movies Archives - Justin Kownacki

Worldbuilding and Exposition: 7 Writing Tips from Dune

The most impressive thing about Denis Villeneuve’s Dune might be the way it makes a complex story understandable without dumbing it down.

These script excerpts show why James Cameron’s screenplay for ALIENS is considered one of the best sequels of all time

Why The Snyder Cut and The Whedon Cut of Justice League actually tell two different stories

There’s something missing from the new Star Wars trilogy, and without it, none of the characters can find satisfying closure.

From Lost to Game of Thrones to The Rise of Skywalker, the “mystery box” style of storytelling is coming up short. Here’s why — and how to fix it.

Booksmart, Olivia Wilde’s directorial debut, is a glorious mess, just like its characters… and it works.

Avengers: Endgame owes its success to one word: character.

Laika’s biggest animated fim is missing a crucial element that causes the movie to fall short of satisfying.

A hero is only as good as his villain, and that’s where Shazam’s plot problems start.

Captain Marvel offers a smart answer to a hard storytelling question: how do you make a compelling movie about the world’s strongest hero?