The Criterion Challenge is an annual film challenge hosted by users of Letterboxd. The goal is to watch a different movie from the Criterion Collection every week for a year, selected to fulfill 52 different weekly prompts. Last week (week nine), I watched Bringing Up Baby (1938) to satisfy the prompt: the 1930s. 

On Nov. 2, 2021, Australian indie game studio Witch Beam released their newest game, Unpacking (2021), through Humble Bundle publishers as a cross-platform, single-player zen puzzle game. In it, players complete the deceptively simple task of unpacking the main character's belongings through multiple moves at vital stages in their life— such as into their childhood bedroom, college dorm, and first shared apartment with a partner. 

Role Model, also known as Tucker Harrington Pillsbury or internet star Emma Chamberlain's ex-boyfriend, is a baby-tee-wearing singer who captured all my feelings in his latest exclusive album, Kansas Anymore (The Longest Goodbye) (2025).

The Criterion Challenge is an annual film challenge with 52 weekly categories that the participant must fulfill by watching films within the Criterion Collection. Last week’s challenge was to watch a film that would be added to Criterion’s physical collection in 2025. The challenge for this week (week nine) is the 1930s.

Last week, I covered the events from the Screen Actors Guild (SAG) awards with the promise that I will return to do the same for the ninety-seventh Annual Academy Awards (The Oscars). On Mar. 2, musicians, directors, actors, and others involved with Hollywood’s technical and artistic merit attended The Oscars to witness what many may consider the most prestigious awards in the film industry. 

Everyone knows that Spider-Man is the face of Marvel Comics, undoubtedly one of the most iconic superheroes ever. But just because the wall-crawler is popular does not mean every piece of media he appears in is good. His last animated series, Marvel’s Spider-Man (2017-2020), was a show I found mediocre at best.

Last year, the lovely Editor-in-Chief Nathaniel D’Amato wrote an article reviewing his girlfriend’s music for her birthday. This year, The Lamron’s issue XII falls on his birthday (Mar. 7), so, as his girlfriend, it is my turn to review things! Instead of listening to music, I watched four episodes of the show Love, Death & Robots (2019– ), which he chose for me to review. To give this birthday gift a slight twist, each episode will receive a score on a “Silliness Scale,” which is entirely subjective and has no factual basis; enjoy!

(Spoilers Ahead!)

School Spirits (2023- ), a Paramount+ original series, follows a teenage girl who finds herself trapped as a ghost after being murdered at her high school— or so it seems. This show is full of plot twists and surprises, so if you are looking to avoid spoilers, I would recommend reading no further. 

Last week, for the Opinion section, I wrote an article in defense of playlist-making as a form of art. While writing this, I figured that if something is a skill or art— it ought to be able to be taught. So, this week, I take it upon myself to talk about the process of deciding what kinds of playlists you might need, conceptualizing said playlist, and creating the finished product.

The Criterion Challenge is a yearly movie challenge held by movie fans and Letterboxd users, where you watch 52 films housed by the Criterion Collection to fulfill 52 different weekly categories, all in one calendar year. I am participating this year, and last week, I watched my first silent film, Master of the House (1925), for week seven: the 1920s.

Sunday, Feb. 23, award-winning actor Kristen Bell hosted the thirty-first Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards (SAG). During this event, accolades were given by the Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA) to recognize actors and their outstanding performances in movies and television. 

I cannot, in good faith, state that I don't watch reality television regularly, though I am slow to admit this. I say this because when I think of reality television, I think of infamous reality shows such as Keeping Up With the Kardashians (2007-2021) or Jersey Shore (2009-2012). While I by no means shame those who enjoy programs like these— I, for one, have spent many a night watching Keeping Up With the Kardashians (2007-2021) after a long day in high school —I find myself more impressed by the competition in reality television.

The first season of Yellowjackets (2021- ), originally released four years ago, is now currently airing its third season. This show has been growing exponentially in popularity among teenage girls, and I think there are many reasons why. When I say teenage girls, I am referring to those on the older end of the spectrum— about 16 to 19 years old. This is because, at times, the show has a bit of gore that is unsuitable for younger viewers. 

Sequels are thriving at the box office, with Inside Out 2 (2024) being the highest-grossing movie of that year. Given their assured success, we can expect to see many more sequels in the upcoming years, including Zootopia 2 (2025), Toy Story 5 (2026), and Frozen 3 (2027). 

Regardless of your political affiliation or optimistic outlook on life’s daily happenings, things have felt off lately. When I say off, I do not mean irregular or, in a metaphysical sense, out of alignment. I mean, there is this uncanny aspect of the monotony of everyday life— one that you can’t find the source of but feels familiar, almost known. Maybe life has felt like the prelude to a dystopian novella or a ticking bomb, counting down on an unknown, unseeable timer.

The Criterion Challenge is a yearly challenge hosted by Letterboxd users and movie fans. The challenge is put together by Letterboxd user @benvsthemovies, and the goal is to watch a different movie in the Criterion Collection to fulfill 52 weekly challenges. I am participating this year for the first time, and I previously watched Divorce Italian Style (1961) for week six’s challenge. 

Netflix, a household-known streaming service with countless television shows and movies, has also brought something new to the media scene: limited series. These Netflix original limited series are just a few episodes long and deliver a self-contained plot.

Opening acts are a time-honored tradition for live entertainment and have become a standard in the music industry for touring artists. These acts aim to help warm the crowd up, give people time to settle in, and get familiar with artists they are likely less familiar with. As a smaller artist, becoming the opening act for a well-known artist or band can be a life-changing opportunity that can potentially skyrocket artists into fame and provide increased publicity.