Category Archives: Movies/TV/Theaters

Editorials/Student Voice, Movies/TV/Theaters

The ‘Barbie’ movie

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By Kate Tabor

Image created with Chat GPT

The ‘Barbie’ movie, directed by Greta Gerwig, is surrounded by a lot of controversy. For some reason, the exact point the movie was trying to make, went over so many people’s heads.

The movie itself is about the female experience, to put it simply. The societal expectations, the unfair standards women are held to, and the hardships that we as women all face and are not given enough credit for.

Most of the criticism about this woman is centered around the idea that Barbie is a doll with big boobs, and that’s it. She’s something to look at, something for young girls to be inspired by. What’s funny about that idea is the fact that when young girls actually are inspired by Barbie, or any other female icon, they’re criticized for it and beaten down.

What Greta Gerwig has done with the ‘Barbie Movie’ has made so many women and girls feel seen. She actually took Barbie, the women that so many women and young girls look up to, and had her experience what real women and girls experience. She captured exactly what it feels like to be a woman.

Not only that, but she turned it around in order for Barbie, what a lot see as just a pretty doll, and had her be inspired by a real human woman. What I’m trying to get across here, is that no matter who you are, as a woman in this society, you’re going to feel put down by society and its expectations of you. You could be the most beautiful and biggest female icon in the world, and still feel like you’re not enough.

This, of course, is not the only point that stands out in the movie, and most certainly is not the main point Greta was trying to get at, but it’s a very good one.

 No matter how beautiful and great and special you are as a woman, which every woman is, there are always men, and sometimes women, who will try to tear you down. All you need to remember is that every single woman feels the exact same way as you.

Movies/TV/Theaters

Review of ’13 Going on 30′

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By: Sasha Deans

*Warning: this review contains spoilers

’13 Going on 30′ is a romantic comedy and a coming-of-age movie that I really enjoyed watching. It’s about a teenage girl named Jenna Rink who feels awkward and unhappy on her 13th birthday. She’s not popular and just wants to fit in with the “cool kids” at school. At her kind of terrible birthday party, she makes a wish to skip all the hard and embarrassing parts of being a teenager and become “thirty, flirty, and thriving.” Then something magical happens and when she wakes up the next morning, she’s suddenly 30 years old, living in a big fancy apartment in New York City, in the year 2004!

At first, Jenna is super excited. She has a glamorous job at a fashion magazine, lots of stylish clothes, and everyone seems to think she’s super cool. But as she starts living her adult life, she realizes that being grown-up isn’t as perfect as she thought. Even though she has success and money, she also became a person she doesn’t like, someone mean, selfish, and not very nice to others and someone she just never wanted to be or thought she would be. She lost touch with her family and even with her best childhood friend, Matt Flamhaff.

Jenna finds Matt again, and even though he’s all grown up too, she realizes how important he was to her. He reminds her what it’s like to be kind, to love someone, and to be true to yourself and be a good person. She starts to wish she could go back and make better choices. Things get even more emotional when she realizes that she’s fallen in love with Matt all over again but he’s already engaged to someone else!

In the end, Jenna gets another magical chance. She goes back to being 13 again, right after she made the wish. This time, she doesn’t make the same mistakes. She makes different choices and stays close to Matt. The movie ends with a sweet and happy flash-forward where Jenna and Matt are all grown up and getting married. It’s a really nice ending that shows how second chances can change everything.

Some important themes in the movie are:

  • Be careful what you wish for: growing up too fast isn’t always a good thing.
  • Stay true to yourself: popularity and success don’t matter if you lose who you are.
  • Friendship and love are more important than fame and popularity.
  • People can change and it’s never too late to try and make things right.

I think ’13 Going on 30′ is funny, sweet, and kind of magical. It teaches some really good lessons, but it also has fun music, cool clothes, and funny moments. I would recommend it to teenagers and adults and kids of the 90s because they would definitely relate because it shows how growing up isn’t always what you expect, and being a good person matters more than anything.

You can watch ’13 Going on 30′ on Netflix.

Getting To Know/History, Movies/TV/Theaters

The tale and tour of Annabelle

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By: Jooney Freddieson & Aalovely Lor

Image created by Starryai

In paranormal history, there are many haunted objects around the world, but Annabelle the doll is the most captivating worldwide. Her legend included real-life investigations, movies, and as of recently, public appearances.

Behind the movies of Annabelle lie a backstory rooted deeply into Ed and Lorraine Warren’s paranormal research.

