Movies and Television
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Joker
Gabrielle Head There have been many different Jokers in the past 30 years, including those depicted by Jack Nicholson (1989), Heath Ledger (2008), and Jared Leto (2016). The character has been known for his rather obnoxious laughter, green hair, and, of course, his iconic painted-on smile. Recently, there has been a new addition to the group of Jokers: Joaquin Phoenix. Joker, released on October 4, 2019, is a rated-R movie about Arthur Fleck and his journey to becoming the well-known Joker. Arthur is a mentally ill man with a condition that causes him to laugh uncontrollably at inappropriate times, although former Jokers have been known to laugh willingly. People find him disturbing when they see him, but usually disregard him. After Arthur is ridiculed on a subway by three young men, chaos erupts throughout Gotham after his “self-defense” accident. Arthur aspires to become a comedian, but fails because of his condition and unhumorous jokes. Murray Franklin, the host of a live show and Arthur’s beloved role model, invites him onto his show after finding a clip of Arthur’s attempt at comedy. Leading up to the day of his appearance on Murray’s show, Arthur faces the truth of his childhood, and the chaos of the uprising crowd—“clowns,” as Bruce Wayne’s (Batman) father Thomas called them—following him. Finally appearing on Murray’s show, using the name “Joker,” Arthur expresses his anger for his place in society and how he is always disregarded. He reveals that he attacked the three boys on the subway, and that he is fond of the mess that he created, stating that he has “nothing to lose.” Throughout the interview, he had a burst of confidence, which eventually led up to the death of Murray Franklin on live television. There has been a lot of controversy towards the movie and if it will cause problems in the real world. Instead, some fans of the movie have had fun recreating the dances that Arthur expressed during the movie. Many people have also been saying the movie and actor, Joaquin Phoenix, deserves an Oscar for his performance. Personally, I believe that this is one of my favorite movies at the time. The movie lingered in my mind hours, even days after I saw it. It didn’t seem as if it was about the Joker, yet just another man trying to get through hard times in his life. The movie also gives true statements about society today, even if the movie was set in the 1980s. It can relate to anyone who’s feeling left out and abandoned in the real world. Rattlesnake
Keira Bess Rattlesnake is a Netflix original about a mother and young daughter who are moving to a new town. When they are stopped by a flat tire, the daughter goes off to play. While playing, she is bitten by a rattlesnake and she quickly becomes ill. Panicking, her mother rushes her into a nearby trailer, where a lady cures her daughter. The mysterious lady then tells her she has to pay “a soul for a soul” and she has until sunset. This begins the worst journey of her life as she tries to find a soul to save her daughter. I would rate this movie a 3.5/5 stars because personally it wasn’t very intriguing or as suspenseful as a person might think. The storyline itself wasn’t well put together either and sort of confusing. Rattlesnake does not have a rating but it does include some strong language and scene that parents might not allow their child to see so I would say it is probably be best for 7th or 8th graders only. However, you should ask a parent if it is okay before watching. Maleficent: Mistress of Evil
Laila Burks Maleficent: Mistress of Evil aired on October 19, 2019, and it is rated PG. In this movie, Maleficent (played by Angelina Jolie) travels to the grand old castle to celebrate Aurora’s upcoming marriage to Prince Phillip. When she arrives at the castle, she meets Aurora’s future mother-in-law Queen Ingrith (played by Michelle Pfeiffer). She is an evil queen who plans a devious plot to destroy the Moor’s fairies in order to take over the Moor and have control over all of the land. Hoping to stop her, Maleficent joins forces with another warrior of her kind and the rest of the outcasts to battle Queen Ingrith and her powerful army. I would give this movie a 4.7 out of 5 because it was really good. I really like the plot line and the effects of the movie. The effects really made the movie feel like it was real. I also really liked the characters of the movie and how they interact with each other. I think this movie was really kid friendly , yet all ages could find something to enjoy in Maleficent: Mistress of Evil. Hamilton
Katreena Goan A very famous musical named Hamilton has been coming up in eighth grade social studies classes as the eighth graders learn about the American Revolution. Though the musical is very popular among many students, some are unaware of the full musical and what it is about. Hamilton is a popular musical written by Lin Manuel Miranda and had its opening night on August 6, 2015. The musical tells the stories about one of our founding fathers, Alexander Hamilton (played by the writer, Lin Manuel Miranda), and his great contributions to the American Revolution, as well a view into his personal life with his wife and family using modern music elements like rap and hip hop as well as ballads. The musical starts with the song, “Alexander Hamilton” which tells about his poor childhood growing up in the Caribbean. Later, we find out that he immigrated to America and meets another main character, Aaron Burr (Leslie Odom Jr.). Burr and Hamilton meet and become friends in the song, “Aaron Burr, Sir”, where he also meets his best friends, John Laurens (Anthony Ramos), Hercules Mulligan (Okieriete Onaodowan), and Marquis de Lafayette (Daveed Diggs). The four best friends are known to some fans as the Revolutionaries. Hamilton has a very go-getter personality; when he sees what he wants, he works for it, no matter what. “My Shot” is a good example of this, where Hamilton says the very famous line, “I am not throwing away my shot.” This song also explains the premise of the first act of the play: the fight against the British and for American independence. Throughout the first act, we meet the Schuyler sisters: Angelica (Reneé Elise Goldsberry), Eliza (Phillipa Soo), and Peggy (Jasmine Cephas-Jones); and George Washington (Christopher Jackson), the commander of the Continental Army. The first act takes us through the battles in the war all the way until the final battle at Yorktown. In the midst of the war, Alexander Hamilton gets married to Eliza Schuyler, though Angelica is also secretly in love with him, and we find out about Burr’s affair with a woman named Theodosia. Burr has a daughter and names her after her mother, while Hamilton has a son named Philip, after Eliza’s father. The first act ends with “Non-Stop”, a song about Hamilton’s constant work at the birth of America and his slight neglect of his family. Act two begins with Thomas Jefferson (Daveed Diggs) and James Madison’s (Okieriete Onaodowan) entrance in “What’d I Miss” as Jefferson had been an ambassador in France while the war was going on. Madison frantically explains that there is conflict going on with Hamilton, who is trying to make a national bank. This act goes straight into the arguments and disputes about how to run the government and economy that happen between Hamilton and Burr, Jefferson, and Madison. During all of the politics, Hamilton is also struggling with his home life and being there for his family. Angelica has moved to England with her husband but is coming back to spend the summer upstate with Philip and Eliza, while Hamilton stays in New York to keep working. While his family is gone, he has an affair with Maria Reynolds. Later, in “The Reynolds Pamphlet”, Hamilton decides to “write his way out” and exposes himself. Eliza becomes very angry with him. Afterwards, we find out that Philip has gotten himself into a duel with a boy that badmouthed Hamilton and asks him for help. Hamilton says to shoot for the sky instead of at his opponent to keep himself human, but the other boy shoots him, and Philip dies an extremely sad death. During their grievance, Eliza and Alexander make up when they stay uptown. The next song, “The Election of 1800” talks about Burr and Jefferson’s fight for president, where Hamilton decides to vote for Jefferson instead of Burr, despite their disputes. Burr and Hamilton get into an unusually civil fight in letters over the election in “Your Obedient Servant” and agree to duel. Just like he told his son to, Hamilton aims for the sky, while Burr shoots at him. He immediately regretted his actions in, “The World Was Wide Enough”, and Hamilton dies with Angelica and Eliza by his side. The musical’s final song, “Who Lives, Who Dies, Who Tells Your Story”, describes how Hamilton had impacted America’s economy and politics, and how Eliza lives on to tell about Hamilton’s legacy. The musical is not only very entertaining and has well-written music and songs, but a good way to learn American history. In my experience, I knew more than usual in social studies class due to this musical. With all of this, along with well-written story with comedy and sadness, the musical quickly became one of my big interests, and I was even able to see it at the Orpheum in the summer. |
