Mark R. Leeper

   

Email:

mleeper@optonline.net

Address:

80 Lakeridge Drive
Matawan, NJ 07747

My interests include

• Cinema.  Some of my articles and reviews are listed below.  ( A MORE COMPLETE ARCHIVE OF MY REVIEWS IS AT THE ROTTEN-TOMATOES ARCHIVE HERE .)  (THE IMDB ARCHIVE IS HERE .) 

Top Ten Films of 2008
Top Ten Films of 2007
Top Ten Films of 2006
Top Ten Films of 2005
Top Ten Films of 2004
Top Ten Films of 2003
Top Ten Films of 2002
My Top Ten films lists dating back to 1986.

The Phantoms of the Opera: A Survey of Adaptations
Six Lost Worlds: The Dramatic Adaptations of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's Novel
Bollywood 101
Neglected Gems of Fantasy and Science Fiction Films
Sword and Sandal Films

 Of related interest:
Book Review:Into The Unknown: The Fantastic Life of Nigel Kneale (2006)
Book Review:I Was a TV Horror Host (2007)
DVD Review: Maurice Jarre: A Tribute To David Lean (2007)

• BROKE: THE NEW AMERICAN DREAM Rating: +1 (-4 to +4) or 6/10
• IN THE LOOP Rating: high +2 (-4 to +4) or 8/10
• COLD SOULS Rating: low +1 (-4 to +4) or 5/10
• DISTRICT 9 Rating: +2 (-4 to +4) or 7/10
• I SELL THE DEAD  Rating: high +1 (-4 to +4) or 6/10
• FISSURE Rating: +2 (-4 to +4) or 7/10
• BILL PLYMPTON'S DOG DAYS
• A DOG OF FLANDERS Rating: +3 (-4 to +4) or 9/10
• LOVELY BY SURPRISE Rating: +1 (-4 to +4) or 6/10
• THE BROTHERS BLOOM  Rating: high +1 (-4 to +4) or 6/10
• THE RISING: BALLAD OF MANGAL PANDEY Rating: high +2 (-4 to +4) or 8/10
• OFF JACKSON AVENUE Rating: low +2 (-4 to +4) or 7/10
• DEAD SNOW  Rating: +1 (-4 to +4) or 6/10
• RIP! A REMIX MANIFESTO Rating: high +1 (-4 to +4) or 6/10
• DRAG ME TO HELL Rating: high +1 (-4 to +4) or 6/10
• UP Rating: high +2 (-4 to +4) or 8/10
• UNMISTAKEN CHILD Rating: low +2 (-4 to +4) or 7/10
• YOO-HOO, MRS. GOLDBERG Rating:  +2 (-4 to +4) or 7/10
• UNDER OUR SKIN Rating: low +2 (-4 to +4) or 7/10
• A GRIN WITHOUT A CAT Rating: low +1 (-4 to +4) or 5/10
• STAR TREK  Rating: +2 (-4 to +4) or 7/10
• DVD Review: History Channel Presents: The Prehistoric Collection
• REPO: THE GENETIC OPERA Rating: low +1 (-4 to +4) or 5/10
• FOREVER Rating: high +1 (-4 to +4) or 6/10
• MONSTERS VS. ALIENS Rating: low +1 (-4 to +4) or 5/10
• THE BOY IN THE STRIPED PAJAMAS Rating: low +2 (-4 to +4) or 7/10
• KNOWING  Rating: high +2 (-4 to +4) or 8/10
• SITA SINGS THE BLUES Rating: high +2 (-4 to +4) or 8/10
• FERMAT'S ROOM Rating: +2 (-4 to +4) or 7/10
• SKILLS LIKE THIS Rating: low +2 (-4 to +4) or 7/10
• WATCHMEN Rating: -1 (-4 to +4) or 3/10
• FORBIDDEN LIE$  Rating: high +2 (-4 to +4) or 8/10
• HEARTS AND MINDS Rating: high +2 (-4 to +4) or 8/10
• THE READER Rating: +2 (-4 to +4) or 7/10
• CORALINE Rating: high +1 (-4 to +4) or 7/10
• FROST/NIXON Rating: low +3 (-4 to +4) or 8/10
• MILK Rating: low +3 (-4 to +4) or 8/10
• LIFELINES Rating: low +2 (-4 to +4) or 7/10
• DEFIANCE Rating: +2 (-4 to +4) or 7/10

