Our monthly round-up of the hottest entertainment releases. This month: Snow White, a new romantic K-Drama, and more.

Movies

Snow White

The Disney live-action remakes have all faced the dilemma of how closely they should stick to the source material, and even long before its release, this version of Snow White attracted scrutiny and criticism for its differences from the 1937 animated film. But one thing we can say for sure is this: Rachel Zegler is a marvel here. Fresh-faced and doe-eyed, she perfectly captures the sweetness and earnestness of Snow White. And more importantly, she can sing.

This live-action adaptation sticks closely to the story of the original. In a magical kingdom, the Evil Queen (Gal Gadot) targets her stepdaughter, the princess Snow White (Rachel Zegler), after the Magic Mirror (Patrick Page) informs her that Snow White is “the fairest of them all”. The Evil Queen sends the Huntsman (Ansu Kabia) after Snow White, who hides in the forest. There, she stumbles upon the seven dwarfs. She also meets Jonathan (Andrew Burnap), a Robin Hood-esque commoner who supports Snow White’s battle against the Evil Queen and works to undermine her regime.

Helmed by Marc Webb [The Amazing Spider-Man, (500) Days of Summer], Snow White possesses the warmth and dreaminess that the director is known for. The movie features the songs by Frank Churchill and Larry Morey from the 1937 film, including “Heigh-Ho” and “Whistle While You Work”, as well as new songs by Benj Pasek and Justin Paul, the songwriting duo behind La La Land, The Greatest Showman, and Dear Evan Hansen.

The Brutalist

What does it take to build the American dream? This monumental drama tells an immigrant’s tale in an intimate yet epic fashion.

The film follows a visionary Hungarian architect, László Tóth (Adrien Brody), and his journalist wife, Erzsébet (Felicity Jones), as they flee post-war Europe in 1947 to rebuild their legacy. As they witness the birth of modern United States, their lives are changed forever by a mysterious, wealthy client.

Directed by Brady Corbet, this 215-minute-long (including a 15-minute intermission) film is a towering achievement: a layered, beautifully shot epic that harkens back to a more classical style of filmmaking while also feeling bracing and urgent. Winning Best Cinematography, Best Original Score, and Best Actor at the 97th Academy Awards, The Brutalist is an epic for the ages.

TV

Daredevil: Born Again

The Man Without Fear finally returns after a seven-year hiatus. Last we saw Matt Murdock (Charlie Cox) in Netflix’s Daredevil, he had made a pact with his nemesis, Wilson Fisk/Kingpin (Vincent D’Onofrio), to keep the latter’s wife, Vanessa, out of jail if the villain would admit to some of the crimes he had committed.

Originally conceptualised as a reimagining of the Netflix series, Daredevil: Born Again was overhauled to serve as more of a sequel, picking up from the aftermath of Daredevil. We’re glad to report that it recaptures the violent action, atmospheric world-building, and compelling character development of the original series.

Cox and D’Onofrio reprise their roles in Daredevil: Born Again. In addition, returning cast members include Elden Henson as Foggy Nelson, Deborah Ann Woll as Karen Page, Wilson Bethel as Benjamin ‘Dex’ Poindexter/Bullseye, and Jon Bernthal as Frank Castle/the Punisher.

After a traumatic incident, Murdock ceases his vigilante activities as Daredevil. A year later, he establishes a new law firm, Murdock & McDuffie, with former assistant district attorney Kirsten McDuffie (Nikki M. James). Meanwhile, Fisk has political ambitions, winning an election to become mayor of New York City. As Fisk tightens his grip on the city and cracks down on the vigilantes, Murdock is forced to question whether he can truly leave his past behind. Can these two, as the show’s title suggests, be born again? Can they truly change anew?

When Life Gives You Tangerines

At first glance, When Life Gives You Tangerines looks like a sweeping romance series, complete with grand declarations of love and light-hearted, tangerine-sweet moments between its leading couple. But at its heart, it’s a moving story about the sacrifices and unspoken hopes passed down through generations of women.

IU and Park Bo-gum star as the central couple, Ae-sun and Gwan-sik. Ae-sun is a fiery and independent spirit who longs to escape to the city and become a poet; Gwan-sik is a promising athlete. But as life unfolds, their dreams evolve. For Ae-sun, she stops chasing personal ambition to nurture the home and family she builds with Gwan-sik. Viewers are invited to witness how they carve out a life for themselves.

Spanning from Jeju in the 1960s to Seoul in 2025, their journey through various ups and downs makes for a heartwarming, relatable, and emotional drama.

Music

Lizzo — Still Bad

Lizzo turns the clock back to the ’80s with “Still Bad”, the second single off her upcoming fifth studio album. On the disco-influenced track that explores themes of self-empowerment after a breakup, she sings about rising from the ashes after the end of the relationship. As with many Lizzo hits, this one has an infectiously catchy beat and melody. The accompanying music video is as fun, dripping in ’80s aesthetics and references, following Lizzo as she fends off a gang of chrome humanoid beings before they join her in a choreographed dance number.

◀ Go Back