The Plank - Opinions

Plank Article Nick Ryan ’26

Guillermo Del Toro’s Frankenstein: a worthy adaptation?

As you may have heard or seen, the newest rendition of the classic gothic horror story “Frankenstein” has hit Netflix, directed by none other than Guillermo Del Toro. The verdict? It’s fine. 

To be fair, it’s a fun watch and especially easy to become engrossed in. But artistically? It lacked depth in its attempt to recreate Shelley’s masterpiece. Del Toro did a good job with what he knows. The stunning costumes, look of the creature, and consistency with the narrative devices of the book were all done quite well. The incredible performances from the actors stood out. But put it next to the book, and it looks like a comic strip.

Plank Article Peter Fallon '28

Opinion: Is Hollow Knight: Silksong worth the wait?

Released on Sept. 4, Hollow Knight: Silksong is the long-awaited sequel to the beloved indie game Hollow Knight. The game has been in development by Team Cherry for approximately seven years, and was one of the most anticipated games of 2025, crashing Steam’s servers on its release. 

Plank Article Sean Broderick '26 Zach Maples '26

Has tipping gone too far?

Since when has ordering food become so out of control?

Before COVID-19, tipping was a luxury afforded to waiters in order to supplement their wages. I never had to worry about staring a cashier dead in the eyes as I selected “no tip” and feeling bad afterwards for not giving 20% more to the price I was already being gouged. Yet it seems that in the aftermath of COVID, having a tablet flipped around is the norm for every financial encounter.

Plank Article Preston Le ’26 Logan McManus ’28

Opinion: The Revival of Clash Royale

You can’t walk around campus without seeing it. It’s everywhere. From the lunch tables to the classroom, students are glued to their screens, battling it out in Clash Royale. With the goofy animated characters and fast-paced, tower-destroying gameplay, this game has taken over Jesuit High School Sacramento once again.

Plank Article Sean Broderick '26

Opinion: Gami Burger: A Disappointing Start

Willie’s Burgers had everything a Jesuit High School Sacramento student could ask for – good food, plenty of spaces to hang with friends, proximity to campus, and a student discount. However, in 2023, the owner of Willie’s, Stephanie Taylor, sold the location to chefs Scott Ostrander and Paul DiPerro, who transformed it into the restaurant that stands there today: Gami Burger.

Plank Article Bruce Van Parys ’27

Opinion: here’s why the Sacramento Kings are stuck in mediocrity

The Sacramento Kings once again failed to do anything in the play-in game, this time getting destroyed by the Dallas Mavericks. But unlike last year, the future of the Kings is bleak. There are many complications, but there are two issues that stand out to me the most: the style of play and head-scratching front office decisions, both of which stem from ownership decisions and misplaced priorities. 

Plank Article Brady Anderson ’25

A Minecraft Movie: a stellar disaster

On Friday, April 4, the highly anticipated and advertised “A Minecraft Movie” premiered, and it did not disappoint. While critics have rather mixed reviews over the movie, it is safe to say that watching this movie on opening day will be a moment remembered by everyone who attended. 

With critics rating the movie at 48% Rotten Tomatoes a few days after release, the movie appears to be unpolished and unappealing to some. When looking at the audience rating of the movie however, it sits at a high 87%. In my opinion, this disparity can be attributed to the fact that watching this movie in a room by yourself is a drastically different experience than watching this movie at your local theatre on opening day. While the movie may not have had the best character arcs or plot, the true entertainment came from crowd interactions, the nostalgia value, and the numerous funny moments from Jack Black and Jason Momoa.

Plank Article Aiden Thomas ’27

Opinion: Theology offers the best answers

When considering the most valuable subjects in school, people often default to mathematics, literature, and science. Each of these subjects have concrete, real-world applications that are commonly found on many career paths. I believe, however, that the most important subject is theology. Beyond spiritual fulfillment, theology delves into life’s greatest questions and shapes our morality.

Plank Article Cooper Zarro ’26

Mickey 17: A good balance of comedy and complexity

For years after Bong Joon-Ho’s modern classic “Parasite” released, fans wondered what direction the acclaimed director would take his next film. Now, after years of delays and a messy release schedule, they have their answer. Released on March 7, 2025, “Mickey 17” sees Joon-Ho return to some of his familiar themes – only this time in space. While I don’t think that the film is flawless, it has an intriguing story, compelling themes, and great acting.

Plank Article Aiden Thomas ’27

Opinion: one gorilla is no match for 100 men

The pressing question on everyone’s minds right now is who would win in a battle between one gorilla and 100 men? The answer seems obvious. A gorilla can absolutely annihilate a human, so 100 random dudes? Easy enough. However, many people fail to take into account numerous factors that would actually contribute towards the gorilla’s downfall. 

Plank Article Nick Ryan ’26

Opinion: it’s a gorilla, you aren’t hurting it

The debate burning its way through Twitter threads and lunchrooms right now is certainly a unique one: could 100 unarmed men win a fight against a silverback gorilla?

In short, the answer is obvious: absolutely not. 100 men is a lot of power and a lot of weight,  but they are pitted against a 500 pound ball of muscle and rage. With ridiculous strength and power in muscle, skin, and bone, there is no feasible way that 100 men could take down a gorilla. 

Plank Article Bruce Van Parys ’27

Opinion: a Final Four for the ages

This year’s NCAA men’s basketball tournament was special. It was the first year since 2008 that all number 1 seeds made the Final Four, which resulted in some great games that capped off an otherwise lackluster tournament. Some of the best teams that the NCAA has ever seen went head to head, and the games did not disappoint. 

The first Final Four game was between the Florida Gators and the Auburn Tigers, both from the Southeastern Conference. In my opinion, Florida had the edge heading into the game, but Auburn was the aggressor going into halftime with an eight point lead. I still had faith that Florida could win, and they delivered. Florida was able to close the gap with Walter Clayton Jr. leading the way, and Florida ended up winning 79-73.

Plank Article Baron Smith ’27

Opinion: Eat more Chicken

Chicken is the best meat. Its nutritional value combined with its delicious taste and versatility puts chicken far ahead of other meats.

Chickens have been consumed for nearly 10,000 years, starting with the domestication of the flightless bird in Western China. Its scarcity led to it being considered a delicacy in the United States in the early 1800s, but it has since become one of the most common dishes in the world. The prevalence of chicken has caused it to be cheap, allowing people all over the world to obtain it.

Plank Article Bruce Van Parys ’27

Review: it was a fun night gambling with Mom

On Saturday, April 5, I attended the annual Mother-Son Dance, which was themed “CasinoNight, and although it was called a dance, there was little dancing done – instead, I did a little bit of gambling with my friends, and made some of the fondest memories I have from a “dance”.

When I entered the Father Barry Gymnasium on that Saturday, it had been transformed into a lively casino that included a Bingo board and lots of snacks on the side. Mr. Lawrence Simon was DJing the event, and kept the tunes going the whole night.

Plank Article Aiden Dalida ’26

Opinion: San Diego’s shining schools

During the Mid Semester Break, I had the opportunity to go down to Southern California and tour a variety of schools in the beautiful city of San Diego, California. The three schools I toured were the University of San Diego (USD), University of California San Diego (UCSD), and San Diego State University (SDSU). Each school had their own individual strengths that I hope to highlight.