• BILL PLYMPTON'S DOG DAYS
• VALKYRIE Rating: high +2 (-4 to +4) or 8/10
• THE CURIOUS CASE OF BENJAMIN BUTTON  Rating: +3 (-4 to +4) or 9/10
• IF I WERE DICTATOR Rating: high -1 (-4 to +4) or 3/10
• LET THE RIGHT ONE IN Rating: low +2 (-4 to +4) or 7/10
• THE WRESTLER Rating: high +2 (-4 to +4) or 8/10
• CHE  Rating: +1 (-4 to +4) or 6/10
• ADAM RESURRECTED Rating: low +1 (-4 to +4) or 4/10
• HORROR IN THE WIND Rating: +0 (-4 to +4) or 4/10
• SLUMDOG MILLIONAIRE Rating: +1 (-4 to +4) or 6/10
• SYNECDOCHE, NEW YORK Rating: 0 (-4 to +4) or 4/10
• HAPPY-GO-LUCKY  Rating: low +2 (-4 to +4) or 7/10
• QUANTUM OF SOLACE  Rating: +2 (-4 to +4) or 7/10
• APPALOOSA Rating: high +1 (-4 to +4) or 6/10
• HOW ABOUT YOU Rating: low +2 (-4 to +4) or 7/10
• RELIGULOUS Rating: +2 (-4 to +4) or 7/10
• WE ARE WIZARDS Rating: low +1 (-4 to +4) or 5/10
• DVD Review: Smothers Brothers Comedy Album: The Best of Season 3
• ACE IN THE HOLE Rating: high +3 (-4 to +4) or 9/10
• GHOST TOWN Rating: +2 (-4 to +4) or 7/10
• THE HANDS OF ORLAC (1924) Rating: +2 (-4 to +4) or 7/10
• THE MAN FROM EARTH Rating: +3 (-4 to +4) or 9/10
• THE BEAT GENERATION Rating: -1 (-4 to +4) or 3/10
• TRAITOR Rating: +2 (-4 to +4) or 7/10
• HAMLET 2  Rating: 0 (-4 to +4) or 4/10
• THE DARK KNIGHT Rating: low +3 (-4 to +4) or 8/10
• JOURNEY TO THE CENTER OF THE EARTH (2008) Rating: 0 (-4 to +4) or 4/10
• HELLBOY II: THE GOLDEN ARMY Rating: +1 (-4 to +4) or 6/10
• MONGOL Rating: low +2 (-4 to +4) or 7/10
• WALL-E Rating: high +2 (-4 to +4) or 8/10
• THE INCREDIBLE HULK Rating: high +1 (-4 to +4) or 6/10
• TRUMBO Rating: low +3 (-4 to +4) or 8/10
• THE LIFE I LIVED Rating: high +1 (-4 to +4) or 6/10
• INDIANA JONES AND THE KINGDOM OF THE CRYSTAL SKULL Rating: high +1 (-4 to +4) or  6/10
• CHRONICLES OF AN EXORCISM Rating: low +1 (-4 to +4) or 5/10
• IRON MAN Rating: high +1 (-4 to +4) or 6/10
• THE COUNTERFEITERS Rating: high +2 (-4 to +4) or 8/10
• YELLA Rating: high +1 (-4 to +4) or 6/10
• GOOGLE ME Rating:  high +1 (-4 to +4) or 6/10
• REFUSENIK Rating: +2 (-4 to +4) or 7/10
• CRAP SHOOT: THE DOCUMENTARY  Rating: +1 (-4 to +4) or 6/10
• FODOR'S HAMLET Rating: low 0 (-4 to +4) or 4/10
• WAIT UP HARRIET Rating: low +1 (-4 to +4) or 5/10
• JELLYFISH Rating: +1 (-4 to +4)  or 6/10
• MISS PETTIGREW LIVES FOR A DAY Rating: +1 (-4 to +4) or 6/10
• AMERICAN ZOMBIE Rating: 0 (-4 to +4) or 4/10
• THE BANK JOB Rating: high +2 (-4 to +4) or 8/10
• COLD DECEMBER  Rating: +1 (-4 to +4) or 6/10
• CHOP SHOP Rating: +2 (-4 to +4) or 7/10
• DEAR MR. WALDMAN  Rating: low +2 (-4 to +4) or 7/10
• THE SPIDERWICK CHRONICLES Rating: low +2 (-4 to +4) or 7/10
• WAR MADE EASY  Rating: low +2 (-4 to +4) or 7/10
• ROAD TO VICTORY Rating:  low +1 (-4 to +4) or 6/10
• CLOVERFIELD Rating:  +2 (-4 to +4) or 7/10
• THERE WILL BE BLOOD Rating:  +2 (-4 to +4) or 7/10
• A WRITER NAMED PHIL HALL  Rating:  +1 (-4 to +4) or 6/10

