Posts tagged as “film”

(Archive November 2019) Growing Up with Disney

By editorialteam on April 16, 2025

Early Childhood Education Major Discusses the Impact of Children’s Films

By Hannah Bennett | Observer Contributor

Allyssa Johnson, first year Early Childhood Education major, has yet to interact with many of the children who go to the Garrison Center for daycare, but she is learning about fostering healthy childhood learning and development. At the Garrison Center, she learns what factors have the greatest impact on early childhood development.

Currently, Johnson is learning about the importance of parental involvement in the early stages of childhood development. This fosters “family engagement”, which is crucial to the healthy development of children. One assignment on this subject was a half hour movie that parents watched with their children. Then they created a project based on how the movie made them feel. read more

(Archive September 2019) Brie Larson Shines Bright in Captain Marvel

By editorialteam on April 15, 2025

By Eliana Mello | Observer Contributor

Image from flickr; Property of Disney and Marvel Studios
Captain Marvel

Captain Marvel introduces a powerful female lead that many will love.

Brie Larson plays a realistic and relatable female character compared to another female superhero movie, Wonder Woman. Wonder Woman was strong and sure of herself, making few mistakes and lacking character development.

When Captain Marvel gains access to her full powers, she is sloppy as she learns how to harness her new strength. In comparison, when Wonder Woman accessed her Godly strength, she fully understood and perfectly executed her abilities. Wonder Woman seemed too out of reach for people to fully relate to her. This makes Wonder Women seem idealized where Captain Marvel, though she has superhuman abilities, has imperfections, something that makes her human. read more

(Archive April 2019) Are You the Next Spider-Man?

By editorialteam on April 15, 2025

Review – Spider-Man: Into the Spider-verse (Spoilers!)

By Ashley Spring | Observer Contributor

Image from Amazon, *Spider-Man: Into the Spider-verse* owned by Sony Pictures Animation

Winning an Oscar and exciting Marvel fans, Spider-man: Into the Spider-verse pays attention to detail and puts a twist on the hero’s story, reminding movie viewers that “you could wear the mask.”

Before the movie begins, the logos help set the mood of the film by showing them in the same art style as the movie itself. The film’s art direction resembles a comic book, and this is further solidified by the comic code logo that you would see on the front page of a comic book. After a quick introduction from Spider-Man himself, we are introduced to the main character of the movie, Miles Morales. Morales is set up to be an average teenager in New York and follows previous Spider-Man movies, showing that anyone can be a hero. read more

(Archive December 2018) The…The…The Grinch!

By editorialteam on April 1, 2025

By Cassie Roy | Assistant Editor

*The Grinch*
Poster from Wikimedia, via Universal/Illumination

The Grinch came out in theaters on November 9th. This is now the third version of Dr. Seuss’ book to be made into a movie. This version is most like the original one that came out in 1966 where the movie is depicted in a cartoon style with the Grinch being slightly more family friendly.

The Grinch has a modern twist as Pharrell Williams, a rap artist, narrates the story and Tyler, the Creator produced the soundtrack. Instead of the songs being sung like the older versions, Tyler raps all of the songs in the movie. By doing this the producers, Janet Healy and Chris Meledandri, can connect to and keep the attention of a larger audience. read more

(Archive October 2018) Review: The Nun

By editorialteam on April 1, 2025

By Cassie Roy | Assistant Editor

Image from junaidrao from Flickr (CC BY-NC-ND 2.0), copyright Warner Bros. Pictures

The backstory to the backstory, The Nun came out in theatres on September 6^th of this year. This movie, produced by Peter Safran and James Wan, is a part of a series of Annabelle movies that were released out of order. The first movie to be produced was The Conjuring in 2013, Annabelle in 2014, The Conjuring 2 in 2016, Annabelle: Creation in 2017 and finally The Nun. The actual order of the movies however is The Nun, Annabelle: Creation, Annabelle, The Conjuring, and ending with The Conjuring 2. read more

(Archive May 2018) The Strangers: Prey at Night Review

By editorialteam on February 20, 2025

By Jennafer Gonsalves | Observer Correspondent

The Strangers: Prey at Night, directed by Johannes Roberts
Image from Wikimedia Commons, by BRFZ1

The Strangers: Prey at Night, while flawed, stays true to the bone-chilling concept of the original while also having quite a bit more fun.

