ENTERTAINMENT

Guardians of the Galaxy: Volume 3

By Samuel Zuboff

This is the third long-awaited installment of the Guardians of the Galaxy trilogy. I enjoyed the two previous installments. I had high expectations, and the movie met my expectations. It was a fantastic and emotional conclusion to the trilogy.

The plot starts off with Adam Warlock, a character teased in the 2nd Guardians of the Galaxy movie. He arrives at the space station, Nowhere, which the Guardians have taken over. He attacks the Guardians and incapacitates them. He then beams Rocket in the chest. Mantis gets the defibrillator and tries to use it on Rocket, but the electrical waves that are shot into his chest put him in a coma. The Guardians knock out Adam and x-ray Rocket to reveal that he has an electrical fuse in his heart placed by his creator. As a result, the Guardians pursue getting the creator to take the electrical fuse off. They go to OrgoCorp to get information about how to deactivate the fuse. They are all attacked, and Drax is shot and hurt.

The movie flashes back to Rocket's backstory of being experimented on by the High Evolutionary, meeting other experiments, and becoming friends with them. Up until they are all murdered by the High Evolutionary and Rocket escapes.

They find the High Evolutionary on a planet called "Counter Earth." A fight breaks out, and while the other Guardians are tending to Drax, Peter and Groot fight together, eventually getting the information to fix the fuse in Rocket. The Guardians get back on their ship. Rocket ends up being woken up. The Guardians regroup and go to the High Evolutionary's other ship. They go and have a final fight to save other creatures on the ship (including the High Evolutionary). Adam Warlock comes back to help them. The ship explodes. The Guardians regroup and then part ways.

Bradley Cooper brought his A-game to this movie. He was great in the other two movies. He excels in this movie and does better than he has done before. There is one scene in this movie where all he does is yell. It is for about 5 seconds. It adds to the emotion of the scene. The characters killed in that scene were characters the audience did not know for long. So, the emotion does not come from their deaths. It comes from his reaction. It is excruciating. Chukwudi Iwuji is also great as the main villain, the High Evolutionary. He is a selfish, greedy man with no redeeming qualities. He plays him to perfection. At the movie's end, you just want him to be killed.

Since the film takes place in space, most is on a green screen and CGI later on. The CGI looks decent and better than some newer Marvel movies. For example, Rocket's CGI is done very well, and he looks like a realistic raccoon. However, that work still needs to be done by James Gunn. So the question is: Is this movie filmed well? Yes. This is not the most beautiful movie ever. There are better-looking movies. Although there is one memorable action scene in this movie that is far above the rest, It incorporates slow motion, and it is a fight in a hallway. The scene flows so well, giving off the impression of being a one-take fight scene. It is choreographed and a great example of a director and VFX artist working together.

The soundtrack was very great. It included many 1980s-2000s needle drops. Needle drops a lot of the time in movies can feel out of place. This is not the case. One of the many great things about this trilogy is that James Gunn chooses each song to fit with the scene. The opening scene has the song "Creep" by Radiohead playing. It fits with the scene and even Rocket's arc. There are specific points where he sings along to the music, and the words he sings reflect the events of his life. He sings at parts like "But, I am a creep, I am a weirdo." That is reflective of how Rocket feels about himself. He thinks of himself as an ugly fool. The scene fits with the music. The climactic hallway scene I mentioned earlier has "No Sleep Till Brooklyn" by the Beastie Boys playing in the background. The scene was great, but the song added to the action. I could not imagine this scene with any other song. Another great use of music in this movie is at the end when all the heroes are reunited, and the conflict is over. So they play the song "Dog Days Are Over." It was an upbeat song that fits well with the happy ending. It is also very somber, as this is the last time we will ever see this character. Finally, during the end credits scene, "Come and Get Your Love" is played, tying things full circle to the first movie (which also included that song).

This movie is definitely for people who have seen the previous two movies.

Moreover, I have enjoyed them. James Gunn is also an acquired taste; the humor can be hit or miss, which is the film's most mediocre part. Nevertheless, if you want an emotional conclusion or a good Marvel movie in the sea of horrible ones released, this movie is for you. This trilogy is unique and personal, and these movies are worth viewing.

Top Ten Best Movies

By Jian Jung

1. Shawshank Redemption (1994, Rated R) 

Andy Dufresne (Tim Robbins) is sentenced to two consecutive life terms in prison for the accused murders of his wife and her lover, even though he did not commit the murder, and is sentenced to a very tough and scary prison. However, only Andy himself knows he did not commit the crimes. While there, he becomes friends with Red (Morgan Freeman), experiences brutal prison life, adapts and helps the warden, and many other deeds, all in 19 years.

