Is TEEN TITANS As Good As You Remember? Critical Rants 2020-07-06 | #TeenTitans #Robin #RavenTeen Titans is remembered as one of the best superhero cartoons ever created, but how much of that memory is based purely on nostalgia? Not any of it, as it turns out. Today, I dig into why Teen Titans works so well and why it holds so much importance as a children’s show.I’d like to extend a special thanks to For Every Kind of Geek, who made the beautiful character transition screens in this video. If you haven’t already subscribed to his channel, go do that immediately because his video essays are honestly on a different level. Check him out here: youtube.com/channel/UC1YTnBnE6TfAnJGAOZlTF8QTwitter: twitter.com/Critical_Rants
Sen’s Fortress – The BEST Area in Dark Souls Critical Rants 2023-12-03 | #darksouls #fromsoftware #gaming Sen’s Fortress is one of Dark Souls’ most difficult levels, but in my objectively correct opinion, it’s also its best. Yes, Anor Londo is also the best area in Dark Souls, but they’re very different from one another, and fortunately, I’ll be making a video on Anor Londo in the new year! It’s currently the video that I’m planning on releasing next. Until then, have a happy holiday and best of luck in 2024! Don’t you dare go hollow.Twitter: twitter.com/Critical_Rants
Youre WRONG About the Capra Demon (not clickbait) Critical Rants 2023-11-28 | #darksouls #fromsoftware #gaming Everybody hates the Capra Demon. But what if I told you that the Capra Demon is completely misunderstood? What if I told you that the Capra Demon is actually a really nice guy? What if I told you that you are wrong about everything and all of my opinions are correct? All three of those questions will be addressed in this video, so stop reading the description and go watch it already!Also yeah, I haven’t uploaded in almost a year, but I don’t think the wait for the next Critical Rants video will be that long. When will the next video be out? I don’t know, man. Maybe it will be a week, maybe a month, but it will be out when it’s out, and I’m just glad I was able to release something I’m happy with after such a long break. Another Dark Souls video is in the works, so stay tuned for that and more at some point in the future. Take care of yourself, and don’t you dare go hollow.Twitter: twitter.com/Critical_Rants
Whats Different About Daredevils Hallway Scene? Critical Rants 2023-01-11 | #daredevil #bornagain #marvel Daredevil's iconic hallway scene cemented the series as a must-watch piece of television, and while this setpiece is remembered most for appearing to be all one shot, I'd argue that that's not what makes it special. In this video, I explore that statement and dive into the themes and writing of Daredevil's second episode to determine what exactly makes the hallway scene so powerful. I hope you enjoy watching!Music used in this video:Marvel's Daredevil Theme on Guitar by Niall Stensonyoutube.com/watch?v=otJ0C6S78LMPiano Moment by Daddy’s Musicpixabay.com/users/daddy_s_music-22836301/?utm_source=link-attribution&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=music&utm_content=9835Voices of Ghosts by NaturesEyepixabay.com/users/natureseye-18615106/?utm_source=link-attribution&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=music&utm_content=119211Heart Piano by The Mountainpixabay.com/users/the_mountain-3616498/?utm_source=link-attribution&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=music&utm_content=132356Dead and Cold by Andrew Lee Farquharpixabay.com/users/andrew_lee_farquhar-32028419/?utm_source=link-attribution&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=music&utm_content=132142Twitter: twitter.com/Critical_RantsPatreon: patreon.com/criticalrants
Up in the Sky – The PERFECT Superman Story Critical Rants 2022-10-17 | #superman #upinthesky #dccomicsSuperman: Up in the Sky is my favorite Superman story ever told. In today's video, I explore what makes this book so special and how it digs to the very core of its titular character. I hope you enjoy watching!HUGE thank you to the voice cast for this video, including the talented Aeric Azana who voiced Superman and Clark Kent (and freaking KILLED it!), Doug from For Every Kind of Geek, my good friend Sam, and my girlfriend Amy. They all did an amazing job of bringing the scenes in this essay to life and the video would not be the same without them!Twitter: twitter.com/Critical_RantsPatreon: patreon.com/criticalrants
