The uglier side of the ‘Squid Game’ hype
As someone who’s always thrilled to hear more international folks appreciating Korean dramas, I guess I should be pretty excited about how the Netflix series “Squid Game” has become one of the hottest pieces of media. For the most part, I am excited—as “Parasite” director Bong Joon Ho said in his acceptance speech at the […]
Hayden Christensen reprising his role as Anakin Skywalker in Star Wars ‘Ahsoka’ live action series
Despite the major trilogy coming to a close in 2019, the Star Wars franchise has made it clear that it’s here to stay, with incredibly exciting shows lined up for the next few years. By now, both old and new fans are well-aware of the smash hit that is the Disney+ TV series “The Mandalorian,” […]
Hoot Recommends: Halloween edition
Stewart Huang: Try “Dark Deception,” a first-person horror twist on “Pac-Man” where you are chased by spooky monsters like giant monkeys in elaborate mazes while collecting purple shards. It’s an intense arcade experience that will have you on the edge of the seat the entire time. And it’s quite an addictive and challenging game, featuring […]
‘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), Gavin McIsaac ’20 (guitar, keys, synth), 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 […]
Hoot staff recommends: Midterm music edition
Sasha Skarboviychuk When it comes to studying, the best background noise is silence. But in cases when my roommates or anything else in my surroundings is making noise, I opt for classical music. My big thing with this is that the music I listen to while studying cannot have lyrics; if the song has lyrics […]
‘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 […]
