by Aaliyah Flowers
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Category: Arts & Culture
Review: Mall St. Matthews is still a place to go for fun
by Miranda Flores
Bright lights, dozens of different aromas, and chatter all around. From the early 80s to the late 90s, malls were the place to hang out with friends. From grabbing a bite to eat to shopping for clothes and electronics, the mall was the place to go.
With the rise of online shopping and social media, the need for in-person shopping drastically declined, along with the popularity of malls. This raises the question: Are malls still popular?
Saturday is the busiest day for Mall St. Matthews in St. Matthews, Kentucky. With over 150 different stores, it is no wonder so many people want to visit.
The smell was the first thing that hit me after walking through the automatic sliding doors leading straight to the food court. My boyfriend, two friends, and I arrived around 11:30 a.m., only 30 minutes after the store opened. I was surprised to see that there were already dozens of people there sitting down and enjoying their food.
Looking around I was drawn in by the free samples the employees were passing out. I only tried two samples before I knew what I wanted to eat. The large portion of sweet and tangy orange chicken and the vegetable lo mein from Chinese Gourmet Express was delicious. It was hot and fresh and it only took about two minutes for my order to be completed, including the time it took for me to be rang up and checked out. The staff was also very nice and the food was cheap. There were many places to sit in the food court and it was spotless.
After we finished eating we visited numerous stores. The St. Matthews Mall has a wide variety of stores and all kinds of merchandise. They even have places that can fix your watches, jewelry, and even your phone all while you shop. We went to the smaller stores, which surprised me with the amount of stuff they were able to keep inside.
Each store we went into had clothes and toys all up and down the walls. I had trouble getting things down because they were just out of reach, so I had to have my boyfriend hand me the clothes that I wanted. This was a bit bothersome, but it is something that I have to deal with in most stores. Some of the stores were so small that they felt very cramped and packed in, especially some of the more popular ones.
Walking through the mall itself it was wide and open with enough room for everyone to spread out and walk around. Surprisingly the lights weren’t blinding and they had a few large skylights instead. The St. Matthews Mall has a lot of interactive areas for all ages such as a large lifesize chess board with moveable pieces built into the floor and the indoor water fountain where people toss coins into. There are even designated areas for children and tots to run around and play. The mall has both stairs and ramps for easier access for families with strollers and wheelchairs.
One main issue that I had was the bathrooms being hard to find and they were extremely smelly. Large signs were hanging from the wall that said “restroom,” but they were hidden behind other shop signs, and the restroom itself was down a very dim and hardly lit hallway. I was scared that I was in an “employee’s only” area, but then I stumbled across the restrooms. When I opened the restroom door an intense odor of urine hit me and it was so bad that I was turned away from the bathroom altogether.
Luckily there were multiple other restrooms around that were much cleaner without any bad odors. A good thing about the restrooms is that they have a family room along with other full restrooms that also allow for more accessibility.
Around 3 p.m. more people had shown up and it was getting hectic, so we headed back to the food court for one last time. There, an employee from King Gyros, a Greek restaurant, was passing out samples of their lamb. Once again we fell in love with the sample and decided to get it to go. My boyfriend and I chose to get the lamb platter to share, which came with rice and a creamy tzatziki sauce smothered over the top. The to-go box was heavy from the amount of food they packed into it and we left very satisfied.
The overall experience of visiting Mall St. Matthews left me wanting more. I loved the food, the clothes, and the experience, which is why I have no doubt the store is so popular. I am eager to return and visit the other stores I have yet to see and I highly recommend going out and visiting for yourself.
Review: LEGO sets can be a fun hobby for collectors
by William Hudgins
LEGO has hit varieties of different age groups. People play with them or have them as collector’s items. Whatever you do with them, they are an amazing item to make your life fun.
LEGO began in 1934 in the carpentry workshop of Ole Kirk Kristiansen, a skilled carpenter who made wooden toys. Kristiansen prided himself on high quality craftsmanship. He eventually chose the LEGO name for his company, wanting to focus on child development through quality play.
