West Side Story: A Review 

West Side Story: A Review 

By: Mallory Johnson 

In December of 2021, the new West Side Story movie musical adaptation of the iconic Broadway musical with lyrics by the late Stephen Sondheim was released in theaters. I missed it when it was in theaters, but it was recently added onto Disney+ and I watched it. I had a BLAST watching it, and this was my first introduction to the musical! In a nutshell, the musical is The Outsiders meets Romeo and Juliet, with music. It also reminded me of the musicals Newsies (because it is set in the past in New York City), In the Heights, and Grease. The movie follows two rival gangs, the Jets and the Sharks. When Maria and Tony meet at a school dance and feel sparks fly immediately, things heat up because they are each from different gangs. Classic star-crossed lovers! Before I go any further, SPOILER ALERT! Also, trigger warnings for: forbidden love, death, murder, gang violence, racism, discussions of transphobia/homophobia, gang violence, discussion of alcoholism, comedic discussion of child neglect, mental illness, grief, mention of suicide, fatphobia, sexual violence (not graphic), sexual content, blood, and gore. The movie stars Rachel Zegler in her first movie role, Ariana Debose (Hamilton ensemble, The Prom), Ansel Elgort (The Fault in our Stars, Baby Driver), Mike Faist (Dear Evan Hansen on Broadway, Panic), David Alvarez (Child’s Play, American Rust), Rita Moreno (One Day at A Time, the original West Side Story movie), and more. The movie was described by Rachel Zegler on social media as “By Steven, for Stephen” after Stephen Sondheim passed away on November 26th, 2021, approximately two weeks before the movie came out. Steven Spielberg beautifully and carefully directed this movie; and you can tell there was a lot of love and thought put into the film. 

It was interesting to me how seamlessly the Spanish was woven into the dialogue in the movie. You can tell for the Sharks (the Puerto Rican gang) that it was easy for them, but they are also trying to speak Spanish less often and use English more. Ariana Debose and Rachel Zegler shine in their main and side character roles; the movie would certainly not be the same without them. Another side character that steals the show is Mike Faist as Riff, a member of the American gang the Jets. I became familiar with him when he was starring as Connor in Dear Evan Hansen on Broadway. This is Rachel Zegler’s first movie role, and I am SO glad that she was cast as Maria because she is amazing, and it is wonderful that she gets to show her skills in such an iconic role. She is set to star in a live action adaptation of Snow White (as Snow White) and DC movie Shazam Fury of the Gods! 

I loved the music and score in this movie, and I even recognized two songs (America and I Feel Pretty). I loved how a rumble was a major part of the plot because it reminded me of The Outsiders, which is my favorite book. I loved the attention to detail with the costuming, hair, and makeup. The choreography was a lot of fun to watch, especially at the start of the movie! The balcony scene reminded me of Romeo and Juliet where Juliet says, “Oh Romeo, wherefore art thou, Romeo?” I loved how romantic the songs “Balcony Scene (Tonight)” and “Maria” are. 

Overall, I LOVED this movie and highly recommend it if you love musicals! I love how the gangs are a chosen family for the members, and it is (comedically) discussed in the song “Gee, Officer Krupke” why they need them. I had a lot of fun watching this, I wish I could have seen it in a movie theater! I give it a strong 10/10!

THE IDES OF MARCH

THE IDES OF MARCH

By Maria Garcia Manzano, AEIC of The Quill

Photo Credits: Google Images

WHAT IS THE IDES OF MARCH?

If you have heard of the Ides of March, you probably know you are supposed to beware of them. But why? In ancient Rome, the Ides of March were equivalent to our March 15. In the Roman calendar, this date corresponded to several religious observances. The Romans considered the Ides of March as a deadline for settling debts. However, nowadays, if you have heard of the Ides of March, it is probably thanks to William Shakespeare. In Julius Caesar's play, a soothsayer attracts Caesar's attention and tells him: Beware the ides of March. When the soothsayer repeats his warning, Caesar dismisses him, and two acts later, Caesar is assassinated on the steps of the Senate. In the play and real life, Julius Caesar was indeed assassinated on the ides of March – March 15 – in the year 44 B.C.

HISTORY OF IDES OF MARCH

Movies often distort historical events to make them more entertaining to draw bigger audiences and better reviews. The same was true when English playwright William Shakespeare wrote his famous tragedy "Julius Caesar." According to author Barry Strauss, much of what we commonly believe to be true about the demise of the unlucky emperor on that fateful Ides of March is based more on Shakespeare's play than historical evidence. His book "The Death of Caesar" dismantles the half-truths about the ruler's tragic end on the Ides of March in 44 B.C. Here are three myths (taken from: https://nationaltoday.com/ides-of-march/) he calls out about the Ides of March killing of Emperor Julius Caesar:

Myth #1:

Julius Caesar was admonished to "Beware the Ides of March" by an unknown Soothsayer.

False: The omen was actually "Beware the next 30 days" and was prophesied on February 15, 44 B.C. by an Etruscan Soothsayer named Spurinna. 

Myth #2:

Brutus was Caesar's best friend and led the assassination plot.

False: There were, in fact, three conspirators: Brutus, Cassius, and Decimus. Decimus was known to be most trusted by Caesar and has been the leader of the murder conspiracy.

Myth #3:

Caesar nobly uttered, "Et Tu, Brute" (you too, Brutus) with his dying breath.

False: Caesar singling out Brutus as he lay dying was an invention of the Renaissance movement. The emperor was a trained soldier who fought for his life, tried to escape the ambush, and never uttered these words.

Bottom line: You do not need to beware of The Ides of March. While they did correspond to March 15 in ancient Rome, their superstitions are simply superstitions, and we remember them thanks to William Shakespeare's play "Julius Caesar."

