8 Low-Budget Films That Delivered Big
Money isn't everything, although in filmmaking it counts for a lot. These eight films defied their minuscule budgets.
27 Jan 2020
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'Doctor Strange': It's About Time
Scott Derrickson's Doctor Strange is a surprisingly cerebral, emotionally relatable film. It's also wrapped in some of the most exciting and unique blockbuster visuals seen in years.
21 Jan 2020
From Zeus to Superman: Why Do Superheroes Keep Coming Back?
Why, despite all the knowledge we've gained and the technology we've harnessed, do we cling to our mythologies?
14 Jan 2020
'X-Men: Apocalypse': The Apocalypse of Comic Book Films
The filmmakers' attempt to mask X-Men: Apocalypse's lack of purpose and thematic unity with a stunning density of characters, plot lines, and fan service. But we see behind the mask.
07 Jan 2020
'Captain America: Civil War' Mirrors Another Kind of American Civil War
In the Russo Brothers' Captain America: Civil War, friend turns on friend, and no easy resolution is reached. It's rather like the toxic online fan culture that followed the film's release.
11 Oct 2019
Josh Trank's Comic Book Film 'Fantastic Four' Could Have Been a Kitschy Splendor
A temperamental director and meddling suits at the studio squandered the long-running Fantastic Four comics series' first foray into film. It could, however, be done again -- and done right.
13 Sep 2019
Unbecoming Woman: 'Dark Phoenix' and the Dethronement of the Wealthy White Male Hero
Dark Phoenix makes it clear that the X-Men, as socio-political commentary, must take their own metaphor more seriously and evolve, already.
13 Aug 2019
Never Ending Endings in 'The Avengers: Endgame' and 'Game of Thrones'
In both The Avengers: Endgame and Game of Thrones, the key conflicts are not between good and evil, as one might think, but between the beginnings and endings of their stories.
22 May 2019
'X-Men: Days of Future Past' Restored the Series to Its Former Glory
More than any previous X-Men film, Days of Future Past engages in deeply geeky, comic book-inspired elements resulting in the best cinematic representation of X-Men comics to-date.
20 May 2019
'The Amazing Spider-Man 2' Is a Shared Universe Cautionary Tale
The Amazing Spider-Man 2 is a contrived mess of four disparate competing plots and set-up for a shared cinematic universe that would never come to be. Why did Sony Pictures blow it?
10 May 2019
Taking Superheroes Seriously: Three Implications for Society Based on Travis Smith's 'Superhero Ethics'
How do we move from the tribal shouting to a more humane discourse with one another? Travis Smith's Superhero Ethics finds surprising solutions in the world of conflicting superheroes.
26 Mar 2019
'Thor: The Dark World' Comes Close to Being a Viable Story
In Thor: The Dark World there's a dangerous villain, a universe-ending threat, and a star-crossed romance -- but none of it makes sense.
18 Mar 2019
'Captain Marvel' Sees the MCU Through a Woman Character's Eyes
Captain Marvel is a solid start for a strong, compelling character that will grace the big screen for years to come.
07 Mar 2019
'Captain Marvel' Is Predictable
Directors Boden and Fleck skimp on the character development and emphasize the action in the disappointing misfire from the MCU, Captain Marvel.
07 Mar 2019
'The Wolverine' Is a Stranger in a Strange Land
James Mangold's The Wolverine taps into Western tropes and Samurai aesthetics to deliver a more thoughtful, soulful comic book film… until the climax.
28 Feb 2019
'Iron Man 3' Finds Its Hero in Crisis
Marvel Studios launched its second phase of films with Iron Man 3, a film filled with bold storytelling choices and irreverent humour that would become hallmarks of the MCU.
15 Feb 2019
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