(Photo courtesy imdb.com)

By Owen Paiva – Staff Reporter

While many were too busy seeing “Fifty Shades of Grey” last January, some moviegoers saw a different trailer. “Kingsman: The Secret Service” was an action-packed spy adventure that many people wrote off as a cookie cutter spy movie. However, those who saw it were pleasantly surprised. What they got was a action-comedy that was up there with the great “Bonds” in hilarity. With Taron Egerton and Sophie Cookson in their first major roles, they did not fail to impress. Acting Legends Colin Firth and Samuel L. Jackson steal the show, and Jackson in particular is comedy gold as the maniacal villain Valentine with his plan to “save Earth.”

Taron Egerton plays “Eggsy,” a streetwise teen who excelled in school and Royal Marines training, but left it all because of his abusive step-dad. His dad’s necklace, which allows the person one favor from the Kingsman, gets him out of jail after a car theft. This introduces him to Colin Firth’s character Harry “Galahad” Hart. He picks Eggsy as his potential recruit for the open position of “Lancelot.” As Eggsy goes through his training, Hart uncovers Richmond Valentine, a programming mogul, has an evil plan, and disguises it to the normal masses. This comes after a string of prominent people disappear. After this training, a new Kingsman is picked, however they have little time to save the world after this.

This movie took inspiration from the older “Bond” movies, mainly the Roger Moore movie. That makes it an enjoyable treat, as it is not as serious as the more recent Bond movies, yet still has amazing action scenes. One scene in particular takes the action over the top into the best scene in the movie, all while accompanied by the song, Free Bird. The action is enjoyable, the comedy is executed well, and the plot may seem like just another Bond movie, but that is what makes it memorable.

The strongest part of this movie was the dialogue. Galahad and Valentine’s conversations were hysterical, yet still helped the plot. Eggsy and Galahad’s conversation were personal, very authentic, and the banter between the two helped provide humor to serious scenes.

The characters have great chemistry on screen especially Eggsy and Galahad. This is a very enjoyable master/student relationship, and Galahad is a father figure to Eggsy. The relationship felt so authentic. When compared to Obi-Wan and Anakin in the Star Wars prequels, which was a very forced chemistry, it shows how important on screen chemistry is for cinema. Also Valentine seems like he was ripped out of a Bond Movie. He is a tech mogul, who talks with a lisp and has a weak stomach to blood and violence. The setup alone makes you laugh every time the character is on screen.

The movie had a few weaknesses. They did not develop Eggsy and Roxy, a fellow recruit, too well personality wise. This is not too terrible as it is leaving this to the sequel, with it rumored to be based mainly on Eggsy. People also had negative opinions on the more adult themes, especially the last scene of the movie.

“Kingsman” was a thrilling adventure which the dials all turned up to 11 for the second half. It may have a 75% rating on IMDB or a 7.8/10 on Rotten Tomatoes, but it is better than these ratings. It entertained throughout.

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

(Photo courtesy netflix.com)

By Isabela Roldan – Staff Reporter

The Netflix-streamed, American web series “Making a Murderer” has stirred up much controversy recently over the decisions of the Steven Avery case of 2005 and whether or not the American justice system is still reliable.

The 10-episode series follows the story of Steven Avery, a Wisconsin resident falsely convicted of homicide, who later was re-convicted of a new murder he claims he also did not commit.

The Manitowoc county junker served 18 years in prison for sexual assault and the attempted murder of Penny Beernsten. He was later exonerated in 2003, after DNA testing had been implemented, proving that he had not committed the crimes he was accused of.

Two years after being freed, he was convicted of the murder of photographer, Teresa Halbach, after being the last person seen with the woman. With the town already suspicious from his previous incarceration, it seemed that no one was on his side.

Although evidence was found in his residence, including the burnt remains of Teresa in Avery’s backyard burn pit and her car keys in his trailer, attorneys Dean Strang and Jerry Buting argue the evidence was planted by local authorities in an attempt to frame Avery.

Avery’s nephew, Brendan Dassey, was also convicted of partaking in the murder after investigators squeezed a confession out of the easily influenced 16-year-old. Brendan argued that the confessions were not true and that he told the lies solely because the investigators made him say what they wanted to hear.

Directors Laura Ricciardi and Moira Demos filmed the documentary over the course of 10 years, first for a simple film school project.

“What we hope to achieve by sharing this story with as many people as we can is to engage Americans and get people to feel responsibility and understand their own agency here,” Ricciardi said.

Making a Murderer is comparable to the Hulu series, The Jinx, which also follows the case of a potential murderer.

This exhilarating series is one that anyone could watch and form a strong opinion from. The series includes live footage of the interrogations performed during the case, along with footage of the court cases. These inputs allow viewers to follow the case exactly, and develop verified opinions about who they really think is to blame.

A petition to the White House to free Avery gathered over 128,000 signatures over the course of the series release. Obama responded stating he has no authority to act in a state case.

“I am really innocent of this case and that is the truth! The truth will set me free!” Avery says.

Can you decide who “made” the murderer? The 18 years of maddening imprisonment, or the Manitowoc County Police Department?

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

(Photo courtesy imdb.com)

By Tyler Chavez – Staff Reporter

The past few years have seen a few constants in Hollywood: survival movies and Leonardo DiCaprio’s inability to win an Oscar. When you combine those elements, and the directing of Oscar winner Alejandro Inarritu, you end up with a film like “The Revenant”. The movie tells the story of Hugh Glass, played by Leonardo DiCaprio (“The Aviator”, “The Wolf of Wall Street”, “The Great Gatsby”) as he is left for dead by his troop of fur trappers following a bear mauling. What’s amazing is that this is actually a true story. Hugh Glass was actually left for dead and had to travel hundreds of miles in a frozen western U.S. in the 1820s. The film also stars Tom Hardy (“Mad Max: Fury Road”, “Inception”, “The Dark Knight Rises”) as Glass’ adversary Larry Fitzgerald, and Will Poulter (“The Maze Runner”, “We’re the Millers”) as Bridger, a young member of the fur trapping troop. With a talented cast, beautiful directing, and great cinematography, “The Revenant” presents a film experience that no other film matched this year.

The movie starts in 1823, following a group of fur trappers preparing to move on in the frozen American west. However, they are attacked by a group of Arikara Native Americans trying to find their chief’s kidnapped daughter. Ambushed, they are forced to leave much of their furs, and men, and escape onto boats. The surviving members attempt to make it to Fort Kiowa for safety. But after Hugh Glass is mauled by a bear, the party decides to move on and leave him with Larry Fitzgerald and Bridger. But, Fitzgerald convinces Bridger to leave Glass. When he wakes up, Glass finds himself alone and unable to walk. He now must somehow manage to return to Fort Kiowa and prove that he is alive.

The first thing you will notice about this film is how beautiful it is. The frozen, unsettled western U.S. is vast, cold, lonely, and menacing; which is perfect for a survival story. Especially for one such as “The Revenant”. Inarritu chose to use only natural lighting, fearing that CGI would make the film worse. His decision paid off as the natural landscape is beautiful and makes the story more gritty. The brutal cold winters are also presented through the amazing cinematography. For example, the first raid by the Arikara Native Americans is done in one continuous shot. The entire scene is done in one gorgeous take that encaptures the brutal attack and the desperation to get away. One-shot scenes are perfect for action movies because everything is so fluid and you know that there are no tricks to the fighting. The movie uses other long shots to build drama, intensity, and to show you just how beautiful the wilderness is. The combination of the gorgeous scenery and Inarritu’s genius directing creates a film that wonderfully reflects the mood of the film with its cold, lonely, bitter, and harsh cinematography.

The acting is also a huge contributor to the success of the film. As we all know, Leonardo DiCaprio is an extremely talented actor, and his portrayal of Hugh Glass is no different. What’s interesting is that Glass is an unusual type of character for DiCaprio to play. Usually, we see him as a fast-talking, smart aleck who is on his way to fortune and greatness. But his role as Glass is completely different. He’s on the verge of death, he’s broken and beaten, and he’s struggling to survive. This is a role that is far from typical for DiCaprio, and yet he still manages to nail it. His desire to survive and the struggle to even move is felt and adds a sense of urgency and life that is needed for a film such as this.

