Upcoming movies & Games
Cory Galech, Staff Writer
Posted: May 19, 2021
This year has been pretty good for both the movie industry and the video game industry so far. Although only 4 months have passed, multiple new movies and games have been released, receiving mainly praise from audiences. But what new movies and games are to come, and what can we possibly expect from them?
For movies, we had the more recent release of Mortal Kombat, a martial-arts, fantasy film based on the video game series of the same name. Upon first release its opening weekend grossed $23.3 million and as of early May the movie has grossed nearly $67 million. The film has received reviews stating how the movie, though more for fans of the game series, can still be enjoyed by anyone looking for an action based film. For another film we have Wrath of Man that is set to be released on May 7th but has already been released in Russia, Germany, Australia, and New Zealand and has gained both profit and reviews. Gaining $7.6 million from previews and limited theaters. As for reviews it has gained mainly a positive look, out of ten reviews 70% were stated to be positive, showing that the film may be a gem to check out.
As for video games we had the release of New Pokémon Snap, the Nintendo Switch system sequel to Nintendo’s 1999 Pokémon Snap for the Nintendo 64 system. As of early May New Pokémon Snap has received generally positive reviews from most video game critics. These reviews can show that New Pokémon Snap may be something to pick up for Nintendo Switch owners. For another game we have Resident Evil Village, a survival horror game, set to release on May 7th for PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X, and Stadia. From the games past demos it has received "generally favorable" reviews according to review aggregator Metacritic with PC receiving an 85/100 with 84/100 for PS5 and an 82/100 for Xbox Series X. If you own any of these systems it may be worthwhile to pick up the game.
This year has been pretty good for movies and video games but the year is still far from over, with more movies and more games to be released down the road. Still it is nice knowing that even with everything happening in the world, entertainment companies are still able to make something so we can better enjoy our time.
For movies, we had the more recent release of Mortal Kombat, a martial-arts, fantasy film based on the video game series of the same name. Upon first release its opening weekend grossed $23.3 million and as of early May the movie has grossed nearly $67 million. The film has received reviews stating how the movie, though more for fans of the game series, can still be enjoyed by anyone looking for an action based film. For another film we have Wrath of Man that is set to be released on May 7th but has already been released in Russia, Germany, Australia, and New Zealand and has gained both profit and reviews. Gaining $7.6 million from previews and limited theaters. As for reviews it has gained mainly a positive look, out of ten reviews 70% were stated to be positive, showing that the film may be a gem to check out.
As for video games we had the release of New Pokémon Snap, the Nintendo Switch system sequel to Nintendo’s 1999 Pokémon Snap for the Nintendo 64 system. As of early May New Pokémon Snap has received generally positive reviews from most video game critics. These reviews can show that New Pokémon Snap may be something to pick up for Nintendo Switch owners. For another game we have Resident Evil Village, a survival horror game, set to release on May 7th for PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X, and Stadia. From the games past demos it has received "generally favorable" reviews according to review aggregator Metacritic with PC receiving an 85/100 with 84/100 for PS5 and an 82/100 for Xbox Series X. If you own any of these systems it may be worthwhile to pick up the game.
This year has been pretty good for movies and video games but the year is still far from over, with more movies and more games to be released down the road. Still it is nice knowing that even with everything happening in the world, entertainment companies are still able to make something so we can better enjoy our time.
FalCon and the Winter soldier review
Connor seuferling, staff Writer/marketer
Posted: May 18, 2021
Marvel Studios’ second appearance on the small screen for Disney Plus brought a stark contrast to its predecessor, WandaVision, in terms of theme, plot, and fan expectations. As fans from week-to-week speculated all across the internet with a large variety of fan theories, The Falcon and the Winter Soldier was the complete opposite. It was predictable, which is not necessarily a bad thing, but it’s much different (maybe even a welcomed difference) from Wandavision.
The Falcon and the Winter Soldier was also reminiscent of a classic Marvel feature film: action, action, and more action bringing a different feel from Marvel’s first show on Disney Plus. This is also where the show was at its best. The fighting scenes from the angles, to the choreography, to the soundtrack, made it all a compelling experience throughout.
The show, following the experiences of Sam Wilson (Falcon) and Bucky Barnes (The Winter Soldier) in the post-Steve Rodgers-Captain America era, started off similarly to WandaVision. Rather than hitting the ground running, the first episode started off in a very small-scale plot all the while leaving the two main characters separated throughout the whole episode. It is surely not a bad thing to start off the series this way, but there were several missed opportunities throughout this episode. First of all, leaving the two main characters separated throughout this episode seems unnecessary in the context of the whole series. Although this decision does not impact the rest of the series, the rest of the show proves how dynamic and functional this duo truly is, so keeping them apart misses the opportunity to begin the show with a bang. The small-scale plot also seems unnecessary as the family boat plot for Sam and the therapist plot for Bucky both end up with little significance to the larger plot of the show. But this episode has its highlights as well. Although Bucky’s relationship with his therapist never impacts the rest of the show, head producer Malcom Spellman managed to capture Bucky’s struggles with his past through short meaningful dialogue and intense, emotional flashbacks. Sebastian Stan did a good job as usual, tapping into the mood of the scene and imitating someone who doesn’t want to talk well.