Ever since then, LEGO has become one of the most popular hobbies in the world. It is truly amazing, because you can build or collect what you want to collect.
LEGO has many different options to choose from based on your interests. The most popular sets include Icons, Ideas, and Star Wars. Star Wars partnered with LEGO back in October 1999, and ever since these sets have been a hit.
When you see people’s collections, you’ll see many Star Wars sets. There is a reason for this: they are just great sets to keep sealed or on display. They have over a thousand retired or new sets. Some popular ones include the Millennium Falcon, R2-D2, Luke Skywalker’s Landspeeder, and many more. Star War sets are truly such great sets to have; heck, I wish I had some.
LEGO Ideas launched in 2014, with the first set being called Shinkai 6500 Submarine. To become a LEGO Ideas set it needs 10,000 votes, and then LEGO will look at it to see if they want to make it. These sets are truly great, and most of the sets relate to real TV shows or movies, like the Winnie the Pooh set or The Office. If you are wanting to get into LEGOs, you definitely need to pick up an Ideas set. I highly recommend the Winnie the Pooh set, as it’s incredible to have on display.
LEGO Icon released in 2010, with only 142 sets available, where most sets came out in 2024. Ideas and Icon sets are more expensive, but they are really worth it. This brand has to be my favorite, because they have many really cool sets, like the Atari 2600, Optimus Prime, Bumblebee, McLaren MP4, and more. If you were to get a set, this is really where you get one; they are just fantastic sets.
When a LEGO set retires, it’s possible that that set could go for thousands of dollars. LEGO collection is a great way to make money. The set’s lifespan lasts up to three years before it retires. If it’s in good condition, it’s worth more, and if it is open it’s worth less. The most expensive set ever is the San Diego Comic-Con 2013 Spider-Man.
If you are wanting to get into a hobby, choosing LEGO isn’t a bad way to go.
Liverpool FC: A Journey with the Reds
by Quadri Gbadomosi
My favorite club Liverpool FC, known as ‘the Reds,’ has a rich history that spans over 120 years.
Founded in 1892, the club has become a symbol of excellence in the world of football. With passionate support from fans and a commitment to the game, Liverpool has seen numerous triumphs, including multiple league titles and Champions League victories.
This review explores the key elements that define Liverpool FC’s legacy, including its historical successes, recent performances under management, and the unique culture cultivated by its fans.
Historical Background
Liverpool FC has a storied past marked by the likes of Bill Shanky and Bob Paisley, who paved the way for the club’s success. Shankly transformed Liverpool into a dominant force in English football during the 1960s, while Paisley carried on the club’s legacy, securing multiple championships. Fans remember these iconic moments, which established a winning mentality that resonates to this day.
Recent Performances
Under the leadership of Jürgen Klopp, who took over in 2015, Liverpool FC has experienced a golden era. The club won the premier league in the 2019-2020 season after a 30-year wait, along with the UEFA Champions League title in 2019. Klopp’s tactics focused on intense pressing and pressing play, having revitalized the team, making them a force to be reckoned with in natural competitions.
But recently, the discussion around tactics has shifted with the interest in emerging managerial talent, particularly Arne Slot, who has gained a reputation for his innovative strategies while managing Feyenoord. Though not directly at Liverpool, his approach to developing young talent and playing attractive football lends itself to how clubs like Liverpool can evaluate managerial styles in the future.
Fan Culture
One of the most remarkable aspects of Liverpool FC is its vibrant fan culture. The famous anthem “You’ll Never Walk Alone (YNWA)” echoes through Anfield, fostering a deep sense of community, unity and passion among supporters. We the fans not only celebrate victories, but also stand by the team during tough times, creating an atmosphere that is unique to Liverpool.
Conclusion
Through its rich history, a commitment to excellence, and a strong fanbase, Liverpool FC continues to leave a significant mark on the world of football. As the club moves forward. It embraces a legacy that inspires both current players and future generations. The journey with the Reds is not just about the trophies won, but it is about the lasting impact on and off the pitch.
Liverpool FC remains a platform that promotes unity and inspiration and will continue to remain such as the club progresses.
