Image courtesy of google images

These candies are seen everywhere, in bowls and bags, from club parties to art galleries. These quintessential chocolates have a long lasting legacy, which is culminated with M&Ms World in Times Square, New York City. I recently had a chance to go there over thanksgiving break, and boy was I amazed! Their New York location (The brand also has mega-stores in London, England; Orlando, Florida; and Las Vegas, Nevada in addition to an online store at www.mymms.com) boasts two floors of M&M heaven! Far from the original 5 colors (Red, Brown, Blue, Green, and Yellow) the store has floor to ceiling dispensers of 21 separate colors, with varieties of original milk chocolate and peanut in each shade, as well as specialized mixes including one called NYC Taxi Cab, with grey, black, pale yellow, and white M&Ms.

Besides candy, M&Ms World carries various related merchandise including clothing, candy dispensers, toys, and souvenir items. My favorite: pants that look like an M&Ms avalanche. I even bought a pair. I was accompanying a family friend visiting the city from her school on Long Island. Entering the store, we were overwhelmed by rainbow explosions of M&M patterned and themed toys, key chains, shirts, boxers, pants, and bedding. We had some trouble navigating crowded escalators to the second floor to choose our M&Ms. There, we were confronted by floor to ceiling M&Ms dispensers with millions of M&Ms in each of over forty containers. Racks and displays of multi-colored individual candy dispensers and individually proportioned boxes of candies crowded the floor.

One of the more unusual containers for candy was a display of wine bottles filled with mixes of M&Ms with labels announcing “Congratulations!” or “Happy Birthday!” Souvenir mugs crowded one wall, stuffed “spokescandies” on another. Throughout, there were the joyful exclamations of children running wild, dragging their parents this way and that, thrilled with wonder at this chocolate wonderland. This rainbow explosion is the pinnacle of childhood.

An interesting fact is that red M&Ms were cut for nearly a decade because of fears of carcinogenic red dye, even though M&Ms did not use that red dye. This was when orange M&Ms were added. When Mars added the red M&Ms back, they decided to keep the orange ones.

Photo courtesy of google images

Up until now, the last movie I saw with worthwhile 3-D effects was Avatar. Hugo (based on the novel The Invention of Hugo Cabret by Brian Selznick) is worth the expensive 3-D price. Its effects captivated me, and the 3-D gave the movie a sense of realism unlike any other.

The opening scene has the camera flying through crowds of people, eventually stopping on Hugo Cabret (Asa Butterfield, The Wolfman), a lowly Parisian orphan, secretly living in the train station. This is where the movie, essentially, lifts off and tells the compelling story of a 1930s Parisian train station.

            The story of Hugo is a very sad one indeed. Orphaned by his father’s death in a museum fire, Hugo is sent to live with his Uncle Claude (Ray Winstone, Edge of Darkness). His uncle has an occupation fixing the train station clocks, but leaves Hugo to the job of maintaining and fixing them almost right after taking custody of him. This back-story is told in flashbacks, and gives some insight on the main plot of the movie.  Hugo and his father, being clock makers, were trying to revive an old automaton (a small automated man, made to perform a certain service), before his father died in the fire. This particular automaton’s service was to write, and Hugo believes it to contain a message from his dead father.

Photo courtesy of google images

Hugo needs various cogs, gears, and screws to get the automaton running again, and even needs to find a heart shaped winder. Finding all the parts necessary is not an easy task, but luckily for Hugo, there is a toy store in the train station with many of the parts he needs. However, with the Station Inspector (Sacha Baron-Cohen, Bruno) patrolling the station, and the shopkeeper, George Melies (Ben Kingsley, Shutter Island ), catching him in the act, things get complicated. Hugo ends up teaming up with a girl named Isabelle (Chloe Grace Moretz, Kick-Ass), who helps Hugo complete his task. Isabelle is raised by the mysterious Melies and his wife, and helps Hugo retrieve his journal from Melies, who took it very early on in the movie. The two children have no idea why Melies took the journal in the first place, and this opens up the mystery to the second half of the movie.

