THE RETURN OF THE EYE

By: Gino Pallotta, Morgan Blechschmid, and Jonathan Drake

May 1, 2020

Childhood nostalgia is sought after with the same energy as digging for gold. Thankfully, Disney World is jam-packed with memories and is relatively close (via airplane).

Disney World is located in Orlando, Florida, which is roughly 15 hours away by car and a quick two hours away by plane. The distance from Ohio makes Disney World a more reasonable spot to vacation than other destinations.

When going to Disney World, one must rush to see the Magic Kingdom, Epcot, and Disney’s Typhoon Lagoon. These places have so much magic put into them that they are must-sees when visiting. 

Magic Kingdom has many rides, such as Thunder Mountain, Space Mountain, Seven Dwarfs Mine Train, and many more.  {Editor’s note: Stay away from It’s a Small World, as you will never be able to get that song out of your head.}

At Epcot, take a stroll “around the world” while soaking in multiple countries’ cultures and cuisine.  On top of that, enjoy the Frozen ride, Soarin’, Test Track, along with others.

In Orlando during the summer, it is pretty warm and humid.  What better place is there to cool down than Typhoon Lagoon? Splash away!

Rushing to see these attractions is sure to whip up an appetite, so what are Disney World’s best places to eat? Try the 50’s Prime Time Cafe if you are feeling like seeing a blast from the past, the Wave for a sleek modern meal, and finally, 1900 Park Fare for an absolutely regal time and meal.

When visiting, make sure to book rooms for early summer to get the most magic out of Disney World. Disney World has an assortment of resort hotels that allow one to stay as close as possible to the fun. Some favorites are the French Quarter and the Art of Animation.

All of these factors lead to a price tag of around $5,000, which is a pretty heavy sum, but the experience is worth every penny. 

Make sure to plan in advance, as so many want a glimpse into what Disney World. has to offer.

By: Daylun Armstrong, Jessica Strimpel, and Alaysia Curry

May 1, 2020 

Los Angeles, California, the City of Angels, is known for its beautiful, sunny weather, breath-taking views, being wonderfully diverse, and for making people’s dreams come true.  

Los Angeles, a large Southern California city, is the center of the nation’s film and television industry. 

Additionally, many people visit to see iconic sites such as DisneyLand, the Hollywood sign, Paramount Pictures, Universal and Warner Brothers studios, and the Walk of Fame (celebrities’ hands and footprints) that honor thousands of luminaries with vendors selling maps to stars’ homes. 

If flashy lights, entertainment, and the fast-paced life is not your thing, then Los Angeles also has a lot more to offer. With the city being adjacent to the Pacific Ocean, mountains as high as 10,000 feet, and deserts surrounding the city, there are many places to go simply to just take a breath and unwind. 

With yoga/meditation classes, spas, retreats, hiking trails, gardens, art galleries, flea markets, canyons, waterfalls, etc., Los Angeles has it all.

A few of the highest-rated places to go are Ole Henriksen Spa, the DEN, Huntington Library and Gardens, and El Matador State Beach. 

All of these sites are sure to make you work up an appetite, but do not worry, Los Angeles has a countless number of delicious and dietary restaurants. Some of the highest-rated places are Govinda’s, the Vegan Joint (West LA), MOD Pizza, Crossroads Kitchen, and so many more.

Who loves a good deal? If you are looking to save money on your stay but also “live” in luxury, some of the best hotels are as follows: Mama Shelter LA, the Line, Venice Breeze Suites, Bayside Hotel, etc. 

Los Angeles has all of this and so many more adventures to offer, but for that, you will just have to visit to discover them.  

By: Lexi Jenkins, Ariana Rojak, and Danielle Shehee

May 1, 2020

Las Vegas, Nevada is the second most popular vacation site in the world. With quarantine lifting in the next few months, many people would love to travel state-to-state once they have the opportunity.

