Moviefone Editorial

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  • 6 of Our Favorite Women in Don Draper’s Life

    mad men
    The incredible show “Mad Men” ended almost two months ago and, honestly, I think I’m going through withdrawal. The show, filled with domestic tensions and drama in every episode, followed the life of the charming, powerful, mysterious Don Draper. Right from the beginning of the show, it’s obvious that Draper is far from faithful to the women in his life. Within the seven seasons of the show, he hooks up with countless women, and usually during a time when he is already married. Now, I’m not going to list every single woman Draper ever hooked up with (this is an article, not a novel), but here are some of the more memorable ones.
    ​
    1. Betty Draper/Betty Francis
    Obviously, it would be an injustice if Betty wasn’t leading this list. She is Don’s first wife, and the mother to his children. While married to Don, she was deeply unhappy what with having to be the perfect American house-wife and dealing with Don’s secrets and lies. At the start of the show, I loved Betty. She was loyal to Don, decent to her children, and always looked perfect from head to toe. As the show continues, it becomes obvious that she is moody, cruel to her children, and overall childish in the way she acts. In the end she leaves Don (which was the best thing for both of them) and she ends up marrying Henry Francis and finds happiness with him.

    2. Rachel Menken
    Rachel is probably in my top two favorites of all the women Don has been with. She is beautiful, independent, and runs a Jewish department store. She also displays more levelheadedness and strength than most of the other women Don was with by always thinking logically about their relationship. She knew nothing real could ever happen because he was married, and when he suggested they should run away together she said no. Her life, career, and family were more important to her.

    3. Suzanne Farrell
    Suzanne is the other of my top two women on this list. I loved her character, although her ending was disappointing. Suzanne is the sweet, cheerful schoolteacher of Don’s children. Although she denies his advances at the beginning of their relationship, she eventually gave in to Don’s aggressive charms. They see each other for a while, and she ends up truly caring for Don. Their ending was abrupt, however, when Betty finally confronts Don while Suzanne waits in the car for him until dark. She finally leaves the car and with that, their relationship ended.

    4. Faye Miller
    Faye worked with Don and his company. She was smart, and knew how to talk to people. After working together for a while, they began dating. Their relationship was one of the more mature and trusting ones in the series. She believes in him and cares for him, but inevitably has her heart broken by way of a phone call from Don telling her he was engaged to his secretary.

    5. Megan Draper
    Megan is the young, beautiful, spirited secretary-turned-wife of Don Draper. After seeing each other for a short while, Don abruptly proposes to her in California and she accepts. Their marriage seems strong towards the beginning, but deteriorates quickly. Megan leaves advertising to pursue acting, Don starts cheating on her, and Megan ends up moving to California for her career. She was no match for Don Draper, and seems to be in over her head dealing with Don’s temper, his children, and his lack of understanding towards her decision to become an actress.

    6. Sylvia Rosen
    Sylvia is Don and Megan’s neighbor, and the first woman that we know of whom he cheated on Megan with. Despite her cheating on her husband (a man who considers Don a friend), Sylvia is constantly conflicted with her feelings for Don and her strong sense of right and wrong. She ends their relationship for a while, which is when we learn how much Don has come to rely on her affections. He is distraught without her, and stands outside her door all night smoking. They see each other one more time after that, but Don’s daughter Sally walks in on them, ending Sylvia and Don’s relationship and seriously damaging his with Sally.

    Abigail Drueke is a first year telecommunications major at the University of Florida and a contributor to Moviefone’s Campus Beat. Are you a current college student with a love for all things movies and TV? Contribute to Campus Beat!
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  • ‘Mr. Robot’ Has Serious Potential for Greatness

    rami malek in mr robotUSA, a network known best for its original shows starring suave men in nice clothes (think “Burn Notice,” “Suits,” “Graceland,” etc.) and seemingly never-ending marathons of “Law and Order: SVU,” appears to be going in a much different and much more intriguing direction with its new series, “Mr. Robot.”

