The Equestrian - Arts & Entertainment

Jurassic World: Because That Idea Clearly Worked Well in the Past Attempts by Manuel Morales

6/17/2015

Jurassic World movie poster

On Sunday June 16, 2015 I had the opportunity to go see the new upcoming movie Jurassic World, a sequel of sorts to the original Jurassic Park series. I went to Triangle Square Cinemas where the tickets were a bit pricy but worth it. A lot of movie-goers were there patiently waiting in line when five days after the release date.

Universal Studios has upped its game since the last Jurassic movie in 2001. Unlike the other movies, it featured today's technology and more interactions between dinosaurs and people. The special effects made the movie even more realistic with the various rides the movie promoted, the sonograms of the dinosaurs, and the park itself! It reminded me of Universal Studios, as if it was a dinosaur-filled counterpart. I watched all the movies the night before but nothing could’ve prepared me for this!

The other movies focused on being stuck on the island and trying to get off. This movie focused on more than that. A family sends their two sons on a family weekend with their aunt who works for Jurassic World. The boys are given VIP treatment, including a tour of the park. As they go throughout the park, we get to witness the beautiful atmosphere created by director Colin Trevorrow. When the boys are in the sphere which allows you to tour within the dinosaurs' environment, the dinosaur that got loose gets the sphere and crushes the ball, causing the boys to be in mortal danger in the middle of the island. The aunt and boys have to battle countless dinosaurs to get to the destruction of the dinosaur with the help of the T-Rex and the raptors. The movie had my family and I on the edge of our seats.

The cast included two young boys played by Ty Simpkins, whom you may recognize as the boy in Insidious, and Nick Robinson, the young teenager from Frenemies. The women were swooning over Chris Pratt who played the hero Owen Grady in the movie, a motorcycle-riding raptor trainer. The movie in total is about 120 minutes but time flies with all the action!

The concession stand at the theater

The hallway to all the different theaters

Written and Photographed by Manuel Morales

The Ride to your Heart: The Longest Ride Movie Review by Karlee Kistler and Crystal Henriquez

5/25/2015

Who doesn’t love a Nicholas Sparks movie? All girls will adore this sad yet romantic movie. The film is about a bull rider, Luke, portrayed by Scott Eastwood, who falls in love with a sorority girl, Sophia, portrayed by Britt Robertson. Despite coming from completely different worlds, they end up falling in love but Luke is keeping a big secret from Sophia. The film also features an older man named Ira who tells about his love story with his wife, Ruth, and her love for art.

If you read the book, you might be frustrated with the changes made for the movie, but of course, this isn't new considering this happens with almost every movie that is made into a book. Firstly, they don’t include Sophia’s ex-boyfriend Brian, who causes drama throughout the book and is also the reason Sophia and Brian first met. Also, Ira was supposed to be in the car crash for three days in the snow, while in the movie, he was only stuck there for a short time without any snow. Ira is actually supposed to be saved towards the end, but in the movie he is saved in the beginning and forms a solid relationship with Sophia. Even though their growing relationship is pleasing to watch, Sophia is only supposed to see him for a few minutes throughout the whole book. The movie was enjoyable, but it would have been nice to see fewer changes to the original book.

Even if you haven’t read the book, the movie is definitely a must watch, simply because it is a Nicholas Sparks movie and like every other movie adapted from one of his books, it will lock you in and you will be immediately hooked. This movie has many diverse characters and they all have such different stories that they can easily relate to anyone. The love stories depicted in the movie do have their flaws, which definitely makes it a rollercoaster of emotions for the audience. You may get mad and you may cry, but what’s a chick flick without some tears?

Sophia and Luke's developing relationship

Young Ira and Ruth whose romance parallels Luke and Sophia's

Sophia's modern background which parallel's Luke's rural background

Written by Karlee Kistler and Crystal Henriquez

Avengers: Age of Ultron by Veronica Thai and Madeline Villanueva

5/25/2015

Joss Whedon brandishes control of the much-anticipated sequel to the 2012 blockbuster. As the first in line of Marvel movies to be released in 2015, Avengers: Age of Ultron, marks the return of the illustrious band of superheroes.

