James Plath

Biography:

Besides reviewing films for DVD Town, James Plath teaches American literature, journalism, creative writing, and American pop culture at Illinois Wesleyan University. The father of four grown children and two small ones at home, he's still a kid at heart and fondly remembers going to matinees in his northwest Chicago neighborhood to watch double features for just fifty cents. "An "A" movie was usually paired with a "B" movie, and when both were finished, if you wanted to hang around and watch them all over again, you could. No one kicked you out. That's when my appreciation of film began, and it continues just as strong today." Before he began teaching, he was a feature writer for a short-lived Milwaukee newspaper and has been a freelance writer and reviewer since the late 1980's. He began by reviewing books, music, and art exhibitions, and shifted his emphasis to film in the fall of 2000, when he began writing for Reel.com. He joined the staff of DVD Town in July 2003. Plath lives relatively close to Peoria, where, according to entertainment industry myth, if something "plays," it will do well elsewhere. His home theater system is a loving patchwork based on those occasional tax refunds: 42" Hitachi HD plasma widescreen television, Sony DVPNS775 DVD player, Yamaha HTR-5560 receiver, with Sony surround speakers and two antique-but-powerful Realistic Mach Two main speakers he just can't seem to part with.

Favorites:

The Sound of Music, It's a Wonderful Life, Raiders of the Lost Ark, Casablanca, Airplane!

Publications:

Movie Metropolis

Critics' Group:

Online Film Critics Society