Tag Archives: Review

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. 

Travel/Food

Recipe review: Brookies

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By: Austin Bailey-Zimmerman

Ingredients

Brownie Batter:

  • ½ cup unsalted butter melted
  • ¾ cup semisweet chocolate chips or roughly chopped chocolate
  • ½ cup granulated sugar
  • ½ cup packed light brown sugar
  • ⅓ cup cocoa powder
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • 2 large eggs
  • ½ cup all-purpose flour

Cookie Dough:

  • ½ cup unsalted butter room temperature
  • ½ cup granulated sugar
  • ¼ cup packed light brown sugar
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1 large egg
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • ½ teaspoon baking powder

Instructions:

  1. Line a 9×13 baking dish with parchment paper or grease it.
  2. Heat the oven to 350Fº.
  3. For the brownies, melt butter then stir in cocoa powder.
  4. Whisk in both sugar and the salt then add the eggs and vanilla and beat well (secret to glossy brownies is to beat the eggs and sugar very well.)
  5. Add the flour and mix until almost combined then fold in the chocolate chips
  6. Transfer the brownie batter to your prepared pan and spread into a thin layer then set aside.
  7. For the cookie dough, cream the butter, and sugars on high for 3-4 minutes or until light and fluffy.
  8. Mix in the vanilla and egg.
  9. Add salt, baking soda and powder then mix until combined.
  10. Pour in the flour and mix until almost combined then fold in the chocolate chips.
  11. Drop spoonfuls onto the brownie batter. You don’t need full coverage, it will be nice to see the brownie batter peaking through after baking.
  12. Bake at 350Fº for 35-40 mins.
  13. Allow to cool before removing from the pan and cutting.
  14. Enjoy!

Review:

These brookies were absolutely amazing. The brownie was so rich and gooey, and the cookie was perfectly browned and sweet. The chocolate chips in both were melted and tied both of them together. There was the perfect ratio of cookie to brownie, so in every bite I got a little bit of both. I paired it with a cold cup of milk and it made my night.

The recipe was easy to follow, but took up a lot of time since you have to make two different mixtures. It was all very worth it though, and now I have lots to share.

The next day while I was hanging out with my friends, I shared the brookies with them and they tasted just as good cold or warmed up in the microwave. I also gave some to my brother and he said that they were great.

I got this recipe off of Preppy Kitchen (https://preppykitchen.com/brookies/#recipe) by John Kanell. The website was easy to navigate and the recipe was amazing. He did a great job with creating the perfect brookie recipe.

I had a great time making these, and the result was so worth the time spent! It was great to share with my friends and family. Try making these yourself! Enjoy!

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.

Music/Concerts

 Jisoo ‘Amortage’ EP review

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By: Jooney Freddieson & Aalovely Lor

Jisoo is a South Korean singer; she debuted with the EP ‘AMORTAGE’ after releasing her debut single “Flower”. This EP came out on February 14th of 2025, providing both a digital and physical product of the EP.

There are four total tracks in this EP. The title track is “earthquake” and the following tracks consist of “Your Love”, “Tears”, and “Hugs & Kisses”.

The EP opens up with “earthquake” which is the main track of the EP.

The song messes around with different pacing and beats to signify an earthquake. There are many energetic pops in the song, allowing the chorus to get stuck in your head and have you nodding to the significant pops.

The earthquake is a metaphoric feeling for developing overwhelming feelings/affection for somebody else. The lyrics showcase how her crush is growing into something more serious: “It hits me like an earthquake (uh-huh) / My heart races faster (uh-huh) / My whole body is trembling, can’t stand (uh-huh) / I can’t deny you (uh-huh) / I think I’m gonna-”.

Earthquake was enjoyable to listen to because of the different beats Jisoo brings to us.

“Your Love” is a song from Jisoo that showcases her vocals and emotional depth. The song is upbeat, and leans into a high-energy style song but apart from the fast pace song the lyrics are melancholic.

This song is performed entirely in English, and stands out with its melancholic and euphoric energy. The song represents a person falling in love and feeling a change in their life.

