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

By Owen Paiva – Entertainment Editor

Very few television shows have become phenomenons. For every good show, there seems to be five bad ones. Then a very special one came around.

Described as a Stephen King book directed by Steven Spielberg, and the ultimate tribute to the eighties, the Duffer Brothers directed a masterpiece when they created “Stranger Things.” Winona Ryder delivers one of the best performances of her career, newcomers such as Millie Bobby Brown, Noah Schnapp, Finn Wolfhard and Caleb McLaughlin give performances better than any child actors, and David Harbour and Gaten Matarazzo steal the show.

“Stranger Things” is one of the best-cast shows that viewers have ever seen, and the mystery is very effective and engaging. This show is a joy to binge. Netflix has really produced a gem with “Stranger Things”.

Will Byers (Schnapp) goes missing in the town of Hawkins, Illinois, and his friends Dustin (Matarazzo), Lucas (McLaughlin), and Mike (Wolfhard) search to find him. Joyce (Ryder), Will’s mother, goes hysterical since her son has gone missing. She turns to Chief Hopper (Harbour) to help find him. This while a mysterious girl (Brown) shows up at a local restaurant, and a shady government agency works in the shadows. Will’s disappearance uncovers an even greater mystery which threatens the town of Hawkins, and only the few who uncover the truth can find Will and stop the mystery.

The show has been very popular, with the accurate portrayal of ’80s life, and a mystery which is slowly unraveled. Season 1 is an eight-episode affair, and does an amazing job developing almost every character. Proper development is given to the trio of friends trying to save Will, Will’s mother and brother, Chief Hopper, Mike’s sister and her crush, as well as the mysterious girl. The show really has great pacing, with almost every episode hooking the viewer, and the danger feels real.

Viewers really connect to the main characters, especially since they are given enough screen time to grow.  A part of the show many viewers thought highly of were the child actors, since that was a reason this show took so long to be picked up. Executives did not want child leads in a show not meant for kids, however Netflix gave the Duffer Brothers a chance, and a chance that was hit right out of the park. These performances are really professional, especially Brown’s as she does not have a lot of lines, but makes up for it through her facial expressions and body languages. The last two episodes were some of the best in any show for such a long time. It really feels like a race against the clock, and when viewers reach that point, they will understand.

The show does not have too many weaknesses, but it is not without issue. The first viewing of the first episode can drag a little. Most viewers were not truly hooked until the second episode, but the first episode introduced the world. Another area of issue was handling the character of Nancy’s best friend Barb. Some fans were a little disappointed with her arc, and some continuity errors, but it does not hurt the show in the long run.

It is really hard to keep things vague in this review, but the story is better experienced fresh. Certain viewers complained about having some parts spoiled, and that it took away from the show. Anyone who enjoys Stephen King books, movies based on King books (especially “Stand by Me”, based on his book, “The Body”), or Steven Spielberg movies like “E.T.”, needs need to watch this show. Spielberg is one of this generation’s best directors, and he captures the magic and spirit of his movies in this love letter to ’80s sci-fi movies.

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

By Arielle Eighmy & Nia Cordero – Staff Reporters

“Black Mass” takes place in South Boston during the 1970s and 1980s. This movie stars Johnny Depp, Benedict Cumberbatch, Dakota Johnson, and Joel Edgerton. Depp, who plays James Whitey Bulger, is the leader of an Irish mob called “Winter Hill”. In the movie Bulger finds himself in dark waters and comes across an opportunity to form an alliance with the FBI and former childhood friend, John Connolly (Joel Edgerton) to take down a mutual enemy, the Italian mob, known as the Angiulo family. Forming this alliance grants Bulger and the rest of the Winter Hill gang immunity from the government.

Depp portrays Bulger, a real-life organized crime lord in Boston and does a phenomenal job. Bulger is a controlling, manipulative man with a reputation of being violent without hesitation, Striking fear through the streets of Boston. Depp’s realistic fits of anger make the viewer feel as if they are also in fear of Bulger. Depp is known for his good acting and directing. He also stars in films such as “Pirates of the “Caribbean” and “Alice in Wonderland”.

Connolly plays Edgerton, an FBI agent who decides to join forces with Bulger and his gang. Connolly and Bulger formed a strong relationship at a young age growing up close by. With a bond already formed, Connolly reaches out to his long time friend, Bulger, looking to help him. Edgerton does a great job in playing this role. He is comical, sincere and edgy. His character adds comic relief to this intense film.

Benedict Cumberbatch plays the part of William Bulger, the brother of Whitey Bulger. In the movie, Will is a leader in the Massachusetts Senate, and is oblivious to his brother’s alliance and crime. Bill adds an innocent feel to the movie and shows the diversity between two brothers going down separate paths.

Dakota Johnson, who plays Whitey’s long time girlfriend and mother of his son,  Lindsey, also stars in the movie “Fifty Shades Of Gray.”  In “Black Mass,” Dakota portrays a sweet and caring mother and girlfriend, the complete opposite of Bulger, but both shared an equal love for their son Douglas, who becomes very ill. This brought out another side to Bulger and adds more sympathy to the film, showing that even the bad guys have feelings.

This movie had many highlights, it leaves viewers in suspense and wanting to know what is going to happen next. The foreshadowing in the movie keeps viewers guessing, and on the edge of their seat. It is full of laughs, tears and action which draws viewers in. The actors and actresses all play their roles perfectly and bring the film together with their emotions.

There are also some weak points to the film, however. The movie is based off of a true story and could have portrayed more of the events that happened in real life. Also, the Italian mob was the focus of Whitey and the FBI’s plan but were not shown or made as important as they should have been.

“Black Mass” is a movie for those who like action, suspense, twists, and turns. This movie would also be good for people who are interested in real-life crime stories. It is a dark and intense film, with a real storyline of events to follow. Towards the end of the film, actual pictures of the men in the Winter Hill gang are showed and gives the viewers an insight on how the men acted towards each other. Overall, “Black Mass” is interesting and has all the components to keep a viewer on the edge of their seat.

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

By Amanda Downs – Staff Reporter

Recently Gwen Stefani, the lead singer of the band No Doubt, has partnered up with Urban Decay, a well-known makeup brand. The line is called Urban Decay x Gwen Stefani and features a range of products from lip liners to eye shadow pallets.

Urban Decay is known for their quality makeup and highly-pigmented eye shadow palettes and have a big following. Their brand is sold in stores such and Ulta, Sephora and Macy’s. This collection is a limited edition and there have been many positive reviews sao far.  

The whole collection features an eye shadow palette, a blush palette, a brow pallette, and a few lipstick and eyeliner shades. The colors in the eye shadow pallet can be seen as bland, the pallet is made of mostly neutrals colors with some electric blue, pink and gold shades. It has mostly shimmer shadows with some beautiful matte ones. The pallet offers many new shadows by the brand and their staple “blackout,” which most people can say is the blackest and most pigmented black on the market.

The lipstick comes in six shades and are a mix of matte and glossy. The colors range from a rich ruby red, a deep fuchsia and tone down to a sheer nude. They are long wearing and creamy. The lip liners are made to go with the lipsticks and are the same colors. Many people love the lip liners as much as the lipstick.

The blush pallet that is part of the collection gives users an option of six unique shades. The pallet includes a highlight shade, a bronzer and four different pink blush shades.

The brow box comes in one shade bathwater blonde, which has a dark blonde and light blonde shade. The perk about this brow box is that it comes with two mini angled brushes to shape your brows and a mini pair of tweezers.

The disadvantage to this great collection is the price. Although Urban Decay is prestige makeup, everything in the set is pricey. The lipstick is the cheapest part of the collection at $18, and the lip liner costs more than the actual lipstick at $20. The prices are comparable to other brand names like Too Faced and Smashbox, but there are cheaper drug store brands that could do the same job.

The eye shadow pallet is priced at $58, but doesn’t have as many color options if you’re trying to go for a dramatic look.  Many prefer the company’s well known naked pallets priced at $54, which isn’t much better price-wise, but they have a greater variety of colors. If you feel like splurging on some nice quality makeup, this collection seems worth it.

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

By Isabela Roldan – Staff Reporter

Ever wonder what goes on at home when you leave your pets alone?

The question we’ve all been curious about will finally be answered with the upcoming release of “The Secret Life of Pets.”

Director Chris Renaud who is most popularly known for his smash hits, “Despicable Me”,”The Lorax,” and “The Minions,” hopes to hit it big with yet another family fun animation.

Once humans leave their homes to pursue the day of work and school, pets follow by starting their daily routines which include hanging out with each other, talking about their owners, and practicing adorable tricks and looks to be rewarded better snacks.

This 3D film will be released on July 8.

The movie follows the life of a pampered terrier named Max, living in a New York apartment. This pooch struggles to deal with being neglected after his beloved owner, Katie, adopts a massive mutt named Duke, who battles to be the new center of attention.

The two dogs must put their rivalry aside when they find themselves stranded on the street and pursued by a rabbit mastermind named Snowball who has an evil plan in mind. The seemingly adorable hare and his army of abandoned animals, self-named the “Flushed Pets,” seek to retaliate against happy critters and their owners in an act of revenge.

The creatures of Max’s apartment complex venture off into the city in an attempt to find their neighbors, all while being wrapped up in the “Flushed Pets” evil arrangement.

The film will include a plethora of well-known comedy actors including Kevin Hart as Snowball, Louis C.K. as Max, Eric Stonestreet as Duke, and Ellie Kemper as Katie.

“The Secret Life of Pets” will also include well-known comedy co-stars such as Jenny Slate who plays Gidget, a spunky pomeranian, Steve Coogan as an interrogating alley cat, and Bobby Moynihan as Mel, a dopey pug.

“I think the balance between really capturing the physical behavior of these pets and making them look and seem like our pets, and then making them just a bit more human, and enhancing their personalities and their motivations more is always satisfying,” Slate said.

Director Chris Renaud is also partnering up with Yarrow Cheney as co-director in order to perfect the film.

“The good thing about having a co-director is, these movies take so long, that it’s nice to have a collaborator who you can bounce ideas off of, and he can have ideas that help moments, and have someone to have a conversation with and develop the film with,” Renaud said.

