Writing

Wembley Stadium. 90,000 seats sold out. The stage practically pulses with energy as the seven-piece boy band sings one of their biggest hits, their bodies drenched with sweat as they dance the choreography with burning vitality. The fans scream and sing along even though they don’t know the words.

This is but a small example of how BTS (acronym for “Beyond the Scene”) has impacted the world. The boy group from South Korea has sold over 15 million albums and is causing a frenzy of obsession for their upbeat and diverse music in the United States.

The group has won Top Social Artist three years in a row and Top Duo/Group at the 26th Billboard Music Awards. And these are just a few of the group’s many achievements.

But what did this success cost?

BTS returns to the silver screen for their third movie release Bring the Soul: The Movie. The film begins on a rooftop table in Paris where the seven boys humbly share their concert stories over the course of a large Parisian meal and, of course, bubbling champagne.

The film lets fans experience the struggles the boy group faced; it also gives fans the time to bask in the group’s triumphs. The members’ showcase of how much they care and how hard they work for their fans feels intensely personal and beautiful.

ARMYs (BTS devotees) were absolutely head over heels for Bring the Soul. Holding an exceptionally high rating of 99% on Rotten Tomatoes, fans couldn’t be happier about the film’s success.

Though some critics claim the movie is a “shallow cash-grab,” the BTS fanbase really appreciated it and were more than willing to whip out their wallets to see their favorite group on-screen.

The film opened to $4.4 million in the U.S. and $8.2 million overseas for a global total of $12.6 million, and tickets are still selling.

The story is refreshing and heartwarming, but also eye-opening. Seeing the struggles the boys encounter pulls at moviegoers’ heartstrings and really provides an insight into some of the downsides that come with stardom.

“Music transcends language. BTS communicates with our fans by staying true to ourselves and believing in music every day,” leader RM once said.

With this movie, we experience a behind-the-scenes story brimming with emotion. Filled with laughter and tears, Bring the Soul paints a lively and multi-layered ambience, letting fans experience their hardships and friendships right alongside them.

Cinematically pleasing as well as emotionally inspiring, the movie balances clips of the members sleeping on plane trips with heart-racing concert shots. The vibrant, colorful world of BTS’ concerts displayed in the film is undoubtedly captivating, ripe with stunning shots and resounding music.

“Trafalgar Releasing is thrilled to collaborate with Big Hit Entertainment again for Bring the Soul: The Movie, giving fans around the world an intimate opportunity to see the band following their landmark Love Yourself tour,” said Trafalgar CEO Marc Allenby in an interview with Hollywood Reporter. “The ARMYs are truly a community, and we are excited to bring them together for an all-new BTS experience in cinemas worldwide.”

Many love BTS because they always manage to never fall under the celebrity persona of “rich and selfish.” The care the members have for each other is truly inspiring, and watching this on the big screen is extra special.

“I love BTS and seeing them working so hard and being so sincere just solidifies our special bond with them. We are not just artist and fans,” Rotten Tomatoes reviewer Cheryl B. stated.

“We are a unique and special family. They speak to all of us from every generation who are still working towards learning to love ourselves, faults and all. I can’t express fully just how genuine these 7 boys are,” she finished.

The film successfully brings tears to your eyes, makes you laugh, and doesn’t fail to make you want to dance and sing along with the passionate concerts throughout the tour.

“Many things in Bring the Soul stood out to me. Perhaps what stood out and hurt me the most, however, was how strenuous and tiring a life they live,” PHS graduate Brenna Renfroe stated.

“Touring musicians, especially K-pop groups like BTS who have to not only give their all vocally but also give their all for the choreo each night, live a very exhausting lifestyle. They are pushing the limits of the human body, and it hurts to see them suffering. They push themselves so hard,” Renfroe said.

The movie takes fans through BTS’ “Love Yourself” tour in Europe, which included 24 concerts in 12 cities. Backstage and pre-concert clips offers aspects of BTS that many fans hadn’t seen before. The harsh realities of being an idol are put into the spotlight through the course of the film: the fatigue, the injuries, the long plane flights.

One particular scene touched many moviegoers’s hearts. Vocalist Taehyung (who goes by the stage name V) loses his voice going into a concert, only to find that the fans sing for him.

“The scene where V was trying so hard just to get his voice to work, and failing, really hit me and still sticks with me now,” Renfroe stated. “He couldn’t sing a single note, but the fans in the concert sang for him, and that was an absolutely touching scene.”

One of the biggest themes of the film was promoting BTS’ goal for ARMYs: to love yourself. The boy group’s lyrics constantly support this concept, and fans from all over are touched every day by them.

“On their new album, Love Yourself: Tear, the group’s youngest member, Jungkook, helped write and produce a song called ‘Magic Shop’ that features honest lyrics like, ‘On a day you hate being yourself, on a day you want to disappear forever, let’s build a door to your mind,’ and ‘I wanted to comfort you, move you, I want to end your sadness and pain. You gave me the best of me, so you’ll give you the best of you,’” fan Nezariel Scott wrote.

“If you’re not part of the BTS fan community, it might not seem like a lot, but for those of us who are, that song could save a life. It’s another reminder that their fans’ well-being is genuinely important to all seven members,” she finished.

Bring the Soul shows just that. The film is definitely worth the watch whether or not you’re a fan of the music. The members’ stories are destined to touch your heart.

The freshest, most stylish Avengers have taken the world by storm, from topping the Billboard charts to dominating the stage on their US tour. But instead of wielding godly hammers and indestructible patriotic shields, these guys show off their strengths through powerful music, dance, and dreamy visuals, of course.

The hottest power group in the Korean music industry has risen to fame within a matter of a few weeks, hitting #1 on the Billboard 200 Albums Chart on October 13. SuperM, the band’s name, is the first Korean music act to partner with Capitol Records in LA, home to famous legends The Beatles and Queen. Industry giant SM Entertainment partnered with Capitol Records to create this “all-star” group that would soon stun the American charts and public.

The K-pop sensations combined have sold more than 14 million adjusted albums globally and amassed nearly four billion online video views worldwide. SuperM announced the October 4 release of its first EP The 1st Mini Album ‘SuperM’ and debuted on Youtube with the high-production, visually breathtaking “Jopping” music video (“jopping” is a clever combination of the dance terms “jumping” and “popping”).

The success the group has earned in only the first month or so of its LA Showcase debut is not to be ignored. The seven-piece bushy-tailed group kickstarted its first We Are The Future: Live Tour for the months of November through February, traveling to 10 major cities across America and into Canada.

The seven humble boys were called together individually from well-established, seasoned groups from within the SM Entertainment community. Producer Lee Soo-man only wanted to pull the best of the best to be in his prestigious group.

The resulting legendary combination turned out to make for an amazing soundtrack and even better live tour. The bonding between both the members and the varying fandoms is undoubtedly heart-warming and exhilarating to witness first-hand. The most talented and popular of the individual groups were offered the job as one of the “Avengers of K-pop.”

From major-league stylish boy band EXO come Baekhyun (leader of SuperM) and Kai. Taemin, a veteren of the music industry, was pulled for his artistic dance style and even more incredible vocals. Coming from the group SHINee, which debuted in 2008, Taemin is respected by all the younger members in the group.

Fresh faces to the mix are Taeyong and Mark are from NCT 127 and Ten and Lucas from NCT’s Chinese subset, WayV. NCT, an “unlimitless” 21-piece boy band, is quickly making a dent in the US market, planning to perform at the Macy’s Day Parade this Thanksgiving.

The blend of diverse musical sounds from the different groups is what makes the album so special. Hearing small details that characterize each group’s music helps develop an entirely signature sound.

“If I said I didn’t feel any pressure that would be a lie,” stated EXO’s Kai in an interview with Rolling Stone. “We all come from successful, established careers, but in a way, we are still unknowns, at least when it comes to this formation. But with that pressure comes this new level of excitement,” he continues, “because there’s so much more we can try and do, and the possibilities are endless.”

Fueled by the success, SuperM kick-started their US tour in Fort Worth, Texas on November 11, continuing on to Chicago then Atlanta. The vivid support from fans all over could be heard in the deafening screams at each concert.

Having the opportunity to attend the Atlanta concert at Infinite Energy Arena was an experience quite like none other. Sensations were heightened, screams were louder, adrenaline was racing. Some 13,000 fans bonded as one, waving their brightly lit SuperM lightsticks as the lights dimmed and the seven boys began their opening performance.

The concert seemed like a blur of color and resounding music. Flashing lights flaunting kaleidoscopes of colors and mega-screens showcased the perfectionist production value of SM Entertainment. The pulsing passion and love among the fans and members was indescribable and touching.

Though the boys come from different groups within SM, the bonding between them on stage made it seem like they had known each other for ages. United by one goal, it’s easy to forget that these seven friends are world-class performers.

The members, blooming with energy, commenced the night with “I Can’t Stand the Rain,” a smooth and passionate song featuring traditional Asian elements and strong vocals. The group then broke off to perform solo stages, starting with Taemin’s “Danger” and “Goodbye.”

With a gleaming red sea of lightsticks to accompany him, Taemin seemed almost ethereal onstage as he performed. Retro-based song “Danger” included elements of SHINee’s “Sherlock” while “Goodbye” was beautifully mesmerizing for fans, accompanied with a vivid flowery backdrop and staged smoke.

NCT’s Taeyong continued the splendor with his unreleased solo “GTA” which unmasked his unique icy rapping style and incredible dancing. The much-loved hype song side-track “Super Car” was performed next, followed by the members’ opening speeches.

As the members wiped sweat from their brows and caught a breather, they seemed shocked by the energy and enthusiasm Atlanta had to offer them.

Mark, the fluent English speaker from Canada in the group, went on to say, “You guys’ energy charges us a lot.”

After all members had introduced themselves, Ten performed center stage two solo hits: “Dream in a Dream” and “New Heroes.”

Ten, dressed in flowy white, told the crowd, “You guys are on fire tonight!” The enthusiastic 23 year old then performed to a sea of purple and blue, dancing in his entirely unique artistic style and thus absolutely entrancing the crowd.

Second WayV member Lucas hyped up the crowd with his unreleased solo “Bass Go Boom.” The stage featured bright, abstract video clips that seemed to define Lucas’s even brighter personality and stage presence.

