatres of yore.

By Dorothy Woodend, 4 Apr 2005

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A Mother of a Mother

In ‘The Upside of Anger’, Joan Allen is one hot mama.

By Dorothy Woodend, 25 Mar 2005

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‘Phil the Alien’: More of What Ails

Canada’s a funny place that can’t seem to do funny movies.

By Dorothy Woodend, 18 Mar 2005

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Serving a 'Hitch' in the War on Love

An army of films and books takes aim at the male on the make.

By Dorothy Woodend, 11 Mar 2005

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Bashing Heads for Buddha

'The Thai Warrior' fights to get his country back from white pervs and fratheads.

By Dorothy Woodend, 4 Mar 2005

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'Constantine' and other Evil Doings

In the post-Abu Ghraib era, Hollywood indulges its devilish obsessions.

By Dorothy Woodend, 25 Feb 2005

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Even in Bhutan, Happiness Is Hard

A Buddhist lama’s latest film tries to capture the country’s fleeting beauty before Starbucks arrives.

By Dorothy Woodend, 18 Feb 2005

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Back into the Kitchen, Girls

Why are females increasingly portrayed as twits who fall down? Call it Attack of the 50 Foot Hollywood Wiener Women.

By Dorothy Woodend, 11 Feb 2005

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The Good, the Bad and Alone in the Dark

Male underwear models are dismembered in the B.C.-shot horror film, but at least Tara Reid finds her purse.

By Dorothy Woodend, 4 Feb 2005

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Introducing…The Tyeeies!

Unveiling a prestigious new film award. Because even cruddy flicks can have their surprisingly cool moments.

By Dorothy Woodend, 28 Jan 2005

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Hit Films

Boxing’s poetry of poverty and pain, spoken again by Eastwood’s ‘Million Dollar Baby’.

By Dorothy Woodend, 21 Jan 2005

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Sympathy for Shylock

New ‘Merchant of Venice’ presses the question: Is art that depicts anti-semitism itself anti-semitic?

By Dorothy Woodend, 14 Jan 2005

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When Houses Attack!

Prepare to settle into a new subdivision of horror flicks, including a freaky leaky condo.

By Dorothy Woodend, 7 Jan 2005

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'Life Aquatic' Dives Deep

In a good year for quirky meditations, add a last specimen to the aquarium.

By Dorothy Woodend, 31 Dec 2004

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'Meet the Fockers'

The Fockers could use a little comedy Viagra, but Kinsey said the same about America.

By Dorothy Woodend, 24 Dec 2004

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Vampy Vancouver

Hollywood North is home to Blade's latest vampires and endless other sci-fi shoots. What, we're that weird?

By Dorothy Woodend, 17 Dec 2004

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Crimes of Passion

'Bridget Jones' and 'Closer' do dumb violence to a fine ideal called romance.

By Dorothy Woodend, 10 Dec 2004

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Renting: The Movie

Our quest to find a home has all the plot twists of Hollywood flick. But why must my child play the villain?

By Dorothy Woodend, 3 Dec 2004

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Alexander the Gay

He conquered the known world because Mommie was a meanie. Who knew?

By Dorothy Woodend, 26 Nov 2004

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‘Incredibles’ Rite of Passage

My child’s first film in a movie theatre was the new Pixar hit. Oh the strange drive-in memories that came flooding back.

By Dorothy Woodend, 19 Nov 2004

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'Ghost in the Shell' Is a Meme Machine

Sequel 'Innocence' will make you wonder whether skin, bones and hair are old-fashioned attachments.

By Dorothy Woodend, 12 Nov 2004

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Boogie Fever

In troubled times, dance! (Or maybe see a dance flick.)

By Dorothy Woodend, 5 Nov 2004

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Soundtrack for an Election Thriller

The presidential cliffhanger is a blockbuster with a heavy duty music mix.

By Dorothy Woodend, 29 Oct 2004

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'Huckabees', Like Life, Is One Serious Joke

What do the director, Jon Stewart and a Quantum theory doc have in common? Well, why do you exist?

By Dorothy Woodend, 22 Oct 2004

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Rock 'n' Roll Can Never Die

It’s a nasty biz that won’t let go, apparently, given Dylan’s memoirs, Wilson’s resurrected Smile, and a couple of great rockumentaries suddenly upon us.

By Dorothy Woodend, 15 Oct 2004

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Zombies Are Us

Funny, frightening Shaun of the Dead celebrates those great social critics, The Undead.

By Dorothy Woodend, 8 Oct 2004

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Brainymation

How come serious cartoon films for grown-ups are hot in Asia but not over here?

By Dorothy Woodend, 1 Oct 2004

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Film Fest Heaven

Vancouver's International Film Festival deserves cheers, but other West fests add zest.

By Dorothy Woodend, 24 Sep 2004

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Fox Hunting and Bush Whacking

Political documentaries are influencing public debate as never before, with a little help from the 'net.

By Dorothy Woodend, 17 Sep 2004

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Hero Wins the West

But was something lost when the hit Chinese epic was manipulated for us by its director and distributor?

By Dorothy Woodend, 10 Sep 2004

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My Favorite Kids' Films

Top of this mom's list: 'My Neighbour Totoro'. It's more David Lynch than Disney.

By Dorothy Woodend, 3 Sep 2004

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The Devil You Know

Good and evil is tricky business lately. Too bad the latest 'Exorcist' prompts more laughter than terror.

By Dorothy Woodend, 27 Aug 2004

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'Alien vs. Predator' Is Scary Bad

Somebody please put this creature, and movie summer, out of its misery.

By Dorothy Woodend, 20 Aug 2004

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'Village' of Idiots

The politics of fear and gated life inhabit the latest film by M. Night Shyamalan. So does Scooby Doo.

By Dorothy Woodend, 13 Aug 2004

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Mechanical Breakdown

With race relations, slavery and what it means to be human as themes to explore, Hollywood goes on a heartless shooting spree.

By Dorothy Woodend, 22 Jul 2004

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Masked Desire

If comic books are really about sex, Spiderman II is some kind of climax

By Dorothy Woodend, 8 Jul 2004

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Surrendered Wives

To see how feminism is being undone, have a look at The Stepford Wives, redone.

By Dorothy Woodend, 1 Jul 2004

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Two Sighs for Sci-Fi

After The Chronicles of Riddick, how will I ever get my sis to see another space opera?

By Dorothy Woodend, 25 Jun 2004

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He's Old, Poor and Deadly

The blind swordsman of Zatoichi puts Hollywood's steroidal stars to shame.

By Dorothy Woodend, 18 Jun 2004

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Apocalypse Pretty Soon

But is 'The Day After Tomorrow' the wake-up call the world needs?

By Dorothy Woodend, 4 Jun 2004

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The Olsen Twins Horror Show

How the two cuties morphed into perv-friendly harbingers of Armageddon.

By Dorothy Woodend, 26 May 2004

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Ghoul Trouble

In anxious times we need our monsters, but Van Helsing just pummels undead geezers.

By Dorothy Woodend, 13 May 2004

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Screw Sisterhood

Mean Girls is a hit and, I confess, I was one. But let's get real about teen female viciousness - and our need to punish Queens of Mean.

By Dorothy Woodend, 5 May 2004