After the first episode, the show begins to delve into the main plot with the announcement of a new Captain America. The relationship between the Falcon and the Winter Soldier are put to the test, showing each point of view on the issue of John Walker being named Captain America. Despite the seriousness of the issue, the writers couldn’t help and take advantage of the humor of Anthony Mackie as the Falcon and Sebastian Stan. Even as the humor dwindles later on in the show, these too still manage to keep things wholesome and lighthearted. The best example of this is in the second episode:
Sam Wilson: "These guys use brute force. They’re strong. Too strong. And they might be a part of the Big 3."
Bucky Barnes: “What Big 3?”
Wilson: “Androids, aliens, and wizards.”
Barnes: “That’s not a thing.”
Wilson: “That’s definitely a thing!”
Barnes: “No, it’s not! There are no wizards!”
Wilson: “Doctor Strange.”
Barnes: “Is a sorcerer.”
Wilson: “A sorcerer is a wizard without a hat!”
This duo works perfectly off of each other, with Sam providing a more light-hearted approach to things, while Bucky is more reserved and serious about his path to avenge Steve Rodgers.
Not only do they have different personalities, they both also have different opinions on the main threat during the show. The Flag Smashers led a movement against the GRC (Global Repatriation Council) to bring back the ways of lie prior to “The Blip” and the events of Avengers: Endgame. The Falcon believes the group’s young leader Karli Morgenthau has good intentions while the Winter Soldier by episode four believes all hope is lost for her. These two sides of the argument leaves the audience to decide whose side they are on.
In episode three, “Power Broker”, Sam and Bucky enlist the help of Helmut (Baron) Zemo who escapes from a German prison. Zemo’s character ends up being one of the highlights of the series, playing a dangerous game with his adversaries. Sam and Bucky are forced to trust Zemo, giving him power to turn things into his favor. From his dealings with agents of the Power Broker in Madripoor to the instant virality of his dancing in a club makes his ever so subtle villainy all the more genius. In the second to last episode “Truth”, Zemo symbolically prepares for his death as he did in Captain America: Civil War, but is once again spared. But as seen in the post-credit scene of the finale, it was a mistake for Bucky to hand over the Baron as he is titled to the Wakandans.
As the series addresses a wide variety of conflicts, John Walker’s rise, fall, and redemption is by far one of the best in the show. The moment Walker is introduced, the audience immediately laments him, which is the exact reaction the producers are going for. He attempts to be a glorified Steve Rodgers and to be even better than his predecessor, but to late realizes that his overconfidence, ambition, and eventually hatred blind him. Throughout, Wyatt Russell’s performance is outstanding. It is often hard to play someone who is not at all like you, but Russell manages to bring a sense of frustration out of any viewer. It can be seen especially in the fourth episode through his physical movements that he struggles to control his emotions. Arm and hand twitches, putting a hand to his head, and blood from the ears are all signs of his coming betrayal and the effects on the personality from the consumption of the super soldier serum. This fall is symbolically capped off by the killing of a flag smasher through the harsh brutal hits of the shield that parallel Steve Rodgers’ attack on Iron Man in Captain America: Civil War. But John Walker stands up with blood spattered on the shield, staining America’s reputation, while Rodgers drops the shield and refuses to finish his attack, showing his honor.
The final episode, “One world, one people” brought an end to an otherwise captivating and action-packed Marvel experience. Karli Morgethau and the Flag Smashers attempt to stop a GRC vote, but are stopped by the Falcon who symbolically takes up the shield as the new Captain America to fight her. As Falcon faces her, he says, “I’m not going to fight you.” But Karli yells at him to fight back, channeling her full turn to anger. At the end of this fight Sharon Carter finishes what Sam would not and he swoops into the main city area, with Karli in his arms, and wings folding almost representing an angle delivering the lost to heaven. This leads to another point of improvement for the show in the purpose of the Flag Smashers. This group did not really seem to carry much weight and as one of the “bad guys” they were not really that interesting. Not to Erin Kellyman’s (who played Morgenthau) fault, her character really lacked any sort of motivation and then really any reason to act the way she did in the final fight. This lack of depth could be attributed to a reported cut plot line that gave more context to the death of her mother and related to some sort of disease that may have been an epidemic which is why it was cut. The death of her mother would’ve given her better motivation and reason to her more villainous fall and her taking a more violent approach to leading her cause.