Stranger Things
Gabrielle Head Stranger Things has become a sensation to fans of many ages. The show includes supernatural events and characters. Made in 2016, the show has now developed three seasons. These seasons can only be viewed on Netflix. The show is known for its lively cast, characters, and interesting storyline. In season one, Hawkins is faced with a tragedy: Will Byers (played by Noah Schnapp) goes missing. His friends, Mike Wheeler (Finn Wolfhard), Lucas Sinclair (Caleb McLaughlin), and Dustin Henderson (Gaten Matarazzo) set out on a quest to find him. During this journey, they meet Eleven (played by Millie Bobby Brown), a girl with powers, that soon helps them. Unexpectedly, they encounter false claims, experiments, and, of course, supernatural activity. For season two, the last episodes of season one leave us with the return of Will, yet a new threat. Season two is set in autumn, and introduces two new characters: Max Mayfield (Sadie Sink) and her stepbrother, Billy Hargrove (Dacre Montgomery). While getting help from previous traumatic experiences, Will becomes aware of a new threat arising. While he was gone, he grew an unwanted connection to a monster, the Mind Flayer. Not only did the connection let the monster “spy” on the real world in the form of WIll, but it also allowed Will to feel the pain that the monster did. The mission for this season was to get rid of the Mind Flayer from Will’s body, and close the gate to the other dimension. Season three, which came out on July 4th of this year, featured new places in Hawkins, such at Starcourt Mall. The season is very colorful as it depicts the new era of 1985 and it’s new “retro-style.” This season does not include Will Byers as the main victim, revealing it to be Billy Hargrove. He becomes the host of the body of a newly-formed Mind Flayer. The season leaves us off with cliffhangers for the next season, including a new type of monster. Season four has been confirmed for the show on September 30. The only information know about the new season is that the line “We’re not in Hawkins anymore,” which was revealed in the teaser. The original cast will also be returning as their characters. There are lots of theories about the characters and what is to come in the future. I am Legend
Keira Bess I am Legend is a movie directed by Francis Lawerence, who is also the producer of The Hunger Games. It is based in Manhattan during an outbreak of a lethal cancer disease. The disease caused half the people in Manhattan to either die or become vampiric mutants. The movie stars Will smith, who plays the character Robert Neville. Robert and his dog are the only people left… or so that’s what he thinks. It is up to Robert find a cure and save the people. I would rate this movie a 5 out of 5 stars because it has a lot of suspense and is very intriguing. I also enjoyed the movie because Will Smith is a hilarious actor and adds a great sense of humor to the movie. Disclaimer: The movie contains some strong language and gruesome scenes that parents may not allow, so make sure it is okay it is okay to watch for you. (rated PG-13) Maleficent
Laila Burks Maleficent aired in the movie theaters in on May 30, 2014, and it is now on DVD and Blu-Ray. This movie was rated PG. Maleficent (played by Angelina Jolie) grew up in the Moor, a magical realm on the outskirts of a rival human kingdom, with all of the other fairies. She lives a happy and simple life as a child. However, when an invading army threatens the Moor, she rises up and becomes the land’s fiercest protector. When she experiences a horrible betrayal, her heart turns to stone and turns into an evil creature seeking revenge on the humans. She participates in an epic battle with the invading king’s successor. She then curses the king’s newborn daughter, Aurora (played by Elle Fanning), only to find out that she holds the key to peace in the kingdom. I would give this movie a 4 out of 5. I gave this rating because the story line was decent and the acting was really good. The effects were cool because it didn’t look just like it was behind a green screen, but it looked as if it was real. In conclusion, I think Maleficent is a good movie and you should really watch it if you like magical, mystical creatures, and effects. Aladdin
Savannah Clay The live-action version of Aladdin came out May 24, 2019 and no one seems to realize that it exists to this day. This movie is a good one, and yet it is not a movie that everyone, or really no-one talks about. Aladdin has all the “WOW" factors that would attract the audience, but everyone forgot about one of Disney’s classics. Aladdin has all the emotions ranging from sadness to enthusiasm. This movie opens a door for crying and laughing, yet people won’t click the “play” button. It also opens doors for creativity; the colors and the dancing are big parts of this movie. At the the end of Aladdin, it might give you the thought to start dancing and singing, but of course you would not! Aladdin might seem like a kids-only movie, but trust me anybody who takes the time to sit down and watch the movie will NOT regret it. I encourage you to buy some popcorn and some coke, and relax for the movie! Creeped Out
Laila Burks Creeped Out is Netflix tv series that aired on October 31st, 2017. Each episode is different from the other. Creeped out is a series of enchanting, spellbinding, and intriguing tales. Each story takes place in a different time and place. Each character explores the unexplained and go through different traumatic events. I would give this show a 4.5 out of 5 because it is a really good show but it is not really scary. The acting is not too bad, and the whole series itself is very interesting. I would definitely recommend this show if you like the interesting and unexplained. In my opinion I think this is a really good show to watch when you are bored to pass some time. In conclusion Creeped out is a very good show to watch and I would recommend it for people of all ages. |
Books
Harry Potter
Herzelle Santos
Harry Potter is a book series by JK Rowling that is quite popular, and it consists of seven books. The first few books are rated PG, but as the series progresses; the rating turns to PG-13 for violence and themes. The series is about an orphan who’s parents were murdered by a dark wizard that goes by the name of Voldemort. However Voldemort didn’t succeed, and Harry was the first person to ever survive from him. All the books that lead up to the final book, The Deathly Hallows. Which is about Harry learning more about the wizarding world, his parents, Voldemort. The last book contains the final face off between Voldemort and Harry.
I would rate this series a 5 out of 5 stars. I really liked the books and movies along with the extras, and I think they were brilliantly written. The series takes you on a rollercoaster, it is sad sometimes, but there are always parts in the chapters that lighten up the mood. I don’t really have anything I dislike about this series, and I really like how even though there were some things that just didn’t make sense at first; it either made sense by the end of the book or by the end of the series. I truly believe this is a good series, and I really recommend reading this (or watching the movies if books aren’t your thing).
