...and considering how FREAKING GOOD Across the Spider-Verse is, I anticipate Beyond the Spider-Verse to straight-up shatter box office records next year due to the same dynamic.

Especially since the sequel was riskier and even further out there.

If you want to see what “everyone didn’t go see the first movie on the first weekend, but whenever they got around to it, they loved it like the rest of us” looks like, it took ITSV three weeks what ATSV did in three days at the US box office ($120 million). 

I especially enjoy the current “MCU fatigue” discord despite Marvel Studios having its best non-Avenger 12-month stretch at the box office with No Way Home, Dr. Strange 2, Wakanda Forever, and Thor 4 from December 2021-22.

really astonishing feat to come up with a sequel so strong when the first one was so risky and out there 

Keep in mind that Disney+ lost the company over half-a-billion dollars in the last quarter. The same quarter the previous year, D+ lost $887-million.

As a writer and former film professional myself I hate to admit this, but this really isn’t any different than back in the days of television, is it not? Most shows weren’t on VHS, and DVD was an unexpected second life. And most shows never go to syndication. They go on for a few years and then get cancelled, half of…

Slow moving? Yes. Contemplative? Yes. Boring? No. It has a lot more in common with 2001 than Star Wars.

You pretty well nailed it there, I feel like people keep forgetting that this is the 8th and final season of one long story.

The scene with Bronn in the brothel was also intended as a callback to Tyrion in the brothel back in the very first episode of the series. In fact, a lot of moments that Rob disdains here, including the fact that the episode ended on Jaime and Bran, are intentional callbacks to the pilot episode.

Workmanlike is a good description, certainly. But I didn’t have any problem with that, although the cadence was strange because of some of the things you cited in terms of pacing and awkwardness. However, in typical GoT fashion, there’s STILL a lot going on, elements of subterfuge, and character arcs still being…

“Last season was objectively atrocious”

Bronn getting hired by Cersei to kill Jaime and Tyrion

It’s that level of dedication and concern for the characters that made Into the Spiderverse the most nuanced and respectful comic book film I’ve ever seen. It’s a true comic book film, not a Hollywood adaptation of comics. I’ve been reading Spider-Man my entire life, and I’ve never left a film feeling that the…

When it comes to Spider-Ham, it’s always good to leave audiences bacon for more.

The world needs More magic swords that launch smaller swords at our enemies.

KRULL.

I remember Ladyhawke’s medieval setting was pretty down-to-earth, with really great, realistic sets. If it wasn’t for the magic curse and the wisecracking Feris Bueller sidekick, you could believe it was standard historical fiction. Kind of the same vibe Game of Thrones is going for now.

Am I a terrible person for saying that I don’t think Princess Bride is as good as people think it is?