Today’s movie review is: “Free Guy.” “Free Guy” is a 2021 science fiction action-comedy movie directed and produced by Shawn Levy and written by Matt Lieberman. The cast includes Ryan Reynolds as the main character, Jodie Comer, Utkarsh Ambudkar, Joe Keery, Rel Howery, Taika Waititi, and others. Unfortunately, during Free Guy's production in 2019, it had to be delayed twice because of COVID-19, and it later premiered in August of 2021. The movie was a box-office banger, making $ 331.5 million on a $ 100 million budget, and it received generally positive reviews. The movie was credited for its resemblance to games like “GTA 5,” “Fortnite,” and other movies like “The Truman Show” and “Ready Player One.” 

In the story of Free Guy, the main setting is an online game called Free City developed by Soonami Studios. Within Free City, the in-game real-life players wear sunglasses on their characters and get into all sorts of online chaos. The NPCs (Non-player characters) accept the chaos and go on about their scripted lives, living every single day the same. Two of these NPCs include: Guy (Ryan Reynolds) who works as a bank teller with his best friend, the security guard, Buddy (Rel Howery).

An unemployed developer named “Millie Rusk” (Jodie Comer) plays Free City and find proof that the Soonami Ceo “Antwan” (Taika Waititi) stole source code from the concept game she developed called “Life itself” which included novel AI techniques for the games NPCs. Her friend Walter McKey who they call “Keys” (Joe Keery) now works as technical support for Soonami, is reluctant to help Millie. One day in Free City, Guy’s attention is caught by “MolotovGirl” (Millie's in-game avatar), who is singing Guy’s favorite song “Fantasy”. Guy starts to detach from his programming during a bank robbery; being distracted by MolotovGirl, he accidentally shoots the player robbing the bank, leaving the player's sunglasses. Guy, being curious, puts on the sunglasses, and his mind is blown when he is flooded with all kinds of video game overlays.

Guy leaves the bank and discovers this new world with his sunglasses. After causing a ruckus, two technical workers for Free City, Keys and his coworker “Mouser” (Urkarsh Ambudkar), interrogate Guy. They accuse Guy of being a hacker wearing an NPC's skin and unsuccessfully try to ban Guy from the game.

Now that Guy has access to the player world from the sunglasses he acquired, he visits new areas and finds Molotov Girl at a player's (Buttons) stash house, where they attempt to steal evidence from a, leading to her source code. Molotov Girl believes that Guy is a noob player and advises him to level up. So that's exactly what Guy does. Guy starts to increasingly level up by completing missions and standing out from other players and NPCs and becomes known worldwide by players as “Blue Shirt Guy”. Guy also creates an iconic phrase in which he uses every day for everybody “Don’t have a good day; Have a great day”.

Keys soon realizes that Guy is an NPC and other NPCs that Guy interacts with will also begin to develop sentience. There's a problem, Free City 2 is set to release in 48 hours and will replace Free City, erasing all NPCs. Millie tells Guy the truth about himself and Guy doesn't know what to do with himself and cuts contact with Millie. Guy has an epiphany and realizes that the NPCs are something more and goes with Buddy to get the evidence that Millie needed from Buttons stash house. Buttons had actually glitched through Free City's map and found some really important evidence. Guy’s popularity threatens Antwan's plan to release Free City 2, so he orders a server reboot of Free City which resets Guy’s Memory… 

NOW I KNOW ITS A CLIFFHANGER BUT YOU HAVE TO WATCH THE MOVIE. IT GETS CRAZY. There are lots of things I left out here, but that's a big ole summary of some of the movie. I love this movie; it's full of video game references, and there's even a character I didn't get to introduce, so now you have to go watch it.  Image

Today’s movie that I've selected to review is: Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs. Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs is a 2009 animated comedy science fiction film. Produced by Colombia Pictures and Sony Pictures Animation. Directed by Phil Lord and Christopher Miller. This movie stars so many notable people like Bill Hader, Neil Patrick Harris, Anna Faris, Andy Samberg and many more. The movie made around 243 million dollars on a 100 million dollar budget. The story follows Flint Lockwood, an inventor and scientist, who made a machine that could convert food into water, but the machine malfunctions, and Flint must fight to stop the machine before it ends the word. 

