Music
I went back and watched Twilight: New Moon (2009)
The Sophomore Slump New Moon, the second installment in the Twilight saga, attempts something genuinely daring for a blockbuster franchise: it removes its male lead for the majority of the film's runtime. This bold narrative choice serves the story's emotional arc but simultaneously exposes the franchise's structural weaknesses. In an era where young adult adaptations were rushing to capitalize on the success of the first film, New Moon takes the unexpected route of dwelling in darkness, depression, and absence—a risky gambit that doesn't entirely pay off.
By Parsley Rose 5 months ago in Critique
Finally Sat Down to Watch Midsommar (2019)
Ari Aster's 2019 film Midsommar represents an ambitious and polarizing entry in contemporary horror cinema. Following his acclaimed debut *Hereditary*, Aster crafts a folk horror experience that deliberately inverts the genre's visual conventions while exploring the dissolution of a toxic relationship against the backdrop of a Swedish pagan festival. The result is a film that is simultaneously beautiful and disturbing, meditative and visceral, earning both ardent admirers and vocal detractors.
By Parsley Rose 5 months ago in Critique
8 Mile: The Sorrow of a Raunchy Dream and a Daily Battle
This 2002 film is not just a foray into the realm of rap ut a reflection of a man's battle within himself with his own personal demons. It is a raw and unflinching story that lingers long after the end credits.
By Baptiste Monnet5 months ago in Critique
Beauty in Black Season 2: Power, Money, and Chaos Are Back on September 11, 2025!
Okay, friends, grab your snacks and a comfy chair, because Beauty in Black Season 2 is almost here, on September 11, on Netflix. It promises even more drama, intrigue, and jaw-dropping moves than the first season. Yes, like before, there’s plenty of time to soak in the chaos, bringing the signature mix of charm and edge.
By Sara Yahia6 months ago in Critique
Overcoming Writer's Block
Bruce Springsteen was frustrated and exhausted when his manager, Jon Landau, insisted he write a preeminent single for his 1984 album “Born in the U.S.A.” By that point, Springsteen had already written over 80 songs for the album, yet a standout single still eluded him. Returning to his hotel later that evening, Springsteen poured all of his pent-up angst and frustration into the song “Dancing in the Dark”, wherein he grapples with the “joke[s]” that are writer’s block and self-doubt, as well as how the external pressures of the music industry and his own audience can stifle creativity and personal growth.
By Strange Overtones6 months ago in Critique
Trailer Trash McMansions
Feeling poor? Sometimes it’s a matter of just not being able to land a job with a good pay cheque. Or sometimes it’s a matter of refusing to tolerate corporate bullshit even for a good pay cheque. There is absolutely nothing wrong with being poor.
By Narghiza Ergashova7 months ago in Critique
Paul Young, Wang Chung,John Waite, Rick Springfield
NJPAC in Newark, New Jersey was pretty crowded last evening to watch and witness some formidable artist of yesteryear. Opening the show with Paul Young who wasn't originally on the card for the evening, played four songs concluding with his hit "Everytime You Go Away".
By Robert M Massimi. ( Broadway Bob).8 months ago in Critique
Tunisian Man Sentenced to Six Months in Jail for Refusing to Listen to President's Speech
In a development that has sparked serious concerns among human rights activists and international observers, a Tunisian citizen has been sentenced to six months in prison for refusing to listen to a televised speech by President Kais Saied. The unusual and controversial sentence, handed down by a local court, has once again brought Tunisia's declining state of freedom of expression under the spotlight.
By Ikram Ullah8 months ago in Critique