How The Batman Created The PERFECT Protagonist Critical Rants 2022-06-17 | #TheBatman #Batman #RobertPattinsonI'm the only YouTuber who liked The Batman (2022), so I've decided to explore how the film's protagonist, Bruce Wayne, goes through the perfect character arc. I hope you enjoy watching!Now, all they have to do to make the second movie better than the first is to put Cassandra Cain in it.HUGE thank you to Laurie Théberge for allowing me to use their piano covers as music in this video! Links to all of their songs included in this video are below. Go check them out, their covers are really beautiful and their channel deserves way more attention!Riddler Theme: youtube.com/watch?v=J-m3boK4mtECatwoman Theme: youtube.com/watch?v=3ewGPWV9NIEThe Batman (Main Theme): youtube.com/watch?v=sMnECyrX4bESonata in Darkness: youtube.com/watch?v=lP6tfYDYxl4Twitter: twitter.com/Critical_RantsPatreon: patreon.com/criticalrants
Elden Rings Best Moment is an Elevator Ride Critical Rants 2022-05-05 | #EldenRing #FromSoftware #SoulsborneElden Ring managed to surpass my impossibly high expectations, but even after beating the game twice, there’s still one moment that stands out to me the most: an elevator ride. That’s what I dive into in this video–how a single descent down an unassuming well led to one of my favorite moments in any video game I’ve ever played. I hope you enjoy watching!Thank you for being patient with my upload schedule (or lack thereof) over the last several months. More great videos are on the way, and hopefully soon, but time will tell! A video on The Batman is up next and the script for that is already complete. I’ll see you then. Don’t you dare go hollow, friend.Twitter: twitter.com/Critical_RantsPatreon: patreon.com/criticalrants
How Batman’s Prank War with Jimmy Olsen CHANGED Comic Books #Jimuary Critical Rants 2022-01-21 | #Jimuary #JimmyOlsen #BatmanIt’s finally here! This #Jimuary, I examine one of my favorite comic books of all time: Superman’s Pal Jimmy Olsen: Who Killed Jimmy Olsen?, by Matt Fraction, Steve Lieber, Nathan Fairbairn, and Clayton Cowles. But I’m not covering the story as a whole; rather, I’m examining Jimmy Olsen’s prank war with Batman, as that single event in the story would reshape the medium of comics for centuries to come. I hope you enjoy watching, and have a jolly #Jimuary!A HUGE thank you to Mithi from Film Caffeine, Matt from Matt Draper, and Aeric from the Geeksplained Podcast for lending their voices to this video! They all did an amazing job and really elevated the material to a new level, so make sure to check out their art if you haven’t already here:Film Caffeine: youtube.com/c/filmcaffeineMatt Draper: youtube.com/c/MattDraperGeeksplained Podcast: soundcloud.com/geeksplainedpodcastTwitter: twitter.com/Critical_RantsPatreon: patreon.com/criticalrantsJimply Be Praised0:00 One Wild Night in YouTuber City!2:01 The Downsides of Being Murdered!3:25 The Video Essayist Will See You–And You!6:51 A Tale of Two KERSMACKOS!8:33 The Culinary Blues!9:40 Even Moore Analysis!13:19 Don’t Forget to Like and Fave!
The Cat in the Hat (2003) | An Anti-Capitalist MASTERPIECE Critical Rants 2021-11-08 | #CatInTheHat #VideoEssay #CinemaThe Cat in the Hat is one of the greatest films in the history of cinema, yet it was reviled by critics upon its release. Obviously, the movie was just too intellectual for most critics to comprehend, but fortunately, I’ve done my part by analyzing what exactly makes this film so effective: its critique of American capitalism and the culture of conformity that accompanies it. I hope you enjoy watching and I hope that you enjoy a newfound appreciation for Bo Welch’s 2003 masterpiece. Stay safe, everyone.Twitter: twitter.com/Critical_RantsPatreon: patreon.com/criticalrants\
Critical Rants 8,000 Subscriber Livestream Q&A! Critical Rants 2021-10-24 | #CriticalRants #Livestream #TheBatmanIn honor of Critical Rants recently crossing 8,000 subscribers (wow!), I've decided to host a livestream and Q&A where we can just hang out, chat, and have a fun time.Also THANK YOU for watching my videos and making this possible and you rule and if you're reading this then I hope you're having a wonderful day!