            That is the main plot of the movie, and without spoiling things, I believe the longer the move ran, the better it got. Hugo lives in the walls, balconies, and clocks of the train station, keeping the clocks running to avoid suspicion. As it is, the ruthless Station Inspector (who enjoys catching orphans and sending them to the orphanage) is on a constant alert, using his dog as a partner in crime. Baron-Cohen portrays this pitiful Inspector fairly well, and even gets a few laughs out of the audience. Moretz, and Butterfield may be children, but they do superb jobs acting in their Parisian roles.

            Many times, the setting is the main character. The beautiful 1930s Paris is brought to life, with much thanks to the 3-D effects. I could almost feel the snow coming down, and the train station rumbling. Some of the best 3-D effects come from the classical movies shown within the movie. Film was a very interesting concept in the past, and hundreds of short films were created that explored the imaginations of people, in ways they didn’t even understand.

            Hugo isn’t a movie: it’s an experience. The 3-D is stellar, the story is captivating, and the setting is interesting. Martin Scorsese (GoodFellas, The Departed) has done a fantastic job bringing this book to the big screen. I had no idea what Hugo was, or what it was about walking into the theater, but I left wanting to read the book, and compare it to the movie. If all you want from a movie is tons of action, or gut-busting comedy, then you won’t find it here. If you’re more interested in drama, and an enthralling story line, see this movie.

★★★★★

Artwork by Ed Gloor

The player is sprinting as fast as the character can, across a wide open plain. The stamina meter is running low, and the dragon is right on the player’s tail.

This is something that may happen multiple times when playing The Elder Scrolls V (5) Skyrim (Skyrim). The breathtaking mountainous world opens up to the player completely, right as they exit the tutorial area. This in itself is impressive, but this only scratches the surface of the fifth installment of one of the biggest role-playing game (RPG) series ever made.

            The graphics are the biggest thing that the gamer notices when beginning this adventure. Critically acclaimed Bethesda Game Studios decided to create their own graphics engine for Skyrim called the Creation Engine. Everything in the game is stunningly beautiful from the snowy mountains, rocky cliffs, plains, and thousands of trees. Even all the little details like shadows, weather, and lighting effects are handled with the utmost consideration. However, with such a large world supporting graphics such as this, glitches are prominent. I have never encountered a glitch that ruins the game experience, but things like texture pop in (when a texture on an object isn’t loaded when you see it), missing environment, and floating shrubbery are a fairly common occurrence.

For those who have never played an Elder Scrolls game, they can jump right in. The story in each game is not a continuing saga, but rather another chapter in the deep and relevant gaming world of Tamriel.  Each game takes place in a different country, and the games are usually named after their setting. Skyrim, the homeland of the Nords, (one of ten playable races and comparable to Vikings) is in political turmoil, with a rebellion taking stage. To add to this problem, The Elder Scrolls (scrolls written long ago, predicting the ages to come) have predicted the return of dragons to Tamriel, and they have never been wrong before. However, with dragons on the rise, the gamer receives the role of Dovakiin or Dragonborn, with the ability to fight dragons, and steal their power.

After choosing from ten different playable races (High Elf, Argonian, Nord, Imperial, Dark Elf, Kajiit, Orc, Redguard, Brentan, and Wood Elf), and getting through the tutorial, the gamer is ready to really play the game. There is also a deep customization system, and the gamers can give themselves a name, but this can be ignored if so desired.

Skyrim is largely a game of choice. Decimate a town, get married, join any of an elite group of guilds, do any of the thousands of side quests, or just beat the main quest of the game. It is entirely up to the gamer. Each race starts with different specialties, and powers that can have a drastic change on the game as a whole. Races like Orcs and Nords are largely combat-based, High Elves and Brentans are the most magically skilled, and Kajiit and Wood Elves are the best at stealth. (Even if the race starts better at some things, and bad at others, the player can still play anyway they want with any race they want.)

These choices affect the fighting system of Skyrim immensely. The player’s character can focus on magical abilities, stealth abilities, combat abilities, or any combination of the three. As a magical character, fire, ice, and electric spells are the prime offensive capabilities. With magic, it is also possible to manipulate foes, create magical wards and protections, and summon creatures to fight with the character. Stealth abilities involve the use of bows, sneak attacks for offensive capabilities, and light armor for defense. Combat capabilities are fairly straightforward. Swords, maces, daggers, and axes are the offensive capabilities, and heavy armor for defense.