“The Secret Life of Pets” will have pet lovers across the nation laughing at the silly antics of animals and leave them wondering what their pets are really doing at that exact moment while they’re enjoying the film.

By Ann Reed – Staff Reporter

YouTuber Troye Sivan reminds listeners what “YOUTH” is like with his debut album “Blue Neighborhood.”

Originally from South-Africa, this raised Australian is no stranger to success in the entertainment industry. Troye Sivan is a triple threat; earning success as an actor, singer, and YouTuber, all before even turning 21. The now twenty year old got his first taste of fame at the mere age of fourteen, when he played James in “X-Men Origins: Wolverine”,  going on to star in the “Spud” movie franchise, (mostly popular in South Africa) that same year. His YouTube career began in 2007 when he began posting videos of himself singing. It wasn’t until 2014 that he started posting Vlogs, grossing over 4 million subscribers since then.  His debut album “Blue Neighborhood” sold around 65,000 copies in the first week.

“Blue Neighborhood” is screaming with emotion from the second play is pressed to the second the last note is sung. Listening to this album is like having a window directly into Sivan’s soul, seeing him as both an artist and human in the purest form. Opening up on topics ranging from inner conflicts to toxic relationships, “Blue Neighborhood” tells the listener every aspect of Sivan’s life.  Nothing is off limits with lyrics like “This voice inside has been eating at me, trying to replace the love that I fake, with what we both need”, and “So if I’m losing a piece of me maybe I don’t want heaven”, (both from Sivan’s song titled “HEAVEN”). Sivan’s immense vulnerability  helps the listener connect to him as an artist, making them feel as if they was reading an entry from Sivan’s diary. This kind of connection is one that causes the listener to want to listen to this album over and over again, and enjoy it more every time.

The song that epitomizes this album as a whole has to be Sivan’s fourth single, entitled “YOUTH”. This song is a roller coaster, ranging from slow to fast tempo within seconds, reminding the listener of what it was like to be young and sporadic. The phrase “What if” is repeated a total of nine times throughout the song, making up most of the structure of the verses. This phrase instills in the reader the possibilities associated with youth itself. Being young is all about the “what if’s” in life, for you have your entire life in the palms of your hands. You can do and be whatever you want, a feeling often lost with age. Sivan is here to reignite the flame of possibility in listener of all ages, and reignite he does.

With emotion so raw, the fact that Sivan backed up his beautiful lyrics with such overproduced tracks is a little disappointing. While the lyrics are gorgeous, their emotion become muffled with loud electric keyboards and overwhelming bass lines.  Those aspects take away from the meaning of the song, leaving the listener yearning for more out of Sivan. If the artist was to release an acoustic version of this album however, it would be without flaw.

This album is perfect for music lovers who are looking for a soundtrack to their upcoming summer. This album is eccentric, unpredictable, and raw, perfectly epitomizing the “YOUTH” Sivan vocalizes so well.

Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars

By Nisali Fernando – Staff Reporter

From mesmerizing falsettos to mind-bending musicality, Zayn Malik proves his worth in the world of music.

Zayn Malik released his debut album, “Mind of Mine” on March 25. “MoM” allows listeners a walk through his mind and it’s a sort of jumbled yet, organized mess. He manages to compress a story of love, lust, heartbreak, and carelessness into 18 well-crafted songs (included in the Deluxe version) Over the course of a year, Malik has managed to compose, arrange, and release an album that sets the bar incredibly high for pop music. Yet the 23 year old Brit is no stranger to the world of music, having only a year prior been a member of the boyband, One Direction.

When Malik left One Direction, speaking behalf on every One Direction fan in the world, there was a lot of crying. A lot of crying and a lot of anger. He was a driving force in the boyband and one cursory Facebook post later, he was gone. “After 5 incredible years, Zayn Malik has decided to leave One Direction…” In the months following this break Malik revealed those years weren’t all that incredible. He exposed the truth behind the censorship of the band’s ability and spoke out on his unhappiness in the group; which led to even more crying. Many fans have been unable to forgive Malik for his departure, but it’s obvious Malik will never apologize for his choice.“MoM” offers a sense of closure to fans and an invitation to join him on his new journey. It’s obvious Zayn is happy, and the 1d boys are too. The world of music has changed since March 25, but there’s no reason to cry anymore over Malik; it’s all jubilance as listeners delve into “Mind of Mine”

“Pillowtalk,” the first single off the album, was released on January 29. The track itself is quite self-explanatory, Malik dives head first into this world of maturity and sexuality, and listeners are left aghast. He uses his newfound freedom to his best ability, and presents the artistry that survives in “the bed all day.” His vocals cut like glass through an intense synth beat, and the somewhat repetitive lyrics make the song unforgettable. Malik’s vocal ability cannot be contested, and the effortless blend of RnB and techno are unlike anything he’s ever released. He croons, “It’s our paradise and it’s our war zone,” and listeners cannot help but feel at ease. The track may be littered with mature/explicit language, but it managed to debut at Number One on the Billboard Hot 100 (25 songs have done so in the past). According to Billboard, “Pillowtalk also opens atop the Digital Songs and Streaming Songs charts, with 267,000 first-week U.S. downloads sold and 22.3 million U.S. streams.”

“Intermission: Flower” is definitely one of the best tracks off of the album, and it’s not even in English. Malik recounts a tale of unrequited love entirely in Urdu, “Until the flower of this love has blossomed, this heart won’t be at peace. Give me your heart…” Somehow the English translation isn’t as transcendent, but he shatters the expectations of transition music in an album.  Supported only by a sitar, Malik’s vocals carry the track to another level.

“She”  is one of the more fast-tempo tracks of the album. Malik combines RnB and dance perfectly, and leaves listeners bopping their heads. The track isn’t meant to be emotional or open to interpretation, he sings about a back and forth romance. A sort of, ‘should I stay or should I go,’ situation with a girl who, “wants somebody to love, to hold her. She wants somebody to love, in the right way. She wants somebody to love, to kiss her.” The track isn’t innovative lyrically, but the laid back vibe of the song invites listeners to let loose and dance.

“Bordersz” is a soulful, sultry track about intimacy in a relationship. Malik asks his partner to, “break down all of our walls.” He confronts the boundaries and insecurities in their relationship and says, “right now I wanna see it all. I don’t wanna cool off, so let’s cross the lines we lost.” He serenades listeners with his soothing voice demands, “all of you.” (Hopefully consensual)

“Fool For You,” starts as a soft, silky piano ballad and transforms into a full fledged power ballad backed by powerful guitar chords. Malik stuns listeners with his vocal range, the track is overwhelmed with riffs.  Every lyric has a stunning vibrato and it’s obvious that Malik will never hold back again. He belts, “Cause I’m a fool for you and the things you do. I’m a fool for you and the things, the things you do,” and there’s nothing left to do but sway alongside his harmonious voice.

“Befour” is one of the more easy-going tracks of the album. The mid-tempo, percussive track addresses the hate towards Malik. Electronic, drum music floods the track as he claims, “So say what you wanna say, what you want, shame is you won’t say that to my face.” He understands the consequences of leaving One Direction, but refuses to apologize for it. He is no stranger to the world of music and public scrutiny but for the first time in his life he is allowed to be unapologetically himself.

Some say his abrasive nature is off-putting. Malik rushes into this sense of maturity and sophistication. He incorporates sex and obscene language into his music without blinking an eye. For those who know him as the quiet, shy boy from One Direction, this bad-boy, uncensored Malik is a little overwhelming. (According to my mother, a diehard Malik supporter, “the cursing and F-bombs are just too much.” He seems desperate to do whatever’s possible to get away from the “boyband” image.)

Yet behind this “badboy” persona and inappropriate language, Malik’s talent still shines through. There is no arguing Zayn Malik has one of the most unique, well-rounded voices of this generation. From the momentous crescendos in “Wrong” to the impressive ragas (a type of riff/vibrato specific to South Asian music) in “It’s You,” Malik exceeds expectation for “Mind of Mine”. He has a long way to go to rebrand himself away from “that kid who left that boyband.” If that means cursing or singing about sex, (probably every song on the radio) it’s a small price to pay to be able to see Malik reach his true potential.

Zayn Malik may no longer be part of One Direction, but his career is headed in the right one.

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

By Vishal Manglani – Staff Reporter

Rihanna is starting to blow up in the hip hop and R&B industry with the release of her new album “ANTI”. Before this, she has been featured in hit songs such as “FourFiveSeconds” with Kanye and Paul McCartney. Recently, she has topped charts with multiple songs off the album “ANTI”

Rihanna has shown her success through her new songs “Desperado,” “Work,” and “Needed Me,” which are all in the Billboard Top 5.

Rihanna’s traditional style is rhythmic and melodic. Her songs like “Umbrella,” released in 2007, are prime examples of the basis of her music. This melodic tone has stayed persistent as she advanced through her career.

However, she has modernized the style of her music in her new album. Her rhythm is now matched by heavy beats and her soul tone has morphed into one that matches today’s popular artist’s style such as Fetty Wap. Her songs are about love and being dominant. This has been her focal point through the years of her career.

On the album, Rihanna transitions from a slow and mellow tone to a fast and modern tone.

Rihanna’s most popular song of the album is “Work” featuring Drake. The song is infused with rasta and R&B tones and lyrics. The song is about love and how she would cherish a loved one with a second chance.

However, she has more mellow songs in “ANTI” such as “Close to You” which has a slow pace with a elegant piano tone throughout. The song is about love for someone and dedication to keep them safe whether they need it or not.

Rihanna sings with soul in a majority of her songs. The most prominent one is “Higher”. In songs like these, she displays the power of her voice and hides the mellow tone of the music. She transitions from this tone in the next song, “Never Ending” where she sings with a fast pace and over a guitar instead of a mellow piano. She reaches a modern tone in the song “Same Ol’ Mistakes” where the music transitions from instruments to beats and her voice becomes more rhythmic.

Rihanna shows an impressive use of tone and tempo in the album. In the song “Needed me” she shows an impressive display of the reaches of her voice. She reaches high pitches and a repeating tempo. Not only does she reach a variety of tones, but she is powerful when going to new heights in her music.