The remaining songs on the setlist included Baekhyun’s slow-paced, sensual hits “Betcha” and “UN Village,” group unreleased song “Dangerous Woman,” side-track “2 Fast,” NCT U release featuring Taeyong and Ten “Baby Don’t Stop,” Mark’s solo “Talk About,” and EXO Kai’s red-hot stage “Confession.”

After a quick intermission, the boys returned center-stage with “No Manners” and finally the upbeat unreleased song “With You.”

The synergy and support from the fans obviously left an emotional impact on the boys. At the ending speeches Mark said Atlanta (“also known as ‘hotlanta,’” as he joked) really “defined energy.” He thanked the crowd for their energy and for showing up to support them.

“This is my second time to visit Atlanta and you guys always leave a great impression of Atlanta to me,” he stated. “I hope you guys keep looking out for SuperM.”

Blue-haired and shy Kai continued on to say, “I think Atlanta is the hottest, not just in this country, but in the whole world. So I think I will be remembering it much more.”

“Actually I’m trying my best to get closer to you guys,” he continued, beaming brightly. “But I think through tonight we got ten steps closer.”

SHINee’s Taemin emphasized Mark’s previous statement by saying, “I just want to thank you because I’m receiving so much good energies from you guys tonight. Just like you got closer to us, we really want to become an artist who can just give you back all the things we have received.”

The remaining members concluded their speeches by stressing how they would be back to Atlanta soon and even “hitting the woah” for the American fans.

“Atlanta is my new source of energy,” Ten smiled.

The boys concluded the night with the album’s high energy, heavy choreography-based and intense vocal super-song “Jopping.” The rich performance and booming energy left a precious memory for all the fans and the members as well. This was bound to be an unforgettable night.

These boys are helping break up some of the stereotypes Americans have about K-pop by slowly assimilating themselves into the American industry, charts, and culture. While they are still competing with other Korean industry giants in America such as BTS, the members see the competition as motivation to work harder.

“There are a lot of groups out there and a lot of competition,” NCT Taeyong admitted to Rolling Stone, “but our goal is to make K-pop shine even brighter. The spirit of competition is not necessarily bad, because it pushes us to want to put out better things.”

The latest news from SuperM is their partnership with Korean Airlines in which they starred in the company’s airplane safety videos. The group will continue on from Atlanta to several other US cities before breaking off to hopefully take a much needed rest with their individual groups.

For now, the boys are sure to continue enjoying their tour and making a lasting, life-changing impact on the starry-eyed fans. It will be hard for the audiences to return to reality every morning, and when they do, they will be sure to want to relive the breath-taking night over and over.

My experience at the SuperM concert was like a breath of fresh air from the everyday negativity and day-to-day mundane activities. Seeing the down-to-earth members and feeling the love the people in the audience had for one another, free of judgement, was empowering. Music does truly unite people and creates this sense of euphoria no words can describe.

After all, as Plato once wisely stated, “Music gives a soul to the universe, wings to the mind, flight to the imagination, and life to everything.”

The chart-topping, charismatic, and all-time biggest boy band in the world right now just released their new album, and it has thrown the whole continent in a frenzy of euphoria and Spotify-streaming.

The record-crashing South Korean boy group BTS continues to stir the world and showcase their incredible artistry in 2020 as they come back with “Map of the Soul: 7.” To say the least, this album is like no other.

The album overflows with emotion and honesty about the struggles of stardom and overcoming those pain-filled days with the help of their fans and bandmates. It is an album of many bursting colors and flavors and offers invigorating genre diversity. BTS opened the floodgates to a fresh and promising era in K-pop with these new breathtaking songs.

The seven-piece boy group is destroying records with over 4 million presales and dominating the entire top 20 iTunes charts. BTS’s “Map Of The Soul: 7” is already the bestselling global album of 2020. Not even including the jaw-dropping Youtube and Spotify streams to be counted, BTS quite literally breaks the internet once again.

Popular social media app TikTok first received the ARMY (BTS fans) power when BTS teased a thirty second clip of title track “ON” to fans. Following its release, TikTok promptly crashed and experienced some technical issues as eager listeners flooded the platform.

An unfaltering indication from the buzzworthy presale numbers and chart-topping records, the ARMY has experienced a boom in fresh fans since their 2019 release of “Map of the Soul: Persona.” Fans roused from their 315-day-long wait for this new release, and it seems they are back and better than ever to support the boys on their new journeys in 2020.

The elite K-pop group sauntered out from their own relaxing, snow-packed vacation and into the stark spotlight with confidence and smoldering intensity as they released “Map of the Soul: 7” February 21.

The album’s name “7” derived from the significance of the number to the group. There are seven members, and it has been seven years since their rebellious 2013 debut “2 Cool 4 Skool.”

The new album is like a poetic color palette mixed with dark underlying paints and upbeat reflections of the past. The maturity of the new album is reflective of the boys’ experiences and painful path to stardom. The soundtrack maps the journey starting from their Bangtan Boys roots of overcoming the shadow-self within them and combating society to earn respect to their friendship and self-resolve they feel today.

“Map of the Soul: 7” is undoubtedly one of BTS’s darkest, sentimental, and relevant albums yet.

Each of the members contributes his inner thoughts in each track with in-depth, emotion-blooming lyrics and harmonies. Jimin’s “Filter” is a guitar-driven single with Latin elements and a message of how the 24-year old has to change his personality to please others.

It displays a message of the idol heart-throb’s willingness to be anything and anyone for people, which can be both exhilarating and isolating for him.

Vocal power-song “My Time” by the youngest member Jungkook describes his path to adulthood and stardom and how it impacted his time as a child. BTS helped open the eyes of the public to the struggle of being a big-time star that is often clouded by scandals and critics: young idols often miss huge portions of their childhood.

Jungkook sings in the upbeat ballad about his wishes for having that precious time as a kid. V supports this heart-rending theme with his solo track “Inner Child.” He describes his vague memories of sun-filled days and daydreams as a child and reflects to his younger self who so wished to become the person V is today.

“Map of the Soul: 7” undoubtedly strips the cocoon around K-pop fame and showcases the dark cost of being in the spotlight, an elaborate, profound theme of the album.

Other tracks such as “Moon,” “Respect,” and “Friends” are a bit more light-hearted but just as valued and cherished by ARMYs. The members describe their love for their fans and their friendship with one another through tracks like these, making ARMYs ever the more thankful for these seven humble boys.

A high-intensity, ultra-dynamic choreography video called “Kinetic Manifesto Film: Come Prima” accompanies the title track hype-song “ON.” This video is a festival of rocking drumlines, leather fashion, ground-shaking bridges named one of the best of BTS’s ever, and of course, electric dance breaks.

“The name of the track wasn’t ‘ON’ in the beginning, but we came together and we had a meeting trying to decide what we wanted the title track to be and what we wanted to call it,” youngest Jungkook told MTV News. “Because this was a reboot, we wanted to take our old song ‘N.O’ and turn into ‘ON,’ so I just threw that out, and we really liked it, talked about ‘bring the pain on,’ and we put that into the lyrics — and that’s how we came up with the title track.”

Other impressive tracks “Interlude: Shadow”, “Black Swan,” “Louder than bombs” (co-written by Troye Sivan), cypher song “Ugh!”, “Zero O’Clock,” and “Outro: Ego” all have their own unique, colorful characteristics and elaborate lyrics. The amount of work put into this 20-track-long album moved many ARMYs and undoubtedly paves a new path for K-pop.

ARMYs shared their love for BTS through Youtube comments and tweets, praising the impact the lyrics had on each of them.

One thankful fan under the user of “Hazel Moonchild” on Youtube wrote about the “Louder than bombs” poignant lyrics.

“‘No matter what waves pounces at us, we will never stop singing for you.’ [These] lyrics hit me on a deep level. You can hear the pain in their voices, [because] they have gone through so much but still continue to follow their dream and make us happy,” she wrote.

“They continue to lead us with their voices no matter which shadows they have to face for that. I can’t express how much I love them. I’m so thankful for them and that they shine in the darkness for us [because] no one else would,” she finished.

The arc of the album is unquestionably “We are Bulletproof: Eternal Journey.” This stirring ballad expresses their hardships and overcoming of hate. The members sang about how they shield ARMYs and how ARMYs, in return, shield them.

The clear credit of BTS’s success was outlined in this song in thanks to ARMYs. The boys state how they are more than just seven members. The light of millions of fans blossom together and constantly inspire BTS to keep moving.

“We were only seven,” they sing, “but we have you all now / after seven winters and springs, at the tips of our entwined fingers / yeah we got to heaven.”

This soaring tearjerker asked fans “why are you still walking with us?” Inspired ARMYs shared their thoughts of their journey with BTS, each story unique and full of emotion.

One fan wrote, “I developed throughout the year with big anxiety, mild depression, and hard challenges. [Then] I discovered your songs. Your music [and] lyrics started to glow into my heart telling me I still have hope to be able to love myself.”

“I’ve never read [such] beautifully-made lyrics [as BTS’s] that can express my feelings, deep into what society ignores,” the fan continued.

BTS truly stupefied the world once again with “Map of the Soul: 7.” The mature artistry displayed in each track exhibits the finesse of BTS’s creative process.

“I think we have grown as artists,” rapper Suga said, “and as musical trends change, we’ve also tried to follow the trends.”

BTS’s plans for the rest of 2020 are large-scale and promising. The official music video for “ON” will be released February 28, sure to break even more records. BTS will also kick-start their Map of the Soul Tour on April 11 at Seoul’s Olympic Stadium.

This stadium tour will include 37 different dates across the world, US dates ranging from the 90,000-seated Cotton Bowl Stadium in Dallas to the Metlife Stadium in New Jersey.

The StubHub ticket-selling site stated that there were almost twice as many tickets sold for BTS’s tour as the entire Super Bowl. BTS ticket sales in the first 72 hours received 560 percent growth, which beats the 378 percent acquired by Ariana Grande’s “Sweetener” 2019 tour and the 258 percent increase for Taylor Swift’s “Lover” 2020 tour.

With many of the tracks on the album stirring tears from the loving fans, hearing these album songs live will be an experience like none other.

“Do you know what it looks like when 90,000 people in an arena start sobbing in unison? Me neither, but we’re about to find out,” journalist Katie Halliwell joked about the sentimental album.

With BTS headlining the news with their new album and breaking every internet platform and record thinkable, we are sure to expect a fruitful year from the boy group in 2020. And lots of screaming, and possibly crying, ARMYs.