    On “Mr. Robot,” you will not find a muscle-y hero with quick reflexes and even quicker comebacks. Instead you’ll find Elliot (Rami Malek), a quiet tech geek with serious social anxiety. By day, he works as a cybersecurity programmer at the same firm as his childhood friend (and possible love interest), Angela (Portia Doubleday); by night, he’s a hacker vigilante out to right what he sees as the world’s many wrongs. Through an internal monologue running throughout the episode, we find out more about Elliot’s disillusioned view of the world and the people who run it. Enemy number one in Elliot’s eyes is E Corp (or “Evil Corp,” as he likes to call it), a large financial corporation that is conveniently seeking out tech security from Elliot’s employer’s firm. After tracking down an attempted hack into E Corp’s cybersecurity, Elliot meets the titular Mr. Robot (Christian Slater), an odd, mysterious leader of a team of hackers determined to take down E Corp and save every citizen from debt. Mr. Robot eventually invites Elliot to join his hacker gang, leading Elliot into a significant moral dilemma.

    Visually, the show is excellent. It’s perfectly dark and shadowy and ominous, bringing to mind the likes of David Fincher (Interestingly enough, the director of the “Mr. Robot” pilot, Niels Arden Oplev, directed the original “The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo” movie. The later American adaptation was directed by — you guessed it — David Fincher). Malek is great too, bringing a very likable quality to such a closed-off and antisocial character. Despite his sometimes-questionable choices, you really want Elliot to win and stay safe in the process. He’s a new anti-hero for the post-“Breaking Bad” and “Mad Men” era.

    The only part of the show that didn’t quite grab me was Mr. Robot and his hacktivist team. They felt a little stale and obvious. Of course, they all wear funky clothes and have strange personalities and work out of an abandoned carnival at Coney Island! They’re hackers, and that’s what hackers do! My hope is that they either develop a more interesting and unique persona as a group or they fade into the background, simply a vehicle for Elliot to go deeper into the dark recesses of E Corp.

    What makes the show really intriguing is the use of Elliot’s internal monologue. Since we’re seeing everything from his point of view, his thoughts permeate the landscape, creating a narration that might not necessarily be honest or reliable. For example, once Elliot identifies E Corp as “Evil Corp,” the new moniker is all we see and hear. Even characters that seem like they wouldn’t dare besmirch the name of E Corp are seen using the new name. In the “real world,” they likely didn’t, but in Elliot’s world, it’s commonplace.

    In one scene with Elliot’s therapist, we learn that he claims to see men in black following him around. We see them too, but it’s never entirely clear whether or not they really exist. If these men are potential delusions, could Mr. Robot and his team even be real? Is any of it real? Out of all of the questions raised in this first episode, I found these to be the most compelling. They’re the ones that will keep me watching, to see what Elliot does — or thinks he does — next.

    Jenn Murphy is a journalism student at Columbia College Chicago and a contributor toMoviefone’s Campus Beat. Are you a current college student with a love for all things movies and TV? Contribute to Campus Beat!
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  • This Is Why You Really Need to Watch ‘Black Mirror’

    jon hamm in black mirrorIt’s somewhat safe to say that technology has in many ways taken over our lives. Depending on one’s use of it, the various screens that we look at on a daily basis have the potential to influence what we read, what we see, what we watch and even what we know to be true. But at the end of the day, when you turn your phone or computer or television off, all you have is a black mirror starring back at you. And that, in an of itself, is incredibly dangerous.

    At least, that’s what Black Mirror” (available on Netflix) delves deep into the potential repercussions of a technology-reliant world through highly suspenseful, hour-long episodes.

    The ideas presented in the series really run the gamut, from a political leader forced into a compromising position with an actual pig by an anonymous online threat, to a new service that allows people to reconnect with the dearly departed through the use of their loved one’s social media back catalog. It may seem like I’m being vague in my descriptions, but it’s necessary; to spoil the plot of a “Black Mirror” episode, with all of its winding twists and turns, is really a capital offense, worthy of a punishment like the one inflicted in the vicious season two episode “White Bear.”

    Much like a modern-day “Twilight Zone,” each episode is independent of the others, with a rotating who’s who cast of stars including Allen Leech of “Downton Abbey” and “The Imitation Game,” “Agent Carter” star Hayley Atwell, and Domhnall Gleeson of “Ex Machina” and the upcoming “Star Wars VII: The Force Awakens.” Even Don Draper himself, Jon Hamm, appears in the decidedly un-jolly Christmas special.

    “Black Mirror” is certainly not for the faint of heart. Its plot twists often fall on the more disturbing side, leaving an unsettling feeling that doesn’t quite go away when the episode ends. But perhaps that’s necessary. Perhaps that feeling is what we need to stop ourselves from getting to the point where these technology-fueled stories seem like more than just a fun, fascinating, fictional tale. Regardless, “Black Mirror” is yet another excellent way to spend time staring at a screen. Trust me, you won’t regret it.

