The Foreign Film Series brings the stories and experiences of other cultures to Cedarville
By Ben Konuch
When South Korean filmmaker Bong Joon-ho won the Oscar for Best Picture in 2019 for directing the film “Parasite,” he took the stage at the 92nd Academy Awards with a subtle condemnation and challenge for Western audiences.
“Once you overcome the one-inch tall barrier of subtitles,” he said, “you will be introduced to so many more amazing films.”
This charge to expand our horizons and cultural understanding through films is not just thought about ...
A Tale of Two Adaptations
‘Percy Jackson and the Olympians’ and ‘Avatar the Last Airbender’ back in thespotlight
By Janie Walenda
It was the best of times, it was the worst of times. It was the age of falling in love with excellent children’s media, it was the age of heart-crushing horrible live-action adaptations. 2000s kids really had it all.
“Percy Jackson and the Olympians” and “Avatar the Last Airbender” mirror each other throughout their history. Both debuted in ...
‘Inside Out 2’ provides powerful insight to a unique generation
By Esther Fultz
This review contains spoilers for “Inside Out 2.”
Like many people in my generation, I grew up on Pixar films - “Toy Story,” “Cars,” “Monsters Inc.” - you name it. But if I had to choose my favorite movie, I probably would have said “Inside Out.” The film was released in 2015, but for some reason, I didn’t watch it until early in college when I was studying to be a social worker and it immediately captivated my attention. The film engages young ...
From controller to silver screen: Amazon Prime’s “Fallout” and the rise of television gaming adaptations
By Ben Konuch
Imagine this: it’s 2007, and you’ve just heard that your favorite video game is getting a movie adaptation coming to theaters soon! If you’re imagining accurately, your reaction might be a groan of frustration or a panicked clutching of your non-existent pearls. After all, why should you be excited for another movie studio to fundamentally misunderstand a video game you love?
By 2007, Hollywood had shouted loud and clear that it was incapable of capturing the fun of ...
Singer Nathan Duty appreciates many styles of music
Story and videos by Zoe Ekeh
“The first thing I ever started doing was singing – ever since I was little, I sang,” Nathan Duty said. “I think a lot of us that’s the first we connect with is our voice because it’s just part of us.”
https://youtu.be/YxrQE9xRv2g
Singing, playing the piano and playing the saxophone are all the musical skills and gifts that Duty has acquired throughout his life. He considers himself to be a vocalist. As a musician, it is a ...
Singing from two periods of music: Carter Foerch’s enjoyment and passion of singing eclectically
Story and videos by Zoe Ekeh
Singing classical music in a recital hall, playing covers of modern songs on a piano or keyboard and composing music are how Carter Foerch displays his musical talent. And those three pieces of his musical pursuits carry different weights in his day-to-day life.
Most importantly – at least for now – Foerch studies classical music performance as a music major at Cedarville University. Classical music has a complex history, and Foerch finds it remarkable ...
Isaiah Rubio: A musician with a determined path
Story and Videos by Zoe Ekeh
Musician with A calling
Walking past a concert stage set up with a huge screen, LED lights, and speakers, Isaiah Rubio felt anxiety come over him. This feeling caused Rubio to question if he would ever belong on that stage.
Rubio ignored his interest in creating music until an overwhelming feeling of longing to pursue his musical passion came upon him that day. Since then, he has listened to a calling for using his musical talent.
As a sound ...
‘12 Angry Jurors’ tells a riveting story of justice and duty
By Sophia Monastra
You file into the small jury room. In front of you is a long wooden table surrounded by chairs. The lights above hum, and in the corner stands a cooler of water. The trial has dragged on for six days. You’re tired, the room is hot, and you want to go home. As you and the rest of the jury make your way to the chairs, someone walks over to the window and cracks it open.
In this room, you and eleven other people will decide the fate of a boy accused of murdering ...
“Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire” is lukewarm at best
By Janie Walenda
What do you want out of a “Ghostbusters” movie? Personally, I am here for the theme song and to see a bunch of goofballs fight ghosts. By this forgiving metric, “Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire” is a success. But in a film that is stuffed to the brim with characters and side plots galore, it’s hard to find any concrete thing that the film excels at. It’s certainly a weaker entry than its predecessor, “Ghostbusters: Afterlife,” which stands as one of the best ...
‘Monkey Man:’ blending cultural representation with brutal revenge
By Ben Konuch
“In this city, the rich don’t see us as people. To them, we’re animals.”
(Editor’s note: “Monkey Man” is a mature film that contains moments of intense violence and grapples with adult themes such as human trafficking, religious persecution and attacks on LGBT minorities. The author of this article notes that some of these topics and the way they are presented may not be for everyone, but for some, there is great worth in asking its questions. The film is not ...
