‘Passport to Love’ shows a romantic journey around the world.
By Laci Strouse
Nicole (Shae Robins), a travel blogger, and Kade (Mason D. Davis), a marketing representative, both end up at the same hotel while traveling for work in Polynesia. This small encounter leads to a wonderful friendship, only hampered by Kade’s boss wanting him to take down any threat to his company, including Nicole’s blog. He must decide if his career is worth destroying the career of the woman he loves.
This movie stood out to me because of the setting. ...
‘Dune: Part Two’ delivers a haunted messiah that you may not be ready for
By Ben Konuch
“Power over spice is power over all.”
Three years after Denis Villeneuve unveiled his first chapter of a vast adaptation of Frank Herbert’s legendary sci-fi novel “Dune,” Villeneuve returns to the sands of Arrakis to bring the next page of his adaptation to life. With “Dune: Part One” serving as an overwhelming financial and critical success, snagging a total of six Oscars at the Academy Awards and introducing new fans to the mystical and militaristic future ...
‘Damsel’ distresses audiences with its mediocre story
By Katlynn Rossignol
In “Damsel,” the new dark-fantasy film from Netflix, Elodie Bayford agrees to marry a wealthy prince to save her starving country only to be thrust into a fight for survival. The kingdom has hidden a terrible secret within its mountain and sacrifices her to the beast inside. Only by using her cunning and bravery can Elodie escape the deadly caverns and enact justice.
The Bayfords are welcomed by Auria’s royal family
Positives
Elodie, played by Millie ...
‘Dune: Part One’ showed us how to make a blockbuster beautiful
By Ben Konuch
“For the future of House Atreides, there is no call we do not answer, there is no faith that we betray.”
When I first saw “Dune” in theaters during the fall of 2021, I realized something about the film: “Dune” is not an action film. You may not think that from its opening scene, an explosive spectacle that shows the people of the desert planet Arrakis desperately fighting back against their invaders. You may be tempted to assume the contrary from any of its ...
“Madame Web” is a nightmarish reflection of Sony’s franchising and it’s time we start asking why
By Ben Konuch
From the opening scenes of “Madame Web,” it becomes abundantly clear that this won’t be a good movie. Awkwardly-delivered exposition dumps from bad actors, good actors who inexplicably have wooden performances, a villain whose lines are almost all completely re-recorded and added back into the film via janky ADR, horrible camerawork and ridiculous editing turn “Madame Web” from a film to a laughing stock.
In fact, calling it a film seems like a disservice to ...
Sam Claude’s senior theater project astounds
By Isaac Steward
This past weekend, I had the pleasure of watching Sam Claude bring Lauren Gunderson’s 2014 script, “Bauer,” to the Alford Auditorium. This play tells the story of German painter Rudolph Bauer, over a decade after fellow artist and Bauer’s ex-lover, Hilla von Rebay, tricked him into signing away ownership of all his works to Solomon Guggenheim, including anything he creates in the future. Rudolph Bauer hasn’t painted since, and now, thirteen years later, is waiting ...
Foreign Film Series: Everyone has a corner of the world
By Thomas J. Cromer
(The following review will contain light spoilers)
Music and Animation-
The theme song of the film “In This Corner of the World” is called “Kanashikute Yarikirenai” which at first listen sounds peaceful, beautiful and softer than it really is. One of the lines of the song in English is “Today, once again, I look to the distance and cry.'' This contrast serves as a good introduction to “In this Corner of the World,” which has plenty of happy moments ...
Abbott Elementary opens season three with a two-part special
By Katlynn Rossignol
Three seasons and thriving, “Abbott Elementary” has made a name for itself on TV and streaming. Season two progressed the show’s premise by expanding the characters and their relationships. The season ended with a victory over Legacy Charter Schools, hopeful development for Janine’s family conflicts and a ‘will-they-won’t-they’ relationship between Gregory and Janine. With multiple plotlines left open, audiences have plenty to look forward to with the ...
Yep, ‘Argylle’ sure is a movie
By Ben Konuch
I really wanted to enjoy “Argylle.” You mean to tell me that we were getting a new spy thriller/comedy from Mathew Vaughn, the filmmaker behind the “Kingsman” franchise, with Henry Cavill, John Cena and Bryce Dallas Howard? Count me in! The trailers looked funny and its premise sounded intriguing, so I was actually a little excited to see what “Argylle” would end up being. I attended an evening showing as a date night with fairly middle-ground expectations, ...
‘Percy Jackson and the Olympians’ faceplants but gets back up fighting in its final two episodes
By Ben Konuch
“I warned you, if you're not careful, you'll find out who I am.”
“Percy Jackson and the Olympians” is officially over. Or at least, the first season of hopefully many seasons finished airing on Disney+. While its penultimate episode was the season’s worst at building tension and establishing the on-screen presence and impact of the gods, the season finale was the best episode of the entire series. With foreboding gods who feel powerful and intense, exciting fight ...