Essays
Reading This Will Prevent the Robot Apocalypse
By Chris Bowyer
By Chris Bowyer
"What if robots rise up against us?" used to be an interesting question, but has been reduced to the banal. But there's a related, more interesting question that nobody seems to be asking.
Breaking Down: Up
By Chris Bowyer
By Chris Bowyer
Up is the best thing Pixar's ever done, and that's saying something. This essay is my attempt to illuminate its depth; its recurring themes, expansive metaphors, and pervasive symmetry.
James Cameron Probably Hates You
By Chris Bowyer
By Chris Bowyer
Most blockbusters are feel-good, life-affirming affairs. But James Cameron has somehow built a lucrative career out of telling us how terrible he thinks we are.
Boyhood, Bears, and Roger Bannister
By Chris Bowyer
By Chris Bowyer
Boyhood is being hailed as a great film in large part for the manner in which it was created, which poses difficult questions about where filmmaking ends and films begin.
No, Starship Troopers Is Not Brilliant Satire
By Chris Bowyer
By Chris Bowyer
Misunderstood upon its release, 1997's cult classic Starship Troopers is the target of a pop culture rehabilitation that confuses the film's ambitions for achievements.
Arcs sont Triomphe
By Chris Bowyer
By Chris Bowyer
It used to be that the hero of a film or TV show could end the story in the same place they began, and nobody minded. But it's getting harder to engage modern audiences without a protagonist that undergoes actual change. And this shift in audience expectation is already changing the entertainment industry.
The Eminent Domain of Movie Remakes
By Chris Bowyer
Another month, another remake, and another round of dismissals about Hollywood's lack of originality. And while many are the cynical cash grabs they're derided as being, some are something a lot worse.
In Defense of Boredom
By Chris Bowyer
By Chris Bowyer
It's okay, you can admit it: at least one an allegedly "classic" film has left you undeniably bored. And what's worse, there's an excellent chance you felt kind of bad about it. But does this actually say anything about your sophistication as a viewer?
Christopher Nolan's Useful Lies
By Chris Bowyer
By Chris Bowyer
To the chagrin of fanboys everywhere, director Christopher Nolan is as tight-lipped as ever about the final film in his Batman trilogy. But his filmography has matured to the point where recurring themes and distinct patterns have begun to appear, and his previous efforts may provide us with a few clues as to where Bruce Wayne's third act may go.