The choices of Skyrim have their largest effects in the level up, and progression system. All of the many skills the players will use in the game will upgrade the more they use them. In addition to this, every time the players level up, (becomes more powerful in a big way) they get to choose a boost in stamina, magica (magic points), or health. Once they have decided on which value to boost, they get to pick a perk in any of the 14 skills. Perks can do simple things like make the player 20% better at that skill, or they can do more involved changes, like the ability to decapitate with weapons.

The title of Dragonborn gives anybody playing the game the Dragon Shout combat ability. After killing the first dragon (early on in the main storyline), they become a common occurrence throughout the land. Slaying dragons allows the players to take their souls, and use them to progress their dragon shouts. These dragon shouts range from freezing enemies solid, to an incredible sprint forward. Some dragon shouts are unlocked through the main story, but many can be found while exploring the world. All of them are linked to a universal cool down (the time it takes to use again) meter, but they have different cool down times.

Simply put, anyone who considers themselves a gamer should experience this game. The graphics are beautiful, the world is alive, the game play is stellar, and it has over 300 hours of content. This is a game for the ages; the true definition of gaming excellence. Those not used to the series may be overwhelmed at first, but will eventually adapt to the complex world. Skyrim is the best Elder Scrolls game ever made, and is also one of the best RPG’s in existence. Skyrim gets a 5 out of 5.

Artwork by Kiera Classen

Twists, bars, bear claws, jelly-filled, regulars, and classics are only a few of all the choices at The Donut. Customers are able to choose from five different types of coffee, as well as juices and milks to go with their doughnuts. Most people only come for the doughnuts, but delicious gyros completed with fries and a soda are also available for lunch Monday through Friday.

The Donut, owned by Eddie and Mira Ermoyan, is a business of almost 21 years, with a very interesting legacy to boot. Lebanon is the country of origin for both Eddie and Mira; however they did not meet until they both came to America. “We left [Lebanon] because of the civil war.” Mira said.

Eddie’s family already owned doughnut shops in Colorado when he came to the U.S., so he started working right away. “We already had the shops, when we met in California,” Eddie said. Eddie came to Colorado by plane in 1973, and Mira arrived in California in 1975. Eddie came to Colorado because he already had family members here, and Mira went to California because it was easily accessible. The civil war that caused them to leave their homeland was due to religious turmoil. Muslims and Christians battled in Lebanon for more religious power in the country. Wh en Eddie decided to go on a trip to California, he met Mira. They fell in love, came back to Colorado, and eventually got married.

The couple didn’t open their own shop in Denver until 1990, but today it has been a business that has lasted almost 21 years. “It’s been a very successful business, but it’s had its ups and downs, and in the end every business just tries to survive,” said Mira. The family owned and operated shop has even been featured in The Denver Post. (http://www.denverpost.com/business/ci_13883459?source=pkg)

Eddie Ermoyan and Mira Ermoyan (Kathryn Scott Osler, The Denver Post )

The Donut usually gets far more business on the weekends than the weekdays, largely based on the many kids who come with their families on Saturdays and Sundays. Because of school, kids can’t come to the shop during the week, so they provide much of the weekend business. Eddie and Mira have to bake many more doughnuts for their weekend sales, and with many doughnuts come many leftovers.  “We usually have a church pick them up to help feed the homeless,” said Mira of the surplus they encounter.

Eddie and Mira have also have given birth to two children. “We have two [kids], both are college grads, and now only help us on weekends,” said Mira.

Eddie and Mira’s daughter, Ani Ermoyan, has an architectural degree from CU Boulder and a job at a Children’s Hospital. “I always loved drawing and houses as a kid.” said Ani.

Ani has worked at The Donut with her parents since she was a child, and continues to do so. “I have grown up here, and it has been like a second home. It has impacted who I am today,” said Ani. “We wanted to remodel and change the interior décor. We kind of went for a Colorado theme, with nature pictures,” said Ani, who helped decorate the shop.

The Donut is, in fact, a great doughnut shop, with an intriguing history. Coming up on its 21^st anniversary, the shop has lasted through thick and thin, and has come out very successful in the process. Eddie and Mira came from a civil war-torn environment to create a family-owned and operated business in America. The doughnuts are tasty, varied, and affordable to anybody who would like them. The Donut’s location is 5270 E. Arapahoe Road Centennial, and the phone number is (303) 220-1744. Anyone looking for a sweet, affordable breakfast should visit The Donut.