Euphoria: A Review 

Euphoria: A Review 

By: Mallory Johnson

Euphoria is a television show on HBO Max that premiered in 2019. I recently watched both seasons and really enjoyed it. The show follows a group of teenagers (and their families) as they grapple with love, sex, addiction, and social media. I want to emphasize that while this show follows teenage characters, it is strictly 18+ because there is a lot of sexual content, nudity, and mature themes discussed. The show stars Zendaya (Spiderman: No Way Home, The Greatest Showman), Hunter Schafer, Angus Cloud, Jacob Elordi (The Kissing Booth trilogy), Alexa Demie (Waves, Mid90s), Sydney Sweeney (The White Lotus, Everything Sucks), Maude Apatow (Knocked Up, This is 40), Barbie Ferreira (Unpregnant, The Afterparty), and more. Before I go any further: SPOILER ALERT. Also, the show is heavy and intense at times. Major trigger warnings include addiction, nudity, violence, blood and gore, sexual violence, pedophilia, domestic violence, death, mental illness, and sexual content. These triggers are unavoidable while watching, so please watch with care. Minor trigger warnings for: cancer, homophobia, an overdose, suicide (there is one graphic scene shown and general discussion), hazing, stalking, gaslighting, self-harm, murder, gun violence, choking, cheating, vomit, a mental institution, flashing lights, abortion, ableism, transphobia, fatphobia, incest, a car crash, catfishing, threats, and drugging without consent. 

Euphoria does not shy away from the brutal truths about addiction, and it is emotional. The show represents Rue’s (Zendaya’s character) hard battle with her addiction and how hard it is for her to stay clean. It also shows how traumatizing her addiction is for her loved ones. Most of the show is hard to watch, so it is nice that the character Fezco, Rue’s drug dealer and best friend, is a comedic relief character. He is my favorite character for this reason, and one of my favorite scenes is when he calls Jules “Jewel” and refuses to correct himself. One of the villain characters, Nate Jacobs, is portrayed so well that you assume the actor, Jacob Elordi, is like that in real life but he is the exact opposite. Another one of my favorite characters is highlighted more in season two. She is the chaotic Cassie’s sister, named Lexi. She is a writer like me, and I love that about her. I loved the music, costumes, and makeup throughout the show, it adds to the cinematography and overall vibe of the show. Season one, episode five was one of my favorite episodes of the show because it is so chaotic. A critique that I have of the show is that some of the actions of the teenage characters would make more sense if they were a few years older. I liked how the show portrays trauma and intergenerational trauma. Euphoria truly shows off Zendaya’s acting chops and I am so glad she is getting the recognition she deserves! 

Overall, I love Euphoria and really enjoyed both seasons. I love how casual the LGBTQ+ representation on the show is. At least so far, there has not been any big coming out scenes and characters do not explicitly label themselves. They just exist and it is refreshing. If you do watch the show, make sure you do not forget to watch the two special episodes! I want to reiterate that while the show is about teenagers, it is an adult show and is 18+. I give it a 9.75/10 and cannot wait for season three, but I am disappointed that I must wait until 2024! 

Holiday Decoration Pet Peeve

Holiday Decoration Pet Peeve


By Ronnie Kayla Neiman

Decorating for a holiday can be quite a bit if fun no matter a person’s age. Even if untangling certain lights from their storage bin can be immensely frustrating. Each holiday comes with its own commercialization. Christmas has its origins in various religion ideologies but many now associate it with red and green decorations, gingerbread houses and stuffing yourself at family dinners. 

Valentines’ day is no different. The holiday named after a saint is a holiday meant to celebrate peoples loves. However, the commercialization of the holiday means candy, flowers, Valentines cards and everything is decorated in red. Some mild decoration and a bit of candy isn’t the worst. It doesn’t go overboard. 

Though going into a store to get some candy that most stores only sell during this time of the year and seeing to only an aisle full of Valentine’s Day decorations, candies and other related items right across from an aisle full of decorations, chocolates and toys for the upcoming Easter holiday was a bit of an annoyance. Valentines’ day was a few weeks ago when this trip to the store was made. It wasn’t even close to March, let alone close to easter.

It is fun to get the candy sometimes, but it is overwhelming to have decorations for two holidays weeks apart is overwhelming. Mostly it’s just annoying. One holiday at a time would be nice. It would allow people to focus on one holiday at a time. Having the themed commercialization and activities related to the holiday being the focus would go a long way to avoid the annoyance felt by people (including myself). One holiday at a time. 

Amy Schneider Made History on Jeopardy

Amy Schneider Made History on Jeopardy

By: Mallory Johnson 

Amy Schneider recently made history as a 40-game Jeopardy champion. She is a brilliant, smart, and confident queer transgender woman. I loved watching her games. She won $1,382,800 across all 40 of her games, which according to Time magazine, “put her in fourth place on the regular season winnings list, behind host Ken Jennings ($2,520,700), James Holzhauer ($2,462,216), and Matt Ammodio ($1,518,601).” About being a transgender woman on television, Amy said, “I think the main thing that I got out of this was being okay with myself, how I look, how I present to the world. I’ve been openly trans for a little under five years now, and there’s still definitely lingering worry and dysphoria and things like that.” She continued, “Just to get so much positive feedback, so much support and so much acceptance, it enabled me - by the end of it - to look at myself on TV and be like, ‘Oh, you know, she’s pretty, she’s fun, what a likeable person.’ And I’ve never been able to see myself that way before.” 


The fact that Amy watching her own Jeopardy appearances helped in her self-love and self-acceptance journey is powerful. I am positive that it will help other transgender people in their journeys. I am also sure that it could help people who are transphobic look inwards and change their beliefs. In one episode, Amy proudly talked about how her girlfriend, Genevieve, helps her study for pop culture clues and I loved how casually the host Ken Jennings and Amy talked about it - I love how normalized her gender and sexuality were on the show! Amy is a smart, confident woman, and she made history when she won the most consecutive Jeopardy games of any female contestant! In an interview, Amy emphasized that for her, the positive transgender visibility is priceless. Even though her long run competing on Jeopardy is over, her historic mark left on the game will not be forgotten. 

