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Cody’s Tribute to Olaf

8/27/2020

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Cody R.


There is an old phrase that states, “If you can’t stand the heat, get out of the kitchen.” The problem here is not the kitchen. The problem, if one even exists, is the warm hug. And it is here, by the creation of snow magic, does the chilling discussion over Olaf’s greatness begin. Let’s see if I can sum it up as quickly as he did in Frozen 2 over the plot synopsis of Frozen 1. There was a time when the idea of Olaf was no more than a mere fabrication from one’s own imagination. And as children we all had our own interpretation of what Olaf was to us. But it was here, through Elsa and Anna, that we were blessed with the reality of a new friend who possessed the ability to showcase compassion, empathy, foolishness, and of course without fail, a little bit of annoyance.

All the traits mentioned above are what make Olaf relatable because he isn’t what you would call a fake friend. Patience, in which it is the time to allow the friendship to blossom, is what we really need to understand here. Just as Olaf grows in Frozen 1, he develops these traits and growth of maturity even more so in Frozen 2. From the beginning of existence we see his willingness to sacrifice himself as he states, “Some people are worth melting for.” This statement alone is enough to showcase such traits that can break down ice barriers we ourselves always seem to be putting up. Olaf is adept to situations in which he listens, cares, and learns. Dishing out advice and statements of affection that we would all like to hear so that we ourselves feel better. We see this plenty with Anna. This all boils down to that Olaf is the kind of snowman we would all want to have in our lives to share moments and laughs with. Just as he is by the creation of magic, his friendship alone is nothing short of magical and we could all use a little magic in our lives. We could all use a little Olaf.


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‘Boys State’ is an Essential Dissection of American Politics

8/18/2020

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Evan D.

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Bill Clinton. Samuel Alito. Dick Cheney. Rush Limbaugh. This uniquely craven group of political thinkers are among the first faces seen in the new Apple TV+ documentary ‘Boys State.’ (Apologies to Cory Booker, another former Boys State alumnus shown who seems like a genuine guy.) Perhaps it’s the first warning that the titular program doesn’t exist to give the youth of America a chance to explore representative democracy so much as it does to train a new generation in how to game the US political system. “Democracy isn’t a spectator sport” reads the film’s tagline, but what if it is?

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Palm Springs Review

8/2/2020

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Evan D.

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From the start of nationwide lockdowns in the face of COVID-19, many a film has been declared ‘The Perfect Pandemic Film.’ In a lot of ways it makes sense. At a time where so many are feeling isolated, as the days blend together in a never ending stream, its natural to look to movies as a method of escape. In the early days it was ‘Contagion’ that helped contextualize the burgeoning threat. Soon after, ‘Portrait of a Lady on Fire’ hit Hulu and showed a tender side of isolation. ‘Hamilton,’ ‘Eurovision,’ ‘Da 5 Bloods’ all brought us together as a film viewing community. Each of these qualities have felt essential in their own moment.

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