Category: Reviews

  • Meet the Addams Family

    Meet the Addams Family

    As you know, The Addams Family Musical took place in the auditorium on February 22, 23, and 24. The showing I reviewed took place on Friday 22 at 6:30 PM .

    For those who don’t know what The Addams Family is about, it’s based off of a family consisting of: a father named Gomez (played by Andy Martinez), mother named Morticia (played by Aiyanna Johns), and their children Wednesday and Pugsley (played by Amanda Angeles and Gabby Kaiser), along with a few family members in the household.

    Such as Grandma (played by Mika Dyo), Lurch (played by Chase McPherson), and Fester (Ben Rifkin). The play centers on this odd family and their peculiar home life, considered normal to them, but weird to outsiders.

    A new family called the Beinekes, visit the Addams family due to their son, Lucas (played by Caleb Marsh) being involved with Wednesday, romantically. Their romance seems to be a complication between the two families. Overall the play had a focus on love, which is fitting for the month of February.

    On opening night, a line of people stood to buy their tickets. As people entered the first thing noticed while entering is the orchestra. The play started with the curtains opening and the cast emerging from behind. The cast started with the opening song “When You’re an Addams” along with Gomez and Morticia dancing, with the family members doing solos and dancing as well.

    Emerging from within the side doors, actors dressed as ghost flooded into the audience up onto stage. They were considered the Ancestors and often showed up a lot throughout the production, such as changing the scenes and often being in the background of scenes.

    The most shocking detail is Wednesday changing from her usually mean demeanor to a more softer approach due to being in love. Of course the family find it strange as to Wednesday wanting things to be normal, when if fact there’s nothing normal about the Addams. The Beinekes as well question Lucas on how he found his partner and find their encounter strange.

    Secrets were kept and differences made, these were almost enough to split the families as they venture on their own paths, reflecting on their struggles. But by the end of the play, all was resolved and both families were able to coexist as one.

  • Poetry is a Grand Slam!

    Taking place at the Poly Playhouse on January 11, 2019 at 6:30 PM, students recited their own original poetry while getting rewarded for 1st, 2nd, or 3rd place. The prizes given where the money made with ticket sales  One of the contestants was senior Josalynn Bass, with her poem “Ana”. As she recited her poem it almost seemed as if this Ana was based on  an actual person, but nearing the end of it, the meaning started changing from a person to anorexia. Bass states, that at first she had written and intended on performing  another poem entirely, until she later changed her mind. In fact, the poem she performed was written “last minute” but was proven to be the right choice according to Bass. Her inspiration for “Ana” was based off of personal experience, but she also in part wanted her poem to have the ability to be able to resonate with the audience. She had hoped that after being heard, her poem might “relate with somebody else”, as it is a topic that is often not “talked about a lot”, since representation is not shown.

    Junior, Hannah Gardiner was also present, during the event, in reciting her poem “Normal”. Similar to the kind of twist “Ana” gave, the message it conveyed was one of how someone may look “straight” and be expected to act as such, but not exactly be straight. Atopic that is close to Gardiners heart, being so vulnerable on stage was a choice she made, when it would’ve been so easy to simply follow the prompt. Slam Poetry was an assignment given to the students, a part of Drama, as an assignment and Gardiner had the choice between “writing something for credit” or “actually putting [my] emotion into it”. Gardiner also used her personal experience as an inspiration when writing her poem. As for writing the poem, it took her “less than a minute” to come up with an idea of what kind of poem she wanted, versus finalizing her idea took “weeks”. Even the night before Poetry Slam, Gardiner was still “changing things” and was not as satisfied with the final product but liked “how it turned out”.

    Although everyone who showed up put their emotions out for all to see and recited their exceptional pieces, only three students walked away with prize money given to those who donated upon entering the slam. The third place prize went to freshman Ee’gypt Wilson who had not done an event like this before, but felt that she needed to get her feelings across, “I was worried about people seeing me be vulnerable on stage.” She doesn’t regret putting herself out there and was rewarded for doing so. Junior, Amber Payan expressed her anger and intense sadness for all the women who spoke out sexual assault this past year. She expressed her hatred towards abusers, and her empathy for survivors. Her passion  awarded her the second place prize. The winner of the poetry slam was junior Angelina Taylor, who spoke about her identity, as a black young American. She gained the audiences support and praise with every line she spoke. The crowd was filled with snaps, applause, and words that showcased their approval. Overall the poetry slam was a success, everyone gave their best effort, they went home proud, knowing that they had put themselves out there and were praised for it.