Similarly to Wandavision, Captain America and the Winter Soldier (the new title revealed at the end of the show) ended with a lot of loose ends and new stories to follow which could potentially set up a season 2 and/or a newly reported Captain America movie as the new title itself hints at. The In the finale John Walker returns, but this time fighting for the people rather than himself, finishing his arc with redemption. But his story does not end there as Contessa Valentina “Val” Allegra de Fontaine declares Walker “US Agent”. In a reference back to the Marvel Comics, the US Agent ends up leading a force of anti-Avengers known as the “Thunderbolts” or “Dark Avengers”. Zemo also ends up in the raft prison headed by Thaddeus “Thunderbolt” Ross and could end up joining the group as well. These set up a potential series focused on this evil group and could be connected to the “government secrets” that Val was talking about. Sharon Carter is revealed as the Power Broker and is seen in the post-credit scene talking about having full access to government intel after being fully pardoned by the US Government. Now Carter is not necessarily the strongest pick for the Power Broker and was largely an afterthought in the show’s plot, but Marvel President Kevin Feige has a chance to give the character more of a spotlight in upcoming Marvel titles.
All in all Captain America and the Winter Soldier delivered an experience as close to exactly as anticipated as it can. Predictability could be seen as a fault, but the consistency of this show worked fine within the context of its storylines and plot. Acting performances were on par, scripts were compelling and much of the action was similar to that of a feature film. This series really only faults in the story of the Flag Smashers and its relatively uninteresting leader Karli Morgenthau. The beginning momentum suffered due to a small-scale plot and there was missed opportunity with the vaccine subplot involving Karli’s mother who is played by the talented actress Veronica Falcón. This series failed to subvert any expectations but Captain America and the Winter Soldier lived up to its hype and provided a variety of meaningful messages. Racism and unfair treatment were touched on with the former super soldier Isaiah Bradley who is redeemed in the end with a memorial and the recognition of a black Captain America. Also in the finale Sam Wilson gives a speech questioning abuse of power and how the leaders impact people’s lives without understanding the impact themselves. This show does everything it needs to do with very few hiccups and doesn’t try to do more. The story of Captain America and the Winter Soldier is hope, reform, and justice and this show really does provide hope for the future of the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
The Falcon and the Winter Soldier was also reminiscent of a classic Marvel feature film: action, action, and more action bringing a different feel from Marvel’s first show on Disney Plus. This is also where the show was at its best. The fighting scenes from the angles, to the choreography, to the soundtrack, made it all a compelling experience throughout.
The show, following the experiences of Sam Wilson (Falcon) and Bucky Barnes (The Winter Soldier) in the post-Steve Rodgers-Captain America era, started off similarly to WandaVision. Rather than hitting the ground running, the first episode started off in a very small-scale plot all the while leaving the two main characters separated throughout the whole episode. It is surely not a bad thing to start off the series this way, but there were several missed opportunities throughout this episode. First of all, leaving the two main characters separated throughout this episode seems unnecessary in the context of the whole series. Although this decision does not impact the rest of the series, the rest of the show proves how dynamic and functional this duo truly is, so keeping them apart misses the opportunity to begin the show with a bang. The small-scale plot also seems unnecessary as the family boat plot for Sam and the therapist plot for Bucky both end up with little significance to the larger plot of the show. But this episode has its highlights as well. Although Bucky’s relationship with his therapist never impacts the rest of the show, head producer Malcom Spellman managed to capture Bucky’s struggles with his past through short meaningful dialogue and intense, emotional flashbacks. Sebastian Stan did a good job as usual, tapping into the mood of the scene and imitating someone who doesn’t want to talk well.
After the first episode, the show begins to delve into the main plot with the announcement of a new Captain America. The relationship between the Falcon and the Winter Soldier are put to the test, showing each point of view on the issue of John Walker being named Captain America. Despite the seriousness of the issue, the writers couldn’t help and take advantage of the humor of Anthony Mackie as the Falcon and Sebastian Stan. Even as the humor dwindles later on in the show, these too still manage to keep things wholesome and lighthearted. The best example of this is in the second episode:
Sam Wilson: "These guys use brute force. They’re strong. Too strong. And they might be a part of the Big 3."
Bucky Barnes: “What Big 3?”
Wilson: “Androids, aliens, and wizards.”
Barnes: “That’s not a thing.”
Wilson: “That’s definitely a thing!”
Barnes: “No, it’s not! There are no wizards!”
Wilson: “Doctor Strange.”
Barnes: “Is a sorcerer.”
Wilson: “A sorcerer is a wizard without a hat!”
