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film criticism by maryann johanson | since 1997

in 2010 I asked you: ‘What would you like to see in a Toy Story 4?’ (let’s revisit the replies)

Sun Jun 23 2019, 07:02pm | 12 comments

Frozen now biggest animated movie ever; Hollywood execs to declare “Golly, people sure do like ice!”

Frozen now biggest animated movie ever; Hollywood execs to declare “Golly, people sure do like ice!”

Sun Mar 30 2014, 05:50pm | 30 comments

Divergent is a box office success: can there be any doubt that there is enormous hunger for stories about girls and women as heroes?

Sun Mar 23 2014, 12:02pm | 17 comments

do major nominations or awards help you decide which movies to see?

do major nominations or awards help you decide which movies to see?

Mon Jan 13 2014, 11:19am | 10 comments

has a movie or TV show ever so inspired you that you actually changed something about your body, wardrobe, or home?

has a movie or TV show ever so inspired you that you actually changed something about your body, wardrobe, or home?

Mon Nov 25 2013, 10:11am | 7 comments

attention, Hollywood: the wild success of Gravity means audiences have no trouble identifying with a female protagonist

attention, Hollywood: the wild success of Gravity means audiences have no trouble identifying with a female protagonist

Fri Nov 08 2013, 02:09pm | 13 comments

Despicable Me 2 dropped almost *74 percent* in its second weekend in the UK

Despicable Me 2 dropped almost *74 percent* in its second weekend in the UK

Wed Jul 10 2013, 03:44pm | 5 comments

how much of the success of Fast & Furious 6 is due to the diversity of its cast?

how much of the success of Fast & Furious 6 is due to the diversity of its cast?

Tue May 28 2013, 07:34am | 43 comments

what is the best comic book movie ever?

Mon May 06 2013, 03:02pm | 37 comments

Kon-Tiki (trailer)

Fri Mar 22 2013, 11:52am | 6 comments

Identity Thief (trailer)

Fri Feb 01 2013, 10:53am | 0 comments

Movie 43 flops because of bad weather and grumpy critics — all true! (and other adventures in social networking)

Sun Jan 27 2013, 10:22pm | 0 comments

question of the day: What movie event of 2012 will have the biggest impact in years to come?

Wed Jan 09 2013, 11:08am | 0 comments

Skyfall now biggest UK film ever (yes, bigger than Avatar)

Wed Dec 05 2012, 12:07pm | 0 comments

question of the day: Why is Skyfall resonating so powerfully with British audiences?

Mon Dec 03 2012, 09:59am | 0 comments

Skyfall is saying something profound to UK audiences (and other adventures in social networking)

Thu Nov 29 2012, 12:06am | 0 comments

question of the day: Is the *idea* of movies now more important than the movies themselves in entertainment media?

Tue Nov 20 2012, 08:00am | 0 comments

Neil Gaiman’s “The Doctor’s Wife” wins a Hugo (and other adventures in social networking)

Tue Sep 04 2012, 11:08pm | 0 comments

The Three Stooges (review)

Fri Aug 24 2012, 11:01am | 4 comments

Ice Age: Continental Drift (review)

Mon Jul 09 2012, 10:56am | 0 comments

question of the day: Are midnight Thursday movie openings here to stay?

Thu Jun 14 2012, 08:00am | 0 comments

question of the day: Are classic pulp novels too dated to make faithful transfers to the big screen?

Wed Jun 06 2012, 12:10pm | 0 comments

question of the day: With so many expensive movies sinking this year, will Hollywood step back from the blockbuster?

Mon Jun 04 2012, 12:08pm | 0 comments

LOL (trailer)

Tue May 29 2012, 09:00am | 0 comments

yeah: women like superhero movies (and other adventures in social networking)

Thu May 10 2012, 01:01am | 0 comments

question of the day: Are superhero films popular because our real leaders have failed us?

Mon May 07 2012, 11:23am | 0 comments

question of the day: How big can a movie get? (Or: How huge will Avengers open in North America?)

Mon Apr 30 2012, 08:35am | 0 comments

Titanic 3D (review)

Mon Apr 02 2012, 05:47pm | 0 comments

The Hunger Games is unleashing the sexists (and other adventures in social networking)

Sat Mar 24 2012, 01:28am | 0 comments

cool viral video for Alien prequel Prometheus… (and other adventures in social networking)

Tue Mar 06 2012, 01:00am | 0 comments

America loves The Lorax (and other adventures in social networking)

Mon Mar 05 2012, 12:52am | 0 comments

question of the day: Are the Oscars an ever clearer indication that Hollywood *knows* it makes crap?

Wed Feb 22 2012, 11:04am | 0 comments

question of the day: Would a coupon deal get you to a multiplex to see a movie you wouldn’t otherwise see?

Tue Jan 31 2012, 11:17am | 0 comments

question of the day: Should we applaud successful movie marketing when the movie being marketed is a stinker?

Mon Jan 09 2012, 08:00am | 0 comments

The Exorcist (retro trailer)

Sun Jan 08 2012, 05:53pm | 0 comments

question of the day: What is the magic equation to gets people to go to the movies… or to stay away?

Tue Dec 13 2011, 11:45am | 0 comments

question of the day: After ‘Harry Potter’ and ‘Twilight,’ will we see more movies broken up into multiple installments?

Tue Nov 22 2011, 08:00am | 0 comments

question of the day: Has Hollywood abandoned young men?

Tue Nov 15 2011, 10:51am | 0 comments

must reads: “The Formula for Complete and Utter Bayhem”

Mon Nov 07 2011, 10:43pm | 0 comments

deep thought (re ‘Paranormal Activity 3’)

Wed Oct 26 2011, 01:14am | 0 comments

The Lion King in 3D (review)

Wed Oct 05 2011, 06:08pm | 0 comments

smurf me: ‘The Smurfs’ passes $500 million in worldwide box office

Thu Sep 29 2011, 09:56pm | 0 comments

deep thought (re ‘The Lion King’ in 3D)

Mon Sep 19 2011, 09:39pm | 0 comments

Johnny English Reborn (trailer)

Mon Sep 19 2011, 10:49am | 0 comments

press release of the week: DreamWorks Animation’s Jennifer Yuh Nelson Becomes Highest-Grossing Female Director Of Worldwide Box Office Film

Sun Sep 11 2011, 05:24pm | 0 comments

question of the day: What is the appeal of ‘The Inbetweeners’?

Wed Sep 07 2011, 11:22am | 0 comments

deep thought (re weather and box office)

Fri Aug 26 2011, 08:54pm | 0 comments

Hollywood is just trolling us now: Disney exec says story doesn’t matter

Sun Aug 21 2011, 10:22pm | 0 comments

question of the day: Is Hollywood imploding?

Thu Jul 14 2011, 11:22am | 0 comments

question of the day: What’s the next “bad” or “horrible” high-concept comedy?

Fri Jul 08 2011, 11:34am | 0 comments

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