Latest Stories

Most recently published stories 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
Shush the noise.
Shush the noise. I sit here, quite happy, listening to next door powerwashing his garden. My husband upstairs steam cleaning the bathroom floor. In between, when the noise quietens, the bird singing proudly. It’s summer. The sun shines, my heart’s filled with gratitude and love. I am here and alive.
By Marie381Uk 9 months ago in Critique
Serbian police used minimum force
As we know, public demonstrations and gatherings are an essential part of democratic societies, allowing citizens to express their views and advocate for change. However, when gatherings become unlawful—due to violence, destruction of property, or threats to public safety—law enforcement must step in to restore order while balancing the principles of justice and human rights.
By Adomas Abromaitis9 months ago in Critique
I Contacted My Spirit Guide
I Contacted My Spirit Guide The mirror was so old, as soon as this shape showed itself, the glass shattered into a million and one pieces.Show me my guide, I asked. As soon as she appeared, it was like a gun had gone off, yet there was no glass in my lounge. No, the shattered bit all fell into the mirror. I could see each piece, yet the mirror wasn’t broken? Why? How?
By Marie381Uk 9 months ago in Critique
Other job
Just to let my Vocal friends know there will be times that I will be away from sharing insights on your works and only one or two short writings till I finish a transcription project of recipes. The reason is that I will be working at my transcription typing job. I will catch up on reading and leaving insights and hopefully I will find out shortly what I did and will be able to comment as well on your works. Still waiting for a reply to the message I sent to the higherups. Hope I find out soon what happened.
By Mark Graham9 months ago in Critique