More than any Marvel movie before, this is literally superhero galore with billionaire narcissist Tony Stark (Robert Downey, Jr.); the ever so righteous Steve Rogers (Chris Evans); brilliant scientist Bruce Banner (Mark Ruffalo); former Russian spy Natasha Romanoff (Scarlett Johansson); arrow enthusiast Clint Barton (Jeremy Renner); the Asgardian god of thunder, Thor (Chris Hemsworth); and, not to mention, the addition of superhero-siblings Pietro (Aaron Taylor-Johnson) and Wanda (Elizabeth Olsen).

Age of Ultron kicks it off with a spectacular sequence: immediate, intense, fast-paced action. To retrieve the scepter formerly wielded by Loki (Tom Hiddelston), the team infiltrates a Hydra outpost located in Sokovia. There, they encounter the Maximoff twins, Pietro and Wanda, otherwise known as Quicksilver and the Scarlet Witch. Although the Avengers are caught off guard by the unexpectedly powerful enemies, the team manages to complete the mission.

But it wouldn’t be a movie if it simply ended there. Without the knowledge of their teammates, Tony and Bruce attempt to use the scepter to jumpstart Ultron (James Spader), a peacekeeping program that does anything but “keep peace.” Things backfire badly when Ultron determines that there can be no peace, not unless humanity is wiped from the planet of Earth. The Avengers resolve that they must destroy him before he destroys them. What disappointed many was not exactly the plot, but more specifically parts of the ending, which were somewhat anti-climatic. The journey, however, was both emotional and action-packed.

While the Avengers must deal with the monster they’ve created, they must also deal with the ones inside their heads. Wanda, who possesses the ability to manipulate minds, breaks the team apart, pulling out their greatest secrets and playing them to her advantage. As we witness each member’s deepest, darkest fears unfold before our very eyes, we realize that they are like any one of us: haunted by our pasts and afraid of our futures.

And, those moments of weakness—those are one of the most breathtaking aspects of the film. Moments like those, tender and sensitive, are rare to find, as most action films focus on the action of course. Age of Ultron, however, manages to highlight the psychological conditions of its characters, exposing to us their fears and their secrets—their human sides.

The only unfortunate part was that these intimate moments were limited to our main heroes. Ultron, their number one foe and the basis for the plot, also seems rather underdeveloped and ironic. A being who wishes for the destruction of humanity, but yet has such witty comments and remarkable humor.

Age of Ultron itself is ample with laugh-out-loud moments and hilarious exchanges between the members. For some audience members, the comical remarks may not fusewell with the atmosphere, especially when they appear in the midst of intense combat. But, Marvel is known for their light-hearted humor and sarcastic heroes.

*Mild spoilers present
Nevertheless, Age of Ultron is indeed an action film, not some sort of romantic comedy. On to the more technical side, in a movie with supernatural beings, the key point is to make their powers look realistic and grand. With the magic of CGI, the film was able to produce fascinating effects which made the fighting scenes appear ten times more epic. Most of the battle scenes—such as the Hulk Buster v. the Hulk, Ultron’s debut, and the final battle with the animatronics against the fearless heroes—wouldn’t have looked as marvelous on screen. The Scarlet Witch would just be twiddling her fingers at her enemies if not for the CGI.

For the second time, our heroic characters have assembled, with the introduction of even more astonishing Marvel heroes. The action-packed fight scenes, the mechanical, atrocious robot, Captain America’s abs, and the whimsical remarks by Iron Man—this is what lured the audience to watch this epic movie. With the movie’s high demand and expectations, it only took 24 days for the film to pass the $1 billion threshold. Despite falling only 5 days short from the first Avengers film to reach the $1 billion mark, the movie had its own charming aspects that left the audience in awe.

