By Hanna Broderick – Staff Reporter

“John Mulaney & the Sack Lunch Bunch” is a children’s comedy special created by Mulaney and Marika Sawyer. The special came out on December 24, 2019 on Netflix, where Mulaney has done three previous stand-up comedy specials. Mulaney’s intention was to create a special that resembled 70s kids television. It was mainly inspired by classic series’ “Sesame Street,” “The Electric Company” and “The Great Space Coaster.” The special features Mulaney alongside 15 child actors and singers ages 8-13, and includes special guests Jake Gyllenhaal, David Byrne, and André De Shields.

At the beginning of the special Mulaney talks about how he was recently watching children’s TV and he didn’t like it. Remembering how much he enjoyed it as a kid, he concludes that TV was simply better back then and his goal was to create something similar to what he enjoyed as a kid. It does exactly that, each skit tackles a different topic through sketches and songs. 

The show is funny for adults because of how much of it represents the innocence and silliness of kids. It sort of pokes fun at the ‘dumbness’ of kids without being condescending towards them. It also makes multiple comments on how sometimes the more simplistic and oddly intelligent approach that children often take, could be the best.

In one sketch, the kids are sitting in a meeting room holding a focus group led by Mulaney about a fake movie he produced, one of the kids breathlessly explains the whole plot to him, despite him obviously already knowing. However, the child does a great job in summarizing the movie and Mulaney realizes that it would be the perfect logline. This is all why it is an appealing special to people of all ages.

Considering that the show was made for kids and adults, the actual format of the show could have been made more in mind of children. The special is 1 hour and 10 minutes long which most kids do not have the attention span to watch. It could have been served better as a multiple episode mini-series showing only one or two skits an episode. Besides that, the actual writing, directing, production and screenplay was phenomenal. 

“John Mulaney & the Sack Lunch Bunch” is the perfect special to watch for anyone, of any demographic. It is extremely funny and explores topics that have not been previously talked about in a kids show.

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars 

By Tyanna Xavier – Staff Reporter

“Five Feet Apart” is a 2019 classic and romantic film that will have every woman at the edge of their seat in tears. This film was directed by Justin Baldoni and written by Mikki Daughtry and Tobias Iaconis. The film was based on a true story of a couple named Dalton and Katie Prager who both had cystic fibrosis. 

Cystic fibrosis is a genetic disease that affects the glands that produce mucus and sweat, causing mucus to become thick and sticky. As the mucus builds up, it can block airways in the lungs making it harder to breathe.

In the movie, the main character, Stella (played by Haley Lu Richardson), checks into the hospital for help with her cystic fibrosis (CF), as though it is her second home. Stella has been there so long she became friends with a lot of the staff and other sick patients that are around her age. When she is roaming the halls of the hospital she comes across another patient named Will (played by Cole Spouse) who also has CF. However, Will was there to do it through an experimental trial to help with the CF. 

As most women have seen many romance movies in their lives, this is one to remebever. Will was so tired of having this disease he didn’t care what would happen to him. However, Stella refused to let him think that way. Every day she would see him but of course, stand five feet apart and just help him stay organized with his medicine and tell him that they are going to get through this together. 

Some strong points of the film were that it was unpredictable, yet very realistic. This film was fiction but it introduced real life problems and complications in people’s lives. People with cystic fibrosis should never meet each other because they carry bacteria within their lungs that could be harmful to each other. Therefore, for this movie to be a rom-com about two teens who can love from a distance but never touch is very eye-watering.

As much as this movie was very thrilling, however, it did resemble many other romance movies. For one, it is similar to “The Fault In Our Stars” and “The Notebook” because the plot involves characters battling with medical issues. Notwithstanding, this movie was very entertaining. It just could have had a slightly different storyline than these other romance movies. 

This is a great movie to watch on a girls’ night along with some ice cream and a box of tissues. 

Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars

By Maddie Papcun ─ Staff Reporter

Tim Burton is well known in the entertainment industry for his dark direction of macabre cartoons and horror films, such as “The Nightmare Before Christmas.” Yet, while animated movies in general lend themselves more to whimsical or high-spirited themes, Burton pushes the envelope again and again, especially with “Corpse Bride.” 

Released on September 23, 2005, and now almost 15 years old, “Corpse Bride” is the tale of Emily, a bride of the afterlife, and Victor Van Dort, her still-breathing groom. It is set in a fictional, Victorian-era village of England. 

As the film opens, Victor, the son of newly-wealthy fish merchants, is set to marry Victoria Everglot, the daughter of newly-poor aristocrats. The hope is that such a union will raise the social status of Victor’s family, while simultaneously raising the financial status of the Everglots. 

Nervous about marrying someone he does not know, Victor struggles through the wedding rehearsal and eventually runs away to the forest to practice his vows alone. As he places a ring on a branch, it manifests into the hand of Emily, a dead woman in a tattered bridal gown who agrees, saying “I do.” Thus, Victor is caught between two marriages, and struggles to find his place in both the mortal world and the Land of the Dead. 

The strongest point of “Corpse Bride” by far is the soundtrack. The movie is semi-musical in nature, as some of the plot is told by songs the characters sing. These songs reach a wide range of genres, but the best one is titled, “Remains of the Day,” and utilizes a New Orleans jazz style to explain how Emily came to be the titular  “Corpse Bride.” 

Another strength Burton’s “Corpse Bride” holds is the casting. Johnny Depp voices Victor, and Helena Bonham Carter is the voice of Emily. Honestly, this should not be a surprise, as Burton has a habit of casting the two actors in opposing roles of his movies. This would seemingly make the pairing overdone, but the opposite is actually the case; each applies perfect emotion and characterization through their voice acting. 

Additionally, “Corpse Bride” does a fantastic job of explaining typically difficult concepts to its younger audience. It is an animated film and is intended for children, but it also deals with heavy topics such as death, true love, and murder. Burton’s film does not struggle in explaining these concepts simply, rather it perfectly breaks each difficult point down while telling an entertaining story. 

While “Corpse Bride” is a movie that’s a little older, it is a timeless story of love and loss told through Tim Burton’s classic style of stop-motion animation, suitable for all ages. 

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars 

(Some information courtesy of imbd.com) 

By Samiksha Mehta – Entertainment Editor

Tons of new songs have come out during these three months in 2020. Many of those songs have been on TikTok, which is a platform where people post videos to get likes and views and get “TikTok famous.” Some of the songs include “You Should Be Sad” by Halsey, “Yummy” by Justin Bieber, and “What A Man Gotta Do” by the Jonas Brothers.

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Halsey has been known for her distinctive singing voice and the way her songs make her fans feel like they can do anything. Some of her songs are about getting over bad breakups or about getting over that friendship that was so toxic you didn’t have anything to fall back on. “You Should Be Sad” is about a girl getting ready to breakup with her significant other and no matter how gently she’s doing it, she’s doing it in a way that makes it obvious that she never wants to see him again. 

The lyrics “I wanna start this out and say / I gotta get it off my chest / Got no anger, got no malice / Just a little bit of regret” start off the first verse by conveying the meaning that she’s had this in her for a while and needs to get it off in a way to let her continue to be free and without regrets.

One strong part in “You Should Be Sad” is the lyrics “Oh, I feel so sorry / I feel so sad / I tried to help you / It just made you mad” because it shows that she’s trying to be the bigger person while also trying to reject him as clearly as she can. It shows that you can do anything you put your mind to as long as you’re focused and ready. 

A confusing part of song is the line “Let me start this off by saying / I really meant well from the start” because it’s confusing and makes questions arise like “was she planning on breaking up with him before the relationship even became official?” or it could’ve given off the impression that she was in it for the glory or whatever and then ended it because she wasn’t satisfied.

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Before releasing his new album “Changes,”  Justin Bieber had about as many songs as diehard fans have on their liked songs playlist on Spotify. One of the extremely popular songs on “Changes” is called “Yummy” which is about his deep affection for his wife and how he’d do anything for her; drop everything and go to her if that was what she wanted. 

The most memorable lyrics in “Yummy” are “Say the word, on my way / Any night, any day / In the morning or late / Say the word, on my way” because it shows that he’s always ready to drop everything and go to her if she ever needs him no matter what’s happening and that’s basically what his whole album is about, basically just showing his true “intentions” (another song on his album) and letting his wife know that he’s always there for her since the album is basically dedicated to her and his relationship with her. 

A weak point in “Yummy” is when Bieber sings “Standing up, keep me on a rise / Lost control of myself, I’m compromised / You’re incriminated, no disguise / And you ain’t never running low on supplies” because it’s confusing, simple as that. Probably only Bieber knows what this means, and while that is okay and all because it’s his album, it’s a lot more confusing for his fans too because they would want to know what it means if they can’t figure it out.

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The Jonas Brothers’ album “Happiness Begins” is all about the era of being tied down, marriage, and the honeymoon phase in marriage and Kevin, Nick and Joe really play it up in their songs on this album. 

“What A Man Gotta Do” is about the passion behind the marriage and how the husband is reassuring the wife that they’re in it together no matter what. 

The lyrics “I’d move the earth or lose a fight just to see you smile / ‘Cause you got no flaws, no flaws” are memorable because it shows that the husband is pleased to praise his wife and that he’d do anything for her happiness, even if it made him a little upset. 

A weak point in “What A Man Gotta Do” is the lyric “Cut my heart about one, two times” because only the artist knows what it means and although that’s normal for songs because fans can’t be expected to know what all of the lyrics mean, it’s still confusing because they don’t know what the singers are trying to convey. 

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Overall, “You Should Be sad”, “Yummy”, and “What A Man Gotta Do” are actually really good songs to move around to and to gather inspiration from (especially “You Should Be Sad” for that last one).

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

By Samiksha Mehta – Entertainment Editor

Music fans may know “Falling” by Trevor Daniel. Well, he recently released a new song called “Past Life” which is him talking about his past life and basically what he would change to make his new life better. He reflects on all he did in his past life and how he’s trying to better himself by recounting what he did and would not do. 

“And I don’t want to sit in all my sadness / I know it’s a habit of mine” is a part of the song where Daniel acknowledges that he spends most of his time wallowing in his despair and that he doesn’t want to do that anymore in this “new” life of his. 

A strong part in the song is when Daniel sings, “Don’t re-, don’t remind me / I ruined it before it began” because of how he acknowledges that he ruined the life before it began, and that he doesn’t want to be reminded of his past actions. It shows that Daniel is willing to move on and forget his “past” life and transition into his “new life” while also making sure he fixes his mistakes or avoids making them again. 

One weak point point in the song is when Daniel sings, “Got me here like you can never figure me out / Last night was the last time, was the last time” because it gets kind of confusing. Like, why was last night the last time? What was it the last time for? What did he do to make it sound like he was definitely never gonna do it again? Also, what does he mean by “you can never figure me out”? Is he trying to block out the people who hate on him? Is he leaving clues that the recipient will never figure out? The lyrics are very confusing and leave a lot up to interpretation. 

Overall, “Past Life” by Trevor Daniel is a good song and it could inspire someone to block out their haters or cut off toxic people so they can move on and get started on their “new life” and make new friends or keep old friends and create new bonds. 

Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars

By Addison Schwing – Editorial and News Editor 

WARNING: THIS ARTICLE CONTAINS SPOILERS FOR “PARASITE”

Bong Joon-ho’s “Parasite” has taken the box office by storm. The comedy-thriller premiered at the Cannes film festival in 2019, whereupon it received the Palme d’Or, the first South Korean film to do so. Upon its release in Korea at the end of May, Parasite was met with critical acclaim, going on to receive over 180 awards, including four Oscars. 

Parasite follows the story of the Kim family, who are destitute and live in a basement apartment in the slums of an unnamed Korean city (the movie was filmed around Seoul and in Jeonju). The Kim family father Ki-taek, mother Chung-sook, daughter Ki-jung and son Ki-woo hold temporary jobs as pizza box holders and struggle to make ends meet. One day, Ki-woo’s friend offers him a job as an English tutor for the exorbitantly wealthy Park family, who live in a lavish modern house and drive nice cars. 

Soon, Ki-woo helps the rest of his family infiltrate the Park family, with Ki-jung posing as an art therapist, Ki-taek working as the family chauffeur, and Chung-sook taking up the position of housekeeper. They revel in the glory of the Park family’s riches until they discover a secret that will tear the two families apart, and see innocent blood spilled. 

“Parasite” is a joy to watch. The stark contrasts drawn between the two families are evident in subtle symbolism, such as a scene where Chung-sook hastily prepares instant noodles for the Park family’s eccentric son Da-song, and tops it with high-grade sirloin beef, presumably to illustrate the sheer wealth gap in the movie. The film builds tension through the orchestra-focused soundtrack, with the sharp resonance of violins builds as the heat rises. On the surface, Parasite is an innocent enough comedy, but under its shiny surface lies a dark and malicious interior. 

The climax of the movie, where the Kim family discovers someone living under the house, signals a sudden shift in the movie’s tone, and the switch is so sudden it easily catches you off guard. You simply can’t prepare yourself for the sheer speed that the climax happens in. Many subtle, yet significant details lie hidden beneath the surface, commanding the watcher’s absolute focus. It is certainly a film intended for higher levels of thinking, and without such high attention, the watcher can quickly become lost in the metaphorical hurricane that is this movie. 

“Parasite” is a surefire win for anyone who wants to get deeply invested in a complex spiderweb-like plot with rich characters and gorgeous cinematography. This movie is a blast and is well-deserving of its innumerable accolades. 

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

By Mia Cerrato – Editorial Editor

“Black Mirror” is a show that was first released in December 2011. While it came out nearly nine years ago, it still managed to convey extremely technologically advanced ideas through each of their episodes.

“Black Mirror” speculatively examines modern society. The show executes this idea of a technological future by focusing on humanity’s relationship to technology and the consequences that may have on the world. Each episode of “Black Mirror” focuses on a different reality in order to allow people to understand that there may be future adverse effects to the technological advancements we are currently making.

For example, in one episode of the show, a top gamer company creates a video game in which players can physically enter the game. With the game eliciting a mix of thrill and fear, it results in the audience being on the edge of their seats. However, just like every other episode of “Black Mirror,” the episode ends in a tragedy, as the main character ends up dead because of a flaw in the game’s design.

With the end of each episode resulting in feelings of uncertainty and oftentimes bewilderment, the show manages to teach the audience lessons about how the misuse of technology can lead to our downfall.

By Mia Cerrato – Editorial Editor

“After Parkland” is an intimate documentary following the lives of families who lost loved ones in the shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School. 

The documentary shows people navigating their way through life while dealing with grief and loss. It shows the effects of the shooting that took place only a year ago. Emily Taguchi and Jake Letterman, producers for ABC’s Nightline, followed the survivors months after the shooting. They follow multiple survivors as well as the lives of the parents who lost their child. 

The documentary is not about the shooting itself but how people grappled with the aftermath of the shooting. The film has a tone of sadness at the thought of so many young lives can be taken at any moment. It also touches upon how activism can be seen as a way to cope with the tragedy. The focus on activism serves as a remembrance of the incident.

One of the victim’s fathers creates pictures with his son’s images and slogan, “Change the Ref,” the name of the non-profit he and his wife created. This will be able to help their son’s generation to work against gun violence and other issues. 

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

By Jaelynn Shelton – Staff Reporter

The new “Bad Boys For Life” movie was released on January 17. The film was the fourth of the “Bad Boys” series and features Mike Lowrey and Marcus Burnett as the main characters.   

The new “Bad Boys For Life” movie stars Will Smith as Mike Lowery and Martin Lawrence as Marcus Burnett. The two characters were played perfectly by these amazing actors.