    Jenn Murphy is a journalism student at Columbia College Chicago and a contributor to Moviefone’s Campus Beat. Are you a current college student with a love for all things movies and TV? Contribute to Campus Beat!
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  • The 10 Must-See Movies of the Summer

    must-see summer movies1. ‘Avengers: Age of Ultron‘
    Like almost everyone, I was a huge fan of the first Avengers movie. I’ve been talking about “Age of Ultron” for months now and it’s finally here! This movie follows the plot of a peacekeeping program gone wrong, and how the famous team of superheroes tries to save the world from chaos. Superheroes, action scenes, and the beautiful Chris Evans. What else do you want in a movie?

    2. ‘Pitch Perfect 2‘
    Comedy, girl power, and a cappella music: three of my favorite things. In this sequel, the Barden Bellas enter an international singing competition, which has never been won by an American group before. If it is anything like the first film, “Pitch Perfect 2” is sure to be an instant hit. With it’s catchy songs (I totally listened to the first soundtrack on repeat for weeks), incredible cast (Anna Kendrick, Rebel Wilson, Brittany Snow), and witty humor, you won’t want to miss this aca-amazing movie.

    3. ‘Tomorrowland‘
    This new mystery action Disney movie follows the story of two people who are on a “mission to unearth the secrets of an enigmatic place somewhere in time and space” called “Tomorrowland.” The trailer looks awesome, and it stars Britt Robertson and the always-charming George Clooney. It kind of seems like a cross between “Spy Kids” and “Meet the Robinsons,” both of which rock. I predict that after this movie comes out, kids everywhere will have the little Tomorrowland pin on their backpacks. (Me included).

    4. ‘Poltergeist‘
    Honestly, I am not a huge horror movie person. I watched the original “Poltergeist” and I didn’t find it all that scary. However, even the commercial for the remake is terrifying. Moving toy clowns are enough to give me nightmares for a few days, and this movie has that and more. I don’t know if this movie will stand up to the original, but I’m definitely going to watch it, even if it’s from between my fingers while covering my eyes.

    5. ‘Jurassic World‘
    I am one of the few people who has never seen “Jurassic Park.” I know, it’s crazy. Even so, the new “Jurassic World” looks completely incredible. I love action movies. I love Chris Pratt. I will definitely love “Jurassic World.”

    6. ‘Me and Earl and the Dying Girl’
    Please everyone go watch the trailer for this movie if you haven’t seen it already. It follows the story of a boy in high school who befriends a girl who was diagnosed with cancer. I guess cancer is a popular topic for movies since “The Fault In Our Stars.” In my opinion, this movie seems incredible and I cannot wait to watch it.

    7. ‘Inside Out‘
    Yes, this is a kids movie. Yes, you should definitely still watch it. Basically, this movie shows the point of view of the emotions (Joy, Fear, Anger, Disgust, Madness) and how they guide our actions. Plus, the cast stars Bill Hader, Amy Poehler, and Mindy Kaling, who are all comedy gods. So basically, watch “Inside Out.”

    8. ‘Dope‘
    Another awesome movie with another awesome trailer. This film is about a group of geeky high school students living in a tough neighborhood in Inglewood, CA, who get caught up with some not so great people. The movie also has a very strong nostalgic/hipster aesthetic, which I am a complete sucker for.

    9. ‘Trainwreck‘
    Combining Amy Schumer and Bill Hader in one movie is sure to make “Trainwreck” comedy gold. Schumer plays a career-focused woman who is terrified of commitment. Her ideas about relationships are changed, though, when she meets Hader’s character. Also LeBron James is randomly in it so that’s cool.

    10. ‘Paper Towns‘
    John Green is at it again. After the extremely popular book-to-film adaptation of his novel “The Fault In Our Stars”, a new movie for his book “Paper Towns” will be out later this summer. Don’t worry, though, nobody is dying of cancer in this one. Instead, a high school boy and his friends go on a road trip to find his missing girl-next-door. Starring Nat Wolff and Cara Delevigne, this movie is sure to be a huge summer hit.

