‘Young Sherlock’ might have been better as a weekly release
By Sophie Monastra
A few weeks ago, the Arts & Entertainment division asked each other a question: Do you prefer having each episode released week by week, or for the entire season to drop at one time?
I forgot about this discussion until I opened Amazon Prime and discovered eight 45 to 55 minute episodes waiting for me.
As a proponent for the weekly release schedule, I believe “Young Sherlock” would have worked better as a more spaced-out release. Instead, audiences got a ...
‘Project Hail Mary’ is science fiction novel with emphasis on SCIENCE
By Sophia Monastra
“Project Hail Mary”, software engineer and self-proclaimed space nerd Andy Weir’s third novel, released in 2021. Since its release on my local online library service, it has been constantly checked out with a two-month wait…for the past four years.
Clearly, he’s doing something right.
“Project Hail Mary” follows Dr. Ryland Grace, a middle school science teacher and former molecular biologist, as he wakes up from a coma and finds himself in the ...
‘Twenty One Pilots: More Than We Ever Imagined’ exemplifies the wonderful performers of the two-man show
By Teagan Warren
Twenty One Pilots (often stylized as TØP) released their first album in 2009. In 2015, their popularity exploded with the release of “Blurryface,” particularly with their songs “Stressed Out” and “Ride.” Their music, discussing the topic of mental health extensively, has served as an encouragement for many hurting audiences.
A unique aspect of this two-man show (consisting of Tyler Joseph as lead singer and multi-instrumentalist and Josh Dun as drummer) is ...
‘Othello’ demonstrates why Shakespeare stands alone
By Josh Ball
A theatrical release of a 500-year-old stage play feels weird in the modern world of action-packed blockbusters. Yet the newest depiction of “Othello” demonstrates why Shakespeare stands alone at the top of iconic writers of the English language.
Produced by Chris Harper Productions from the Theatre Royal Haymarket in London’s West End, “Othello” demonstrates all the benefits of a stage play. The movie version was refreshingly simple. In a world where Hollywood ...
‘The Ballad of Wallis Island’ is a comedy with depth, heart, humor and a killer soundtrack
By Sophie Monastra
“Oh, would you like to hear a story / About a man who's tired of life? / Rejected money, love and glory / To escape the city strife.”
Thus sings Herb McGwyer, half of the folk duo known as McGwyer Mortimer. In the 10-year wake of the disbanding of the duo, both musically and romantically, Herb has been creating various commercial pop collaborations to fund a solo album.
When invited to play a small gig for half a million pounds on the isolated Wallis ...
‘A Hero’ addresses the facade of heroism
By Teagan Warren
A lot can happen in two days. For Rahim Soltani in particular, a short prison release led him into a world of trouble.
Rahim is released from prison for two days, a common allowance in the Iranian debtor’s prisons. He returns home to a tense family situation and is given a bag of gold coins that his fiance, Farkhondeh, found. He ponders selling them, but after contacting his creditor, Bahram, he finds that the money would not be sufficient to appease him.
Ra...
‘One Piece’ season two sails straight to Netflix’s top ten
By Katlynn Rossignol
Monkey D. Luffy and the Straw Hat crew finally enter the Grand Line, where the fabled pirate treasure, the One Piece, is said to be hidden. The voyage is treacherous, and the Straw Hat pirates must face off against old foes and the deadly assassin group Baroque Works. Only by standing together can the crew sail through the rough seas and achieve their dreams.
The production crew behind the live-action “One Piece” understands what it means to pay homage to the ...
Bruno Mars does not need to ‘Risk It All’ in his newest album, ‘The Romantic.’
By Eva Tweeten
Bruno Mars is finally back, releasing his album ‘The Romantic’ ten years after the award-winning ‘24k Magic.’ Short and sweet, ‘The Romantic’ is composed of 9 songs with a total runtime of just over 30 minutes. This is the perfect length, as each song is carefully crafted and unique, yet not one feels out of place among the rest.
The album opens with “Risk It All,” a nostalgic-sounding piece with forgettable lyrics but a beautiful melody. At the heart of ...
‘Paul McCartney: Man on the Run’ is unique and intriguing
By Amelia Morris
Paul McCartney, known best as a member of the Beatles, has had a successful music career after the band parted ways. This documentary follows McCartney as he continues to make music, both in bands and as a solo act.
The documentary, “Man on the Run,” concentrates on what came after the Beatles broke up, honing in on McCartney’s career in the 1970s. The story is crafted only from old footage of events that are narrated purely by interviews, with McCartney himself ...
‘Hoppers’ rings in spring
By Amelia Morris
“Hoppers,” the latest edition to Pixar’s expansive library, is a typical save the nature storyline with a sci-fi twist. As usual Pixar delivers heart warming stories with a real world theme and application.
“Hoppers” takes place in the town of Beaverton, a city surrounded by nature. The mayor, Jerry, has decided to build a beltway right smack dab in the middle of Beaverton’s glade - to secure his reelection, while also destroying the ecosystem.
Mabel ...