The Many Meaningless Merits of Mr. Nobody (At Home Comic Con 2021 presentation) Critical Rants 2021-09-27 | #AtHomeComicCon #DoomPatrol #GrantMorrisonI was privileged enough to present at this year's Comic Academia Spotlight panel for At Home Comic Con, an online comic convention raising money to fight COVID-19. The following video is my presentation from that panel about the delightful villain of Mr. Nobody, as seen in the pages of Grant Morrison's iconic run on Doom Patrol. I hope you enjoy watching, and make sure to check out the full panel here: youtube.com/watch?v=YsQ5u-jxIS4&t=If you're watching this video within a few days of it releasing, donate to Project HOPE here (so your donation is included as part of At Home Comic Con): streamlabscharity.com/@at-home-comic-con/at-home-comic-con-2021Otherwise, donate to Project HOPE here: secure.projecthope.org/site/SPageNavigator/2020_11_YEMatch_web.html?autologin=true&mfc_pref=T&s_subsrc=bt1At the time of writing this, we've raised over $3,300 for Project HOPE! Any amount that you can contribute makes a difference. It was a true honor to be able to take part in this panel, and I strongly encourage you to check out the rest of the convention, as every panel was an absolute blast. A big thank you to Matt Draper, Drake from Comic Drake, and Owen from Owen Likes Comics for putting this entire event together. They all rule and I'm so proud of how this year's At Home Comic Con turned out. Until next time, stay groovy, everyone!"Doom Patrol Theme on Guitar" by Niall Stensonyoutube.com/watch?v=KMnv3Ggj5cATwitter: twitter.com/Critical_RantsPatreon: patreon.com/criticalrants
Dark Souls Believes in You | Video Essay Critical Rants 2021-09-22 | #DarkSouls #FromSoftware #SoulsborneDark Souls turns ten years old today, so in this video, I explore why Dark Souls resonated so deeply with its player base, as well as examining the lasting legacy of the Soulsborne series.Stay safe out there, friends, and don't you dare go hollow.(United States) National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 1-800-273-8255(United States and Canada) Trans Lifeline: 1-877-330-6366Canadian Suicide Prevention Service (Canada): 1-833-456-4566National Suicide Prevention Helpline UK (United Kingdom): 0800 689 5652(Australia) Lifeline: 13 11 14A more complete list of Crisis Hotlines for various countries around the world can be found at: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_suicide_crisis_linesBig thanks to Terapop for voicing Hidetaka Miyazaki in this video! Go check out his amazing channel here: youtube.com/c/terapopTwitter: twitter.com/Critical_RantsPatreon: patreon.com/criticalrants
DC Defined — The Birth of Two-Face Critical Rants 2021-08-20 | #DCDefined #Two-Face #BTASIn my entry for the massive collaboration that is DC DEFINED, I examine the two episodes of Batman: The Animated Series that feature Two Face’s tragic fall into villainy, as well as the lasting legacy of the cartoon on the character of the Caped Crusader. I hope you enjoy watching, and check out the full playlist for DC Defined right here: youtube.com/playlist?list=PL_8K_mcoPa2AyPhElaQ4s_5h2K9UhXo5QIf you’d like to add your own video the official DC Defined playlist, you can reach out to Joshua Lozano on Twitter: twitter.com/JshLozanoMy Twitter: twitter.com/Critical_RantsPatreon: patreon.com/criticalrants
Things Change ‒ The END of Teen Titans Critical Rants 2021-07-19 | #TeenTitans #Terra #BeastBoyTeen Titans was a darn good show, if you don’t mind me saying, and its quality across its five seasons ranged from solid to downright exemplary. But why is the final episode of the series, “Things Change”, so important, why did the show end in the first place, and how are these two questions tied together? Find out this time on this video essay made by the delightfully handsome Critical Rants!Patreon: patreon.com/criticalrantsTwitter: twitter.com/Critical_RantsMy first Teen Titans video, “Is Teen Titans as Good as You Remember?”: youtube.com/watch?v=zsuTx-qPQRwMy second Teen Titans video, “Teen Titans - The Tragedy of Terra”: youtube.com/watch?v=tapt4kxKK80
Black Widows Quip Conundrum Critical Rants 2021-07-11 | #BlackWidow #MCU #MarvelBlack Widow had the potential to be a great movie, but despite having interesting themes and ideas, it failed to execute those themes and ideas thanks to a problem that has been plaguing the MCU practically from its inception. In today’s video, I examine how the overabundance of quips in Black Widow holds the film back from excellence.I didn’t have a bad time with Black Widow at all--it’s still an entertaining film and I think the vast majority of people watching it would have a fun time in the theater or at home. To me, Black Widow is just an adequate movie that could have been great, landing firmly in the middle of the pack of MCU films.Patreon: patreon.com/criticalrantsTwitter: twitter.com/Critical_RantsMusic Used: "The Avengers Theme on Guitar" by Niall Stensonyoutube.com/watch?v=mclAqQ5GVaI
BATGIRL ‒ The Rise of Cassandra Cain Critical Rants 2021-05-24 | #Batgirl #CassandraCain #BatmanCassandra Cain is one of DC Comics’ most beloved yet underutilized characters, as well as one of my favorite characters in all of comics. Today, I explore her debut solo series from the early 2000s, “Batgirl”, as well as what makes Cassandra Cain such a special and meaningful hero to so many readers.Patreon: patreon.com/criticalrantsTwitter: twitter.com/Critical_Rants0:00 Introduction0:58 Dark Origins2:38 Batgirl Begins5:06 I Am Become Death8:16 Who Is Alpha?12:23 Change Can Be Painful15:36 Am I Volving?18:33 A Girl Named Cain21:14 You Can Change