The two actors are portrayed as partners in crime, or more appropriately, partners in justice. The two are detectives in the Miami Police Department and chase down bad guys and fight for justice while having a good time. 

Although the film gives an interesting and fun insight into the field of police work, it is at times unrealistic and features many exaggerated scenes. One example of that would be the excessive car crashes, fires, and destruction that occurs in the film. While police work can be daring and harmful, these are extreme circumstances.

This particular film talks about Detective Lowrey’s life before he met his partner in justice. His life before his partner was interesting to say the least, as he was sent as an undercover cop to a Mexican cartel. In an unexpected turn of events, he fell in love with a vicious woman, a woman that defied all his principles. Many times in the film it is mentioned that she turned him into the man that he is. Without her, he wouldn’t have the hard-core exoskeleton that is so often portrayed throughout the series.

When terrible acts are committed to members of an old case, it is clear that a rivalry has appeared between the caseworkers and the convicted. In an effort to sort out the crime, Lowrey takes on the case. Only this time, Mike and Marcus can’t do it alone. 

A new team is then introduced to viewers. AMMO is introduced as a more new and younger way to solve crime. In a way giving that famous clash of the ages that we are so used to hearing or feeling. Both of the main characters struggle with the idea of this new and more efficient way of doing things.

At the end of the film, none of that really matters, as both the young and old crime workers come together to find the bad guys and try to solve the case.

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

By Adarsh Senthilnathan – Staff Reporter

WARNING: CONTAINS SPOILERS

“21 Bridges”, directed by Brian Kirk, is about New York Police Department detective André Davis, played by Chadwick Boseman, and his involvement in uncovering a huge conspiracy involving corrupt police officers. 

“21 Bridges” has amassed over $48.9 million worldwide and over $28.5 million in the United States of America. 

The movie focuses mainly on Detective André Davis and how he discovers that there are some police officers that are not following the law and participating in illegal activities, but it also includes people like Captain Matt McKenna, Detective Frankie Burns, Michael Trujilo, and Ray Jackson. 

The movie starts off with Davis at his father’s funeral service at a Church in New York City. Davis’s father, Reginald, was a police officer who was murdered during one of his shifts, therefore there was a closed casket ceremony. 

19 years go by in the movie and then André Davis becomes a detective in the NYPD. Davis gets assigned to a case involving two drug thieves breaking into a building to steal a rival gang’s cocaine. At this point, Davis does not know that the responding officers to the break-in were actually trying to steal the cocaine themselves as well, but later on in the movie he will figure this out. 

Federal Bureau of Investigation agents Butchco and Dugan attempt to take over the case from Davis and Burns, but at the end of this argument Davis and Burns are allowed to lead the case. 

During the chase of Michael and Ray, the two suspects, Davis mortally wounds Ray and then Michael manages to keep Burns at gunpoint. Michael tells Davis how suspicious the whole everything is on the drives that he received from the money cleaner that they went to after getting cash from Adi, their drug dealing friend. 

Eventually, after looking at Burns’s phone, Davis realizes that she is a corrupt police officer and she was in on the plan to raid the drugs in the building. 

One of the best parts of the movie is when André Davis is in Captain McKenna’s home and he tells Captain McKenna that he knows that he was in the ring of corrupt police officers because he has proof from the drives. 

Soon after this, corrupt police officers and the two corrupt FBI agents, Butcho and Dugan, come to shoot Davis but he shoots them down and shoots Captain McKenna because he attempted to kill him. Davis then arrests Burns because she put down her weapon and badge. The movie ends with Davis driving off with the drives in a cup holder in his car. 

However, the movie could have been a little more clear in the beginning of the movie with the drug stealing scene and the aftermath of that scene. 

Overall, the director did a really good job at making the movie interesting and memorable. 

“21 Bridges” can be compared to other movies involving police officers and law enforcement agencies like, “21 Jump Street” and “The Heat”. 

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars 

By Mayur Somalinga – Staff Reporter

“The Flash,” ever since its pilot episode aired on October 7, 2014, has been a favorite among comic fans alike as a dynamic extension of the “Arrowverse.” However, in recent years, namely in 2016 when Season 3 debuted, the love for the show began to die out due to retcon inconsistencies, repetition, a lack of lightheartedness that made the previous seasons of the show successful, amongst other issues. Season 6, however, so far, seems to be an impetus for redemption for the show as a whole that has allowed for the return of viewers that were not fond of previous seasons.

[WARNING: This review contains minor spoilers for “The Flash” Season 6 Episodes 1 – 11 and Crisis on Infinite Earths. Read ahead at your own risk.]

The show features Iris West-Allen played by Candice Patton, Dr. Caitilin Snow/Killer Frost (Dr. Snow’s alter ego) played by Danielle Panabaker, Cisco Ramon played by Carlos Valdes, Joe West played by Jesse L. Martin, Cecile Horton played by Danielle Nicolet, Ralph Dibny (aka Elongated Man) played by Hartley Sawyer, Harrison Nash Wells (this season’s rendition of the Harrison Wells character), Allegra Garcia (the newest addition to “Team Flash”) played by Kayla Compton, and last but not least, Barry Allen, or better known as the fastest man alive, The Flash, played by Grant Gustin.

Season 6, while humorful, starts in a dark place as it begins right after the disintegration of Nora West-Allen (played by Jessica Parker Kennedy), the daughter of Barry and Iris that traveled back in time to see them. Although Nora is quite distant and mysterious in the beginning, especially with Iris, she eventually develops a tight-knit relationship with her parents which makes it all the more difficult for them to say goodbye after Nora disappears into thin air after a confrontation with The Flash’s archnemesis, The Reverse-Flash. To add insult to injury, Barry and Iris discover that Barry is fated to die during Crisis on Infinite Earths, an event that threatens the very existence of the multiverse.

However, no season of “The Flash” would be complete without a formidable antagonist and for this season, the directors introduced Ramsey Rosso (played by Sendhil Ramamurthy), a seemingly mild-mannered doctor who after witnessing his mother fall at the hand of HLH (a rare blood disorder), and knowing that he also will contract the disease, goes mad trying to develop a cure which leads him to break the Hippocratic Oath and become the villain known as Bloodwork. Bloodwork is unlike any of the other villains seen in past seasons as he is not a speedster but rather he is a meta-human that possesses the ability to infect others to create invincible henchmen that he can command. Overall, due to the uniqueness of the character and his motives, Bloodwork has proven to be a worthy adversary of The Flash so far.

As stated before, Season 6 of “The Flash” is more of a reboot for the show in terms of its reputation amongst its fans. The primary reason for this being the case is the fact that this time around the show has been made to mirror the cheerfulness and humor that was the cause of Season 1’s enormous success. Also, in past seasons, namely Seasons 4 and 5, Iris has played the role of leader of “Team Flash,” and while there is no doubt that Iris and Barry are soul mates, most fans would agree that the role of leader does not highlight Iris’ strengths as a character and that showcasing her as the intrepid investigative journalist that she is by nature would be a lot more beneficial to the show which is how Iris has been portrayed thus far in the season. Another highlight of this season, in particular, has been the version of The Flash suit Barry has donned which compared to the previous 5 seasons, is the most comic-accurate and aesthetically pleasing with the reintroduction of the chin strap and overall minimalistic design. This season also displays the adept acting ability of the cast through the perfect combination between intense emotional scenes and those that present the dorkier and more hilarious sides of the characters. All of the previously mentioned high points of the season are worth discussing, however, the most impactful was the fact that as a result of the aftermath of Crisis on Infinite Earths, the multiverse was destroyed which means that all the superheroes and villains now reside on one Earth, known as Earth-Prime. Of course, this is also quite unfortunate as many of the fans fell in love with the concept of the “Arrowverse” characters being able to travel to other worlds, often intensifying the plot. However, with all that being said, it is quite an exciting installment as at the end of Crisis of Infinite Earths Barry creates a union amongst the heroes, much like DC Comics’ “Justice League.”

Although just above, the death of the multiverse was stated as a positive, there is one repercussion of the end of the multiverse that makes the event seem very indecorous, indeed, which is that, with the multiverse being a construct of the past, it eliminates the possibility of another Harrison Wells character being introduced. This is quite upsetting to fans as the introduction of a new Harrison Wells character every season has garnered the affections of many fans and has been very helpful to “Team Flash” as they work to quell their ever-expanding rogues’ gallery. In contrast, now, “The Flash” is left with Harrison Nash Wells being the only version left to assist “Team Flash,” however, the accuracy of that statement may need to be furthered examined as at the end of Season 6 Episode 11 (“Love is a Battlefield”) there is a shot in which Harrison Nash Wells sees Harrison “Harry” Wells (first introduced during Season 2) for a quarter of a second before he disappears. It is currently unclear what the implications of this happenchance are, however, fans theorize that it may be a hallucination caused by the guilt he faces since he incidentally started Crisis on Infinite Earths out of hubris leading to the subsequent destruction of all other worlds and thus all versions of Harrison Wells, also. 

Although most viewers have stopped watching since Season 3 onwards, as alluded to previously, Season 6 is a perfect opportunity to return without any feelings of regret with the introduction of the Season 1 inspired approaches to plot construction and character development.

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

By Addison Schwing – Editorial and News Editor

At first glance, Mecha Noodle Bar is quite unassuming. It’s tucked away in a side street off of US Route 1, nestled carefully among boutiques and grab-and-go restaurants, with only a bright orange sign out the front. They don’t take reservations or call ahead seating, and they don’t deliver either. With locations in Stamford, Norwalk, and New Haven, one would assume it’s just another chain. However, once crossing through the double doors and past the curtains, you’re immediately greeted with quite the spectacle.

Every surface of the restaurant is covered with black metal and hardwood furnishings. Diners sit at communal tables chowing down on soup as waiters weave their way through the crowded dining floor. Behind a counter of noodle chefs sit shelves stocked with various Japanese foodstuffs. A portrait of the late Anthony Bourdain hangs behind the diligent chefs behind the counter, tucking into a bowl of ramen. It’s small and crowded, packed to the brim routinely with hungry patrons looking to warm up with a hot meal.

I was seated after a while and presented with the menu, which offered both ramen and pho, a handful of appetizers, and an extensive drink list on the back. The menu, while small in terms of individual items, offers many customization options for its dishes, such as soft boiled eggs, scallions, and corn. I opted for the Red Oil Dumplings and the “Tonkatsu Ramen,” two obvious favorites given everyone else’s orders at the tables nearby. To drink, I ordered one of their house-made sodas, a ginger beer. 

My appetizer arrived; four hefty dumplings sitting in dark red chili oil garnished with scallions and fried shallots. They were big, stuffed to the brim with pork and shrimp, and perfectly pan-fried, with a satisfying crunch to boot. The heat and acidity of the chili oil cut through the richness of the dumpling, which acted more as a vessel with which to deposit some of the hoisin sauce sitting at my table. It was fantastic; rich and spicy and flavorful all in a hand-sealed package. My ginger beer was spicy with a sweet, tart undertone – a perfect palate cleanser.

Eventually, my ramen arrived, and what a sight it was. It was unlike anything I had ever seen; a big blue bowl of thin noodles swimming in a light brown-ish broth, with a slice of chashu pork belly, a half of a soft boiled egg, and wide strips of nori flanking the bowl. At first bite, I was enthralled by the complexity of the broth, offset by the firmness of the noodles. The taste was indescribable; traditional tonkatsu broth takes anywhere from 24-48 hours to make, and its time on the stovetop certainly lent it a rich umami sensation accentuated by fragrant spices. The pork belly was tender and pleasantly fatty and not at all conflicting with the rest of the dish, the soft boiled egg was soft and, while a little bit strange to eat, was still delicious in its own right, with delicate savory notes poking through the richness of the broth. The nori served little purpose other than some textural difference, but it was a welcome change of pace from the rest of the dish. By the end, I was totally full, and after paying my bill, I actually had some difficulty getting back to my car, thoroughly incapacitated by the delicious meal I had previously consumed.

Fairfield, Connecticut is a haven for restaurants such as Mecha, boasting a wide array of restaurants, from simple pizza and sandwich joints to upscale gastropubs. Mecha Noodle Bar is an unpretentious, yet satisfying restaurant that serves filling meals made with quality ingredients and prepared with care. Even if it may be a little pricy (my meal for one ran me around $30), it’s well worth the cost and the drive to get there. 

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

By Samiksha Mehta – Entertainment Editor

The sequel to the bestselling “Jumanji” movie is now here…and it’s a movie viewers don’t want to miss.

[WARNING: Review of this movie comes with spoilers. Read ahead at your own risk.]

“Jumanji: The Next Level” came to theaters on December 13 starring Dwayne Johnson, Kevin Hart, Jack Black, Karen Gillan, Nick Jonas (all returning) and a new cast member, Awkwafina.

The movie starts off with Spencer coming back home from college in New York. He’s made plans to have a sort of reunion with his friends from high school: Bethany, Martha, and Fridge at their favorite diner, now called “Nora’s”. When Spencer gets home, he finds out he’s sharing a room with his grandpa, and things get interesting from there on.

When Eddie’s (Spencer’s grandfather) old friend comes by his house for a visit, Eddie gets mad because Milo (old friend) abandoned their old restaurant to “retire” and relax. Milo gets mad back at Eddie for taking things to the extreme and says that he just wanted to relax with his wife and retire because he knew his “time” was up.

Spencer rediscovers the Jumanji game, after thinking that it was gone after the last time he went in. Curious, he goes in again, and goes missing. When he doesn’t show up to the diner with his friends, they get worried and go to his house to figure out where he’s gone. They snoop, and they find the game in the basement, shock taking over all their faces after they see it. Since Spencer’s grandfather is down in the basement with them, he gets sucked into the game with Milo when they start and Bethany is left back in the real world.

The roles are switched when the characters enter the game. Instead of Spencer becoming Dr. Bravestone, Eddie becomes Dr. Bravestone, and Fridge becomes Prof. Shelly Oberon. Martha is still Ruby Roundhouse, and Milo becomes Franklin Finbar. Milo and Eddie are confused when they find out what they are, and because of their short-term memory, Fridge and Martha have to keep telling them what’s going on. Meanwhile…Bethany, having been left behind from the game, goes to Alex to help get them back. When Bethany and Alex get into the game, she turns into a flying horse and Alex turns into the famous Nick Jonas, who is Alex in the game as well. 

The goal to get out of Jumanji is to recover a stone from Jurgen the Brutal, and to do this, they need to get Spencer, who turns into Awkwafina, whose character is someone skilled in lockpicking and stealth. Spencer, while in the character’s body, feels even worse about himself, because being in that specific body reminds him of who he is in real life, and he’s devastated because instead of becoming Dr. Bravestone, he’s basically another version of himself. 

The movie follows the main cast as they retrieve the stone and save Jumanji, once again. Once they get back home, the four friends decide never to go back in and they destroy the game console. Martha and Spencer are back together, and everything is just as it was in the first film. 

A strong point in “Jumanji: The Next Level” is when the characters switch avatars. This is a strong point because it shows how the different characters can make the avatars their own and it shows independence and that people don’t have to always be the same person; they could always use different personality traits to express themselves.

A weak point in “Jumanji: The Next Level” is when Spencer goes back into the game without notifying his friends. The whole foundation of their friendship is honesty, because when they first became friends, they had to depend on each other to survive. Him not telling his friends about going back into the game was a breach of that.

Overall, “Jumanji: The Next Level” is a really good action movie, and it’s not one moviegoers want to miss. 

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars 

By Jaelynn Shelton – Staff Reporter 

The new animated film “Frozen 2” premiered in theaters November 22. This movie is a sequel to the first “Froze”n film which was released November 27, 2013. The film features Queen Elsa and her sister Princess Anna as the main characters. Queen Elsa is known for her magical powers that allow here to control the cold (thus the name “Frozen”). 