Tom Hardy also delivers a great performance as the cold-hearted Larry Fitzgerald. Fitzgerald, just like Glass, is just trying to survive, leading him to abandon Glass. Hardy is used to playing rugged survivalists as he did in “Mad Max: Fury Road”. The performances of DiCaprio and Hardy on opposite sides bring experience and skill to a film that relies heavily on body language to tell its story.

While the performances of the actors is great, there is one problem with it: the dialogue. Not that the writing is bad or cheesy, but that it’s not entirely necessary. Everyone in the movie has this rough, mix of southern and western accent that makes it difficult to understand what they’re saying. On top of this, they’re often whispering or speaking softly, making it even harder to make out what they’re trying to say. The only time the viewer really needed to hear what was being said was when Fitzgerald and the other party members were debating what to do with the practically dead Glass. Since much of the film depended on the actions of the actors and their body language, the movie could have had no dialogue, and still would be able to tell a great story. The majority of DiCaprio’s scenes have him alone, with no dialogue, and viewers will still be encaptured by what was going on and in a way.

“The Revenant” has already been met with a lot of praise, and is nominated for multiple Academy Awards, and it’s clear to see why. The beautiful cinematography and brilliant directing combined with powerful performances by the lead actors present a large, gritty movie with a survival story to tell. Fans of DiCaprio will appreciate his new kind of role, and fans of action movies will love the harsh survival elements that make the film fun to watch. On top of this, the beautiful nature shots and expert shooting makes the film captivating and will draw viewers in for a long ride. “The Revenant” delivers an awesome film that is sure to run away with awards at the Oscars.

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

(Photo courtesy netflix.com)

By Maeve Rourke – Staff Reporter

“The Newsroom” has proven to be one of the greatest shows on-demand.

“The Newsroom” is a political drama series that originally aired on HBO in 2012, and concluded after three seasons. It was recently added to Amazon Prime, and its view numbers exploded. The series also received two nominations at the 70th Golden Globe Awards, for Best Television Series – Drama and Best Actor – Television Series Drama.

The series is set behind the scenes at the fictional Atlantis Cable News (ACN) and revolves around anchor Will McAvoy (Jeff Daniels), his new executive producer MacKenzie McHale (Emily Mortimer), and newsroom staff. The series tracks the staff’s unrealistic mission to do the news in an ethical and reasonable way while tackling corporate, and commercial obstacles, and their own personal entanglements.

The series starts off with background on Will McAvoy, who comes back from a mandatory leave due to his public tirade about America’s shortcomings.  Daniels’ rant was one of the opening scenes in the pilot, and immediately showed his strong opinions, and his outspoken personality.

“The Newsroom” has many unique qualities. For example, episodes are written around actual recent news events, such as Osama Bin Laden’s assassination, and the wars in the Middle East.  The show portrays the staff trying to uncover stories as they happen and reporting them in moral ways. They are trying to appeal to both their audience and their superiors, making it difficult to report the truth. This show also boils down everything that is wrong with America and puts out a simple answer to solving our problems.

The series also follows the personal hardships and interactions between the staff members which keeps the plot interesting. Watching the relationships between staff members, and how some crack under the pressure of their jobs keeps you on the edge of your seat. Each character has their own strong personality and draws the audience into the show.

Additionally, the cast is full of amazing actors. Daniels, for example, excels in his role, and portrays his character perfectly. This show provides a great opportunity to show his effortless acting.

On the other hand, there are some lulls in the series where the drama drags on, or not much happens. The episodes are also about 55 minutes long, which is hard to sit through if you are not very interested. Also, the first few episodes could be confusing due to the fact that they dive right into the drama and love triangles before allowing the audience to remember each character’s name.  The pace of the show can become too quick at times and important details can be easily forgotten.

Overall, “The Newsroom” consists of brilliant writing, excellent characters and cast, and fluid directing.

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

(Photo courtesy plus.google.com)

By Nisali Fernando – Staff Reporter

Panic! at the Disco released their fifth album, “Death of a Bachelor” on January 15th. The album follows the band’s frontman and founder, Brendon Urie, through the turmoil of moving on. The aforementioned bachelor is Urie himself, the album serves as his redemption arc. Urie paints the scenes of wild, booze filled nights followed by regret and sorrow, and finally resolves, if not apologizes for his past digressions. Listeners find themselves maturing alongside Urie, while his marriage did serve as the spark for this album, the album’s theme of redemption and change resonates with everyone.

The release of “I Write Sins Not Tragedies” in 2005, kickstarted the band’s fame. Following that success the band has released “A Fever You Can’t Sweat Out”, “Pretty. Odd”, and “Too Weird To Live, Too Rare To Die”.  Panic! at the Disco is not the same band it was in 2004. Following the departure of drummer, Spencer Smith in 2015, Urie is the only remaining member of the punk, alternative band. The release of “Death of a Bachelor”, leaves past success in the dust. The album skated to number one on the Billboard Top 200, and according to Billboard, “Death of a Bachelor also earns Panic! at the Disco its best sales week yet for an album, as it sold 169,000 in pure album sales.” This album represents a new era of Panic!, one created solely by Urie, composed and arranged by the frontman.  

There are 12 songs on the alternative track, and each one follows Urie through a different part of his life, taking fans on a fast-paced journey, whether or not they’ve signed up for one.

“Hallelujah” is the first single off the album and was released on April 15th, 2015. The knock-off gospel track, is not one that should be played at church. Urie disguises his ulterior motives with devout lyrics such as, “All you sinners stand up sing hallelujah (hallelujah), show praise with your body stand up sing hallelujah (hallelujah).” The up-tempo track is also sprinkled with crescendos and aggressive drum solos.

“Victorious” and “Don’t Threaten Me with a Good Time” follow the feel good vibe of the album. “Victorious” portrays a winner, someone down on their luck then given a chance at well-deserved success. The repetitive chorus, “tonight we are victorious, champagne pouring over us, all my friends we’re glorious, tonight we are victorious,” motivates listeners to get up and dance, and conquer anything in their way. “Don’t Threaten Me with a Good Time” illustrates Urie’s wild side, the lyrics paint a wild night filled with, “champagne, cocaine, gasoline and most things inbetween.” In the bridge, Urie recounts memories in a haze,  “I lost a bet to a guy with a chiffon skirt, but I make these high heels work.” Wild west themed guitar riffs, precise synth beats, and rigorous drum solos flood the track and leave listeners hyped up and with a “hell of a feeling.”

Urie channels the legendary Frank Sinatra in the mid-tempo, swing dance track that is “Death of a Bachelor”. Urie croons lyrics of sorrow and loneliness and is accompanied by a romantic swell of trumpets and saxophones. He introduces synth to this classic ballad of heartbreak and turns this track into one for the record books. Urie brings theater to his music, “Death of a Bachelor” is sung so dramatically it’s almost as if listeners have been transported to a Broadway stage. Harmonious high notes and sharp crescendos litter the song and introduce a modern interpretation of a legend.

“Crazy=Genius” previews Urie’s insecurities and ingenious when it comes to music. The track is a modern version of Benny Goodman’s “Sing Sing Sing.” Brass compliments the 20’s swing vibe and Urie manages to leave listeners tapping their feet once again.

“Impossible Year” concludes the album. The ornery lyrics and powerful piano chords prove Urie’s musical growth. His sophistication and sadness indulge the track, and his musical ability shine through.

Unlike past Panic! albums, “Death of a Bachelor” showcases a completely different side of the band. Urie is the only remaining member of the band and diehard fans can agree this new sound is nothing like the one established in 2005. The sad, emo sound has morphed into an eclectic synth-heavy, jazz sound. Compared to “Too Weird To Live, Too Rare To Die” (released in 2014) the new album is a complete 360. It may seem as if Urie is trying too hard to be an entire band, overcompensating for the obvious lack of depth. There are no longer any complimentary guitar riffs or any background vocals, the album is 100% Brendon Urie. For those who signed up for Panic!, Urie is considered a compromise.

