I’m not exaggerating when I say that all I do is read. I will be rounding off the year with over 300 books read, 55 of which were released this year. Some of those new releases were five-star reads, and some of them were a waste of time. Obviously, the new releases we got this year from Emily Henry, Holly Jackson, Kristen Hannah and other big names were up to par with their previous works, and if you’re a fan, they’re worth checking out. I want to highlight some lesser-known favorites of mine from the year. From non-fiction to science fiction, allow me to inform you what books of 2024 are worth reading in 2025.
“Gladiator II” takes place 16 years after the first film. It follows Lucius, the son of Lucilla, played by Connie Nielsen, and Maximus, played by Russell Crowe. Lucius is played by Academy Award nominee Paul Mescal. Estranged from his family for over a decade, Lucius coincidentally ends up reconnecting with his mother after his home is attacked by the Roman Army. He is taken by the army to become a slave-turned-gladiator like his father, and quickly rises to greatness, also following in his father’s footsteps. The film is packed with well-done action sequences, effective gore and a compelling story as Lucius fights to restore the Roman Republic – a dream his father wished to carry out.
Can a robot fall in love? It couldn’t truly be possible, right? “Maybe Happy Ending” suggests otherwise. The musical recently hit the Broadway scene on Nov. 12, at the Belasco Theater in New York City, New York. It stars “Glee” cast member Darren Criss as a Helperbot named Oliver and Broadway actress Helen J. Shen as a Helperbot named Claire.
Music and film are two incredibly powerful and widely consumed art forms, so when the latter is artistically informed by the former and filmmakers understand how to execute this tantalizing marriage, cinema’s potential can seldom be more exciting. The following films exhibit such qualities, ranging from highly recognized classics from bygone eras of Hollywood to wildly different modern critiques of fame in the music industry that are masterful all the same.
In “Red One,” Santa Claus’s bodyguard Cal (Dwayne Johnson) and a hacker named Jack (Chris Evans) are forced to save Christmas after Santa Claus (J.K. Simmons) – code name “Red One” – is kidnapped. The two form a reluctant but comedic duo as Cal serves as the head of North Pole security while Jack is a level four naughty-lister. Along the way, they encounter various mythological figures associated with Christmas, such as Krampus. The film’s self-aware and over-the-top nature makes it enjoyable, especially for viewers who appreciate lighthearted, imaginative holiday movies. While reviews have been overwhelmingly negative, there are definitely worse Christmas movies out there.
Aidan Judge, Arts & Entertainment Editor
• December 10, 2024
Musical theatre adaptations have always been rocky in the entertainment industry. Whether it’s failed follow-ups to cult classics such as “Grease 2,” or a film trying to hide its musical identity such as “Mean Girls,” movie-musical adaptations can be rather touch-and-go with larger audiences.
The television series “Georgie & Mandy’s First Marriage” is a spin-off of a series that is already a prequel, something that typically does not draw in an audience. With sitcom mastermind Chuck Lorre behind the third installment of the franchise “The Big Bang Theory,” and bringing back many fan favorites from the prequel “Young Sheldon,” it seemed like the show would likely live up to the expectations placed on it … right? Not quite.
“DRAGON BALL: Sparking! ZERO” is by far one of the best “Dragon Ball” games of all time. “DRAGON BALL: Sparking! ZERO” is the fourth entry in the Budokai Tenkaichi series, a 3D arena fighting game that centers solely on the “Dragon Ball” series. It is a set of games that has lived on as one of the greatest gaming franchises in the series, with the previous game holding the title of “best ‘Dragon Ball’ game” for the longest time. With a 17-year time gap between “Dragon Ball Z: Budokai Tenkaichi 3” and “DRAGON BALL: Sparking! ZERO,” the new game had a lot to live up to in comparison to the success of the first one. Thankfully, in more ways than one, “DRAGON BALL: Sparking! ZERO” lives up to the hype of the earlier titles in the series.
As the end of 2024 encroaches, the film industry is in full swing for the buzzy, glitzy and chaotic awards season. Everything from Sundance hits to blockbusters to potential cult classics is in the running. With no clear front-runner in any of the categories, this season is shaping up to be the most unpredictable race in recent memory.
What do “Beetlejuice Beetlejuice” and “Twisters” have in common? Both are big box office hits that are successful because they capitalize on decades of nostalgia and invite audiences back into the comforting embrace of the pop culture properties of yesteryear.
The sequel to the 2022 horror film “Smile” exceeded expectations and even established itself as the better of the two installments. The film stars Naomi Scott as Skye Riley, a Grammy-winning pop star preparing for her big comeback after battling substance abuse and surviving a car crash that killed her boyfriend, actor Paul Hudson.
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