One True Loves: A Book Review 

One True Loves: A Book Review 

By: Mallory Johnson 

My last book of 2021 was One True Loves by my favourite author Taylor Jenkins Reid, an adult literary fiction book that came out in 2016. The story begins as a woman, Emma Blair, is on a date with her fiancé when her husband calls. On their first wedding anniversary, the husband, Jesse, goes on a spontaneous trip to Alaska without his wife. He was riding in a helicopter when it crashed: he was incorrectly presumed dead. Three and a half years later, Emma is engaged to a man, Sam, she knew from high school and has to make the decision she never thought she would have to make: stay with Sam, or live the life she planned with Jesse? I am personally not a big fan of love triangles, but the classic trope is done well in this book! Before I go any further, SPOILER ALERT. Also, trigger warnings for: grief, death, depression, injury detail, a helicopter crash, animal death (for survival, non-graphic), abandonment, sexual content, cheating, an eating disorder, and medical content. 

Taylor Jenkins Reid brilliantly explores Emma’s grief. You see her in all the stages, from when she was on her roof with binoculars because she was convinced that Jesse was lost at sea to her moving on with Sam. You see her unable to eat or feel any joy because she was so consumed by her grief. The story also discusses familial expectations and how much pressure they can put on people. Emma’s family owns a bookstore, Blair Books, and her parents expect her to own it one day, but she did not want to, and she feels guilty. Jesse was an excellent swimmer and his parents expected him to stick with swimming for his whole life. I enjoyed that the book jumped between past and present - it explored Emma meeting both men and their relationships. A quote from the story that I love is, “I think that perhaps everyone has a moment that splits their life in two. When you look back on your own timeline, there’s a sharp spike somewhere along the way, some event that changed you, changed your life, more than the others.” Another quote I love is, “It’s a scary thought, isn’t it? That every single person on this planet could lose their one true love and live to love again? It means the one you love could love again if they lost you.” These two quotes summarize the complexities of the grief and love in the story in a brilliant way. 

Overall, I really loved this book and I loved the ending; I believe Emma made the best choice and loved how it was the small things that helped her choose. I give this book a strong 10/10 and cannot wait to read After I Do by Taylor Jenkins Reid, which is the only book of hers that I have not read yet! 

Forever, Interrupted - A Book Review 

Forever, Interrupted - A Book Review 

By: Mallory Johnson 

Forever, Interrupted is the first book written by Taylor Jenkins Reid, and it came out in 2013. This was my first read of 2022 and I really enjoyed it. I would call the book adult literary fiction because it has romance in it but it is not the main focus. Before I go any further, SPOILER ALERT. Also, trigger warnings for: death, loss, grief, depression, car accident, medical trauma, family estrangement, infertility, cursing, death of a parent, and sexual content. The story follows a young couple, Ben and Elsie, who get married after only knowing each other for six months. One night a week after they eloped, Elsie is craving cereal and Ben takes his bike to go pick some up at a nearby store. When Elsie hears sirens, she runs down to the street to see the cereal she was craving covering the street and finds out the worst news of her life: Ben was hit by a moving truck and died on impact. She is in disbelief and goes to the hospital (as Ben was an organ donor). At the hospital, she meets a woman who does not believe that Elsie was married to Ben: her dramatic mother in law, Susan. The story alternates between chapters of Ben and Elsie’s short lived romance and Elsie and Susan’s budding relationship and grieving process and is very heartbreaking. 

Taylor Jenkins Reid is my favorite author. I have read all (except one) of her books. Her other books include the popular The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo, Daisy Jones and the Six, Malibu Rising, Maybe in Another Life, One True Loves, which I have read. The only one of hers that I have not read (but plan on reading soon) is called After I Do. In true Taylor Jenkins Reid fashion, Forever Interrupted is heartbreaking in the best way. There is one chapter that ends with Ben setting up his voicemail because a toxic ex-girlfriend kept calling him. The next chapter starts with Elsie listening to his voicemail message on repeat after she lost him. I really enjoyed how Elsie and Susan repaired their tough relationship and how they helped each other with their grief. I also really loved the character Mr. Callahan, a regular patron at the library that Elsie works at. Something I found interesting in the book is how the author would describe young adult books without outright saying the titles - it was almost like Taylor Jenkins Reid could not do it for copyright reasons. For example, Ben shows Mr. Callahan a book that was heartbreaking and had a blue cover - which I believe is The Fault in Our Stars by John Green. 

I loved the message in the book that grief affects you no matter how long you knew the person. Elsie only knew Ben for six months and you see her entire grieving process compared to Susan’s, who knew Ben his whole life. 

One of my favorite parts of the book is how Elsie honors Ben and his reading legacy - he loves young adult books. So, when she got the inheritance from him, she went to a nearby bookstore and bought out their entire young adult book section. She then donated it to her library and called it the “Ben Ross Young Adult Section.” It was a very emotional scene that I loved. 

Overall, I really loved this book and I give it a strong 10/10! I cannot wait to read After I Do by Taylor Jenkins Reid and I hope she releases more books soon! 

Spiderman: No Way Home - A Movie Review 

Spiderman: No Way Home - A Movie Review 

By: Mallory Johnson 

The newest installment in the Spiderman franchise and the conclusion to Tom Holland’s Spiderman trilogy, called Spiderman: No Way Home, came out exclusively in theatres on December 17th, 2021. I saw it recently and LOVED it! This review will be SPOILER FREE. The movie stars Tom Holland (Avengers Infinity War, Avengers Endgame), Zendaya (Spiderman: Homecoming, Malcolm and Marie), Jacob Batalon (Spiderman: Homecoming, Let it Snow), Benedict Cumberbatch (Doctor Strange, Avengers Endgame), and more. The movie follows the fallout after Spiderman’s identity is revealed. Peter goes to his magical friend Doctor Strange for help, and a spell goes wrong, causing a multiverse to open and cause generations of trouble. Trigger warnings for: violence, death, fire, grief, blood and gore, car crashes, and gun violence. 

