Critical popcorn

Well, you’ve made it to the end with us. You’ve fought your way to the castle beyond the Goblin City; barely alluded a rampaging shark; evaded a boulder intended to take you out; got stuck in a fifth dimension but transmitted vital quantum data to a loved one (via gravity), and now we’re lingering inside an uneven and timey-wimey visual metaphor, where the finish line is in sight.

It is time to say farewell! Critical Popcorn closes its (always) open doors after nearly a decade in the game, and it’s been a blast, a journey, sometimes a stress-filled deadline chaos mill but mostly… an absolute joy.

I started CP with the idea to review a film or two, here or there, yet it became an outlet for so many great contributing writers – whom I’ve had the honour of hosting. Without them, and you lovely readers – whether you dip in and out for reviews of any variety, check out our event coverage, watch the latest film trailers or chance your arm with one of the many competitions – it wouldn’t have been the success I certainly believe it developed into.

With the end nigh, and by that I mean this very day, we wanted to leave some final favourite scenes from some of us that I truly believe you’ll enjoy (they’re all reflective, hopeful and heartfelt features that I’ll link back here after they’re all live) – but I also had to share a never ending thank you to all the following writers who’ve made us what we are 😊

Please click their names for their work, and hunt them down on the internet for future ventures:

• Matt Dennis
• Nick Bartlett [his social]
• Pete Messum
• Jazmine Sky Bradley
• Mark Walsh [his social]
• James Edward Morton [his social]
• Steve for the Deaf [blog]

Also, back in the earlier days: Cheers to Adam D, Amelia V, Ben R, Bradley P, Daphne B, Helen T, Jamie B, John B, Kat Hughes, Lauren McC, Matt Ceo, Ted S, and the Tessa!

And now, let’s get outta here…