Director: JD Dillard Cast: Jonathan Majors, Glen Powell, Christina Jackson, Thomas Sadoski, Joe Jonas Release: 20th January 2023 (Prime Video) Glen Powell was one of the breakout stars of 2022 with his memorable turn as Jake “Hangman” Seresin in Top Gun: Maverick. His latest film is another aviation-based vehicle, although this time in the shape […]
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The teen comedy-drama feature films, ‘Teenage Girl: Skip Day’ and ‘Teenage Girl: First Wheels,’ which stars Cory Feldman have set their February release dates and Movie Marker has the inside scoop. Directed by Aaron Lee Lopez, the two teen movies, which are a modern take on John Hughes classic 80’s films highlighting high school girls […]
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Front and center in When You Finish Saving the World is Finn Wolfhard’s high school-aged wannabe YouTube vlogger Ziggy Katz. He finds himself to be a member of the currently en vogue “social justice warrior” crowd. While each generation has had their own version and label of this, the social media-fueled SJWs of today stand apart with their louder outlets and larger audience reach compared to their predecessors. No matter the era, these types are a special mix of youthful invincibility, privileged entitlement, divergent ethos, and sometimes misguided hills-to-die-on. As a film viewer or as a general bystander, you either admire their spirit or you find them insufferable.
LESSON #1: THE TROUBLE WITH SOCIAL JUSTICE WARRIORS– Here’s a piece of the current dilemma with social justice warriors. Activism is great for discovering principles and the platforms on which take stands have never been more accessible for mass organization. Citizens with similar proclivities have the means to “find their people” with the swipe of a device. However, when a mindset is created to where every topic, issue, or conflict in the world has to matter and needs your side-choosing opinion, the volume of it all distracts and overflows one’s mental and emotional cups. All of their external efforts frequently take away from the personal ones in their actual lives. How about fixing the things closest to you instead of the things far away?
That’s the obstacle very fitting of the title When You Finish Saving the World. The cloud-hopping Ziggy is detached from his roots. Moreover, when the bystander trying to figure out between social justice warrior admiration or intolerance is his mother Evelyn, played by Oscar winner Julianne Moore, the trials, tribulations, and butted heads become more difficult. Jesse Eisenberg, making his feature directorial debut, has offered characters with plenty to say but never enough to say to each other.
The Katzs live in the Midwestern crossroads of Bloomington, Indiana. Ziggy hides away in his bedroom retrofitted as a recording studio for his “classic folk rock with alternative influences” songs streamed on YouTube for international fans who upvote and tip his work phantom riches. This low-level recognition causes him to brag on his numbers and so-called influence to anyone who will listen, including Lila (Alisha Boe of Thirteen Reasons Why), the even more knowledgeable and involved SJW classmate he’s trying to impress. He would love to shoot his shot for her attention.
The family Ziggy avoids includes his intellectual retiree father Roger (veteran character actor Jay O. Sanders) reading books all day and the busy default parent Evelyn. Her time and effort are primarily committed to the successful Spruce Haven community shelter she built from the ground up. Recently, she has welcomed a new troubled family of a diligent teen named Kyle (Billy Bryk of Ghostbusters: Afterlife) to Spruce Haven. Seeing more approachable and admirable qualities in him than in Ziggy, Evelyn begins to take Kyle under her wing of concern and aid.
Being devoted to such a selfless endeavor as a sheltering community center likely means Evelyn has some standout social justice warrior values of her own. Go ahead and say it. There’s a former hippy or daughter of a hippy under those large wire-framed glasses and subtle gray-streaked hair. One would think she and her rebellious son would be cut from the same cloth. Deep down, they are, but the generation gap proves otherwise and shoves them apart.
LESSON #2: CLASHING VALUES OF DIFFERENT GENERATIONS– When You Finish Saving the World attempts to dig deep into moral differences between mother and son. Evelyn’s desire for dry properness in everything grates against the mouthy and frantic Ziggy. She is mystified by his artistry and questions the endgame. Furthermore, playing the somewhat inflexible pariah, Evelyn calls politics a “shortcut to sound intelligent” and fails to see any true struggle or impressive sincerity in the Ziggy compared to Kyle.
The presence of Julianne Moore is never going to sink a movie. The same cannot be said of Finn Wolfhard. Representing the politically-minded Millennials, Wolfhard feels like he’s doing what Evelyn accuses Ziggy of, and that’s jumping into conversations he knows nothing about. Call it scripted wisdom for Evelyn matching the equivalent real-life trait within Moore, but her character’s stumps always come through taller and more substantial than those of Wolfhard and Ziggy. Battle-tested advocacy beats selfish and entry-level awareness in a movie where a reversal would be the more interesting result to explore.
