Everything changed when the Fire Nation attacked, but the continued popularity of “Avatar: The Last Airbender” has not. Though the series concluded in 2008 with the two-hour finale, “Sozin’s Comet,” its legacy lives on. “Avatar” message boards are still actively used, and cosplayers flood the internet with realistic incarnations of the four nations, whether through […]
Category Archives: Arts Columns
Reel Representation: Fantasy films often don’t include people of color within their worlds
Fantasy films are vehicles to gorgeous, vibrant magical worlds. But those worlds aren’t all that beautiful when they’re built to exclude you. Growing up, I fell in love with “The Lord of the Rings.” But as a young biracial girl, I knew that I didn’t belong in Middle-earth’s mystical provinces and kingdoms – there […]
Playing the Villain: Fights for survival in sci-fi create relatable villains, inspire sympathy
A movie is only as good as its villain, and a good villain is much more than a monster with maniacal laughter or a sinister-looking entity surrounded by henchmen. From the anarchist Joker to the cunning and brutal Annie Wilkes, countless successful films have earned their iconic status thanks to their antagonists. Each week, columnist […]
Gamer’s Guide: Video game romance, although inorganic, amplifies play experience
Games have always been a huge part of the entertainment industry, but what makes them entertaining? Game makers expend significant effort making design decisions people often don’t think about when they’re playing each game. Each week, columnist Evan Charfauros will examine the pros and cons of different game mechanics as seen in the modern gaming […]
Stress Less: Though not necessarily fun, running brings mental and physical benefits
Alissa Evans’ experience with stress stems primarily from her inability to definitively choose a major, a recently received D that taints her otherwise mediocre GPA and her complete and utter confusion regarding the abstract concept commonly referred to as her “future.” In the midst of a midcollege crisis, the Daily Bruin columnist decided to try […]
Reel Representation: #OscarsSoWhite campaign must include all underrepresented racial groups
This post was updated Feb. 27 at 4:32 p.m. It’s awards season, which means it’s also the season of naive think pieces questioning whether the era of #OscarsSoWhite has passed. The answer is, of course not. The Oscars were first criticized for their slate of all-white acting nominees in 2015. And over the last four […]
Movie review: ‘Game Night’
A movie is bound to be entertaining if its main characters play “Dance Dance Revolution” at their wedding ceremony. Directors John Francis Daley and Jonathan Goldstein’s latest action-comedy “Game Night” follows a group of friends who find themselves unwittingly involved in the world of organized crime during a weekly game-night gathering. Captivating humor outshines an […]