Have a budget friendly and safe Halloween

By: Brad Tripp

Ever find yourself broke on Halloween? Got a creeper across the street?  Well, here are some tips for a safe and budget friendly Halloween:

Candy

You may ask, “Where I can get my candy the cheapest and are there any problems with it?” Also, you may wonder, “Can I use old holiday candy?” In some cases, this may be okay, but it’s best to throw all that old candy away. This is because sometimes candy sits on the shelf even longer than the time you had it. The best thing to do when it comes to buying candy is to buy in bulk. Why is this? This is because not only is it cheaper, but it helps when you’re handing it out. Not only does it keep the children happy, but that leftover candy can be used for future instances with your own children. The cheapest local place to get candy is probably Dollar Tree; this is because everything is a dollar.

Costumes

One of the first things you think about when it comes to Halloween is the costume. The next thing you may think, with a thin pocket book, is, “Where can I get a quality yet budget friendly costume?”  The best places to go are department stores, such as Family Dollar or Wal-Mart. When you go to a Halloween store like Spirit Halloween, they tend to raise the prices. For example, a baby costume at Spirit Halloween can cost upwards of $30, whereas, at Family Dollar all small children’s costumes are $10 each.  Also, the best thing to do is try to shop online; it tends to be cheaper and/ or can help to compare prices. The best place for most costumes all in one place is probably Amazon.com/costumes. Not only are they all there, they tend to be cheaper due to possible free shipping and overstock. If you don’t care for Amazon, try Googling your favorite clothing/department store and seeing what the store has in stock for Halloween.

Build your own

What are some ideas to build your own costume and is it really cheaper? In most instances, it’s cheaper to build your own costume. For example, for a last minute costume, you can be a selfie. Yes, you read that right, you can be a selfie. This cost little to no money ($25, tops) and consists of things that you may have around the house. A selfie is probably the simplest costume ever. It literally consists of cardboard, markers and scissors, plus a little bit of time. Simply cut out a hole for your head at the top, plus 2 holes for your hands out of a large piece of square cardboard, then decorate the front to look like whatever phone you want. Pop your head and hands out and you’re a selfie!

What to watch for and why

Is trick or treating dangerous? This Halloween, you may wonder what you can do to have a safer and more delicious holiday. When trick or treating, try carrying around hand sanitizer. Why? Its best to keep away those germy hands those recent kids before may have had. Another thing to do is to have you candy x-rayed. Not only is it kind of cool, but it can help to prevent you or your children from the possible dangers that lie within the candy.  Most hospitals on Halloween are open to free x-rays for candy. Have a fun and delicious holiday!

World Series bound

 

 

 

By: Peter Lewis

 

 

 

The 2012 Cardinals season ended after failing to capitalize on a three to one lead in the 2012 NLCS against the eventual World Series champions San Francisco Giants.  In those last three games the Cardinals were shockingly outscored twenty to one and finished the year on a very sour note by failing to continue their success from the 2011 World Series season.   With this, the off-season began and Pitcher Kyle Loshe left the team as did Lance Berkman, Skip Schumacher, and hitting coach and Cardinal legend, Mark McGwire.  Other than the signing of Ty Wigginton, the Cardinals were very quiet during the off-season, which both shocked and worried many.  Above all though, there were many unanswered questions, such as: would the young pitching be able to handle the pros, who would be starting, could Adam Wainwright get back to his former glory after his Tommy John surgery, and who would step up and lead the team to the playoffs?  To make matters more troubling, on February 22, Chris Carpenter was lost for the season with numbness in his right shoulder, arm, and neck; just days before the season started, on March 22, both Rafael Frucal and Jason Motte were lost for the season.  With the season approaching, some doubt started to creep in, although, with good players returning, there was faith to be had.   

The first month of the regular season ended with a reasonable record of 15-11; though the bullpen struggled, the Cards looked to be in fair shape.  However, May showed that the Cardinals were still a top tier National League team, as they finished with a 35-18 record.  The bats and rotation improved, but the bullpen still had issues closing out games.  At the All-Star Break, the Cardinals posted a record of 57-36 and looked to be a solid team.  However, their division rivals, the Pittsburgh Pirates and Cincinnati Reds, would provide the biggest obstacle for the remainder of the season.

The remainder of July and into September showed the NL Central become a race between the Pirates and Cardinals, with the Reds close behind, but never quite able to catch either team.  In this time frame the Cardinals and Pirates faced each other fourteen times; it didn’t start out well though.  A five game series with the Pirates in Pittsburgh to close out July saw the Cards lose the series four games to one, but they made up for it by finishing six games to three and secure the NL Central Pennant and tied for the best record in MLB, 97-56, with the Boston Red Sox.