If you were to travel to Las Vegas with a family of three or four, the cost of tickets and hotels would vary.  An estimated cost for a family of two to stay in Las Vegas for a week is about $7,141. If you are a family of three to four, the price often goes down because kids’ tickets are cheaper, and the hotel rooms can be shared.

Travel deals can be made year-round, but Spring and Fall are when the weather is best.

Hotels that have been recommended are The Four Seasons, Mandalay Bay, and The Berkely. 

  

By car, the distance from Brooklyn, Ohio, to Las Vegas is 2,069 miles (approximately 30 hours). By plane, that time gets significantly cut down to roughly four hours.

Some of the best-reviewed/recommended restaurants in Las Vegas are Eat, Carson’s Kitchen, the Capital Grille, and even Gordon Ramsay’s Hell’s Kitchen in Caesar’s palace!

When it comes to attractions, Las Vegas has plenty of them! The type of attractions depends on what you are looking to see and do.

If you are looking to go sight-seeing, a highly-recommended place is the Red Rock Canyon National Conservative Area.

Another point of high interest for tourists is The Strip (also known as the most famous street in Las Vegas).  There is a lot to do when taking a tour through there: Great sights, eats, and even good places to shop.

There is a lot to do here, and we highly recommend going to see everything it has to offer. We hope you will consider Las Vegas, Nevada as your next vacation spot

Remember, what happens in Vegas stays in Vegas!

By: Normeze Rivera and Delaney David 

May 1, 2020

Once quarantine is over, so many people will want to travel. They will have so many places to choose from since everyone has been locked up in their homes. A vacation can mean multiple things for different people. For some people, a vacation might be a chance to relax, while to others, it might mean to leave their occupation for a little bit, or a vacation might just be for fun. 

Well, San Juan, Puerto Rico, and Old San Juan, Puerto Rico are just the places to do all of those things!

San Juan and Old San Juan are filled with many places to go and visit, along with many shops and restaurants. From Cleveland, Ohio, it will take about six hours to get to San Juan via airplane. Because it is an island, there is no way you could get there by car.

There are many hotels to pick from in San Juan, but there are also the best ones, such as the Condado Vanderbilt Hotel. It is the top hotel Americans go to, and it has a 4.7-star review with an oceanfront view. There are four different pools and one spa. It is an affordable price at $267 per night.

Another hotel is La Concha Renaissance San Juan Resort. It has a 4.6-star review and also affordable at $289 per night. There are seven restaurants, two pools, and a 24-hour casino. 

Finally, there is the San Juan Marriott Resort and Stellaris Casino. Of course, there is one casino, two restaurants, two pools, and a tennis court. One night costs $279, and the hotel is rated 4.5 stars. 

Puerto Rico is filled with many different places to get food, whether it comes to actual buildings, food trucks, or even Pincho stands in the middle of the mountains. Because San Juan is not in the mountains, there are more modern restaurants like Santaella, which is rated 4.5 stars and has local cuisine, Caribbean food, and Latin food.

 

Another place is Panadería España Repostería, which is like a cafe that serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner. It has a 4-star rating and serves Puerto Rican and Caribbean food. 

Finally, a 5-star food truck called La Cocinita serves Latin, Puerto Rican, and Caribbean food. 

Not only is there amazing food in Puerto Rico, but there are also many attractions to do and keep you busy during your time there. Sail Getaways is a 5-star boat tour agency where all you have to bring is swimwear and a towel. You go onto a Culebra Power Boat, take a beach tour, and go snorkeling. 

One of the biggest attractions in Puerto Rico is Old San Juan. It is filled with buildings from the 16th century like San Felipe del Morro and San Cristóbal fortresses. Bright color buildings and houses are aligned, and there are many shops and plazas. Along with many Caribbean restaurants, many people get together to dance and listen to live music.

Finally, there is Puerto Mosquito, an island in Puerto Rico where people describe it as “magical”. There are “dinos’ ‘ in the water, and when they interact with other organisms, they produce a bright blue light underwater. 

