ENTERTAINMENT

Mulan 1998 

Melissa Gomes

Mulan is a fantastic movie produced by Walt Disney Pictures back in 1998. The movie is about a Chinese girl named Mulan who is not ladylike and graceful like women who were expected to be back then in the Chinese Dynasties. In ancient China, women were expected to marry and bring honor to their families by having sons. However, Mulan was brave, adventurous, and always willing to stand up for what was right. After the return of one of the greatest enemies of the dynasty, the Hun, it was commanded that one man from each family should serve in the army. In the Fa family, Mulan's family, there was no other man than Mulan's father. Mulan's father was very old and unable to fight in the war again, as he had already fought in the last Hun invasion. There was no hope that he would return home. Unfortunately, Mulan's only option was to marry a man the matchmaker chose so they would have a man to fight for the family.

Frustrated with the prospect of a life she did not want, Mulan decided to take matters into her own hands. She cut her hair, put on her father's armor, and left home to join the army in his place. Throughout the movie, Mulan's bravery and determination shine through. She defies gender stereotypes and proves women can be as strong and capable as men. 

Mulan's portrayal of a strong, independent woman was groundbreaking. The movie was praised for its positive representation of Chinese culture with the festivals, the dragons, and many other traditional symbols of Chinese culture. Furthermore, it was also because of its message of empowerment and gender equality.  

The film also represents war's sadness, the destruction it causes, and how bad war is for the world. Moreover, Mulan and her family felt sad when they learned that their father would not return from the war like thousands of other men. 

Overall, Mulan is a timeless classic that teaches us the importance of courage, determination, and standing up for what is right. It is a must-see movie for anyone who believes in the power of women and the importance of gender equality. It is a great and enjoyable movie to watch with your family!

Back To the Future

By Andrew Azizollahi

Back to the Future is an exciting Movie created by Steven Spielberg, Kathleen Kennedy, and Frank Marshall. It is about this boy, Marty Mcfly, and his scientist friend who invented a time machine. The scientist gets shot using it, and Marty goes Back to the Future. He realizes he has no energy to return when he is there and is stuck there unless he finds a way.

Back To The Future came out in 1985. It is an award-winning film and was the most-watched movie in 1985. The writers had always wanted to make a time-travel movie but needed to learn how to. It was not until they were in their parents' old yearbooks that they thought about how it would be when their parents were younger, and they thought, what if we make a movie of when a boy travels back in time and starts talking to his very own parents?

That is when they had the idea to make the character Marty McFly, who has a friend named Doc, who is a scientist and creates a time machine. While running from people trying to kill him, he gets in the time machine and starts driving. The time machine is a regular car, but you travel to the Future once you hit 88mph. He ended up in the same town but about 20 years ago. While there, he runs out of time-travel power, and his goal is to use lightning to power the car. When at school, he meets his literal mother, but she starts to fall in love with him and not his dad, meaning he will die if his mom and dad do not meet.

Back to the Future is one of the best movies I have ever watched. It is about science fiction, love, comedy and adventure. It is always a movie to watch with family or friends, laugh about the hilarious comedy, and enjoy the plot. One thing I enjoy about Back to the Future, in general, is that it has three movies that are in sequence about stopping events from happening and fixing problems they made. This movie is so good because of the perfect plot and writing, and it is well-executed.

In conclusion, Back to the Future is an exciting movie. The movie is one of the best I have ever seen, and I enjoyed watching it.

Source

theguardian.com

13 Going On 30 

By Melissa Gomes

13 Going on 30 is a classic romantic comedy movie directed by Gary Winick, released in 2004. The film follows the life of Jenna Rink, a thirteen-year-old girl who dreams of becoming popular and famous. One day, she wishes to be "thirty, flirty, and thriving" and wakes up as a thirty-year-old woman in New York City. 

Jenna is thrust into a completely different world, where she is a successful editor at a fashion magazine and has a handsome boyfriend. However, Jenna realizes her life is not as perfect as she thought and has lost her true self.

