I used to X out the rest of the world too. 

Like Shōya Ishida, A Silent Voice’s protagonist, who leads a lonely and hurt life after unwillingly taking the fall for bullying dead classmate Shōko Nishimiya, I too went through a phase of not believing in people, imprinting X’s on their faces. I was also reminded of Neku Sakuraba from Square Enix’s under-appreciated action RPG, The World Ends With You, who cynically blocks the people and experiences around him with…

“Unlimited…”

When I came out of Wicked, I was exhausted. I felt light-headed, my knees were weak, and I was ready for a long nap. Like the tornado that swept Dorothy away in the classic 1939 original, Wicked was a whirlwind of emotion. It was my first experience with the story — yes, I know, it’s shocking that a gay, New York City native with a passion for musical theater has never seen or heard Wicked. Tickets were always expensive, and I…

For many years, I went to concerts with my dad. Together, we saw Vampire Weekend, Kendrick Lamar, and on three different tours — The Weeknd. He wasn’t there because he wanted to see the artist, but because I was a young teen and was into them. Over time, he started listening more on his own. I think it’s safe to say I inspired a lot of his current music taste. It’s only fair after he inspired mine. I have a…

The MCU at its dumbest. And thank Marvel Jesus for that. 

Deadpool & Wolverine is an absolute romp through a cinematic universe that has seemingly outstayed its welcome. Nevertheless, Ryan Reynolds is able to inject his classic charisma into Deadpool for a third time in a no-holds, R rated action comedy. Hugh Jackman also shines as “the worst Wolverine”, and has great chemistry with Deadpool. The action is super stylish and bloody, and sometimes even horrifying, like when villain Cassandra sticks…

Oh movie marketing you fickle mistress. 

Kicking things off with a strong opening sequence set a great tone, but the first two acts seemed so different than the final. Ambiguity and suspense drove me mad in the first two parts of the film - superb atmospheric horror. Performances were great and especially compelling was Maika Monroe in some of the true horror moments of the movie. 

Overall it feel more like a thriller than a horror, which doesn’t seem cohesive…

Studio Ghibli Fest has been an annual event screening Ghibli movies at mainstream cinemas since 2017. This was my first time trying it out and sheeeesh this movie is somehow an even better experience when viewed on the big screen, in a packed room with the score blasting through the sound system.

Surreal knowing that directly across the street from the cinema I was seated in was Joe Hisaishi in the flesh at Madison Sq Garden prepping for a Studio…