Tag Archives: review

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Avengers: Age of Ultron Review

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Matthew Hughes
Contributing Writer

In 2012’s “The Avengers,” six superheroes from different franchises came together to form a single team, and turned a web of cameos and references into a solid and readily expandable universe, which then turned a series of fairly profitable movies into a megalithic franchise that has made record profits. Marvel can launch any character or property and have a solid, reliable audience to consume it. And that means they’re free to take risks, to make more complex, more unique stories. “Guardians of the Galaxy” and “Captain America: Winter Soldier” are shining testaments to that. But “Avengers: Age of Ultron” instead delivers a by-the-numbers action movie that, while perfectly presentable and competent, never truly manages to stand on its own. Continue reading Avengers: Age of Ultron Review →

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SF International Film Festival: Me and Earl and the Dying Girl

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Claudia Sanchez
Staff Writer

Full disclosure: I attended this film without many expectations. Based on the sickeningly sweet trailer, I thought it would be another rehashing of the “dying girl in love” movie genre, which for some reason, was very popular in 2014. But, I was proved dead wrong. “Me and Earl and the Dying Girl” was a nearly perfect film created with a mixture of heartbreak and humor. Continue reading SF International Film Festival: Me and Earl and the Dying Girl →

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SF International Film Festival: Iris

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Claudia Sanchez
Staff Writer

Everyone from Kanye West to Jenna Lyons [J. Crew’s creative director] adores Iris Apfel. Fashion industry powerhouses make small cameos explaining their relationships with her in Albert Maysles’ documentary. It’s hard to find the 93 year old Apfel, with her iconic round sunglasses and layers and layers of jewelry, anything but charming. As someone who grew up fashion-obsessed and close to New York City, I idolize Apfel, and was fascinated by Maysles’ documentary. Continue reading SF International Film Festival: Iris →

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SF International Film Festival: Boomtown: Remaking San Francisco

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Claudia Sanchez
Staff Writer

“San Francisco has always had a housing crisis,” stated Tim Redmond, editor of 48 Hills, a digital San Francisco newspaper focused on bringing attention to the housing crisis.  This inescapable crisis is the main focus of “Boomtown: Remaking San Francisco.”  Boomtown is not a traditional documentary, it is a multimedia art piece featuring film, live performances, and speeches. The film’s title comes from the boom and bust economic cycle, which is based on a system of economic surplus followed by severe economic decline. Continue reading SF International Film Festival: Boomtown: Remaking San Francisco →

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Staying Small On The Big Stage: Priory Review

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Dillon Rawlings
Staff Writer

The main appeal of dance pop, as a genre, is it’s feel-good flavor. The Portland natives that make up the electro/pop group Priory, who opened for Kaiser Chiefs this past Friday night at the Regency Ballroom, definitely seem to agree.  The group, comprised of long-time friends Brandon Rush and Kyle Sears has been focused on making energetic, rhythmically uplifting electro-melodies since their formation in 2009. Continue reading Staying Small On The Big Stage: Priory Review →