Critical Hits & Misses #328

• Some people out there have complained about Thor: Ragnarok's Valkyrie, played by the fabulous Tessa Thompson, being a male-coded character. Stitch's Media Mix has an excellent post about those people aren't just sexist... they're racist to boot. 


• In between all the rage we're feeling (and a lot of relief that this shit is FINALLY being aired out, for the sake of the victims) about the epidemic of sexual harassment coming out Hollywood, the news industry, the stand-up industry, one thing we haven't really talked about is how to deal with the pain and disappointment that comes from finding out that someone you worked with/loved/admired/were a fan of turned out to be a gross person. Sarah Silverman covered this on her show when she discussed the allegations against Louis C.K., asking can you love someone who did bad things? This excellent opinion blog over at CNN examines the pain, and why the Matt Lauer case in particular felt like a betrayal. 

For today's musical hit, we have Daniel Caesar and "Freudian, A Visual"

Today's critical rolls: I don't know about you, but I've had a lot of disappointment come at me in droves of late with all these sexual harassment scandals, and I DO feel betrayed by artists and newscasters that I've previously admired. Have any of these recent allegations caused you to feel conflicted or disappointed and not sure what to do about the art some of these people have produced?

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Critical Hits & Misses #327

You, Mr. Yates, are a ridiculous rape culture-y muggle that needs to STFU

• This is why Hollywood is getting wrecked by all these sexual harassment scandals: because assholes like Fantastic Beasts 2 director David Yates still say dumb shit like this in defense of wife beaters like Johnny Depp and think it's perfectly okay to say dumb shit like this. *cough* Alleged wife beater, I guess. 


• The Arrowverse is a little less skivvy these days, now that the WB has fired Executive Producer Andrew Kreisberg for gross behavior towards women, in order go foster a safer and happier work environment for cast and crew. Good call, WB. 

For today's musical hit, we have Pitbull and "Por Favor"

Today's critical rolls: Did you watch the Arrowverse Crossover this week? If so, what did you think? If not, are you planning on watching 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 #326

• Forbes has a bit of snark for DC fans who claim that there is some mass media conspiracy against Zach Snyder and the DC movies: facts and numbers show that traditionally, critics have liked Snyder films more than actual movie goers have. 


• Marvel comics recently announced a secret surprise wedding in the comics, but like, more people cared about the engagement announcement between Britain's Prince Harry and Meghan Markle.

For today's musical hit, we have rising artisti OMB Peezy and "Doin Bad"

Today's critical rolls: Are you curious about the secret Marvel wedding? Or maybe you're more excited about Prince Harry's pending nuptials? Or maybe you only care about the West-Allen/Ollicity weddings going on in the Crossover this week on the CW? Or maybe no weddings at all?

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Critical Hits & Misses #325

• What happens to the MCU after Infinity War sends Robert Downey Jr.'s Tony Stark into retirement? The Hollywood Reporter takes a look at some of the possibilities, including one annoying storyline that hopefully never happens (we want Riri instead of Teen Tony, okay?)


• Pixar's Coco opened this past weekend in theaters, and instantly shot up to the #1 spot, especially in Mexico, where it was the #1 movie ever. 

For today's musical hit, I promise I won't torture us all with Christmas music from here until actual Christmas (I personally can't stand most Christmas music), but here's Pentatonix with a nifty take on "Deck the Halls"

Today's critical rolls: So Riri Williams (or even Rhodey) as the new Iron Man, emirite? What about some of the other heroes? Do you think they could pull off female Thor in the movies? And who should take up the mantle of Captain America?

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 #324

Editor's Note: Thursday is Thanksgiving in the US and Friday is the busiest shopping day of the year (and a day off for us), so this is the last CH&M for the week. Wherever you are, we wish you a wonderful weekend! See you next Monday!

• Forbes has an in-depth analysis of what it might mean for the DCEU's future now that Justice League hasn't really lived up to expectations at the box office. 


• Uproxx discusses how the fallout of the sexual harassment plague in Hollywood should affect every man in the US, and how even "good" men need to stop trying to remove themselves from the implications. 

For today's musical hit, it's almost Christmas, so have Sia and "Santa's Coming For Us"

Today's critical rolls: If you're in the US, are you looking forward to Thanksgiving and Black Friday? If you're not in the US, what's on the agenda for the weekend?

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 #323

• Uproxx reviews the first four episodes of Hulu's new Marvel adaptation, Runaways. It's spoiler-free, so don't worry if you read it before you get to see the series.


• She's not wrong: Natalie Portman points out that Hollywood's rampant sexual harassment problem stems from the fact that there aren't many women working on sets and especially in suits at the higher levels of the industry. Yup. 

For today's musical hit, we have Theophilus London and "Why Even Try"

Today's critical rolls: Are you excited about Runaways? Or maybe there's another original series out of the streaming services--Hulu, Amazon, Netflix--that you're excited about instead? Let us know!

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 #322

• So uhh. Justice League. About that opening weekend... (ouch) Editor's Note: to be honest, JL didn't deserve such a dismal opening, it paid the unfortunate price for the crap that was BvS. JL is a decent enough popcorn flick and there's a good amount of Wonder Woman and cinnamon roll Flash to make it worth the ticket price. 


• Yeah, can we not? Suzanne Somers and Megyn Kelly have a 'hilarious' conversation about marital rape, and it's not a good look. Ha... Ha...Ha?

For today's musical hit, have Chance the Rapper, Kenan Thompson, and Chris Redd doing "Come Back, Barack" on SNL. We agree with the sentiment

Today's critical rolls: How was your weekend? Let us know if you saw any good movies or did anything exciting!

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 #321

• Normally I wouldn't bother to mention sexual harassment by politicians, because political sex scandals are like mass shootings in this US: same shit different day. Still Senator Al Franken isn't just another politician, he's also formerly a comedian and actor, which brings more light to some fuck-up rape culture in entertainment industries. Perhaps of greater note in this Mic story about Franken, though, is the statement that he has put out. Take note, scumbags of the Earth: this is how you actually do an apology correctly for this sort of thing. 


• Wondering what movies to see this holiday season? Newsday has you covered with the list of what to check out. 

For today's musical hit, and because Luis Fonsi wrecked at the Latin Grammy's, here's Fonsi and his smash hit, "Despacito"

Today's critical rolls: The weekend is here! What's it going to be? Justice League? Punisher? Both? Neither? Let us know!

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 #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.