The first obstacle on the road to the World Series was, unsurprisingly, the Pittsburgh Pirates, who made their first playoff in twenty-one years.  Game one saw a Cardinal blowout win of nine to one, where game two was a complete reversal, as the Pirates blew out the Cardinals seven to one.  The Pirates then took game three, but above all odds, the Cardinals won games four and five and advanced to the NLCS.

In the NLCS, the Cardinals faced the resurgent Dodgers, who had made a complete turn around after the All-Star Break.  Game one and two went to the Cardinals, who looked to have all the momentum in the NLCS.  Though the Dodgers awakened and went on to take games three and five.  However, it was too little too late, as game six went to the Cardinals and their ticket to their nineteenth World Series was earned.  A rematch of the 2004 Series against the Boston Red Sox is scheduled to begin Wednesday, October 23, 2013.

What we learned from this year is that the Cardinals roster looks to be capable of winning for the next couple of years.  The starting rotation is at its best as is the batting, but the bullpen still has some work needed to insure wins in the future.  Adam Wainwright is back to top form, Matt Carpenter is the obvious lead off choice, and the young talent will indeed take the team places.  Although a short stop is needed and some players’ futures are questionable, the team showed this season that it is a top contender in MLB.





Gender based classrooms: what they do, do they work?

By: Autumn Hill

          Do boys and girls learn differently? Would being in a single sex classroom be less distracting than a “regular” classroom? What about the instructors in the gender-based classrooms? You may have heard that same gender classrooms can be easier for students, they can learn quicker and easier that way.

Indeed, studies have shown that same-gender classrooms increase students’ motivation, and students tend to become distracted by the opposite sex very easily. In an article on ascd.org, Jamie Smalls states, “Offering single-gender classes is an effective response to school-level data that shows achievement gaps between males and females, where students are not achieving at expected levels, or as a way to engage parents by offering a choice.”

            However, not everyone agrees with this. Tolerance.org, a discussion based website for gender-based classrooms, says, “There is no reliable evidence that segregating students by sex improves learning by either sex.” Diverse Learning Today, a group that looks at gender specific classrooms, states, “Recognizing diversity in the classroom is important. Excluding gender from that recognition limits the options educators can consider. Looking at gender differences and single-gender options as teaching tools can allow educators to better meet the needs of all students.”

Public schools can be more stressful for some (students), for a variety of reasons. Would the same thing happen in single gender classrooms? Some would say that the same gender classes causes students to be more loud, or chatty. Teens tend to engage more rather than focus more when they are with the opposite sex. Many private schools subscribe to the philosophy that single gender classrooms will make students more comfortable and less stressed.  

Perhaps single-gender classrooms are a good idea for some students, but not all. What about when they go out into the world and are put with the opposite gender, however? The Education Development Center asks, “Do boys and girls need different things to get a good education? They well may, because although girls and boys are more similar than they are different, our society treats them as if they are separate species.” If we were put in the same gender classrooms, then we wouldn’t know much about being with the opposite sex, making it difficult going into the real world. Bottom line, more research is needed before we switch to gender based classrooms across the nation.

The government shutdown

By: Brad Tripp

            So, how about that government shutdown? The world panics. What will we do? Does this mean there is no authority? What will happen to everyone’s money? Have we been saving all this time for nothing? These are all questions you may be worried about. Here is how the government shutdown will impact some major areas of American lives:

 

Money

            The government shutdown does not affect your income unless you are on welfare. According to the Arizona Capital Times, the state of Arizona is not allowing welfare after the shutdown. Although they are not currently allowing welfare, when the crisis is all said and done, Arizona will reimburse money to all those on welfare. All other states seem to be paying welfare though. Additionally, according to abc.com, it may be a great time to buy stocks.

Tours and monuments:

            As you know by now, all the monuments and national parks are closed. Why is this? The monuments and parks are closed due to lack of funding towards maintenance and security of those areas.  However, things such as state parks and fairs will continue to be open due to their funding coming from state taxes, not our national taxes. 

 

Law Enforcement:

You may think that since there is no government, there are no police.  This isn’t the case at all.  This is because law enforcement is state tax funded, plus they use funds from tickets and fines, along with towing auctions and police related events.

 

The main question you’re probably asking is if and when this will ever end. There is a glimmer of hope. According to csmonitor.com, there will be a decision made on a small increase in the debt limit so that the government can re-open and end the shutdown. The government shutdown, in a nutshell, touches everyone, but most of us won’t be majorly impacted.

