‘Belle’ is Truly Beautiful
By Ben Konuch
“Gales of song, guide me through the storm. Let the melody lift me high, I’ll be me.”
"Belle”, simply put, is a beautiful film. Gorgeously animated, wonderfully written, and with stunning original songs, “Belle” swept me up into its world of style, emotion, and heart. Part coming-of-age story, part teen drama and part musical with a pinch of science fiction, this anime feature was loosely based on the story of Beauty and the Beast. While some may be wary of this ...
‘Peacemaker’ Episode 4 is What the Series Needed
By the Cedars A&E Staff
"Look, we all want to believe that our parents are flawed but innately good, and maybe, usually, that's the case, but not here. Your dad is not a good man!"
The fourth episode of "Peacemaker" is great. Following hot off the heels of a solid third episode, this one sees Peacemaker and his team deal with the captured Judomaster as well as trying to contain the situation when Peacemaker finds out that his father has been framed to cover up his own mess. Playing up the ...
‘Peacemaker’ 3-Episode Premiere is a Frustrating Mixture of Greatness and Failures
By the Cedars A&E Staff
(The following review will contain spoilers for James Gunn’s “The Suicide Squad”)
“Peacemaker. What a joke.”
If you’ve seen “The Suicide Squad”, the idea of a spinoff devoted entirely to Peacemaker should alone make you question a couple things - in a good way. When I heard that Gunn was making a Peacemaker series, I was intrigued to see how the show would handle one of the most nuanced DC characters of recent memory. Almost right after that, I ...
‘The King’s Man’ is Refined but Brutal, Civilized but Merciless
By Ben Konuch
“Our enemies think we are gentlemen, but reputation is what people think of you. Character is what you are.”
"The King's Man" is a history-based spy thriller written and directed by Mathew Vaughn and serves as a prequel to "Kingsman: The Secret Service." Set amidst the backdrop of World War I, the film follows the Duke of Oxford and his family (both blood relations and found family) as they begin the world's first independent intelligence organization in order to expose a ...
‘Zach Stone Is Gonna Be Famous’ Is a Masterpiece Made Before Its Time
By Sam Acosta
In a world oversaturated with sitcoms, it is hard to find any with much to offer beyond a few crude jokes. It seems as if there are no more original ideas for the genre, with most modern shows being simple copy-and-paste replicas of more successful predecessors like the seemingly endless “Office” and “Friends” clones. There are, however, a few hidden gems out there, shows with both originality and quality. “Zach Stone Is Gonna Be Famous” is one of those gems.
The ...
‘Scream’ Has More to Offer Than Your Average Slasher
By Sam Acosta
[Editor’s Note: This review contains spoilers.]
When I first found out about this “requel” (reboot sequel) to the iconic slasher series, I figured it was just another cash grab aimed at classic horror fans. With the number of reboots made in the last several years, most with middling results, I have come to approach such films with preemptively low expectations.
However, I must admit I was thoroughly impressed with this new installment in the series. Not only did it ...
Heading into its Third Season, ‘Servant’ Refuses to be Categorized
By Ben Hiett
I’m not a fan of films that try to cheaply surprise their viewers with grandiose twists or originality for originality’s sake. That said, I’m also less of a fan of sitting through various retellings of the same story over and over again. If I’m going to watch something, I’d rather it be something I haven’t seen before, with that originality having a purpose beyond simply trying to surprise the audience.
All that to say, “Servant” surprised me. Indeed, I was ...
‘Silent Night’ Has Good Ideas that are Wasted on Mediocrity
By Ben Konuch
“The outcome is always the same, and in no particular order. We will all die, one by one, and you will be left crying with no one to comfort you. And I can’t do that.”
When I first learned the concept for black comedy/drama "Silent Night", I was really hoping for it to be an unexpected sleeper hit of the year. The concept is a gold mine of potential, following a group of old college friends and their families gathering for one last Christmas party the day before the world ...
‘Hawkeye’ Concludes with Action and Holiday Cheer
By Janie Walenda
The Hawkeye finale marks the last MCU release of 2021. In my opinion, “Hawkeye” was one of the best MCU Disney+ shows of the year. By going back to the incredible Matt Fraction Hawkeye comic run, the show breathed new life into one of the least popular Avengers. It balanced character development with amazing action scenes and had the most satisfying conclusions to each of its plot points.
Here’s hoping for a season two so we get more of Clint and Kate’s ...
‘Arcane’ Is Inexplicably Amazing
By Janie Walenda
There are many reasons why “Arcane” should have failed, such as its source material. the numerous characters and complex subject matter. Yet, in an interesting turn of events, not only is “Arcane” good, but I would go so far as to call it a masterpiece.
I went into this show completely blind, to the point that I didn’t even know it was based on a video game. It wasn’t until halfway through the show that I learned “Arcane” was a prequel series for the ...
