Standing Up (2013)

In honor of AANHPI Month, let's celebrate Filipina-American pop star Olivia Rodrigo and her love of horror movies.

The social issues The Half of it takes on are handled well, between the antagonization brought on to Ellie for her race and the conflict that arises from her being gay. Both aspects of her character are built up over the course of the film and don’t seem abrupt or rushed. The film shows racism towards Ellie and her and father in varying levels, from having her schoolmates specifically address her as "Chinese girl” to the fore mentioned way her Dad is treated due to language barriers. The same can be said about Ellie being a lesbian. While she never truly “comes out” in the narrative, that does not undermine her journey of self-discovery from being meaningful. These ideas aren’t thrust upon the viewer in a preachy manor, the scenarios that occur feel believable given the rural setting. The film presents watchers with problems whom those like Ellie may face, and leaves us to sit with them and reflect.

The Conjuring: The Last Rites delivers a thrilling mix of scares and heart. From the axe-wielding ghost to the Warrens’ emotional farewell, Patrick Wilson and Vera Farmiga shine. Fans get a chilling, atmospheric conclusion that’s worth watching in theaters.

The film exhibits a respect for the craft and an empathy for human tribulations that have historically been ignored.

After the 2018 surprising hit "A Quiet Place" brought something fresh to the horror genre, the announcement of a sequel may have been disappointing to some. A lot of the time, a sequel to an already successful movie is no where near as good as the original. Yet, John Krasinski once again shows that he's much more than Jim from The Office.

Avatar: The Last Airbender's success fifteen years after its premiere proves the enduring power of its storytelling. But it's more than just a quality show.