The best time of year to visit San Juan is during the Spring. There is not the Summer humidity or the low weather during the Fall and Winter seasons. There is a perfect amount of sun and breeze. 

An estimated amount of how much a family trip would cost to Puerto Rico is roughly $4,000, maybe even more. 

If you would like to go on a vacation, then try San Juan, Puerto Rico. San Juan has good food, beautiful attractions, places to relax, a chance for you to have fun, comfortable hotels, and is affordable! 

Who would not want to go to San Juan, Puerto Rico?

By: Jonathan Drake, Gino Pollatta, and Morgan Blechschmid

April 26, 2020

A common thief by the name Aladdin has stumbled across a magic oil lamp and becomes friends with the genie inside of it. He wishes to be a prince, hopefully winning the affection of Princess Jasmine.

While he is on his roguish adventure, he finds that the evil sorcerer Jafar has plans to take over the kingdom of Agrabah. Aladdin must find a way to keep his identity hidden while also keeping Jafar at bay. Will the help of the lamp genie, his pet monkey Abu, and a magic carpet be enough to stop Jafar and win over princess Jasmine? 

A highlight of this movie is the voice acting. The late Robin Williams does wonders for making the genie the highlight of the movie, while all of the other voice actors sell their characters amazingly as well.

Another strength this movie has is its wide arrangement of music. From the upbeat tune of “One Jump Ahead” to the slower melody of “Arabian Nights,” Aladdin’s music is a joy to listen to. And let us be honest, is there a better song than “A Whole New World”?

However, a few oversights were made in the animation department. While overall, the movie is very pleasing, whenever CGI is utilized, the movie’s looks drop in quality.

The pacing is also pretty wonky. Some scenes of the movie could be cut entirely, and nothing important to the movie would be lost, either plot-wise or comedy-wise.

Overall, the original, animated Aladdin is an absolute classic. Watch or re-watch this Disney classic to be transported into a cool and upbeat journey.

By: Anayah Flowers, Haley Schaldach, and Serena Barile

April 26, 2020

Scream is a classic slasher film that was released in 1996. The plot focuses on the main character Sidney Prescott who lives in the town of Woodsboro. She becomes the main target of a killer by the name of Ghostface, and she has to fight to survive as he murders people in the town, one by one. 

At the beginning of the movie, the audience is introduced to a character by the name of Casey who gets a phone call from a male stranger. At first, he seems pretty harmless, but as the scene goes on, the conversation gets weirder, and she realizes she is being watched.

The killer makes her answer horror movies, trivia questions, and if she gets them wrong, her boyfriend, who is tied to a chair on her front porch, will die. By the end of the opening scene, Casey and her boyfriend Steve are brutally murdered, and Casey’s mother finds her hanging from a tree. 

This sets the other events in motion for the rest of the movie. The whole town is shocked as the murders are the worst thing the town has experienced since the murder of Sidney’s mother. 

Throughout the movie, there is an excellent, creepy atmosphere. There are times where it is silent, leaving the audience on the edge of their seats. 

“Why do you want to know my name?” to which the killer on the phone replies, “Cause I want to know who I’m looking at.”  This line sent chills down our spines.

What makes Scream an excellent film is not only a creepy atmosphere but also the amazing character development. With many of the characters, they grow in so many ways. As their backstories develop, the more interesting the movie becomes and the more we feel for their onset characters. 

Although there are many different aspects that make it a good movie, it has its weak spots, too. When Ghostface comes up behind Randy (who is watching a scary movie of course), he doesn’t kill him for some reason. It was a perfect opportunity that the killer didn’t take. 

All movies have their strengths and weaknesses, and Scream is definitely a movie where its weaknesses can be overlooked. 

With its creepy atmosphere and great jump-scares, it’ll be worth the watch!

By: Valery Warner, Gabriella Fowler, and Jaden Majewski 

April 25, 2020

If you are looking for a sweet, loving, family-friendly movie, then Up is the right choice for you.

