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Entertainment




‘The Predator’ is a fun, entertaining ride

 While 'The Predator' suffers from unexplored ideas it is still a  enjoyably fun and entertaining movie. Packed with 80s action movie  tropes, black comedy, and catchy dialogue, it’s one hell of a ride from  beginning to end. All in all, it provides a lot of entertainment value.  


Carrie Underwood sticks to her roots on ‘Cry Pretty’

 'Cry Pretty' shows what Carrie Underwood is all about. Talking about  sensitive topics, drinking and heartbreak coping, this album will surely  capture the interest of country fans. Country music seems to be  overlapping with pop recently, but this album is a symbol of what has  stood against the test of time. Her depictions of faith never go out of  style. The stories behind the music are touching and will leave  listeners replaying for pleasure.  



‘Dragon Quest XI’ is simple, yet effective

 'Dragon Quest XI' is a simple yet effective piece of entertainment. It  gives the veteran 'Dragon Quest' player exactly what they have expected  from the franchise over the past 30 years: a fun, simple adventure.  However, it also gives the newcomer something incredibly digestible. For  those who have played 'Pokémon' or something of the like, it should be  an easy transition to pick up and play 'Dragon Quest XI.' Though the  music is not varied, and voice-acting is somewhat intrusive, 'Dragon  Quest XI' is a worthwhile, enjoyable experience. However, as noted  before, this likely will not change the mind of anyone who is JRPG  averse.  


’Kin’ suffers from an identity crisis

 'Kin' is a movie that is aided by its strong performances, fantastic  score, and interesting visual aesthetic. However, its shortcomings of  tone and pacing issues, as well as wasted potential that comes with its  ending, drag it down. All in all, it’s a movie that’s best saved to  watch on Netflix on a lazy Saturday.  


‘The Messenger’ delivers platforming greatness

 ‘The Messenger’ is an absolutely incredible platformer. It utilizes both  styles of retro platformers, with linear ‘Ninja Gaiden’-esque stages at  first, and then ‘Super Metroid’-esque exploration later in the game.  This, along with tons of different movement tools, creates a fast-paced  and satisfying platforming system. Combine that with an interesting  narrative that justifies the existence of both styles of game in one,  and the game really is a new peak for the genre. ‘The Messenger’ might  even be better than ‘Shovel Knight,’ taking the crown as the  modern-retro platforming king. 



Embracing femininity with ‘Splatoon 2’

A few months ago, when researching gender norms in clothing, I discovered we tend to value feminine qualities less than masculine ones. We are much more accepting of girls, for instance, who wear “boy shorts” or blazers than we are of boys who wear leggings or crop tops. Since social progress is important to me, I think we need to value both our feminine and masculine sides equally. Oddly enough, a video game from Nintendo provides inspiration. 


‘Don’t Panic’ is a near-perfect EP

 This has been her most solid piece of work so far and every new release  gets better. She is a solid artist with the energy and talent to make  amazing music time after time. Everything she makes is good and every  song on this EP is executed perfectly.  


What is 'CalArts' style?

The term 'CalArts' style has been thrown around the industry a lot in the past few years. Find out what it is, where it comes from, and why it matters.



‘The Meg’ is a Meg-cellent movie

'The Meg' is one of the more flat out fun movies of this summer, even if  it’s also incredibly scary at times. It manages to strike an excellent  balance and plays into its clichés very well. While this film may lack  depth, it’s stellar cast and generally good acting makes up for the lack  of originality that pierces the film. 


‘Teen Titans Go! To the Movies’: Decent, but not worth seeing nine times

'Teen Titans Go! To the Movies' is a caped comedy that tries its’  hardest to stand alongside the rest of this summer’s tentpole features,  and to an extent, it succeeds. While it’s still weighed down by the  trappings of its’ source material and tonal issues, it’s great for kids  who are still new to the superhero genre and their parents who long for a  bit more in the entertainment they share with their kids. There’s still  a lot of better choices out there, but you’ll have a good laugh or two  with this one. 


‘Christopher Robin’ has sweet nostalgic nectar, but not much else

‘Christopher Robin’ is a hard film to judge. It plays on nostalgia so  well and perfectly brings The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh to life  in a more modern setting. There are plenty of funny lines, great  moments, and great characters to make the film a treat for those who  grew up with Winnie the Pooh. But that doesn’t excuse the heavy-handed,  sloppy delivery of a message that’s overdone in family films. It also  doesn’t excuse the actual war flashbacks that happen in a movie with  talking stuffed animals. Plus, if a child was brought to see the film,  they’d be asleep before the movie even got good. It’s a solid watch, but  maybe not the best film for the whole family. 


Heartland Shorts 2018 Highlights: 'The Driver is Red'

 "The Driver is Red" tells the tale of one of history's most impressive  secret agents. It has the emotional stakes and the gravity of the best  of the best spy stories. Fantastic animation and vocal performances help  make this film one to remember. 


Heartland Shorts 2018 Highlights: This World of Ghosts

 This 20-minute narrative film is filled with stunning writing, amazing  cinematography and editing, and great interplay between light and color.  It is a gripping thriller that is a must-see for anyone interested in  an exciting yet moving cinematic experience. 


‘Hotel Transylvania 3: Summer Vacation’ is a washed-up mess

 "Hotel Transylvania 3: Summer Vacation" is a fairly inoffensive  children’s film with very little to give towards those unfamiliar to the  franchise. While the visuals are impressively done and make the film at  hand far more tolerable than its’ predecessors, poor writing, juvenile  comedy, and a staunch adherence to tropes of Adam Sandler’s prior work  hold back a film that could have been more than it was. If you’re a fan  of the franchise, Adam Sandler, or simply need a break from the sun,  there are FAR better choices out there. However, if you are dragged to  see this, it won’t make you beg for an intellectual exorcism- at least,  not until the climax.