A Complete Analysis of Iron Man Part 1: The MCU’s Beginnings, The Rise of a Fallen Star, and The Perfect Opening (Film Analysis)

In 2005, Marvel Entertainment took out an over 500-million-dollar loan with plans to launch their own film studio and get in on the ever-increasing cinematic superhero craze.  With the creation of Marvel Studios in conjecture with Paramount Pictures to market and distribute their films, Marvel began plans to release a series of (hopefully) modestly profiting superhero films based on some of their less world-renown properties (since their biggest names like Spider-Man and The X-Men already had their film licenses sold to other studios) that would be connected through recurring characters, setups, plot points, and post-credit scenes—ultimately leading to a collaboration of all these B and C-listers into one massive, blockbuster extravaganza of a film that would be based on The Avengers comic series.

Happy Death Day 2U (Film Review)

Sequels are well known for trying to repeat their predecessor’s formula, but Happy Death Day 2U takes this a step further by using the original film’s Groundhog Day loop premise and actually repeating the same day, again, on loop.  That’s literally the definition of insanity, so how the hell does this seemingly uninspired sequel not only make it work but improve upon nearly every aspect of the original?

The Fault in Our Stars Revisited: At Times Cheesy, At Times Lovey-Dovey, and At Times Powerfully Relatable (Film Analysis)

Look, I’m not going to sit here and write that The Fault in Our Stars isn’t cheesy, or sappy, or lovey-dovey at times.  The film has these aspects, it embraces them to the point of occasionally being cringy.  Two teenagers making out in the Anne Frank House while those around them clap and cheer is not what I consider quality writing.  The thing is, The Fault in Our Stars is still effective with its story, and at its highest points, downright powerful.  That’s because beneath the cheese, and sappiness, and lovey-dovey affection, are two very human characters portrayed by two talented actors—and its these actors who keep The Fault in Our Stars enjoyable and fresh during the lowest of times and potently compelling during its better-written scenes.

Blue Valentine or: A Potent Tragedy and Cautionary Tale on Relationships (Film Analysis)

Blue Valentine is a tragedy about a dysfunctional married couple who finally lose the last lingering sparks in their relationship.  It is a sad, yet potent film that offers a cautionary tale on the don’ts of building a sturdy relationship. 

Drive or: The Scorpion and the Frog, Nature, and Beautiful Violent Artistry (Film Analysis)

One day, a scorpion looked around at the mountain where he lived and decided that he wanted a change. So, he set out on a journey until he reached a river.  The scorpion saw a frog sitting and decided to ask it for help getting across the stream.

"Hellooo Mr. Frog!" called the scorpion, "Would you be so kind as to give me a ride on your back across the river?"

"Well now, Mr. Scorpion! How do I know that if I try to help you, you won’t try to kill me?" asked the frog hesitantly.

"Because," the scorpion replied, "If I try to kill you, then I would die too, for you see I cannot swim!"

Now this seemed to make sense to the frog, so it agreed to take the scorpion across the river. Halfway across the river, the frog suddenly felt a sharp sting in his back and, out of the corner of his eye, saw the scorpion remove his stinger from the frog's back. A deadening numbness began to creep into his limbs.

"You fool!" croaked the frog, "Now we shall both die! Why on earth did you do that?"

The scorpion shrugged, "I could not help myself. It is my nature."

—The Scorpion and the Frog