FrankenScript :: Lee Gabel's Screenwriting Journal/Blog

This is a classic that should be seen by all. It’s frightening. It scared my son, and normally he’s not afraid of much. Even though the visual and special effects are dated and reflect movie making technology at the time (1953), it really helps sell this scary and creepy story very effectively. The performances aren’t [...]

This is a deeply moving film, and one that clearly was a passion project for writer/director Luc Besson. At almost three hours in length, the film is long, maybe too long for most. It is not a fast moving story, but the visuals are stunning and compelling to watch. I think the problem many may [...]

Here’s a fun family film, one sure to entertain everyone. It’s inventive, creative, whimsical and will get the imaginations of little ones going in overdrive. I saw this in the theatres back in 2001 when I was in the heyday of my visual effects career, and it still holds up well. My six year old [...]

Here’s a good family film with strong and interesting characters, both male and female. For the most part the film is completely non-violent. A non-violent Western you ask? Well this does take place in Australia, so perhaps the fact that we’re “down under” tips the western genre upside down. It’s slower paced, but great for [...]

What a sweet and good film this is. It’s a shame it never received a proper theatrical release because it’s great family entertainment with lots of life lessons and plenty to talk about afterward. The story captures the feeling of first love, and for those kids who have not experienced those feelings yet, it will [...]

Here’s a low budget film that doesn’t look like it. Every dollar is up on screen and invested in the story. The screenwriter and actor Leigh Whannell (he plays Specs in the film) stated at the Toronto Film Festival that he had a list of horror cliches posted next to his computer so he would [...]