The movie explores the themes of self-discovery and the importance of staying true to oneself. Jenna's journey to rediscover her true self is relatable and inspiring, making it an excellent movie for all ages.

One of the notable aspects of the movie is its portrayal of the 1990s and 2000s. Although the movie is set in 2004, it takes us back to the 1990s with music, fashion, and pop culture references. The film captures the essence of the 1990s and early 2000s, making it a nostalgic trip down memory lane.

The costumes and fashion in the movie are also remarkable. Jenna's transformation from a thirteen-year-old girl to a thirty-year-old woman is reflected in her trendy wardrobe. The film also features fun and colorful wardrobes for the other characters, making it visually appealing.

Moreover, the movie has a great soundtrack that adds to the overall movie experience. The soundtrack features iconic songs from the 80s and early 90s, including "Thriller" by Michael Jackson and "Jessie's Girl" by Rick Springfield.

In conclusion, 13 Going on 30 is a feel-good movie that will leave you feeling happy and inspired. The excellent execution and portrayal of the 1990s and 2000s elevate the movie's simple plotline. The movie's moral message of staying true to oneself is a lesson everyone can learn from.

Only Yesterday: A Different Style of Ghibli

By Mazu Rakhsha

Only Yesterday, one of Studio Ghibli's few contemporary dramas drastically differs from the whimsical, fantastical excitement of the more prominent Ghibli films like Spirited Away or My Neighbor Totoro. The story follows a twenty-seven-year-old working Taeko and her travels from Tokyo to the countryside as she carries along her 5th-grade self, her memories weaving themselves back into her mind as she escapes to the natural world. Years-old pain and giddy joy vividly resurface in Taeko's world, and she is brought back to pondering the emotions of her childhood self in between the hours she spends picking safflowers on vacation. Every scene in the film is softly delivered, but the dreamy undertones behind even the most serene of moments in the 118-minute watch leave it with an intensity as great as every action-packed Ghibli film. While Only Yesterday is no Spirited Away, it possesses star qualities that may, in some ways, deem it a stronger film than Ghibli's defining classics.

Going into this film expecting a linear plot with an apparent conflict and resolution will disappoint viewers, as that is not the beauty of Only Yesterday. Rather than a clear-cut story, the film is a piece that explores how a person's past traumas and experiences can continue to linger in their mind and influence their future perception of the world. The scenes shift between Taeko's past and present realities, giving equal importance to each. Taeko frequently questions why her ten-year-old self appears so clearly at her side now. However, she also recognizes that she is primarily dissatisfied with her life, without love and working at an office job she is not particularly passionate about. As she slowly explores her memories, Taeko unconsciously begins to realize that her ten-year-old self, reminding Taeko of the experiences that most intensely affected her, maybe giving Taeko indirect advice by showing her, through memories, what is truly going to bring her joy. For example, Taeko remembers feeling a tender connection to the countryside as a young girl despite never being there. Then, as an adult, Taeko spends her summers in the same countryside she once dreamt of, adoring it just as much as her childhood self would have anticipated. At the end of her travels, a significant opportunity–that could entirely change the course of her life, for better or worse–opens up. The film leaves Taeko's decision open to interpretation, but it can be assumed that, no matter what Taeko decides to do, she will use the lessons her childhood self brought back to her to determine what she desires at the core. Since only Taeko's 5th-grade self, a younger version of herself from a particular time appeared rather than her childhood self from various ages, we can assume that 10-year-old Taeko represents Taeko's true self when unaffected by life circumstances. Being in contact with her inner child will ultimately help Taeko achieve fulfillment in her life, in which she is no more than content. When watching this, you begin to grasp how Taeko's childhood can drive her forward and how anybody's past can control their future. While it is true that the film struggles conflict-wise, that is entirely made up for by the nuanced themes that Only Yesterday delivers brilliantly.

