Posts tagged as “review”

Review: AMC’s Interview with the Vampire

By editorialteam on September 20, 2023

The Perfect Gothic Drama to Sink Your Teeth Into This Fall

By Elysian Alder | Editor-in-Chief

AMC’s “Interview with the Vampire” is a sumptuous reimagining of Anne Rice’s timeless gothic novel by the same name. Laced with humor, irony, and creeping tension, complete with the representation of the inherent eroticism that any vampire narrative should have, “Interview with the Vampire” is many things, but perhaps most of all, it is a visceral exploration of immortality’s existential complexities. Directed by Rolin Jones, this series—originally released on AMC and its streaming platform in 2022—is currently available on Max until October 31, and it’s a perfect addition to any autumn watchlist. read more

Review: Doctor Who – The Power of the Doctor

By editorialteam on November 8, 2022

The Whittaker-Chibnall Era Comes to a Clustered Close

By Tom Hill Jr. | Observer Designer

The British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) turned 100 years old on October 18, 2022. To celebrate, they released “Centenary Specials” of some of their various television programs, and one such program that was given the Centenary treatment was the long-running science fiction show Doctor Who, with a 1 hour and 28-minute special: The Power of the Doctor. A lot was riding on this special for many reasons, but for me, it didn’t quite meet the mark.

First, some brief background; Doctor Who began in 1963 and centered on the adventures of an alien known as the Doctor who travels through all of time and space in a ship called the TARDIS (Time and Relative Dimension in Space). It appeared as a 1960s Police Box that was larger on the inside than the outside and served as the Doctor’s home. The Doctor gathered a constantly rotating cast of companions over the years, as well as various enemies, which are usually alien monsters that threaten the safety of Earth. read more

Review: The Batman

By editorialteam on April 6, 2022

The Latest Adventure of the Dark Knight Goes Detective Noir

By Eoin Haggerty | Observer Contributor

Matt Reeves’ take on the Dark Knight is a grisly yet familiar story of redemption and how one must face their past, no matter how unwanted it is. Its epic runtime of nearly three hours is not unwarranted as it lets the city of Gotham live and breathe–along with the characters that inhabit it. Though, at points, the world may seem fantastical and over the top, that is just the nature of The Batman.

Robert Pattinson stars as the titular hero, with Zoe Kravitz, Jeffrey Wright, and Colin Farrell filling the following roles of Cat woman, Commissioner Gordon, and the Penguin. Pattinson’s approach to Batman is one previously seen, with him only in his second year of being the caped crusader. Pattinson’s Bruce Wayne is also secretive and cold, perhaps still reeling from the trauma that made him into what he is. Kravitz’s Selina Kyle is one we have seen before as well. As she is established as a worker at a local lounge, who makes her money on the side as a thief, not unlike the animated adaptation of Cat woman, which also begins a will-they/won’t they with Batman. read more

Review: The Book of Boba Fett

By editorialteam on March 7, 2022

The Middling Adventures of Star Wars‘ Original Mystery Man(dalorian)

By Thomas Hill Jr. | Observer Designer

Disney and Lucasfilm’s third foray into the live-action Star Wars series (after two seasons of The Mandalorian) brings us The Book of Boba Fett. Acting as a sort of sequel/spin-off of The Mandalorian, Boba Fett follows the titular bounty hunter as he attempts to take over the criminal empire built by the now-deceased Jabba the Hutt on desert planet Tatooine and turn it to his own devices. To do so, he must build a team of other bounty hunters, gangs, and Tatooine’s own denizens to chase off rival crime lords looking to take a piece of the pie, including the spice-dealing Pyke Syndicate (drug dealers, essentially) and Jabba’s own family. On the surface, this seems like an intriguing set-up; a deep dive into the seedy underbelly and criminal politics of the Star Wars galaxy. Unfortunately, the execution of this idea leaves quite a bit to be desired. read more

A Whole New World of Pokémon

By editorialteam on March 6, 2020

Review: Pokémon Sword & Shield

By Anna Allen
Observer Web Editor

*Image from Gamespot, copyright Game Freak, Nintendo and the* *Pokémon Company*

On November 15, Nintendo released Pokémon Sword & Pokémon Shield. These side-by-side role playing games are the eighth generation of main title Pokémon games, and the first new generation published on the Nintendo Switch gaming system.

The basic gameplay of Pokémon has stayed the same since its first release: catch Pokémon (or “pocket monsters”) and battle them. Each generation of games, usually released in pairs, has added new Pokémon to the franchise. As of the seventh generation, Pokémon Sun & Moon, there were 807 Pokémon in total. read more

Cloning Around with Paul Rudd

By editorialteam on February 3, 2020

Review: Living with Yourself

By Nicholas Papini
Observer Contributor

In a world where genetics and cloning are advanced and common enough that the FDA has a division dedicated to related crimes, Paul Rudd delivers an emotional tale of the bitterness and depression that settles into a person in their mundane life.

Living with Yourself is a new Netflix show released on October 19. It contains 8 episodes of approximately 38 minutes for a total of 215 minutes. The show is created and written by Timothy Greenberg and stars Paul Rudd and Aisling Bea. read more

(Archive November 2016) Living for Learning: Total Immersion Education

By editorialteam on November 10, 2016

By Joshua Needham | Observer Contributor

For three days during October, something strange happens at the Radisson Hotel in Manchester, NH. People from all over the country gather to share their love of anime, video games, and pop culture. Colorful costumes and home-made props fill the halls and courtyard for nearly a full 72 hours and it is clear, Another Anime Convention (AAC) is back in town.

