By: Abisola Dosunmu

The first two episodes of ‘Percy Jackson and the Olympians’ were pretty fun to watch, and I am really excited to review it.

The set looked really pretty. The cabins looked straight out of my imagination. They all looked big and majestic, especially Percy’s cabin. There are green fields filled with campers going about their day, restocking weapons or training. The show really does a good job of transporting you into Camp Half Blood.

Walker Scobell, playing the role Percy Jackson, immediately brings Percy to life with his quick to miss, frustrated remarks. Aryan Simhadri plays Grover and is as lovable as his book counterpart. Leah Jeffries also looks good being the youngest of the actors, but her acting and delivery was a little stiff starting off. Later in the episode I could see a marked improvement as she grew more comfortable with her lines. The rest of the cast looks good too, but there’s still a lot to improve on, and the acting was a little rusty the first two episodes. Hoping this will improve in later episodes as the actors get more used to their roles.

Finally, the writing in this show was pretty tight considering there was a lot of action to pack in a thirty to forty minute episode, which left no time for fluff or filler. Which meant a lot of the scenes we saw in the book had to be cut out, which saddened a lot of PJO fans. The episode progresses in a rapid fire way, being that we are given some quick exposition on Percy, quickly introduced to him and Grover, then jumped right into it with him learning more about the world of Greek mythology. The dialogue is, like I said, quick or you miss it (like a bunch of stuff in the episode) with Scobell delivering it in a dry or deadpan way, similar to the way he did in ‘The Adam Project’.

The thing that disappointed me the most is that we only get the barebones of exposition; there’s little to no filler. I get why, because the directors were only given a short amount of time to deliver important scenes, but it gives off this energy of desperately trying to shove a few chapters worth into one episode and that energy is very apparent. Season two hasn’t been green lit so that definitely adds to the pressure to pack everything in. 

All in all, I’d give the series an eight out of ten. The newcomers watching the show won’t notice a difference at all, and it’s both a nod to the fans that read the book, and a welcome to the ones that haven’t and are just discovering PJO. I think the adaptation accomplished what it wanted to.

For more information, please go to:

• https://thefantasyreviews.com/2023/12/20/percy-jackson-and-the-olympians-episodes-1-2-reviewed/#:~:text=Overall%2C%20I%20am%20delighted%20to,it%20has%20all%20come%20out.

By: Cade Sullivan & Joey Briseno

‘Elf’, directed by Jon Favreau and released in 2003, has firmly established itself as a timeless holiday classic. Starring Will Ferrell as Buddy, this heartwarming comedy follows the story of a human, born and raised as an elf in the North Pole, who embarks on a journey to New York City to find his biological father.

At the center of the film is Will Ferrell’s endearing and charming performance as Buddy the Elf. Ferrell’s portrayal is excellent at infectious enthusiasm, capturing the essence of a silly, childlike man. His dedication to spreading Christmas cheer, combined with his larger-than-life personality, is the main comedic element of the movie and hits more often than it misses.

The film’s humor comes from the stark contrast between Buddy’s festive spirit and the harsh realism of New York City. Watching Buddy navigate the bustling streets of the city, his naïve yet charming attempts to embrace human culture, and his pure joy at discovering everyday experiences make for fun and quality entertainment.

Supporting performances, including James Caan as Walter Hobbs (Buddy’s biological father), Zooey Deschanel as love interest Jovie, and Bob Newhart as Papa Elf, contribute significantly to the film’s charm. Caan’s character undergoes massive character development, going from a work-focused individual to a father embracing the magic of Christmas. Deschanel brings warmth and dry wit to her character, Jovie, providing a romantic subplot that complements Buddy’s journey of self-discovery.

Visually, ‘Elf’ captures the essence of the holiday season with its vibrant and festive cinematography. The set designs and costumes, especially in the scenes set in the North Pole, are cute and deliver the feeling of holiday cheer. While the CGI may not impress or look as good as it once did, it is used sparingly and complements the practical sets well.

