Movies & Film

"Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix" is the fifth movie in the Harry Potter film franchise. Go inside this magical film and see how its amazing special effects were created.

By Gerri Miller

The Harry Potter universe would not be complete without magic wands. Have you ever wanted to know how these wands work and why they seem to have a mind of their own? You can learn about these magic wands in this section.

By Tracy V. Wilson

The huge Hollywood Sign -- stretched along the hills over Hollywood, California -- symbolizes fame, fortune and the glamorous world of cinema and the movie stars we love. Learn about the history of the Hollywood Sign.

By Marshall Brain

Stuntmen (and women) take very dangerous risks in order to give movies an added sense of realism. How do these daredevils train for their stunts?

By Ed Grabianowski

Machinima takes its name from the combination of the words machine and cinema --machinima films use virtual environments and actors from video games to tell stories. Just why is this platform so popular?

By Jonathan Strickland

Andrew Shue, coach and producer of "Gracie," also enjoyed a successful acting career, including a role on "Melrose Place." Learn about Andrew Shue's career and interests.

If you don't want to leave your home or wait for the mail to rent or buy a movie, you can order and download them online. Learn how most movie download services work.

Many people remember the weird headache-inducing colors that were part of old 3-D movies. But in newer movies, 3-D loses the paper glasses and goes digital.

By Tracy V. Wilson

Twenty-four centuries after a small army of 300 Spartan warriors held off 100,000 Persian invaders the story author and illustrator Frank Miller captured so vividly in his 1999 graphic novel has been realized on screen as "300" by director Zack Snyder.

By Gerri Miller

With his dry wit and impeccable style, James Bond has been defying death and ruining the plans of megalomaniacal madmen in service of Queen and country for more than 50 years. Learn more about the history of James Bond and the leading men who portray him.

By Ed Grabianowski

In this article, we'll check out the gadgets that James Bond has used and learn more about the tools that real secret agents have employed to gather information eliminate rivals and avoid detection.

By Ed Grabianowski

As documentary films increase in popularity and docudramas pop up on the small screen, it's a good time to question the difference between the two. Intention, historical context and editing choices play major roles in defining a work as fact or fiction.

By Julia Layton

Yes you read right. We've broken down why sci-fi doesn't work in most movies. Although some fictional technology has come to pass, most onscreen science is still pure fiction. If you've ever been curious about laser beams or interstellar travel, read

By Craig Freudenrich, Ph.D.

Could a sacred story be hidden for centuries, only to be revealed in one of the most famous works of art in the Western world? That's the story according to "The DaVinci Code." Take a look at the evidence.

By Tracy V. Wilson

Thirty-four years after disaster film director Irwin Allen inverted a cruise ship in the name of entertainment, Wolfgang Petersen -- who knows a bit about boat-themed cinema -- has upended another Poseidon and drowned thousands with $160 million worth of watery effects.

By Gerri Miller

When director Peter Jackson and Weta Digital effects studio completed the Lord of the Rings trilogy, they began work on their next project: creating King Kong. In this article, we'll find out how the latest King Kong incorporates human performance an

By Julia Layton

Nearly every child dreams about being away from parents and traveling from the mundane world to someplace extraordinary. In this article, we'll explore the inspirations behind the Chronicles of Narnia as well as the mythical world itself.

By Tracy V. Wilson

The Galactic Empire's solution to maintain order in the face of global unrest is the Death Star. Learn the history behind this powerful tool, discover other incarnations of the Death Star and find out what really happens when you blow up a planet.

By Robert Valdes

Do you ever think "How do they get away with that?!" while standing in the supermarket check-out? Tabloids turn small bits of possibly true events into incredible stories, but they also know where to draw the line. Find out how tabloids avoid lawsuits and still manage to publish those wacky page-turners.

By Ed Grabianowski

Firefly was canceled before its first season was up, but an outcry from fans brought the Serenity crew back, this time to the big screen. Learn what went into making 'Serenity.'

By Gerri Miller

Many of the independent films that eventually make it big first debut at film festivals, where open submission policies make it easy to gain exposure. Read more about film festivals and how they're evolving.

By Stephanie Watson

Dark warrior, star pilot, statesman, enforcer, saber master, leader: all words that could be used to describe the Dark Lord of the Sith. Who is Darth Vader really? Well, Darth Vader, this is your life.

By Robert Valdes

Your average wandering Jedi tends to carry a classic, single-bladed weapon while flashy Sith Lords often wield curved, forked and double-bladed lightsabers. Is a lightsaber your weapon of choice, too?

By Marshall Brain & Robert Lamb

In its 26-year history, "The Hitchhiker's Guide" has rubbed shoulders with Darth Vader, the Ghostbusters, Pink Floyd and Radiohead and even put its stamp on an asteroid. Find out what else you should know.

By Robert Valdes

Sometimes reality just doesn't do the trick. To get the right feel for the movie "Christmas with the Kranks," filmmakers had to build a fake wintry Chicago neighborhood on a parking lot in California. See how they did it.

By Gerri Miller