Herzelle Santos
Harry Potter is a book series by JK Rowling that is quite popular, and it consists of seven books. The first few books are rated PG, but as the series progresses; the rating turns to PG-13 for violence and themes. The series is about an orphan who’s parents were murdered by a dark wizard that goes by the name of Voldemort. However Voldemort didn’t succeed, and Harry was the first person to ever survive from him. All the books that lead up to the final book, The Deathly Hallows. Which is about Harry learning more about the wizarding world, his parents, Voldemort. The last book contains the final face off between Voldemort and Harry.
I would rate this series a 5 out of 5 stars. I really liked the books and movies along with the extras, and I think they were brilliantly written. The series takes you on a rollercoaster, it is sad sometimes, but there are always parts in the chapters that lighten up the mood. I don’t really have anything I dislike about this series, and I really like how even though there were some things that just didn’t make sense at first; it either made sense by the end of the book or by the end of the series. I truly believe this is a good series, and I really recommend reading this (or watching the movies if books aren’t your thing).
Paper Towns
Herzelle Santos
Paper Towns is a mystery book written by John Green that was published June 18, 2015. The story takes place in the suburban of Orlando, Florida with the story’s main characters: Quentin Jacobsen and Margo Roth Spiegelman. The book begins with a prologue that takes place nine years before the story. In the prologue, Quentin and Margo are nine years old when they come across a dead body in the park. That interaction fuel’s the adventurous attitude that Margo already has. One night during their senior year in high school, Margo knocks on Quentin’s window to ask for his help in her mission of revenge. After hours of being out, Quentin thinks they’re becoming friends again after years of drifting apart. The next morning Quentin finds out that Margo ran away with nobody to know where she went. He did, however, find out that Margo left a “trail” to where she is. A big majority of the book is spent by Quentin and his friends, Ben and Radar (or Marcus), going on their journey to find Margo.
I would rate this book a 5 out of 5 stars because I really like the way the story was written. I also appreciate the way that this story was planned out and how all the “clues” fit together and actually made the reader feel like they were somewhat on the journey as well. However, the ending was mediocre. I was expecting a really good and happy ending, but I was let down by Margo’s character at first. Even though that is my opinion on the ending, that doesn’t mean that you won’t really enjoy the ending either. The book is for thirteen year olds and above. If you or your parents aren’t okay with you reading mature language and subject, then I wouldn’t suggest you read this. However if they are okay with it, the only way to have your own opinion is to read it for yourself.
Herzelle Santos
Paper Towns is a mystery book written by John Green that was published June 18, 2015. The story takes place in the suburban of Orlando, Florida with the story’s main characters: Quentin Jacobsen and Margo Roth Spiegelman. The book begins with a prologue that takes place nine years before the story. In the prologue, Quentin and Margo are nine years old when they come across a dead body in the park. That interaction fuel’s the adventurous attitude that Margo already has. One night during their senior year in high school, Margo knocks on Quentin’s window to ask for his help in her mission of revenge. After hours of being out, Quentin thinks they’re becoming friends again after years of drifting apart. The next morning Quentin finds out that Margo ran away with nobody to know where she went. He did, however, find out that Margo left a “trail” to where she is. A big majority of the book is spent by Quentin and his friends, Ben and Radar (or Marcus), going on their journey to find Margo.
I would rate this book a 5 out of 5 stars because I really like the way the story was written. I also appreciate the way that this story was planned out and how all the “clues” fit together and actually made the reader feel like they were somewhat on the journey as well. However, the ending was mediocre. I was expecting a really good and happy ending, but I was let down by Margo’s character at first. Even though that is my opinion on the ending, that doesn’t mean that you won’t really enjoy the ending either. The book is for thirteen year olds and above. If you or your parents aren’t okay with you reading mature language and subject, then I wouldn’t suggest you read this. However if they are okay with it, the only way to have your own opinion is to read it for yourself.
Pax
Ella Wright
Pax is a fictional story about a fox who lived with a now twelve year-old boy named Peter for a long time, since he was a kit. Peter’s father joined the military and has made Peter release the fox, Pax, back into the wild. Peter is brought to his grandfather’s house three hundred miles away from home and starts to realize that being without Pax isn’t where he should be. He goes out on his own, ignoring the approaching war, blinded by loyalty, love and sadness. Pax, waiting for Peter to come back for him, also goes on an adventure while he waits to be reunited.
Pax is a really great book for ages 10-15 and has two amazing adventures to read. Written by Sara Pennypacker and illustrated by Jon Klassen, I would give this book an 8/10. I really liked re-reading it since it was released in 2016, now that I know what half the words mean. In Pax, I really liked how Pax’s story went or how he spent his time without Peter. I thought that it was cool how he met a family of other foxes and lived with the for the time being. But, the reason I didn’t give it a 10/10 was because some of Pax’s chapters were too short to even be chapters. Pax is the name of the book, why not make his chapters more interesting and full of drama? One chapter was just of him eating an egg before starving to death. Just eating an egg. If I had written the book, I wouldn’t have made Pax’s chapters so short, for a start, and would’ve added in actual dialogue of the foxes speaking instead of just kind of like.. gestures the foxes made that created words. It would have been more interesting to see “‘Hello,” she barked” instead. It would have given a much better idea on how animals speak to each other.
Reviews
From https://www.commonsensemedia.org/book-reviews/pax
Beautiful words but emotionally challenging
I read this with my 10 year old daughter and found that some of the topics were very far out of scope of learning, not to mention of her experience. I see this book for a teenager. One who has heard and talked about war and the devastating impact it has on people, society, nature and families. It is not an easy read for ten year old. Much less to comprehend.
Javier S. | 6/10 stars
True friendship is worth everything. All adults should read it too.
In our society were media glorifies war particularly to our young boys this book does a fantastic job drawing the conclusion that war is just not worth it and friendship is worth everything. Pax is a wonderfully written book that explorers love, friendship and nostalgia in depth and metaphor while tangential almost subliminally conveying the horrific waste that is war.
Jon H. | 10/10 stars
Love, loyalty and unexpected friendships in an otherwise cruel world
The three key characters - Pax (the fox) Peter (the boy) and Vola (the enigmatic war vet) - leap off the page and stay with you long after you've closed the back cover. Vola is a tour de force and the best bit of the book is the central part and the relationship between Vola and Peter. A challenging and exciting read for an emotionally mature and able reader, perfect for a good age 10/11 plus reader. The Librarian, Bea is a tiny figure but beautifully described and the Library is a small but significant beacon of hope in a world where people and animals alike are caught up in a destruction they themselves don't understand.
Lynne W. | 8/10 stars
Ella Wright
Pax is a fictional story about a fox who lived with a now twelve year-old boy named Peter for a long time, since he was a kit. Peter’s father joined the military and has made Peter release the fox, Pax, back into the wild. Peter is brought to his grandfather’s house three hundred miles away from home and starts to realize that being without Pax isn’t where he should be. He goes out on his own, ignoring the approaching war, blinded by loyalty, love and sadness. Pax, waiting for Peter to come back for him, also goes on an adventure while he waits to be reunited.
