‘Percy Jackson and the Olympians’ episodes 3-4 paint an uncertain future for the series
By Ben Konuch
“The gods want you to believe that, that they are infallible. But they only want what all bullies want. They want us to blame themselves for their own shortcomings.”
“Percy Jackson and the Olympians” is officially halfway through its first season (of hopefully many), and as much I wish to be able to call this series great as a huge fan of the books, I have to settle with saying that it is good. The last two episodes of the series once again do a fantastic job at ...
‘What If’ season two is a frustratingly mixed bag
By Janie Walenda
“What If” season two had a lot of work to do to win me over. Working against a combination of uninspiring episode premises and my newfound general ambivalence toward comic book movies and television, I started season two with far less excitement for the first season. While I can’t say that season two unequivocally won me over, it did surprise me with its enjoyability and inventiveness.
The best part of season two is how much fun most of the ...
‘Aquaman and The Lost Kingdom’ engages viewers and provides new insight into the world of Atlantis
By Esther Fultz
(Spoilers for “Aquaman and The Lost Kingdom” ahead)
I have a confession. Growing up, I never enjoyed DC. While I heard of the characters and knew the basic plotline of some stories, the movies never really appealed to me. In my head, DC films were pure action and violence, and while I love action films, I need something more. I need a genuine connection with the characters. I want to be rooting for them not just because they’re the “good guy” but because I ...
‘Percy Jackson and the Olympians’ has a strong first two episodes that nonetheless aren’t quite worthy of the gods
By Ben Konuch
“Hold fast, Percy. Brave the storm.”
(The following review will contain spoilers for “Percy Jackson and the Olympians” as well as the novel The Lightning Thief)
To say that Rick Riordan's “Percy Jackson and the Olympians” book series holds a special place in my heart would be an understatement. I never read “Harry Potter”, but I did give “Percy Jackson” a try from the recommendation of my older brother. The stories Riordan told of Greek mythology ...
Chicken Run: Dawn of the Nugget’ brings an ‘impeckable’ heist to Netflix
By Katlynn Rossignol
It’s been years since the original “Chicken Run” released in 2000, where the chickens of Mrs. Tweedy’s Farm escaped the chicken coop and their fate of being turned into pies. Picking up from the happy ending of the original, “Chicken Run: Dawn of the Nugget” sees Rocky and Ginger leave the past behind and start a family with their adventurous daughter, Molly, from the safety of an isolated island.
But the chickens’ peaceful lives are threatened ...
Come with me, and you’ll be, in a review of a fun yet shallow ‘Wonka’
By Thomas J. Cromer
(The following review will contain light spoilers)
The Film in Overview:
The 2023 film “Wonka” is overall an enjoyable watch from multiple different perspectives The music, setting and characters all fit together to create an entertaining film, even if it ultimately is a somewhat unfulfilled one. ”Wonka” is designed to be mostly just for entertainment and has very little depth to actually offer. The film is not designed to be a thought-provoking ...
‘The Boy and the Heron’ meets every expectation
By Ashleigh Clark
This review includes light spoilers for “The Boy and the Heron.” You have been warned.
It was no surprise when I walked into the theater for “The Boy and the Heron” that I would find Hayao Miyazaki’s newest work to be a surreal experience. His latest film intertwines music, animation and storytelling into one beautiful narrative, a feat he accomplishes masterfully in all his works. Miyazaki’s new film provides an adventure with stunning animation that ...
It’s the most wonderful time for a film!
Edited by Janie Walenda and Ben Konuch
How do you spending your December nights? For the Walenda family, we often bunk down after a long day of Christmas festivities and turn on a Christmas movie. I cherish this time with my family as we revisit old favorites and explore new festive films. Just as we did last year, several Arts and Entertainment writers have shared their favorite Christmas movies below to help you and your family find your next holiday watch.
Janie Walenda: ...
Cedarville University welcomes Christmas with this year’s heartwarming concert
By Mitchell DeBusk
Cedarville’s annual Community Christmas Celebration has dazzled attendees for over twenty years and this year’s musical extravaganza proved no exception. Featuring performances from the University Jazz Band, Women’s Choir, Concert Chorale, Orchestra and Harp Ensemble, every section had the opportunity to demonstrate their talents as well as their Christmas spirit.
Dixon Ministry Center’s Jeremiah Chapel was packed to the brim with eager families and ...
‘Leave the World Behind’ weaves existential dread into a new type of apocalyptic drama
By Ben Konuch
“Haven’t you been picking up on what’s going on out there? We’ve all been deserted.”
If you were to have a conversation with me about who I thought were the greatest visionaries in film from the last ten years, you would probably get annoyed with how often I would bring up Sam Esmail. The director and showrunner of the television series “Mr. Robot,” which I have absolutely adored since its first season twist, Esmail has time and time again demonstrated his ...
