Nikola Tesla Had Some Crazy Ideas

In honor of Tesla, which opens Friday, I wrote a piece about Nikola Tesla and some of his stranger inventions and innovations. (Yes, he thought he communicated with Martians.) It's over at Popular Mechanics, but you need to sign up for an account first.

The History of the Millennium Falcon

This was very fun: For Popular Mechanics, I spoke to the men who built (and rebuilt) the Millennium Falcon for the original trilogy, the new trilogy and Galaxy's Edge. I learned a lot about the fastest ship in the galaxy. Hope you enjoy.

The Popular Mechanics Incredibly Special Effects Awards

It's become a wonderful annual tradition: For Popular Mechanics, I interview a bunch of effects people to learn the behind-the-scenes secrets on the making of the year's coolest films. My work is now on newsstands, but it's also online. This year's installment includes tidbits about Dunkirk, The Shape of Water, Baby Driver, Blade Runner 2049 and Mother! Check it out here.

The Best Airplane Movies

This Friday, American Made opens. It's about an airline pilot who becomes a smuggler. So, for Popular Mechanics, I put together a list of the finest movies about planes. Yes, Snakes on a Plane made the list. No, Con Air did not. You can read the whole thing here.

The Story Behind the 'War for the Planet of the Apes' Effects

For Popular Mechanics, I interviewed some of the wizards at Weta Digital to find out what were the biggest challenges in doing the effects for War for the Planet of the Apes. These folks have been on the franchise since 2011's Rise of the Planet of the Apes, so hearing about this new film's headaches was especially interesting. (Apparently, snow is a pain when you're working with monkey characters.) My piece originally appeared in the magazine, but since the film hits theaters tomorrow, it's now available on the website.

'Ghost in the Shell' Review

Critics shouldn't take these things under consideration before they see a movie, but when a film doesn't screen before the Wednesday it comes out, well, it does create an impression that the studio is hiding it. The thought had certainly entered my mind when I sat down to watch Ghost in the Shell last night. And yet, lo and behold, it's actually a pretty good sci-fi action-thriller, bringing its own energy to the 1995 anime that inspired it. A lot of credit has to go to Scarlett Johansson -- and, as far as the accusations of whitewashing are concerned, well, I get into that in my Popular Mechanics review.

Best of 2016: The Year's Greatest Special Effects

Annually for Popular Mechanics' print edition, I have the pleasure of looking back at the year's most impressive movie effects and talking to the people who made them happen. Right around the Oscars, the feature shows up on the website. So here it is, featuring Jason Bourne, The Jungle Book, Sully, Passengers and even Billy Lynn's Long Halftime Walk. And if you go here, you'll see a little bonus cut, if you will, of my conversation with the Arrival team as we geek out about James Turrell.

'Passengers' Review

Is Passengers as terrible as you've heard? No. Is it good? Ultimately, no. It gets close to being a nervy studio movie about one supremely twisted love story, but it wimps out along the way. Also, Passengers is the film where I started to seriously question Chris Pratt's potential as a movie star. I reviewed the film for Popular Mechanics.

Taking a Look Back at 'Westworld'

For Popular Mechanics, I rewatched the 1973 sci-fi/Western Westworld to see if it still resonates in the culture. Sure does! With the new HBO series ready to debut, I wrote about the original film right here.

The Long Shadow of Philip K. Dick

It's impossible to watch modern sci-fi films and not think about the massive influence that author Philip K. Dick has had on the entire genre. For Popular Mechanics, I put together a list of 10 great movies that weren't adapted from his work but bear his trademarks. Everything from Open Your Eyes to Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind was fair game -- as, of course, was The Matrix. Dive in.

'Warcraft' Review

Last night, as I walked out of Warcraft, I tweeted the following:

WARCRAFT: The end of movies.

— Tim Grierson (@TimGrierson) June 8, 2016

Few things are more depressing than watching talented people conspire to make junk. I reviewed Warcraft for Popular Mechanics.

'The Jungle Book' Review

Meet the one person on Rotten Tomatoes who didn't like The Jungle Book. Visually, it's a wonder. Story-wise, I wasn't very impressed. I lay out my case against the film over at Popular Mechanics.

'Hardcore Henry' Review

The action-packed Hardcore Henry has a great concept: We see the whole movie from the P.O.V. of the main character. But can the film transcend its gimmick? Well, that's where things get dicier. I reviewed the ultra-violent, dude's-dude film for Popular Mechanics.

2015 in Review: The Year's Best Film Effects

At the end of last year, I did a big feature for Popular Mechanics' print edition where I interviewed the people behind some of 2015's best effects. The issue is out now, but it also appears on the website, which you can find right here. Everything from The Walk to Tangerine to Anomalisa to Mad Max: Fury Road gets some love.

How Those 'Star Wars' Sounds Came to Be

For Popular Mechanics, I did a quick rundown of the origins of six iconic Star Wars sounds. We're talking Darth Vader's breathing, Chewie's growls and other such memorable minutiae. Hope you enjoy.

What Does It Take to Put the Oscar Telecast Together?

Yesterday, I got to do a very cool thing: I went to Hollywood & Highland to see some of the preparations that go into the Oscar ceremony. I feel the need to say this (again) since I think it sometimes surprises people because of my profession: I really like the Oscars. I always have, and I probably always will. I don't always like their choices, but the idea of honoring movies never gets old to me.

Anyway, for Popular Mechanics I wrote about the experience of meeting some of the sound folks that work behind the scenes during the telecast. You can read all about it here.

Hanging Out at the Sci-Tech Awards

For the second straight year, I attended the Academy's Scientific and Technical Awards for Popular Mechanics. And once again, I had much to say, especially about two particular winners. One went to one of my favorite animation companies. The other went to a 20-year-old innovation that established the aesthetic for modern action movies. (Also cool: These gentlemen helped develop the Aircover Inflatables Airwall, a portable, inflatable green screen.) You can read my piece here.

'13 Hours: The Secret Soldiers of Benghazi' Review

I'll say this about 13 Hours: I think it contains some of the most visceral filmmaking Michael Bay has ever achieved. But, you know how it is -- eventually, people in his movie start to talk, and then he starts doing the nonsense in his films that always drives you nuts. I think this could be a pretty big hit, though. My review is up at Popular Mechanics.

'Star Wars: The Force Awakens': What If It's Great? What If It's Not?

I see Star Wars: The Force Awakens tonight, with Disney asking that reviews be held until Wednesday. So, for Popular Mechanics, I did a little speculating about a best- and worst-case scenario for the film. (The worst-case scenario was a lot less fun to write.) You can read the piece here.

'In the Heart of the Sea' Review

Not to be confused with By the Sea or The Sea of Trees, In the Heart of the Sea stars Chris Hemsworth and Benjamin Walker as seaman on the hunt for a white whale. Sound like Moby-Dick a little? That's the idea. Based on the actual events that inspired the book, this Ron Howard film is only moderately engaging, which I get into in my Popular Mechanics review.