Ed and Lorraine have investigated over 10,000 cases of paranormal activities and originally presented their findings in Catholic schools. Ed was a self-taught demonologist and Lorraine was a medium. Together, they founded the New England Society for Psychic Research (NESPR) in 1952.

Annabelle, originally an innocent Raggedy Ann doll, was gifted to a nursing student named Donna, by her mother in the 70s. Donna and her roommate started to mess with the doll, leaving it in different positions and even making it a tradition to scare each other.

However, their fun came to an end when they began noticing strange occurrences around her living area: the doll would change positions, move to different rooms, and leave notes behind, none of which Donna or her roommate had any knowledge of causing.

Donna and her roommate concluded that it was just their vivid imagination and dismissed the occurrences but questions started to arise when the doll’s movement became more pronounced—like shifting its arm entirely or relocating more often.

Donna, believing that she was targeted by demonic forces, flew to a renowned medium. They soon discovered that the doll was inhabited by the spirit of a young girl. Donna allowed the young girl to stay and even started to treat the doll like an actual child, often buying the doll clothes, toys, jewelry, and candy.

The haunting soon turned malevolent after attacking multiple times through paralyzations and scratches appearing over the chest.

After realizing the spirit was more than just an innocent child, Donna contacted Ed and Lorraine Warren—the paranormal investigators.

The Warren’s determined that the doll was in fact taken over by a demonic entity and its goal wasn’t to haunt people but to possess a human host.

They took Annabelle to their Occult Museum in Monroe, Connecticut, preventing further harm. She was placed in a glass case with warnings not to touch, and it quickly became one of the most dangerous items in their museum.

The story of Annabelle gained popularity after its feature in ‘The Conjuring’, leading it to have its own spin-off series that begins with ‘Annabelle’.

The movie versions featured a porcelain doll, but the real Annabelle is a soft stitched Raggedy Ann. Despite the difference in visuals, the legacy remains the same.

After Lorraine’s death, the museum closed, and Annabelle remained inside. But as of 2025, Annabelle has begun going on tour as part of the traveling exhibit called “Devil’s On The Run Tour”, visiting various cities throughout the U.S.

The tour began in May and is scheduled to be on tour throughout the summer, allowing horror movie enthusiasts to meet the real Annabelle.

According to NESPR, the Annabelle tour was created in response to those with questions and in hope of funding the museum.

The tour brought concern to religious figures saying they shouldn’t treat the doll like a “novelty”, stating that it was disrespectful to provoke the doll after knowing the risks. But organizers of the tour have claimed that all participants were careful and all events were handled with caution.

This tour brought attention to social media, especially Tik Tok and Instagram. Many videos and post made about the tour gained millions of views, with people sharing everything from selfies to behind the scenes.

For more information, please visit:

Movies/TV/Theaters

Review on the movie ‘MA’

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By: Sasha Deans

‘Ma’, directed by Tate Taylor and starring Octavia Spencer, is a psychological thriller that blends teenage rebellion with creeping dread in a small-town setting. At first glance, the movie seems like a typical teen drama: new girl in town trying to fit in, high school parties, and awkward crushes. But it quickly takes a sharp left turn into something much darker and more disturbing.

The story follows Maggie, a seemingly sweet and well-behaved girl who’s just moved to a small town with her single mom. She’s adjusting to a new school, new friends, and the usual teenage awkwardness. Maggie is introduced to a group of classmates who are more outgoing and party-oriented. At first, she turns down an invite to hang out, choosing to stick with her mom instead. But when her plans fall through, she decides to give it a shot and go out with them just once.

That one night quickly snowballs into something much bigger when the group crosses paths with Sue Ann, a middle-aged woman who at first seems like any other local. They meet her outside a liquor store and, after some hesitation, she agrees to buy them alcohol. What starts off as a random favor turns into an open invitation to party at her house, in the basement, to be exact. She gives them rules: stay in the basement, don’t go upstairs, and one person stays sober. At first, the teens think they’ve hit the jackpot. A cool adult who’s not only letting them drink but giving them a place to do it safely? What could go wrong?

Well, a lot, as it turns out.

One of the strongest parts of ‘Ma’ is Octavia Spencer’s performance. She’s known for playing warm, empathetic characters, so seeing her take on such a twisted and unpredictable role adds an extra layer of tension. She plays Ma with such complexity you can sense there’s pain and trauma behind her actions, but that doesn’t make her any less terrifying. She shifts between friendly and frightening so fast that you never really feel safe when she’s on screen.