Star Wars is branded for its bizarre creatures, high-scale dogfights, lightsaber duels, and diverse worlds ranging from blood-red beaches to ice-capped planets. Being one of the most successful movie franchises of all time, director J.J. Abrams felt the pressure to complete this saga that all started in 1977 with the golden-haired boy who rose to fight the vast Galactic Empire controlled by a man in a mask. The Rise of Skywalker’s concluding result to this worldwide phenomenon was, simply to say it, lacking.

Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker is almost like a poorly made Star Wars sundae served to audiences in hopes to please the masses. The glass jar is an adequate base of outstanding visuals and emotional acting, yet topped with a fluffed storyline and a bruised cherry.

This movie was served up in a good light, but the majority of fans who tried it out felt deprived and confused after finishing the conclusion to such a legendary saga.

In the film, it is discovered by the rebels that the infamous Emperor Palpatine did not die in the hands of Darth Vader so long ago. Finn and Poe, accompanied by friendly droids and Chewie, must lead the Resistance to put a stop to the First Order’s plans to develop a new Empire.

Rey, experiencing conflicting inner dark emotions, must prepare for her inevitable final confrontation with Kylo Ren. New and old faces are brought into the spotlight as unexpected romance blossoms and sacrifices are made.

Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker officially crossed $1 billion at the box office worldwide, making it Disney’s seventh film in 2019 to hit the mark. The film, however, took longer than its predecessors to achieve $1 billion, one out of many indications that the ninth Star Wars production just did not satisfy audiences compared to others.

Despite the unsatisfactory elements in the movie, the strong and talented acting cast and advanced CGI shine. With actors like Adam Driver and Daisy Ridley to lead, it was hard to go wrong with the heart-stirring emotion they portrayed.

In consideration of the CGI and visuals alone, the movie was a solid 9/10: something you couldn’t expect any less out of a Star Wars film.

The cinematography and use of old, beloved characters was a sufficient approach to please any casual, indifferent movie-watchers. But for the hard-core Skywalker enthusiasts, the movie seemed to lightsaber impale any remaining hopes for J.J. Abrams reviving the fandom bond.

While some moments in Star Wars: The Rise Of Skywalker resonate with breath-taking cinematic and emotional elements, the remainder of the film borders on a tottering mess.

Undoubtedly the biggest flaw in this grand finale was the storyline. The viewing experience was spoiled by the storytelling approach that contradicted all of what made the original series shine. Fans often felt misled by the numerous plot holes and the very elementary Macguffin-themed plot. The entirety of the movie felt like a wild goose chase, pushing to the side all the dynamics of Star Wars that made it so distinguishable in the past.

“The wasteful use of settings, doodads, characters, and space horses does not just exhaust the audience. It also undermines the most essential prerogative of Star Wars: world-building,” critic Spencer Kornhaber stated in The Atlantic.

All fans want to see Star Wars push boundaries, challenge the audience, and flourish with in-depth storylines that leave viewers thinking about theories for days on end.

The unimaginative and tiresome tropes portrayed in this conclusion left audiences malnourished of all the flavorful world-building and storyline elements that made previous Star Wars productions so memorable.

The film truthfully doesn’t offer anything new or terribly distinctive with the storyline that almost felt robotic and recycled. The Rise of Skywalker had 142 minutes to bring 42 years of storytelling to a close. There were so many things that could go wrong.

And, unfortunately, they did.

As a movie, the film is watchable and even entertaining. But as the finale to this phenomenon that brought together little bright-eyed girls, hard-core cosplayers, and cheesy Star Wars dads, it was somewhat disappointing.

“Personally, I’ve been a huge Star Wars fan since I was a kid,” said actor Jake Cannavale to Daily Beast, who played a supporting role in Disney’s Star Wars TV series, The Mandalorian. “And I felt pretty let down by the overall laziness of this new trilogy, and also a bit angry at the entitlement of it for pretty much seizing control of the franchise as a whole by basically [saying], ‘Nah we don’t like the ending that everybody’s been cool with for decades, let’s change it!'”

Star Wars is undoubtedly a franchise that brought together all generations and bonded millions of people. The new trilogy managed to divide the masses and the latest of the trio has done just that. The fandom was divided yet again upon The Rise of Skywalker’s release.

While moviegoers cannot ignore the emotional impact of certain scenes, they are often distracted and questioning due to the whirling, flimsy storytelling. The negatives of the film unfortunately overwhelm the positives.

“Star Wars means so much to me. Star Wars is a part of my life, a piece of my heart,” devotee Brenna Renfroe stated. “I remember watching the saga for the first time, over five years ago. I was enthralled and enraptured by the characters, the world building, the story, the lore, and how deep everything went. The Star Wars universe is huge and all encompassing. There are books, movies, video games, and tv shows. So much makes up the depth of this world.”

The new Star Wars trilogy in itself is almost like the raven-haired, torn antagonist Kylo Ren’s evolution of his mask. The Force Awakens was a strong and encouraging start, balancing all those flavorful elements of previous films while maintaining an entirely fresh taste. Like Kylo’s mask in the first film, it was a solid release.

The Last Jedi experienced an absolute shattering controversy and backlash that divided the fandom. It was a film fans either hated or loved. As similar to the fate of Kylo’s mask in the film, it was broken.

The Rise of Skywalker turned out to be exactly similar to the portrayal of the mask in Episode IX. J.J. Abrams attempted to pick up the broken pieces from the controversy of director Rian Johnson and please everyone at once. In reality, the conclusion was still flawed and cracked.

“As a conclusion to this deep and beautiful saga that means so much to so many people, Rise of Skywalker broke my heart. It lacked great depth. It lacked powerful and moving story lines. It lacked world building and character building. These characters that I’ve grown to love didn’t get the proper treatment in my opinion,” Renfroe continued.

As the climax to 42 years of movies brimming with diverse and shimmering cities, endless fighter pilot dogfights, duels of fate on red-hot planets, and iconic lines like “I am your father,” The Rise of Skywalker proved to be a bit like a punch to the gut for diehard Skywalker fanatics.

“While there was some good in it, I just don’t feel it was entirely worthy to be the conclusion of this great saga,” Renfroe agreed.

It’s the most wonderful time of the year, with parties for hosting, marshmallows for toasting, and the inspiring comeback to one of the biggest Disney releases of all time.

The movie phenomenon Frozen has returned to cinemas, bringing about a whole new story brimming with oceans of color and emotion. From the breathtaking vibrant forest colors to watery steeds mounted by Elsa adorned in sugary white, Frozen II is undoubtedly a feast for the eyes.

The highly awaited sequel has earned $36 million worldwide, making Disney the first studio to acquire a $10 billion worldwide box office threshold in 2019.

The balance of solemn underlying messages and adorable humor makes Frozen II the ideal family movie. In the sequel to the billionaire film that helped to push Disney into industry dominance, many were worried if a second film would ever live up to the first. The film, in turn, served up sufficient captivating aesthetics and dramatic melodies to satisfy Elsa and Anna enthusiasts.

The whole crew is back, including our beloved snowman Olaf and clumsy Kristoff and Sven, embarking on a spirited journey far from their Arendelle kingdom. Elsa ventures “into the unknown” due to a siren-calling to find the source of her icy powers. The plot itself is predictable in a tolerable way as the squad faces the obstacles of Nature’s wrath to uncover the truth.

The musical aspect of the sequel, save for a few memorable tunes such as “Into the Unknown” and “Show Yourself,” might not live up to the significance of the first film but is still uplifting enough to pull at family heartstrings. Getting to hear the honeyed voices of Kristen Bell (Anna) and Idina Menzel (Elsa) once again in theaters was magical.

Frozen II, like many Disney fables, uses emotions successfully to empower the young generation. The landscapes, the power ballads of Menzel, and even the small, happy moments of Olaf all contribute to making the film a touching and lovely one.

The charming and enchanting musical elevates love, acceptance, empowerment, sisterhood, and even environmental issues.

The harmonious emotion of Menzel and Bell helps give this immense feeling to what could have been a shallow, forgettable movie. The animation continues to amaze audiences by truly capturing humanity, which in itself is a feat worth noting.

“There’s a spectacle of it, but there’s also the emotion in their faces. I mean, the stuff that they grab is just crazy,” Idina Menzel (Elsa) told Collider. “Like when Anna sees her sister, when she’s thinks that she’s gone, you know. I mean, there’s just the humanity in what they do. It’s pretty incredible.”

The execution of the environment and facial expression in the film’s animation was undoubtedly immersive and vibrant. Along with the detail and dimension of the sisterly quest comes this euphoric and alluring atmosphere in each scene.

The landscape visuals portrayed in the film range from mystical ice islands to forests of blushing pink flames. The accompanying inferred message of saving our decaying environment helps put the film in a modern perspective.

“The environmental message stood out most to me: we should respect Nature instead of trying to control and use it for our own often greedy and destructive purposes. The dam was a clear symbol of that control. I was, however, pleased to learn that Nature can be forgiving. The town of Arendelle was not destroyed. People were given another chance to set things right,” PHS librarian Eles Renfroe said.

“This theme is timely as we face dangerous Global Warming and witness rising sea levels. I hope that like Anna, we will realize that we must respect Nature and correct our mistakes before it is too late for our planet,” she finished.

This balance of real, deep emotional thought and delightful, innocent comedy makes the sequel worth the watch. The powerful message of sisterhood is what undoubtedly helps set apart the film from your everyday romance cash-grabs. The relationship between Elsa and Anna is tear-jerking and touching.

“I have a younger sister and I know how it feels, this fierce loyalty to each other, to being protective of each other, wanting the most for each other, wanting each other to sort of find their thing, their authenticity, their passion in life, what they’re meant to be, what’s their purpose,” Menzel stated. “These two women just want that so much for each other.”

Overall, the journey-focused film is one that keeps the audience fascinated and entertained. From the raging waves to the newly-introduced Earth Giants, Frozen II is a sequel not to pass up.

If the Mississippi cold “never bothered you anyway” and you are looking for a great way to chill on a lazy winter day, Frozen II is the ideal movie for lots of warm hugs and family memories. After all, as Olaf once said, “Winter’s a good time to stay in and cuddle.” And watch Frozen, of course.

What would it be like to walk into dreams, to witness and control what people dream about in their sleep? What if the dream were to choose the dreamer, not the opposite?

Many people, including myself, consider ourselves dreamers. We chase our dreams and conjure up wild and creative ideas. Lazlo Strange is one of these people.