• SWEENEY TODD: THE DEMON BARBER OF FLEET STREET Rating: low +2 (-4 to +4) or 7/10
• GOLDEN DOOR Rating: +2 (-4 to +4) or 7/10
• I AM LEGEND Rating: +1 (-4 to +4) or 6/10
• ATONEMENT Rating: +1 (-4 to +4) or 6/10
• THE ORPHANAGE Rating: +1 (-4 to +4) or 6/10
• JUNO Rating: high +1 (-4 to +4) or 6/10
• NO COUNTRY FOR OLD MEN Rating: high +1 (-4 to +4) or 6/10
• THE SINGING REVOLUTION Rating: high +2 (-4 to +4) or 8/10
• BEOWULF Rating: high +2  (-4 to +4) or 8/10
• BEFORE THE DEVIL KNOWS YOU'RE DEAD Rating: low +2 (-4 to +4) or 7/10
• YIDDISH THEATER: A LOVE STORY  Rating: low +2 (-4 to +4) or 7/10
• AMERICAN GANGSTER  Rating: high +1 (-4 to +4) or 6/10
• GONE BABY GONE  Rating: high +2 (-4 to +4) or  8/10
• MICHAEL CLAYTON Rating: high +1 (-4 to +4) or 6/10
• IN THE SHADOW OF THE MOON Rating: low +2 (-4 to +4) or 7/10
• EASTERN PROMISES  Rating: high +2 (-4 to +4) or 8/10
• PLAGUES & PLEASURES ON THE SALTON SEA  Rating: high +1 (-4 to +4) or 6/10
• 3:10 TO YUMA Rating: +2 (-4 to +4) or 7/10
• GOLDA'S BALCONY  Rating: low +3 (-4 to +4) or 8/10
• A NEW WAVE  Rating: low +1 (-4 to +4) or 5/10
• THE INVASION  Rating: +1 (-4 to +4) or 6/10
• ZEBRAMAN Rating: +2 (-4 to +4) or 7/10
• FLATLAND: THE MOVIE Rating: +2 (-4 to +4) or 7/10
• MANDA BALA (SEND A BULLET) Rating:  low +2 (-4 to +4) or 7/10
• STARDUST  Rating: low +3 (-4 to +4) or 8/10
• THE BOURNE ULTIMATUM Rating: high 0 (-4 to +4) or 5/10
• HARRY POTTER AND THE ORDER OF THE PHOENIX Rating: +2 (-4 to +4) or 7/10
• RATATOUILLE  Rating: high +1 (-4 to +4) or 6/10
• IN BETWEEN DAYS Rating: high 0 (-4 to +4) or 5/10
• OCEAN'S THIRTEEN  Rating: high +1 (-4 to +4) or 6/10
• GYPSY CARAVAN (WHEN THE ROAD BENDS: TALES OF A GYPSY CARAVAN)  Rating: low +2 (-4 to +4) or 7/10
• AWAY FROM HER Rating: +3 (-4 to +4) or 9/10
• THE PROMISE (WU JI) Rating: +2 (-4 to +4) or 7/10
• BLACK  Rating: low +3 (-4 to +4) or 8/10
• SUPERMAN (1980, Telugu language) Rating: -2 (-4 to +4) or 1/10
• THE NAMESAKE Rating: high +2 (-4 to +4) or 8/10
• GRINDHOUSE  Rating: 0 (-4 to +4) or 4/10
• MEET THE ROBINSONS Rating: high +1 (-4 to +4) or 6/10
• CURSE OF THE GOLDEN FLOWER  Rating: low +1 (-4 to +4) or 5/10
• 300 Rating: high +1 (-4 to +4) or 6/10
• THE LAST MIMZY  Rating: +1 (-4 to +4) or 6/10
• ZODIAC  Rating: high +1 (-4 to +4) or 6/10
• FLATLAND: THE FILM  Rating: +2 (-4 to +4) or 7/10
• BRIDGE TO TERABITHIA Rating: high +2 (-4 to +4) or 8/10
• ADAM'S APPLES Rating: low +2 (-4 to +4) or 7/10
• VENUS Rating: high +1 (-4 to +4) or 6/10
• AMAZING GRACE Rating: +1 (-4 to +4) or 6/10
• THE ASTRONAUT FARMER Rating: +1 (-4 to +4) or 6/10
• BREACH  Rating: +2 (-4 to +4) or 7/10
• NOTES ON A SCANDAL  Rating: high +2 (-4 to +4) or 8/10
• DRACULA (2006) Rating: +0 (-4 to +4) or 4/10
• LETTERS FROM IWO JIMA Rating: high +2 (-4 to +4) or 8/10
• DRAKULA ISTANBUL'DA (DRACULA IN ISTANBUL)
• PAN'S LABYRINTH  Rating: high +3 (-4 to +4) or 9/10
• FROM OTHER WORLDS Rating: +1 (-4 to +4) or 6/10
• THE DEATH OF MR LAZARESCU Rating: +2 (-4 to +4) or 7/10
• CHILDREN OF MEN Rating: 0 (-4 to +4) or 4/10