Visually, the movie does a great job of creating contrast. The bright, energetic scenes of teens partying clash with the dark, confined space of Ma’s basement. The further the teens fall into Ma’s world, the more unsettling everything becomes. The film uses silence and music effectively to build suspense, and there are moments that genuinely make your skin crawl not from jump scares, but from the slow, psychological unraveling of the situation.

Personally, I found ‘Ma’ to be a unique take on the thriller genre. It’s not your typical horror movie, it’s more about mood and tension than blood and gore. It plays with your expectations, especially with how it sets up Ma as a kind, slightly awkward woman and then peels back the layers to reveal something much darker. It also makes you think about how people carry emotional scars and how dangerous it can be when those scars are left untreated.

I do agree it kinda has it’s more cheesy parts though the movie is slow and the gore/scary stuff doesn’t happen to the very very end which gets kind of annoying if your a frequent horror movie watcher.

If you’re looking for a thriller with a strong lead performance, unexpected turns, and a creepy atmosphere that sticks with you after the credits roll, ‘Ma’ is definitely worth watching. Just be warned you may never look at a friendly stranger the same way again. I rate it a 3/5

You can watch on Netflix!

Movies/TV/Theaters

Review on the new Netflix show ‘Forever’

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By: Nereida Dominguez Remedios

*Warning: This article will have spoilers

The new Netflix show named ‘Forever’ is about this teenage boy named Justin Edwards (played by Michael Cooper Jr.). Justin goes to a party and reunites with his childhood friend named Keisha Clark (played by Levied Simone).

The first episode of ‘Forever’ starts off with Justin wanting to ask his parents Dawn (played by Karen Pittman) and Eric (played by Wood Harris) if he can go to a party. When he does go to ask, he can hear that his parents are fighting. When he walks in the room his parents go silent and when he asks to go out his mom automatically says no but his dad says yes. He listens to his mom and goes back into his room.

A couple of minutes later, his dad walks in telling him he can go. When he gets there, he realizes he is one out of two Black guys there after he sees his friend. They hang out and after a bit, his friend leaves. When he gets up, he realizes he see this beautiful Black girl and when she comes up to him he realizes she was his closest friend in elementary school. After a bit of talking, he asks her on a date and after a while they decide to go to the movies. When the movie is over, Justin finds out about a scandal that happened at Keisha’s old high school.

After watching the first episodes I was automatically so invested into the shows I couldn’t stop watching it.

In the show I really enjoyed watching the relationship between Justin and Keisha where you see them blooming together and then changing into a toxic relationship, then getting older and realizing they belong together, even though they’re going to different colleges.

Overall, watching ‘Forever’ for the first time was the best decision I have ever made. I really enjoyed it and I found it very interesting seeing Keisha and Justin’s relationship develop. Ten out ten and I would definitely recommend this to others.

Movies/TV/Theaters

‘Andor’ season 2

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By: Evie Beaumaster

The show ‘Andor’, is one of the many Star Wars shows that are available on Disney +. This show is a part of the ‘Rogue One’ storyline, and it follows Cassian Andor, one of the main ‘Rogue One’ characters. There are 12 episodes in season 2 that follow Andor on his adventures for the resistance.

This show was highly anticipated by many Star Wars fans, and it did not disappoint most people. On Rotten Tomatoes the show is rated at 97%. Critics say that this show continues the spark that we got from season one. It is praised for its story and acting and I would agree.

‘Andor’ takes place before the movie ‘Rogue One’ and follows the past of Cassian Andor before we see him in the movie. This season brings us closer to Andor and parts of the Star Wars universe that we haven’t seen before. In the first season we saw Andor become closer to the rebellion and become an important figure in the rebellion. We also see more development for characters from the original trilogy and ‘Rogue One’, such as Mon Mothma and Orson Krennic. 

This show has very unique cinematography and there are many landscape shots that show us more of this unique world. We see some new planets in this show as well, which help expand the Star Wars universe for fans. The music and darker lighting help set a dark mysterious theme for this show which really carry on to the character’s reality because most are just fighting to survive.

From the great success of season 1 comes yet another show of ‘Andor’. Many thought that season 2 had large expectations to live up to and I think that this show did a pretty good job. The music, cinematography and lighting all remind us of season 1 and it helps build on season 1. I would personally recommend this show and I think it’s one of the best series that has come from the Disney takeover of Star Wars. 

