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Reviews Archive

Archives for June 2015

Culture
The secret to making a better TV show: skip the first seasonThe secret to making a better TV show: skip the first season
Culture

AMC’s new robot drama Humans is a great example of a show where the story starts far too early.

By Emily St. James
Culture
Max is American Sniper reimagined as a terrible dog movieMax is American Sniper reimagined as a terrible dog movie
Culture

Max isn’t content with being a movie about a wonderful dog.

By Alex Abad-Santos
Culture
3 new summer TV shows you should be watching3 new summer TV shows you should be watching
Culture

Including a paranoid cyberpunk thriller, a raucous pregnancy comedy, and the best TV show you’re not watching.

By Emily St. James
Culture
Orange Is the New Black season 3 is the most political — and human — one yetOrange Is the New Black season 3 is the most political — and human — one yet
Culture

The Netflix series tackles prison privatization and goes small in its third season. It works surprisingly well.

By Emily St. James
Culture
True Detective season 2 leads HBO’s most disappointing lineup everTrue Detective season 2 leads HBO’s most disappointing lineup ever
Culture

The new season is just another cop drama, and the comedies that follow are no great shakes either.

By Emily St. James
Culture
Inside Out is the best Pixar movie everInside Out is the best Pixar movie ever
Culture

Pixar’s latest is as beautiful as it is abstract, as daring as it is intelligent. It’s also the best film of 2015 so far.

By Alex Abad-Santos
Culture
Jurassic World knows it isn’t Jurassic Park. That’s what makes it so good.Jurassic World knows it isn’t Jurassic Park. That’s what makes it so good.
Culture

Jurassic World is an exercise in reptilian obliteration, where the only solution is more dinosaur.

By Alex Abad-Santos
Culture
I watched Netflix’s Sense8 and don’t know if it’s a travesty or a whacked-out masterpieceI watched Netflix’s Sense8 and don’t know if it’s a travesty or a whacked-out masterpiece
Culture

It’s a hugely ambitious, visually inventive television series — that fails some of the most basic tenets of storytelling.

By Emily St. James
Culture
Spy, the new movie comedy, has funny women, funny action, and funny Jason StathamSpy, the new movie comedy, has funny women, funny action, and funny Jason Statham
Culture

Yes, you read that right. Jason Statham is hilarious.

By Emily St. James
Explainers
How low-budget ghost story Insidious became one of America’s top horror franchisesHow low-budget ghost story Insidious became one of America’s top horror franchises
Explainers

Above all, these movies are about the strength of the family, and that might be why they’re so popular.

By Emily St. James
Culture
Hannibal reimagines the serial killer drama as an opera. It’s stunningly good.Hannibal reimagines the serial killer drama as an opera. It’s stunningly good.
Culture

This is TV’s most beautiful show.

By Emily St. James