Column: David Lynch made us question the nature of life itself
by Tyler Anthony
David Lynch: 1946-2025
David Lynch’s cinematic journey stands as a beacon of astounding creativity, one that upends conventional narrative structures and delves deep into the subconscious. The legacy of Lynch is not one of straightforward storytelling but of visceral exploration — an investigation into the fragility of the human mind, the intersection of dream and reality, and the unsettling presence of evil in the most seemingly banal spaces.
Lynch’s filmography — spanning over four decades — is defined by an unwavering commitment to the surreal and the unsettling.
“Eraserhead” (1977), Lynch’s debut feature, set the tone for his career: a nightmarish, industrial landscape full of unsettling imagery, where the line between horror and absurdity is perpetually blurred. It is a film that rejects traditional narrative coherence, instead opting for mood and atmosphere that tap into primal fears.
From the strange, awkward, and seemingly benign characters, to the grotesque imagery of the mutant child, Lynch forces his audience to confront the unknown and the unnerving forces lurking beneath the surface of everyday life.
The television series Twin Peaks television series, which first aired in 1990, only solidified Lynch’s place in the pantheon of modern filmmakers. It blended soap opera tropes with a deep exploration of existential dread, creating a show that was as addictive as it was enigmatic. The mystery of Laura Palmer’s death was only the surface of a much deeper narrative — one that confronted ideas of duality, the nature of evil, and the loss of innocence. The surreal, dreamlike sequences of the Red Room and its iconic inhabitants, like Bob and The Arm, remain some of the most iconic and haunting images in television history.
Lynch’s films “Blue Velvet” (1986) and “Mulholland Drive” (2001) further expanded his exploration of the darkness lurking beneath the shiny surfaces of suburban and Hollywood life.
“Blue Velvet,” in particular, exemplifies Lynch’s knack for juxtaposing beauty with horror: the image of a pristine, picturesque suburban neighborhood shattered by the sadistic Frank Booth, whose violent rampage through the American dream is both shocking and yet eerily familiar.
“Mulholland Drive,” often regarded as Lynch’s magnum opus, continues to haunt viewers with its disjointed narrative, melding elements of noir, psychological horror, and identity exploration, all set against the glitzy but decaying backdrop of Los Angeles.
“But even more than that, Lynch’s legacy lies in his ability to make us question the nature of life itself. In an age where audience expectations for clarity and resolution often outweigh the desire for artistic exploration, Lynch stands as a defiant figure, unafraid to push the boundaries of cinema.”
Lynch’s films possess a distinctive quality of being elusive, of being part of a larger puzzle that refuses to be solved. And yet, this refusal to provide clear answers is part of his genius. His works are best appreciated not for their plot, but for the feelings and thoughts they provoke. Lynch allows us to experience the depths of human depravity and beauty simultaneously, offering no clear moral conclusions but forcing us to reckon with the complexity of human existence. His cinematic world is one of paradoxes — dreams and nightmares, love and violence, beauty and horror — all wrapped in an aesthetic that is unmistakably his own.
Lynch’s influence extends far beyond the confines of film and television. His legacy also includes his contributions to sound and music. The work of composer Angelo Badalamenti, most notably on “Twin Peaks,” became inseparable from Lynch’s aesthetic. The haunting, ethereal tones of the “Twin Peaks” theme evoke a sense of nostalgia, melancholy, and dread — three emotions that are central to Lynch’s worldview. The collaboration between Lynch and Badalamenti, which spanned several projects, gave Lynch’s world an auditory texture that deepened the emotional resonance of his visuals.
Lynch’s work “Inland Empire” was the culmination of what he had been doing in film for decades. The surreal atmosphere, the almost completely nonsensical story, and the fact it’s shot on a camcorder make it by far the weirdest thing he had done. It’s a beautiful testament to abstractions in art.
Lynch’s refusal to adhere to traditional filmmaking paradigms has cemented his status as a pioneer. His ability to manipulate time, space, and emotion in ways that defy explanation is his most significant contribution to cinema. What is often called Lynchian — a term now synonymous with his distinctive style — refers not just to the visual and auditory choices he made, but to the worldview his films communicate: one of fractured realities, psychological trauma, and the impossibility of true understanding.
