“Soul” Review: Lighthearted Children’s Movie or Philosophical Dilemma?
by Kathryn McDonald
As COVID-19 restrictions have caused many disruptions for the entertainment industry, Pixar’s decision to release their animated film “Soul” on Disney+ in time for the holidays was highly anticipated by children and adults alike.
Director Pete Docter began work on “Soul” following his second Oscar for the highly acclaimed Pixar film “Inside Out.” Docter has built a reputation for his innovative stories that make difficult concepts such as emotions and ...
Ambitious Season Finale is a Fun but Messy Ride – “The Rescue” Review
by Hunter Johnson
[Editor’s Note: The following actually doesn’t contain any spoilers for “The Mandalorian” Season 2, Episode 8. Enjoy.]
Team Mando just keeps getting bigger. In the previous two episodes of “The Mandalorian,” Din Djarin has assembled quite the team. Mercenaries Boba Fett and Fennec Shand are under oath to help Djarin save Grogu, and long-term ally Cara Dune—now a New Republic marshal—has joined his ranks as well.
But that’s not quite enough for our ...
“Wonder Woman 1984” Review: Simply Entertaining
by Sam Acosta
[Editor’s Note: The following review contains minor spoilers]
“Wonder Woman 1984” is a film that entertained me throughout its duration but left me missing its predecessor. Despite the bright atmosphere and vibrancy that comes with the ‘80s setting, the film pales in comparison to its predecessor. While it lacks any glaring flaws and kept me engaged, there were many points throughout the movie where I wish there had been just a bit more substance.
In terms of ...
Seventh Episode Moves Slow but Packs a Big Punch – “The Believer” Review
by Hunter Johnson
[Editor’s Note: The following contains minor spoilers for “The Mandalorian” Season 2, Episode 7]
“The Mandalorian” soars in its second season’s penultimate episode, all thanks to none other than comedian Bill Burr.
“The Believer” follows Djarin and company on their mission to rescue Grogu from the clutches of Moff Gideon, and there to help them do just that is mercenary Migs Mayfeld, with Bill Burr (“F is for Family,” “Breaking Bad”) returning as ...
“Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom” Review: The Cost of Pride and Ambition
by Sam Acosta
[Editor’s note: The following contains spoilers for “Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom”]
“Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom,” an adaptation of August Wilson’s stage play, made me feel the emotion of almost every character and left me thinking about its themes long after I watched it. Director George C. Wolfe brings together an amazing cast, with every actor and actress playing their roles perfectly and making each character memorable.
However, this movie also left me ...
Family Matters Most – “Safety” Review
by Nick Ratliff
Based on the true story of college football player Ray McElrathbey (Jay Reeves), “Safety” is a story of determination, persistence and the importance of family. The real-life Ray is an inspiring example of a student-athlete, and this film depicts this well.
The film begins with Ray, a freshman attending Clemson University, being recruited as a safety to the Clemson football team, the Tigers. Early on, Ray struggles to balance his time between academics, sports, and his ...
“Mank” is a Tale of Politics, Corruption, and the Cathartic Power of Film
by Ben Hiett
[Editor’s Note: This review contains spoilers for the Netflix film “Mank”]
“Tell the story you know.” So says movie producer John Houseman to Herman J. Mankiewicz, the titular protagonist of David Fincher’s latest film “Mank.” Fincher has crafted an intricate, subtle masterpiece of filmmaking that only gets better upon rewatch (trust me, I watched it twice). However, the point of a review like this is to help you, the reader, determine whether this movie is one ...
A Definitive Ranking of Netflix’s Romantic Christmas Movies
by Kristina Birt
It’s once again the time of year when Netflix releases its slew of romantic Christmas movies. Not that I’m complaining, for as Duchess Margaret from Netflix’s “The Princess Switch” said, “Christmas should be about love.” This holiday season, I made it my mission to watch through as many of these movies as I could and then rank them based on their quality and my enjoyment. Here is my definitive list of the ten best romantic Christmas movies currently on Netflix....
Christmas Classics: Five Must-Watch Movies for the Holiday Season
by Sam Acosta
After what’s most certainly been a long year for us all, it’s once again the holiday season, and we are all in need of some long-awaited rest and relaxation. What better way to do that than to gather around the TV with your family and watch the perfect Christmas movie? If your family is at all like mine, however, you might have some trouble finding a movie your whole family can agree on. So here are five Christmas classics you and your family can watch this holiday season...
Boba Fett Makes His Epic Return in Sixth Episode of “The Mandalorian” – “The Tragedy” Review
by Hunter Johnson
[Editor’s Note: The following contains major spoilers for “The Mandalorian” Season 2, Episodes 5 and 6]
After the major plot developments of last week’s episode, many fans probably expected “The Mandalorian” to take a break from the main story. The last episode ended with Ahsoka tasking Djarin to take the Child to an ancient Jedi monument on the planet Tython, and fans wouldn’t be blamed for expecting this season to wrap up with two filler episodes building ...