Flint Lockwood has always been an inventor since his early days as a child and wants to be an astounding scientist and help the world with his inventions. Flint lives in Swallow Falls, a fictional town in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean that only lives off of sardines. Flint is tired of only eating sardines and creates a machine that turns the water around them into food via genetic mutation. This machine is called the FLDSMDFR (Flint Lockwood Diatonic Super Mutating Dynamic Food Replicator). With this machine, they would never have to eat sardines again. Needing to power the FLDSMDFR, Flint goes to a substation, and when he tries to connect the machine, it backfires, rockets across town and destroys the brand new sardine theme park which angers the locals. Flint retreats to one of the docks off the side of the town to think and clear his mind. While he’s there, he meets Sam Sparks, a meteorologist from New York City whose big break was ruined by Flint's actions. As Flint and Sam are talking, all of a sudden cheeseburgers begin to rain from the sky; this is where Flint realizes that his invention worked and is using the condensation from clouds to make food based weather items. This outstanding achievement helps Flint gain some fame and make Swallow Falls into Chewandswallow, a new tourist destination. Something isn't right though; as the machine is used more and more, Flint begins to notice that the food is beginning to over mutate and become unstable. Flint warns the island's mayor who is now obese from letting the food take over him, but the mayor disregards it. One day during the opening of a new candy amusement park, Flint is astonished to see a Spaghetti tornado wreaking havoc all over the city; Flint attempts to deactivate the machine through his computer, but the mayor destroys the device to deactivate the machine via his computer. This then causes a major food storm to spread across the globe. Flint, feeling discouraged, gets motivated by his loved ones and creates a USB drive kill code to go to the machine and manually disable it. With Flint's flying car, he flies to the FLDSMDFR which has made a giant meatball chamber in the sky. The machine has now gained full sentience and is now producing sentient dangerous food. Flint loses the flashdrive and instructs his dad to send the kill code to his phone, but his dad sends the wrong code. During the battle with the machine, Flint thinks of one last idea. He uses one of his original inventions “Spray on Shoes” to spray into the FLDSMDFR, jamming the machine and saving the world.

This is another movie I actively watched as a kid, and I always enjoyed it. The actors in the story are amazing and the plot is beautiful. There are also lots of funny jokes and gags that even adults would laugh at. The movie is super fun and can even hit you deep but it has a great lesson. Flint is willing to give himself up to save the world. I would give the movie a solid 8/10. It's a great movie to pop on and watch with your family. Image 

Released on September 15th, 2015, Higher Truth is the 4th and last studio album produced by late rock musician Chris Cornell. What made this album special compared to many albums at the time was the down-to-earth vibe it offered listeners. Cornell was very vulnerable with her words and feelings, and he felt very strongly about trying to make people feel as if they belong. Along with this, he also felt that people spend too much of their time trying to be someone they are not for people who don't deserve their time or energy. Higher Truth is an album made to help people explore themselves and find what they truly want to be. At the core, this album explores the relentless pursuit to fit in. It measures the beauty of the world along with the weight it brings as well. Cornell balanced themes of confusion, isolation, as well as the somberness of life passing by. The main goal of this work was to drive the implication that the only “higher truth” in life is the ability to learn to find yourself. All in all, Cornell preached living in the moment as your authentic self in an ever-changing world full of fake people. Rather than worrying about fitting in or rolling with the crowd, you become your own truth in life. Everyone has purpose and meaning; everyone can find their higher truth.  Source

On August 27, 1991, a Seattle grunge rock band, Pearl Jam, released their debut album, Ten. This album helped shape the grunge community. This album deals with themes of childhood trauma, isolation, and depression. Addressing these dark truths in the form of music has helped people get through issues dealing with the themes. Furthermore, despite receiving a diamond certification, the band refused to do music videos to exploit the album. The album left an impact on many people of many ages due to its level of emotion and vulnerability. The album helped bring attention to teen suicide and bullying, a struggle many face. Pearl Jam was one of the first few bands of the time to bring genuine concern to how isolation and a feeling of not belonging can take a toll on a person. To add, this album drove their career higher and higher; listeners felt that the album was down to earth and truthful. This band became a voice for many of the voiceless and shows that every little person matters and is deserving of a good life. Ultimately, this album is more than what lies on the surface; it is a true and meaningful story of those who struggle, for those who struggle. At the end of the day, you're never alone, and this is what this album strives to remind people. Source 