The book Strange the Dreamer was published March 28, 2017 under Little, Brown Books publishing company. It was nominated for Goodreads Choice Awards Best Young Adult Fantasy & Science Fiction and was an instant New York Times bestseller and Michael L. Printz honor book.

The book follows librarian Lazlo Strange on a journey to the world only he dreamed of, Weep. Lazlo has immersed himself in tales from dusty scrolls in his library basements for years, studying the mystical city of Weep.

He finally gets to go to the city that turns out to be not what he dreamed of, no abundant colors thriving among the soft petals of flowers or the ebony coats of mythical creatures, rather a city trapped in darkness and ruin.

Throughout the book, we come across many twists and turns and experience what it would be like to enter dreams. When Lazlo and Sarai, the daughter of the goddess of despair, meet in a dream, we experience a lush and unusual story full of monsters and gods.

Enduring on rainwater and plums, Sarai and her peers are trapped in a citadel with their supernatural powers keeping them alive.

From tragic and beautiful romance to intense action sequences, Strange the Dreamer has become a favorite to teens and adults alike.

“Strange the Dreamer is unique. I’ve never read a book quite like it,” Pelahatchie High School librarian Eles Renfroe praises.

“Laini Taylor, the author of Daughter of Smoke and Bone series and Strange the Dreamer, often switches the roles of what we often perceive as who should be the good guys and who should be the bad guys: gods could be the bad guys instead of the good guys,” said Renfroe.

“This switch leaves the reader off balance. We are not sure who to trust. Add to that uncertainty Taylor’s beautiful world building and rich character development, and you find yourself in an original, multi-layered story. I loved it and await the sequel with much anticipation.”

The sequel, Muse of Nightmares, is excitingly coming to bookshelves this October.

You can check out Strange the Dreamer and other books by Laini Taylor at the library anytime and witness the hype that has charmed and enchanted many readers.

“When everyone knows you’re a monster, you needn’t waste time doing every monstrous thing.”

Kaz Brekker and his crew are not your typical pocket-picking criminals in the dark cobblestone alleyways of Ketterdam. They seek revenge and sweet dollar bills, and they will stop at nothing to get them.

The book Six of Crows was published in 2015 under Henry Holt and Company. The duology written by bestselling author of the popular Grisha Series, Leigh Bardugo, consists of two spellbinding books, Six of Crows and Crooked Kingdom, both which have attracted many fans. It was nominated for Goodreads Choice Awards Best Young Adult Fantasy & Science Fiction and was a New York Times bestseller, instantly stacking up teens’ shopping carts.

“Having already read the Grisha trilogy, I was pleased to return to a world I know and to be reintroduced to characters I know as well,” PHS librarian Mrs. Renfroe stated.

“However, the author Leigh Bardugo creates a unique setting for the six new characters introduced to us in Six of Crows.”

The novel takes readers on an emotional and heart-racing journey with six dangerous outcasts as they try to complete their near-impossible heist across raging oceans and frozen porcelain white snow in the Ice Court.

“When I got the idea for Six of Crows, for this heist story . . . it was like . . . it was like I was waiting to assemble my Avengers, essentially,” author Bardugo said in The Grishaverse.

The characters in the novel are all ruthless thieves and criminal prodigies, but throughout the novel, we experience how raw and broken they really are, desperate for freedom. Six of Crows develops such complex and lovable characters throughout their intense journey in rescuing Bo Yul-Bayur, a Shu scientist, from the Ice Court in the fantasy world of Fjerda, in return for a lofty sum of money.

Skirmishes ensue in trying to sail from the Ketterdam streets, they learn that Pekka Rollins, leader of the Dime Lions gang, is after the scientist as well. Kaz Brekker and his crew must find Bo Yul-Bayur for Van Eck before Rollins and confiscate the lethal addictive drug parem that heightens Grisha powers and can become very dangerous if overused.

PHS book club representative, Jordan White, enjoyed reading the heist book and the ventures of Kaz and his gang last year with the book club.

“I really liked how the book was split into different point of views and came together to create one story. I also liked how it was a heist book. It reminded me of ‘Oceans Eleven.'” said White.

The Six of Crows gang “The Dregs” consists of a broken thief who wields a monstrous secret, a passionate girl who is looking for a place where her heart can aim to land true, a Fjerdan soldier, a dark-skinned sharpshooter with gambling issues, a powerful Grisha Heartrender, and a merchant’s son who has more talents than just playing the flute. Together, they develop a strong unbreakable bond as they wander on their robbery mission.

Many people recall Six of Crows for its distinguished five points of view throughout the chapters.

“That’s sort of one of the pleasures of getting to play with 5 POV is you got very, very different personalities to play with. And they all have their own motives,” the author declared.

With this book, we experience a lavish and multi-layered story filled with plot twists and turns. Bardugo brings a completely immersive and rich world in this novel, with suspenseful action and immensely elaborate characters.

She keeps the reader constantly trying to guess what will happen next. From dreamy and umbral cities to emotionless glacial courts, Six of Crows has become an ultimate hit.

“The city is just as much a character in the story as any of the people. With its murky haze, Ketterdam is just the place to mould our thieves into shifty, dark denizens ready to complete a daring heist. Add that the binding of the book is black, and you wind up with a really cool story,” said Renfroe.

Eerie Ketterdam was something that stood out to many readers, just like it did to Renfroe. It fit perfectly with the dark tone of the book.

“It’s interesting . . . I think of settings as additional characters because they play a major role in the world. The characters that arise become who they are because of where they’re from,” Bardugo explained.

You can pick up this fantastic heist fantasy, along with other books from Leigh Bardugo, at the high school library or your local bookstores. After all, “That’s the thing about books. They let you travel without moving your feet,” American author Jhumpa Lahiri wisely remarked.

Mississippi fall traditions run deep: from staying up late Friday nights to support favorite high school teams to engorging on warm, syrup-doused biscuits at the Mississippi State Fair, a Southern autumn is like no other. For band kids, fall means marching season, which also means long, sweaty practices after school and long, back-breaking weeks.

The PHS Marching Band concluded their fall season with a bang Saturday, October 12, as they entered the Pearl Pirate field for evaluation for the first time in over 20 years.

The MHSAA State Regional Marching Evaluation at Pearl was the band’s third competition for the year following the Brandon and Copiah Marching Competitions. Nerves were high the week of state evaluation; for years the band had been gearing up for this very moment.

The Pride of Pelahatchie kick-started its band program again a few years ago, and the band has undoubtedly come breathtakingly far in a short amount of years. The step from simply standing and playing on the field for halftime to performing an entire marching show in flashy red and white uniforms took incredible dedication and work from each individual.

The band departed Pelahatchie in the dark hours of the morning with immense pressure on their backs. They had not been to a state evaluation in well over two decades; they were about to make history.

The brisk morning air energized the band as they rushed onto the field to perform their last show at a competition for the year. For seniors, emotions were high as they realized this was the last competition with the PHS band family ever.

“I am so proud of our band. We really made history Saturday,” Drum major and senior Syndi Goldman said.

“I am sad to leave this band, for we have all become a family. I’m excited to see what the future holds for the band. I’m happy that I’m able to say that I had my part in the band,” Goldman finished.

The band performed their show “Latin Fever” for one last time for judges Saturday, keeping their heads high despite the harsh wind. Gathered by the bus afterwards, relief rushing through all the members, the band performed one last prideful call to attention with Goldman, causing many seniors to shed tears.

After their performance, the band headed back to the stadium to watch the other shows by varying bands. The shows ranged from Richland’s extraterrestrial show with elegant space-themed flags and tunes to a full-blown colorful Día de los Muertos marching show by Mendenhall, filled with decoratively painted skulls blooming with flowers and festive holiday-inspired music.

Scores for all bands were called out to the absolute silent stadium after the last band performed, the PHS members holding their breaths. Drum major received a score of one, drumline received a two, color guard received a two, and the band received scores of two, two, two, for an overall score of two.

It’s truly hard to comprehend what the small band has accomplished in such a short amount of time. Tallying up consistent close-to-superior scores each competition, the band is sure to shine even brighter in the years to come.

The band is grateful that they can now relax as they begin gearing up for concert season. The band has many plans for the upcoming season as well, such as their annual Christmas concert, many band clinics, and the band concert evaluation at Ridgeland High School.

For band kids, it’s out with sweaty practices, and in with nerve-wracking playing tests!

Counting while playing memorized music, hitting the right notes, pitches, articulations, dynamics, correct fingerings, tone quality, balance, volume, marching in beat, size of step, equal space between members, getting to the sets on time, good posture, horn angles.

Heavy pristine uniforms and shimmering red capes. Chin up, upper body still, toes up, shoulders square, facing sidelines at all times.

There are probably a million things that travel through band members’ heads when they enter the field with racing hearts and sweaty palms. And that is only to mention the wind section’s responsibilities; don’t forget about the color guard’s timing, hand position, speed and direction of spins, and the percussion and drum major’s endless list of things to remember each show.

The amount of work a band puts into a single performance is undoubtedly remarkable.

All the hard work of late Friday nights, long sweaty practices, and endless bus rides pay off on the big day: competition day. The Pelahatchie High School Band packed their equipment on Saturday, September 28, at noon to head to the Bulldog Marching Invitational, the first marching competition for the year.

Pre-show butterflies existed in all the band members’ stomachs the week of the competition. Despite all the effort and exertion they put into this show, what would the results look like when it came time to take the field?

“I’m pretty nervous to be honest. I think we will do good but there is a lot of pressure this year. We have done so much work leading up to this and it’d be amazing if we achieved our goal,” color guard member Gracie Thompson said a few days before the competition.

The band has been working on their “Latin Fever” marching show ever since July, drilling and cleaning every specific move. Whether rehearsing the music indoors or learning new sets in the miserable Mississippi heat, the marching competitions stayed on the members’ minds.

The show consists of two popular Santana tunes, “Black Magic Woman” and “Oye Como Va.” The band took this show to the Brandon High School stadium on Saturday to put their all into this one performance.

Bands at these competitions are evaluated by ratings that range from four to one, four being the lowest score and one being the “superior” score. The judges base these scores off musical and visual components.

Leaving the field, there is nothing that can beat the satisfaction of a near-perfect run of a show. This is what the PHS band felt as they finished their show to the pin-drop silent stadium. They were nervous and uncertain, but the relief they felt was immense.

Victory tastes pretty sweet. The PHS band knows from experience: the sensation of earning a superb score after a long week of hard work is unbeatable.