Yet this compromise proves to be a triumph. After losing four members, most people quit while they’re ahead. Urie honors the band he founded and proves that while the band may not be what people signed on for, what he can bring to the table is worth a listen. Urie to much surprise was able to successfully portray what it’s like to grow up. To make mistakes, to live recklessly, to move on, and to finally be happy. While the entire album is full of emotion, first time listeners may want to take it slow with the more up-tempo tracks, before divulging in the melancholy ballads.

Creativity and talent consume the energetic frontman and that much is obvious throughout “Death Of a Bachelor” Urie proves to be a success story, and while the album is dubbed “Death Of a Bachelor” the revival of his career is evident.

Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars

(Photo courtesy goodreads.com)

By Valeria Araujo – News Editor

In the first book of the four-part series, “Throne of Glass,” the reader finds out that Celaena Sardothein, the main character, is not an average 18-year-old girl.

Unless being an assassin is considered ordinary.

However, her job profession is not the only peculiar thing in the high fantasy series. The world of Erilea which used to be a world full of magic was conquered by a vicious King who wiped it from all shown surfaces. Nations are torn apart as hushed rebellion spreads throughout the continent. When Celaena starts to learn more about her world, the ancient secrets it holds being to unravel and unknown evils decide to come out and play. And it’s up to Celaena to save life as they know it from long forgotten dangers.

But things don’t start of this way. After being betrayed by a fellow assassin, Celaena is sent to a prison in Endovier. She is brutalized as she mines for salt for an entire year (even though most people only last a month) before the Crowned Prince of Adarlan summons her to give her a offer she cannot refuse. To gain her freedom, she must participate in a competition against 23 other diverse criminals for the title of the King’s Champion. If she wins, she would be freed after four years as serving as the King’s Champion, which entails crossing out the names of the King’s personal hit list for good.

“High Fantasy” novels usually leave a lot to be desired, but Sarah J. Maas does a great job of engaging the reader through out the entire novel. She immediately grasps the readers attention in the very first sentence: “After a year of slavery in the salt mines of Endovier, Celaena Sardothien was accustomed to being escorted everywhere in shackles and at sword-point.” By giving a small taste of background on Celaena’s previous endeavors the curious reader would want to know more about how she end up there and what got her in chains the first time around. Possibly the most unique part of the book is that although it is all written in third person, the reader gets to experience many other perspectives other than just Celaeana’s which helps move the story along immensely. As the story progresses and the reader learns more about Erilea, and as they encounter the many plot twist and lovely characters, it slowly becomes a “cannot be put down” book. It’s action-packed and keeps the reader guessing the entire time.

Unfortunately, some of the plot twist are actually extremely predictable. One of the biggest plot twists is completely obvious throughout the entire book. When it comes to the big reveal it falls flat because most people have all ready figured it out in the first few chapters. There are also some tacky tropes like the over done love-triangle that leaves many readers frustrated because these types of tropes never end well. Celaena as a character in general is also kind of a hard pill to swallow. She is quite full of herself at times which might come to bite her in the other books. Even though Celaena might be an annoying main character, at times, it makes her more real because not every hero is always a kind, selfless person in the beginning and this also shows that even the most unlikely people can be heroes which will make the reader continue to route for her in the journey she takes through out the novel.

Sarah J. Maas  truly saves the novel by giving the reader amazing characters like Nehemia Ytger, the dethroned princess of Eyllwe; Chaol Westfall, the stoic captain of the Guard; and the spirit of Eleana Havilliard, the first princess of Terrasen. These are all very different people with completely different roles to play but they are all lovable in their own way.

Readers of the series “The Hunger Games” and “Game of Thrones” might be drawn to the throne of glass series because of its similar settings and/or character arcs because all of these series, more or less, have fantasy aspects to them. The “Game of Thrones” and the “Throne of Glass” series are set in a very old time period because there is still a working monarchy and yet “The Hunger Games” series is a dystopian novel and shares the rule oppressive governments – and also knows a thing or two about murderous competitions – which many young adult readers are extremely drawn recently. Great books will always transport the reader to another dimension and the world of Erilea is one that should definitely be explored.

Rate 4.75 stars out of 5

(Photo courtesy imdb,com)

By Nicole Macchio – Entertainment Editor

“Star Wars” is the fifth highest grossing film series in the world and has a huge fanbase. The first “Star Wars” movie, “Episode IV: A New Hope,” was released in 1977. The films in order are IV, V, VI, I, II, II, and now VII.

In the latest installment, “Star Wars: The Force Awakens,” fans will follow new characters alongside old ones in a fight against The First Order. The movie has already broken box office records, making $40 million alone on its opening night and $610 million worldwide in less than a week. It is expected to gross $2 billion worldwide, joining “Avatar” and “Titanic” as the only other movies ever to accomplish such a feat.

“Star Wars: The Force Awakens” takes place 30 years after viewers saw Luke Skywalker, Princess Leia, and Han Solo defeat Darth Vader. The movie opens up with a scene of the Rebel camp where crucial information regarding the location of Luke Skywalker has been found. Here a new villain is introduced, and he appears to have a lot of connections to Darth Vader: the black suit with the cape, a similarly styled helmet, and a voice altering device. With this threat imminent the Rebel group leader hides the information in a droid, BB8.

The droid stumbles upon a scavenger named Rey and immediately takes a liking to her. Rey reluctantly takes BB8 with her, and because of this, she ends up meeting Finn. Finn is running from the First Order, and when he runs into Rey with the droid, he can’t make himself walk away. Together, they embark on a journey with the First Order high on their tails.

The special effects in the movie allow the audience to feel as if they are actually flying across the galaxy. From one planet to the next, from alien to alien, the quality is extremely life-like, making the full immersion into the movie that much easier.

New director JJ Abrams brought forth his own style to the movie. George Lucas, the director of Episodes I-VI, was more focused on big surprises and darkness, as shown by his superb storytelling and what is regarded as the greatest cinematic reveal in history. Abrams has a lighter side, incorporating more humor, one liners, and sarcastic androids.

On the screen, viewers see Harrison Ford as Han Solo, Carrie Fisher as Princess (or General as she is now known) Leia, and Mark Hamill as Luke Skywalker. The newcomers include Daisy Ridley, who plays Rey, John Boyega, who plays Finn, and Adam Driver, who plays Ren.

The blend of new and old worked well for the movie, creating just the right amount of nostalgia mixed with excitement for what was to come. Old movies favorites like C3PO, R2D2, and the Millennium Falcon return to the screen alongside new favorites such as BB8.

The plot, while fast-moving, was easy to follow. The movie was packed with action sequences and almost constant battles, but still the characters were able to develop at the same time. The fighting, which escalated as the movie went on, was intense and well-done.

An evil villain dueling with himself, a normal girl with exceptional capabilities, a man on the run – all in the middle of a war. “Star Wars: The Force Awakens” is an epic space-adventure, filled with action and humor that results in a quality film for old and new fans alike.

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

(Photo courtesy hiphopdx.com)

By Brendan Felag – Staff Reporter

Curren$y is an American rapper from New Orleans, Louisiana. He was one of the original members of Young Money Entertainment, a label found by Lil Wayne. Curren$y built the foundation of his following on a legendary run of mix tapes that began in 2008.

With three projects already out this year – “Even More Saturday Night Car Tunes,” ”Cathedral,” and “Pilot Talk III” – Curren$y just released his fourth album, entitled “Canal Street Confidential.” Curren$y continues to give the fans what they want. “Canal Street Confidential” comes with 13 tracks and features guest appearances from Future, Lloyd, K Camp, Ty Dolla Sign, Corner Boy P, Fiend, Lil Wayne, and August Alsina.

The first track, “Drive By,” features Future, and while the two may not have a whole lot in common, the track scans as one of the better moments of the album. Another quality track on the album is “Everywhere,” which has a beat that intertwines with the tone of Curren$y’s voice. The song is about keeping your priorities straight and not giving your money away. Wiz Khalifa brings focus to the album on “Winning,” where Khalifa and Curren$y reflect back on their humble beginnings. The track is particularly effective when Curren$y tells the story of the broke artists and how they chose the right path to be successful. 