Pax is a really great book for ages 10-15 and has two amazing adventures to read. Written by Sara Pennypacker and illustrated by Jon Klassen, I would give this book an 8/10. I really liked re-reading it since it was released in 2016, now that I know what half the words mean. In Pax, I really liked how Pax’s story went or how he spent his time without Peter. I thought that it was cool how he met a family of other foxes and lived with the for the time being. But, the reason I didn’t give it a 10/10 was because some of Pax’s chapters were too short to even be chapters. Pax is the name of the book, why not make his chapters more interesting and full of drama? One chapter was just of him eating an egg before starving to death. Just eating an egg. If I had written the book, I wouldn’t have made Pax’s chapters so short, for a start, and would’ve added in actual dialogue of the foxes speaking instead of just kind of like.. gestures the foxes made that created words. It would have been more interesting to see “‘Hello,” she barked” instead. It would have given a much better idea on how animals speak to each other.
Reviews
From https://www.commonsensemedia.org/book-reviews/pax
Beautiful words but emotionally challenging
I read this with my 10 year old daughter and found that some of the topics were very far out of scope of learning, not to mention of her experience. I see this book for a teenager. One who has heard and talked about war and the devastating impact it has on people, society, nature and families. It is not an easy read for ten year old. Much less to comprehend.
Javier S. | 6/10 stars
True friendship is worth everything. All adults should read it too.
In our society were media glorifies war particularly to our young boys this book does a fantastic job drawing the conclusion that war is just not worth it and friendship is worth everything. Pax is a wonderfully written book that explorers love, friendship and nostalgia in depth and metaphor while tangential almost subliminally conveying the horrific waste that is war.
Jon H. | 10/10 stars
Love, loyalty and unexpected friendships in an otherwise cruel world
The three key characters - Pax (the fox) Peter (the boy) and Vola (the enigmatic war vet) - leap off the page and stay with you long after you've closed the back cover. Vola is a tour de force and the best bit of the book is the central part and the relationship between Vola and Peter. A challenging and exciting read for an emotionally mature and able reader, perfect for a good age 10/11 plus reader. The Librarian, Bea is a tiny figure but beautifully described and the Library is a small but significant beacon of hope in a world where people and animals alike are caught up in a destruction they themselves don't understand.
Lynne W. | 8/10 stars
New Releases
Popeyes' Chicken Sandwich
Savannah Clay
This month, America has turned its attention to Popeyes’ famous chicken sandwich. Popeyes has been open for quite a while now, and you might be wondering why all the fuss. Well, Popeye has created a chicken sandwich that is holy to some. Of course, there are people that think Popeyes is just a regular fast-food place. This chicken sandwich has two buns one on top, and on bottom, with a nice big chicken breast in the middle. You can also add pickles, and other condiments. “It’s good but it’s not worth the hype,” (Justin Bieber, Fox News), while Cardi B had a positive reaction to this sandwich. Some people are comparing this sandwich to Chick-fil-A’s chicken sandwich, and Popeyes seems to be winning this contest. From my experience when eating Popeyes, it did not seem so great to me (I might have ate the bottom of the batch). Popeyes to some may seem awesome, but on the other hand it be just another fast-food restaurants.
Savannah Clay
This month, America has turned its attention to Popeyes’ famous chicken sandwich. Popeyes has been open for quite a while now, and you might be wondering why all the fuss. Well, Popeye has created a chicken sandwich that is holy to some. Of course, there are people that think Popeyes is just a regular fast-food place. This chicken sandwich has two buns one on top, and on bottom, with a nice big chicken breast in the middle. You can also add pickles, and other condiments. “It’s good but it’s not worth the hype,” (Justin Bieber, Fox News), while Cardi B had a positive reaction to this sandwich. Some people are comparing this sandwich to Chick-fil-A’s chicken sandwich, and Popeyes seems to be winning this contest. From my experience when eating Popeyes, it did not seem so great to me (I might have ate the bottom of the batch). Popeyes to some may seem awesome, but on the other hand it be just another fast-food restaurants.
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The iPhone 11
Keira Bess Apple released the new iPhone 11 last Friday, and everyone wants to know if it is worth the upgrade from the X. Brian Chen of the New York Times says that after making some tests, it’s not. However, he also claims that the new iPhone has been made with an improved camera, longer battery life, and they have been made faster. They have also knocked down the price to $700 from the $750 for the iPhone X last year. Gareth Davis on TechRadar.com wrote a balanced review on the new iPhone 11. He says that the iPhone 11 is not much different from the iPhone X except for the six colors. In their review he said that the new iPhone 11 is a triumph for Apple because of the lower price and better camera. I personally think that the iPhone 11 is not worth it. This is because there is really no upgrade from the X and the camera makes the phone look weird. I would rate the iPhone 11 a 5/10 since the new colors are nice but the phone itself is ugly. 
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New iPhone 11 Review
Annalee Guthrie The new iPhone 11, 11 Pro and 11 Pro Max were released on September 20th. The iPhone 11 will retail for $699, the 11 pro will be $999, and the 11 Pro Max will be $1,099. The 11 is at a much affordable price than the iPhone XR which retailed for $999. On the new iPhones that everyone is so very excited about is the new cameras, with wide, ultra-wide, and the telephoto Cameras, even though there is controversy on them. Also, the battery life has taken a leap from the previous iPhones, it can last up to 12-14 hours on a single charge, and the older ones can only last 8 to 10 hours. The Wi-Fi on the iPhone 11 is yet another step up, they can talk faster and more efficiently to other devices that support the same Wi-Fi. With all the excitement for the new phones, a lot of people surprisingly don’t like them. They don’t like the square, bulky, and alien looking cameras on the back. The other controversy on it is that the iPhones X’s look the same in the display, also work the same. If you hold one of the iPhone 11’s to one of the iPhone X’s they look identically. And the same problem that people have with previous iPhones is they took away to headphone jack, replacing it with a dongle (which you do not get in the box with the newer iPhones). Apple’s phones, have been stuck with the same display while Samsung has given a wide range says Zach Epstein, “While some Android phone makers have now managed to achieve screen-to-body ratios that climb into the mid-90% range, Apple is still stuck in the low-80% range because of the huge notch at the top of the iPhone’s display”. With all the good and bad sounding the phones, it still stands that Apple is striving to create the best and greatest phones they can for consumers. |
School
Good Cop, Bad Cop
Savannah Clay
Last week was Bon Lin Middle School's first drama production this year, performing Good Cop, Bad Cop. This play, I would say, was not as big as the drama squad wanted it to be-although I will give credit to their many practices, performances, and the perseverance put forth for this play. I believe that we have many talented performers here at Bon Lin Middle School, and we should push the limits, and one of them starts with our school supporting them. I understand that the school has budget limits, and can only put money to certain things, and I think one of them should be the BLMS Drama Club. We could also hold fundraisers to support our Drama Club. Something that I face at every school production is that I can not hear them at all, which of course is not their fault. So, maybe our school could ponder on this sound request. The setting of the play, Good Cop Bad Cop was awesome. The stage had a huge backdrop with different pictures consisting of the colors black, white, and gray. Something else the school could do is make posters presenting the play or musical. I would also make try-outs more known. By the time I ever heard about the school doing its first play this year, the tryouts were already done. So, in my opinion I believe that the BLMS school production can be a LOT better than it is. All it takes is commitment, and love for drama.