Drum major Syndi Goldman received a score of 1, drumline received a score of 1, color guard received a score of 1, and the band received scores of 1, 2, 2, leading to an overall score of 2.

The band took home several trophies, proud of what they had accomplished in such a short amount of time.

“I think the competition went really well for this being the first competition for many rookies. The scores were better than I expected them to be, so I was really satisfied with the results,” senior Holden Gray stated.

The band represented our school well, and everyone can’t wait to see how they perform for their next two competitions coming up in October.

So next time the The Pelahatchie Pride Band rushes up at halftime, don’t leave to grab nachos or hamburgers quite yet. Lend us attention for a little while and listen to what we have to say. We communicate our powerful message of hard work and passion for music through every note we play and every step we take.

After all, as George Parks once stated, “A band is not proud because it performs well; it performs well because it is proud.”

“Welcome, welcome to Caraval! The grandest show on land or by sea. Inside you’ll experience more wonders than most people see in a lifetime. You can sip magic from a cup and buy dreams in a bottle. But before you fully enter into our world, you must remember it’s all a game.”

Long lances of sunrise shone across the lush morning hours, shattering the deep quietness of the circus as people rushed through the entry gate, taking in the striped velvet tents and letting the popcorn drizzled with warm caramel sweeten their sleepy senses.

This might be the scene you could envision of the life of a bustling carnival. Scarlett Dragna and her sister Tella have never stepped foot outside of their tiny island until Scarlett receives a letter inviting her to the mysterious Caraval.

She is whisked away into this elaborate world of heartbreak, games, and magic. Will she remember this is all a game, or will she drown in the deception?

Stephanie Garber’s novel Caraval offers a dizzyingly sweet story dripping with twists, turns, and romance. The book was published in 2017 under Flatiron Books. The trilogy consists of three enchanting novels: Caraval, Legendary, and Finale.

“Caraval was inspired by pretty much all of my favorite things—I wanted to tell a story that I would want to live inside,” author Stephanie Garber said in BooksInc. “My hope was to create a beautiful-over-the-top-place, full of magic and romance and wonder.”

And Garber undoubtedly has accomplished just that. The book has entranced countless readers, earning awards such as the Entertainment Weekly Best 10 YA Books of 2017, Amazon Best Book of the Year, and Barnes & Noble Best Book of the Year.

Stephanie Garber weaves an intricate and beautifully multilayered story about sisterhood and adventure. She manages to create this enigma cloaked in magic and deception, keeping readers guessing left and right.

The story begins on a secluded, lonely island where Scarlett and Tella Dragna suffer from boredom and life with their cruel father. Scarlett’s father prepared a marriage for her, but all that is on Scarlett’s mind is the allure of Caraval.

Scarlett eagerly receives the invitation and is swept away with the help of a mystic, roguish sailor named Julian. Once they arrive to this world of lost dreams and broken promises, Tella is almost immediately kidnapped by the mysterious mastermind of Caraval, Legend himself.

It is revealed to Scarlett that this whole game revolves around her sister. Whoever finds Tella first wins the elaborate games. Will she be able to find her sister and be the winner?

Caraval is a magnificent frenzy of amber skies, whispered dreams, love letters inked on torn parchment, and mysteries surrounding Legend and his traveling Caraval performers.

“A special kind of magic fills the air of a carnival. Garber manages to tap into that magic to create a unique setting for her novel,” commented PHS librarian Eles Renfroe.

“Into this magical feel, she infuses suspense and mystery. This atmospheric blend is intoxicating, making the reader want to explore this strange and wonderful world,” Renfroe finished.

The characters in the novel are beautifully woven, offering mesmerizing scenes that never create a dull moment. Caraval creates such complex and lovable characters it becomes hard to put the book down.

“I had fun with a lot of the characters in this book, but I probably had the most fun creating Legend. From the moment I decided there was a character named Legend, I knew I would have a good time with him,” stated author Garber.

“I also loved writing Donatella, my main character’s sister. She is wild and adventurous and says all sorts of things that I would never say out loud, so I especially loved playing with her dialogue,” she concluded.

Readers question what is real and what is simply part of the game right alongside Scarlett. The delightfully dark world crafted in the novel is like a shadowy version of Wonderland where the Mad Hatter pulls the strings.

Despite the plentiful positive reviews it receives, some critics argue the novel offers too much romance and not enough exposure to the actual world of Caraval. However, I thought the romance in the book was infatuating. The romance never crossed the line as “cheesy,” and Garber balanced the complex storyline with her Caraval world of melodious metaphors quite well.

The lush language of Garber’s writing is sure to dazzle you. The whole Caraval trilogy can be found at the PHS library or any local bookstores and experience the magic.

BS Films release Five Feet Apart tells the touching story of two Cystic Fibrosis-diagnosed teens who put their lives in danger for love. The movie is designed to pull at your heartstrings and successfully does so. Distinctive from sappy romance stories, Five Feet Apart offers a revitalizing and deeply raw love story. Just don’t forget to bring a handful of Kleenex.

The film opened to a successful $70 million worldwide and has a 96% Google user approval. Since the movie was relatively low-budget, the outcome was satisfactory for the filmmakers.

The fresh concept on sick teen romance is poignant and powerful and undoubtedly a refreshing break from the stereotypical romance films. The film provides a welcome representation of the issues CF patients deal with, from the mucus build up to harsh medication regimens and extended hospital stays.

The movie centers around two patients battling Cystic Fibrosis, stationed in a hospital for treatments for the disease.

Female protagonist Stella lives a life of pills in pudding and drab hospital walls. Stella is determined to brighten up whatever she can by decorating her hospital room with her sister’s vivid artwork and keeping a strictly organized color-coded pill cart. Despite the surety of death, she lives a life of zest and feels like the hospital is a second home.

A bit “hospital OCD,” Stella is insistent, and somewhat obsessive, about keeping a rigorous meds routine, as she feels it is the only thing she can at least control in a life where CF destroys everything. With a Youtube diary and best friend Poe to video chat over breakfasts, Stella is content until rebellious and unorganized patient Will shows up to the hospital for a drug trial for his dangerous B. cepacia bacteria infection.

While Stella is a compulsive list-maker and rule-follower, Will is quite the opposite. With fluffy hair and a snarky attitude, Will showing up to the hospital disturbs Stella’s everyday routine.

While she is constantly reminded to stay six feet from Will from the risk of cross-infection, Stella is unsettled by his unorganized lifestyle. As she begins to force Will to take his meds alongside her, she finds herself attracted to him more and more. The aching distance between them allows for a touching and tearful romance story.

With a pool cue to measure their distances, Will and Stella fall in love over the course of med-taking video chats and bittersweet dates. Their lack of touch makes the scenes all the more intimate and raw.

Will insists on the fact that they are dying anyway and wants to do whatever he can to get closer, every way but physically, to Stella. Stella boldly steals a foot back from the disease that damaged every part of her life to fall in love with Will. Will they be able to keep their gnawing distance or will they risk their own lives for affection?

Haley Lu Richardson’s performance of Stella helps save the film from bogging down in an everyday unauthentic melodrama. In a character that could have potentially been a shallow caricature, Richardson brings a new and revitalizing depth to Stella’s character. She portrays a deep soulfulness to all of Stella’s rage and grief she experiences that feels authentic and real.

“It’s not like this is a made-up world. It’s a made-up story, but it’s not a made-up world, and cystic fibrosis is such a real thing that not a lot of people know about,” Richardson said in an interview with Hollywood Reporter. “Being one of the first outlets that this very real disease is represented, in such a big way of a studio movie, you have to do it as right as you possibly can. You have to do as much justice to it is as humanly possible.”

Richardson helps outshine the somewhat formulaic and forgettable aspect of the film with her energy and passion towards the role. Richardson’s (Stella) and Sprouse’s (Will) charismatic acting appeals to fans all across and brings about a beautiful chemistry for the film.

“I felt that the actress for the main role was perfect. She was exactly as I imagined her to be,” PHS librarian Eles Renfroe said.

The film portrays a powerful new meaning on the reality of the Cystic Fibrosis disease. Will’s line “It’s just life, it’ll be over before you know it,” brings a harsh and tear-jerking realization to the disease.

“We really wanted to make [the film] as accurate and grounded as possible. I feel like these types of movies don’t have as much impact, because the story is a love story, about what people go through to find each other and it’s so epic,” Richardson said in an interview with Wonderland Magazine.

“And it’s so heavy, and beautiful, and it’s so much about all of those things, that the actual characters, and their dialogue, the conversations with each other, and what they looked like, had to be as stripped away and grounded as possible, or it would just be an unbelievable movie. And we want people to know that CF really exists, and want people to really feel the struggle of these people, and to believe the hardships they are going through, and what they overcome, and then, you know, they connect, and are really inspired as opposed to movie-world inspired,” Richardson finished.

The film offers a new original side to teen romance by bringing a truly touching, genuine love story to movie screens. It undoubtedly works in the waterworks department and leaves fans with a melancholic heart and aware mind.

“It has to be this intimacy and the connection has to come from their conversations and their opening up to one another, which is a really interesting thing to explore as an actor, and I think to watch as an audience member, it’s pure, innocent and intimate because of that,” Richardson stated.

The film manages to humanize the effects of the disease, and though the Cystic Fibrosis community has been divided about the way they are being portrayed, Five Feet Apart is overall a feel-good and worthy watch.

New film release Captain Marvel offers a little bit of everything. From photon energy-fused fiery fists that can obliterate whole ships to dangerously suspicious tabby cats, it’s undoubtedly a success in the Marvel cinematic universe, breaking the $1 billion mark at the global box office.

Movie-goers find themselves blasted back in time to the groovy ‘90s, filled with Blockbuster video stores, painfully slow internet speeds, dramatic street car chases, and plenty of alternative rock for those Nirvana junkies.

Captain Marvel combines the high tech fictional Kree world with hilariously outmoded mid-90s America. The balance of earthly quirks and space-y science fiction elements makes for a wildly engaging and entertaining movie.

First female-fronted Marvel film Captain Marvel blasted off to a $154 million debut and has surpassed a milestone of $1 billion worldwide, making it the seventh Marvel film to reach this mark. The film has become Marvel’s first blockbuster that centers on a female superhero, starring actress Brie Larson as strong-willed, mildly sassy Captain Marvel.

