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

Abigail (Alisha Weir) dances onstage while covered in her victims blood. | Universal Pictures

‘Abigail’ bleeds its tired premise dry

Jillian Ju and Benjamin Zhang April 25, 2024

Spoilers for “Abigail” ahead Following a successful year for horror movies at the box office in 2023, Universal Studios’ latest horror film, “Abigail,” introduced itself to theaters on April...

The cast poses alongside the band and vocalists at the end of the show.

‘Cirque du Soleil: Kooza’ delivers a magical and heart-racing experience

Sagnik Nag Chowdhury April 23, 2024

Through a series of nail-biting stunts, grand musical elements and visually appealing lighting effects under a large dome-like tent, world-renowned production company Cirque du Soleil opened “Cirque...

One of the four album covers for THE TORTURED POETS DEPARTMENT features Swift in a state of distress with her hands in her hair. Swift released variants of the album cover with bonus tracks, and this specific cover comes with the bonus track The Black Dog. This photo eventually became the cover for THE TORTURED POETS DEPARTMENT: THE ANTHOLOGY. Album cover | Beth Garrabrant

Taylor Swift fails to deliver with ‘THE TORTURED POETS DEPARTMENT’

Aashi Venkat April 23, 2024

Global mega-popstar Taylor Swift released her highly-anticipated album “THE TORTURED POETS DEPARTMENT” on Friday, April 19, following months of excitement. Swift announced the album upon winning “Best...

Participants of the 2022 ALA Girls State convention in Missouri pose for a selfie. | Courtesy of Apple TV

“Girls State” falls victim to the female empowerment cliches it criticizes

Isabelle Kok April 15, 2024

This review contains spoilers for the documentary film “Girls State.” Retelling the narrative of an annual mock government convention of 600 teenage girls in Missouri, the documentary “Girls State”...

Carter rides a white horse on the main COWBOY CARTER album cover, a parallel with her RENAISSANCE album which features her on a mirror disco ball horse. In her hands is an American flag, and she is decked out in a red, white and blue cowboy outfit.

“COWBOY CARTER” is an artistic sequel to “RENAISSANCE”

Aashi Venkat and Sonia Verma April 2, 2024

“If that ain't country, tell me what is? / Plant my bare feet on solid ground for years / They don't, don't know how hard I had to fight for this,” (“AMERIICAN REQUIEM” — Track one on “COWBOY...

The Unheard album cover features a monochromatic photo of Hozier laying in dirt with a mustard yellow border.

“Unheard”’s transcendent artistry is a multifaceted creation

Isabelle Kok March 28, 2024

In a seamless tapestry of earthy instrumentals, raw candor and soulful melodies, alternative indie artist Hozier released his eighth EP “Unheard” on March 22. The extended play, a sequel to Hozier’s...

Love Lies Bleeding brilliantly potrays complex themes of pain, identity, and love. Photo | Anna Kooris / A24

‘Love Lies Bleeding’ oozes with carnal tension and heart

Jillian Ju and Giljoon Lee March 27, 2024

“Love Lies Bleeding,” A24’s latest romantic thriller, is no stranger to love, lies or bleeding, and all three soar to new heights under director Rose Glass’s camera. Released on March 8, the movie...

Indie artist Ricky Montgomery crouches down at the front of the Regency Ballroom stage to sing to his audience. Photo courtesy of Izzy Hory @izzysconcerts. | Used with permission.

Ricky Montgomery’s 2024 tour is much more than another Rick in the wall

Jillian Ju and Isabelle Kok March 24, 2024

In a whirlwind of reverberating acoustics, pulsing rhythms and fluttering cutouts of paper fish, indie artist Ricky Montgomery performed one of the last North American shows of his “The Rick Tour: Another...

One of the eternal sunshine album covers features Ariana Grande in sheer red gloves, covering her eyes with a smile on her face. Album cover | Republic Records

“eternal sunshine” is a vocal and emotional triumph, yet falters on other fronts

Arjun Dhruv and Aashi Venkat March 11, 2024

“I'll play the bad girl if you need me to / If it makes you feel better” – “true story” (Track seven on “eternal sunshine”)   After three years of anticipation, pop megastar Ariana Grande...

The poster for Percy Jackson and the Olympians features Walker Scobell (Percy Jackson) holding a sword as waves come crashing around him. Poster | Disney+

“Percy Jackson and the Olympians” fails to meet expectations

Aashi Venkat February 3, 2024

Ready to transport viewers back to his fantastical Camp Half-Blood once again, author Rick Riordan pitched the concept of a Percy Jackson TV series in 2019, which became official with the 2020 announcement...

The “Orquídeas” album cover portrays Grammy-winning musician Kali Uchis submerged in water, covered in orchid petals and surrounded by vibrant cool tones.

‘Orquídeas’ embodies the elegance of the orchid

Ananya Chaudhary January 20, 2024

“Por fin me di cuenta que me merezco mucho más / Y eso te mata” [I finally realized that I deserve so much more / and that kills you] (“Te Mata,” Track Six) Colombia's national flower, the...

Mean Girls attempts to resemble its predecessor stylistically while reflecting modern trends.

“Mean Girls” arrives too early for its time

Jami Lim January 18, 2024

Released in theaters on Friday, Jan. 12, “Mean Girls” reminisces on a nostalgic era of glitzy teen rom-coms two decades after the release of its 2004 cult-classic progenitor, “Mean Girls.” With...

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