The worst kind of good movie is one that is a sequel to a great one. “Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2” is an unfortunate film. It is a good movie, really fun and really funny. However, the fact that it is following up one of the best and most fun movies in recent memory, […]
Author: bickforj
A film’s modern remake takes too much from original
“Ghost In The Shell” (2017) is a weird movie. The original 1995 animated film by Mamoru Oshii was plenty weird in its own way, of course, but the 2017 live action remake is weird in that it simply didn’t need to happen. The original film is such a masterpiece that even the original director could […]
A mighty disappointment: ‘Power Rangers’ fails to live up to TV show
A week ago, I re-watched a few episodes of “Mighty Morphin’ Power Rangers.” It was quite fun to revisit a piece of my childhood which included watching people in spandex, giant robots, ridiculous plot lines and a campy atmosphere. “Power Rangers,” however, is not very fun. In fact, it stinks. Living, breathing human beings should generally avoid this […]
‘Logan’ is the best film of the X-Men series
Marvel movies are light-hearted and action-packed. DC Comics movies are dark and serious. “Logan” is the best of both worlds. “Logan,” based on the stories of Marvel characters, is the serious superhero movie DC wishes it could make. Directed by James Mangold, it is without a doubt the darkest superhero movie of the modern era. Compared to 2015’s […]
’50 Shades Darker’: So bad it’s good
About fifteen minutes into “Fifty Shades Darker” the person sitting next to me in the theater started snoring loudly, and missed about half an hour of the movie due to his nap. I deeply envy this person. To be fair to the second installment of the trilogy centered around the character of Anastasia Steele, a name that […]
The funny and the powerful: Top five Super Bowl LI commercials
This year, the Super Bowl was historic, unprecedented and exciting. The commercials, however – not so much. One of the best Super Bowls in recent memory lacked the accustomed number of memorable and entertaining commercials. But that is not to say that there weren’t some funny, some bizarre and some surprisingly controversial commercials. So, to mark Super […]
‘Final Chapter’ ruins ‘Resident Evil’ franchise
Some films are bad, others are awful. Only Paul W.S. Anderson, the Michelangelo of mediocrity, could make a film as frustratingly incompetent as “Resident Evil: The Final Chapter.” “The Final Chapter” is a true masterpiece – never before has a filmmaker attempted to replace plot, cinematography, coherent action, direction and the basic principles of storytelling entirely […]
Eclectic Excursions: Get away for a day to nearby mountain resort
For snowsport enthusiasts and beginners, Lafayette is not the most convenient school to attend. Located far from the most challenging and famous slopes of the East Coast, there are precious few options to get out in the snow. However, there is one place relatively nearby that does provide such an opportunity. Nestled on over 330 […]
Museums, monuments and memorials: See the sights at the nation’s capital
From our perch on College Hill, we as a campus community can often feel isolated, a world unto itself. But there is a world outside campus. There are many opportunities for excursions off the hill, to get out into the Lehigh Valley and beyond, to experience all this region has to offer. With the end […]
Eclectic Excursions: Visit DaVinci Science Center in Allentown, with plans for expansion in Easton
From our perch on College Hill, we as a campus community can often feel isolated, a world unto itself. But there is a world outside campus. There are many opportunities for excursions off the hill, to get out into the Lehigh Valley and beyond, to experience all this region has to offer. Allentown’s DaVinci Science Center may […]
A look in to the Lehigh Valley’s Past: Museum celebrates Native American culture, history
From our perch on College Hill, we as a campus community can often feel isolated, a world unto itself. But there is a world outside campus. There are many opportunities for excursions off the hill, to get out into the Lehigh Valley and beyond, to experience all this region has to offer. Evidence shows that […]
The pain of purity: Social Justice Keynote focuses on the damaging influence of Christian “purity culture”
The Rev. Bromleigh McCleneghan has thought a lot about sex and religion. “For a long time, I have wanted to reflect on how the complicating factors of sexual identity, sexual practice, drug or alcohol abuse, body image, all these things that sort of play out in our lives, how this interacted with what we were hearing […]
Go go power remake: Remakes are blight upon modern film and need to stop
A human being thought that the Power Rangers needed to be remade into a darker and edgier film. So, in 2017, we will be subjected to the fresh hell that is angsty teen superpowered “Breakfast Club.” This trailer marked everything wrong with the modern rush for remakes. Or, rather, the rush for bad remakes. This […]
Eclectic Excursions: Holy Mack Truck
From our perch on College Hill, we as a campus community can often feel isolated, a world unto itself. But there is a world outside campus. There are many opportunities for excursions off the hill, to get out into the Lehigh Valley and beyond, to experience all this region has to offer. A short bus […]