John Debney’s musical score shouldn’t be ignored either, as it elevates the film’s emotional beats and captures the essence of Christmas. From cheerful tunes to low-key melodies, the soundtrack complements the story, positively impacting the film by adding a sense of festivity through tunes.

While ‘Elf’ might follow some predictable tropes common in holiday films, its unique warmth and earnest delivery of positive themes resonated with us. The movie makes sure to drive home its themes, heavily emphasizing the importance of love, family, and embracing uniqueness. Its long-lasting popularity lies in its ability to cause laughter, make its viewers genuinely happy, and spread that unmistakable holiday feeling.

The film’s appeal lies in its ability to evoke a sense of nostalgia while offering a fresh and heartwarming take on the holiday genre. Its feel-good factor makes it a go-to movie for families seeking a fun and joyful experience come Christmas time.

In the end, Elf’ stands tall, like its protagonist among his elf friends, as a heartwarming and uplifting holiday gem. Will Ferrell’s special performance, coupled with an endearing storyline, strong supporting cast, and great visuals, makes it a must-watch during the holiday season. Its ability to capture the magic of Christmas and deliver a message of joy and acceptance has secured its place as a beloved classic for generations to come. ‘Elf’ is a film that not only entertains but also manages to warm hearts with its universal themes.

Despite its comedic tone, it manages to deeply explore themes of acceptance, belonging, and the importance of embracing your true self. Buddy’s journey of self-discovery is one to root for, and it reminds audiences about the importance of staying true to your beliefs and finding joy in life’s simplest pleasures. 5/5 stars

You are able to watch this film on:

• Amazon prime video: $3.79
• YouTube: $3.99
• Vudu: $3.99
• Google Play Movies & TV: $3.99
• Apple TV: $3.99
• The Roku Channel: Premium subscription

By: Stephanie Benitez Caballero

*Warning: This article contains spoilers

The movie ‘Leave the World Behind’ came out in 2023 on Netflix. It’s directed by Sam Esmail and produced by former first lady Michelle Obama and former president Barack Obama.

In the movie we are introduced to the Stanford family, a family of four, with Amanda and Clay as the parents and Rose and Archie as the children. Amanda books an Airbnb for her family to get away from the city and their work for a weekend. While on the way to the Airbnb the family starts to lose internet connection on all their devices. Rose, the youngest, complains about this as she is currently enamored with a show called ‘Friends’.

When at the Airbnb the family puts away their stuff and decides to head to the beach, and while at the beach Rose notices that a boat is slowly heading towards their direction. She points it out to her parents but they do not mind it. Not until later, when the boat is nearly at the beach, do the parents realize that the boat isn’t going to turn, making them panic and run away from the boat. The family decides to go back to their Airbnb. Once back at the Airbnb the family notices that the signal to the internet is completely gone, including on their TVs.

Later that night, George and Ruth show up at the Airbnb; we learn later that these are the owners of the house. They ask the Stanford family if they can stay there as they do not feel safe going anywhere else that isn’t their home. The Stanford family is skeptical about them being the owners so they ask them to prove it, which they do by opening the alcohol cabinets. They end up staying the night against Amanda’s wishes.

The next morning something goes up on the TV, a map of the US with a caption “Cyber Attack Across The Country” this sends the families into a bit of a chaos. During the day a lot of strange things happen to the families, loud ringing noises that hurt them occur, deers begin to show up more often and act weirdly, and Archie gets a bite from a deer tick which leads to him getting Lyme disease.

The families are now on the second day of being isolated together in the house, the Stanford family gets impatient and decides to try to go back to the city but while on the way to the city they encounter that the roads are blocked off by a bunch of cars. They quickly realize that the cars are self driving Tesla cars and that they are purposely rushing into one another. The family drives back to where they were staying as they find no other way back to the city.

The next day, Archie wakes up and starts to bleed from his mouth, and he starts to pull his teeth out. This was caused by the tick he got bitten from. In a panic, Clay, the father, tries to go out into town again to find some medicine for his child.

