Sing-along song titles, moving sets and a flying magic carpet – what more could you wish for? “Aladdin” at the Hollywood Pantages Theatre ignited the stage with an energy-packed spectacle. Although not much of a departure from the original story, the production provided a captivating piece of surface entertainment, complete with soaring musical numbers and […]
Category Archives: Arts Columns
Movie review: ‘The Commuter’
“The Commuter” feels like a familiar face you would see every day on a bus ride home. Starring Liam Neeson, the film marks the actor’s fourth collaboration with director Jaume Collet-Serra, and echoes their last transit-based thriller, “Non-Stop.” In both films, Neeson’s character receives instructions via his cell phone that threaten the safety of other […]
Playing the Villain: Star Wars’ backdrop villains allow for the main antagonist’s development
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 Guidebook: Best tabletop games have both competition, collaboration
Games have always been a huge part of the entertainment industry, but what makes them entertaining? Game-makers expend significant effort making design decisions that 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 […]
Reel Representation: Plenty of space remains in ‘Star Wars’ franchise for LGBTQ inclusivity
The Star Wars universe is populated with puffinlike aliens and weapons powered by crystals but in some ways, the fictional galaxy far, far away has come to resemble the world we live in – alien creatures aside, of course. Female protagonists have starred in the most recent three films and numerous characters of color round […]
Movie review: ‘Star Wars: The Last Jedi’
Not so long ago in a galaxy not so far away, J.J. Abrams reawakened the Star Wars franchise with a rehash of “Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope.” Thankfully, Rian Johnson’s new Star Wars film learned how to balance nostalgia for the original hexalogy with new plot lines in “Star Wars: The Last […]
Second Take: Jordan Peele to add satire, horror expertise to new ‘Twilight Zone’
“The Twilight Zone” TV series of the late ’50s and early ’60s revolutionized the entertainment industry by seamlessly blending horror and suspense with tactful commentary on relevant social issues. Sound familiar? If it does, it’s probably because discussion surrounding the horror genre’s uncanny applicability to social justice has resurged recently as a result of Jordan […]