‘The Last of Us’ episodes three and four contrast love and hatred
By Ben Konuch
“Because there was one person worth saving. That's what I did: I saved him. And I protected him. That's why men like you and me are here: We have a job to do. And God help any[one] who stand[s] in our way.”
Episodes three and four of “The Last of Us” continue to prove that this series is one of the best adaptations of a video game we’ve seen yet, even while it makes some unexpected and bold departures from the source material that mostly pays off.
These ...
‘Our Town’ is a Beautiful Rendition of a Classic
By Samuel M Acosta
Cedarville’s winter production of “Our Town” opened on Thursday, February 2nd and it was absolutely incredible. This classic play had been brought to life on the DeVries stage with such sincerity that it made you think not only about the story but about your own story as well. With an amazing cast of actors and a simple but striking design, “Our Town” captured me from the opening lines all the way to the very end.
This story brings us to Grover’s ...
‘National Treasure: Edge of History’ is a modern twist on classic treasure-hunting stories
By Ella Smith
Based on the popular “National Treasure” movies of the 2000s, “National Treasure: Edge of History” is built from the classic treasure-hunting movies with a modern take on technology. Set in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, the series focuses on a different era of history than prior movies. While the movies generally centered around more recent American history like the Revolutionary War with ties into more ancient history, the series focused more on the ancient time ...
“The Chosen” season 3 explores grief and loss through its compelling storytelling
By Chris Karenbauer
Finding a good Christian film is hard to come by. Usually, the budgets are low, the acting is mediocre at best and the story’s plot falls flat. But in its three seasons, “The Chosen” has proven that low-budget Christian films can create an interesting story with talented acting.
Just as the stories of seasons 1 and 2 lead to major turning points in Jesus’ ministry – the woman at the well and the sermon on the mount respectively – the events in season ...
“Plane” is a solid, exciting ride
By Ben Konuch
“Plane” is a new action-thriller from director Jean-François Richet that stars Gerard Butler as Brodie Torrance, a former RAF pilot who now serves as an airline pilot. He’s given the assignment to fly a New Year’s flight from Singapore to Tokyo in order to reunite with his daughter after a long absence, but when the airliner has to fly through a storm, a freak lightning strike disables the plane’s electronics and forces it down in the Philippines. While trying to ...
‘Our Yellow Tape Letters’ Is More than Just a Fluffy Love Story
By Ellie Estrema
As Valentine’s Day approaches, many people on Cedarville’s campus are pulling out their heart-shaped decorations, red roses and cards with cute sayings to celebrate this sweet holiday. However, for readers, finding books appropriate for the season can be a little bit more tricky. Everyone enjoys a fluffy romance now and then, but reading a steady diet of them around Valentine’s Day can be underwhelming at best and nauseating at worst.
This is where Caitlin ...
‘Lockwood & Co.’ is an intriguing blend of familiar genres
By Ella Smith
At first glance, “Lockwood & Co.” is clearly reminiscent of Ghostbusters and other supernatural shows of the eighties and nineties. A premise built around a ghost epidemic and the idea of ghost hunting as a business shows some clear inspiration from past supernatural shows. However, as you get farther into “Lockwood & Co.” familiar tropes from several different genres are incorporated into the young adult show.
The main character Lucy Carlyle is thus far an ...
‘M3GAN’ upgrades horror with unsettling and hilarious twists
By Ben Konuch
"With MEGAN around she can take care of the little things, so you can have time to take care of the things that matter."
Do you like dolls? Do you like really unsettling, creepy dolls? If you’re like me, the answer is most likely a definitive, “NO!” But James Wan, the creative mind behind “Saw” and the “Conjuring” franchise, knows this and decided that the natural response to our unanimous answer would be to write another unsettling, creepy doll movie. This ...
Best of 2022: ‘Amphibia’ is full of laughs, love and loss
By Janie Walenda
Editor’s note: In our “Best of 2022” series, A&E writers revisit their favorite movies and television shows that weren’t reviewed during the year.
I have a soft spot for children’s cartoons, and I watched an inordinate amount of them last year. And out of all the cartoons, and even out of all of the television shows I watched, “Amphibia” has the biggest impact on me.
Running for three seasons and ending in May of 2022, “Amphibia” fits in well ...
Best of 2022: ‘Prey’ is an exhilarating fight for survival
By Ben Konuch
Editor’s note: In our “Best of 2022” series, A&E writers revisit their favorite movies and television shows that weren’t reviewed during the year.
“It knows how to hunt. But I know how to survive.”
The Predator franchise has been a rocky one. The original 1987 “Predator” is a masterclass in crafting an action thriller, with scenes of big, loud action mixed with moments of quiet horror as characters slowly get picked off brutally by an invisible ...
