Kick-Ass Movie Review

By Courtney Anelli

Last Friday, one of my best friends and I went to see Kick-Ass. I had heard it had mixed reviews, some saying it was great, and others not-so-great. I would have to lean on the side of great. The story line is almost the same as Spiderman, with an unpopular high school student becoming a “superhero.”

The movie stars Aaron Johnson as Dave Lizewski/Kick-Ass. He is a very unpopular guy at his high school and dreams about being a superhero. His two unpopular friends do not believe in superheroes, and do not share in Dave’s fantasy. Kick-Ass does not give up on his dream, no matter how unrealistic it seems. He is no Spiderman, but he tries to help out when he is needed, such as when a guy on a street gets jumped. Dave does catch the eye of a somewhat popular girl, Katie played by Lyndsy Fonseca, and with that, he gains newfound confidence. Joining him as his sidekicks are Mindy Macready/Hit-Girl played by Chloe Moretz, Damon Macready/Big Daddy played by Nicholas Cage, and Chris D’Amico/Red Mist played Christopher Mintz-Plasse-otherwise known as McLovin from the hit “Superbad”.

Together those four must battle against Red Mist’s father and his associates who are involved with a drug deal.

I thought this was a pretty good movie. Before seeing it, I had very low expectations and did not think it was going to be good at all. I was very surprised! The movie is filled with action, which left me on the edge of my seat. There are also very comical lines throughout the movie. Nicholas Cage has had some box-office flops in the past, but a couple of weekends ago, Kick-Ass was number one at the box office since opening on April 16th , narrowly beating “How to Train Your Dragon.” I highly recommend this movie if you are looking for an action, comedy, or a movie with both elements in it.

I give it an A-.

“Date Night” Movie Review

By Molly Bonner

One would think that with Fey and Carroll in the lead roles, “Date Night” would leave the audience walking out with a stomach ache from laughing so hard. This, however, is not the case.

While there are a few good one-liners that paired with the priceless facial expressions of Fey and Carroll, you cannot help but chuckle at, this movie falls short of expectations.

The beginning is particularly comedic. Phil and Claire Foster are a self-described “really boring couple from New Jersey.” They work demanding jobs, parent two children, participate in book club, and have a weekly “date night” at the same restaurant, ordering the same food and drink. Upon realizing that their life has become the definition of “routine,” they want to spice it up for a night and relight the spark in their relationship.

While it is obvious they are completely devoted to each other, hearing about their friends’ marriage troubles worries them that they, too, will just become “excellent roommates.”

This reality that the Fosters live does a great job of drawing the audience in initially, as it gives plenty for either sex to relate to.

When Coincidence Becomes Conscience – A Fine Line

By Jaymie Burt

Lately I’ve been sorting through a lot of big decisions and looking in countless areas for advice, but one place that I hadn’t thought to look appears to be screaming out. What is this voice you say? Well, as a matter of fact, oddly enough, it seems to be coming from fortune cookies.

Now, it’s not as if I’m big on the paranormal or superstitions, but the fortunes I’ve been getting in my fortune cookies lately simply can no longer be ignored, and are, in the most honest sense, altogether verging on creepy. It all started when I decided that I wanted to be a creative writer – a striving novelist. My parents were less than thrilled to hear this and started blasting me with saddening statistics, when I pulled out the fortune, “The only people who never fail are those who never try.”

Coincidence? Sure, you could say so. But, my family is far from rich, and being basically an only child I have a lot of pressure on me to go be something greater. As a PSEO student here at St. Scholastica, I’d like to think that I’ve taken all of the opportunities available to me, so why not go into the medical field like my mom, aunt, half-sister and cousin? I was sitting around thinking about every single bad thing about my passion and a much needed family redemption when I opened up a cookie and read the fortune, “Don’t let the past and useless details choke your existence.”

Dan Cummins - “Crazy With A Capitol F”

By Jaymie Burt

It was my first time seeing a comedian when I walked into the science auditorium Tuesday night to see Dan Cummins, Tonight Show veteran and star of the new Comedy Central Special set to air Saturday night at 11 pm on Memorial Weekend, “Crazy With A Capitol F.” All I really knew was that I would probably laugh, and laugh I did. However, what I wasn’t expecting, was to assist Dan, ever-so-slightly, in getting his laughs.

