"True Blood" Sucker Punch: Season 4, Ep. 7 by Mark Blankenship

Welcome to Sucker Punch, the only blog post that ranks the gaudiest moments on this week’s episode of True Blood. — You guys, the very beginning of “Cold Grey Light of Dawn…

SOURCE: The Critical Condition at 3:08pm on August 9, 2011☆⚑

The Ultimate Pop Song Tournament, Sweet Sixteen: Games 7 & 8 by Mark Blankenship

Welcome to the SWEET SIXTEEN of the Ultimate Pop Song Tournament, Games 7 and 8. These games are OPEN, and they will close at midnight on Wednesday, August 10. (ALL OPEN GAMES) T…

SOURCE: The Critical Condition at 4:50am on August 8, 2011☆⚑

The Ultimate Pop Song Tournament, Sweet Sixteen: Games 5 & 6 by Mark Blankenship

Welcome to the SWEET SIXTEEN of the Ultimate Pop Song Tournament, Games 5 and 6. These games are OPEN, and they will close at midnight on Wednesday, August 10. (ALL OPEN GAMES) T…

SOURCE: The Critical Condition at 4:44am on August 8, 2011☆⚑

The Ultimate Pop Song Tournament, Sweet Sixteen: Games 3 & 4 by Mark Blankenship

Welcome to the SWEET SIXTEEN of the Ultimate Pop Song Tournament, Games 3 and 4. These games are OPEN, and they will close at midnight on Wednesday, August 10. (ALL OPEN GAMES) T…

SOURCE: The Critical Condition at 4:21am on August 8, 2011☆⚑

The Ultimate Pop Song Tournament, Sweet Sixteen: Games 1 & 2 by Mark Blankenship

Welcome to the SWEET SIXTEEN of the Ultimate Pop Song Tournament, Games 1 and 2. These games are OPEN, and they will close at midnight on Wednesday, August 10. (ALL OPEN GAMES) T…

SOURCE: The Critical Condition at 4:10am on August 8, 2011☆⚑

In "Attack the Block," Should You Side With Criminals Or Aliens? by Mark Blankenship

The fabulous Monkey See blog at NPR just posted my story on the tantalizing ethical issues in the new alien invasion movie Attack the Block. Here’s a snippet: When we first meet Moses,…

SOURCE: The Critical Condition at 2:47pm on August 5, 2011☆⚑

My Dream List of Lifetime Achievement Oscar Winners, Part One by Doug Strassler

By Doug Strassler This week, the Academy announced the recipients of its annual honorary awards, and none other than Darth Vadar himself, James Earl Jones, is this year's winner. (The Jean H…

SOURCE: The Critical Condition at 2:05pm on August 5, 2011☆⚑

The Ultimate Pop Song Tournament: Friday Update by Mark Blankenship

Hey everyone! This is your official update, checking in on upsets, rule changes, and next week’s schedule for the Sweet Sixteen and Elite Eight Rounds. WOOO! — Vote in the Remain…

SOURCE: The Critical Condition at 12:30am on August 5, 2011☆⚑

The Ultimate Pop Song Tournament, Round 2: Groove Thang (pt. 2) by Mark Blankenship

Welcome to ROUND 2 of the Ultimate Pop Song Tournament, Games 15 and 16! These games are OPEN. They will close at midnight on Sunday, August 7. (ALL OPEN GAMES) To see the upd…

SOURCE: The Critical Condition at 9:25am on August 4, 2011☆⚑

The Ultimate Pop Song Tournament, Round 2: Groove Thang by Mark Blankenship

Welcome to ROUND 2 of the Ultimate Pop Song Tournament, Games 13 and 14! These games are OPEN. They will close at midnight on Sunday, August 7. (ALL OPEN GAMES) To see the update…

SOURCE: The Critical Condition at 4:59am on August 4, 2011☆⚑

"True Blood" Sucker Punch!: Season 4, Ep. 6 by Mark Blankenship

Welcome to Sucker Punch, the only blog post that ranks the gaudiest moments in this week’s episode of True Blood. — You guys? I am considering launching a blog called Evil Baby W…

SOURCE: The Critical Condition at 12:33pm on August 3, 2011☆⚑

The Ultimate Pop Song Tournament, Round 2: Rock Warrior (pt. 2) by Mark Blankenship

Welcome to  ROUND 2 of the Ultimate Pop Song Tournament, Games 11 and 12! These games are OPEN. They will close at midnight on Saturday, August 6. (ALL OPEN GAMES) To see the update…

SOURCE: The Critical Condition at 9:15am on August 3, 2011☆⚑

The Ultimate Pop Song Tournament, Round 2: Rock Warrior by Mark Blankenship

Welcome to  ROUND 2 of the Ultimate Pop Song Tournament, Games 9 and 10! These games are OPEN. They will close at midnight on Saturday, August 6. (ALL OPEN GAMES) To see the updated br…