Savannah Clay
Last week was Bon Lin Middle School's first drama production this year, performing Good Cop, Bad Cop. This play, I would say, was not as big as the drama squad wanted it to be-although I will give credit to their many practices, performances, and the perseverance put forth for this play. I believe that we have many talented performers here at Bon Lin Middle School, and we should push the limits, and one of them starts with our school supporting them. I understand that the school has budget limits, and can only put money to certain things, and I think one of them should be the BLMS Drama Club. We could also hold fundraisers to support our Drama Club. Something that I face at every school production is that I can not hear them at all, which of course is not their fault. So, maybe our school could ponder on this sound request. The setting of the play, Good Cop Bad Cop was awesome. The stage had a huge backdrop with different pictures consisting of the colors black, white, and gray. Something else the school could do is make posters presenting the play or musical. I would also make try-outs more known. By the time I ever heard about the school doing its first play this year, the tryouts were already done. So, in my opinion I believe that the BLMS school production can be a LOT better than it is. All it takes is commitment, and love for drama.
BLMS Cheerleading Squad Members
Savannah Clay
Savannah Clay
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Pailsie Hargove started cheerleading in the 1st grade at Bon Lin Elementary. The Bon Lin Middle School cheer squad usually starts practice off with stretches, splits, and kicks. The cheer squad practices every Wednesday in a month. The cheerleaders have been lately working on cheers for basketball games. Before she started doing cheerleading she did gymnastics which played a big part for her flexibility. She loves to perform and show off her school sprit. She really likes the “Pick it Up” cheer, which goes, “PICK IT UP, PICK IT UP, WHOOOO, WEEEEEEE.” When cheering for other cheerleaders they always give it their best. The BLMS cheer squad is not in a completive league. All of the cheerleaders consider themselves as friends, and tries to support each other. She wishes that the team could do more stunts and flips. She plans on staying on the cheer team until high school, but is not sure about college.
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Chelsi Mosbey joined the cheerleading group because she loves to cheer, dance, and to making friends on the team. She thinks being on the team helps you to have more flexibility, but it is not a requirement to be one the team. During basketball season they usually do more chants to encourage the players. She has been able to get her left spilt through cheerleading and is still working on the rest of the splits. She loves to do stunts, they don’t do a ton of stunts because people can get hurt. She likes the cheer “Physical”, which goes, “LET'S. GET PHYSICAL.” She loves to support the BLMS football and basketball team. She loves the friends she has made through cheer, and even considers them sisters. She wishes the school could be more connected and supportive of the cheer squad. She definitely believes that cheerleading is a sport, and wants people to know. Chelsi plans to stay in cheerleading through out high school and college.
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BLMS Officer
Savannah Clay
This week the Review Department interviewed Officer Young. He has been serving as a police officer for 12 years. In the beginning of his career he started out as a plumber, but always planned to be a police officer. He also tried law enforcement as a reserve officer, but it was not his full time job. He did law enforcement when he had the time. After figuring out that he enjoyed law enforcement, he quite being a plumber and did law enforcement full time. Usually the physical agility test was the hardest. There are certain things you have to do to complete the test, which consist of pushups, pull-ups, dummy drags, running, etc. Officer Young states that you have a little time to practice, and by the time you get down on your training you are tested on the physical agility test. He went through the reserve program, and took him almost 6 months to complete the training. It is probably about 70-80% of the class that completes the training successfully. He has only had two other assignments as a police officer. He started patrolling, worked 2 years on the streets. He then worked 10 years with the traffic division. He felt several times in danger most of the the time pulling people over because they were driving too fast. One time he pulled over a car, and the people inside of the car actual stole the car. He did not know this until a couple of seconds on the radio transmission. Then the two people ran out of the car, once stoped by the police. They were trying to track them down in the middle of the night, this event had a significant impact on him. He enjoys to interact with the students at Bon Lin Middle School. This is Officer Young’s first year doing Red Ribbon Week. He believes this is a great time for students to ask questions about drugs and alcohol. Officer Young states that a lot of students fall into peer pressure at this age, and he wants students to keep on doing the right thing, but at the same time you have to make healthy decisions, because your body is still at a growing age. He has faced more times with teens with alcohol, then with drugs. He dealt with a lot of kids with alcohol in high school. He defiantly tries to talk them about, about the effect of under age drinking, and what it can do to your body.
Savannah Clay
This week the Review Department interviewed Officer Young. He has been serving as a police officer for 12 years. In the beginning of his career he started out as a plumber, but always planned to be a police officer. He also tried law enforcement as a reserve officer, but it was not his full time job. He did law enforcement when he had the time. After figuring out that he enjoyed law enforcement, he quite being a plumber and did law enforcement full time. Usually the physical agility test was the hardest. There are certain things you have to do to complete the test, which consist of pushups, pull-ups, dummy drags, running, etc. Officer Young states that you have a little time to practice, and by the time you get down on your training you are tested on the physical agility test. He went through the reserve program, and took him almost 6 months to complete the training. It is probably about 70-80% of the class that completes the training successfully. He has only had two other assignments as a police officer. He started patrolling, worked 2 years on the streets. He then worked 10 years with the traffic division. He felt several times in danger most of the the time pulling people over because they were driving too fast. One time he pulled over a car, and the people inside of the car actual stole the car. He did not know this until a couple of seconds on the radio transmission. Then the two people ran out of the car, once stoped by the police. They were trying to track them down in the middle of the night, this event had a significant impact on him. He enjoys to interact with the students at Bon Lin Middle School. This is Officer Young’s first year doing Red Ribbon Week. He believes this is a great time for students to ask questions about drugs and alcohol. Officer Young states that a lot of students fall into peer pressure at this age, and he wants students to keep on doing the right thing, but at the same time you have to make healthy decisions, because your body is still at a growing age. He has faced more times with teens with alcohol, then with drugs. He dealt with a lot of kids with alcohol in high school. He defiantly tries to talk them about, about the effect of under age drinking, and what it can do to your body.