The album does have some drawback, however. Even though Curren$y is known to be a laid back rapper, he tends to be too laid back at times. The songs tend to sound pretty similar and the vocals can end up to be looked at as lazy and bland. In some of Curren$y’s older music, he was known for having jazz and soul-based hooks and that’s what really lacks in “Canal Street Confidential.” Even though Curren$y’s prime years are closing out, he should look to revive something more upbeat in his lyrics for him to reach a larger audience.  

Rate: 2.5 out of 5 stars

(Photo courtesy thebitbag.com)

By Jesse Dacosta – Staff Reporter

Kendrick Lamar and Jermaine Cole shook the Internet on November 27 by dropping a collaborative track called, “Black Friday.” Kendrick rapped over Cole’s “Tale Of 2 Citiez’ instrumental and Cole rapped over Kendrick’s “Alright” beat. This is the first single off their upcoming album which will be released in February under TDE and Dreamville Records. Rumors were circulated about the album, but this track confirmed the two MCs will be dropping a duo album.

Kendrick Lamar’s prior projects lead to high hopes for this album. From his 2010 mixtape “Overly Dedicated,” followed by “Section 80” in 2011, it was apparent early in his career that Lamar was a force to reckoned with. He brought back the roots of rap and wasn’t talking about the typical subjects in rap like money, cars, and relationships. His critically acclaimed debut album in 2012, “Good Kid, Maad City,” went platinum and had a great message that everyone could relate to.

Growing up in Compton, Lamar’s friends were doing illegal things, like selling and using drugs, trying to fit in, and he was conflicted just like everyone else. The album showed how Lamar found himself. His most recent release, 2014’s “A Butterfly” touched on pressing social issues such as racism and inequality. He also talk about the importance of loving who you are and staying true to yourself while also making radio hits.

Cole career hasn’t been as consistent as Lamar’s; however, he shows a lot of promise. He released a series of mix tapes in 2007 but none stood out until his 2010 project, “Friday Night Lights.” That album proved Cole was a versatile artist who could sing and rap. After some sub-par projects in between, he released his best project to date in 2014. “Forest Hills Drive” had flawless production along with some great verses. The whole album is about Cole’s teenage years living with his mom. The album doesn’t feature anyone, yet went platinum, which is a bold statement.

Lamar’s verse on the track was insane to say the least, using great wordplay. For almost four minutes, he is rapping with no chorus, throwing the traditional 16 bar verse out the window. His high energy goes perfectly with the high energy beat. He wasn’t kidding when he said the song had “career-damaging verses”.

Cole starts the verse with a diss to Drake and Future, most likely due to the fact they dropped a collaborative album earlier this year. Cole brings his own element to this instrumental. Rather than just rapping, he makes a chorus showing his versatile songwriting abilities. Cole proved that he could keep up with Lamar with his short but sweet verses.

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

(Photo courtesy playbuzz.com)

By Ann Reed – Staff Reporter

Little Mix are bringing girl bands back with the release of their third album, “Get Weird.”

The British girl-band Little Mix got their start in 2011 when it’s four members, Jade Thirlwall, Perrie Edwards, Leigh-Anne Pinnock, and Jesy Nelson, all auditioned for “The X-Factor” as solo artists. Following their individual eliminations in the first bootcamp challenge, the judges decided to give the girls another chance by putting them together and entering them in the group category. The girls joined separate bands at first, but after those individual bands failed to make it through the judges houses, the judges formed another band now known as Little Mix. Little Mix eventually became the first band ever to win “The X-Factor,” earning them a record deal with Simon Cowell’s record label, “Syco”. After their first two albums, “DNA” and “Salute,” sold well in the U.K, they searched and eventually found their first huge U.S hit with their third album titled “Get Weird.”

With this album, Little Mix has gone for an 80’s pop vibe, pulling it off beautifully. The girls make sure that every song fits the theme by using funky beats paired with fun dance lyrics. “Get Weird” serves as a time machine back to the 80’s, bringing the reader to a more lively time. The song that coincides with the theme the most is “Weird People.” The track features a beat lead by an electric keyboard with empowering lyrics such as, “And now I step out of the crowd and I party on the other side (Oh, the other side)/And ain’t no uptight sucker gonna tell me how to live my life (I’m living my life”) and “We’re gonna get weird all night/I said now let’s get weird all night.” This song, along with the whole album, is bound to make anyone want to dance, which is essentially what the 80’s was all about.

“Get Weird” also shows a more mature side to Little Mix, which is a refreshing change from their first two albums. While “DNA” and “Salute” seem almost too catchy for them to be meaningful, “Get Weird” shows a truer side to the girls. In songs like “Secret Love Song Part 2” and “The End,” focus more on the emotion in the song opposed to the production of them. With a simple piano backing, “Secret Love Song Part 2” puts all eyes on the stellar vocals and raw emotion, with lyrics like, “Every second, every thought, I’m in so deep/But I’ll never show it on my face/But we know this, we got a love that is homeless.”

With there only being 16 songs on the deluxe album, the listener will never want it to end and will expect more. “Get Weird” is perfect for any pop lover looking for fun tracks to work out to or sad songs to mess with their emotions. Afterall, doesn’t everybody have to “Get Weird” every now and then?

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

(Photo courtesy imdb.com)

By Isabela Roldan – Staff Reporter

Combine a creepy forest, a pretty female lead, supernatural horror, along with inspiration from true events and you have the means for a perfect thriller film.

Director Jason Zada has high hopes for his first major full-length film, “The Forest,” which will be released on January 8, 2016.

The movie is set in the Japanese mountains of Aokigahara, also named the Suicide Forest, where a young woman by the name of Sara goes in search of uncovering the mystery of her twin sister’s sudden disappearance. Going against the advice of others to not “stray from the path,” Sara enters the forest determined, only to be confronted by the exasperated souls that target anyone who enters.

Film star Natalie Dormer more commonly known for playing the roles of Margaery Tyrell in “Game of Thrones” and Cressida in “The Hunger Games,” will be starring as the main protagonist, Sara Price.

Dormer will be accompanied by her co-star Taylor Kinney who starred in movies such as “The Other Woman” and “Rock the Kasbah,” in order to fill the role of the expatriate, Aiden.

“It’s very exciting watching this film come together and working with all of the immensely talented people that have joined us,” Zada said.

The movie’s trailer previews just a few of the supernatural happenings done upon Sara, including  whispering of her name and hallucinations of her being pulled into the earth by tree roots.

While the movie’s main plot of a girl in search of her missing sister is false, the haunted forest of Aokigahara is, in fact, real.

“’The Forest’ will be a cinematic journey to a dark and terrifying place and I’m happy to be on that journey with Jason Zada, David Goyer, David Linde, and Tory Metzger,” said Peter Schlessel, CEO of Focus Features. “The supernatural scares of the ‘The Forest’ will be something that will genuinely thrill audiences.”

Zada has already made a name for himself in directing many commercials, short films, and apps including “Elf Yourself” and the Emmy award winning app “Take This Lollipop,” a scary, interactive Facebook app which opened the eyes of millions of people as to how much personal information they share online.

After viewing the movie’s set images, it is easy to tell that Zada has a knack for focusing on the aesthetics of the land, and hiding the mysteries within it just enough to make the viewer yearn to know what lies beneath it.

“It was important to me the capture the authenticity of the location and Japan,” Zada said. “The ability to help create real characters that come to life over the course of 90-plus minutes was a fun transition from shorter form content that I’ve done in the past.”

“The Forest” will leave horror fans on the edges of their seats. The only question left is, do viewers dare to explore the forest?

(Some information courtesy jasonzada.com and fastcocreate.com)

(Photo courtesy imdb.com)

By Catie Rice – Staff Reporter

The action-packed boxing thriller “Southpaw” hit theaters everywhere July 24. Antoine Fuqua, who also directs “The Equalizer,” impressively directs this edge-of-the-seat film.

The movie starts off with Billy “The Great” Hope, who is played by Jake Gyllenhaal, as the reigning junior middleweight boxing champion. He lives a great life with a loving wife and daughter and a long, undefeated career.