The song “Black” by Pearl Jam is a very emotional piece of music essentially written about letting go. Specifically, letting go of someone you once loved. In the beginning of the song, the speaker describes their love interest and makes it obvious that he still loves her. A line from the song says, “All five horizons revolved around her soul.” The girl being described in the song seems to have a very close connection to the speaker. However, throughout the rest of the song the speaker begins to take a very negative turn, and explain his feelings of sadness and distraughtness. A line from the song says, “All the love gone bad turned my world to black.” This line from the song has a very dark meaning and leaves an eerie or sad feeling to listeners. The speaker continues the rest of the song explaining in great detail of his loss. The most popular part of the song are the last lyrics of the song: “I know someday you'll have a beautiful life, I know you'll be a star in somebody else's sky, but why, why, why can't it be, can't it be mine?” This line from the song concludes the speaker's main message. Although he still deeply loves and cares about her, he knows that she doesn’t belong with him anymore. The lyrics show the speaker’s desire for her, yet the realization that they will never have that connection that they once did. Their love turned to black. Picture source   

The song “Let It Happen” by Tame Impala is a song that presents ideas of anxiety and even fear of something happening. The song allows listeners to relate and realize that they should just let it happen. The song opens up with the lyrics, “It’s always around me, all this noise. But, not nearly as loud as the voice saying, "Let it happen, let it happen.” The very first lyrics of the song already explain the entire meaning of the song. Even if things around you are crazy and stressful, it’s more work to try and stop it rather than just let it happen. This song explains that we should work with our problems, not go against them. Going against our problems may make things a lot harder than they have to be. If we let things happen, we can always find a way out of it. Fighting against our problems may only cause more stress, or even make the problem more apparent. Overall, the main message of the song is to never allow ourselves to become consumed and controlled by our problems; instead, just let it happen, and don’t let your problems cause you to worry. It is harder to stress than it is to let it happen. 

Jackson, Ohio, is home to many local businesses, but one popular spot that brings smiles to the community is Michael’s Ice Cream. Located in the heart of Jackson, the shop gives residents a place to enjoy a cold, sweet treat while spending time with family and friends. Michael’s Ice Cream offers a variety of flavors and desserts for customers to choose from. Whether someone prefers a classic flavor or wants to try something different, there is something for many different tastes. The shop is especially popular during the warmer months, when people are looking for a refreshing way to cool down. Local ice cream shops can also be important parts of a community. They provide a place where people can meet, talk, and make memories. For students and families in Jackson, visiting Michael’s can be a simple way to enjoy an afternoon or evening together. The business also represents the importance of supporting local establishments. When community members shop locally, they help businesses continue serving the area and contributing to Jackson’s economy. As summer approaches, Michael’s Ice Cream is likely to remain a popular destination for people looking for a sweet treat. For Jackson residents, it is more than just a place to get ice cream—it is a local gathering spot where good food and community come together. Lastly, do not forget to try the famous “Bubble Ice Cream”, it is a fan favorite, and a must try when in town. Article Source1. Picture Source 1.

The Markay Cultural Arts Center in Jackson is a historic and important part of downtown Jackson, Ohio. Located on Main Street, the center gives local residents a place to experience art, music, theater and other forms of entertainment. The building originally opened as a movie theater in 1949. Over the years, it has changed its purpose and become a center for the arts and community events. Today, the Markay hosts performances, art exhibits, classes and special events throughout the year. One of the center’s biggest benefits is that it gives local artists and performers an opportunity to share their talents with the community. It also provides people of all ages with a chance to experience different types of art without having to travel to a larger city. The Markay Cultural Arts Center is more than just a place for entertainment. It helps preserve Jackson’s history while creating new memories for the community. Events at the center can bring families, students and visitors together. For Jackson residents, the Markay is an example of how a historic building can continue to serve an important purpose. By supporting local artists and hosting community events, the center helps keep the arts alive in southeastern Ohio. Picture Source1/ Article Source 

