Reading Room

Social Distancing? Hollywood Is Here to Help

Now that the general public have been advised to not gather in large numbers in spaces like movie theaters, film lovers are missing out on screenings —studios are having to think fast about how to make money on their newest releases.

Cannes Gets Canned

The Cannes film festival has postponed this year’s edition, making it the first time in over 73 years to be cancelled. The move follows increasing pressure from a new set of government restrictions announced to combat the coronavirus outbreak, banning public gatherings of more than 100 people.

Indoor Concerts We Can Get with!

World-famous musicians, stuck inside like everyone else, are entertaining us with their talents. Chris Martin of the band Coldplay played a mini gig at his house as part of a new series called Together, At Home

Generation Next

Now Upon a Time is a nonprofit project that’s readapting fairytales to present stronger female characters and more positive role models for chil-dren, in a bid to eventually change biased and stereotypical gender perspectives. The project thus far has reimagined and renamed six popular tales including Lil Ruby Riding Hood with more in the works. The stories aim to motivate children to use their imagination and immerse themselves more thoroughly in the storytelling experience.

Reel Talk

First published in the early 1920s as a children’s book, ‘The Story of Doctor Dolittle’ has taken many forms of movie adaptations with perhaps the most popular being that of Eddie Murphy’s portrayal of the wonderful doctor.
However, the latest 2020 revival is sadly not one for the books. Sure, children will like it enough but as an adult, it is like taking a spoonful of some nasty medicinal concoction your doctor forced you to drink!

1917

What goes into making a ’90s thrill chasing, explosive and downright hilarious ‘cops and robbers’ flick? Well, you need a typically flashy Miami detective – courtesy of Will Smith – and a more sedate and platonic life partner, played by none other than Martin Lawrence. Even so, what interested an audience back in the ’90s won’t necessarily be entertaining in 2020.

This was the case with the latest instalment of the Bad Boys franchise. We could chalk it up to bad timing for Smith (what with Gemini Man hitting rock bottom and all) but if I am being honest, the entire film was glued together with a case of ‘bad’ everything and not merely a bunch of grown men referring to themselves as ‘boys.’

Generation Next

In order to encourage care for the environment through gamification, Applinka is trying to urge people to contribute more actively to saving the planet through environmentally-friendly activities that reduce their carbon footprint.

By using the app, users can challenge their friends to engage in activities such as planting trees, using public transport, recycling etc., with the aim of reducing air pollution while pursuing active and healthy lifestyles.

Reel Talk

Jumanji has had quite the journey, starting way back in the 1990s as a forgotten board game with the beloved Robin Williams, and Bonnie Hunt and a very young Kirsten Dunst. The game somehow managed to self-develop over the years, becoming an old-school video game.

And this is where we find it in its 2017 prequel, which brings back our favourite characters: nerdy Spencer, athletic Fridge (Ser’Darius William Blain), and Martha and Bethany who are now college students making plans to reunite over a holiday break.