However, at the height of his career, Billy goes through the worst time of his life when an accident involving his wife takes her life. His life begins to crumble. With no money, a custody battle against the state for his daughter, and the onset of depression, Hope soon finds an unlikely savior in Tick Willis. Willis, played by Forest Whitaker, was a former fighter, but now trains the city’s toughest amateur boxers. With his future on the line, Hope fights to get his life back together.

Jake Gyllenhaal, who has also starred in “Nightcrawler,” “Everest,” and “Enemy,” successfully plays the role of Billy Hope. Gyllenhaal was invested in his role, making him the best fit for this character which made the movie very emotional and interesting. The boxing scenes of the movie were action- packed and made the viewers sit on the edge of their seat.

“I knew nothing about boxing when I started, really, and I knew that in order for me to pull it off in any way, I was just gonna have to learn how to do it — and when I set my mind to something, I just won’t stop until I do it,” Gyllenhaal said.

The big boxing scenes were impressively re-enacted. In one match, Gyllenhaal takes several hard hits, including an injury to his eye that worries his wife. Gyllenhaal did all his own fight scenes and rounds were recorded in the full three-minute intervals.

Hope’s wife, Maureen, played by Rachel McAdams, was only in the movie for a short time but added to the movie’s drama. McAdams has previously starred in “The Notebook” and the classic  “Mean Girls,” both of which help her play this role really well. As the loving wife that tragically dies in the arms of her husband, she creates many emotions for the viewers.

Although there was a powerful and intense climax where Hope starts to find his bearings once again, the ending felt rushed. You follow Hope through his training, working like he never has before to regain his former title and feel rushed into the final scenes.

This movie created a roller coaster of emotions for moviegoers and they won’t be able to take their eyes off the screen. This film appeals to anyone who likes action-packed movies.

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

(Some information courtesy hollywoodreporter.com)

(Photo courtesy imdb.com)

By Maeve Rourke – Staff Reporter

The new movie “Krampus” brings a scary and evil spin to Christmas.

This movie blends satirical humor about the unpleasant elements of the modern Christmas season with a scary tale.

The main character, a young boy named Max (portrayed by Emjay Anthony) has a dysfunctional family that clashes over the holidays and decides to turn his back on Christmas. Little does he know, his lack of festive spirit has spawned Krampus: an evil monster that has the intent of taking, opposed to Santa Claus who gives.

The movies starts off with with Max’s Aunt Linda (Allison Tolman) and Uncle Howard (David Koechner) visiting, and his miserable Aunt Dorothy (Conchata Ferrell), who immediately starts complaining to his stressed parents, Tom (Adam Scott) and Sarah (Toni Collette).

After Max ripped up his letter to Santa, a freakish blizzard blows through the neighborhood, cutting off all electricity and phone/Internet access. The chaos begins with a delivery man arriving with ominous packages, and when Max’s older sister, Beth (Stefania LaVie Owen), decides to visit her boyfriend, she never returns.

This movie has experienced skepticism due to its unusual take on Christmas. Despite the skeptics the film has drawn a huge curious audience.  The movie pulled in $6 million on its premier date and was estimated to make another $15 million last weekend.

In addition to the unique plot, “Krampus” contains many well-known actors. Comedians Adam Scott and David Koechner play a big role in the movie. Also, Emmy nominee Conchata Ferrell, best known as Berta the housekeeper in “Two and a Half Men”, stars in this film.

Although this movie has an unusual plot and well-known actors, it is hard to take the movie seriously. A big chunk of the movie includes cheesy build-up to the reveal of Krampus, and contains very little scenes that are actually scary.

Most of the scenes include cliché aspects of a horror movie. Much of the movie includes dark lighting, odd camera angles, and long quiet pauses with creepy christmas music playing in the background.

For example, when the monster, “Krampus”, finally does attack the family, it is usually in dark in enclosed spaces, and the camera is shoved in the actors’ faces while they try to do their best impression of someone being chased.

“Krampus” tries to portray the importance of family, and what christmas is truly about. It is hard to actually get a moral out of the movie when it isn’t very serious until it nears the ending.

Rating: 3 out of 5 stars

(Photo courtesy mirror.co.uk)

By Nisali Fernando – Staff Reporter

One Direction released their fifth and final album on November 13. “Made In The A.M.” represents the resilience of the British-Irish four piece. Unlike past releases, MITAM follows members Louis Tomlinson, Harry Styles, Liam Payne, and Niall Horan through a loss. This “loss” being the departure of member Zayn Malik. Malik’s time in the band boiled down to a cursory goodbye on social media. As expected, the fans were left in the dark about the aftermath following this sudden change. Yet aside from all the smoke and mirrors, One Direction released a surprisingly honest and vulnerable album.

“MITAM” itself offers a more well-rounded view of the pop turned rock boy band. The album itself is littered with lyrics deep enough to be printed on a wall sign and hung up in a home. The use of full orchestras and synthesizers push fans into a new cornucopia of sound. It makes the same boys who gained popularity singing “What Makes You Beautiful” seem like a distant memory.

The band got their start on the X-Factor UK, they lost and placed third in the overall competition but that wasn’t the end of One Direction.  They’ve released four other albums; “Up All Night” “Take Me Home” “Midnight Memories” and “FOUR” and with this current release it boils down to five albums in five years. While most groups would consider this task overwhelming, the growth and maturity between albums is apparent.

The pop album has 13 songs on the standard version and 17 on the deluxe version. Songs “Temporary Fix” “Walking In The Wind” “Wolves” and “A.M” are featured on the deluxe version

“Drag Me Down”, the first single off of the album, was released on July 31st with no warning. It debuted at number three on the Billboard Hot 100 chart and broke the record on Spotify for most streamed track in one day, earning 4.75 million global streams. The mid-tempo track is peppered with reggae influences similar to the band Magic! and closes with strong riffs from Styles.

The album opens with “Hey Angel” a song that draws influence from another popular british band from the 80s. The repetitive hook, “Oh I wish could be more like you, do you wish you could be more like me?,” eerily reminds listeners of the Beatles. It is a distinctively British-pop track and leaves listeners feeling nostalgic once the song is over.

“End of the Day” opens with a strong percussive line, the chorus is previewed with three percussive beats that allow for a beat drop that is unlike 1D’s original sound. Tomlinson finishes the song by belting a high note followed by a unique guitar riff.

“Never Enough” the most unique and eclectic track on the album opens with a war cry. The lyrics are artfully spoken and to most sound like gibberish. The fast-paced track sounds like a modern “Hooked on A Feeling,” but with trumpets.

“If I Could Fly” speaks of long distance love and leaves the listener crying over a love so strong it survives any obstacles. Lyrics such as, “ For your eyes only, I show you my heart. For when you’re lonely and forget who you are. I’m missing half of me when we’re apart.” strikes a literal chord with anyone who’s ever been in love.

“What a Feeling,” which is influenced heavily by Fleetwood Mac, has a synth-heavy, retro sound. The song talks on love at first sight and the feeling of letting love overtake you. Imagine a roller rink on 80s night, colors and sharp,disco music fill a listener’s senses as the song progresses.

While the album and the band itself have taken leaps towards developing a new sound. One Direction continues to play it safe with the songs they choose to release as singles. “Drag Me Down” which introduces a throbbing bass line and intricate guitar riffs still manages to be reduced down to another basic pop track. “Perfect” while a unique track in its own right, lyrics like “Baby I’m perfect, Baby I’m perfect for you” seem repetitive and vague. One Direction recently announced “Infinity” as their next single, essentially copping out and picking a pop-driven song to be played on the radio. While there’s nothing wrong with pop music, songs that show a different side of 1D slowly die out, unheard of by those who choose to only judge One Direction for their pop, bubbly exterior.

While 1D does rarely change it up, they are always identifiable. Regardless of the hatred one may feel for artificial boybands crying about the same old heartbreak. Their music sells. One Direction isn’t for everyone, but if a well-rounded, musically adept album still doesn’t sound appealing, that is 100% okay. There will always be 8-12 year old girls who cry over the love ballads sung by an endearing British beauty. There will always be fans “directioners” as they’re called, who feel a fierce loyalty to their boys, and will support their endeavors.