If “Inland Empire” was the culmination of Lynch’s work as a filmmaker, then “Twin Peaks: The Return” is the culmination of Lynch’s work as an artist. Everything comes together and is perfected in this limited series. Every single element that makes the art of filmmaking is perfected. The music, the writing, the visuals, the sound, and the dialogue culminate in this monumental work of art.
His influences go far and wide. Monumental filmmakers such as Stanley Kubrick loved David Lynch. He went as far as to say “Eraserhead” was his favorite film. Underground filmmaking legends like Gregg Araki, who made the wonderful “The Doom Generation” cited “Twin Peaks: Fire Walk With Me” as an influence. Contemporary indie filmmakers love him such as Jane Schoenbrun, who made “I Saw The TV Glow.”
To me Lynch’s films made me realize that film was an art. It doesn’t have to just have a deep story. In fact, it doesn’t need to have a story, it can be a collection of visuals. That’s what the power of film is. To tell a feeling through image and sound.
But even more than that, Lynch’s legacy lies in his ability to make us question the nature of life itself. In an age where audience expectations for clarity and resolution often outweigh the desire for artistic exploration, Lynch stands as a defiant figure, unafraid to push the boundaries of cinema. His films demand a particular kind of engagement — a willingness to embrace ambiguity, to sit with discomfort, and to venture into the unknown.
In the end, David Lynch’s films aren’t about finding answers. They are about catching a dream and finding the meaning through interpretation. It’s far too often people search for direct answers. They want the explanation fed to them. Lynch is someone who stood against that and made people think about what it could all mean for themselves.
Review: ‘The Notebook’ offers a love story with authenticity for viewers
by Abbigail Hollins
“The Notebook,” directed by Nick Cassavetes , is based on the 1996 novel by Nicholas Sparks.
This story is a very well known story with it being such a heartfelt story that many love. People know it as a romantic drama because of its loving and romantic scenes and the rough times that come with that.
This story is of a young couple, Noah Calhoun and Allie Hamilton, two young adults that fall in love during the early 1940s. Despite facing numerous obstacles, including social class differences and World War ll, their love endures.
The film is most known for beautiful cinematography, emotional depth, and strong performances by Ryan Gosling and Rachel McAdams. The movie is a touching story of love and memory that connects with the audience. The film is popular and known by many. But how well do we really know it?
The on-screen chemistry between Gosling and McAdams was undeniable. However, off-screen, their relationship was initially quite tumultuous. The actors has a rocky start, with Gosling even asking for McAdams to be replaced at one point. Despite this, they managed to work through their differences, and their performances ultimately brought the love to life in the movie.
An interesting aspect of the production was the dedication to authenticity. The filmmakers went to great lengths to ensure that the setting and costumes accurately reflected the 1940s and 1950s. The movie was filmed in various locations in South Carolina, capturing the romantic southern backdrop. The crew also paid attention to detail in recreating the period’s look and feel, from vintage cars to the era- appropriate clothing. This commitment to authenticity helped immerse viewers in the love story, making the film a classic.
The story was inspired by the real-life relationship of Sparks’ then wife, Cathy’s grandparents, who had been married for over 60 years. Sparks was moved by their love and the way they continued to cherish each other despite the challenges of life, aging, and illnesses. This heartfelt connection served as the foundation for the movie, which viewers will enjoy.
Column: Public Domain movies: Passion or Cash Grab?
by Sam Ottinger
Winnie-the-Pooh and Steamboat Willie have been a part of many people’s childhoods, through many different generations. Yet that isn’t the only connection, for they have all recently joined the public domain in the past three years.
The Public Domain is when a certain copyrighted property can now be used freely, without obtaining permission from the original copyright owner in order to gain money from the IP.
This availability can actually expand the character by having more interpretations of beloved characters, yet, as has happened to many already, it can just be a quick name to slap on a low budget movie without thinking of the connections between the source material and the new take.