Rihanna’s music is only becoming more and more popular. The increase in her success and modernization of her tone will lead to more songs to be released that top charts around the country.

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

 

By Tyler Chavez – Staff Reporter

“How about we make a film where animals have their own society and there are no humans?” The trope has been beaten to death. There are hundreds of films, cartoons, and comics where the entire premise falls on animals having their own society. And yet, we haven’t gotten sick of it. Not many are good, but it always manages to crawl back into our media. So what sets Disney’s “Zootopia” apart from the others? Why has this film received so much critical and commercial success despite having such a simple premise? Is it just the Disney touch, or does Zootopia have some deep story and message to tell us?

Starring Ginnifer Goodwin (“Once Upon a Time”, “Big Love”, “He’s Just Not That Into You”) as Judy Hopps, Jason Bateman (“Horrible Bosses” “Arrested Development” “Paul”) as Nick Wilde, and Idris Elba (“Thor”, “Beasts of No Nation”, “Luther”) as Chief Bogo, “Zootopia” tells the story of a young, bunny officer named Judy Hopps. Hopps is special because she is the first bunny officer in the city of Zootopia. But once on the job, she discovers all that glitters is not golden and is stuck as a meter maid. It’s not until she meets a wise-cracking, con artist fox named Nick Wilde that she uncovers a conspiracy concerning the city’s carnivore population. The two go off on a crazy adventure to discover what is causing the carnivores to go “wild” and attack others.

Right from the start viewers will notice how amazing this film looks. The city of Zootopia is gleaming, bright, colorful, and filled with life. The animals are cute and the size differences add diversity and a more realistic look. Those larger, heavier creatures like the rhinos move slower and tower over the faster, smaller animals. Indeed, the layout of the city also reflects this. Beyond the urban zone are regions for cold, deserts, rain forests, and even a section just for rodents that is part of a good chase scene. The layout of the city is well-thought and detailed. It’s not just animals of similar sizes living in a uniform sized city, it’s animals of natural, realistic shapes and sizes in a city that compensates for the various sizes with its architecture.

The humor in this film is also done extremely well. Animal gags are easy to do but that also makes them hard to master; but “Zootopia” delivers a number of different jokes with animal gags and smart writing. The scene with the sloths running the DMV is still hilarious and laugh out loud funny despite being shown countless times in trailers. Typically, scenes shown in trailers do not have the same effect in the movie, but that scene still cracks me up. The writing also shines through to add more laughs. Instead of depending on just animal puns and such, the writing is smart, well delivered, and funny.

The bigger attraction about the film is its message. “Zootopia” delivers an honest, home-hitting message on anti-racism and our modern society. In this world, carnivores no longer hunt down herbivores (what they eat now is never answered), but some animals still hold old preconceptions about their fellow creatures. Carnivores are seen as savage, wild, and unpredictable dangers. Small animals are seen as weak and timid. Even more so, once some carnivores are caught attacking, the majority herbivore population become scared and retaliated by having mass arrests of carnivores, firing them, not trusting them, and pinning them all as savages. The message also adds a layer of complexity to the characters, particularly Nick Wilde. Nick was attacked and bullied because he is a carnivore, and that abuse led to him choosing and living the life he does. It can also be seen in the herbivores once they gain up on carnivores. We see how they still hold onto old prejudices and discriminate against carnivores because they fear for their safety. It’s not hard to tell that this message is supposed to represent what we as a society are facing today: racial prejudices still creeping in, blaming an entire culture for the acts of a few, and mass arrests of a minority population. The metaphor is not subtle, but it’s so effective and so powerful.

Watching “Zootopia” and realizing the metaphor actually made me emotional. Seeing a message about modern racism told so powerfully and so straight to the point was amazing to me. One major criticism of modern children’s films is that none of them have messages or morals. They’re just jokes, no story, no lesson to learn, just jokes. “Zootopia” shuts that stereotype down. The message it has is one that we all need to be reminded of today. And this is just the surface without dwelling into the metaphors for police brutality and profiling and drug addiction.  

While the message of this film carries it a long way, the plot does leave something to be desired. The biggest problem is the obvious plot hole. This is a society where carnivores and herbivores live equally, but the question of what carnivores now eat is never brought up. Is it synthetic meat? Have they switched to a different diet? This question could have been a central point of the plot, and it’s a very important detail to leave out, but it is instead tossed aside and not even used for a joke. This isn’t enough to really bring down the film and its quality, but it was still an annoying detail that stayed in the back of my mind throughout the film.

“Zootopia” is a film that can truly be liked by anyone. Children will appreciate the bright visuals, cute characters, visual gags, and the thrilling story. Also, children will pick up on the metaphor this movie tells. Kids are smarter than people think; they’re aware of things going on in the world around them and they absorb the media they watch. Adults will still get a kick out of the social commentary, deep, relatable story, and funny writing. “Zootopia” has already beaten “Frozen” with an astonishing $73.7 million opening weekend. The film still has that Disney charm, while proving that the studio can tell a modern story with a modern message. Only Disney can create an animated film with such a powerful, relevant message. If this is the future of Disney and animated kids films, than the future is very bright.

Rating 4.5 out of 5 stars

By Owen Paiva – Staff Reporter

With Season 11 just wrapping up and Seasons 1-10 streaming on Netflix, “Always Sunny” is a spectacle to behold. Often called “The Next Seinfeld”, it is over ten years old, yet people are unaware of its existence. A mix of sitcom and dark comedy, it is the tale of four friends who own Paddy’s Irish Pub in Philadelphia. Season 1 was produced at a much lower production value, but Fox ,and in particular, Danny DeVito saw enough in the show to fund it. This was a big break for Rob McElhenney, Kaitlin Olson, Glenn Howerton and especially Charlie Day. Charlie Day steals the show as Charlie Kelly, the bumbling fool with a heart of gold. The show centers on the various situations the “Gang” get into, whether it be trying to be a band, increase the attendance at the pub, or taking a vacation to the Jersey Shore.

The show’s main strength is character development, viewers really get to see each member of the “Gang” get flushed out, and the chemistry between certain people. The chemistry between McElhenney’s Mac, Day’s Kelly, and DeVito’s Frank is amazing. Highlights of the relationship include forming the band “Chemical Toilet” ,  and especially in the Season 2 premier which is when Frank is introduced. When the whole gang is together or broken up into smaller groups, hilarity ensues. This is on display in many episodes, with my 3 personal favorites being season 4’s “The Nightman Cometh” and Season 7’s “The gang go to the Jersey Shore” and “CharDee MacDennis, The Game of Games”. I won’t say too much about these episodes, but “The Nightman Cometh” calls back to an earlier episode, and how it expands on what was introduced was hysterical.

The show’s main weakness is not a glaring issue, but is a matter of who is watching it. Some people do not like dark comedy, poking fun of “Taboo Issues” or any offensive content, and this is how the show could not appeal to certain people.  The show is not offensive just be offensive like “Family Guy”, instead having good writing and storytelling, and incorporating the dark comedy as humor. With 8.8/10’s on IMDB and TV.com, and a 96/100 for critics and a 94/100 for audiences on Rotten Tomatoes, then the “weakness” does not even affect critics.

The show gets better and better with each season, viewers wonder “How will they top it this time?” Then they see an episode where recurring villains take the gang hostage, or a sequel to a previous episode, and their mind is blown.

When fans watch all the seasons, they see the characters and the production quality develop. They find out who their favorite is, probably Charlie, and they understand why these people are the way they are.

If people need a show to laugh at after a long day of school or work, or just a new show to binge, “It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia” is worth watching.

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

By Valeria Araujo – News Editor

The world’s not-so-favorite Assassin is back in the TOG sequel “Crown of Midnight” with a new title to add to her collection: King’s Champion.

Celaena Sardothien has been through hell and back since her arrival to the Glass Castle. And the new game she’s playing with the King’s most wanted is leading her to an even greater risk than before. Instead of killing the people on the King’s hitlist Celaena has given them a choice; flee or die.

She keeps her vigilante nightlife a secret from everyone including her best friend Nehemia. With no true loyalty to the king, besides the check he slices, Celaena is stuck between a rock and a hard place when her friends start questioning her allegiance.

But is she the only one with secrets to hide?

Things become difficult for Celaena to hide when a new group of rebels lurks in the shadows. While continuing her duties to the king, Celaena is also busy with discovering secrets in through the castle library and her trusty informants about the rebellion. Little does she know that while she’s gallivanting the streets searching for clues they end up being right under her nose and one tragic night brings everything to light.

With intense action and heartwarming relationships, the second book in the throne of glass series leaves nothing to be desired. Maas has perfected the art of toying with readers emotions in a positively torturous way. After tying up some loose ends from the first novel, the second book explores many new and intriguing plots that are sure to make any reader waiting at the edge of their seats.

Love triangles are not only selfish but disorienting so one thing all readers can all look forward to is the blooming romance between Chaol and Celaena. After ending her short relationship with the Crowned Prince Dorian, things were not looking too good in the love department for Celaena. That is until Chaol finally takes a leap of faith and express his feelings for Celaena.

The reader also gets to see new sides of some beloved characters. Nehemia, who was always a rebel sympathizer, reveals the length she is willing to go to protect her people and her friends. Chaol continues to go through intense inner turmoil to figure out where his loyalty lies and who he can trust. Dorian develops new abilities that were thought impossible that could hurt those he holds dear. There are many problems to fix and only 400 pages to fix them in.

Readers also get to explore more of the dark side of the king unlike in the first book where the king’s point of view was only shown in a couple pages near the end. Readers are also introduced to the side of Celaena that has stayed with her since her days as a full-time assassin. While becoming more immersed into Celaena and her story readers can finally enjoy and understand the intensity that is her personality. Although she has matured slightly, some of her decisions and actions are still quite vulgar which leads to fatal consequences.

As Celaena and her friends continue to face the impossible, fans and readers alike continue to follow them through to the end. With only a few predictable plot twists here and there. the second installment of the “Throne of Glass” series undoubtedly kept up with the hype and readers of high fantasy will appreciate it for all its worth.