This movie felt like a love letter to Spiderman fans with the three generations of villains, and I loved that! I recommend binge watching all the other Spiderman movies before watching No Way Home, because you get the full origin stories of all the villains. I also must note that there are TWO post credit scenes - so make sure you stay for both! When I saw it, there were people leaving the theatre before the first one and I was shocked! I highly recommend seeing No Way Home in theatres because the fan reactions to the movie added a lot of fun to the experience! I did not expect this movie to be so emotional, even though I have realized that most Marvel movies and shows are actually quite sad. Tom’s acting and stunts in this movie were really well done! I saw behind the scenes videos and was shocked to find out that the movie was not even filmed in New York City at all which shocked me! 

Overall, I had a blast watching this and feel like I need to rewatch it. I recently binge watched all the Spiderman movies with my sister and am so glad that we did! No Way Home was one of my favourite movies of 2021 (along with Tick Tick Boom). I highly recommend seeing it and give it a strong 10/10! I am so excited for future Spiderman movies! 

Spider-Man: Now Way Home Blowing Minds Before Theatrical Release

Spider-Man: Now Way Home Blowing Minds Before Theatrical Release

By Peter Parker, I mean Zach Roozendaal

 

When I started writing for The Quill, I started my first article covering the complicated rights situation between Disney and Sony and the resolution of that epic month. Then a year later, rumours of a multiverse crossover happening with Dr. Strange being confirmed to appear, and Jamie Foxx’s Electro from The Amazing Spider-Man 2. Since then, so much happened. Alfred Molina had apparently gone public with the fact that he would be reprising the role of Doctor Otto Octavius, AKA Doctor Octopus and we got an official name back in February, right around my birthday actually, and learned it would be No Way Home.

 

            During the first trailer, not only do we get hints of other characters, but we see a pumpkin bomb on a bridge and a very familiar laugh. That was Willem Dafoe as Green Goblin, then a set of metal tentacles pop up, only for Doc Ock to simply just smile and say “Hello Peter.”

 

            Doc Ock was the only villain seen visible on screen but in subsequent trailers we got to see Jamie Foxx as Electro with a bit of an upgrade with yellow electricity flowing around him instead of him looking like an evil zappy blue guy with a hood on shooting lightning. That was Palpatine’s thing, although some shot of Electro show a blue thing on him that looks like Tony Stark’s ARC Reactor attached to himself flowing with electricity. We also have seen The Lizard from the 1st TASM (The Amazing Spider-Man for short) pop up, and Sandman from Sam Raimi’s Spiderman 3.

 

I’d love to see the previous Spidermen all fighting side by side. The internet seems to agree with me, as Tom Holland and Andrew Garfield and most actors including Zendaya and Benedict Cumberbatch have been asked about the possibility of whether we might see that or not. I don’t know that we will, but if the Multiverse has taught us anything, it’s that nothing’s impossible.

 

5 villains are shown to us but the question is, will we see a 6th? That’d be amazing to see the Sinister 6 in live action. Think of the 6 as being like the anti-Avengers. Maybe Sandman is an elemental projection made by Mysterio after surviving Far From Home’s finale? Or Scorpion will break out of prison and use some weird tech or mutate? Venom 2’s post credit scene showed Venom and Eddie Brock in the MCU now so maybe Venom is the 6th member? Or Vulture? Or Kraven the Hunter? Or even just J Jonah Jameson himself?

 

The possibilities are endless, and it comes out this Thursday December 16th and will show Peter Parker trying to fix his secret that Mysterio ruined at the end of Far From Home, and with some help from Doctor Strange that Peter Botches, villains and potentially other characters from separate universes show up from films that weren’t even in the MCU at all, like Sam Raimi’s Spider-Man.

 

Could Doctor Strange be the evil demon Mephisto in disguise? Could Mysterio still be alive? Could peter lose someone close to him during this dimensional deadly duel? Who knows?

 

But be sure to take it all in on Thursday when it comes out, and hopefully I won’t have had enough popcorn to make struggle with having NO WAY HOME!!!

 

And now, for my final thought and a Spider-Man quote:

 

Living too many lives at once can make you feel lost, but home is where you feel happiest and safest, and where you’re loved.

 

“With great power comes great responsibility” -Uncle Ben

 

Until next time, stay safe out there, and have fun and joy this holidays season. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

 

For now, this is Zach Roozendaal, signing off, and reminding you to spread positivity, love and kindness as much as possible.

 

Goodbye everyone!

