Netflix continues its summer-long bid for the title of rom-com kingpin with “Sierra Burgess is a Loser.” After “Set it Up” was met with wide critical acclaim and “To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before” garnered a mass following within mere hours, it is nearly impossible for “Sierra Burgess is a Loser” to dodge comparison […]
Category Archives: Arts Columns
Second Take: ‘Joker’ origin film calls for unique reinvention of archvillain character
Warner Bros. is done clowning around. In 2016, the critically condemned “Suicide Squad” left audiences frantically fleeing theaters to find solace in Christopher Nolan’s The Dark Knight trilogy. And after box office disaster “Justice League” failed to revitalize the studio’s reputation for mediocrity, DC Entertainment has gone back to the drawing board. It was recently […]
Album review: ‘Liberation’
Christina Aguilera’s “Liberation” aims to paint a picture of female empowerment, but leaves listeners with a muddled image instead. Six years after the release of her pop-driven album “Lotus,” Aguilera hearkens back to the R&B and soul influence that characterizes her earlier work, also layering in more modern elements, such as trap beats reminiscent of […]
Screening Science: ‘2036 Origin Unknown’ must live up to past films to be out of this world
Science is everywhere, especially in movies and TV shows, ranging from the chemistry in “Breaking Bad” to the physics in “Gravity.” But not all of the “science” is actually science. Each week, columnist Ethan Pak will explore scientific concepts in upcoming movies or shows and see how well they align with current academia and research. […]
Wine About It: The quarter ends on a sweet note with moscato wine
Life is filled with moments shared over a glass of wine, whether fueling a gossip session with friends, or destressing after a long day of school. But what are the best options for the average broke college student who can’t afford a $50 bottle of wine? Each week, columnist Susana Alcantar will discuss different wine […]
Bookmarked: Ooga Booga’s uninviting aura, stark aesthetic left something to be desired
Los Angeles is home to a multitude of specialized bookstores, from those oriented toward horror and mystery to others with more practical focuses, like cookbooks. Follow columnist Clea Wurster as she explores the many niche literary interests the city accommodates. Ooga Booga, an art print bookstore, careens up two sets of stairs above a picturesque […]
Screening Science: ‘Upgrade’ hints at potential treatments using AI technology, exoskeleton suits
“Upgrade” brings the once novel idea of a Robocop up-to-date with today’s technologies. Coming out Friday, the film shows mechanic Grey Trace (Logan Marshall-Green) surviving a horrendous car crash and witnessing his wife’s murder. After waking up in a hospital as a quadriplegic, Trace is offered a chance to walk again through artificial intelligence technology […]