     

  • Bird Box Review

    Last month, on December 13, 2018 a new movie called Bird Box was released on Netflix, and it was a huge hit. Almost everyone was talking about this movie and boosting it up because it was “so good,” according to many.

    In the movie, a mysterious force takes over the human population and no one really knows what it is, only that if you see it, you will die. Now, the remaining survivors must avoid coming in contact with this force that takes the form of their worst fears.

    Malorie Hayes, played by Sandra Bullock, sets out to find a new safe place for her and her two children where she can start all over. She faces challenges on her journey through the woods and a river because she’s blindfolded throughout the whole trip… The movie has been compared to A Quiet Place but I don’t find much correlation between the two.

    Overall, the movie was good like people had told me before I had watched it, but I don’t think it reached the expectations of many, including myself because, personally, I expected a bit more since people kept “hyping” it up. See it if you want to, but don’t expect too much or you might be disappointed.

  • Bandersnatch Review

    The Netflix series Black Mirror released the first interactive episode on the streaming platform on December 28, 2018.

    In this film, viewers are able to make decisions for the main character, Stefan Butler. Stefan is a 19 year old programmer who is creating his first video game, entitled “Bandersnatch,” in the year 1984. The choices start out light and fun like getting to choose what Stefan eats for breakfast, but over time they become more horrid and gruesome, some decisions involve selecting who you wish to murder and how to take care of the body. Each decision you make for Stefan leaves him feeling more and more out of his own control, driving him insane. The movie has 12 possible endings and it takes about 2 hours to unlock each possible ending. Once the viewer has reached a new ending, a new layer is added to the story or you can choose to skip the credits. There is about 300 minutes worth of footage for the entire Bandersnatch movie.

    I personally found the movie amazing but in a psychotic way. Throughout the viewing of the interactive episode, it occurred to me that the creators of this movie, and overall the show, had to be on some serious drugs in order to come up with the concept of the movie. In shorter terms, the creators basically said to themselves, “I’m going to create a movie where the viewer makes decisions for the main character while the main character becomes paranoid that someone is making decisions for him.”

    The movie ended up breaking the internet and became Twitter’s number 1 trending topic the days following its release. The show definitely changed the way TV shows and movies will be developed in the future.

    5 out of 5 stars!

  • Dueling Pianos

    On November 29, Long Beach Poly’s Advanced 3-8 Piano class had a recital. The performances were from 6:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m in the auditorium. The students performed in duets with songs that each person and their partner picked. Freshman Andres Flores played “Habanera” with his partner Nicolaniello Buono, also a ninth grader.

    Although he would have performed any other song chosen, Flores felt a comfort with this particular one.

    “I picked the song because it sounded familiar,” Flores said. “I feel like I could have played a little more accurately.”

    Freshman Daniel Garcia Hernandez and his partner, senior Kayshawn Soung, performed “Village Dance.”  Hernandez  described the challenges of playing with partner: “A duet you have to know you can rely on each other and you have to practice with each other or else it is going to sound kind of weird or off. A solo you really have to think about it for yourself.”

    Sophomore Makayla Roberts performed “Go Tell It On The Mountains” with her partner Julia Gustafson, Poly’s piano teacher. Roberts has been playing piano for about a year.

    There was no specific theme in this recital, however, there will be another recital on December 20, 2018 and the theme is Christmas music. For this recital different students will be performing, but only in the advanced class and some students from the November recital will be performing again. The recital will be at Poly in the auditorium, starting at 6:30 p.m. and will last for an hour. It is a free recital and everyone is welcome.