Patreon Announcement, Channel Update, and 6,000 Subscriber Q&A! Critical Rants 2021-05-04 | #Patreon #CriticalRants #ChannelUpdateThank you all for 6,000+ subscribers! Your support means the world to me and I'm so grateful for each and every one of you. I touch on this topic in today's video, as well as the announcement of my Patreon and Ko-fi pages, an update on the future of the channel and a tease of the next video, and finally, a question and answer section to close out the video (which is about 40 minutes long). Stay safe and well, everybody.Support me on Patreon: patreon.com/criticalrantsSupport me on Ko-fi: ko-fi.com/criticalrantsTwitter: twitter.com/Critical_Rants0:00 Intro0:22 Patreon1:59 Ko-fi2:13 Channel Update3:18 Q&A
Sekiro ‒ The GENIUS of Isshin, the Sword Saint Critical Rants 2021-03-01 | #Sekiro #Isshin #FromSoftwareSekiro: Shadows Die Twice is an electrifying thrill ride from start to finish, particularly at its finish‒that’s why I dive into in this video as I break down the perfect final duel between the player character and Sekiro’s final boss: Isshin, the Sword Saint.This video is the last of four videos I’ve released in February, in an event I’ve dubbed as “From Software February” (see, it’s because I talk about From Software’s games and the month that I talk about them in is February. It’s very complicated stuff). I’ve previously covered the final bosses of Demon’s Souls, Dark Souls, and Bloodborne, so feel free to check out those videos as well if you’re interested. And rest assured, this won’t be the last time I talk about From Software’s games‒far from it. From Software February will return next year, and there may even be another FromSoft video or two in the meantime.Anyway, thanks for watching these videos if you did; I know it’s not my usual topic, but it was a ton of fun to break down these fantastic boss battles over the past few weeks. Stay safe out there, and I’ll see you guys next time.Twitter: twitter.com/Critical_Rants
Bloodborne ‒ The TRAGEDY of Gehrman, The First Hunter Critical Rants 2021-02-26 | #Bloodborne #Gehrman #FromSoftwareBloodborne is my wife, and there’s no better way of celebrating her beauty than examining Bloodborne’s superb final boss fight against Gehrman, The First Hunter. So that’s what I do in this video, which should honestly be pretty obvious from the title‒but I totally forgive you if you were at all confused about the topic of this video.This video essay is a part of FROM SOFTWARE FEBRUARY, a month where I talk exclusively about From Software’s games. I’ve covered the final bosses of Demon’s Souls, Dark Souls, and now Bloodborne, and last but not least, I’ll be covering the final boss of Sekiro. That video won’t be out in February, but it should be out within the first few days of March. My silly goose of a brain decided it was a good idea to release four videos in the shortest month of the year, but my awesome goose of a brain also made this video, so I’d say it evens out. Stay safe, guys, and I’ll see you all soon :)Twitter: twitter.com/Critical_Rants
Dark Souls — The TRAGEDY of Gwyn Critical Rants 2021-02-08 | #DarkSouls #Gwyn #FromSoftwareDark Souls is a game that leaves an undeniable impact on its players, and nowhere is that more true than with its final boss: Gwyn, Lord of Cinder. So in this video, I explore what makes the player’s encounter with Gwyn such a memorable and powerful one. Hope you enjoy!Twitter: twitter.com/Critical_Rants
Demons Souls — The GENIUS of King Allant Critical Rants 2021-02-01 | #Demon'sSouls #KingAllant #FromSoftwareFROM SOFTWARE FEBRUARY is here! This month, I’ll be covering the final boss of four different From Software games (AKA the Soulsborne games). We’re kicking things off with Demon’s Souls and its excellent final boss, Old King Allant. Providing both challenging gameplay and a thought-provoking story, Allant makes for an excellent conclusion to an excellent game. Hope you enjoy :)After Demon's Souls, I'll be covering Dark Souls 1, Bloodborne, and Sekiro, so make sure you subscribe so you don't miss any of those spectacular videos as well.Twitter: twitter.com/Critical_Rants
2,500 Subscriber Q&A + Every DCEU Movie Ranked Critical Rants 2020-12-07 | #QandA #CriticalRants #DCEUThis is a Q&A video to celebrate Critical Rants hitting 2,500 subscribers! Wow, that's a lot of people. Thank you all for making this possible.So yeah, I answer some questions and then I rant for half an hour about DC movies. Making this video was a ton of fun and it's way, way more casual than my typical content, so let me know if you'd like to see more casual videos like this every now and then, because I'd love to do more videos like this.0:00 Question and Answer35:54 Ranking the DCEU59:40 Outro
Praise Patrol — The Musical Number at a Drag Show on a Sentient, Genderqueer, Teleporting Street Critical Rants 2020-11-26 | #PraisePatrol #DoomPatrol #NegativeManWelcome to Praise Patrol, a series of video essays (and at least one podcast) created to celebrate Doom Patrol and thank the people who work so hard on the show. If you worked on Doom Patrol in any capacity, large or small, THANK YOU. YOU ROCK, YOU ARE A BEAUTIFUL HUMAN BEING, AND I HOPE YOU ARE HAVING AN EXCELLENT, EXCELLENT DAY.To help workers in the entertainment industry, follow this link! iatsecares.org/2020/04/29/send-a-letter-v2I created Praise Patrol because I wanted to express just how profoundly this show has affected me and so many other people around the world. I hope that this video, and the other videos in this playlist, help to highlight how deep of an impact Doom Patrol has had on its many fans. Thank you for bringing so much beauty, creativity, and positivity into the world. You're my hero, and you've shown me how to be a hero, too.My video focuses on Larry Trainor’s journey through the first season; specifically, it focuses on Larry’s beautiful musical number on Danny the Street and the episode “Danny Patrol” as a whole. But fortunately, there are plenty of other amazing videos on Doom Patrol that are just a click away! Check out the full Praise Patrol playlist here: youtube.com/playlist?list=PL_AMrAN6oFu5Tw_Kj9guzJRiNEMtijmUpIf you’d like to submit a video to Praise Patrol, all are welcome! Tweet your video at me once it’s finished and I’ll add it to the official playlist.Twitter: twitter.com/Critical_Rants
