Movies

ToddX brings tales of Meat Loaf, nudity, and more

From Buzzfeed to Broadway lighting, the first ever ToddX brought an array of alumni from the entertainment industry to Todd Union in a rapid-fire 24-hour showcase of discussions, workshops, and masterclasses. Organized by Nigel Maister, Artistic Director of the UR International Theater Program, ToddX kicked off with a panel discussion featuring five of the speakers. […]

Not Vanilla: Award show season standouts

Well, reader, we’re finally done with awards season. I have mixed emotions about this. I’m glad I’ll stop being constantly deluged with press releases containing the same stories about the same six movies. But I’m sad that the time of semi-mandatory spiffily dressed celebrity appearances is over. I wanted to go over some of the […]

Is My Hero Academia the Japanese Marvel?

Perhaps the most well-known superhero franchise is the Marvel Cinematic Universe. The influences of the American superhero culture have spread around the world and inspired many new productions. While the rage of MCU mania continues to boom, “My Hero Academia” is a rising star that provides a breath of fresh air to the superhero genre. […]

The amazing Spider-Verse: A review

Spider-Man is one of the most complex, nuanced, and effective characters in comics. I’m a pretty serious Marvel fan, and (along with Iron Man) Spidey is probably the figure who has, since his creation in “Amazing Fantasy #15” back in 1962, best expressed the key characteristic that makes Marvel heroes work — they’re humans. No […]

Impressive. . . Most Impressive: Rochester Philharmonic and ‘The Empire Strikes Back’

Reflect on the first time you saw “Star Wars.” The hum of a lightsaber, the epic laser battles, the intricate ships, and different planets each with their unique cultures — and most importantly, the swell of the strings and brass as they serenade you. Think of the wonder, magic, and excitement that comes alongside those […]

Bio-Doc: ‘The Life and Art of David Bowie’

Overwhelming aesthetic power was the focus of “The Life and Art of David Bowie,” a semi-biographical documentary shown at the Memorial Art Gallery. Read More

A film that will make you regret that steak

Sexism, racism, and ageism are familiar concepts to many at UR. But one group wants to talk more about another form of discrimination: speciesism. The Student Association of Vegan and Vegetarian Youth and the Undergraduate Film Council  gave students an introduction to speciesism with a screening and discussion of “Earthlings,” a documentary on animal exploitation, […]

Senior Patak’s study abroad film selected as festival finalist

Armed with an affinity for video editing and a DSLR camera “indefinitely” stolen from his family and strapped to his backpack, senior Erik Patak created a 10-minute video that is now one of three finalists contending for a $1,500 cash prize in the 2018 IES Study Abroad Festival. The video is named “Happiness Only Real […]

Screenwriter and TV Composer talk making movies in Morey

“It begins with a script, and it ends with putting the music to it.” This was how screenwriter John Richards described his and film and TV composer Mark Water’s roles as bookends for the filmmaking process The pair  discussed filmmaking and the complexity of making art in a well-attended conversation in Morey Hall. Watters isa […]

Should Wakanda share its Vibranium? Just ask UR Debate Union

Ethics, racism, colonialism, and culture shock were all discussed by UR Debate Union through the scope of the hit Marvel film “Black Panther” during the union’s public debate for the semester. The debate, held Saturday, Oct. 20, focused on whether Wakanda, the fictional nation from the film, should share its vibranium — the fictional metal […]