A short introduction to the prominent filmmaker, Pedro Almodovar, who is best known for his films, All About my Mother and most recently, Pain and Glory. This article will explore Almodovar’s inspiration, themes, and the imagery he uses to tell character-driven narratives.
Read More10 Things I Hate About You burst into theaters 22 years ago. When it comes to late 90s/early 00s teen rom-coms, this film paved the way for many of our favorites today. Written by the dynamic team of Karen McCullah and Kirsten Smith, 10 Things I Hate About You is a modern adaptation of Shakespeare’s The Taming of The Shrew. The film was directed by Gil Junger and stars Julia Stiles and Heath Ledger.
Read MoreBack in November, I wrote an article titled "Can Theaters Be Saved From Extinction?" In this previous article, I talked about the ruinous impact that the coronavirus pandemic had and continues to have on the movie theater industry. However, as this global health crisis gradually improves (at least here in California), more movie theaters have been able to open up. As a new movie theater worker myself, I will be discussing what it's been like - the safety precautions that have been implemented and how the movie-going experience has changed as a result. Furthermore, I will be offering some of my ideas on what I think post-pandemic movie watching will be like from now on.
Read MoreTeenage angst and femininity are front and center in much of Sofia Coppola’s work, who, with her distinct style of filmmaking, tackles these topics in a thought-provoking yet thoroughly entertaining manner. Although set in different time periods and contexts that many viewers find themselves far from, through her films Coppola highlights aspects of being a teenage girl in a way that feels universal.
Read MoreConsidering how important the fight for LGBT rights has become around the world, the community is severely underrepresented in anime, one of the most popular genres in mainstream culture. There is a trend of negative representation in anime as LGBT people have historically been silenced and marginalized. As the years have gone by, more and more anime started showing LGBT characters in a more positive light, suggesting that real change is happening right now in the industry
Read MoreIn the wondrous world of astrology, we adore seeing the similarities and differences we have with people born in a different month than us, as another way of finding a sense of connection with the people around us. April 20th to May 20th marks the period of the Taurus sign, a sign that I personally see as chill and loyal people with an amazing sense of humor. May 21st to June 20th occurs during the Gemini season, whom I associate myself; we are seen as adaptable, curious, and adventurous. It would be an awesome way to start off your season with some amazing films that you can specifically relate to. So Taurus, Gemini, and your compatible signs, stick around to see what movies I have curated for you to watch this season.
Read More“And in that moment, I swear we were infinite.” No matter how corny Charlie’s words were, they still represent a pivotal moment in cultural history. In the angsty coming-of-age The Perks of Being a Wallflower (2012), teens struggle to make sense of past trauma, new loves and heartbreaks. For a generation obsessed with trauma bonding and comparison, this film made its mark for better or for worse.
Read MoreWriter Jade Yong discusses the yellow-faced portrayal of Mr. Yunioshi’s character in Breakfast at Tiffany’s (1961), tracing the stereotypical portrayals of the Asian presence in Western cinema that have endured up until today. Drawing upon the intersecting issues of race and gender in the fashioning of his character, she argues that Mr. Yunioshi is dehumanised through his presentation as both a powerless fool and, eventually, the villain.
Read MoreThe early 2000s saw the release of two teen films, Bully and Better Luck Tomorrow, that both contain a plot involving murders based on true stories. Both may not be recognized as iconic 2000s cinema, but these films are still worthy of viewing as they took the road less traveled, examined the dark side of adolescence and reflected the stories of teens in modern American society.s
Read MoreThough her decade-spanning filmography has long been revered by cinephiles, Cecelia Condit’s video art has seen a modern resurgence among gen Z. It seems that within a digital age so ostensibly defined by TikTok, and with amateur-filmmaking on the rise, there has perhaps never been a more suitable time to indulge in Condit’s kinetic approach to filmmaking.
Read MoreBest Picture nominee “The Father” is a striking movie in every way, shape, and form. With Anthony Hopkins winning the Best Actor award for his portrayal of the leading man — Anthony, an older man in London with dementia to the director and writer Florian Zeller winning the Best-Adapted Screenplay award, this film has been on everyone’s mind for the last few weeks. “The Father” similarly explores the vulnerability of the mind. Like a piece of playdough, our brains turn into new beings every day.
Read MoreWe’ve all read or watched Percy Jackson but beyond the teenage classic there is an infinite number of films that were inspired by Greek mythology. Here is a list of movies that majestically reinvented those stories and gave them new social and psychological meanings.
Read MoreThere’s an otherworldly quality about the concept of “being in the right place at the right time”. Inexplicable occurrences and connections, even when expertly manufactured by filmmakers, are an object of chanceful beauty. Surveying themes across a breadth of unique and distinctly motivated characters, as well as borrowing from the social sciences and historical literature, hyperlinked films operate as unseen powerhouses of the film industry, playing directly to our relationship-seeking nature.
Read MoreSkam, a Norweigan coming-of-age television series, has garnered universal acclaim as it has been adapted by eight different countries since its original release in 2015. What makes Skam different from other youth-centered shows of a similar premise? In this article, I’ll examine exactly what makes Skam a unique cinematic masterpiece, for its dismantling of coming-of-age archetypes.
Read MoreStreaming services have been popularized in recent years for offering hundreds of easily accessible viewing options, but have they permanently changed the way we consume content? Film writer Caroline Melchi discusses the impact of the rise of streaming services on our media consumption.
Read MoreJapanese writer Haruki Murakami, said in his novel, Kafka On the Shore, "Chance encounters are what keeps us going". Often, we love to watch the fuzzy warm films that make us fall in love with characters and with their romantic stories, other times we like to divert our eyes to something more unconventional. The ending of a relationship on film doesn’t always mean a break-up, sometimes it means, “now is not the right time”, or, “we met for this one reason only”. Films like Atonement (2005), Chungking Express (1994) and Portrait of a Lady on Fire (2019), amongst others, are examples of this.
Read MoreFilm adaptations of books are not new- they have existed since the early stages of filmmaking. For filmmakers all over the world, books, or even short stories, represent infinitely valuable sources for inspiration. Adaptations can also be incredibly engaging for the viewers: watching a movie based on a book we have previously read is an exciting experience that often defies our expectations and reading a book after watching the movie can help us dive deeply into the characters’ minds and the core of the story- often times with more depth than offered in the film. Although there are undeniably bad adaptations of books out there, there are also really well-made ones, as this list will demonstrate, which are enjoyable both in their original book form and as films .
Read MoreI’m sure everyone once in a while (or maybe frequently if you’re like me), finds themselves still up late at night or early in the morning. Whether you just can’t sleep or something’s on your mind, we’ve all had nights where we’re still sitting up in bed in the darkness of our bedrooms, eventually becoming witness to the first appearance of daylight. Turns out there’s some great films you could be watching during that time instead.
Moxie is an attempt at being a progressive feminist film involving young high school students. In this review, we speak on the mess that makes the Moxie narrative, as well as hearing what Sydney Ling, Editor-in-Chief of ‘Rice & Spice Mag’, has to say about it.
Read MoreWriter Jade Yong discusses J. Blakeson’s latest thriller, I Care a Lot, and its depiction of the hypocrisy behind narratives of wealth and success. Tracing the feminist characterisations of the film’s anti-hero, Jade Yong interprets the film’s message as a revolt against the empty values paraded by those in positions of power as a means to manipulate their unsuspecting victims.
Read More