When people outside of that culture think of such events, they likely think of the socially inept gathering to discuss Star Trek, individuals dressed as their favorite characters and roleplaying their favorite scenes with one another. What they may not think about is the professionals that make the journey to attend the gatherings.

Many major conventions are centered around media, such as AAC and Anime Boston, can be split into two main attractions: entertainment and education. A ticket to attend grants access to many spaces for entertainment, such as the Dealer’s Room, a space where industry dealers can sell their merchandise directly to the fans; Artist’s Alley, where independent artists are able to sell their art work and share their creative visions; and convention panels, where a lot of the main focus lies.

Panels at conventions serve as small classrooms where guests can learn skills and traits of the professionals in the media industry. From game developers to music composers, filmmakers to animators and professional prop designers, the people making a living in the media industry are there to guide those that want to break the mold of the mundane.

Learning isn’t just something that we do to attain a degree and, in turn, a job that pays well enough to be worth the student loans. Education is on-going and events such as these can really help to make the learning process both more entertaining, and easier to understand. Reading something from a text book may help understand how something is done, but there’s nothing like being able to learn from and ask questions directly with someone that’s been in the line of work you aspire to be in.

Anime conventions such as these can be a great resource for students in the media arts fields, but they’re far from the only conventions around. With a little bit of searching, all types of conventions can be found for nearly every career desire. Not only does attending conventions offer new opportunities for learning, it can also be a great chance to network with others in your industry, and it’s a great way to immerse yourself in your subject matter.

(Archive November 2016) A November to Remember for Metal Fans: November Music Preview

By editorialteam on November 10, 2016

By Jason D. Greenough | Web/Social Media Editor

The temperatures may (finally…possibly) hit freezing, but the metal is burning hot! November 2016 is sure to bring any metal fan a few moments of bliss.

Want to get away from the awkward family get-together? Need something to keep you awake before you go shopping on black Friday? With retrospective releases galore, ranging from Queen’s …On Air: The Complete BBC Sessions, and Pink Floyd’s The Early Years: 1965-1972, to REM’s Out of Time celebrating it’s 25th anniversary with a re-issue, and Soundgarden’s Badmotorfinger, you’re pretty much all set. But, I have a few other suggestions as well…

For all the hair metal misfits, Bon Jovi is back with their second album in just over a year, This House Is Not For Sale, due out November 4th, and I can honestly say that, to me, it is a sign that Bon Jovi is back. With as much as grit and riff rock as Slippery When Wet, but as much personal discovery and uplifting as Have a Nice Day, Jon Bon Jovi further cements his rightful place among the best songwriters and musicians in all of rock history. While Richie Sambora is AWOL from this studio effort, the New Jersey quintet didn’t skip a beat in creating one of their best records since the turn of the century, and I know I won’t be disappointed, and I have a feeling that, if JBJ is your jam, you won’t be either!

While Bon Jovi & Co. tucks you into bed, Metallica is under your bed, waiting for you to fall asleep. With Hardwired…To Self-Destruct on the horizon, the Bay Area Thrash vanguards have blown me away with their first two singles featured on the album (“Hardwired” & “Moth To Flame”), and it just makes me wonder how much more they have in store when the album hits shelves on November 18th. It was no secret that many metal fans, and even those who eat, sleep, and breath Metallica were not too enthused by 2008’s Death Magnetic, so you could probably assume that the Rock n’ Roll Hall-of-Famers knew they had to redeem themselves with their first full-length EP in 8 years. And you know what? So far, it has blown my mind as much as it has the speakers in my headphones.

Nikki Sixx, legendary bassist for Motley Crüe, and founding member of Sixx:A.M., is going to have a busy month in November!

Although Crue’s 35-year career came to a close at the end of last year, the full-length feature DVD documenting their final concert, Motley Crüe: The End Live in Los Angeles, is set to make its way to the masses on November 4th as well, and a limited edition version seeing daylight on November 25th. Also on Sixx’s plate is the release of Sixx:A.M.’s Prayers For The Blessed: Vol. 2, dropping on November 18th, a follow up to their smash hit Prayers For The Damned. A tour to support the new release will also bring them to Worcester’s DCU Center on November 25th, in case you really dig it and want to see it played live!

November is sure to be a great month for music, and if you wind up picking any of these up, be sure to let the Observer know what you think!

(Archive November 2016) Battlefield 1 Game Review

By editorialteam on November 8, 2016

By Nicholas Velillari | Observer Contributor

Battlefield 1 is the new first person shooter released by EA and Dice and is the sequel/prequel to Battlefield 4. With most shooters sticking with a futuristic/modern setting, BF1 is going back in time, focusing on World War 1.

The draw to Battlefield games is their multiplayer and in BF1 the multiplayer is the best it’s been since Battlefield 3. At launch, there are six modes to play: Conquest, Rush, Team Deathmatch, Domination, and two new modes called War Pigeons and Operations. read more

(Archive October 2016) REVIEW: W. Kamau Bell’s “Semi-Prominent Negro”

By editorialteam on October 12, 2016

By Jason D. Greenough | Web/Social Media Editor

kamau-cover

A lot of us are infuriated with the current state of politics in our country.

– Uh, scratch that –

All of us are infuriated with the current state of politics in our country.

Many of us choose to express that feeling with anger, others with disenchantment and apathy. Both paths are very understandable. But then there is another path, that many have used over the years, and that the path of humor. George Carlin, Dick Gregory, Bill Hicks, Jon Stewart…So many comedians have made politics and current events the centerpiece of their hook, their message. W. Kamau Bell, the socio-political comic who you may have seen on CNN as the host and creator of United Shades of America, is no different, and brings the heat, once again, with Semi-Prominent Negro, his newest stand-up special. read more