The Plank - Opinions
Opinion: “Retro Bowl” provides 8-bit fun for all football fans
The mobile video game “Retro Bowl” is an 8-bit American football
game with graphics that emulate nostalgia of the 80’s phenomenon
“Tecmo Bowl” on mobile devices everywhere.“Retro Bowl” was
created by British video game developer, New Star Games, who have
published a multitude of sport-based games in the past.
Opinion: Blockbuster “Dune” reaches for the stars and misses
Denis Villeneuve’s “Dune” came out on Oct. 22, 2021, and made
$40.1 million in the box office. This would not classify the
movie as a hit by any means, but it’s still respectable. The book
“Dune” from 1965 served as the influence for the “Dune” film, as
well as “Star Wars” and “Star Trek.” I chronicled much of Dune’s
rich filmography in another article. However, the focus of this
piece is on only one part of Dune’s filmography, the newest
quagmire in the Dune franchise, Dune 2021.
“Ghostbuster: Afterlife” perfectly blends old and new for a new generation
“Ghostbusters: Afterlife” was released by Sony Pictures on Nov.
19, 2021, and is produced by Columbia Pictures. The film is
directed by Jason Reitman, written by Gil Kenan, Jason Reitman,
and Dan Akyroyd, and stars Paul Rudd, Mckenna Grace, Finn
Wolfhard, and many more.
Opinion: Marvel’s “Eternals” suffers from massive mediocrity
“Eternals” was released in the United States on Nov. 5, 2021. The
film was directed by Chloe Zhao and released and produced by
Marvel Studios. The film stars Gemma Chan, Richard Madden, Salma
Hayek, Angelina Jolie, and many more.
Opinion: “Yakuza” series Brilliantly handles complicated themes
The “Yakuza” series is one of the oldest and most beloved
creations in the gaming industry. Created by the industry titan,
SEGA, in 2005, the series created its own bizarre style that
continues to draw people in, and no game has been able to
successfully copy it yet. With the 16 year anniversary of the
series drawing closer, now feels like the right time to look back
on the Yakuza franchise as a whole and to explore why it’s so
beloved to such a wide range of people.
“UFC 4” is bland and uninspired with a deeply flawed online mode
One of my colleagues, Rowan Craig ’23, wrote an
opinion for The Plank calling the video game “UFC 4” a
fun installment in the “UFC” video game franchise. As a
distinguished video game reviewer, I was offended, because “UFC
4” is not fun at all; in fact, it’s a really boring game.
Opinion: “Rocket League Sideswipe” revives the name of its 2015 predecessor
The mainstream video game developing studio, Psyonix, just
released a new mobile spin off of their poster game, “Rocket
League.” “Rocket League Sideswipe” has been available on IOS and
Android for Psyonix’s North American audience since Dec. 2, 2021,
and players are loving it.
Opinion: “You” explores the overlap between captivating and disturbing
“You,” the intense thriller and drama series available on
Netflix, released its long-awaited third season on Oct. 15, 2021.
This captivating show that first released on Sept. 9, 2018, has
grown immensely in popularity and is a big hit among many
teenagers and adults.
Daniel Craig’s farewell “No Time to Die” elicits mixed feelings
“No Time to Die” was released in theatres on Oct. 8th 2021, and
is the 25th and final film of Daniel Craig’s rendition of James
Bond. The film is directed by Cary Joji Fukunaga, and stars
Daniel Craig, Ana De Armas, Rami Malek, Lea Seydoux, and many
more.
Squid Game delivers deep messages to it’s audience at Jesuit
“Squid Game,” the South Korean hit Netflix series was released
Sept. 17, 2021. “Squid Game”is about a small group of wealthy
elites kidnapping and coercing the poor in South Korea, who are
in grave debt, to compete in life-and-death versions of popular
children’s games. “Squid Game” dystopian themes
incorporate many of the contemporary real world problems that the
world faces today.
