‘Mufasa’ should win a Oscar
By Danielle Cherry
Pride Rock shines once again in “Mufasa,” retracing the history of the royal line to where it all began: with Taka and Mufasa. Throughout the film, their relationship develops and stretches as they encounter obstacles that hinder them from making it to Milele.
From the beginning of the film, Taka and Mufasa are inseparable, playing in the grass under the watchful eye of Taka’s father, Obasi. By the middle of the film, the viewer is clued to who Taka really ...
A character driven show causes viewers to ponder; ‘What If…?’
By Danielle Cherry
Anything is possible within the multiverse. “What If…?” explores the endless possibilities within the Marvel universe, following beloved characters in unique team-ups and stories that set this animated series apart from the other Marvel TV shows and movies. Here, anything goes, even the most ludicrous.
“What If…?” is a controversial series among Marvel fans, garnering much hate and love at the same time. I was surprised that the TV show was ...
‘Gladiator II:’ We are entertained, but we should be feeling something stronger
By Ben Konuch
“A man does not become emperor by bloodline alone. It must be taken by force and kept by force! Are you such a man as this?”
I really, really wanted to love “Gladiator II.” As one of 2024’s flashiest blockbusters and a sequel to one of the most famous historical action films ever made, “Gladiator II” had a lot going for it. As iconic director Ridley Scott stepped back into the world of ancient Rome with a new, star-studded cast, I found myself thoroughly ...
‘Maria’ is a borderline insulting waste of time
By Isaac Steward
This review contains spoilers for “Maria”
“Maria” is a 2024 biographical psychological drama, following the final week of Maria Callas, widely considered to be the greatest female opera singer of the 20th century, Maria Callas, before her death at the age of 53 in 1977.
By this time in Maria’s life, she has long been retired from the stage, inflicted by a mysterious illness that has diminished her once legendary voice. Despite this, she still longs to sing, ...
‘Wicked: Part 1’ defies expectations
By Sophia Monastra
As I researched this movie, two thoughts ran through my mind: “This movie is how long?” and “What do you mean this is part 1?”
Full disclosure, I’ve never seen the musical “Wicked” due to limited finances, (or “Wizard of Oz” due to generational trauma from flying monkeys but that’s another matter), but research shows that the musical is around three hours long.
The movie is two and a half hours for Part 1. Surely the filmmakers had to be adding ...
‘Wicked: Part 1’ defies expectations
By Sophia Monastra
As I researched this movie, two thoughts ran through my mind: “This movie is how long?” and “What do you mean this is part 1?”
Full disclosure, I’ve never seen the musical “Wicked” due to limited finances, (or “Wizard of Oz” due to generational trauma from flying monkeys but that’s another matter), but research shows that the musical is around three hours long.
The movie is two and a half hours for Part 1. Surely the filmmakers had to be adding ...
‘Moana 2’ missed the mark
By Danielle Cherry
Eight years after the original motion picture was released, fans are welcomed back into Moana’s world, following new and old characters on a new adventure to reunite the community of the oceanic world by finding the Island of Tautai Vasa.
Beginning the film, I was excited to see where Moana’s story would go, how she would develop as a person and where this plot would be headed. Yet I was let down as the story had a very similar flow to the first film.
From ...
‘Skeleton Crew’ is unexpectedly charming
By Janie Walenda
Wim (Ravi Cabot-Conyers) wants to be a hero. More specifically, he wants to be a Jedi. He spends most of his time listening to stories of the Jedi and the Sith, so when he finds a mysterious structure in the forest, he’s convinced it’s a Jedi Temple. One regretful button push later, and Wim and three other kids are blasted into space on an abandoned pirate spaceship.
As if this wasn’t bad enough, they discover that not only is their home planet, At Attin, not on ...
Arts in Action: The Testimony of Art Exhibitions
By Katlynn Rossignol
The 220 Gallery sits outside the DeVries theater and displays a rotating variety of visiting and student works. Yet it’s a rare occurrence when the displays are announced beyond the theater’s entrance. The 220 Gallery is an unadvertised space online, being only briefly passed through on facility video tours and is completely excluded from the Art and Design Facility listings.
So why do artists display their work in the gallery space, and do art exhibitions ...
Why Should the Moviegoer Care about the Weaponization of Nostalgia?
By Ben Konuch
Imagine that once upon a time, you wanted to go to the movie theater and see a new release. That year, a new film about a deadly tornado sweeping across the country was one of the biggest releases of the summer. The previous summer, a new “Indiana Jones” came to theaters with mixed acclaim and two years before it, Tom Cruise dazzled in “Top Gun.”
But this year that you’re imagining isn’t in the ‘80s or '90s, it's just 2024. In this year, like most ...