                  (A MORE COMPLETE ARCHIVE BACK TO 1986 IS HERE.)


My observations on political bias in American film .

An explanation of the "-4 to +4 rating scale" including a list of my +4 films .

The Internet Movie Database is a site I use a lot. For an archive of my reviews you can see the Internet Database listing . For more general information about film browse the movie information page .

• Book Reviews

• 1453: The Holy War For Constantinople And The Clash Of Islam And The West by Roger Crowley
• 1776 by David McCullough
• The Best American Science Writing 2007 by Gina Kolata and Jesse Cohen
• The Curious Child by Donni Floyd
• Frankenstein: A Cultural History by Susan Tyler Hitchcock
• Heavenly Intrigue by Joshua and Anne-Lee Gilder
• I Was a TV Horror Host by John Stanley
• Into The Unknown: The Fantastic Life of Nigel Kneale by Andy Murray
  
• Irreligion by John Allen Paulos
• The Kite Runner by Khalid Hosseini
• The Land of Laughs by Jonathan Carroll
• The Man who Saved Britain by Simon Winder
• Marley & Me by John Grogan
• Rats: Observations On The History And Habitat Of The City's Most Unwanted Inhabitants by Robert Sullivan
• Scorpion's Gate by Richard E. Clarke
• The Terrible Hours by Peter Maas
• A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khalid Hosseini
  
• Three Cups of Tea by David Oliver Relin and Greg Mortenson
• Tuva or Bust! by Ralph Leighton
  