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

By Danielle Tancredi – Staff Reporter

The new original Netflix series, “Fuller House”  is a continuation of  the ‘90s sitcom, “Full House.” The first episode picks up 20 years later with D.J. Tanner (Candace Cameron Bure), who is recently widowed with her three sons: Jackson (Michael Campion), Max (Elias Harger), and baby Tommy (Dashiel and Fox Messit).

Danny Tanner (Bob Saget) is planning to move out from the family home he’s been sharing with D.J, while D.J’s younger sister Stephanie, (Jodie Sweetin) and D.J’s best friend Kimmy Gibbler (Andrea Barber) along with her teenage daughter Ramona (Soni Nicole Bringas) decide to move in and help support her. To make the house even fuller, Uncle Jesse (John Stamos), Uncle Joey (Dave Coulier), Becky (Lori Loughlin), and Steve (Scott Weinger) visit as well. The only original “Full House” members missing were the Olsen twins,who throughout the season, were sporadically mentioned. Overall, the opening of the continuation will give “Full House” fans excitement as well as nostalgia.

“Fuller House” takes on a very similar storyline to the original show in which Danny Tanner gets the support of Jesse, Joey, and Becky in raising his daughters after losing his wife. The first episode contained so much reflection on episodes from “Full House” that there was no room for the new show’s originality or character development. Therefore, it’s easy to say that this continuation would definitely be admired by viewers who loved the original series and couldn’t stand all the reruns.

Even though “Fuller House” tends to revisit the sitcom that started it all, the new show does have differences to it. The season is more focused on the lives of D.J., Kimmy, and Stephanie as they lead their own stories. Romance also gets included when Kimmy is involved in her complicated past relationship with soon-to-be ex husband Fernando, and when D.J. has to make a decision between her first love Steve and her business partner Matt (John Brotherton).

The four kids, including D.J.’s sons and Kimmy’s daughter, are put on to balance out the show with new characters. On the other hand, Danny, Joey, and Jesse seem to just represent their original characters and aren’t mainly focused on during the season. But in its defense, it was a better choice to just focus on the two youngest generations.

“Fuller House” gives a new set of characters, but is still the same cheesy sitcom as “Full House” was. So, basically, “Fuller House” suites it’s super fans more than any other type of audience. While the season has its new storyline, it still pays tribute to “Full House” with its references and catchphrases. Even though there is hope with the “Full House” fan base, it wouldn’t be a surprise if this Netflix sequel series doesn’t last after Season Two.

Rating: 2.5 out of 5 stars

By Brianna Arnold – Staff Reporter

Grey’s Anatomy, a Netflix series, returned on February 11 for Season 12.

Director Shonda Rhimes is a genius. She created the world of these surgeons back in 2003, when she was working from home as a newly single mom of an adopted daughter. Once she got the show off the ground, she gathered a team of writers who believed in her characters. These writers were so respected that their writers’ blog was almost as successful as the show.

There are new cast members and characters introduced every season which makes the show always interesting to watch.

Grey’s is a show that will make viewers cry every week. Sometimes, there’s nothing like a good cry to unwind after a long week, and Grey’s provides just that. Almost inevitably, a patient dies or is near death, but it makes for great television when one of the surgeons pulls through with a miraculous save in the final six minutes of the show.

The surgeons at this hospital put as much passion into each other as they do their work on the operating tables. Rhimes and her team created relationships, marriages, and betrayal weekly on the show.

Grey’s is known as the “never ending series,” there are 12-drama packed seasons making people not be able to stop watching it. It appeals to women, men, and teenagers that want to watch a drama-filled show.

Rhimes is known to tell stories that mirror real life more than Hollywood. Grey’s Anatomy features gay marriage, blended families, moral conflict, secret children and much more.

Viewer’s eyes are glued to the screen knowing that their favorite character’s entire life could change at any moment. On Grey’s, this happens all the time; no patient is safe, no relationship is safe, and no surgeon is safe.

Rhimes ends every season of Grey’s Anatomy with a bang. Fans have already seen the agony of watching their favorites doctors deal with plane crashes and major, sudden deaths. This is a great show for viewers to get invested in and it’s never too late to start watching how exciting Grey’s can get.

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

By Isabela Roldan – Staff Reporter

Something strange in your neighborhood? Who you gonna call…that’s right, Ghostbusters, with their long awaited comeback.

This old classic is getting revamped in this 2016 girl-power twist, including some of today’s funniest and most well-known actors. The film is expected to be released on July 15, a week sooner than initially thought. Since the feature is a reboot instead of a direct sequel, the 2016 version will include completely new characters and will be based off an entirely new plot.

When Manhattan gets invaded by spirits, two former ghost novel authors team up with two other unlikely women to save the world and ultimately defeat a manipulative demon, Rowan, who can posses humans.

Erin Gilbert and Abby Yates are a pair of lowly authors who write about the reality of ghosts. Gilbert later lands a job, teaching at Columbia University, which doesn’t last long.

When her past ghost book comes back to haunt her, she becomes the laughing stock of the University and in turn loses her job. Erin rekindles her relationship with Abby in order to put their brains together and come up with a solution to clear the phantom infestation.

Yates and Gilbert recruit Jillian Holtzman, a nuclear engineer, and Patty Tolan, a New York subway worker, to complete the task.

Director Paul Feig had talked of a new Ghostbuster idea in 2014, which displayed strong female roles. This would soon prove to be true after revealing his plans to The Hollywood Reporter. Feig has become a well known comedy director of “Bridesmaids,” “The Heat,” “The Office,” “Freaks and Geeks,” “Parks and Recreation,” and “Arrested Development.” Fans will surely not be disappointed with his newest upcoming comedy.

After asking one of the original Ghostbusters, Bill Murray, of his opinion on the new spin-off, Murray proved to be pleased with the idea.

“I’m fine with it, I would go to that movie, and they’d probably have better outfits too,” Murray said.

Murray also gave suggestions for the casting, which included stars like Melissa McCarthy, Kristen Wiig, Emma Stone, and Amy Poehler. Likewise, Dan Aykroyd, another former Ghostbuster, shared similar excitement for the new cast and plot.

“The Aykroyd family is delighted by this inheritance of the Ghostbusters torch by these most magnificent women in comedy,” Aykroyd said. “My great grandfather, Dr. Sam Aykroyd, the original Ghostbuster, was a man who empowered women in his day and this is a beautiful development in the legacy of our family business.”

On January 27, Feig shared the set casting list which included Melissa McCarthy as Abby Yates, Kristen Wiig as Erin Gilbert, and Chris Hemsworth as Kevin the receptionist. The movie will also guest star celebrities, Bill Murray, Ozzy Osbourne, and many more.

The gender roles have been completely switched in this new take, with Chris Hemsworth playing the team’s receptionist, replacing the original stereotypical woman.

Some fans have already shown a lot of disagreement and negativity towards the film’s decision to include female leading roles, while others are excited for this feminist promotion.

This supernatural restart of “Ghostbusters” is sure to attract fans worldwide, while also broadening the appeal by promoting girl-power throughout the movie.

After the Ghostbusters are through, you won’t be afraid of no ghost.  

By Mindy Le – Staff Reporter

“Blackfish” is an American documentary about the controversy surrounding captive Orca whales, mainly focusing on SeaWorld’s Orca “Tilikum.” Director Gabriela Cowperthwaite provides interviews with former SeaWorld trainers and countless news stories. “Blackfish” was created to essentiality “expose” SeaWorld. The film informs viewers on the treatment of aquatic mammals and the devastating impact captivity can have.

The film opens with a series of 911 calls reporting attacks at SeaWorld. In 1983, near Iceland a young male orca later named Tilikum was taken from his mother and sent to a small Canadian resort. Tilikum was friendly and eager to learn but the trainer at the time used methods that involved punishment.

Six years into his stay at the resort Tilikum had attacked and killed his trainer. Eleven months later, SeaWorld bought Tilikum and he was transferred to their park in Florida. While at SeaWorld, Tilikum caused multiple injuries and two more deaths, including expert trainer Dawn Brancheau. Tilikum now spends his days in a small tank in isolation.

There is a lot of suspicion surrounding the treatment of animals at Seaworld. Orcas at the park have collapsed dorsal fins due to poor diet, but employees claim that it is normal for even wild orca. Yet, studies show less than 0.1% of wild orcas suffer from collapsed fins..

When Tilikum first arrived at SeaWorld parks it was reported that management failed to inform trainers of his violent behavior. After every attack, SeaWorld management would claim trainer error. But the former trainers would watch the tapes and see that in fact there was no error made.

Since the 2013 premiere, “Blackfish” has been picked up by Magnolia Pictures and CNN. This film impacted and opened America’s eyes. The controversy surrounding  “Blackfish” and SeaWorld caused Southwest Airlines to end their 26-year partnership with the park. According to SeaWorld Entertainment Inc. reports, there was an 84% drop in net income. SeaWorld’s income fell below $6 million compared to the $37 million earned the year previously.

People believe that the attacks are due to the physiological harm of captivity. These mammals are forced to swim in small tanks, punished using food deprivation, and isolated from others.  In the wild, Orcas live with their family and are used to swimming miles a day. There are no recorded deaths caused by Orcas in the wild, while, in captivity there are already three from one killer whale alone.

Orcas are highly intelligent and emotional animals. From the minute they are born they do not leave their mother’s side. They have family values similar to that of humans. In 2010, an MRI was conducted on an Orca, it revealed that they have a part of the brain that humans do not. It is possible this means that Orcas have emotions that are more complex and can possibly outrank humans.

Overall, “Blackfish” is a powerful documentary that supports its claims with compelling evidence. Even people who normally do not enjoy documentaries will be touched. This award-winning film is heartbreaking, sympathetic, dark, and  thought-provoking. Audiences will no doubt have a newfound appreciation for these magnificent animals and will be left with a different outlook on life.

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

By Amanda Downs – Staff Reporter

Hoodie Allen released his new album “Happy Camper” at the end of January.

The album has 10 tracks on it and features many different artists such as Blackbear and Kyle.

Hoodie is an independent artist and isn’t signed to any big music labels. Because of this, he is allowed to do things differently than most artists. Many of his albums can be found on iTunes, but he also gives the option for free download on his website, which is considerate for fans who cannot afford to purchase his albums.