Villains can shake us to our very souls, sometimes just with a gaze Artwork by Cody Anderson

What truly makes a villain scary? What is the one thing that makes us fear one villain more than another? The villains who truly stand out, the ones who haunt people’s darkest nightmares, have something about them that sets just about anyone on edge. It’s their disposition, their mannerisms, and the way they get to the victim. With every villain they have some special, evil skill; but there are the few who not only scar their victims physically, but emotionally as well.

There are three cliché types of villain. One type just goes straight for the blood and guts. Let’s call them the homicidal maniac or the HM for short. Then comes the hidden villain, the one who is not expected, the devil in disguise, the DID. Finally the victim could be faced with the most peculiar villain, the “cold-blooded killer,” the CBK. Those are the ones that come at the victim apathetically, who usually do so without showing anger, rage, or many other emotions.

The HM are the simplest type of villains. They are there for the blood, the guts, and the gore. There usually is no rhyme or reason to most of their killings other than being in the wrong place at the wrong time. There tends to be a generic back-story for these villains, usually showing a simple, and sometimes seemingly stupid cause for their murderous rampages. These villains give the audience a cheap thrill, but as for any real value behind their characters, it can be sorely disappointing.

The HM are all about the Blood Blood Blood Artwork by Cody Anderson

Next, in the look at all things sinister, is the devil in disguise.  The DID are the villains who have quirks. The audience usually either knows them from the start as the villain, or is shocked when the DID is revealed in one big sweeping conclusion. More often than not, this type of villain will be a child. This may be based on the idea that children hold something in them that is pure, so they are unexpected as the villain.  The story behind these types of villains usually involves either some supernatural force, or some horrible, mentally scarring event in their past. As the main villain of a film, it can be shocking for the viewer to accept the fact a child or someone of such innocence could commit such heinous acts. This type of villain is a disappointment as the main villain because of the fact that there is little excitement in the idea of the DID performing such acts.

Finally there is the cold-blooded killer. The CBKs are the ones who torture their victims. The CBKs stalk their prey, hunting down what means most to that person and crushes it. They take away all sense of security, any hope, and any thought of survival. They break into the minds of their victims and wreck their sanity, their will to live, and their dreams.  These villains do not have a constant story background besides the fact that they tend to be genius sociopaths. The stories range from some traumatizing event as a child to mental disorders to figments of the imagination. But as the main villain of a film, these villains truly excel because the fear they have grips people almost universally, not just based on some experiences or specific fears the audience may share.

But why does all this matter? Why should anyone care why one villain is better than another? Simple, if you want to have a film that goes down in history, if you want a film that everyone knows of, then you need to know how to create the villain to drive the story. Whether it’s the kind who cackles as the screen fades to black or the one who jumps out at the audience when the screen flashes, the villain should be the reason that the story moves. Without the villain, the hero is just a person who lives his/her life, without a purpose.

The CBK shatters the normal world, breaking the minds of their victims. Artwork by Cody Anderson

The traits that separate the different types of villain are used because of the ways they move the story forward, and the reasons of why the villain needs to be stopped. The homicidal maniac needs to be stopped for the blood bath to end, because the world within the story couldn’t survive with someone killing people without anything stopping him or her. The devil in disguise corrupts the world, destroying it from the inside. There’s a recurring theme here; we can’t have a broken world, inside or out, so the villain must be stopped. But then there is the cold-blooded killer. The reason that the hero rises up to stop them is because of how they twist the world, how the world becomes so distorted that the way it once was becomes as real as a dream.

That is what makes the cold-blooded killer the most interesting type of villain, because of the fact the CBKs twist the world, instead of destroying it. They do not just try and kill everyone. No, instead, they stalk their prey; learn its weaknesses, the things their prey depends on most. Then with a masterful stroke, the CBK takes it all away, either destroying the things the victim depends on most or turning them against the prey until there is no hope of returning to normal.

Maybe that is what makes the CBKs so brilliant, because of the fact that they not only take away everything that the victim holds near and dear, but they also twist the world so that it seems like nothing is safe. To kill somebody is horrible to start with, but what if the victim was being punished? The CBK often methodically takes away people the victim trusts, people they love and depend on. That way when the victims wake up each day, they now are running on less and less of what made them the person they once were, so that in the end even if the CBK is caught, if the CBK is defeated, the victim will never be the same. So, in the end, the villain is there to push the story forward, but are they going to resonate so deeply in not only the victim, but also the people watching it?

