By: Amanda Guarragi In the 1800s, Norwegian playwright Henrik Ibsen premiered his play "Hedda Gabler" in 1891. Ibsen’s work primarily focused on modern drama, and he wrote more realistic plays. The character of Hedda Gabler explored a woman’s resentment for being trapped in a marriage and a house she never wanted. Hedda Gabler is considered the more complex role for any actress to portray due to the depth of her moral values.

By: Amanda Guarragi In the 1700s, the religious community known as “The Shakers” originated in England. It is a sector of Protestant Christians. They were formally known as “The United Society of Believers in Christ’s Second Appearing,” and eventually moved to the United States in 1774. A woman named Ann Lee led the community through their hardships. They believed in the dual nature of God (male and female), the pursuit of a heavenly community on Earth and ecstatic worship (shaking, quaking, singing, dancing and speaking in tongues as the Holy Spirit entered their bodies).

By: Amanda Guarragi From Boogie Nights to There Will Be Blood and now, One Battle After Another, films by Paul Thomas Anderson have defined decades. The anticipation for a new Paul Thomas Anderson film matches the heights of a new Christopher Nolan or Martin Scorsese project. Audiences know the cast of characters’ll entertain them, but more importantly, the journey these filmmakers take them on.

By: Amanda Guarragi “Only monsters play god.” Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein is a literary work that explores humanity in its darkest form. Through the immorality of reconstructing a creature from bodily remains to cheat death, there’s a grounding level of humanity. Unfortunately, death is inevitable. And witnessing death at a young age can shape your perception of it, and the way the world functions around you.

By: Amanda Guarragi In recent years, romantic comedies have made a resurgence in theatres. Audiences have craved authentic romances that explore different avenues. Not everyone can be lucky enough to find the love of their life, but when they do, it can also be a difficult decision. Sometimes people are plagued by making decisions based on what could have been. We all want to be able to live two different lives and see where different paths could have led us.

By: Amanda Guarragi There have been extraordinary writers over centuries whose work has been transcendent, and more importantly, lasting. The words of William Shakespeare influenced writers and playwrights to emulate his prose and modernize his writings. His comedies were clever, but the complexities of his characters in his tragedies offered depth and emotional resonance, even if his protagonists were deeply flawed.

By: Amanda Guarragi In the world of wrestling, Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson has made a name for himself. When he switched over to acting, it was a natural shift because of how talented he was in the ring. In his early years, Johnson had taken to comedies, which showcased his talents and made him enjoyable to watch. Once he became an action star and a massive box office draw, that’s when his persona began to change.

By: Amanda Guarragi The horror genre has been thriving for decades, with new filmmakers producing modern horror classics for audiences. The conventions will always be similar, but it’s up to the filmmakers to be innovative to present these scares. The beauty of horror lies in the small moments that build suspense. For those who love the genre, the anticipation and the atmosphere play an important role in constructing a perfect horror experience.

By: Amanda Guarragi The Alien franchise has always been centred on building suspense in the vast dark galaxy we call space. Most of the time, humans and cyborgs are trapped in a spaceship with a Xenomorph or other strange alien creatures. Throughout the franchise, each filmmaker has left their mark in choosing which new creatures to develop with practical effects. As technology advances, it’s interesting to see where the…

By: Amanda Guarragi The films of the early 2000s have a certain level of fun and whimsy that is severely lacking for this generation of movie-going audiences. The studio comedy on the big screen has been phased out, but people are craving wholesome projects that will make them feel good. These films don’t have to be perfect by any means, but bring a wave of nostalgia to a simpler time.

By: Amanda Guarragi In recent years, the fall of the superhero film has been studied by fans and critics alike. Fans have possibly been the worst critics when it comes to their favourite heroes not receiving the same tender love and care as others. It’s interesting to see the current state of criticism and how critics have approached the new wave of comic book films.

By: Amanda Guarragi As a newcomer in the modern age of cinema, Ari Aster has established himself as a crafty horror filmmaker who explores various forms of the genre. He has combined genres and broken genre conventions to elevate the meaning of horror. From Hereditary to Midsommar to Beau is Afraid, Aster is one of the most ambitious filmmakers who is incredibly gifted in creating a chilling atmosphere.

By: Amanda Guarragi For over 80 years, Superman has always been a beacon of hope and purity. The appeal of Clark Kent’s Superman is that he is a wholesome young man who wants to do good for the people. His Boy Scout aura gives people the optimism that he will always make the right decisions.  Creators Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster created an iconic hero with an impressive set of powers, beautiful optimism, and kindness.

By: Amanda Guarragi The world of F1 is an international event that unites people from all over the world. With each new circuit, the drivers become well-known and their skills are unmatched on the track. Racing has been treated as a dangerous sport because anything can go wrong on the track, especially if you’re not a seasoned driver. There have been film adaptations of racing video games, like…

Kosinski wanted Tony Scott's double sauce but F1 was severely lacking in heart. Sure, the racing was executed well, but the pacing as a whole was pretty rough. Brad Pitt also gave a poor performance, ...

By: Amanda Guarragi Love in the modern age has undergone significant changes compared to its past. For one thing, marriage meant something more than a business deal, but as time went on, it became more about checking boxes than feeling deeply. Dating in the modern age is similar to playing games to reach a certain level. Men and women have been pressured to be reserved and not fully open themselves to the feeling of being consumed by someone.

By: Amanda Guarragi Stephen King has been crowned the “Horror King” because of his ability to create a haunting and suspenseful atmosphere in his novels. His novels not only consist of the horror o…

By: Amanda Guarragi “Our lives are the sum of our choices. And we cannot escape the past.” After thirty years of watching Ethan Hunt (Tom Cruise) accept his missions and running towards the next threat, his final reckoning is finally here. Or we can hope it’s his final mission. As a diehard Mission: Impossible fan, the franchise has consistently exceeded its predecessor to make this one of the best action franchises in history.

By: Amanda Guarragi For the past two phases, Marvel has struggled with figuring out what the audience wants from their characters. The critical reception, excluding Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 and maybe even Spider-Man: No Way Home, has been tough to watch as a fan. But, as a critic, it’s warranted. Superhero conventions have, unfortunately, become formulaic. So it’s important to have well-choreographed action sequences and a compelling character-driven narrative to make a strong film.