e A show that bleeds everything but love Have an idea for a story? M arts@theotherpress.ca ¢ Magical novel duology comes to a close with sequel’s release ¢ The best classic rock songs to listen to D ax ..and more Is love truly blind? » A show that bleeds everything but love Tania Arora Staff Writer keen Fe a person who is extremely practical, this show may seem like a can of rotten beer. But if you love drama, tears, fake laughter, gossip, and staged romance— Love Is Blind is for you. This show earns points for the amazing backdrop and fancy dresses... and even more points for the drama. Millennials are spontaneous, adventure seekers, suckers for an adrenaline rush, unconventional, and every other term that describes being out of the box. I am a part of it too, but I cannot imagine saying yes to spending the rest of my life with someone | haven't seen, known, and lived with for a while at least. Then here comes this Netflix reality TV series, Love Is Blind, where a bunch of men and women are thrown inside a house strictly with their own gender. They are separated from the opposite gender by walls. They connect without getting to see one another. They have nearly a week to decide who they want to spend the rest of their lives with. And they base that decision all on communication, vibes, thoughts— everything aside from physical appearance. The couples get engaged in pods and only then will get to see each other. After saying yes, they are sent on a vacation to connect ona physical level and bond. I would like to give a shout out to Netflix for supporting such a great idea. This show highlights how obsessed we are with looks, and how we often prioritize that over a real connection. They may have tried to create a show where people can come and find their spouse, but a week is avery short period to understand someone completely because the world is undoubtedly full of deception. After the vacation in beautiful Mexico, the couples face the real world where they live together, meet family members and friends, and learn more about the everyday lives of their spouse. The couples showcase all the kinds of problems that usually occur when we decide to live with someone. The finalist Jessica Batten turned down Mark Cuevas at the altar—they had an age gap of ten years. Diamond Jack and Carlton Morton had a fiery explosion on the show. They parted ways on the first night itself when Morton mentioned he had dated both men and women in the past. Giannina Gibelli said “T do” but Damian Powers didn’t. Damian left his job to be a part of the show. Apparently Gibelli and Powers are still dating though! Cameron Hamilton and Lauren Speed are married now. I would be lying if I said I wasn't crushing on Hamilton since day one. Surprisingly, Amber Pike and Matthew Barnett are also married. Amber confessed that she has a student loan to pay before CC Photo via @need4lspeed on Instagram A week is a very short period to understand someone completely because the world is undoubtedly full of deception. the wedding and that she had an abortion done in the past. Every individual comes with their own tales and baggage. The show left each viewer questioning if they would marry someone irrespective of how they look. The answer is uncertain Essential world cinema streamed >» A review of the Criterion Channel Jerrison Oracion Senior Columnist F fans of film, the Criterion Collection can be described as a film school ina box. Even famous actors and directors use or reference the hand-picked collection of DVDs and Blu-rays as inspiration for their work. The collection releases a variety of films from around the world with some of them having restored film transfers that are supervised and approved by the director. All films are presented at the highest quality—just how the director would want you to see the film. The collection also offers other special features like a history of the film, how the film was made, and explaining how the movie is significant to cinema with audio commentary (a field they innovated in). Some of their releases are presented in special packaging that goes above and beyond in enhancing the film. This includes their release of The Princess Bride, which they presented in the form of a storybook—just like in the movie. While watching a film on the big screen is the best way to appreciate it, a lot of people are using streaming services—and unlike DVD ~ AOVENTURES: |= -MOMERONG | = PATTON OSWALT with ALICIA MALONE and Blu-ray, streaming does not offer these special features. Criterion’s approach to offering their releases is to use movie theatres, DVDs, and Blu-rays—but they also have made their own streaming service called The Criterion Channel. The channel has access to most of the films that they are offering, special programming, and a section where they present a selection of films that centre around a specific theme, actor, or director. Image via CriterionChannel.com For instance, they are currently presenting a selection of films by French New Wave director Jean-Luc Godard and his frequent collaborator the late Anna Karina. While I still watch their films on DVD and Blu-ray, I use the service as a digital copy that allows me to watch them on-the- go, or show the movies to another person. Their streaming service also has original programming that is made exclusively for them. This includes Adventures in and so is the question. Does love even exist? And after all, what is love? The show has all types of emotions staged by the contestants. Whether true or fake, the future will tell especially after quarantining season ends. on-the-go Moviegoing, a show where famous people talk about their favourite films, movie- watching experiences, and curate a list for the viewer to enjoy. In the first episode, Bill Hader talked about his first experiences with Federico Fellini’s 8 1/2 and why he thinks Children of Men is the greatest film ever made. Recently, Patton Oswalt hosted an episode and talked about his love for Australian cinema, the fact that every generation has a different approach to film, and the joy of watching every film of a director's filmography. I also watch all the films of Wes Anderson, and even he uses the streaming service! Another show that I like— Observations on Film Art—explains the various tools of filmmaking including dissolves, widescreen composition, and camerawork. There is also the history show Art-House America, where they explore the history of art-house cinemas around the United States and the importance and inspiration of the movie theatre. At around the same cost of standard Netflix at $14.63, The Criterion Channel has essential movies to experience for the first time, watch, and then re-watch—and additional programming and features that will make you appreciate film more.