Wiping away all the dropped cameos, the central high-spirited affection in Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse is incredibly powerful. Emotions run as high as the web slingers swing with an extremely thick and, yes, impossibly convoluted saga of how all of these zany Multiverse threads either come together or exist in their separate planes with every possible brick of towering importance.
Read MoreAfter what felt like forever since Spider-Man: No Way Home, I returned to my chair among “Earth’s Mightiest Critics” on the Kicking the Seat YouTube channel hosted, as always, by Ian Simmons. This show was the big one we were all waiting for, especially the “DC Shill” Mark Krawczyk of Special Mark Productions. After swallowing plate after plate of Marvel content, we finally got some WB/DC dessert. I Ian, Mark, and also David Fowlie of Keeping it Reel and Annie Banks of Chuck Load of Comics for a shared conversation on all of the tone, character, and darkness there was to enjoy in Matt Reeves’s bold new interpretation of the Caped Crusader.
Read MoreUnlike my small comic book roots that make me borderline qualified to talk among the “Earth’s Mightiest Critics” crew assembled by Ian Simmons of Kicking the Seat, I am tremendously behind when it comes to the extended universe of Star Wars. I’ve seen the movies like everyone else, but I was late to the party for The Mandalorian and have never seen any of the Clone Wars animated offerings. Surprises from those sources have been making live-action waves in The Book of Boba Fett on Disney+, and I asked to bring my uninformed noob energy.
Read MoreThe big one of all 2021 big ones hit “Earth’s Mightiest Critics” assembled, as always, by Ian Simmons of Kicking the Seat. The ever-evolving crew came together for a recorded Zoom roundtable published on Ian’s YouTube channel to talk FULL SPOILERS for Sony and Marvel’s collaboration Spider-Man: No Way Home. We were wowed. We talked deep, and we came away greatly impressed. Enjoy Ian, myself, my Cinephile Hissy Fit podcast partner Will Johnson, David Fowlie of Keeping it Reel, Mike Crowley of You’ll Probably Agree, and Annie Banks of Chuck Load of Comics!
Read MoreCrack open the Mickeys, Olde English, and King Cobra! Big 4-O! For our 40th episode and second of this Pre-Christmas doubleheader, 25YL film critics, stoked dads, and overhyped teachers Will Johnson and Don Shanahan get to gush over the Marvel Cinematic Universe tentpole that is Spider-Man: No Way Home with FULL SPOILERS! Through our last three retrospective shows, we built up to this big splash. Listen for how the guys landed on this multiverse extravaganza.
Read MoreFor our 39th episode and the first of a double-header week, 25YL film critics, fresh-faced dads, and vacationing school teachers Will Johnson and Don Shanahan are joined for one last spin by our special guest Rachel S. for the third and final retrospective discussion on big screen Spider-Man iterations. This closer covers the Tom Holland appearances across his solo and team-up movies on the road to Spider-Man: No Way Home. There's plenty of love and still some criticism in the room for Tony Jr.
Read MoreThe successes spring forth from the roller coaster of crowd reactions between cheers and tears that you yourself will undoubtedly witness (or share) at your own theater visit. Imagine if everything you eventually see was a protected surprise and that measurement goes through the multiplex roof even further. Top to bottom from a production standpoint and crowned with a smile from ear to ear, this is what big screen escapism and dream fulfillment looks like at the highest level.
Read MoreFor our 38th episode and second of two released this week, 25YL film critics, rebooted dads, and heroic school teachers Will Johnson and Don Shanahan welcome bacl special guest Rachel S. for another chapter of a trio of retrospectives of big screen Spider-Man takes on a chatty march to Spider-Man: No Way Home. This back-and-forth convo looks back at the Andrew Garfield/Emma Stone double of The Amazing Spider-Man and The Amazing Spider-Man 2. There's love and hate to share!
Read MoreFor our 37th episode and first of two released this week, 25YL film critics, undead dads, and nimble school teachers Will Johnson and Don Shanahan welcome special guest Rachel S. in the first of a massive three-part retrospective on the big screen iterations of Spider-Man. This first hearty conversation covers the Tobey Maguire/Sam Raimi trio of films from the 00s. See where three very divergent opinions land on this classic trilogy!
Read MoreThe overwhelming internal tone and external vibe of Spider-Man: Far From Home is attempting to answer the reactionary and optimistic question of where do we go from here. Inside the movie, Peter Parker’s world is reeling from the passage of irrecoverable time, losses of heroic inspiration, and relationship challenges fitting of his age. For audiences entering the aisles and seats, they come curious about the closure of this phase of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, the possible opening of another arc, and where Sony can take this emerging classic character in the future. Jon Watts’ sequel answers those worries and wonders with soaring zest and jest.
Read MoreJustice League comes across like attempted course correction done on that Etch-a-Sketch. The artist, or artists in this case, are trying to retrace old paths and smooth over past missteps with redrawn swirls, lighter hues, and a fluffy cover-up we call comedy. That effort on the cinematic Etch-a-Sketch indeed changes the initial picture, but only after unnecessarily tedious effort and some remaining messy results.
Read MoreFriend-of-the-page Emmanuel Noisette of Eman's Movie Reviews invited me to record the beginnings of a new podcast for his brand. Because his YouTube reviews tend to be spoiler-free, these new chats will be spoiler-filled reactions and discussions. As always, we have a fun back-and-forth as two guys free of "fanlexia" to praise Spider-Man: Homecoming. Enjoy!
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