Film Review

Thoughts on ‘Superman’ (2025)

/ Scott Waldyn / Leave a comment

A few days ago, my wife and I had the chance to see the new Superman (2025) film. For those of you who know me well, comic books are in my blood. To say I’m deeply enmeshed in the genre, from penning reviews and recording podcasts for The Batman Universe to my current stint as reviewer of the Defenders of the Earth over at Chronicle Chamber, is appropriate.

Comics have been with me for as long as I could read. They saw me through good times, and they carried me through the rough moments. Characters like Batman, Spider-Man, The Phantom, and Superman inspired me to keep going. When I needed someone in my corner, they were there for me, helping me find my way through turbulent teen years into adulthood.

This is all to say that, as a fan, I have an emotional connection to many of these characters, and in moments when I’m down and out, I still look to them as fables and signals to step up and be my best.

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Cultured Vultures Guest Post: The Hustler (1961) & Drunk Monkeys: Poltergeist (2015)

/ Scott Waldyn / Leave a comment

Maybe I’m not such a high-class piece of property right now. And a 25% slice of something big is better than a 100% slice of nothing.

I have a special guest write-up at Cultured Vultures today. A while back, I rolled up my sleeves and welcomed the privilege to help with a movie review project the editors over at that pop culture oasis are working on. It’s a series of reviews based off the Top 250 films on IMDB. It’s a daunting construction, as the editors want to hit every film, but I’m grateful for the opportunity to lay a brick or two. I’m even more grateful they hosted my piece, as Cultured Vultures is such a fun zine!

At any rate, enough of my prattling. Here’s The Hustler.

 

 

For those of you who haven’t been following me on Drunk Monkeys…

(Image © 20th Century Fox)

(Image © 20th Century Fox)

…I’ve got a POLTERGEIST review ready for your perusal.

Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope

/ Scott Waldyn

DMStarWars

“If the real world is a crisis of confidence and limitless possibility, Star Wars is the cure. It always has been. Since 1977, this film has been rousing the human soul from its slumber and demanding that it snuff out the silent acquiescence of fear. Because fear is the mind-killer. Because fear is the manifestation of evil.”

My Star Wars write-up is LIVE over at Drunk Monkeys today. This was one of my favorite film essays to write, and it was also one that took me forever. I wrote several different drafts before deleting them all and trying again, eventually consolidating all of my thoughts into this hopelessly optimistic reading of one of the greatest films ever made. Please read it. Please share it. Please enjoy.

 

UPDATE: The discussion around Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope is now LIVE as well. In it, a few of us have an in-depth conversation about the film, its lasting impact, and key memories we took away. Check it out HERE.