'X-men-Origins: Wolverine' Can't Tell Which Story to Tell
Conflicting viewpoints and intentions and external issues beyond anyone's control culminate in a film that is an unfocused, inconsistent mess.
13 Sep 2018
Recent
Not (Just) a Laughing Matter: Nuanced Representations of Depression in Three Netflix Sitcoms
One Day at a Time, Bojack Horseman, and Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt each offer insight and understanding into mental illness quite unlike television shows we've seen before.
06 Sep 2018
Why Was 'Punisher: War Zone' Pummeled by Fans?
Why did the only film based on a Marvel Comics property and directed by a woman fail so spectacularly?
30 Aug 2018
Blood, Police and Politics in 'What Have They Done to Your Daughters'
Massimo Dallamano continues to expose -- and puncture -- the underbelly of 1970s Italy.
10 Aug 2018
'The Incredible Hulk' Is the Black Sheep of the Marvel Cinematic Universe
Marvel Studios' goal with The Incredible Hulk was to rehabilitate the Hulk in the minds of moviegoers after a disappointing 2003 film, and also reimagine him as a more heroic character that would fit within the larger universe it was crafting.
09 Aug 2018
Is Tom Cruise's Ethan Hunt Ready to Let It Go? 'Mission: Impossible - Fallout'
Hasn't Ethan Hunt saved the world enough to earn a lifetime of couch surfing?
25 Jul 2018
Everybody Goes to 'Dragon Inn', King Hu's Martial Arts Milestone
A guy walks into a bar, or rather a swordsman walks into an inn, and an anti-authoritarian swordfight ensues.
18 Jul 2018
The 21st Century Counterculture of Pa. Ranjith's 'Kaala'
Is the incandescent and resplendent but bloated Kaala a transnational manifesto resurrecting the Left to rollback rightwing tribalism's global onslaught?
10 Jul 2018
'Sicario: Day of the Soldado' Is a Lean, Mean, and Troublesome Thriller
Stefano Sollima's hyper-violent thriller is a manly movie about hard men doing hard things.
29 Jun 2018
'Ant-Man and the Wasp' Is Fun But Fails to Remedy Marvel's Most Egregious Convention
Paul Rudd is at the top of his game in Ant-Man and the Wasp, but Evangeline Lilly isn't given an equal platform, despite what the title suggests.
28 Jun 2018
'Troy: Fall of a City' Was Overlooked for the Wrong Reasons
Troy: Fall of a City tries to attack our racial prejudice but reveals more about our Classical ignorance.
28 Jun 2018
Five 'Mission: Impossible' Films Are Made, Well, Possible
Paramount's release of this five-film set on Blu-ray hits all the highs and lows of this franchise.
27 Jun 2018
Marvel Wisely Goes Small with 'Ant-Man and the Wasp'
Peyton Reed's campy follow-up to the epic Avengers: Infinity War serves as a welcome breather from saving the world.
27 Jun 2018
Killing Is Killing: Logan's Enduring Excellence
In a competitive sea of superhero films, Logan continues to stand out with its tremendous performances, thematic complexity, remarkably critical take on violence, and deeply stirring pathos.
25 Jun 2018
'Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom' Is the Best of the Franchise, at Least
J.A. Bayona delivers one of the best Hollywood directorial efforts of 2018 in this genre, reviving this flailing franchise with guilty pleasures and a genuine sense of dread.
21 Jun 2018
'Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer' Is Best Viewed as a Kids' Movie
There are many instances in Rise of the Silver Surfer when superhero powers are played as gags and paired with a zippy cartoon score to really sell it. It's perfect for a kids movie.
14 Jun 2018
Pop Ten
Mixed Media
PM Picks
- Follow Us
- SoundCloud
© 1999-2018 Popmatters.com. All rights reserved.
Popmatters is wholly independently owned and operated.