Many people first believed that Henry Ford was the father of the automobile with the history of cars spanning more than 200 years. Many new engineers, inventors and milestones helped contribute to the cars we have today. The self propelled vehicle made by Ferdinand Verbiest was used to entertain and amuse the 17-year-old Emperor Kangxi who was the emperor of China at the time of the 17th century. Then the Passenger Car made by Joseph Cugnots in 1770; he was a French military engineer who designed the steam dray, which was a three-wheeled steam powered vehicle capable of pulling two five tons at an average of 2 miles per hour whereas its original purpose was to haul cannons and artillery pieces on the battlefield.It was very hard to steer, had no brakes, and could only operate for 15 minutes. The Combustion Engine Car was made by Karl Benz; it was widely considered the first practical automobile. It was designed in the late 19th century and then was officially patented in 1886 under the patent name of 37435. The vehicle had many innovations; it was a gasoline-powered internal combustion engine that helped combine a chassis and an engine into one single unit which has never been done on a car before. Although Ford is credited with the first automobile, there were many milestones prior to the Model T. Source 1 picture source 1    

The Lincoln Continental introduced many new mechanical improvements, along with interior improvement from the first three year generation. The same car  but more heavily modified was what President Kennedy drove in during his assasination. The tragic event forever changed the cultural identity of the car. More noticeable upgrades in this car was the engine; they swapped a four-barrel carburetor, installed new pistons and new bumping compressions from 10.0:1 to 10.1:1. This helped raise the horsepower from its original 300 to 320. The dashboard and the instrumental panel was completely redesigned for extra front legroom. Additionally, the front seats were moved forward to help with back passenger room for their legs. Power front vent windows were added, the deck lid was moved up for more trunk space, and the grille now has a revised insert pattern. The new interior overhaul is worth notice for collectors; the new instrument panel was much more clean and driver-focused than its previous generations. It's much more comfortable long distance as well than its other generations of 1961-62 having more leg room. The 1963 Lincoln Continental was widely used in its era both by the president though much more modified than the stock. Along with the president, Pablo Picasso, who was widely famous at the time, owned a 1963 Continental Sedan that was ivory white. Source 1  photo source 1  

The Amur leopard is one of the world’s rarest cats in the world and has faced a dramatic decline in population over the past century. Native to the forests of east Russia and northeastern China, these leopards once occupied a much larger range. Today, their habitat is greatly reduced, and the species remains classified as Critically Endangered. At one point in time, the wild population had fallen to around 30 leopards due to habitat loss, poaching, declining prey populations, and fragmentation of forests. Roads and other development can separate groups of leopards from one another, making it harder for them to find food, reproduce, and maintain genetic diversity.

Poaching has been another serious problem. Amur leopards have been targeted for their spotted fur, while the animals they depend on for food, including deer and other prey, have also been hunted. A shortage of prey can make it difficult for leopards to survive in areas that provide a suitable habitat. Despite the serious decline in population, conservation efforts have produced great results. Recent monitoring of these animals indicates that the wild population has increased greatly. A 2026 United Nations report estimates that around 223 Amur leopards now live primarily in and around Russia’s Land of the Leopard National Park and neighboring areas of northeastern China. Scientific research also provides evidence of continued population growth. For example, a 2026 study using ten years of camera-trap data found that leopard density in Land of the Leopard National Park nearly tripled between 2014 and 2023.

However, conservationists emphasize that the recovery of this species does not mean that the Amur leopard is safe. Protecting forests, preventing poaching, maintaining healthy prey populations, and creating wildlife corridors remain important. The international cooperation between Russia and China is also helping conservationists monitor leopards that move across the border. The Amur leopard's story demonstrates how quickly a species can decline when habitat and food sources disappear, but it also shows that long-term conservation can help endangered wildlife recover. Source 1, Source 2, Source 3, Source 4

The Hyacinth Macaw is the largest flying parrot in the world and is known for its bright blue feathers, large size, and powerful beak able to crush whole walnuts with ease. It has faced serious threats that have caused its population to decline in the past. Habitat destruction, illegal trapping, and the loss of nesting sites have all made survival more difficult for these remarkable birds.