While out, the roads are empty and he believes to be alone, until he bumps into a Hispanic lady that only speaks Spanish. In a hurry, she tries to explain to him that she needs to get back home and that there’s planes in the sky dropping red papers. This makes Clay paranoid and leaves her behind.

Slowly approaching in the background we see the plane the lady was talking about, dropping thousands of red papers. Clay goes back and shows the paper to the others. It’s in Arabic, making them believe that the Arabs are the ones attacking them.

Rose disappears, so Ruth and Amanda go out to search for her while Clay and George try to go out with Archie to find medicine to treat the Lyme disease. They get to one of the closest houses and the owner tells them to back away because he couldn’t help them. He threatens them at gunpoint but they beg him to help them as they know he has the things need to save Archie. He gives in and supplies them with the medication.

The neighbor gives them so much information on everything going on, saying that he believes that it isn’t the Arabs attacking them, that the outside world is trying to confuse them and mess with them so that people will attack each other in confusion. He also lets them know one of the nearby houses has an underground base with many supplies and safety for all of them.

We cut to a scene of a house, a window broken. We see Rose inside eating what looks like a feast of junk food. Rose goes down to the basement where she finds an underground bunker, the one mentioned by the neighbor. Alone, Rose finds a DVD of the show Friends’, forgetting her family she sits down and smiles as she gets to watch the last episode of ‘Friends’.

I really liked this movie. I feel as if the trailer doesn’t spoil much but also gives a bit of context on what the movie will be about. I thought I knew what was going to happen but every moment new information and things came up. I think it’s a very realistic thing that would happen if the US were to get attacked. Some things weren’t explained further, such as who really created the attack, but I think that really adds to the movie.

I also really enjoyed the ending. I personally think that the last clip was to represent how in bad situations, that happen in the world, humans will always naturally turn to entertain themselves to distract them or make them forget about the world around them. I would rate this movie a 10/10.

By: Abisola Dosunmu

‘The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes’, is a prequel to the four-part ‘Hunger Games’ movie franchise that’s set “64 years before Lawrence’s Katniss Everdeen ever drew breath”, which means there are several serious changes. The known antagonist, Coriolanus Snow, who was played by Donald Sutherland in the previous movie, is now an 18-year-old kid played by actor Tom Blyth. Actress Rachel Zegler replaces Jennifer Lawrence as the female protagonist and plays one of the vital main characters, Lucy Gray Baird. 

The movie was authored by Suzanne Collins and, like the ‘Hunger Games’, centers on a fight to the death/survival-of-the-fittest type reality show that only leaves one victor. For context, the games were invented as a punishment by the Capitol of Panem as payback to the 12 districts who dared to rebel against the Capitol. Every year on a specific day since that, a boy and a girl, relatively in their teens, are chosen from each district to fight to the death in a televised gladiator event.

Lucy as a character is already shown throughout the movie to be a different character to Katniss. She, like the title of the movie, is a songbird with a guitar and in a traveling band called the Covey. Strangely enough, the movie isn’t told from her point of view but from the younger Snow struggling to make it back to the top after losing everything. Lucy is his way back to that life, so he takes advantage of it and with that, the Hunger Games begin. Without giving away spoilers, I’m just going to say it gets pretty predictable from there. 

So, what did I think of the movie? Well, it’s been a long time since I watched and read the ‘Hunger Games’, so basing it off of that it’s a refreshing and new take. It was interesting seeing young Snow and his motivations and aspirations and how the Capitol was the same but different a few decades ago. The actors had a lot of chemistry and the only bad thing I would say about the movie was that there wasn’t a lot of screen time for a lot of characters to develop the way there was in the book, so some characters felt rushed and not properly fleshed out. All in all, I’d give this movie an 8/10. 

