entertainment

Don't wait another day to see "Tomorrowland"

By Zewde Ingram | May 28, 2015, 11:16 a.m. | In Movies »

This film revamps the age old "race to stop the end of the world" scenario into an uplifting and family friendly story enhanced by dazzling graphics.

2015 albums to check out

By Arthi Vijaykumar | May 24, 2015, 1:42 p.m. | In Music »

2015 is not even halfway over and already the year has been overwhelmed with fantastic albums, from several hyped and long-awaited releases to many impressive debuts.

"Pitch Perfect," a quirky comedy about all-girls a capella group the Barden Bellas, took critics by aca-amazement by becoming one of the biggest hits of 2012, fueling a renaissance of collegiate a capella enthusiasm. Now the Barden Bellas are back, and they're better than ever. "Pitch Perfect 2" is a hilarious and worthy sequel, filled to the brim with gags and female empowerment.

"Age of Ultron" falls short

By Neida Mbuia Joao | May 8, 2015, 4:55 p.m. | In Movies »

"Avengers: Age of Utron" may be full of the same explosions, special effects and snappy one-liners that turned it's 2012 predecessor into a hit, but it's no follow up to the Avengers film that had audiences hooked. Though "Ultron" benefits from the engaging action sequences with the sprinkling of humor that enchanted us in the first film, its villain never seems to present itself as a formidable enough threat.

Ex Machina is anything but mechanical

By Brian Le, Divya Rajagopal | May 4, 2015, 8:01 p.m. | In Movies »

Screenwriter and director Alex Garland weaves together philosophy, science and suspense to create an convincing plotline that leaves you shaken.

"Fiddler on the Roof" brings down the house

By Eleanor Linafelt, Nicholas Shereikis | April 29, 2015, 12:59 p.m. | In Plays »

Yet again, Blair theater has brought together an incredibly talented cast, exquisite costuming, authentic music and a well-designed set to their performance of this year's spring musical, "Fiddler on the Roof."

Books to read when having an existential crisis

By Sarah Trunk | April 29, 2015, 12:43 p.m. | In Books »

With end-of-year anxieties reaching a fever pitch, you may be looking for a healthy distraction from your busy, confusing life. Here's a list of SCO's books to read when having an existential crisis.

Black-Eyed Susan Book Award recommendations

By Amalia Chiapperino, Eleanor Linafelt, Neida Mbuia Joao, Arthi Vijaykumar, Zoe Johnson, Sarah Trunk | April 23, 2015, 8:42 p.m. | In Books »

As the year winds down, it's time to make a lot of decisions: which Black-Eyed Susan Book Award nominee you'll be voting for. Silver Chips Online has read, reviewed and ranked the books--so you don't have to.

"The Lady" burns with pride

By Zoe Johnson | April 21, 2015, 1:49 p.m. | In Plays »

More than anything, Lumina Studio Theatre's production of Christopher Fry's "The Lady's Not for Burning" makes one think about time.

Come see "Fiddler on the Roof"!

By Ellie Struewing | April 21, 2015, 1:36 p.m. | In Plays »

Watch our promotional trailer for Blair's spring musical here.

"Bruised" leaves a mark

By Amalia Chiapperino | April 17, 2015, 1:42 p.m. | In Books »

Sarah Skilton's quirky, raw, and honest debut novel offers an unpolished glimpse into the emotional and physical unraveling of a teenager burdened from a traumatic event.

"The Living" saves itself from a lack of life

By Eleanor Linafelt | April 15, 2015, 1:59 p.m. | In Books »

For a book filled with outlandish death scenes, confusing plot twists and not-fully-developed characters, "The Living" by Matt de la Pena isn't actually all that bad.

"Out of Nowhere" is packed with substance

By Arthi Vijaykumar | April 15, 2015, 1:54 p.m. | In Books »

While its means of delivering its messages isn't perfect, "Out of Nowhere" shows a refreshing sense of sincerity, sensitivity and heart.