This duo works perfectly off of each other, with Sam providing a more light-hearted approach to things, while Bucky is more reserved and serious about his path to avenge Steve Rodgers.
Not only do they have different personalities, they both also have different opinions on the main threat during the show. The Flag Smashers led a movement against the GRC (Global Repatriation Council) to bring back the ways of lie prior to “The Blip” and the events of Avengers: Endgame. The Falcon believes the group’s young leader Karli Morgenthau has good intentions while the Winter Soldier by episode four believes all hope is lost for her. These two sides of the argument leaves the audience to decide whose side they are on.
In episode three, “Power Broker”, Sam and Bucky enlist the help of Helmut (Baron) Zemo who escapes from a German prison. Zemo’s character ends up being one of the highlights of the series, playing a dangerous game with his adversaries. Sam and Bucky are forced to trust Zemo, giving him power to turn things into his favor. From his dealings with agents of the Power Broker in Madripoor to the instant virality of his dancing in a club makes his ever so subtle villainy all the more genius. In the second to last episode “Truth”, Zemo symbolically prepares for his death as he did in Captain America: Civil War, but is once again spared. But as seen in the post-credit scene of the finale, it was a mistake for Bucky to hand over the Baron as he is titled to the Wakandans.
As the series addresses a wide variety of conflicts, John Walker’s rise, fall, and redemption is by far one of the best in the show. The moment Walker is introduced, the audience immediately laments him, which is the exact reaction the producers are going for. He attempts to be a glorified Steve Rodgers and to be even better than his predecessor, but to late realizes that his overconfidence, ambition, and eventually hatred blind him. Throughout, Wyatt Russell’s performance is outstanding. It is often hard to play someone who is not at all like you, but Russell manages to bring a sense of frustration out of any viewer. It can be seen especially in the fourth episode through his physical movements that he struggles to control his emotions. Arm and hand twitches, putting a hand to his head, and blood from the ears are all signs of his coming betrayal and the effects on the personality from the consumption of the super soldier serum. This fall is symbolically capped off by the killing of a flag smasher through the harsh brutal hits of the shield that parallel Steve Rodgers’ attack on Iron Man in Captain America: Civil War. But John Walker stands up with blood spattered on the shield, staining America’s reputation, while Rodgers drops the shield and refuses to finish his attack, showing his honor.
The final episode, “One world, one people” brought an end to an otherwise captivating and action-packed Marvel experience. Karli Morgethau and the Flag Smashers attempt to stop a GRC vote, but are stopped by the Falcon who symbolically takes up the shield as the new Captain America to fight her. As Falcon faces her, he says, “I’m not going to fight you.” But Karli yells at him to fight back, channeling her full turn to anger. At the end of this fight Sharon Carter finishes what Sam would not and he swoops into the main city area, with Karli in his arms, and wings folding almost representing an angle delivering the lost to heaven. This leads to another point of improvement for the show in the purpose of the Flag Smashers. This group did not really seem to carry much weight and as one of the “bad guys” they were not really that interesting. Not to Erin Kellyman’s (who played Morgenthau) fault, her character really lacked any sort of motivation and then really any reason to act the way she did in the final fight. This lack of depth could be attributed to a reported cut plot line that gave more context to the death of her mother and related to some sort of disease that may have been an epidemic which is why it was cut. The death of her mother would’ve given her better motivation and reason to her more villainous fall and her taking a more violent approach to leading her cause.
Similarly to Wandavision, Captain America and the Winter Soldier (the new title revealed at the end of the show) ended with a lot of loose ends and new stories to follow which could potentially set up a season 2 and/or a newly reported Captain America movie as the new title itself hints at. The In the finale John Walker returns, but this time fighting for the people rather than himself, finishing his arc with redemption. But his story does not end there as Contessa Valentina “Val” Allegra de Fontaine declares Walker “US Agent”. In a reference back to the Marvel Comics, the US Agent ends up leading a force of anti-Avengers known as the “Thunderbolts” or “Dark Avengers”. Zemo also ends up in the raft prison headed by Thaddeus “Thunderbolt” Ross and could end up joining the group as well. These set up a potential series focused on this evil group and could be connected to the “government secrets” that Val was talking about. Sharon Carter is revealed as the Power Broker and is seen in the post-credit scene talking about having full access to government intel after being fully pardoned by the US Government. Now Carter is not necessarily the strongest pick for the Power Broker and was largely an afterthought in the show’s plot, but Marvel President Kevin Feige has a chance to give the character more of a spotlight in upcoming Marvel titles.
