Share: “The Last Tycoon” presents 1930s Tinseltown as the glamorous and romantic place it has always wanted to be remembered as. Filled with beautiful costumes, lavish sets and talented actors this show makes us all yearn for days long gone by. Follow:
‘Jane the Virgin’ diversifies white-dominated CW network
Share: It could have been easy, and rather disappointing for the writers of the CW show “Jane the Virgin,” to characterize the protagonist, Jane Gloriana Villanueva as fierce or sexy, an insensitive trope that relegates Latina women to being seen as objects. However, the writers cunningly demonstrate how fierce Jane is not by her looks, but rather by charm, wit and intelligence – characteristics not often written for Latina women in TV or films. Follow:
‘Isle of Dogs’: I love dogs
Share: Dog lovers rejoice for the “Isle of Dogs”, a film that uses unique stop-motion effects that couple smoothly with Wes Anderson’s visual style, and creates a riveting tale that reminds us why dogs are man’s best friend. Follow:
‘Crazy Ex-Girlfriend’: Deconstructing the rom-com tropes
Share: The crazy ex-girlfriend trope has survived for so long in romantic comedy media. The CW musical show with the same title is not about perpetuating this belittling label, it’s about deconstructing it. Follow:
Vance Joy offers a mediocre effort deserving of his fans
Share: Last Friday, Vance Joy released his new album, “Nation of Two”, a mundane collection of songs featuring virtually the same arrangement and identical subject matter. Follow:
‘The End of the F***ing World’: A sociopathic love story
Share: In case you missed it, Netflix has become a really big deal, especially for the younger generation. Millenials are always looking for binge-worthy shows that allow them to connect to characters, to escape reality for a little while and to essentially find something that makes them feel like they are not alone in this crazy world. Netflix’s “The End of The F***ing World” does just that. Follow:
‘Annihilation’: Elevated visuals through practical effects
Share: More recently, science-fiction thrillers have revolved around common themes: space, the future, or a virtual world. “Annihilation” does not take that route at all. Although there are no real markers to show that it takes place in any time period, it is easy to infer that it takes place within the decade. Just this alone sets the film apart from many other fantasy and sci-fi thrillers of today. While having its flaws, “Annihilation”, written and directed by Alex Garland and adopted from Jeff VanderMeer’s …
German beers, atmosphere and Jazz Funk under Pasadena’s streets
Share: In the busy streets on Colorado Boulevard and Fair Oaks Avenue, lies an underground bar that successfully recreates an atmosphere of the dark ages during the medieval times. Rathskeller, a German word for a town hall basement bar, is the name of the tavern located under the German beer hall, Der Wolfskopf. Rathskeller has become a great location for many locals to enjoy some rare German brews and uniquely crafted specialty cocktails. Follow:
‘Justice League’ is basically a ‘B’ rated Avengers
Share: In mid November, “Justice League” finally premiered on the big screen and I was able to catch an early set that morning. With some of DC’s top heroes, this film has brought an interesting team of old and new heroes in a collaboration to save the world. Follow:
Thor Ragnarok: Lightning fast action and tons of fun
Share: The long awaited Marvel thriller “Thor: Ragnarok” delivered, hammering the box office with a fierce, thunderous strike, making up for most of the rubbish released during the summer. Follow: