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Pelham Examiner

Pelham Examiner

Pelham Examiner

Sam Rodd, Entertainment Editor (2018-19)

Sam Rodd is a senior at Pelham Memorial High School and a lover of theater, music and movies. He spends most of his time rehearsing in musicals and plays. In his free time, he loves to over-analyze movies and other artistic works. As well as writing for the Examiner, Sam loves creative writing, is a member of the Pelham Model UN club, a member of Pelham’s theater club, Sock ‘N’ Buskin, and plays the drums.

(This was Sam’s profile when he graduated from high school in 2019.)

All content by Sam Rodd
'Toy Story 4' proves a step forward for the franchise

‘Toy Story 4’ proves a step forward for the franchise

By Sam Rodd, Entertainment Editor
July 11, 2019

To make yet another sequel, after having what seems to be an incredibly satisfying and well-rounded conclusion, is a decisively bold move. One that for many franchises spells doom. For many series, the...

Sam Rodd's graduation speech: Life is shaped by hundreds of little moments

Sam Rodd’s graduation speech: Life is shaped by hundreds of little moments

By Sam Rodd
July 1, 2019

The other day, I fell asleep in the library. Actually, I didn’t just fall asleep in the library, I practically slipped into a coma. I sunk back into that nice, comfortable chair, and just passed out...

'Godzilla: King of the Monsters' delivers simple story and great monsters

‘Godzilla: King of the Monsters’ delivers simple story and great monsters

By Sam Rodd, Entertainment Editor
June 14, 2019

To cut to the chase, if you go to see “Godzilla: King of the Monsters”  for its riveting story and brilliant writing, you are going to the wrong movie. Any Godzilla movie is one that is selling itself...

Undeniable chemistry between leads in 'Long Shot' makes it a rom-com to remember

Undeniable chemistry between leads in ‘Long Shot’ makes it a rom-com to remember

By Sam Rodd, Entertainment Editor
May 17, 2019

“Long Shot”, follows a very simple, very familiar basic premise. At its core, it’s your average odd-couple romantic comedy. He’s kind of down on his luck, but he’s wild and outgoing, and she’s...

'Avengers: Endgame' is a triumphant conclusion to an 11 year story

‘Avengers: Endgame’ is a triumphant conclusion to an 11 year story

By Sam Rodd, Entertainment Editor
May 3, 2019

The year is 2008. One of the biggest gambles in cinematic history is playing in theaters right now, in the form of “Iron Man." A film many were certain wouldn’t work. Yet, miraculously, it did. Not...

'Shazam!' is fun, both as a superhero movie and a family comedy

‘Shazam!’ is fun, both as a superhero movie and a family comedy

By Sam Rodd, Entertainment Editor
April 26, 2019

The DC comics cinematic universe, admittedly, started off poorly. Warner Brothers, in their attempt to create the magic of a group superhero film, like 2012’s “The Avengers,” introduced all their...

'Us' is stunning and thought-provoking return for Jordan Peele

‘Us’ is stunning and thought-provoking return for Jordan Peele

By Sam Rodd, Entertainment Editor
April 2, 2019

Jordan Peele has spared no time in between releases of his movies, with only 2 years in between his Oscar winning directorial debut “Get Out” and his new film, “Us.” However, by no means does that...

'Captain Marvel' falls short of possible greatness

‘Captain Marvel’ falls short of possible greatness

By Sam Rodd, Entertainment Editor
March 22, 2019

Brie Larson is a tremendous talent. Yet it became devastatingly apparent as I was watching “Captain Marvel” that when you give even a stellar actress like Larson nothing to work with, you can end up...

'The Lego Movie 2: The Second Part' is a lot like the first, but that's not always bad

‘The Lego Movie 2: The Second Part’ is a lot like the first, but that’s not always bad

By Sam Rodd, Entertainment Editor
March 6, 2019

In 2014, Phil Lord and Christopher Miller shocked everyone with “The Lego Movie." It wasn’t a movie that many people expected to work, yet it persevered, and proved to be one of the most endearing,...

Oscar predictions: A year of representation and firsts

Oscar predictions: A year of representation and firsts

By Sam Rodd, Entertainment Editor
February 1, 2019

The Academy has spoken! And to be perfectly candid, it was kind of disappointing. But despite my rage at a few snubs (Bradley Cooper not getting the nom for best director, Ethan Hawke not getting the nom...

On the topic of 'Glass'

On the topic of ‘Glass’

By Sam Rodd, Entertainment Editor
January 25, 2019

M Night. Shyamalan has done something. Good? Bad? Honestly, I can’t tell. Which is why I’m writing this. Recently, I viewed the film “Glass," the conclusion of a trilogy of movies 19 years in the...

