Young CriticAt this point Marvel is such an established brand that they can stamp their name over any film and it will automatically make over half a billion dollars. The first two releases of the Disney-owned studio this year were
Young CriticEveryone wants a franchise; it’s a surefire thing that guarantees revenue down the road. The problem is that not every story can become a franchise. Black Label Media has decided to turn its 2015 critical darling Sicario
Young CriticIt appears you only need one good movie in order to continue spewing bland sequels. Such is the case with Jurassic Park and it’s successive trilogies. We now have been given the second Jurassic World film, which is part
Young CriticPixar has just released its 20th film; it’s hard to believe that the fledgling animation studio had grown into an international behemoth under Disney’s wing. The studio seems to be heading towards producing sequels to it
Young CriticAny victory for women in Hollywood is a welcome and rare sign given the abusive patriarchy that is present there (and everywhere). It’s a shame that the opportunities of more diverse roles for women are only in remakes s
Young CriticRevenge-story films tend to keep things simple, one traumatic experience at the beginning of the movie and then a gore fest follows. When executed right, we get entertaining and beautiful films like John Wick or Kill Bil
Young CriticWhen Disney bought Lucasfilm in 2012, there was an expectation that the Star Wars franchise would be milked dry ASAP. The trend of Star Wars films seems to be following this expectation, as we start getting very specifi
Young CriticWhen the first film in a series is such a success, it’s very hard for any sequel to live up to the standards set. Deadpool was a surprise hit that became a cinematic phenomenon with its satirical take on the superhero g
Young CriticThe Marvel Cinematic Universe set a trend in 2008 that shook the entire film world; a series of individual films that were interconnected into a larger cinematic franchise. In 2012 The Avengers teased that the next coup
Young CriticYou can’t get more of a clichéd blockbuster than a story about giant robots beating the hell out of giant alien-monsters. Back in 2013, with Pacific Rim , this bombastic concept was flavored with color and faint life by
Young CriticLara Croft was one of the first cinematic female bad-asses of the time; she could have been ranked alongside Sarah Connor, Princess Leia, and Ripley. However, the early portrayals of the video game character have been in
Young CriticSpy movies have devolved today to either acknowledging the campy movies of the past ( Kingsman ) or simply bringing us some over-the-top action sequences no one could possibly believe (James Bond). It’s rare that we have
Young CriticIt’s hard to find a good comedy now a-days; especially because most of the comedic films coming out now are all based around a big party, it seems to be the only place where laughs can be garnered. However, the wonderful
Young CriticThere has been a common acceptance between Hollywood executives that films with largely black casts don’t bring in money from overseas; given that half of a film’s revenue today comes from outside the US, studios aren’t
Young CriticSmart producers will capitalize on a national feeling by producing a propaganda film. Jerry Bruckheimer is one of the most famous producers in Hollywood, bringing us such films as Pirates of the Caribbean , Armageddon, a
Young CriticThe video game culture has not really been captured on screen well since Edgar Wright’s Scott Pilgrim vs. World , and even that was an unconventional fable; other films have shied away since they see video games as compe
Young CriticThere are few franchises as universally iconic as Star Wars . It’s incredibly hard to deal with such famed characters like Luke Skywalker and Princess Leia, which is why J.J. Abrams chose to honor them in Star Wars: The
Young CriticWarner Brothers has not had the best of luck with its DC Cinematic Universe. Yes, there was that bright beacon that was Wonder Woman this spring, but the other outings: Man of Steel, Batman v. Superman, and Suicide Squa
Young CriticOne would think that a simple formula to art and success is give a mainstream topic, a huge budget, and creative freedom to a credited unique artist. This is certainly the path that Marvel took with its most recent film
Young CriticBlade Runner wasn’t a hit when it came out. In fact, it was a box office flop; it was only in VHS sales that it gained a cult following to the point that it was claimed a classic in latter decades. The film explored what
Young CriticThere are many true stories that leave many in disbelief at how fate works. One of those incredible stories is that of Barry Seal, an American pilot who in the 70s and 80s worked with some of the most important historica
Young CriticWhen Kingsman: The Secret Service came out in 2014, it was a cultural sensation. It took on the aged spy genre, and revitalized it with a tongue-in-cheek perspective. After such critical and box office acclaim, naturall
Young CriticIt’s hard for Steven Soderbergh to make a bad movie. He’s the mastermind behind the incredibly enjoyable Ocean’s films, as well as the likes of Contagion, Erin Brokovich, and Traffic . Soderbergh had claimed he had reti
Young CriticThe most poetic a blockbuster has gotten to is perhaps Christopher Nolan’s The Dark Knight trilogy, but that is more of a noir series than a philosophical journey. Director Matt Reeves, however, has found a perfect vehic