  • CREED 2

    1985, the iconic movie ‘’Rocky IV’’ where Apollo Creed fought up against the strongest fighter in the world: ‘’Ivan Drago.’’ Though Apollo’s was confident, it wasn’t enough to take on the Drago and sadly he was killed in the fight. 33 years later Apollo’s son Adonis Creed, played by Michael B. Jordan, is challenged by Ivan Drago’s son Viktor, played by actor/boxer Florian Munteanu, and gladly agrees to seek not revenge but the respect that his father truly deserved. Adonis can’t do it by himself so he is trained by his father’s former friend Rocky Balboa, played by Sylvester Stallone, who puts Adonis through a series of difficult workout routines and training to get him ready for the biggest fight of his life. Director Steven Caple Jr. really put his best into this picture, in which Adonis Creed finishes what his father started. If you haven’t seen the movie it is played at pretty much any local movie theater near you. I recommend it with a rating of 2.5 out of 4 stars.

  • Poly Musicians Perform Holiday Concert

    On December 18, the Poly Instrumental Music Program hosted their annual winter concert featuring all of their orchestras, Symphonic Winds, and their top two jazz bands. The concert was in the auditorium and started at 6:30 p.m.

    That concert is one of the only concerts a year where nearly all of the groups perform on the same night, allowing parents to get a sense of the large scope of Poly’s music program. The concert is renowned across Poly musicians as “a marathon,” in the words of  junior trumpeter Gabriel Ochoa. Ochoa, who performs in Symphonic Winds, Symphony Orchestra, and Jazz A2, where he is lead trumpet.

    The concert covered a variety of Christmas music, including Tchaikovsky’s iconic Nutcracker Suite and a jazz interpretation of the Christmas standard “Angels We Have Heard on High.” Because this is the only holiday instrumental concert of the year, each ensemble centers their program around a seasonal favorite in addition to a non-seasonal classical or jazz piece.

    Each group performed two compositions to showcase versatility in musicianship as well as to maintain the concert’s forward motion. There were over seven ensembles playing, and each got their chance in the spotlight. For some freshman, that was their first chance to shine in front of a large audience. Veterans like junior flautist  Abigail Farmer are used to the spotlight and “enjoy the privilege of performing in front of their peers.”

    Everyone in the program was looking forward to the concert and being able to show the community their great progress.

  • Snow in Love

    Snow in Love is a holiday themed collection of short young adult love stories, written by Melissa de la Cruz, Aimee Friedman, Kasie West, and Nic Stone.

    The book was highly anticipated as all the authors are admired within the young adult genre. Released on October 30, it gained critical success, bringing people out of the spooky season and into the Christmas festivities.

    There are four stories in total within the anthology. The first follows Amalie as she tries to hurry home with the help from a handsome face.

    Another young girl, Kelsey, searches  for the perfect gift for her boyfriend.

    In another story, two old friends reunite by chance during a holiday scavenger hunt.

    The collection includes holiday diversity, with Aimee Friedman’s Hanukkah story about a young Jewish girl, working as a department store elf who surprisingly finds love.

    These stories do the job, offering that warm familiar feeling similar to that of a cheesy hallmark film. Each of these stories can be deemed relatable and enjoyable.

    Snow in Love is a recommended holiday gift for any love sick teen – or someone of any age can read this book with a nice warm cup of tea, under the blanket.

  • A Christmas Movie to Die (Hard) For

    Die Hard (1988), a film about a single cop trapped in a skyscraper with twelve terrorists, still remains one of the best Christmas movies of all time, for good reason. It has fun for the whole family.

    The movie begins with a love story of NYPD detective, John McClane (played by Bruce Willis), trying to reconcile with his ex-wife whom he still loves, (something many of us can relate to), flying out to Los Angeles around Christmas time to attend a party with her at this skyscraper where she works. There is plenty of enjoyment to be had in this very relatable story of liking someone who does not like you back.

    On top of the romance, at the heart of this movie is plenty of high-octane action.

    When terrorists take over the building and holds everyone (including John McClane’s wife) hostage, McClane slips away and starts taking out the twelve terrorists one by one in a series of intense, adrenaline-filled action sequences.

    Using hit-and-run guerilla tactics, McClane attacks the bad guys then retreats and hides somewhere in the 40-story skyscraper while the bad guys hunt him down. Unlike most typical action movie heroes, McClane is not invincible; the odds are stacked against him. He gets seriously injured, and at multiple points in the movie, the audience is uncertain if he will succeed or not. His vulnerability grounds his character and makes him believable, and his perseverance to save everyone is admirable, makes the audience root for him. What makes him even more likable is all the sharp, witty one – liners he makes (like most 80s action movie heroes do), providing some comedic relief but without killing the immersion.