“Happy Camper” is available for free download on his website, SoundCloud, and YouTube. He also gives has the option to purchase the album on iTunes for those who can help support him.

Hoodie’s style is pop-rap and his newest album “Happy Camper” rose to 28 on the Billboard’s Top 200 albums.

His music and lyrics are very unique. Just like on his older albums in his songs he makes references to movies and tv shows. Hoodies lyrics are catchy and relatable like in “Intro to anxiety” where he wrote, “Sometimes I let my ego get the best of me. Sometimes I wonder why my stress is stressing me.”

This album further shows his creativity with his witty lyrics such as, “I’ll go back to my future just to get to my past. But knowing me, my DeLorean would probably crash.”

Hoodie Allen has written all of his songs, but this album was pretty different from his older music. The tracks on the album range from chill to upbeat. “Champagne and Pools,” featuring Blackbear, is a fan favorite. The whole album flows very nicely from the starting track “Intro To Anxiety” to the last track, “King To Me.”

Although the album was great it seems like it was released too soon. Hoodie’s tracks on “Happy Camper” just don’t compare to his other albums such as “All-American” or even “Crew Cuts.”

In “Happy Camper” Hoodie is singing more than rapping which is a bit disappointing. His single on the album, “Are U Having Any Fun?” is repetitive and somewhat boring.  The chorus is catchy but its lyrics get tiring after a while, “Fun, fun, fun (Hey) Are you having any fun? (Are you having any fun?) Fun, fun, fun.”

Hoodie Allen is a great artist and very enjoyable to listen to, but this wasn’t his best album. Fans of artists like Sammy Adams, G-Eazy, or Mac Miller would enjoy Hoodie’s album.

Rating: 3 out of 5 stars

By Nisali Fernando – Staff Reporter

Most people run the other way when they hear “I like it when you sleep, for you are so beautiful yet so unaware of it,” but in this instance it is the bizarre yet fitting title for The 1975’s new album.

The band released their sophomore album on February 26. The album is a transcendent walk through the human spectrum of emotion, draped in pastel pink. Listeners follow frontman, Matty Healy, 26, through his life after the whirlwind fame of becoming a popstar. Aside from their eccentric frontman, the band also includes, George Daniel (drums), Adam Hann (guitar), and Ross MacDonald (bass). The four men, with the release of “I like it when you sleep..” have pioneered a breakthrough retro/cosmic sound to the world of alternative music. The band from Manchester has taken the world by storm since their debut in 2013. Hit singles such as “Settle Down”, “Girls”, “Chocolate”, and “Robbers” overtook the charts, and prove that The 1975 are a force to be reckoned with.

Through social media, Healy released a comic strip on June 1st, cryptically describing the details of a “new” band. The comic included, “ We can’t simply go on forever – always staying the same, never evolving.” Enter, “I like it when you sleep…” a revamped version of The 1975. The band formerly known for its black and white aesthetic morphed into one of neon lights and pastel colors. This new and improved band managed to skate to the top of the tracks, earning No. 1 album in the UK, Canada, Australia and New Zealand. “I like it when you sleep” also earned number one on the Billboard Top 200, according to Billboard, “The set earned 108,000 equivalent album units in the week ending March 3, according to Nielsen Music. It sold 98,000 in pure album sales.”

The album may be a mouthful, but the 17 tracks (included in the Deluxe version) speak for themselves. Each track compliments each other, starting where the other left off or smoothly transitioning between songs. “Please Be Naked” and “I like it when you sleep, for you are so beautiful yet so unaware of it” fulfill the techno/ethereal aspect of the band and manage to set the bar higher for what is expected for musical interludes.  

Healy’s lyrical genius is obvious in the first single off the album. “Love Me” is an eloquent attack of our media-obsessed, narcissistic world. In the song it’s obvious he is still coming to terms with his own stardom and visibility in the media according to, “next thing you’ll find, you’re reading about yourself on a plane, fame, what a shame!” As the song progresses, Healy’s attempts to portray the superficiality that exists between celebrities, “You look famous, let’s be friends and portray we possess something important, and do the things we’d like.” Dueling guitar riffs pour out of the speakers, and a smooth head bopping backbeat set the song apart from anything The 1975 have ever done. The song sort of sounds like it was mixed in a garage, back in the 80s whilst a disco ball shone on the band and people said things like “groovy.” The music video peaked at almost 7 million views since its release, and features Healy clad in nothing but leather pants, blue eyeshadow, and pink lipstick dancing wildly behind flashing colored lights.

“UGH!” is ironically one of the more fast-paced tracks of the album. Mostly due to the fact that the bubbly, retro music disguises Healy’s obvious reference to drug usage. He claims, “the kick won’t last for long, but the song only lasts three minutes, and I know it’s wrong, but give me one.” Healy’s clever lyrics distract from the obvious misuse of the “simple diuretic that prevents the empathetic.” Healy pushes boundaries by writing beautiful, bouncy melodies for topics that are usually ignored or considered taboo.

“Change of Heart” sounds as if someone pressed play on an electric keyboard and manipulated one of the beats and created a charismatic yet heartbreaking ballad. The synth heavy track details what it’s like to fall out of love with someone, to have a change of heart.

“She’s American” is a fast-paced guitar-fueled track that comments on American stereotypes and the naivety of American girls who have fallen in love with The 1975. “If she says I’ve got to fix my teeth then she’s so American (she’s American) if she likes it cause we just don’t eat and we’re socially relevant, she’s American” whilst the song does come off as snarky, Healy succeeds again in proving there’s more than meets the eye (to American girls). Healy heeds warning to whirlwind romances, he croons, “don’t fall in love with the moment,and think you’re in love with the girl.”

“Somebody Else” is one of the more somber songs of the album, almost as if listeners are along for the ride in Healy’s subconscious as he recovers from losing a love. “I don’t want your body, but I hate to think about you with somebody else our love has gone cold you’re intertwining your soul with somebody else” is backed by a pulsing synth beat and harmonious organ chords. The track is a progressive love ballad, because listeners can cry whilst dancing to the infectious beat.

“She Lays Down” closes the album and is a complete 360. Healy stands alone, accompanied by an acoustic guitar crooning lyrics of his mother’s post-natal depression. The song is similar to a folk track and leaves listeners feeling warm and safe as they come to a close of their musical journey.

The “New 1975” introduces a completely different sound for listeners. The entirety of this album is sort of alien to anything Healy has ever put out there, almost as if he’s trying too hard to stand out in the ever changing music industry. Hit singles from the album like “Love Me” and “The Sound” are undeniably pop, though Healy has jokingly claimed in the past that The 1975 is not a pop band, these singles prove otherwise.  Listeners who have signed up for the black and white, angsty The 1975, are left unfulfilled by the retro track.

Maybe the old The 1975 is dead, but they have evolved into a band that is capable of creating breathtaking music. The 1975 succeed in telling a story about self-worth and heartbreak. Listeners evolve alongside the band, and feel as though maybe not everyone is not against them. Through the release of this album, Healy proves that his band is capable of more than just angsty tracks. Healy pushes the boundaries of “alternative” music and uses his charming lyrics and sharp accent to leave listeners in awe.

Healy and his band are the revolutionary minds of the music industry, and though their new album is weird, it’s the wonderful type of weird that is expected from The 1975.

Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars

By Owen Paiva – Staff Reporter

While he may not be the most well known Marvel character, the Merc with a Mouth has built up a sizable following. Go to any conventions and there will be people dressed up as Deadpool. Deadpool is a unique character as he frequently breaks the fourth wall (talks directly to the audience) and is aware he is a fictional character. He is a mercenary, but his power is a healing factor. He is able to grow back body parts, survive gunshots, etc. His humor and wit, may not be a superpower, but it is one of his strengths. Deadpool is one of the funniest characters, who is as quick with a joke as he is with his weapons. The movie portrays the origin of Deadpool, but is not as boring as standard origin specials. He gets his powers, and is out for vengeance. Going into the film, viewers should expect to be entertained as they follow Deadpool on his mission.

This is a rare gem where the writing, acting, and directing is all brilliant. Rhett Reese and Paul Wernick crafted the script with care, understanding the strengths of the character and having a field day with it. The focus of the movie is more on the character of Deadpool himself, and this only helps it. Ryan Reynolds was born to play this role. This is a rare perfect match; maybe Harrison Ford as Han Solo could be a close second, but other than that, no casting choice has been so spot on. Reynolds wanted to get this movie made and pushed for it. Tim Miller also shined on his directorial debut, laying out the movie in a way that breaks away from the norm.

The supporting cast was also great with T.J. Miller as Weasel, Deadpool’s best friend and bar owner. He played off Deadpool so well, with one particular sequence after Deadpool gains his power. Morena Baccarin is also a great supporting character, that you grow to care for. Deadpool is in the X-Men universe, and two X-Men feature. Colossus, in the best movie portrayal yet, is the straight man, and Deadpool plays this so well. Newcomer, Negasonic Teenage Warhead is another gem, especially her conversations with Deadpool.

This movie has a lot going for it. The jokes hit more often than not, Deadpool is the star of the show, and does not fail to disappoint. The jokes start from the opening credits, all the way to the end. The supporting cast is fantastic, and the relationships feel natural. Deadpool references other movies and pop culture, but does it in a genius way. The soundtrack is also amazing, with one joke particularly playing off of this.  Most origin stories start off boring, but the first sequence of “Deadpool” thrills with action and laughs.

The movie suffers from having a low budget compared to other superhero films. It did the best it could with $58 million. The villain is not particularly notable, and his main cohort, Angel Dust, is also not too notable, causing some of the action scenes to suffer. One particular scene seemed a little floaty. This is not too distracting, but hopefully a bigger budget will be on the cards for the sequel.

This movie was at the forefront of the debate of can R-rated movies be profitable. $619.3 million later proves that it can. R-rated movies, especially comic adaptations can be profitable and really good. Rumors are swirling with the next Wolverine movie, that it will be R-rated. Certain characters like Wolverine will benefit from this, since they have the ability to do more with it. This is a very good move for the studios because now they will be more willing to make these R-rated features. There even was this conversation over “Star Wars” as director Matthew Vaughn was offered the director’s role, but turned it down due to the studio not allowing it to be R-rated. This also stirred up rumors that some of the anthology films, mainly the Han Solo and Boba Fett movies could be R-rated, and have a darker tone. “Deadpool” opened the door for more R-rated movies that follow.