Books/Art, Editorials/Student Voice, Movies/TV/Theaters

Reasons why books are better than their movie adaptations

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By: Fletcher Pike

Image created with ChatGPT

If you’ve ever watched a movie adaptation of a book, like ‘The Hunger Games’ or ‘Divergent’, you might wonder about the differences or similarities between the book and its movie adaptation. In this article, I will list several reasons as to why books are better than their movie counterparts.

For one, reading a book allows your mind to create your own interpretation of the story. Your brain creates your own version of the characters using descriptive words within the book that seems to make it more personal and creative. However, most movies might not correlate to your personal interpretation of what you thought characters or places looked like. This can lead to some dissatisfaction as some things might not seem as familiar to you.

Another reason is that movie adaptations usually leave out details from the book. As reading a book can usually take longer than watching a movie, the movies might leave out some interesting details or information about the plot or characters. The average film is only about 2 hours long, but books can have hundreds or even thousands of pages of descriptive words and details that can take several hours to read.

Another reason is that books help build your vocabulary. When you read a book, your brain is actively progressing in grammar and spelling. Reading several books makes you an overall smarter person as you are continuing to build your reading level and vocabulary.

Some might think that movies are more interesting than books, but books allow you to immerse yourself further into your own interpretation of the story.

Overall, I think that books are much better than movies as they provide a creative outlet for the endless stories that books contain.

Movies/TV/Theaters

‘Bridgerton’ Season 1 review

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By: Sasha Deans

Season 1 of ‘Bridgerton’ is a romantic drama that takes place in London during the Regency era, The story is about rich families who go to parties and dances to find love and good marriages, and everything is super formal and full of rules. The main focus is on the Bridgerton family, especially the oldest daughter, Daphne Bridgerton.

Daphne is just starting her first “season,” which is when high society girls get introduced to people and hopefully find someone to marry. At first, everything seems perfect: she looked super amazing, acts politely, and gets attention. But things start to go wrong, and she realizes that finding true love isn’t as simple as it looks in fairy tales. That’s when she meets Simon Basset, the Duke of Hastings. He’s super rich, super charming and but cold, as he doesn’t want to marry anyone. But when he and Daphne come up with a plan to help each other out things start to get really interesting and even sad.

While all this drama is going on, there’s a mysterious gossip writer named “Lady Whistledown”. She sends out letters to everyone in town spilling secrets and talking about people’s personal lives. Nobody knows who she is, but everyone reads her papers. It makes things fun, but also a little dangerous for the characters who are trying to keep their secrets private.

One of the best parts of the show is the music. Even though the characters are wearing ball gowns and dancing in ballrooms, the songs are actually modern ones that we know but they are just played on violins and string instruments so they sound old-fashioned but cool. This makes the show feel unique, like it’s mixing the past with the present.

“Thank U, Next” by Ariana Grande, “Girls Like You” by Maroon 5, “Bad Guy” by Billie Eilish, “Wildest Dreams” by Taylor Swift, “In My Blood” by Shawn Mendes are some of the songs heard. Even though the show is about things that happened a long time ago, the modern songs help you connect with the characters and feel the drama in a way that’s more fun and relatable. It also makes scenes more memorable like you’ll hear the violin version of “Thank U, Next” and actually remember the party scene it went with.

I also feel like the diversity in the show definitely helps keep it a up to date show; there’s no timely realistic race structure which is good. There’s many black and just people of color playing so many roles!

Overall, ‘Bridgerton’ Season 1 is about more than just love. It’s about figuring out what you want in life, making your own choices, and dealing with family pressure. It’s also about friendships, gossip, and standing up for yourself. With amazing costumes, fun characters, a little mystery, and awesome music, it’s a really fun and dramatic show to watch. I would definitely give it a 4/5.

You can watch ‘Bridgerton’ on Netflix.

Movies/TV/Theaters

‘Snow White’ controversy

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By: Teagan Mack

*Note: This article contains minor spoilers

Mirror Mirror on the wall, must Disney remake them all?

Disney’s new live-action ‘Snow White’ movie has been raising a lot of debate and controversy. While some are excited to see a new take on the classic, others have some concerns about the casting choice, changes in the storyline, and overall direction the film is taking. This movie, which stars Rachel Zegler as Snow White, has sparked a vast range of opinions from critics and fans. Here’s a closer look into the major issues surrounding the movie.