All in all Captain America and the Winter Soldier delivered an experience as close to exactly as anticipated as it can. Predictability could be seen as a fault, but the consistency of this show worked fine within the context of its storylines and plot. Acting performances were on par, scripts were compelling and much of the action was similar to that of a feature film. This series really only faults in the story of the Flag Smashers and its relatively uninteresting leader Karli Morgenthau. The beginning momentum suffered due to a small-scale plot and there was missed opportunity with the vaccine subplot involving Karli’s mother who is played by the talented actress Veronica Falcón. This series failed to subvert any expectations but Captain America and the Winter Soldier lived up to its hype and provided a variety of meaningful messages. Racism and unfair treatment were touched on with the former super soldier Isaiah Bradley who is redeemed in the end with a memorial and the recognition of a black Captain America. Also in the finale Sam Wilson gives a speech questioning abuse of power and how the leaders impact people’s lives without understanding the impact themselves. This show does everything it needs to do with very few hiccups and doesn’t try to do more. The story of Captain America and the Winter Soldier is hope, reform, and justice and this show really does provide hope for the future of the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
Female Directors & Their Movies
Aizlynn Reed, Staff Editor
Posted April 28, 2021
The first female head director was Alice Guy-Blanche. She directed silent, black and white films; Gaumonts had her as their head of production from 1896 till 1906. She paved the way for the following female directors and their films:
- Jennifer Kent - The Babadook
- Mary Harron - American Psycho
- Patty Jenkins - Wonder Woman (2017)
- Greta Gerwig - Lady Bird
- Marielle Heller - A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood
- Amy Heckerling - Clueless
- Jane Campion - The Piano
Kim Swift
Cory Galech, Staff Writer
Posted april 28, 2021
Pictured above is Kim Swift. Born in 1983 she is an American video game designer, known for her works at Valve on games such as Portal and Left 4 Dead. Most recently Swift hosted the 20th Game Developers Choice Awards on March 18, 2020.
Learn more here!
https://www.wevideo.com/view/2146160285
Learn more here!
https://www.wevideo.com/view/2146160285
Women in Media
CORY GALECH, STAFF WRITER
POSTED: APRIL 28,
The media’s showcase of women throughout history has had varying changes over time; the main change being that more and more women have been in the media or involved in its creation. Featuring things such as their acting abilities, and their athletic talent.
Throughout media history, the representation of women has varied in movies from little to none to an exclusively female cast. Beginning with the first female actor Florence Lawrence starting her career in the early 1900s with silent black and white film and rising to the height of her fame in the 1910s. She wasn’t just the first female actress but also one of the first ever people to be featured in film. Although silent and black and white she was the start of women in movies. Nowadays there are hundreds of different women in both leading and supporting roles in the film industry. Some of these women include Scarlett Johansson, Jennifer Lawrence, and Nathalie Emmanuel. Each of these actresses have impressive resumes with both supporting and leading roles.
Within sports media, women are represented in many different sports primarily being but not limited to: basketball, volleyball, soccer, and softball. Back in 1900 during the Olympic Games in Paris, the first female athletes competed. During those games, only twenty-two females competed and they were only featured in two games: tennis and golf. Two women to note are Hélène de Pourtalès and Charlotte Cooper the former being the first female Olympic champion and the latter being the first female individual champion. Today the Olympic Games have 43 sports for women to compete in, however, there are still 39 events not open to women.
Female presence and how women are presented in media has been steadily growing and changing for the better in more recent years. Over media history women have basically always been a part of it but as time has moved forward more and more women are becoming a part of it and their parts are growing larger and larger.
Throughout media history, the representation of women has varied in movies from little to none to an exclusively female cast. Beginning with the first female actor Florence Lawrence starting her career in the early 1900s with silent black and white film and rising to the height of her fame in the 1910s. She wasn’t just the first female actress but also one of the first ever people to be featured in film. Although silent and black and white she was the start of women in movies. Nowadays there are hundreds of different women in both leading and supporting roles in the film industry. Some of these women include Scarlett Johansson, Jennifer Lawrence, and Nathalie Emmanuel. Each of these actresses have impressive resumes with both supporting and leading roles.
Within sports media, women are represented in many different sports primarily being but not limited to: basketball, volleyball, soccer, and softball. Back in 1900 during the Olympic Games in Paris, the first female athletes competed. During those games, only twenty-two females competed and they were only featured in two games: tennis and golf. Two women to note are Hélène de Pourtalès and Charlotte Cooper the former being the first female Olympic champion and the latter being the first female individual champion. Today the Olympic Games have 43 sports for women to compete in, however, there are still 39 events not open to women.
Female presence and how women are presented in media has been steadily growing and changing for the better in more recent years. Over media history women have basically always been a part of it but as time has moved forward more and more women are becoming a part of it and their parts are growing larger and larger.
