‘The Bride!’ Proves That Women Should Be Running Hollywood

March 4, 2026March 4, 2026 Nikita Francois

The Bride! is an electrifying tale that leaves you clawing for more. Jessie Buckley delivers a phenomenal performance as the troubled Bride brought to life, with Christian Bale delivering a moving portrayal as Frankenstein‘s monster. Maggie Gyllenhaal’s script and direction are an absolute masterclass in storytelling and proves that women should be in charge of Hollywood with this retelling. “People love a monster,” and Gyllenhaal certainly serves up all of the good and bad monstrosities one could hope for in this film.

Animation, Movies, Reviews1 Comment

Pixar’s ‘Hoppers’ is a Hilarious Avatar Riff That Gets Surprisingly Real

March 2, 2026February 21, 2026 Michael Lee

When it comes to animated originals, few studios do it like Pixar. Their best films keep raising the bar. So when something like Hoppers comes along, you do not just hope it is good. You hope it delivers the kind of craft and storytelling that reminds you why Pixar is still the gold standard. And Hoppers does exactly that. It pairs humorous chaos with emotionally resonant storytelling, memorable characters, and astonishing visuals, while exploring timely ideas about anger, powerlessness, and empathy without ever losing its heart.

Reviews, Theatre

A Los Angeles Theatre Review: ‘The Dignity Circle’

February 26, 2026February 25, 2026 Edward Hong

Exceptionally strong acting from their two leads make up for a somewhat predictable and safe pyramid scheme story in Lauren Smerkanich‘s The Dignity Circle, now having its world premiere at Theatre of Note.

Reviews, Theatre

A Los Angeles Theatre Review: ‘Room By The Sea’

February 23, 2026 Edward Hong

It’s been so long since I felt this indelible feeling of magic while watching a play but the world premiere of John Guerra‘s Room By The Sea, a triple co-production with Coin & Ghost, After Hours Theatre Company, and Outside In Theatre, has achieved just done that. This is a tale that not only transports the audience to a fantastical place but like the best of genre, it creates a haunting parallel to our current world. And best of all, the immense efforts to incorporate significant global majority and accessibility presence is truly what Los Angeles theatre at its finest is all about.

Reviews, Theatre

A Los Angeles Theatre Review: ‘Here Lies Love’

February 19, 2026February 20, 2026 Edward Hong

A fantastic all-Filipino cast cannot hide the simple fact that Here Lies Love, now having its West Coast premiere at Center Theatre Group, is a shallow, poorly written musical with relentless static disco tunes. It is also absolutely confused in whether they want to glorify their subject Imelda Marcos or warn about the dangers of fascism.

Reviews, Theatre

A Los Angeles Theatre Review: ‘Amadeus’

February 16, 2026February 16, 2026 Edward Hong

Despite a golden missed opportunity to cast global majority actors for the main roles of Mozart/Salieri/Constanze that would have richly amplified the narrative, there is a lot to love about the Pasadena Playhouse production of Peter Shaffer‘s Amadeus with the fantastic set and lighting design, the incredible ensemble cast, and the powerhouse performances of their lead actors Jefferson Mays and Sam Clemmett as Salieri and Mozart respectively.

Poetry, Reviews, Theatre

A Los Angeles Theatre Review: ‘Poetry for the People: The June Jordan Experience’

February 10, 2026February 11, 2026 Edward Hong

With the West Coast premiere of Poetry for the People: The June Jordan Experience at the Fountain Theatre, this uniquely moving and stirring choreopoem honors the work and life of June Jordan, one of America’s most fearless writers and human rights activists.

Literature, Movies, Reviews1 Comment

‘Wuthering Heights’ is a Visually Stunning Retelling of a Cautionary Affair

February 9, 2026February 8, 2026 Nikita Francois

Wuthering Heights immediately whisks you away into a dark reimagined telling of Emily Brontë‘s novel. Margot Robbie and Jacob Elordi give us a searing portrayal of the tortured lovebirds Catherine and Heathcliff in a story filled with passion, depicted by two deeply troubled individuals. The film is cinematically stunning, and the costumes lean beautifully into a whimsically modern twist on period pieces.

Literature, Movies, Reviews3 Comments

NOC Review: Toxic Love Entices and Torments in ‘Wuthering Heights’

February 9, 2026February 9, 2026 Mike Manalo

Why are so many drawn to toxic love? Like an addiction, many cling to the idea that only a single person can complete their soul and possess their very being, holding on to the feeling of euphoria that exists when that person is by your side. However for any and all purity that might seemingly be derived from love, sometimes it can be utterly poisonous if the obsession consumes you.

Reviews, Theatre

A Los Angeles Theatre Review: ‘Guards at the Taj’

February 9, 2026February 9, 2026 Edward Hong

The Los Angeles independent remounting of Rajiv Joseph‘s Guards at the Taj (the last one was in 2015 at the Geffen Playhouse) is a strikingly well done and hauntingly relevant production that also utilizes fantastic genderbent casting and an endearing post finale that credits all crew involved, a practice that is rarely ever seen in theatre.

Movies, Music, Reviews

Hope’s Still Alive in Eddie Vedder’s ‘Matter of Time’ Concert Film

February 6, 2026February 12, 2026 Keith Chow

There’s a particular gravity to watching Eddie Vedder perform on his own. Without the band, without the familiar roar of a Pearl Jam crowd, what’s left isn’t catharsis — it’s intention. Matter of Time understands that, and it’s why the film works. This isn’t just a concert movie, it’s a document about responsibility.

