While BruinLife does its best to keep up with all the major trends in the world of Arts and Entertainment, there’s always that one movie, comic panel or verse from a chorus we don’t get the chance to rave about. So, in a zeitgeist dominated by a Taylor Swift movie, a return to Oz and a dramatic close of Netflix’s most popular, here are a few films, albums and comics that we here at BruinLife loved and that you might have missed out on this past Fall.
“Predator: Badlands” – 20th Century Studios
It’s the best parts of Luke on Dagobah with the action of “Aliens,” creatures of “Scavenger’s Reign,” visuals of “Dune” and character development of “The Last of Us,” all wrapped up in the iconography of “Predator.” “Badlands” breaks all the rules, and it works to its benefit. Dek balances being a threatening Yautja and a vulnerable hero with friends and a sense of humor. While it’s only PG-13, the film has no shortage of brutal action. And Elle Fanning is a breath of fresh air in a series defined by Arnold’s bulging muscles and machine guns. Nearly 40 years into this franchise, Dan Trachtenberg just delivered its best installment.
– Gavin Meichelbock
“LUX” – Rosalía
In a landscape of contemporary music that suffers from blandness and inauthenticity, Rosalía’s “LUX” is a breath of fresh air. Rosalía pushes genre boundaries, drawing influence from experimental pop, classical orchestral and electronica. Thematically, the record draws inspiration from religious imagery and female saints. Lead single “Berghain” (featuring Björk and Yves Tumor) is a stunning display of dramatic strings, operatic vocals and a jarring shift to a dark electronic outro, indicative of the exceptional musical hybridization that “LUX” offers.
– Rebekah Field
“EUSEXUA Afterglow” – FKA twigs
“EUSEXUA Afterglow” by FKA twigs characterizes the blending of powerful club dance beats and ethereal atmosphere, continuing on the vibe of the FKA twig’s previous album “EUSEXUA.” The punchy four-on-the-floor beats evoke a dancefloor feeling. However, they are paired with soft, murmuring singing. The elegant, light and floating sounds in the album show an excellent mastery of synths that expands the listeners’ sonic imagination. Despite the modernity created by the novel sound choices, “EUSEXUA Afterglow” does not give up on melodic beauty. “Wild And Alone (feat. PinkPantheress)” shows a perfect balance between bold uses of sounds and dreamy pop harmonies and melodies.
– Qixuan Lin
“Assorted Crisis Events #6” – Deniz Camp
“Assorted Crisis Events #6” by Deniz Camp with art by Eric Zawadzki is the most heartbreaking entry of the sci-fi series so far. Camp’s commentary on being a caretaker to someone would shatter the hearts of anyone reading it. The story centers around Sasha, the wife of John, who is a man afflicted with a disorder that forces him to age unpredictably, causing Sasha sudden loss and fragile hope. The author carefully weaves a narrative around the idea that people shouldn’t have good or bad days but just days, as there are only so many of them.
– Uziel Puente
“Zootopia 2” – Walt Disney Studios
Disney’s “Zootopia 2” is a spectacular sequel to the original film. The movie meets fans’ expectations with its humor, dynamic animation and engaging nature — not to mention another hit Shakira track. Viewers get to see the friendship between Nick Wilde and Judy Hopps bloom. The movie offers a captivating experience with its plot twists and storyline development, which further the narrative from the first film. While delivering a fun, action-packed story, the film also reinforces the themes of acceptance and justice from the first movie. “Zootopia 2” is a must-watch for audiences of all ages.
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Featured Illustration via Eric Zawadzki
