Greetings, compatriots! I am ecstatic to be bringing more of THE REEL to you this spring semester. The rest of the Opinion staff and I are brimming with fun new ideas that we can’t wait to share. 

•First, we’ll be sticking with the “letter grade” verdict that I started introducing in late November and December. I find that I can give myself more leeway with grading by using A, B-, D+, F and so on. Like your favorite professor’s syllabus, the rubric covers everything. A+ is extremely rare, constituting a motion picture that’s sound on, technically, every level. B grades are movies that are good, not great, and maybe worth seeing once at the theater. C-grade films are average, doing nothing to set them apart from others of their genre. Think “Grudge Match” compared to “Raging Bull.” D is bad but suggests that the movie has one or two qualities worthy of a Netflix watch or $1 RedBox rental. That is, if you absolutely have to see it. F-grades are movies that should be put out to pasture, never to be seen or heard from again. “Movie 43” and “The Devil Inside” are some examples.

•I will typically be appearing in the Herald and online at WKUHerald.com twice a week – Tuesdays and Thursdays. Tuesday will typically feature a review of the previous weekend’s major release, but I am open to suggestions. I would like to keep my review arsenal balanced with new films of all genres and critical receptions. Thursday is often a “think” piece, or a story that voices my opinion on whatever topic seems to be hottest at the moment. Reach me at [email protected] or follow me on Twitter @thereelbennyc to suggest ideas for reviews or think pieces. 

•Spring means awards season! “The Remote’s” Ryan Pait will be joining me once again in the 2^nd Annual Oscars Showdown. We’ll make our picks (and tell you why) before the big show airs on Sunday, March 2^nd. On March 4^th, the victor will be revealed! Look out for more Oscar content in the coming weeks.

If any changes are made to these established expectations, I typically announce them on social media first. Be sure to follow @thereelbennyc on Twitter and “like” The Reel Movie Reviews on Facebook to stay up to date on all of our content.