Now, this year I’ve been to a lot of things for the first time. What comes to mind most readily is the illusionist that came to campus, but I know there’s been more of the kind, and I’ve discovered what for me is a terrifying thing – audience participation. Don’t get me wrong, audience participation is great – for those who want to participate. For lame ol’ writers like me who hide behind computer screens, however, it is just short of terrifying.

Hip Hop Helps

By Chris LeBlanc

At the College of Saint Scholastica there are many classes surrounding the concept of dignity and respect. The Dignitas program had one class in particular that wanted to shed some serious light on the dignity that lies within the genre, lifestyle, and culture of Hip-Hop. The event kicked off on April 23rd with a collection of many artists that involve themselves with the Hip-Hop culture. Local b-boys and b-girls, dance crews, graffiti artists, DJ’s, rappers, and Hip-Hop lovers came to share the love of the art and culture together that night and experience in the most intimate, personal setting possible. The whole event was also aimed towards using Hip-Hop as a way to help out a local non-profit agency here in Duluth called Lifehouse. The organization offers a place for teens to hang out after school to socialize and grab some grub as well as offer a safe place to stay over night if one is need. The class used all of its knowledge gained through the course to put together an event that most closely represented what they had learned about dignity through the lens of Hip-Hop.

Education Association Hosts: Hands on Panel

By Alyssa Ducatelli

On Tuesday April 20th the organization Education Association held a panel for all education students on campus. The panel was about different hands on activities that could be used in the classroom. Hands on activities can be defined as non-traditional ways of teaching or finding creative ways to teach lessons. There were three teachers who spoke and answered questions. There was Joe Schingen, Polly Tracey, and Katie Kyyhkynen. Joe is a high school English teacher in the Duluth area who has been teaching for ten years. Polly is a teacher in the Alternative Education Program at Woodland Middle School. She works with students in the academic areas of math and English. She also helps students build essential skills needed for class. Katie has been an educator for over 30 years. She has a degree in environmental science and then went back to school to get her elementary education degree. She is a second grade teacher at Grant Elementary.

Dream to Change Perspective on Mental Health Alive at CSS

By Allie Landberg

You cannot turn on a television today without seeing a public service announcement discussing the importance of seeking help for depression, or without seeing an advertisement for a medication to aid in dealing with the symptoms of depression.

Yet, you can go through an entire year of college without ever mentioning mental health to a friend, and it would seem okay. It is my hope and desire to change this.

Mental health is something we all live with, day in and day out. We all feel stressed, and in college, it is not uncommon to hear people complain about all they have to do; the fact that no one feels they have enough time to accomplish it all.

Did You Hear About the Morgans? Movie Review

By Courtney Anelli

I recently watched Did You Hear About the Morgans? because I had heard mixed reviews of it and wanted to see it. The movie stars Sarah Jessica Parker and Hugh Grant, playing Meryl Morgan and Paul Morgan respectively. The story is that Meryl and Paul are a separated couple, who end up witnessing a murder. Because of that, a team of U.S. Marshals feel that because the killer is on the loose and has seen the Morgans that they are in danger and need to enter a witness-protection program. They end up in a very small town in Wyoming. They end up staying with the deputy and his wife, and because their lives are in such danger, are not allowed access to a phone or internet, unless they have a code, which the deputy and his wife refuse to give them.

Mishaps happen as the Morgans start to go crazy-wouldn’t you if you were stuck without a phone or internet, with a man or woman you are separated from?

I thought this movie was pretty funny. Hugh Grant uses his typical sarcasm in order to make us laugh. I thought Sarah Jessica Parker was pretty funny too, especially when she is forced to live with Hugh Grant’s character. This movie was released on DVD/Blu-Ray on March 16, 2010. I recommend it if you are looking for a comedy or are just a fan of either of the “Morgans.”

I give this movie a B-.