Twenty One Pilots hits a bullseye with ‘Trench’

By Brandon Carson / October 18, 2018

 ‘Trench’ truly could have easily been another ‘Blurryface,' but Twenty  One Pilots put in the effort to create a better, more unique experience  for the listener. The incredible production elevates the music to  another level and compliments the melodies sung by Tyler Joseph. The  story of the album is dense and worth diving into. But the main feature  is how the music constantly changes while still feeling like a cohesive  record. For those who have not listened to Twenty One Pilots, this album  is definitely worth listening to. For the fans of Twenty One Pilots,  this albums serves as a high point in their discography that you will  love.  

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ENTERTAINMENT

‘Forza Horizon 4’ is defined by a difference of nuts and bolts

By Blake Chapman / October 18, 2018

 'Forza Horizon 4' offers some of the most fluid and unique experiences  that any racing fan would be dying to have. Unfortunately, the scale  seems to tip in both directions when considering the little tweaks that  throw the whole engine out of whack. It seems in this iteration, the  British edition of the horizon festival gets caught in the commuter  lane. 

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ENTERTAINMENT

‘THINK: PEACE’ is R&B Eccentric Clarence Clarity’s poppiest record yet

By Jack Gillespie / October 18, 2018

 Even if it is not quite as fully developed, fresh, or intriguing as its  predecessor, THINK: PEACE is still a strong sophomore record from  Clarence Clarity that further proves that he’s one of the most  inventive, forward-thinking producers out there. It also is a perfect  record for people wanting to listen to Clarence Clarity for the first  time. His trademark glitchy, maximalist production is still intact, but  it’s toned down and Clarence’s talent as a songwriter takes the front  seat. Everything is a bit more streamlined, for better or worse. 

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ENTERTAINMENT

‘Mega Man 11’ is a legendary return for an iconic character

By Tanner Kinney / October 18, 2018

 'Mega Man 11' is everything fans were hoping for and more. Even with  subpar sound design, everything else from the visuals to the level  design to the minute-to-minute gameplay is Mega Perfection. A franchise  as battered and bruised as 'Mega Man' deserves this kind of relief. With  this kind of title bringing glory back to the name of the Blue Bomber,  one can only hope this ushers in a new era of 'Mega Man' goodness. 

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OPINION

Unspoken: Busyness Cravings

By Demi Lawrence / October 18, 2018

Nearly every day of my Monday through Friday work week is a 12 hour day. Some are even 15 hour days.

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ENTERTAINMENT

Heartland Film Festival: ‘Nigerian Prince’ is a captivating snapshot of greed and desperation

By Trevor Sheffield / October 17, 2018

 ‘Nigerian Prince’ is a dark (and scarily relevant) look into the  financial underworld of Nigeria, held back by a fairly scattered story  and an emphasis on style over substance. That said, when it hits its  stride, you’re practically begging for it to take your money, and when  it falls, it’s like the stock market. It sinks. 

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ENTERTAINMENT

‘My Hero Academia: Two Heroes’ is an anime movie at its finest

By Makayla Hughes / October 17, 2018

 For both newcomers and veterans of ‘My Hero Academia,’ ‘My Hero  Academia: Two Heroes’ captures your attention from the start. Class 1-A  are their usual loveable selves, especially Bakugo, and the few new  characters were memorable. Some background was given for All Might, so  it was neat to see the No. 1 hero when he was younger. The fighting  sequences were action-packed and just beautiful to watch. The animation  looked amazing, and ‘My Hero Academia: Two Heroes’ proved just how much  better MHA would be if it were always on the big screen.  

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ENTERTAINMENT

‘A Star Is Born’ is a predictable, but emotional film destined for Oscars galore

By Jack Gillespie / October 17, 2018

 Even if the story doesn’t bring anything new to the table, 'A Star Is  Born' is still a solid execution of a tried and true story. Much of the  thanks has to go to Lady Gaga and Bradley Cooper, whose chemistry was  gold. Their solo performances also deserve to win gold, Oscars, that is.  This may just be remembered as one of the high points of Lady Gaga’s  career. She finally got the chance to prove herself as an actor on the  silver screen, have her name in the same group as icons such as Garland  and Streisand, and release a song (“I Will Never Love Again”) that is  bound to become a classic power ballad along the lines of “I Will Always  Love You” and “My Heart Will Go On”. It’s a wonderful start for what  could be an illustrious career in film, and solid proof that Lady Gaga  will most likely go down as one of most memorable, beloved artists of  this decade.  

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ENTERTAINMENT

‘Venom’ is a beautiful, lovable parasite

By Makayla Hughes / October 17, 2018

 ‘Venom’ is a must-see with all of its dark, gorgeous combat scenes. Tom  Hardy makes Eddie Brock lovable and memorable, and Venom himself adds to  the movie’s dark factor. It is fast-paced, which makes it enjoyable,  but also hurts the movie in a few ways. Despite that, even without  Spider-Man included, ‘Venom’ makes a beautiful movie worth watching. 

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ENTERTAINMENT

Heartland Film Festival: ‘Howard’ honors the life of a famed Disney songwriter

By Trevor Sheffield / October 17, 2018

 ‘Howard’ is a beautiful, emotional odyssey through the life of a genuine  showman that avoids the typical biographical documentary tropes in  favor of letting his loved ones and the things he left behind tell the  story themselves. It’s funny, it’s sad, and it will forever change the  way you view the man and his works. 