A 78-year-old balloon salesman by the name of Carl Fredrickson took on his late wife’s dream of traveling to the South America Wilderness. Instead of taking a plane, he attached thousands and thousands of balloons to his house in order to fly to and live in Paradise Falls. 

Plans changed as soon as he heard a knock at the door. A wilderness scout named Russell in need of his last badge unexpectedly showed up asking for help. 

As the movie goes on Carl and Russell build a close relationship and go through tough obstacles together. This movie helps you realize that dreams do not always go as planned, but sometimes, it is for the best. 

Some of the strengths in this movie are educational values, positive messages, and positive role models. It is meant to entertain but also to inspire a passion for adventure and travel. 

It displays two characters becoming friends and how they teach one another things. This includes responsibility, caring for nature, and the movie’s main theme, “the spirit of adventure”.  They also demonstrate teamwork. 

This movie previews different role models throughout it. An example of one would be how young Ellie (Carl’s late wife) befriends lonely young Carl in the beginning. They become best friends and later get married. Another example would be that Carl takes care of Ellie after she grows ill.  

Although there are many strengths, it comes with a few weaknesses, too. There is violence, scariness, and drinking.  The movie shows both a real gun and a tranquilizer gun fired at various characters. There is also a thunderstorm that hits the house which could frighten younger children.  Finally, two adults are shown drinking out of a champagne bottle. 

We would recommend this movie to ages 6+ because it may startle or scare younger kids. However, everyone can benefit from this great movie. 

By: Savannah David, Destiny Cannon, and Izabella Hotz

April 25, 2020

The Cured is a movie about a zombie virus, the “Maze” Virus, but more specifically, it is about the social side effect of a cured zombie virus. The Maze Virus is shown in Ireland, where it takes effect through blood or bodily fluid contact, more commonly through bites. After years of the zombie plague, humanity tries to grasp the former zombies into society. 

The virus takes quick action in producing extreme psychological harm, causing raging homicidal actions as well as a much lower cognitive function. The virus ends up being cured, but there are 25 percent who are resistant to this cure. 

The movie follows the stories of a few cured members, Senan and Conor, and their relationships with their families. It also follows the work of Dr. Lyons, who is desperately trying to find the cure for the rest of the patients. 

The biggest aspect of this movie is that the cured patients have a detailed memory of the actions they took while psychologically warped, and they are entirely immune to being re-infected. They are also met with absolutely no aggression from the actively-infected.

As the government talks of euthanasia, rebellions of cured patients in hard-lockdown rise. Watch as social tensions grow between the infection free and the cured.

This movie is overall extremely expressive in its motives and message. The acting captures the subtle agonies of the strenuous social topics in this story. The dynamic between the people who have been cured and their unaffected family members is really powerful. 

Relationships shown in this movie, in general, are powerful and written in a realistic way. The way the story is written feels very human, especially in the way that Senan’s and Abbie’s relationship as family stays intact even after she receives the heartbreaking news (which we will not share for the sake of major spoilers).

The most intriguing human relationships are those of Conor and the rest of the released people. It was interesting to watch him act more out of self-preservation and power than simply him being totally mad. Seeing the struggle from Conor’s family denouncement and political failures due to his infection to his newfound “family” seemed to only fuel his fire. 

The infection of Cillian and how Senan reacts definitely throws Abbie for a twist, and again, the relationships of others is once again highlighted and on display. 

What really sets this movie apart is the addiction of the aspect that the cured people do not have any sort of memory loss after being cured, which gives a really heart-wrenching tone to the entire movie. It is even mentioned that after being bitten, people continually fight the psychological effects for a decent amount of time before succumbing.

The movie’s biggest downfall are the “gory” scenes. They are quite violent, and while that is to be expected, they really stick out.

The artistry in the violence scenes are not that bad; they just stand so far out from the rest of the film, very quickly switching from the subtle and suspenseful mood to simple gore. One thing to note, however, is the orchestration of those scenes from the cinematography to the staging, which was definitely very good. 