Rush to see this movie

 

By: Peter Lewis

 

Films about racing or cars usually don’t do as well as the studio may have hoped.  The majority tend to drift into the genre’s clichés of primarily focusing on the action and how shiny the filmmakers make the cars in the hopes that it will amaze the audience.  While the visuals may do just that, these films suffer from lack of character development, story, or lackluster to clichéd dialogue that make the film be viewed negatively or be forgettable.  With the odds completely against these types of films, it was surprising to see Peter Morgan, writer of award winning films such as Frost/Nixon, The Last King of Scotland, and The Other Boleyn Girl, would even take on a film like this.  However, even with the odds seemingly stacked against Morgan, he has done what looked to be the impossible and easily made the best drama (against a racing background) of all time.  

            Rush is set in what is commonly referred to as “Formula 1’s Golden Age” (in the 1970s) and focuses on the organization’s most famous and polarizing figures at the time: James Hunt, played by Chris Hemsworth and Niki Lauda, played by Daniel Bruhl.  During this time period both Hunt and Lauda emerged as the best in F1 and started one of racing’s most memorable rivalries.  What made it even better was how both men were completely different from one another.  Hunt was a playboy and brash person who worked his way from the lower ranks all the way to the highest point, but Lauda was a no nonsense hardworker and calculating genius behind the wheel that bought his way into the series.  Both drivers’ paths collide in 1970, in Formula 3, the minor league to Formula 1. Unsurprisingly, when they first come in contact with each other the relationship doesn’t get off to a great start.  From that point on each driver’s career takes a drastically different turn.  Lauda’s skill and potential is seen by Ferrari, at the time and today one of the best teams in Formula 1, and he is signed on to drive with them for the 1975 season.  Hunt and his team from F3 manage to get to F1, but face the season without a sponsor.  The 1975 season concludes with Lauda winning the championship and Hunt’s team going under.  However, Hunt’s skill and desire to defeat Lauda impresses McLaren Racing, who sign him on.  The film then gets to the infamous 1976 F1 season and racing’s most famous story begins to unfold.  For those who know the story, the film does a fantastic job at staying true to the history of these events and doesn’t follow the Hollywood route of changing things simply because they feel like they have to for interest; the filmmakers knew the original story on its own was great and kept it as is.  For those who don’t know the story, the film keeps everything grounded and easy to keep up with even though it goes through the season fast, but keeps the primary events that shaped the season with good amounts of time and allows things to develop.

            Just as it seemed Ron Howard’s career had started coming to an end, he looked inside of himself and put everything he did right in the past into the film and allowed it to be a successful as it was.  Peter Morgan’s writing captured the personalities of Hunt and Lauda very well and the dialogue of the film is very impressive.  Howard’s direction allowed the rest of the cast to do very good jobs with their roles, but, above all, Hemsworth and Bruhl are spectacular as Hunt and Lauda and their performances will defiantly not go unnoticed.

            Fall is the time of year where Oscar hopeful films are released in hope becoming worthy of nomination, Rush proves that it has plenty of worthy parts that will and should be nominated.  Howard’s direction is easily at the same level from a drama standpoint as it was in Apollo 13 and Frost/Nixon and the action during the race makes the film action packed when it wasn’t even the focus. Peter Morgan has been nominated for best screenplay before and it’s very safe to say it’ll happen once more.  As for Hemsworth and Bruhl’s portrayals, either one or both have a good shot at having the honor of being nominated.  Hemsworth for pulling off a brash playboy very well and making the struggles Hunt went through come to life and Bruhl successfully pulling off a character that wouldn’t normally be liked, but in the end turns out to be the best of the two and the one most audiences would appreciate is job well done every time.  As a whole the film will easily be up there as well.

            Rush is easily one of the best films of 2013 so far and a highly memorable and one of the best racing/sports movies ever filmed.  Niki Lauda himself in an interview with Hollywoodvshistory.com stated, “When I saw it the first time I was impressed. There were no Hollywood changes or things changed a little bit Hollywood-like. It is very accurate. And this really surprised me very positively."  For these reasons, Rush is a must see; it has the quality of an award winner, but feels like a film anyone can get behind and enjoy.



How to pick the right college for you

By: Peter Lewis

It’s not a surprise to hear that the most important thing for any high school student to know is what college they need to go to.  This is truly one of the most important decisions anyone can make and will have numerous implications on their future.  Most times, picking a college goes beyond what you want your career to be; the college itself can be the deciding factor if you stay on that course or, as BusinessWeek.com reported, are part of the twenty-two percent of first time college freshmen that dropout after the first year. 