Another shining spot for Only Yesterday is the animation of the film. In truth, any Studio Ghibli production can be praised for its stunning animation. However, the scenes in Only Yesterday are emotionally evocative in that they nearly pull themselves out of the screen and tug at your heart despite being so still and minimalistic. Taeko's childhood memories feature a dreamy atmosphere characterized by wide-eyed facial expressions and soft color palettes, whereas her present-day moments are far more realistic and feature vivid coloring. In both cases, the design choices reflect the mood of the scenes: the soothing nostalgia of reflecting on childhood paired with the bustle of adult life. There is also a series of highly symbolic scenes, such as when child Taeko, after encountering her old crush on the sidewalk, proceeds to walk on top of a sunset-stroked sky instead of on the ground when finding her way back home, reflecting her helplessly exhilarated state of mind. These clever animation-related decisions are necessary for Only Yesterday's emotional depth to reach half its true potential. The animation, more than anything, was the final touch that made Only Yesterday more than a movie that lacked a plot.

With that, we are left with only one final question: while Only Yesterday is sure to be emotionally captivating, gorgeously animated, and rich with softly delivered lessons in psychology, is that enough to consider it worth the watch? For the casual, fantasy-seeking Ghibli fan, noting that no humans-turned-pig or giant raccoon-like, friendly beasts appearing in the film should be enough to decide to give it a pass. However, for those looking for something different, like well-executed bittersweet emotion, light drama, and realism that Studio Ghibli typically pushes aside, Only Yesterday is more than worthy of your time.

The Prince Of Egypt 

By Ashton Amirianfar

The Prince of Egypt is an animated movie created by Dreamworks in 1998.

This movie is based on the biblical story of the Exodus of Egypt, which is also part of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. It is a P.G. movie; its genres are animation, children's film, action, drama, comedy, musical, adventure, fantasy, family film, and historical.

The movie is set in the 19th dynasty of Egypt, where Pharaoh Seti first leads a mass killing of Hebrew infants to decrease the population of the Hebrews that live in Egypt. When Moses was a baby, the Egyptian Pharaoh threatened to kill him. Moses's mother, his younger brother, and sisters Aaron and Mariam are forced to go to the Nile River and put Moses in a basket to flow in the river to find a new family. Moses drifts to the palace of the Pharaoh, and Queen Tuya (King Seti's wife) and young Ramses (the son of King Seti) find Moses and adopt him. The royal family of Egypt then raises Moses. Many years later, Moses was older and crowned the Prince of Egypt; the Hebrews also worked among the Egyptians in slavery.

Moses finds an area in the palace that has hieroglyphics and art that represents Egyptian stories; on one of the walls, there is a story of the Pharaoah leading the genocide of the Hebrew babies and of King Seti throwing the babies in the Nile River. Then Moses puts himself in a position where he sees his mother putting him in the river in his basket, and then he realizes that he is, in fact, a Hebrew. Moses runs away from the palace; Miriam and Aaron find Moses and tell him the whole story about the infant genocide.

The day after, Moses is near a large project with Ramesses leading the building. He notices all the Hebrews are working day after day with no food and hears the sound of the whip hitting the enslaved people. He feels a sense of anger towards the Egyptians and empathy towards the Hebrews. Moses notices Miriam and Aaron working on a hieroglyphic writing; next to them, Moses sees a Hebrew getting whipped by an Egyptian, then he runs up on the platform and pushes the Egyptian off the platform. Everyone notices the Egyptians' death, and they look up at Moses and blame him for the death of the Egyptians; he then runs and leaves Egypt. He then finds himself in the desert of Egypt. As he wanders along the desert with no one in sight, he finds a village with people. As Moses enters the Village, he falls into a well. A woman from the Midian tribe named Zipporah refuses to take Moses out of the well but hesitates and removes him. Moses then stays with this tribe for many years. He later becomes a Shepherd (Sheep Herder).

