Critical Hits and Misses #320

• Uggh can we not, please? Popbuzz reports that a magazine has called Milly Bobby Brown, the young star of Stranger Things, sexy. You know, at 13 years of age. FFS, people. 


• We had already reported that Andrew Kreisberg, showrunner for the CW's Arrowverse, has been suspended due to accusations of sexual harassment. This Variety report has a lot of the details, including direct-from-the-victims reporting on what actually went on. TW. 

For today's musical hit, we have Oscar Isaac and "Fare Thee Well"

Today's critical rolls: People magazine has named country music homophobe Blake Shelton the sexiest man alive, because I guess all other men have died without me noticing. Who would have made a much better choice for the title, in your opinion? Feel free to nominate more than one sexy man. 

Critical Writ has a super-duper strict comment policy that specifies a single rule above all others: we reserve the right to ban you for being a terribad citizen of the internet.

Critical Hits & Misses #319

• The Waypoint blog reviews a new tabletop game, Dragons Conquer America, that attempts to tell the conquest of Mexico by Spain with a conscious awareness of how shitty colonialism was. Did they succeed? Read the review to find out. 


• Stranger Things star Finn Wolfhard, aka Mike, is publicly condemning a 27-year old model who posted inappropriate and sexual comments about the 14 year old star. This is good, the next generation of stars is growing up watching the sleaze drool out of Hollywood right now, and they are not putting up with this shit. The article goes on to detail harassment that the stars of the popular Netflix series are having to endure. People, for reals, though, leave these kids alone, FFS. 

For today's musical hit, we have Fallout Boy's "Hold Me Tight or Don't"

Today's critical rolls: If you have kids, or want kids, or even if you don't... would you let your kids be child stars? Would YOU have wanted to be a child star? 

Critical Writ has a super-duper strict comment policy that specifies a single rule above all others: we reserve the right to ban you for being a terribad citizen of the internet.

Critical Hits & Misses #313

• Taylor Swift might sue a blogger who demanded that she denounce white supremacy and Nazism. But why, though?


• In the Beyond Stranger Things aftershow series that Netflix aired with episode recaps and cast interviews to celebrate the second season of Stranger Things, there was a revelation concerning the kiss between Max and Lucas in episode nine. Apparently, the kiss wasn't scripted, and despite it being quite sweet and endearing on the show, turns out that neither young actor were super happy about all the ribbing they've been getting. The internet has strong feelings about this and this blogger discusses why it's important for young actors to be treated with the same respect older actors receive. 

For today's musical hit, celebrate Thor: Ragnarok with a classic: Led Zeppelin's "Immigrant Song"

Today's critical rolls: Did you see Thor: Ragnarok? What did you think? If you didn't, are you planning on seeing it?

Critical Writ has a super-duper strict comment policy that specifies a single rule above all others: we reserve the right to ban you for being a terribad citizen of the internet.

Critical Hits & Misses #308

These kids are the freaking best

• In case you were hiding out because the world is awful, recent allegations have really blown the top off the major problems that Hollywood has with sexism and sexual harassment. Barely had Hollywood begun to process the mess that was Harvey Weinstein, when a bunch of women came out with allegations against director James Tobak. Get your shit together, Hollywood.


• It is here! Get ready to revisit the Upside Down, because Stranger Things 2 is live! The Recode blog gets you in the mood with a look at the first season and what we might expect from the second (no spoilers for season 2).

For today's musical hit, I'm not sure I'm ready for Taylor Swift in all her mostly naked cyborg glory in her newest video, "...Ready For It?"

Today's critical rolls: TGIF! What's on the agenda this weekend? It's the weekend for Halloween parties, are you heading to one? If not, what's going on?

Critical Writ has a super-duper strict comment policy that specifies a single rule above all others: we reserve the right to ban you for being a terribad citizen of the internet.

Critical Hits & Misses #307

• Well, I'm tired of being mad at Hollywood's gross sexist shenanigans, so let's get mad about something else. As of today, Oct 26, many women in the US started working for free, including you and me. How's that? Well the Washington Post has an excellent analysis of the gender pay gap, how there are STILL folks insisting it's a myth, and that because average female wages are 80% of average male wages, that women work for free for ten weeks out of the year compared to men. U mad yet?


• In happier news, Netflix's Stranger Things Season 2 drops this weekend, and to get into the spirit of it, check out these 80s movies that inspired this awesome spooky series! 

For today's musical hit, we have H.E.R. and "Every Kind of Way"

Today's critical rolls: Looking forward to Stranger Things 2? What kind of spooky 80s movies do you like?

Critical Writ has a super-duper strict comment policy that specifies a single rule above all others: we reserve the right to ban you for being a terribad citizen of the internet.

Critical Hits and Misses #22 - Seussday, September 6th, 2016

• I heard that, Curtis! More classic Sierra games have been added to Steam, including the original Gabriel Knight: Sins of the Fathers,  the King’s Quest Collection, and Phantasmagoria. (Megan)

• If you loved Stranger Things’ Eleven, then you will be delighted by Millie Bobby Brown killing it as she raps to Nicki Minaj’s “Monster.” Also, silly string shenanigans with all the kids ensue. (Ivonne)

• Arab American Women provide some great insight into using comic books as a medium for self expression and social activism over at the Arab American National Museum’s blog. (Miz Opifex)

Also: Seussday is our improvement on Tuesday, so here is a picture of a fox in socks. Foxes don't like socks, doctor. 

"I mean, what were you thinking?!"

What's today's musical hit? The Strumbellas respond: "We Don't Know."

Today's critical rolls:
1. Could your spirit animal take down a Vaporeon? If so, how?
2. What's your favourite terrible idea? Keep it PG, please.

— Critical Writ has a super-duper strict comment policy that specifies a single rule above all others: don't use the word "moist." Also, don't be a vexatious vaniloquist.

Critical Hits and Misses #9: August 12, 2016

Olympic medalist Fu Yuanhui is officially the most lovable Olympian ever, gaining 3.5 million social media followers after the video in which she finds out she won bronze went viral. (Megan)

Felicity Jones talks about the importance of women in the Rebellion. (Ivonne)

Donald Trump is from the Upside Down. We in America are in desperate need of an Eleven, and a group of nerdy kids, to banish the monster. So, Millennials? Get out the vote! (Spoiler Alert for Netflix’s Stranger Things.) (Ivonne)

An open letter from an alleged former WB employee tears into WB CEO Kevin Tsujihara for, among other things, the past, present, and future failures of the DC Cinematic Universe. (Adrian)

Scientists are trying to determine how long Greenland sharks can live, and a new technique reveals that one individual may be 400 years old!  Further study is needed but if true, this makes the Greenland shark the longest living vertebrae. (Megan)

Critical Hits and Misses #8: August 5, 2016

Genevieve Valentine writes about Stranger Things; the way it succeeds in its nostalgia, and the way it fails its female characters. (Tova)

Valentine’s twitter thread on the responses she’s received to the article, and the strange notion that you can’t criticize a thing you love, is also worth a read.  (Tova)

Meagan Damore at CBR explores how The Killing Joke could have avoided objectifying Batgirl. (Megan)

Love Suicide Squad? Read about Kim Yale, the unsung heroine that helped make Suicide Squad happen back in the 1980s.  (Ivonne)

This video from Above Average is about cliches for female characters in movies. (Zachary)