Opinion

Comics April 18, 2022

REVIEW: ‘Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore’ is worth a few sickles

  This review contains spoilers “Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore” exceeded my very low expectations but only marginally. The film was enjoyable but could have been a lot better, especially in comparison to its predecessors. While I could never really dislike a movie that dives back into the Wizarding World (I’ve adored the Harry Potter franchise since I was little), author J.K. Rowling is less than likeable and has opinions on matters outside her series are starkly different from mine.  The first five minutes of the movie surprisingly hooked me and managed to leave me teary-eyed. It began with the assembly of a team in a fashion akin to that of a heist movie.  

REVIEW: Poetry collection ‘The Loneliest Girl’ confronts sexist mythology

  Kate Gale’s “The Loneliest Girl,” published earlier this year by the University of New Mexico Press, is a book of poems that address sexual violence and the interactions that enforce and encourage it. Gale adds softness and depth to the well-known myth of Medusa — the Gorgon who was transformed into a monster through a rape by Poseidon — rendering her as a vulnerable woman seeking healing. The best works in this collection are the short and sensory pieces, like “Medusa’s Cookbook,” which includes lines such as “cloves — an unopened flower bud/cinnamon — a spiraled brown quill.” These poems flesh out Medusa’s physical world, removing the mythic and aligning us with her as an individual.

LETTER: UNM must fulfill its promise to New Mexicans: Bargain with the graduate union now

  I am a graduate student teacher. My name is Penelope, but the University of New Mexico seems to prefer my deadname. I transitioned early in 2021. I began teaching in the fall and it was important to me that I teach with my true name because teaching is deeply important to my self-understanding. It was so important, in fact, that I accelerated my transition to that end: I came out to my department and the school before my parents or many of my close friends. I think it can be hard for others to imagine how alienating it is for strangers to know your name before your loved ones. 

REVIEW: Amanda Seyfried skillfully humanizes a monster in ‘The Dropout’

  This review contains spoilers Hulu’s critically acclaimed miniseries “The Dropout,” which chronicles the rise and fall of Theranos founder Elizabeth Holmes, is a scathing adaptation of the eponymous podcast. An incredibly gripping take on a true story and top tier performances from Amanda Seyfried and Naveen Andrews make “The Dropout” one of the best shows of the year thus far. Theranos was founded by Holmes in 2003 after she dropped out of Stanford University. By 2013, the company — which claimed to run hundreds of blood tests on only a few drops of blood — was valued at $9 billion. 

Comics April 11, 2022

REVIEW: ‘Everything Everywhere All at Once’ is a hit in every universe

  While Marvel might be the predominant figure in the Hollywood sphere in terms of multiversal moviemaking, the concept doesn’t belong solely to them. Enter A24 and “Everything Everywhere All at Once,” the latest effort from directing duo Daniel Kwan and Daniel Scheinert, credited and more commonly referred to as Daniels, that’s just as large-scale and multidimensional as it is small-scale and heartfelt. I must admit that the trailers for the film made me skeptical. The googly eye jokes, people having hot dogs for fingers and a whole slew of other millennial-askew jokes made me more than doubtful of Daniels’ ability to follow up their charming and unique feature film debut “Swiss Army Man.”

REVIEW: ‘Our Flag Means Death’ charts new course for positive representation

  This review contains spoilers After scrounging up crumbs for positive representation, David Jenkins’ new series “Our Flag Means Death” on HBO Max shows what a queer rom-com set on the high seas during the golden age of piracy would look like. The 10-episode series dropped the first three 30-minute episodes on March 3, but it wasn’t until after the finale aired on March 24 that I even heard about the show due to HBO’s obscene lack of marketing. After being bombarded with people on my social media singing the sea shanty praises of the show, I queued it up and couldn’t help but consume it all within a day. 

Comics April 4, 2022

Ask the Editors: Cannabis cinema

  As we remain in the weeds of a strenuous spring semester, we all may be searching for some ways to unwind and kick back. Given that this April brought with it the legalization of recreational cannabis sales in New Mexico and the 4/20 holiday, taking a load off and relaxing might become even easier. Here, three Daily Lobo editors have compiled their top picks for chill movies to watch when you’re looking for a way to just sit down and unwind. Joseph’s Pick: “The Endless Summer” (1966) directed by Bruce Brown

OPINION: Texas lags too far behind New Mexico in cannabis law

  It never fails to surprise me how much New Mexico and Texas, two states that share a border, differ in their views when it comes to marijuana. New Mexico made cannabis legal for recreational use as of June 29, and recreational sales began April 1. In contrast, cannabis is still illegal in Texas except for a small list of medical reasons and anything that doesn’t need to be smoked. I originally hail from ye olde Texas and moved here for university (go Lobos), where I witnessed a stark difference in the attitude toward cannabis. Cannabis is not something one just saw someone smoking on the street (although that’s still technically illegal in New Mexico). 