One morning, he was walking near a hill when he saw a goat making noises, bringing him to a cave. In the cave, he saw a bush on fire. Then, a mysterious voice from the bush said to him, "I am the gods of the ancestors Abraham, Issac, and Jacob." He also told Moses to take the sandals off his feet. It turns out this mysterious cave is a holy ground of God. God commands Moses to go to Egypt and tell Ramses to let the Hebrews go. Moses is scared of this task, but God tells Moses he will be with him when he tells Ramses to let the Hebrews go. Moses returns to the Village, telling his wife Zipporah to come with him to Egypt so they can tell Ramses to free their people from slavery.

When Moses and Zipporah go to Egypt, they go to the palace and tell Ramses that the God of the Hebrews has said to let the Hebrews be free. Ramses is confused and expects him to return to be crowned the Prince of Egypt again. After Ramses realizes he is serious, Moses puts his staff on the ground, saying, "Behold, the power of God," and the staff turns into a snake. Ramses underestimates the power of God, and his high priests Hotep and Huy sing a song meant to underestimate the power of the Hebrews and show the power of Ra to Moses. Moses is intimidated and scared but still accepts the task presented by God. After this, Moses goes to the Nile River and sees Ramses, his soldiers, and the Priests on a boat. Moses yells at Ramses, "Ramses, let my people go." Ramses responds," I am done with this Hebrew nonsense," and gets soldiers to attack Moses. God speaks to Moses, telling him to take the stuff in his hand and put it in the water; suddenly, the river turns into blood. After this, Ramses laughs and tells Hotep and Huy to mimic the blood, and they succeed. Aaron and Miriam are surprised. Moses tells them that the Pharaoh can take their lives away, but the only thing they cannot take away is their faith in God.

Moses unleashes the ten plagues on Egypt, including frogs, bloody rivers, locusts, and beasts, killing the firstborn children of Egypt and causing the loss of livestock. During the death of the first Mose,s walks along the Villages and puts sheep blood on the Hebrew houses, marking that the Hebrew firstborns will not pass away; this results in the death of Ramses' son. Ramses gives up and lets the Hebrews leave Egypt, marking the Exodus of Egypt. Ramses regrets his decision as they leave Egypt and chase the Hebrews on their chariots with Egyptian soldiers. Moses reaches the Red Sea. Ramses eventually finds Moses with his people, and as they are about to attack them, Moses and his staff create a fire blocking them from coming. After that, Moses splits the Red Sea and walks to the end of the sea; right after that, Ramses reaches the sea, but it closes up, drowning the Egyptians. Moses reached Mount Sinai, took the Ten Commandments, and held them up in the air. Lastly, the Jews lived in God's promised land (Cannan.)

In conclusion, I hope you liked my review and watched The Prince of Egypt since it is an excellent and Educational movie; overall, I rate this film a 5/5.

The Simpsons

By Ashton Amirianfar

The Simpsons is a classic top-rated animated show with 35 seasons and about 765 episodes. This cartoon came out on December 17, 1989, 35 years from 2024. The Simpsons is an American sitcom rated as a top 100 TV show and has won over 30 awards. They have also made over $1 billion from the show. 

The show consists of a family called the Simpsons: Homer, Marge, Bart, Lisa, (and Maggie. Lisa is a good child with great grades and a jazz saxophonist with excellent behavior. Bart is a troublemaker; he has bad grades and bad behavior. Maggie is the baby, but she is brilliant. Homer is dumb and an alcoholic who works at a power plant, and Marge is just a typical average parent who is holding her whole family together. The Simpsons are the longest-running TV show. They also have a ride at Universal Studios Hollywood, created by cartoonist Matt Groening. 

The Simpsons was set in the fake American city of Springfield, which, according to Matt Groening, was named after Springfield, Oregon. The show centers on a family with all the flaws of the modern era but the representation of the 1950s. It is hilarious and exciting to watch.

I love this show and rate it a 9.5 out of 10 because it is amusing and good to watch with family and friends. If you have never watched this show, you should because, trust me, it is excellent. It would help if you also went on the Simpsons ride at Universal Studios, which is fun to go on alone or with friends and family. I hope you enjoyed my article and that you will get to watch the Simpsons or go on the ride. 

