Author: ConnorDev

  • A Man’s Man

    A Man’s Man

    I am a massive Jason Statham fan. There are lots of reasons why I like him; he’s the sole modern action hero that feels like he comes from the age of legends like Schwarzenegger and Stallone, he’s got an incredible screen presence, he deals out violence like no one else, and he’s one of those…

  • Spy Games

    Spy Games

    *Author’s Note: Like my article on Captain America, this piece was written before I saw Avengers: Age of Ultron and I decided not to alter it to accommodate that film.* Starting with Iron Man back in 2008, Marvel decided to bring the world of comic books to movie screens in a way no one had…

  • The Master of His Domain

    The Master of His Domain

    The straight man is the unsung hero of comedy, the guy who forgoes getting the best laughs in order to set up his co-stars for the show-stopping gags, elevating the scene or sketch while seeming to be background noise. This is true, at least, at the best of times; when performed improperly, the straight man…

  • Give and Take in Superhero Cinema

    Give and Take in Superhero Cinema

    The other day I was talking to a friend and he brought up the idea that there’s no such thing as a perfect movie, arguing that the best films have flaws that enhance them rather than sully them. In principle, I disagree with this (a Hitchens quote comes to mind: “It’s only true if you…

  • Why We Have a Hulk

    Why We Have a Hulk

    When Marvel’s The Avengers finally stormed theaters in 2012, it was met with near-universal acclaim. Everyone had their favorite characters and moments, but the one who seemed to get the most attention was the Hulk. Unlike the earlier cinematic incarnations of the not-so-gentle giant, this was a Bruce Banner less concerned with containing – and…

  • A Little Old-Fashioned

    A Little Old-Fashioned

    *Author’s Note: This piece was written before I saw Avengers: Age Of Ultron and, as a result, doesn’t discuss Captain America’s latest MCU appearance. I find that the movie validates my thesis here, though.* During the World War II era, Captain America made a lot of sense. In a time of clear delineations between good…