Reviews, Streaming, Television

‘The Muppets Special’ Sparks a Revival Rocket That Needs More Gonzo Fun to Take Off

February 5, 2026February 8, 2026 Sabina Graves

The Muppets are back with a special that aims to reintroduce the beloved Jim Henson icons to a new generation, paying homage to their original variety show roots. Kermit leads the rest of the Muppets ensemble, including planned showstoppers from the one and only Miss Piggy with special guests Sabrina Carpenter and Seth Rogen, who serves as executive producer for the Disney+ revival.

Music, Opinion

Bad Bunny’s Night at the 2026 Grammy Awards

February 2, 2026February 3, 2026 Rosana Maris Arias

Musician and global superstar Bad Bunny made waves at last night’s 2026 Grammy Awards ceremony in Los Angeles, CA. The star added three Grammy wins to his list of awards and now has a total of six Grammys.

Reviews, Theatre

A Los Angeles Theatre Review: ‘The Circle’

February 2, 2026February 4, 2026 Edward Hong

There is no doubt that the events of 2025 and already the first two months of 2026 have provided an unfortunate wealth of materials for playwrights to mine from. But with the world premiere of The Circle at Greenway Court Theatre, the clock rewinds back to July 2016 in Texas set during the backdrop of the Black Lives Matter protests that occurred immediately after the murder of Philando Castile.

Nerd Nostalgia, Opinion

Dr. Manhattan, Your 2026 Recap is Here!

January 8, 2026January 16, 2026 Dominic Mah

(in the style of Watchmen by Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons, with regards to Watchmen the 2019 HBO adaptation, and also year-end recap lists)

Interview, Movies, Reviews

‘Anaconda’ is a Fun Jungle Adventure That Tackles Having a Midlife Crisis

December 23, 2025January 5, 2026 Nikita Francois

Anaconda is a fast-paced jungle adventure that serves up a slithering good time. Starring Jack Black, Paul Rudd, Steve Zahn, and Thandiwe Newton, we had the opportunity to chat with the cast and take a look at how this film explores life, friendships, and handling a midlife crisis.

Movies, Reviews, Sci Fi

‘Avatar: Fire and Ash’ is a Technical Marvel Trapped in a Familiar Story

December 16, 2025December 16, 2025 Michael Lee

Every trip to Pandora brings in a visually stunning new adventure and family drama with Jake Sully and Neytiri. The new Avatar: Fire and Ash doubles down on both, throwing the family into a firestorm of grief, resilience, and jaw-dropping world-building that keeps expanding Pandora in bold, unexpected directions. Unfortunately, despite being epic in scale and scope, the film’s lack of a compelling story frustrates, and its many setups lead to surprisingly few satisfying payoff.

Animation, Movies, Reviews

‘Zootopia 2’ Twists the Buddy-Cop Formula Without Losing Social Commentary

November 25, 2025November 25, 2025 Michael Lee

To say that Disney’s Zootopia is just another animated feature with anthropomorphized animals would be completely reductive. It’s a buddy cop comedy full of laughs and pop culture references, threaded with themes of tolerance, bias, and who gets to feel safe in a city that prides itself on being for “anyone” and “anything.” Asking Zootopia 2 to match, let alone surpass, that mix of vibrant visuals, sharp humor, and pointed social commentary feels like a tall order, yet somehow the sequel rises to it and then some.

Reviews, Theatre5 Comments

‘Meet the Cartozians’ is an Incisive Love Letter to the Armenian American Experience

November 19, 2025December 8, 2025 Swara Salih

In the 1925 Oregon District Court case, United States v. Cartozian, Tatos Cartozian and his family argued that they, and by extension all Armenians in America, should be considered “white,” driven by the purpose to gain citizenship, per the Founding Fathers’ conception of only white men being full citizens with rights.

Horror, Reviews, Theatre

A Los Angeles Theatre Review: ‘Paranormal Activity’

November 15, 2025November 16, 2025 Edward Hong

When I first heard that the Paranormal Activity franchise has been adapted into a staged production, I was immensely skeptical of its scare factor on stage and that there was a worthy story to be told that can hold on its own. But in a shocking turn of events, Paranormal Activity: A New Story Live On Stage has defied all my expectations as a genuinely engaging and terrifying experience that will absolutely delight all horror/thriller fans and newcomers alike.

Animation, Music, Opinion

“What It Sounds Like” is the Underrated, True Heart of ‘KPop Demon Hunters’

November 13, 2025November 13, 2025 Lauren Lola

The nominations for the 2026 Grammy Awards were announced last Friday, and the hottest animated film of the year, KPop Demon Hunters, is a five-time contender. Netflix’s most-watched original animated film of all time is in the running for Song of the Year, Best Song Written for Visual Media, Best Pop Duo/Group Performance, Best Remixed Recording, and Best Compilation Soundtrack for Visual Media. With the exception of the last category, all the others are in recognition for only one particular song from the film: “Golden.”

Movies, Reviews, Sci Fi

‘The Running Man’ Delivers Sharp Truths Even When it’s a Bit Overhyped

November 12, 2025 Michael Lee

In a world where entertainment thrives on dehumanization, Stephen King’s The Running Man remains one of the most unsettlingly relevant dystopias. The book made for a memorable 1987 film starring Arnold Schwarzenegger, and now Edgar Wright’s adaptation pays clear homage to the source while recalibrating it for an era of algorithms, streaming spectacle, and disposable labor. The premise still excites, but the film’s frantic energy sometimes scatters its sharpest ideas.

Movies, Reviews, Sci Fi

NOC Review: ‘Predator: Badlands’ is an Enjoyable Sci-Fi Romp

November 11, 2025November 11, 2025 Mike Manalo

Redefining a classic franchise is a difficult thing to do. Countless remakes and reboots of beloved classics from Poltergeist to Child’s Play have withered and died at the cinema. The Predator franchise, specifically, has even seen its share of wasted potential (see Shane Black’s failed attempt from 2018).