2. The Godfather (1972, Rated R)

This movie is considered one of the greatest films ever. This Movie is a mob drama based on Mario Puzo's novel, focusing on the powerful Italian-American mafia family of Don Vito Corleone. When the don's youngest son, Michael, unwillingly joins the Mafia, he becomes involved in the unavoidable cycle of violence and betrayal. Although Michael tries to maintain a normal relationship with his wife, Kay, he is drawn deeper into the family business.

3. The Dark Knight (2008, PG:13) 

With the help of allies Lt. Jim Gordon and DA Harvey Dent, Batman has kept crime from rampaging in Gotham City. However, when a young criminal going by the name of the Joker suddenly throws the town into chaos, Batman begins to tread a fine line between heroism and vigilantism.

4. The Godfather II (2013 Rated R)

Roth is forced to return to the United States after being refused entry into Israel. On Michael's orders, Roth is killed by Corleone caporegime Rocco Lampone during an interview at the Miami International Airport; Lampone is killed in turn by a federal agent while attempting to flee the scene.

5. Twelve Angry Men (1957, Rated R) 

After the closing arguments in court at a murder trial, the 12 members of the jury must be quick, with a guilty verdict meaning death for the person who was accused, a teen. As the twelve men try to reach an utterly unanimous decision while hidden away in a room, one juror casts doubt on the case's reasonable evidence. Personal issues will soon arise, and conflict threatens to stop the delicate process of deciding one boy's fate.

6. Schindlers List (1993 Rated R)

Businessman Oskar Schindler arrives in Krakow in 1939, ready to make his fortune from World War II, which has just started. After joining the Nazi party primarily for political expediency, he staffs his factory with Jewish workers for similarly pragmatic reasons. When the Germans begin killing Jews in the Krakow ghetto, Schindler has his workers protected to keep his factory working, but he soon realizes that his action saved thousands of Jewish lives.

7. The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King: Rating (2003, PG13)

"The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King" presents the last battle between good and evil fighting for control of the future of Middle-earth. Hobbits Frodo and Sam reach Mordor in their quest to destroy the `one ring,' while Aragorn leads the forces of good against Sauron's malicious army at the stone city of Minas Tirith.

8. Pulp Fiction (1994, Rated R) 

Vincent Vega and Jules Winnfield are hitmen with a penchant for philosophical discussions. In this ultra-hip, multi-strand crime movie, their storyline is interwoven with those of their boss, gangster Marsellus Wallace; his actress wife, Mia; struggling boxer Butch Coolidge; master fixer Winston Wolfe and a nervous pair of armed robbers, "Pumpkin") and "Honey Bunny".

9. The Lord of the Rings: Fellowship of the Rings (2001, PG13) 

The future of civilization rests in the fate of the One Ring, which has been lost for centuries. Powerful forces are unrelenting in their search for it. Nevertheless, fate has placed it into the hands of a young man named Frodo Baggins. He inherits the Ring and steps into legend. A challenging and tantalizing task lies ahead for Frodo when he becomes the Ringbearer - to destroy the One Ring in the fires of Mount Doom where it was forged.

10. The Good, The Bad, The Ugly (1966, Rated R) 

In the Southwest during the Civil War, a mysterious stranger, Joe, and a Mexican outlaw, Tuco, form an uneasy partnership -- Joe turns in the bandit for money, then rescues him just as he is being hanged. When Joe's shot at the noose goes awry during one escapade, a furious Tuco tries to have him murdered. However, the men form an uneasy partnership abruptly to beat out a sadistic criminal and the Union army. Eventually, they find $20,000 that a soldier has buried in the desert.

The Super Mario Bros. Movie Review

By Samuel Zuboff

Ever since the early 1980s, Mario has been a popular video game character. In the game Donkey Kong, kids were introduced to this Italian plumber. In 1993, he got the big-screen treatment. However, this version of the character was hated by fans and seen as not faithful to the video games. Since that movie failed, Nintendo has refused to make a movie based on their characters. In 2023, that changed when the controversial studio Illumination was given the keys to the kingdom. How did they deliver? Yes. This movie is a love letter to video games and a movie any fan will enjoy. I am not a fan of the games, but the movie still had me grinning. 

The story for this movie is very barebones. It starts with two brothers, Mario and Luigi, who are plumbers in Brooklyn, New York. Mario gets transported to the Mushroom Kingdom when trying to fix some pipes. He meets the residents of the kingdom,m also known as the toads. Meanwhile, Luigi gets teleported to a disturbing realm owned by Bowser. Mario teams up with Princess Peach to stop Bowser and save his brother.

