Entertainment

Rotten Tomatoes' influence and the importance of bad movies

On March 24, producer Brett Ratner ("The Revenant," "Prison Break") made a statement that caused major waves in the film community: "The worst thing that we have in today's movie culture is Rotten Tomatoes . . . I think it's the destruction of our business." With this accusation, Ratner certainly means to target the crux of our current film culture, but amidst all the negative responses, one has to wonder: Is he right?

PAS to host 'Disenchanted' tomorrow

College students will remember with nostalgia the days of popping in their favorite Disney movie on VHS tape. Favorites might include the magic of "Sleeping Beauty," the fierceness of "Mulan" or the elegance of "Cinderella." On April 5, these regal beauties will undergo a serious change in the production of "Disenchanted"

From the editor's bookshelf

The way to a reader's heart is easy. Much like film buffs who gush over movies about filmmaking, devoted readers will melt in the palm of the author that can write well about their own relationship with words, stories and authors.

Drake defines and defies identity with 'More Life'

To be a pop trendsetter is to have the weight of an industry on your back. Music's biggest pop stars -- Taylor Swift, Adele, Ed Sheeran, Katy Perry--have been taking huge amounts of time crafting new albums, fighting against the tide of copycats and determining which sonic trends are simply fads or the next big thing. Drake doesn't have that problem. His new albums are almost an annual affair, each release breaking streaming records and amassing hordes of fans.

'Beauty and the Beast': Disney capitalizes on nostalgia in charming but uninspired remake

The question raised by this "Beauty and the Beast" is not whether it's good or bad, but if it's necessary.

Need a soundtrack for spring break? We have you covered.

Movie vacations that make you happy you stayed home

Editors' spring break podcast picks

With spring break next week, many students are gearing up for long plane rides and road trips. What better time to get lost in the excitement of a new podcast? The sheer amount of great podcasts out there can be overwhelming, so here are our staff's recommendations for what to listen to next.

Like it or not, HBO's 'Girls' is an important voice for millennials

"Girls" kicked off its sixth -- and last -- season on Feb. 12. The dramedy has been a magnet for public hostility since its 2012 premiere, chiefly stemming from controversial star and showrunner Lena Dunham. Complaints also generally decry its appallingly unlikable characters, as well as its nudity (excessive even by HBO's saucy standards).

Here's to the fools who dream: Let the upsets inspire you

I knew I was going to have to wake up in the middle of the night, miss the red carpet interviews and settle for a blown-out image through FaceTime if I wanted to watch the Oscars.

'Feud' revitalizes legendary Old Hollywood squabble

In the age of diss tracks and subtweets, celebrity feuds are more rampant than ever. From Drake and Meek Mill to Taylor Swift and Kanye West/Katy Perry/(insert name here), it seems like half of Hollywood has a score to settle. "Feud: Bette and Joan" proves that this trend goes back decades by retelling a story of monumental celebrity warfare. Millennials may not be familiar with the lifetime rivalry between Bette Davis and Joan Crawford, but they will instantly recognize their loathing in contemporary stars.

'Logan' delivers a fine superhero movie, better character drama

Wolverine has been the biggest player in the "X-Men" film franchise since it began way back in 2000, renewing the industry's fascination with superheroes and jump-starting Hugh Jackman's career. It's a shame, then, that his first two solo films as the clawed mutant never quite figured out what makes the character so intriguing to countless fans. However, Jackman's ninth(!) and final outing as Wolverine, "Logan," hones in on the most intriguing parts of the character with surprisingly powerful results.

Reading Harry Potter as an adult -- for the very first time

In my first eighteen years of life, I managed to avoid all things "Harry Potter"

It's okay to love Adam Sandler movies without shame

I pride myself on having generally good taste in comedy. I was raised on a steady diet of "Jeopardy," followed by "Seinfeld," during the weeknights of my youth. I have been known to check out numerous anthologies about the history of "Saturday Night Live" from my public library and thanks to many sleepless nights filled with Comedy Central stand-up specials, I have a well-developed understanding of the current comedy scene.

Dennis Estridge takes out the trash

It was quiet Uptown. Traffic lights cast red-and-green glows over leftover rain pooling in the street. The sidewalks were empty but littered with evidence of the Miami student population's Saturday night: Jimmy John's and Bruno's receipts plastering the sidewalk, crumpled balls of aluminum foil and half-eaten bagels lying abandoned by the curb.

Best Picture mix-up: 'Moonlight' triumphs over 'La La Land'

'50 Shades Darker' exploits mental illness, blurs line between sexy and sadist

As an advocate for sexual freedom and expression, as well as a self-proclaimed sexpert, I am disappointed -- to say the least -- by the second installment in the "Fifty Shades" trilogy.

'Get Out' turns contemporary racism into absurdist, comedic nightmare

Jordan Peele is known as one of today's greatest satirists largely because of his role in the comedy duo Key & Peele and their much-adored, dearly-missed sketch show. But who says he can only be funny? In his writing/directing solo debut, "Get Out," Peele crafts a clever satire on race relations that fuses his trademark humor with bone-chilling horror.

Cosmic cinema: spurring interest in real-life space travel?

Open on a shot of some sun barely peeking over a planet. Pan camera to reveal a space station floating nearby. Cue vague narration.

Comedy meets cannibalism in Netflix's 'Santa Clarita Diet'

In Netflix's horror-comedy "Santa Clarita Diet," Joel and Sheila Hammond (Timothy Olyphant and Drew Barrymore) are realtors that have built a nice, if not routine, life in beautiful suburban California, complete with gossipy neighbors and an eternally ungrateful teenage daughter. That routine is quickly thrown out the window when Sheila begins vomiting an absurd amount, coughs up a strange red ball and falls unconscious.