Sapph-Lit Book Club: An Online Queer Safe Space 

Sapph-Lit Book Club: An Online Queer Safe Space 

By: Mallory Johnson 

Back in July of 2021, I was scrolling through TikTok, and I came across a video about young adult queer books, posted by Nina Haines. After watching the video, I went to the comments and saw that someone suggested that Nina start a book club...and the rest is history. The club is called Sapph-Lit and currently has approximately 1950 members (and counting!) Sapph-Lit is on the app Geneva, which allows for a group chat feel. We started off reading adult sapphic (queer women and non-binary characters and authors) fiction books, but we quickly added a queer theory non-fiction pick too. Our first pick in June was the brand new One Last Stop by Casey McQuiston, who is the author of the (very popular) book Red, White, and Royal Blue (I loved both of their books). Geneva allows us to talk about life, queer books, queer popular culture, and of course our monthly books. There have been wonderful opportunities to attend Zoom interviews with some of the authors of our monthly picks! The very first author interview was with the author of the (very large) fantasy book The Priory of the Orange Tree (July, fiction), Samantha Shannon. I did not attend this one because I did not read the book, but this started a Sapph-Lit trend! The next interview was Shelley Parker-Chan, who wrote She Who Became the Sun (August, fiction). I attended the September non-fiction interview with the author of the 2000s Made Me Gay, Grace Perry! I had a lot of fun and I loved the book (and I highly recommend it if you want to learn about growing up as a lesbian). The next interview was Jen Winston, who wrote the October non-fiction book, called Greedy: Notes from a Bisexual Who Wants Too Much. The most recent interview was for the November fiction book called Detransition, Baby, Torrey Peters. Sapph-Lit has become a highlight of my year and one of my favorite parts of every month is voting on the books - sometimes the races are tight! There are monthly Zoom chats about both books, and I attended the one for the November non-fiction book, which was The Argonauts by Maggie Nelson. I had a lot of fun with a few other members of Sapph-Lit. It is such a nice opportunity to have an accessible online queer safe space and queer community, especially while living in a small town in a pandemic where we must stay at home. Sapph-Lit has a very large number of members, so they all offer very diverse and interesting perspectives on the books we read. It is very interesting to me reading everyone's thoughts on the books, even if I did not read the book! We make sure our picks are as diverse as our members. Sapph-Lit allowed me to grow my reading horizons - before this year, I did not read much non-fiction, but I do now! I also tried to read my second ever fantasy book, She Who Became the Sun by Shelley Parker-Chan (but I decided not to finish it). I am so grateful for Sapph-Lit and I wish I had this community when I was in the closet in high school, but I am so happy I found it now! Our December picks are Girl, Woman, Other by Bernardine Evaristo for fiction, and In the Dream House my Carmen Maria Machado for non-fiction. I am so excited to read these now that I am on winter break! To join Sapph-Lit, go to the club’s Instagram page @sapphlit! 

All Too Well: The Short Film Review 

All Too Well: The Short Film Review 

By: Mallory Johnson 

On November 12th, 2021, Taylor Swift released the short film that she wrote and directed for the ten-minute version of her fan favorite song All Too Well. The film stars Sadie Sink (Stranger Things, Fear Street 1978), Dylan O’Brien (Teen Wolf, Maze Runner), and Taylor Swift. Before I go any further, SPOILER ALERT. Also, trigger warnings for: gaslighting, toxic relationship, sexual content, and an age gap. The song and film tell the story of Taylor and Jake Gyllenhaal’s three-month relationship and how he broke her heart. Sadie plays a young Taylor and Dylan plays younger Jake. 

One of the first things that you notice when watching the short film is the age gap, as Sadie is 19 years old, and Dylan is 30. This is supposed to make you feel uncomfortable - the relationship that the song is about had that same age difference. Taylor was 20/21 and Jake Gyllenhaal was 29/30 when they were dating. The film starts with the quote from Pablo Neruda, “Love is so short, forgetting is so long.” I feel like this quote summarizes the song, relationship, and film in a nutshell. The next scene is Sadie and Dylan cuddling in bed. Sadie says, “Are you for real?” and Dylan says, “What do you mean?” and then Sadie says, “I don’t know, I just feel like maybe I made you up.” This scene is more powerful when you know that Jake gaslit her, which caused her to question her own reality. After this scene, the song starts and we see that the film is literally following the song lyrics - the couple walks through the door as the line “I walked through the door with you, the air was cold” plays. We then see Sadie take off a red scarf, which is a significant part of the song and the film. She forgets it at his sister's house, and he keeps it and refuses to return it (still). There are sections of the film with titles on the screen. They are “An upstate escape”, “The first crack in the glass,” “are you real?” “The breaking point,” “The reeling,” “thirteen years gone,” and lastly, “The remembering.” A shot I love is when Dylan and Sadie are walking through a very scenic forest and stop and kiss, and the camera does a 360 so you can see every angle. Dylan looks a lot like Jake in the music video which is crazy to me. 

There is a scene with the two fighting without music in the kitchen that is heartbreaking. Sadie is mad because Dylan was ignoring her at a dinner with his friends, but Dylan is mad at her and gaslights her about it. This is when you first start seeing that their relationship is not as healthy as it seems. Also, in an interview, Taylor said that they had a script, but they improvised the scene. The varying emotions in the kitchen scene is powerful - Sadie goes from mad to sad to happy and then back to sad in a very short and brilliant way. Another one of my favorite scenes is when the two of them are “dancing in the kitchen in the refrigerator light.” I saw tweets about the lighting in this scene - Sadie is dancing by the window that uses yellow lighting, to represent her warmth, and Dylan is dancing by the fridge that uses blue lighting to represent his coldness. When the couple is breaking up, Sadie is asking him to look at her. He refuses, instead breaking up with her. We then see Sadie crying and then the camera pans back...and Dylan is finally looking at her. This is possibly referencing the fact that Jake called Taylor after they broke up and finally said that he loved her. Sadie shows off her amazing talent in the scenes where she is crying. The scene at her 21st birthday party is the scene that got me the most emotional - Jake skipped Taylor’s 21st birthday party and cheated on her instead. She wrote the song The Moment I Knew about it. Therefore, Taylor wrote and released the song 22: she was trying to make up for her ruined birthday. There is a reference to the iconic Spiderman kiss - which I believe is a reference to Jake being a villain in the current Spiderman movies. In the poetry reading scene, Taylor is reciting the first verse of All Too Well, which reflects her writing the song, releasing it, and performing it and how it became a fan favorite. The scene with Dylan outside watching the reading - while wearing the iconic red scarf - is powerful. It proves that he remembers it all too well too. 

Overall, I LOVED this short film. It provides an interesting look into the relationship in a beautiful way. The acting is phenomenal, and I love that Taylor both wrote and directed it. I give it a strong 10/10 and hope there are more short films to come! 