One Horrifying Moment: US — The Home Invasion Critical Rants 2020-10-28 | #OneHorrifyingMoment #Us #HorrorMy contribution to the One Horrifying Moment playlist is a video tackling Jordan Peele's Us, a movie that I feel is somewhat misunderstood. Today, I dive into the harrowing home invasion scene at the end of the film's first act and what makes it a truly horrifying moment.I'd like to extend a big ole thank you to Matt Draper for inviting me to this collaboration. Please make sure to check out the his video and the rest of the One Horrifying Moment videos via this link: youtube.com/playlist?list=PLJ7bdAZiniF8bwRWFJEW7laUU5TjqcF-KThere's so much more to dig into with Us, so I highly recommend watching and re-watching the movie to fully appreciate the level of care and detail that went into the making of the film. Until next time, take care of yourself, and I will see you guys soon with a very special project that I've been cooking up...Twitter: twitter.com/Critical_Rants0:00 Introduction1:07 Layer One: Primal Horror2:46 Layer Two: Unknown Horror4:38 Layer Eleven6:17 Layer Three: Class Horror8:55 Conclusion
BIGTOP BURGERS Perfect Joke Critical Rants 2020-10-03 | #BigtopBurger #Worthikids #SteveBigtop Burger is the best thing to come out of 2020, and I am in awe of how ridiculously perfect this show is. There isn’t a weak joke or moment in the entire ten-minute runtime of the first season, and I’d even say that there isn’t a mediocre moment in the first season. Every part of this show is superb, firmly cementing Bigtop Burger as one of those impossible, special pieces of art that you need to check out ASAP. Again, the whole show is only ten minutes long, so what are you waiting for? You can watch the entire first season in the link below.BIGTOP BURGER SEASON ONE: youtube.com/watch?v=GyCagepF_T4&t=Twitter: twitter.com/Critical_RantsAll music used in this video is the intellectual property of Worthikids. It also rocks really freaking hard.
Teen Titans — The Tragedy of Terra Critical Rants 2020-09-22 | #TeenTitans #Terra #RavenThe long-awaited video on Terra is finally here! Today, I dig into Terra's story across Teen Titans' second season, from her hopeful introduction to her less-than-hopeful end. Hope you enjoy!twitter.com/Critical_Rants
Why Uncle Ben Matters (MCU and Spectacular Spider-Man) Critical Rants 2020-09-08 | #Spider-Man #UncleBen #MCUEverybody shares the same opinion about MCU Spider-Man. Despite this, I offer my thoughts on the topic in this video and emphasize the importance of Uncle Ben to Spider-Man’s character. In doing so, I invoke the greatest Spidey cartoon of all time, and one of the plain best Spidey anythings of all time: Spectacular Spider-Man. I hope you enjoy.Also I know it seems like I come down pretty hard on MCU Spidey in this video, but I actually really like the portrayal of Peter Parker in Civil War and Homecoming. I definitely have my issues with how Peter is characterized in those movies, but the good far outweighs the bad, in my opinion. Far From Home, though? Yeah, I got more issues there. It honestly feels like so much of what I loved about Peter’s character in Homecoming was walked back or ignored, but maybe you feel differently! If that’s the case, let me know why down in the comments.I know I didn’t delve super deep into my analysis of MCU Spidey in this video, as I’ve already reviewed Far From Home and I didn’t want the MCU side of this video to completely overshadow the Spectacular Spider-Man side of this video, so I’ll be happy to continue the discussion down in the comments with you :) I’d also like to go on the record and say that Spider-Man is pretty cool. Just, like, in general. And if you decide to attack someone personally for their opinion about Spider-Man--a fictional character meant to unite people--you’re exactly the type of person that Spider-Man would abhor.Twitter: twitter.com/Critical_Rants
God of Wars Perfect Intro (Video Essay) Critical Rants 2020-08-09 | #GodOfWar #Kratos #AtreusThe opening chapter of God of War expertly introduces and develops its lead characters in less than an hour, and it is a masterclass in storytelling and game design. Today, I explore how God of War performs these tasks so exceptionally.Some of the behind the scenes footage I used in this video was from the documentary, “Raising Kratos”. It chronicles the development cycle of God of War and the struggles of so many people that went into making the game. It’s completely free to watch on YouTube and absolutely worth checking out if you’re a fan of the game. Here’s the link: youtube.com/watch?v=lJZWKBDXXFY&t=Twitter: twitter.com/Critical_Rants
Avatar Book Three — The Tragic Fall of Azula Critical Rants 2020-07-18 | #Avatar #AvatarTheLastAirbender #AzulaAzula is one of my favorite villains across all of fiction, and today, I dive into her tragic character arc in Avatar: The Last Airbender’s remarkable final season. Hope you enjoy!In case your Azula itch isn’t quite scratched after watching this video, check out Hello Future Me’s absurdly great video about the Psychology of Azula here: youtube.com/watch?v=R4544ZUr_gATwitter: twitter.com/Critical_Rants
