‘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 ...
What makes a favorite movie?
Serine
Serine Warner’s favorite films are those that embrace themes of chosen family. She loves “Kung Fu Panda 2” for its emphasis on family not being defined by blood and “Cheaper by the Dozen” for its representation of families that aren’t picture perfect but have each other’s backs no matter what.
“Chaos is part of the family,” Warner said. “Chaos does not mean dysfunctional, it just means a bunch of different personalities who are choosing to love each personali...
The Foreign Film Series: ‘Godzilla: Minus One’ is a triumphant roar
By Ben Konuch
“Everyone who survived the war, they deserve to have a life again.”
On the Tuesday evening of December 3, dozens of Cedarville students packed into the DeVries Theatre to watch the final screening of the semester for The Foreign Film Series. This screening, “Godzilla: Minus One” attracted one of the largest crowds of The Foreign Film Series as audience members laughed, gasped, and cheered together for each twist and turn.
“Godzilla: Minus One” released in ...
‘Our Little Secret’ is a little short on secrets
By Danielle Cherry
A jarring twist takes place in this classic Hallmark-style romance. Avery (Lindsey Lohan) and Logan (Ian Harding) were childhood best friends who later became lovers. But after Avery decides to move away, they never thought they would see each other again. Not until they bump into each other at their respective boyfriend and girlfriend's family home and discover that their significant others are siblings.
The reuniting of the characters was unique to that of ...
A musical film that ‘Spellbound’ me
By Danielle Cherry
Ellian is a princess in a whimsical kingdom, where her life is perfect… almost. The only problem is her parents are monsters. “Spellbound” follows the journey Ellian takes to bring her parents back, traversing uncertainties and a darkness that tries to overtake her.
From the get-go I was drawn in by the animation, almost realistic in style, yet maintaining a sketchy artistic vibe. It teeters on the edge between high-tech animation and a classic flip book. ...
‘Red One’ is the right choice for a refreshing Christmas story
By Danielle Cherry
“It is the choices you make that define you”
A technological Christmas wonderland awaits viewers of “The Red One,” filled with witty one-liners and seamless integration of Christmas culture from around the world. “The Red One” is a great film for older viewers, especially those seeking a thicker plot than an average Christmas movie and a thrill from suspenseful action sequences.
Jack O’Malley (Chris Evans) is a level-four naughty lister. ...