REVIEW: ‘Dazed and Confused’ sets high bar for ’90s flicks

  Whether you’re watching high or sober, Richard Linklater’s iconic 1993 movie “Dazed and Confused” hits all the right notes. This coming-of-age masterpiece features themes of rebellion and lasting friendship all overlaid with — you guessed it — some very potent marijuana imagery. Almost 30 years on, “Dazed and Confused” feels as fresh as ever with a killer soundtrack and marvelously endearing characters. While critically acclaimed, “Dazed and Confused” was a box office failure, earning $7.9 million worldwide, a number that’s barely above the film’s $6.9 million budget. However, it has gained and maintained a steady cult following, cementing it as quintessential viewing for anyone who has ever tried growing up. 

REVIEW: ‘Moon Knight’ premiere eclipsed by MCU staleness

  This review contains spoilers for episode 1 of “Moon Knight” and the “Moon Knight” comic books Since the show’s announcement in 2019 and following confirmation of Oscar Isaac’s casting in May 2021, anticipation for the Disney+ series “Moon Knight” has been steadily building for quite some time now. Personally, Moon Knight is my favorite comic book character and Isaac’s casting as well as the addition of Ethan Hawke as the villain sounded like a dream come true. After watching the premiere, though, I’m not sure that dream turned into reality.  The series premiere introduced us to Isaac’s Steven Grant, a museum gift shop working,  friendless loner who longs to be anywhere other than where he is. 

Comics March 28, 2022

REVIEW: Pixar's 'Turning Red' is a colorful exploration of family dynamics

  While I was thrilled that Pixar finally returned to making movies with more than one word in the title, I didn’t have much hope for “Turning Red” originally. After all, it’s hard to compete with the classics of the aughts. Despite this, I realized that the film actually leans into the viewer’s nostalgia to soothe the older viewer and draw them into the plot. I immediately enjoyed the setting, color scheme and animation of the movie. The protagonist, spunky Chinese Canadian Mei Lee, isn’t that awkward blend of hyperrealistic and cartoonish character design seen in films like “Encanto” and “Frozen.” 

LETTER: UNM admin needs to meet UA-UNM’s push for livable wages

  I am very pleased that the New Mexico State Legislature, in response to advocacy from the American Federation of Teachers of New Mexico, decided to include higher education employees in their mandated 3% pay raise and subsequent 4% raise for April and July, respectively. However, I am increasingly concerned that UNM’s administration is unwilling to meet in negotiations with our faculty union, United Academics of UNM (UA-UNM), to reach an agreement on the distribution of these funds to faculty, unless the negotiation sessions are closed to faculty observation, which violates our UA-UNM core values of transparency and inclusion. What are they afraid of, the light of day?

LETTER: New Mexico’s children deserve a landscape free of orphaned wells

  As proud New Mexicans, we know our state has the best scenery and natural beauty in the nation. While we want to keep it that way, that’s hard to when our landscape is dotted with old, pollution-spewing orphaned oil wells. With New Mexico being the second-largest oil-producing state in the country, we’ve been stuck with a multitude of orphaned wells. When the companies who drilled and profited from the wells don’t take responsibility for capping and cleaning them, the rest of us end up footing the bill.  The federal government is distributing money for orphaned well cleanup from the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, which will be a big help. 

LETTER: Youth tobacco prevention advocates inform key decision-makers

  No Minor Sale’s growing adult volunteer program, which has garnered strong participation among college students in New Mexico, continues to play a significant role in New Mexico’s youth tobacco prevention education efforts. In February, five No Minor Sale volunteers educated 15 state and local policymakers in New Mexico about their work with the campaign and specific issues in youth tobacco prevention. No Minor Sale’s second annual Take a Stand Day, an opportunity to connect with state legislators, took place on Feb. 2. No Minor Sale volunteers educated state legislators about the dangers of flavors, including menthol, in tobacco products such as cigarettes, e-cigarettes, cigars and chew.

REVIEW: 2022 presents a weak slate of Oscar-nominated animated shorts

  The nominees for the 2022 Academy Award for Best Animated Short Film showcase a weaker set of nominees than years previous. None of the shorts pushed the boundaries of animation particularly far with most being light on any kind of emotional substance. “Boxballet,” directed by Anton Dyakov “Boxballet” is a brilliant little short out of Russia and easily my favorite of the nominees. We follow a boxer, Evgeny, and a ballerina, Olya, after their initial meeting as they get to know each other and try to decide whether anything romantic might happen between them. Through a familiar story, “Boxballet” utilizes no dialogue, with the entire story being told through the animation and its visuals, culminating in a truly riveting experience.

LETTER: ASUNM provides voice to UNM students

  As students here at the University of New Mexico, there are many opportunities available throughout the campus and schedules to put forward your beliefs on how experiences can be made better and to put forward messages that you believe are important to share. With our undergraduate student government, the Associated Students of UNM, students are elected to use their perspectives and experiences to elevate those of their peers and represent the whole of the student body in many areas. It’s our pleasure to share that whether or not you serve in an elected or appointed position in student government currently, there are strong ways in which you can contribute to the process of communication and making positive changes that students can enact.