“Deadpool” was worth every penny and was extremely entertaining. With a 8.5/10 rating on IMDB and a 84% (Certified Fresh) rating on Rotten Tomatoes with 93% of the audience liking it, “Deadpool” has the ratings to stand on.

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

By Ann Reed – Staff Reporter

Kelsea Ballerini is getting a taste of fame and success for “The First Time” with her debut album.

With country music roots dating back to her birth in Mascot, Tennessee, 22-year-old Kelsea Ballerini is no stranger to this industry. Ballerini wrote her first song for her mom at just twelve years old, and moved to Nashville to pursue music three years later. After attending Lipscomb University for two years, Ballerini signed with Black River Entertainment and began her professional music career. Her debut single, “Love Me Like You Mean It,” reached number one on Billboard’s Country airplay, making her the first solo country artist to do so since Carrie Underwood did it with “Jesus Take the Wheel.” Her debut album, entitled “The First Time,” debuted at number 31 on the Billboard 200, and has sold over a hundred thousand copies as of January 2016.

“The First Time” is just as carefree and fun as you would imagine from a 22 year old songstress, perfectly capturing the essence of being young, in love, and curious of the world. Each of the 12 tracks feature a hopeful hint to them, even the more gloomy ones. The album’s namesake track, titled “The First Time” as well, tells the story of a relationship that kept hurting even after it was over. The bridge explains, “Even when you don’t have me, you can still be the one to hurt me.” Lyrics like this convey a meaning that is anything but carefree. However, the soaring guitar and percussion backing up the vocals lift the listener up, creating a conflicting message. The instrumental seems to be telling the listener that even though Ballerini was stuck in this endless heartbreak loop, there was a looming light at the end of the tunnel.

However, the album deems to be true to the name in other aspects, making it very clear that this is Ballerini’s “First Time” making an album. Several of the songs are as generic as possible, with lyrics like “Captured my attention make my heart stop and listen when you look my way.” Lyrics like these are the epitome of teen loves song, leaving the listener wishing for more creativity, or artistry out of Ballerini, who is clearly playing it safe to gain a sturdy fan base. But modern fans crave more out of music then generic lyrics about a boy looking at a girl; they crave meaning. It is slightly disappointing to see cheesy songs like “Yeah Boy”on the same record as songs like “Peter Pan” because listeners begin to expect more from the artist. Hopefully, Ballerini will grow as an artist before her next album, because if she does, listeners can expect great things.

“The First Time” is a perfect album for anyone looking for music to blast in the car with all the windows down as they enjoy the fresh spring air. This album is fun, and slightly cheesy, which everybody craves every once in awhile, making a perfect record to ring in the warm weather. If listeners are looking for anything more then that, they might want to search elsewhere.

Rating: 3 out of 5 stars

By Ian Hugo – Sports Editor

Picasso, Escobar, or the Apostle? Kanye West brings out all three personas on his latest album, “The Life of Pablo.”

West debuted the album, acronymized as T.L.O.P., on February 11 in front of a sold-out Madison Square Garden crowd in conjunction with his Yeezy Season 3 clothing line drop before officially releasing it exclusively on Tidal February 14.

West’s seventh studio LP, T.L.O.P. consists of 18 tracks and is chock full of ingenious samples only the mind of West could concoct and numerous collaborations with other high-profile artists such as Chance the Rapper, Rihanna, Chris Brown, and The Weeknd, to name a few.

‘Ye described T.L.O.P. as “a gospel album with a whole lot of cursing on it,” in a radio interview prior to its release, and upon hearing the opening track, “Ultralight Beam,” skeptics who thought West was just trying to drum up the album’s anticipation might be surprised.

“Ultralight Beam” opens up with a prayer, proclaiming that “We don’t want no devils in the house, we want the Lord!” before West and R&B singer The-Dream begin crooning about “keeping the faith” and how “this is a God dream.”

This is West’s only real place on the track, before it opens up to a booming gospel choir rendition and the real highlight of the song, fellow Chicago native Chance the Rapper’s verse. Filled with biblical allusions, intricate wordplay, and split-second changes in cadence, many listeners consider this the best track on the album thanks to this gem of a verse from the young Acid Rapper.

The next track, “Father Stretch My Hands, Pt. 1,” finds West musing about a lover, from how they met, to the bad parts, to just wanting to reconcile. The track features a Pastoral opening, before Kid Cudi delivers a beautiful verse, reaffirming Ye’s love for his girl.

“Father Stretch My Hands, Pt. 1” seamlessly transitions to “Father Stretch My Hands, Pt. 2,” in which West delivers a jarring verse discussing his personal demons, such as his father issues and finding time for both his family and his work, before Desiigner, the latest signing to West’s GOOD Music and Atlanta rapper Future’s vocal doppelganger, spits two verses from his breakout single “Panda.”

Possibly the most controversial song on T.L.O.P., “Famous” opens up with what can only be described as a misogynistic jab towards Taylor Swift, who West has been in on-and-off conflict with since the 2009 VMAs, as ‘Ye lyrically saunters around the track.

With Rihanna singing an absolutely mesmerizing intro and hook, West shrugs off fame, proclaiming he doesn’t need to be famous, particularly the fame he gained from the VMA incident that defined him to a wider audience outside of hip-hop, to accomplish his goals. The bridge right before the outro contains arguably the best sample on the entire album, sampling Sister Nancy’s “Bam Bam” and creating a wonderfully carefree feel on an otherwise controversial track.

“Feedback,” the fifth track on T.L.O.P., is where West brings out his Pablo Escobar persona. Catalyzed by the infectious hook, “Ayy, y’all heard about the good news? Y’all sleeping on me, huh? Had a good snooze?” West brags about his money, fame, and genius.

The track switches from high-energy boasting during verse four, in which West delivers some bone-resonating lyrics in which he resigns to the fact that he “shouldn’t even bother” with all the gossiping bloggers. Punctuated with an anecdotal outro where West proclaims himself “the ghetto Oprah,” “Feedback” is definitely one of the stronger songs on the first half of the album.

“Lowlights,” a track with no vocals from West, instead delivers listeners a testimony of faith to God shrouded in anonymity (the vocalist is unknown), which builds up to T.L.O.P.’s next track, “Highlights.” West tweeted this the day T.L.O.P. debuted as to why he chose to add “Lowlights” to the album: “I put Lowlights on my album just thinking about all the moms driving they kids to school then going to work…”

“Highlights” gives listeners West’s first collaboration with Young Thug to go public, in which Thugger and West belt out “Tell my mama, tell my mama, that I only want my whole life to only be highlights,” and “We only makin’ the highlights,” respectively. West sucker punches Ray J in the first line of the introductory verse, highlights his 21 Grammys and superstar family, delves into a bit of religion, and closes the track by posing a question to all the females in his gym.

“Freestyle 4” is arguably the track that goes the hardest on T.L.O.P. With West introducing the track as “rap god” material, he goes all out over a strings sample, accented by an instrumental “woop” sound. ‘Ye’s protégé Desiigner is back for the second and final time on T.L.O.P. for a short hook that will all in all leave the listener out of breath after the craziest minute and fifty nine seconds on the entire album.

On “I Love Kanye,” West recites his most common criticisms satirically, such as his rudeness towards media and frequent bad moods, giving listeners a look at how ridiculous and silly these complaints actually are. Kanye goes on to say how there’s neither an “old, sweet Kanye” or a “new, bad mood Kanye,” because he invented Kanye. Overall, a pleasant bit of comic relief that actually serves a purpose, highlighting West’s supposed identity crisis with fans, before heading over to the second half of the album.

“Waves,” the track which holds the same name as T.L.O.P.’s previous and third title (West went from “So Help Me God” to “Swish” to “Waves” in the creative naming process before settling on calling the album “The Life Of Pablo”), is absolutely breathtaking. West has a couple solid verses, but the real star on this track is Chris Brown, who harmonizes the chorus beautifully.

West originally planned to not include the song on the final cut of the album, which led to a little Twitter banter between West and Chance the Rapper. On February 13 West tweeted a photo of the T.L.O.P. album with the phrase “BLAME CHANCE” plastered all over, before Chance replied the next day saying he fought for “Waves” to be included on the album, which led to its official release being delayed a few days, but that he stood behind his decision.

“FML” is a track in which West discusses the troubles he’s faced staying faithful to his lady. West pours out his feeling on this track, which he states lyrically in the song, and thus reveals his soul. West goes on to discuss antidepressants and a specific episode in which him and his lady raised their voices before he got “the last laugh in the end.”

A truly dark and sinister sounding track, “FML” would be nowhere near as impressive without The Weeknd’s vocal talents, during which he makes a point saying that he can’t let them (haters, critics, etc.) get to him, and that even when he messes up (The Weeknd and West are one on this track) he’s the only one that can mention it. The eery outro reinforces the sound of this track, as Kanye croons “They don’t want to see me love you.”

“Real Friends,” which leaked on Soundcloud prior to T.L.O.P.’s release, is a track that carries an immense amount of meaning. Here, West steps back and takes a look at his life, which includes being a father, husband, and an artist. West apologizes for not making time for family, “When was the last time I remembered a birthday? When was the last time I wasn’t in a hurry?” but also laments the fact that he can no longer find his “real friends,” something Ty Dolla $ign lends West a hand with, playing the fake friend.

From “Real Friends”: West: “I couldn’t tell you how old your daughter was, Couldn’t tell you how old your son is, I got my own Jr. on the way, dawg, Plus I already got one kid.” Dolla $ign: “Couldn’t tell you much about the fam though, I just showed up for the yams [money, fruits of West’s labor] though.”

West released the next track, “Wolves,” way back in February 2015. However, he reworked the track, which opens with instrumentals resembling the howling of a wolf at the moon, by cutting out Vic Mensa and Sia’s verses from the original version and adding new verses of his own and an outro by the mysterious Frank Ocean to complete the eeriness of the track.

