Category: reviews
-
Warm Bodies heats up in theaters
“What am I doing with my life? I’m so pale– I should get out more. I should eat better. My posture is terrible. I should stand up straight. People would respect me if I…
-
Gravy garners great review
Triangle Restaurant Week is an annual event among eateries throughout the Raleigh area. This year, January 21-27 marked the time when Triangle restaurants offer fixed-price menus to showcase their establishment’s prized dishes. After…
-
Zero Dark Thirty kills it
Everyone knows Osama bin Laden’s name, and after Zero Dark Thirty, they know how the CIA killed him. Kathryn Bigelow’s Zero Dark Thirty depicts the post-9/11 race to find and kill Osama bin Laden.…
-
Gangster Squad is a must-see
Those buying a ticket to Gangster Squad get exactly what they pay for — a goosebump inducing account of one of the biggest police mob stings in history. Gangster Squad is a thrilling action…
-
Silver Linings Playbook strikes gold but not greatness
When things go bad, people usually say “How could things get any worse” or “There is no where to go but up.” Whether they believe in God or in fate, everyone tries to find…
-
Django Unchained is worth seeing
If Inglorious Basterds was a radical change to Tarantino’s directing style, then Django Unchained is a movie genre of its own. The movie incorporates so many historical themes while still sticking to its spaghetti…
-
The Fuelband fuels fitness
At the beginning of a new year, many people are embracing an age old resolution: to become more physically fit. Many companies, such as Nike and Fitbit are taking advantage of this trend and…
-
Mainstage play showcases student talent
Friday, January 4 was shaping up to be another ordinary day. After lounging through Art I and Pride Period, I trudged across campus to Mrs. Floyd’s AP English class, looking forward to a day…
-
Based on a true story…
“The whole country is watching you, they just don’t know it.” -Jack O’Donnell, Argo Unfortunately, that is often the case when it comes to those protecting our country. In 2012, however, there has been…
-
Hitchcock is Psycho — in a Good Way
Hitchcock, directed by Sacha Gervasi, tells the love story between director Alfred Hitchcock (played by Anthony Hopkins) and his wife Alma Reville (Helen Mirren) isolated during the filming of one of his greatest films,…
-
Les Miserables: the best movie in theaters
Les Miserables, the film adaptation of Victor Hugo’s 1862 novel, is a tale of wretched despair, fury and love that manipulates the audience’s emotions. The story, set in post-revolutionary France in the mid-nineteenth century,…
-
Ready Player One provides a glimpse into the future of gaming
All of us have dreamed of living in another world, one in which we can shape our fates and how we live. Perhaps that is the attraction of dystopian novels: it allows the reader…
-
The Hobbit returns to Middle Earth
With the unveiling of The Hobbit project nearly two years ago, Tolkien fans were restless with anticipation and apprehension. Jackson has once again created a beautiful, adrenaline-pumping prequel to his famous productions of The…
-
Chorus concert hits high notes
As usual, the Leesville High School chorus concert on Friday, December 7 was impressive and well put-together. Diane Covington, choral director, always executes her concerts with gorgeous presentation and of course, beautiful choral music.…
-
Music to my ears– Kendrick Lamar
Kendrick Lamar is an American hip hop recording artist from Compton, California. He first gained major attention after the release of his fourth mixtape, Overly Dedicated, in 2010. His first independent album, Section.80,…
-
Skyfall Brought Down the Roof
With a legacy of classic James Bond movies setting a high standard, the latest 007 film seemed promising. With the trailer for Skyfall packed full of action sequences, steamy romance scenes, and glimpses of…
-
Beasley’s Chicken and Honey
I recently heard about a restaurant in downtown Raleigh famous for their southern eats. The entree that stuck out the most was chicken and waffles. Being two items that aren’t typically eaten together, I…
-
Caffé Luna: The best Italian cuisine in downtown Raleigh
In America, people can occasionally pigeonhole Italian cuisine into either spaghetti or pizza; Caffé Luna clearly breaks the stereotype. Settled on E. Hargett Street between Blount and Wilmington streets downtown, Caffé Luna’s bright, neon…
-
“Paper Covers Rock” covers teenage boys’ minds
Have you ever wanted an inside glimpse into the mind and psyche of a teenage boy? Have you ever been frustrated because you just can not figure out what exactly he is thinking? Have…
-
Phillip Phillips true to roots in debut album
For Phillip Phillips, it’s been a long road from Leesburg, Georgia to Hollywood, California. The immensely likeable but comfortably reserved 2012 American Idol winner brought a new dose of talent and originality to America’s…
-
An Eyre of excitement
Long before girls swooned over Jacob and Edward in Twilight, they dreamed about Charlotte Bronte’s hero Mr. Rochester. The brooding and misunderstood Rochester was brought to life by Kordell Draper in the Leesville Road…
-
Argo will go far
Ben Affleck’s most recent film, Argo, is a thriller from start to finish. Affleck, director and lead actor, portrays the Iranian hostage situation in the school year’s most intense movie. On November 4,…
-
Disney-Pixar’s Wreck-it Ralph rocks theatres around the nation
Never let someone say kids movies are for kids because it just isn’t true. This past weekend, I saw Disney-Pixar’s Wreck-it Ralph out of pure curiosity. It sparks laughter and interest in all ages.…
-
Deep-fried deliciousness
Following the tantalizing scent of fried dough and other delicacies at the North Carolina State Fair, I wind up at the end of a never-ending queue. Luckily, this food stand has the very item…
-
Pitch Perfect is the perfect comedy