The acting in this film was decent. Jack Black as Bowser was quickly the standout. He delivers a monstrous performance that keeps the film entertaining. Chris Pratt as Mario was fine; he delivered enough emotion and was not wooden. He does not carry the movie, but he does enough. 

The animation in this movie is fantastic. The colors are vibrant, and the characters are designed well. Everything looks faithful to the game, and you can find small details in the background that make you want to admire the whole shot. The movie has impressive sequences like Rainbow Road from Mario Kart or the Colosseum Fight with Donkey Kong.

The movie is filled with needle drops meant to keep the parents entertained. They felt perplexed when they appeared because it felt out of tone. Songs like "Holding Out for a Hero" and "No Sleep Till Brooklyn" are poorly used. However, the songs from the video games are expertly used. They give off such a nostalgic vibe. The movie's sound design is just on point with the video games. The "1 Up" box or the Pirhana Plant sound is expertly recreated.

Overall, this film was outstanding. It succumbs to many issues that streamlined animated movies have, such as the overabundance of pop-culture references and some of the humor needing to hit its mark. If you are a fan or want a fun movie to show your family. This movie is for you.

Lessons in Chemistry TV Show

By Teja Wolfe 

Apple TV has made a show based on the popular book Lessons In Chemistry. This show comes close to the book's greatness but needs to pass it. I had low expectations for this movie, but it was better than I had thought. 

The show is about Elizabeth Zott, a scientist in the 90s who wants to make a world-changing discovery. She gets moved to work with a world-renowned scientist named Calvin Evans. They fall in love, but Elizabeth never wants to get married and have kids. Through everything that happens in her life, Elizabeth ends up a single mother with a baby girl named Mad. Elizabeth struggles with having enough money to make Mad happy, so she agrees to a job as a cooking show host. Elizabeth is constantly told to make it a cooking show with no science, but she inspires women worldwide to pursue their dreams. 

Brie Larson plays Elizabeth Zott, and she understands the character well. She understands that Elizabeth mostly does not show emotion and has a perfect way of expressing that. Another fantastic actress is Alice Halse, who plays the adorable character Mad (Elizabeth's Daughter). For such a young actress, she plays this character lovable and fun to watch. Mad plays an essential role in this book, and Alice Halse perfectly captures Mad. 

The cinematography in this show is good. The transitions are natural when they are needed to be and are jumpy when intense things are happening. They have no noticeable special effects, and the intro at the show's beginning represents the book well. 

The audio of Lessons in Chemistry is incredible. Its music fits well when Elizabeth is on the verge of discovering a new scientific breakthrough. Moreover, the music for the intro fits this show's time zone and theme well. 

Overall, this show is a good adaptation of the book Lessons in Chemistry. It is for an audience that wants to change the world. Give this show a 4-star rating. Although most aspects of this show were good, the book was better. 

Ballad of the Songbirds and the Snakes 

By Teja Wolfe 

A new movie is Ballad of the Songbirds and the Snakes. It is a prequel to The Hunger Games, following the uprising of the infamous President Snow. Many people loved the book, but the question is, will people like the movie?

Many people think the trailer was captivating and made them want to watch it, so the odds are good. 

The main actors in this movie are Tom Blyth, who stars as Coriolanus Snow, and Rachel Zeglar as Lucy Gray Baird. Lucy Gray is the District 12 tribute, and Snow is her mentor and the future president. Many people think that Tom Blyth is the perfect actor for Coriolanus Snow. 

The movie topped the box office on its first weekend of release with $44 million and is expected to make much more. The people who watched the movie say that it was terrific. The audience rating on Rotten Tomatoes was 91%, whereas the professionals rated the movie at 63%. There are many mixed opinions on this movie. Ballad of the Songbirds and the Snakes is playing at almost all movie theaters in the US. 

Some audience members think this could have been a better movie. Carson Timar from Rotton Tomatoes says, "At every turn, the film makes a strange choice either in screenplay or filmmaking to undercut itself. " Also, Candice Frederick from Rotten Tomatoes wrote, "It fails to validate its existence beyond the Hollywood routine of squeezing every dollar out of a successful franchise. It does not add anything to the overall narrative. It is just another story. And for no reason at all. "

There are many mixed opinions about The Ballad of the Songbirds and the Snakes. Some people think it is fantastic, while others think it is unpleasant when it is about the individual viewers' opinions. 

