Isaac Han

'Harry Potter' filled with somber enchantments

The series of books that we fervently read as children seems to be finally coming to an end as the penultimate Harry Potter movie enchants our hearts and minds. “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: …

Soulfège fuses diverse array of musical genres

Afropolitan group Soulfège will be performing this Friday as part of the Cooper Series, bringing their music’s African roots onto the world stage. The band’s founders, DNA (Derrick N Ashong) and …

Art exhibit draws inspiration from familiar themes

While the works of students and famous artists alike grace the walls of the List Gallery and classrooms of Beardsley, we are rarely given the opportunity to see the artwork done by Swarthmore art prof…

Life and death converge in Eastwood's "Hereafter"

Even as we live, we think about our deaths. Perhaps it is because death is the inevitable conclusion of our days. Or maybe death compels us by its mystery because, in taking those around us, we are le…

A once-dying art form demonstrates its rebirth

The renowned Khmer Arts Ensemble, a Cambodia-based troupe of dancers and musicians, has arrived at Tri-Co as part of the Khmer Arts event series. Hosted by Bryn Mawr College, the series seeks to enlig…

'Social Network' fails to meaningfully connect

“The Social Network” is a biopic of Mark Zuckerberg and how the creation of Facebook was ironically a product of the social woes he faced in real life. The film, an adaptation of Ben Mezrick’s “The Ac…

Hip-hop artists to unleash fly beats at Olde Club

Hip-hop music is not just what you hear on the radio. It’s not just about money or fame. Sometimes it’s about expressing your identity and your ideas. This fact could not be more evident in the divers…

'Easy A' revamps traditional coming-of-age story

At first glance, “Easy A” appears to be just another coming-of-age teen movie about an unpopular girl looking to fit in. But the many distinctive and eccentric personalities that clash and harmonize i…

Going deep into the aesthetics of the everyday

The nature of the everyday is currently under exploration at the List Gallery. The exhibit entitled “Aesthetics of Intimacy” seeks to unravel truths in observations of commonplace objects and places b…

The power of dreams, the persistence of ideas

“Inception,” Christopher Nolan’s newest film, challenges ideas of reality, delving into the human psyche, a theme Nolan previously explored in films such as “Memento” and “The Dark Knight.” This time …

Cera’s Scott Pilgrim closes summer season with fun

Scott Pilgrim vs The World

Critic rating: 7.5/10

Rotten Tomatoes Rating: 81%

If the overwhelming experience of the Scott Pilgrim vs the World could be summed up in one word, the word would be “fun.” T…

LSE diversifies Worthstock's typically indie lineup

All around campus this past week, students who will be attending Worthstock 2010 have been talking about how Man Man is coming to Swarthmore as the headliner for Worthstock.

This weekend in Worth Cour…

Mixing the power of dance with personal stories

As the end of the spring semester approaches, with finals and classes coming to a close, the departments of music and dance will present the culminating work that the students have done over the past …

Students’ book collections garner prestigious prize

Considered the oldest book collecting competition in the United States, the A. Edward Newton Book Collection Competition rewards those Swarthmore students with the best, most creative and most stimula…

Tackling stereotypes with short films & humor

Indeed the rumors are true and the numerous flyers on campus are not terrible April Fools’ Day jokes. Wong Fu Productions is making a visit to Swarthmore tomorrow, April 9.

Wong Fu Productions is an…

In ‘Hot Tub,’ a shockingly painless blast to the past

When I heard that the title of the movie I’m about to review was called “Hot Tub Time Machine” a few weeks ago in a commercial on television, I remember thinking to myself, “What a ridiculously dumb c…

In stark portraiture, war victims divulge psychology

Daniel Heyman’s current exhibition at the List Gallery entitled “Bearing Witness: Recent Works” strives to portray Iraqis as victims of the U.S.-Iraqi War as well as of the current system. Paired with…

Hyped war drama lacks developed, thrilling plot

Who knew that a movie that combines political conspiracy, the tensions of the current Iraq War, battle scenes and the talents of Matt Damon and Paul Greengrass, director of the last two Bourne movies,…

In Media, a warm, delightful taste of France invites

Among the many treasures that one can find as they venture out of The Bubble and into the small town of Media is La Belle Epoque. The restaurant offers traditional French cuisine in a menu that seeks …

Benshi tradition unites the audience with films

It is in the theater where communication between the filmmaker and the audience is able to begin, a fact that was demonstrated in the recent Benshi Symposium and film screening.

The two-part Cooper se…

Oscar-nominated film delves into the psyche of war

Gone are the days when war is glorified by movies and when soldiers are portrayed as impervious to fear and pain. Now in a more socially conscious world, we as a society are more apt to see the horror…

Washed-up country singer finds love, music and redemption in Crazy Heart

Getting the chance to reconcile with oneself and take control of one’s life can never come too late in life. Such is the case in “Crazy Heart,” an adaptation of a novel with the same name by Thomas Co…

Filmmaker Spiro shows tragic wounds of ‘War’

Last Friday at LPAC, the Film and Media Studies Department and War News Radio hosted Ellen Spiro and her documentary “Body of War.” “Body of War” is a documentary co-directed by Spiro and Phil Donahue…

Filmgoing in Philly: Week Two

Rudo y Cursi

Playing this past weekend at the Philly Film Festival was the Mexican comedy “Rudo y Cursi” directed by Carlos Cuarón. The film is about two brothers who get caught up in the world of pro…

Filmgoing in Philly: Week One

The two-week Philadelphia Film Festival is currently running until April 6. Which films made the cut for our writers and which didn’t? The Phoenix reviews a selection of the festival’s features, some …

Bromantic comedy

For those of us who watch “Scrubs,” the term “bromance” is a very familiar one. For everyone else, a “bromance” can be best described as the close relationship between two straight males. In “Scrubs,”…

Snyder's 'Watchmen' stumbles where it should soar

Superhero movies are no longer just for kids. With “The Dark Knight” and now Zack Snyder’s adaptation of “Watchmen,” superhero movies have officially grown up, tackling deep, difficult questions about…

Kitao exhibit documents transgender experiences

In a room filled with paintings and books neatly stacked in their proper places, there is a woman sitting in a red chair, her legs crossed, her hand up at a 90-degree angle, and her smile smug. She gi…

Student at Sharples: Q & A with Ashley Acle

Indeed, the rumors are true — there is one among us who works at Sharples. There is someone working at the place that some of us even avoid for long periods of time, or alternately get sucked into, t…

'Baraka,' a meditation

A Japanese man walks down a busy street in Tokyo, his face covered by a straw hat, his robes swinging back and forth. He’s ringing a bell as he walks so that it chimes at a constant interval, calling …

Food appreciation comes to nourish the bubble

Food is essential, food is a delight, but food can also become bland and monotonous, as is unavoidably the case at Sharples. Perhaps the food is not as bad at Sharples as everyone says, but it can get…

List Gallery exhibit weaves the story of a life

On display now in the List Gallery is the work of Baltimore artist Michael Olszewski, whose recent fabric constructions and watercolor paintings use subdued blacks and grays to articulate feelings of …

“Button” uses technical skill in the service of art

In the midst of the current award-season buzz, “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button” has turned more than just a couple of heads. Based on the F. Scott Fitzgerald’s short story of the same name, the f…