Share: Most classic Disney movies are rooted in the idea of a damsel in distress. A princess unhappy with her current situation seeking a knight in shining armor to save her from misery. Disney seemingly stepped away from that format to provide their audience with a film that can be entertaining, culturally educational, and heartwarming in a time when hope and magic are needed. Like the 2016 film “Moana” which strays from the conventional lead female character but instead portrays a modernist independent-no-prince-princess, “Encanto’s” protagonist …
Finals playlist: Smooth grooves to get the A you need
Share: As the semester comes to a close, the inevitability of studying right before your finals is a given. With little time to spare, everyone wants to utilize their time studying. Here’s a playlist for studying at home, sitting in the library, or hanging out in the mirror fountain. JOJI, “SLOW DANCING IN THE DARK” As the realization hits that you are unprepared for your final that could make or break you, now is the time to take all those regrets and snap out …
Paul Thomas Anderson’s ‘Licorice Pizza’ nails the nostalgia of failed romance
Share: Though some LA natives might scoff at the thought of an entire movie surrounding life in the San Fernando Valley, Paul Thomas Anderson’s newest endeavor Licorice Pizza is a wonderfully nostalgic tribute to the culture that defined the SFV circa 1970. Licorice Pizza demonstrates the same charm and frivolity audiences might recognize from Boogie Nights and Punch-Drunk Love, but with an appealingly distinctive flair. Anderson’s relationship with the Valley is without a doubt a firmly embedded love affair, and the Academy Award winning director …
‘Head Over Heels’ gives Pasadena Playhouse a lively return to theater
Share: Pasadena Playhouse rolled out the red carpet last Sunday for the Premier of the vibrant Head Over Heels, an Elizabethen play adapted with the music of The Go-Go’s. The play was originally written in the 16th century by Sir Philip Sidney and adapted into a musical with the pop magic music of the Go Go’s in 2018. It managed to successfully take new wave and bring it into a new age, with all sorts of gleeful nostalgia. Fluid gender identity and sexuality that normally …
Editor’s choice: Our top 3 fall book recs at Vroman’s
Share: As the days become shorter and the weather begins to cool, sometimes there is nothing better than snuggling up under a blanket and reading a good book. Vroman’s Bookstore, Pasadena’s local gem as well as Southern California’s oldest and largest independent bookstore, is your one stop shop for all your bookworm needs. Vromons is located on Colorado Boulevard next to the Laemmle theater and situated conveniently behind Jones Coffee. No matter what your taste may be you can count on Vromans to have your …
Remi Wolf brings quirk and color to new album
Share: In an era of social media where true identity is masked by the selective personality posted on Instagram, Twitter, and Tiktok pages, It’s easy for people to conform to societal norms. Following in the standards of beauty and personality to feel accepted. Remi Wolf, a 25-year-old singer and songwriter from Palo Alto, goes away from that. “Juno”, her debut album, brings forth an energetic tempo and colorful mood that showcases Remi Wolf’s sound. Partnered with her neon outfits, vibrant accessories, and kaleidoscopic album cover, …
Michael Myers still slays with old horror clichés
Share: Despite the new Michael Myers film killing it at the box office with $50.4 million this past weekend, the terror harkens to classic played out horror cliches. Halloween Kills opened last Friday in theaters and on NBC’s streaming platform Peacock. Myers comes in swinging, his knife that is and once again defeats all those who come up against him. The film asks for us to dangle in suspended belief quite often, especially when the masked madman defeats a slew of firemen with axes, countless …
Netflix’s Squid Game is the show of the decade
Share: The new series “Squid Game” on Netflix isn’t a cinematic masterpiece, but no show is. Given each episode comes in at nearly an hour long, mastering every scene would be nearly impossible. But the show does, on occasion, have amazing cinematic sequences, with amazing camera pans, side-to-side point of view, use of color, composition, and framing. It is easily a decade worth of work. Squid Game might be the best show in the world. In the 4th episode, there is a scene where an …
Kanye’s ‘Donda’ is a messy masterpiece
Share: After dropping the disasters that were ‘Ye’ and ‘Jesus Is King’ , Kanye West fans were left with a hopelessness of whether the prolific artist will ever return to his former glory. However, after four missed release dates Kanye has finally dropped ‘Donda’, the imperfect magnum opus. Follow:
Sleepy? Get your caffeine fix with our top 3 picks
Share: With PCC’s fall session partly on campus, coffee is a necessary routine for many students. Local cafes near the campus can offer students a place to study as well as get that extra help with waking up. Follow: