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The independent student newspaper at the University of Illinois since 1871

The Daily Illini
The independent student newspaper at the University of Illinois since 1871

The Daily Illini
The independent student newspaper at the University of Illinois since 1871

The Daily Illini
The independent student newspaper at the University of Illinois since 1871

The Daily Illini
A promotional image for Final Fantasy VII Rebirth's Deluxe Edition.

‘ASTRO BOT,’ ‘Final Fantasy VII Rebirth’ lead Game Awards nominations

By Nicolas Roacho, Staff Writer • November 20, 2024
The cover for Paul McCartney's "Wonderful Christmastime."

Column | Who’s up having a ‘Wonderful Christmastime?’

By Nicolas Roacho, Staff Writer • November 19, 2024
Tom Hardy's Venom in “Venom: The Last Dance.”

Review | ‘Venom: The Last Dance’ has 2 left feet

By Nicolas Roacho, Staff Writer • November 2, 2024

6 movies to ‘en-frighten’ your Halloween season

By Nicolas Roacho, Staff Writer • October 31, 2024

Column | How ‘Saw’ redefined the horror genre

By Nicolas Roacho, Staff Writer • October 30, 2024
Still from 1984 live performance film “Stop Making Sense.”

Column | Why Talking Heads will never ‘Stop Making Sense’

By Nicolas Roacho, Staff Writer • October 25, 2024
David Howard Thornton as Art the Clown in Terrifier 3, released this year.

Review | ‘Terrifier 3’ brings holiday cheers, fears

By Nicolas Roacho, Staff Writer • October 21, 2024
Lady Gaga and Joaquin Phoenix in “Joker: Folie à Deux.”

Review | The joke’s on whoever watches ‘Joker: Folie à Deux’

By Nicolas Roacho, Staff Writer • October 14, 2024
Shia LaBeouf in Megalopolis (2024).

Review | ‘Megalopolis’ is a beautiful mess

By Park Mitchell and Nicolas Roacho • October 4, 2024
Demi Moore in The Substance (2024).

Review | ‘The Substance’ is grossly important 

By Nicolas Roacho, Staff Writer • October 2, 2024
Review | ‘Marvel vs. Capcom Fighting Collection Arcade Classics’ brings classic arcade games to modern audiences

Review | ‘Marvel vs. Capcom Fighting Collection Arcade Classics’ brings classic arcade games to modern audiences

By Nicolas Roacho, Staff Writer • September 24, 2024
A Farmhouse burger and cajun fries from newly opened Epic Burger located on S. Neil Street in Champaign.

Review | Epic Burger is not quite ‘epic’

By Nicolas Roacho and Park Mitchell • September 24, 2024
The movie poster for "Speak No Evil."

Review | ‘Speak No Evil’ doesn’t have anything new to say

By Nicolas Roacho, Staff Writer • September 20, 2024
New students practice cheers along with the Marching Illini at Sights and Sounds on Aug. 22 in Memorial Stadium.

UI announces record enrollment, largest ever freshmen class

By Nicolas Roacho, Staff Writer • September 12, 2024
Michael Keaton stars as Beetlejuice in "Beetlejuice Beetlejuice" (2024).

Review | ‘Beetlejuice Beetlejuice’ is a fun successor to the classic film

By Nicolas Roacho, Staff Writer • September 9, 2024
A meal from Atomic Wings including five hot buffalo wings, seasoned fries and a fountain drink.

Atomic Wings blows past most expectations

By Nicolas Roacho, Staff Writer • September 7, 2024
The state flag of Illinois at a Cook County building at 69 W. Washington, in Chicago, on March 7, 2023.

Illinois to take submissions for flag redesign

By Nicolas Roacho, Staff Writer • August 29, 2024
Courtesy of the Chabad Center for Jewish Life at University of Illinois

Midwestern rabbis discuss campus antisemitism, community issues at UI

By Nicolas Roacho, Staff Writer • August 12, 2024
Hugh Jackman and Ryan Reynolds play Wolverine and Deadpool in Marvel's latest "Deadpool & Wolverine"

Review | ‘Deadpool & Wolverine’ brings back fan-favorite characters, but at what cost?

By Nicolas Roacho, Staff Writer • July 31, 2024

Armed robbery occurs at Third, Clark streets

By Nicolas Roacho, Staff Writer • May 30, 2024

Column | ‘Avengers: Endgame’; 5 years since the MCU changed forever

By Nicolas Roacho, Staff Writer • April 27, 2024
Review | ‘Invincible’ returns with a powerful second season

Review | ‘Invincible’ returns with a powerful second season

By Nicolas Roacho, Staff Writer • April 16, 2024
Guitarist and violinist Joe Deninzon points in the air during the 50 years of Kansas show at the Virginia Theater in Champaign.

‘50 years of Kansas’ and they still electrify the audience at Virginia Theatre

By Nicolas Roacho, Staff Writer • April 15, 2024
Courtesy of WikiMedia Commons.

O.J. Simpson dead at 76

By Nicolas Roacho, Staff Writer • April 11, 2024
Sydney Sweeney staring as Sister Cecilia in “Immaculate,” released in 2024.

Review | Not so ‘Immaculate’ after all

By Nicolas Roacho, Staff Writer • April 10, 2024
Annie Potts, Bill Murray, Ernie Hudson and Dan Aykroyd in "Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire."

Review | ‘Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire;’ When is nostalgia too much?

By Nicolas Roacho, Staff Writer • April 5, 2024
Review | ‘Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire’ is mind-numbing, monster sized fun

Review | ‘Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire’ is mind-numbing, monster sized fun

By Nicolas Roacho, Staff Writer • April 3, 2024
Review | ‘Final Fantasy VII: Rebirth’ breaks all of its limits

Review | ‘Final Fantasy VII: Rebirth’ breaks all of its limits

By Nicolas Roacho, Staff Writer • March 30, 2024
‘Oppenheimer’ director Christopher Nolan to receive knighthood

‘Oppenheimer’ director Christopher Nolan to receive knighthood

By Nicolas Roacho, Staff Writer • March 28, 2024
Senior in LAS Yoana Hernandez takes orders for customers at Maize Mexican Grill on March 2.

Best of CU | Best Mexican Food: Maize Mexican Grill

By Nicolas Roacho, Staff Writer • March 28, 2024
AMC Champaign 13 on Meijer Drive on March 23.

Best of CU | Best Off-Campus Entertainment: AMC Champaign 13

By Nicolas Roacho, Staff Writer • March 28, 2024
Review | ‘Kung Fu Panda 4’ plays it safe with disappointing sequel 

Review | ‘Kung Fu Panda 4’ plays it safe with disappointing sequel 

By Nicolas Roacho, Staff Writer • March 12, 2024
96th Academy Awards: ‘Oppenheimer’ drops the bomb, takes Best Picture

96th Academy Awards: ‘Oppenheimer’ drops the bomb, takes Best Picture

By Nicolas Roacho, Staff Writer • March 11, 2024
Poster of Dune: Part Two.

Review | ‘Dune: Part Two’: A modern sci-fi classic unlike anything else

By Nicolas Roacho, Staff Writer • February 29, 2024
Review | ‘Madame Web’: $10 and 116 minutes I’ll never get back

Review | ‘Madame Web’: $10 and 116 minutes I’ll never get back

By Nicolas Roacho, Staff Writer • February 20, 2024
Review | ‘Argylle’ is a lazy, muddled mess

Review | ‘Argylle’ is a lazy, muddled mess

By Nicolas Roacho, Staff Writer • February 5, 2024
Review | Billy Joel returns with emotional ballad ‘Turn the Lights Back Onʼ

Review | Billy Joel returns with emotional ballad ‘Turn the Lights Back Onʼ

By Nicolas Roacho, Staff Writer • February 4, 2024
Carl Weathers dies at 76

Carl Weathers dies at 76

By Nicolas Roacho, Staff Writer • February 2, 2024
Ellie Williams voiced by Ashley Johnson in "The Last of Us Part II Remastered."

Review | The Last of Us Part II Remastered is a great upgrade for a not-so-great price

By Nicolas Roacho, Staff Writer • January 30, 2024
Oppenheimer, directed by Christopher Nolan, leads 13 nominations.

96th Oscar nominations see ‘Oppenheimer,’ ‘Poor Things’ dominate

By Nicolas Roacho, Staff Writer • January 23, 2024
Cillian Murphy and Robert Downy Jr. in 2023 Christopher Nolan film "Oppenheimer."

Review | buzz picks the best films of 2023

By Dhruv Baronia, Saagar Kolachina and Nicolas Roacho • January 9, 2024
Horror puzzle game "Little Nightmares III" set to release this year.

buzz picks the most anticipated video games of 2024

By Pratim Vasireddy and Nicolas Roacho • January 3, 2024
Harrison Ford and Phoebe Waller-Bridge in "Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny."

