The Daily from Ball State Unified Media

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

By Tanner Kinney / August 23, 2018

‘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. 

ENTERTAINMENT

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

By Trevor Sheffield / August 8, 2018

 "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. 

ENTERTAINMENT

‘The Equalizer 2’ is an excellent sequel with more intense action

By Daniel O’Connell / August 8, 2018

 All in all, 'The Equalizer 2' is an excellent sequel, which improves on  the strengths of the original. Although suffering from problems with its  plot and pacing, the film exceeds with Denzel Washington’s performance  and the acting of its supporting cast, character interactions in its  subplots, and intense and interesting action scenes. A fun, worthy  sequel that is a blast to watch.  

ENTERTAINMENT

‘The Handmaid’s Tale’ Season 2: An emotionally intense and relentlessly brutal return to Gilead

By Emily Reuben / July 22, 2018

 "The Handmaid’s Tale" Season 2 is more than worth the watch. Not only  does the show look excellent; there is a huge emphasis on character  development and interactions that really bring the show to life. While  scenarios do become slightly repetitive and some writing choices are  questionable, the good far outweighs the bad. For those looking for a  beautiful show with great acting, strong writing, and relevant political  commentary, this season more than delivers. 

ENTERTAINMENT

‘The Spiral Scouts’ is a raunchy puzzle-adventure that earns its badges

By Tanner Kinney / July 22, 2018

‘The Spiral Scouts’ is a lovely little puzzle-adventure game with a  style of humor that isn’t for everyone. The visuals are pleasing, the  soundtrack is incredible, and the puzzles are fun and satisfying to  solve. In terms of writing, although I thought the humor landed more  often than not, it’s definitely not the kind of humor for everyone. The  price of $10 is an absolute steal for a game of this quality. For those  looking for a game that’s a little bit different from the crowd of  high-brow indie titles, this raunchy package is perfectly sized for your  pleasure. 

ENTERTAINMENT

‘Luke Cage’ Season 2: An emotional, conflicted Luke Cage

By CJ Wilson / July 14, 2018

 Season two of Luke Cage gives more than expected. More action, more  humor, and greater references to the MCU related to the Marvel Netflix  shows. While it doesn’t have a central villain for almost the whole  season, it still focuses on developing Luke Cage’s character. It brings  up questions about what it means to be a hero and how to reconcile with  those we love. This show is personal and not for younger viewers. If you  want action and an emotional story, than watch this season of Luke  Cage. It isn’t recommended for viewers that prefer the quirky, joyful  side of Marvel. 

ENTERTAINMENT

‘Mario Tennis Aces’ grazes the net

By Eli Sokeland / July 14, 2018

 Overall, the game vastly improves on a lot of the major downfalls of  previous entries. However, the lack of customization and incentives does  negatively impact replayability. Despite this, the game’s brand new  mechanics and style creates a memorable experience that will appeal to  all audiences 

ENTERTAINMENT

‘Ant-Man and the Wasp’ falls short of its legacy

By Tanner Kinney / July 13, 2018

 “Ant-Man and the Wasp” has some good aspects to it. Most of the comedy  is well done, and Paul Rudd absolutely kills it once again. The action  is also good enough to fit in with the blockbuster season. Yet, with  underwhelming visuals and a pointless narrative, it can’t help but feel  forced. The film really does feel like it was just the next part in a  mechanical series of movies, moving forward without judging how the  previous films would impact this one. It’s an entertaining popcorn flick  for sure, but if there was ever a Marvel movie to skip, it would be  this one. 

ENTERTAINMENT

‘Lego The Incredibles’ is simply below Parr

By Trevor Sheffield / July 6, 2018

 ‘Lego The Incredibles’ is another piece in the colossal set that is the  Lego series of games, and while certain mechanics and a Pixar paint job  do a lot to keep things from going stale, there just isn’t enough there  to be worth a full-priced release. If you’re a fan of ‘The Incredibles’  or have kids who can’t get enough of building bricks and caped  crusaders, then feel free to grab this one. Otherwise, you’re better off  picking up another game in the series with more content and variety  than this one. Overall, it may be fun, but this game’s capes don’t cut  it. 