Carmen Sandiego

By Bann Jabari

Carmen Sandiego is an animated action T.V. series created by Broderbund. The show offers a closer look at the backstory of Carmen, a skilled thief who became a hero and saved artifacts from getting stolen. Inspired by some game shows, the series presents Carmen's perspective and motivations for her actions. It is well-known for its engaging storyline and unique characters.

This T.V. series is about a woman who, when she was a baby, was abandoned on the roadside of Buenos Aires, Argentina. An academy for thieves, V.I.L.E. Academy, found her and raised her there to become a thief. After twenty years, Carmen goes against the V.I.L.E. Academy and restores stolen pieces and artifacts worth a lot.

Overall, I found the series to be very entertaining and action-filled. It is perfect for those who love mysteries and action. This series is 4 out of 5.

Island of The Sea Wolves

By Mazu Rakhsha

Have you ever watched an animal documentary that makes empathizing with animals as natural as rooting for characters in a story? In Island of the Sea Wolves, the daily life experiences of the animals on Vancouver Island are attached to minor storylines that can be heartwarming, saddening, or even purely surprising. Still, the documentary is always as entertaining as it is informative. With three episodes, each delving into the events of a different season, the experiences of each Vancouver Island animal are detailed in short increments between the time spent revolving around the lives of the series' "main characters," the sea wolves.

In Episode 1, the narrator reveals that Cedar, a young female sea wolf, is pregnant. However, as her ranking is lower in the wolves' social hierarchy and the alpha female is pregnant, she is shunned by her pack. While she independently searches for food for herself and her pups on both land and water, the narrator proceeds to describe a day of hunting for two bald eagles and lifelong companions, Spiro and Misty, as well as the seemingly peaceful attitudes of sea otter mom, Skye and her pup, Rocky, whose lives are actually at stake because of the difficulty of locating sufficient amounts of food. The first episode focuses primarily on these stories' facts while adding some interpretive narration to help viewers connect with the animal characters they watch on screen. The structure of the episodes, starting with the very first one, works well because switching from storyline to storyline helps avoid boredom in viewers. Overall, the first episode sets the stage for some of the most prominent animals of the series and intrigues viewers from the beginning to keep them watching later on. 

Episode Two features the animals from Episode 1 but also introduces a few more to the storyline: Hemlock and Surf, bear cubs, alongside their mother, Spruce, and Brutus, a large and potentially hostile male bear. Moreover, bald eagle Spiro and Misty's chicks are born, but the competition for food leaves only a slim chance that they will all survive. Then, a Vancouver Island marmot, Esmerelda, is released into the wild in hopes of survival after living most of her life in captivity. While these new characters fight to survive, the sea wolves, Spiro and Misty, and the mother-son otter duo of Rocky and Skye are doing the same. Cedar heads towards the alpha female, Dagger's den, perhaps to raid her rival's den or even kill her pups, but something genuinely stunning–and touching–happens instead. Rocky and Skye are doing well, but Rocky's dependence on his mother may harm his success as a young otter. The episode's conclusion leaves viewers with a cliffhanger intense enough to encourage them to watch the next and last episode: the loss of a young and injured sea wolf pup.

The final episode, Episode 3, focuses on the lone pup and his days, finally answering whether he will survive and return to his pack. Then, the hectic storylines of the other animals resolve with an at least temporarily serene ending that provides closure to their previous survival experiences. In the last episode, viewers can witness how Vancouver Island's animals work together to survive and find hope even in harsh situations.

In summary, Island of The Sea Wolves is an intriguing docuseries that revolves around the experiences of many species over three seasons. The narration employs a storytelling technique that helps build empathy for the animals in viewers and keep them hooked all three episodes long, making for an entertaining watch. If you are sick of boring documentaries that spit out pure facts, try Island of The Sea Wolves for a change.

Young Sheldon

By Jordana Danielpour and Andrew Azizollahi

Young Sheldon is a witty family sitcom starring Jim Parsons, Zoe Perry, Lance Barber, and more. It is based on the famous show Big Bang Theory, about a brilliant young genius named Sheldon Cooper.

