The Batman — An Evolution of the Superhero Blockbuster

Ever since 2008’s “The Dark Knight,” the (controversial, but generally dumb) question of whether superhero movies could be considered “Oscar worthy movies” has been posed. This question has only become more relevant, given that 2008 also birthed the omnipresent Marvel Cinematic Universe

In Praise of “Parasite”

Part 0:  With the 94th Academy Awards in our rearview mirrors, it seems as good a time as any to harken back to prior cinematic masterpieces rightfully recognized by the Oscars. One film in particular stands out as not only igniting my

The Problem with “The French Dispatch”

Last fall, my boyfriend went to see The French Dispatch with five of his friends and one of their fathers, who was visiting. Halfway through, he looked over to find that all six of them had fallen asleep.  Now perhaps this is

Spooky Season: Killer Klowns from Outer Space

As September starts and the temperatures gradually begin to cool, we see the beginnings of a new season: the spooky season. A time of horror films, pumpkins, and the all-important holiday: Halloween. Though the parties and events that usually come with the

Escaping and Searching in “The Wild Goose Lake”

When I was listing the films to watch for Philadelphia Film Festival in late October, I couldn’t help noticing a critically acclaimed Chinese film that was proudly selected to compete for the Palme d’Or at the Cannes Film Festival this year. “The

Russia in the 90s: Poetry and Revolution

As today’s media becomes increasingly politicized, polarized, and privatized, cultural journalism has taken a step back. The Trump-era news cycle has dichotomized the reading experience into an all-or-nothing approach. Many either find themselves inundated with ever-increasing political entanglements or become so overwhelmed

Bryan Konietzko gives presentation to packed audience

Last Saturday night, Bryan Konietzko, the co-creator of “Avatar: The Last Airbender” and “The Legend of Korra,” lectured on the artwork and development that went into the production of the series. Korra is an animated TV series that aired on Nickelodeon from

Between fiction and essay with Xiaolu Guo

The frame of a screen hangs on a wall before several rows of chairs in Swarthmore’s hallowed/multipurpose Eugene Lang Performing Arts Center. Several students and professors are sprinkled about, waiting for the film to begin in an abstract pattern with no reason