Review | buzz picks the worst films of 2023

By Nicolas Roacho and Saagar Kolachina • December 30, 2023
Linda Blair in 1973 horror film "The Exorcist." With the 50th anniversary of the 'The Exorcist," columnist Nicolas Roacho writes on if the film is still one of the most frighting movies in the genre.

Column | Is ‘The Exorcist’ still the ‘scariest movie of all time’ 50 years later?

By Nicolas Roacho, Staff Writer • December 26, 2023
Jason Momoa and Patrick Wilson in sequel DC superhero 2023 film "Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom."

Review | ‘Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom’ is a disappointing farewell to the DCEU

By Nicolas Roacho, Staff Writer • December 24, 2023
Jonathan Majors found guilty for harassment, assault, dropped by Marvel

Jonathan Majors found guilty for harassment, assault, dropped by Marvel

By Nicolas Roacho, Staff Writer • December 18, 2023
Bruce Willis as John McClane crawls through a vent in the 1988 action film "Die Hard." Columnist Nicolas Roacho tackles the question if "Die Hard" counts as a Christmas movie.

The fifth day of buzzmas | Is ‘Die Hard’ a Christmas movie?

By Nicolas Roacho, Staff Writer • December 18, 2023
Timothée Chalamet as Willy Wonka in 2023 December release "Wonka." Columnist Nicolas Roacho reviews the new prequel musical.

Review | ‘Wonka’ excels musically, brings fun addition to original story

By Nicolas Roacho, Staff Writer • December 18, 2023
Photo cover of Baldur’s Gate 3.

The Game Awards 2023: ‘Baldur’s Gate 3’ awarded Game of the Year

By Nicolas Roacho, Staff Writer • December 8, 2023
Godzilla in 2023 film "Godzilla Minus One."

Review | ‘Godzilla Minus One’ contains awesome carnage, humanizes characters well

By Nicolas Roacho, Staff Writer • December 3, 2023
Iman Vellani, Brie Larson and Teyonah Parris in 2023 Marvel Cinematic Universe film "The Marvels."

Review | ‘The Marvelsʼ shows that the MCU continues to decline in quality

By Nicolas Roacho, Staff Writer • November 15, 2023
Larian Studios releases its role-playing video game Baldur's Gate 3 in 2023.

‘Alan Wake 2,’ ‘Baldur’s Gate 3’ lead The Game Awards nominations

By Nicolas Roacho, Staff Writer • November 13, 2023
Mile Morales Spider-Man voiced by Nadji Jester and Peter Parker Spider-Man voiced by Yuri Lowenthal in Play Station exclusive videogame "Marvel's Spider-Man 2" released this year.

Review | ‘Marvel’s Spider-Man 2’ swings its way to greatness on PS5

By Nicolas Roacho, Staff Writer • November 13, 2023
“Piano Man” is rock genre album written and performed by Billy Joel. The album released on Nov. 2, 1973.

Column | Billy Joel’s ‘Piano Man’ is still perfect 50 years later

By Nicolas Roacho, Staff Writer • November 9, 2023
SAG-AFTRA reaches deal with entertainment companies, ending 118-day strike

SAG-AFTRA reaches deal with entertainment companies, ending 118-day strike

By Nicolas Roacho, Staff Writer • November 8, 2023
Five Nights at Freddy's releases on Oct. 27.

Review | ‘Five Nights at Freddy’s’ tries to please hardcore fans, fails to please general audiences

By Nicolas Roacho and Kiran Bond • October 29, 2023
Matthew Perry in 2009 tv-series "The Good Wife."

‘Friends’ actor Matthew Perry dies at 54

By Lillie Salas, Nicolas Roacho and Kiran Bond • October 28, 2023
Robert De Niro and Leonardo DiCaprio in Martin Scorsese's recent movie, "Killers of the Flower Moon" which debut in cinemas on Friday.

Column | ‘Killers of the Flower Moon’ is a triumph, stays true to Osage culture

By Nicolas Roacho, Contributing Writer • October 22, 2023
2023 Prime exclusive fall spinoff "Gen V" promotional poster.

Review | ‘The Boys’ spinoff ‘Gen V‘ starts super-strong

By Nicolas Roacho, Contributing Writer • October 2, 2023
Courtesy of IMDb

Review | What to know about ‘Saw Xʼ before watching

By Nicolas Roacho, Contributing Writer • September 30, 2023
ILLordle: Play now