    With a little bit of romance, plenty of exciting action, and more than a few comedic  moments, Die Hard provides fun for almost any audience, which is why it’s still one of the best Christmas movies ever and definitely worth checking out.

  • Must Watch Horror Series

    New shows were recently launched on Netflix, one being The Haunting of Hill House. It is based off the book series written by Shirley Jackson. Created by Mike Flanagan, the show features stars such as; Kate Siegel, Violet McGraw, Michiel Huisman, and many more.

    The show tells about the history of the Crain family’s life growing up in a haunted house.

    Parents Olivia and Hugh Crain are renovating a house while living there with their kids, Steven, Shirley, Luke, Nell, and Theodora.

    The previous family that lived there, known as the Hill family, have an interesting past with the house.

    Each member either died or disappeared mysteriously, but throughout the series the show begins to explain what actually happened to each family member.

    While renovating the house the kids begin to hear noises, see spirits, and the mom begins to go insane. The show flashes back and forth between the past and the present.

    It goes through the hardships each member faced in the house and the ones they are currently experiencing in their own adult lives.

  • New Teen Drama Follows A Witch

    Friday, October 26 was the Netflix premiere of Chilling Adventures of Sabrina, created by the same producers as Riverdale.

    The show takes place in Greendale, the neighboring town of Riverdale, but unlike Riverdale the cast deals with things of the supernatural, more specifically witches and warlocks.

    Chilling Adventures of Sabrina deals with Sabrina Spellman, portrayed by Kiernan Shipka, age 16 who is a half-witch and lives with her aunts Hilda and Zelda Spellman, played by Lucy Davis and Miranda Otto, and cousin Ambrose Spellman, portrayed by Chance Perdomo.

    The series includes characters such as Harvey Kinkle, Sabrina’s boyfriend, played by Ross Lynch and her friends Rosalind “Roz” Walker (Jaz Sinclair) and Susie Putnam (Lachlan Watson). The plotline follows Sabrina as she must choose between her mortal life or becoming a full witch and the consequences that follow.

    Although most people believed the series to be a reboot of Sabrina the Teenage Witch it has it’s own canon, although both take inspiration from the comic Sabrina the Teenage Witch.

    The new series takes a much grimmer tone than the sitcom. Chilling Adventures of Sabrina also has lots of diversity representation in the characters, such as People of Color (POC), LGBT characters, and a strong female lead.

    The series is divided into parts, and Part 1 currently has 10 episodes and the duration of each episode lasting about one hour. Cast and crew are currently under production for Part 2, and it is rumored that it will come out sometime next year. Words of a crossover between the show and Riverdale are also spreading.

  • ComplexCon Cooked Up

    The third annual pop culture festival known as ComplexCon, took place at the Long Beach Convention Center over the November 3-4 weekend. Artists, visionaries and pop culture enthusiasts gathered at the convention to socialize and celebrate culture.

    “This year, ComplexCon will focus on the enlightenment and empowerment of the individual, reflecting the issues and conversations that permeate and influence culture today from entertainment to art to politics,” said a released statement from ComplexCon. This year’s theme was cooked up by world renowned contemporary artist, Takashi Murakami, who is the founding host committee member of the event. Murakami created the logo by producing an ensō, which is considered sacred in Zen tradition. The ensō, which is a circular shape, can represent strength, fullness, or the universe, the theme was really up to interpretation.

    “And I am deeply affected by events and chaos in the world but see incredible young people rise up to tackle them. And from that energy new things are born that touch everything in culture. It was important to embrace this at ComplexCon this year,” Murakami said in an interview on why he chose that specific theme.

    This year’s festivities also included guest speakers, called ComplexCon(versations). The most prominent speaker was Virgil Abloh, eminent fashion designer who spoke to new and upcoming designers about the ethics of designing and fashion industry. Other speakers included Wale, Don C, Nas, Jaden Smith, and many more.

    The convention also held musical performances from artists such as Future, Rae Sremmurd, Vince Staples, Action Bronson, and many others. The musical event was hosted by none other than Takashi Murakami and Pharrell Williams.

    The two day convention, held true to its meaning by bringing together multiple forces of culture to weave together the complex nature that is art, entertainment, and media.