Idina Menzel plays the character Elsa in the film. India does a great job at being the voice of the character, as she can clearly portray how the character feels in the way that she talks. 

Kristen Bell plays the character  Anna in the film (Elsa’s younger sister). Her voice also fits her character well, and allows the audience to fully grasp the tone of the scenes. 

The movie although having to do with magical/mythical powers, of course has a deeper meaning. The deeper meaning being that sisters or family, is extremely important and should be there through all your imperfections or problems. 

In the first “Frozen” film Elsa runs away from the kingdom and everyone believes that she has been cursed and that her powers are a sin. Anna her sister decides to journey off by herself and find her sister, because she knows how her Elsa must’ve felt and how scared she was. Anna after staying in her home for years leaves the kingdom defenseless and has no idea what’s to come. When Elsa is in distress Anna risks her life, as she stands in front of a blade to save her sisters life, risking her own. The tables are switched and there is one way to save Anna (true love), of course the audience believes this involves true love with a man, but that’s not the case here. In this case true love was Anna and her sister as Elsa truly loved her sister and Anna truly loved hers. The love that they had for each other saved each other. 

That is why the film is appealing to most audiences. It can appeal to the younger generations as well as the older ones in a way that most films wouldn’t. 

New songs were put in the film they could only be described as catchy as they pull the audience in and make them sing along. 

The movie also appealed to the imagination of the children that watched it, as the animations were as detailed as they could be for an animated film.

Rating:  3.5 out 5 stars

By Briana Hernandez – Staff Reporter

AJR is an American pop band composed of multi-instrumentalist brothers Adam, Jack, and Ryan Met. The band is a pop group who write, produce, and mix their material in the living room of their apartment. Their most successful songs are “I’m Ready,” “Weak,” “100 Bad Days,” and “Burn the House Down.” In 2019, their third album “Neotheater” debuted at #8 on the Billboard 200, and hit #1 on the Top Rock Albums chart.

The name “AJR” comes from the first initials of the three brothers, Adam, Jack, and Ryan. Their musical style has been described as “electric,” combining elements of pop, doo-wop, electronic, and dubstep.

This group would originally perform covers of songs until they started to make themselves more known through singing at Washington Square Park and Central Park with their own original songs.

The brothers released their third EP, titled “What Everyone’s Thinking,” on September 16, 2016, which features the lead single “Weak.” The lead single was written by the band in a day, within a few hours, without any idea of the future success the single would have. “Weak” has been certified Platinum in the U.S., Canada, Norway, the Netherlands and Belgium, and Gold in Germany, Italy, Sweden, and Australia. It has over 320 million streams on Spotify.

The band released its second studio album, The Click, on June 9, 2017, featuring the singles “Weak”, “Drama” and “Sober Up”, which features frontman Rivers Cuomo from Weezer, who co-wrote the track. This song reached number one on the Mediabase Alternative Singles chart in 2018. The band’s 2018 tour in support of the album, The Click Tour, featured Hundred Handed, Grizfolk, Ocean Park Standoff, and MAX as openers.

An extended version of The Click was released on September 21, 2018. The Click (Deluxe) included new tracks such as “Role Models”, “Normal” and “Burn The House Down”, the latter which the band released in March, 2018 as a single and reached number two on the Mediabase Alternative Singles chart. Also included was “Pretender – Acoustic”, an acoustic version of “Pretender”, which was a collaboration between AJR, EDM artist Steve Aoki and American rapper Lil Yachty.

In all of their songs the lyrics are easily known and are stuck within the beat of the songs. Their songs are easily relatable to a degree for their targeted audience. Even those who don’t listen to pop, electronic, doo-wop or anything like that, they can still can get glued to at least one of their songs. This being due to how they suck listeners in.

They don’t target everyone instead they only make songs specified group. For those who like rap, heavy metal, or etc. those are the types of people who would not like this type of music. 

In the beginning of this song there is a short clip of “I’m Ready” from Spongebob Squarepants. This song has an upbeat and is very positive in its tune. This song talks about being crazy about a girl and how they’re going to “set the night on fire”. With this song they put a twist on the meaning of the blues, with an upbeat tune, but talking about a girl. They are similar to most boy bands out there, including One Direction, the Jonas Brothers, and the Backstreet Boys.

This song brings the relatable state that not everyone wants to get up everyday. Also, brings how even though one person may be weak it doesn’t mean anything, there shouldn’t be discrimination against it. Part of their lyrics that play into this is, “But I’m weak, and what’s wrong with that”. Everyone is weak at one point, it doesn’t mean that someone should be attacked for being so. 

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

By Adarsh Senthilnathan – Staff Reporter

WARNING: CONTAINS SPOILERS

“Angel Has Fallen,” directed by Ric Roman Waugh, is about Secret Service Agent Mike Banning, played by Gerard Butler, and his interactions with President Alan Trumbull, played by Morgan Freeman. 

“Angel Has Fallen” won the Labor Day weekend box office with an estimated $11.5 million. 

The movie focuses mainly on Mike Banning and how he is falsely accused of planning an assassination attempt on President Alan Trumbull and his entire Secret Service team, but it also includes people like Leah Banning, Clay Banning, and Wade Jennings. 

The movie starts off with Banning at a Secret Service training facility and when Banning comes out of the facility, Jennings takes Banning’s helmet and collects DNA evidence, such as hair and sweat. Of course, at this time, Banning has no idea that Jennings did this and will plan to betray him in the future. 

During one of the President’s fishing expeditions, Wade Jennings and his Salient team fire drones that target and kill all the members of Mike’s Secret Service team, but they do not target Mike and the President. After this, the Federal Bureau of Investigation falsely accuses Mike of an assassination attempt on the President and his own Secret Service team because of the DNA evidence that Jennings planted in the van that fired the drones.

Eventually Mike escapes custody of the FBI and custody of Salient Global because of his Secret Service training. 

One of the best parts of the movie is when Mike Banning and Clay Banning press buttons and wires on land in the forest and a bunch of bombs go off and kill the bad people from Salient Global that Wade Jennings sent to kill Mike. 

Banning is thought to be a criminal during most of the movie, and as a result his family is poorly treated. After President Alan Trumbull clears Banning’s name, he is uncuffed and allowed to help out in protecting the President from Wade Jennings and his Salient team. 

Banning successfully takes the President out of the hospital, but then his team is attacked by Salient, and it turns into a bloody gunfight. At the end of all the fighting, the President is safe and Mike Banning lives and becomes promoted to Secret Service director. 

The previous Secret Service Director David Gentry arrests the acting President Martin Kirby for helping Salient Global plan the assassination attempt on President Alan Trumbull in order to raise up to the office of the President of the United States and help give military contracts to private military companies. 

However, the movie could have included more action in the beginning part of the movie, like before the training exercise. 

The director did a really good job and the actors were very good at making the movie interesting. 

“Angel Has Fallen” can be compared to the two previous movies in the “Fallen” series, which are “Olympus Has Fallen” and “London Has Fallen”. 

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

By Mia Cerrato – Editorial Editor

“Joker” is a new psychological thriller based off of the D.C. comics. 

The film was directed by Todd Phillips and produced by the Warner Bros. Some of the cast consists of Joaquin Phoenix, Robert De Niro, Frances Conroy, Brett Cullen, and many more.

The plot follows Arthur Fleck, who is a part-time rent-a-clown. He is working for a sketchy talent agency. Fleck is mentally ill and takes medication as well as attending court ordered therapy. 

This leads to him resorting to crime to make a living in Gotham City. 

Arthur wears two masks. One for his day job as a clown and one that is a way to attempt  he is part of the word that surrounds it. His isolation and loneliness built up into madness and the movie follows his self destruction. 

The movie is creepy and keeps the audience on the edge of their seats.

All the actors performances’ were highly praised. The were able to capture the dark tone of the movie as well as the topic of mental illness.

The film was suspenseful and eerie and is able to appeal to a large audience. It keeps the viewers scared yet entertained. 

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars 

By Samiksha Mehta – Entertainment Editor

The last song ever sung by Selena Gomez before October 2019 was “I Can’t Get Enough” with Benny Blanco, J Balvin and Tainy. “I Can’t Enough” was released on February 28, leaving many of her fans a little more than eight months wondering if she’d release new music or not. 

AJustin Bieber and Hailey Baldwin’s second wedding was on September 30. Selena’s new songs “Lose You To Love Me” and “Look At Her Now” released on October 23, not too long after the wedding. Many fans speculated that the pop singer’s two new songs were about the marriage and that the songs were revealing how “betrayed” she felt that Justin moved on so quickly. Selena was quick to shut that down and Hailey also shut those rumors down, but some fans can’t help but wonder if it’s actually true or not. 

“Lose You To Love Me” is an almost “soft” and emotional song – supposedly – conveying Selena’s feelings towards Justin and Hailey’s wedding. “In two months you replaced us / Like it was easy / Made me think I deserved it / In the thick of healing, yeah” is one of the phrases in the song, referring to Selena’s feelings on how fast Justin moved on from her to Hailey. “Lose You To Love Me” is a very emotional song, which will really put anyone “in their feelings”, and want to play it for any sad event or anything.

A strong point in “Lose You To Love Me” is the way it flows and the lyrics “And now the chapter is closed and done / To love love, yeah / To love love, yeah / To love, yeah / And now it’s goodbye, goodbye for us” which basically means that Selena’s over Justin and that she is officially ready to say goodbye to what once was between them. A weak point in “Lose You To Love Me” is the lyric “Set fire to my chorus” because it doesn’t really go with the meaning of the rest of the song. 

Another new song of Selena Gomez, called “Look At Her Now”, is just the opposite of “Lose You To Love Me” although conveying the same meaning — just in a different way. “Look At Her Now” is all about how she’s sad about moving on but also about the fact that she’s happy to live life and that she’s glad she’s not tied down anymore. A strong point in “Look At Her Now” is the lyrics “Of course she was sad / But now she’s glad she dodged a bullet” which really conveys how Selena and Justin were always on and off and that there were many accusations in their relationship (all of them about Justin doing something wrong or cheating on her). This phrase in the song really conveys the meaning that she’s glad she’s out of the relationship, otherwise it might’ve grown toxic. A weak point in “Look At Her Now” is the lyrics “Not saying she was perfect / Still regrets that moment” because it doesn’t really relate to the rest of the song and could be confusing for many people. 

After a little more than eight months without releasing a song, Selena Gomez is back and better than ever with “Lose You To Love Me” and “Look At Her Now” for her new fans, and a lot of them seem to be eating it up. Her two songs really put into perspective the topic of breakups and moving on and being happy, which could sound really good to newly-single people.

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

By Samiksha Mehta – Entertainment Editor

This – although typical romance movie – is so good viewers wouldn’t want to miss it.

[WARNING: Review of this movie comes with spoilers. You have been warned.]

“After” came to Netflix on October 9, starring Josephine Langford as Tessa Young and Hero Fiennes-Tiffin as Hardin Scott, the two main characters. “After” is a movie based on college romance, and the ups and downs that come with it. Tessa Young is a freshman in college who thinks she has her whole life sorted out. She has the perfect boyfriend, her mother is supportive, and she feels like she knows what she wants to do. She meets her dorm mate Steph, who can be a little rowdy, but that’s not a bad thing. She goes to a party, and there she meets Hardin Scott, the sophomore who’s bad news. Hardin hangs out with the “rebel group”; Molly, Tristan, Zed, and Steph. Molly doesn’t like how Tessa is, because of how “good” she is and how “innocent” she is. Tessa doesn’t like Molly because of how rude she is and how “blatant” she is. 

After the party, Tessa finds herself attracted to Hardin, the mysterious bad boy who has an affinity for classic books but doesn’t seem like the reader type. She neglects talking to her mother and boyfriend back home as she hangs out with Steph and Hardin more. She finds herself cheating on Noah (her boyfriend) with Hardin, and Noah catches her when he comes by for a surprise visit and she comes out wearing Hardin’s t-shirt. No matter what she tries to do to fix their relationship, Noah breaks up with her and tells her mom what she did. The next day, Noah tells Tessa that her mother doesn’t approve, which Tessa doesn’t like because she should be able to do whatever she wants as long as she’s responsible now. She finds herself hanging out and becoming closer with Hardin more often and she eventually becomes his girlfriend. 

He shows her his secret spot in the woods and they spend time there talking and whatnot, and when they get home, she gets ready for yet another hangout with Steph. While she’s getting ready, she gets a surprise visit from Molly, who doesn’t like her because of Tessa being with Hardin. Molly tells Tessa that Hardin has kept a secret from her for the whole duration of their relationship which Tessa doesn’t believe at first. She believes that Hardin’s told her everything and their relationship is good. However, Molly brings her to the local hangout and sits her down with their group of friends, where Hardin also seems to be. Tessa confronts him about something he hasn’t told her and he denies her accusations. Molly doesn’t seem to like that, so she shows Tessa a video of Hardin accepting a bet that he’d get her to fall in love with him and then leave her, because he doesn’t believe in love. Tessa gets heartbroken and leaves him, saying how she loves him and thought he loved her too. Despite how much he tries to get her to believe that it was a bet at first but he didn’t realize he was in love with her, she leaves him and that’s when the movie ends. 

A strong point in “After” is when Molly tells Tessa that her and Hardin’s relationship was a bet. This was a strong point because it shows how real Molly is being and it relates to many stories where there’s always a jealous girl who wants to get rid of her ex-boyfriend’s new girlfriend. This also shows how real the movie is and how there’s always a plot twist in these types of movies. Viewers can almost the waves of jealousy flowing off of Molly when she tells Tessa that Hardin won a bet. 

A weak point in “After” is when Hardin takes her to his special spot. Although he and her talk alot and even wade in the lake, the tension and feel of the actual relationship doesn’t feel like it’s really there. They only spend time kissing and talking about meaningless things, especially since they’re a new couple. Since they’re a new couple, viewers expect them to talk about what it means and how to proceed. The lake scene was just a little confusing for me because there wasn’t anything explaining what they did and they didn’t really talk all that much, they just swam and kissed. 

“After” is definitely not the typical “high-school romance” movie, because of the plot twists and the characters’ diversity, which gives a little more in-depth reasoning to what they do and how they do what they do. This movie is definitely worth watching (especially before the sequel comes out next year!)

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

By Lucas Greifzu – Editorial Editor

*WARNING: This article does contain spoilers for Avengers Endgame*

Marvel has leaped over the highly set bar that it set for the final chapter in the decade long story that is the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Heading into Endgame, the MCU has grossed nearly $19 billion across 21 movies, including four of the 10 biggest movies of all time. The trailer promised Earth shattering (literally) action throughout the movie, and it delivered on that promise quite thoroughly. This movie has had even more hype leading up to it than Avengers Infinity War did, and with it being the aftermath of Infinity War, it surely lives up to the hype.

Thanos is back in the latest and final installment of this branch of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. After fulfilling his destiny in Avengers Infinity War, many people were left wondering what could be next. While 50 percent of all life in the universe was wiped out by Thanos, Earth still has some defenders. Iron Man, Captain America, Thor, Hulk, Hawkeye, Black Widow, War Machine, Rocket, Nebula, Ant-Man, and Captain Marvel headline the list of heroes that Earth has left after Thanos’s snap. However, Thanos has an army of his own with him including the Black Order. Avengers Endgame is set up to be one of the better movies that Marvel has put out in the past decade.