Netflix Geeked Week

By Teja Wolfe

Netflix Geeked Week is a sneak peek at all the new shows and movies that Netflix is making that will come out soon. They release new trailers and videos from the actors and actresses saying how excited they are about the production. This is the third year that Netflix is doing Geeked Week. Geeked Week is from Nov. 6th to Nov. 12th and is a way to get viewers to be interactive and excited about upcoming shows/movies. 

Some of the shows being featured in Geeked Week are Rebel Moon, Avatar: The Last Airbender, Damsel, Yu Yu Hakusho, 3 Body Problem, One Piece, Scott Pilgrim Takes Off, Leave The World Behind, Gyeongseong Creature, The Brothers Sun, The Archies, Squid Game: The Challenge, Tomb Raider: The Legend of Lara Croft, Obliterated, The Umbrella Academy, Blue Eyed Samurai and more. In total, this Geeked Week (Netflix) featured thirty-five shows.

Every day of the week, they release a new trailer from an upcoming movie, and on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday, they have one-hour-long live streams of people talking about the upcoming movies and shows. They talk about how they must start these new productions. On Sunday the 12th, they did a livestream dedicated to Rebel Moon, Zack Snyder's production.

 Netflix also releases new games like Hades, Braid, and Death's Door. Hades is an action-packed game aiming to escape the underworld as quickly. In Braid, you can manipulate the passage of time and solve a series of puzzles to rescue a princess. Death's Door is about tracking down a realm untouched by Death (Netflix). 

Netflix Geeked Week is an excellent sneak peek at new shows, movies, and games coming out shortly. 

The Percy Jackson the Streaming Series

By Andrew Azizollahi

Percy Jackson is a spectacular fantasy story about a boy named Percy Jackson who figures out he is a demigod, half-mortal, and half-god. His Greek godfather is Posideon, the God of the Sea. This gives Percy water powers, and that makes him very powerful.

The episode series coming out will be out on December 20, 2023, on Disney+. Rick Riordan announced, "The chapter, er, episode titles for our TV show. When I say we followed the book, this is one example," Riordan captioned his post. "So looking forward to sharing it with you on December 20 on Disney+!"

Each episode will be released based on one book chapter at a time. One of my questions is, will not 40-minute-long chapters be boring after a while? I posted the chapters and episodes below.

1.  Accidentally Vaporize My Pre-Algebra Teacher

2. I Become Supreme Lord of the Bathroom

3. We Visit the Garden Gnome Emporium

4. I Plunge to My Death

5. A God Buys Us Cheeseburgers

6. We Take a Zebra to Vegas

7. We Find Out the Truth, Sort Of

8. The Prophecy Comes True

To conclude, prepare for the upcoming series by bringing snacks, popcorn, and lemonade. So keep your eyes peeled, demigods, and have a great day.

Source

https://www.msn.com

5 Nights, 5 Animatronics, Is it a 5/5?

By Samuel Zuboff

This movie is an adaptation of the popular video games created by Scott Cawthon. The games are known for their confusing and all-over-the-place stories. It is a story fans have been quivering to see adapted on the big screen. The movie has had a cycle of rotating scripts, writers, and directors. They even switched from Warner Bros. to Universal Studios. Finally, they landed Emma Tammi as the director, and the movie came out in October of this year. Which begs the question: is the long-awaited big-screen treatment of the video game any good?

The short answer is yes. The movie was enjoyable and entertaining. I was interested in the story due to the mysteries they implemented. The movie serves as a fun horror movie for kids. Many people have been debating if FNAF is for kids. The video games have touchy subject matter, such as child murder, and probably were not made for kids. However, the videos of popular YouTubers such as Markiplier caught the attention of little children. The marketing for the games started pandering to kids because that was the most robust audience for the games. The movie features much goofy humor, strangely, from the animatronics.

The film follows Mike Shmidt. A troubled man is taking care of his little sister. His parents are dead, and his brother is kidnapped. To keep custody of his sister, he lands a job at "Freddy Fazbear's Pizzeria." The place was shut down after a slew of child murders. After working at the decrepit restaurant each night, he learns new details about its past, including information about the owner, William Afton. He eventually discovers that William Afton is the culprit, but it is too late. William Afton attacks Mike and his sister, who tagged along. The animatronics attack William Afton as they inhabit the souls of the dead children. William Afton is then killed. It ends with Mike and his sister having a happy ending.

This movie is not scary at all. I was never on the edge of my seat. The animatronics are done well; they looked lovely in many scenes and were faithful to their video game counterpart. However, they turned the animatronics into protagonists. This makes sense because they have child souls that inhabit their bodies. It is ruined by the fact that the final villain only gets 20 minutes of screen time at the movie's end. FNAF started as a horror franchise, so it stinks that they dumbed the material down for the child audience.