SOURCE: The Critical Condition at 4:36am on August 3, 2011☆⚑

The Ultimate Pop Song Tournament: The Kate Bush Conundrum by Mark Blankenship

Hey everyone! Let me start by reiterating how happy I am that so many people are voting and commenting on the tournament. Truly, I am. HOWEVER, for the second round in a row, Kate Bush’…

SOURCE: The Critical Condition at 10:52pm on August 2, 2011☆⚑

I Know What You Did The Summer Before Last!: Reviewing a deliciously terrible movie by Mark Blankenship

As part of the Dog Days of Summer Movies project over at Tomato Nation, I have just written a review of 1997‘s I Still Know What You Did Last Summer, which is one of the most wonderful…

SOURCE: The Critical Condition at 12:45pm on August 2, 2011☆⚑

The Ultimate Pop Song Tournament, Round 2: Deep Feelings (pt. 2) by Mark Blankenship

Welcome to  ROUND 2 of the Ultimate Pop Song Tournament, Games 6 and7! These games are OPEN. They will close at midnight on Friday, August 5. (ALL OPEN GAMES) To see the updated bracke…

SOURCE: The Critical Condition at 9:40am on August 2, 2011☆⚑

The Ultimate Pop Song Tournament, Round 2: Deep Feelings by Mark Blankenship

Welcome to  ROUND 2 of the Ultimate Pop Song Tournament, Games 5 and 6! These games are OPEN. They will close at midnight on Friday, August 5. (ALL OPEN GAMES) To see the updated brack…

SOURCE: The Critical Condition at 4:11am on August 2, 2011☆⚑

"Frances:" Watch this movie when you need to cut a bitch. by Mark Blankenship

I’d like to welcome guest critic Mark Peikert, managing editor of the New York Press and City Arts, to tell us why the movie Frances is perfect viewing when you need to cut a bitch the…

SOURCE: The Critical Condition at 3:00pm on August 1, 2011☆⚑

The Ultimate Pop Song Tournament ROUND 2: Joy Bombs 3 and 4 by Mark Blankenship

Welcome to  ROUND 2 of the Ultimate Pop Song Tournament, Games 3 and 4! These games are OPEN. They will close at midnight on Thursday, August 4. REMINDER: The last six games of Round 1…

SOURCE: The Critical Condition at 11:01am on August 1, 2011☆⚑

Ultimate Pop Song Tournament, ROUND 2: Joy Bombs 1 and 2 by Mark Blankenship

Welcome to  ROUND 2 of the Ultimate Pop Song Tournament, Games 1 and 2! These games are OPEN. They will close at midnight on Thursday, August 4. REMINDER: The last six games of Round 1…

SOURCE: The Critical Condition at 2:08am on August 1, 2011☆⚑

The Ultimate Pop Song Tournament: ROUND 2 UPDATE by Mark Blankenship

Hello everyone! It’s time to launch ROUND 2 of the Ultimate Pop Song Tournament! Through your votes, you’ve narrowed the field from 64 songs to 32, and this week, we’ll cut…

SOURCE: The Critical Condition at 12:05am on August 1, 2011☆⚑

Why I Hate Romcom Anthologies by Mark Blankenship

Doug’s Trailer Scaler for New Year’s Eve struck a nerve, arousing feelings so strong that I could not express them in a mere comment on his post. So now, I present an entirely se…

SOURCE: The Critical Condition at 2:37pm on July 29, 2011☆⚑

Trailer Scaler: "New Year's Eve" by Doug Strassler

By Doug Strassler It's been said (mostly by me) that the current crop of ensemble romantic comedies, fueled in large part by Love Actually early last decade, are this generation's version of…

SOURCE: The Critical Condition at 2:04pm on July 29, 2011☆⚑

The Ultimate Pop Songs Tournament: Games 31 and 32 (Groove Thang Division) by Mark Blankenship

Welcome to Games 31 and 32 of the Ultimate Pop Song Tournament! These games are OPEN. They will close on Tuesday, August 2. (ALL OPEN GAMES) To see the complete bracket, just go …

SOURCE: The Critical Condition at 11:31am on July 29, 2011☆⚑

The Ultimate Pop Song Tournament: Games 29 and 30 (Groove Thang Division) by Mark Blankenship

Welcome to Games 29 and 30 of the Ultimate Pop Song Tournament! These games are OPEN. They will close on Tuesday, August 2. (ALL OPEN GAMES) To see the complete bracket, just go her…

SOURCE: The Critical Condition at 9:34am on July 29, 2011☆⚑