A good example of this more lackluster avenue is the horror movie “Mouse Trap,” directed by Jamie Bailey and released on August 6, 2024, a horror take on “SteamBoat Willie,” which entered the public domain on Jan. 1 of that same year. The trailer for this movie first popped up a day after on Jan. 2.
This movie has very little going for it, and the inclusion of this past Disney property isn’t part of that group.
“Mouse Trap” has very few meaningful connections with SteamBoat Willie, except for random inclusions of the original short, and a mask that is supposed to resemble him. Yet even this mask point can be debated, for it seems to be more based off of the present day Mickey Mouse, lacking the steamboat hat of Willie, which is a key part of discerning the two versions.
This could be ignored, if the environment took up pieces of the original setting of a boat, but even that is ignored in favor of a random arcade.
“Mouse Trap” is a prime example of a movie using a well known IP in order to garner attention to a generic horror movie. The similarities between their “Steamboat Willie” and the modern day Mickey Mouse, even having the name of the villain be Mickey Mouse and not Willie, shows how they were less focused on turning the original short (or even just putting something truly inspired by it in) into something new with passion behind it.
In a very telling interview with scriptwriter Simon Phillips, he reveals the true intentions behind this movie’s creation.
First, he talks about is that their original idea is the idea they went with. This would typically not be a problem, but with everything else, it just adds to show the lack of care in producing a good movie, let alone one with good connections to a source material.
In this interview he also talks about the original name of Mickey’s Mouse Trap; this is another small detail that could be seen as minor, but it just shows the limited research done on the specific version in the current domain.
This horror movie trend continues with “Blood and Honey,” released March 17, 2023, and its sequel, released March 18, 2024. Both are slasher takes on Winnie the Pooh and his friends. Winnie and Piglet entering the public domain in January 1, 2022.
The first movie had a connection to the original material in the beginning, through a drawn backstory; yet it loses that clear connection quite quickly. It does do a slightly better job at representing the original IP than “Mouse Trap” did, but it also ends up in the category of being another generic slasher movie with a main antagonist that just happens to look like the classic character.
The first movie was also just one of the many movies produced by Jagged Edge Productions throughout 2023, showing another layer to its focus not on being a good movie, but more a focus on quantity over quality.
Luckily, not all horror versions of public domain IPs are unable to go through improvement.
The second “Blood and Honey,” aptly named “Blood and Honey 2,” is able to prove that creativity can be used in these sorts of concepts.
“Blood and Honey 2” includes new characters, like Owl and Tigger, due to their copyright running out between the first and the second, on January 1, 2024.
It is still not a perfect movie, but the increased budget, time, and effort used to create it helps elevate it from the first movie.
The mere presence of a second movie for a poorly received yet well known film typically is seen as another excuse to make money, but this wasn’t a project that was meant to be spat out and forgotten as the first one had.
Even with the bigger budget, roughly $500K, there were many aspects that producer Scott Chambers and director Rhys Frake-Waterfield had to take into their own hands to improvise solutions, such as when their costume designer quit on them three days before they were to start filming.
This already shows more effort and passion than “Mouse Trap” ever had.
There was, of course, an incentive to create a second movie, due to the possible profit that could be made, but instead of going down the route of quickly making a cheap sequel, they stuck to making something with a better script, acting, and prosthetics.
When a well known character enters the public domain, many are quick to try and profit from it by making low budget projects including these characters.
Notably, many are horror themed, which can either be equated with the fact that studios aren’t having to worry as much if a horror film fails than if an action one did, or due to the trend of turning something that would appeal to children into something darker that was popular around the times these movies were released.
Nevertheless, there are many who use these characters as a way to earn off of their name(s), but that shouldn’t dissuade others who have ideas with these IPs from creating something they truly have passion for. These characters don’t deserve to be left behind just because their copyright expired.
The public domain is here for the benefit of creativity, even when that may lead to not-so-perfect media
Review: ‘She’s the Man’ offers unique take on Shakespeare’s ‘Twelfth Night’
by Gracie Reeves
“She’s The Man” (2006) is a hilarious modern take on Shakespeare’s “Twelfth Night,” starring Amanda Bynes as Viola and Channing Tatum as Duke.
