The blog of Logan Tyler Smith

 It’s no secret: the superhero movie boom we’ve been in the thick of for so long has started to plateau. While we will not fully know how far the boon has fallen until Deadpool 3 released in June* or when we see how Superman: Legacy turns out is released, but it doesn’t look good. Superhero movies in general (both Marvel and DC) have been underperforming. While there have been high points such as Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 on Marvel and The Suicide Squad on DC (interestingly both directed by filmmaker James Gunn), it seems like modern audiences are not as excited about superhero movies post-Avengers: Endgame and Zack Snyder’s Justice League (box office numbers are the most obviously example, but critical response on Rotten Tomatoes and Metacritic to these post-Endgame movies are all over the place). Ultimately these trends do lead to an interesting - if somewhat arrogant sounding - question: where should Marvel (which is, of course, owned by Walt Disney Pictures) and DC (which is o

 I don’t always like to have ‘things’ but I’ve clearly accumulated a lot in my lifetime.  Multiple sunglasses, watches, gifts, gadgets and trinkets that often add give my life value and create a positive atmosphere. I do not have my worth tied to this stuff and I am in no way bragging, but I have been thinking a lot about our connection to ‘stuff’ and ‘things’ and maybe I’ll come up with a more compelling post in the future. Stay tuned.  

 I haven’t seen as many movies as I have in the past few years but I have a long list to get through. Until then, here are my current five favorites of 2024. 5. Dune Part 2: Dune Part Two manages to continue the story from the first movie in all the right ways. It also doubles down on the mix of different special effects types and driven themes that make the new(ish*) series worthwhile. 4. Furiosa: a Mad Max Saga: it very nearly matched the energy of Mad Max Fury Road…nearly. But that energy is absolutely worthwhile and shines in every seen. Director George Miller has done it again. 3. Challengers: it has by far the best new film score I’ve listened to in a while. Composers Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross absolutely kill it. The score and performances elevate what may be a pretty slight movie otherwise. Love it! 2. Maxxine: it may not appeal to traditionalists, but it doesn’t need to. X (2022) was also really good and sadly? I still need to see Pearl (2022). Maybe I’ll give you a ranking

  In Furiosa, we witness the origin of Mad Max Fury Road character…Furiosa. We watch her journey to survive and adapt to the post-apocalyptic world of Mad Max. This film has a lot going for it: good performances, kinetic action, and a constant sense of momentum. If you’re comparing it to Mad Max Fury Road (which this is a prequel to, so comparisons are unavoidable) then it may be a step down, but it stands well on its own for all these elements. Anya Taylor-Joy is electric as Furiosa, but even more electric is Chris Hemsworth (deliberately overacting his own natural accent) to play a villain we love to hate and can’t look away from. We look forward to seeing him getting what’s coming to him, and Furiosa’s revenge goal in his direction keeps us engaged. While the film has all the elements that make Fury Road work, the film is about as brutal as one would expect. Your mileage may vary on how much violence you can take, but it absolutely works within the material. It’s absolutely worth wa

  In Gray’s Anatomy, a man named Spalding Gray monologues about his medical mishaps for a really long time. As he describes his journey, he showcases his neuroses and fears along the way. Gray’s Anatomy is not a typical film: a man monologues to the camera for a few hours while some visual choices are made around him to add to the story. This may not appeal to everyone, but it’s anchored by the fact that the main character is a truly impressive speaker.  Gray speaks coherently and engagingly for the whole movie, which is hard to come to terms with considering it’s pretty much all him talking. He tells the story with enthusiasm and wit, rarely ever relenting to make sure we are entertained.  The visual choices made around him (some through editing, some through lighting) truly add to this storytelling and makes it more engaging. However, there is an argument to be made that this could be distracting to some people who just want to hear him talk.  It is not a typical film by any stretch

 In Sex Drive, a young virgin steals his brothers car to meet a girl he met online who may give him sex. However, he learns so much about himself along the way it may not inevitably be worth it.  Some standout performances aside, the film is not especially interesting. Even compared to some other teen comedies around the same time and since the 90s, the teen movie sub genre had apparently reached a breaking point long before Sex Drive.  While it’s hard to know the exact cutoff, Sex Drive’s lacking originality and sub-par humor (barring some funny moments here and there) do not do it any favors. The film feels like it’s trying way to hard to be funny, and it can be at worst insufferable.  There are some standout performances that come out of no where though (Seth Green as a sarcastic Amish man comes to mind). Ironically, they seem completely out of place in a movie of this mediocre caliber.  If you like teen comedies regardless of originality or humor, chances are you may actually enjoy