The Plank - Opinions
Opinion: Behind the odds
Gambling is one of the fastest growing industries in the world. According to data collected by the Federal Trade Commission, as stated in their “Daily News” press release, the global online gambling market size was valued at 63.53 billion United States Dollars (USD) in 2022, and is expected to grow quickly at a compound annual growth rate of 11.7% from 2023 to 2030.
Opinion: “The Creator”: stunning visuals can’t save a mediocre story
Filmmaker Gareth Edwards’s much-anticipated original sci-fi film “The Creator” was released in theaters on Sept. 30, 2023, and it failed to live up to the hype. This movie is disappointing because it feels as cookie-cutter and one-note as the typical blockbuster fare, despite it being one of the few sci-fi movies released in the past few years that is not attached to a series.
Opinion: Why lacrosse is underrated
Lacrosse is a severely underappreciated sport that deserves to be played, watched, and known by way more people. It is a game of skill and physicality that leads to enjoyable moments for both viewers and players.
Opinion: “My Pandemic Love Story” strikes a perfect balance
Students from Jesuit High School Sacramento joined students from Saint Francis High School and Rio Americano High School to produce the Fall Play event entitled “My Pandemic Love Story” (MPLS). Through song, dance, and monologue, the performers relived and revealed the realities they experienced during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Opinion: “Five Nights at Freddy’s 6,” a terrifying masterpiece
“Freddy Fazbear’s Pizzeria Simulator,” (FFPS) also known as “Five Nights at Freddy’s 6,” (FNaF 6) is the critically acclaimed sixth installment of the “Five Nights at Freddy’s” (FNaF) horror series.
Opinion: “SOMA” sends subtle psychological scares
“SOMA” is a survival horror game developed and published by Frictional Games, the very same studio that created the acclaimed “Amnesia” game/series. The base gameplay of “SOMA” holds many similarities to its predecessors in the “Amnesia” series, with stealth and puzzle solving being the main mechanics needed to progress.
Opinion: “IGOR” mixes amazing talent with deeper meaning
On May 17, 2019, Tyler, the Creator released his fifth studio album titled “IGOR.” The album won Tyler the first Grammy of his career: Best Rap Album of 2020. His fourth album, “Flower Boy,” fell short after being nominated but not selected for Best Rap Album at the 2018 Grammys, so winning was a huge accomplishment for Tyler.
On “IGOR,” Tyler branched out from what people thought rap was and introduced a heavy R&B influence to his experimental rapping. Tyler utilized a wide array of sounds from psychedelic synths to distorted bass, providing an experience that fans of many different genres could appreciate.
Car show featured cool cars, awesome automobiles
On Tuesday, April 25, Jesuit High School Sacramento hosted its
annual car show, which allowed students to see and appreciate
some exotic, classic, and beautifully built cars.
Opinion: The “Tetris” movie lines up just right
“Tetris” is a biographical thriller about the history of the
videogame by the same name. It was released on March 15,
2023 and was directed by Jon S. Baird and written by Noah
Pink.
“The Last of Us” is a great show for zombie-lovers to remember.
“The Last of Us” is a TV adaptation made by HBO of its video game counterpart developed by Naughty Dog. Both the game and the show follow the main characters, Joel and Ellie, in a horror-action adventure in a post-apocalyptic world.
Kendrick Lamar’s discography reveals a transcendent talent
Kendrick Lamar Duckworth, more popularly known as Kendrick Lamar,
son of Paula Oliver and Kenny Duckworth was born on June 17,
1987, in Compton, California, a city known for its prominent
presence in the west-coast rap scene as well as its rampant gang
violence and crime.
Smash Bros: The Ultimate Fighting Game!
“Super Smash Bros. Ultimate” (SSBU) is very popular at Jesuit
High School Sacramento, and for a good reason. Adherents have
been seen playing this game during lunch, community periods, and
even in the morning on days with a late school start. I, too, am
a fan of the “Super Smash Bros” franchise and decided to delve
deeper into the game’s history and give an overall rating and
opinion.
Opinion: Cornell University, go (other) Big Red!
Cornell University is a private Ivy League school located in
Ithaca, New York that is well known for its Computer Science,
Medical, and Hotel Management programs. Cornell is also famous
for being the second largest school in the Ivy League with 15,000
undergraduate students.
Opinion: MF DOOM’s presence still looms large
New York rapper Daniel Dumile, aka MF DOOM, is one of the
greatest and most influential hip hop artists of all time. MF
DOOM tragically passed away on Oct. 31, 2020, at the age of 49.
Despite his passing, his presence and musical influence are still
felt in pop culture to this day.
Opinion: Georgetown University offers historic campus, Catholic education
Georgetown University is a private Jesuit institution and
research university located in Washington, D.C. It offers the
opportunity for Jesuit High School Sacramento students to
continue their Jesuit education in the nation’s capital, with
access to a multitude of internships and a beautiful campus.
Don’t Worry Darling displays dazzling performances
Psychological thriller film “Don’t Worry Darling” hit theaters on
Sept. 23, 2022. The movie was directed by Olivia Wilde and
written by Katie Silberman, and features a star-studded cast
including Florence Pugh, Harry Styles, Chris Pine, and Gemma
Chan.
“Final Letters” Learning from the past to change the present
On Friday, Nov. 4, Jesuit Drama held the Opening Night Gala and
Performance of the fall play “Final Letters,” a company-created
production based off of the Yad Vashem Archive’s “Final Letters.”
This solemn yet educational production presents emotional letters
written by Jewish victims of the Holocaust while under Nazi
oppression.
Jesuit hosts first in person Back to School Night in three years
Jesuit High School Sacramento’s Back to School Night is on
Tuesday, Aug. 30 at 6:30 p.m. This marks the first in person Back
to School Night in three years. The event looks to reunite
parents and teachers and to showcase a student’s life at
Jesuit.
Review: ‘The Witcher’ season 2 makes massive improvements
On Dec. 17, 2021 the second season of Netflix’s “The Witcher” was released, and it is remarkably different from the first season. The second season is based off of the short story “A Grain of Truth,” the second novel in the “Witcher” series “Blood of Elves,” and the beginning of the third novel “Time of Contempt.”
Review: ‘Severance’ is an intense, mind-bending sci-fi thriller
On Feb. 18, 2022, the intense sci-fi thriller “Severance” aired its first episode on Apple TV+. The show’s season finale was released on April 8, and was created, written, and produced by Dan Erikson and directed by Ben Stiller and Aoife McArdle.