As ThinkProgress.org reported, only fifty-six percent of students who enter college in the United States graduate within six years and twenty-nine percent who enter a two-year program complete their degrees within three years the study found.  There are many factors that contribute to this.  AOL reported the top six reasons: anxiety/stress over expenses, anxiety about not spending time with family and friends, worrying about intellectual ability to complete course work, stress due to class interfering with normal routine, fear that earning a degree is needed to prove competence, and resentment for doing coursework rather than what they want.  The good thing to all this is that all these problems do indeed have solutions and if you know what you’re getting into before picking a college, you can avoid all of them.  Below are the most important things you need to know to pick and be successful in college.

 1. Know what you want to be/what major to pursue 

Easily one of the most important things to know when choosing a college is what career you wish to pursue after your period at a university.  A major should be something you are passionate about and can see yourself being able to do for an extended period of time.  Keep in mind that a career you want to do may be part of a broad major, such as journalism being classified most times under communications, which can lead you to other jobs after college.  Sometimes a career may require more than one major, like teaching, which needs a major in education and the subject itself.

 2.  Look at schools that offer your chosen major

 Everything you need to know about a school is online now, which will make this step fairly easy.  Look at colleges in your state and surrounding states, or even other states not close to your own and see which offer your chosen major.

 3.  Make a list of colleges

 With step two complete, begin to make a list of the colleges you think are best for you, but keep those you didn’t pick to the side, as your needs may change.

 4.  Check financial situation

 College is incredibly expensive, so a financial plan is a must.  Whether you have money set aside or go for scholarships, this step will most likely remove schools on your list.  Remember, out of state schools will charge you more and may not always be the best bet depending on your situation.  Before you apply for scholarships, you must set up a FAFSA account. Take this step in deep consideration, as it can be the difference between a smooth experience or financial stress with debt for years afterwards.

 5.  Check to see if you meet the college’s requirements

 If you already hadn’t, check to see the colleges’ requirements for ACT/SAT and GPA.  Depending how early you start looking gives you enough time to start, improving these and having a shot at getting in.  Keep in mind though, some schools advertise a select number for these, some can be liberal and get you in with an ACT/SAT or GPA close to what they initially wanted.

 6.  Know your priorities, needs, and mental strength  

 College will be stressful, there’s no other way of saying it.  Yet, knowing what you’re about to get yourself into will make a difference between staying and leaving.  If you’re going to college for the side activities, it’s best not to pick one that costs a lot or has high expectations.   Knowing how much stress you can handle and what a college will require of you will have a huge impact on your decision.

 7.  Know the location of the colleges on your list

 Going with step six and how your mental strength is, I can think about if you handle being away from home.  Be truthful; most teens will say yes, but it’s important to look at yourself and tell the truth, because, remember, thousands of dollars are on the line.  If you can’t handle this, then choosing an out of state school, or school that is more than a few hours away, may not be the best option.   

8.  Look into the college’s departments, housing, and opportunities

  You will find out very quickly that you need to know the campus of the college you’re looking at and what it has to offer.  To really ensure you’ll want to stay and not drop out, joining a club may be a very good option.  Keep in mind that a college’s size will directly impact t on how much they have to offer, so if you want options, a big college will have more to offer than a small college the majority of the time. 

As far as housing, most freshmen will stay on campus, but dorms are different and after freshman year, so it would be best to know your options and about housing off campus.  If you want a Greek Club, check to see if that college has one.

For some the most important end all be all is the opportunities or internships a college can offer.  If you want one, a college near a major metropolitan area would be advisable.  

9.  If time allows, call admission officers, set up a visit/meeting, and/or find a college fair

 If you have more questions that the college’s website cannot answer, strongly consider calling their admissions office and asking.  If really interested, check to see if you can set up a meeting or if when that college is having a welcome day of sorts.  College fairs are highly recommended and usually held at a local community college or high school.

 10.  Narrow list of colleges and apply

 Now that all steps are complete, the time will come when you turn in all the required information to a select college, or group, for admission.  It is best to have a backup school (or two) to insure you will get in somewhere.

With these steps in mind, the process of selecting a college will be much clearer.  If any other questions come up that were not answered here, remember that the admissions office and your school counselor are best suited to answer them or explain the process in much more in-depth detail.

The science of sleep

By: Brad Tripp

He hears a car drive by. He arises, only to pry his crusty eyelids open. Groggy and impatient is all Jimmy is going to feel today.  Jimmy spent almost all night playing Grand Theft Auto 5.  Jimmy has his regrets about last night. He feels accomplished to have beaten the game, but the lack of sleep is going to be his arch nemesis today.