Sheldon has a mother named Mary, who is very religious and is in a Christian church; a father named George, a football coach; a brother named Georgie; and a sister named Missy. The series starts with Sheldon being so brilliant that he can skip from the fourth grade to high school. He is still brilliant, but at nine years old, going to high school still made him quite nervous.

Young Sheldon is a hilarious comedy and teaches valuable lessons, especially those that include family and its importance. Many scenarios and situations can happen in everyday life and can be relatable to others. Hardships and problems may occur in the show, but that gives it great content: the thought of family being able to help and assist with any situation. Moments like when Sheldon made a stupid decision without thinking and got a stern talking-to by his father, as he was very disappointed in his actions, but his wholehearted sister was there to assist and comfort him, symbolizing and showing us her profound contribution to their relationship.

The acting by each actor was magnificent. Each actor should correctly symbolize and show the audience their character traits and insight into their purpose. For example, Mary is a striking yet conservative and devoted mother and wife. The acting by Zoe Perry (Mary) symbolizes and captures her true essence, and that is one of the main reasons why the sitcom is so passionate and great, as all the actors contribute to the show. The actors also see each other as family; Young Sheldon works so well because the actors have formed friendships, companionship, and profound love for each other that show off on the cast while shooting on the show. It was without the specific characters and actors that were picked for the show.

In conclusion, Young Sheldon is an extraordinary show because of the actors' contribution, ability to correctly and accurately symbolize and show the character traits of each character on set, the actors' connections and bonds between their co-stars developing genuine relationships, the lessons and morals taught incorporating real-life and relatable situations that the audience might go through, especially with family, and the show's fantastic plot and witty humor.

Grey's Anatomy

By Mielle Bitton 

Do you like suspense, mystery, and excitement? If so, Grey's Anatomy is the show for you.

Grey's Anatomy was released on March 27, 2005. The director is Kevin McKidd. This show has 19 seasons, meaning there is much to tell. Each season features something new and unpredictable.

Grey's Anatomy is a drama show mainly focusing on the personal and professional lives of five amazing surgical interns and their outstanding supervisors. This show is centered around Meredith Grey. Her mother is a famous heart surgeon known throughout the world. Meredith is struggling to balance life at home and life at work. She is put through some tough challenges that may be life-threatening. She and the four other interns work together in the hospital to save lives and outside the hospital to save love. 

I think Grey's Anatomy is a great show. It shows that being a doctor is not all you are in life. It shows how improving other people's lives does not make you any better. This shows that love is complex and complicated. That is why you should watch it.

This show is excellent for watching when you want to relax. Kick up your feet, grab some popcorn, and enjoy.

Little Witch Academia 

By Bann Jabari

Little Witch Academia is an anime TV series created by Yoh Yoshinari. It was released in 2017 and produced by Trigger in Japan. The series has two seasons and 25 episodes. 

This anime TV series is about a girl, Atsuko "Akko" Kagari, who was inspired by Shiny Chariot, a witch who disappeared from public ten years ago. She decides to follow in the footsteps of Shiny Chariot and become a famous witch to make people happy. She attends Luna Nova, usually only for witches from witch families. Akko is not from a magic family but is determined to find Shiny Chariot and become her idol.

I like this series because Akko is always determined to follow her dreams and never backs down, even if she gets bad grades in Luna Nova. Her friends, Lotte Jansson and Sucy Manbavaran, always join her in her adventures, and they never back down either. 

Overall, This TV series is fantastic, and I recommend it to those who like anime. This series is a 9/10. It is an outstanding series with many good cliffhangers and mysteries. This anime TV series is perfect and worth viewing.

John Williams 

By Jordana Danielpour

John Williams is an older composer. He was born on February 8, 1932, in Flushing, New York. Some of his famous movies were Indiana Jones, Star Wars, Harry Potter, and many more well-known, wholehearted, and sentimental movies. John Williams performs in concerts showcasing his musical intellect and the stories he's composed live, and I was lucky enough to go to one. 