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ENTERTAINMENT

REVIEW: ‘God Friended Me’ Season 1, Episode 2: “The Good Samaritan”

By Tanner Kinney / October 17, 2018

 ‘God Friended Me’ continues to have interesting ideas and brings in a  refreshing message with “A Good Samaritan”, but it’s all tied to an  average TV show. Respecting others is the message of this episode, and  it actually listens to its own message and shows respect for all parties  involved. Its depiction of autism deserves major props as well.  However, bad writing, bad pacing, and some odd cinematography make the  show a struggle to sit through. If those issues continue to plague the  show, its sermons will stay left unheard. 

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ENTERTAINMENT

‘Life is Strange 2: Episode 1’ crafts a strong beginning to new story

By Emily Worrell / October 17, 2018

‘Life is Strange 2: Episode 1’ offers a promising start to a brand new  story. The game does a great job of recreating the at-home feel of the  ‘Life is Strange’ universe with a new storyline and new characters to  boot. The simple gameplay allows players to focus on the story though  sometimes this cuts into immersion. Overall, ‘Life is Strange 2: Episode  1’ is a strong start to what promises to be another moving and exciting  story from the developers at Square Enix. 

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OPINION

Adult-ish: The Coming Out Process

By Audrey Bowers / October 17, 2018

As a queer woman, I have to come out over and over again. This process can be exhausting, especially as I’ve come to realize that straight people never have to “come out.” 

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ENTERTAINMENT

REVIEW: ‘Jojo’s Bizarre Adventure: Vento Aureo’ Episode 1: “Gold Experience”

By Katherine Simon / October 17, 2018

 “Gold Experience” is an excellent start to the long-awaited fifth part  of the ‘Jojo’s Bizarre Adventure’ anime. Despite most of the episode  being expository, it manages to stay entertaining with its great  protagonist and intense cliffhanger ending. 

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ENTERTAINMENT

Heartland Film Festival: ‘Back Roads’ will rip your heart out, but it’ll irk the brain too

By Jack Gillespie / October 16, 2018

One of art’s main goals is to elicit a reaction from its audience. In  those terms, Back Roads is quite the success. It is a heart-wrenching  film that skillfully shows the bleakness and hopelessness of the Altmyer  family’s downward spiral. But looking past the story and the better  performances, there are a lot of faults that come with the film. For  those who love movies that will slowly tear your heart out, and even  those who just want a powerful cinematic experience, Back Roads is  recommendable. Just be willing to look over quite a bit. 

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ENTERTAINMENT

Heartland Film Festival: Indy Shorts Winners 2 review

By Tanner Kinney and Trevor Sheffield / October 15, 2018

The short film is a time-honored genre. Sometimes informative, sometimes thrilling, and sometimes absolutely mind-boggling, the short film is a place where documentarians, animators, and storytellers can experiment and hone their craft on a smaller scale.

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ENTERTAINMENT

Heartland Film Festival: ‘God Bless You, Mr. Vonnegut’ is a dull documentary about a delightful dude

By Tanner Kinney / October 15, 2018

 ‘God Bless You, Mr. Vonnegut’ is a disappointing documentary. This film  reaffirms the idea that Kurt Vonnegut was a really cool guy, interacting  with the world around him in a way that few other people do. His  overwhelming positivity about other people becomes sort of infectious  during the film, even oddly inspirational. Yet, the documentary  constructed around him is amateurish and aimless. Vonnegut is amazing,  this film is not. And so it goes. 

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ENTERTAINMENT

Heartland Film Festival: ‘Alaska is A Drag’ is anything but

By Jack Gillespie / October 15, 2018

'Alaska is A Drag' may be a unique film in it’s premise, but it’s  familiar in a feel-good kind of way; it’s a clever take on the sports  film genre. It’s also just a feel-good movie in general: it’s lovable,  sometimes dark sense of humor is very enjoyable and the leads are an  absolute joy to watch. And at the core of 'Alaska' is an inspiring story  for all those people who don’t fit in and have dreams bigger than their  small town. 

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ENTERTAINMENT

Heartland Film Festival: ‘Nathan’s Kingdom’ is a journey that’s worth the hardships

By Tanner Kinney / October 15, 2018

‘Nathan’s Kingdom’ is a gritty, real film that tackles familial  relationships involving a developmental disorder in a way that very few films are  willing to stomach. It’s tough to watch at times (sometimes  unintentionally so), but the hardships make the triumphs all the more  worth it. It really is a beautiful journey to watch all the way through,  with an extremely satisfying and tear-jerking ending. This film is a  must-watch for anyone looking for a heart-warming story about such a  tough subject matter. 

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ENTERTAINMENT

Heartland Film Festival: ’93Queen’ showcases the determination of Hasidic women

By Emily Reuben / October 15, 2018

'93Queen' showcases the determination and accomplishments of women in  the Hasidic community in a respectful, authentic way. The film makes the  process of establishing Ezras Nashim's credibility the struggles faced  along the way rewarding and emotional. The filmmaking and editing is  smooth and engaging adding to the film's appeal.