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Memorial Day: Remembering Courage, Sacrifice and the Stories That Keep History Alive

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Memorial Day often gets grouped in with the unofficial start of summer. It is the long weekend that brings backyard barbecues, beach trips, road trips , and the first real feeling that the season has finally shifted. But at its heart, Memorial Day is about remembrance. It is a day to honor the people of the armed forces who lost their lives in service, and to reflect on the cost of the freedom we often take for granted.  There are many ways to observe Memorial Day, from visiting memorials and cemeteries to participating in the National Moment of Remembrance. Another way we continue to engage with history is through the stories we tell and return to. Film has always had a unique way of preserving memory, not only by showing the battles themselves, but by exploring courage, grief, justice, and the lasting impact of violence long after the fighting ends on individuals and society. This Memorial Day , we’re highlighting The Great Escape II: The Untold Story and The Quick and the Dead...
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Streaming Fatigue and the Cult Classics That Can Cure It

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If you’ve ever spent more time scrolling for something to watch than actually watching it, you’ve probably experienced streaming fatigue. With thousands of movies and TV shows spread across multiple platforms, choosing what to stream can start to feel less like entertainment and more like a chore. The average household now subscribes to several streaming services at once, giving viewers unprecedented access to films, series, documentaries, and hidden gems that may have slipped through the cracks during their original release. On the surface, that sounds like a good problem to have. More platforms should mean more movies, more exposure for underseen titles, and more chances to discover something outside your usual taste. But endless access does not always lead to better discovery. Sometimes, it just leads to more scrolling. Some of us are lucky enough to have experienced shopping for movie rentals at Blockbuster, which now has one remaining functioning location in Bend, Oregon. You walk...
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Music Biopics, Rock Legends and the "Truth" We Choose to Tell

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The new Michael Jackson biopic, Michael, has already become one of the biggest movies of the year. According to The Hollywood Reporter in “ Michael Jackson Biopic Scores Record Box Office Opening ,” the film exceeded expectations in North America and achieved the biggest domestic opening ever for a biopic, passing Oppenheimer . It also reportedly surpassed Bohemian Rhapsody to become the biggest global opening for a music biopic. Part of what makes Michael such a fascinating cultural moment is not just its success, but the conversation around it. The film, directed by Antoine Fuqua and backed by the Jackson estate, focuses on Jackson’s rise, artistry, childhood, family dynamics, and transformation into one of the most famous entertainers in the world. But it has also drawn criticism for what it leaves out. As Variety discusses in “ ‘Leaving Neverland’ Director Torches Michael Jackson Biopic for Omitting Alleged Abuse ,” the film avoids the allegations of child sexual abuse that bec...
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