‘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.

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.

Interview, Movies, Reviews1 Comment

‘Americana’ is a Dark Comedy About Cultural and Literal Theft, For Our Times

August 12, 2025August 12, 2025 Dominic Mah

I got to chat with director Tony Tost and star Paul Walter Hauser about Americana, the new Western/heist/comedy opening this week from Lionsgate Films. The interviews and my review of this thoroughly enjoyable genre-mashing romp, featured below. Americana also stars Halsey (yeaaah, “Without Me,” “Closer,” “Boy With Luv,” that Halsey!), Sydney Sweeney, Zahn McClarnon, Eric Dane, and Simon Rex.

DC Comics, Movies, Reviews2 Comments

NOC Review: James Gunn’s ‘Superman’ is Epic, Heartfelt, and Hopeful

July 8, 2025July 8, 2025 Mike Manalo

Why do we love superheroes? Yes, their powers are extraordinary, their costumes are cool, and their gadgets are incredible. The adventures they go on are exciting, and they symbolize the modern mythology of our time. However, it’s more than that. Superheroes embody the best of us. They give us hope, inspire awe, and encourage us to become better. All of this began with the original and greatest superhero of all time: Superman! And now, so too does James Gunn’s new era of the DC Universe.

Reviews, Video Games

138 Awesome Things About ‘Assassin’s Creed Shadows’

May 29, 2025May 31, 2025 Dominic Mah

Because, honestly, I think this game is pretty awesome. Also, it’s a vast sprawling open-world experience. Story SPOILERS follow.

Horror, Movies, Reviews

NOC Review: ‘Sinners’ is a Profound Masterpiece of Survival Horror!

April 10, 2025April 26, 2025 Mike Manalo

There’s room in this world for all sorts of horror, be it schlock or awe. For every Exorcist there’s a Paranormal Activity. For every Fly there’s a Re-Animator. And for every Halloween there’s a Terrifier. They all can exist without conflict for every horror fan to embrace. However, when horror is made by storytellers that get it, love it, but have much more to say than “Ooh! Look! Blood!” that’s how masterpieces are born, and Ryan Coogler’s Sinners is one such film: a profound masterpiece of survival horror!

Reviews, Star Wars, Streaming

‘Star Wars: Skeleton Crew’ is a Fun Family Adventure That Feels Familiar

December 2, 2024December 3, 2024 Laura Sirikul

The Star Wars universe has always been seen in extremes — from the desolate sand towns to the gritty, grimy streets and the extravagant and luxurious worlds. There is rarely a middle ground. What is most intriguing about Star Wars: Skeleton Crew is how suburban and ordinary a Star Wars world could be.

Animation, Movies, Reviews

‘Moana 2’ is a Beautiful Sonic and Visual Feast

November 26, 2024November 26, 2024 Michael Lee

The first Moana was a journey of self-discovery for the title character (Auliʻi Cravalho) who teamed up with the awesome fishhook-wielding and shapeshifting and sometimes self-centered demigod Maui (Dwayne Johnson) to restore the heart of Tefiti. Eight years later, audiences are reunited with the characters they love in Moana 2, a sequel that’s worthy of your time.

Movies, Reviews, Sci Fi1 Comment

‘Alien: Romulus’ on Digital Lets You Relive the Fears of Facing Xenomorphs at Home

October 14, 2024October 14, 2024 Michael Lee

Alien: Romulus is director Fede Alverez’s ode to the long-running sci-fi horror franchise that reminds us that in space, no one can hear you scream. While previous Alien sequels and prequels focused more on blue collars, scientists, and soldiers, the latest film, the seventh in the franchise, is more about a new group of misfit kids who refuse to accept their fate but place them in similar circumstances of fighting to survive, escaping with their lives, and putting their fate in the hands of a dubious android. Now, fans can relive all of that with the release of Alien: Romulus on digital.

Horror, Movies, Reviews

NOC Review: J.T. Mollner’s ‘Strange Darling’ is Tense, Twisted, and Terrific

August 26, 2024August 26, 2024 Mike Manalo

It’s been a few days since I’ve seen J.T. Mollner’s Strange Darling, and I simply cannot get it out of my head. This is a twisted thriller that will leave a lasting impact on you for days to come, and in a cinematic landscape such as this, that’s a huge deal!

Animation, Movies, Reviews1 Comment

‘Inside Out 2’ Makes Sense of Being a Teenager By Using Heart, Humor, and Lots of Color

June 12, 2024June 13, 2024 Michael Lee

Inside Out 2′s themes can best be encapsulated by its use of The Linda Lindas’ hit song, “Growing Up.” The song is a perfect anthem for teenagers trying to make sense of a world that’s messy and full of uncertainty, and how friendships and outlets help get through those struggles of finding your identity, fitting in, and the pressures of meeting self-imposed expectations.