The animatronics get one sequence in the movie where they murder a grouping of delinquents, defacing the pizzeria. That scene did not elicit even a semblance of fear in me. This movie will only be loved by children who are fans of Five Nights at Freddy's and maybe some adults. The movie includes a lot of Easter eggs and references to the games, which would be enjoyable. Nevertheless, the average Joe who has no clue who William Afton is or what the "Bite of '87" is will miss out.

Scott Pilgrim vs. The World

By Philip Lee

For those who have not watched this movie, this article will discuss major and minor plot points of Scott Pilgrim vs. The World, an Edgar Wright-directed cult classic based on comics written by Bryan Lee O'Malley and produced by Universal Studios. Unfortunately, Scott Pilgrim vs The World bombed the box office, bringing in just over 51 million dollars, and then quickly became a cult classic. This is not surprising, though, because by the time the movie was released, Edgar Wright had become somewhat of a cult classic director. By 2010, he had directed and written Shaun of The Dead and Hot Fuzz. 

The movie follows Scott Pilgrim, who is dating a high schooler named Knives Chau (he is 22). Scott Pilgrim is a guy who bumbles through life in Toronto, Canada. Oh, he is also in a band called Sex Bob-Omb, whose members are Scott Pilgrim, who plays the bass, Kim Pine, who plays the drum, and Steven Stills, who plays the guitar. Then there is Young Neil, who plays Zelda and Tetris. He lives here. The plot revolves around Scott Pilgrim and Ramona, who recently moved to Toronto from New York, as Scott fights Ramona's Seven Evil Exes. During Sex-Bob-Omb's first performance, Matthew Pattel crashes through the wall to challenge Scott to a battle. Pilgrim then proceeds to disintegrate him in a pile of loose change. Scott then proceeds to fight and defeat all of Ramona's Evil Exes. 

The cinematography is and was phenomenal. The title sequence is one example of plenty that shows Edgar Wright's directing prowess. The camera pans backward as Sex-Bob-Omb rehearses in a living room, stretching out the space between the couch, where Knives Chau and Young Neil are sitting, and the band. Lightning bolts shoot out like soundwaves, and wires fly everywhere. The first half of the stylized title, "SCOTT PILGRIM," appears. The camera shoots behind the couch to join the rest of the title. 

Scott Pilgrim Vs. The World is heavily stylized. Every Evil Ex fight looks like an arcade game: enemies drop coins when defeated, Scott uses a 1-UP, onomatopoeic words appear on screen, and all that jazz. Surprisingly, the special effects hold up for being a 13-year-old movie. Some effects look off, but none are bad enough to pull you out of the movie. Matthew Pattel and Scott's fight looks good enough, Pattel's ghosts are serviceable, and all the stylized graphics look good. 

Many people complain about the acting in Scott Pilgrim Vs—the World. Micheal Cera is said to be too friendly and funny to play Scott. For diehard fans of the comic, this could be a problem, as Scott is meant to be portrayed as a loser and a less-than-savory person. However, for casual first-time movie viewers, it truly does not matter. 

It is tough to describe acting in this movie other than to say it is good, even though Scott Pilgrim Vs. The World was a low-budget movie; it stars two high-profile actors: Brie Larson and Chris Evans. Brie Larson, an actress widely known for Captain Marvel, a horrendous movie that wrote the titular character awfully, does an immaculate job as Envy Adams. Her mannerisms, voice, and general presentation fit the character perfectly. Chris Evans is in a similar position. Although not wholly distinct from other characters he has played, his work as Lucas Lee fits into the movie perfectly. The way he voices the character is perfect as well. 

Scott Pilgrim Vs. The World is a phenomenal movie for what it is: a movie. Because it adapts a long-running comic series into a 2-hour movie, it had to cut some stuff, like Nega Scott. While some claim that the books are much better than the movie, the movie does its job and does it well. 

Fionna and Cake: Is It Better Than Adventure Time? 

By Teja Wolfe

A new show that is getting some controversy is Fionna and Cake. The classic show Adventure Time inspired this show. In Adventure Time, we follow the characters, Finn the human, and Jake the dog. They go on fun adventures and slay monsters; each episode is self-contained. Fans expected Fionna and Cake to be a spin-off show of this but with different characters: Fionna, the human, and Cake, the cat. Many people would have liked it better that way. 