Viola’s ultimate passion is playing soccer, but she is challenged because her school’s girls’ soccer team gets cut. She is so determined to play soccer that she then plans to disguise herself as her twin brother, Sebastian, and enroll at his new school, Illyria, to play against the boys’ soccer team at Cornwall.
Once she gets there, she has to navigate challenges such as fitting in with the other guys and dealing with the star player, Duke Orsino. Viola then starts to develop a crush on Duke, but he’s trying to win another girl, which leads to some major romantic tension. It’s a big challenge for Viola to try to act like a guy, but also somehow impress Duke.
The soccer side of the movie is fantastic. I personally loved these scenes, as they were super entertaining and well-choreographed. The soccer scenes were intense and exciting while also being funny. I thought they were the highlight of the movie.
Back to the actual movie, as the story unfolds, eventually the truth comes out, leading to Viola boldly revealing her true identity. The ending is sweet, with a classic romantic resolution. The whole message of the movie is about being true to yourself.
Overall, I thought the movie was great. I was on the edge of my seat the whole time, and I enjoyed every second of it. If you love comedy and romance, of which this movie is a great example, I highly recommend giving this a watch.
Where To Watch “She’s The Man”
| The Roku Channel | Amazon Prime Video | Paramount + |
Review: Teens will find Conan Gray’s lyrics relatable to their lives
by Ricky Cummins
In 2021, I found Conan Gray on the CMA music awards on TV. He has been my favorite artist since then.
Gray has four albums, 112 songs, and has 5.36 million subscribers. Quick disclaimer, some of his 112 songs are covers, or features. Also, some songs are translations. Conan Gray is a 26-year-old singer and songwriter and former YouTuber. He started his YouTube channel in 2013. Gray became popular in 2019-2020. Gray has also starred in the movie SOUR Prom.
His music has a type of rhythm that I have not found anyone could recreate. When I think of Conan Gray, I think of his songs “Heather,” “TCTAB,” and “Manic.” These three songs have been some of my favorites for some time now but all of his songs are a work of art.
I love “Heather” for the reason that the song is relatable. He sings about everyone having a “heather.” I interpreted this song as being about someone who has left him for another person and he has been jealous and frustrated. Gray sings in the chorus, “Why would you ever kiss me? I’m not even half as pretty”. I believe he is feeling used and confused. His envy and jealousy shows in the lyrics “But how could I hate her? She’s such an angel. But then again, kinda wish she were dead.”
I think of “TCTAB” because once again, it’s relatable. TCTAB stands for “The Cut That Always Bleeds.” I believe that he named this song after one of his toxic relationships. This relationship was hard to get over because they were leaving and coming back over and over again. The lyrics “I don’t love you anymore, a pretty line that I adore, five words that i’ve heard before,” prove this. He keeps falling for this person every time they come back when he sings. “’Cause I could be your lover on a leash, Every other week, When you please.”
Last but not least, “Manic”. “Manic” is a catchy and overall a well rounded song. It pretty much talks about his experience with an ex that spreads around rumours. In the pre-chorus Conan stands up for himself when he says, “You should turn back to your rat pack, tell them I’m trash.” I think he says this because he is getting over the rumors and stories about him and he feels that what others say doesn’t affect him. By telling people to call him trash feels like an “I don’t care what you say or do,” statement. This also shows in the lines in his chorus. “Tell all of your friends that I’m crazy and drive you mad. That I’m such a stalker, a watcher, a psychopath.”
If you like Pop or any of the sub genres indie, acoustic, and bedroom, there is a good chance that you will like Conan Gray. Teen Vogue has also called him ”the pop prince for sad internet teens.”