YOUNG JUSTICE: Invasion — The AMBITIOUS Second Season Critical Rants 2020-06-14 | #YoungJustice #BlueBeetleYoung Justice: Invasion is an incredibly ambitious season of television, and that massive ambition pays off. With loads of compelling new characters and deeper explorations of existing characters, season two of Young Justice multiplied the scale of the first season while staying true to its core focus on its characters. What I’m trying to say is that the show is really good.Speaking of really good, this is part two of a three part series (part three coming soon!) on Young Justice. You can check out part one, For Every Kind of Geek’s fantastic video on season one, here: youtube.com/watch?v=bq8QGbPMxFw&t=While you’re over there, subscribe to For Every Kind of Geek. If you like my content, you’ll doubtlessly enjoy his. The amount of passion and hard work that he puts into writing and editing his videos really shows, so do yourself a favor and go check out his videos! We’ll see you soon for part three!TheMetalExtremist’s cover of the Teen Titans theme: youtube.com/watch?v=VaATDzuEcWITwitter: twitter.com/Critical_Rants
Why Captain Marvel Should Lead the Avengers in Phase 4 (Yes, Really) Critical Rants 2020-04-29 | #CaptainMarvel #Avengers #MCUWhile I didn’t love the characterization of Carol Danvers in her debut film, Captain Marvel, I believe there’s an effective way of remedying this: putting Carol in charge of the Avengers in the next big team-up movie.I know that Captain Marvel and Brie Larson are… controversial topics on the Internet, but please be nice to each other and refrain from bullying or dehumanizing anyone, okay? Thank you :)Twitter: twitter.com/Critical_Rants
One Marvelous Scene — The Real Daredevil Critical Rants 2020-04-22 | #SaveDaredevil #OneMarvelousSceneThe climactic battle of season three of Daredevil is the best scene in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. In fact, all of season three of Daredevil is the best everything in the MCU. Like this show is so good that I didn’t even talk about how amazing John Paesano’s score is. Imagine a show being so exceptional that even discussion of the exceptional score didn’t make it into this video. Imagine a show being so exceptional that even Vincent D’Onofrio’s acting didn’t make it into this video, or Wilson Bethel’s acting, or Jay Ali’s acting. Like how did I not even mention Jay Ali once in this video? Or Wilson Bethel? I know I mentioned him two sentences ago, but the way he showcases Dex’s vulnerability is god damned remarkable. Did I mention how amazing it is that we get a villain like Dex, who is reflective of the protagonist’s worst traits, without taking away from the fact that he’s his own independent character? I have now. Anyway, Daredevil fucking rocks my socks off. Peace :)Twitter: twitter.com/Critical_Rants
The Startling Greatness of DCs HARLEY QUINN Critical Rants 2020-04-03 | DC’s animated series, Harley Quinn, is absolutely fantastic on every front, and today, I explain why you NEED to be watching this show.Harley Quinn is available to stream exclusively on DC Universe, and every episode in the first season is laugh-out-loud funny. The people who worked on this show deserve the utmost praise, and the best way to show appreciation for their incredible work is to watch their show. In fact, why are you reading this right now when you could be watching Harley Quinn? It’s that damn good. Go! Go watch it! Shoo! Fly away, little bird! Fly away and be free!Twitter: twitter.com/Critical_Rants
The Lighthouse Trailer but its a Romantic Comedy Critical Rants 2020-03-20 | The Lighthouse is already a romantic comedy tbh so this wasn't difficultTwitter: twitter.com/Critical_Rants
The Lighthouse — Character-Driven Madness Critical Rants 2020-03-14 | The Lighthouse is a film that prides itself on its ambiguity, yet despite that, I believe it’s actually a very character-driven story. So in this video, I explain how the surrealism of The Lighthouse is used to explore the character of its protagonist.Hey, did you like that slick new channel intro? Yeah, me too! That was actually designed by Doug from For Every Kind of Geek, a new YouTube creator who recently published an amazing video essay about American Vampire. Please check out his video and subscribe to his channel, as the level of talent on display for his first video is truly special: youtube.com/watch?v=c-lXSLsR2VcTwitter: twitter.com/Critical_Rants
A 200 Second Review of Birds of Prey (NO SPOILERS) Critical Rants 2020-02-09 | Birds of Prey is freakin’ awesome, and I cover why I think it is so awesome in this video (in only 200 seconds!).This video is a bit different from my typical content, but I did want to share my thoughts on the film, even if they were brief. Anyway, a video on The Lighthouse is up next, so keep an eye out for that in the coming weeks.Twitter: twitter.com/Critical_Rants
Irony and Symbolism in Threat Level Midnight Critical Rants 2020-01-21 | THE. GREATEST. ACTION. MOVIE. EVER. MADE.Michael Scott’s masterpiece, Threat Level Midnight, is a movie that defines a genre while simultaneously deconstructing it. In this video essay, I examine how Threat Level Midnight’s use of irony and symbolism makes the social commentary the film offers so impactful.Fun fact: this was my favorite video I’ve made for the channel so far. I hope you enjoy watching it as much as I enjoyed making it :)twitter.com/Critical_RantsThis video is an analysis and critique protected under fair use. All clips used are transformative as they accompany my commentary and are therefore within my legal rights to use.