Instead, this show is about Fionna and Cake living in a world like ours. They are bored with life and want to add some magic to it. They find out that their universe was not supposed to be created and that someone was after them to destroy their universe and return things the way they were supposed to be. On their mission, they meet many characters from Adventure Time but are older now and less fun and fabulous. They go to many different worlds with many characters to escape the people trying to destroy their world, but they are also looking for Ice King's magical crown to make their world magical. 

The plot of this show is perfect, but it does not have the original Adventure Time charm that the fans expected. In Adventure Time, no characters cursed or were ever bloody when they got hurt. However, in Fionna and Cake, the first episode is unexpectedly gory, but there is no more blood for the rest of the season. 

Fionna and Cake were made for an older audience. However, it was marketed like a kid's show because many people made the connection to Adventure Time. It is like Adventure Time but needs to have the classic charm to it. Fans of Adventure Time are disappointed because they wanted one of their favorite shows to live again, but just with different characters. 

Many people think that Fionna and Cake is different from Adventure Time. 

Should the Simpsons Be Over?

By Samuel Zuboff

The Simpsons is a show that has had a long history of syndication. The show has been on since 1989, making it 34 years old. The show had an auspicious start and kept increasing in quality. Something happened over the years. The show started to nose-dive in quality. For any standard show, that would mean the end. However, this is The Simpsons is a pop culture phenomenon that has no sign of stopping. 

The show peaked from Seasons 1–9, with well-loved episodes such as Marge's The Monorail and Who Shot Mr. Burns, to name a couple. Season 10 saw a dip in the quality of The Simpsons due to somewhat lackluster plot lines.

The Simpsons movie came out in 2007 with decent reviews. Many fans considered the movie too late, as it had been released after the show's initial heyday. The show would not pick up in quality, with each season worsening. 

In 2019, Disney bought 20th CenturyFox, the producer of the show. The show was used to market their new streaming service,e Disney+. Even after the acquisition and having new studio heads, the show faltered. The episode writing had grown less and less funny. Fans of the show also noticed a decrease in the voice acting, primarily with JulieKavner, the voice actress for Marge.

The big question is: Should The Simpsons be over? Yes. The show has never been able to pick up the quality of its show and has not been able to get even close to its original peak. Many fans are sick of the show, and they should end it. It seems too late to end the show on a good note. However, it is only going for money and seems to be working in some capacity.

Scott Pilgrim's Precious Little Anime 

By Sam Zuboff

*Spoiler Alert*

This show was marketed as a remake of the cult classic 2010 movie based on the Scott Pilgrim book series. It features the movie's original cast and had involvement from many of the original's creative team. The show came out this year, and the reviews have been mixed. The show was not a sequel but what many call a remix of the original material. The show started with Scott "dying," this time, it featured Ramona as the main character. So, was this subversion any good? 

Yes, the show is perfect. The story was well written. The characters were developed well. In the original movie, many characters were introduced. However, Scott was the only character that had any serious development. In the books, the characters were fleshed out. Scott's exes, like Kim or Envy, felt like three-dimensional characters. The show decides to go the extra mile and add more development for the characters. The evil exes who were originally just antagonists are genuine people. In the original, it did not show how bad of a person Ramona was to her previous love interests. This show allows Ramona to reflect on those heartbreaks, and, by the end of the show, actually ends up a better person.

The plot for this show was perfect. It started with a remake of the first issue. Scott and Ramona fall in love, he gets an email from the first evil ex, and the "Battle of the Bands" happens. The episode ends with Scott not defeating the first evil ex-boyfriend but him actually "dying ."The next episode picks up with the repercussions of Scott's death. Ramona eventually finds out that Scott might be alive. The rest of the show is a mystery to find out who took Scott.

The show's central mystery kept it engaging and made me want to watch it. The eventual reveal was interesting, with Old Scott being revealed to have taken the Scott we know through a time machine. The reason was pretty heartfelt because Old Scott did not want his younger self to enter into a relationship with Ramona. After all, it led to heartbreak. 

The animation in this show was one of the most essential parts for this adaptation to work. The animation was outstanding. The fight scenes were especially a standout. They had excellent flow, and my eyes were glued to the screen during them. The colors are rich, the movement on the characters is crisp, 

The comedy in the show is also a standout. The show is well-written, and the dialogue is just terrific. The show borrows many jokes from the original movie and recontextualizes them. The jokes are delivered well by the voice actors. I especially enjoyed Johnny Simmons as Young Neil. He had great timing, and I liked his deadpan humor.

Everyone should watch the show. However, reading the books or watching the movie first would help because it provides much context to the show's plot. You will only enjoy this show if you do your homework. With many shows, that seems like a deal breaker. Both the book and the movie are fun. The show is on par with the quality and just great. 