If you have watched Marvel movies before, you know that the movie isn’t finished until you witness the clip at the end of the credits. The appearance of Thanos and the Infinity Gauntlet is only but a glimpse of what will be expected in the next Avengers film.

Written by Veronica Thai and Madeline Villanueva

The Age of Adaline (If Immortal Counts as an Age) by Emma Chapel

5/12/2015

Movie poster featuring both Adaline (Lively) and Ellis (Huisman)

A destruction of the idea of eternal youth is presented in the form of a romance-drama with a "science" fictional twist in the movie The Age of Adaline. Stuck at age 29, Adaline Bowman is forced to live a life on the run while the rest of the world ages around her. Directed by Lee Toland Krieger, The Age of Adaline is romantic and charming with a touch of heartache.

Adaline Bowman was born in the early 20th century. At age 29, Adaline, who is widowed with a five year old daughter, gets in a freak car accident in which her heart temporarily stops. After two minutes, a bolt of lightning acts as a defibrillator and brings her back to life. A fake scientific explanation is then given to explain how, from then on, she is ageless. As Adaline reaches her forties, she begins to realize something is wrong and people become suspicious. She must leave her old life behind and begin a new one somewhere else. For almost eight decades Adaline does this; she moves to a different place every ten years. However, her life of solitude is disrupted when she meets Ellis Jones, a philanthropist who coincidentally has a connection to one of Adaline’s previous lovers. Throughout the movie, Adaline struggles with the decision to let herself fall in love and be happy or continue to live a life full of loneliness and despair.

The move takes place in present-day with occasional flashbacks. Blake Lively, who plays Adaline, is both endearing and wistful. She is the perfect choice for the character and definitely outshines her co-star Michiel Huisman who plays Ellis Jones. Additionally, the romance between Adaline and Ellis could have been a little more developed as he falls in love with her right away (an arguably outdated trope). Harrison Ford also plays a role in the movie, and I would have enjoyed seeing more of him.

The movie had a very intriguing plot that keeps the audience wondering what is going to happen, though the beginning of the movie went by slowly. It also lacked some sort of emotional connection, given everything that Adaline lived through. All in all, the movie deserves about 3.5 out of 5 stars. Anyone who likes love stories will definitely enjoy this movie. It has a different and interesting storyline with a captivating lead actress.

The Age of Adaline poster 50's version

The Age of Adaline poster 80's version

The Age of Adaline modern version

Dancing Through the Decades with CMHS Dance Team by Manuel Morales and Luna Chavez

5/11/2015

On May 8th, 2015, CMHS dance department put on a show in the CMHS Performing Arts Center called Dancing Through The Decades. The show included both JV and Varsity dance teams along with students participating in the dance class. The dancers, along with Mrs. Kaska, choreographed over thirty-three dances including team dances, solos, and a group dance.

This performance was attended by parents, students, friends, and even teachers. The show consisted of about thirty dances, and songs that are "commonly known" throughout the decades. The dances were broken up through the decades with about three or more dances through each decade from the twenties until now. When transitioning from one decade to another, a short clip of the historical part of the decade and dance moves that were popular during that time would be projected.

As the dancers prepare to go on stage, many of the students voice their opinion. Dancer Sophia Guevara said “I like dance and it's very fun. I’m only in one, but other dancers are in five, but I still like it." Tiffany Rodriquez, who is in both the dance class and the varsity dance team stated, “I’m in nine dances. It took us two months to prepare. We practice from three to four and prepare for shows from three to seven."