ENTERTAINMENT

“Incredibles 2” pulls no punches

By Eli Sokeland / July 6, 2018

Overall, 'Incredibles 2' is definitely worth the wait. The film expertly  balances action while showcasing a genuine family connection. Through  the use of a strong plot and a different perspective on existing  characters, the film feels fresh and nostalgic at the same time. This is  an incredible film for both newcomers and veterans of the older Pixar  generation. 

ENTERTAINMENT

“Crash Bandicoot N. Sane Trilogy” is a perfect fit for any Switch library

By Tanner Kinney / July 5, 2018

“Crash Bandicoot N. Sane Trilogy” is a great fit for any Nintendo Switch  library. The port was flawlessly executed, though portable mode can be a  bit questionable at times. The game is the same incredible remake of  the "Crash" trilogy that it always was, with amazing visuals and music.  Sure, the games are inconsistent and sometimes borderline awful, but the  overall experience is so great that even levels like “Slippery Climb”  can be excused. It’s solid buy for any Switch owner who has never gotten  a chance to experience these gloriously retro titles. 

ENTERTAINMENT

‘Sushi Striker: The Way of the Sushido’ is raw, flavorful, and colorful fun

By Tanner Kinney / June 24, 2018

 'Sushi Striker: The Way of the Sushido' is a super charming game with  addictive puzzle gameplay. The story and writing aren’t deep, but in  conjunction with the art-style, it all becomes an interactive Saturday  morning cartoon. The 2D art especially looks incredibly well-done and  oozes with style, though the 3D art looks bland by comparison. The  gameplay is what really sells it. There is so much more depth and  challenge than expected of a game like this, and hours upon hours can be  put in getting perfect clears in every stage. Even if the game  sometimes  doesn’t make sense, it just flows and makes the player feel  smart despite seemingly not doing much. Just leave the Hard Mode Belt  on; it’ll make the game more engaging. 

ENTERTAINMENT

‘My Hero Academia’ Season 3, Episode 10: “Symbol of Peace”

By Eli Sokeland / June 24, 2018

Overall, this episode was a game-changer on many levels. Before, I  considered the show to be less serious. However, with the death of Best  Jeanist and the anger of All Might, that has changed my mind. The next  episode looks to give more backstory on the history between All Might  and One for All, so that will be a sure topic that shouldn’t be missed. 

ENTERTAINMENT

Hotel Artemis: An excellent crime thriller aided by a colorful ensemble cast

By Daniel O’Connell / June 22, 2018

While Hotel Artemis is a film that lacks in plot and action, it  definitely makes up for it in its style, atmosphere, and characters. The  ensemble cast give out great performances, and the different  interactions between the colorful characters is a treat to watch.  However, what brings it down is that it doesn’t take advantage of its  future setting, as well as the pacing issues when it comes to the second  act. All in all, it’s still definitely a treat for those looking for  something different than the usual blockbuster fare. 

ENTERTAINMENT

‘Ocean’s 8’ proves that 8 is better than 11

By Conner Tighe / June 21, 2018

If you’re a fan of the Ocean movies, then this movie is worth seeing.  Don’t look for anything too new, however. The cast is lovable and fun to  watch, but it’s not worth a second watch. The plot is dull, and the  humor is just as dull. The film feels kind of rushed and missing the key  elements that the original movies had.   

NEWS

E3 2018 recap and reflections: Nintendo

By Tanner Kinney / June 12, 2018

Nintendo’s abandonment of the traditional E3 press conference has been a huge boon for the company. No longer tied down by audio issues and strange gameplay demos, the company can focus on neatly produced game showcases, and give proper time and attention to bigger titles. With some showstoppers like a new Smash Bros, Metroid Prime 4, and the next mainline Pokemon games coming soon, Nintendo had a ticket for the best show in town. If only they actually showed those showstopping titles, aside from Super Smash Bros. 

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