The Case for Shared Cinematic Universes

December 13, 2013December 9, 2017 Keith Chow

Late last night, a game-changing shock wave was sent through the internet when Beyoncé dropped a brand new album when no one was looking!

Also, Sony Pictures revealed it was expanding its Amazing Spider-Man cinematic universe with separate movies focusing on Venom and the Sinister Six. And while the Spidey announcement is not quite the game changer that Queen Bey’s new album is (in fact, it’s more of a game-follower, but more on that later), it’s definitely a smart move on Sony’s part. How well Marc Webb and Avi Arad (and the nerd rage-inducing duo that is Alex Kurtzman and Roberto Orci) execute this move, however, remains to be seen.

Continue reading “The Case for Shared Cinematic Universes”

Comics, Fantasy, Sci Fi5 Comments

10 Things That Need to Change in Spec-Fic, a Pan-Medium Gripe

October 1, 2013May 26, 2021 Shawn Taylor

Note: I am using Spec-Fic to encompass everything from fantasy, to sci-fi, to spy-fi, horror, and other things related to the fantastic genres. None of this “Neal Stephenson said science fiction isn’t a genre” stuff, please.

1. Joss Whedon. Fine. Great. He has given us some good television and films, but he isn’t the only person out there who has ideas. His shadow looms impossibly large over the televisual and cinema landscapes and it is getting to feel a little same-y. There is homogeneity to the Whedonverse that can wear a little thin. If he loved the genre as much as he says, he should take a step back and let some other voices (not coached or shepherded by him) emerge. There are only so many clever dialogue sequences we can take, or need. Even Kevin Smith realized his shtick was getting old. Just because something is popular doesn’t mean that it is as good as you think it is. Hell, people bought pet rocks and mood rings. Everybody may have raved about The Avengers, but Dredd was the comic book adaptation of 2012.