Some dances were very theatrical and truly told a story to the audience. In one performance, Brittney Morales danced to Coldplay's "Fix you" to honor her grandfather. Other dances had props, using their swaying costumes as a mechanism to enhance their beauty and set the mood for the dance. The technical aspect of the show was spot on. The lights were perfectly created in a way so that they always matched the rhythm and mood of each song. A perfect example that incorporated the dynamic lights was the dance number, "Singing in the Rain" by Mint Royale, which was performed by sophomore, Isis Abundis. The night did not just include performances of the dance teams, it also briefly featured the CMHS Jazz Band, who accompanied the varsity dance team in the number "Zoot Suit Riot."

Junior, Kajol Sharda, who is captain of the varsity dance team, stated, “I helped the coach choreograph some dances. The amount of time it takes depends on the dance, how long it is, and difficulty. We learned the dance, Dirty Pop, in two days and that’s it. If you want a solo, you audition, and if Mrs. Kaska thinks it's right for the show, she includes it.”

Although the audience wasn't as packed compared to the previous shows, the applause of the audience showed that they enjoyed each and every performance. “The dances were really good. It does correspond to the decades and I could see people were trying really hard. They have a good selection of music,” said one of the audience members Casandra Chamorro, a freshman at CMHS.

Dancing Through the Decades brought out the cultural side of Mesa. The show did not just stick to one dance style, instead it consisted of multiple styles such as swing, pop, and hip-hop. Overall, the performance was a joy to watch and the talented dancers filled the stage with such dedication and passion.

Varsity Dance Team
Kajol Sharda- Captain
Isis Abundis
Hannah Burnett
Isabella Coyle
Sandy Jeronimo
Brittany Ka
Brittney Morales Bravo
Britney Negrete
Guadalupe Orozco
Tiffany Rodriguez
Jessica Vazquez

JV Dance Team
Nahomy Lopez- Captain
Leslie Alvarez
Paola Atenco
Sandivel Carillo
Kate Chavez
Perla Fernandez
Esperanza Hart
Melissa Hernandez
Leslie Leon
Jamie Orozco
Lizandra Ruiz
Tatiana Talavera
Kaila Vaicaro

Written by Manuel Morales
Photos by Luna Chavez

Insurgent Surges into Theaters Review by Luna Chavez and Manuel Morales

4/20/2015

The sequel to Veronica Roth’s Divergent series that we have all been patiently waiting for has finally premiered in theaters on March 20, 2015. Directed by Robert Schwentke, Insurgent is filled with action, romance, and improved visual effects compared to the first movie, Divergent.

Continuing with the storyline of the five factions in post-apocalyptic Chicago, Tris’ divergence has been exposed and she’s fleeing alongside the people she cares about most. Other than the numerous conflicts with relationships and the Erudite, Tris’ inner-conflict is the main focus and cause for many of the important events that contribute to the unraveling plot. With many inevitable deaths, determined enemies, and plot twists, she takes it upon herself to protect everyone she cares about, but in doing so, she finds herself in a troubling situation.

The emotion that Shailene Woodley gives to her character Tris, is more than enough to leave you in awe. There are several scenes in the movie, such as when she is fighting for her life, where her tears and powerful facial expressions seem entirely realistic.

Although the fighting scenes appeared too staged at times (like when Four, played by Theo James, is seen throwing a punch at one of the Factionless on a moving train), there was still plenty more action in this movie than the previous one to leave anyone satisfied and hungry for more.

Tris’ and Four’s relationship in this film is believably portrayed. Shailene and Theo worked very well together and clearly had great chemistry that they were able to bring a believable heart-warming connection to their characters’ relationship that the audience went crazy for.

Along with romance, there were many unexpected dramatic moments that just take you by complete surprise, but what was really surprising was the vast improvement in the effects. A major visual effect, which immediately engaged the viewers, was when the buildings were torn apart into numerous pieces. Some of the most incredible visual scenes take place when Tris undergoes the simulations (an aptitude test in which illusions created in a person's mind that are triggered by serum).

The movie also introduces a handful of new characters – Johanna Reyes (Amity representative), played by Octavia Spencer, Evelyn Johnson-Eaton (Factionless leader), played by Naomi Watts, Jack Kang (Candor member), played by Daniel Dae Kim, and many more.

