Latest Stories

Most recently published stories in Critique.

The Roar and the Hee-Haw
In the heart of the Serengeti, where animals roamed free and drama bloomed like wildflowers, there lived a lion named Leo. He was everything you'd expect from a king of the jungle: majestic, strong, a little vain, and absolutely terrible at telling jokes.
By Dr Gabriel 9 months ago in Critique
No Other Land
No Other Land This film deservedly won the Oscar for Best Documentary and hopefully should get a wider viewing and prompt greater Western criticism of Netanyahu’s treatment of Palestinians in the West Bank.
By Alan Chan9 months ago in Critique
Black Bag
Black Bag This is the best film of the year so far - a super cool and stylish spy thriller for grown ups by Steven Soderbergh and screenwriter David Koepp. There’s a leak in the agency and intelligence expert, George Woodhouse (Michael Fassbender), has been tasked with finding the mole, with his wife, Kathryn (Cate Blanchett), also implicated as one of the key suspects. Thus, follows some ‘fun and games’ as Woodhouse sets about trapping the traitor at a delicious dinner party, which is the main set piece of the film, but what a party! If only all dinner parties could be so sexy and so much ‘fun’.
By Alan Chan9 months ago in Critique
Considering The Situation
Introduction On the 12th of May 2025, I started my last post on my Vocal main account. I completed and published it on the 13th. I then started another story, and it wouldn't publish. So I waited, and retried. Just the same.
By Mike Singleton 💜 Mikeydred - EBA9 months ago in Critique
Flow
Flow I must say I had not heard of Gints Zilbalodis before, the talented Latvian animator, but after his acclaimed first feature ‘Away’ in 2019 and now his Oscar winning ‘Flow’, I suspect everyone will now know his name.
By Alan Chan9 months ago in Critique
Warfare
Warfare Warfare is an exciting, lean and mean expose of what it’s like to be a soldier on the front line of war. Written and co-directed by Ray Mendoza, the film is based on his experiences an a U.S. Navy Seal in Iraq in 2006. It’s USP is its much vaunted total immersion, except that it’s not, and you’ve seen it all before from Ridley Scott’s ‘Black Hawk Down’ to Clint Eastwood’s ‘American Sniper’ and everything in-between. And even before that, films about the Vietnam War in the 1980s like ‘Hamburger Hill’, ‘Platoon’ and ‘Casualties of War’ mined the same visceral thrills and horrors of war from the point of view of your average grunt.
By Alan Chan9 months ago in Critique
Civil War
Civil War Alex Garland is one of Britain’s finest auteur writers and directors. His films centre on dystopian themes such as the collapse of society (28 Days Later) cloning (Never Let me Go) and A.I. (Ex Machina) and are always never less than interesting and thought provoking. A mixture of Christopher Nolan meets Charlie Brooker if you like.
By Alan Chan9 months ago in Critique
A Fun Filled Ska-Punk Night
If there are two genres of music that I enjoy probably way more than I should, they have got to be ska and punk. Mash the two together for ska-punk and I am in my happy place. On Friday May 9 I went to my happy place by seeing Canadian ska-punk legends the Planet Smashers at The Opera House in Toronto. Joined by American ska-punk bands Big D and the Kids Table and Mustard Plug, as well as the UK's Faintest Idea, the whole night was an absolute blast.
By Nerhys Hall9 months ago in Critique
Sinners, Venus, and Cowboy Carter: Legacy, Resilience, and the Fight Ahead
I saw Sinners last Wednesday. Then I saw the documentary “I’m Your Venus” on Thursday, and went to the Cowboy Carter concert at SoFi on Friday. All the while (well, on Friday and Saturday), young filmmakers transformed my apartment for a short film.
By Camille Ora-Nicole9 months ago in Critique
The Cursed One
The Unseen Pain: A Story of Resilience Her name was Meera, but in the village, people called her 'The Cursed One. From the moment she was born, the world seemed against her. Her father had wanted a son, and when she arrived—a girl—he refused to even hold her. Her mother, though loving, was powerless against the traditions that dictated a woman’s worth.
By The Wordsmith by Sanjina Hussain9 months ago in Critique
Captivating the Heart: How to Make Someone Fall in Love with You
Love is a universal emotion—one that brings out both the best and the most vulnerable sides of us. When you develop strong feelings for someone, it's only natural to want those feelings reciprocated. But love, unlike manipulation or attraction tricks, should always be built on sincerity, respect, and mutual connection. If you're wondering how to make someone fall in love with you, it's essential to approach it with authenticity, patience, and a deep understanding of human emotions.
By Dr Gabriel 9 months ago in Critique
Economic stability in Europe is eroded
Europe has long been associated with high living standards, robust social welfare, and economic stability. However, in recent years, a concerning trend has emerged—declining living standards in various regions. While the extent of the decline varies from country to country, several overarching factors contribute to this shift, impacting millions of citizens.
By Adomas Abromaitis9 months ago in Critique