The movie starts off with Tony Stark and Nebula stranded in space on the remnants of the Guardians of the Galaxy’s ship. It mentions how they have been drifting through space since their battle with Thanos. It also mentions how they have been without food or water for days, which means that Tony is severely malnourished. The next scene shows that Tony is fading towards death, however Captain Marvel appears from the depths of space and rescues the pair. When they arrive back on Earth they are greeted by the remainder of the Avengers, as well as Pepper Potts. After a brief discussion between the group it is revealed that Tony has no knowledge of where Thanos might be, but his adopted daughter Nebula does. The group discovers that Thanos is on a remote planet, and they go to visit him to get some answers. When they arrive they come to the realization the Thanos has destroyed the infinity Stones, thus ending their hopes of bringing back the 50% that was lost.

Next, the movie jumps forward in time five years, and we see Captain America leading a group therapy session in New York City. He tells the group that the world is in their hands, and that they have to do something with it. Next we see Scott Lang escape from the quantum realm, where he has been trapped since Thanos’s snap. He returns to the Avengers headquarters where he explains that instead of five years he was only trapped in the quantum realm for five hours. He continues to explain that using this knowledge they might be able to use the quantum realm in order to travel back in time and get the Infinity Stones and bring everyone back. They bring the idea to Tony Stark who is living in the woods with his wife and daughter. Tony says that it can’t be done and that even if he could, he can’t risk losing what he has gained.

Not wanting to give up, they bring the idea to the other genius that they know, Bruce Banner. It is revealed that Banner has found a way to combine his two forms and become Professor Hulk. He says that quantum physics isn’t really in his wheelhouse, but he still offers to help. They return to HQ and try to send Scott back in time. However, it doesn’t go fully according to plan. First they try and bring Scott back but he comes back as a teenager, then he comes back as an old man, then as a baby, before finally returning as his normal self. After this semi success, Captain America goes outside, where he is greeted by Tony. He reveals that he has cracked the code on time travel and has fully functional time space navigators. He also reveals that he has the original shield that Captain America used, which he gifts to him. They now have to gather the whole team in order to go on the mission. Hulk and Rocket travel to New Asgard in Norway to bring Thor back to the team. However, when they get there they discover that Thor has PTSD from the battle with Thanos. After some convincing they manage to get Thor to come back to the team, and the whole team is back together. 

After that, they have to plan where to go in order to get the Infinity Stones. After some deliberating, they find out that there are three Stones in New York in 2012, 1 Stone is Asgard in 2013, 1 Stone on Morag in 2014, and 1 Stone on the planet Vormir in 2014. On the mission to New York, Hulk is assigned the task of getting the TIme Stone from the Ancient One. After he promises to bring all of the Stones back to their proper timelines once they finish using them, she allows him to take it. On that same mission, Captain America is tasked with getting the Mind Stone, (Loki’s Scepter), after the battle of New York. Finally, Tony and Scott are in charge of getting the Space Stone, (Tesseract), from the Avengers after the battle of New York. All goes according to plan until Tony accidentally gets hit by the Hulk and loses the Stone to 2012 Loki. 

Meanwhile, on Asgard, Thor and Rocket don’t run into too much trouble while getting the Reality Stone. Thor seeks some advice from his mother prior to leaving Asgard. She tells him to stop trying to be someone that you are not. Thor also manages to grab Mjolnir before they travel back to the present. On, Morag, War Machine and Nebula easily manage to capture the Power Stone. However, Nebula is captured by 2014 Thanos, who takes advantage of the connection between present Nebula and 2014 Nebula. They devise a plan to send 2014 Nebula to the future in order to bring 2014 Thanos to the present. Subsequently, on Vormir, Hawkeye and Black Widow are greeted by the guard of the Soul Stone. He informs them that one of them will need to sacrifice themselves in order to get the Stone. In the end, Black Widow ends up sacrificing herself in order for Hawkeye to get the Stone. FInally, back in 2012 New York, Tony and Captain America devise a plan to get the Space Stone. They travel to SHIELD HQ in 1970, this allows them to get more Pym Particles, and the Space Stone. While there, Tony has an encounter with his dad Howard Stark. He thanks him for everything that he did for him and says he wasn’t that bad of a dad. Captain America also sees Peggy Carter while he is at the camp and pauses to think about what he’s going to do when this is over. 

Upon returning to the Avengers compound, Clint is forced to break the news that Natasha has died to the rest of the group. They all agree that they have to continue on with the mission for her as well as for the countless others that have been snapped away by Thanos. After some deliberation on who should wear the gauntlet Hulk ends up putting it on and snapping his fingers. However while this is happening 2014 Nebula is busy bringing Thanos’s ship into the future. After Hulk snaps his fingers there are some subtle clues that show the snap worked and that everyone is back where they were before the snap. Unfortunately, the Avengers are greeted with several blasts from Thanos’s ship which blow up the compound and leave a giant crater in its wake. First out of the rubble we see Hawkeye who finds the gauntlet in the remains of the building. He is greeted by several of Thanos’s hound creatures. He manages to escape before being greeted by Nebula who alerts Thanos that she has found the gauntlet. But before she can take it and leave present Nebula and 2014 Gamora show up and kill her.

In the final portion of the movie we see Captain America, Iron Man, and Thor standing on a ledge looking down on 2014 Thanos sitting in the crater. They then approach him and begin to fight him. This fight doesn’t amount to much accept for the discovery that Captain America is able to wield Mjolnir, which he was previously believed to be unable to do. Thanos eventually quells the forces of the three Avengers, breaks Captain America’s shield and severely injures his arm and leg. While Captain America is getting up from this blow, Thanos’s army comes down from the ships and prepares to attack whatever remains of the Avengers. But, before he can do this, the Avengers who got snapped away by Thanos appear out of portals created by Doctor Strange. This leads to the final battle scene in which there are several good matchups, however it has a not so happy ending. In the end, Tony ends up getting the Infinity Stones on has hand and snaps away Thanos and his armies; this unfortunately does end up killing Tony Stark. 

After the huge battle scene, we see a message that Tony recorded before he went on the time travel mission. He says that he’s recording the message in case of an untimely death on his part. We then see the funeral that is held for Tony. All of the heroes are present, as well as the kid who helped Tony out in Iron Man 3. We then see a heartfelt moment between Hawkeye and Wanda. The final scene of the movie takes place when Captain America goes to return the Stones to their proper timelines. He goes on the mission, but flies past his return point on the way back. The camera shows a man sitting on a park bench in the woods where the mission took place. This is Steve, and Falcon approaches him. In the end, Captain America ends up giving Falcon his shield and telling him that he deserves it. The final shot of the movie is a clip of Steve back in time dancing with Peggy Carter, who he decided to spend the rest of his life with.

Overall, there are a lot of good things in this movie. But the primary thing is the final fight scene. This scene was so high budget and so well made that it takes the cake as the best Marvel fight scene that they’ve put out. This scene is very similar to scenes from movies like Ready Player One, because it’s on such a massive scale. What I mean by that is that every possible character that they’ve introduced in the MCU are all coming together to fight Thanos and his massive army. This is something that Marvel movies don’t traditionally do well, so it is very noticable when it’s done correctly. 

Another positive thing is the movie’s run time. Avengers Endgame clocks in at just over three hours. While some might think that three hours is a little long for a movie, Avengers Endgame manages to keep your attention throughout the movie. Also, since this is the final installment in this chapter of the MCU, a longer movie that wraps everything up is what was needed. Finally, the long run time allowed for all of the stories that needed to be wrapped up to do so. What I mean by that is, for example, Iron Man and Captain America’s stories both got wrapped up in a good way. This is good because a lot of franchises don’t do this with their characters, and it leaves the fans wanting more.

The final positive thing is that there were a lot of good spots and lines in this movie. Everything from the women power scene, to Captain America lifting Mjolnir, to Howard Stark, to Captain saying “Avengers Assemble at the end, to Tony repeating that he is Iron Man before he snaps his fingers. These are only a few of the spots and lines that take place throughout the movie, and there are so many more that are worth taking a look at. 

However, every movie has its low points, and the big one in Endgame is that it might raise more questions than it answers. With main character such as Tony and Cap dying, people are wondering what’s next for the remaining heroes. We get to see that Thor is joining the Guardians of the Galaxy and that Clint is going back to be with his family, but we are still unsure about what might be next in the MCU. 

Another downfall is that time travel being introduced can lead to future problems. For example, why wouldn’t the Avengers just go back in time and bring a version of Tony or Natasha back. Another example would be if the Avengers do ever lose again they could just simply go back in time and fix it. While using it in this movie worked out well, using it in the future might prove tricky. 

Rating: 4.75 out of 5 stars

By Mia Cerrato – Editorial Editor

“The Lion King” was unarguably one of the most popular movies of 2019. 

A live-action and computer-animated remake of Disney’s original animation, the film has a cast that consists of talented actors and actresses such as Donald Glover, Seth Rogan, John Oliver, Beyonce, as well as James Earl Jones, who played Mufasa in the 1994 film.

The long awaited movie came out on July 19. Plans for the remake was finalized in September of 2016, shortly after the remake of “The Jungle Book.”

This movie shows Simba, a young lion, who is struggling to fill his role as king of his land after the murder of his father Mufasa due to his uncle Scar. 

The movie is fun and nostalgic as well as visually amazing.

The new technology brings the story and characters to life. After 20 years, it is refreshing to see this movie brought to light again.

“The Lion King” is a movie that appeals to everyone; it does not matter your age or gender. Although the majority of the audience knows what is going to happen in the film, it keeps viewers entertained and at the edge of their seat.

While the remake is visually flawless, it is still unable to top the original. 

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

By Justin Judge – Staff Reporter

Juice Wrld (real name Jarad Higgins) is an American rapper, singer, and songwriter. Over the past year Juice has become an internet and music sensation creating R&B hip hop hits.

Juice was born on December 2, 1998, in Chicago, Illinois. In 1999, he moved to Homewood, Illinois, and attended Homewood-Flossmoor High School. As he grew up he was surrounded by pure religion and conservation.

Juice gained mainstream recognition after the release of the single “Lucid Dreams” in 2018, which peaked at #2 on the Billboard Hot 100. After securing a recording contract with Grade A Productions and Interscope Records.

In February 2018, a music video directed by Cole Bennett was released. Following the release of his “All Girls Are the Same” video, Higgins was signed to Interscope Records for $3,000,000.

Juice has had many different influences in his life, such as rappers Chief Keef, Travis Scott,Kanye West and British rock singer Billy Idol. His other influences include Wu-Tang Clan, Fall Out Boy, Black Sabbath, Megadeth, Tupac, and Eminem.

Juice began to pursue his career and develop himself as an artist in his freshman year of high school. Juice would record his music through his cell phone and upload them to Soundcloud his sophomore year.

At age 20, he has become one of the most recognizable artists in the music world. After several tragic events in the music community, such as the passing of Jahseh Onfroy Son, the community needed a boost in moral spirit. Juice Wrld came into the music world at the perfect time.

Juice is available on many platforms such as YouTube, Spotify, Pandora, Soundcloud, and many more music stations. Over the past four years, he has racked up his overall net worth of $3,000,000, which makes him one of the youngest and highest paid rappers in the industry.

Juice has gigged a lot of big name events such as 2019 Rolling Loud Miami, the Hammerstein Ballroom, the Skyline Stage, and many more.

Rating: 4.8 out of 5 stars

By Samiksha Mehta – Staff Reporter

“Sucker” by The Jonas Brothers – their first song since rejoining – has already reached #6 on the Billboard Hot 100 list. This shouldn’t be surprising because of how popular they were before they broke up, and how (even more) popular they are now that they got back together.

No one knows yet why the Jonas Brothers decided to get back together now, but surprisingly, they don’t care that much because they’re just too focused on the “Sucker” song and music video, which, by the way, stars all three wives of the brothers.

“And you’re making the typical me break my typical rules,” is one of the lyrics in the infamous song mentioned. This will make fans think about how far they’ve actually come. The Jonas Brothers broke up at the height of their careers, stating that “musical differences” and a “deep rift in the band” were their reasons, in January 2018, they mysteriously opened their group social media pages up again and started posting. Not too long after, the youngest, Nick Jonas, married Priyana Chopra.

Could The Jonas Brothers’ significant others have something to do with their getting back together and releasing of “Sucker”?

“We go together / Better than birds of feather, you and me” – this lyric might just be the answer to the question asked above. Even some fans are speculating whether or not Priyanka Chopra convinced Nick to get the band back together.

Well, fans may never know. But until then, they can enjoy their new song “Sucker” and play it on repeat as much as they want. It’s a really good one.

Rating: 5 out 5 stars

By Lucas Greifzu – Staff Reporter

*WARNING: This article does contain spoilers for the first trailer for “Avengers: Endgame” as well as the movie “Avengers: Infinity War.”*

Marvel has set the bar even higher for the final installment of the Avengers series, which closes Phase 3 of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. This will likely be the last Marvel movie that advances the timeline for a while. The new Spider-Man movie will likely cover the events of “Infinity War” as well as “Endgame,” and the remaining scheduled Marvel movies have to deal with the X-Men universe. So, they are going to go all out in this movie. If viewers thought that Infinity War was good, then they will love this movie. Prior to “Avengers: Endgame,” the MCU has released 21 different movies over the span of nearly 11 years, and all of which have built up the this massive, explosive conclusion.

This movie is being considered across all fan groups as the conclusion of this phase of the MCU. This could mean a lot of things. A lot of likely theories point to the fact that at least one of the original characters will die in this movie. While others suggest that everyone will die. There are so many theories about this movie that it is very hard to keep up with. The good thing about the amount of hype leading up to this movie is that all of these theories are circulating through all of the fans heads that everyone will want to go just to see what happens. In terms of marketing for this movie the second trailer doesn’t supply a lot of promising information, so it is not going to get talked about in this movie. In order to dissect what will happen in this film, let’s start by doing a quick synopsis of what happened in “Avengers: Infinity War.”

In “Avengers: Infinity War” we have a lingering enemy coming back to face the avengers again. In this film we meet Thanos; the Mad Titan who sent the attack on New York in the original Avengers movie. This time Thanos is taking the fight into his own hands as he sets out to capture all six of the Infinity Stones and place them on his Infinity Gauntlet. There are six Infinity Stones: Reality, Soul, Mind, Time, Space, and Power; each represented by a color: Red, Orange, Yellow, Green, Blue, and Purple, respectively. Each stone has its own set of powers, but with all six stones he can wipe out half of all species on Earth with a snap of his fingers. As one would expect, because this is a two part movie, Thanos does successfully manage to collect all six stones and snap half of the universe out of existence. The total list of characters that died in the movie is: Loki, Heimdall, Gamora, and Vision. The total list of characters who turned to dust at the end of the movie is: Black Panther, Spider-Man, Doctor Strange, Winter Soldier, Scarlet Witch, Drax, Groot, Star Lord, Mantis, Nick Fury, Maria Hill, Hope and Hank Pym, Janet van Dyne, and Shuri. We also see characters such as Iron Man and Nebula stranded on Titan after their battle with Thanos. Obviously the biggest question heading into “Endgame” is how many of these characters will be brought back.

The trailer for “Endgame” opens up with Tony Stark floating through space in the remains of the Guardian’s ship. He then records a message using his helmet to his fiance Pepper Potts, which basically says that she shouldn’t feel bad about him dying if he does. This is similar to “Iron Man 3” when Tony records a message for Pepper through the Iron Man suit. In the later part of his message he says that the food and water on the ship had run out four days ago, and that the oxygen runs out tomorrow morning. This means that the movie does not take a 10-year jump like a lot of people originally thought it would. This is also consistent with how long it would take for people to start to die of dehydration. He also believes that he has no chance of being rescued, but we can assume that is not how it ends for Stark. Especially given we see him in the second trailer (more on that later).