Another problem the movie runs into with the gory aspect is the lighting. Sometimes the FX clashed a bit with the lighting and mood that can be in place with post production, but it does not take away from the overall movie.

This being said, some of the script can get a bit awkward and occasionally a bit overly-subtle. The ending leaves a fair amount of questions to be answered, and there is absolutely room for another movie, but so far, there has not been a follow up.

The zombie movie genre is generally extremely predictable, but this movie is very much so not about the infected members while they are indeed infected but definitely more about the aftermath. The Cured definitely gives a really good, more realistic, and human theme to a “zombie” virus event.

Overall, this is a good horror movie for people who want more psychological and societal elements than just gore and guts.

By: Lexi Jenkins, Ariana Rojak, and Danielle Shehee

April 24, 2020

The movie Grease takes place in California in the 1950s and follows a love story between leather-wearing, bad-boy greaser, Danny Zuko, and innocent, good-girl, wholesome exchange student, Sandy Olsson. The two, who come from completely different worlds, experience a summer of romance in this classic musical. 

Grease has its strengths, but it also has its weaknesses (as every good movie does). 

One of the greatest strengths was the casting of the characters.  We are pretty sure that many people can agree that nobody could have played Danny and Sandy better than John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John. The actor/actress duo became their characters and channeled their personalities perfectly. Stockard Channing (who starred as Betty Rizzo) played her part beautifully as well; she knew how to make the audience hate her character as well as love her, which is no easy task for an actress.

Now, let us not forget about the many amazing songs this musical features throughout the film. The catchy music keeps the audience engaged, and unlike many musicals seen today, this movie benefits from having original songs rather than repurposed pop-songs.

Another strength is how the movie flows from the ups and downs and the comparisons to real life. The movie does not solely focus on the positives in the characters’ lives; it shows the good, the bad, and the ugly, and we think this is very important to feature in a movie so as not to portray unrealistic standards in life. 

There is not much to say for weaknesses; however, one aspect that some people have said is that it is inappropriate for certain audiences as it has some strong language and inappropriate scenes. 

Some may argue that the overall message of Grease is to be the opposite of who you are and to change yourself to fit into the expectations of others.  However, the story-line is completely the opposite as the moral message of the movie was that both of the main characters changed only to find that they loved one another just the way they were.

We strongly recommend this movie! It is a beautiful and classic story. It is good if you need a laugh, want to hear some good tunes, or just want to watch a cheesy love story unfold.  Who knows, you may even get up and dance!

By: Normeze Rivera and Delaney David

April 24, 2020

During this time of quarantine, there are a lot of hours to spend watching good movies, like the 1999 modern classic: The Green Mile. The movie is based on a novel by Stephen King and stars Tom Hanks and Michael Clarke Duncan. 

The movie is a flashback of a man in a retirement home. Going back to 1935 in a Southern prison, the death-row prison guards supervise the prisoners. Paul Edgecomb is the main prison guard in Section E, which they call, “The Green Mile” because the floor is green, and it is the mile where the prisoners walk before they get put to death. 

The nephew of the Governor, Percy Wetmore, was given a job at the prison, but it is very obvious that this man does not have any good intentions with the new prisoners and that he really just wants to see them die.

A new prisoner, who is an African-American man named John Coffey, has been accused of murdering two young girls. Coffey has the size and strength to kill but not the heart to hurt anyone. 

The giant-like man had a fear of the dark but also had a supernatural ability to heal anyone. Because of the big man’s supernatural ability, he shows the other prison guards that their goodness can overpower Wetmore’s evil spirit. 

A few weaknesses the film has is that it is over three hours long, and there is not just one climax; there are many.  Without a doubt, though, the strengths completely overshadow the weaknesses.

Overall, it is a great movie to watch. The film makes you emotionally attach to its characters and entertains you from beginning to end. 

