Back Issues: Gearing Up for Black Panther

Marvel Studios

     Unless you’ve been living under a rock, you know that Marvel’s Black Panther is coming out this Friday, and word on the street is that people really really love it. So, because I personally care more about the comics than the films based on them, I want to use this hype to try and bring some attention to the best stories featuring our favorite African monarch. This is your homework, folks, and you wouldn’t want to let the king down, would you? Let’s get started!

The Top 10 Movies of 2017

     No need to beat around the bush here, I know what we’re all here for! 2017 was a great year for movies, and this was an interesting list to make. Just to get it out of the way, you will probably not agree with everything on this list, and there are plenty of movies I did not see. Enough intro-ing, let’s do this! 

The Good, the Bad and the Ugly of The Last Jedi

Lucasfilm

     It’s hard to believe that one of the most divisive things in 2017 would be a Star Wars film, but here we are. The eighth installment in the main series, not counting Rogue One, is brought to us by Rian Johnson (Looper, The Brothers Bloom), and features the continuing adventures of Rey and Finn while also featuring the return of Luke Skywalker. So what could have possibly gone wrong with this to earn such a harsh audience reaction? Let’s try to answer that here.

Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri Review

tmc.io

     In the wake of Quentin Tarantino’s massive entrance in the early 90’s, a whole wave of imitators popped up to try and ride his movement to fame and fortune. While some like Guy Ritchie were successful, most had some one-offs and then fizzled away into obscurity. Then in 2007 the most recent of these imitators, a plucky Irishman named Martin McDonagh, burst onto the scene. With his two films In Bruges and Seven Psychopaths, McDonagh was able to successfully blend Tarantino-style filmmaking and storytelling with a very unique brand of dark humor and social observation. Does Three Billboards continue this winning streak? Let’s find out.

Roman J. Israel, Esq. Review

Eventbrite

     There are few actors who I will show up without fail on day one to support at the movies. Robert Downey Jr., Tom Hanks, Michael Keaton are just a few, but very few are at the level that Denzel Washington is for me. Denzel is the epitome of everything an actor should be: talented, charismatic and versatile, to the point where even his bad movies are enjoyable to watch just on his strengths alone. Pairing him with Dan Gilroy, the man who directed the incredible Nightcrawler, is just extra icing on the cake. So how does this one turn out? Let’s dive in.

mother! Review

Indiewire

     Paramount Pictures has been in a bit of a slump lately. Outside of Mission Impossible: Rogue Nation and Transformers: The Last Knight (debatable), their big budget films have not done all that well at the box office (with Ben-Hur being a staggering failure), and their Oscar bait just hasn’t latched on the way they probably wanted. Though I thought their last Oscar time movie, Silence, was an excellent film, I can see why they might want to up the ante a bit with their next entry. And so they turned to Darren Aronofsky, the man behind Requiem for a Dream, The Wrestler, and Black Swan. And the only thing I have to say is… Wow. Let’s just go ahead and dissect this thing.

How a Band I Hated Saved My Life

The Fuze Magazine

     “Dude, you have Linkin Park on your iPod?” That’s a question I’ve been asked more than a few times in my life, and my response was usually something snarky or feigned confusion. In reality I didn’t really know why this band was taking up valuable space (now fourteen songs’ worth), at least not at first. Now, especially after yesterday’s tragic events, I think I know the answer. First, though, let’s give a little history of me, Linkin Park, and how that clickbait-y title is actually the truth. It’s a bit of a doozy.