As opposed to so many modern superhero movies that sometimes use CGI as a crutch, “Superman and the Mole-Men” culminates in a very straightforward, story-driven scene in which Superman must bring the wounded Mole-Man back to his people before they are killed by perhaps the most unambiguously evil, yet all-too-real, xenophobe vigilante Luke Benson. This ending is not an incomprehensible, ultimately dull fist fight between super-beings, but a simple act of good will. →Read more
“Batman: Assault on Arkham” doesn’t reach the peaks of the DC Universe Originals, but with excellent voice acting and a smart script, it manages to be a fun little installment. →Read more
Politicians, Libertarianism, and Borders – Non Serviam Podcast
I was recently featured on the Non Serviam podcast. Our discussion covered a broad range of topics from egalitarianism, radical liberalism, left-libertarianism and more, to immigration and free-market-anti-capitalism. Thanks for having me on Joel! →Read more
A story of such grimness, such depression borders on unendurable without characters that you can sympathize with, even in the most minor and marginal of ways. Even the protagonists of “The Godfather” enjoy a degree of sympathy; we understand the oppression Italian-Americans have endured and we understand how motivating family and tradition can be. But “Apocalypse Now” doesn’t feature any sympathetic characters, only sociopathic robots engaging in tortuous violence for two and a half hours. →Read more
The desperate yearning for answers and clarity shared by viewer and protagonist makes “The Big Lebowski” an emotionally unique experience that deeply resonates with anyone who’s been confused by the vastness and indifference of the universe. In its whimsical, chaotic, and even frustrating tone and structure, it encourages the viewer to aspire for the Dude’s Sisyphean resilience in the face of the absurd. →Read more
Following up “Batman: Mask of the Phantasm,” “Batman: Sub-Zero,” and “Batman Beyond,” this installment had a very high bar to live up to. But I think it deserves a second look by many fans of the DCAU as it makes for quite the enjoyable standalone Batman story. →Read more
“Joker” has gorgeous cinematography, outstanding performances, and a riveting score but it’s all wasted on a predictable and inert script that approaches its themes with a bludgeon when it needs a scalpel. →Read more
Bursting with imaginative visuals, exhausting the potential of its bizarre premise, and embodying a love for both the Batman mythos and the anime style, “Batman Ninja” rises to the ranks of the best of the DC Universe Original movies. →Read more