Shazams Underrated Villain (Video Essay) Critical Rants 2020-01-15 | Shazam! is an underrated gem, and that holds especially true for its villain, Dr. Sivana. In this video, I break down the brilliant use of Sivana in the film and argue for his title of “Very Effective Antagonist.” It doesn't hurt that Mark Strong's performance as Sivana is pitch perfect.The next video I release will probably be my favorite video I’ve made thus far, and the script is already complete. The only hint I’ll give is this: I’ll be dissecting the greatest action film of all time. Until then :)Twitter: twitter.com/Critical_Rants
The Rise of Skywalker and the Confused Experiment of the Sequel Trilogy Critical Rants 2019-12-25 | No one has strong opinions on Star Wars, and as far as I’m aware, very few people have even heard of the franchise. Despite this, I’ve shared my thoughts on The Rise of Skywalker and the bizarre experiment of the Star Wars sequel trilogy in this video. I hope you enjoy watching!Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays! To say that I'm excited for the videos I have planned for 2020 would be an understatement. Thank you to all those who watched and supported my content in 2019, and I'll see you in 2020, which is in, like, a week if you're reading this on release but if you're reading it further into the future it may already be 2020 so congratulations on being in the future. I mean, for you it's just the present, but hey, you made it to 2020! That's an accomplishment in its own right.Twitter: twitter.com/Critical_Rants
How Bloodbornes Cainhurst Castle Tells Its Story Critical Rants 2019-12-06 | Bloodborne is a truly special game for many reasons, but how it conveys its story is perhaps its greatest accomplishment. Today on Critical Rants, we explore how Cainhurst Castle, one of Bloodborne’s most memorable areas, uses environmental storytelling to a remarkably effective degree.I need to extend a special thank you to my friend Dan, who was kind enough to lend me his PS4 so that I could play Bloodborne. He very literally made this video possible. So Dan, I’m sure you already know this, but you’re a gem and half.Twitter: twitter.com/Critical_RantsHere’s a few awesome Bloodborne lore videos, playlists, and channels to check out:Bloodborne’s Story Explained by VaatiVidya: youtube.com/watch?v=wjWOy6ioVHI&t=Bloodborne Up Close playlist by Jerks Sans Frontieres: youtube.com/playlist?list=PLzGMMy3ptxzZ8L5SxNSVGSvs8e8IdHVH3 Mitch L’s Bloodborne Lore playlist: youtube.com/playlist?list=PLh-9uu-YHYGy76JrJFwsJhLRsILXrGReB Smoughtown’s Bloodborne Lore playlist: youtube.com/playlist?list=PLnPsDN5cd0UdmB-yfeOPpjvqxIWFOsWOA
A Very Strange Superman Movie Pitch Critical Rants 2019-11-07 | In many ways, Superman represents the very best of the superhero genre. However, the character hasn’t really gotten his due in the last few years, and in this video, I pitch my own live action Superman film that is somewhat… unconventional.This is the only video I’ve made where the writing process took about as long as the editing process (usually, editing takes SIGNIFICANTLY longer), so any likes, comments, and shares are especially appreciated. I also owe a huge amount of gratitude to my friend Isaac, who designed the awesome thumbnail for this video and provided a ton of helpful feedback on the video itself. Check out his channel, God Awful Opinions, below, as his content is insightful and laugh out loud funny. In fact, I’m going to go rewatch his video on the delightful 2007 film, “Firehouse Dog” right now. You can check it out here: youtube.com/watch?v=jcHnzs9CMpEGod Awful Opinions: youtube.com/channel/UCX921-DoThiTIugBtyPHw9ATwitter: twitter.com/Critical_Rants
Why is Joker So Divisive? Critical Rants 2019-10-22 | Audience reactions to Joker have been extremely mixed, and in my own review of the movie, I examine why Joker has been so polarizing.This video is up two weeks later than I would have liked, as things like re-writes, procrastination, and life obligations got in the way, but I’m really happy with how the video turned out in the end. If you’ve taken the time to read the description (which you have, because you’re reading this right now), consider sharing it with your friends or posting it on the Internet. Any little act of kindness is truly appreciated. Have a wonderful day :)Twitter: twitter.com/Critical_Rants