Beta Club
Savannah Clay Zophia Jaurigue has been in the Beta Club for 3 years since the 4th grade. She loves the work the Beta Club has for the students to complete. She definitely believes that the beta club will help her out in her future education/career. She definitely thinks that many students will want to get in this club, because it helps out in so many different ways. |
Beta Club
Savannah Clay Braden Burdick has been in the Beta Club for about 2 years. He wanted to do this club because he wanted to do something more for his community. He believes that the experience of the Beta Club might help him in his future education. A couple of years ago, he and his friend held a bake sale for hurricane victims for the beta club. He enjoyed doing this sale, but he also was able to help people in need. He believes that this club would be fun to new students because of the activities and the friends. |
Establishments
Hot Topic
Herzelle Santos
Hot Topic is a store found in most malls. Their items vary from apparel to accessories to action figures. They have three main parts of the store: the rock wall, the Harry Potter wall, and the anime wall. However, the online store consists of more categories and items. It includes more pop culture, household (ex. Bedsheets and throw pillows, and show/movie items).
Honestly, I would rate Hot Topic with 4.6 stars. The items that are available are wonderful and all, but they can get really pricy. One t-shirt can cost nearly $30 plus tax. Some purchases completely abolish my wallet. Although, despite the prices, they give out coupons with nearly every purchase, and they usually have many discounts. In conclusion, Hot Topic is a good store to go to if you’re interested in any of the categories that they sell.
Herzelle Santos
Hot Topic is a store found in most malls. Their items vary from apparel to accessories to action figures. They have three main parts of the store: the rock wall, the Harry Potter wall, and the anime wall. However, the online store consists of more categories and items. It includes more pop culture, household (ex. Bedsheets and throw pillows, and show/movie items).
Honestly, I would rate Hot Topic with 4.6 stars. The items that are available are wonderful and all, but they can get really pricy. One t-shirt can cost nearly $30 plus tax. Some purchases completely abolish my wallet. Although, despite the prices, they give out coupons with nearly every purchase, and they usually have many discounts. In conclusion, Hot Topic is a good store to go to if you’re interested in any of the categories that they sell.
Urban Air
Laila Burks
Urban Air is a family friendly trampoline park for all ages. There are so many attractions at Urban Air, you might have to come back for a second visit. No matter who you are, the attractions will help you defy gravity. You can compete against your friends in the ninja corses, play on trampolines, battle against each other in volleyball, bowl, and many more things.
Some of my favorite things to do at Urban Air is jump on the trampolines and do the ninja courses. I would give Urban Air a 4.5 out of 5. I really love going there but I think that they could lower their food prices because they’re pretty high, but besides that Urban Air is a great place to have fun and enjoy birthday parties.
Laila Burks
Urban Air is a family friendly trampoline park for all ages. There are so many attractions at Urban Air, you might have to come back for a second visit. No matter who you are, the attractions will help you defy gravity. You can compete against your friends in the ninja corses, play on trampolines, battle against each other in volleyball, bowl, and many more things.
Some of my favorite things to do at Urban Air is jump on the trampolines and do the ninja courses. I would give Urban Air a 4.5 out of 5. I really love going there but I think that they could lower their food prices because they’re pretty high, but besides that Urban Air is a great place to have fun and enjoy birthday parties.
Music
My Chemical Romance
Herzelle Santos
My Chemical Romance is an alternative rock band that formed in 2001. Many people know them for their hit song “Welcome To The Black Parade.” When the band formed, it consisted of Gerard Way on vocals, Frank Iero and Ray Toro on guitar, Mikey Way on bass, and Matt Pelissier on drums. Matt was kicked out, so he got replaced by Bob Bryar. However, Bob got kicked out as well. They recruited Micheal Peicone and Jarrod Alexander to be their drummers while on tour. My Chemical Romance broke up on March 22, 2013. This caused a massive wave of sadness to wash over all their fans. Fans even went far to make theories about them getting back together in 2019 because of something Gerard said relating to one of their albums “Danger Days”. Nobody knows if it was on a whim, or if the theories were true; but My Chemical Romance announced a reunion on October 31, 2019 (thank god). The announcement was so big that the My Chemical Romance hashtag beat the halloween hashtag on twitter. My Chemical Romance has announced a few shows after the announcement of the reunion.
I rate this band a 5 out of 5 stars. I like their music because their lyrics are inspirational and they can cheer me up a bunch. I also like the band because the members are really nice and funny. They are very kind to their fans, even though they enjoy teasing us and making us suffer. I would say that people would have to be at least 12 to listen to their music (just if they are sensitive to mature language). Overall, My Chemical Romance is a good band, and maybe some of their songs will appeal to you even if you don’t like the genre.
Herzelle Santos
My Chemical Romance is an alternative rock band that formed in 2001. Many people know them for their hit song “Welcome To The Black Parade.” When the band formed, it consisted of Gerard Way on vocals, Frank Iero and Ray Toro on guitar, Mikey Way on bass, and Matt Pelissier on drums. Matt was kicked out, so he got replaced by Bob Bryar. However, Bob got kicked out as well. They recruited Micheal Peicone and Jarrod Alexander to be their drummers while on tour. My Chemical Romance broke up on March 22, 2013. This caused a massive wave of sadness to wash over all their fans. Fans even went far to make theories about them getting back together in 2019 because of something Gerard said relating to one of their albums “Danger Days”. Nobody knows if it was on a whim, or if the theories were true; but My Chemical Romance announced a reunion on October 31, 2019 (thank god). The announcement was so big that the My Chemical Romance hashtag beat the halloween hashtag on twitter. My Chemical Romance has announced a few shows after the announcement of the reunion.
I rate this band a 5 out of 5 stars. I like their music because their lyrics are inspirational and they can cheer me up a bunch. I also like the band because the members are really nice and funny. They are very kind to their fans, even though they enjoy teasing us and making us suffer. I would say that people would have to be at least 12 to listen to their music (just if they are sensitive to mature language). Overall, My Chemical Romance is a good band, and maybe some of their songs will appeal to you even if you don’t like the genre.
Panic! at the Disco
Herzelle Santos
Panic! At The Disco is a band that formed in 2004 in the city of Las Vegas, Nevada. (I believe that Panic! At The Disco could be listened to by 11 year olds and above. Their first album, however, I’d say you’d have to be 13 unless you and your parents are okay with you hearing mildly mature language or themes). The members that formed the band were Spencer Smith and Ryan Ross. They later invited Brent Wilson and Brendon Urie. They worked together, and in 2005, they aired their debut album, A Fever You Can’t Sweat Out. However, in 2006, Brent left the band and got replaced by Jon Walker. A year after their second album released, Ryan Ross and Jon left the band. After their departure, Dallon Weekes joined the band which was followed by Kenny Harris joining 2013. A year before the release of their fifth album in 2016, Spencer announced his leave, along with Dallon. However, a new member named Dan Pawlovich joined in 2018. That was also the year of their newest album release, Pray For The Wicked. Not long after, Kenny was kicked out of the band. The band soon hired Mike Naran and Nicole Row. The only person that stayed in the band since the beginning is Brendon Urie.