Artwork by Ed Gloor

I had to ask my mom several times to repeat the name of this dish, pronounced chi-pee-no, but she also heard many exclamations of “This is so good,” “Yum,” and the like from my father, brother, and self. This is a spicy seafood soup with plenty of tomato and garlic flavor. Just don’t forget bread to sop up the delicious broth!

Cioppino was likely created in San Francisco. Many Genoan fishermen lived in the area during the early decades of the 20th century, and they probably came up with the recipe while limited to the seafood they could catch, as well as the limited food stores they could keep onboard in the days before refrigeration on boats, such as vegetables, canned foods (like tomatoes), and bread.

Cioppino:

This is for 2 servings – adjust accordingly for larger numbers
2 tablespoons butter
1 teaspoon chopped garlic
¼ onion, minced (optional)
1 to 2 pinches chili flakes
3 (4-ounce) fillets rock codfish
4 shrimp
5 to 7 mussels
4 to 5 clams
2 ounces white wine
5 to 6 pieces calamari
3 to 4 Dungeness crab legs

Optional:

Crabmeat, shredded
Grated Parmesan, for garnish
Chopped parsley leaves, for garnish
Bread, for serving

Note: you can also just use a bag of frozen mixed seafood and calamari as a substitute for the seafood.

Directions:

In a large sauté pan, melt the butter over medium heat. Add the garlic and chili flakes and onion if desired and stir to combine, but do not brown the garlic.

Raise the heat to high and add the fish fillets, shrimp, mussels, and clams and cook until the mussel and clam shells open. Pour in the marinara sauce and the white wine. Stir in the calamari and crab legs and cook for an additional 2 minutes. Make sure the sauce is not too thick or thin.

Transfer the cioppino to a large bowl and garnish with shredded crabmeat, parmesan, and parsley. Serve with bread.

With chilly fall snows arriving, try out this hot soup with a spicy kick that’s sure to warm you up!

Artwork by Ed Gloor

Just because the NBA’s on lockdown doesn’t mean that true basketball players won’t continue to play the sport. It’s time for the star players to shine. In order to achieve one must be at his or her best as well as looking ones best. 2011 introduces the answers to every star player’s dream: the Nike Zoom Kobe VI.

“I’m chasing perfection,” Kobe Bryant says, “and these shoes will help me lead the way!” The Nike Zoom Kobe VI mens basketball shoes are built to help the league’s most dangerous players defend their title, with super strong, ultra light weight support that uses the least amount of material while creating benefits to the athlete’s success.

Need something that fits? The Kobe VI features a tighter heel which makes a better fit for the back of the foot. In addition to that, a thin layer of cushioning wraps the collar of the shoe, with a special nook to secure the Achilles to help keep the foot comfortable and minimize distraction. But wait, there’s more. This shoe has less material at the collar for a low-to-the-ground feel that enhances flexibility through the ankle, allowing tricky cuts on the court.

True players have support from their team and fans; now they have support from their shoes. Nike Zoom Kobe VI features a fly wire body; this super-light, super-long nylon fiber that supports the foot by encasing it with a secure hug. The tough outer shell covers the Fly wire and provides super-durable upper support.

Hardwood floor is tough to work on, but the cushioning in Kobe VI will send players into another world. The midsole is Pylon-foam providing ultra-light weight cushioning and comfort. The heel and forefoot layer of cushion specifically responds to one’s stride, with the sock liner made of plush foam comforting the foot for a better feel on hardwood.

While ruling the court, the Nike Zoom Kobe VI will bring out the sense of fashion that others will demand. The variety of colors, texture and style is nothing like other basketball shoes. Get the celebrity lifestyle that people dream about. When they say dream, dream big!

Yes, this is still reality, but wearing these shoes will create unbelievable moves.

Additional Details

• Kobe signature sheath logo on tongue
• Flex groves for more natural movement and better flexibility
• Price $130 plus tax

Artwork by Mateo Rocha

On September 27th, 2011, punk rock band, Blink 182, released its long awaited album Neighborhoods after a hiatus of over four years, leaving fans, and me, overjoyed with the new material.