    Abigail Drueke is a first year telecommunications major at the University of Florida and a contributor to Moviefone’s Campus Beat. Are you a current college student with a love for all things movies and TV? Contribute to Campus Beat!
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  • How ‘Gilmore Girls’ Changed My Life in the Best Way Possible

    My mom and I watch a lot of television together. Binge-watching shows is one of our bonding experiences, and it isn’t just about lying on the couch and watch seven straight hours of TV. We’ll watch everything from “Game of Thrones” to “Parks and Recreation” together, and then we’ll take the time to discuss our favorite characters, our conspiracy theories, our opinions on any moral and psychological complexities the show may have. It’s a fun way to spend time with my mom, while also giving me the opportunity to watch some quality TV. The first show that we ever watched together in this way was “Gilmore Girls,” and it definitely affected both of our lives for the better.

    Way back when I was in seventh grade, my mom and I decided to rent the DVDs for the first season of “Gilmore Girls” from the library. (Wow, it’s been only seven years and that’s already a pretty dated sentence.) We instantly clicked with Lorelai and Rory: my mom is a working single mother, and I was definitely an ambitious and precocious child.

    While Rory was slightly older than I was, I was inspired by her dedication to academics and her knowledge of classic literature. I was already preoccupied with doing well in school, but I wanted to be just like Rory, so I started reading many of the books that she mentioned in the show. My love for “Gilmore Girls” kick-started my years-long binge of fine literature. I read everything from “Les Miserables” to “The Count of Monte Cristo,” from “Candide” to “Vanity Fair,” from “Anna Karenina” to “Jane Eyre.” (Of course, I was around 13 when I read all these books, so it’s entirely possible that many of the themes went over my head.)

    But not only did the Gilmore girls inspire me to be better, they helped my mom and I have a stronger relationship. Whenever Rory or Lorelai did something stupid, which was rather often, my mom and I would analyze their onscreen actions and then discuss what we would do instead. “Gilmore Girls” encouraged us to be more honest with each other, and also more trusting. It’s hard to be a single mom or an only daughter, and “Gilmore Girls” reflected our struggles and our fun times. It made us think about our successes and the ways in which we could still improve. I’ve talked to other girls who watched the show with their moms, and even if they weren’t in the same single parent situation, all of them have said that “Gilmore Girls” really helped to improve and strengthen their relationships with their mothers.

    While I think that “Gilmore Girls” had a sharp decline in quality in its later seasons, the messages of the earlier episodes were very important to me, to my mom, and to both of us as a unit. Whenever people ask me what media changed my life, I always have a shortlist of answers, and “Gilmore Girls” is definitely at the top.

    Many family TV shows have attempted to follow its lead, but to be honest, nothing can follow “Gilmore Girls.”

    Grace Segers is a student at Tufts University and a contributor to Moviefone’s Campus Beat. Are you a current college student with a love for all things movies and TV? Contribute to Campus Beat!
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  • 5 Reasons to Be Excited for ‘Avengers: Age of Ultron’

    the hulkbuster from avengers: age of ultronMarvel fans, rejoice: “Avengers: Age of Ultron” is finally here! I don’t know about you, but I’ve been ready for the sequel to “The Avengers” for three years. There’s a good chance that the entire American population will go see “Age of Ultron” when it premieres this Friday, May 1st. But just in case you’re one of the few still looking for a reason to go watch one of the most anticipated movies of the year, here are five:

    1. The World’s Coolest Team Is Finally Reunited
    We had already grown to love Earth’s mightiest heroes because of their appearances in the movies that came before “The Avengers.” But that 2012 blockbuster showed us what it was like to have the team be united, when they work together to fight bad guys and say some fabulous one-liners. In the films that came after “The Avengers,” audiences got to see even more development of our favorite characters. It will be great to see the team back together after all of these changes. Will they still be able to work together when they’re facing new challenges and new characters? Speaking of which…

    2. Fun New Characters
    “Age of Ultron” is going to introduce a whole host of new and exciting characters. Scarlet Witch and Quicksilver have appeared prominently in trailers. These characters are twins who appear to be working with big bad guy Ultron at first, but may switch their allegiances later on. We’ll also be seeing mysterious new character The Vision. Not much is known about him yet, other than he is played by Paul Bettany, who voiced Tony Stark’s AI butler, Jarvis. It will be interesting to see how these new players fit into the Marvel Cinematic Universe, and whether they will affect our favorite characters for better or worse.