Geometry Dash's Game Modes 

By Andrew Azizollahi and Donovan Bell

Geometry Dash is an enjoyable and entertaining game. You can play levels, complete challenges, and even create your levels. In this article, I will rate the game's first three levels.

The first game is Stereo Madness. Once you start a level, it introduces obstacles and portals (later on) that make you fly. If you play a level many times, it gets easier because you know the pattern of the level.

The next level is Back on Track. It contains flying tunnels and spiky jumps. This level is more complex but more fun and competitive overall. 

Finally, the last level is Poltergeist, a mode where competition is 100%. This mode has obstacles, including several spikes, portals, and exciting jumps.

Overall, Geometry Dash is an exciting, competitive, and fun game. Check if you have a laptop or computer, and check it out. It is free to play and highly entertaining. To conclude, Geometry Dash is a competitive and exciting game.

Spider-Man 2: Best Game of the Year?

By Samuel Zuboff

This game is the sequel to 2018's highly regarded Spider-Man game. It has been a long time since we saw the adventures of Spider-Man in game form, aside from Spider-Man: Miles Morales, which came out in 2020. So, is the long-awaited installment of the Insomniac Games Spider-Man game any good?

 I had high expectations for this game. For both the story and the gameplay. The game exceeded my expectations for the gameplay. Never has web-slinging and traversing through New York City been so fun. The game adds gameplay mechanics like we be wings, where you can fly after swinging into the sky. The game also adds many fighting mechanics that enhance the combat. The story introduces an upgrade to our titular character by acquiring the symbiote. It was a blast using the different attacks that it had to offer. The game balances Miles' electrical-based abilities and Peter's new symbiote powers well. Personally, Peter was more fun to play with. There is more of a brutality to his combat, especially in the middle stage of the game. Miles has his perks, however, such as turning invisible, which helps with many of the game's stealth sections. The game was a blast to play. 

The story is the less important part of a modern video game, but still vital. The story for this game met my expectations. The first two-thirds of the game is simply fantastic. It introduces Kraven the Hunter, a man who wants to hunt down the heroes and villains of New York. This villain was formidable; the game makes you fear this character. Even a detail later on puts into perspective how powerful he is. The game, however, makes one decision with that character, which sidelines him and makes him less integral. The reintroduction of Peter's childhood friend, Harry, into his life was well done. Their friendship is believable, and the different issues they go through with it are believable. The characterization in this game is excellent all around. However, as a main character, Miles needs more focus. He effectively develops the story arc, but I wanted more from him by the game's end.

This game has terrific acting. Yuri Lowenthal does a great job, as does Peter Parker. He brings much emotion to the character, especially when he gets angry. Nadji Jeter, as Miles, is also good. He brings much believability to the character, and for the little focus they give him,

New York as a setting is done well in this game. The map is big and has many storylines you can play through outside the primary campaign. Many side quests can be tedious, but by the end, they give you some reward or add a mystery that gets you excited for the next game. A specific side quest in this game allows a side character from the last game to return. Other sidequests give you insight into more possible villains for Spider-Man to face. Even after you complete the game's main story, there are still things to do, and the game does well with the extra content.

Overall, this game was great. However, I do not recommend it to everyone. The story relies on much knowledge from the different interpretations of Spider-Man and even some comics. I do not recommend this game to someone who has not played the first game or does not understand Spider-Man's lore.

The Beginner’s Guide Information for Bloons Tower Defense 

By Philip Lee

Bloons Tower Defense 6, often shortened to BTD6, is just what it says on the tin: a 2D tower defense game about monkeys popping balloons. Please do not get it mixed up; balloons are deadly killing machines that need to be taken down, and balloons are harmless children’s toys that even the monkeys use. 

There are many different types of monkeys. There are the primary monkeys, the military monkeys, the magic monkeys, and the support monkeys. 

There are six primary monkeys: dart monkey, ice monkey, glue gunner, boomerang monkey, bomb shooter, and tack shooter. 

There are seven military monkeys: sniper monkey, monkey sub, monkey buccaneer, monkey ace, heli pilot, mortar monkey, and the dartling gunner.

There are five magic monkeys: wizard, super monkey, ninja monkey, and the alchemist. 

The five support monkeys are the banana farm, spike factory, monkey village, and the engineer monkey. 

Aside from the four monkey classes, there are the heroes. They can only be placed once, but aside from the placement cost, the hero levels up independently. 

Every monkey, aside from the heroes, has three upgrade paths. One path can be upgraded to the last upgrade, but only one other path can be upgraded with the max upgrade of two. However, only one tier five of each upgrade can be placed, except the Crossbow Master, which can be placed twice if a certain Monkey Knowledge point is unlocked. 

