Historic theaters fill Los Angeles


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Lately, I’ve been thinking a lot about old movie theaters in Los Angeles. Maybe it’s because I’m taking a film review class that has had me going to the movies each week. Maybe it’s because I just finished re-reading Daniel Handler’s Why We Broke Up, which, in a way, is an ode to old Hollywood […]

Gaming market picks up for spring


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Though things have been quiet on the video game front since the holiday season, which saw the release of the Xbox One and the Playstation 4, March looks to bring a wide assortment of games for both current-gen consoles and next-gen consoles. Some big titles have already come out, including Thief and Donkey Kong Country: […]

Tips for traveling while abroad


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All your bags are packed, you’re ready to go — or are you? Traveling to a new city might seem simple enough, but having a plan can mean the difference between a good vacation and a great vacation. Upon recently returning from the first weekend trip of my semester abroad, I’ve found that some of […]

Predicting the closest race in years


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With the 86th Academy Awards only three days away, the Best Picture race has seemingly narrowed to a three-way duel between Alfonso Cuarón’s immersive sci-fi spectacle Gravity, Steve McQueen’s soul-searing historical drama 12 Years A Slave and David O. Russell’s flashy crime caper American Hustle. No matter which film ultimately triumphs, two things are already […]

Impress friends with easy dishes


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My Woman Crush Wednesday goes to the one and only Julia Child because her love for butter was uncanny but utterly amazing in every way. As college students, we sometimes do not have the luxury of purchasing all of the ingredients that we would like, so we have to make do. I am a fan […]

A look at this week’s box office ratings


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With last week’s films experiencing huge drops and the two new releases not making an impact, the toy-based blockbuster continued its dominance at the box office.  The LEGO Movie repeated at No. 1 with $31.3 million, a light 37 percent drop from its giant President’s Day weekend gross.  So far the film has earned a […]

Do the Oscars really matter?


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My family loves film. It’s integral to who we are. My mom acts. My dad works in box office data. I’ve worked at a movie theater on and off throughout college. To no one’s surprise, we take the Academy Awards very seriously. And the Smith family father-daughter Oscar pool is no exception. With that star-studded, […]

House of Cards plays on antihero fervor


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Why does it feel so good to root for the bad guy? The greatest villains alternately attract and repel their audiences, drawing us in close before going for the jugular. Some seduce us with their beauty, ambition or corrupted sense of righteousness. Others dazzle us with the polish of their silver tongues. A few steal […]

Replace holiday eats with healthy options


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After Valentine’s Day, life either gets better or goes back to normal — many people, like a particular Daily Trojan columnist, also outgrow their favorite pair of jeans after eating an impossible amount of chocolate. Yes, chocolate is said to be “good for you,” if it is dark chocolate — cures cancer and what not […]