The concert was located in the Hollywood Bowl in LA. To entertain the audience, the Hollywood Bowl should have some of the famous and well-known movies he has composed, and all the people in the audience, including me, could see it on different screens and TVs at the Bowl. During the soundtracks and music that he composed, he conducted a band with many individual violists, flutists, and even obese people who played his music. Multiple shining and vibrating lights were going off to grab the audience's attention and capture his conducting and the individual plating instruments. 

I was delighted and enjoyed seeing John conduct and compose this evening. Whether it was the hard work of the individuals playing instruments or his contribution, especially as someone ninety-two years old, he stepped out of his comfort zone to ensure a good time for the audience and myself, which was highly selfless of him. I noticed among myself and others how he got to represent his talent and intellect through the beauty of music. 

John Williams is an actual role model and inspirational person for his contributions, achievements, success, hardships, and optimistic self. As an older person, he has lived through many events and conflicts between countries and places. For example, he was only seven years old when World War II started, and even if he did not live or experience the war, he was still profoundly affected by oil. Especially as a young boy, your brain is just developing, and having to learn or know the terrible and cruel events that occurred in that time could create a sense of scare or fear in a child. He is also an enormous inspiration to others and myself because, even in old age, he still parties in concerts and shows off his talent, which is not relatively easy, especially when you are getting older. You might not have the same abilities as you were younger, but John still contributes to his courier and is bright and intellectual regardless of age. 

In conclusion, the John Williams concert was extraordinary because it showcased his incredible talent and musical intelligence, especially in the famous movies he composed. The concert truly symbolized his contribution to his work, showing the band and individuals playing differentiating instruments and their hard work. John Williams inspires us all because he steps out of his comfort zone and does not let his age stop him. Additionally, it was an honor to engage and partake in this concert because it is an actual memory I will never forget and one that I can serenade and always have as a memory, much like others. 

SZA

By Sofia Gagunashvili

SZA is 34 years old; her real name is Solana Imani Rowe, and she became most popular in 2020 when her hit song "Kill Bill" went viral. After people found out who she was, her other songs from years before became popular. Yes, there were people who knew her from her old songs, but she became most famous when her album "CTRL" came out with her hit song "Love Galore," which features Travis Scott. After her newest album, "SOS," she became famous on TikTok because people created dances to "Broken Clocks". 

SZA won Best R&B Song for "Snooze" at the 2024 Grammys, where she also went viral for her funny "Saying Hi to Taylor Swift" in the middle of her Grammy speech. Swifties went wild after this, and they have been supporting SZA on her musical journey, spreading rumors, and saying that they might be friends. "Last year, rumors swirled that a rivalry was brewing between SZA and Swift as they battled for the top spot on the Billboard charts when they dropped their albums SOS and Midnights, respectively. SZA, however, shared that she had nothing but love for the "Anti-Hero" musician." This came from a website called "AOL". 

SZA was born in St.Louis, MO, on November 8th, 1989, and raised in Maplewood, New Jersey. Prior to pursuing her dreams as a musician, SZA followed a traditional path after high school. She attended Delaware State University and planned to major in marine biology. However, she realized college was not for her.

Chess.com

By Andrew Azizollahi 

Chess has been an exciting game in India for a long time and has grown a lot. Chess.com is a website where you can play tournaments, practice with bots and puzzles, and go up against random people or even your friends!

Chess has been changed and has a long history behind it, until the 16th century. There was no timer until the 19th century, with the pieces being standardized. Chess was born from the Indian chess game Chaturanga before 600  AD. It later spread to Europe and Asia and then to other countries. It later evolved into what we know today as Chess in the 16th century, and later, in the 19th, it became precisely how we see Chess today, having the first Chess championship.

Chess.com is a website for online Chess, which is very useful. It is a way to practice Chess on your phone if you have no one to play with. One feature I enjoy is that you can make 3-day games with your friends or even random people. This is when you have three days to move, meaning the game can last days to weeks! Chess.com is also an app on IOS and Android, which is cool because you can play the website or the app! Chess.com came out in 2002 and had an ok following until COVID-19 struck when many people were inside. It expanded to many adults and especially students. One of the more significant parts of COVID-19 brought us closer together.