A song like “History,” dubbed “ a love letter to the fans,” embodies five years of friendship. A sort of parting gift and a sincere thank you for all the fans have done before embarking on their 18-month hiatus. And as of Monday, December 14th, One Direction changed their final single release from “Made In The A.M.” from “Infinity” to “History” due to overwhelming fan support for the folk track.

Though the album may be called “Made In The A.M.,” people will find themselves listening to the album for years to come.

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

(Photo courtesy io9.com)

By Owen Paiva – Staff Reporter

The beloved animated band, Gorillaz, was the brainchild of Blur frontman Damon Albarn and Tank Girl comic artist Jamie Hewlett. For those who do not know, Gorillaz is a virtual band made up of (from left to right) bassist and band leader Murdoc Niccals, lead singer and synth/keyboardist 2-D, guitarist Noodle, and drummer Russel Hobbs. Gorillaz was created in Blur’s hiatus as a way for Albarn to experiment with different genres of music. “Demon Days,” the band’s second and most successful album, was released in 2005.  Albarn and Hewlett teamed up with producer Danger Mouse, half of Gnarls Barkley, to produce a alternative rock/hip-hop album. Albarn described each song as battling with a personal demon. He drew inspiration from his train ride from Beijing to Mongolia with nothing but deserts and dead trees, thinking that one day the world will be like this.

The best part of the album is that each song has its own meaning and flavor. “Dirty Harry” is a commentary on the Iraqi war and is a reflection of Albarn’s anti-war beliefs, coming from a soldier’s point of view but seems like a very upbeat song, “El Mañana” is a false translation that means “The Mourning” in its context and is a melancholic ballad about dealing with the loss of a loved one.  “DARE” a seemingly bright and happy song is about a person on their path to absolution (the theme of the album) and their battle with urges to give in to their past bad self.  “Fire Coming Out of a Monkey’s Head” is another anti-war ballad, this one is about the consequences and ignorance of both sides in the war. The album ends with a two part orchestral ballad “Don’t Get Lost in Heaven/Demon Days” which take all the parts from the album and sum them up perfectly. The album’s ability to tell a story, while mixing alternative rock and hip-hop is its biggest strength.

The album was Gorillaz big breakthrough to the United States, going 2X Platinum as well as 5X Platinum in the UK. The album had won multiple awards including a Grammy for Best Pop Collaboration with Vocals for “Feel Good Inc” and an MTV award for best group. The album blended the hip-hop/alternative vibes from their eponymous debut album from 2001, with elements from Blur’s Britpop and pop vibes. The album’s message and storytelling earned it acclaim, and provided a tonal touchstone for the decade. The album holds up well today compared to other pieces of the early to mid 2000’s.

The lyrical content should be highlighted for certain songs, but “Feel Good Inc.” is the strongest on the album. It addresses the media’s dumbing down of everything, and about breaking away from that. The verse with strong lines like, “And all I wanna hear is the message beep., My dreams, they’ve got to kiss me ’cause I don’t get sleep, no” captures the media’s effect powerfully and the sweet, acoustic chorus is the highlight of the song, capturing the essence of escapism. This song is a perfect representation of the album and the group at its strongest.

The album’s only notable weakness lies in the preference of the listener. This album has some experimental songs with B-sides like “Fire Coming Out of a Monkey’s Head” and “Every Planet We Reach Is Dead”. These songs are the two good B-Sides but some of the other are not notable, and not memorable.  Some people do not want to listen to tracks that are more experimental and out there.

This album stands well after a decade, and re-listening to this album should make Gorillaz fans excited for the upcoming album as it is rumored to have a similar sound to Demon Days, with more guitar compared to the more electronic sounds of “Plastic Beach.”

Rating: 5 out of 5 Stars

(Photo courtesy youtube.com)

By Tyler Chavez – Staff Reporter

The first “Rocky” film came out 39 years ago. Since then, five additional films have helped establish the film franchise as one of the most beloved in American cinema. The story of a young boxer from Philadelphia established the modern underdog story in film, and launched Sylvester Stallone to stardom for the rest of his career. Enter “Creed”, the newest installment in the franchise (the first since 2006’s “Rocky Balboa”), that attempts to not only live up to the expectations of the first “Rocky” films, but also stand as its own great film. Starring Michael B. Jordan (“Chronicle”, “Fantastic Four”, “Fruitvale Station”), Sylvester Stallone (“The Expendables”, “Rambo”, “Spy-Kids 3D: Game Over”), and directed by Ryan Coogler (“Fruitvale Station”), “Creed” sets out to tell an underdog story we know very well by now, but also to make its mark on the “Rocky” franchise.

The film starts with Mary Anne Creed (played by Phylicia Rashad), the widow of champion Apollo Creed from the first three Rocky films, adopting a young Adonis Johnson, Apollo’s illegitimate son. Years later, we see Adonis (Michael B. Jordan) grown up, and boxing in Mexico, just like his father. But Adonis wants to pursue boxing full time, and decides to move from California, to Philadelphia to train under the great Rocky Balboa (Sylvester Stallone). While hesitant at first, Balboa agrees to train Adonis, after the young boxer reveals that he is Apollo’s son.

Michael B. Jordan, while not fantastic, does a very good job as Adonis. In almost every scene, you can see the hunger and desire he has to be great and achieve his goal. He also does a very good job of capturing how haunted Adonis is by his father. Even though he never met Apollo, he has resentment of him, and has to live with the comparisons to his father. This is a young man who is hurting, but will never admit it. This movie is a good move for Michael B. Jordan seeing as his last film, Fantastic Four, failed spectacularly at the box office.

However, Stallone really steals the show. His Rocky is older, alone, and weaker. He is not pathetic, but it is still sad to see him like this. Rocky is now more of a local legend, living quietly and running an Italian restaurant. However, Rocky still has a heart of gold. His comedic comments bring life into the film. The classic “old master becomes teacher” arc is handled perfectly, and the relationship between Rocky and Adonis is great. They both help each other in their own ways. I fully expect Stallone to get a couple award nominations for this performance.

The cinematography is also handled very well in this movie. Primarily during the boxing fights, the use of circling shots, and rising sound with every punch builds intensity and sets the atmosphere perfectly. Seeing these punches land hurts and adds a visual intensity that any boxing film needs.

Even though Michael B. Jordan does a good job as Adonis, Adonis himself can be a hard character to root for. It is not impossible to root for Adonis and he is not totally unlikeable since he does get some good character development later on, but he doesn’t truly admit his flaws or see the error of his ways and his pride and over-masculinity often get him into trouble.

Many of his opponents say the same thing, that he was born with a silver spoon and is not a proven fighter. And, well, they’re right. Adonis comes from money because of Apollo, and left his financially secure job where he was just promoted to chase some ego-fueled dream. And we only see him fight twice before he is asked to fight the pound-for-pound best boxer in the world. The entire idea of him suddenly being ready to take on this opponent is unrealistic. Instead of showing us Adonis working up through the boxing world, we only get some good old fashioned training montages.

Adonis is not the only character to weigh this movie down. The film’s main female lead and Adonis’ love interest, Bianca (played by Tessa Thompson of Selma and Dear White People) and the film’s antagonist, Ricky Conlan (played by actual boxer Tony Bellew) are given the short hand of the stick. What could be good, interesting characters are left unattended to and underdeveloped.

Bianca, unfortunately, is treated like many other love interests in boxing films. She is left to just stay by Adonis’ side and support him, which is a shame because she has the potential to be a good character. Bianca is an aspiring singer/musician who also has progressive hearing loss. Instead of touching on this story of a musician who is losing her hearing, the detail is tossed to the side. In fact, we learn very little about Bianca in the film as a whole. She is underdeveloped, and that lets the film down.

Ricky Conlan gets a similar treatment. The best pound-for-pound boxer in the world is about to go to jail for seven years, and wants one last fight with the son of Apollo before he leaves. But, he is not a total bad guy. He is not doing this for his ego, but instead, is trying to leave a roof for his kids to stay under. And yet, we see little of this, or Conlan at all. He is respectable and a decent guy, but as a character, he too is left underdeveloped and unappreciated.

