Giovanni Insignares

I always feel that heroes are seen as boring and uninteresting because of how relatable they end up being. It seems kinda strange…but some people wish to watch films with characters they can’t necessarily relate to, hence the love of villains. As you point out, they get so much attention because they inhabit characteristics that we, as normal human beings, can’t commit (unless you want to get arrested or killed). But I think it’s that simple (and relatable) nature that makes characters like Margie so great. They show that it doesn’t necessarily take a superhero to solve an insurmountable problem. Sometimes all it is is simple human intuition.

Overall, great analysis. I very much enjoyed reading this.

The beautiful thing about this series, as you and other have pointed out, is how well it relates to kids and their growth. Like you said…despite this world being filled with magic and monsters, the journey of growth is not all that different between a typical teen and Harry. Recently, I was sent a link to a Ted talk from a a few year ago; this talk highlighted the similarities between popular fictional heroes by showcasing the structure with which the story is told. Overall, it’s a nice, short (4:33) animated segment, and I’ll leave the link here. Great job on this article…terrific read!

Great job! Again, I always feel that any twist has to be properly laid out…even one that seems “so out of left field.” A twist that is just there for the sake of a twist, without properly laying the groundwork for it, is unbelievably lazy to me and a fundamental cheat for any writer or filmmaker. I think it shows a lack of trust in your own material and that you don’t feel the story is strong enough without the inclusion of a “jolt” that comes from a surprise twist.

I’m very interested in seeing how this story progresses from the classic trilogy of so many years ago, while simultaneously carrying these unbelievable expectations. I’m starting to think that as we get closer and closer to December and the release date, this film will challenge Avatar and The Avengers as one of the highest grossing films of all time. With the goodwill toward the original trilogy, the angst against the new trilogy, and the unbridled excitement toward this new story…people of all ages and generations will want to head out to check this out. And if the film is actually good or great? That’s when the money will endlessly roll in.

Terrific article. I think that no matter what direction the story of episode VII takes, all that matters is that the film pays quick respect to the past while pushing forward. Disney clearly has so much riding on this film and franchise that it would take a monumental collapse to ruin the franchise financially. I have high hopes, and I’m confident Abrams will do Star Wars justice.

I have to believe that binge-watching has caught on mainly because most people are so busy with their lives, that binging a show allows for a sense of completion (but not necessarily enjoyment). With work, families, and a myriad of other responsibilities, it becomes very difficult for a lot of people to really sit down, watch, analyze, and then let sink in the events of an episode. I think many people don’t want to think so much when watching shows…they just want to relax.

But at the same time, people are conflicted because they want to be in the “know” and engage in the water-cooler talk that comes the day after a riveting episode with an epic plot twist. House of Cards, for example, is a show that really begins to fall apart the more and more you think about it; however, it’s the binge nature of Netflix and the show that doesn’t allow it for a more serious critique. By the time you start to think about a preposterous plot development, you’ve already moved on to the next episode. I personally prefer the simmer of watching a show week-to-week, letting the details of the story roll around, and letting a show build its mythology over the years. Ultimately, that feels so much more rewarding and it allows for a show to really find out its weaknesses and build to become better.

Terrific article!

Terrific post. Superheroes have always been a reflection of the emotional struggles people go through on a daily basis. With blockbuster films now arguably being the most popular way for these characters to be exposed to general audiences, these connections to superheroes are even more significant.

I almost feel like the women in the show are meant to be the more emotional beings and carry that weight, so their deaths can be more significant later down the road. You make good points that I’ve never thought about before in my time watching this show. I’ll definitely be keeping an eye on this going forward to see if anything changes.

Great article! Very much enjoyed it. For a classic, my favorite horror film has to be The Shining. To this day, I still believe that is one of the greatest horror films ever made. While that style of horror isn’t very prevalent today, as you pointed out, there are some effective scary movies for this generation. The Ring and The Grudge remain two of the more frightening films I’ve seen in my lifetime and Paranormal Activity reminded me of the simplicity of a movie like Jaws, with how its simplicity didn’t take away from its ability to scare.