‘Tick, Tick…Boom!’ Soars as a Showcase of Unexpected Talents
By Ben Hiett
“Am I cut out to spend my time this way?”
So asks Jonathon Larson, the real-life Broadway composer and playwright who is the focus of this film. Directed by Broadway extraordinaire Lin-Manuel Miranda with a screenplay penned by “Dear Evan Hansen” writer Steven Levenson, “Tick, Tick...Boom!” is an adaptation of a solo rock opera originally composed and performed by Larson himself. Written before his most famous musical “Rent," the show tells the story of Larson’s ...
Streaming Services: The Binging Revolution and Its Consequences
By Josh McClain
Fifteen years ago, binging referred to the overconsumption of alcohol, money or other abusable substances—not something most Christians take pride in. Now, teens and young adults use the same word to describe watching through hours of the latest movies and series on streaming platforms like Netflix or Disney Plus. Just as word connotations morph over time in response to cultural change, the “binge” revolution represents a response to the emergence of accessible streaming ...
Analysis: Christians and Horror Films
By Sam Acosta
As believers, discernment in entertainment can be a daunting task, with the seemingly endless amounts of music, shows and movies to filter through and pick from. It’s an important task, however, as Phillipians 4:8 instructs us to be careful about what we dwell on and let into our minds.
Right off the bat, there are some fairly obvious rejects, such as the “Fifty Shades of Grey” series. Other properties are more controversial: some Christians refuse to watch “Harry ...
Disney+ and Spiderman and Ghostbusters! Oh My!
By Janie Walenda
It is nearly impossible to keep up with movies and TV shows nowadays, so let me help by recapping the past few weeks of Hollywood news, including the latest box office figures, “Spiderman: No Way Home” leaks, recent casting announcements, and Disney+ Day.
While the box office is still nowhere close to the state it was in 2019, it is gradually returning back to normal. After just two weekends, “Eternals” has already earned 118.7 million dollars, surpassing “Dune. ...
‘Ghostbusters: Afterlife’ Brings Heart Back to the Franchise
By Janie Walenda
“Ghostbusters” has a rough history with sequels. In 1989, “Ghostbusters II” failed to recapture the magic of the original, and the 2016 reboot has been largely reviled by fans. While “Ghostbusters: Afterlife” is by no means a perfect film, it manages to both satisfy old fans and win over new ones.
One key to the film’s success is its use of another iconic 80’s genre: family adventure films. Drawing on the trademarks of this genre, the film follows most ...
Rumors Run Rampant Following the Astroworld Tragedy
By Sam Acosta
On Friday, November 5, tragedy struck the Astroworld music festival in NRG Park in Houston. The festival brought tens of thousands of people together to hear famous musical artists such as Earth, Wind & Fire and 21 Savage, amongst others. On Friday night, the first of the two-night event, headliner Travis Scott took to the stage.
As his performance began, the riled-up crowd surged forward to get closer. With too many people in too small of a space, many were trampled and ...
Calls for Caution Come in Light of the ‘Rust’ Shooting Incident
By Sam Acosta
In late October, tragedy struck the New Mexico movie set for the film “Rust” when lead actor Alec Baldwin accidentally fatally shot the film’s cinematographer and wounded the director with what was supposed to be a “cold” revolver. A gun is “cold” when it has no bullets in it and is safe to use as a prop.
Nobody has been officially blamed for the incident as of the writing of this article, as the investigation is still underway, but the incident has called into ...
‘Red Notice’ is Fun and Entertaining and Doesn’t Need to be Much Else
By Benjamin Konuch
I couldn’t wait to see Red Notice.
When I first heard it announced and learned what kind of movie it was, my excitement was through the roof. I utterly adore the action comedy genre, with movies such as “Red” and “Knight & Day” being family favorites. Hearing that Netflix was going to be making an original movie in that style, starring Dwayne Johnson, Ryan Renolds, and Gal Gadot, my excitement skyrocketed. Here were three of Hollywood’s biggest stars in the ...
Tom Hanks Shines as Troubled Father Figure in ‘Finch’
By Ben Hiett
I wasn’t expecting much out of “Finch,” a small-scale sci-fi movie quietly released on Apple TV+ last weekend. True, it did star American acting legend Tom Hanks in the titular role, and, based on promotional footage, the practical and CG effects for his robot companion looked convincingly realistic.
Still, none of what I saw looked unfamiliar. Moviegoers have seen the “post-apocalyptic world ravaged by some major disaster” story told time and time again in films such ...
‘Last Night in Soho’ Teeters Between Mess and Masterpiece
By Sam Acosta
“Last Night in Soho” is one of the best examples of gorgeous cinematography in the last decade. Supported by an interesting plot and talented cast, this film starts strong but then loses steam halfway through, see-sawing between wonderful storytelling and awkward filmmaking. As a result, I left the theater with mixed feelings.
“Last Night in Soho” follows Eloise, a young woman who dreams of becoming a famous fashion designer. Along with her eye for fashion, Eloise has ...