There are a number of characters that could save him. Captain Marvel being an obvious thought, but there would be no real way for her to know where, or even who, Tony is. There is Thor because his new weapon Stormbreaker has the power of the Bifrost. But again he would not really know where to find him. There are also smaller characters like Karaglen and Valkyrie but the same problems also present there too. Finally, there is Rescue, the name of the character that Pepper becomes when she puts on her own armor. This seems the most likely possibility because she likely has a tracker onto Tony’s suit and the name is mentioned in the trailer. Moving on, Thanos’s armor is hung up like a scarecrow on his new planet called Titan 2. We hear Black Widow say that he did what he set out to do which was that he wiped out 50% of all life. This shows that the remaining heroes are rattled by this because they are all staring at the screen of all the people that are missing and are clearly saddened and beat down about it. The next clip has Captain America saying that they all lost, every single one of them. He also says that each of them lost friends, family, and a part of themselves. This clip also shows that Hawkeye has turned into the dark version of himself that the comic books call Ronin. And it shows him using a blade rather than a bow and arrow. This likely means that similarly to the comic books most, if not all of his family has died in the snap, thus causing him to go dark.

In the next scene they appear to be referencing some huge plan that they need to work. Captain says that he does not know what he will do if it does not work. There are so many potential huge plans that have been talked about by countless people to mention in this article, but we could assume that something huge, and most likely obscure will happen in Endgame. The next clip is the title reveal. The movie being called Endgame could have many implications. First, it was mentioned by Doctor Strange when he said that the characters were,”in the endgame now”. This is because when he looked forward into time at 14,000,605 different timelines and they only won in one of them. So, everything that happened from that moment on was all part of that one timeline that Doctor Strange looked into. In the final clip of the trailer we see Ant-Man outside of the Avengers facility announcing that he is not dead. It also shows that he has the van with the quantum realm device in it. This could be a potential timeline for the upcoming film.

The build up has a lot of positives going for it. For instance, the buildup makes it seem like a big conclusion, which is what this movie is supposed to be. Considering the movie is, as mentioned before, the last MCU movie for a while, this movie needs to be an epic wrap-up to the last 11 years. Knowing the way that “Avengers: Infinity War” left the world half destroyed, “Avengers: Endgame” will undoubtedly reverse this in some way.

Another positive is that it seems like the movie will be less crowded than “Infinity War.” Considering this was a huge problem and it made “Infinity War” hard to follow, this is a very welcome change. The movie will mostly take place on Earth because the vast majority of characters is on Earth. Even though Tony and Nebula are still floating through space the trailers show that they will be returning to Earth at some point in the movie. This leaves Thanos as the only character that is not on Earth. This is not a problem because the battle will just likely take place on Titan 2, which is the planet that Thanos retired to.

There don’t seem to be that many bad points from the marketing for this movie, but there is one really noticeable one. This movie is going to be really stretched out. The current time estimation for “Avengers: Endgame” is just over three hours. Other than the length of the movie, it seems like it will be even better than “Infinity War.”

Rating: 4.75 out of 5 stars

By Addison Schwing – Staff Reporter

“Captain Marvel” flies into theatres as the 21st film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. The sci-fi flick follows Carol “Vers” Danvers, a Kree soldier who ends up on Earth to fight a race of alien shapeshifters known as the Skrull.

The movies in the Marvel Cinematic Universe have garnered a reputation for being exceptionally well done, and Captain Marvel is no exception. Brie Lawson and Samuel L. Jackson steal the show, leading the movie with unbridled confidence. However, their work in the film is diminished by the bland plot. It’s a very generic redemption story, complemented by boring side characters and awful pacing. The film almost seems to jerk from setting to setting, side story to side story with no real direction. An interesting twist in the middle of the movie changes things up, but only enough to minorly renew the viewer’s interest.

Seeing Captain Marvel mop the floor with bad guys outside of Earth’s orbit is an exciting spectacle to behold and Samuel L. Jackson interacting with an orange tabby cat named Goose is hilarious. The two work extremely hard to prop up the movie. It’s not a bad film per se; far from it, in fact. It’s a solid superhero film that most people will not find hard to enjoy. However, it suffers from an identity crisis and breaks some already established rules in its universe that make no real sense.

Captain Marvel is one of the worst films in the MCU, but again, it’s far from bad. If Marvel fans have the time, they should go ahead and see it. Just be ready for a bit of a snooze fest part of the time.

Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars

By Thea Ryan – Staff Reporter

The musical romance drama “A Star A Born” is the 2018 adaptation and fourth remake of the 1937 film of the same name. Staring Lady Gaga, Bradley Cooper, Dave Chappelle, Sam Elliott, and Andrew Dice Clay, the movie was directed by Cooper to tell an emotional story of love, fame, substance abuse, and addiction. The movie is centered around a seasoned musician Jackson Maine (Bradley Cooper) who falls for an aspiring singer Ally (Lady Gaga) and their love story. Jackson first falls and hears Ally sing at a drag bar where she is singing the classic “La Vie En Rose” by Édith Piaf. This song is actually what landed Gaga the role when Cooper heard her sing it at a cancer benefit in L.A.

The movie has been critically acclaimed and has been nominated and has received many awards such as best drama motion picture, best actor, best actress, best album, and best original song for “Shallow.” The cast is outstanding and critically acclaimed for their other works. Cooper has been an Oscar and Golden Globe nominee for best actor for his performances in American Hustle and Silver Linings Playbook. Gaga has won a golden globe for best actress for her performance in American Horror Story: Hotel, an Oscar nominee for best original song “Til It Happens To You”, and is a six-time Grammy winner.

The movie and cast really deserves all of this recognition from the media because of all of the hard work that they put into this film. For instance, Bradley Cooper learned how to sing, play piano, and play the guitar for his rockstar role while also directing the film. Cooper also worked with a dialect coach for months to mimic his brother Bobby’s voice, played by Sam Elliott. Also, a majority of the songs on the soundtrack were co written by Gaga, Cooper, and Lukas Nelson.

During the title sequence, Gaga pays tribute to Judy Garland, who played that role in the original movie, by singing “Somewhere Over The Rainbow.” This adaptation follows the same plot line as the previous versions; however, it has a more modern take on the story

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

By Stefanie Lojko – Staff Reporter

Netflix’s newest psychological thriller, “You,” based off the novel by Caroline Kepnes, is making viewers want to get rid of social media and buy curtains for their windows.

The show stars Penn Dayton Badgley as Joe Goldberg and Elizabeth Lail as Guinevere Beck. It also stars Shay Mitchell (Peach Sallinger from Pretty Little Liars) and Luca Padovan, who plays Paco, Joe’s next-door neighbor.

Many may remember Badgley as Dan Humphrey from the hit series “Gossip Girl,” “John Tucker Must Die,” and “Easy A.” He also is the lead singer of the Brooklyn based indie band MOTHXR.

The suspenseful show follows Beck as she is an aspiring author living in New York City and Joe the book store owner, who instantly takes a liking to Beck as she browses his shop.

The show seemingly starts out to be a guy noticing the beautiful blonde that walked into his show and Joe’s inner thoughts talking about how he walks and how she looks. The start of it makes the viewer take a liking to Joe because of how he’s talking about this girl. It seems as though it was love at first, until his comments get a little inappropriate for just meeting this girl.

Beck is first portrayed as a sweet girl trying to become a writer but as viewers learn more from her, she’s not all that she seems.

In the beginning, Joe is sweet and charming. As the story progresses, viewers see more of his obsessive side. He turns into a mysterious man who is concerned with collecting precious copies of books in the basement of his shop.

There are parts where viewers almost feel that Joe has good intentions because of his neighbor, Paco. He’s a troubled boy with a drug addicted mother and her abusive parole officer boyfriend. Joe gives Paco new books to read every day and that’s when you feel that maybe Joe isn’t as bad as he seems.

The writers were very good at portraying Joe as someone with mental health issues before anyone would actually be able to tell. They were also good at the developing these characters into people that would become unrecognizable compared to the beginning. They also did a good job at combining suspense and romance without overloading viewers with one or the other.

It escalates from there rapidly with Joe making very illegal and rash decisions all because he supposedly loves Beck and wants to protect her. The end unravels and viewers learn more of why Joe is the way he is and why this obsession started.

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

By Michael Loschiavo – Staff Reporter

Brett Young is a top country music performer. His new hit song is called “Here Tonight“ which is off his new album “Ticket To L.A.”

The Orange County, California, native was born on March 23, 1981, and began his music career in 2007. Young’s forthcoming album “Here Tonight” is a heart-felt and hook radio-ready debut.

Young started singing in the late ’90s when he stepped in to replace the absent leader of the band during a Christian worship meeting at his high school. In high school, Young was the pitcher on his high school baseball team and led the squad to a CIF championship. He also went to Ole Miss on a baseball scholarship in 1999 after turning down the pre-draft selection of the Tampa Bay Rays and the Minnesota Twins.

After college, Young decided to start singing again because he was inspired by Gavin DeGraw after he heard his album “Chariot.” In 2007, Young independently released a self-titled four-song EP. He followed that up with “Then Make Believe” (2011) and “On Fire” (2012).

After eight years in Los Angeles, Young moved to Nashville and was soon signed by Big Machine Label Group in August 2015.

Young is often compared to Luke Bryan because he is a pop country singer that produces catchy songs that will be stuck in your head for days like “Country Girl” and “Drunk On You.”

“Ticket To L.A.” is another big song for the country singer it describes how his career all started and what made him who he has become. The song also shows his viewers and who he is and what made him an artist.

“Ticket To L.A.” and “Here Tonight” set a perfect tone for each subject being described. The album’s top song, “Here Tonight,” talks about Young and his girlfriend and how he never wants her to go because “he wants to get wrapped up in her love and stay here tonight” which means he is deeply in love.

Young has made himself bigger with the song hit “Here Tonight “ and he hopes to become bigger in the coming months.

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

 

By Jess Owens – Staff Reporter

Travis Scott’s third album is unarguably his strongest to date.

“Astroworld” re-imagines the defunct Six Flags AstroWorld theme park of Scott’s native Houston, but made perfectly to his liking. The 26-year-old is an avatar for a generation of playlist-making curators who have positively embraced “creative” as a job title.

The album was released on August 3rd, featuring artists like Drake, Frank Ocean, the Weeknd, Pharrell Williams, two-thirds of Migos, John Mayer, James Blake, Swae Lee, Stevie Wonder and many more.

Travis sold 553,408 copies of Astroworld first week with 270,355 of those as pure sales, putting him at #1 on the charts.

The album has 17 tracks starting off with “Stargazing,” an atmospheric track that sets the trap tone. Travis says in the song, “Whenever I’m down, it got me goin’ crazy/Psychedelics got me goin’ crazy.” It’s a reference to the highs, lows, and flows that he’s been through.

“Sicko Mode,” featuring Drake, is the main attraction of the album. Its three sick and overwhelming beat change-ups are like a roller-coaster that jabs your sides with sudden twists and turns. This track become the biggest hit of the album hitting #1 on the charts almost everywhere.

“Astrothunder” has contributions from Thundercat and John Mayer, while “Stop Trying to Be God” plays host to the record’s most involved vocal take from Scott, with beautiful harmonica lines (from Stevie Wonder) and keys surrounding his voice.

It’s on “Coffee Bean” that Scott talks about his unexpected parenthood with Kylie Jenner. He explains his complicated feelings on the subject. “Your family told you I’m a bad move,” sings Scott.

Travis isn’t a typical rapper and he’s never tried to be. “Astroworld” stands out in today’s hip-hop generation largely because Travis is the only MC in 2018 who could possibly have created a project with this style of sound.

“Astroworld” may have some slight flaws, but the project is Travis’ best, most progressive and put together album to date. Travis is out to win it and at the rate he is at, he’s unstoppable.

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

By Justin Judge – Staff Reporter

A Boogie Wit Da Hoodie is an American rapper, singer, and songwriter. He is known for his musical hits that catch the attention of all listeners.

A Boogie was born on December 6, 1995. He grew up in the Bronx in New York and started rapping at the age of 12. A Boogie creates many upbeat songs that bring in roughly 16 million monthly listeners. Boogie’s has multiple labels including Highbridge the Label and Atlantic Records.

Before A Boogie started gathering his fame, he dropped his first song, “Temporary,” at age 19. This song was in the making for months because Boogie’s rap flow was nowhere close to where they are now. He actually had to hire a professional singing coach to help him with his vocals.

A Boogie’s most recent album, “Hoodie Szn,” has a total of 20 songs. Boogie’s album had some big name features including Juice Wrld, Nav, Offset, Tyga, and others. This album was released on December 21, 2018.

Of the 20 songs on “Hoodie Szn,” it is clear that A Boogie’s favorite is “4 Min Convo (Favorite Song).” This song has a unique type of flow to it. It isn’t too fast but it is very easily to go along with.

Being from the Bronx, A Boogie always had some type of competition growing up. But now because he’s become a big name rapper many other young rappers found inspiration in the vocals of Boogie, such as Lil Tjay, Jay Gwuapo, and Lil Tecca.

One point that was noticeable about the entire album was that each song sounded different from one another. This album also included many different types of beats ranging from lots of bass in one, to more a of low-key quiet beat. All these songs come together and make up an all around great album.

Some of the songs that have a slower, quieter beat may disappoint A Boogie’s fans – and that disappointment has show up in YouTube views. For example, the song “I Did It” only has 800,000 views while “Swervin’” has a total of 9.7 million views.

Rating 4.3 out of 5 stars

By Bridget Kinross – Staff Reporter

The Netflix original movie “Bird Box” is a suspenseful story about a woman and her two children who have to make it across a dangerous river all while not being able to see or speak so they must keep their blindfolds on. There is a “darkness” that if they see, they will either be compelled to take their own life or try to convince others to take their lives. In this case, the mother (played by Sandra Bullock) was the only survivor out of all her friends and she managed to keep her two children safe and bring them all to safety across the river. This movie demonstrates courage and the importance of family. Throughout the movie, viewers will see themes of sacrifice, selfishness, and love.

One strong point of this movie was how suspenseful it was it kept the watchers wanting to know what happened next. The audience is never lost or bored which is a flaw in some movies. For example, at one point the characters had to drive blindfolded to get supplies and they almost got in an accident. Suspenseful scenes like this will leave viewers wanting a sequel right away.

The main characters change throughout the movie, which kept it interesting. Bullock plays the lead, Malorie, who is pregnant and gives birth during this crisis (and takes in another child of a deceased mother) and goes through five years of this to bring them all to safety. In the beginning of the movie, Malorie did not want to deal with adulthood and as she became a mother her only focus was to protect them and to put them first unlike her old selfishness. The audience gets to see her change and that storyline keeps people watching.

“Bird Box” is similar to “A Quiet Place” which was a film where the characters were not able to talk or an evil presence would take their life. It was similar to “Bird Box” in that if characters opened their eyes, the evil would take their lives.

“Bird Box” was produced very well with the many fight scenes and Bullock’s very convincing performance during the more intense scenes.  For example, Malorie had to go into an abandoned building to gather supplies and her children left the boat so she had to run around blindfolded trying to find them before the evil did. This scene and many others showed the actors and actresses ability to keep audiences on the edge of their seats.

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

By Samiksha Mehta – Staff Reporter

This sci-fi movie is not one moviegoers want to miss.

[WARNING: Review of this movie comes with small spoilers. You have been warned!]

“The Darkest Minds,” filmed on August 3 is a sci-fi movie based on people diagnosed with Idiopathic Adolescent Acute Neurodegeneration (IAAN) which the government deems dangerous and thinks it’s something they can get rid of. They separate the kids into groups named by color, based on how dangerous their powers are. Blue, the color classification for those who develop telekinetic powers. Green, for those who developed enhanced mental and intellectual powers. Yellow, for those who developed electrokinetic powers. Orange, — classified as the most dangerous one — for those who developed mind control.