Why Birds of Prey Will Be Great Critical Rants 2019-10-02 | The Birds of Prey trailer really impressed me, and in this video, I dig into why I think Birds of Prey will exceed expectations. Let’s certainly hope so, because otherwise the DCEU will be more like the Dead-CEU.No? You didn’t like that one? Well, even that shitty joke is still better than the majority of DCEU movies, so take what you can get.This video is a little more off the cuff than the rest of my content, so let me know what you guys think of this format down in the comments. Also, thanks for watching, and I hope you're having a great day!Birds of Prey trailer: youtube.com/watch?v=IBMt3ojan7gTwitter: twitter.com/Critical_Rants
Which Dark Souls Boss is the Tastiest? Critical Rants 2019-09-10 | The bosses of Dark Souls have been ranked many times over by quality and difficulty, but have they ever been ranked by tastiness? Today, I aim to do exactly that by providing you with the definitive Dark Souls one boss ranking. Also, I’m suing Brian David Gilbert (not really).Dark Souls One Weapon Only Playlist: youtube.com/playlist?list=PLcHt2at7a4eOZDAAPcV4PC8j5E9iy3Z7EFollow me on Twitter: twitter.com/Critical_RantsBloodborne article: criticalrants.com/2019/02/18/ranking-every-bloodborne-boss-by-parenting-potentialBloodborne Reddit Post: Reddit post: reddit.com/r/bloodborne/comments/as2ktd/i_ranked_every_boss_in_bloodborne_by_theirSekiro article: criticalrants.com/2019/04/24/which-sekiro-shadows-die-twice-boss-is-the-best-party-hostDark Souls 3 article: criticalrants.com/2019/03/27/ranking-every-dark-souls-3-boss-by-cuddling-prowessMost of the footage in this video is from Boss Fight Database, so credit for the majority of the video goes to that channel.
Doom Patrol — The Best Superhero Show Youve Never Heard Of Critical Rants 2019-08-17 | Doom Patrol might be the greatest superhero show ever made. Today, I discuss why I think this is the case and why you should watch Doom Patrol, as there isn’t anything else quite like it on television.Looking to watch Doom Patrol? Head over to the DC Universe streaming service. This isn’t sponsored or anything, but I highly recommend the service, both for watching Doom Patrol and for the massive amounts of quality DC movies, cartoons, and comics that are available there. If you’re a DC fan (or even if you’re not), there’s a boatload of content that you’ll enjoy.Also Doom Patrol has been renewed for season two! WOOOOOO!Twitter : twitter.com/Critical_RantsIf you guys want to check out my blog (I write about similar, albeit often wackier, topics), you can check it out here: criticalrants.com
Game of Thrones — Why Bronns Season 8 Arc is GENIUS Critical Rants 2019-08-01 | Bronn’s story in the final season of Game Thrones was so visceral, so logical, and so fundamentally thought-provoking that I had to make a video exploring its many nuances. Shockingly, Bronn’s arc has received very little praise in the wake of the excellently written finale, so hopefully this video will rectify that lack of acknowledgement.Twitter: twitter.com/Critical_RantsIf you guys want to check out my blog (I write about similar, albeit often wackier, topics), you can check it out here: criticalrants.com
Nitpicking Spider-Man: Far From Home Critical Rants 2019-07-24 | Spider-Man: Far From Home swung to some incredibly high heights and into some incredibly confusing storytelling decisions, and today on Critical Rants, I'm here to talk about the latter.I know people on the Internet don't have many strong opinions about the character of Spider-Man, but keep in mind that everything stated in this video is my opinion and my opinion only. Whether you agree with me, disagree with me, or a mixture of the two, let me know what you think about Far From Home and about this video down in the comments. Likes and shares are greatly appreciated :)Twitter: twitter.com/Critical_RantsIf you guys want to check out my blog (I write about similar, albeit often wackier, topics), you can check it out here: criticalrants.com
Rocket Raccoon — Character Through Comedy Critical Rants 2019-06-26 | Today, we dig into how the smaller, seemingly innocent jokes in Guardians of the Galaxy reveal a surprising amount about Rocket Raccoon’s character.I hope you enjoy the video and I would love to hear your thoughts and feedback on it down in the comments, and if you really enjoy the video, considering sharing it with your friends or on social media.To the friends who provided aid, feedback, and encouragement for this video and for this channel, I can’t express enough how much I appreciate it. I literally would not have been able to do this without all of you and I wouldn’t even be on this platform if it weren’t for your belief in me. You guys are the best and I love you :)Twitter: twitter.com/Critical_RantsIf you guys want to check out my blog (I write about similar, albeit sometimes wackier, topics), you can check it out here: criticalrants.comNicole Perlman interview: comicbook.com/blog/2014/08/20/guardians-of-the-galaxy-co-writer-perlman-early-drafts-didnt-inc