The song creates a sense of warmth and energy. The pulsing beat and melody emphasize the feeling of being lost in love.

“Tears” is the third song on the EP, the song represents the aftermath of a breakup with lyrics that reflect the process of getting over a relationship.

This song is sung in Korean with added English words. The lyrics are sentimental but features a bouncy and upbeat instrumental, making it catchy and fun to listen to.

This song represents her grief after her breakup, but she’s still holding her head up high. The contrasts between the melancholic lyrics and upbeat instrumental makes this song more layered and interesting.

Her lyrics “Today are my last tears” captures the hardship and bitterness of healing. She sings about the necessity of letting go. She sang with a strong voice and powerful vocals which was different than the song that came before it, “Your Love”, which she sang more softly and clear. This change brought a more powerful and dramatic feeling to the song.

This song felt like a farewell, goodbye to heartbreak and an emotional closure.

“Hugs & Kisses” is the last song on the EP. The reason it’s the last song is because it conveys heartbreak and moving on from a broken relationship.

The EP begins with her intense crush, but throughout the songs she ends with “Hugs & Kisses”. The song captures her emotions of loss and recovery, but rather than affectionate gestures (hugs and kisses), she embraces her inner strength and steps forward with confidence on her own.

Although the song is paired with heartbreak, it’s also there to serve as Jisoo’s artistic growth as an individual. She delivers self-empowerment and strength through the lyrics.

Overall, this EP was set up in a methodical way with perfect flow.

Starting us with Jisoo’s crush on a charismatic guy through the lyrics of “earthquake”, it leads to ‘Your Love’ which is her expressing their emotional connection and her admiration for his love for her. After their relationship comes “Tears”, and this song represents her heartbreak. She voices that she won’t waste anymore tears on him and is beginning to move on. Lastly, we were presented with “Hugs & Kisses” that shows us her newfound confidence and connection with her inner self.

Movies/TV/Theaters

My review of ‘Bad Influence: The Dark Side of Kidfluencing’

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By: Sasha Deans

I just watched a new show on Netflix called ‘Bad Influence’, and it’s intense. It’s all about Piper Rockelle, a famous YouTuber, and her mom, Tiffany. At first, I thought it was going to be about fun behind-the-scenes stuff, but it was actually kind of heartbreaking.

The show talks about how multiple groups of kids who used to be in Piper’s videos said they were treated very very badly. They said Piper’s mom yelled at them, made them do weird things, and even made them feel unsafe and made them work everyday 11am-1am; no breaks. Also, if they choose to leave because they felt unsafe, Piper’s team would find some weird way into shadow banning their channels, so they were blackmailed into staying for so long. Eventually, 11 of them went to court about it!

I liked how the show made you think about what it’s really like to be a kid influencer. Everyone always sees silly fun videos, but this showed that there’s a lot going on behind the camera. It made me feel bad for the kids, and also made me wonder how many other kid influencers in the world might be going through the same thing. Some parts were hard to watch, like with the sexual abuse her mom was doing to the other kids.

Piper and her mom didn’t talk in the show since they are quite literally still making “crush content“*, and are still trying to make money off of Piper, even though she’s 17, so we didn’t get to hear their side very much. Still, it was super interesting and kind of shocking.

*To clarify, “crush content” is where they market the kids by giving them a “crush“. It brings a lot of attention and views and they even audition for the role! Her current “crush person“ is Capri.

If you’re into YouTube drama or like shows that tell the truth, this is definitely one to check out

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

It’s not fun-fun, but it’s important and eye-opening.

Music/Concerts

The meaning behind the songs in ‘Vibras De Noche II’ by Eslabón Armado  

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By: Nereida Dominguez Remedios

“Eslabon Armado is an American regional Mexican group from Patterson, California, formed in 2017. The group’s lineup was originally consisted of Pedro Tovar (lead vocals), Brian Tovar (bass), Ulises González (acoustic guitar), and Damián Pacheco (twelve-string guitar) since 2022, until González’s departure in March 2025.” –Wikipedia.org

‘Vibras De Noche II’ is a newly released album. There are 17 total songs on the album, but here I only am writing about the most popular ones.