In a way, the story of Adonis represents what “Creed” is all about. Both are trying to step out of the shadow of their predecessors, and prove that they can stand on their own as greats. They are not relying on their connections, but accept them to strengthen themselves and be better. Fans of the first “Rocky” film will enjoy this, as “Creed” follows a similar path, and seeing Stallone reprise his role as Rocky will warm their hearts. And to those who did not see the previous entries, they will find a well- written, well directed, uplifting underdog story. “Creed” accomplishes what it set out to do, and is a great film that may see some award nominations.

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

(Photo courtesy imdb.com)

By Nicole Macchio – Entertainment Editor

“Mockingjay Part 2,” the epic conclusion to “The Hunger Games,” takes viewers straight back into the world of Panem. After the recovery of Peeta and the other victors from the Capitol, Katniss has to deal with the fact that Peeta is now hijacked and is no longer the innocent and kind baker who loved her while she is finally getting ready for the war to take down President Snow.

The war between the districts has finally commenced and is pitting district against district. Feeling restless, Katniss asks Coin to be put into the action, and is sent to District Two to take down the Capitol’s main source of weapons. There Katniss is shot and presumed dead by the capitol.

Katniss is part of the Star Squad, the platoon was sent out to provide footage of the Mockingjay in action, but miles behind any real action yet still deadly. Some people may find this aspect of the movie boring because Katniss is only trying to fight in a war when she’s basically just pretending. While the bombs and dangers are real threats, this is true. Katniss doesn’t fight in the war but she does try.

Katniss is no longer reluctant to go out and fight in this war. She is tired from being a pawn used in everyone else’s game and she decides to do something about it. Anxious to be part of the fight and to help, Katniss and Gale head out – until their plans get sidetracked by personal added to their squad. Entering the war zone in the Capitol, Katniss seems to find her footing and loses multiple men on a suicide mission to kill Snow.

The scenes in the sewer were the most suspenseful of the entire movie, using the dark and the quiet to rattle nerves. The mutts were horrifying and well implemented to look real. The special effects were pretty well done, incorporated in a way that wasn’t overbearing but still managing to portray the way the Capitol had over-the-top luxury and Hunger Games violence. The only thing that really stuck out from the movie was the fact that Katniss’ hair was down for a majority of it.

One of the movie’s shortcomings is that it felt rushed. The scenes seemed to jump from one to the next constantly disrupting the flow that would have been established. They didn’t dwell in anything, or let anything really sink in, just quickly moved on to get to the next scene. It took away a lot from the feelings that were supposed to be portrayed. When Finnick and Annie get married, Katniss dances with Prim and the scene seems to flit across the scene and to the next. It seemed the directors were trying too hard to fit the scene in.

Once the rebels take the Capitol and have Snow in their custody, Katniss asks to take the shot to end the war. Her decision will shock everyone (assuming you have not read the book). The remaining parts of the movie settle back on Katniss moving back home, and moving on from the war. The last scene of the movie ties the whole storyline together with a quote directly from the book, wrapping the series up nicely.

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

(Photo courtesy thedailylistening.com)

By Nicole Macchio – Entertainment Editor

Halsey released her first full-length album on August 28. “Badlands” takes listeners on a tour through the mind of the young artist and brings them through the ups and downs of her life. It’s not so much an album about feelings as it is a state of mind. Halsey takes people through what she thinks is the desolate wasteland that is her mind.

All her life, Halsey has been surrounded by music. Growing up, her parents would play various types of music that she has told interviewers has influenced her own music style. As a teenager, Halsey was diagnosed with bipolar disorder and has struggled to come to terms with what that has meant to her life. She doesn’t let it cripple her; instead, Halsey writes honestly about its effect on her life.

Halsey started out her music career by posting YouTube videos and her big break came when she put her song “Ghost” on Soundcloud.

Halsey previously released an EP, “Room 93,” that included five songs. The success of these songs officially put Halsey on the map and helped her write “Badlands.” The indie pop album has 11 songs on the standard version and 16 on the deluxe version. The deluxe version features the songs “Hurricane,” “Colors Pt. 2,” “Strange Love,” “Gasoline,” and “I Walk the Line.”

Halsey has been quoted saying this album is an “angry female record.” That description of her album is almost spot on. Each song she wrote for this album has an edgy feeling and a mix of different sounds inspired by other artists that Halsey makes her own.

The album starts off with “Castle,” which has hard beats. “Hold Me Down” is inspired by a need to inspire people to never let anyone tell them they can’t do anything. Halsey sings about “clinging to a little bit of spine” which emphasizes her sticking to her own needs and not letting anyone step on her.

“New Americana” one of the more popular songs on the album. This song is about being diverse in America and about embracing things that are different and accepting them. It’s not a song that is as superficial as one might think upon first listen. The song “Drive” is softer and mellows out the setlist for a few minutes. “Hurricane” is about independence. A girl falls for a guy and he thinks he’s going to devastate her by leaving, but she turns around and says that she doesn’t belong to anyone. It’s meant as a message for girls and guys everywhere to be independent. “Roman Holiday” is more wistful with a solid beat and a strong vibe.

“Ghost” is Halsey’s first original song that she had released. Halsey mentions in the commentary for “Room 93” that she wanted her sound to be “church-y, scary, shimmery” that and is what she based the rest of her music on. She rereleased the song on this album because of its success on the EP.

“Colors” is about loving the idea of a person and the way that affects other people. Halsey sings, “You were red and you liked me because I was blue, but you touched me and suddenly I was a lilac sky then you decided purple just wasn’t for you,” which talks about the way people can change you and then not like what they did to you. The song “Colors Pt. 2” is a series of rhythms and sounds that are rocky and confusing. She uses the chorus and a verse from “Colors” as the only words she sings.

“Strange Love” has a rhythm that can now associated with the album. She writes about her freedom to not say anything to press about her relationships, but that she will because it’s what she’s good at writing about. “Coming Down” is softer than the previous tracks, once again slowing down the pace of the album.

“Haunting” is a track about wanting someone to stay with you, to keep haunting you.

“Gasoline” is about Halsey’s bipolar disorder and how she doesn’t feel human. She is blunt and passionate and the upbeat tempo. She sings, “Are you high enough without the Mary Jane like me? Do you tear yourself apart to entertain like me? Do the people whisper about you on the train like me? Saying that ‘you shouldn’t waste your pretty face’ like me?’” Like “Gasoline,” “Control” has a fast tempo and blunt tone. She says, “I’m bigger than my body I’m colder than this home. I’m meaner than my demons I’m bigger than these bones.” Halsey struggles with her bipolar disorder, and is still figuring things out.

Ending the album is “Young God.” Halsey calls this song “trippy” and it certainly fits that description with its swaying cords and the promiscuity. “I Walk the Line” is a cover of “I Walk the Line” by Johnny Cash, but it sounds much different. Where Cash’s song is accentuated by a banjo and is slow-paced, Halsey’s version is very sultry.

This album has gained Halsey immense popularity and earned her a nomination for MTV Europe Awards’ “Artist on the Rise” for 2015. She is also featured on Justin Bieber’s new album “Purpose,” which has already been a huge hit.

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

By Brendan Felag – Staff Reporter

(Photo courtesy nytimes.com)

“At.Long.Last” by A$AP Rocky was released on May 26. This album consists of 18 songs, lasting a duration of an hour and eight minutes. A$AP Rocky is an east coast rapper from Harlem, New York. He began his career in 2007 by joining a group of rappers and beatmakers called The A$AP MOB. One of the more familiar names from the group is A$AP Ferg, who is having the similar success that A$AP Rocky is experiencing. The type of hip hop that A$AP Rocky brings to the table is more of a psychedelic  and slow vibe, which makes his sound original and creative.

“At.Long.Last” starts off with “Holy Ghost,” a track that talks about Rocky’s relationship with God and how without Him, he wouldn’t be where he is in his career. This song brings a mellow distorted guitar beat that leads into an uplifting chorus that creates a church choir feel to it.

