‘Something Rotten’ is certainly fresh
On April 7th through April 10th, Brandeis’ Undergraduate Theater Collective put on a hilarious production of “Something Rotten.” The show is famous for its humor and references to other musicals and this cast lives up to the humor that the musical is known for. While the show is effortlessly entertaining and the cast gives their […]
‘Hogwarts Legacy:’ please don’t mess this up
In September of 2020, a new video game based on the Harry Potter series “Hogwarts Legacy” was announced and released a teaser trailer. For two years, news about the game has been relatively quiet. That is, until March 17, when the gameplay trailer was released. For those who do not know, a teaser trailer […]
‘Orlando:’ style over substance but in a good way
This past weekend, Brandeis’ Department of Theater Arts premiered its newest production “Orlando,” based on the novel by Virginia Woolf and adapted for the stage by Sarah Ruhl. Brandeis’ production is carried by an amazing ensemble cast whose already compelling performances are enhanced through creative costumes and a minimalist set design. The story follows the […]
‘The Batman’ walks the line between justice and vengeance
“The Batman” really leans into the darker aspects of the Batman mythos to create a compelling narrative that explores Batman’s role as a vigilante. The film also avoids many of the pitfalls that plague superhero movies like repetitive origin stories or building to another sequel. The central narrative is compelling and returns to Batman’s roots […]
‘Proud Family: Louder and Prouder:’ a revival to be Proud of
Disney’s “Proud Family: Louder and Prouder” is a surprisingly successful revival of the early 2000s show “The Proud Family.” Interestingly, the show is not a sequel or reboot but seems to be a true revival or continuation of the original. As a result, some of the cultural elements can seem a bit weird, considering the […]
‘The Legend of Vox Machina’ is fan funded but not fun
In recent years, the world’s most famous tabletop roleplaying game Dungeons and Dragons has seen an unprecedented surge in popularity, thanks in no small part to the success of live-play shows, like “Critical Role.” For those who are not immersed in the tabletop roleplaying subculture, a live-play series is simply a group participating in a […]
‘The Book of Boba Fett’ was worth the wait
The character Boba Fett has fascinated Star Wars fans for years since his relatively minor role in the original trilogy, his expanded origins in the prequels and recurring appearances in “Star Wars: The Clone Wars.” Forty-four years after his first-ever appearance in the otherwise maligned 1978 Star Wars Holiday Special—and yes, that is where Fett […]
Netflix’s ‘Cowboy Bebop’: A flawed gem
Netflix’s 2021 live action remake of the beloved anime series “Cowboy Bebop” had big shoes to fill from the very beginning. However, while many anime adaptations tend to be just plain bad, Netflix’s “Cowboy Bebop” is actually entertaining to watch. Thanks in no small part to an excellent cast, some additional character development the original […]
‘Young Justice’ and the meaninglessness of death
Recently, the much anticipated season four of the show “Young Justice” came out on HBO Max. While the first few episodes of the series were generally high quality both in animation and story, the fourth episode took an unexpected turn with the death of Superboy (Nolan North), one of the show’s original protagonists. This supposed […]
‘Dune’ Tries to Do Too Much at Once
The latest attempt to adapt Frank Herbert’s legendary sci-fi novel “Dune” to film is a great attempt at a faithful adaptation to the source material. The film is ambitious and visually stunning. But it tries too hard to recreate that magic of the original novel, which is nearly impossible to do on the big screen. […]
Marvel’s ‘What If’: a refreshing take on Marvel stories
The newest addition to the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) takes the characters we know from the films outside of the MCU and into the Marvel cinematic multiverse. Each episode of this series takes place in a different universe, where one alternate event leads to an entirely different outcome for that universe. The series also offers […]
‘Star Wars Visions:’ Moving Away from Canon
The most recent addition to Disney +’s “Star Wars” content is not actually an addition to the greater “Star Wars” galaxy, and that’s a good thing. “Star Wars: Visions” is an animated anthology series of nine episodes from nine different Japanese animation studios. Each of the nine episodes is a standalone story, and each has […]
‘How A Realist Hero Rebuilt the Kingdom:’ a unique take on the Isekai genre
The very accurately titled “How a Realist Hero Rebuilt the Kingdom,” takes a very refreshing take on the Isekai genre. For those uninitiated in the ways of anime, Isekai is a subgenre of fantasy in which a character is transported from their world into a new and unfamiliar one. Some western Isekai stories would be […]
The better Suicide Squad and the Fantabulous Uselessness of Harley Quinn
“The Suicide Squad” is a follow up to 2016’s “Suicide Squad.” Director James Gunn’s take on this DC comics property greatly improves upon the many flaws of the original. The clearest improvement is that the movie is actually watchable, with a decently follow-able plot and plenty of crazy explosive action. While the movie is undeniably […]
‘The Bad Batch:’ A Bridge Between Series
Disney’s “Star Wars: The Bad Batch” offers a lot to Star Wars fans, especially those who loved “The Clone Wars” and “Rebels” TV shows. However, its greatest strength is also its greatest flaw because the show relies on fans’ previous knowledge of the Star Wars universe a bit too much, and the many cameos from […]
‘The Lathe of Heaven:’ the pinnacle of pandemic entertainment
The COVID-19 pandemic put a hold on many things in our lives as we have had to learn how to reinvent the way we interact, learn and live in a world separated by at least six feet. One casualty of the pandemic was live theater. I have seen many shows this past year of varying […]
‘Stellaris:’ still worth it despite five years of DLC
Back in May 2016, the video game company Paradox Interactive first released a game called “Stellaris.” Over the next five years, Paradox would release an onslaught of paid downloadable content (DLC) and free updates that would change the gameplay dramatically while maintaining the core mechanics that make this sci-fi empire-building game so fun. “Stellaris” is […]
‘Justice League: The Snyder Cut’ is decent at best
The long awaited Snyder Cut improves upon many of the flaws of the original Justice League movie that appeared in theatres back in 2017. I must, however, admit that director Zack Snyder’s vision has several fatal flaws that render what could have been amazing merely passable. That being said, the film has a lot of […]
The ‘South Park’ vaccination special asks what happens after the COVID-19 pandemic
The long-running cartoon series “South Park” has slowed down production. During the pandemic, only two new episodes were produced rather than the usual 10-episode season. The series is famous for pushing the boundaries of comedy and for good taste with its crass humor. In recent years, however, the “South Park” series has started to take […]
‘Batman: Soul of the Dragon’—Bruce Lee and Bruce Wayne
Despite its title, “Batman: Soul of the Dragon” is not a typical Batman movie. In fact, it’s not a Batman movie at all—it’s a loving tribute to the Bruce Lee films of the 1970s. The movie takes clear inspirations from Bruce Lee’s filmography, primarily “Enter the Dragon” (1973). The film stands out from the crowd […]
