By Susan JAMES One thing the new “Star Wars” movie gets right is shedding many of the stifling layers of “Star Wars” mythology to go for a fresh approach to a well-known saga. When George Lucas created his universe far, far away and released the first iconic “Star Wars” movie in 1977, he drew on […]
By Susan JAMES Nineteen times the heroes of the cinematic Marvel Universe have saved that universe from villains weird and terrible, twisted titans seeking revenge, power and chaos. Loki, Ultron, Hela, Erik Killmonger and the Winter Soldier among others have gone up against the redoubtable and lost. The heroes have battled the bad guys, fought […]
By Susan JAMES On April 3, Professor Ted Stern’s class in the history, understanding and appreciation of music celebrated its 500th meeting. The organization doesn’t have a fancy name and participants just call it “the music class,” but it has been full to overflowing since it began in the spring of 2001. Meant as a […]
By Susan JAMES Toned, tan and ready to kick butt, the lead character in “Lara Croft: Tomb Raider” swings into action in a new adventure targeted at the video games demographic. Stop me if you’ve heard this, but a young girl, heir to a fabulous fortune, has lost her father in a way no one […]
By Susan JAMES Disney’s next great fantasy adventure, “A Wrinkle in Time,” is being released on the heels of its Marvel blockbuster “Black Panther.” Like its boffo box office predecessor, the film is gorgeous to look at but, unlike the important cultural shift signaled by “Black Panther,” beneath this movie’s scenery there isn’t much there. […]
By Susan JAMES The girls have totally taken over the franchise in “Pitch Perfect 3,” the last call for the Barden University BFF songsters known as the Bellas. Directed by Trish Sie from a screenplay by Kay Cannon, the all-female singing group that took their college competition by storm in “Pitch Perfect” (2012) and made […]
By Susan JAMES “Star Wars: The Last Jedi” is the ninth film to explore George Lucas’ galaxy far, far away. Sadly, it is also the swan song for Carrie Fisher’s Princess Leia as the actress died last December. For those who just can’t get enough of Lucasian mythology, Jedi mysticism and explosive star battles, this […]
By Susan JAMES The 11th annual presentation of the Art of Television Costume Design is on display now at the Los Angeles Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising (free to the public). Open through Oct. 7, the exhibition showcases over 100 costumes from 25 television shows, including the nine nominees from three costume categories: contemporary, […]
By Susan JAMES The reluctant hero is a staple of storytelling. From Marshal Will Kane in the cowboy classic “High Noon” to Hamlet’s five-act dither over his father’s murder, the guy who regards his destiny as a suit he would rather not put on is a familiar figure. Enter auteur director Guy Ritchie’s take on […]
By Susan JAMES One thing that has kept so many marvelous Marvel sagas spinning in the air is their makers’ recognition that behind all the explosions, superpowers and angst-ridden apocalyptic adventures, what is real is the way in which the characters relate to each other. Family and the definition of family have been major themes […]