Image credits: Van Nguyen, Staff Writer
Whats to come in the mcu
|
Image Credits: Igor Karimov / Unsplash
Anticipated Video game releases for 2021 and Beyond
Staff writer, Justin callejas
posted: March 8, 2021
Despite being an overall bad year, 2020 happened to be a great year for video game fans. At the beginning of the worldwide pandemic, people needed something to keep themselves entertained at home, and they did so with games like DOOM Eternal and Animal Crossing: New Horizons. Players got the chance to relive childhood memories and return to Midgar with the first installment of the Final Fantasy VII Remake. We also saw the release of highly anticipated games such as the sequel to the 2013 game of the year with The Last of Us Part II, Ghost of Tsushima, and CD Projekt Red’s long awaited Cyberpunk 2077. There are many other games, but these were a few that stood out. 2020 set the bar high with its releases, but the future of gaming is looking bright.
The games that have been announced already are looking to match or even top those of last year’s. Many titles were announced throughout 2020, Horizon Forbidden West (TBD), Returnal (4/30), and Far Cry 6 (TBD) to name a few. With the new consoles that have been released, developers are determined to create video games that will unlock the full potential of the new hardware.
A game that caught the attention of many was Resident Evil Village, the 8th installment in the survival horror series. Since transitioning back to its survival horror roots in Resident Evil 7, fans are eager to get their hands on the next chapter in the franchise. Resident Evil Village is reported to support ray-tracing and 4K, and will include fast load times. For PS5 users specifically, the game looks to take advantage of the DualSense’s new adaptive triggers. Pressing the button to fire your weapon will resemble the feeling of pulling the trigger on a real gun. Capcom, the creators of the game, revealed this month that Village would be arriving on May 8, 2021 for next-gen, current-gen, and PC.
The announcement that many have anticipated was the sequel to 2018’s God of War. The untitled sequel looks to continue the journey of Kratos and his son, as they venture the land of Norse mythology. Not much has been revealed about the PS5 exclusive title, besides it being scheduled to release this year.
Square Enix found great success with part one of the Final Fantasy VII Remake, selling over 5 million copies worldwide, with 3.5 million being sold within the first three days of release. The remake took a portion of the original game and expanded on it, introducing new ideas to keep players guessing, while managing to stay faithful to the 1997 game. Although the second installment does not have a release date, it’s been reported to be in full development as of July 2020. While it’s unlikely to be released this year, it looks like fans won’t not have to wait too long to experience the rest of Final Fantasy VII.
Due to the ongoing pandemic, developers have been forced to delay their games. Many of last year’s major titles suffered the same fate. After being scheduled to launch alongside the new Xbox Series X/S consoles, Halo Infinite’s release has been pushed back and is now expected to arrive sometime in 2021.
It's a great time to be a fan of video games. Games are evolving every year, it'll be interesting to see what these new titles in 2021 will bring to the table. It won’t be long now until we’ll be able to get our hands on games like Halo Infinite and the God of War sequel. Along with these new releases, we should be expecting to hear new announcements and information about future titles as well. With games like Hitman 3 and The Medium already upon us, it will be exciting to see what the future of gaming holds.
The games that have been announced already are looking to match or even top those of last year’s. Many titles were announced throughout 2020, Horizon Forbidden West (TBD), Returnal (4/30), and Far Cry 6 (TBD) to name a few. With the new consoles that have been released, developers are determined to create video games that will unlock the full potential of the new hardware.
A game that caught the attention of many was Resident Evil Village, the 8th installment in the survival horror series. Since transitioning back to its survival horror roots in Resident Evil 7, fans are eager to get their hands on the next chapter in the franchise. Resident Evil Village is reported to support ray-tracing and 4K, and will include fast load times. For PS5 users specifically, the game looks to take advantage of the DualSense’s new adaptive triggers. Pressing the button to fire your weapon will resemble the feeling of pulling the trigger on a real gun. Capcom, the creators of the game, revealed this month that Village would be arriving on May 8, 2021 for next-gen, current-gen, and PC.
The announcement that many have anticipated was the sequel to 2018’s God of War. The untitled sequel looks to continue the journey of Kratos and his son, as they venture the land of Norse mythology. Not much has been revealed about the PS5 exclusive title, besides it being scheduled to release this year.
Square Enix found great success with part one of the Final Fantasy VII Remake, selling over 5 million copies worldwide, with 3.5 million being sold within the first three days of release. The remake took a portion of the original game and expanded on it, introducing new ideas to keep players guessing, while managing to stay faithful to the 1997 game. Although the second installment does not have a release date, it’s been reported to be in full development as of July 2020. While it’s unlikely to be released this year, it looks like fans won’t not have to wait too long to experience the rest of Final Fantasy VII.
Due to the ongoing pandemic, developers have been forced to delay their games. Many of last year’s major titles suffered the same fate. After being scheduled to launch alongside the new Xbox Series X/S consoles, Halo Infinite’s release has been pushed back and is now expected to arrive sometime in 2021.