Pitch Perfect is a genuinely funny movie that breaks the mold of melodramatic teen singing competitions. Directed by Jason Moore, the hilarious a capella movie premiered Oct. 5. Pitch Perfect is a comedy and…
-
Taken 2 takes over theaters
Taken 2 was the highly anticipated sequel to Taken, a movie released in 2008 about a man who rescues his daughter after she is kidnapped in Paris. A sequel to a movie that had…
-
Taylor Swift’s new album Red makes an impact
Taylor Swift’s fourth album, Red, was released on Monday October 22, and it appears to be stereotypically about boyfriends and the typical undecodable thoughts of a young woman experimenting with love. Popular demand has…
-
Jason Aldean chugs along with “Night Train”
I had been counting down the days. My favorite country singer was finally releasing a new album. his last album captured my heart, so I could not wait for some new songs. October 16…
-
Shop of Horrors: A must see
North Raleigh Arts and Creative Theatre presents Little Shop of Horrors, a story of Seymour, a man tempted by an evil plant in exchange for human blood. NRACT’s diverse group of talent produced…
-
Music to my ears– Frank Ocean
Christopher Francis Ocean, better known as Frank Ocean, is a neo-soul singer-songwriter who was born in New Orleans. He has released one major album, channel ORANGE, a mixtape (Nostalgia, Ultra) and a few leaked…
-
A piece of Paris right in Raleigh
Normally, a French restaurant is not my style. I’m more of a steak burrito kind of guy. But I was pleasantly surprised when I went to Coquette in North Hills to celebrate my parents’…
-
“Gangnam Style” grabs international and intracranial attention
By popular demand and love for the song “Gangnam Style” , I’ve found that it is necessary to write about the never-ceasing Korean Pop (K-Pop) sensation that’s reigning in the United States, Leesville Road…
-
The Words– fiction, or life?
The Words is a movie about a novelist struggling to become a published author and does so by plagiarizing another man’s book. If I had to sum up this movie in one word, it…
-
Babel: Actually not a new language
Babel, Mumford & Sons sophomore album, will please the band’s existing fans, but may not broaden its base audience beyond that of alternative folk radio. Babel shares much with M&S debut album, Sigh No…
-
Sola Coffee creates community
As I sat down with my Iced Chai and looked around, I noticed Sola Coffee had a certain vibe to it. Maybe it was the bustling conversation or the whirring of various coffee machines…
-
Defy Gravity defies expectations
Have you ever wished that you could fly? Now you can, or at least come pretty close at Defy Gravity, the indoor trampoline experience in Durham. On Saturday afternoon, my crew and I left…
-
Brad Paisley charms Churchwell
Being a regular attendee of country music concerts at Walnut Creek, I was thrilled when Brad Paisley returned to Raleigh. I expected a similar lineup of songs to last year’s because no new singles…
-
Duets doesn’t quite do-it
After months of hype and anticipation, the time finally came. It was time. Time to do-it. When Thursday night rolled around, I found myself reclining on the sofa, feet on the coffee table, lemonade…
-
NPR not just for old people
Since the invention of the iPod, car radios have gradually been becoming obsolete, due to the availability of more preferable music without advertisements. However, one station, NPR, is still going strong, although the introduction…
-
Depp saves Dark Shadows from the Depp-ths of despair
Don’t get me wrong, I love movies. Whether I’m closing my eyes during a jumpy horror flick or tearing up during an emotional rom-com, I always try to keep an open mind at the…
-
Bamboozled- Spike Lee’s Look at a “Modern-Day” Minstrel Show
In 2001, a controversial movie came out called Bamboozled. It showed the lengths that some black entertainers go in order to entertain others. In this movie, a Harvard-educated black man, Pierre Delacroix, works for…
-
Toes in the water, hands in the air
Being a regular concert attendee at Walnut Creek, I know what to expect when going to a country concert. However, Friday, May 11, was different; Zac Brown was in town. These differences began before…
-
Chorus department puts on another great show
On Friday, May 4, 2012, the choral department had their spring concerts at 4:30 and 7:30. They were directed by Diane Covington with help from Dr. Jeffrey Maynard, student teacher. Megan Yohman, a previous…
-
Edgar Allen Poe in a new light
“The Raven” was one of Edgar Allan Poe’s most famous poems and arguably one of his best. It was also the inspiration for parts of the new movie, The Raven. The movie was a…
-
Born to Die proves reviews wrong
Elizabeth Grant, known as her stage name Lana del Rey, is a new and upcoming American pop artist. The artist appeared on Saturday Night Live on January 14 and received harsh reviews from critics.…
-
The Avengers save the day
After endless hours of updating myself on all things Marvel Comics related, the time finally came. At 12:01 on Friday, May 4, The Avengers finally arrived in theatres across America. Suited up in my…
-
Gone: a book worth reading
Throughout the years, many fads have come and go in teen fiction. The Harry Potter series made fantasy a big seller in bookstores. Then the Twilight series gave birth to “teen paranormal romance.” The…
-
What to expect from the iPhone 5
With the still recent release of the iPhone 4s in October last year, most wonder what new features the upcoming iPhone 5 could have with such little time between releases. News sites have been…
-
Leesville falls in love with Kiss Me, Kate!
On April 18 through April 21 Leesville’s theater department performed the musical Kiss Me, Kate. The performance wowed Leesville students, parents and faculty alike. The show started out a little slow, but the plot…
-
Bieber’s new song features uncomfortable rap
If Justin Bieber was my boyfriend, he’d never let me go. He told me this in his new song called “Boyfriend.” The much awaited song was released on March 26, reached number one on…