Protagonist Vers struggles with flashbacks of a life as Carol Danvers in the United States Air Force, test-piloting planes with passionate comrade Maria. Yet Vers only ever remembers being a Kree soldier, so why is she haunted by these memories of her on Earth?

“You have this Kree part of her that’s unemotional, that is an amazing fighter and competitive,” Larson said in an interview with Entertainment Weekly. “Then there’s this human part of her that is flawed but is also the thing that she ends up leading by. It’s the thing that gets her in trouble, but it’s also the thing that makes her great. And those two sides warring against each other is what makes her her.”

With flaming fists and a headstrong personality, Vers is the muscle of her galactic crew. The group of Kree soldiers, each with unique skill sets, were sent on a mission by computer conscious “Supreme Intelligence,” taking a detour to planet Earth, so-called C-53 in the film.

After a space scrimmage, Vers crash-lands in mid-90s California, coming face-to-face with a young and two-eyed S.H.I.E.L.D agent Nick Fury. Moviegoers see Fury in a new light as we are introduced to a less brusque side of Samuel L. Jackson, one in which he is an unarguable cat-lover. Fury’s gushy feline-loving self brings the perfect comic relief amidst all the action and self-discovery crisis.

Crimefighter Fury pairs up with extraterrestrial trooper Vers to help uncover her past, the animated pair accompanied by a suspicious orange cat Goose.

Vers is on a mission and will stop at nothing to discover who she actually is. Breezy and confident in her strength, she travels across Earth with Fury to fill in the missing gaps of her memories, all the while an intergalactic war raging on in the background between Vers’ people, the Kree, previously seen in the Guardians of the Galaxy films, and the green-skinned, shape-shifting Skrulls.

Brie Larson emanates the perfect tough female superhero vibes, pushing to defy female stereotypes. Portraying Vers’ impulsive and charming characteristics, Larson brings about pure, lovable energy in her acting.

“I think [Vers] has an ego, but in a healthy way. She doesn’t have an unrealistic expectation of herself. She just owns that she’s really good and really skilled, which feels good to play,” Larson said in an interview with Collider.

“She also has an incredible sense of humor and makes fun of herself, makes fun of other people, has no issue if someone makes fun of her. I will say that this character is probably the most dynamic character that I’ve ever played,” Larson stated.

Accompanying the humourous banters between Vers and Fury, the ‘90s vibes are pleasantly evident in the film, brought to life by soundtracks from Salt-N-Pepa, Nirvana, and TLC. From payphones and VHS movies to Vers’ knee cap-ripped jeans and a flannel tied around her waist, the film definitely brings a wave of nostalgia that 21st-century kids don’t quite appreciate.

Blending retro ‘90s America with exhilarating superhero and science fiction elements, Captain Marvel has undoubtedly outperformed expectations in the box office. Despite some mixed reviews, fans are overall satisfied with the outcome of the film.

“Before the movie premiered, Brie Larson got criticized in the trailer by many people for being unemotional and keeping a blank expression. The moral of the movie was actually the complete opposite of that,” PHS freshman Bailey Smith commented. “During the beginning, Vers was told by everyone she had to learn to push her emotions away, then she would be considered an able soldier and ready to fight for the Kree. Throughout the movie and especially towards the end, she actually does the opposite and her emotions are actually what help her.”

As a hardcore Marvel enthusiast, Smith’s favorite part of the movie was “how it exceeded all expectations.”

The film is altogether a joyful entertainment for moviegoers. While it may lack in originality and experiences some plot mistakes, the film set ablaze a new, high-flying addition to the Marvel Cinematic Universe. There are more pleasures than faults in the movie, such as the electrifying action and, of course, Goose the tabby cat. You can never go wrong with cats, after all.

“Oh, the ridiculous things one has to do when one is a pirate.”

Billowing white sails, ancient maps, oceans of bright blue water, or gleaming gold treasure might define the life of piracy. Many things come to mind when you hear the word pirate: pistols, deceit, a wee bit of rum. Okay, maybe a lot of rum.

Tricia Levenseller’s debut Daughter of the Pirate King exhibits everything any pirate fan could wish for. With fast-paced action and twists that leave the reader guessing, the novel dives into a swashbuckling, positively fun adventure, all the while balancing wit and a sufficient abundance of killer sword fights and swoony romance.

Daughter of the Pirate King readers will discover themselves thoroughly hooked in all the pirate-y euphoria the book has to offer.

The young adult fantasy novel, written by Tricia Levenseller, was published on February 28, 2017, and lets readers set sail with a crew of cunning, vile pirates as protagonist Alosa seeks a piece of the map that supposedly leads to the world’s greatest treasure.

Alosa, with fiery red curls that match her ruthless and stubborn personality, is the daughter of the infamous Pirate King, who sent her on the demanding task to retrieve an ancient hidden map that is said to be the key to a legendary treasure trove.

In order to search her rival enemies’ ships for the map, Alosa allows herself to deliberately be captured and interrogated. During the nights on sea, she seeks the map they supposedly possess, forced to use clever fake attempts at escape simply to make sure no one is suspicious of her actual motives.

Alosa brings about a new type of young adult heroine, one who is not afraid to take what she wants by any means necessary. Strong-willed and manipulative, Alosa is the female Jack Sparrow you never knew you needed.

Alosa practically saunters through the pages with snarkiness and flamboyance, not afraid to duel whoever steps in the way of her plan.

“Real female pirates existed. Women can be brutal, talented swordsmen, and excellent leaders — qualities that are thought to be more befitting of men. Women can and do have these qualities, and it’s important to me to write heroines who do as well,” Levenseller stated in an interview with the American Booksellers Association.

“Too often, I see people being chastised for having what are traditionally feminine qualities. Some of this is evident in some of our own expressions. ‘Man up.’ ‘Stop crying like a little girl.’ ‘You’re so emotional,’” Levenseller said.

“Traditionally feminine qualities are just as important as male ones, yet society treats them as being lesser. Men are ridiculed for doing or saying anything that might be construed as feminine, which is, of course, ridiculous. I wanted Alosa to have both male and female traits because there is nothing wrong with being feminine and there is nothing wrong with being masculine,” she continued. “Members of both genders should be free to show the qualities they innately possess without fear because individuals are complex. It is society that tries to categorize people.”

With endless training as a child, haughty Alosa is confident that no one is the match to the daughter of the Pirate King. However, first mate Riden starts suspecting her and attempts to use observations to try and figure out what Alosa is hiding.

Riden, brother to the ship’s barbaric captain, is your typical swoony, smug pirate, and is smarter than Alosa gives him credit for. Too handsome for his own good, Riden is Alosa’s interrogator and protector. Despite his loyalty to his brother, Riden finds himself growing feelings for Alosa.

Alosa continues throwing sassy insults at Riden, brainstorming a plan to find the map she came for. Will she be able to use her savvy to find the missing map, or will Riden’s suspicions turn into a full-blown confrontation?

With hysterical dialogues and a fast-paced storyline, Daughter of the Pirate King is a shocking debut novel for Levenseller, doused with plenty of heartening pirate adventures and a dash of intimate romance.

Author Tricia Levenseller admits she developed a passionate love for pirates ever since her childhood, thus inspiring her to create her novel.

“My love for pirates started when I saw the first Pirates of the Caribbean movie. I was blown away by the aesthetics: ships, cannons, single-shot pistols, cutlasses, compasses, telescopes, tricorne hats, justaucorps coats, boots — even the ocean,” Levenseller said. “I’ve always loved stories told with historical settings, and being transported back to the Golden Age of Sailing was incredible. On top of this, the plot of the story was incredible.”

The novel contains some flaws that can be noticed, such as certain pacing issues or somewhat sloppy story-telling. Some critics complained of a rushed ending, and readers will occasionally ponder “this could be better if…”

The book doesn’t offer complex world building or fascinating, unique plots, rather simply being a lively book full of lovable characters and pirate pleasures. The innovative mix of romance and action makes the novel hard to put down.

Despite the minimal flaws, the overall story is a blissful bundle of fantasy fun, mates. The novel is not meant to be taken too seriously, after all.

Readers will feel giddy with all the wit and action the book allows readers to savor. Daughter of the Pirate King is truly a delightful hidden treasure among pirate books, offering a whimsical nautical world of pirates, sirens, and sword fights.

The sequel to Daughter of the Pirate King, Daughter of the Siren Queen, was published on February 27, 2018 and is available along with the first of Levenseller’s series at the high school library.

So grab your cutlasses, pirate hats, and a copy of Daughter of the Pirate King and “drink up, me hearties, yo ho!”

Quaint, compact Oxford, MS, never really expected best selling author Leigh Bardugo to set foot in the historic downtown to meet fans and discuss her latest novel on her countrywide King of Scars book tour.

Bardugo, an American young adult fantasy author, has written massive best-sellers such as her Six of Crows duology and Shadow and Bone trilogy, which has sold over two million copies, been translated into 22 languages, and published in over 50 countries.

She has been nominated for Goodreads Choice Awards Best Young Adult Fantasy & Science Fiction and published Wonder Woman: Warbringer and future adult novel Ninth House as well as her action-packed Grishaverse novels.

Clad in typical goth-like black fashion, Leigh Bardugo surprised Mississippians by bringing her wondrous and lusciously dark Grishaverse world and ecstatic personality to easygoing Oxford on February 1 at The Edison, a small work office decorated with book-inspired art and neutral green-brown furnishing, perfect for the cordial, relaxing ambiance of the event.

Bardugo presented a Q&A discussion for 30 minutes, moving on to sign novels for eager attendees, as well as graciously accept gifts and art from creative fans.

The gathering offered Grisha merchandise, such as pins and clothing, as well as fun photoshoots for guests, allowing all the bookish enthusiasts to connect as they waited in anticipation for the beloved author to take the stage.

“I loved being surrounded by people who are as passionate about books as I am. The energy was electric,” librarian Eles Renfroe said. “What made the signing special was being able to watch the excitement in my girls’ eyes. I’m grateful that I got to share this special moment with them.”

Square Books Jr. in Oxford hosted the event with employee Sami Thomason in charge, bringing Bardugo to the town for the first time in 7 years for a book signing. In order to take part in the event, fans had to purchase a King of Scars copy from the colorful bookstore.

For Thomason as well as many who attended the meet and greet, it was a very special and exciting experience.

“We were so fortunate to host Leigh in such a small town. Usually, for huge authors like Leigh, the publishers tend to send them to big cities and venues. They took a chance on us because of our event proposal and everything ended up working out. I think it’s really important for big authors to visit smaller towns because it’s a more intimate event and you really get a chance to get to know your audience,” explained Sami Thomason.