It's a great time to be a fan of video games. Games are evolving every year, it'll be interesting to see what these new titles in 2021 will bring to the table. It won’t be long now until we’ll be able to get our hands on games like Halo Infinite and the God of War sequel. Along with these new releases, we should be expecting to hear new announcements and information about future titles as well. With games like Hitman 3 and The Medium already upon us, it will be exciting to see what the future of gaming holds.
Soul photo review
aizlynn reed, staff photographer
Posted: March 8, 2021
People are raving about Pixar's newest movie Soul. After I watched it, I totally got what all the hype was about. "Pixar Animation Studios takes you on a journey from the streets of New York City to the cosmic realms to discover the answers to life's most important questions." (movies.disney.com)
In recent years Pixar's has put out some of its best movies. Movies like Onward, Coco, and Inside Out. In my opinion all of these movies are master pieces on screen, but they - along with Soul - have one thing in common that was part of the reason I gave Soul a 4 out of 5. That thing being, they are heavy (emotionally). If your looking to watch a new movie that you can just "veg" on the couch with or do chores while it's on it the background then I probably wouldn't recommend Soul. The Ringer even released an article titled "Does Pixar Make Kids' Movies Anymore?" That being said Soul was fantastically eye-opening, ridicuosly funny, and amazingly heart warming. If enjoyed Onward, Coco and Inside out, but haven't seen Soul I suggest you watch it.
In recent years Pixar's has put out some of its best movies. Movies like Onward, Coco, and Inside Out. In my opinion all of these movies are master pieces on screen, but they - along with Soul - have one thing in common that was part of the reason I gave Soul a 4 out of 5. That thing being, they are heavy (emotionally). If your looking to watch a new movie that you can just "veg" on the couch with or do chores while it's on it the background then I probably wouldn't recommend Soul. The Ringer even released an article titled "Does Pixar Make Kids' Movies Anymore?" That being said Soul was fantastically eye-opening, ridicuosly funny, and amazingly heart warming. If enjoyed Onward, Coco and Inside out, but haven't seen Soul I suggest you watch it.
Puzzled over pets
ena dilberovic
Pets are a big part of our lives. Do you own any pets? Perhaps a dog? What does owning a pet mean to you? It is said that pets are as much of a responsibility as a child, but does this mean that they are a part of your family? Owais Choudhary, sophomore, says “I think that the involvement of your pet in your family depends on what pet it is. If you have a dog, you might take him everywhere. But if you have a hamster, you probably leave him at home most of the time.” To support his argument, statistics show that dogs are the third most popular family-owned pets in the world, and fresh-water fish are the first. Why might this be? Well, possibly for the reason that fish are much easier to take care of than dogs. But does this mean that fish are considered a part of your family? Siari Rodriguez, sophomore, says “I consider my dog a part of my family because we take him on family trips, we have special days dedicated to taking care of him or walking him around, and because we love him!” Clearly, it is known that people around the world care dearly for their pets, which is why they do so much for them. But what about smaller pets? Junior Shauna Larsen says, “I used to have a hamster, and I didn’t really consider him part of my family but rather more of my own personal companion.” To students around Lynnwood High School, it seems to be clear that pets are important to them.
the allegory review
gabe jungmann
Detroit native and one-fourth of defunct rap supergroup Slaughterhouse, Royce da 5’9”’s self-produced album The Allegory stands in stark contrast to his previous album, Book of Ryan. Where the Book of Ryan is inward-looking and reflective, The Allegory looks outward to the listener and Royce attempts to share his truths. Unfortunately, some of Royce’s personal truths are objective falsehoods, such as when he says vaccines cause autism, or when he states black people don’t need medicine because Malaria doesn’t kill people. Senior Yar Ria says “Royce’s rapping, for the most part, was good, but when he randomly goes off on gay people for no reason it caught me off guard”. These falsehoods are especially important to point out when he mentions things that actually are true; his advice on money and investment, as well as becoming the best person you can even in lieu of the people around you. Senior Liam Phan says “I really enjoyed the beats on the album. [Royce’s] production is really good which makes the whole album all the more impressive”. Royce did produce every song on his own but one on the album; Black Savage featuring T.I., CyHi The Prynce, Sy Ari Da Kid, and White Gold. This leads to another strong point of The Allegory; the features. Royce features every member of rap group Griselda, along with the likes of Kid Vishis, Kxng Crooked, Vince Staples, and Ashley Sorrell among others. Junior Joey McClellan says “There wasn’t a bad feature. There were some bad bars and lines but most of them came from Royce himself.” Royce attempted to make another classic album with The Allegory, but his own shortcomings, while not coming from production or skill in rapping, leave a bad taste in the mouth at times. Royce’s rapping throughout the entire album is top-notch as it has been his entire career, and the features and production are both of high quality as well. The Allegory is worth listening to if all that is desired is a non-experimental album with great rapping and beats, where intelligent wordplay and clever bars outweigh sometimes ignorant and misguided personal truths.
