Thor: Ragnarok

TOPIC: Thor: Ragnarok

FACT: Applauded by critics and fans worldwide, Taika Waititi's newest addition to the Marvel Cinematic Universe has not come to disappoint.

Earning over $700 million at the box office, this two hour science fiction film stars Australian actor Chris Hemsworth as Thor, the mighty hero of Asgard, English actor Tom Hiddleston as Loki, Thor’s untrusting brother, and Australian actress Cate Blanchett as Hela, the Asgardian goddess of death who just so happens to be Thor’s older sister. After slaying the beast known as Surtur thus believing to have stopped Ragnarok for good, Thor must now save the people of Asgard by escaping from a secure planet on the other side of the universe. Spending most the movie attempting to return home, Thor gets help from the Hulk, He who likes to smash, and a surviving Valkyrie creating an unlikely yet perfect team. In the end, the “Revengers” must fight Hela’s undead army to save Asgard once and for all, but can they do so without fulfilling the prophecy of Ragnarok: the endless cycle of life and death in which complete destruction may pave a way for a renewed future?

Having a current score of 92% on Rotten Tomatoes, Thor: Ragnarok succeeds in portraying an originally grim and gruesome story in a hilarious, light-hearted manner. Though Waititi’s story deviates from the original tragic comic, ending with Ragnarok killing everyone and destroying Asgardian civilization as a whole, the new film justifies its actions by having by far the most epic ending battle scene of any Marvel movie I have ever seen. With an outstanding performance from Hemsworth as the god of thunder, I was frozen in my seat for every second Thor was surrounded by the intense blue lighting, illustrating the power and fury one can posses if you dare to threaten one’s home or discourage what makes someone unique from the rest of the universe.

In conclusion, Thor: Ragnarok is one Marvel fans must see and a movie I recommend for general audiences alike. In the words of Michael Ordona from Common Sense Media, “Thor’s third stand-alone movie goes there with wild, bold choices -- and it succeeds, especially, on many levels.”

EMA Awards 2017

TOPIC: EMA Awards 2017

(FYI: The 2017 MTV Europe Music Awards is an annual award ceremony that honors popular music from across the world, including in the U.S., different parts of Europe and specific countries in Aisa.) 

FACT: This year's EMAs were held on Sunday, November 12, at the SSE Arena in Wembley, London, where the unstoppable singer Rita Ora had the honor of hosting this special night. 

Eminem, the rapper who recently attacked President Trump in a free-style diss-track rap video played at another award show earlier this year, opened the show by performing his brand new song "Walk on Water". His energetic stage presence hyped up the live audience along with inspiring viewers at home with a subtle yet powerful performance. This may be why the EMAs awarded Eminem the Best Hip Hop Artist award, despite the fact that the rapper hasn't released much new content this year. 

Moving right along, two artists that definitely stole the show were "Stitches" singer Shawn Mendes and former Disney star Demi Lovato. Shawn was more than weclomed to the EMA stage where he performed his fan-favorite hit "There's Nothing Holdin' Me Back" with his acoustic guitar. The beloved singer pleased his worldwide audience and even walked away with the Best Artist award. As for Demi's performance, the star had the whole audience singing along while belting out the emotional piece "Tell Me You Love Me", proving that Demi Lovato is a true powerhouse. Other notable artists of the night include Dua Lipa, who won Best New Act, U2, who won the Global Icon Award, The Chainsmokers, who won Best World Stage Performance, and Kendrick Lamar, who won Best Video.

Additionally, former Fifth Harmony member Camila Cabello blew the roof with a stunning performance of her most recent pop sensation "Havana", featuring Young Thug. Mixed with perfectly synchronized dancers, appealing visual designs, and of course, Camila Cabello, this performance was one for the books. Camila also took home the Best Pop Artist award showing that she's doing just fine as a solo singer. 

Awards were also given out to performers from Russia, India, Japan, Latin America, Australia, and Brazil, though these winners were not nearly as recognized as the American and European singers. All in all, this was one enjoyable night filled with fun, dancing, and lots and lots of Rita Ora. :)  

Happy Death Day

TOPIC: Happy Death Day

FACT: Making the rounds as one of the most successful movies for the box office in October 2017, critics say Happy Death Day exibits what it would be like if Hollywood remade the 1993 film Groundhog Day into a horror movie.

Directed by Christopher D. Landon, this PG-13 mystery thriller portrays one day in the life of college student Tree Gelbman, which just so happens to be her birthday. After being brutally murdered at a night party later that same day, Tree finds herself in the same dorm room she previously woke up in, only to relive a very long birthday over again in a never-ending cycle. As she takes notice of these reoccurring events, Tree learns that in order to see tomorrow she must uncover the identity of her killer and find a way to avoid her severe murder. 

During her repetitive adventure, filled with trial and error, the college student undergoes a journey of self-discovery and life recovery after having the time to reflect on all of her bad habits. The movie itself has some laughs, with a series of jump scares and an immensely shocking plot-twist, all of which fans have said leave a strong and positive emotion on the film as whole. As for critic reviews, Jeffery M. Anderson from Common Sense Media and David Edelstein from Vulture both agree that though the new movie borrows some of its plot from Harold Ramis' Groundhog Day, starring Bill Murray, Happy Death Day is certainly an appealing movie on its own. Additionally, with a budget of $4.8 million, this mysterious film has scored a 69% on Rotten Tomatoes while also pleasing 84% of Google users.

Overall, if you enjoy a good thriller and aren't annoyed by repetition, then Happy Death Day is a movie for you. WARNING: It may leave you with a grave fear of infants...