West alludes to his relationship with Kim Kardashian prior to marriage in the hook before reflecting on his recent behavior and his parents’ reactions to such behavior. ‘Ye then introduces us to a modern day nativity scene, Kimye-style, proclaiming himself and Kim Joseph and Mary before likening his children to Jesus . Frank Ocean finishes off this track in a way only he can do, creating not only sensation on an auditory level, but on a visceral level as well.

“Siiiiiiiiilver Surffffeeeeer Intermission,” a phone conversation between fellow rappers Max B and French Montana, serves more as a point on the album than as a track. Wiz Khalifa started beefing with Kanye in late January after West changed the name of the album to “Waves,” saying that Kanye was “taking the wave” from Max B. However, Max B came back with this phone call, assuring Kanye that everything was all good in his book.

“30 Hours” is a ballad to a love long lost. Here, Kanye looks back on a failed relationship and all he did to make it work. However, every time he did something for her and expected something good in return, she let him down: “I’m drivin’ with no winter tires in December, Skrrt skrrt skrrt like a private school for women, Then I get there and all the Popeye’s is finished, girl, You don’t love me, you just pretendin’.”

The outro, which features Andre 3000 of Outkast’s vocals, consists of about three minutes of West rambling about his anger when he found out his girl was cheating, some hypothetical lyrical experimentation in the booth, his own personal love for bonus tracks, and an iPhone call with Gabe that will forever cause listeners to check their phones.

Possibly the most anticipated track on this album, “No More Parties in LA” gives listeners West’s first collaboration with esteemed lyricist Kendrick Lamar. On this track, which opens with an intoxicating sample blend, West and Lamar lead listeners on a six minute lyrical journey over a whimsical beat, sharing with each other their Hollywood stories and what fame has brought them, and more importantly, their lifestyles so far. Arguably two of the best in the game right now, Kendrick and Kanye’s collaboration makes “No More Parties in LA” an instant classic.

Likely to be West’s most oft-criticized track on T.L.O.P., “Facts” gives us Kanye touting his Adidas Yeezy’s over anything Nike, more specifically, Jumpman. Reworked by Charlie Heat from the original version released on Soundcloud, West opens up with the same ear-grabbing hook post-sample, “Yeezy, Yeezy, Yeezy just jumped over Jumpman,” mimicking Drake’s hook in his and Future’s fall hit, “Jumpman.”

While some of Kanye’s purported “facts” on this track are just plain false and some lyrics just plain ridiculous (“I give ‘em grey poupon on a DJ Mustard, ah!”), this track is still hard hitting, something you can throw on at a party that everyone can jump around and go wild to, similar to West’s “Black Skinhead” off his 2013 album, “Yeezus.”

West closes out this album strong with “Fade” featuring Ty Dolla $ign and the young Post Malone, a highly anticipated track whose instrumental was strewn all over the web prior to T.L.O.P.’s official release. A combination of four samples, “Fade” doesn’t really contain any “traditional” verses. However, this doesn’t stop it from dominating the back half of T.L.O.P.

Listening to “Fade,” it’s easy to get lost in atmosphere it creates. Before you know it, Post Malone’s voice appears as if out of a fog to bemoan all the ridiculousness he’s had to deal with in the past year. While the lyrics of “Fade” suggest love slipping away between partners, on a primal level it’s much simpler to just lose yourself in the instrumental and the feeling it brings with it. Before you know it, the track and “The Life Of Pablo” itself has faded away.

One of the prime gripes critics have had with T.L.O.P. is how disorganized it is. It’s as if Kanye looked through his symbolic sewing basket of music, found pieces that could never conventionally work together, threw them together and plopped them down in front of the listener, i.e. the public.

This project is similar to West’s Yeezy Season fashion endeavors. While to the untrained eye, his clothing may look like something a zombie in a post-apocalyptic nuclear wasteland might wear, in reality, it’s art. Because to see art, one must look for the beauty inside. That’s why his clothing line, and more importantly “The Life Of Pablo,” is beautiful. Because West hands it to you, pieces spilling out from every which way, and challenges you to figure out what to do with it. He challenges you what to make of it.

“The Life Of Pablo” is in stark contrast with “Yeezus,” the album West released in 2013 prior to T.L.O.P. Listening to “Yeezus,” one can tell that West spent countless hours in the lab with producer Rick Rubin, fine tuning and cutting the record to perfection, creating the futuristic, laser-like sound the album is well known for.

However, this does not mean that West threw together T.L.O.P. in a month and let it loose upon the world to wreak whatever havoc it may. Recording for this album started way back in 2013, with work on “No More Parties in LA” starting an astounding six years ago back in 2010, when West was working on his fifth studio album “My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy.”

To label “The Life Of Pablo” a failure on West’s part and as having no artistic value would not only be a travesty, it would be unfair. While maybe not some of West’s best work (although some may be inclined to argue that it is), T.L.O.P. shows America the direction in which Mr. West is heading, and that’s towards making modern masterpieces.

Similar to modern art, T.L.O.P. must be viewed (or heard) in the correct manner, or else one may not be able to fully grasp and comprehend what is in front of them.

Come on, West even called himself Michelangelo last fall. Now if that isn’t foreshadowing, Yeezus save us all.

If you were one of the many waiting for T.L.O.P. to drop on iTunes or Spotify, bad news. Back on February 15, West tweeted: “My album will never never never be on Apple. And it will never be for sale… You can only get it on Tidal.”

If splashing $9.99 a month is your type of thing, go for TIDAL. Otherwise, you can stream the album for free on West’s official website, www.kanyewest.com.

(It is also worth noting that “The Life Of Pablo” was illegally downloaded an astounding 500,000 times a mere one day after its official release.)

The things we do for Kanye. Or rather, the things Kanye makes us do.

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

By Ann Reed – Staff Reporter

From successful actress to pop superstar, Hailee Steinfeld is redefining the meaning of teen success.

The LA-born nineteen year old, (who got her start as early on as eight years old), has acting credits in movies ranging from “True Grit” to ¨Pitch Perfect 2¨, becoming a household name along the way. However, this success wasn’t good enough for Steinfeld, causing her to make the leap into the music industry with her lead single titled ¨Love Myself¨. The single dominated the charts for weeks on end,and it´s music video has earned over sixty-four million views. Her debut EP, titled ¨HAIZ¨, provides a peek into what to expect from her upcoming album.

The EP is the mixture of pop with indie, almost the equivalent to Lorde and Taylor Swift making an EP together. The theme consistent among the four songs on the EP is established as  “changing the way celebrities are perceived”. With “Love Myself”, Steinfeld shatters the ideal that celebrities always need to be in love, with lyrics like, “Gonna love myself, no, I don’t need anybody else”. Steinfeld shows listeners that she doesn’t need to rely on others to be happy or successful, which is a breath of fresh air amongst the present-day pop music industry. Steinfeld then goes on to shatter the ideal that all celebrities love to party with “Hell Nos and Headphones”. This edgy piece details Steinfeld’s experiences in the Hollywood party scene with lyrics such as ”Seems like everybody here Is speaking different languages, With that green prescription file, Blowing up their faces”. Steinfeld’s honest lyrics give listeners a window into what it’s really like being a teen in Hollywood, while showing that it’s not all that it’s cracked up to be. Steinfeld’s honestly paired with the fun beats come together to form music we’ve all been longing for.

While the EP shows great range in terms of genres used, it lacks when it comes to fluidity. While the themes of the songs remain constant, the sound is changed drastically from track to track. “Love Myself”, is the epitome of a fun pop song, with an upbeat tempo and edgy drum beat. However, “Hell nos and Headphones,” sounds as if it is made by a completely different artist. With an artist so early on in her career, the first EP is meant to set the tone for what kind of music we can expect from her in the future. By switching between genres so drastically and sporadically throughout the EP, Steinfeld is leaving the listener confused as to what may come next. What the listener needs from Steinfeld was clarity into what kind of artist she plans to be, clarity that failed to be established in this EP.

While a release date has yet to be announced, Steinfeld’s almost seamless transition from actress to musician makes her album definitely one to look out for.

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

By Nicole Macchio – Entertainment Editor

“The Boy” is about a young woman named Greta who comes the England to take the position of a live-in nanny. Running away from a troubled past leads her to the Heelshires. Their son, Brahms, is no ordinary boy; in fact, he’s not a boy at all. He’s a doll.

Putting aside the peculiarities of the family, Greta stays to take care of the doll while accepting their money because she can’t even fathom going back home to face all she’s left.

The movie while it claims itself as a part of the horror genre, is not scary so much as intensely creepy. Besides a few jump scares, the film had no elements to make it a horror movie. If mild apprehension is what viewers are looking for, this is not the movie for them.

With music that threatens of something menacing close by, it is only the suddenness of the change in volume that’ll provide true fear. On screen, Greta experiences the little tricks, like moving clothes around and making phone calls that prove Brahms may still be with them.

However, despite its lack of terror, the movie did have  a certain amount of shock and twists that will surprise all audience members. It was a risk that may not have been the best one to make. Instead of connecting all the dots and finally finding out why all the strange happenings have been going on, the surprises make the plot more confusing, bringing questions instead of answers.

Lauren Cohen plays Greta, the nanny who is running from a troubled past. Cohen stars in “The Walking Dead” and plays her role well despite the movie. She was probably one of the highlights; the audience could follow her from the girl who was insanely creeped out by the family who nurtured a doll to where she began to accept that Brahms may not be gone.

Rupert Evans plays Malcolm, the local grocer who brings the Heelshires their groceries every week. Evans also starred in “Hellboy” and “Agora” which helped him prepare for his role. Malcolm provided a different view of the Heelshires and he seemed to be the only sane person in the entire movie.

While “The Boy” looked promising in trailers, the on-screen version is a disappointment. In the horror movie genre, this film falls flat.

Rating: 1 out of 5 stars

By Amanda Downs – Staff Reporter

FOX recently aired a live televised performance of the well-known musical “Grease.”

The live performance ran somewhat flawlessly for a whole three hours, with few mistakes other than some sound issues. The musical featured many famous performers, and besides a few changes, was spot on from the original 1978 movie.

