Cedarville’s ‘The Giver’ Brings a Colorless, Choiceless World to the Stage
By Sophia Monastra
At first glance, the middle school utopian novel “The Giver” doesn’t look like a typical Cedarville theater production. It’s simply written, yet focuses on dark, horrifying implications. “For our fall production, the opening night almost always falls on homecoming weekend,” Professor Stacey Stratton, director of The Giver, said. “We wanted [this theater production] to be something with name recognition…We also wanted it to be something that, if ...
‘Don’t Worry Darling’ is Brilliantly Mediocre
By Samuel M Acosta
This review contains spoilers for “Don’t Worry Darling.”
I went into this film with low expectations following the weeks of drama leading up to its release. Low critic scores, actor drama, and just an overall chaotic premiere caused me to temper the excitement that I had experienced when I first saw the trailer. After seeing the movie for myself, I decided that the critics were both right and wrong. While “Don’t Worry Darling” is a mediocre film, it is only ...
‘Andor’s’ Three-Episode Premiere is a Breath of Fresh Air
By Ben Konuch
“There comes a time when the risk of doing nothing becomes the greatest risk of all."
I’m a massive “Star Wars” fan and have been for as long as I can remember. I would play with my brother’s “Star Wars” Legos when I was little, grew up on “The Clone Wars,” and sunk into the extended lore of books and video games as I became a teenager. As a diehard fan, however, the last few years of “Star Wars” content have been hit or miss. We’ve had the controv...
“Rings of Power” Begins to Put Together the Pieces
By Janie Walenda
As you might expect from an episode titled “Partings,” the fifth episode of “Rings of Power” finds several characters parting ways or forging a new path.
For an episode filled with so much change and plot progression, I don’t understand how it feels like nothing happened. We’ve officially crossed the midway point of this season, and while I’m enjoying “Rings of Power” as much as ever, I feel as though I’m running out of things to talk about.
My ...
“See How They Run” – The Whodunit Returns with Flair
By Kathryn McDonald
A recent rise in interest surrounding true crime stories and unsolved mysteries has led to a revival of interest in mystery books, tv shows, and movies. From G. K. Chesterton’s “Father Brown” to A. C. Doyle’s “Sherlock Holmes,” fans love seeing directors take a fresh cinematic approach to timeless classics.
As a new generation of mystery enthusiasts rediscover these timeless tales, Agatha Christie’s classic works have been revisited again and again. Most ...
“The Giver” is a Chilling Discussion on the Importance of Memory and Choice
By Sophia Monastra
What if no one had to make choices?
I’m not asking if no one was allowed to make choices. What if choice wasn’t something to dread or a burden to worry about because no one had to make choices? As someone who struggles with choosing things like where to eat lunch or my entire college major, this would be great. For me, choice is stressful because it involves opportunity cost. Choosing something means giving up on something else. And wrong choices? Those ...
“The Hong Konger” Documents Hong Kong’s Struggle To Keep Its Liberty
By Sophia Monastra
If I wrote this review in Hong Kong, I could be arrested.
During the Covid-19 Pandemic, the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) instituted a new national security law over Hong Kong. Anything that the CCP defines as “a national threat” could be deemed dangerous, and citizens of any country could be charged. This definition is left intentionally vague, and the law was reportedly passed before the contents were released. Pictures of Hong Kongers protesting this new ...
“Rings of Power” Continues to Chart Its Course
By Janie Walenda
One of the most common complaints about this show is that it’s boring. While there is truth in these complaints, “Rings of Power” impressed me the most in its willingness to take its time. Not every storyline needs to be featured every week; we don’t need to rush to introduce every character. I hope that this is a sign of a show that knows exactly where it’s going and how it’s getting there.
This week’s episode “The Great Wave” might be the strongest so ...
‘She-Hulk: Attorney at Law’ Continues To Falter
By Samuel M Acosta
While “She-Hulk” has had its share of issues, what I didn’t expect to be a problem was a simple lack of content. Normally, the show throws a couple of plots at you and some succeed while others fail to land properly. Yet, episode five has almost the opposite issue: there is barely any plot to speak of. Filler episodes are a common practice in long-running television shows, but when it comes to limited series, they can be killer. Here, it only continues to lower my ...
‘She-Hulk: Attorney At Law’ Loses Momentum
By Samuel M Acosta
This week’s episode has both positive and negative elements, but the negatives outweigh the small victories that I saw. Most of the humor here felt cheap, barely worth a small chuckle, and the case that Jen is working on feels unimportant. While there are some cool personal moments that we get to see Jen work through, plus a glimpse at She-Hulk in action, most of this feels adequate at best, which disappointed me after the last episode’s show of promise.
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