One thing’s for sure, teens today will find his lyrics relatable to their own lives.
| Albums | Popular Songs |
| Sunset Season | “Idle Town,” “Generation Why,” “Crush Culture |
| Kid Krow | “Comfort Crowd,” “Wish You Were Sober,” “Maniac” |
| Superache | “The Exit,” “Family,” “Memories” |
| Found Heaven | “Found Heaven”, “Never Ending Song,” “Fainted Love” |
Review: What’s not to love about ‘XO, Kitty’?
by Viviana Gonzalez Chavez and Genesis Morgeson
Did you know the new season of “XO, Kitty” on Netflix came out Jan. 16?
If you’ve seen the first season you know Kitty has an older sister whom she loves, but did you know that her sister is actually Lara Jean? The same Lara Jean from the trilogy “To All The Boys I’ve Loved Before”?
These films follow the lives of two sisters and their many adventures throughout their school lives, as well as their love lives. Both determined, it showcases just how much love can mean to a person and just how much it can change you.
The movies star Lara Jean and her experiences as she navigates through her small town high school, where everyone knows everyone. In the beginning we learn about love letters LJ had written in the past towards the boys she used to love; when a love was so strong that she couldn’t bear it she would write the letters in order to express herself.
We watch as she struggles to see herself fit in with the students around her, that is, until her letters are sent. With the letters sent, we see LJ and one of her letter receivers fake a relationship in order to save her relationship with her family and friends.
But after a while the line begins to blur and suddenly things seem more real than they do fake. The movie follows LJ as she navigates through her junior year with her new boyfriend, her new friends, and all her family drama.
The next movies detail the conflicts she faced with her boyfriend, insecurities she had about his past, as well as their future. It displays rivalry, jealousy, and the anxiety that comes with beginning a new era of life, and yet, it also shows the beauty, warmth, and power true love can have.
Overall, the movies were a wonderful spin and really gave life to the stories written by author Jenny Han. The average of all three movies was around 84% on Rotten Tomatoes, and a 6.4 on IMDb, with the popular opinion in favor towards them.
Watching the movies was a wonderful experience, perfect for that Rom- Com Binge you’ve been planning. It is cute and cheesy, but also accurately displays real insecurities as well as issues that many young couples face.
“Watching the movies was a wonderful experience, perfect for that Rom- Com Binge you’ve been planning. It is cute and cheesy, but also accurately displays real insecurities as well as issues that many young couples face.”
The series “XO, Kitty” continues with this legacy and follows Kitty Covey, Lara Jean’s younger sister. We watch as she flies across the globe to Korea in order to go to the same school as her online boyfriend, Dae. Once there, however, things get complicated as she meets his other girlfriend, his friends, and suddenly Kitty finds herself lost in a new school with people she doesn’t know.
Despite this, we see how Kitty starts over and begin to see her shine, lighting up the lives of those around her. Season One displays her journey and adventures she faces as she grows up and focuses on becoming her best self.
The second season describes her new experiences as she travels back to the U.S. with the hopes of getting her life back on track after a disastrous and messy year in Korea.
Season Two allows us to see how her relationships with her friends and family grow as well as change. With the help of her close companions we watch as she discovers new feelings and how she reacts to her relationships changing.
With an 80% on Rotten Tomatoes and 6.5 on IMDb, “XO, Kitty” is well loved by many viewers, especially the fans of the TATB franchise. It continues to display many real emotional issues teenagers alike face, relating to their situations and reactions.
If anything were to change about the movies and show, it would be the negligence of certain characters. For example, in the first movie we meet Josh, who is the Covey family’s neighbor as well as one of the boys LJ sent a letter to. However, after the first movie he is forgotten, never to be mentioned again.
The same happened in the second movie with John Ambrose, the eventual love rival and second male lead. We are introduced to him and see how sweet their relationship grows only for him to be neglected in the last movie.
We see a similar situation in the series as well with characters like Lara Jean herself. In the second season of “XO, Kitty” we see the return of Peter Kavinsky as well as their eldest sister, Margot Covey. We see the return of so many beloved characters and yet not once was Lara Jean herself shown. Wouldn’t it be sensible for her, of all characters, to make a comeback in her sister’s story?
All these different characters, shown but only when needed. Sure, they may not be as relevant in the next parts of the Covey sister stories but it’s like they never happened at all.