Sleep is a vital thing to the health and well-being of almost any living thing on earth. Sleep helps a person be focused and productive in any lifestyle.  According to the Sleep Foundation’s website (a group that studies sleep’s impact on people), not enough sleep can be harmful if it happens regularly, affecting moods and the way you eat in negative ways.

Less sleep can cause unsafe attention span and lack of problem solving skills. It’s best to have at least nine hours of sleep to function properly, both mentally and physically.  Naps can be an effective way to combat lack of sleep; if you didn’t quite reach as much sleep as you need a twenty to forty minute nap can help to increase energy. Although, if you take a nap too close to the time you usually go to sleep it can affect your entire sleep pattern, making things a lot more difficult in the long run.

During Daylight Savings Time, we lose about an hour of sleep each night. According to the Washington Post, one hour lost each night can basically turn teenagers into “walking zombies.” This sleep loss causes teenagers to become very tired and to sleep in class, keeping them from paying attention in class, thus causing a domino effect to where the student may fall behind. So, getting the right amount of sleep each night, even during Daylight Savings Time, may be tough, but it’s worth it.

Most students fall asleep around eleven p.m. In order to get a full night of sleep, they would need to sleep until 8 a.m. According to Student Impulse.com, a student based website, studies show that less sleep reduces your rapid eye movement (REM) and when the eye cannot respond efficiently this causes confusion and slows teens down. If you have to get up before 8 a.m., it’s probably a good idea to get to bed early.

Student Impulse also states that later school start times affect students greatly. The site states that students skip less and are awake and alert more. It’s also believed that school activities affect students greatly, due to being tired, then coming home to one to three hours of homework almost every night. Sleep is vital and very crucial to the human body. All in all, it’s best to get a good night sleep for great results in your overall day.



Top five Halloween horror movies

By: Autumn Hill

            Do you go to the movies a lot? Do you have a favorite genre? Scary movies have been around forever, scaring, thrilling, and chilling. Even though we know the scare that may occur in the story, we still jump from it. Jake Cole, a writer for Film.com, says, "Deafening noises, bursts of music, faces materializing from nowhere can make the heart skip, send popcorn flying from tubs and reduce one to watching a screen through woven fingers, but after going home and surviving the night, all the just-a-cat moments and demon faces and gore slip from the mind." Here are a few movies that may do just that:

1. Halloween - A psychotic murderer, institutionalized since childhood for the murder of his sister, escapes and stalks a bookish teenage girl and her friends while his doctor chases him through the streets.
2. Insidious - The terrifying story of a family who, shortly after moving, discovers that dark spirits have possessed their home and that their son has inexplicably fallen into a coma. Trying to escape the haunting and save their son, they move again only to discover that it was not their house that was haunted. It was their son.
3. The Shining - A man, his son, and wife become the winter caretakers of an isolated hotel where Danny (the son) sees disturbing visions of the hotel's past using a telepathic gift known as "The Shining." The father, Jack Torrance, is underway in a writing project when he slowly slips into insanity as a result of cabin fever and the hotel's ghosts. After being convinced by a waiter's ghost to "correct" the family, Jack goes completely insane.
4. Pyscho - A Phoenix secretary steals $40,000 from her employer's client, goes on the run, and checks into a remote motel run by a young man under the domination of his mother.
5. The Texas Chain Saw Massacre - Five friends visiting their grandpa's old house are hunted down and terrorized by a chainsaw wielding killer and his family of grave-robbing cannibals.

With Halloween just around the corner, it’s a great time to be scared. Sometimes we all want to feel a little uncomfortable; research has shown that we all are curious and love mystery, though when we get to into the action and the killer shows up, we fear for the person being pursued. Horror movies can either be scary, creepy, or just stupid, but most of us enjoy them, regardless.

Attention Deficit Disorder

By: Brad Tripp

            The crayons fall to the floor. The sounds of coloring against fresh dry wall are all Mrs. Doe can hear. She is furious at her son’s behavior. She smacks Jimmy’s hand and he runs away and cries. After a brief moment, she hears the markers against the dry wall yet again. Mrs. Doe takes him to the doctor the next day. Jimmy Doe is diagnosed with Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD). ADD is a common occurrence in many people nationwide, both young and old. 

