Dark

Light

Film

‘Ringing Bell’, Unico, and Sanrio’s Dark Beginnings

Amelie Allen, University of Arizona

Everyone loves Hello Kitty, but Sanrio’s earliest films reveal something more ominous about the company.…

June 3, 2024

End of The Reel – Quentin Tarantino’s Swan Song

Kyle A. McLaughlin, Elizabethtown College

What will Quentin Tarantino’s final film be about?…

June 1, 2024

The Case for ‘80s Effects

Amelie Allen, University of Arizona

There’s some-Thing about ‘80s creatures that people just can’t shake. …

May 31, 2024

The Prequels Turn Twenty-Five–Star Wars’ Sleeper Hit

Kyle A. McLaughlin, Elizabethtown College

The Phantom Menace turns 25 this year, but how did the public perception of the prequels take a massive about-face in the last decade?…

May 4, 2024

Two women kiss in front of a red background with a yellow stream twining through it like a stream of silk. The woman on the left bears a pink hoodie and a ponytail embraces her partner, garbed in a black dress with her hair in an updo. Her hands are placed on the first woman's chest in an intimate gesture.

“Saving Face” is the Best 2000s Queer Rom-Com You’ve (Probably) Never Seen

Archie Wagner, University of Iowa

The 2004 film features a mother and daughter navigating new circumstances amidst cultural expectations with humor and sensitive, deft craft.…

April 21, 2024

The Islamic Blueprint of Dune

Hamad Naroze, Hunter College

How Frank Herbert and his iconic sci-fi “Dune” were influenced by Islam and the cultures of the Middle East.…

April 9, 2024

The image of a man in a suit and hat with a dark tie repeats through sets of images descending in three film strips, each of which is in imperfect alignment with each other. The first man is in a grey strip, reaching to touch the shoulder of his clone in a green strip, who in turn is staring at his copy in a blue strip, as if they are in a cycle repeating endlessly through time.

Black & White: The Historic Film Technique Directors Are Rediscovering

Santiago Rivera, Washington University in St. Louis

In the modern era of digital coloring and novel technologies, how is modern cinema reinventing its roots in Black and White?…

March 28, 2024

Two robed figures with swords stand against a black background bisected in half by a golden glow, framed by red symbols. The figure to the right is dressed in light robes, has a blue sword and blond hair; his symbol is round and curved. The figure to the right is dressed in dark robes, has two blade -- red and purple -- and a mask; his symbol is squared and point.

The History of the Star Wars Universe Pre-Skywalker

Hamad Naroze, Hunter College

Analyzing the history, lore and cultures of the Star Wars universe prior to the iconic, genre-defining Skywalker saga.…

March 22, 2024

Animation vs Cartoons: A Love Letter To An Unjustifiably Underappreciated Artform

Santiago Rivera, Washington University in St. Louis

Here's why we should appreciate the diversity and magic of animated storytelling medium more than we currently do.…

March 15, 2024

Jockstraps and Muscles are for the Girls Now, Actually

Archie Wagner, University of Iowa

“Love Lies Bleeding” promotional materials subvert gender expectations with female stars performing masculinity.…

March 7, 2024

7 Films to Hit at SXSW 2024

Roberto Soto

Black Twitter, DCOM-inspired horror, gay beaches and Ayo Edebiri. SXSW 2024 has the film for you!…

March 6, 2024

Illustration of Molly Ringwald in pink with flowered background.

A Holly Jolly Molly Ringwald: John Hughes’ Sexism of an Insecure 80’s Icon

Emily Diaz, DePaul University

John Hughes success lives on through the decades, but at whose expense?…

February 29, 2024

Deadpool stands out against a paper-like background in his red and black uniform, swords strapped firmly to his black. A question mark hovers next to his head, held by a speech bubble made from a similar paper-esque material as the background; the material also outlines Deadpool's body, suggesting both he and the question mark have been cut out and glued to the background. His eyes are fixed in a smug glance, like he wants the question communicate just how stupid he thinks you are.

Could Deadpool be the “Messiah” the MCU needs?

Santiago Rivera, Washington University in St. Louis

As fun as the trailer was, after so many disappointing Marvel productions lately, is it worth getting hyped up?…

February 27, 2024

For an article on the impact of the Garfield comic, an up close illustration of the iconic orange cat's low hanging eyes and iconic smirk.

Why We Love Garfield

Amelie Allen, University of Arizona

Dogs may be man’s best friend, but this lazy orange cat has been pop culture’s constant companion.…

February 22, 2024

A woman with brown hair in a pink coat beams with a bright smile against a pink and purple background. To her right, a golden statue leans against a smiling doll in the woman's image. Said doll holds its hand in its pocket as it cocks out its hip, standing in a firm yet casual pose.

An Ode to Gloria and Ordinary Barbies Everywhere

Archie Wagner, University of Iowa

Women can be everything, but with her Oscar-nominated performance in "Barbie", America Ferrera reminds us they don’t have to be.…

February 19, 2024

Classic movie reel winding across screen saying "The End"

Whatever Happened to Turner Classic?

Amelie Allen, University of Arizona

David Zaslav laid off the Turner Classic executive team during June of 2023, but the reaction proves there is hope for classic film preservation and education.…

February 15, 2024

In this article, about the importance and impact of listening to indigenous voices in 2024, an orange analog radio against a blue background is shooting out lightning bolts as its dial is being torn by light brown hair draped in a blue, embroidered sleeve. Half of the background is blacked out, with jagged edges running diagonally up the center.

