The Plank - Opinions

The University of Utah is a public college located in Salt Lake City, Utah. In the past year or so, I’ve been fortunate enough to tour many campuses on the West Coast, and this was one of my favorites. With its beautiful campus, great city environment, and great academics, the university is a great choice for Jesuit students applying.

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.

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.

81-81. The definition of mediocrity. After another rollercoaster season, the San Francisco Giants remain too inconsistent to contend, yet not bad enough to rebuild. 

Four short years ago, the Giants earned the best record in baseball, finishing with 107 wins. They held a 2-1 divisional series lead over the Dodgers, and sat just one win away from the National League Championship Series. The Giants proceeded to lose the next two games in heartbreaking fashion, eliminating them from the playoffs. Since this series, the Giants haven’t returned to the postseason, nor come close. 

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. 

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.

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.

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.