    3. James Spader as Ultron
    Ultron is a new character, but he’s so important that he deserves he’s reason enough to see the movie. James Spader is a fabulous actor, and if the trailers are anything to go by, he will be playing Ultron with an enticing mix of terror and charisma. Created by Tony Stark, Ultron is a robot with artificial intelligence and a mind of his own, Frankenstein’s monster for the digital age. I’m excited to see just exactly how this villain will upend the Avengers, and how James Spader will portray such an iconic character.

    4. Awesome Action Scenes
    Come on, it’s a Marvel superhero movie. There are going to be some fabulous action scenes, delightful fights, and mayhem included. Of course, audiences are coming for the story as well as the explosions, but beautifully executed action sequences don’t hurt.

    5. Great Dialogue
    One of the reasons that “The Avengers” is so special is its dialogue. It’s a superhero film, but there are some truly clever moments in terms of one-liners and witticisms given by characters. If “Avengers: Age of Ultron” can live up to its predecessor in terms of dialogue as well as in terms of action and character development, it will be a great movie indeed.

    Grace Segers is a student at Tufts University and a contributor to Moviefone’s Campus Beat. Are you a current college student with a love for all things movies and TV? Contribute to Campus Beat!
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  • Why Blockbuster Movies Deserve Way More Credit Than They Get

    avengers age of ultronAnyone who knows me can tell you that I don’t just watch TV and movies. I get invested in shows and films, falling in love with the characters and staying up late to think about conspiracy theories. I have bored my friends with more than one rant about the importance of the development of a certain character, or the political underpinnings of any given sci-fi show. I have very strong opinions about the media that I consume, perhaps especially with films. And one of the biggest problems I have with movies is the severe lack of critical appreciation for blockbuster movies.

    Within every field of art, there are forms which are considered acceptable and forms which are considered plebeian. It’s Mozart versus Ariana Grande, “Downton Abbey” versus the “Real Housewives” series. Within film, it’s movies like “Birdman” versus “Avengers: Age of Ultron.” It’s a clear dichotomy between films that win Oscars and films that win the box office, but I think that this needs to change. Popular movies should start being integrated into the awards system. There’s a certain disdain for popular culture which is prevalent in our society, and I’m pretty bothered by it.

    Blockbuster movies are often at the cutting edge of visual techniques and new types of storytelling. Movies like “Jaws,” “Star Wars,” “Jurassic Park,” and “Avatar“ took people’s breath away in theaters, as new forms of filmmaking were used to tell unique and vibrant stories. But beyond just visual storytelling, blockbuster movies can mirror the contemporary world in a way that isn’t typically addressed. The “X-Men” series, particularly “X-Men 2,” addressed the issues of outcasts and even segregation in society, serving as a powerful allegory for the treatment of minorities. “The Dark Knight“ captures the zeitgeist of post-9/11 America perfectly, questioning the nature of terrorism. “Captain America: The Winter Soldier” was also incredibly politically conscious, discussing how freedom can exist when government conducts such heavy surveillance on its people.

    Then you have the question of diversity in film. The “Fast & Furious“ franchise just released its seventh movie. The cast of this movie is incredibly diverse, featuring characters from across ethnicities and backgrounds. Blockbuster movies, including “Star Trek“ and the upcoming “Star Wars: The Force Awakens,” often present a version of society that more accurately reflects the real world, with characters who aren’t just white males. I’d like to take the time to remind everyone that out of the nine Best Picture nominees at the 2015 Oscars, eight focused on the trials and tribulations experienced by gifted white men. Not that all blockbuster movies should win Best Picture, but they should at least be recognized on the awards circuit for their contribution to the art of filmmaking as a whole.

    This is not to say that all blockbuster movies are awesome. There are some truly awful movies in the world that still make over a billion dollars at the box office, notably the “Transformers“ franchise. But I would argue that there are some highbrow movies featuring A-list actors and stellar directors that are just as bed. Every genre has its failures. We should not degrade popular movies because they’re popular, we should degrade them if, and only if, they aren’t actually good.

    I know that, occasionally, blockbuster films get critical recognition, such as “The Lord of the Rings“ series, but these movies are the exceptions that prove the rule. We, as a culture, are too quick to condemn something because it is beloved by the masses; we label it a guilty pleasure and move on. But I firmly believe that blockbuster movies can be just as good as small, independent films, and we should treat them accordingly.

