BY MARCUS EMMEL
The Sandra Bullock-starring horror movie has left critics cold, but since its release, it's become a magnet for memes and racked up the platform's best film numbers ever. The film, led by Sandra Bullock, was seen as one of Netflix's better original offerings of 2018 with a juicy set-up, an in-demand director, and a high-profile pre-Christmas release. However, a last minute marketing campaign left people dismayed, calling the trailer an ill-timed, sense-swapped copy of A Quiet Place. While the John Krasinski/Emily Blunt thriller focused on monsters who used sound to hunt their victims, in Bird Box, a demonic force targets sight. For those unlucky enough to catch a glimpse, their greatest fears become realized.
While it has become notoriously hard to judge the success of a Netflix drop, given how the platform refuses to release viewership figures, it was clear that within days, Bird Box was an unlikely phenomenon. Not only did it start trending on Twitter but it soon became an unlikely meme-magnet. The reaction was so unexpected that it led Netflix to reveal that over 45 million accounts had watched Bird Box in its first seven days, the biggest first week for any of their original films to date. Reactions to the movie reach a new fever pitch with the "Bird Box challenge" which has seen fans blindfolding themselves before taking on various tasks from petting dogs to playing basketball to, most worringly, driving. It all led to the official Netflix account tweeting:
As a consumer, the in-home premiere of a film with a snappy high-concept and an appealing A-list lead would seem like an early Christmas gift, requiring no greater commitment than pressing play. Bullock is a notoriously picky actress, even more so after her Oscar win for The Blind Side in 2013 and her cannily chosen projects since have mostly proved just how wide her appeal remains. In 2013, she scored two major hits with Gravity and The Heat and while 2015's Our Brand is Crisis was an Oscar misstep, her lead role in last year's Ocean's 8 was a resounding success, at least commercially, with almost $300m in the bank.
While some critics suggest the film's success is a direct result of Bullock's star appeal, it's worth sharing the wealth with her ensmble, a strategically assembled cast of easy-to-place faces with amazing talent. There's Moonlight's Trevante Rhodes, American Horror Story's Emmy-winning Sarah Paulson, veteran Oscar nominee John Malkovich, Get Out's Lil Rel Howery, rapper-turned-actor Machine Gun Kelly, two time Oscar nominee Jacki Weaver, British stage and screen star Tom Hollander and Jurassic World's BD Wong. It's a diverse, impressive cast with broad appeal and the constant unfolding of cameos makes it a hard film to turn off.
In short, Bird Box is an unsatisfying thriller that captured the attention of millions, and although not seeing the monsters is a bit of a let-down, the Netflix sci-fi thriller adapted from Josh Malerman's novel offers both an interesting take on the end of the world and riveting, emotional insights on survival, parenthood, and humanity itself. The supporting ensemble brings a unique pesonality to the mix, giving the movie a very strong cast. Bird Box is not the jump-scare thrill machine that some might expect when they hear "post-apocalyptic thriller." It's quiet at times and quick in others. Much like the film's creatures, it digs into our deepest human fears and opens a world that lives in fear. And when it asks you to remove the blindfold and watch what happens, it really is beautiful.
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By Sierra Brown Photo Courtesy of Wikimedia Commons It’s the Holiday season and you’re in the mood to watch something festive. But you don't know what. Need a couple ideas for you, your family, or friends? How about an oldie but a goodie, A Christmas Story!