The movie featured Julianne Hough and Aaron Tveit as Sandy and Danny. Hough is known for her performances in “Footloose” and “Safe Haven” where she also played the starring role. She has also been seen in other movies and also on “Dancing with the Stars.” Tveit was in “Les Misérables” where he played Enjolras. He also is seen in many TV shows such as “Gossip Girl” and “Graceland.”

FOX put together a star-studded and very talented cast, including Vanessa Hudgens, who played Rizzo, Keke Palmer, who played the role of Marty, and Carlos Pena Vega, who played Kenickie. Also in the cast were Mario Lopez and Carly Rae Jepsen.

They even had one member from the original “Grease” cast. Didi Conn, who played Frenchy, came back and performed as Vi, the  waitress at the diner.

The vocals were spectacular, especially for being performed live. Although in the “Greased Lightnin’” Kenickie’s mic was a bit too low, it was hard to hear him sing.  Jordan Fisher who played Doody, one of the T Bird’s solo of “Those Magic Changes” was just incredible.

The whole live broadcast went unhinged, from the quick costume changes, to the camera angles and switching from set to set. The production used 21 sets on 14 stages and spread out over 20 acres.

To get the cast from one set to another they used golf carts  to get them around quickly so they wouldn’t miss their next queue.

The live performance also had a live audience that in some scenes were used as extras. In the final carnival scene, the audience definitely added to the performance and gave the cast amazing energy.

The similarities to the original film are almost spot on, from the script to the costume changes, although some bits were added or taken away.

The lyrics to some songs were changed to make more family friendly like in,“Greased Lightnin’,” “Freddy My Love,” and “Look At Me, I’m Sandra Dee.”

The writers also added some scenes that featured characters like Patty Simcox, Eugene, Principal McGee and Blanche more than they were featured in the original.

Overall, veryone did a great job in making this live performance a success.

 

By Colleen Rice – Staff Reporter

This classic love story “Endless Love” hit theaters on February 14, 2014. Shana Feste, who also directed “You’re Not You,” impressively re-made the original 1981 heart-throbbing romance movie.

The movie starts off at a high school graduation, where Jade Butterfield, played by Gabriella Wilde, a shy girl, becomes enthralled with David Elliot, played by Alex Pettyfer, who is a working-class boy with a troubled past.

With the death of her older brother sophomore year, Jade closes herself off from her peers to focus on her family and school. Her strict and loving father expects the world from Jade as she follows in his footsteps of becoming a doctor.

On the other hand, David has a tough family past but looks forward to one day take over his father’s Auto Body business. Opposites attract as the two graduates run into each other at a restaurant where David works as a valet.

Though Jade and David quickly fall in love, Jade’s father, played by Bruce Greenwood, strongly disapproves of the relationship, while David’s father played by Robert Patrick, supports but warns David about the consequences. However, their parents’ disapproval only makes the  teens love grow stronger.

Alex Pettyfer who plays David Elliott, is an english actor and model who stars in a range of different movies. “Endless Love” is his most recent movie but he was also in “Magic Mike” in 2012, “I Am Number Four” in 2011, and “Beastly.”

Gabriella Wilde, also known as Gabriella Calthorpe, is an English model and actress who has appeared in the films, “The Three Musketeers”, “Carrie,” and “Endless Love.”

One exciting part of this movie was when the two teenagers and their friends all broke into the local zoo, playing on the merry go round and sneaking into the elephant pen. This scene created a lot of suspense for the audience and kept them on the edge of the seat, wondering if the teens would get caught.

The ending scenes could have been more dramatic but, compared to the original “Endless Love,” the acting was much more believable and real in the 2014 remake.

This movie is good for anyone who loves romance movies and epic love stories because “Endless Love” was full of action and passion. This movie will relate to anyone that wants to find their true love and hopes to have a summer romance one day.

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

By Emma Saley – Staff Reporter

When “Interstellar” was released in 2014, it became an instant hit, setting an IMAX worldwide opening record. It received praise for both its visual effects, which it won an Oscar for, and for the performances of actors Matthew McConaughey and Anne Hathaway.

In “Interstellar”, which is set in the near future, the fate of mankind is at stake as Earth’s crops start to die off, and dust storms sweep across the world.

When Cooper, a former NASA astronaut, and his daughter Murph stumble upon a top-secret NASA building, Cooper is presented with the impossible choice to either stay on Earth with his family as humanity dies off, or go on a mission to find a new home for mankind.

This mission means not only leaving Earth, but the galaxy as well, as the plan includes entering a wormhole found on Saturn to travel to a galaxy light years away with 12 planets that may possibly be fit for humans to live.

Cooper is persuaded to go on the NASA mission, and leaves his family and Murph  behind indefinitely, not knowing how old his children will be, or if anyone will still be alive when he returns, due to time passing much slower in the new galaxy than it does on Earth.

Once aboard, the team is tasked with the mission to find a way to navigate around Gargantua, a super-massive black hole, to reach the possibly habitable planets, and decide which one will be humanity’s future home.

“Interstellar” keeps everyone in its audience intrigued, and wondering what will happen next as Cooper and his team transcend space and time. The audience is left wanting more after every scene, desperate with hope to see Cooper return back home and reunite with his family.

While Cooper is on his mission, he is sent videos of his family, providing him comfort as he is able to see his family again, and giving him pain at the same time as he sees all the milestones he has missed while away.

The visual effects used make the viewer feel as though they are right there in space with Cooper, as does the cast’s performance.

McConaughey shines as Cooper, making the audience feel the pain and agony he feels when realizing the mistake he made by leaving his family behind.

With a very limited amount of time on their hands, the crew has to find a way to save the human race from extinction.

“Interstellar” is filled with plot twists and unexpected revelations, surprising its audience at every possible moment, and it’s cast and crew truly excel all standards to produce one of the best films of the year.

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

By Vishal Manglani – Staff Reporter

Macklemore has been on the hip hop charts for a number of years now. What started as a career soon became a passion and has led to his most recent song “White Privilege”

Macklemore’s first success came in his song “Thrift Shop.” This song was rather senseless, but his later songs became more and more meaningful. Songs such as “Same Love” as well as his most recent song convey a revolutionary and moving message.

Macklemore’s first songs were your average rap songs with no direct meaning to the public whatsoever. Macklemore’s new songs convey messages about gay marriage, love, culture, and with his most recent song, black rights. These messages always move people and create a wave of cultural reformation.

Macklemore’s “White Privilege” is an intimidating eight minutes long. However, each second of the song is incredibly enticing and meaningful. His main message in the song is how we cannot say we have justice or peace while there are still people being killed. Along with this, he targets Elvis, Iggy Azalea, and Miley Cyrus for stealing and ruining black culture, while at the same time, not having any incentive to save black lives.

In the song, Macklemore prides himself for his mature and meaningful rapping. He includes feedback from parents about how his music isn’t senseless like other rappers who sing about drugs and women. He follows this with the statement that Society is too easily offended, and cares more about being “called racist” rather than “racism.” He prides himself for trying to help save black lives. He concludes saying how white supremacy is nothing but the origin of our country. It does not define society or culture.

“White Privilege” is not only revolutionary because of it’s groundbreaking message. He uses a very modest and dramatic rhythm to stress the importance of his message and the society’s crisis. For example, he keeps the music very contained and humble as he discusses the importance of saving black lives.

Along with this, Macklemore’s tone was very serious throughout the song. This helped the reader to hear him and his message how it was intended to be heard: serious and clear. His voice is not a rapping tone; it is more similar to a rhythmic lecture.

We should expect to see more moving songs from Macklemore. His songs are becoming increasingly significant and appealing to the public.

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

By Megan Grabowski – Staff Reporter

Imagine having to choose between two people you love.

Writer, Nicholas Sparks, and director, Nick Cassavetes, pull us in to experience a classic love story about a boy and a girl who lose touch for seven years. Nicholas Sparks also wrote the famous novels and movies, “The Last Song,” “Safe Haven,” and “The Longest Ride,” that attracted us to the theaters.

“The Notebook” is sure to catch the attention of viewers with an all-star cast. Rachel McAdams, also starring in “Mean Girls,” plays Allie Hamilton, while Ryan Gosling, also starring in “Crazy, Stupid, Love,” plays Noah Calhoun.

The movie is narrated by nursing home resident, Duke, who reads a romance story for an old woman with dementia and memory loss. The story starts off in a 1940s, South Carolina setting with mill worker, Noah, trying to get rich girl, Allie, to fall in love with him. Allie refuses to go on a date at first, but eventually she gives in and the two teenagers fall madly in love. They spend every minute together, even though Allie’s parents don’t approve of Noah, since he’s from a much lower class.

However, at the end of the summer, Allie’s family moves out of town and Noah enlists in the army during World War II. The couple is broken up for seven years, with no contact, except for the 365 letters Noah wrote to Allie, that Allie never received. In the meantime, Allie falls in love with another man, Lon Hammond. As they are about to get married, fate brings Noah and Allie back together.

The plot thickens when Allie finds out about the 365 letters Noah wrote her and when she is forced to choose between her teenage love or her wealthy fiance.

“The Notebook” is definitely the perfect movie if you are looking for a romantic, drama filled story, that is sure to make you cry.

“I read the script and bawled my eyes out,” McAdams said.

The plot keeps you on the edge of your seat and you feel as if you want to make Allie’s big decision (between the two men) for her.

With that being said, the only downside to the movie is that the end is somewhat predictable. However, the whole story is amazing and worth the watch, even if you are able to predict the ending. “The Notebook” is definitely a fantastic movie for anyone who loves romance and drama with a few plot twists.

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

By Owen Paiva – Staff Reporter

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

By Isabela Roldan – Staff Reporter

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

By Tyler Chavez – Staff Reporter

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

By Maeve Rourke – Staff Reporter

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

By Nisali Fernando – Staff Reporter

 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars

By Valeria Araujo – News Editor

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

Unless being an assassin is considered ordinary.

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

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

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

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

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

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

Rate 4.75 stars out of 5

By Nicole Macchio – Entertainment Editor

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

By Brendan Felag – Staff Reporter

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

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

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

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

Rate: 2.5 out of 5 stars

By Jesse Dacosta – Staff Reporter

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

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

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

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

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

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

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

By Ann Reed – Staff Reporter

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

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

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

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

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

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars