Share: Ari Aster’s “Hereditary” opened on Friday, June 8, 2018, and was immediately met with complimentary reviews from numerous outlets, bolstering its advertisements proclaiming it as the scariest film of the year, or in ages, or some other ostensibly impressive amount of time. However, despite several promising elements, the film as a whole is an utter failure as a horror movie. From the cliches to the tonal mistakes to the thoughtless visual style, horrendous pacing, and almost consummate lack of scares, the film falls far …
‘Vida’: Latinx representation done right
Share: If you were itching for real Latinx representation, I think they finally gave it to us. Starz’s new television series “Vida” takes the cake. The show explores the complexities of Latinx and queer identity and gentrification in East Los Angeles. Follow:
Eat Drink Vegan returns to Rose Bowl with animal-free fare
Share: Eat Drink Vegan, the annual plant-based beer and food festival, went off without a hitch at the Rose Bowl’s Brookside Park on Saturday, May 26. This year’s festival felt a bit more muted and lower energy than last year, but attendees showed up in full force just the same. Follow:
‘Solo’: Disappointing
Share: The current trilogy of Star Wars films have so far been pretty good. J.J. Abrams and Rian Johnson have done a good job on their movies, and the first anthology film, “Rogue One,” was good too. And now we have the second anthology film, “Solo,” the origin story of Han Solo. The idea of the film was risky in itself, since characters in the film have already been portrayed by actors in the original trilogy, with Han Solo having been played by Harrison Ford …
Shawn Mendes’ new album needs a Grammy… like now
Share: Shawn Mendes has been in the music scene for quite some time now: he started off making Youtube videos at 13, then gained mad success for his six second covers on Vine (RIP, my soul still hurts). Now, at the mere age of 19, Mendes has released his third studio album which, at the very least, is deserving of a Grammy for Best Pop Album of the Year. Follow:
‘Voicenotes’: Who tf broke Charlie Puth’s heart?
Share: Charlie Puth’s overnight success on “See You Again” (a tribute track for the late Paul Walker), resulted in him releasing what felt like a rushed, unoriginal debut album in 2016, earning one of the lowest scores ever on Metacritic and leaving many wondering if the pretty-faced, perfect-pitched singer is nothing more than a typical YouTube star. Now, Puth is back with his sophomore album, “Voicenotes,” to prove to music listeners that he is more than capable of delivering an authentic musical masterpiece. Follow:
Deadpool 2: Wasn’t that Thanos?
Share: Profanity Warning: I say fuck. I am a huge Deadpool fan, as a lot of people who like comic book superheroes are. There’s something about his 4th-wall-breaking, dark and unpredictable humor that makes him such a fun character. So when I heard that there was going to be a Deadpool movie two years ago, I was ecstatic. And for good reason; that movie was amazing. Ryan Reynolds captured the character perfectly, unlike his portrayal in the 2008 “X-men Origins: Wolverine.” Fuck that movie. But …
‘La que no es puta no disfruta’: Latinx market embraces sexuality
Share: The familiar sound of cumbias blared in the background skirts swaying to the beat of the music, as varying dialects of spanish excitedly chattered over the notes-characteristic of any good family party. Bright, framed paintings of pan dulce and earrings made from loteria cards conjured powerful images of childhood. Follow:
Gallery 30 South portrays that unpatriotic is the new patriotic
Share: It is easy to miss Gallery 30 South when driving through Pasadena. What looks to be a tiny house is actually an art gallery that attracts locals to view contemporary art made by today’s visionaries like Chuck D and Diana Georgie. Follow:
‘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 …