            The true nature of the disorder is a missing chemical in the brain that helps control impulse. These missing chemicals cause short attention span. According to quillivan.com, a site about living well with ADD and ADHD, children with this disorder often fail at paying close attention, especially to the small things. People with ADD also tend to ignore when people speak directly to them. Mr. Krutzsch, a principal at Seckman High School, believes that a multitude of factors can affect ADD. He said students’ ADD can be impacted, both positively and negatively, by “…certain circumstances. It may be as simple as diet, exercise and interest level in the activity…”

According to Dr. Phil.com, a site with a well known psychological therapist (Dr. Phil) as its backbone, one way to help with ADD is to observe and get educated about the disorder and the medications one might take to help with their ADD. Chris Wolf, a student at Seckman High School, believes, “ADD is trouble focusing, but…medication helps.” ADD medications typically help calm a person down. 

ADD can be outgrown, but is not uncommon amongst adults too.  According to helpguide.org, a site about living with ADD, this diagnosis is not uncommon with adults. Some may live with it their whole lives and some show symptoms into early adulthood. 

There are many myths to ADD. For instance, some say ADD is nothing but a lack of will power.  In some cases, this may be true, but that’s usually incorrect. Another myth is that if you weren’t diagnosed as a child you cannot have ADD as an adult. This is very untrue, as ADD can be diagnosed at any point in a person’s life.  All in all, ADD is a common problem today and can be diagnosed at any time.  The challenges of ADD are beatable, no matter the obstacle.

Teen technology addiction

By: Autumn Hill

            Do you have a teen sibling in your house who is constantly on a computer?

Maybe you hardly see your parents because you are the one always on the computer. Did you know that research shows that teens are on the internet too much? The majority of today’s teens spend more time inside on the internet than outside. Some teens are so dependent on computers that they have even formed a “tech addition.”

A lot of this dependency comes from easy access. Many teens have at least one device that allows them on the internet. Ty Flamm said, “Yes, we are addicted. (A computer) is faster, easier, and more available for us...”  Eight out of ten American teens have a desktop or laptop computer. Of the 20% of American teens who do not have their own computer, two-thirds (67%) have access to a device they can use.  Taken together, this means that 93% of teens in the United States have a computer or access to one. Easy access could certainly lead to overuse.

Teens spend much of their computer time accessing chat rooms or on social networking sites. For most teens (93%), it’s so easy to get on the computer that it has become a daily addiction of sorts and it can be tough for some to stop doing it. Katie Willard disagreed, saying, “All you have to do is go hang out with your friends and put your mind somewhere other than the computer.”

Computers have become part of our lives because they have all the information that we need. If we get lost on a homework assignment, all we have to do is Google it. If we get bored or lonely, we can log into Facebook and immediately connect to friends. Meeting or talking on the internet has increased significantly in recent years; more people have met online before meeting in real life as well. In fact, the New York Times recently reported that one third of all American couples originally met online.

All this technology can be good, but it has its downside too. Computers are more powerful than man, as well as much faster. Is it okay to depend on computers too much because we realize what they are capable of? Computers have all the information we would need, and have become the lifeline of this generation. This age we are living in requires a lot of brain power and computers help us with that. We don’t have to use as much brain power because computers give us the answer. If we expect there to always be some device to give us the answer, however, then we will never learn anything. 

Summer 2013 comic book blockbusters

By: Peter Lewis

Every summer, Hollywood releases an endless stream of films every week to meet the demand of entertainment during that season.  Since Star Wars premiered in May 1977, and broke box office records worldwide, a new tradition was born in the form of blockbusters.  Blockbusters usually consist of action, Sci-Fi, and visual effects to entertain the masses.  While these films are almost guaranteed not to win any major awards, such as an Oscar or Golden Globe, they embrace a classic film element of escapism: encasing mostly unreal situations, but making them entertaining and allowing audiences to put their sense of disbelief away for a few hours.  It’s true Hollywood has run out of original ideas, but nevertheless, each year manages to put out films that are memorable and will leave an impact in some way on the viewer and industry moving forward.  Blockbusters and the summer movie season continue to do this for both critics and audiences.  Though 2013 may have not been the most impressive year (as compared to 2011 and 2012) and had many flops, such as Lone Ranger, it still posted record profits yet again.  However, only a few will be the most memorable for a particular year and 2013 was no exception releasing very well done and entertaining films. 