Loyal fans from varying areas packed into the small space to listen to Bardugo speak on her newest highly anticipated release, King of Scars, some wearing creative cosplay to showcase their love for the books, ranging from toy-knife-wielding infants to older-aged enthusiasts.

“Leigh writes such genuine and amazing characters that I already feel like [they] are my friends,” Thomason said at the event. “Having the person who created Nikolai and Alina and Inej and Kaz here is the greatest thing in the world.”

Throughout the Q&A, Bardugo maintained a bright and witty aura, expressing her clever humour to the fans and sharing laughs with them, making the event all the more touching. She covered topics from her intense and somewhat sloppy writing process to her inspiring message about including diversity in her novels.

“I think that ‘diversity’ and ‘inclusion’ have become these words or ways for people to pat themselves on the back,” Bardugo said. “I think what’s important to remember is that we’re not doing this to be do-gooders. Stories are better when they’re diverse.”

Answering questions ranging from favorite childhood books to possible cameos in the Netflix adaptation of Bardugo’s books coming in the future, Bardugo kept the fans captivated with her comical and charismatic personality.

“My dream is to just walk on stage and die horribly. But I’m sure I’ll end up as something like ‘Partygoer Number 32’ or something,” Bardugo joked when asked about a cameo.

“One thing that stood out to me would be her personality. She was so funny and joked around about her writings and everyone’s questions,” attendee and PHS senior Katie Bayliss said. “She made the whole experience so much fun!”

Bardugo elaborated on her new adult novel and discussed her hardest scene to write and favorite point of view in her Grisha saga along with a wide array of other fan questions, all the while keeping them entertained and awed by her humility and socialness.

“I think that she’s not like meeting other authors in the sense that she can encapsulate her audience at the drop of a hat,” said senior Hannah Whitney.

“It was very easy to see who she is as a person whenever she starts speaking. She seemed friendly and down to earth as opposed to being a regular author,” Whitney stated.

Bardugo, easily discernible with her wavy blonde locks and dark attire, is well known for her heart-racing and multi-layered heist books along with her somewhat loony personality, and getting to meet her in person was a truly sensational opportunity for me and many others.

“I was surprised at her personality. I did not know much about Bardugo, but judging from her books I was not expecting her to be as funny and laid back,” student Jordan White said. “I thought she would have been a little more serious; however, I loved how outgoing, hilarious, and overall welcoming she was. I also loved how she puts pieces of herself into her character. For instance, she has a cane in real life and one of her main characters [also] has a cane.”

“She truly loves her audience and connects with them. Overall, I loved meeting Bardugo,” White concluded.

The event closed with high spirits all around, attendees itching to begin reading Bardugo’s King of Scars. The event workers provided crown-shaped cookies frosted with the clever phrase “feed your demons,” as well as a thoughtful hand-written note from Bardugo.

Oxford hopes to bring Bardugo back with future novels as well as encourage other big names to take the delightful town into consideration for book tours. Leigh Bardugo created a very heart-warming and lasting impact on the town and fans.

“For me, it was really a dream come true because Leigh is my favorite author and I can’t believe we actually got a chance to host her,” Thomason said.

Bardugo remains considerately grateful for all the support she has received on her book tour, journeying to bookstores from New York to California, and hopes to continue publishing novels so long as fans hang around.

“I got hit by such a wave of gratitude and how-did-we-get-here emotion…The travel gets intense and I find myself stealing any chance to rest between events, but I want to say thank you for the kind reviews and tweets and posts, for coming out to events to talk about Nikolai and Zoya and Nina, for all the ways you’re funny and generous and creative,” Bardugo wrote to fans on her social platform.

“It’s so scary to put a new book out into the world, but you’ve really made it magical,” Bardugo finished.

DC’s new movie release Aquaman allows movie-goers to dive head-first into the stunning and engaging world of Atlantis as Aquaman fights against his power-hungry rival in search of a mythical trident to earn complete control over the seas.

Aquaman has been a tsunami in the box office, surfing at $1 billion worldwide, naming it the second-highest grossing DC superhero film of all time worldwide. The film flourishes with colorful, stunning effects and entertains with wit and dry humour. The movie pushes past superhero stereotypes, offering a complex and completely immersive cinematic world.

Viewers will find themselves captivated, thoroughly submerged in the action-soaked story.

“It’s pretty crazy. For as big a movie as Aquaman is, I could not have had more freedom. I had all the big tools and the budget to paint on a really big canvas,” director James Wan said in an interview with The New York Times.

The concept of Aquaman was introduced in the original DC Comics but never peaked to a best seller. Insistent on bringing superheroes Superman, Batman, and Wonder Woman into one collaborative universe, Warner Bros. brought Aquaman to movie screens in Justice League.

“Really, I pulled most inspiration from the comic book,” Wan said. “The comic book has all those elements of high sea adventure, fantasy, shades of horror slash sea monsters, and this wondrous magical sci-fi fantasy. It has a little flavor of everything. So, going into it, I knew I really wanted to be respectful of all those sorts of different flavors that it has.”

The Aquaman film has brought the character a completely new and powerful story and has undoubtedly transformed the unpopular comic book “sea man” into a freewheeling, confident presence among DC heroes.

Hawaiian actor Jason Momoa, who plays Aquaman in the film, gives off the perfect cocky surfer vibes. All tan skin and breezy manners, Arthur Curry, deemed “Aquaman,” is the son of the Atlantean Queen and an isolated lighthouse keeper.

The couple is considered only ill-fated and looked down upon by the people of Atlantis, forcing Atlanna (Nicole Kidman) to return to her sea kingdom in order to keep Arthur, and her lover, safe.

“[Aquaman’s] human side is equally as magical as his Atlantean side, because that’s what gives him his empathy but also can steer him down the wrong path,” Momoa said in an interview with Screen Rant.

Arthur, unaware of what happened to his mother, grows up with abnormal abilities that connect him to the water. One day, fiery Atlantean princess Mera comes to the shore to inform him that he must help save the seven seas and claim his royal heritage throne, as well as find a trident only heard of in legends.

Mera and Arthur set out on a quest to find clues to help them find the mysterious trident, while villain King Orm of Atlantis plots to conquer the humans on the shore, loathing the pollution they created, forming deadly alliances with other sea kingdoms.

Half Atlantean Arthur naturally has human flaws, making him vulnerable despite his roguish demeanor.

“So, I mean, that stuff is fun – to be flawed. So… James [Wan], in turn, built a world that is so beautiful, and then let that same character go back to his roots, which then you can see a softer side, how he would act around his pops,” Momoa said.

“But he gets his butt kicked the whole movie,” Momoa joked. “Really, there were moments where I was like, ‘James…’ And he just gets beat up to the point where he wants to give up, and that’s still an amazing, vulnerable thing – where Mera’s stronger than him.”

Though the film has some flaws and might not live up to the emotional elements in other DC success Wonder Woman, it is a swashbuckling tale of fun adventure and thrives with visual creativity and humour. The action sequences and intricate CGI all turn out breathtakingly effortless on the big screen.

However, the movie goes deeper than just the effects and action. Not only does the film portray themes such as family and loyalty, but also it helps address global issues such as water pollution.

“You can’t make an Aquaman story and not have it deal with pollution in the ocean. [There are] hundreds of Aquaman comics as well that deal with him fighting whaling ships, saving fishermen, helping out with the environment,” Patrick Wilson, who plays Aquaman’s archenemy Orm Marius, said in an interview with Slash Film.

“I think it is something very socially conscious,” Wilson stated.

The movie is saturated with environmental and family themes, making the story all the more special.

“It’s the people around [Aquaman] that believe in him so much, which is just true in life, you know? To be a king, you need a kingdom and your family that believes in you,” Momoa said.

For those feeling the winter blues, the movie paints a whimsical summer-like atmosphere throughout the movie, while balancing humor and plenty of trident-whirling for action addicts.

The Atlantis world portrayed in the movie is fully mesmerizing. From the lush sea life to brightly lit colorful architecture, the kingdom is a multi-layered world that allows viewers to feel very much in the setting themselves.

“There really aren’t a lot of visual cues from existing films to pull from. That was exciting for me because I get to create a new world. In terms of the technicality of it: It was a pain,” said Wan.

“The actors would be suited up in their costumes and placed inside these really awkward, uncomfortable rigs. Then, visual effects would come in and add the flowing hair, the floating costumes and capes, and then paint in the entire world.” said Wan.

Though Aquaman has powerful and riveting scenes at times, as well as an incredible Atlantis world, it never fails to flaunt its humour. The movie shamelessly expresses comical energy throughout the whole film.

Aquaman has been a splashing success among DC movies and box offices and never fails to charm anyone who enters the world. From the sauntering, personable Jason Momoa to thrilling oceanic action sequences and dazzling effects, Aquaman is undoubtedly worth your time.

“With the game cast, a charismatic lead performance by Jason Momoa, the electrifying visuals and the infectiously fun tone, Aquaman is a cinematic wave you will want to catch,” remarked critic Harris Dang.

Rhapsodic energy pulsed through the Live Aid concert crowd while Freddie Mercury and Queen performed their greatest hits in emotional spirits as the crowd clapped and roared along to each song of the band’s electrifying finale together. Little did they know this would be one of the last performances of Freddie’s life.

When you think of the band Queen, you might picture radiantly colorful and wild outfits and retro hairstyles; perhaps lyrics like “mamma mia, let me go…” or “…we are the champions…” might start playing on repeat in your head.

However, new movie release Bohemian Rhapsody provides an inspiring biopic in celebration of Freddie Mercury’s life and paints a whole new picture of Freddie’s struggles and lifestyle.

Bohemian Rhapsody follows the phenomenal and emotional rise to fame of Queen’s music and the life of extraordinary vocalist Freddie Mercury. Movie-goers follow Queen’s revolutionary songs and performances over the world as the talented cast portray the band’s legacy. Flamboyant Freddie Mercury discovers the band in hopes to start his career, performing at local venues, unaware that soon they would be performing on international stages.

Freddie Mercury had a strong stage presence, despite his lack of confidence in his personal life. He enraptured the crowd with his personality, keeping the audience under his spell throughout his whole performance.

As the band thrives and rocks the world with their charisma, Mercury takes a dark turn, breaking away from the band. He struggles with insecurities and uncertainty of being an outcast because of his sexuality and becomes negatively influenced. Mercury showcased both the ups and downs of a rockstar life. He discovers he is diagnosed with HIV/AIDS, unsure of how much time he has left.

“I think trying to remove this kind of nagging idea that Freddie means everything to everyone — and he is an hero and icon for so many people and everyone appreciates him in their own unique way, their own personal way, that I could never be all of those things to everyone. I had to bring some of my own humanity to this to attempt to blend with his,” Freddie Mercury actor Malek said in an interview with The Hollywood Reporter.

Will Mercury be able to reunite with his band in the end?

Bohemian Rhapsody offers a comical and fabulous biography of Queen’s rise, filled with strong acting, embellished costumes, and emotional and riveting scenes.

The film sends an inspiring message to outsiders and dreamers and has undoubtedly stolen the show at movie theaters. The movie debuted with a shocking $50 million in US box offices, and $72.5 million internationally, despite the fact that some critics complain about flawed plots and sloppy storytelling.

Nonetheless, many fans, including me, thought Bohemian Rhapsody was a perfect exhibition of one of the most beloved bands in the history of rock music.

Despite troubles with production, the cast was positive the film would be completed.

“We always knew it was going to be done. Because everyone was so invested in it. Everyone was very, very passionate about this film — cast and crew. So even on the toughest days, we all looked at each other and we knew we’d get each other through,” Gwilym Lee, who plays guitarist Brian May, said.

“In the face of adversity, there was an incredible bond between everybody on set. There was a certainty that it was going to get done, that it was going to get finished,” said May.

The film ended with a stunningly sensational recreation of the iconic Live Aid performance.

“You walk out there on that stage as it was replicated from the day, and there was a feeling like you could never imagine of extreme euphoria. You just need to live up to that moment,” actor Rami Malek said to USA Today about the astonishing scene.

“Everyone, from me to the caterer, was out there clapping along to the songs and cheering on (the actors), because it was all about the atmosphere and energy,” producer Graham King said.

Queen showed up on screens of about a billion televisions during the Live Aid concert, sold millions of albums (even more than the Beatles in the UK for a time), and toured all over the world; and their music continues to live on to this day as the world still sings along to Queen’s invigorating songs.

The band defied stereotypes and shared their unique tunes with the world- and became one of the most iconic bands of their time, and perhaps music history.

Bohemian Rhapsody was released November 2 and is currently still in theatres. It is directed by Bryan Singer under 20th Century Fox and Regency Enterprises. I definitely recommend going to see this movie; it is worth your time. Whether you are a Queen fan or not, you will undeniably be singing along and enjoying the movie’s flair and wit.

The movie whipped up the perfect blend of music, love, happiness, and tragedy. Actor Rami Malek played the perfect recreation of Freddie Mercury, capturing the snazzy charm of the singer.

“He doesn’t look exactly like Mercury, but embodies him head to toe. His performance carries the film, and is filled with heart even in some of Mercury’s darker moments,” Cnet writer Patrick Holland claimed.

“On stage, Malek is outlandish, flirty and mesmerizing as he swaggers and preens with the real Mercury’s confidence.”

Bohemian Rhapsody will positively “rock you” with its charm. For now, it is the “champion” of the box office, displaying an encouraging commemoration of Queen’s story, dazzling movie-goers, including me. I left the theatre with positive energy and Queen songs playing on a loop in my mind.

Chris Aronson, distribution chief for 20th Century Fox, said, “It really is a celebration of Queen and their music.”

What would it be like if your house lived and breathed? What if it was the one doing the haunting?

The House of Usher towers like a colossal shadow, cloaked in darkness and misery. It sees, feels every emotion, and knows every thought the Usher family has; the house haunts. The family is destined to acquire the Usher curse, to become consumed by the inky walls and rigid floors of the House to the point of near madness.

The book The Fall, written by author Bethany Griffin, is an eerie reimagining of the famous and daunting tale of “The Fall of the House of Usher” by Edgar Allan Poe. Greenwillow Books published the work on October 6, 2015.

The story is played out in brief non-chronological chapters, describing the childhood life of Madeline and Roderick Usher leading up to the ruinous event of the fall of the accursed house. Within every inch of the shadowy corners of the house surfaces something new and unexpected.

“Griffin creates a thick, murky atmosphere within the walls of the House of Usher from the start, layering in chilling details as Madeline’s situation becomes ever more dire,” a Kirkus reviewer said.

However, The Fall is not Griffin’s only Poe-inspired book, though it was her first. She has published other intriguing books such as Handcuffs, Masque of the Red Death, Dance of the Red Death, and Glitter & Doom.

“I think it’s the atmosphere of Poe’s stories that makes me want to expand and add to them,” Griffin said in a Fiktshun interview.

The very tone of Poe’s original storytelling is haunting and eerie, and readers wondered if Griffin’s reimagining could live up to Poe’s classic.

Nonetheless, The Fall maintained a perfectly lurid and murky atmosphere with descriptions of the house and Madeline’s adventures, keeping one on the edge of their seat, waiting for more.

“What stories fascinate more? I think fairy tales have the same eternal (and creepy) quality, and there are many retellings of Shakespeare’s stories, but otherwise, what classic stories fascinate teen readers more thoroughly than Poe?” Griffin noted.

The novel takes readers on a dark and thrilling story of the Usher family as they try to fight against the curse that has consumed their families for years. Madeline’s twin brother, Roderick, doesn’t want to believe her when Madeline whispers fantasies about the House of Usher.

The house compels and influences the actions of family, becoming almost a living, breathing supernatural presence in the book.

Madeline must be careful to never upset the house, or thus suffer its wrath. She knows when it is jealous, feeling its iciness in the walls, and knows despite everything, it wants to protect her.

But nothing ever lives long in the house; rather everything dies away, cloaked in the gloom and darkness of the noble home surrounded by murky tarn waters. The family will fall prey to the house’s curse, eventually.

Madeline tries to grow her garden among her loneliness in the expanse of the estate, but even the smallest greenery is overtaken by weeds and thorns.

Madeline tries to fight for her will to live above all else.

Madeline now feels her symptoms of the family curse, her morbid acute awareness of the senses, and she wishes to outrun the doomed fate. But with her brother away at school, and the fits only worsening, Madeline feels more and more lonely and afraid.

She desperately wishes to escape, and destroy, the house. Can she preserve her sanity and bring down the house in the end?

“The Fall of the House of Usher has always been my favorite Poe story,” Griffin said. “I loved the haunted house, the failing Ushers, the general atmosphere and mood of the story. For me it is the quintessential Poe story. It was published after his death, and embodies everything that (in my opinion) makes Poe great.”

Madeline has fought her doomed fate for all of her life, hoping for a success, which she believed was happening.

Until she wakes up in a coffin, breathless and alive.

With Halloween growing closer, and the first wisps of fall in the air, mirroring suspension and fear for Halloween scares, The Fall is the perfect book to start the month.

The novel consumes readers, just as the house consumed the Usher family. It raises questions and a suspenseful atmosphere while maintaining the uncanny events of the original classic, leading up to a shocking and heart-racing ending.

“The updated, supernatural spin will have savvy and reluctant readers hooked,” School Library Journal stated.

You can check out The Fall and other novels by Bethany Griffin at the high school library or local bookstores and experience the lavishly dark story that brings a gothic and immersive world filled with unsettling questions and wonder.

From the sinister, haunting House of Usher to the eerie phenomena of the book, The Fall has many readers absolutely absorbed in this suspenseful reimagining of Poe’s original.

“Readers will be swept away immediately by the eerie setting, but it’s Madeline’s fighting will to survive that will keep them turning pages late into the night,” a Kirkus reviewer wrote.

The students bustled into the tranquil public library, relieved to evade the summer humidity outside in the Mississippi heat. They all grabbed a handful of snacks, piling the azure bound books on the table, springing into the colorful world of the book that thrived with abundant twists and tragic romance. Ecstatic and with their fingers stained with crumbs, the members shared their thoughts from the shocks and turns in the novel Strange the Dreamer at their first summer book club meeting.

Book club students have been busy tearing through pages this summer and are now back in full swing to start off the new school year with several new representatives. Librarian Eles Renfroe established the Pelahatchie book Club, Chieftain Chapters, two years ago, and she has been a leader of the club and spurred on many meetings since.

“Everyone needs to find his/her niche. Chieftain Chapters provides that niche for our book-loving students,” Renfroe said.

Over the past few years, students explored many new books, sharing their thoughts on the novels at each student meeting. From movie nights to tea parties filled with piping toasty tea and sugared lemon tarts inspired by the world of Heartless, the book club meetings evoked positive response and became a huge hit.

Renfroe plans to fill up the club’s calendar this school year with even more fun ideas. The club enjoyed the first book to kick off the year, The Darkest Minds, and has a few entertaining ideas to add to their meetings in the time ahead. They will host votes on future books and are planning their first back-to-school meeting on The Darkest Minds soon.

“I hope to improve the book club this year by asking the members to get more involved in planning our meetings so that in addition to discussing the book, we can plan some fun book-themed games,” Renfroe explained.

Chieftain Chapters provides the enlightenment of sharing feelings with fellow readers and getting hands on new books that one might have never read before.

“When you finish a great book, you are desperate to share all of the overflowing emotions that the book creates with someone else,” Renfroe stated.

“Our book club gives readers just that: we discuss all of the amazing twists and turns, heartaches, joys, surprises, and revelations that we experience along the way.”

New freshman representatives, Adyln Till, Kaitlyn White, Laura Renfroe, Collins Doster, and Ella Tucker are excited to begin their year in Chieftain Chapters.

“I’m excited to join Book Club because I can be able to read different books and be able to discuss with other people,” White remarked. “I really didn’t know what I liked to read so I am excited to read different genres or books I never thought I would read.”

Chieftain Chapters hopes to emphasize the importance and allure of reading. “I do believe something magical can happen when you read a good book,” Harry Potter author J.K. Rowling once knowingly detailed.

“Why is reading important? Reading makes you smarter,” Renfroe claimed.

“Think about those students you know who have high Lexiles and high ACT scores: most likely, they are readers. Even more importantly, we read to understand who we are or who we are becoming. I can’t think of a more enjoyable way of becoming than to get lost in a great book. Once you experience that magic, there’s no going back. Reading is addictive.”

Renfroe and Chieftain Chapters are especially eager to begin their year, experience festive future assemblies, and, of course, dive into new books.