Zahara

  Happy New Year! It's the beginning of a new year and as usual, I like to set goals for myself at the top of the new year and actively work to achieve them throughout the year. This year two goals that I would like to focus on are my health and self-discovery. There's a saying, "Health is Wealth." And I personally subscribe to this statement because if you don't take care of your health, it'll negatively impact you physically, mentally, and spiritually. In the past, there were times when I didn't take care of myself as I should have, and as a result, I experienced firsthand the consequences of not doing so. Therefore, I strive to do my best to take care of myself and practice self-care, so that I can stay happy and healthy. The other goal that I have for myself is related to self-discovery. Even as an adult, I'm still learning new things about myself, and I'm trying to come to terms with certain things regarding myself. Whether it's my persona...

  Fena: Pirate Princess a.k.a Kaizoku Oujo is a Crunchyroll original anime series that I was interested in based off of its promotional materials and previews. I believed that the anime would be a coming-of-age story about a young girl going on an adventure to discover her past. And to my credit, I was partly right but the execution of the story left much to be desired. This anime had so much potential and started out promising. However, it was all squandered towards the latter half of the show's run. Yukimaru reminds me of Haji from Blood+ the stoic guardian with a bodyguard crush which isn't a bad thing at all. It made for some interesting moments when he did display his emotions and affection. I honestly feel he was the best character in the show. He was heroic, caring, and fulfilled his duties as a guardian masterfully. Aside from him, I thought the other characters who made up their ragtag group were okay overall. I have to admit it was disappointing that Shitan's br...

The Batman  film which is slated to grace movie theater screens in 2022 has a lot riding on it, and I suspect like some other previous DC films, it will be a film that polarizes audiences. Warner Bros. needs a win after the disappointing performances of Wonder Woman 1984 and The Suicide Squad.  They're essentially rebooting the Batman films yet again within such a short timeframe. Furthermore, the plan is to create a film trilogy set in a different universe from the DCEU (Earth-2 to be exact) and develop multiple different spin-offs as well. However, it'll be challenging if audiences don't embrace the new iterations or direction Warner Bros. is taking the Batman characters. Personally, my interest was piqued because of some of the casting choices they've made. Admittedly, the second trailer that was released got me excited for the film mainly due to seeing more of Zoe Kravitz's take on Selina Kyle/Catwoman. I'm still not completely sold on Robert Pattinson as...

It would seem recording artists at some point during their careers will stand before a crossroad and they will be confronted with a choice: Sacrifice artistry for commercialism or Sacrifice commercialism for artistry. Of course, both choices each have their own respective pros and cons. Artistry Over Commercialism If an artist chooses artistry then even if the artist doesn't make an exuberant amount of money, or has wide mass appeal, they are staying true to their art and self by placing their art over commercial gain. They are not going to water down their sound or censor their artistic vision. In the end, as long as they're able to make a comfortable living even if their art or appeal is considered niche, at least they'll still be able to make a living off of their passion. However, there are some recording artists who are able to still have mass commercial success without sacrificing their artistry.   Commercialism Over Artistry If an artist chooses commercialism then th...

  Magic Knight Rayearth is considered to be one of CLAMP's classic works and this 25th-anniversary boxset rendition of the epic manga contains all three volumes of part one in addition to an art book.  The story chronicles the journey of three middle school Japanese girls-Hikaru, Umi, and Fuu who are summoned to the mystical world of Cephiro as Magic Knights in order to save it. During their journey, they come across both allies and foes. CLAMP's artwork is gorgeous and the twist of the story was cleverly enacted. This boxset is a must-have for any manga collection. Rating: 5/5 stars

  This iteration of Kung Fu (2021) is based on a television show with the same name from the 1970s. However, with some notable changes.  Like most CW shows, the show started off strong, and then it fizzled out towards the end. Nicky Shen overall is a likable protagonist and Zhilan proved to be a worthy adversary for her. However, the writers stumbled in terms of execution in trying to paint Zhilan as a sympathetic villain. Furthermore, it was disappointing how the show rushed through locating the eight ancient Chinese weapons which was a major plot point of this season. Lastly, the final showdown between Nicky and Zhilan at the end of the season was anti-climatic and lacking. The show was renewed for a second season, but after the first season's lackluster ending, I found myself on the fence about whether or not I want to continue watching Nicky's adventures. Rating: 2.5/5 stars

  Hollywood Black is a triumphant read. The book takes the reader on a journey throughout Black Hollywood, and while there has been much progress since the days of old. There's still so much more work to be done.  I appreciated the author pointing out the shortcomings and stereotypes when it comes specifically to black narratives in Hollywood. The photos that were selected to accompany the entries were a great addition and one of the many highlights of the book.   It's important that black film history be preserved and not lost to time. This book is a great entry point for anyone interested in Hollywood's black film history and black film talents. Rating: 5/5 stars