Reviews, Theme Parks

Disney California Adventure Food & Wine Festival is a Smorgasbord of Delicious Flavors

March 4, 2024March 4, 2024 Michael Lee

The Disney California Adventure Food and Wine Festival is back. The annual culinary event is a delicious way for guests to eat and sip way through all the lovely flavors of California from now until April 22. The Nerds of Color and a few other journalists had the opportunity to chow down and drink up from the returning festival marketplaces like D•Lish, Nuts about Cheese, California Craft Brews , and a new one called Earth Eats.

Marvel, Movies, Reviews

NOC Review: ‘Madame Web’ Gets Caught in Its Own Trap

February 14, 2024February 14, 2024 Wendy Lee Szany

Madame Web serves as Cassandra “Cassie” Webb’s origin story as well as her entry onto the big screen. In the comics, Madame Web is a blind elderly woman who possesses the power of telepathy and clairvoyance – but, in the SJ Clarkson-directed film, Cassie (Dakota Johnson) is a young paramedic working the tough streets of New York in 2003.

DC Comics, Reviews, Video Games

NOC Review: ‘Suicide Squad: Kill The Justice League’ is the DC ‘Endgame’ Event We Needed

February 4, 2024February 8, 2024 Dominic Mah

I had this whole preamble written, but here’s the most important thing. It’s tempting to say that Rocksteady Studios’ Suicide Squad: Kill The Justice League is the best DC Comics movie made to date. I just watched a ten-minute cutscene that occurs about halfway through the campaign, involving Superman, Wonder Woman, and the Squad in a running battle around Metropolis, and I may still be shaken.

DC Comics, Gaming, Reviews2 Comments

First Impression of ‘Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League’ is It’s Pretty Punk Rock

January 31, 2024January 31, 2024 Dominic Mah

It may even be pretty hip-hop, as per the Outkast needledrop in the very first trailer. It’s definitely metal. Brainiac’s invasion of Earth is a metal happening.

Interview, Marvel, Television

Insights From the Cast and Creative Staff of Marvel’s ‘Echo’

January 13, 2024January 14, 2024 Dominic Mah

Wrapping up our coverage of Marvel Studios’ newest series Echo, here’s three interviews I conducted with cast members Devery Jacobs (Bonnie) and Chaske Spencer (Henry), director Sydney Freeland, and executive producer Richie Palmer.

Marvel, Reviews, Streaming1 Comment

NOC Review: ‘Echo’ is Hard Hitting and Emotionally Resonant

January 11, 2024January 14, 2024 Mike Manalo

Marvel Studios has heard the complaints from everyone post-Endgame, and has decided to create a dedicated banner specifically for one-off character stories: Marvel Spotlight. Like the comics that inspired the moniker, these shows will focus on telling stories about single characters that can be easily decoupled from the grander arcs of narrative building within the MCU. And the first series to be released under the Marvel Spotlight banner is Echo.

Marvel, Reviews, Streaming1 Comment

‘Echo’ Changes the Game and the Frame for the Marvel Cinematic Universe

January 11, 2024March 28, 2024 Dominic Mah

The question looms over every Marvel Studios release these days: “Is it a game-changer?” Does this latest show/movie/sequel change the formula, or rekindle the magic or… accomplish anything? Marvel’s new series Echo certainly serves as a frame-changer, centering a Native American character who also happens to be deaf and an amputee.

Movies, Reviews

‘Cocaine Bear’ is a Ridiculously Good Time with Over-the-Top Gore

February 23, 2023February 23, 2023 Wendy Lee Szany

Cocaine Bear — a dark comedy about a 500-pound black bear, who consumes an obscene amount of cocaine and goes on a killing rampage — is just about as over the top as the title suggests.

Reviews, Television

NOC Review: ‘That ‘90s Show’ is a Pretty Fun Return to the Basement

January 25, 2023January 25, 2023 Kelly Martinez

Hello, Wisconsin! The Formans are back, and so is the basement. Set 15 years after the events of That ‘70s Show, Netflix’s That ‘90s Show is a direct sequel to its predecessor. Season 1 takes a bit to get off the ground, but once it finds its footing, the sitcom mostly succeeds at being a fun, nostalgia-filled time.

Movies, Reviews

Say ‘I Don’t’ to ‘Shotgun Wedding’

January 19, 2023January 20, 2023 Laura Sirikul

It’s hard to believe that rom-com royalty — Jennifer Lopez (The Wedding Planner, Maid in Manhattan) and Josh Duhamel (Life As We Know It, When in Rome) — have never made a movie together until Amazon Studio’s Shotgun Wedding. It makes sense to put these two together in a romantic movie as both are beautiful people with experience in the genre. But unlike their sappy romantic films that follow the same formula, Shotgun Wedding gets mixed in with some action and adventure with pirates, money laundering, and lots of explosions.

Movies, Reviews

‘Hot Blooded: Once upon a Time’ is Intriguing But Disjointed

December 20, 2022 Bray Lawrence

How much are you willing to pay to become king? Is the price of having wealth, power, or respect worth the pain or death it brings? Hot Blooded: Once Upon A TIme In Korea succeeds in tackling these themes, as well as the perpetual cycle of violence, with a poetic focus that left me intrigued with what it was trying to say, even though I’m not sure if it was clear enough.