Eisenberg’s film spends the bulk of its time tip-toeing around everyone’s dismissive treatment of one another and effusive posturing. We encounter the trenches of conflict and see the missing grace. The parent needs to respect a new era of artistic self-expression, and the young adult needs to comprehend real adversity. We know the goal is to inject some form of caring back into embattled family members, but, as it turns out, no one is worthy of supportive applause.
When You Finish Saving the World stops right when an interesting alignment of merits could possibly begin. That ambiguous final moment of discovered courage and acceptance ends the journey at the point it should have begun. What you’re left with is that same decision mentioned earlier of deciding between bearable and unbearable feelings about incensed and outspoken people. Too often, the latter impression wins out.
LOGO DESIGNED BY MEENTS ILLUSTRATED (#1091)
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For their 95th episode, two feckin' film critics, two feckin' dads, and two feckin' school teachers, Will Johnson and Don Shanahan, please welcome to Seattle-based movie afficionado Caless Davis! He joins us during awards seasons to count the remaining fingers on our hands for Martin McDonagh's The Banshees of Inisherin. This actor's showcase has been impressing critics and awards voters, but it did in impress these three gentlemen. Tune in to find out! Come for the shared challenge and tirade and stay for the mutual love and respect for the fun movies encapsulate. Enjoy our podcast!
Ever since he laid eyes on a television screen, cinema has been a constant presence in Caless’ life. Films are the images in which dreams are fleshed out and played to the audience of the world. From Disney VHS tapes to now constant days inside the AMC theater, he lives and breathes cinema.
He is a very cordial, laid back, and easy going person to get to know who respects others opinions and is willing to see the other side of disagreements. He loves all genres and still has a long watch list to catch up on when it comes to the classics. When not watching films, he is probably watching basketball, soccer, or football because he is also a major sports fanatic.
He loves any discussion of film and meeting new people to engage in film discussions on any subject. Caless is currently an accredited film critic and member of the Celebrity Movie Awards and Independent Film Critics of America groups. You can find him active on Twitter and Letterboxd, as well as the Feelin’ Film Facebook Discussion Group.
Cinephile Hissy Fits is a 25YL media podcast, brought to you by RuminationsRadioNetwork.com. Please visit, rate, review and subscribe. If you enjoyed this show, we have more where that came from, with interesting hosts, and wonderful guests. All available on iTunes, Spotify, and anywhere you find your favorite shows. Follow the show on Twitter at @CinephileFit and on Facebook. Also, find both Will Johnson and Don Shanahan on Letterboxd as the accumulate their viewings and build their ranks and lists.
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Movie Marker Magazine got up close with film producer Shivan Giri to chat about producing movies in Hollywood. Thank you for chatting with us today. Can you tell us about life growing up? Growing up in Mumbai, India, the home of Bollywood, I was surrounded by the film industry and developed a passion for […]
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by Vasy Kafidoff
The superhero movie genre has undergone a significant evolution over the years, from its humble beginnings in the 1940s to its current status as a major player in the film industry. From the introduction of the first superhero movies to the rise of the superhero movie blockbuster and the development of shared universes, the genre has undergone many changes. With advancements in technology and special effects, expansion into new mediums, and an increase in representation and diversity, the future of the superhero movie genre looks bright.
The first superhero movies began to appear in the 1940s, with the release of "Superman" in 1948. This film, based on the popular comic book character, marked the first time a superhero had been brought to life on the big screen. The success of "Superman" paved the way for other superhero movies, such as "Batman" (1943) and "Captain America" (1944). These early films were relatively low-budget and relied heavily on actors in costumes and minimal special effects.
During the 1950s and 1960s, special effects technology began to improve, allowing for more realistic representations of superheroes on screen. For example, "Superman II" (1980) featured more advanced special effects, including the use of blue screen technology to create the illusion of Superman flying. Despite the advancements in technology, superhero movies during this time period were still limited in their visual capabilities.
The rise of television in the 1950s also had an impact on the superhero movie genre. Many popular superhero characters, such as Superman and Batman, were adapted for television shows. These shows were typically low-budget and aimed at a younger audience, which may have hindered the growth of the superhero movie genre at the time.
