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The Student News Site of Biola University

The Chimes

The Student News Site of Biola University

The Chimes

The Student News Site of Biola University

The Chimes

Technology and originality are still not “Here”

A promotional image from the movie “Here” 2024, the movie follows an array of characters exploring themes of time and space.
Robert Zemeckis alters the worlds of VFX and Cinematography in his latest experiment
Nathan Allee, Freelance Writer November 25, 2024

The recent movie “Here” follows a diverse ensemble of characters from early humans to a 21st-century Black family. While they differ from each other, there is one thing each individual has in common: location. But how is it that Benjamin Franklin’s son and the inventor of the reclining chair can...

“Piece by Piece” fits perfectly like any Lego brick

Pharell Williams as portrayed in “Piece by Piece” 2024
Fans experience Pharell’s success, failures and revelations through the lens of Legos
Nathan Allee, Freelance Writer November 2, 2024

Morgan Neville’s “Piece by Piece” chronicles the life and career of Pharell Williams, but throws the traditional documentary instructions away to assemble the interviews into an even greater set. When I first discovered this feature was going to be entirely animated in the vein of “The Lego Movie,”...

Tom Holland takes on a harrowing role in “Cherry”

Tom Holland takes on a harrowing role in “Cherry”
“Cherry” holds nothing back, confronting topics such as war, drugs and death.
Kate Bomar, Photographer March 13, 2021

Marvel’s Spider-Man star Tom Holland has taken on a completely new direction in his career in his new film “Cherry,” streaming now on Apple TV. This rollercoaster motion picture follows the life of a veteran and the challenges he experiences throughout his life. Producers Joe and Anthony Russo...

“Onward” falls short of expectations

“Onward” falls short of expectations
Pixar’s latest film is heartwarming but fails to innovate.
Lauren McBride, Senior Copy Editor March 10, 2020

Many Pixar fans have held high expectations for the studio since recent hits such as “Toy Story 4” and “Incredibles 2.” However, Pixar’s latest film “Onward” does not live up to the hype. A conventional fantasy story, the film lacks depth and fails to resonate with audiences. Though director...

Audiences connect with animals in “The Call of the Wild”

Audiences connect with animals in “The Call of the Wild”
The beloved Jack London tale is brought to life through computer-generated imagery.
Lauren McBride, Senior Copy Editor February 25, 2020

Heartwarming, imaginative and timeless, Jack London’s classic tale finally found its way to the box office. “The Call of the Wild” film adaptation brings the 1903 story to life through expressive animal animation, allowing the audience to truly connect with the protagonist Buck as he finds his...

“A Shaun the Sheep Movie: Farmageddon” is a fun adventure for all ages

“A Shaun the Sheep Movie: Farmageddon” is a fun adventure for all ages
Aardman’s newest stop-motion adventure brings great visuals and an enjoyable story.
Sammy Newcomer February 18, 2020

Britain's favorite stop-motion sheep gets a sci-fi spin in a new Netflix original feature film that  follows Shaun, Bitzer the dog and the whole gang of farm animals as they find Lula, a mysterious encounter of the third kind. From there, the animals must escape countless obstacles—the government,...

“The Gentlemen” flaunts elaborate twists

“The Gentlemen” flaunts elaborate twists
Guy Ritchie’s latest film is unique, yet overly complex.
Lauren McBride, Senior Copy Editor January 29, 2020

From live-action Disney remakes to historical crime dramas, Guy Ritchie has a wide variety of stories under his belt. He makes his 2020 film debut with “The Gentlemen,” a unique story that will either be a hit or a miss for audiences. Although it is packed with action, advanced humor and plenty of...

“Dolittle” fails to entertain audiences

“Dolittle” fails to entertain audiences
Although it contains big names, “Dolittle” falls flat in both humor and story.
Lauren McBride, Senior Copy Editor January 21, 2020

Since its release, “Dolittle” has attracted a wide range of audiences, including animal lovers, Robert Downey Jr. lovers and lovers of the original 1998 film. However, these key elements were not enough to keep viewers engaged. The intention is clear, but the film falls flat in both comedic and narrative...

“Knives Out” satisfies with a classic murder mystery tale

"Knives Out" stuns with classic murder mystery thriller.
Ravishing production and cast chemistry intrigue audiences from start to finish.
Lauren McBride, Senior Copy Editor December 5, 2019

Rian Johnson’s follow-up to the fairly disappointing “Star Wars: The Last Jedi” is anything but a disappointment. “Knives Out” is a classic whodunit mystery that boasts an incredible cast, stunning production design and a story that will have audiences thinking throughout the entire film. REMARKABLE...

“Isn’t It Romantic” is actually romantic

“Isn’t It Romantic” is actually romantic
Rebel Wilson’s latest film presents a hilarious, meta-way to view the genre of romcoms film as a romcom itself.
Nicholas Carreno, Freelance Writer February 21, 2019

Before you can love anyone, you have to be able to first love yourself––at least enough to take some truth from a romantic comedy. That is exactly what Rebel Wilson learns in her own PG-13 romantic comedy, “Isn’t It Romantic.” The film is most definitely in the top tier of romantic comedies...

Star Trek shoots into semi-centennial

Photo Illustration by Tony Flores
The latest installment to the resurrected franchise arrives just in time.
Samantha Gassaway, Writer September 6, 2016
The latest installment to the resurrected franchise arrives just in time.

The kid from hell takes Netflix

sonypictures.com
Guillermo del Toro’s woefully underrated amalgamation of horror and fantasy enters the world of streaming.
Maxwell Heilman, Writer May 4, 2016
Guillermo del Toro’s woefully underrated amalgamation of horror and fantasy enters the world of streaming.