Readers of the series might be disappointed with the last part of the film because of the lack of major scenes from the book series, but this issue is common in film adaptations and so can be forgiven (albeit begrudgingly).

Written by Luna Chavez
Photos by Manuel Morales

The DUFF: Just Another Teen Movie or More? by Karlee Kistler

4/6/2015

The Duff at first glance appears to be a generic teen movie that likely has a superficial moral, but some critiques have hailed it as the next Mean Girls. Does this movie exceed those small expectations or live up to it's early 2000s counterpart? The DUFF centers around high school senior, Bianca (Mae Whitman), who discovers that she is the DUFF (Designated Ugly Fat Friend) in her group of better looking friends which include Casey (Bianca Santos), an athletic computer whiz, and Jess ( Skyler Samuels), a fashionista. Even though Bianca is pretty, smart, and funny, she constantly feels insecure and sadly gets into a fight with her two best friends, Casey and Jess. She is determined to reinvent herself with the help of popular jock, and neighbor, Wesley (Robbie Amell), in exchange for help with chemistry. Throughout the movie, Bianca has eyes for a guitar player, Toby (Nick Eversman). She also runs into trouble with Madisen (Bella Thorne), the most popular but meanest girl in school. Madison is jealous of her ex-boyfriend, Wesley, and Bianca’s new relationship. Bianca must rise up against everyone and their labels. This movie was very humorous and amusing. There were several comical moments throughout the film and the cute romantic love story was truly entertaining to watch. Mae Whitman did an incredible job. The hilarious film also incorporates the importance of cyber bullying and how terrible it is to experience it in high school. In the end, the audience learns that everyone is equal and you shouldn't let labels define you, or people change who you are. This movie is filled with many enjoyable moments and I recommend everyone, especially teenagers, to go watch it.

Written by Karlee Kistler

A Night of Jazz by Manuel Morales and Raymond Andrade

3/31/2015

On March 25th and 26th, the Costa Mesa Choirs and Jazz Band performed a showcase of jazz and a bit of swing. Sandy Gilboe led the instrumental performances along with Jon Lindfors, who led the choral performances.

The ushers opened doors at 7:30 in the Costa Mesa High School cafeteria, where the band volunteer students were waiting to show the guests to their tables. The audience consisted of a wide demographic, from children to grandparents and even included teachers such as Mrs. Soldin and Mrs. Lindfors.

When the show was about to begin and the lights dimmed, Mr. Lindfors and Mrs. Gilboe introduced themselves and explained how hard the students worked to give the performance they were about to begin tonight. One by one, the groups began their performances, which not only involved vocals and instruments, but also some choreography, with the Madrigal choir swing dancing and tap dancing. The Madrigal women's show included hats, chairs, and a bit of dancing. The music even encouraged some parents and students to dance during their swing section. The show ended with all the choirs joining together to perform, “Sing, Sing, Sing.”

Manuel's Review:
The cafeteria looked unrecognizable. It felt as if you were walking into a real jazz club. One of my favorite was songs, “Stand by Me,” sung by the concert choir. Madrigal Choir's “Oh, Happy Day,” wowed the audience with the solos and the vocals when they emerged together. However, what I believe stole the show was the high school principal, Mr. Jake Haley with Madrigal Choir and Jazz band, performing “Fly Me to the Moon." Watching the show was extremely enjoyable, showing the different types of opportunities given at Costa Mesa High. It was impressive how much talent the school has and that the choir will be going to New York City to sing. The songs were moving with their religious aspects, touching words of love songs, and funny subjects like the madrigal men's song that talked about a banana split for his baby. The props gave a lot to the show and the band was incredible, equivalent to a professional jazz band. I would love to go again and who knows, I may have witnessed the next Christina Aguilera or Bruno Mars.

