Imagine Dragons performed the lead single “Zero” for the soundtrack. (Photo courtesy of Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures) Owen Johnson Connector Editor “Ralph Breaks the Internet” is less “Wreck-it Ralph,” and more “The Emoji Movie.” In other words, yikes. After Ralph’s (John C. Reilly) hijinks in the Sugar Rush arcade game cause the game’s steering wheel…
‘Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald’ is criminally dull
Actors such as Christian Bale and Benedict Cumberbatch were considered for the role of Dumbledore. (Photo courtesy of Warner Bros. Pictures) Owen Johnson Connector Editor Magical spells and fantastic creatures might sound fun and interesting, but they are nowhere close to being enough to save “Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald” from being a dull…
“Bohemian Rhapsody” is not killer Queen
Rolling Stone magazine noted multiple historical inaccuracies in the film. (Photo courtesy of 20th Century Fox) Owen Johnson Connector Editor For a personality as idiosyncratic as Freddie Mercury and a band as revolutionary as Queen, their biopic is incredibly lackluster and surprisingly uninspired. From the early days when he first met his band mates to Queen’s…
One-hundredth article extravaganza: ’21 Jump Street’
“21 Jump Street” was the sixth most illegally downloaded film of 2012. (Photo courtesy of Columbia Pictures) Owen Johnson Connector Editor With this article, I reached the milestone of having 100 articles, mostly movie reviews, published with the UMass Lowell Connector. Over the past three years of me doing this, I know I have garnered…
“First Man” is only second rate
“First Man” has made $60 million at the box office. (Photo courtesy of Universal Pictures) Owen Johnson Connector Editor What is needed to make a great historical drama is either an interesting figure or a fascinating event to focus on. Neil Armstrong is that figure and the space race to the moon is that event,…
Watching ‘Coco’ should be the new Thanksgiving tradition
(Photo courtesy of Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures) Taylor Dorian Connector Staff “Coco” is a movie that every family should see together. Not only does this movie provide the perspective of a culture outside of the U.S., but it reminds us how valuable family is. “Coco” tells the story of Miguel, a young Mexican musician…
The incompetency of ‘Halloween’ is terrifying
“Halloween” ignores the rest of the series established beyond the original film. (Photo courtesy of Universal Pictures) Owen Johnson Connector Editor This “Halloween” is very similar to Jamie Lee Cutris’ character in the movie. Both have had long times to prepare for the eventual return of Michael Myers, and the way each go about the…
UMass Lowell philosophy department to show ‘Prince of Darkness’ as part of Philosophy and Film series
“Prince of Darkness” was filmed in 30 days. (Photo courtesy of Universal Pictures) Linda Poe Connector Contributor Worthy horror films are known for their paralyzing suspense, terrifying killers and eerie music; however, this genre of film can also exhibit a deep and intellectual message. This is what the UMass Lowell’s philosophy department hopes to demonstrate during…