10 Great Netflix Holiday Movies to Watch

10 Great Netflix Holiday Movies to Watch

By: Maria Garcia Manzano, AEIC of the Quill

Photo Credits: Google Images

With final exams and winter break right around the corner, I thought it would be a good time to start suggesting activities to do during the winter break. Personally, I like to unwind from a stressful semester during winter break and as a result I spend quite a bit of time binge-watching Netflix. With the holidays approaching I thought it would be a good time to start making holiday movies to watch lists and share them with you. While holiday classics like “It’s a Wonderful Life” and “A Christmas Carol” are must-see movies during this time of year, you don’t need to stop the Christmas/holiday fun there. Netflix has everything you need to create a Christmas movie marathon. All you need to do is grab some snacks and hot drinks and you are set to go! I have compiled a list of the ten best holiday Netflix movies below with short summaries to help all of you plan a holiday movie marathon. Please feel free to suggest other holiday movies by emailing eic.thequill.com!

There are no spoilers!

1. Single All The Way

Photo Credits: Google Images

This new holiday movie rom-com stars a slew of comedy favorites (Michael Urie, Jennifer Coolidge, Jennifer Robertson, Kathy Najimy, and Barry Bostwick) as Urie’s character convinces his best friend to pretend they’re in a relationship together for the holidays to avoid his family’s pressure to find a mate.

2. A Castle For Christmas

Photo Credits: Google Images

Brooke Shields and Carey Elwes have a charming meet-cute over the purchase of a gorgeous Scottish castle in this new-this-year Netflix Christmas movie.

3. Jingle Jangle: A Christmas Journey

Photo Credits: Google Images

Packed with big names and featuring songs by John Legend, this beautiful, playful Christmas movie follows a young girl on a mission to help her toy-making grandfather recover his greatest creation. The songs (and dance numbers) will play over and over in your head, and adults and kids alike will love the heartfelt story. For a joyful Christmas movie that feels fresh and creative, look no further.

4. Klaus

Photo Credits: Google Images

This delightful, animated Christmas movie follows a spoiled postmaster to his new station in a distant, unpleasant outpost, where he meets a certain woodsman with a fluffy white beard and a penchant for making toys. As a new retelling of the story of Santa Claus, this film is creative and interesting, with enough touching moments and heartwarming scenes to make any grinch smile. This Christmas movie was nominated for an Academy Award.

5. The Knight Before Christmas

Photo Credits: Google

This addition to Netflix’s growing collection of romantic Christmas movies tells the story of a medieval knight magically transported to modern-day Ohio, where a disillusioned teacher is preparing for a loveless holiday season. Predictably, PG-rated romantic antics ensue, but that doesn’t make this cheesy flick any less worthy of a watch.

6. Holiday Rush

Photo Credits: Google Images

A successful radio DJ (and recent widower) is ready to celebrate the holidays with his four spoiled children —until he loses his job and must cut back during the season of giving. This family-focused movie has a heartfelt, encouraging message about what really matters during the holiday season.

7. The Holiday Calendar

Photo Credits: Google Images

Yet another of Netflix’s sappy romantic Christmas movies, this one follows an aspiring photographer stuck in her small town in a dead-end job. An antique Advent calendar passed down from her grandmother arrives just in time to point her toward love—and a more fulfilling career.

8. A Christmas Prince

Photo Credits: Google Images

As Netflix’s first foray into the Christmas rom-com world, this sweet, goofy movie set a trend that the streaming service is continuing to follow, with a sequel produced the following year and a third movie released in 2019. The movie itself is reminiscent of Hallmark or Lifetime Christmas romantic comedies—a budding journalist sneaks into the castle to get the scoop for an article on a dashing, playboy prince. Romance ensues, of course.

9. The Princess Switch

Photo Credits: Google Images

Vanessa Hudgens stars as a pair of doppelgangers, Parent Trap–style, in this sweet holiday movie that combines mistaken identity, baking, royal romance, and more. If you’ve already watched every Hallmark Christmas movie available, this is the next best thing.

10. Love Hard

Photo Credits: Google Images

Nina Dobrev stars as an LA writer. After meeting her perfect match on a dating app, an L.A. writer learns she’s been catfished when she flies 3,000 miles to surprise him for Christmas.

Tick, Tick...Boom Review 

Tick, Tick...Boom Review 

By: Mallory Johnson 

The highly anticipated movie adaptation of the late Jonathan Larson’s first hit musical Tick, Tick...Boom recently came out in theatres (November 12th) and on Netflix (November 19th). The movie (and musical) is about Jonathan’s life and his process creating his first musical (that sadly did not become successful) Superbia. Before I go any further, SPOILER ALERT. Also, trigger warnings for: homelessness, homophobia, the AIDS crisis, discussion of drug use, alcohol, grief, death, and sexual content. The movie stars Andrew Garfield (The Amazing Spiderman, Hacksaw Ridge), Alexandra Shipp (Love Simon, Dark Phoenix), Robin de Jesus (The Boys in the Band, Camp), and Vanessa Hudgens (High School Musical, Beastly). The movie also has a TON of cameos from Broadway legends, so make sure to pay attention because some are blink, and you will miss it moments (especially make sure to watch the diner brunch scene!) Tick, Tick...Boom is Hamilton creator Lin-Manuel Miranda’s directorial debut and he aced it! The casting (especially with Andrew Garfield as Jonathan) is exceptional: Andrew learned how to sing and play piano so he could completely BECOME Jonathan. Also, he looks a lot like Jonathan: at the very start of the movie, I thought they put in a clip of Jon, but I was wrong! Bradley Whitford’s portrayal of Stephen Sondheim blew my mind - I did not even recognize who the actor was until I looked him up! Robin de Jesus killed it as Jon’s best friend Michael – I cannot wait to see him in more movies, television shows, and musicals in the future! 

It is important to note that the adapted version of the musical is an adaptation of the one man show that Jonathan wrote, and there are differences with the full musical version (but the movie is fantastic, so it does not matter). 

While reading reviews for the movie, I noticed a theme: everyone is agreeing that the movie is a “love letter to theatre and theatre lovers.” I completely agree. It is filled with references to the musical Rent (which is my favorite musical). After Tick, Tick...Boom got successful, Jonathan picked up writing a new musical…. called Rent. Tragically, the night before Rent was premiering off Broadway, Jonathan died of a sudden aortic aneurysm. The movie discusses Jonathan’s fear of turning 30, which is emotional to me as he died at age 35. There is one line in the song Swimming that breaks my heart: “Will I make it to 40?” The line is in reference to Jon swimming laps at the pool, but I believe it has a double meaning. A similar spoken line is the one that his friend Michael says to him: “How many Jonathan Larson’s are there in the world? One.” 