One of the biggest threats to the Hyacinth Macaw’s population is habitat loss. Forests and grasslands where these magnificent birds had once lived have been cleared for agriculture, cattle ranching, and other human development. This reduces the number of trees available for nesting making it harder for macaws to find food and nesting areas to reproduce. The loss of nesting trees is especially dangerous because Hyacinth Macaws rely on larger trees and natural cavities to raise their young. In addition to this, illegal trapping, poaching, and the exotic pet trade have also harmed the Hyacinth Macaw’s populations. For years, these beautiful birds were captured and sold as pets, reducing the number of birds living in the wild.

Despite these challenges, conservation programs have helped protect the species. Organizations have worked to protect habitats, provide artificial nesting sites, and reduce illegal trapping. These efforts have helped the Hyacinth Macaw recover in some areas, but continued conservation is necessary to protect its future. Source 1, Source 2, Source 3

There are way too many holidays in September, but here are a few of the last ones which occur on September 25: National Daughter’s Day, National Comic Book Day, and National Quesadilla Day. First up is National Daughter’s Day. This day is all about daughters, whether they are newborn or in their mid forties. THAT doesn’t matter though. This day is dedicated to daughters spending time with their parents, adoptive parents, or even grandparents. Although it's called National Daughter’s Day, it doesn’t mean it's just for daughters; it can also be for someone you think of as a daughter. Make new memories with your daughter or go over old ones, no matter what this day is all about them. The next holiday on this list is National Comic Book Day. As you can guess, National Comic Book Day is all about comic books and honouring their art, artists, and stories. Comic books came from comic strips in magazines and the term “comic book” comes from the first comic book sold, which was a reprint of humourous comic strips. One of the earliest comics printed was “The Adventures of Obadiah Oldbuck.” The 1842 hardcover comic book became the first known American comic book. Last but certainly not least, National Quesadilla Day! This day is about enjoying the amazing tastes of this authentic Mexican dish. Quesadilla's are not a sandwich nor are they a taco. Honestly, they are used to satisfy snack-craving people while also being compared to a full meal. Quesadilla’s usually consist of just cheese, but some people include other fillings. Some fillings can be made up of cooked sausage, chicken, pork, or beef. Don’t forget the toppings though! These include: fresh tomatoes, salsa, herbs, sour cream, guacamole, or chilies, which definitely brings it to a whole new level of flavour. Anyways, it's fascinating that all these occur on the same day and yet they are so different.

Picture source: https://nationaldaycalendar.com/september/25

We all love holidays don’t we? Well September 18 is full of holidays; a few include: National Cheeseburger Day and National HIV/AID and Aging Awareness Day. National Cheeseburger Day is for grilling up cheeseburgers and enjoying them. Many theories conclude that cheeseburgers began in the 1920s. A theory suggests that Lionel Sternberger invented the cheeseburger in 1926 while working at father’s Pasanda, California  sandwich shop, The Rite Spot. Apparently he accidentally dropped a piece of American cheese on top of a hamburger. On this day you eat cheeseburgers; either you make one or go to your favourite burger place. The next holiday is National HIV/AID and Aging Awareness Day. For this day, help out by  attending or organizing a health fair. 24 percent of people in the USA who have AIDs or HIV are over the age of 55 or even older. Many of the campaigns that take place on this day focus on people diagnosed over the age of 50. According to the AIDs institute, increased  awareness for an aging population is necessary. Awareness is needed for these people even the ones who aren’t over the age of  50, AIDs and HIV are lifelong diseases and under no circumstances should be considered a joke. Picture source: https://nationaldaycalendar.com/september/18

Everyone knows the classic horror movies and their killers. There's “Friday the 13th” with Jason Voorhees; there’s “Nightmare on Elm Street” with Freddy Krueger; and there’s “Halloween” with Michael Myers, and the list goes on. But there aren't many movies that feel like those nowadays. You don't find many campy or slasher movies anymore. 

