tv-and-film - The Spectrum

With the season finale airing last Friday, “The Falcon and the Winter Soldier,” Marvel’s second Disney+ original series, represents a significant improvement over the previous series, “Wandavision,” which was bogged down by long, monotonous scenes that felt more like novelty than substance.

ARTS

‘The Falcon and the Winter Soldier’ provides an exciting glimpse into the future of the MCU

By ALEX FALTER | Apr. 29, 2021

The Marvel Cinematic Universe has taken a backseat since the start of the pandemic, with upcoming films like “Black Widow” and “Eternals” being pushed back more than a year so spectators might watch them in theaters. As fans await those releases, Marvel Studios has begun rolling out original series on Disney+ to hold people over between films.

Emilia Clarke played Daenerys Targaryen on 'Game of Thrones,' which celebrates its 10th anniversary today.

ARTS

‘Game of Thrones’ is 10 years old and still worth watching despite its flaws

By ALEX FALTER | Apr. 17, 2021

Exactly one decade ago, the world was blessed with the release of the first episode of “Game of Thrones.”

Don’t be fooled by the similar animation style or familiar voice actors; this show is not “just another” “Rick and Morty” clone.

ARTS

‘Solar Opposites’ returns as the best ‘Rick and Morty’ alternative

By ALEX FALTER | Mar. 30, 2021

Since its premiere in May 2020, the Hulu-exclusive animated series “Solar Opposites” has made its mark as one of the funniest adult cartoons on television.

This R-rated cut contains the same general plot — saving the world from a dangerous evil — but with much more violence, blood and even a surprising “f---” uttered by Batman.

ARTS

HBO Max gives comic fans the film they’ve longed for with ‘Zack Snyder’s Justice League’

By ALEX FALTER | Mar. 22, 2021

From the opening scene, it becomes clear that “Zack Snyder’s Justice League” is far from the “Justice League” viewers saw in 2017.

The 2000s gave Gen Z so many sitcoms that still are, as the “How I Met Your Mother” star Barney Stinson always says, “legen … wait for it … and I hope you’re not lactose intolerant, because the second half of the word is … dary! Legendary!”

ARTS

Five must-watch sitcoms from the early 2000s

By Delme Fernandes | Mar. 10, 2021

The 2000s gave Gen Z so many sitcoms that still are, as the “How I Met Your Mother” star Barney Stinson always says, “legen … wait for it … and I hope you’re not lactose intolerant, because the second half of the word is … dary! Legendary!”

“Malcolm and Marie” is a romantic drama focusing on the titular couple Malcolm, played by John David Washington, and Marie, played by Zendaya.

ARTS

‘Malcolm and Marie’ delivers as one of Netflix’s best original films in years

By ALEX FALTER | Feb. 8, 2021

Netflix has saturated its platform with thousands of hours of original content over the past few years, with programming becoming more bold as time progresses. But sometimes, all we really need is something minimal.

ARTS

‘Hamilton’ star Leslie Odom Jr. discusses understanding yourself and the power of intention

By ALEXANDRA MOYEN | Oct. 17, 2020

Leslie Odom Jr. said he wasn’t “athletically inclined” as a child, even though his father put him on “every” sports team within a “10-mile radius” of their Philadelphia home.

ARTS

‘Sonic the Hedgehog’ defies low expectations and doubts

By ANASTASIA WILDS | Feb. 16, 2020

Movie: “Sonic the Hedgehog” Director: Jeff Fowler Starring: Ben Schwartz, James Marsden, Jim Carrey Studio: Paramount Pictures Rating: 8/10

ARTS

92nd Academy Awards predictions and opinions

By ALEX WHETHAM | Feb. 7, 2020

This Sunday, awards season is coming to a close with the 92nd Academy Awards. Despite being one of the latest award shows of the season, the Oscars always tend to generate the most buzz and controversy, thanks to persistent and valid criticism like #OscarsSoWhite.

ARTS

‘Cats:’ a miserable cinematic experience

By ALEX WHETHAM | Jan. 2, 2020

Movie: “Cats” Director: Tom Hooper Starring: Francesca Hayward, Idris Elba, Robbie Fairchild Studio: Universal Pictures Rating: 2/10

ARTS

‘The Lighthouse’ is brilliance in black and white

By ALEX WHETHAM | Nov. 10, 2019

Movie: “The Lighthouse” Director: Robert Eggers Starring: Robert Pattinson, Willem Dafoe Studio: A24 Rating: 10/10

Patricia Zimmermann and Jason Livingston answering questions after the screening.

ARTS

‘A different art:’ Documentary series highlights community stories

By ALEX WHETHAM | Oct. 27, 2019

Back-to-back screenings are usually similar. But on Wednesday, Squeaky Wheel challenged this notion, screening everything from a film about upcoming fatherhood to a film on sheep becoming zombies.

A student waits outside the Media Studies' equipment room.

ARTS

Department of Media Studies puts class cap on lab fee charges for semester, looks into changing fee

By ANASTASIA WILDS | Sep. 4, 2019

Students who have taken a media study production class know the department requires an extra $125 lab fee. Students have had to pay this fee for each production class they take –– regardless of how often the course uses the resources.

Rick Masi, a UB alumnus, had a love for filmmaking and wanted to make it a career. Masi premiered his first film “On the Level” last year and has a new project “Free Fallers.”

ARTS

Still alive: Local filmmaker and UB alumnus discusses job insecurity and impermanence

By ANDREW SAFE | Nov. 14, 2016

Rick Masi was plagued with thoughts of his own mortality four years after graduating college. “I’m going to die one day and what do I have to show for it?” he asked himself. Masi tucked away his love for film and entered the workforce as a sales assistant at a dealership immediately after graduating from UB in 2009 with a communication degree.

Sunday night Jimmy Kimmel hosted the 68th annual Emmy Awards. This year's pool of award winners was the most diverse to date.

ARTS

UB says diversity is the real winner at the Emmys

By ANDREW SAFE | Sep. 21, 2016

Christian Pierce, a senior economics and political science double major, said that it’s about time that a big awards show celebrates real diversity. Compared to other shows throughout history like the Grammys, the Emmys seem to have stepped it up in having a more diverse list of nominees.

NEWS

"'Smokin' Aces,' or just a bunch of jokers?"

By AMY SNYDER | Feb. 2, 2007

The action film "Smokin' Aces," written and directed by Joe Carnahan, appears to have everything going for it.

NEWS

The reality of reality TV

By ANDREA SION | Feb. 27, 2006

Everyone's done things that they're not proud of, but most haven't shared those moments with the nation.

Tv And Film