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“Gladiator II” leaves audiences “entertained”
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24 years ago, “Gladiator” was released into theaters. Since then, the film has continuously grown in fame and reputation. With the relatively minimal CGI and stunning performances by actors such as Russell Crowe, Joaquin Phoenix and Connie Nielsen, it was no wonder the film garnered such a positive reception. In addition to these factors,…
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Moana 2 did not go far enough
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Following its beloved original, “Moana 2” has already made 389 million dollars in box offices. However, the sequel hardly compares to the original “Moana.” “Moana 2” shows an aged Moana who receives a vision from her ancestors and sails across the ocean with a crew of three other villagers to find the island Motufetu,…
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“Heretic” challenges religious control
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The debate between fate and free will is a recurring topic in entertainment that has captivated audiences throughout history. We have seen these quandaries in countless stories, but Scott Beck and Bryan Woods’s film, “Heretic,” takes the concept of belief to a whole new level. “Heretic” takes place in an isolated wooded mountain town…
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“The Wild Robot” brings audiences to tears
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I rarely find myself brought to genuine tears by a kid’s movie, but “The Wild Robot” is an exception. Released on Sept. 27, “The Wild Robot” has garnered numerous high and tear-streaked reviews. When I walked into the movie theater I was surprised by the range of ages found in the audience, and was…
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“We Live in Time” is a vulnerable romance
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On Oct. 19, “We Live in Time” was released in theaters. The movie is a wonderful film, following the very emotional and raw relationship of Tobias, played by Andrew Garfield, and Almut, played by Florence Pugh. Through the impactful acting performances and directing choices, the film leaves a lasting impression on audience members. To…
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Put on a frowny face for “Joker: Folie à Deux”
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“I don’t wanna sing anymore…please stop singing,” are among the final pieces of dialogue in “Joker: Folie à Deux,” the highly anticipated sequel to the 2019 smash hit “Joker,” and perfectly describe how the audience was feeling at that point in the movie. No matter what anyone thought of it, the first “Joker” movie…
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“Coraline” is a key watch for the spooky season
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When I was younger, “Coraline” was one of my favorite movies, especially in the fall. For its’ 15-year anniversary, it was playing in 3-D, and I got the opportunity to watch it in theaters. “Coraline” is a beloved film, with its audiences ranging from children, who probably see it as a scary movie, to…
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“Incoming” gets a big, fat F in my gradebook
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The new Netflix movie “Incoming” was an interesting watch, to say the least. From start to finish I was questioning the point and plot of this very strange film. As a Newbury Park High School student, all I really found interesting was when I could look at the screen and say, “Oh wow, that…
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Domestic abuse normalized in “It Ends With Us”
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The new movie “It Ends with Us,” based on the popular Colleen Hoover novel, has caused an uproar of internet drama. The book was originally published in 2016 and was a hit, however, in recent years it has sparked a huge debate, thanks to BookTok. The story follows Lily Bloom, played by Blake Lively,…
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‘Dune: Part Two’ has dune it again
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It wasn’t too long ago that Frank Herbert’s sci-fi novel epic, “Dune” was considered unfilmable. Most people figured it was too weird and slow for the palette of general audiences. Even resident freak filmmaker David Lynch found little success with his 1984 adaptation of the book. Thus, when it was announced that upcoming director…