‘Soul on Fire’ is a story that burns bright
By Amelia Morris
“Soul on Fire” is an inspiring true story about John O’Leary who learned to turn an accident into a comeback.
At the age of nine, John O’Leary played with fire, literally. After a house fire that was his fault, John suffered several severe burns over his whole body. The doctors and nurses believed he wouldn’t make it.
Defying all odds, John survived with burn scars, lost fingers and a story to tell. With help from John's family, hospital staff ...
‘The Senior’ falls flat by refusing to let the genre rest
By Josh Ball
Football movies are an old trope. It sounds weird coming from someone who identifies it as his favorite sport, but it’s true. Hollywood uses football stories as a way to write an uplifting story about overcoming adversity, but football means so much more to those who play. “The Senior” conveys both of these messages in a fresh set of paint on the old house of football movies.
The film opens in 1970 on Mike Flynt (Michael Chiklis) playing linebacker for Sul Ross ...
‘Playing Peter Pan’ tackled difficult topics in creative ways
By Megan Deets
“It’s been encouraging that I’m telling a story that matters,” Rosie Hernandez-Smith said about her role as June in “Playing Peter Pan”.
“Playing Peter Pan” is an original play written by Professor Eric Mishne for Cedarville University’s theatre program. It ran from October 2-12. The story follows three siblings, Wendy, June and Michael, who use their imaginations to bring the story of “Peter Pan” to life. They act out many of the famous scenes ...
Taylor Swift’s ‘The Life of a Showgirl’ proves that not all that glitters is gold.
By Eva Tweeten
The release of Taylor Swift’s newest album, ‘The Life of a Showgirl,’ has come at a very fitting time. Though her name is never far from the public’s lips, Swift has been more in the limelight than usual, due to her recent engagement to NFL player Travis Kelce. It is therefore a very strategic decision to release this album, centered on the pitfalls of global fame, shortly after a spike in her media exposure.
The first track on the 2025 album is a song much ...
‘Gilmore Girls’ is a fall tradition that stands the test of time
By: Amelia Morris
“Gilmore Girls” originally premiered on October 5th, 25 years ago. All this time has passed and the show still remains popular with fans. Every Autumn, audiences return to the show to transport themselves back to fall in the early 2000s.
Lorelai (Lauren Graham) and Rory (Alexis Bledel) do absolutely everything as a team.
The series centers on the mother-daughter duo of Lorelai (Lauren Graham) and Rory (Alexis Bledel) Gilmore as they navigate their lives in ...
‘Eleanor the Great’ beautifully demonstrates coming to terms with loss
By Teagan Warren
Scarlett Johannson, best known for her role as Black Widow in the Marvel Universe, makes her directorial debut with “Eleanor the Great,” a story about a sprightly 94-year-old woman who, after the passing of her best friend Bessie, decides to move to New York City to live with her daughter and grandson.
Eleanor Morgenstein’s sass and jesting nature make the move with her. Her daughter Lisa and her grandson Max love Eleanor, but carry on with their lives, which ...
‘Good Boy’: An Indie Horror Film Told from a Loyal Dog’s Perspective
By John Hiett
Released on Oct. 3, 2025, the supernatural horror film, “Good Boy,” leads audiences into the spooky season from a dog’s perspective. That's right, the majority, if not the entirety, of the film deals with the dog’s owner, Todd (Shane Jenson) being haunted by a looming supernatural threat, with the loyal retriever, Indy, taking the spotlight, protecting his owner.
Initially starting as a short film, the director Ben Leonberg and his wife, Kari Fischer, took it upon ...
The Maze Cutter: The Infinite Glade
By Amelia Morris
“The Maze Cutter: The Infinite Glade” by James Dashner weaves a story told from four different perspectives of a war-driven dystopian world overcome with disease, destruction and chaos. Unfortunately, it did not live up to my expectations.
“The Maze Cutter: The Infinite Glade” was released this September as the final book in the “Maze Cutter” Trilogy. The book takes place 73 years after the original “Maze Runner” series and features characters descended ...
‘The Smashing Machine’ delivers plenty of hard-hitting moments, though very few involve fists
By Gabriel Payne
What matters the most to you in the world? What is that one thing which without it, your life would absolutely fall apart? For UFC pioneer Mark Kerr (Dwayne Johnson), the thing of central importance is victory over every aspect of his life.
Kerr is not a man who loses in anything, at least until that fateful day which would define the rest of his life. Benny Safdie’s solo directorial debut “The Smashing Machine” is a deep dive into the turbulent life and ...
‘One Battle After Another’ Shines as an Example of Political Commentary
By John Hiett
“One Battle After Another” is a comedic political thriller that tackles and explores the various political and personal struggles that all Americans deal with. The film is directed by Paul Thomas Anderson who is best known for his movie, “There Will Be Blood,” and filmmaking style that involves character centric stories and intricate cinematography.
“One Battle After Another” starts its focus on a far-left revolutionary group called the French 75, who loudly and ...