Ever since I was six years old I have been listening to Blink, so hearing and watching the group evolve into more mature musicians has been an experience. I believe that one must appreciate the change and growth of the musicians in order to properly understand their music.

The album title, Neighborhoods, comes from the idea that each individual band member contributes different traits to Blink; each musician comes from different backgrounds and different Neighborhoods, if you will.

This album encompasses all of what DeLonge, Hoppus, and Barker bring to the table as musicians. Hoppus’ bass backbones every song with a low and enduring tremolo sounds. This gives each transition and chord change a lot more depth rather than if he was only following simple chord progressions of the guitar melody.

DeLonge adds a lot of flare with his melodic singing and poppy guitar riffs. The tunes he plays leave a melody ringing in my ears long after the song is over, and have left me whistling the songs throughout my day.

To put the icing on it all, no other drumbeats can match the intricate and fluid beats of Barker. On this album, Barker presents all of his skills through fast paced fillers in between measures, and in his explosive, almost industrial sounding beats. I believe all drummers who have made names for themselves in the musical world have a distinct playing style that cannot be equaled, and Barker does just that.

There is much musical and philosophical depth to the music encompassed in Neighborhoods. Musically speaking, Blink manages to weave in harmony through the raw clashing of beats paired with minor key to major key synchronization.

For example, typical radio rock tends to have a set chord progression for song verses and choruses, only following three to five chords repetitively. Blink strays from generic compilations of chords. A perfect example of this can be seen in their song Snake Charmer, jumping from interludes based off of major chord progression into verses that hold only minor chords, all topped off with synthesized sounds that add a unique effect of depth to the song.

Well-developed lyricism can be heard accompanying the musical compilations in the songs. Lyrics such as “I’m like a cat in a cage, locked up and battered and bruised. I am the prodigal son, a shameful prodigy too,” from the second song titled Natives, expresses a state of torment full of emotion. These kinds of lyrics are heard throughout the entire album, which paint pictures of lies, deceit, love, contradictions, and, like in their song Up All Night, inner demons that “keep me up all night.”

Well-developed lyrics had not been seen in any of Blink’s songs up until their self-titled album in 2005. Prior to that, Blink’s lyrics were straightforward declamations of teen angst and rebellion. In Neighborhoods, Blink continued to evolve on lyrical ideas that entail real emotions and life philosophy.

When I first got the album I took the time to sit down and really listen to the entire collection of songs. What stood out to me the most after the first round of listening to it was the strong melodic composition of the songs, all wrapped up with a powerful punk rock punch of a sound. Upon listening to the album a second and third time, I began to take note of the individual components added to create the songs: the different sound that a song has when Hoppus sings versus one that Delonge sings, and the infinite interpretations of the illustrious lyrics used in the compositions. The album took me through a journey that made my mind think up, down, happy, regretful, nostalgic, hopeful, and overall pleased.

For more information on Blink-182 you can visit their website, or you can buy Neighborhoods today at your local CD store or on iTunes.

Star Rating: ✭✭✭✭✭

All Photos courtesy of Google images

A 50/50 chance of survival. That’s the odds cancer patient Adam Lerner (Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Inception) has. There are more things happening in the film though, taking the audience through a journey that is with both positive and negative. It’s filled with completely inappropriate jokes and tear jerking scenes.

The story begins with Adam living an average yet happy life, with the exception of some back pains. However after an appointment with his doctor, Adam finds that he has cancer. The rest of the film consists of his dealing with the disease and trying to beat it. Through the struggle of cancer itself, Adam’s life begins to tear at the seems, with his girlfriend (Bryce Dallas Howard, The Help) cheating on him, his mother (Angelica Huston, When In Rome) becoming overbearing, his best friend (Seth Rogan, Kung Fu Panda 2) using the disease to pick up women, and his therapist (Anna Kendrick, Scott Pilgrim Versus The World) being horribly inexperienced. After an unlikely course of events and a mental breakdown or two, everything turns out to be all right, well sort of.

