There’s also always the option to redirect this energy toward genuine problems like systemic racism, the upcoming election, all the immigrants and refugees who are still being held in detention centers in our country, the chronically unhoused, climate change—the possibilities are truly endless.

One the one hand, Reagan starring in Casablanca would probably have ruined the movie and not given us Humphrey Bogart as the iconic figure he is. On the other hand, it might have been a big enough success to have a better Hollywood career and thus saving us from his Presidency

It’s also an important discipline for critics of any kind. Whatever your piece is - an article, a book, a film, whatever - you have a limited time and space, and a limited claim on the attention of your audience. You have to make decisions about what your focus is, and what you want your audience to focus on.

I should have realized that was much more likely than a one-off joke from a Homestar Runner video from 15 years ago.

Is that a Thnikkaman reference?

I think we’ll come around to see it as a comedy Vlasic!

This doesn’t seem kosher.

I went to a couple local borough council meetings early in the year. Before each meeting everyone says the Pledge of Allegiance like we’re all in elementary school again. Before that I hadn’t said the pledge in probably 20+ years and had forgotten just how damn creepy it is.

I like CGI fine, but while revisiting old favorites with the kids I miss that unique magic that hand drawn animation can achieve. Miyazaki films have been really astounding to watch again with them- it’s pretty crazy that American animation studios have virtually abandoned the style.

To everyone who misread the headline:

It is weird talking about the Disney Star Wars movies.

It begs to be mentioned that this is also what he did on Rogue One.  He took over production, albeit much later in the schedule than this, and turned out what in my opinion is the best of the Disney Era Star Wars movies.

Maybe I was just younger, but I thought in the ‘80s and ‘90s there was mostly a sense of “It’s the Super Bowl so let’s put out our best ad!”.  For years now it seems like the new sentiment is “Let’s try really, really, really hard to be really, really, really funny!”.  The ads just feel so purposeful now.

I finally got the chance to see a Star War this week.  While I enjoyed parts, I really can't get over my annoyance that they brought Palpatine back.  While influenced by them, Star Wars is not a damned comic book.  Could they just let some bad guys stay dead?

*sigh* Yes, that is the joke. Good job.

They better get insurance or their new wheels will be covered in ro-dents.

They all bloat down here.