A Christmas Story is the thirteenth most liked Christmas movie out of fifty according to Rotten Tomatoes. It's about a young boy named Ralphie Parker who spends most of his time dodging bullies as well as dreaming of his dream Christmas gift, a Red Ryder air rifle. Frequently at odds with his father but comforted by his mother, Ralphie struggles to make it to Christmas Day with his glasses and his hopes all together. Another well liked Christmas movie is Elf. It's got something for everyone. Unlike other movies, Elf has all the elements of a classic comedy as well as having a great story that is driven by a family coming together. A lot of people like Will Ferrell, and a lot of people like the style of comedy infused into the movie according to Quora. Elf is about a boy named buddy who was accidentally transported to the North Pole as a toddler and raised to adulthood there. Having the feeling that he doesn't fit in, the adult Buddy travels to New York, in full elf uniform, in search of his real father. There are many more beloved Christmas movies people have/will watch. It doesn’t matter if the story comes from a book or the television screen. It’s a wonderful way to celebrate the birth of Christ and to get all warm and fuzzy about this time of the year says author Lenora Worth in the article, Why do we love Christmas movies so much? By Laurel Preston The new animated movie The Grinch is a spin off of How the Grinch Stole Christmas, by Dr.Seuss. This new movie has gotten some backlash because of its unoriginality and lack of fresh content. According to Rotten Tomatoes “The Grinch gives the classic Seuss source material a brightly animated update that's solidly suitable for younger viewers without adding substantially to the story's legacy.” Yet they gave the movie a 57%.The Grinch has earned about 15.1 million dollars in the box office just under Ralph Breaks the Internet which earned 16.4 millions dollars with an 88% certified fresh. The movie doesn’t really follow the specific plot lines of the infamous two before it but yet it still follow the general idea of the Grinch stealing Christmas. The movie stars Benedict Cumberbatch, Rashida Jones, and is narrated by Pharrell Williams. Cumberbatch is mostly known for his work as Sherlock Holmes in the BBC show Sherlock but he has done one other animated movie before called Penguins. Despite the low ratings you should still go and see the new movie The Grinch. By Laurel Preston The Youtube community has changed exponentially over the last two years. The creators on the website are doing everything from composing charities to buying 6.9 million dollar mansions. These internet famous stars are earning themselves a big name in the media with Logan and Jake Paul earning themselves more fame and views than some people on daytime television. But at what cost?
Most of the more famous Youtubers that you’ve heard of have had hard times in the spotlight. Liza Koshy,Shane Dawson, Dodie Clark, Mylifeaseva, and Emma Chamberlain have all conveyed on camera about having a hard time with mental health and depression. It seems like the social platform has been a sort of beekin for people who are kind of messed up. And even with all the great stuff Youtube has brought us, from cute cat videos to in remembrance Vine compilations. There is still a very dark side to the Youtube community. With it creating stars like Pewdiepie, the Paul brothers, and Sam Pepper, the the former Big Brother contestant who thought it was funny to make a video of him 'secretly' pinching women's butts, and now has two sexual offence reports filed against him. And there are many other youtubers who have had a very rough time in the spotlight. When you log into Youtube these days all that comes up are apology videos and diss tracks. But the youtubers on this platform do have to pertain to their audience and if your slime making video only gets one million views but your diss track against Logan Paul gets ten million, which one do you think you will continue to make? Of course the diss track video. If you get more views then you get more subscribers and more money. All of Youtube is centered around money. You do whatever you have to to make the most even if it means breaking up and getting back together several times like Jason Nash and Trisha Paytas. But even with all the corruption in Youtube it is still a great place to get started and many famous names you hear everyday could be from Youtube, like IISuperwomanII formally known as Lily Singh has created a charity, launched her own business centered all around women loving themselves and she has even sat down with the former president Barack Obama. So Youtube shouldn’t be looked upon as one thing, it is not just bad or just good it can be both and even if you are looking up diss tracks or funny cat videos it has everything. BY LILLY SHROCK For 100 years, the U.S has had a constant schedule in the spring and fall. On the first Sunday of November, an hour is repeated. On November 4th, clocks were set back. At 2:00 A.M in the U.S, technological devices, such as phones and computers, are automatically pushed back in time. People make sure to set their clocks manually before the next day. Sunlight during the day lasts long, while nights are shorter. A similar pattern occurs in March. Time springs forward and days are shorter than nights for eight months. Many question the value of this oddly constructed schedule. Is it truly necessary to keep this around? What are the deep reasons and explanations for Daylight Savings? The general idea of Daylight Savings is to save energy. During World War 1, the U.S was introduced to this, conserving energy for the war. It was continued to be used ever since then. Daylight time reduces the need for lighting in homes, yet cooling and heating are needed, depending on the season. It isn’t like this event causes more sunlight in the summer and less in the winter. People are simply changing a number on a clock in a certain way, sending us into a different mind-set for both times. The statement that the concept helps farmers is said to be an urban legend. Changing the time could interrupt their schedules on the farm. Many of the activities these groups of people have require a schedule, but looking at the time could affect them. There is no way to prove that Daylight Savings increases safety, yet it’s listed as a reason for the purpose of this. Some people believe that when the days are longer in the fall, traffic accidents are less likely. However, after the time is set back or sprung ahead, rates in death from car accidents rises. Then again, people are so used to the time changes in the spring and fall, that erasing them could send them out of balance. There aren’t many reasons for Daylight Savings Time that are backed up scientifically, but the schedule is placed strictly. Hope you enjoyed your extra hour of sleep.