Chess.com is an entertaining app and website to use. It is an app where you can build friendships with people you did not even know who played Chess or got better by playing puzzles or bots. I also appreciate how the designer's primary goals are not to make money but to spread Chess and help people have a great time playing. I also understand how, in 2023, they made a 2 million dollar prize pool for a tournament that Ding Liren won, with Ian Nepomniachtchi coming in second. The previous world champion was Magnus Carleson, who declined to defend his title.

In conclusion, Chess has grown a lot since its origin. We now have Chess.com, a fantastic site to enjoy.

Source

chess.com

Monopoly

By Mielle Bitton

Do you not love spending time with your friends or family? It is funny how boring games are called because they are fun, especially Monopoly, a fun game known worldwide.

Monopoly was invented on December 31, 1935. The people who created Monopoly are Lizzie Magie and Charles Darrow. Hasbro is now the owner of Monopoly. Hasbro bought out Parker Bros in 1991; that is how they own Monopoly.

According to the CBR website, there are 155 versions of Monopoly. Some include the Big Band Theory, M&M, etc. Monopoly Ultimate Banking, Monopoly Empire, and Monopoly Mandalorian are the most popular kinds. It is all about preference. 

Monopoly is a game where you either hate or love it. I will give you some reviews, and you can pick which is the better reason to hate or love Monopoly. Amazon states it "keeps the family entertained in a very nice way." (Houssein Gawad). "I disliked the way the board is made very easy to break very easily. There is a slit in the middle of the game." (Sharon Mason).

In the end, Monopoly is a great game. It is not only fun, but it helps you learn about finances. It is great for family game night, and you can pick your character. Monopoly is the game for you and your family, but what do you think?

UNO Cards Review

Melissa Gomes

UNO is a popular card game that has been enjoyed by millions of people worldwide for over fifty years. It was created in 1971 by Merle Robbins, an Ohio barber. The game was initially called "Crazy Eights" and played with a regular card deck. However, Merle Robbins wanted to create a game that was easier for children to play, so he created UNO.

UNO quickly became a hit and was later purchased by Mattel, the toy company. Since then, the game has undergone various developments, including new themes, designs, and editions. The game is straightforward to play. It is played with a deck of 108 cards, which includes four colors (red, green, blue, and yellow) and unique action cards. The game's objective is to be the first player to get rid of all the cards in your hand. 

The game is enjoyable to play with family and friends as it is easy to learn and has simple rules. It creates a fun and competitive atmosphere, perfect for parties or gatherings, and is also a great way to bond with family and friends.

UNO is a fun and excellent game. I have played it with my family and friends often, and we always have a great time. It can be played by people of all ages, making it a perfect choice for family game nights. The game is also affordable, making it accessible to everyone.

Overall, UNO is a classic game that has stood the test of time. It is easy to learn, fun to play, and perfect for any occasion. I highly recommend it to anyone looking for a fun and exciting card game with family and friends.

UNO Still Entertains after 73 Years

By Kyla Bijari

Uno is an entertaining card game you can play with family and friends. I recommend this game to anyone. 

How to play Uno:

1. Everyone needs seven cards from the deck.

2. Put the deck in the deck of the extra cards on the side.

3. Someone must grab a card from the deck and place it in the middle of everyone. After that, everyone turns matching one of the matches to the one in the middle. You can match the card by color, number, or symbol.

4. Whoever runs out of cards first wins. 

About the game: The creator of Uno is Marle Robbins. He created Uno to resolve an argument with his son Ray, a teacher, about the rules of Crazy Eights. The original decks were designed and made on the family dining room table. It was made in 1971.

It is best for friends, family, or anyone else. It is entertaining, but it needs at least two players. Overall, you should get this game.

In conclusion, this game is excellent for playing with anyone, and if you still need to get it, you should.