'Escape Room' isn't good, but there's no harm in seeing it

‘Escape Room’ isn’t good, but there’s no harm in seeing it

By Sam Rodd, Entertainment Editor
January 11, 2019

To cut to the chase, this movie is bad. But it’s also not. The pretentious movie snob in me wants to hate this movie for its awful script and paper thin characters, yet the other part of me cannot deny...

Top ten movies of 2018

Top ten movies of 2018

By Sam Rodd, Entertainment Editor
January 3, 2019

2018 has come to a close, which means it’s time for everyone’s favorite time of the year. No, not the holidays. Not winter break. No, it’s, of course, time for the arbitrary ranking of various things...

'Ralph Breaks the Internet' is a touching, engaging spectacle

‘Ralph Breaks the Internet’ is a touching, engaging spectacle

By Sam Rodd, Entertainment Editor
December 10, 2018

“Wreck It Ralph” is a wonderful stand alone film. It tells a very neat story, with a nice message for families and children to walk away with, that ties the whole story with a nice little bow. When...

'Widows' tells a compelling story, but struggles to sort out its thematic ideas

‘Widows’ tells a compelling story, but struggles to sort out its thematic ideas

By Sam Rodd, Entertainment Editor
November 27, 2018

The first 3 minutes of “Widows” are some of the most gripping moments in 2018’s roster of films. In 3 minutes, “Widows” establishes the basic diving board for the rest of the story, along with...

'Halloween' is a fun horror experience, despite flaws

‘Halloween’ is a fun horror experience, despite flaws

By Sam Rodd, Entertainment Editor
October 31, 2018

From around the 80s to the early 2000s, one type of film dominated the horror genre: the slasher flick. However, following several unsuccessful reboots of the famous slasher series, the sub-genre seemed...

'First Man' is an engaging slow-burn and an accomplishment in technical filmmaking

‘First Man’ is an engaging slow-burn and an accomplishment in technical filmmaking

By Sam Rodd, Entertainment Editor
October 18, 2018

For many movies about space, the moon is a triumphant goal. It’s something to be praised and something very pretty for the characters to look at. “First Man” treats the moon as a beast. As if the...

'Assassination Nation:' slightly messy, overall pretty good time

‘Assassination Nation:’ slightly messy, overall pretty good time

By Sam Rodd, Entertainment Editor
October 3, 2018

Lots of movies focus on a subtle message that the audience is supposed to realize through reflective thought on the film they just viewed. “Assassination Nation” threw that idea out the window and...

Film review: 'The Nun' provides a lazy and forgettable horror experience

Film review: ‘The Nun’ provides a lazy and forgettable horror experience

By Sam Rodd, Entertainment Editor
September 11, 2018

In 2013, a horror film titled “The Conjuring” was released, and quickly made itself known as a modern horror classic. With effective scares and sympathetic characters backed by solid performances,...

Film review: 'Blindpsotting' holds mirror to America in a brilliant, original way

Film review: ‘Blindpsotting’ holds mirror to America in a brilliant, original way

By Sam Rodd, Entertainment Editor
August 3, 2018

There are many movies that would like you to forget that there is injustice in America. "Blindspotting" is not one of these movies. Daveed Diggs, of "Hamilton" fame, and Rafael Cassal, an American poet,...

Film review: 'Ant-Man and the Wasp' provides all humor, no tension

Film review: ‘Ant-Man and the Wasp’ provides all humor, no tension

By Sam Rodd, Entertainment Editor
July 17, 2018

Off of the heels of “Avengers: Infinity War”, the Marvel cinematic universe needed something lighthearted. However, it would appear that this emphasis on a fun, feel-good movie, may be the reason that...

'Gotti' tries its hardest but fails miserably

‘Gotti’ tries its hardest but fails miserably

By Sam Rodd, Entertainment Editor
June 26, 2018

Though cinema is a form of art, we live in a time where artistic movies are swept under the rug by effortless, mind numbing movies released to make a quick profit. To its credit, "Gotti" is not one of...

Review: 'Oceans 8' has great potential but falls short

Review: ‘Oceans 8’ has great potential but falls short

By Sam Rodd, Entertainment Editor
June 21, 2018

With a star-studded cast, a fun heist and a new and refreshing lineup of criminals to carry the story along, “Ocean’s 8” is a movie with so much potential. Yet for all that, the film feels uninspired,...

Review: 'Hereditary' tells a messy story with refreshing horror

Review: ‘Hereditary’ tells a messy story with refreshing horror

By Sam Rodd, Staff Reporter
June 8, 2018

“Hereditary” is a movie that grabs you right away. It begins with a shot of a room within a highly detailed miniature house. The camera zooms in to the room, revealing it to contain the characters...

Review: 'Upgrade' brings unexpected emotion to a violent film

Review: ‘Upgrade’ brings unexpected emotion to a violent film

By Sam Rodd, Staff Reporter
June 7, 2018

When most people hear “Blumhouse productions,” their minds instantly jump to the many (frequently sub-par) horror movies that are released sporadically throughout the year. Either that, or there’s...

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