Kamala Khan is a superhero figure that I’ve read, followed, and written about for the past five years. So far, two creative teams have been responsible for her primary narrative, Ms. Marvel with writer G. Willow Wilson (along with editor/co-creator Sana Amanat, artist Adrian Alphona, and others) and The Magnificent Ms. Marvel with writer Saladin Ahmed, editor Alanna Smith, and artist Minkyu Jung. I’ve loved both teams and where they have taken the story as well as the art. In particular, I’ve found Ahmed’s most recent issues interesting because Kamala has been able to further explore her part-alien identity when she goes to the planet Saffa, and many believe that she’s the “chosen one”. In a

I am sure we have all had the fantasy of meeting someone who indulges us in our true dark side. That person who has little shame, inhibition or morality and is willing to push and guide us on a hypothetical wild ride as we give zero f**ks, take whatever we want and avenge any perceived wrongs. It’s a part of being human when you recognize such darkness and temptation. A true sense of your own humanity is how far you would go and how much of a push you would need. 1990’s Bad Influence epitomizes what happens when you take such a guided tour in sin and “dance with the devil.” From Hollywood-lifer screenwriter David Koepp (Jurassic Park, Carlito’s Way, Panic Room) and Curtis Hanson (L.A. Confid

For the past few weeks I seem to be stuck in 1989. I can’t help it. It was a great year for film, and I was a fifteen-year-old whose taste was expanding and getting refined at the same time. As for Denzel Washington, he was making the official transition from TV actor to film star. After a seven-year stint on the highly acclaimed “St. Elsewhere” and an Oscar-nominated turn as Steven Biko in Cry Freedom, Washington and film audiences were ready for more. The end of the year would see him win a Best Supporting Actor Oscar (his first) as a slave turned solder in the war epic Glory, but it was in The Mighty Quinn when I realized he could be a movie star. From director Carl Schenkel comes this mu

Title: The Farewell Genre: Drama/Comedy Stars: Awkwafina Director: Lulu Wang Bias: As an Asian-American, I’m all about the Asian representation. Grade: A- In a Nutshell: When Billi’s (Awkwafina) grandmother is fatally diagnosed with cancer, her family decides that she is best kept in the dark about her own medical condition. The family organizes a shotgun wedding for Billi’s cousin in order for everyone to come back to their home in China, without grandma knowing they are there to secretly say their goodbyes. Billi must navigate her homeland as a stranger from America while simultaneously dealing with her grandmother's failing health and her family's decision to keep it a secret. The Review:

From the time I was ten until about twenty, rarely did a week go by that I wasn’t spending at least one a week tap dancing to my heart’s content. Was I any good? I had my moments. I had no Broadway aspirations or any true natural ability to get me very far but over time I accepted my limitations and just enjoyed whatever movement and sound I could create. I may never have lived up to my idols like Gregory Hines, Sammy Davis, Jr and The Nicholas Brothers but tap brought me joy and occasional inner peace. For anyone interested in experiencing the magic of tap dance, look no further than 1989’s Tap. From Director Nick Castle (The Last Starfighter, The Boy Who Could Fly) comes a somewhat cliched

Last year at this time, I took time to relive my cinematic youth circa 1988. First, I took a deeper look at the brilliance that is Die Hard. Then, I followed that up with a brief look at the rest of the films that made that summer so memorable from Big to Who Framed Roger Rabbit. This year, I can’t help but a take another three-decade sojourn this time to 1989 which arguably may have been the best summer of all-time, not just in terms of box office success but in terms of pure cinematic joy and enduring relevance. 1989 was a great time to be a film lover, and here are the key reasons why: The Abyss – Although blockbuster success came to James Cameron in the form of Titanic and Avatar, for my

Title: Once Upon a Time in...Hollywood Genre: Period/Comedy/Drama Stars: Leonardo DiCaprio, Brad Pitt, Margot Robbie Director: Quentin Tarantino Bias: As a 90s-era film nerd, I have more than my share of Tarantino-apologist/defender tendencies Grade: C In a Nutshell: A fading Hollywood leading man, Rick Dalton (DiCaprio) tries to come to terms with how far his star has fallen. His long-time stunt double, Cliff (Pitt) is his only friend (and driver, and handyman). Dalton's main claim to fame may be that he lives next door to Roman Polanski (Rafal Zawierucha), and his new wife, upcoming starlet, Sharon Tate (Robbie), who seem to have caught the attention of the Manson Family cult. The Critique