Blake's Beats: For Mac, thank you
By Blake Williamson / September 11, 2018I was in Target when I got the news. I feel my phone vibrate, and I see a text that contains a sentence I won’t soon forget: “Mac Miller is dead.”
I was in Target when I got the news. I feel my phone vibrate, and I see a text that contains a sentence I won’t soon forget: “Mac Miller is dead.”
‘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.
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.
Since 1922, The Ball State Daily News has been committed to providing the campus community with breaking news and accurate, timely information.
On Aug. 3, Ball State University’s Board of Trustees released a statement regarding alumni John Schnatter’s - more popularly known as Papa John - use of the N-word during a meeting.
The movie is boring, unoriginal, and manages to make a once creepy monster feel completely unintimidating. The acting is laughable at best and a drag at worst. Nothing about the writing is coherent or offers any sort of satisfying conclusion.
'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.
It's the first night of the last year of my time here at Ball State University. Tonight, I'm alone. I felt that that needed to happen, so I drove.
'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’ 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.
There’s a difference between explaining what you want from a person and ripping someone’s work apart for the sake of doing so.
"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.
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.
My name is Robert Miles and I am an alumnus of Ball State University (BS ‘16). During my time at Ball State I was incredibly involved on campus academically and socially.
I was disheartened to read Rick Hall’s statement concerning the University’s relationship with John Schnatter.
"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.
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.
As a former student and educator at Ball State, I’m deeply saddened and embarrassed by your letter.
"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.
‘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.
