Shang–Chi Doesn't Have to Be Great Cinema—Because It's Fun
Editor's Note: This article contains spoilers for 'Shang–Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings.'
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Editor's Note: This article contains spoilers for 'Shang–Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings.'
Adam Konkol (C '21) has the kind of resume that proves it’s possible to find a path in life where you’re passionate about the things you’re good at and good at the things you’re passionate about. It definitely inspires hope that we can all, with dedication and work, stumble on similar paths of our own—where fulfilling our academic or work responsibilities during most of the day just means we’re enjoying what we do at every moment.
The following contains spoilers for 'Minari.'
Ever since I started watching more British television, I’ve noticed the comparative lack of Brown—specifically Indian and Pakistani—performers in American entertainment. It’s a gap in on–screen representation that has left me wanting more as both an Indian American and a lover of film and television.
After Street covered CollegeHumor’s streaming service, Dropout, Street sat down with CollegeHumor’s CEO, Sam Reich. Reich became CEO after CollegeHumor’s parent company severed ties in early 2020, and while the sketch comedy platform has always dealed in viral content, navigating the transition to streaming has been both rewarding and challenging.
The first time I watched 2005’s Pride & Prejudice, the most recent film adaptation of Jane Austen’s classic novel starring Keira Knightley and Matthew Macfadyen, I was taken away by the breathtaking romance. The second time I watched it—because it’s one of the films you can watch an infinite number of times—I was with friends who had intended to study. However, when Mr. Darcy crossed the foggy moor in his billowing shirt to finally reunite with Elizabeth Bennet at the end of the movie, my friends' eyes were glued to the screen. It’s a romance that can draw anyone in, from classic lit enthusiasts to casual movie fans. However, Pride & Prejudice garnered mixed reviews from audiences: Some loved it, but Austen enthusiasts were less enamored.
The opportunity to speak with someone whose work has genuinely made a meaningful impact on your life is an amazing privilege, yet it can also be nerve–wracking to an unimaginable degree. I’m sure those emotions were evident when I was interviewing CollegeHumor cast member and Dungeon Master Brennan Lee Mulligan.
I’ve always been a fan of British detective shows—the superior, more intellectual counterpart to the myriad of American crime shows. British detective drama is the only genre that satisfies my family’s disparate tastes in entertainment because it includes deep emotional currents, fantastic dramatic actors, suspenseful mysteries, and evocative storytelling. Instead of skipping from serial killer to serial killer every week, it ruminates in the grief of the tragedies it portrays.
There’s no one in our generation who hasn’t heard of or enjoyed CollegeHumor. Though still active, the YouTube comedy channel peaked about five to ten years ago, when its comedy sketches and skits regularly went viral. Classic series like Hardly Working, Jake and Amir, and Adam Ruins Everything, as well as viral videos like "The Six Girls You’ll Date in College," were foundational to internet humor at the time and linger on in our comedic consciousness.
Editor's Note: Spoilers ahead.
Disney’s 2020 Mulan once again reveals the futility of trying to adapt the magic of animation to live–action.
When I tuned into the new Netflix show Never Have I Ever, I was excited to finally watch a series with an Indian–American protagonist. I expected to see my complicated feelings about being Indian–American explored on screen.
Among the ever–expanding Hollywood canon of films about food, the best one will forever be Pixar’s Ratatouille.
The massively popular second life of animated series Avatar: The Last Airbender is well–documented and well–deserved. A staple of our Nickelodeon childhoods, the critically acclaimed show was especially meaningful for children of Asian descent.
The upcoming Netflix film The Devil All the Time released its trailer two weeks ago, causing a buzz thanks to its star-studded cast and suspenseful, gothic tones. Though it boasts the talents of industry heavy—hitters like Robert Pattinson, Tom Holland, and Sebastian Stan, there is not a single person of color to be found amongst the cast list.
Ever since I started as a student at Penn, I’ve survived finals by watching the British panel show, Would I Lie to You? In the show, two teams of contestants, led by iconic British comedians David Mitchell and Lee Mack, try to catch each other in a lie and win points. It’s game show television at its finest, emphasizing humor and wit over competition. WILTY has always helped distract me during finals season, and watching old clips of it now has me laughing even during the uncertainty of quarantine.
One of my all–time favorite guilty pleasures are what I call “case shows,” television series where every episode deals with a different case—think of police procedurals, the classic The X-Files, where there was a different monster every week, or House M.D., where the titular doctor diagnoses a different patient every episode. I grew up with these shows when they were at their prime, and they were the hallmark of entertainment during my preteen years. Now, since I’ve been at home for weeks, unable to go out or see anyone, these shows have been one of the comforts I’ve come back to.
There is no question Portrait of a Lady on Fire is a story for women. Although oppressed by their circumstances, there's joy and courage in the daily lives of our two main characters, Marianne (Noémie Merlant), a French painter, and Héloïse (Adèle Haenel), a bride–to–be who is her subject.
Star Trek: Picard is an addictive show that stands on its own, despite having roots in previous Star Trek media. It may be less emotional or nostalgic for viewers who are unfamiliar with the other installments of the franchise, but it’s still an independently interesting science fiction mystery. The show clarifies itself as it goes along, setting up the stakes for those with no background in the greater Star Trek universe.
Even if you don't know Kristen Schaal's name or face, you definitely know her voice. Gracing the best animated cartoons of the past decade, you've inevitably heard her childish, high–pitched intonation, whether due to her leading role as Louise in Bob’s Burgers or Sarah Lynn in BoJack Horseman.
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