“The Artful Escape” has simple gameplay but addresses mature topics
“The Artful Escape” is a new indie game on the market that
tackles the ideas of finding identity and the creative process in
a new and exciting way. Although the game had its fair share of
troubles in trying to get off the ground, it was finally released
on Sept. 9, 2021.
Review: “Spider-Man No Way Home” looks to be a promising and ambitious film despite only a few details revealed
“Spider-Man No Way Home,” the long-awaited sequel to “Spider-Man Far From Home,” is directed by Jon Watts and will be released on Dec. 17, 2021. Some actors confirmed to be in the movie include Tom Holland, Zendaya Maree Stoermer Coleman, Benedict Cumberbatch, Jamie Foxx, Alfred Molina, J.K. Simmons, and Willem Dafoe.
Review: “UFC 4” has something for sports and fighting game fans alike
“UFC 4” was released on Aug. 14 of 2020 and was developed by Electronic Arts Inc. and published under the company’s sports division, EA Sports. “UFC 4” is the fourth installment in the series following up “UFC 3,” which was released on Dec. 1, 2017.
The game follows the classic sports game template with a “Career Mode,” a “Play Now” mode and an “Online” mode. Even though the game doesn’t add to the classic format of sports games, it doesn’t stop the existing game modes from being fun.
Review: Ted Lasso is full of talent and compelling story-telling
The dramatic comedy “Ted Lasso” aired its first episode on the streaming service Apple TV+ on Aug. 14, 2020, and the last episode of its 2nd season aired Oct. 8, 2021. The show was developed by Jason Sudeikis, Bill Lawrence, Brendan Hunt, and Joe Kelly.
In the show, an American Division II college football coach, Ted Lasso played by Jason Sudeikis, is hired to coach for a Premier League soccer team in Britain by its new owner Rebecca Welton, played by Hannah Waddingham. Ted’s coaching abilities are underestimated by both the team and the country but he perseveres because of his undying optimism.
Review: Valorant offers an intense, competitive, and unique FPS experience
On June 2, 2020 “Valorant,” a competitive addition to PC gaming, hit the market.
“Valorant,” released by Riot Games, is a first-person shooter multiplayer game that currently involves 16 different playable agents and seven unique maps each with their own unique features. Valorant, also known as “Valo,” is constantly releasing brand new exciting content, including new agents and maps that continue to draw current players closer to the game while simultaneously bringing new players to the fanbase.
Opinion: Newest Jesuit polos are comfortable and made to last
The Jesuit High School Sacramento Marauders Cove has released a new uniform polo that is incredibly comfortable. The comfortable design of the polo creates a sense of empowerment and a desire to get things done with no distractions.
Review: Can Dune deliver a blockbuster…finally?
“Dune,” the upcoming $165 million blockbuster by Legendary Pictures, is based on Frank Herbert’s 1965 book of the same name. Released on October 22, 2021, and directed by Denis Villeneuve, this film includes actors Timothée Chalamet, Zendaya, Rebecca Ferguson, Jason Momoa, Dave Bautista, Oscar Isaac, Josh Brolin, & Stellan Skarsgård.
Review: “Hollow Knight” has an immersive map and unique experiences for metroidvania players
The new videogame “Hollow Knight” is a new take on the classic metroidvania subgenre that delivers a completely different experience from any other video game in the genre. Created and released by the small Australian indie studio Team Cherry, “Hollow Knight” shows some of the best that the indie gaming industry has to offer.
Despite only having a small development team of four and a small budget of 50 thousand dollars, “Hollow Knight” easily puts many AAA Games to shame with its incredible gameplay, soundtrack, and stunning visuals.
Review: “The Suicide Squad” delivers as an exciting watch with remarkable performances
The action thriller “The Suicide Squad” was released in the United States on Aug. 6th, 2021. The film is directed by James Gunn, produced and released by Warner Bros. Pictures, and stars Idris Elba, John Cena, Margot Robbie, Viola Davis, Joel Kinnaman, and many more.
Looking Back on Women’s History Month in Gratitude
Since 1987, when Congress declared the month of March as Women’s History Month, Americans have used the 31 days to honor and remember the women who have made history and their accomplishments.