To be upfront, I'm not a regular viewer, but I have a roommate that shows me most of your videos. I've seen a lot of this argument you make in this week's video slowly making it's way to the surface (especially in the "Leave Michael Bay Alone" video and a piece responding to "Are There Too Many Superhero Movies?") but it doesn't make any sense. If you don't care, like you say you do, why does this keep coming up?
You claim that these so-called "aging, out-of-touch" film journalists are unfair towards big blockbusters, in particular, the Marvel Universe movies. How so? That they don't pay attention to movies unless it's their "safe, middle-ground" Oscar bait material? Yet, as of now Guardians of the Galaxy is sitting at over 150+ reviews on Rotten Tomatoes, which is more than the other movie opening this week. So it doesn't seem that they're ignoring it. Ah, I know, they must be giving it middling reviews with their tone of "banal dismissal" that you speak of. Oh, the movie also has a 92% aggregate rating. Hmm... I'm not sure where you're getting your argument from then?
Yes, there are critics there that have lambasted the Marvel movies as a way to prove some kind of indie credibility, but they're such a minuscule part of the critic community I don't know why you keep bringing them up or seemingly obsess over them. There have been plenty of well reviewed blockbusters this year. Yes, I'm not a fan of the Marvel movies, but that doesn't mean I hate blockbusters or fun movies. It's egotistical to even insinuate that.
Every weekend in which a new superhero movie debuts, it's basically a black hole of discussion for the film community. It is so incredibly disingenuous to say otherwise with your noting that these critics aren't "engaging" with the culture. Plus, we live in an age where there is so much content for everyone that a general, non-specialized reviewer is becoming more and more meaningless.
Regardless, you're doing the same thing you're complaining about. You can build something up without having to tear the other side down and your unnecessary jab at Boyhood at the end was fairly hypocritical to any sort of message you're trying to deliver. I'm so sick and tired of this tribalism in nerd communities. It's like everything has to fit into these nice neat little categories and you're not allowed to venture outside of your determined grouping. You know what? I loved the Grand Budapest Hotel, Under the Skin, Stranger by the Lake and Life Itself. But that doesn't mean I also didn't greatly enjoy Days of Future Past, Edge of Tomorrow and Lego Movie. Most of the critics I follow are the same way. Also, I've seen you give good reviews to less mainstream fare, such as the Tree of Life, so why are you continuing to espouse this tribalism nonsense?
What this argument really reeks of is more of the fans perceived injustices. Nobody likes seeing things they enjoy attacked, but a lot of the fans of these big blockbusters (especially superhero movies) just don't like any criticism at all. Look at the death threats people received for giving The Dark Knight poor reviews a few years back. Look at the abuse A.O. Scott took for "daring" to give Avengers 2-1/2 stars, or even on the new Guardians movie where some noxious segment of fans decided to abuse a film critic for not liking it [http://blogs.villagevoice.com/runninscared/2014/07/a_note_to_the_guardians_of_the_galaxy_fans_who_are_calling_our_critic_a_harlot.php]. Now, you're being nowhere remotely as egregious, but it feels like its coming from the same base sentiment. What is the acceptable way to criticize these movies? Because despite all claims of "just don't be a dick about it" are met with the same results: abuse for not liking a f'king movie.