The Impact of Listening to Indigenous Voices in 2024 America

Archie Wagner, University of Iowa

What changing museum guidelines and a push for more representation of indigenous voices in award shows means for the present moment.…

February 14, 2024

In this article, about what Ridley Scott's classic film "Alien" says about society's relationship with young women, two figures sit against a dark background. A young woman with olive skin and dark hair gazes absent-mindedly in the distance. A xenomorph hovers over her shoulder, baring its teeth in a snarl, as its sharp, knife-like tail looms over her shoulder. Green light of a rather pallor variant shines over their skin, like the light of an emergency alarm.

What 1979’s ‘Alien’ says About Humanity’s Relationship with Sexuality

Hamad Naroze, Hunter College

Exploring what Ridley Scott's "Alien" tells us about humanity’s "protective" relationship over women.…

February 8, 2024

In this article, about how the 2024 remake of Tina Fey's "Mean Girls" fails to live up to the standards set by the original, a blonde woman with a black coat and a necklace of beads gives a smug smirk at the audience with a shadow lying over half her face against a blurred-out background of a brown hallway with blue lockers.

Did We Really Need a Remake of Mean Girls?

Vera Pavlovich, Loyola University Maryland

Over 20 years since the original release of Mean Girls (2004), Tina Fey remakes the Rom-Com classic with a musical twist.…

February 6, 2024

Love for Lucy Runs Deep in “50 First Dates”

Christine Bardos, Santa Clara University

For the characters in the beloved 2000s rom-com, nothing can get in the way of their love for Lucy. Not even her damaged temporal lobe.…

January 31, 2024

In this article about the similarities between "The Talented Mr. Ripley" and "Saltburn," for men with dark hair, stare brooding at the camera in a black and white grayscale. In the background, a pink monochromatic printing of a large, old home.

The Parallels Between ‘The Talented Mr. Ripley’ and ‘Saltburn’

Ally Najera, California State University, Northridge

Though years apart in the making, the films have noticeable similarities. …

January 20, 2024

I’m Trying to Decipher the Target Audience of 2023 ‘Wonka’

Sophie Serage, University of Massachusetts, Boston

If it's not for the kids, teenagers or the parents? Who wants to "Discover how Willy became Wonka?"…

January 18, 2024

Blockbuster vs. Netflix: Who’s Really Going to Win?

Natalie VanHecke, University of Texas at Dallas

In a digital age of media, how should we handle our favorite shows getting taken down?…

January 18, 2024

‘Easy A’—The Defining High School Rom-Com of the 2010s?

Julia Ray, Northern Arizona University

“Sixteen Candles,” “Clueless,” “Mean Girls,” and… what?…

January 16, 2024

The Genius of ‘Trolls Band Together’

Julia Ray, Northern Arizona University

Is the latest 'Trolls' sequel really just another typical kid’s movie, or does it have more to offer?…

January 12, 2024

‘The Iron Claw’ Deserves All The Awards And So Much More Hype

Ally Najera, California State University, Northridge

The tragic true story of a wrestling family as seen through a spectacular cast. …

January 8, 2024

REVIEW: A Sweet Symphony of Imagination: Unwrapping ‘Wonka’

Emma Troise, Manhattan College

Timothée Chalamet shines with song and dance through the mod podge origin story of Wonka's chocolate empire.…

December 23, 2023

These Rom-Coms Will Get You Warmed Up For Christmas

Beatriz Barros Felice, California State University, Northridge

Nothing Better Than a Good Christmas Romantic Comedy to Celebrate the Holidays– Here Are Our Favorites!…

December 23, 2023

In an article about Danielle Brooks as Sofia in "The Color Purple film," a woman with a plaid dress looks over her shoulder and snickers. Superimposed is that same woman with a plaid dress on a porch with her foot up, kicking open a door.

Danielle Brooks Is As Divine As She Is Humane as Sofia in ‘The Color Purple’

Roberto Soto

Almost 40 years after the original film adaptation, fans of this classic story will be wowed by the force that is Danielle Brooks.…

December 15, 2023

Shakespeare, ‘Coriolanus’ and ‘The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes’

Noah Hernandez, University of Texas at San Antonio

How “The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes” draws from the ill-fated hero of Shakespeare's play “Coriolanus.”…

December 13, 2023

Insert Christmas Tropes Here: Exploring the Dynasty of Hallmark Christmas

Havilah Sciabbarrasi, Florida State University

No other company does television quite like Hallmark. Is that a good thing?…

December 13, 2023

‘Cabaret’: The Political Strife in Fosse’s Celebrated Movie Musical

Noah Hernandez, University of Texas at San Antonio

Willkommen! Bienvenue! Welcome! A look into one of the greatest movie musicals, as an insight into society's ills.…

November 29, 2023

Book vs. Film: ‘The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes’

Christine Bardos, Santa Clara University

Without the extensive details of Coriolanus Snow's thoughts, the film skims the surface of the sacrifice and suffering present in the novel.…

November 27, 2023

For an article on the origins of popcorn at the movie theater, two white boxes with red stripes and the word "pop corn" written in the middle are tipped over. Neon green outlined popcorn is spilling over.

That’s the Way the Corn Pops… Why Popcorn is the Snack of the Movies

Sophie Serage, University of Massachusetts, Boston

Whether you are in the theater with the masses or lounging alone on your couch at, popcorn just feels like the right snack. Why is that?…

November 27, 2023

Suggestions

Suggestions

Film

EDITOR’S PICKS