Essay
Back on the Strip
After losing the woman of his dreams, Merlin moves to Las Vegas to pursue work as a magician, only to get hired as the frontman in a revival of the notorious Black male stripper crew, the Chocolate Chips. Led by Luther -- now broke and broken -- the old, domesticated, out-of-shape Chips put aside former conflicts and reunite to save the hotel they used to perform in while helping Merlin win back his girl.
By kathy rich3 years ago in Critique
The Last Voyage of the Demeter
The crew of the merchant ship Demeter sets sail from Carpathia to London to deliver a cargo of 50 unmarked wooden crates. However, they soon discover they're not alone as Dracula's unholy presence turns the trip into a nightmarish fight for survival
By kathy rich3 years ago in Critique
Meg 2: The Trench
Jonas Taylor leads a research team on an exploratory dive into the deepest depths of the ocean. Their voyage spirals into chaos when a malevolent mining operation threatens their mission and forces them into a high-stakes battle for survival. Pitted against colossal, prehistoric sharks and relentless environmental plunderers, they must outrun, outsmart and outswim their merciless predators.
By kathy rich3 years ago in Critique
Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny
Experience the return of the legendary hero, Indiana Jones, in the fifth installment of this beloved swashbuckling series of films. Finding himself in a new era, approaching retirement, Indy wrestles with fitting into a world that seems to have outgrown him. But as the tentacles of an all-too-familiar evil return in the form of an old rival, Indy must don his hat and pick up his whip once more to make sure an ancient and powerful artifact doesn't fall into the wrong hands.
By kathy rich3 years ago in Critique
Amos 'n' Andy 'n' Us 'n' Them
This TV adaptation ran from 1951 to 1953 with African-American actors. It was taken off the air, genius comedy and talent notwithstanding, because it inappropriately presented black "folks'" shenanigans as white entertainment. Brilliant, yes, but it was that perpetuation of the us-and-them motif in media that inclusion needed to end.
By Gerard DiLeo3 years ago in Critique
The Old Man and The Sea
Hemmingway captures the heart of life with Santiago, who won’t believe old age makes him an unlucky fisherman. Strength and tenacity are juxtaposed alongside vulnerability and faith as he fights the giant marlin alone at sea, only to lose it to feasting sharks. Santiago represents man’s will to overcome adversity.
By Sherry Ryan3 years ago in Critique
The Devil Wears Prada (2006)
"The Devil Wears Prada" stylishly captures the fashion industry's allure and demands. Streep's powerhouse performance as Miranda Priestly is a highlight, yet the film sometimes prioritizes surface-level glamour over fully exploring its characters' complexities. Still, it remains a guilty pleasure and engaging glimpse into the high-stakes world of haute couture.
By Bekah Writes3 years ago in Critique
The Notebook
In a contemporary nursing home, an elderly Duke shares a heartfelt tale with a female patient: Back in 1940, during a carnival on Seabrook Island, South Carolina, Noah Calhoun, a lumber mill worker, crosses paths with 17-year-old heiress Allison "Allie" Hamilton. Allie is vacationing there with her parents for the summer. Noah becomes smitten with her and they embark on a passionate romance.
By Judith Akabs3 years ago in Critique
Landscape with Invisible Hand
Two teens hatch a risky plan to save their families when an occupying alien species leaves most of the planet impoverished and unemployed. When an occupying alien species' bureaucratic rule and advanced technology leave most of Earth impoverished and unemployed, two teenagers hatch a risky plan to ensure their families' futures.
By kathy rich3 years ago in Critique
Pride And Prejudice
In the late 18th century, the Bennet family resides at their rural English estate, Longbourn. Mr. and Mrs. Bennet have five daughters: Jane, Elizabeth, Mary, Kitty, and Lydia. Mrs. Bennet is eager to find suitable husbands for her daughters and is thrilled when wealthy bachelor Charles Bingley moves nearby to Netherfield. During an assembly ball, Bingley, his sister Caroline, and his friend Mr. Darcy become acquainted with the local society. Bingley and Jane are immediately attracted to each other, but Elizabeth forms an instant dislike for the arrogant Darcy after overhearing his condescending remarks about her.
By Judith Akabs3 years ago in Critique