            The genre that has now become a staple of the summer movie season have become the adaptation of comic books onto the silver screen.  Since Superman in 1978, Hollywood became very interested in this new genre and began work on bringing fan favorites storylines and characters to theaters worldwide.  While it started out well, it had very rough periods and after Batman and Robin in 1997, many thought that was the end of superheroes on the bigscreen.  In 2000, X-Men brought new life into the genre and set a new structure that all adaptations have followed since for the most part.  Since 2000, The Dark Knight Trilogy and The Avengers and the films that built up to it have become extremely successful and the most praised by critics and audiences.  This shows that the comic book film has become the modern equivalent tales to Greek and Roman stories about the Gladiators and Spartans.  Unlike any other film genre released in the summer, a movie based on a superhero will easily be much more remembered, praised or hated, and cause the most debate on the internet.  In the summer of 2013, three comic book adaptations were released to the world.  Iron Man 3, the sequel to Iron Man 2, as well as 2012’s The Avengers; Man of Steel, the newest reboot of the world’s first superhero and Warner Brothers hope for a DC cinematic universe; and The Wolverine, the sequel to 2009’s X-Men Origins: Wolverine.  This article will review all three as well as attempt to declare a winner.

 First, Iron Man 3.  Taking place after the events of 2012’s Avengers, Robert Downey Jr. returns to the main role as Tony Stark/Iron Man, who is in a mental struggle after the events of The Avengers.  Compared to other Marvel imprints, Iron Man 3, for the most part, takes a more dark and serious tone, but still keeps the humor that has made the franchise so successful.  The story is well structured and the problems that made Iron Man 2 hit or miss were fixed and gave the film a tone like that of 2008’s Iron Man.  Downey still shows he is the clear perfect choice to portray Iron Man and does a great job balancing what he usually does and the new struggles he has to portray.  The rest of the cast does a good job as well, but can’t compete with Jr. in anyway.  The finals positives of the film go to both writing and direction.  The writing again does the Marvel humor very well, but this time around gives much more memorable lines and dialogue, same with the direction; Shane Black took control of the direction and was a surprise in how well he let the film flow and have great summer blockbuster action.

            Now what was the problem, you might ask?  After all the praise above, it sounds like this film was at the level of the first Iron Man.  For the most part, it could have been, if not for the film’s second act. While act one sets up the story very well and act three is an epic end to a good movie, the film’s second act makes some choice that audiences loved or hated. Let me just get it out of the way and say I hated it a lot.   Without spoiling the film, if you were expecting Ben Kingsley to do great things as the Mandarin based on the advertisement and trailers, you’ll most likely be disappointed.  Again, the third act saves the film, but the second act is bound to leave a bad taste in your mouth in some fashion.  In the end though, Iron Man 3 is a success by many standards and if this is the end of the Iron Man film series, it’s a great finish for all that were involved.

            Second, Man of Steel.  While Iron Man 3 out grossed Man of Steel in a big way, $1.2 billion compared to almost $650 million, Man of Steel easily was the most hyped and anticipated film of summer 2013.  For good reason, as well, like: this film is the foundation for a DC cinematic universe and the starting point for a Justice League film/franchise, Chris Nolan just coming off his very successful and praised Dark Knight Trilogy was producing, Zac Snyder,  who had done a good job at previous DC imprints was directing, and to many it looked to be a huge step forward from 2006’s Superman Returns and that the man of steel had new life on the big screen.  At the same time, this film divided both critics and audiences for the entire month of June and was extremely debated by all who saw it.  For me it was good.

 What Man of Steel did right was it took a better look at the Superman character than previous films had done.  There’s more focus on the destruction of his home world, his parents’ decision to send him to Earth, his struggle to adapt to the planet, as well as discover his origins; the film plays these out very well and is highly memorable and extremely interesting.  The film’s story keeps you in the present, but uses a lot of flashbacks to help develop the Superman character.  The flashback sequences are very great and so much better than having a twenty minute part of Superman growing up, as well as giving great moments that are well crafted into the film with great style.  This time, Superman is played by British actor Henry Cavill, who both looks the part and is great as the man of steel for so many reasons; it’s way too early to say if he’ll be better than Christopher Reeves, but he is off to a great start for portraying one of comic’s, as well as cinema’s, most famous characters.  The remaining cast does a good job, but is very underdeveloped, which is one of the film’s problems for the most part.  Amy Adams takes the role of Lois Lane and does a good job and with a much more humane portrayal of the character than previous imprints, but there isn’t too much there to set her apart and she seems to get the lost in the film. It seems that the filmmakers thought that audiences had knowledge of the main characters in the Superman world and didn’t put much effort into setting them apart for the film.  Another slight problem was the film’s dialogue.  It’s not bad, but surprisingly below average for what you’d expect from David Goyer, who just came off working with Nolan on The Dark Knight Trilogy.  Direction wise, Snyder does a pretty fair job, if not very good; some decisions are questionable, like the lack of character development, as well as too much CGI in the opening, but he seems to have some grasp moving forward.  For the most part Man of Steel was everything expected and very well done and probably one of the better comic book adaptations ever made. 