Why is that? Many people have different beliefs about it. Some people think that it's because those movies aren’t good when you compare them to movies nowadays. Some people think that there were too many, and they got boring to watch. Another theory is that we got used to them, and they aren’t scary anymore. I believe that is why horror movies aren’t like what they used to be. 

We as people have evolved. We have adapted to the horror movies that we have seen in the past. Sure, you might rewatch a classic horror movie and get a little scared, but that is most likely from a jump scare. People change over time, and so do their fears. What makes a horror movie a horror movie? It's that it’s scary, and what was considered scary in the past is not scary anymore. 

Most iconic horror movies can be remembered by an iconic killer, but now there aren't many iconic horror characters. Thinking of some of the newer horror movies that came out, we have: Captain Clark from the “Backrooms” and Art the Clown from “Terrifier”. There are a ton of new good horror movies that don't have a direct villain. “Obsession” and “Hereditary”- those movies don't have a direct villain that registers as a horror icon. 

The formula has also changed. Horror movies used to be about a group of college students getting hunted down by a big, silent killer. It’s not typically like that anymore. In recent years, the scary parts of the movie have more to do with psychological horror. Yes, there is some physical horror in those movies, but that's not what it's about. Horror movies now are more about a good story. Rather than back in the day, when horror was about scaring people out of their socks.

To wrap it all up, horror movies are very different, but that might not be a bad thing. Of course, a lot of people miss the classics. As time goes on and the world changes, so will horror. Some horror icons are still around today, and that doesn't mean they are the same as they used to be. In the end, horror movies are never going to stay the same.

What is “Shrek”? “Shrek” is a 3d animated movie franchise that came out in the early 2000s; it follows a big green ogre named Shrek. If you haven’t seen it, the movie is pretty much this. A grumpy, scary ogre gets a bunch of fairy tale creatures dumped in his swamp by the very short Lord Farquad. He finds an annoying talking donkey and they go talk to Farquad; he says if they rescue a princess, Shrek will get his swamp back. They rescue a princess named Fiona; she's a human. She and Shrek hit it off, and in the end, after Shrek makes a mistake, he realizes he loves her, and in the end, it turns out she is also an ogre, due to a curse that was put on to her as a child. 

Anyway, years later, they make it into a broadway musical, but it's slightly different. The musical adds scenes that I think make the story and the characters way better. I believe that if the actual movie would have added these scenes, it possibly could have changed the whole movie and how people think about it. Most of them I'm talking about add more details to Shrek and Fiona. These scenes from the musical make Fiona’s and Shrek’s, mainly Shrek’s life, seem more sad than it is in the movie. 

In the beginning of the musical, we are introduced to a seven year-old Shreck. A song begins to play. His parents wish him a happy birthday and tell him he has to go away. His parents tell him “no backing up allowed.” So they send him off and for the rest of the song we see people running away from him, bullying him, and chasing him with pitchforks and torches. Although on this journey, there is one more thing that happens; he walks past a young girl in a carriage with red hair. This isn’t just any girl, this is Fiona. 

We are only one song into the musical, and we already get so much added to the story. We see a young Shrek being forced to leave his home, and he is shown how the world is not accepting of him, but all hope isn’t lost. Along his journey, he sees a little girl that's probably his age, and she is nice to him. She doesn't make a face, she doesn't laugh, and she doesn’t scream. She smiles and waves at him. This also gives us some insight on Fiona too. She is kind, and accepting, but most importantly, she is nice.

A little bit later in the musical, we get a scene that develops Fiona and helps the viewer understand how long she has been trapped in her dragon guarded tower. Through the form of a song, we see three different versions of Fiona. A kid version,  a teen version, and an adult version. It is shown as time goes by, she spends her days waiting and reading her books about fairy tales. This also paints her in a sad light. Since she has spent years and years waiting patiently for a prince to come and rescue her. 

There is one more scene that I think really would have made Shrek a more rounded character. One of the songs involves Shrek and Donkey talking. Then Shrek begins to talk about how if you could be something else. Throughout the song he talks about how if he were a poet or a knight, he would do great things. This is literally him saying he has thoughts about what his life would be like if he wasn’t a big scary ogre.