Nonetheless, both the movies and the shows are a wonderful example of young love with adorable characters and a comedic turn of events at every corner. If you were to ever have time on your hands, it is a guaranteed good watch. Many fans all over the world love not just the stories, but the actors as well. With their professionalism and great on-screen chemistry, what is not to love?
Review: ‘A Complete Unknown’ paints a picture of Bob Dylan’s life
by Lola Mays
Bob Dylan was someone who until now had never had much of an impact on my life. The film “A Complete Unknown” painted a new picture in my brain of what it was like to rise to fame in the 1960s as a folk singer.
Bob Dylan who was portrayed by actor Timothee Chalamet showed the bigger story behind so many important things in life. Through the simple times of living in New York in the 60s, it was interesting to see how much life has changed and how one person can make such a big difference in so many people’s lives.
The movie begins by showing Bob arriving in New York City to visit one of his idols, Woody Guthrie, who was in the hospital at the time for Huntington’s Disease, which severely affected his nerves and brain. We also get introduced to Pete Sagar, who started Dylan’s singing career by helping him play at new gigs and showing him the ropes by taking him to one of his shows. It was very interesting to see Pete be so kind to someone he would have barely known at this point.
Seeing how rapidly Bob’s life jump-started in just a few years of playing small shows was astonishing. As someone who is always on the outside of fame, I enjoyed the route they took for the viewer to understand and comprehend how fame truly feels and how overwhelming it can be.
Bob eventually gets a girlfriend he meets at a church he was playing at, and she ends up being a big part of his early career. In the movie her name was Sylvie Russo; however, in real life Bob’s girlfriend at the time was Suze Rotolo, and it is projected that this change was made because Bob Dylan requested to have her name altered.
In the movie Sylvie is a main/side character. While she is actively dating Dylan she seems to really get tossed to the side by Bob and is often treated unfairly. Something that is often referenced are Bob’s feelings for singer Joan while he has a current girlfriend, even going as far as cheating on Sylvie when she is out of town and while Joan had no clue about Sylvie. It was disappointing to see how Bob’s character seemed to also change as he gained more traction. He is perceived as a man with a very large ego in the film just by the way he treats a lot of the staff and his partners in the movie.
Another thing that caught my eye was even as Dylan was growing and getting more money from his hit records, he continued to keep his original small apartment in the city, as is shown several times even later in his career. A big side plot in the film is when Dylan decided to change his music from when he was known for folk music, making a drastic switch to adding more rock and a sense of punkyness in his songs that many fans did not appreciate.
Throughout the film a concert venue was shown many times; it was the Newport Folk Festival that Bob Dylan and many others played at over the years. A very small side plot I enjoyed in the film was Bob’s relationship with singer Johnny Cash, played by Boyd Holbrook, where they were pen pals and then finally met in person at the festival.
One important aspect of this festival was how for a couple of years in a row Joan and Bob would do a duet on the stage that fans seemed to enjoy. The mid-end of the movie walks through more of the changes Bob made when he was changing his music to more rock and using electric guitars instead of a classic one and ended up having people playing with him rather than just playing solo.
After we see how they perform together we get slightly introduced to some of the people playing with Bob. Towards the end of the film, we see how upset Bob’s management and fans are when they hear how he might be switching his music. Bob believed that making this switch was important to his style and that the people would change with him. In the end, the people were not a fan of this change.
In the end, I enjoyed this film and would recommend it to anyone who would be interested in seeing the music industry. “A Complete Unknown” was truly unknown to me, as I have never been a fan of Bob Dylan and haven’t been up to date on the impact that he had made on our society.
Bob Dylan wasn’t afraid to be different or change the norm; he was able to take something and make it his own just with his raw talent and the people around him. I think that all the actors in this movie, especially Chalamet, were excellent in the execution of portraying their characters.
All of this said, my point of view was changed, and I think that’s about all you can ask for in a film. So next time you’re having a rainy day, sit down with some people you love and give this film a try, even if it may be out of your comfort zone because, after all, it might be just what you needed.
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