"Fresh Off the Boat" sinks below expectations

By Brian Le | April 14, 2015, 11:47 a.m. | In Television »

It took decades for Asian Americans to be represented in American mainstream television again. A lot was riding on this show. So when the first few episodes were laden with exaggerated stereotypes, corny one-liners and stilted accents, I was pretty let down.

An inspiring but unrealistic "Beginning"

By Zoe Johnson | March 26, 2015, 1:47 p.m. | In Books »

It's 335 pages of quick-paced, intriguing action and reflection on youth, life and love, with satisfying, enjoyable insights and conclusions. Ezra, the 17-year-old protagonist, is thoughtful and witty, and his emotional development and character arc are impressive.

Disney gives "Cinderella” a refreshing update

By Amalia Chiapperino | March 19, 2015, 2:05 p.m. | In Movies »

Director Kenneth Branagh creates a true fairy tale experience with his modernized "Cinderella.” He updates the film from its 1950s animated counterpart by adding depth to what has always been seen as a rather superficial storyline. By focusing on character development, beautiful visual effects and costumes, he proves that he can excel in any film genre.

"The Second Best Exotic Marigold Hotel" lives up to its name

By Eleanor Linafelt | March 12, 2015, 5:19 p.m. | In Movies »

Heart-racing, haphazard driving; colorful textiles and beautiful costumes make watching "The Second Best Exotic Marigold Hotel" feel like going on a two-hour, jam-packed trip to India.

"Chappie" will not leave you happy

By Harini Salgado | March 10, 2015, 9:07 p.m. | In Movies »

What looked like a movie dealing with artificial intelligence versus man-controlled machines also investigated themes such as parenting, big corporations, human morality and feelings of separation. There's a lot going on in writer/director Neill Blomkamp's ("District Nine," "Elysium") third feature film. Unfortunately, weak characters and plot holes prevent these ideas from making an impact.

"Go Set a Watchman" for the "To Kill a Mockingbird" sequel

By Harini Salgado | March 8, 2015, 2:08 p.m. | In Books »

Harper Lee's novel "To Kill a Mockingbird" is pretty much the required book in high school. Here at Blair, most students read it in ninth grade.

"McFarland, USA" is another standard Disney movie

By Robert Pfefferle | Feb. 27, 2015, 9:56 a.m. | In Movies »

The plot of "McFarland, USA" brings nothing surprising or extraordinary to the table, not to mention that Kevin Costner is yet again playing the "clueless mentor searching for answers" role.

"Kingsman: The Secret Service" takes the throne

By Nicholas Shereikis | Feb. 23, 2015, 6:31 p.m. | In Movies »

"Kingsman" somehow manages to pull off the trickiest of effects, remaining lighthearted and fun while staying true to the classic structure of espionage films.

Sankofa full of talent and tradition

By Ellie Struewing | Feb. 21, 2015, 4:30 p.m. | In Plays »

Sankofa—Blair's annual celebration of Black History Month that includes a stunning variety of song, dance, spoken word and more—brought history, culture and tradition to life Friday night, in its last year with Vickie Adamson as director.

Ground left unbroken

By Sarah Trunk | Feb. 21, 2015, 11:35 a.m. | In Books »

The concept of supernatural happenings in teen books is not a bad one, even if it is alarmingly common. But "Unbreakable," by Kami Garcia, just doesn't bring anything new.

Celebrating Nutella Day, one spoonful at a time

By Zoe Johnson | Feb. 4, 2015, 11:18 p.m. | In Food »

As you may or may not know, tomorrow is the most important day of the year. I am referring, of course, to the illustrious holiday World Nutella Day.

"Clockwork Scarab" is a waste of time

By Sarah Trunk | Jan. 21, 2015, 1:47 p.m. | In Books »

"The Clockwork Scarab," by Colleen Gleason, has an interesting concept. Evaline Stoker, the sister of "Dracula" author Bram Stoker, and Alvermina Holmes, Sherlock's niece, are sent on a mysterious mission by Irene Adler to investigate the deaths of rich white girls.

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