One of the most well-known rides at Disney, the Haunted Mansion first gained popularity as a ride at Disneyland in 1969. Unlike many rides at the parks, the Haunted Mansion wasn’t based on any film or book that came before it. Instead, the stories came after, beginning with “The Haunted Mansion” starring Eddie Murphy in 2003, and the new “Haunted Mansion” that released July 28. “Haunted Mansion” takes place in New Orleans, and the film opens with the meeting of the main character Ben (LaKeith Stanfield), and his wife Alyssa (Charity...

The summer 2023 movie season proved to be a successful season, with the “Barbie,” “Oppenheimer” and “Sound of Freedom” trifecta grossing over $2.4 billion as of Sept. 2023. Though vastly different, each of them addressed a seemingly taboo subject in today’s culture whether it be gender imbalance, the use of atomic bombs, or the trafficking of children, the movies each broke social norms–and succeeded because of it. “Sound of Freedom” tells a unique story, one it seems everyone knows about, but many refuse to acknowledge. Directed...

Temperatures have dropped, and decorations have been put on display, marking a significant shift in the community: the holiday season. As the next nine months consist of some type of celebration, this list is dedicated to some of my favorite holiday hot takes. Halloween Halloween movies outdo regular scary movies. Horror films not centered around Halloween lack focus and clarity because their settings and context are typically unmentioned. I’m assuming non Halloween movies come across as scarier because the events are less expected but I don’t...

Olivia Rodrigo released her highly anticipated album, “GUTS,” on Sep. 8. Her already-released singles from this album, “vampire” and “bad idea right?” have over 500 million streams combined, and both music videos have amassed millions of views on YouTube.  When Olivia Rodrigo released her debut album, “SOUR,” in 2021, it gained popularity quickly, spending five weeks in the Billboard 200 number one spot and winning a Grammy for best pop vocal album.Encompassing every emotion, “SOUR” gave the impression of a breakup album....

"1956 – France. A priest is murdered," the synopsis for the film reads. "An evil is spreading. The sequel to the worldwide smash hit follows Sister Irene as she once again comes face-to-face with Valak, the demon nun." The Nun II is an American supernatural horror film directed by Michael Chaves with the screenplay written by Ian Goldberg, Richard Naing and Akela Cooper. It was released to theaters on Sept. 8, 2023, and grossed $32.6 million on its opening weekend. The film was widely anticipated as the sequel to “The Nun” was released...

The Summer of 2023 came with a multitude of films ranging from action-packed vigilante adventures to Disney princess sing-alongs. Legacy students were asked to rate a list of 16 relatively popular movies, released between May and August of this year, between one and five. The five highest-ranking films from the poll are listed below. Barbie Released July 21, “Barbie” follows the lives of Barbie and Ken in the seemingly perfect world of Barbie Land. However, when the protagonists are presented with the opportunity to visit the real world,...

“Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem” released earlier this month, with Jeff Rowe in his directorial debut. Rowe co-directed and wrote “The Mitchells vs. the Machine,” which got nominated and won a plethora of awards. After a horrid TMNT live-action movie in 2016, Rowe stated that he wanted to “do right by the fans,” in an interview with CBS. Announced by Nickelodeon in 2020, fans of many generations anticipated this film’s set release date on Aug. 4, 2023. The movie ended up being released two days earlier than expected, on...

Outwardly, James Martin High School and Mansfield Legacy High School might seem similar, but if you take a look on the inside, you’ll find that they are undeniably different. I’m lucky enough to have the experience of both high schools and have a good feel for how they operate. I compiled a list of the main differences I noticed. Population and layout Around 3,700 students are enrolled at Martin, but only about 2,600 at Legacy. However, the Legacy building beats Martin in size. Martin only has two floors, while Legacy has three, and the...

The minute it hit the news, "Barbie'' became the center of attention in the entertainment world. Directed by Greta Gerwig (Lady Bird), the story of Mattel’s toy masterpiece would surely be 2023's most prominent film. The film followed “Stereotypical Barbie,” played by Margot Robbie, as she ventured out of Barbieland and into the real world. Ken, portrayed by Ryan Gosling, obviously had to tag along, and together their eyes are opened to the true nature of the world.  As soon as the movie opens, the amount of work that went into the movie...