Adam shaving his head to ignore the hair loss with chemo while his friend watches

This film has many quirks to it. The story, while following Hollywood’s trend of movies based off of true stories, is both predictable and original. The fact that it is predictable is because I could see some of the moments coming, such as him dating the therapist, or his survival of the surgery. But then come moments like him getting high with a few fellow cancer patients, or his therapist gives him a ride, and it turns into him cleaning out her car.

But then there are the lows he faces, such as finding out his girlfriend cheated on him, then having her come back to try and get back together with him. Or when one of his fellow cancer patients dies. These really drive home the seriousness behind the message.

As for the dialogue and character interaction, 50/50 has some of the best that has come out of Hollywood recently. The character reactions are believable, with the best friend breaking down when he first finds out about his Adam having cancer, the crude humor to ease the tension about the subject, and the breakdown in the car were all viable reactions to the situation. These character reactions only being a bit off with how calm Adam seems in some of the situations. But the fact that he does have that mental breakdown adds to his character and makes it more believable.

The best character reaction comes from the mother. While she does not appear in most of the movie, the parts where she is present her ability to pull off the emotional stress and the heart-felt moments really makes her character one that people can relate to, even if it is just seeing their own mother.

The movie poster

50/50 stands out in the fact that it is a dark comedy; a type of film that is not heard much about these days. Either you hear of the pure comedies, such as Bridesmaids or The Hangover, or just plain dark and serious films, like The Social Network or 127 Hours. The fact that 50/50 takes a swing at both the dark and the funny is risky. It can go over well, like it did with The King’s Speech, or have it turn out to just be all right, like it did with Funny People. While both films are both dark and funny, something about Funny People just falls apart. While 50/50 does share some aspects with Funny People, such as the fact both involve cancer patients and have Seth Rogan acting as the best friend, it takes more after The King’s Speech with the fact that it remains serious while managing to keep the lighter side in such a way that it does not invalidate the darker parts of the film.

Overall, does this film have Oscar potential? Not so much, there is some chance that it will, with the slim pickings of films for the Oscars that there seems to be this year, but there is still plenty of time for something more serious to come out. Is it worth the $10 to see it in theaters? Yes, it is. The film will bring people to see both sides that it is trying to present. The film brings plenty of laughs, plenty of tear-jerking moments and plenty of situations that leave the viewer content. There may be a plethora of movies out there but 50/50 should be seen at least once 100% of the time.

Rating : ★★★★★

Artwork by Mateo Rocha

As summer comes to an end and fall and winter begins, the fashion changes along with the weather. Placing the sandals back in the closet and finding something to warm the cold sensation in your feet, the winter boots are dragged from the dark.

Teen girls are reaching the age when they want to look trendy, but the practicalities of choosing winter boots goes beyond fashion into the realms of deciding what is suitable to keep their feet warm and look their best at the same time. There are various criteria to make the purchase of winter boots successful and to keep your mind off of the cold weather: safety and non- slip, waterproof, comfort, and style.

Searching for the perfect boots; one enters the world of UGG. Bryon Bay, Australia is the beach where Australian surfers began wearing sheepskin footwear for warmth between seasons, and set sail for Southern California in 1978 in the hands of Brian Smith. The Australian surfer introduced the brand to the United States with two dozen boots. Smith sold 28 pairs of boots, and his success continued. With his bag of sheepskin, the UGG brand became a symbol by the 1980’s. The “magical” twin face sheepskin is the finest available, I must say, with my own pair. It delivers a luxurious comfort that is truly one of a kind. The feeling captures my words: this item cannot be equaled by any other brand. When you purchase a pair it’s obvious the creators wanted something more, giving people different perspectives on their product. They wanted people not to just like UGG boots, but fall in love with them. I literally am not able to take them off my feet.

As time moves on, the spotlight still shines. The fleece-lined footwear has been around more than 25 years. The different collection of UGG increasingly has been seen on famous and fashion- forward feet, from Kate Hudson to Oprah Winfry. The UGG brand intends on symbolizing those who embrace sports and a relaxing attire life style. “I LOOVE my UGG boots,” Oprah mentions in Oprah’s Favorite Things. This distinct style suits both a causal weekend as well as the runways. Slip them on for some fun with friends on the weekend and get prepared for paparazzi as you walk the school hallways.

Price of UGG Collections

Weather/ Performance – $100- $400

Casual – $160- $300

Knit – $140- $200

Fashion – $170 – $2,000

Classic – $120 – $375