I love this band, I love their music, and I’ve been a fan since 2014. I would rate this band a 4.8 stars out of 5 because even though I adore this band, there are a few issues I have with it. Some issues include the fact that I don’t really like their new album. I am not a fan of the style of it. Despite that, I do believe that the album’s songs are really good and catchy, I just wouldn’t listen to some of them in my free time. However, I do believe that Panic! At The Disco is a band that is worth your while, and you should definitely try listening to them.
Herzelle Santos
Panic! At The Disco is a band that formed in 2004 in the city of Las Vegas, Nevada. (I believe that Panic! At The Disco could be listened to by 11 year olds and above. Their first album, however, I’d say you’d have to be 13 unless you and your parents are okay with you hearing mildly mature language or themes). The members that formed the band were Spencer Smith and Ryan Ross. They later invited Brent Wilson and Brendon Urie. They worked together, and in 2005, they aired their debut album, A Fever You Can’t Sweat Out. However, in 2006, Brent left the band and got replaced by Jon Walker. A year after their second album released, Ryan Ross and Jon left the band. After their departure, Dallon Weekes joined the band which was followed by Kenny Harris joining 2013. A year before the release of their fifth album in 2016, Spencer announced his leave, along with Dallon. However, a new member named Dan Pawlovich joined in 2018. That was also the year of their newest album release, Pray For The Wicked. Not long after, Kenny was kicked out of the band. The band soon hired Mike Naran and Nicole Row. The only person that stayed in the band since the beginning is Brendon Urie.
I love this band, I love their music, and I’ve been a fan since 2014. I would rate this band a 4.8 stars out of 5 because even though I adore this band, there are a few issues I have with it. Some issues include the fact that I don’t really like their new album. I am not a fan of the style of it. Despite that, I do believe that the album’s songs are really good and catchy, I just wouldn’t listen to some of them in my free time. However, I do believe that Panic! At The Disco is a band that is worth your while, and you should definitely try listening to them.
Games
Five Nights at Freddy's 2
Laila Burks
Five Nights at Freddy’s 2 was created on November 10, 2014 by Scott Cawthon. It is a horror game where the player is in the center of the vent system (where all the vents lead to). You are provided with a flashlight , an animatronic head (which if the player puts on their head, it will trick the other animatronics into thinking that you are an animatronic), and a music box (which you have to constantly rewind so Marionette doesn’t attack the player). Marionette is an animatronic puppet that will attack if the player leaves the music box unwound for too long. She also doesn’t get tricked when the player has the animatronic head over its character. This game has the same characters as the first one, but a few new characters were added. The characters include: Freddy, Bonnie, Chica, Foxy, and Marionette. In order to win the game, you have to survive 6 nights without getting caught by the animatronics.
I would rate this game a 4.5 out of 5. I like the sound effects and how the jump scares are actually spooky. However, I do not like the fact that you have no doors and a limited amount of battery life. Also the graphics are really good and makes the player feel as if they are actually inside the game. This game is rated PG 13 because jump scares, and violence. I would as recommend this game for individuals that are 11 and up because, of how many jump scares are in the game.
Laila Burks
Five Nights at Freddy’s 2 was created on November 10, 2014 by Scott Cawthon. It is a horror game where the player is in the center of the vent system (where all the vents lead to). You are provided with a flashlight , an animatronic head (which if the player puts on their head, it will trick the other animatronics into thinking that you are an animatronic), and a music box (which you have to constantly rewind so Marionette doesn’t attack the player). Marionette is an animatronic puppet that will attack if the player leaves the music box unwound for too long. She also doesn’t get tricked when the player has the animatronic head over its character. This game has the same characters as the first one, but a few new characters were added. The characters include: Freddy, Bonnie, Chica, Foxy, and Marionette. In order to win the game, you have to survive 6 nights without getting caught by the animatronics.
I would rate this game a 4.5 out of 5. I like the sound effects and how the jump scares are actually spooky. However, I do not like the fact that you have no doors and a limited amount of battery life. Also the graphics are really good and makes the player feel as if they are actually inside the game. This game is rated PG 13 because jump scares, and violence. I would as recommend this game for individuals that are 11 and up because, of how many jump scares are in the game.
Five Nights at Freddy's
Laila Burks
Five Nights at Freddy’s was created in 2014 by Scott Cawthon. It is a horror-themed video game where the player works as a night time guard at Freddy Fazbear’s Pizzeria, a fictional children’s restaurant similar to Chuck E. Cheese’s. The restaurant features life-size animatronics that perform at children’s parties. The reason the player is the only night time guard is because the animatronics killed the past night time guards. However, the player does not know the restaurant’s history, so they accept the job. This game is rated PG13 because of jump scares, frightening/violent images, and horror.
Five Nights at Freddy’s has four main characters: Freddy Fazbear, Bonnie the rabbit, Chica the chicken, and Foxy the pirate fox. When the player first enters the game, they are in an office and they receive a phone call. The phone call gives the player instructions on what they have to do to survive the night. In order to win the game, the player has to survive 5 nights without getting attacked by the animatronics. The player is provided with 100% battery life to survive each night. In order to keep the animatronics away, the player has to check the camera system and close the doors when the player hears them coming. Those actions lower you battery life, so the player has to be strategic and reduce the amount of time they use their battery. If the player is to run out of power before the end of the night, the animatronics are likely to attack and they will loose the game.
I would give this game a 5 out of 5. The reason I gave it this rating is because horror games are interesting to me and they give me a good scare. The setting of the game and how much suspense there is also makes the game fun to play. I think the game is really fun, entertaining, and sometimes scary. I definitely recommend this game to people who like to play horror games or games with suspense.
Laila Burks
Five Nights at Freddy’s was created in 2014 by Scott Cawthon. It is a horror-themed video game where the player works as a night time guard at Freddy Fazbear’s Pizzeria, a fictional children’s restaurant similar to Chuck E. Cheese’s. The restaurant features life-size animatronics that perform at children’s parties. The reason the player is the only night time guard is because the animatronics killed the past night time guards. However, the player does not know the restaurant’s history, so they accept the job. This game is rated PG13 because of jump scares, frightening/violent images, and horror.
Five Nights at Freddy’s has four main characters: Freddy Fazbear, Bonnie the rabbit, Chica the chicken, and Foxy the pirate fox. When the player first enters the game, they are in an office and they receive a phone call. The phone call gives the player instructions on what they have to do to survive the night. In order to win the game, the player has to survive 5 nights without getting attacked by the animatronics. The player is provided with 100% battery life to survive each night. In order to keep the animatronics away, the player has to check the camera system and close the doors when the player hears them coming. Those actions lower you battery life, so the player has to be strategic and reduce the amount of time they use their battery. If the player is to run out of power before the end of the night, the animatronics are likely to attack and they will loose the game.
I would give this game a 5 out of 5. The reason I gave it this rating is because horror games are interesting to me and they give me a good scare. The setting of the game and how much suspense there is also makes the game fun to play. I think the game is really fun, entertaining, and sometimes scary. I definitely recommend this game to people who like to play horror games or games with suspense.
