Latest Stories
Most recently published stories in Critique.
Found in Translation. Runner-Up in Self-Editing Epiphany Challenge.
At first I scrolled past this challenge and didn’t even consider joining in on that one. And then, a little voice at the back of my mind reminded me of a promise I had made to myself at the beginning of this year – do more new things, even, and especially, the ones out of my comfort zone. With a little sigh, I scrolled back up, instantly knowing which excerpt to use. Yep, another "do more new things" moment that happened just over a month ago.
By Cristal S.10 months ago in Critique
Newtopia Review: A Breath of Fresh Air in Zombie Genre
So look, first of all, I want to feed one thing in your mind related to this K-drama, this is not a masterpiece K-drama, if you are going to start it with the expectation that you are going to watch a masterpiece series, then don't do that, you may or may not get anything but you will get disappointment.
By Ayush Verma10 months ago in Critique
The Edge of the Line
Some days, I really hate my strange brain. I have this great idea for a movie, or maybe a script. Some typical white teen types go on a Grand Adventure in the perceived Wild West, and whenever they get in a pickle, it’s the POCs that get them out of trouble. And in every outdoor scene, in the background, there’s this stereotypical Mexican worker type having a siesta beneath a sombrero, lying under a saguaro cactus. But he’s the one who comes up with the sage advice or clever idea, and points them in the right direction, and by the third scene some of the other background characters (same people) are realizing that they’re non-player characters in some twisted reality. They try to ask the Mexicano what’s going on, but he’s always vanished by the time the camera pans back. At the conclusion, the Hollywood-acceptable skin tones go off to their acclaim, real or imagined, and the extras finally get to ask the Mexicano what’s really happening. Dropping the typically-used accent, he shows them all that the cactus is a transporter, and opening the door, asks if they want to go on their own adventure. The eager extras pile in, and the cactus winks out of existence.
By Meredith Harmon11 months ago in Critique
An Easter Basket
Who remembers waking up Easter morning searching for their Easter basket hidden by that elusive bunny? Who also remembers what they usually got in said basket. Mine was usually filled with a chocolate bunny and a white cross surrounded by foiled eggs and jellybeans and those colored hard-boiled eggs we dyed the night before. My Easter basket was usually hidden behind the television or behind the curtains. Today, I know some baskets are filled with toys and candy of various kinds, but they always have a chocolate bunny. What was in your Easter baskets if you do not mind sharing?
By Mark Graham11 months ago in Critique
Picking the Right Moment to Start. Honorable Mention in Self-Editing Epiphany Challenge. Top Story - March 2025.
You’ve likely heard some of this conventional writing advice before: Start “in media res” A reader can tolerate proportionally as much exposition as the plot has achieved momentum – Stephen King (I think) Begin in the moment and feed the reader details as the plot progresses
By Stephen A. Roddewig11 months ago in Critique
Berlin Season 2 Release Timeline: Everything We Know So Far
Welcome back, guys; it has become difficult for me to create content these days. One reason is that I have started consuming very little content these days. Even if I watch something, I don't feel like writing about it. I have also launched my own YouTube Channel, BhaagoBossAya. Make sure you subscribe.
By Ayush Verma11 months ago in Critique
Snow White Critic Reviews NUKE Disney's Last Chance
>> Click here for video Disney has been riding a rollercoaster of live-action remakes for years, turning animated classics into modern spectacles with mixed results. From The Lion King to Beauty and the Beast, the studio has banked on nostalgia to keep audiences coming back. But with Snow White, their latest attempt released on March 21, 2025, the magic seems to have run dry. Critics have unleashed a barrage of harsh reviews, calling it everything from "exhaustingly awful" to "a strange, hot mess." This isn't just another stumble - it might be Disney's last shot at proving they can still pull off these remakes without alienating fans and tarnishing their legacy.
By Martin Church11 months ago in Critique
How Lying Got Me Into Columbia University. First Place in Self-Editing Epiphany Challenge.
The following essay explores my self-editing process for the personal statement that got me into Columbia University. But getting in wasn’t the hardest part—telling the truth was.
By Hannah Hess11 months ago in Critique
The Monster. Content Warning.
The monster in my room. Have you ever woken up to find a monster in your room? I did, when I was four years old. It wasn’t your typical monster, it didn’t look like a monster but it was. It had taken over someone else. I was told by my parents to sleep in the same bed as the monster. This same monster had attacked several people. That’s what it did, it would attack one person and then that person would become the monster. Then that monster would attack someone else and then they would become the monster. Then when I was four the monster had attacked my sister and she became the monster. Then the monster attacked me. But for some reason no matter how hard the monster tried, I wouldn’t let it take over me. I would have dreams about myself becoming the monster and wake up terrified and shaking. But I didn’t want to be a monster, so I didn’t become one. And that’s when I realized that no matter what happened to the people before me, they weren’t forced to become the monster, they chose to. They were introduced to the monster and then they had to make a choice. Become the monster or defeat it, stop it from destroying everyone. The monster attacked me and it was bad but to me becoming the monster was so much worse because I would rather be hurt than hurt someone else. And that’s all it took, the way to defeat the monster was so simple and yet it had taken years for someone to stop it. All along all anyone had to do was stop being the same monster that had attacked them.
By Raine Fielder11 months ago in Critique
Investment Thesis: Amazon Company is well-set to continue with a long-term growth trajectory on high-margin and rapidly growing businesses.
Introduction: Hardly any business in the corporate world has thrived time after time, one way or the other, the way Amazon.com Inc. is thriving in today's digital age. It's not often, but quite frequently, Amazon's quixotic mix of e-commerce, cloud computing, and digital services can be a very good bellwether for the general economy. Our investment analysis assumes that continuous scaling into high-margin businesses like AWS, advertisement, and subscription services positions the company for sustained long-term growth. The following section underlines some of the key factors touching on company fundamentals, competitive landscape, risks, and future outlook as considerations underpinning our investment thesis.
By Dunia Zakaria11 months ago in Critique
Review: In the Heart of the Sea
In my opinion next to Steven Spielberg, probably the best director of this generation would have to be Ron Howard. The man has proven himself over and over again, with compelling story lines and excellent film craft, “Apollo 13,” “Backdraft,” “A Beautiful Mind,” and others in this top notch portfolio of successes.
By Larry hart11 months ago in Critique