Next up on the list is another mellowed out song called “Canal St.” This track talks about A$AP’s struggles before he found success and was homeless roaming from Chinatown, Harlem, and Queens. Once that plays out “Fine Whine” comes on with its drained out, dark, beat. The basis of the song is about broken relationships with both Rocky, Future and both of the women that were very prevalent in their lives.

After that follows up with “Jukebox Joints” which is one of the better songs on the album with it’s soothing melody which come from samples of an Indonesian song by Rasela, titled “Doa Untuk Kasih” with some bars that go hard from Rocky and Kanye West who is featured on this track.

This album has a lot of featured artists that really bring this to life. These artists include Joe Fox, Bones, Future, M.I.A., Schoolboy Q, Kanye West, Juicy J, UGK,James Fauntleroy, Lil Wayne, Rod Stewart, Miguel, Mark Ronson, Mos Def, A-Cyde and A$AP Yams. And new, up and coming rapper Bones, has a feature as well. Bones brings the dark tone to this sound which brings in it’s culture in “Canal St.”. Lil wayne and Kanye West each had a eye-opening set of lyrics with Lil Wayne in “M’s” and Kanye in “Jukebox Joints.” Each feature packed the punch that was needed in each song.

In an interview with London radio broadcasters, Rocky says that the energy of London has influenced this album “100%.” A$AP Rocky also mentions that because he wanted to make so heartfelt, he went clean for the whole time that he was writing this album.

Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars

(Photo courtesy tripadvisor.com)

By Jesse Dacosta – Staff Reporter

Mr. Mac’s Canteen has been a landmark in Milford for years. The original location is in Monroe. After seeing the success of the first business, the owners decided to open the restaurant in Milford. Mr. Mac’s has always been involved in the community by sponsoring baseball teams and hosting charity events.

Mr. Mac’s isn’t ordinary fast food, hence their slogan: “A unique experience in fast food.” 

The high quality of the food is what sets Mr. Mac’s apart from chain restaurants. The award- winning chili is so spicy, some employees give a warning to the customers who order it. They are known for their all-day breakfast and their delicious hot dogs and cheeseburgers, both of which taste even better with the chilli.

The sides are just as good as the main courses at Mr. Mac’s. The mac and cheese wedges are so crispy, and the mozzarella sticks just ooze out cheese. The wavy french fries have the classic baseball game taste, and the onion rings are a great alternative. There’s even pea soup and clam chowder.

Usually the seafood from a fastfood place might be a risky choice, but there’s nothing to worry about at Mr. Mac’s. There are various platters and combinations including, scallops, stuffed clams, shrimp and lango. The fish doesn’t have that strong fish taste, and is surprisingly crispy.

There are so many different milkshake flavors, it’s hard to choose just one. The shakes are so perfectly thick, that sometimes it doesn’t come out the straw. Blue raspberry isn’t exactly the most traditional shake flavor, but it’s surprisingly one of the best.

They even have an assortment of concessions to buy at the counter like baked goods alongside gum and candy. The muffins sold are also really good, especially blueberry, and the giant cookies are the size of a basketball.  

Mr. Mac’s also has kids meals that come with a kids drink, cheeseburger or hot dog, an order of fries, and even a toy.

The prices are cheap at Mr. Mac’s, but they do not accept cards, so bring cash. There is an ATM inside as well.

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

(Photo courtesy twitter.com)

By Vishal Manglani – Staff Reporter

The potential future of hip hop may lay in the hands of upcoming songwriter, rapper, and Jonathan Law senior Bobby Phong, also known as B-Phong. What started as a hobby became a career leading him to his own gigs and recent release of his first album, “B to G.”

Phong’s first song “Rigamortis” sparked his rapping career in February 2015, and is currently his most popular song. His song became popular amongst high school students in Milford.

Phong’s first songs were the typical rap songs that display his life story, and the battle against certain stereotypes that he endured. However, as his music advanced, Phong developed deep personal meaning, and discussed issues such as suicide and hatred. This aspect of his music makes his songs isolated from rappers, such as Fetty Wap and Lil Wayne who both sing strictly about their reign. Instead, Phong’s music resembles the messages portrayed by the Old School rappers, such as 2 Pac and Biggie Smalls, who preach peace. What makes Phong’s music unique is that he portrays these personal messages in the tempo and pitch of modern rap.

Phong’s newer songs are growing at a faster rate and receive more positive feedback than any of his other songs. His growth in his songs resemble those of the modern rapper, J-Cole’s early stages of stardom. B-Phong’s “Rigamortis” received over 1,000 views in nine months. Phong’s newer songs such as  “No Regrets” received nearly a thousand views in just one week. He also received more likes and approval than he did when he first started out.

The first song in the album, “Rigamortis” is a remix of Kendrick Lamar’s “Rigamortis.” The song is about his battle against asian stereotypes as he explains in the song with its rhythmic lyrics. For example, he uses the lines, “Asians just play piano and loving the mathematics” to describe stereotypes he has faced. He later says, “survival of the fittest,” implying he that triumphed over the societal bias.

The beats that B-Phong chose to fit his lyrics match perfectly. He rhymes and matches his tempo with that of the beat. He keeps his rhythm constant to match the beat at it’s drum beat. Phong’s song “97 Til’ Infinity” was the best example of his ability to adapt his music to the beat. In this song, Phong puts stress on the words that fall on the song’s heavy drum beat. This creates a head-bobbing effect on the audience.

On Phong’s earlier work, his passion sometimes got the best of him. He tended to get so passionate about his subject, that he would yell what he was singing and lose the rhythm hs current music has. In phong’s later songs, his voice quality and pitch quality bettered from new technology.

Aside from Phong’s music, his music videos are impeccably professional and have very vivid quality. Being a high school student, his budget was very limited, but the end result is very impressive.

Phong’s  popularity is constantly rising as well as his music quality. If the pattern continues, the rap industry may have a new name.

Overall, Phong’s album “B to G” is a rare look inside his mind. Fans can find B-Phong’s music on YouTube on his channel “B PHONG”. You can also find his music on Soundcloud under the artist “B PHONG.”

By Arielle Eighmy – Staff Reporter

(photo courtesy imdb.com)

Imagine never growing older.

Director Lee Toland Krieger, lets the audience experience it along with Adaline. He also directed “The Vicious Kind,” and “Celeste & Jesse Forever.” This is the case for Blake Lively, star of the hit television series “Gossip Girl,” and movie “The Age of Adaline,” released in April. Lively’s inability to age and to keep it as best a secret as she can is intriguing and will leave viewers wondering what will happen next. 

The movie starts off with Lively’s character (Adaline Bowman) who is at the time 29 years old and suddenly gets into a car crash that should have been fatal only to make a miraculous recovery. Her survival, however, leaves her at the same age for nearly nine decades. This causes her to constantly change her name and relocate to various regions of the world so no one will ever know her secret that she has been hiding.

After settling into her new residence, shortly after she meets a charming young man by the name of Ellis Jones (Michiel Huisman). Adaline is weary at first of Ellis and questions whether or not to move somewhere else once again.

But as Ellis’ attraction for Adaline grows, she chose to stay. Throughout the film Adaline struggles to mask her identity and ensure her timeless secret stays safe, but as her and Ellis’ love grows stronger, Adaline must decide whether or not her lust for Ellis runs more heavily than her desire to keep the secret safe.

This film captivates audiences with a passion for science fiction and an endless need to watch romance films. Although many critics gave mixed reviews on the film, most thought this was one of Lively’s better performances as an actress.

“The Age of Adaline,” is a must watch movie with honorable performances by Blake Lively (Adaline Bowman) and Michiel Huisman (Ellis Jones).Blake Lively is supposed to be playing a role of a young lady with no distinct interior life, but as a person Blake is very different: she possesses natural beauty and poise.

The build up to the moment when Adaline realizes she can’t age is slow and the movie lacks in keeping it interesting. However, once she figures out her predicament, the movie really starts rolling out. The plot picks up and the audience will find themselves intrigued. “The Age of Adaline” is a good movie for anyone in the mood for a good love story.

Rating: 3.5 out of 5