Share: In a world full of racial tension, bias, and brutality, “The Hate U Give” respectfully and creatively presents a sense of understanding and a universal message of the unfairness Black people face daily, simply because of the color of their skin. The movie begins with a controversial subject within the Black community, “the talk.” Instead of the usual “birds and the bees” talk most parents pass down to their children, Black parents must explain widespread discrimination and racism to their kids, warning them about …
‘Bohemian Rhapsody’: the PG version of a rockstar’s life
Share: The biopic “Bohemian Rhapsody” follows the legendary band Queen, specifically the standout lead singer Freddie Mercury, during the most important 15 years on their road to success up to their Live Aid performance in 1985. The film gives a glimpse of Mercury’s private life and the outside influences that tore apart the band for years. It is almost impossible to distinguish where actor Rami Malek ends and Mercury begins. From his infamously horrible teeth to his defined facial structure, it’s difficult to imagine that …
The Mamba Mentality: Going inside the mind of a psychopath
Share: When Kobe Bryant announced his first book, “The Mamba Mentality: How I Play”, many were ecstatic that one of the greats in basketball was going to write about his experience in the NBA, as well as his knowledge and understanding of the game of basketball after 20 seasons. Like Bryant’s “Detail” series on ESPN, where it’s 20 minutes of him doing in-depth game analysis of current NBA players, I was expecting a book enriched in text on Bryant’s psychological strengths and habits, which made …
An appreciation of Latino culture through art
Share: When you think of Los Angeles a lot comes into mind. From the glitz and the glamour of Hollywood, to the beaches of Santa Monica and to the people that make Los Angeles such an incredible place. The Latino culture of LA has had an incredible impact in the community with their music and art. Over the weekend, LA had an opportunity to appreciate the work and culture of Latino artists in the community. Follow:
‘A Star is Born’: Dazzling mix of talent and tragedy
Share: Bradley Cooper’s directorial debut, “A Star is Born” is a piece of pure magic. Lady Gaga transforms from the platinum art-pop diva we all know and love, into Ally, a shy, understated brunette who’s afraid to sing her own songs. Her performance is exquisite, gritty and real, you soon forget the edgy character she is in real life. Follow:
Mother Moo Creamery: Tested and Approved
Share: Nestled in-between Baldwin Jewelers and Lucky Baldwin Delirium Café, surrounded by various shops, stores and restaurants along Sierra Madre Boulevard’s Kersting’s Court, is the organic, homemade ice cream and desserts of Mother Moo Creamery opened in 2011 by Pennsylvania State University Alum Karen Klemens. Walking into Mother Moo feels almost like entering a 1950’s style malt shop, minus the drugstore and soda fountain element. To the right, along the walls as you first walk in, are shelves right out of a candy store with …
Predator: Jokes and a jumbled mess
Share: Shane Black returns to the Predator franchise but not to reprise his role as Rick Hawkins, only this time directing the film for its third reboot/sequel. “I’m sorry I grew up the way you didn’t want to”, is a reflection on how a once dark sci-fi action thriller is turned into a comedy/action movie “blockbuster” riddled with countless movie cliches, a confusing plot and ill timed one-liners. Some may find the film’s subtle charm only due to Shane Black’s signature dark humour which is …
Listening to ‘Nobody’: Isolation and social media
Share: In her latest single, “Nobody”, Mitski Myawaki, better known as just Mitski, uses her expertise in embodying angst to transport the listener into a surreal hellscape of isolation that turns out to be more familiar than we would like to think. Follow:
‘Ant-Man and the Wasp’: Sunshine after the storm
Share: Disclaimer: This review may contain some spoilers for ‘Ant-man and the Wasp’ It’s been two months since the premiere of “Avengers: Infinity War,’ and some people are still freaking out about what happened in the movie. Now, Marvel Studios gave us a much more light-hearted film: “Ant-Man and the Wasp,” directed by Peyton Reed. This movie directly follows both the first Ant-Man movie and “Captain America: Civil War,” taking place two years after the events of the latter, and during the events of “Avengers: …
‘Take Your Pills‘: The age of stimulants
Share: The issue of doping in sports has with regular intervals received attention in the international press during the past decade. The Olympic Committee and some of the biggest international sports federations partnered two decades ago to established the World Anti-Doping Agency in an attempt to catch athletes who use performance-enhancing drugs to gain leverage. While many of us may have left the world of competitive sports as we graduated from high school and therefore feel that the world of sports doping is a world …