Non-STEM Media

10/10 Better Call Saul, the brilliant successor to Breaking Bad, showcases Vince Gilligan's storytelling genius yet again. While Breaking Bad often steals the spotlight, Better Call Saul stands tall on its own. The acting, visual storytelling, plot, and character motivations are all exceptional (arguably better than Breaking Bad in many regards). The world feels incredibly immersive, with characters that seem so real, even the cartel members who lack empathy feel authentic because every action aligns with their motives. The show follows the journey of a lawyer navigating his way through the legal world after being rejected by his brother's law firm. Through many ups and downs, he finds his place, making this series a captivating cautionary tale about greed and the relentless pursuit of power. If you're looking for a show that combines excellent acting, compelling visuals, and a gripping story, Better Call Saul is a must-watch. 

7/10 Castaway is a captivating film that blends heartwarming moments with thrilling scenes of survival. While it might not be the hardcore survival movie you might expect, it delivers a powerful story that resonates deeply. The film follows a FedEx employee, Chuck Noland, who finds himself stranded on a deserted island after a plane crash. What unfolds is a masterful exploration of human resilience and the will to survive against unimaginable odds. Chuck’s journey is a testament to the power of determination and hope, reminding us that even when life doesn’t go as planned, persistence can keep us moving forward. If Chuck can survive the isolation and challenges of the island, there’s hope for us all to overcome our own struggles.

• 10/10 One of my favorite movies, Fight Club is an all-around masterpiece. For those who've seen it, you'll understand why I can’t delve too deeply into a review (first rule of Fight Club), but since it’s just us, I’ll share a bit, just keep it a secret! Fight Club revolves around a fight club started by a troubled man and his friend, who meet under unusual circumstances. This movie will make you want to rebel against the system, even though it’s a critique of the masculine urge to do exactly that. Overall, Fight Club is a genius movie. The more you think about it, the more you can take away. Its layers of meaning and critique on society, consumerism, and identity make it a compelling watch. With incredible performances, a gripping story, and a unique narrative style, this movie is easily a 10/10.

10/10 This movie will make even the strongest among us feel both angry and weak. It's an emotional rollercoaster, telling the story of a high-class Roman soldier who ends up in the brutal world of gladiators. The depiction of corruption and injustice in this film is unparalleled; I can’t think of a single other film or franchise that does it better. You truly empathize with the main character, feeling his pain as if it were your own, which makes his battles intense and inspiring. On a less pretentious note, this movie is downright awesome. Every fight scene is legendary, and every non-fight scene is either tense or crucial for character development. There's hardly any filler, and never a dull moment. It's a great watch and I highly recommend it. 

• 10/10 This is my favorite Tarantino film and an amazing movie. Honestly, I don’t have much to say besides that this movie was awesome. If there’s a deeper message, please let me know, but to my knowledge, this is just a thrilling movie about killing Nazis. After watching analyses from others, I learned that Tarantino put a lot of effort into discussing and critiquing the film industry and German films. However, as someone not well-versed in the film industry or German films, I just found it downright awesome. This is going to be one of my less refined reviews, but if you like guns, explosions, and a truly thrilling villain played by my favorite actor of all time (Christoph Waltz), you have to watch this movie. It's my go-to recommendation because I don’t think there’s a single person on this earth who wouldn’t at least enjoy it.

8/10 Much like Gladiator, the fight scenes in this series of movies are amazing. However, unlike Gladiator, the fight scenes are the movie, and every scene that isn’t a fight is building up to one. You might think this is a bad thing, but if you think that, you haven’t seen the movie, because it’s not a bad thing at all. The movie is purely awesome in the most enjoyable way possible. The only reason it doesn’t have a higher rating is that the scenes without violence are mostly filler, with snarky comments leading up to the action. This is made up for by how legendary the fighting is, but I feel like the development of the world could have been done better. I have no idea how the High Table works, I hardly know about the crime bosses within the show, I don’t know how assassins get initiated, etc. I feel the movie could have struck a balance between action and development, but who am I to judge? The movie was awesome from start to finish. This is one of the few franchises that got better with each movie. The moral of the story is clear: don’t mess with John Wick. 

10/10 No other show has hooked me like this one; it was virtually impossible not to binge. This series showcases the thrilling planning and execution of an insanely elaborate heist. This isn't your ordinary heist, this is robbing the Royal Mint of Spain, literally printing their own money. The genius of the show lies in its meticulous detail; any question you have about the logistics of the heist is answered somewhere in the show. When things go wrong, there are serious repercussions for our robbers, making everything feel tense and real. No one is shrugging off dozens of bullets like John Wick; one bullet can take you down in a sweat-fueled, painful death. This tension adds to the suspense, keeping you on the edge of your seat, wondering who will make it out alive and if the heist will even work considering all the setbacks. Overall, it's an amazing show, and I highly recommend it to anyone interested in action-packed and thoroughly detailed storytelling. 

7/7 This is a murder mystery centered around a killer obsessed with the seven deadly sins. The story unfolds through the eyes of a detective trying to apprehend this twisted killer who targets sinners. The case pulls everyone involved into a dark (very, very dark) and intense spiral. The film is filled with tension as the killer is both highly intelligent and deranged, evidenced by his gruesome crimes. The movie keeps you on the edge of your seat throughout. However, it does have its shortcomings. It sometimes relies too heavily on clichés (although upon further reflection, se7en may have actually been the origin of cliches, which would be awesome!) like the new cop/old cop dynamic, and the characters lack depth and development (arguably). Despite these flaws, the film remains an overall great experience. It’s a gritty and thrilling watch that I highly recommend for fans of murder mysteries and intense storytelling. 

9/10 Gritty and shocking, this was one of the best shows I've ever seen. Every episode leaves you wondering how they could even legally air this, especially considering Amazon is behind the production. The original source material is downright disturbing, and the show doesn’t shy away from any of it (well... maybe some of it, but it is mostly true to teh source material). While this may sound bad, it was actually awesome. The show is incredibly refreshing, as I don't think any other franchise could get away with what they did. The political commentary and satire are sometimes a bit on the nose, which only adds to the amusement and absurdity of the show. Some of the material is so painfully real, it's easy to forget you're watching fiction. It makes fun of everyone without fail, much like South Park if it were live-action and heavily focused on political commentary and murder. Overall, it's a hilarious, amazing, downright diabolical show that I would definitely recommend. 

9/10 Whiplash was a great movie that questioned whether fame is worth pursuing. The protaganist, Andrew Nieman, is an aspiring musician hoping to make a name himself. He wishes to go down in the history books as one of the all time greats. In music school, he meets a mentor (Terence Fletcher) who has a strict and old school methodology. Fletcher pushes Nieman to his absolute limit both mentally and physically. He is seen throwing cymbals as Niemann, slapping him, and shouting in his face when he hears a slightly off pitch tune or a minute error. It's safe to say that Fletcher won't settle for anything below exceptional. At the same time, Nieman never once questions this abuse as he truly believes that this is the path needed to become famous. He essentially shuts out all friends and family from his life in the pursuit of greatness (even if there is just a glimmer of it). The ending is left very open ended, allowing for the viewer to decide if this abuse and hardship was really worth it. Fun and thought provoking watch. Solid 9/10.