The Student News Site of Monta Vista High School

El Estoque

The Student News Site of Monta Vista High School

El Estoque

The Student News Site of Monta Vista High School

El Estoque

Laying on the floor dressed in silver, the “Bewitched” album cover portrays Laufey alluringly staring at the audience.

‘Bewitched’ flawlessly paints a portrait of unrequited love

Ananya Chaudhary September 11, 2023

From the buoyant “Lovesick,” to the melancholy of “Second Best,” jazz musician Laufey produces another unskippable album. Released Friday, Sept. 8, “Bewitched,” foregrounds the stages of a...

Rathore flaunts one of the many looks he sports in the film. Photo courtesy of Red Chillies Entertainment | Used with permission.

‘Jawan’ points out flaws in India’s government system with a powerful message

Manas Kottakota and Sagnik Nag Chowdhury September 10, 2023

Ever since veteran actor Shah Rukh Khan made a name for himself in Bollywood, fans have expected Khan to walk on screen serenaded by flowers and rosy guitar music in a romantic context. “Jawan” portrays...

The XO, Kitty series poster portrays Kitty surrounded by her friends and love interests.

‘XO, Kitty’ is an unnecessary spinoff

Ananya Chaudhary May 27, 2023

Finally stepping into the spotlight, Lara Jean's (Lana Condor) fan-favorite younger sister Katherine Song Covey (Anna Cathcart), or Kitty to her friends, stars in her own Netflix rom-com. Released May....

Did you know that there’s a tunnel under Ocean Blvd artistically portrays growing older

‘Did you know that there’s a tunnel under Ocean Blvd’ artistically portrays growing older

Aashi Venkat March 28, 2023
Lana Del Rey’s ninth studio album blends adulthood and childhood
Ellie’s book of puns serves as comic relief in “The Last of Us,” capturing a glimpse of the original video game’s spirit.

“The Last of Us” subverts the typical zombie show

Lillian Wang March 26, 2023
The adaptation’s focus on characterization explores survival in the apocalypse
The Aurora album cover captures the chemistry between lead singers Daisy Jones and Billy Dunne.

‘Aurora’ is a manifestation of classic-rock nostalgia

Jami Lim March 14, 2023
The fictional ‘70s-esque album struggles to find its voice in the contemporary world
Dessert Detectives: Q Baking Corner

Dessert Detectives: Q Baking Corner

Sarah Liu and Lillian Wang March 8, 2023
Reviewing popular menu items based on quality and taste
“Heroes and Villains” album cover depicts Metro Boomin shaking an identical version of him engulfed in fire, a sentiment paying homage to rock group Pink Floyd.

Metro Boomin proves producer albums shouldn’t be disregarded in “Heroes and Villains”

Samika Bhatkar December 9, 2022
“Heroes and Villains” rich and dark ambiance perfectly pairs masterful production with feature artists
However, “SMITHEREENS” is a significant downgrade in the message Joji wants to send. Where there’s still slight inklings of the vocal and instrumental grandeur from his past projects, this record is much more akin to the unfinished patchworks of his beginnings, with heavy sounds hiding his raw vocals.

‘SMITHEREENS’ paints an incomplete canvas

Aditya Shukla November 20, 2022
Joji fails to bring artistic growth in his third studio record
Enola Holmes 2 is a mediocre sequel

Enola Holmes 2 is a mediocre sequel

Ananya Chaudhary November 12, 2022

The Netflix original, “Enola Holmes 2,” touches upon topics such as misogyny, poverty and corruption but fails to create a distinguishable plotline. Released Nov. 4, the story follows the protagonist...

Jennifer Walters trains to control her hulk abilities with her cousin, Bruce Banner

“She-Hulk: Attorney at Law” is a comedic mess

Minjae Kang October 15, 2022
Marvel’s seventh Disney+ series struggles to form a coherent plot
The album cover, a blurry image of Lanez contrasted with bright and dark colors, previews a multitude of emotions showcased throughout the album.

‘Sorry 4 What’ is an unapologetic failure

Chiran Arumugam and Sameer Maheshwari October 13, 2022

“I'm not tryna be here for a long time / Just, just a good, good time / I got a lot of s— weighin' on my mind” “Sorry 4 What” encompasses aspects of Lanez’s personal and musical growth in...

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