Time to put the Ghostbusters in the deep freezer for good

Share: Two years after the Ghostbusters made their return to the big screen in “Ghostbusters: Afterlife,” they’ve taken back to NYC to revel in their spirit-chasing antics. But despite their killer comeback in 2022, all that “Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire” left me feeling disappointed and hollow. The story once again follows the Spengler family of Callie, Trevor, and Phoebe as well as Phoebe’s summer teacher Gary (played by Paul Rudd) who’s for some reason still palling around with his former student’s family. They’ve taken up residence …

Growing up is not a ‘Bad Idea Right?’

Share: When the magic fades away, the world looks the other way. This is the case with many ex-Disney stars and how their rise to fame is flooded by criticism as they grow up and make a name for themselves away from the image attached to the company.  Olivia Rodrigo, who at 18 years old became pop’s brightest new hope. Recently she released her newest album, “GUTS” which was followed by a fair amount of indignation from parents who reject this new ‘rowdy’ Olivia Rodrigo …

‘Problemista’ is an extravaganza you don’t want to miss

Share: After being delayed due to the Hollywood-stopping WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes, the surrealist comedy flick with a fantastical twist, “Problemista” finally gets its well-deserved moment in the sun. It tells the story of an immigrant who jumps through expensive, time-consuming bureaucratic hoops to make it in America at the risk of losing his visa and being sent back to El Salvador. A24’s latest release showcases comedian Julio Torres’ outstanding ability to write, direct, and act as he shines in his first feature film “Problemista.” …

Live, laugh, literature: PCC’s favorite reads

Share: Regardless of whether you love or hate reading, everyone has at least one book that played a crucial part in shaping them into the person they are today. Books transport us to other worlds, get us out of our heads, and allow us to sit and relax for a while and just enjoy a good story. That said, here are some absolute must-reads according to some of the students and faculty of Pasadena City College. “Crime and Punishment” by Fyodor Dostoevsky A favorite of …

Tool nails a killer show at the Crypto

Share: A show full of bright lights, loud sounds, beautiful guitaring, and soothing vocals. The most memorable moment from that night was seeing 20,000 people rocking alongside each other for two straight hours. Feb. 15th stands as one of the most memorable nights of my life as I experienced one of the greatest concerts I’ve ever seen. In that moment in time, the crowd all shared something in common, a love for Tool.  Tool is a rock band that originated in Los Angeles in 1990. …

‘Dune: Part Two’ leaves its predecessor in the dust as it soars to extraordinary heights

Share: Director Denis Villeneuve is known for breathtaking visuals mixed with fantastic character work to boot, and no movie gives him more of an opportunity to show this off than the “Dune” series. After a three-year-long wait, Villeneuve has returned to his Sci-Fi epic with “Dune: Part Two.” Truthfully, it’s hard to put into words how amazing this movie is, as it takes a serious step up in every department over its predecessor.    The movie once again follows Paul Atreides, played by Timothée Chalamet, and …

Bad bad, not good: Don’t get stuck in Madame’s Web

Share: Sony’s latest Marvel-related film “Madame Web” came to theaters just a few weeks ago, releasing on Valentine’s Day, and was met with a heap of negative reviews from Spider-Man/Marvel fans.  The build-up and overall promo were quite bizarre ranging from things like blatant false advertising, to the weird attempts from the main cast to get people to buy tickets like Dakota Johnson’s promo video where she goes on to say, “I think you’re gonna see it twice.” Aside from all this, the trailers and …

Netflix Avatarnishes new adaptation

Share: Netflix’s “Avatar: The Last Airbender” remake feels like a very genuine love letter written with largely inaccurate information about the recipient. It’s really difficult to fully hate this show when it’s clear so many people tried to make something truly special. From the cast’s infectious enthusiasm in the promotional material to the emphasis on staying respectful to the various real cultures the world of “Avatar” takes influence from, it’s a shame it was all in service to a result so painfully mediocre.  The notion …

Let ‘For All The Dogs’ out, and take it for a walk

Share: After a full season of teasing, Drake released his creative collection of recent albums with the highly anticipated “For All The Dogs” leaving me a little frustrated and unsatisfied, on the first listen. Coming in, it was difficult to know what to expect with this album seeing that the previous three gave a completely different vibe and went in multiple directions, but the consensus with most hip-hop fans was wanting the “old Drake”.  The project opened up with “Virginia Beach” a smooth and poetic …

‘Beau Is Afraid’ amuses and confuses in odd audacious odyssey

Share: There’s little to be afraid of in “Beau Is Afraid,” a surprisingly not-so-scary comedy from one of the most exciting horror directors, Ari Aster. Starring Joaquin Phoenix, it’s the sort of comedy where everyone, including the audience, is in on the joke. Everyone except for Beau, who is relentlessly tortured by any and every absurd creative choice Aster could imagine. Not every ambitious idea works in the film’s favor, yet the ungodly fever dream remains hilarious in a perverse, perturbed sense of humor. Beau …