    Grace Segers is a student at Tufts University and a contributor to Moviefone’s Campus Beat. Are you a current college student with a love for all things movies and TV? Contribute to Campus Beat!
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  • It’s Time to Put an End to Hollywood’s Movie Adaptation Obsession

    film slate and money lying...Lately, it seems that every single film that makes it big happens to be a book to film adaptation.

    Either this says a lot about the books published in recent years or this reflects even more upon the film industry itself. While the former cannot be denied, the latter seems to make an even bigger case. Every year hundreds of thousands of scripts are purchased by production companies, yet the ones that come to fruition are stories already tried and true. Movies like “The Hunger Games” get four films whereas that indie screenwriter doesn’t have their film see the light of day.

    To most executives, movies mean money. Plain and simple. Making movies is an incredibly risky business. When a book reaches success, this tells a film executive that there is a built in audience for its movie companion. A built in audience basically guarantees a film will make money which makes the risk in creating the film fall down. To the film executives, no risk means unfathomable amounts of money in the case of successful franchises like Harry Potter or the Hunger Games.

    However, there is an extremely large untapped well of talent in the screenwriting community. Creative features are incredibly risky and often only done by established directors/writers. While Wes Anderson is my own personal idol, giving him a budget of 16 million dollars is safe because of his large fan base. His films usually have a high gross profit, so the executives are comfortable with allowing him to go wild. He can do no wrong in both my eyes and in the eyes of executives, so he’s allowed to go wild. It’s not as risky as it may have been back when he was making films like “Bottle Rocket.” This built in fan-base guarantees money, just like the definite fans associated with New York Times Best Sellers.

    In this year alone, there will be an upwards of ten books adapted to films. Many of these adaptations center on Young Adult fiction, which is a large, usually untapped, demographic. The large question remains: what can be done to break away from this fad? With last year’s Academy Awards results, maybe there will be some sort of change now that studios see that indie films win awards. Films like Birdman and Boyhood show creative concepts doing well in the box offices. If this trend continues, more films like “Whiplash” and “Nightcrawler” will enter theaters. These films show proof of concept that creative films with creative scripts are not solely confined to big-budget blockbusters. Hopefully Hollywood will get the message and follow suit.

    But for now, we just have to endure another three years of Maze Runner sequels.

    Brooke Schmidt is a student at The College of New Jersey and a contributor to Moviefone’s Campus Beat. Are you a current college student with a love for all things movies and TV? Contribute to Campus Beat!
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  • Young Adult Movies: or (The Rapid Deterioration of My Sanity)

    ya moviesBig corporations preying on the young and innocent is a surefire formula in every industry from fast food to footwear. Children, teens, and young adults have always been a target demographic due to burning desires and fiscal irresponsibility. In the entertainment industry, this is no different. In fact, it very well could be worse.

    Few writers broke out so dominantly into the Young Adult (YA) market like J.K. Rowling did when she penned her first “Harry Potter” novel. Every tween with the gift of literacy wanted to tie a bandana around a stick and march off into academia — the witchcraft and wizardry kind, of course.

    What studio heads saw in Rowling’s books wasn’t a chance to spread the magic of Hogwarts into the heart of every child near and far, it was more along the line that vertically intercepts a capital ‘S’.

    YA novels have been formulaically adapted from paper to film since “Harry Potter” sparked the trend over a decade ago. Critically, there is nothing significant about the movies that came from Rowling’s novels. To the trained adult eye, they are bland and predictable; but what is bland and predictable to mom and dad can be quite different to the eye of a child or teenager with a vast imagination.

    This trend has left us with a string of dull and monotonous films that could only have been enjoyed if they were remotely relatable to a more experienced audience (and with open access to Jordan Belfort’s pharmaceutical cabinet). Minding the replacement of wooden wands with shiny fangs, many of us thought the “Twilight” saga would be the second coming of a magical teen fantasy.

    Predictably, the films finished their run as more of a mockery than a good memory. Then came the “Hunger Games” franchise and the most recent “Divergent” series.

    Admittedly, I never took the time to watch every “Twilight” film, but I have seen each installment of the other franchises discussed above. And to the derangement of my meager, aging brain; once you’ve seen one, you’ve seen ’em all.

    I’ve heard some positive things about the “Hunger Games” films, although I personally dislike them. I’ve also heard a lot of positive things about “Harry Potter” movies, and I actually enjoyed the first few. But after the tanking of “Twilight” and the majority consensus by critics that “Divergent” and “Insurgent” should be avoided like a drunken uncle, there could very well be a coming demise to the YA franchises in Hollywood.