Unlocked Review
Gabe Jungmann
Denzel Curry and Kenny Beats’ new extra-short album, UNLOCKED, is one of homage and allusions. Denzel’s previous albums look back on his life in a way; ZUU was about his home of Miami, Florida, and TA13OO was loosely about his old rap group, RVIDXR KLVN. UNLOCKED acknowledges those who came before him in rap; namely DMX, with production reminiscent of MF DOOM and the RZA. “I never really listened to RVIDXR KLVN, but I did like TA13OO. UNLOCKED wasn’t really what I was looking for but it definitely wasn’t bad,” says junior Luke Morris. The short play time, at only 17 minutes and 53 seconds, leaves the listener wanting more, although not in a strictly good way. Freshman Jace Latimer says “Only one song is longer than 3 minutes, it feels like everyone did all the work without realizing there were only seven songs and an intro track without any rapping over”. Senior Zayn Alrobae says “I feel like it was too short. If it was longer it probably would’ve been better. Kenny Beats works so fast that it couldn’t have been hard to add more content to the album”. Overall, the album is a good piece of work. Even with problems like how Denzel’s gritty rapping and Kenny’s clean and neat beats clashing, it’s short runtime leads very little to be lost for the listener timewise; UNLOCKED earns an easy recommendation.
I'm watching "You"
Blen gigar
You is a Netflix series starring Penn Badgley as Joe Goldberg. There are 10 episodes in each season. In the show he grows an affection for multiple women and obsesses over them. He finds out as much information on them as possible, attempting to win them over and possibly succeeding. 92% of the audience have enjoyed the show.
On December 26, 2019 season 2 of You came out on Netflix, many people were very excited to watch it when it came out. You is targeting the teenage audience. Ruwaida Alaji, Senior, enjoyed it, “I loved it so much, I liked the psychology involved in it.” Most people tend to get hooked on it when they start the show. Mary Haddish, Junior, likes the second season quite a lot more than the first, “season 2 was so much more intense that it grabbed all of my attention… I felt like the new people in season two were way more interesting.” The majority of people liked the second season more. Ending the season off with a cliffhanger left people wondering so many things. Misghana Teages, Senior, “I hated that they ended season 2 the way they did because now I really want a season 3 to come out fast,” she said enthusiastically. You is a Netflix show that is enjoyed by many people including Alaji, Haddish and Teages
On December 26, 2019 season 2 of You came out on Netflix, many people were very excited to watch it when it came out. You is targeting the teenage audience. Ruwaida Alaji, Senior, enjoyed it, “I loved it so much, I liked the psychology involved in it.” Most people tend to get hooked on it when they start the show. Mary Haddish, Junior, likes the second season quite a lot more than the first, “season 2 was so much more intense that it grabbed all of my attention… I felt like the new people in season two were way more interesting.” The majority of people liked the second season more. Ending the season off with a cliffhanger left people wondering so many things. Misghana Teages, Senior, “I hated that they ended season 2 the way they did because now I really want a season 3 to come out fast,” she said enthusiastically. You is a Netflix show that is enjoyed by many people including Alaji, Haddish and Teages
Sampling In music
Gabe Jungman
When thinking about production in music, something that often goes unnoticed is sampling. But what is it and why is it often so unappreciated? Sampling is simply taking a small piece of audio from another piece of work; be it a movie, another song, or the news. Sampling is often so unappreciated because producers tend to weave the samples into beats, rendering them unnoticed and unappreciated. Onetime a sample didn’t go unnoticed was when Senior Eduardo Mendoza noticed the track Under the Sun by J. Cole heavily used a sample from The Argo Singers’ track I’ll Be Waiting For You to use as a base for the entire beat and song. Mendoza is a listener who appreciates samples and sees Pierre Bourne, producer of tracks like Playboi Carti’s chart-climbing track Magnolia, as the best at sampling sounds. Mendoza states “Pierre Bourne always changes the pitch and tempo of samples. It really shifts the mood.” This allows a new song to not be completely dictated by the mood of a sample, giving a producer wiggle room with more manipulation of a sample. As says Makai Miller, a Junior at LHS “I prefer samples that accentuate songs, and there comes a point where it stops being an original work. It’s the ship of Theseus”. Whether a music listener thinks about samples actively or doesn’t know they exist, most would agree that samples overall are healthy for the music industry and make music better for everyone, especially when the owner of samples get paid for allowing another artist to use their work.