Ruby Daly, a sixteen year old girl, is an Orange. She developed her powers at ten years old, when she woke up and accidentally wiped her parents’ memory of her. She got shipped off to Camp Thurmond, base camp for kids ten years or older. They try and “take away” the kids’ powers, so that they aren’t a threat to the government anymore; no matter what color classification they fall under. Blues, least dangerous and oranges are the most dangerous.

A strong point of the movie is when the high-speed car chase comes in. Ruby had run away from the camp and had met some new kids on their way to a safe haven. She got in the car, and immediately people from the camp got notified of her disappearance and set people to go after her. Two people in a car chase after the minivan the kids had stolen, and zoom behind them, the driver shooting a gun and hitting the front mirror. The driver of the minivan, a Blue kid named Liam, instructs Ruby to drive while he goes to the back, saying, “it’s just like riding a bike.” Ruby gets in the driver’s seat and starts driving, as best as she can. Meanwhile, Liam throws open the back door and starts using his telekinesis powers to try and throw the people in the other car off their track. This is the best point of the movie because viewers can witness the adrenaline rushing through their veins as they use their powers. It’ll make people sit at the edge of their seat, wondering if they’ll make it or not.

A weak point of the movie was when they when they got to the camp to see the Slip Kid (the kid who’s rumored to help everyone realize/control their powers). The Slip Kid was expected to be this kid who was basically a god, or someone every kid looked up to. Instead, they found out the Slip Kid was the president’s son, Clancy Grey. Ruby, Liam and the other kids (Charles “Chubs”, a Green; Suzume (Zu), a Blue) who tried to get to East Haven (the camp Slip Kid was in charge of), all thought Clancy was a guy who could help them and not make them feel left out. But, Clancy turned out to be evil.

“The Darkest Minds” is definitely more science than fiction, which gives a little in-depth explanation of their “disease” called IAAN. This movie is definitely worth watching.  

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

By Mia Cerrato – Staff Reporter

Milford, Connecticut has its very own sliver of heaven called “Taste Of Thai.”

Taste of Thai is located in downtown Milford. This restaurant is the first authentic Thai restaurant in Milford and was established in 2012.

The Taste of Thai has a truly welcoming atmosphere and extraordinary food luring tourists and citizens of Milford to attend.

One positive aspect of the restaurant is, of course, the food. Every dish is thoroughly enjoyable. There is a variety of meals to choose from. Their selection varies from sweet to spicy to salty. They are all equally phenomenal. Some of the most notable dishes are the pad thai, drunken noodles, T.O.T fried rice (Taste of Thai fried rice) and wild boar basil. Taste of Thai food doesn’t contain Monosodium glutamate or MSG. This is a flavor enhancer often added to Asian meals, canned vegetables, processed meats, and soups. Typically, the FDA requires that the use of Monosodium glutamate should be listed on the label of any menu or label. This additive is known to cause asthma headaches or even brain damage.

The food is not the only remarkable thing of Taste of Thai. The service is tremendous. It is guaranteed that each customer will be served with a smile. Their service could often be compared to the reputation of Thailand the “Land of Smile.” The skilled and considerate staff are accommodating to their customers. Their goal is for everyone to enjoy their dining experience

The menu has a large variety for any type of diet. They tend to vegans, vegetarians and meat eaters. Some of their vegetarian options include spicy eggplant and T.O.T garden (Taste of Thai Garden). Their meat lover options include panang nuah, salmon teriyaki, and poo pong gari. Some vegan choices are som tum and garden salad.

Taste of Thai is incomparable to any other restaurant. It has a very authentic feel and creates memorable experiences.

The only downside of Taste of Thai is that on the weekdays its hours are cut short compared to the weekend. During the week, it opens at 11:30 a.m. and closes at 2:30 p.m. It then reopens at 4:30 p.m. and closes at 9:30 p.m. On the weekends, it opens at 12:00 p.m. and closes at 9:30 p.m. Many customers would agree a few extra hours during the week wouldn’t hurt.

Overall, a meal from Taste of Thai could put a smile on anyone’s face.

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

By Addison Schwing – Staff Reporter

“Aquaman” rides the wave into theaters as the 6th installment in the DC Extended Universe. Directed by James Wan, “Aquaman” tells the story of Arthur Curry, the mixed-race son of a human lighthouse keeper, and Atlanna, the deposed queen of Atlantis. The movie follows Arthur as he explores his Atlantean heritage, and quests to fulfill his destiny as the Aquaman, the rightful king of Atlantis, and ruler of the Seven Seas.

“Aquaman” has many high notes. The combat sequences are electrifying and are complemented with excellent cinematography to boot — the usage of continuous shots with no breaks, and effects such as spinning and wide-angle shots. One of the best examples of this is the fight between Aquaman and the Ocean Master, where the ferocious, one versus one combat is captured on a single angle rather than many jump cuts. The visual effects are very stunning as well. Everything pops with vibrant colors, and the city of Atlantis is stunning. The creatures in the movie are very well done, from the many species of fish and other aquatic life to more legendary creatures like the Fishermen and the leviathan Karathen are brought to life with stunning reality. Moviegoers can still notice that they are computer animated, but the work is impressive nonetheless. Jason Momoa does a stellar job as Aquaman, bringing a well-balanced mix of gruff seriousness and lighthearted comic relief. Other

The movie does suffer from some low points as well. For example, the pacing is horrendous. The plot jumps erratically from destination to destination, and many moments, such as the first reveal of Atlantis, feel extremely out of place. The movie also puts a great deal of emphasis on marine pollution, which while serving as a logical motive for King Orm, the movie’s villain to declare war on the surface world, feels forced. The plot is unoriginal and uninspiring, featuring a cookie-cutter hunt for a legendary MacGuffin to resolve a conflict in a somewhat peaceful manner, culminating in a final battle and only being averted before one particular side comes out on top.

Aquaman is a notable departure from other films in the DC Extended Universe. It’s a lighthearted romp that is fun and engaging, if only jumpy and cliche. It’s not a bad film by any means; it has merely some rough edges that prevent it from being perfect. Either way, it’s an exciting film that should pique viewers’ interest – whether they are die-hard DC fans or not.

Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars

By Rachna Vipparla – Staff Reporter

Sabaa Tahir utilized her outstanding writing skills by crafting the book, ”An Ember in the Ashes.”

The novel was instantly #1 in the New York Times Bestselling list and the People’s Choice Award. In addition, it was also nominated for eight other awards including, the Goodreads Choice Award, the Milwaukee Teen Book Award, the Children’s Book Council Award, the Lincoln Ward, the Evergreen Teen Book Awards, and The Magnolia Award.

The historical fiction book was based off of the military conquests in an ancient Roman society. Tahir was initially inspired by The Liberian Civil War, but later created parallels to the clash between the common people and soldiers in ancient Sparta. Since this novel is based on a conglomeration of historical events, there are unpredictable twists that make “An Ember in the Ashes,” unique.

In the novel, part of the population lives under the martial law in fear, and the other half works for the military under a merciless emperor. It is a detestable system to live with for both parties, but regardless, everyone obliges without protest. However, when rumors of a war begin brewing across the land, the citizens and soldiers are filled with unrest and chaos begins breaking out. The book discusses war, sacrifice, chaos and poverty by portraying the story through characters with different perspectives.

Many factors make ”An Ember in the Ashes” an amazing literary piece. The character development put into the story is phenomenal. It adds depth to the book and creates an atmosphere that makes the story engaging. Each character is easily understood and the amount of pain they endure throughout the novel allows readers to sympathize with them. In addition, the unpredictable storyline leaves readers to be on the edge of their seats and constantly wanting to read more. The story is not cliche and is truly unique in comparison to more common teen novels. It is also remarkable how the author managed to make risky decisions in respect to the plot while maintaining clarity in the storyline.

Due to the realistic traces of historical tragedies, ”An Ember in the Ashes” may be too difficult to read by a sensitive audience. The story contains many unpredictable deaths, some of which are main characters. There is also an unsettling amount of sadism and hatred that is plainly reflected by the characters.

Without question, ”An Ember in the Ashes” is an amazing literary piece that is definitely worth a read.

Rating: 4.8 out of 5 stars

By Stephanie Caron- Staff Reporter

Marvel’s take on “Spider-man: Homecoming” makes viewers fall in love with Peter Parker all over again.

In recent years, there have been multiple actors who have taken on the role of Peter Parker/Spider-man in Sony movies. The first actor to take on the geeky, innocent teenager was Tobey Maguire in “Spider-man” released in 2002. Maguire went on to play Spider-man in “Spider-man 2” in 2004, and “Spider-man 3” in 2007. In 2012, Sony’s “The Amazing Spider-man” came out starring Andrew Garfield as Spider-man. Then, in 2014, Garfield returned to the big screen playing Spider-man again in “The Amazing Spider-man 2.” In 2016, Marvel got rights to the character Spider-man and that same year “Captain America: Civil War” came out with Spider-man’s cameo played by Tom Holland. Mr. Stark (Iron Man) discovered Spider-man’s talents where he invited Peter to come and help him fight the Avengers. The most recent Spider-man movie, “Spider-man: Homecoming,”  starring Holland, came out in 2017. A new Spider-man movie is releasing in the summer of 2019 called “Far From Home” starring Holland as Spider-man once again.

In “Spider-man: Homecoming” Peter Parker is a 15-year-old sophomore living in Queens, New York, with his Aunt May and a secret no one knows. After his experience with the Avengers, Peter returns to his normal routine as a teenage boy. Although Peter starts to fully embrace his alter ego of Spider-man with the mentor of Tony Stark (Iron Man), he is soon known as “the friendly neighborhood Spider-man” but he wants to prove to Stark and everyone else that he’s more than that. He soon will put his powers to the test when the evil Vulture comes in and threatens everything Peter holds dear.

Director Jon Watts revamp Spider-man that is making fans, and critics love the newest version of the movie.

Casting for this movie was amazingly done with Zendaya as Michelle, Jacob Batalon as Ned Leeds, Marisa Tomei as May Parker, Laura Harrier as Liz Allan, Michael Keaton as Adrian Toomes, Jon Favreau as Happy Hogan, and Robert Downey Jr. as Tony Stark/Iron Man.

The writers revamped Aunt May who takes care of Peter as when he was a young boy his parents died. In previous Spider-man movies May Parker and her husband Ben Parker took young Peter into their homes, during that time they were both seen as older characters. In “Spider-man Homecoming” and “Captain America: Civil War” Uncle Ben is not seen, and Aunt May is a young, vibrant character who brings this new sense of adolescents to the film. Critics say the revamping of Aunt May refreshed the Spider-man movies, and created a whole new dynamic to her character.

Critics are also saying Holland’s performance and his ability to bring a new life to Peter Parker made the movie aspect feel more relatable and making this Spider-man movie the best one yet. In all aspects Holland brings a lot to the table as spider-man.

The editing and stunt scenes in this movie makes the movie unexpected and thrilling. With having all of the cool tricks Spider-man can do there are parts of the movie that makes it feel more relatable to the average teen. Peter has a crush on the character Liz and although confident in Spider-man’s suit, Peter chokes up whenever he has to talk to Liz, which many teenagers can relate to now.

If fans are looking for a thrilling yet charming Marvel movie, “Spider-man Homecoming” might be the perfect movie to watch because of the unexpected plot and exciting scenes.

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

By Dominick Buccitti – Editor-in-Chief

Team USA fans may recognize Simone Biles as a five-time Olympic medalist, who has been given the title as the best female gymnast in the world. But what fans may not know is that she has faced many struggles in her early life.

In her Lifetime special, “The Simone Biles Story: Courage to Soar,” which aired February 3, Biles’ life is shown with her grandparents adopting her and her sister Adria, after having their mother Shanon lose custody of them, due to her drug and alcohol addiction. The special follows Biles from that point to her first joining Bannon’s Gymnastix, the very same gym that would train her until she switched to the World Champions Center.

In 2012, Biles switched to homeschooling, in order to focus on training. When her senior year came, she had to make a decision between attending the University of California at Los Angeles or to take in sponsorship, where many came in after she had received medals at three World Championships.

Overall, the special was specular, accurately portraying the events, especially the Olympics. It was admirable showing clips competing at her various competitions from when she was a Junior-level gymnast to an Olympian.

With such great aspects of the special, especially how identical the actors and actresses looked like Biles’ family and friends, came one problem; the special did not cover the Olympics portion of the special as long as the other parts. Besides this, the special was flawless.

The viewer, after watching this special, will be inspired to have the courage to soar.  

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

By Nick Owens – Sports Editor

The Netflix blockbuster “Stranger Things” returned for Season 2 and gave fans everything they wanted and more.

(WARNNG: This review is full of spoilers, so if you still have yet to watch the show you have been warned.)

“Stranger Things” is a show that is set in Hawkins, Indiana, just a small normal town until one kid named Will Byers goes missing riding his bike home one night. His group of friends seek out their own investigation as well as the town sheriff who just goes by “Hopper“ also starts an investigation and you get to unravel the story of the weird things happening in the town from two different perspectives. At the end of the first season, we leave off with Will getting found and not knowing what happens to the fan favorite character Eleven. Will still has part of the upside down as a part of him.

At the start of this season, you’re thrown off a little bit when the show starts in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and you’re watching a bank robber’s chase with the police. The bank robbers turn down a tunnel to and the cops are on their tail but then the girl you see in the passenger seat you realize has some kind of power to her. The tunnel begins to crumble in front of the police which cause all the police to hit the brakes and crash into one another. But then the cop in front steps out of the car to see the tunnel is fine and he stopped for no reason. Everything just seemed to disappear. Then it’s revealed the girl in the passenger seat has a number on her arm just like Eleven did. 

Then we meet all of our favorite characters once again as they go to the arcade and play on some cool old time 80’s arcade machines. But then everything changes for Will as time stops and everything goes dark. He finds himself once again in the upside down. The door to the arcade opens and you can see red clouds outside almost like a storm. Will proceeds to go outside and in the distance you can see a big black shadow that looks like a big monster in the distance which freaks will out but then Mike calls out to Will and we are snapped back to reality. We learn that Will has these “moments” often. He visits a new doctor at the sketchy lab that we see in Season 1 but the old scary looking doctor of the place has been let go. A doctor tells Joyce Byers, played by the amazing Winona Ryder, that Will’s case is basically nothing it’s gonna get worse before it gets better but the most you can do is be there for him. Joyce is a little upset by this she just wants her son to be OK.  

Later on in the show Dustin (one of the boys) discovers this nasty alien life form in his trash can but be friends it as his pet. He shows him to the other boys in the janitor’s closet but they tell the new girl who just wants to fit in with the group to stay outside. After showing the boys the pet which he names Dart. The boys freak out not knowing what it might grow into and Dustin defends Dart and protects him from the other boy. Then the new girl open the closet door trying to figure out why no one is telling her anything. As she opens the door, Dart runs out the door and the boys have to find him as he gets loose through the school. It was the end of the school day, so at this point the school is pretty much empty. While the other boys are trying to find Dart, Will goes off on his own and has another one of his “moments” and gets chased by a big shadow through the halls of his school. Before he came to school that day his mom’s new boyfriend, Bob, gave him a whole speech about facing his fear head on. So Will once again sees the big scary creature in the distance but decides to try and face it head on. It was the wrong choice, though, because this allowed the monster to have full control over his body. When Joyce finds Will in the school yard he is frozen and can’t move so they rush his to the sketchy science lab doctor.