BY MARCUS EMMEL
A man wearing dark clothes and a baseball cap walked into the Borderline Bar & Grill in Thousand Oaks, California. After setting off smoke bombs to create confusion, he shot the security guard at the entrance and opened fire into the crowd. People dropped to the ground, dove under tables, hid in bathrooms and ran for exits, stepping over bodies sprawled across the floor. All this happened yesterday, November 8, 2018. Just last year, several of the patrons in the bar were in Las Vegas, at the country music festival where 58 people were killed in the worst mass shooting in modern American history. When the gunman opened fire at the festival in Las Vegas, Telemachus Orfano somehow survived. On Wednesday night, he didn't.
This shooting, the 307th mass shooting of 2018, marks yet another tragic reminder of the crisis facing Americans: guns. The mother of Telemachus Orfanos, Susan Orfanos, spoke to The New York Times in an telephone interview, saying, "He was killed last night at Borderline..." her voice was filled with sadness, "He made it through Las Vegas, he came home. And he didn't come home last night, and the two words I want you to write are: Gun control. Right now -- so that no one else goes through this. Can you do that? Can you do that for me? Gun control." He made it through Las Vegas, he came home. And he didn't come home last night, and the two words I want you to write are: Gun control.
This attack is only the latest in a wave of mass shootings that have plagued the country this year. A man opened fire at a Pittsburgh synagogue in late October, killing 11. On November 2nd, a man opened fire in a yoga studio in Florida, killing 2 and injuring 5. For far too long, those who oppose gun reforms have said that nothing can be done to stem the violence. Those claims are demonstrably wrong.
The Las Vegas massacre. The shooting at the Pulse nightclub in Orlando. The movie theater shooting in Aurora, CO. The Virginia Tech Slaughter. The massacre at the Texas First Baptist Church. These are the five highest-casuality mass shootings in modern American history. What did they all have in common? Semi-automatic weapons that allowed the shooter to fire into crowds without reloading. They should be banned, right? Well, there's a problem. Based on the evidence collected over the past 20 years, banning these weapons probably won't do much to influence overall gun deaths. We know this because in 1994, Congress passed legislation to outlaw the sale of certain types of semi-automatic guns and large-capacity magazines, and the effect was not impressive. Gun homicide rates declined during the ban, but they also rose again after the ban expired in 2004. One federally funded study of the ban found that the effect was insignificant partly because it was full of loopholes. Experts say focusing on reducing large-capacity machines might be more effective. Simply put, gunmen are less deadly when they have to reload. But such a ban may take time to have an effect. But it would be worth it. Again mass shootings only account for a small piece of the puzzle, so any ban on these weapons and magazines would result in small improvements at best. But even if this step reduced shootings by 1 percent, that would mean 650 fewer people shot a year. Isn't that worth it? BY LILLY SHROCK With Halloween on the rise, shoppers are frantically searching for cheesy decorations and delicious treats. Horror movies are showing up in theaters and tickets are being purchased on the daily.
Halloween is one of the top money sucking holidays. Overpriced bags of chocolates and sweets are stocked on shelves and cheaply made costumes, with the purpose of being used for one whole day, are sold in a range of $15-$45 dollars, some surpassing the price of a select handful of shoes, that can be worn for years. Trick or treat. The holiday’s candy is a high demand during October. They seem to sneak their way into grocery stores in the beginning of fall. In 2016, an average of 8.4 million dollars were spent on halloween candy, according to Halloween Headquarters. 2017 was much more, surpassing the last year’s spendings. This year, as over 175 million Americans look forward to handing out their packaged treats, the average is expected to hit 9 million, at the least. Spooky themed movies are expected to hit theaters. One being a household classic for the slasher genre, called Halloween. Michael Myers is back from an institution after more than a decade, targeting original cast members from the beginning of the series. Over a few days, the box office hit over 120 million. Movies 1-9 were made within a few years, each coming out sometime around October, a month of high money spending. Mazes and “haunted” houses are the top places when hanging out with friends. There are many Halloween themed destinations in multiple cities in Iowa. And of course in other states around the country. Teenagers and young adults find it entertaining and thrilling to be scared by paid actors dressed up in costumes. They spend their money on ten minutes (or less) of jumpscares and chasings. These businesses' sole purpose is to rack up money by scaring volunteers. They ask for 5-10 bucks, depending on what place it may be. That adds up quickly, and people lose money on these fun experiences. By Lilly Shrock
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