For more information, please visit:

• https://abcnews.go.com/GMA/Culture/review-hunger-games-ballad-songbirds-snakes-takes-risky/story?id=104914903&scrlybrkr=f20c5174
• https://thehungergames.fandom.com/wiki/Sejanus_Plinth#:~:text=Coriolanus%20Snow,-We%27re%20so&text=Snow%20sacrificed%20for%20and%20rescued,defending%20him%20to%20Dr.%20Gaul

By: Cade Sullivan & Joey Briseno

★★★★☆

‘The Karate Kid’ film from 2010 is a modern-day remake of the classic 1984 film, seeking to introduce a new generation to the timeless story of mentorship, self-discovery, and martial arts. Directed by Harald Zwart, this iteration takes the narrative from the familiar streets of Los Angeles to the bustling metropolis of Beijing, China. While some may look down on remakes as a whole, this adaptation manages to recapture the essence of the original while adding all-new cultural aspects and contemporary twists.

Jaden Smith takes on the lead role of Dre Parker, a young teenager forced to relocate to China due to his mother’s job. Smith brings a fresh energy to the character, and he is very believable as a character who is trying to find his way in life. His chemistry with Mr. Han (played by Jackie Chan), the maintenance man with a mysterious past, is the emotional heartbeat of the film. Chan’s portrayal offers a very different experience compared to Mr. Miyagi, but he is still able to have a positive impact nevertheless.

One of the strengths of this version lies in its breathtaking cinematography, which manages to capture the beauty and vibrancy of China. The scenic landscapes are a great backdrop to the martial arts sequences, which are well-choreographed and intense. The film embraces its setting, incorporating Chinese culture into the narrative. This pays homage to the roots of martial arts and enhances the visual appeal of the film.

The narrative progresses at a measured pace, allowing for the development of characters and relationships. Dre’s journey from an outsider facing bullying to a determined martial artist is a great show of resilience and makes it a journey worth cheering for. The film doesn’t shy away from addressing issues of cultural adaptation and the challenges of fitting in, giving it a more mature feel that it’s predecessor.

The mentor-student dynamic between Dre and Mr. Han is the emotional core of the movie. Chan’s stoic performance adds depth to the character, revealing layers of grief and wisdom beneath his tough exterior. The training sequences, which are reminiscent of the iconic scenes from the original, manage to have a balance between rigid instruction and softer moments. The emotional weight of the story is heightened by the addition of Mr. Han’s own struggles, helping the audience further emphasize with the character.

‘The Karate Kid’ incorporates modern elements, such as the use of technology and social media, without forgetting about the traditional values at its core. This fusion of the old and the new extends the movie’s reach to all generations. Dre’s journey becomes not just a personal quest for self improvement but a reflection of the theme of adapting to a modern world.

Despite its many strengths, ‘The Karate Kid’ is not without its flaws. The film occasionally leans too far into clichés, and some moments may feel overly familiar to the original that it takes its name from. The runtime, surprisingly over two hours, could have been lessened for a more fluid and better-paced experience.

The 2010 adaptation of ‘The Karate Kid’ successfully pays homage to its predecessor while carving out its own identity. With engaging performances, stunning visuals, and a timeless story of mentorship, this film proves that even in a different cultural setting, in a different time, the values of discipline, perseverance, and self-discovery remain. Dre is a great lead, and his underdog story is one that we were involved in throughout the runtime. We would recommend checking this film out.

You can watch this on the following:

Netflix: subscription

Amazon prime video: $3.59

YouTube: $3.89

Google play movies & tv: $3.89

Apple TV: $3.99

Vudu: $3.99

By: Joey Briseno & Cade Sullivan

Rating: 3⁄5 stars

*Warning: This review contains some spoilers

An interesting perspective on the future, ‘The Creator’ is set in a world on the brink of total annihilation. Former soldier Joshua, determined to find his wife, embarks on an adventure that spans multiple visually impressive locations, with well-worked action sprinkled throughout the film. However, the film doesn’t take full advantage of its potential and ultimately left us wanting more.