We then cut to the sketchy lab and they are trying to ask Will some questions. As they got him to come down from being frozen, he started to come back a bit. As the doctor is asking him questions he starts to talk in third person. That’s when we first get to see him being controlled by the monster. He starts to talk about how you can’t stop what’s coming.

As this is all happening, Hopper discovers something weird about this pumpkin patch at a farm we are introduced to in the beginning of the show. All the pumpkins were dying and Hopper starts to realize there’s something more going on here. He starts digging in the dirt in the pumpkin patch and discovers that there is a big tunnel under the ground and Hopper, maybe not making the smartest decision, decides to check it out. He jumps down and starts looking around, but as he’s looking around, he gets sprayed by something off the wall that causes him to pass out. As he hits the ground, you see something start to come over him and try to consume him.

We jump back to Joyce and Will and Joyce starts to see Will acting weird. She asks him what’s going on and he says, “it’s Hopper, I think he’s in trouble.” So Joyce, Bob, and Will go and try to save Hopper. They save him and they try to figure out what this tunnel is. This is only the beginning of the climax in the show.

To find out how this all wraps up you are going to have to watch the show yourself.

By Dominick Buccitti – Editor-in-Chief

Iconic Grammy, Academy Award, and Golden Globe award winner Barbra Streisand debuted her Netflix concert documentary on November 22. It followed Streisand at one of her shows in Miami, where she sang songs from her top-selling and most popular albums throughout her career. She also sang popular songs that happen to be featured on her most recent album.

Streisand starts the special with her husband James Brolin, flying to Miami in her private jet. An ice-cream truck is near the stage but is sold out. It is admirable seeing Streisand get so elated to see such a dessert. 

Streisand’s first song of the concert is “The Way We Were” from the 1973 American romantic film The Way We Were. Listening to her singing the song brings the viewer true nostalgia as this song is one of her most well-known pieces. The notes Streisand hits are extraordinary, as she was 74 years old at the time of the filming of the special.

Throughout the special, Streisand goes into further detail about some of her roles in movies like “Yentl” and “Funny Lady.” She thanks her manager and all of the directors, including William Wyler of her film until she started directing her films.

Streisand sang a song from “Yentl,” another popular film she not only starred in, but directed. She portrays so much emotion, so many years following the film. After the song ended, the crowd immediately stood and some were wiping tears from their face.

She sang “Pure Imagination” from “Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory.” This interpretation to the song was one of the best ever, as she talked about a politically social issue, the environment.

Streisand in act two of the special sang “Don’t Rain On My Parade” from her most iconic film “Funny Girl.” Once she started to belt her notes, the crowd immediately stood as if it were an involuntary function. It was amazing hearing her sing and still be able to belt the way she did when she was 26 years old.

Streisand was so flawless in introducing her songs by giving a little background information and then transitioning into the actual song.

One critique for this was that Streisand did not talk for long, which is understandable as it was still a concert. However, it would have been nice to get a full description of the thought process behind her albums and film.

Overall, this documentary was so amazing, to finally get to hear Streisand’s voice after having such an extensive music career.

Hearing Barbra sing her music brought back mem’ries, and it was truly magical being a viewer of this special.

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars  

By Dominick Buccitti – Editor-in-Chief

Fans may know Demi Lovato as Mitchie Torres from “Camp Rock” and as Sonny Munroe from “Sonny With a Chance,” but they do not know Demi, herself, as well as they thought.

In her YouTube Original documentary, “Demi Lovato: Simply Complicated,” she discusses the hardships of landing roles as a child and teen actress, drug and alcohol addiction, bipolar disorder, and eating disorders. She goes back to the point in her early childhood where she had an alcoholic “birth” father. She coins the term “birth father,” as a way of saying that she considers her stepfather her real dad. Lovato goes into talking about how breaking up with Wilmer Valderrama caused her to learn that she needs to be dependent before she could commit to a real relationship.

A part of her life that Lovato talks deep detail about was how she had a difficulty in landing roles from her youth to her teenage years. She talks about being in Barney, then later Camp Rock and soon following was Sonny with a Chance. Her manager, Phil McIntyre, talks about managing Lovato and how she soon discovers that being a well-known actress and singer caused her sense of childhood to be taken away.

Lovato talks about how she started to use cocaine and drink alcohol in high school. She started using at a young of 17. Lovato went through rehab and soon broke continued using. It was not until her whole team told her to sober up or they would quit. From that point, Lovato has been sober and has not used.

Throughout the documentary, Lovato’s sisters, Dallas Lovato and Madison De La Garza; her mother, Dianna De La Garza, and one of her high school friends make appearances. They discuss Lovato’s best and worst moments at the start of her career.

“Simply Complicated” dove into the dark moments of Lovato’s life. The documentary reveals that Lovato did not live the lucky, stereotypical life that people assign to celebrities. She did not have a happy childhood and she faces daily struggles within her adult life.

“Simply Complicated” is so enlightening and provides the viewer the ability to understand that someone’s struggles do not hinder upon their overall goals or dreams. Lovato teaches the view that it is ok to have struggles and to live life the best way someone can.

It may be called “Simply Complicated,” but there is not complicated about how amazing this documentary was.

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

By Owen Paiva – Entertainment Editor

On February 6, 2016, news was released that a show that ended in 2004 was picked up for a fifth season, billed as a 2016 released, later delayed till this March. The show ended on a disappointing cliff hanger which left so many unfulfilled with the ending. However, the show gained more of a following after new episodes stopped airing, and evolved into something bigger. It is “Samurai Jack,” one feudal samurai’s quest to return to the past and stop the evil that ruined the world.

“Samurai Jack” was created by legendary animator, Genndy Tartakovsky, also known for his work on Dexter’s Laboratory and Powerpuff Girls. He wanted to create a cartoon with a cinematic feel to it, akin to movies like “Seven Samurai” or  spaghetti westerns like “Fistful of Dollars.”

This show ranks at the top, or very near, in terms of overall animation. A simplistic, yet very fluid and detailed style, where actual martial arts, armed and unarmed are portrayed. The 2D style of feudal Japanese watercolor mixes seamlessly with the cyberpunk elements found in the futuristic setting. Every set piece is beautiful. Two in particular are breathtaking. Jack’s duel against the Da Samurai in the rain soaked bamboo fields during a thunderstorm is perfect in audio quality, and visual quality, in a very memorable duel. Samurai Jack’s fight against the Ninja is also memorable. The Ninja can blend into the darkness and Jack can blend into the light. The fight scene basically uses two colors in a very unique showdown.

Samurai Jack, voiced by Phil LaMarr, is a hero who does not say much, similar to Clint Eastwood in many of his westerns, yet has a very dry but witty sense of humor and is willing to help anyone along the way. Jack, equipped with a sword forged by the gods, designed only to harm pure evil, which provides one of the funniest moments in the entire series, is on a quest to return to the past to defeat the evil Aku. Aku, played by Mako Iwamatsu, later Greg Baldwin for Season 5 after Mako passed away sums the show up best:

“Long ago in a distant land, I, Aku, the shape-shifting Master of Darkness, unleashed an unspeakable evil! But a foolish Samurai warrior wielding a magic sword stepped forth to oppose me. Before the final blow was struck, I tore open a portal in time and flung him into the future, where my evil is law! Now the fool seeks to return to the past, and undo the future that is Aku!”

Aku is one of the most memorable villains in cartoon history, who is equally hysterical and menacing, incompetent, yet the most powerful villain in the entire series. There are not many recurring characters besides Jack and Aku, but the Scotsman, voiced by John DiMaggio (voice of Bender from Futurama)  is the closest. He is the opposite of Jack, loud, huge, and fights with power more than skill, and is number two on Aku’s wanted list behind Jack. It is cool to see that Jack has a friend in this new time.

Season 5 has taken a new, more mature tone, with an emphasis on more mature storytelling, and a bit more violence than before. The show is airing on the Adult Swim block, which allows the show to be less restricted than its previous seasons, now boasting a TV-MA rating.

Season 5 takes place 50 years in the future, with Jack seemingly losing the ability to age.  [SPOILER WARNING] Jack has lost his sword during this time, and Aku has destroyed the last time portal. Jack has become more depressed, and an even more conflicted character. The guilt of failing his quest to return to the past and save his family weighs heavily on Jack, causing hallucinations. Aku makes an appearance in episode two, and he is still as hysterical as ever. Jack however faces a new threat from a cult dedicated to Aku, and other bounty hunters along the way. The first two episodes of season five are very polished, yet both endings are on cliff hangers. Season five has more of a narrative than previous seasons, with the first villain Jack fights being equally annoying and hilarious, and still shares some of the humor, it is way more toned down than before.  

Season 5 has the best animation of the series, with Genndy being able to utilize the newest technology, and brought back much of the original team. One scene from episode two, which is a kind of homage to the graveyard scene from “The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly” both in music and in visuals, is absolutely magnificent. The tension is very real in this scene. Episode two in general has outstanding action set pieces, with the graveyard scene barely providing a break, with action being traded for suspense.

Season 5 has aired three of the new episodes so far, with new episodes every Saturday. If “Samurai Jack” continues with the same quality, then the show will finally get its proper sendoff.

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

By Dominick Buccitti – Staff Reporter

A tale as old as time – actually 1991 – was re-created and released on March 16. “Beauty and the Beast” is the story of a young woman named Belle, whose father is captured by monstrous beast that actually was once a prince. Belle takes her father’s place and is a prisoner of the beast.

Throughout the progression of the movie, the beast becomes less cold-hearted, compared to the beginning, where he displayed much anger and isolation. The beast actually falls in love with Belle, which means that the curse placed upon him can be broken. As he has learned to love, Belle does not make her love for the Beast apparent until the end of the movie.

In this recreation, Belle is portrayed by Emma Watson, an actress widely known as Hermione Granger in the Harry Potter movies. The Beast is portrayed by Dan Steven, Gaston is portrayed by Luke Evans, and LeFou is portrayed by Josh Gad. This version of Beauty and the Beast features popular songs like, “Gaston,” “Be Our Guest,” and “Something There.” In this version and the 1991 version, the first song is Belle, which is quite well-known, since it characterizes Belle as being seen as an outcast by the citizens of her village. As the movie continued and after Belle escapes from the castle [for the first time], she is chased [on horse] by vicious wolves. Before the Beast decides to show up, she tries to fend them off herself.Through this part, Watson portrays Belle as not a damsel in distress, but as a courageous fighter.  

The scene that includes the song “Be Our Guest” was amazing. It was actually more exciting than the original. The iconic ballroom dance between Beauty and the Beast was spectacular. Emma Thompson, who portrayed Mrs. Potts, did a superb job of singing “Beauty and the Beast.” The movie was consistent with the original, except for a couple scenes.

The backstories of both Belle and the Beast were further developed, where it is explained that Belle’s mother passed away from the bubonic plague. Also, there is further detail of the prince becoming the Beast.

The movie has mostly positives, but there were a couple negatives as well.This version of Beauty and the Beast had some inconsistencies with timing, where things began to move at a faster place when they should not have.

This version of “Beauty and the Beast” cannot compare to the original; however, it was still amazing and the score of the movie was great.

Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars

By Tyler Chavez – News Editor

“La La Land” has quickly become one of the more popular films among critics and the box office in the past few months. Directed by Damien Chazelle (“Whiplash”) and starring Emma Stone (“Birdman”, “The Amazing Spider-Man”, and “Easy A”), Ryan Gosling (“The Big Short”, “Drive”, and “The Notebook”), and recording artist John Legend, “La La Land” tells the story of two young artists struggling in Hollywood to achieve their dreams and maintain their relationship. What’s interesting is that while this is an age-old trope, especially in musicals, it’s been quite a long time since an original film musical has captivated audiences as much as this film has.

In short, “La La Land” is a film that looks and sounds pretty, but does little beyond that. Damien Chazelle should be awarded for his precise directing that makes the film both beautiful and at times emotional, and there are moments where “La La Land” does really take the audience on a musical journey, but the weak storytelling and the film’s lack of commitment to the art of the musical prevents the movie from being truly great. “La La Land” is not a bad film by any means; it’s quite enjoyable and entertaining, but it doesn’t deserve all of the praise it has received.

Chazelle burst onto the directing scene with 2014’s “Whiplash”, a movie that is quite different from a musical. But he has proven himself as a great director with “La La Land”. Even though the films have quite different tones, they have the same themes of the danger of working for your dreams and an appreciation for old art like jazz. “La La Land” has some truly beautiful scenes. The opening number is energetic and a prime example of what an opening ensemble number should be. And Stone’s and Gosling’s dance sequence featuring a beautiful backdrop makes the Hollywood twilight seem like a gorgeous painting for a big Broadway set. Chazelle proves with “La La Land” that he is a director to keep tabs on for the future, he is not a one-hit wonder. The film’s directing and cinematography are charming, colorful, and reflect the art of the musical quite well.

As mentioned earlier, “La La Land” is interesting as it is the first big original musical in quite some time. But does it stay truthful to the genre? In my eyes, not consistently. While there certainly are some impressive and fun numbers, the majority of the songs themselves are not very memorable, Outside of “City of Stars” and “Audition (The Fools Who Dream)”, the other songs are forgettable. Viewers will remember some shots and sequences, but that’s due to the directing and cinematography. Truthfully, it’s like “La La Land” wants the aesthetic of a musical without the full commitment to it. For example, the songs in a musical are meant to mean something. They introduce characters or a setting, explain plot and story, or are a major plot point. But in “La La Land”, the majority of them are just excuses to have a fun choreography sequence. They don’t add anything to the plot. As a musical, “La La Land” is pretty barebones.

The numbers are not the only thing that failed to leave an imprint. The story of “La La Land”, while not boring or easily predictable, isn’t satisfying. The film tries so hard to keep the focus on Stone and Gosling’s characters. For example, there is an extremely interesting dynamic between Gosling and Legend’s characters. The two used to be in a band together and disagree over how to jazz relevant. John Legend thinks that jazz needs to evolve and modernize to stay relevant while Gosling believes that jazz should stay pure and to its roots. What’s interesting is that this debate, whether art should modernize or not to stay relevant, is a central theme of the movie as it takes old forms of Hollywood storytelling in a modern setting. Does this conflict, which honestly someone could make a whole movie out of, ever get resolved? No. Gosling leaves the band at the start of the third act and we never hear from John Legend again. What could have been an interesting conflict is tossed aside to keep the focus on Stone and Gosling’s relationship.

“La La Land” should be applauded for not being predictable and having an ending that may seem quiet and bitter-sweet, but has a lot to say and is ultimately for the best. The ending is moving in a sequence that captures the untold truth of achieving your dreams and falling in love. This does not justify the other problems of the story (that it focuses too much on the lovers and just kind of lounges around for the first two acts), but the story does enough to not make me bored. There have been debates over whether the characters are likeable or not, and a strong argument can be made that Stone’s is more likeable than Gosling’s. Ignoring the fact that Ryan Gosling isn’t that great of a singer, his character is written to be not very likeable as he undermines Stone’s dreams and more often than not just comes off as a jerk. Stone’s character is more innocent and hopeful, she’s charming and likeable.

“La La Land” is a pleasant film. It’s very pretty and has a somewhat engaging story to tell, but the hype is overrated. The main characters, while still nice, are not too relatable, the movie doesn’t stay true to its musical roots, and there’s a more interesting plot point that gets swept aside for the sake of focusing on the main characters. There’s not much to “La La Land” beside its pretty people, pretty music, and pretty visuals. “La La Land” is deserving of some praise, but much of that praise comes from the fact that it’s a movie about old Hollywood, and Hollywood loves movies about itself.

Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars

By Owen Paiva – Entertainment Editor

Weezer released their first eponymous album, known as “The Blue Album,” in 1994.

This album launched the act and they have released nine other albums to this date. Does the first album hold up to the others? Is it still the triple-platinum classic that created many fans, or is it just a product of its time? 

Weezer is an alt-rock band that consists of singer Rivers Cuomo, drummer Patrick Wilson, guitarist Jason Cropper, and at the time, bassist Matt Sharp. Cuomo, from Pomfret, Connecticut, has also worked on B.o.B’s song, Magic. Cuomo has channeled many of his personal experiences into the music, but that mainly happened after the blue album.

The album has three singles that shot the band into the mainstream and are still among the band’s most popular to this day. “Buddy Holly” is a loving tribute to the 1950’s singer who died in the infamous plane crash in the “day that music died”. It also praises Mary Tyler Moore, who was a popular actress in the 50’s and on. The song is also famous for its music video consisting of Weezer playing at Arnold’s Drive-In from the show Happy Days featuring cameos using footage from the show of characters such as Fonzie. “Undone – The Sweater Song”, is another song that may be the band’s most popular. The chorus consists of, “If you want to destroy my sweater, pull this thread as I walk away.” This is known by many, even if they do not recognize the song. Cuomo has later stated it as an inadvertent ripoff of Welcome Home (Sanitarium) by Metallica. The song’s video is also directed by Spike Jonze, who has also worked with Daft Punk, and the Beastie Boys, is famous for the one shot style that has the band playing a sped up version of the song which creates an effect of slow motion with the lyrics and music remaining normal if played slower.

The last single, “Say It Ain’t So” has an intro riff that sounds oddly similar to “Thinking Out Loud” by Ed Sheeran, which predates the song by over a decade. The video is not directed by Spike Jonze, rather Sophie Muller, and did not have the same acclaim, but was another top ten hit for the group. “Surf Wax America” is the hidden gem of the album, taking surf rock in a more alternative direction, with hints of skate punk, in an ode to the sport and lifestyle.

Some of the other tracks are solid but unspectacular. Not every track can be a classic, but the tracks retain the charm and feel of the album. “My Name is Jonas” is solid but blends into the background of the album. “Only in Dreams” is a more somber feel similar to “Undone”

There are two main types of songs on the album, the energetic, upbeat ones, and the somber, toned down ones. This was a great debut, laying down the band’s style perfectly.

This album is great to look back and see the evolution of the band. The follow-up, “Pinkerton” was more abrasive, dark, and lamenting about being a rock star. Cuomo grew dissatisfied with the lifestyle, and wrote a more personal album. The album was a commercial and critical failure, but later grew a cult following, and is regarded by many as one of the best albums the band wrote.

“The Blue Album” is a masterpiece, and one of the staples of the early alt-rock stage. The album received stellar reviews across the board. The album was a far cry from the grunge scene that was very popular in the United States at the time. Weezer was more akin to Britpop, like Blur and Oasis, and stood out from the competition in the U.S.

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

By Valeria Araujo – Editor-in-Chief

In the 1950s, on a late night partying in jazz-ridden Manhattan, is where readers are introduced to the main character in “The Bell Jar,” Esther Greenwood. Working at an internship at a magazine in New York she sticks out like a sore thumb – tall, pale, and awkward. She is seemingly ahead of her time because she is more interested in academics and a career. Esther takes on a new world where she learns things about herself that change her life forever.

“The Bell Jar” is a gripping tale of this young woman’s downward spiral into a pool of mental illness. Although it is a piece of fiction, some argue it is also a tool in showing the reader a glimpse into author Sylvia Plath’s own struggles with her mental illness. The novel is relatable in the sense that it is timeless because mental illness happens to people in similar ways today.

There are many graphic but tasteful images given to the reader about the happenings of Esther’s depression. Although still taboo, it’s more open to treatment and discussion than in another school-read classic, “Catcher in the Rye,” where Holden is forced to go through it alone until he goes far off the rocker. Plath doesn’t sugar coat what happens in the facilities that Esther is treated in, which makes “The Bell Jar” an evocative and interesting read.

All of the characters are also extremely well-rounded. They all have shortcomings that can bitter the taste of them and other qualities that might sweeten the deal. For example, Buddy Willard, a former love interest for Esther, has a tendency to think he knows more than the person he’s talking to. Esther realizes he was better from afar. He also had some very sexist views about marriage, but we it can chalk it up to it being the 1950s. Then there is Doreen, who seems like the average party girl, but when Esther decides she doesn’t want to be associated with her during their time in New York, she never loses the kindness she always held for Esther (even if some of it was for personal gain).

One problem with the novel is that while the language is very eloquent, some of the parts describing LGBT ideas are extremely dated and can deter the reader’s focus if only for a second. But other than that, “The Bell Jar “helps readers understand mental illness a little bit more and helps them realize that things can get better after a severe rough patch.

This beautifully written, depressing, yet motivational novel is a must-read classic that will continue to haunt readers minds for years to come.

Rating: 4.75 out of 5 stars

By Maeve Rourke – Sports Editor

Buster Moon is going to have audiences across the country singing in the aisles.

“Sing” is an animated movie in which animals are living in a world similar to ours. Buster Moon, voiced by Matthew McConaughey (“Dallas Buyers Club,” “Interstellar,” “The Wolf Of Wall Street”) is a charming koala who owns a once-grand theater that has fallen on hard times. Due to his shortage of funds, Buster cannot afford to pay the theater’s bills or renovate the building which is falling apart. Now up against bankers threatening to repossess the property, Mr. Moon decides to save his beloved theater by producing the world’s greatest singing competition.  

This movie has experienced skepticism because it seems like another over-rated children’s movie that has no established plot. However, “Sing” has done very well and has drawn in adult audiences as well.

The movie contained great and entertaining music from well known artists such as Stevie Wonder, Elton John, and Queen.

Despite the common notion the children’s movies have predictable plots, this movie was full of unpredictable twists. The movies keeps viewer of all ages on the edge of their seats, eager to see how the plot will play out.

The cast is also jam packed with well known actors that viewers can recognize almost instantly.

Scarlett Johansson (“The Avengers,” “Lucy,” “The Nanny Diaries”), Reese Witherspoon (‘Legally Blonde,” “Walk The Line”), Jennifer Hudson (“Dreamgirls,” ), and Singer-Songwriter Tori Kelly (“Unbreakable Smile”) all have at least one musical number within the movie. These talented voice actors nailed their roles and added another level of humor  to this movie.

The actual characters of the movie were great as well. Each individual learned their own life lesson throughout, which added another element to the plot. The directors, Christophe Lourdelet and Garth Jennings, set the movie in such a way that the audience is shown each characters’ background, and hardships they need to overcome. They also deliver these life lessons with humor so viewers of all ages can enjoy the hidden morals of the story. The way the character’s are developed is brilliant. All the characters’ personalities were lovable and unique, causing the audience to care about the characters and their stories.

This movie is a great family movie that everyone will enjoy. Its run time is about 108 minutes, which is perfect especially for children who may get restless in the theater. “Sing” has also done well in the box office. As of December 27th, 2016,  the movie has made a gross of over $147 million since its release on December 21.  

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

By Owen Paiva – Entertainment Editor

Sixteen years ago, Gorillaz released their eponymous debut album. The album was the product of Blur frontman Damon Albarn’s vocals and instrumentals and Tank Girl creator Jamie Hewlett’s artwork to create a virtual band. The band consists of leader singer 2-D, Murdoc Niccals, drummer Russel Hobbs, and guitarist Noodle.  The virtual band served as a way for Albarn to experiment and combine many genres, including rock, trip hop, rap rock,art rock, Britpop, hip hop, dub, reggae, Latin, psychedelia, and punk rock. The album was produced by acclaimed hip hop producer Dan the Automator.

The album has a big hip-hop/alternative vibe, with the use of turntables and drum machines allowing to fit right at home with classic ’90s hip-hop like the Beastie Boys, De La Soul and other similar acts. The stand-out track of the album, and the mainstream American and British breakthrough single is “Clint Eastwood.” The song has a melodica riff that is an homage to Ennio Morricone, the composer behind the soundtracks of classic spaghetti westerns like the “Good, the Bad, and the Ugly,” which stars Eastwood. Another reference to the actor is the line “Sunshine in a Bag” referencing a saddlebag full of gold from the actor’s numerous westerns. The reggae-style guitar and piano riffs blend perfectly with the eerie melodica, and Albarn sings the chorus, while Del the Funky Homosapien provides two verses that prove to be the highlight of the song. Del also lends his voice to the album “Rock the House,” another song that features the melodica, but it provides a cheery tune to a song that only features Del’s vocals. “19-2000,” which has a more alternative feel, is the second-best song on the album. Albarn’s melancholy is used with a smooth bassline to provide a catchy song that is sure to impress. The song’s Soulchild remix takes the song and makes it even better. The last track that stands out is “Tomorrow Comes Today” a dreary ballad highlighted by Albarn’s moody melodica playing and tough drum beat.

The album is less alternative and more hip-hop. Gorillaz other albums are less and less hip-hop oriented, and more influenced by alternative. The album is not as mainstream friendly as the other three Gorillaz albums, but that does not take away from this album. The album also suffers from not having too many great songs. Besides the four singles, only “5/4” and the instrumental “Double Bass” stand out. The other songs on the album are solid, not spectacular, but that more or less comes down to preference.  

The album is an experiment for the creative Albarn, with his creative differences with Graham Coxon delaying Blur’s album “Think Tank,” since Albarn was devoted to Gorillaz. Those who like Blur will find some songs they enjoy, and some they do not.

Sixteen years after its release, “Gorillaz” really stands the test of time. It holds up extremely well, with songs like “Clint Eastwood” still being used in soundtracks. The band as a whole has over 4.3 million listeners a month on Spotify, which makes them the 367th most listened to artist. That’s impressive for a band whose last song came out in 2012 and whose last album was released in 2011. 

It’s also notable because the Gorillaz are about to make headlines – and hits – again.

Albarn has said that the Gorillaz’ fifth album will be released in 2017 and will be more like “Gorillaz” and “Demon Days,” which is amazing, considering the quality and success of those albums. De La Soul and Snoop Dogg are both confirmed to be collaborators on the new album. Both Albarn and Hewlett are ecstatic with the progress.

Worldwide, the self-titled debut album has reached 5x Platinum, which means it sold over five million copies. The experiment set the foundation for the masterpiece that is “Demon Days” and the sensational “Plastic Beach.” Hopefully the new album is out sooner rather than later.

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

By Tyler Chavez – News Editor

The “Star Wars” franchise has been around for nearly 40 years now. The name has become a common giant in the world of entertainment and pop culture. They have been movies, comics, toys, novels, video-games, and even a purposely forgotten Christmas special. And yet, for a franchise that revolves around an intergalactic conflict between good and evil with the word “war” in its title, Star Wars has never felt like a war. Sure there have been glimpses into it with the animated series and video-games, but none of them truly felt like a war. “Rogue One: A Star Wars Story” changes this, leading up to one of the best products the franchise has ever offered.

Starring Felicity Jones (“The Theory of Everything” and “The Amazing Spider-Man 2”), Alan Tudyk (“Maze Runner: The Scorch Trials”, “Big Hero 6”, and “Wreck-It Ralph”), and Diego Luna (“The Book of Life” and “Elysium”), “Rogue One: A Star Wars Story” is a prequel to “Star Wars: A New Hope”. The movie tells the story of how the Rebel Alliance managed to get a hold of the plans for the Death Star that allowed Luke Skywalker to destroy it in the movie that started it all. Jones plays Jyn Erso, the daughter of the lead engineer of the Death Star, who runs away from home after her father is brought back to finish his project. This story has never really been explored in the canon Star Wars mythos, so going down this route for the first spin-off Star Wars film seems to make sense.“Rogue One” manages to change so much of the Star Wars formula that it both separates itself from the rest, while also still retaining the look of Star Wars to be an amazing film and experience.

Right from the start, viewers know this is going to be a different experience. Even the title doesn’t follow the same formula. Instead of being “Star Wars: Rogue One”, it’s “Rogue One: A Star Wars Story”. The movie is saying right from the get-go that it’s trying to be different. To establish this, there is text-crawl to set up the story or the traditional wiping transition that has been used in every film. “Rogue One” sets up its atmosphere as something different and unique. And yet, people still know they’re watching a Star Wars film. There are still blasters, ships that jump into hyperspace, mention of the Force, and even some old faces appear. “Rogue One” takes its differences in stride, but does not fully abandon what makes it a Star Wars film. The movie proves something important for Hollywood today: movies can set themselves apart from their predecessors while also incorporating what made them great without butchering their name.

The first half of the movie does have its moments, but it’s weighed down by some awkward storytelling. For one thing, the movie does take its liberties with explaining things. It’s never really explained what Jyn Erso has been doing in the years since she ran away from home, nor how the Rebel Alliance managed to find her after so many years. This very important point that pretty much sets up the plot is never answered.

To add onto this, Erso doesn’t really object to anything. A usual measure of a good protagonist is if they actually make things happen, or only react to things. Erso does the latter. This isn’t Felicity Jones’ fault, but her character just goes along with everything without much objection, even though she has showed no interest in this conflict or finding her father. And yet, when she does find a clue and makes this really out-of-place, cheesy motivational speech, viewers are suddenly supposed to believe that she is passionate about this cause and what it stands for. It just doesn’t stick. It’s such a shame because Felicity Jones is a good actress in this role, but this poor writing weighs down the complexity of her character and her motivations. It caps of the potential for what could have been an interesting character.

Jyn Erso isn’t the only character that gets this treatment. Viewers see two friends (a monk who is blind but is also force sensitive and a soldier who carries a huge automatic gun) who never got an explanation of how they meet or what they fight for, a pilot who abandons the Empire but without an explanation as to why, and a father figure to Erso who just disappeared from her life without much reason as to why. These aren’t just slight details, these are important plot points that set up characters and motivations. Without them, the movie seems too oddly convenient and not engaging. Important exposition is dropped from this film. In general, the characters of “Rogue One” end up being written poorly and at times, flat.

However, all these problems are pushed to the side for the last hour. This is the first Star Wars movie that truly feels like a war. The cinematography of the battling is intense, gripping, and a blast to watch from start to end. There are two components to the last battle: space and land. Both are done in a way that makes “Rogue One” such an experience to watch. For one thing, the space battle is done in a way that isn’t just all about fancy effects and explosions. Viewers follow one ship at a time and see the clever tactics each side uses to get closer to victory. The maneuvering of the ships still feels like a roller coaster, but it doesn’t feel gimmicky or like it’s trying to force as many explosions and images on screen as possible.

The land battle of this movie will have viewers’ hearts pumping for the entire thing. With fighting that reflects guerrilla warfare, high intensity, and most of all, moments that tug at the heart and make people actually feel something for the characters, this is the most intense a Star Wars film has been in years. The last hour alone are worth the price of admission. Everything about it is done in such a way that makes people really feel that they are watching a war movie, just with lasers and spaceships. And the movie reminds viewers that this isn’t just a war movie; this is an underdog war movie. The last minutes drive this home in a fight that Star Wars fans have been seeking for far too long, but will also remind viewers of the true cost of this war.

“Rogue One: A Star Wars Story” tells the tale of the not-so-glorious, those who are willing to do anything and everything for what they believe in. It’s the gritty war story of the Rebels who didn’t use lightsabers to fight. “Rogue One” is what an expanded story should be as it adds more life and story to a universe people already love. While there are problems with the writing and the characters, the last half make people forget this with sequences that put them on the front lines of battle. Viewers will never be able to watch the first Star Wars film the same away again, but in a good way.

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars