The Olive Opinion

  It has been a great few weeks with the amount of queer content lately and with yet another adaptation based on a best-selling novel that highlights not only a queer coming-of-age story but also a sense of representation of Mexican families in America in the 80s. Aristotle and Dante Discover The Secrets of the Universe is a different take on the genre as it provides another point of view on discovering oneself, especially at a time when the AIDs epidemic affected the perspective on being homosexual and being out. Despite the title of the film and the book of the same featuring both Aristotle and Dante, this is pretty much Ari's story. We are very much used to seeing the protagonist falling for the guy he thought was straight but was not. This time around, we finally get to see what goes on in the head of the other guy. Ari grew up with a family that kept things to themselves, and barely showed affection for one another. When he meets Dante, he is introduced to a world of affection...

DC is in a tough spot with the new reboot and the constant disinterest in the movies they have been providing, which is unfortunate since films like Shazam and The Flash , despite not being DC's best, had their credits due. Blue Beetle , however, should not be considered a part of that list of DC's mid-to-bad entries for it manages to pull through with its fresh takes on overdone superhero cliches that have managed to make the genre what it is today. Based on an obscure character from the DC catalog, the movie adapts the most recent iteration of the character, Jaime Reyes, who takes up the moniker after unintentionally finding a scarab that symbiotically fuses with him to become the Blue Beetle. This is very much an origin story that takes cues from other superhero movies, but it does not seem like a carbon copy of methods that worked for superhero movies, thrown in a blender to finish a script the same way Black Adam did. The film manages to capture what made superhero movie...

Casey McQuiston’s critically acclaimed novel, Red, White & Royal Blue , has been adapted into a streaming film that brings a very timely and heartwarming romance to life. Like most rom-com, it does have a very cliche premise between lovers that cannot be together because politics and tradition become a factor in their relationship. Despite two straight actors portraying a gay romance, the film does capture nuances that make the book unique.  To be fair, there is a reason the book is a best seller apart from it being a steamy queer romance. It features characters that are interesting as each is introduced but the book would be nowhere without Alex and Henry. The plot revolves around both protagonists, introducing readers to their respective perspectives and supporting characters. Moreover, the book also features real-world themes of politics in the case of First Son, Alex’s life while featuring the struggles of being part of a monarchy with Prince Henry. All characters are ambit...

  The WebToon comic-turned-phenomenon returns to make our hearts skip a beat once again. A year ago, Heartstopper well... either stole our hearts or made us ickingly disgusted with the idea of being single with the ever-adorable romance between Charlie Spring and Nick Nelson. This second season will be no different as the two attempt to be together, being out, and dealing with their own internal struggles. Following suit from the first season, we are also given better perspectives on the supporting casts as they navigate their respective romances and complicated lives.  Following the third volume of Alice Oseman's comics, fans are given so much more than expected. This season adapts the source material well enough to keep the fans happy but also has the opportunity to expand on characters like Darcy and Tao and hopefully, this trend follows through as the show progresses. Like season 1, it is as corny and loveable as ever. The minute the opening scene starts for the episode, y...

It’s pretty common to have a biopic about musicians these days but Christopher Nolan decides to make one based on a monster. Oppenheimer is a bombastic (in every sense of the word) telling of a belittled Jewish scientist turned Father of the Atomic Bomb. With a star-studded cast, Nolan returns to tell yet another tragic story of our past with his rules of filmmaking and the exceptions of having scene-by-scene shot by IMAX cameras.  The film follows J.Robert Oppenheimer, of course, when his capabablity is finally seen to be put into good use but I can safely say even if Nolan or anyone else seems to dismiss it, it also follows Lewis Strauss's involvement in finding him and secretly allowing the Manhattan Project. The film separates these points of view by simply calling them Fusion and Fission with Oppenheimer representing the former and Strauss the latter. This can be seen by how Oppenheimer has the idea and combines his intellect with his students and colleagues to bring about an ...

Let’s delve into the pink of it all, shall we? Nobody thought anyone had the capability or the right mind to make a movie about Barbie in this day and age. Greta Gerwig attempts to do the impossible by being allowed to make a movie as campy and over the top as ever while invoking messages that could improve the ideals of Barbie. In this film, Margot Robbie plays one of the many variations of Barbie that lives in Barbieland where everything is just right while the Kens are around only to be yet another accessory to the collection. Every night is perfect and the same until Barbie questions the idea of mortality. Due to these intrusive thoughts and changes within her perfect body, she is forced to go to the real world to find the solution and become the perfect Barbie again. In the real world, she finds out that Barbie hasn't changed the world for women as all the Barbies thought and Ken is dumbstruck by the idea that there is a world run by men and opportunities for him to be the sup...

  I feel a little late to the party with this review but I could not help but take it to myself to talk about this movie. Considering to be part of Netflix's roster of new releases, it is hard to wonder if anyone is taking a chance with this animated feature. Based on a graphic novel by ND Stevenson, Nimona is set in a hyper-futuristic imagining of a culture where knights roam and monsters loom with the inclusion of flying cars and touchphones. Nimona is more than just its creative world-building but also a celebration of the LGBTQ+ community in its subtle yet clearly understandable allegories towards prejudice and acceptance of others and within.  Nimona centers around, well, Nimona, a shapeshifting teen that enjoys mischief and being a sidekick to a notorious criminal that is wanted by the kingdom. The criminal is Sir Ballister who has allegedly murdered the queen during his knighting ceremony but all is not what it seems. As the two work together to prove the truth of the I...