Story by Kaden ChaiContributor Illustration by David SohnStaff Illustrator 5/5 starsPublisher: NintendoDeveloper: Intelligent Systems and Koei TecmoPlatform: Nintendo SwitchESRB Rating: T The most remarkable aspect of Fire Emblem: Three Houses is not its strategic RPG gameplay, but rather its story. Initial normalcy at the Gareg Mach Monastery is torn apart as the entire continent of […]
‘Parasite’ provides an insightful look into today’s social issues
Story by Dominic MarzialiOnline Managing Editor Illustration by Alicia ZhangStaff Illustrator 5/5 stars Director: Bong Joon-hoGenre: Comedy drama thrillerRuntime: 2 hr 12 minRating: R Parasite, one of this year’s top foreign films got off to a rocky start in the box office, releasing in roughly 30 theaters. Two months of media attention and rave reviews […]
‘Frozen 2’ is a disappointing sequel to a beloved childhood film
Story by Noah KuhnStaff Writer Illustration by David SohnStaff Illustrator 2/5 stars The sequel to the inspiring and heart-warming Frozen released in theaters on Nov. 22, after six long-awaited years. Disney’s Frozen Ⅱ features Anna and Elsa’s quest to restore peace between the four nature spirits within the fabled Enchanted Forest. However, an overly complex […]
The Donut Man remains true to a legacy of quality
Story by Haelee KimStaff Writer lepsoc2014.com Photos by Katelyn HernandezStaff Photographer It is hard to imagine traveling for more than a couple of miles just to pick up a box of a dozen donuts, no matter how good they are. However, The Donut Man deserves this hype, reining customers into its nondescript yet quaint storefront […]
New take on ‘Looking for Alaska’ addresses identity and mental health
Story by Audrey ErnstStaff Writer Illustration by Alicia ZhangStaff Illustrator 3/5 stars Looking for Alaska, by John Green, one of the world’s most iconic young adult novels, was recently reimagined as an eight part, Hulu exclusive miniseries. The story follows Miles Halter, a quiet teenage boy, who goes to boarding school in Alabama and meets […]
Compelling acting and exciting set elements collide in fall production ‘Metamorphoses’
Story by Amber Chen Staff Writer Photos courtesy of Shari CorrelContributor Drama director Nick Hoffa’s goal is to bring an exciting, one of a kind experience to the stage. This year’s play, Metamorphoses, which debuted on Friday, Nov. 15, accomplishes just that, putting a modern spin on classical Greek myths in a manner that is […]
Me + Crepe puts an exciting twist on Chinese street food
Story by Lilian ZhuStaff Writer Photo by Sarah LeeStaff Photographer While dumplings and chow mein have become Chinese cultural food icons throughout the world, jian bings remain one of the culinary gems that is largely unknown outside the country’s borders. Traditionally, jian bings are savory crepes that include green onions, soybean paste, and eggs, and […]
‘Metronomy Forever’ is sentimental, but repetitive
Story by Amber Chen & Cloe MauerStaff Writers Illustration by Alicia ZhangStaff Illustrator 3/5 stars Artist — MetronomyLabel — Because MusicLength — 17 tracks, 54 minutes It’s been 13 years since British synth-rock group Metronomy’s debut album, Pip Paine. The moody, electric guitar heavy record sported classically bleak dance club tracks “Black Eye/ Burnt Thumb” […]
Joaquin Phoenix brings an iconic villain to life in ‘Joker’
Story by Brady Nakumura & Matthew TsaiStaff Writer & Sports Editor Illustration by David SohnStaff Illustrator 4.5/5 stars Joker, a sadistic psychopath and the world’s most recognizable supervillain, lives to incite chaos and catastrophe. Accordingly, a R-rated film starring the criminal mastermind as the protagonist would breed a tsunami of controversy. Even before the movie […]
‘Ad Astra’ crumbles under its messy screenplay
Story by Matthew TsaiSports Editor Illustration by Talulla ChowDesign Editor 3/5 stars With the six highest grossing films of 2019 being either sequels or remakes, standalone films no longer attract mainstream audiences; everyone is waiting for a popular franchise’s next installment or the newest live-action remake. Even production companies and studios have followed suit, throwing […]
‘The Lion King’ remake is unnecessary, unoriginal, and uninspired
Story by Audrey ErnstStaff Writer Illustration by Nicholas FormanStaff Illustrator Disney introduced The Lion King in late July as its most recent remake, but the film did not live up to past remakes on classic Disney stories. The film lacked the heart and imagination of the original, and came off as a money grab for Disney instead […]
The MCU spins another masterpiece in ‘Spider-Man: Far From Home’
Story by Zoe SchlaakStaff Writer Illustration by Nicholas FormanStaff Illustrator This review contains spoilers for Avengers: Endgame 4.5/5 stars Spider-Man: Far from Home, the third installment of the Spider-Man franchise, has become the first Spider-Man film of all time to surpass one billion dollars in the global box office, and for good reason — with […]
Standout performances contend with a cluttered storyline in ‘Once Upon a Time in Hollywood’
Story by Matthew TsaiSports Editor Illustration by Maddie YooDesign Editor 4/5 stars From Pulp Fiction to Inglourious Basterds to Django Unchained, Quentin Tarantino has captivated audiences with his tightly woven stories and unique sense of humor. The writer-director, decorated with numerous Academy Awards and Golden Globes, has cemented himself as one of the top filmmakers […]
Nearly 25 years later, Toy Story’s nostalgia lives on with ‘Toy Story 4’
Story by Lilian Zhu Staff Writer Illustration by David Sohn Staff Illustrator 4/5 stars The original Toy Story film became an instant hit in 1995, earning $373 million, mass numbers of positive reviews from critics and audiences, and praise for its revolutionary innovations in 3-D animation. Toy Story captured the hearts of many young children and adults […]