Detroit: Become Human
Herzelle Santos
Detroit: Become Human is an RPG game on the Play Station 4. It’s age rating is rated Mature (18 and up), so if you are sensitive to mature language and themes, you shouldn’t play it. The player controls androids and their choices. The main characters are Connor (the android sent by Cyberlife), Markus, and Kara. Connor is a detective working alongside Lieutenant Hank Anderson. He works as a deviant android hunter (a deviant android is an android that goes against it’s program). Markus is an android that learns to become deviant after an encounter with his owner’s son. He runs away to an organization named Jericho. Kara is an android that originally was a house maid that worked for a father and his daughter. The father turns out to be abusive, so Kara decides to go against her program and run away with Alice. Throughout the game, the three main characters learn to “become human”.
I would rate this game a 5 out of 5. One reason I like this game is because of the immense amount of effort put into it. For example, instead of drawing all the choices and endings, the producers filmed the situations and edited it to look more game like. Another reason I like the game is the fact that is a story. I went through the whole game seeing the character developments for the main three. This is truly a wonderful game, and if you and your parents are okay with you seeing mature themes; I really suggest that you play this.
Herzelle Santos
Detroit: Become Human is an RPG game on the Play Station 4. It’s age rating is rated Mature (18 and up), so if you are sensitive to mature language and themes, you shouldn’t play it. The player controls androids and their choices. The main characters are Connor (the android sent by Cyberlife), Markus, and Kara. Connor is a detective working alongside Lieutenant Hank Anderson. He works as a deviant android hunter (a deviant android is an android that goes against it’s program). Markus is an android that learns to become deviant after an encounter with his owner’s son. He runs away to an organization named Jericho. Kara is an android that originally was a house maid that worked for a father and his daughter. The father turns out to be abusive, so Kara decides to go against her program and run away with Alice. Throughout the game, the three main characters learn to “become human”.
I would rate this game a 5 out of 5. One reason I like this game is because of the immense amount of effort put into it. For example, instead of drawing all the choices and endings, the producers filmed the situations and edited it to look more game like. Another reason I like the game is the fact that is a story. I went through the whole game seeing the character developments for the main three. This is truly a wonderful game, and if you and your parents are okay with you seeing mature themes; I really suggest that you play this.
Life is Strange
Herzelle Santos
Life Is Strange is the first edition to the “Life Is Strange” series. (The sequel to the first Life Is Strange is a game called Life Is Strange: Before The Storm.) It is an RPG game that aired January 30, 2015. It consists of 5 episodes, and it takes place in a town called Arcadia Bay. The player plays as a girl named Max Caulfield. Max is an 18 year old girl who just moved back to her home town to take up a photography course with one of her favorite photographers, Mark Jefferson. Within the first episode, Max has a dream of a huge hurricane wiping out Arcadia Bay. When Max goes to the restroom to “escape her high school” she takes a picture of a butterfly. In doing so, she has to hide behind the stalls as she witnesses a girl getting shot. When she steps out to yell “no”, she somehow reverses time back to her photography class just minutes before the bell rings. When Max realizes that her former best friend Chloe was the one who got shot, Max tells her everything. Within the five episodes, the player walks through the game as Max and Chloe try to stop the hurricane at the end of the week and figure out what happened to Chloe’s friend that disappeared, Rachel Amber.
I rate this game a 5 out of 5 stars because I really liked the concept of this. The graphics are really well done, and the music is the type you can listen to tons of times without getting tired of it. The game (and series) is totally, utterly brilliant. It consists of many hidden meanings, but my favorite meaning behind this game is that it basically explained the butterfly effect: you mess with one thing no matter how little it may be, and you might as well have caused a storm, and you know what? This story wouldn’t have started if it weren’t for Max taking a picture of that butterfly. Again, I believe that this game is fun to play and it has an amazing storyline, so I really suggest you play it.
Herzelle Santos
Life Is Strange is the first edition to the “Life Is Strange” series. (The sequel to the first Life Is Strange is a game called Life Is Strange: Before The Storm.) It is an RPG game that aired January 30, 2015. It consists of 5 episodes, and it takes place in a town called Arcadia Bay. The player plays as a girl named Max Caulfield. Max is an 18 year old girl who just moved back to her home town to take up a photography course with one of her favorite photographers, Mark Jefferson. Within the first episode, Max has a dream of a huge hurricane wiping out Arcadia Bay. When Max goes to the restroom to “escape her high school” she takes a picture of a butterfly. In doing so, she has to hide behind the stalls as she witnesses a girl getting shot. When she steps out to yell “no”, she somehow reverses time back to her photography class just minutes before the bell rings. When Max realizes that her former best friend Chloe was the one who got shot, Max tells her everything. Within the five episodes, the player walks through the game as Max and Chloe try to stop the hurricane at the end of the week and figure out what happened to Chloe’s friend that disappeared, Rachel Amber.
I rate this game a 5 out of 5 stars because I really liked the concept of this. The graphics are really well done, and the music is the type you can listen to tons of times without getting tired of it. The game (and series) is totally, utterly brilliant. It consists of many hidden meanings, but my favorite meaning behind this game is that it basically explained the butterfly effect: you mess with one thing no matter how little it may be, and you might as well have caused a storm, and you know what? This story wouldn’t have started if it weren’t for Max taking a picture of that butterfly. Again, I believe that this game is fun to play and it has an amazing storyline, so I really suggest you play it.
Media
Youtube
Laila Burks
Youtube is a social media platform where you can watch millions of videos and even create your own. It was created on February 14, 2005 in San Mateo, California. Youtube started out as cat videos, but now it is all over the place with gaming, makeup, tutorials, and more. Many creators on Youtube make millions of dollars just by posting videos. They do this by getting thousands or even millions of views.
I would give Youtube a 4.5 out of 5 because it updates a lot and it gets very annoying sometimes, yet it is also a great way to pass time. I like the fact that you can subscribe to Youtubers and get notifications instead of having to search them up to find their channel. But I do think that you should be careful on youtube because there is some inappropriate channels not meant for kids. You can add age restrictions on Youtube to keep you safe from that content. In conclusion, I think Youtube is a great app, but you should be aware of inappropriate content.
Laila Burks
Youtube is a social media platform where you can watch millions of videos and even create your own. It was created on February 14, 2005 in San Mateo, California. Youtube started out as cat videos, but now it is all over the place with gaming, makeup, tutorials, and more. Many creators on Youtube make millions of dollars just by posting videos. They do this by getting thousands or even millions of views.
I would give Youtube a 4.5 out of 5 because it updates a lot and it gets very annoying sometimes, yet it is also a great way to pass time. I like the fact that you can subscribe to Youtubers and get notifications instead of having to search them up to find their channel. But I do think that you should be careful on youtube because there is some inappropriate channels not meant for kids. You can add age restrictions on Youtube to keep you safe from that content. In conclusion, I think Youtube is a great app, but you should be aware of inappropriate content.
Photo used under Creative Commons from Tambako the Jaguar