The early years of the superhero movie genre were characterized by the introduction of iconic superhero characters on screen, the evolution of special effects technology, and the impact of television on the genre. Despite limitations in technology and budget, these early films laid the foundation for the genre and paved the way for future developments.
The modern era of superhero movies began in the 2000s with the release of films such as "X-Men" (2000) and "Spider-Man" (2002). These films were blockbuster hits and set the stage for the superhero movie genre to become a major player in the film industry. The release of "Iron Man" (2008) marked the beginning of the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), a shared universe of interconnected superhero films. The success of the MCU, along with the success of other superhero franchises such as the DC Extended Universe (DCEU), has led to an increased focus on superhero movies as big-budget, tentpole releases.
The development of shared universes, such as the MCU and DCEU, has allowed for greater storytelling opportunities and a deeper exploration of characters and their relationships. This has also allowed for crossover events, such as "Avengers: Infinity War" and "Captain America: Civil War", where characters from different franchises come together on screen. Shared universes have become a defining feature of the modern superhero movie genre and have allowed for a more immersive and interconnected viewing experience.
In recent years, there has been an increase in diversity and representation in the superhero movie genre. Films such as "Black Panther" (2018) and "Wonder Woman" (2017) have featured a more diverse and complex representation of characters, including people of color and women. This shift in representation has been met with positive reception and has helped to broaden the appeal of the genre to a wider audience.
The modern era of superhero movies has been marked by the rise of the superhero movie blockbuster, the development of shared universes, and an increase in diversity and representation. These developments have helped to solidify the superhero movie genre as a major player in the film industry and have allowed for a more immersive and inclusive viewing experience.
The future of the superhero movie genre looks bright, with advancements in technology and special effects continuing to push the boundaries of what is possible on screen. For example, the use of motion capture technology and CGI has allowed for more realistic and believable representations of characters with superhuman abilities. With technology continuing to improve, we can expect to see even more visually stunning and action-packed superhero movies in the future.
According to professional film critic Nora Spinster from IBWritingService.com:
“I'm excited to say that the future of the superhero movie genre looks like a blast! With technology constantly advancing, we're going to see more and more epic battles and mind-blowing special effects on the big screen. Plus, with streaming platforms and television getting in on the action, we'll have even more opportunities to indulge in our love for caped crusaders and superpowered beings. And let's not forget the potential for new and diverse stories and characters, the genre is sure to keep us on the edge of our seats and maybe even surprise us with fresh takes on familiar favorites. All in all, the future of superhero movies is looking like a wild ride, and I can't wait to see where it takes us!”
The superhero movie genre has also seen an expansion into new mediums, such as television and streaming. Streaming platforms like Netflix, Disney+, and Hulu have produced their own superhero shows, while traditional networks have continued to air superhero-based shows. These shows have allowed for more in-depth exploration of characters and storylines and have given creators more room to tell more complex and mature stories.
The superhero movie genre has always been a reflection of the current cultural and societal trends, and the future of the genre holds the potential for even more diverse and inclusive stories and characters. With a growing demand for representation and diversity in media, we can expect to see more characters from different backgrounds, cultures, and identities being featured in future superhero movies. This can lead to a more diverse and representative genre, with stories and characters that will appeal to a wider audience.
In conclusion, the evolution of the superhero movie genre has been a long and fascinating journey. From the introduction of the first superhero movies in the 1940s to the modern era of superhero blockbusters and shared universes, the genre has undergone significant changes over the years. Advancements in technology and special effects, expansion into new mediums, and increased representation and diversity have all played a role in shaping the genre as we know it today.
The superhero movie genre has become a major player in popular culture and has had a significant impact on society. The stories and characters of these movies have resonated with audiences of all ages and backgrounds and have become a shared cultural experience. The genre has also played a role in shaping our understanding of power, responsibility, and heroism.
The superhero movie genre has a promising future due to advancements in technology and special effects, the exploration of new mediums, and the possibility of introducing diverse and original stories and characters. The genre will continue to evolve and adapt to the current cultural and societal trends, offering audiences a glimpse into the world around them. As audiences continue to crave representation and diversity, superhero movies will continue to offer a reflection of the world we live in and a source of inspiration for the generations to come.
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Directors: Darren Aronofsky Cast: Brendan Fraser, Sadie Sink, Hong Chau, and Ty Simpkins Release: 3rd February 2023 The Whale is a film about chances. Not second chances, not even third, but the idea that we have a chance to exhibit our good qualities despite our bad choices. Aronofsky has made a career of forcing audiences to […]
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