The casting of Rachel Zegler as Snow White has struck significant debate, mainly because of her being a Latina actress in a role traditionally associated with fair skin and black hair. In response to the backlash, Zegler has stood by the casting, expressing that the story of Snow White is not just about appearance, but about kindness and bravery. She also pointed out that people who look like her are rarely cast in such iconic roles. In a 2022 interview with Vanity Fair, she stated, “You don’t particularly see people who look like me or are me playing roles like that,” highlighting the importance of representation in fairy-tale stories. Instead of focusing on the negative criticism, Zegler focused her attention on the significance that this role portrays for audience members who identify with her background.

This new version’s depiction of the Seven Dwarfs has also sparked debates among audiences. Peter Dinklage who advocates for dwarfism rights disagrees with Disney’s choice to feature CGI dwarves in their remake by labeling it a “backwards story”. Dinklage disagrees with this decision, and believes they should use real actors with dwarfism to play the dwarfs. The selection of a Latina actress by Disney prompted his worries about the continued existence of old stereotypes. They planned to replace them with “magical creatures” and consult the dwarfism community to prevent negative stereotypes. This decision has prompted further discussion. Some worry about losing the dwarfs’ charm and humor, while others believe it’s important to address how disabilities are represented today.

Another significant change involves Snow White’s character development. In the original animated version, Snow White is passive,  waiting for her prince. In the new version she is more active and independent. Some argue that showing women in movies as self-reliant, and strong is essential, while others feel it moves further away from the original plot of the fairy-tale.

After watching the new remake of Snow White, I’m not sure how I feel. I grew up watching all of the original Disney princess movies, and even though Snow White was not my favorite, I still found her story interesting. The movie looks good, and the costumes have a nice touch, but it doesn’t feel the same. There are no dwarfs like in the original, only magical creatures, which deviates from the old storyline. Snow White doesn’t sing “Someday My Prince Will Come,” and we don’t get to see much of the prince either. She acts more serious and tough, unlike in the original where she is kind and gentle. It feels like a completely different story with the same name. Although I liked a few parts,  I missed the songs, the animals, and the magical feeling from the original. I wish they had kept more of the Disney charm that made me love the old movies.

The controversy around the new ‘Snow White’ movie highlights the challenges Disney faces when remaking classic fairy-tales. While some appreciate the effort to make this franchise more diverse and more empowering towards women, others fear the changes could alienate fans of the traditional stories. This could include cultural aspects like ethnic representation, or sensitive portrayal in disabilities. Right now it’s unclear if this new movie will live up to the original, but its impact on bigger conversations is certain.

One person I talked to, Evelyn Lundy, summed up her thoughts about the new movie: ”The movie was revolutionary and it brought a different perspective to the story of Snow White.”

You can still see ‘Snow White’ in theaters.

Movies/TV/Theaters

‘Adolescence’ review

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By: Chole Rocha

‘Adolescence’ is a limited series on Netflix, directed by Philip Barantini. This show is not like many other TV shows on Netflix because each episode was filmed in one shot. This means that from the beginning to end of each episode, there is not a single cut in the camera.

This show is a coming of age drama that touches on subjects that many children go through during their teenage years. It is set in a school in the UK, with young teens that are being exposed to the toxic environments that social media provides.

Each character faces their own troubles and are all unique in their own way. Some struggles that were shown in the show were gender identity, depression, substance use, bullying, and academic pressure.

The actors were able to display raw emotions that made everything feel real to the viewer. The main character, Jamie Miller, was played by Owen Cooper. This show was Owen’s first acting role. I think that he did amazing at playing this character and taking on such a difficult job for his first time.

Jamie Miller, is a young boy who was bullied online and he eventually committed a crime that could not be undone. The first episode shows Jamie being arrested as a suspect for a murder, but by the end of the show, you can see the impacts that his decisions had on his family and the other people around him.

As each episode goes on, you can clearly see Jamie’s mental state start to disintegrate. The show was never a “who did it” murder mystery, it was clear by the first episode who committed the crime. The point of the show was to figure out why he did it and what led him to that point.

During an interview with GQ, Philip Barantini stated that the purpose of the show was to spark conversations about the dangers of cyberbullying and toxic masculinity. He wanted to encourage parents to engage in more deep conversations with their children about their online experiences. I really enjoyed watching this show because it was amazing to see everything filmed in one continuous shot. All of the actors that were in this show have amazing talent and were able to deliver amazing scenes for us to watch.