    And these are just the big time pictures. Recent films that were based off YA novels such as “The Giver,” “I Am Number Four,” “The Maze Runner,” and dozens of others have had mixed critical reviews to put it lightly. Greenlight after greenlight has mature audiences scratching their heads as to why they have to keep taking their kids to see such repetitive military-grade torture.

    The answer is simple: money. For as many YA movies that bomb, there are almost as many that succeed. It’s the same concept that we see practiced through superhero movies on a consistent basis: if America’s youth keeps turning up in the seats, Hollywood will keep churning out the content.

    As long as the scab keeps getting scratched off, the wound will continue to bleed. Unfortunately, the people buying the tickets are the ones getting bled on. One can only hope that these movies will see their day soon enough. But with “Furious 7” proving to be a box office powerhouse, it’s apparent that in Tinseltown, anything’s possible.

    Jack Heyden is a sophomore at the University of Illinois and a contributor to Moviefone’s Campus Beat. Are you a current college student with a love for all things movies and TV? Contribute to Campus Beat!
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  • A Guide to the Female Clones of ‘Orphan Black’


    “Orphan Black” returns on April 18, which means that viewers are being treated to a third season of crazy plot twists, thrilling action, and amazing feats of acting by star Tatiana Maslany. There are spoilers from here, so if you’re not caught up or haven’t even watched “Orphan Black,” stop reading this article and go see it now!

    The second season ended with the shocking introduction of male clones, who were created by the military in an experiment known as Project Castor. (Female clones are products of Project Leda, which was sponsored by scientific researchers rather than the government.) It’s a lot to comprehend, even for dedicated viewers who have been with the show since it began. For the benefit of all watchers, including myself, here is a guide to understanding the female clones of “Orphan Black,” so that we may all better remember what’s going on now the season is underway.

    1. Sarah Manning
    Sarah is probably the main character of “Orphan Black,” as much of the story revolves around her dedication to protecting her daughter, Kira (Skyler Wexler), and unraveling the conspiracies behind clone creation. At the beginning of the show, Sarah was a small-time petty criminal who emigrated from England with her foster mother Mrs. S (Maria Doyle Kennedy) and foster brother Felix (Jordan Gavaris). As the series progressed, she became more involved in discovering her own origins, and became closer to her fellow clone sisters. The end of the second season saw Sarah discovering the existence of the Castor clones, and the third season is sure to pick up from that discovery.

    2. Cosima Niehaus
    Cosima is an American graduate student studying biology, and she is able to give a scientific foundation to Sarah’s crusade. Cosima is currently in a relationship with Delphine Cormier (Evelyne Brochu), a fellow scientist who works for the Dyad Institute, the company that created the clones. At the end of season 2, Cosima was suffering from a mysterious genetic illness, which is incredibly worrying for all who consider her to be their favorite clone.

    3. Alison Hendrix
    Alison is, on the surface, the most ordinary of the female clones, but appearances can be deceiving. She may be a suburban soccer mom, but she also suffers from alcohol and drug addiction. Oh, and she indirectly murdered her friend and then later helped her husband bury a body in the garage. Alison’s hilarious, uptight, and unpredictable. She’s probably the wild card clone, because we never know exactly what she’s going to do next.

    4. Helena
    Poor, damaged Helena was raised and abused by the Prolethian religious extremist movement, trained by them to be a fanatical assassin. While she served as a villain in the first season, killing off clones and her own mother, she has since reconciled with her biological twin sister Sarah. Helena is very sweet underneath the terrifying exterior, but her past abuse has made her damaged and unpredictable. At the end of the second season she was kidnapped by the military. Judging by how she reacted to being kidnapped by the Prolethians in season two, I’d say she won’t stay incapacitated for long.

    5. Rachel Duncan
    Rachel Duncan is the cool, villainous clone who served as an executive at the Dyad Institute. But don’t let her killer stare fool you: Rachel’s youth as a self-aware science experiment has made a dent on her sanity, and her motives are very murky. At the end of the second season Sarah created a trap for Rachel which shot a pencil through her eye, but I’m willing to bet that wasn’t the last we’ll see of Project Leda’s most executive clone.

    Grace Segers is a student at Tufts University and a contributor to Moviefone’s Campus Beat. Are you a current college student with a love for all things movies and TV? Contribute to Campus Beat!
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