In a world where a lot of evil happens and justice is needed, it is difficult to preserve the dignity of even a prisoner who is on death row. Yet, The Green Mile shows how truly humane people should behave, along with being respectful in seeking justice.

The film shows how evil will try to take over the most precious and beautiful things and people in the world. Coffey enters everyone’s life as a conquest of evil but shows so much love. Although Coffey is going to die for a crime that he did not commit, he offers life to everyone around him. 

Since the suspense of the film shows many forms of good and evil, The Green Mile is a movie that makes you rethink a lot of aspects of life and how you move forward in your own green mile.

By: Jessica Strimpel and Alaysia Curry

April 24, 2020

“Stupid is as stupid does” is what Forrest Gump hears throughout his less-than-picturesque childhood. 

As a child, Gump (played by Tom Hanks) was taught by his mother (played by Sally Field) the ways of life and to choose his own destiny. Gump wore braces on his legs as a child and also had a below average IQ, but this never stopped him from achieving his goals. 

When exposed to the real world, a series of unfortunate events happen to Gump, but he always finds a way to turn it around and find the good in every situation; his optimism helped him through his struggles knowing that his goals were still within reach.

While overcoming most of his setbacks in life, there was one he still wanted to accomplish. Gump grew up with a girl named Jenny Curran (adult character played by Robin Wright), who he loved very much and wanted to be with for the rest of his life. 

Although the two grew up together and were very close as children, they grew apart as their lives continued. Gump always thought of Jenny when he achieved a goal of his (joining the Army, winning medals, creating a shrimp-fishing fleet, etc.) and always thought back to how important she was to him.

 

Jenny visits Gump one day, and all of his feelings rush back to him, so much so that he proposes to her. She declined the proposal but stays with him until the next morning when she unexpectedly leaves. 

Later on in the movie, Jenny returns with an all-consuming illness and a small boy who is Gump’s child. Jenny then passes away from the disease, but before she does, she returns with a question (asking Gump to marry her).  He then raises the boy on his own and carries Jenny’s legacy forward. 

The plot closes with Gump and his son waiting for a school bus on his first day of school. 

This movie shows heartbreak and loss through the death of many characters, while also showing the love that we should all have for one another. This is shown when Gump joins the army and becomes friends with Bubba (played by Mykelti Williamson), who unfortunately dies during the Vietnam War. 

The color of one’s skin or background did not matter to Gump, and this is a lesson that many should take from his character. He treated everyone equally and accepted people for who they were: HUMAN BEINGS! 

We are all capable of loving one another and creating a society where no matter the trials and tribulations that people face, we are all accepted. 

Forrest Gump is highly recommended in our view because it is such a genuinely-humanizing film that shows life, loss, and happiness. The viewer is shown events that happen in real life and how people still continue to fight through a life of pain and suffering while always thinking that “Life is like a box of chocolates. You never know what you’re gonna get.” 

By: Valery Warner, Ella Fowler, and Jaden Majewski 

April 13, 2020

While the world may seem to be in a negative place with the recent COVID-19 outbreak, there are still positive aspects to life that we should shed some light on.  

Since COVID-19, the world has had the biggest drop in CO-2 emissions since WWll. Some scientists think that the levels could drop as much as five percent during this pandemic. Due to this, the decrease in air pollution has promoted many public health benefits.

Not only are CO-2 levels dropping to a record low but so are the crime rates in big cities like Chicago, New York City, and Los Angeles.  

With New York City being hit the hardest by the outbreak, the crime rate there dropped substantially. From March 16 to 22, the number of serious felony crimes dropped as low as 16.6 percent compared to last year around the same time. 

In Chicago, the homicide rate decreased by 29 percent since the week of March 21, which is the day the stay-at-home order went in full effect.

Most importantly, people have had a chance to rekindle with immediate family.  This bonding time can be used as a time to create, strengthen, and build/rebuild family relationships.

We can make the most out of our time stuck at home with family and maybe even discover new hobbies. 

Simply, there are positives out there, and we all must focus on them.