“Sad intro” – it starts off with a woman’s voice talking to Pedro with the woman sounding like she is his therapist. They are talking about his last relationship and how he is sad and keeps trying to call her and how he knows he shouldn’t keep bothering her.

“TE ODIO!” –  Pedro starts the song by saying sorry for calling so late saying “por que lo que escogiste a él?” Basically saying why did you choose him? This is personally my favorite song on the album, the meaning behind it is basically he hates her for choosing someone else but it hurt to hate her and even being happy it makes him depressed.

“Cambiaste mi ser no te deseo mal, pero tampoco bien nunca pensé un final” where he’s saying “you changed my being I don’t wish you the worst but I don’t wish you well either I never thought of an end”. I feel like in this song specifically he put a lot of his feelings into this song.

“Dime” – Dime meaning “tell me”, basically makes this song mean if you don’t love me tell me. Pedro wants her to express her true feelings towards their relationship and for her to show how she really feels.  

“XOXO” – it starts off with him saying “No se que tiene tus ojos lindos de café cuando te miro me congelo es que todo de to es perfecto,” which is him basically saying “I don’t know what your beautiful brown eyes have when I look at you I freeze it’s just that everything about you is perfect.” This is obviously a love song as Pedro talks about how he is in love with this girl and how he would treat her so good. 

“Esa Noche” – “Esa Noche” is the only song on the album that has a feature (Macario Martinez). The meaning of this song is about missing someone and wanting to know why they left, and they want to have  another chance. It is also about missing the memories they had together.

“NO VOY A JUGAR” – “No Voy a Jugar” is one of his more lovey songs on the album. In the song, Pedro is expressing his feelings to his “situationship” and wanting to be in a relationship. He tells her all the things he would do for her, and if she asked him if he really loved her he was going to show her what real love is. 

“OTRAS 24 HORAS” – he is wondering why the girl isn’t looking at him how she used to with full love: how she would ask to lay on his chest, how she wanted to kiss him. He is wondering why she told her friends to let him know that she wanted him to leave her alone. Even though he didn’t give her a castle or a ring, he gave her his heart which he thought was more valuable.

“Mientas te Amaba” – he wants to tell this girl how she ruined things between them and he doesn’t know how to express that to her. He already knows that she won’t care, or if he gets hurt, she won’t be there for him. It also hurt him the way she acted towards him; she would make a lot of promises to him but would never keep them, and she wasn’t telling him the truth. 

Movies/TV/Theaters

Spongebob review 2004

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By: Sasha Deans

‘The SpongeBob SquarePants Movie’ is a super fun and exciting movie that both kids and adults can enjoy. It came out in 2004 and is based on the popular TV show ‘SpongeBob SquarePants’.

In the movie, SpongeBob and Patrick go on a big adventure to find King Neptune’s stolen crown and save Mr. Krabs, who got frozen by Neptune. At the same time, Plankton is trying to take over the world with his evil plan called “Plan Z.”

One of the best things about the movie is how funny it is. SpongeBob and Patrick are hilarious, especially when they think they’re grown-ups just because they have seaweed mustaches. The jokes are really creative, and there are so many parts that made me laugh. The movie also has action and even a little drama, which makes it even more exciting.

The animation is super colorful and looks amazing, especially in big scenes like the Goofy Goober Rock performance at the end. It’s crazy how many jokes are still funny today!

The music is also really good, and the “Goofy Goober” song is so catchy. The voice actors do an awesome job, and David Hasselhoff’s part is really funny.

Overall, ‘The SpongeBob SquarePants Movie’ is an amazing movie with a fun story, great jokes, and lots of adventure. If you like SpongeBob, you will definitely love this movie. Even if you don’t usually watch the show, it’s still really fun to watch! I would give it a 5/5

You can rent or buy the movie on multiple streaming services, or it is often shown on Nickelodeon.