Starring in this thought-provoking journey are, to name a few: John David Washington as Joshua, Gemma Chan as Joshua’s wife Maya, Madeline Yuna Voyles as Alphie, and Ken Watanabe as Harun. This roster proves itself as seasoned and well-cast, and the actors fill their roles very nicely.

The villain of this film is General Andrews, a ruthless man who commands the U.S. Military and wants to wipe out all AI. He recruits Joshua to destroy the AI Supermind Nirmatas new weapon, known simply as Alpha-O. Andrews is an emotionally cold character who feels embarrassment for AI’s nuclear attack on Los Angeles. This motivates him to want to rid the world of AI so that his country can feel safe again. Andrews, while being the main antagonist, doesn’t feature much in the film and isn’t given any development; his character remains the same until the end of the runtime. Andrews meets his end at the climax following the explosion of the space station NOMAD. While he is a serviceable antagonist, we feel like his character was a missed opportunity to have a more memorable villain, which would have helped elevate the film as a whole.

‘The Creator’ boasts strong special effects and quality cinematography, which helps to hide some of the film’s weaker aspects (plot, side characters). The film uses CGI where it is necessary, but it isn’t overbearing, as real-life locations and sets are utilized to help give the movie a better sense of realism. We especially liked the scenes shot in the made-up country of New Asia, as practical effects and green screen effects were used very well for the environment

As for music, ‘The Creator’ brought in an accomplished composer in Hans Zimmer to do the soundtrack, and it shows. Zimmer seems to always have the right tune for a situation, whether it be slower moments of character development and context or faster moments of action and spectacle. Traditional Asian music is incorporated into the score as well, making it seem all the more authentic.

‘The Creator’ is a thought provoking study on both the usefulness of AI and the negatives it can bring. As shown in the movie, one of the main characters, Alphie, is a powerful AI being who can wipe out humanity if she wishes but instead teams up with Joshua and uses her gift for good. The negative effects of AI shown here is most notably the nuclear attack on Los Angeles, which is the cause for most of the conflict that happens in the film.

However, there are a few aspects that negatively affect the viewing experience. One negative thing about this movie is while it’s an original story, it takes a lot of elements from more popular sci-fi works.

Another negative is the somewhat sluggish pacing; there are points in the film where the characters don’t do anything and are just waiting for something to happen. The plot is also underdeveloped and often unoriginal, as quite a few plot elements feel recycled from better movies like “Star Wars” and “Blade Runner”.

‘The Creator’ is a decent blockbuster movie, but frustratingly falls short of its potential, and it’ great cinematography and interesting ideas are undercut by the derivative plot and slow pacing. The antagonist and side characters here are underutilized, as most of the runtime is spent with Joshua and Alphie. The score impresses, as do the action sequences, but unfortunately the film isn’t able to establish itself as something worth a rewatch.

We would recommend the movie for “Star Wars” fans or science fiction fans in general, as it offers redeeming qualities for those interested in the genre. For those who aren’t as interested in the sci-fi genre, this movie may not be for you.

(‘The Creator’ is streaming now on Apple TV and Amazon Prime Video)

By: Natalia Gercheva

As many of you may know, there are some popular movies that are going to be released at the end of 2023, and in 2024. In this article I will be going over what I think are some of the most significant movies coming out soon, and their release dates so you can mark your calendars and see them in theaters! Also, a link to the trailers will be attached under every movie! (All the release dates in the article are for the United States)

‘Wonka’ (December 15, 2023)

I wanted to start off by mentioning the movie ‘Wonka’ starring Timothée Chalamet which was released very recently! It is playing in many theaters around Minnesota, but the Highland Mann Theater is also playing it if you live in St. Paul, and want to watch it locally. The cast for this movie is extensive, featuring many famous celebrities. The movie is a prequel to Roald Dahl’s ‘Charlie and the Chocolate Factory’. It follows the young Willy Wonka and his dream to make it big in the chocolate industry.

