‘My Name’ is brutal, bloody and brilliant
The revenge-action genre has always been one of incredible intrigue and entertainment to lots of folks, and for good reason. There’s just something incredibly cathartic about seeing a protagonist finally wreak havoc on those who have wronged them, whether it be through mind games and manipulation or grimy fistfights. There are usually questions about humanity […]
‘Homegrown Sprouts:’ the homegrown, refreshing album to reflect on your past year
Released by Brandeis University’s very own April Ginns ’21 and Maya Kattler-Gold ’21 (vocals), Chami Lamelas ’22 (guitar) and Sam Stern ’20 (drums), the album “Homegrown Sprouts” is composed of hopeful songs that mesh well with the overall mood of 2021 thus far. This album features an impressive range of sounds, from the ambient laughter […]
‘The Chair’ elegantly delves into the complexities of 21st century college problems
There are quite a few shows that explore high school or college student life, but not a whole ton that really cover that of professors and, more specifically, department chairs. The recently released Netflix series “The Chair” takes a stab at this new perspective by following the hectic life of Ji Yoon Kim (Sandra Oh), […]
‘Star Wars: Visions’ is an authentic love letter to all the best parts of ‘Star Wars’
Being an Asian-American fan of the “Star Wars” franchise often comes with some serious mental and ethical gymnastics. On the one hand, lots of Asian-American fans like myself can enjoy the storytelling, character dynamics and overall aesthetic of the “Star Wars” universe—but on the other, those same fans feel a bit of discomfort at knowing […]
‘Squid Game’ traumatized me
When I was little, my mom and I sometimes used to play the well-known children’s game Green Light, Red Light. Only instead of saying “green light, red light!,” my mom would say the Korean version, which roughly translates to “the hibiscus flower has bloomed.” That was the version of the game I was most familiar […]
‘D.P.’: a dark look at the Korean military
With the increasing popularity of K-pop and K-dramas to non-Korean audiences, more and more people are becoming aware of South Korea’s mandatory military service for men. At least in America, it’s not exactly commonplace anymore to learn that one’s favorite actor or singer is taking a break for military reasons—but in South Korea, as a […]
‘Beyond Evil’ is Beyond Perfection
Now that autumn is officially around the corner and everyone’s dying to break out the sweaters and jackets, it’s also the perfect season to enjoy the recently released small town murder show “Beyond Evil,” which is available on both Netflix and Viki (for free!). Complete with morally grey characters, a delicious detective-suspect relationship akin to […]
‘Gunpowder Milkshake’: Appealing in Theory, Not in Practice
Theoretically, the Netflix-released “Gunpowder Milkshake” (dir. Navot Papushado) is what the 21st century, #GirlPower audiences want in an action movie—a kickass cast of women, some solid action scenes, mixed with a splash of heart. With all that in mind, one would think, “how can this movie possibly go wrong?” Turns out, quite a lot! While […]
‘The Falcon and the Winter Soldier:’ what it really means to be Captain America
The MCU/Disney+ hit series “The Falcon and the Winter Soldier” has just concluded its six-episode season, and its six hour-long episodes covered and packed more of a punch than almost anything that the MCU has ever released, mostly for its nuance in discussing issues of race and American history. These themes are most explicitly demonstrated […]
Taylor Swift’s ‘Fearless’ Return
You’re dancing in your room to the newly released Taylor Swift track, “You Belong With Me.” Plot twist: it’s 2021. This past week, Taylor released a brand new version of “Fearless,” this time called “Fearless (Taylor’s Version).” This four-time Grammy winning album was already incredible, but Taylor’s stronger vocals make it even better than before. […]
‘OK Orchestra” is way better than OK
In their fourth album “OK Orchestra,” AJR returns with nothing short of triumph and their traditional “I feel like sh*t, but I’m trying my best” vibes. The album opens up with the signature AJR “Overture”—like in their earlier albums “The Click” and “Living Room,” “OK Orchestra’s” opening track blasts its listeners off with an actually […]
‘The One’ makes you question everything about love
Given that this pandemic has turned many of us touch-starved yearners of human beings, the Netflix show “The One” is a wonderful addition to the mix of today’s pop culture. This show, which now hovers at number eight for Netflix’s Top 10 Most Watched, is based on the novel of the same name by John […]
Audrey Hepburn is timeless
As one of the most well-known actresses of Hollywood’s Golden Age, Audrey Hepburn’s name is well-known across the globe. With her charming smile and her elegant style, the young actress made herself stand out from the other actresses of the Hollywood crowd: not the perky girl next door, but a princess come to life. She […]
Let yourself be swept away by ‘Space Sweepers’
With current anxieties about climate change, one would think that a science fiction movie about people struggling to survive on a ravaged Earth is the last thing people would want to watch these days. However, for all of this reviewer’s particular anxieties about the future of the world, “Space Sweepers” proved to be an absolute […]
Don’t care a lot for ‘I Care a Lot’
“I Care a Lot” would have been a good movie if it actually told the story that it wanted to tell. The premise is interesting enough: Marla Greyson (Rosamund Pike) tricks the court into making herself the guardian of the rich elderly, sapping each of the elder’s assets and bank accounts in the process. Marla’s […]
‘The Wilds’ is for every young woman who’s felt brutalized by their teenage years
Amazon Prime’s “The Wilds” is the perfectly harrowing, heart-pounding escape that everyone needs to experience. Released in December 2020, this show tells a winding tale of how eight high school girls from different backgrounds get stranded on a deserted island. At first glance, the show seems something of the caliber of “Lost” and “Lord of […]
‘Happiest Season’ is 2020’s movie for the most wonderful time of the year
Let me start off by saying that I am not the biggest fan of holiday movies, mostly because of their formula. (Grinch-y male character hates Christmas before accidentally falling in love with a woman whose sole personality is loving Christmas, and boom, there’s your movie.) However, “Happiest Season” pleasantly surprised me in its thoughtful exploration […]
You’ll be ‘Over the Moon’ for this original Netflix film
Although the Mid-Autumn festival is well behind us now, “Over the Moon” is still a perfect movie to watch for people who want a heartwarming family story. When paired with the fun and bright animation as well as the classic tear-jerking songs typical of many good animated films, “Over the Moon” checks all the boxes […]
Return of ‘The Mandalorian:’ now with dragons, spiders and more Baby Yoda and Dad Djarin content
After months of anticipation, the long-awaited second season of “The Mandalorian” hit Disney+ on Oct. 30. Viewers will remember that the first season of “The Mandalorian” left off with Din Djarin (Pedro Pascal) being tasked with the new mission of delivering “the Child” (famously known as Baby Yoda, voiced/sound edited by Matthew Wood and David […]
‘Yes, God, Yes’ is less than satisfying
“Yes, God, Yes” as a premise sounds interesting: a story of a young Catholic teenage girl who is only just coming to terms with her own sexual desires. Labeled as a dark comedy, the reasonable expectation would probably be jokes abound, probably something with a bit of feel-good moments. But in reality, “Yes, God, Yes,” […]