The Songs:

"The Last Lap" - Jazz Band
"Something's Gotta Give" - Vocal Ensemble
"Wonderful World" - Concert Choir
"Trickle, Trickle" - Concert Choir
"Oh, Happy Day" - Madrigal Choir
"Sing, Sing, Sing" - all choirs
"Fly me to the Moon" - Principal Haley

The Menu:

Coffee
Hot cocoa
Tea
Cheesecake
Chocolate cake
Lemon bar

Written by Manuel Morales
Photos and Videos by Raymond Andrade

"Oh, the Thinks You Can Think!" A CMHS Drama Production by Karlee Kistler and Crystal Henriquez

3/11/2015

Yet again, Drama succeeded in entertaining CMHS with another wonderful play; this time, a comical reinterpretation of stories we all remember from our childhood. Seussical the Musical, by Stephen Flaherty and Lynn Ahrens, is the very first musical ever performed in the brand new Costa Mesa High School Performing Arts Center and it's truly one to be remembered. It takes us all the way back to our joyous Dr. Seuss childhood stories. Seussical revolves around a number of Dr. Seuss books, but the key stories include "Horton Hears a Who", "Miss Gertrude McFuzz", "The Butter Battle Book", "Horton Hatches the Egg", "How the Grinch Stole Christmas", and many more, but you will have to go for yourself to find out . Seussical is narrated by the hilarious Cat in the Hat. He enlightens us with the story of Horton the Elephant who hears a small noise on a dust spec where the whos live, which includes Mr. Mayor, Mrs. Mayor, and little JoJo.

Director Stephen Reifenstein, producer Kathy Paladino, music director Erik Przytulski, and choreographer Kristina Reifenstein did an amazing job putting each and every element of the show perfectly together. These adults helped Costa Mesa students truly live the theater dream on this enormous beautiful stage. This was the very first musical that had a live orchestra, which was made up of dedicated current band students. They sounded absolutely incredible. They even included awesome sound effects at just the right comical moments that made the show feel just like a movie.

Seussical is definitely a production that has a huge technical aspect compared to other musicals. The lights were always projected evenly on each character creating a perfect balance with the colorful set. The set depicted an extremely vibrant and detailed paint job that made each scene come to life. The multi-colored vivacious costumes contributed to the liveliness as well.

The cast did an unbelievable job. The Cat in the Hat (Evan Stechauner) was very humorous and anytime he stepped on stage, he managed to immediately bring up the energy level of the show. Ellie Aguilar who played the part of timid little Gertrude McFuzz, with a one feather tail, sang beautifully in the song "Notice Me Horton" with Christopher Hutchinson who portrayed the part of Horton the Elephant. They both harmonized delightfully and were always focused. Mr. Mayor (Antonio Antunez) and Mrs. Mayor (Gillian Gonzales) worked well on stage with one another and led the adorable Whoville children. The monkeys were very entertaining and mischievous with their leader, the Sour Kangaroo (Maya Lee-Lopez). They always came on stage with a hunched back position which added to their overall character.

Kate Piatti did a fantastic job with her part as Mayzie La Bird with all her other girl birds. Christine Tfaye had great stage presence and did a spectacular job with her singing and acting for JoJo. These were only the main actors and actresses from cast A. There will be more shows with different actors and actresses playing your favorite characters from cast B, giving it their own flare. This show had all your favorite characters squished together, from the Grinch (Jesus Bravo) to Thing 1 (Emilie Leath) and Thing 2 (Emily Olvera). Opening night had more than two hundred tickets sold. During intermission, you can even buy candy to send to your favorite characters. Lets support our performing arts program. There is still time to come see the the show, there will be performances from March 6-15. You don't want to miss it!

Written by Karlee Kistler
Photos provided by CMHS Drama and Crystal Henriquez

Seussical the Musical Preview by Raymond Andrade

3/8/2015

Photos and Videos by Raymond Andrade