Monkey Knowledge is a skill tree that can be unlocked by leveling up. There are six skill trees within the Monkey Knowledge system—one for each monkey type, one for heroes, and one for powers. 

There are two different types of currency in BTD6. Monkey Money can be used for heroes, hero costumes, player cosmetics, Monkey Knowledge upgrades, and Cash, used in-game to upgrade Monkeys.

Banana farms are the primary way to gain Cash. All three paths drop bananas, which, upon collection, give the player Cash. These paths are all beneficial in different scenarios. However, there are many other methods to gain Cash. Popping balloons grant money, the bottom path monkey buccaneer grants Cash, middle path druids can grant Cash, and more. 

In BTD6, there are tons of game modes. On each of the four difficulty levels, there are at least a dozen maps, except expert maps, which are one shy, and each map has three difficulty levels: easy, medium, and hard. Then, there are even more game modes within the difficulty levels—backward track, military only, primary only, magic only, half cash, and more. However, the grand finale of each map is C.H.I.M.P.S. No continues, one heart, no extra income beyond popping bloons, no Monkey Knowledge, no powers, and no selling. C.H.I.M.P.S. is the ultimate test of skill within BTD6.

After playing the game for a while, beating C.H.I.M.P.S. may become trivial. Some may believe that that is the end of BTD6 content and that nothing is left to do. This article mentions a fraction of the content in BTD6, and with the recent addition of player-made maps, there is an infinite amount of new content to explore. This article has not even mentioned infinite mode, Paragons, the True Sun God, the Vengeful True Sun God, black borders, whatever. 

Why Do So Many People Hate Overwatch 2?

By Philip Lee

Overwatch 2 is one of the most hated games ever. On Steam, there are thousands of reviews dunking on the game. What is interesting, though, is that the game used to be loved by nearly everyone. What happened? Why did it fall from grace?

Overwatch 2 is a fantastic case study into overpromising. The Overwatch team at Blizzard halted all development of Overwatch 1 and started working entirely on Overwatch 2 after releasing the character Echo in 2020. The year previous, the Overwatch 2 cinematic trailer was released. After a short delay, The game was released at the tail end of 2022. Between the announcement of the game and the actual release, so much was promised—namely, the player vs. environment mode. Blizzard promised a fully-fledged PVE game mode with a separate skill tree for each character. Players of Overwatch 1 were understandably excited about this. Unfortunately, the Overwatch team flaked. After the release of Overwatch 2 in 2022, they announced that the PVE game mode was just too much for the team, and they could not complete it. In other words, the only reason Overwatch got a sequel was no longer coming. Players of Overwatch 1 were understandably angry. 

In place of the full PVE game mode was the Invasion story PVE mode. However, instead of releasing it as a free DLC as an apology, they charged $15. The reviews for the Invasion mode are "overwhelmingly negative" on Steam. 

The Overwatch model worked like this: pay $40 or $20 for the game, depending on when you bought it, and then the rest of the gameplay content was accessible. To unlock cosmetic items, you could pay or just play the game until you receive a loot box and pray to your preferred deity for the one you want. Sure, it is not a perfect system, but the most crucial bit is that the heroes came cheaply.

Heroes are the lifeblood of Overwatch. Every hero has a unique weapon and some unique abilities or gimmicks. For example, Reinhart has a rocket hammer that can be used at close range. If he has to fight an enemy at long range, he has an ability called "Firestrike," which sends a sizeable vertical projectile in the direction he is facing. Since Reinhart is very slow, he has a charge ability that pins any enemies in his path and crushes them against a wall. To defend his teammates, he has a large shield that can be activated by pressing and holding alternate fire. 

In terms of heroes, Overwatch 2 made a couple of radical changes. For one, instead of 6v6, the primary game mode became 5v5. For another, they locked essential heroes behind a $10 paywall. For example, Kirko, an anti-meta hero essential to many different team compositions, was locked behind the battle pass. 

Unfortunately, adding a battle pass to the sequel was not the only change in monetization. After some legal trouble, they abandoned the loot box system and implemented the pay-per-cosmetic system. Gone are the days of unlocking cosmetics for free, and in are the days of paying upwards of $20 or $40 for one skin. It makes some miss the frankly awful loot box system. 

The moral of Overwatch's story is, unfortunately, that capitalism wins. Since Overwatch 2 was added to Steam, it has become one of the most profitable games on the platform. Nevertheless, we can extrapolate a better moral: vote with your wallet. If you dislike company policies, stop buying their products.