• Travel -- Logs of our most recent trips: (Warning: the linked texts are long!)
• Southeast Wyoming (August 2008)
• New Jersey to the Canadian Rockies (June-August, 2007)
• Northwest United States  (April-May, 2007)
• Hawai'i (April-May, 2006)
• New Jersey to Arizona, Round Trip (June-July, 2004)
• Cross Country (May-June, 2003)
• North Central United States (June-July, 2002)
• Bangor, Maine (September-October, 2001)
• Vietnam and Singapore (March, 2001)
• Las Vegas and the Mojave Desert (July, 2000)
• Ireland (May-June, 2000)
• Paris (November, 1999)
• Australia (August-September, 1999)
• Turkey (April-May, 1998)
• Southeastern United States (August-September, 1997)
• Vancouver and Alaska Cruise (July-August, 1997)
• Japan (October, 1996)
• Edinburgh Festival and Wales (August-September, 1995)
• Utah and the Four Corners area (May, 1995)
• The Baltics and Scandinavia (October, 1994)
• Northern India (October, 1993)
• Arizona and New Mexico (October, 1992)
• Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic (September, 1992)
• Eastern Europe (June, 1991)
• Hong Kong, Thailand, Malaysia, and Singapore (October, 1990)
• Benelux (August, 1990)
• London, Brighton, and Scotland (August, 1987)

Comments on Las Vegas, December 2003

• Science Fiction -- My wife, the charming Evelyn Leeper , and I edit one of what is perhaps only two weekly science fiction fanzines in the country, THE MT VOID. Feel free to browse our  back issues here which are recent or here which are older .  This link gives all the news of the last day that refers to "science fiction" or "sci-fi."  I find it useful.

The following are files published for Millennium Philcon, The Year 2001 World Science Fiction Convention: Neglected Fantasy and Science Fiction Films
Mathematical Science Fiction

This link takes you to the BBC site for the Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy.

• Recreational Mathematics . My perpetual calendar formula is here . More mathematics is available at yahoo's math site and from this history site.   A paper by me is here.
  
• On-line Books especially ones about the fantastic and horror . Also see a collection of libraries, the Baen Library, the Classic Library, and Forgotten Futures.
• Origami .
• Golems
• Opera
• Radio Drama
• See a galaxy in 3-D
• Upcoming books for the Old Bridge Public Library general book discussion.
• Upcoming books for the Old Bridge Public Library Science Fiction book discussion.
  

News:
Today's Dilbert
Weather forecast , a second opinion

Favorite Sites:
History Archives
Holocaust Archive
Find any place in the world
Operas
Sacred Texts of the World

Reference:
One -mail Address Directory , and
National Phone Book
Exact time , another source (Eastern time zone--Allow time to bring up Java)
Webster's Dictionary

On the war on terrorism: the liberals don't know that the house has radon gas, and the conservatives do but are trying to punch it.
                                           -- Mark Leeper

Live TV died in the late 1950s, electronic bulletin boards came along in the mid-1980s, meaning there was about a 25-year gap when it was difficult to put your foot in your mouth and have people all across the country know about it.
                                           -- Mark Leeper

Oh what tangled webs we weave when first we practice to deceive.
So if deception doth attract us we must have a lot a practice.
                                           -- Mark Leeper

These days the news media feels comfortable only when they are covering a major trial.  That is because it is exciting to some, it sits in one place, and there only too rarely is shooting.
                                           -- Mark Leeper

When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: and when I was a man I decided how foolish it would be to give all that up.
                                           -- Mark Leeper

They say that life begins when the kids go away to school and the dog dies.  But no man whose wife believes that can rest easily.
                                           -- Mark Leeper

Give a man a fish and you have fed him for a day.  Teach him how to fish and you have fed him for life.  Give a fish a vote and he will say to give the man just the one fish, preferably one that is already dead.
                                           -- Mark Leeper

The problem with turning 50 is that dying is about the only thing left that people can be surprised that you did so young.
                                           -- Mark Leeper

The greatest political opportunist of all time has to be God. Somehow He always manages to say just exactly what His audience is predisposed to believe.
                                           -- Mark Leeper

Those who forget history are condemned to repeat it.  Those who trust history are condemned to be misled by it.  Nothing happens the same way twice. 
                                           -- Mark Leeper

[On hearing Freeman Dyson speak...] A sufficently visionary scientist is indistinguishable from a crackpot.
                                           -- Mark Leeper