Overall, I LOVED this movie. It holds a special place in my heart because Rent is my favorite musical. I watched the Rent movie before I started questioning my sexuality and it was very eye opening. Watching Tick, Tick...Boom felt like watching Bohemian Rhapsody, where I wish that Jonathan Larson/Freddie Mercury were here today to see their huge impact. At times the movie felt like a documentary (I say this in the best way possible). I give it a very strong 10/10 and highly recommend checking it out, and then checking out Rent if you have not!

Red (Taylor’s Version) - A Review 

Red (Taylor’s Version) - A Review 

By: Mallory Johnson 

On November 12th, Taylor Swift released the re-recording of her 2012 album Red. The album includes nine songs “from the vault” which are songs written while the original album was written but were not released. It also includes the long-awaited ten-minute version of the song All Too Well. Taylor also recorded her own versions of the songs Babe and Better Man, which she previously gave to other bands (Little Big Town for Better Man and Sugarland for Babe). Trigger warnings for cheating, gaslighting, grief, cancer, toxic relationships, mental health, suicide, and breakups. The album discusses relationships, breakups, cancer, and cheating. 

Majority of the album is about actor Jake Gyllenhaal (especially All Too Well). Taylor also released a short film (an extended music video) for the ten-minute version of All Too Well. The short film stars Taylor, Sadie Sink (Stranger Things, Fear Street: 1978), and Dylan O'Brien (Teen Wolf, Maze Runner). It follows Taylor’s toxic relationship with Jake Gyllenhaal when she was 21 and he was 29. The relationship was full of cheating, fighting, and gaslighting. The short film is amazing and provides a new perspective into the relationship that did not exist before. 

Taylor brilliantly blends pop and country, as Red was her last country album before fully moving onto pop with 1989. She shows this blend in the vault songs, where she goes from the upbeat, fun song Message in a Bottle to petty country bop I Bet You Think About Me (featuring Chris Stapleton). The song (which I believe is about Jake Gyllenhaal as it parallels All Too Well) calls out a toxic relationship and how Taylor believes that the man that she is singing about is still thinking about her after they broke up. It reminds me of her first ever song Tim McGraw. This song is one of my favorite songs from the whole album. I really loved all the vault songs on Red and cannot wait for the rest of the vault songs on the remaining re-recordings. 

Overall, I really love Red (Taylor’s Version) - I think I even love and appreciate it more than I did the original version! I give it a strong 10/10 and cannot wait for the remaining re-recordings! I highly recommend listening to the whole album (even though it is long!) 

You Season 3 - A Review 

You Season 3 - A Review 

By: Mallory Johnson 

Season three of the Netflix show You came out recently and I loved it! The show follows a stalker from his perspective. Before I go any further, a SPOILER ALERT as I will be discussing season three of the show. Also, trigger warnings for stalking, murder, death, blood and gore, cheating, domestic violence, illness, kidnapping, missing people, arson, violence, addiction, grief, suicide, sexual content, and surveillance. I was able to watch a screening of the first episode of the new season a few days early with my family which was fun! 

Season three of You brings us to a new setting, a suburb called Madre Linda. Joe and Love are adjusting to life with a new baby, new town, and new people. They are trying and failing to get rid of their violent old habits. I loved trying to guess if people were going to end up as love interests, enemies, or victims, and loved how some were all three. I liked Theo as a character, but he made some bad decisions (some of them were understandable in his situation). I enjoyed Love’s fashion throughout the season. I made a connection at the end of the season with the book The Turn of the Key by Ruth Ware (which I will not spoil here). One of my favorite parts of the entire season was how Exile by Taylor Swift (featuring Bon Iver) was played near the end of the last episode. I also loved how the very end of the last episode set up for season four (which was announced before season three even came out). It bothered me that there was so much cheating in the season - a polyamorous relationship would have worked better for Love and Joe. There were plot twists, deaths, and relationships that I did not expect this season. 

Overall, I really enjoyed watching this season. I recommend watching this show, but do not recommend it if you fear stalkers. Also, this show is 17+ for graphic imagery and sexual content. I did not expect the ending and loved that it was unpredictable. I give season three of You a 10/10. 

Midsommar - A Movie Review 

Midsommar - A Movie Review 

By: Mallory Johnson 

I watched the disturbing cult movie Midsommar on Halloween night and have some mixed thoughts. The movie stars one of my favorite actresses Florence Pugh (Little Women, Black Widow), and stars Jack Reynor (Macbeth, Glassland), Vilhelm Blomgren (The Last Letter from Your Lover), and William Jackson Harper (The Good Place, Dark Waters). The movie follows a group of friends who go to Sweden to visit a colony...that turns out to have more terrifying cultish rituals than expected. Before I go any further, SPOILER ALERT. Also, trigger warnings for: cults, GRAPHIC suicide, murder, death, loss, grief, GRAPHIC blood and gore, animal cruelty, cheating, GRAPHIC nudity, sexual violence, drug use, fire, sacrifice, disturbing cult rituals, vomiting, toxic relationship, self-harm, anxiety attacks, gaslighting, flashing lights, discussion of incest, and ableism. This movie is very disturbing and unsettling, and the suicide scenes are extremely graphic, so please do not watch this movie if this is triggering or upsetting to you at all. 