In the year 2008, horror movies were popular, particularly those that contained a lot of blood, guts and mutilation. With franchises like Saw and Hostel going strong, as well as classic slashers such as A Nightmare on Elm Street, Friday the 13^th, The Texas Chainsaw Massacre, and Halloween being remade for more modern audiences, a move like The Strangers seemed like it would go largely unnoticed, lost in the midst of more and more of the same. read more

(Archive April 2018) Black Panther Claws Its Way to the Top

By editorialteam on February 5, 2025

By Maurisa Weld | Observer Contributor

Marvel Studios’*Black Panther*
Image via http://www.impawards.com/2018/black_panther_ver3.htm
Copyright Disney and Marvel Studios

Marvel Studios’ Black Panther has struck a controversial debate in the U.S. The blockbuster has become a Hot Topic, creating arguments especially on social media as some say the movie is racist. The movie set in a fictional land in Africa, Wakanda, and is said to be the first black super-hero movie. Fans argue that it is just that: a superhero movie. While others say there is a hidden meaning of racism towards the white community.

Joseph Hollenbeck, a student at Fitchburg University, shared his belief. His argument was that the only two white characters throughout the movie were portrayed in negative ways. The first being the main super villain, and the second being weak and ignorant. “Claus” (pronounced “Claw”) is introduced as an American and his duty as super villain is to steal the resource- Vibranium, from the people of Wakanda. Hollenbeck suggested that this course of action refers to the historians of America bringing slaves over, stealing their culture. read more

(Archive December 2017) Under the Sun Review

By editorialteam on January 28, 2025

By Meghan Doyle | Observer Contributor

Documentaries are intended to provide an audience with factual records and reports on the subject matter. However, when you’re filming in one of the most controlling countries in the world, you don’t always get a choice on what you can shoot. In this case, Zin-Mi and her family appear to be perfect example of an ordinary North Korean family. The only problem is that none of it is true.

Released in 2015, the documentary Under The Sun was filmed under strict government supervision. It was released by Icarus Films and directed by Vitaly Mansky, who was allowed only a small crew for filming. read more

(Archive November 2017) It (2017) Movie Review

By editorialteam on January 28, 2025

By Shayna Rolon | Observer Contributor

Based on the cult-classic novel written by Stephen King, It, (directed by Andy Muschietti), sends off rather quick frights from jump scares but leaves something to be desired in terms of truly invoking fear within the viewer, the type of fear that would leave you sleepless the same night of watching it.

The setting of It takes place in the small town of Derry and begins with Georgie, the little brother of Bill Denbrough (Jaeden Lieberher), who goes out in the rain to sail a boat that his older brother had given to him. Georgie suddenly loses the boat as it falls into a gutter, and as he attempts to retrieve it, he meets the ominous Pennywise the Clown (Bill Skarsgard), who has the paper boat and taunts Georgie to enter the sewer, repeatedly chanting, “take it, take it…” read more

(Archive February 2017) Things are Getting Strange..?

By editorialteam on September 5, 2024

By Santiago Ferreira Vila | Observer Contributor

Early last week Marvel Cinematic Universe released its latest film in their franchise, Doctor Strange. Based off the comic book of the same name, Doctor Strange follows main character Dr. Stephen Strange, played by Benedict Cumberbatch, an esteemed neurosurgeon who ends up in a horrific car crash, which ends his career after his hands are injured beyond repair. Following the crash, Dr. Strange finds himself studying the possibilities of fixing his hands, in which he ends up studying the mystic arts, entangling himself between the fight of good and evil. read more