‘Wonka’ trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=otNh9bTjXWg

‘Mean Girls’ (January 12, 2024)

As some of you may know, there is yet another ‘Mean Girls’ movie that will be released in 2024. It features some actors from the original movie such as Tina Fey and Tim Meadows. A couple of the new actors are Jenna Fischer and Christopher Briney. The plot also stays similar to the original movie, but it has more modern twists and new jokes. I think it will be interesting to see how it compares to the original movie, because it has such a big name to live up to.

‘Mean Girls’ trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fFtdbEgnUOk

Kung Fu Panda 4′ (March 8, 2024)

‘Kung Fu Panda’ is one of my favorite childhood collections of movies, so I am actually really looking forward to this coming out, and watching it. I have never disliked one of the movies, and based on the trailer it seems to have an interesting storyline. It is great to watch with your family, and with people of all ages.

‘Kung Fu Panda 4’ trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_inKs4eeHiI

‘Inside Out 2’ (June 14, 2024)

It has recently been announced that there will be an ‘Inside Out’ sequel, which also seems to have a good plot. The last movie came out in 2015, so I remember being just a kid when first watching it. The sequel explores Riley’s mind as she grows up as a teenager. It will feature new emotions, including Envy, Ennui, and Embarrassment. I am excited to see the movie since it has been many years since the first, and I hope it does well.

‘Inside Out 2’ trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VWavstJydZU

‘Despicable Me 4’ (July 3, 2024)

Adding to the ‘Despicable Me’ franchise, the fourth movie will continue the story of Gru, his wife Lucy, and their adopted kids. It is still not super clear what the plot will be about, but based on the trailer it looks like there is a new villain to take down, and Gru’s twin brother is still there to help. I love ‘Despicable Me’ because it was also one of my main childhood movies, although it seems that the quality of the plot has been going down after each new movie they release. I really hope that’s not the case for this movie, and for now I am looking forward to seeing it.

‘Despicable Me 4’ trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=74RIFFCiQDk

There are a couple more honorable mentions that haven’t all been completely confirmed, but may come out in 2024 that I just didn’t write about in this article. Some examples are ‘Paddington in Peru’, ‘Rush Hour 4’, ‘Deadpool 3’, and ‘Wicked’. I hope this article gave you some things to look forward to in the new year!

By: Samson Belihu

Are you into fairy tales? Are you into a story you only could dream of or “wish” for? If you are, I recommend the movie called ‘Wish’.

If you still want to learn more about the movie, read the article, but Warning: spoilers ahead.

Disney had an idea of celebrating their 100th anniversary, and putting some reference to other Disney stories in the movie ‘Wish’.

The movie introduced our main character, Asha, who is a female protagonist with a fierce will, strong determination, and a desire to control of her own destiny.

One fateful night, she looks upon the stars when she catches a glimpse of a falling star and decides to take her chance by making a “wish”: a wish upon a star.

The wish she made was to reunite with her mother, her biggest supporter, and her 100-year-old grandfather, putting as much passion as she could into the wish.

But the wish was so big that it couldn’t be granted immediately and she had to go through a process. The process led her to meet the king of wishes “King Magnifico”.

She also meets his wife “Queen Amaya”. Amaya was kind and welcoming so Asha got close to her quickly.

That’s when she starts to see some shifts in King Magnifico who aspires to get more power.

Slowly, even his wife saw it, and she saw how corrupt he was becoming. That’s when we start to realize that King Magnifico is the villain of the story, and that’s when the story takes a twist for the worse.

A girl who wishes to get her loved one back still needs a king who “wishes” for more power, as he is her only chance. He is the only one that could grant her “wish”.

At the end, who shall get their wish truly granted?

Do you like Disney movies? If you do, ‘Wish’ is one you should go see. As Disney’s 100 anniversary movie, the graphics are good, but songs were a bit disappointing. I would give it 3.5/5 overall. You can see it in theaters. It is rated PG.