I had heard that this movie was disturbing, but I was not at all prepared for just how disturbed and unsettled I was while watching. The “colony” that the movie follows is a violent, murderous cult that gaslights the friends who come to visit it. Two of the friends are there to research the cult, but they instead get traumatized. I loved the found family vibes and find it interesting how that trope can be explored in a cult narrative. I was uncomfortable pretty much the whole time watching this movie, and the movie is two and a half hours long. I was furious at Dani’s boyfriend Christian after he brushed off her sister’s concerning emails. My anger was justified after the reveal of her family’s fate (which I will not spoil here). Dani deserved a lot better than the cards she was dealt in the movie. She went through a lot and there were a lot of people that either gaslit her about it or decided that it was no big deal (when the opposite was true). My favorite part of the movie was the ending - in my opinion it made the disturbing events of the rest of the movie worth it. I loved the beautiful visuals, cinematography, and costumes in this movie, although there were some I did not see because I was either covering my eyes or answering the door for trick or treaters. 

Overall, I did enjoy this movie, but I do not plan on ever watching it again. One viewing was more than enough! Once again, please check the trigger warnings for this movie. I included some, but there are more details (and spoilers) at the website DoesTheDogDie.com. I give this movie a 9/10 because it was so unsettling. I also want to emphasize that this is strictly a 17+ movie because of the nudity and graphic imagery. 

The Turn of the Key - A Book Review 

The Turn of the Key - A Book Review 

By: Mallory Johnson 

I recently read the adult thriller book The Turn of the Key by Ruth Ware and enjoyed it a lot! The book is based on The Turn of the Screw, a classic book that one of my favorite Netflix shows The Haunting of Bly Manor is based on. I bought The Turn of the Key with this in mind and was so happy that I did - it was basically “Bly Manor the book!” Before I go any further, SPOILER ALERT! Also, trigger warnings for: death, child death, murder, gaslighting, cheating, incest, sexual assault, abandonment, drinking, poison, suicide, grief, forced institutionalization, sexual content, and homophobia. The book follows a woman, Rowen, who is applying for a nanny position in Scotland. She gets the job, and then learns that their previous nannies left under mysterious circumstances...and once she starts working, she starts to understand why: the house might be haunted. 

My critique for this book is the very British language, which resulted in the author using the homophobic F slur instead of saying “cigarette.” I was not given a warning about this before I read the book and was surprised. I understand that this is something that I may come across while reading from British authors, but I would appreciate the authors to recognize that a diverse group of people will read their books and to handle the language with care. 

The story is told in an interesting way: through letters to Rowan’s lawyer...while she is in prison for murder awaiting trial. She is begging her lawyer to believe that she did not kill one of the kids that she oversaw while on her nanny job. I found myself making lots of Bly Manor connections even though The Turn of the Key came out months before the show did. Three major differences were: the book takes place in current time (while the show takes place in the eighties), the book contains a “smart” house with all sorts of cool tech, and the book does not include a lesbian romance. There are so many twists and turns that I did not expect at all, and I fully did NOT see the massive twist at the ending at all. I love books with a huge plot twist, for example: The Silent Patient by Alex Michealides. I love the quote “People do go mad, you know, if you stop them from sleeping for long enough…” This quote is a good example of the spooky, Halloween vibe that I got from the book! 

Overall, I really enjoyed this book and highly recommend it for October. It is a great spooky book filled with a creepy house, suspicious children, a poison garden, red herrings, and murder! I give it a 10/10 and cannot wait to read more of Ruth Ware’s books!

Reasons to Write and To Write Well

Reasons to Write and To Write Well

By Ronnie Kayla Neiman

(Image Credit: pixabay.com)

(Image Credit: pixabay.com)

Writing is useful in so many ways. Yes, writing can be the cause of anxiety, but it can also create a lot of good things in our mind. Writing has been in our lives for ages. There are many reasons to improve your writing skills. Everyone writes messages, essays, or emails daily, so under no circumstances should the importance of good writing skills be diminished. Students are especially reliant on writing. Of all the tasks’, written assignments are the most common. They strive to improve learners’ analytic and critical thinking skills and most notably, they play a considerable role in students’ academics. 

Education puts a strong emphasis on writing. Students have to produce numerous written assignments, including but not limited to various essays, reports, case studies, reviews, and projects. And although such tasks are prevalent in academia, learners still face trouble composing impeccable papers. The main issue though is trying to find the time for it all. Without a shadow of a doubt, writing can be tedious, mainly in academia. And love it or hate it, you can’t hide from completing such tasks and submitting them on time. Thanks to solid writing skills, you won’t spend hours researching, outlining, and drafting a document. The ability to compose an essay and make it smooth-running will save you bags of time you can spend on activities you like more.

Good Writing Skills are Required Everywhere. Whether you decide to continue your academic path, delve into accounting, or become a designer, writing is necessary. Good writing abilities allow you to better express yourself, convey a message to the reader, and have all the leverage you need to satisfy your needs. Writing helps polish speaking and communication skills. Writing documents requires following a specific format and structure. Besides, many jobs require proving writing skills during the application procedure. Let alone writing personal statements when enrolling in a college or university program or applying for a scholarship.

Have you ever thought about why prolific writers always think outside the box? Writing stimulates the brain. Expert writers can generate unique ideas and concepts quickly because of their writing experience. They know how to kick off the writing process, what to focus on to come up with exclusive thoughts, and, most importantly, how to keep their content high-quality.

Additionally, writing speeds up brain function. We’ve all experienced that fatigue and stiffness upon waking up. Needless to say, our brains can barely work first thing in the morning. Writing helps accelerate the brain. By writing several paragraphs, you immediately become more productive and active.

Writing also can enrich the imagination. Being persistent with writing requires generating a variety of different content. Although numerous of topics exist, you will sometimes have to produce essays on familiar topics. Of course, everyone will want to stand out when working on such papers. Good writing boosts your imagination and allows you to come up with one-of-a-kind concepts. Besides, it enlarges your horizons and lets you touch upon various subjects you would never think of in the past.

As stated above, these are only a few reasons in favour of the importance of writing. Yet, they prove entirely that outstanding writing provides a dozen benefits, like improved communication, enhanced imagination and creativity, and the ability to buckle down tasks faster without sacrificing their quality.