CW: Police, State, and Racial violence discussed and presented ahead. I’ve always had at best a middling opinion of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Even before my big shift in my……
Category: Deep Dives
Disney is not an ally…
Source: hellogiggles.com Disney’s newest animated feature, “Turning Red,” caused a considerable amount of positive buzz online last weekend. The film, which premiered last Friday, garnered widespread praise for featuring a……
Rebellion is not a metaphor
In the early goings of “Star Wars: A New Hope,” we get to see the humble origins of Luke Skywalker at his moisture farm on Tatooine alongside his uncle Owen……
Why I love Film Music
When I was nine years old, I REALLY liked “The Phantom Menace.” I loved it so much as a snot-nosed 4th grader at the time that I dragged my father,……
How the US created Godzilla
For most movie-watching audiences Godzilla is something of a caricature representing the hokiness of Japanese giant monster cinema. Watching dudes in rubber suits awkwardly smash model buildings isn’t exactly high……
Sam Raimi’s “Spider-man” is both Dated and Refreshing
It might not feel like it, but Sam Raimi’s original “Spider-man” will be 20 years old by May of 2022. It feels like a short time ago in some ways……
My Top 5 Favorite Characters
WARNING: Some spoilers for these characters ahead if you haven’t seen them. Growing up I was always known as a bit of a space case. My teachers would often take……
My Top 5 Favorite Movies
Many moons ago, I was out on a date with a girl in my senior year of college and took her out to see a movie. That movie was “Immortals”……
“Young Frankenstein”: How to tell a Sincere Story in a Funny Way
One of the things that has always irked me about the Marvel Cinematic Universe is how adrift the entire franchise is in bathos. What is bathos, you might ask? Bathos……
Growing Old Sucks and So do Mummies in “Bubba Ho-Tep”
Warning: Some Spoiler Clips Ahead Each year seems to feel shorter and shorter than the last as we get older. This isn’t too surprising, of course. When we really stop……
“Princess Mononoke’s” Pacificism is Admirable but a bit Naive
If there is one film that describes director Hayao Miyazaki’s entire ethos and philosophy the most, it’s probably “Princess Mononoke.” The film showcases Miyazaki’s love of nature and spirituality in……
How Martial Arts and Identity Merge in “The Matrix”
A few years back I was wrapping up a session at karate practice when one of my senseis brought me to the side to speak with me. I had done……
“Shang Chi” and Hollywood “Representation”
When I first started this blog a few years ago my initial goal was to give the pop culture community a new Asian American voice and perspective, I felt it……
“Starship Troopers”: You’re Not Immune to Propaganda
Not sure how many you remember the early 2000s, but I remember it now as the era our news media truly became the powerful, manipulative engine that it is today.……
“The Grandmaster”: Life, Martial Arts, and Living with our Regrets
One of my biggest fears these days is what kind of legacy am I going to leave behind. When I’m old and can no longer move around as I used……
Hollywood and the Pentagon: A love story
Trigger warning: Discussion of war crimes and some disturbing images ahead… One of the better later season Simpsons jokes comes in an episode called “New Boys on the Blecch” in……
“Total Recall”: When catharsis replaces justice
Escapism can be good for the soul when coping with the harsh reality of everyday life. The often crushingly brutal world we all reside in does not provide much mental……
“Cowboy Bebop” reminds us to rediscover our lost Humanity
Most “Cowboy Bebop” episodes start out more or less the same. The crew is typically going through financial dire straits of some kind, barely able to scrounge up enough food……
Superheroes are defenders of the Status Quo
I think I’m finally over superheroes. I don’t mean that I’ll completely stop consuming Marvel and DC properties (cause I’m a sucker for escapism and nostalgia) or that they weren’t……
A shitty job becomes madness in “The Lighthouse”
I quit my job last month. After three years of largely working behind a desk at a non-profit in town, I walked into HR and told them to kick rocks……