Well, it was in contention for that title until the second act of the film began at least.  The second act of Man of Steel is where so much criticism came from and what the viewer’s opinion on the film hinged on.  What’s wrong with the second act?  Well pure action overload for over an hour.  Yes, summer blockbusters are acceptable time for action, but action without a lead in or point is just a waist of CGI and work.  Man of Steel is no exception; once the main conflict begins, the film takes a total 180 and goes from the equivalent of Batman Begins in a sense to Michael Bay’s fantasy on steroids.  Now, during this controversial hour, some of the destruction does have a purpose and it does allow Superman to save the planet in a huge way, and a very well executed way.  The other two moments of total destruction have no real lead in (as stated before) and are hard to get behind or really be emotionally invested in.  Initially, I though this was all Snyder’s decision and he deserved the criticism for this; however, after thinking this, couldn’t have been him.  Sure, his trademark style was shown during this, but Snyder isn’t exactly a guy that will use Michael Bay’s style of explosions at every corner.  In a way, this could have been Warner Brothers, Man of Steel was still in production during the Avengers instant success and it’s not hard to believe that they went to the Man of Steel crew and told them to do what The Avengers did only much, much bigger.  I’ll stop there since I have no proof of this, although for a film that would decide an entire franchise’s future and make the studio billions upon billions of dollars, it’s a very reasonable hypothesis. 

 Even with this in mind, Man of Steel is a well done film.  I can’t spoil anything, but I will say there are great scenes and memorable moments, as well as things to completely set this version of Superman apart from previous versions in a very good way.  Though the film doesn’t have much humor or a heroic Superman it’s an exciting new start to the character and a bright future ahead if Warner Brothers allows Snyder and crew to do their own thing.  Simply put, Man of Steel may have gotten off to a very rocky start, but the future for the series and DC looks to have a good chance of success.

Finally, The Wolverine.  Allow me just to say it now, I don’t like the X-Men movies.  Not hate or dislike, but I just don’t think they’re as great as they’re made to be.  The worst of them all is 2009’s X-Men Origins: Wolverine.  If you haven’t seen it, consider yourself lucky.  Now many were surprised to learn last year that film would be getting a sequel and from there until Wolverine’s release in July many went into this with no expectations.  However, the biggest surprise out of all of this was how good Wolverine was, not just good, easily the best X-Men film released.

What makes Wolverine so good is that it takes risks no other comic book film would ever dare try and it goes away from the franchise’s typical formula and tries something new. It was a huge risk for the filmmakers, but ended up being very successful.  The main reason for the film’s success was the fact it was more story and character driven than having generic blockbuster action just to meet the unofficial requirement.  Also, it plays with a storyline never really done in full in a comic book film, taking the hero’s powers away leaving him vulnerable to the world he once was above.  This decision isn’t executed to the fullest, but plays out very well and the films best asset.  The story has a huge focus put on it, works out very well, gives new detail to the Wolverine character and showcases a very interesting journey.  Hugh Jackman returns to his role as Wolverine yet again gives it his all and does very well, but isn’t the best actor in the film.  Wolverines best acting came from actresses Tao Okamoto and Rila Fukushima.  The story has a huge focus on both and each of them give fantastic performances.  The real strange part of the film though is that Wolverine himself isn’t a huge part of the story; while he plays a major role for sure, the story mostly focused on the characters portrayed by Okamoto and Fukushima.  This isn’t a major complaint by any means, but noticeable for a film that invokes the name of a character and doesn’t put a hundred percent focus on him.  The only real problem of the film is its unimpressive main villain, confusion in what side a character or group is on at times, and a well-executed and unexpected twist that isn’t as impressive as it could have been.

However, The Wolverine manages to be a huge surprise, well structured, and focused, making it easily the best film based on the X-Men franchise and one of the better comic book films to be released.  With a post credit scene showing what’s next, it looks to be that X-Men has great potential ahead.

So, out of Iron Man 3, Man of Steel, and Wolverine, which is the best?  The answer is plain and simple: The Wolverine comes out on top.  Though it wasn’t as much of a blockbuster as the other two, have as much hype, or gross the most, from a standpoint of a film and doing the most interesting thing with the source material, Wolverine edges out Iron Man 3 and Man of Steel.  At the end though, for the second consecutive year, Hollywood did all major comic book films right.  Problems still exist, of course, but not as bad as it was in the early 2000s, by any means.  This shows that the system may have finally grasped how to make this popular genre be able to work and will continue.  At the end of the day, Wolverine takes the top spot for 2013’s summer season.