Franchise Syndrome Archives - Page 2 of 13

A Quiet Place: Day One Brings Lupita Nyong’o’s Best Performance Yet

In a movie landscape where the horror genre often relies on overt scares and relentless gore, A Quiet Place emerged as a refreshing film that was both suspenseful and minimalistic. Directed by John Krasinski, the original film captivated audiences with… Continue Reading →

Despicable Me 4 is Messy, But Fun

The Despicable Me and Minions movies deserve high praise for their blend of heartwarming storytelling, vibrant animation and infectious humor. Gru has an endearing transformation from villain to loving father and the mischievous antics of the Minions consistently deliver charm… Continue Reading →

July 4, 2024

Star Wars Anoints a New Era with The Acolyte

Family bonds run tight throughout the Star Wars Universe, beginning with the Skywalkers within the Original Trilogy, later stretching into the prequel trilogy and the Solos and the Palpatines wrapping up the Sequel Trilogy. Those ties continue, possibly even stronger,… Continue Reading →

June 4, 2024

Nightwatch: Demons Are Forever is the Sequel No One Asked For

A bad movie simply doesn’t deserve a sequel. When a film fails to captivate its audience with a compelling story, engaging characters or even basic entertainment value, the idea of continuing its narrative feels more like a punishment than a… Continue Reading →

May 31, 2024

Chapter 1 Reintroduces The Strangers’ Horrors

Navigating prequels can be a tricky business venture. On one hand, you’re dealing with already-established characters, while placing them in new situations. Their audience awareness was high enough that a production company decided to invest more money into telling their… Continue Reading →

May 24, 2024

Dan Aykroyd’s Paranormal Pop-Culture Renaissance

Per Matt If there’s something strange, and it don’t look good… who ya gonna call? Well, it’s usually Dan Aykroyd who answers the bell. You may recognize the Not Ready for Prime Time Player from old-school Saturday Night Live seasons…. Continue Reading →

March 22, 2024

Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire Lacks Flavor

The art of cinematic storytelling is not much different from food prep. Movie production is akin to a slow-cooking process, much like cooking a meal with a traditional oven or crockpot. It involves planning, preparation and collaboration among various individuals,… Continue Reading →

March 21, 2024

Dune: Part Two Worms its Way to a Cliffhanger

Dune stands as a sci-fi cinematic powerhouse, drawing inspiration from Frank Herbert’s novels to present visually stunning and thematically rich narratives exploring power dynamics, political intrigue and the complexities of human existence. While the 1984 adaptation received widespread acclaim, the… Continue Reading →

February 28, 2024

Madame Web Spins a Film of Silly String

Making a movie is like a spider spinning its intricate web; both require tons of planning, patience and creativity. Just as a spider carefully selects the right location to build its home, filmmakers must choose the perfect setting for their… Continue Reading →

February 23, 2024

Despite an Impressive Cast, Argylle Loses its Grip on Reality

Spy movies consistently achieve success, appealing to a broad audience by offering a mix of elements that moviegoers crave: intrigue, mystique, action and adventure. Introducing a touch of tongue-in-cheek humor further solidifies their potential as great franchises, as evidenced by… Continue Reading →

February 1, 2024

Geek Culture, Zombies... and Other Monsters

Tag Franchise Syndrome