Movie: Jurassic World

(*no spoilers alert!)

The first dinosaur theme park may have been shut down (with good reason), but the movies just keep on coming. Breaking a world record with a $511.8 million debut in the box office, the fascination with dinosaurs doesn't stop. An inevitable looming presage contrasts the wildly successful attraction, Jurassic World, on Isla Neblar, where everything is running smoothly at the park with a predictable set of main character prototypes.

Trouble starts brewing in paradise with small mishaps, thanks to brothers Gray (Ty Simpkins) and Zach (Nick Robinson), and the climax starts to develop when the park's newest attraction (soon to be unveiled), the Indominus Rex (the foreshadowing of the name!), causes fatal confusion and everything turns from tranquil and peace to full-out chaos in only a few scenes.

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A hugely devoted follower of Parks and Rec, I was unsure of what to expect from hilarious comic/actor, Chris Pratt, playing Owen (apparently he already proved his leading man acting chops in Guardians of the Galaxy). Without him, what would his leading lady, Claire (Bryce Dallas Howard) be? Probably dead. Actually, everyone would have probably died right away.

Not only was Owen impressive as the animal-whispering, ex-military man bada** who sticks to his good guy morals, Pratt's delivery of strength and acting saved the mostly unknown main cast from oblivion (and subsequent death as a not-so-important supporting character). For New Girl fans, you get your dose of Nick Miller-ish dorkiness (Jake Johnson).

(One of my favorite lines was when Claire, Gray, Zach and Owen are driving the car away from just barely escaping death and the boys ask:

"Can you stay with us forever?" [in a non-cheesy way]

"Of course, I'll always be here," says Aunt Claire who's now trying really hard to be a good aunt (probably because it feels like they're all going to die soon).

Then the boys look at her and say, "We meant Owen." ... "Yeah, definitely him." -- What a BA, right?! The guys just met him. But I guess he did just save their lives with his insane survival skills.)

Universal

One of the subplots leaves enough opening for a sequel (science never stops, does it?), but with an amount of investment that's forgettable and irrelevant enough. After watching the movie, I would most likely return to theatres to watch the next installment of Jurassic, but I wouldn't mind if there was an entirely new cast (with the exception of Pratt -- you can leave out the girl, though... their mini romance wasn't all that great). The movie also paid homage to the original Park in a few scenes (R.I.P. Ray Arnold)

With a predictably sky-high death count and a theme park that, despite the fact that it's inevitably doomed, Jurassic World was just as good as you would expect (from a sequel). With all the hype over the chaos that ensues and the problem that seems unfixable (thanks, science), the ending seems to fall a little flat and might leave viewers saying "that's it?!" (well, I did). However, the movie itself was entertaining, the plot was somewhat predictable but suspenseful nonetheless, and the CGI and set was visually flawless and enviable. Jurassic World is like the theme park itself: a fun ride that entertains, but leaves you wishing for just a little more.

Review: Eyeliners

(from left to right)

1. Revlon Colorstay Liquid Liner*
2. stila stay all day liquid eye liner*
3. LORAC Front of the Line Pro Liquid Eyeliner (waterproof)
4. e.l.f. Liquid Eyeliner 

1.  My everyday liner: I'm the most familiar with this tip and I don't need waterproof for daily makeup. I like this tip because it's stiff and sharp, and the liquid goes on smoothly. 

2. During a beach trip with friends, I noticed their eyeliner was still perfectly on-point even after they came from swimming in the water. This liner came highly recommended (and well-tested) as one that applies easily and stays really well. This is the first waterproof liner I've used, and, like mascaras, waterproof ones tend to be drier and last longer. 

3. I use this one the least, but it's still pretty good. The tip is stiffer than the stila, which I like, but I do like the stila formula liner better. 

4. When I first started with liquid liner, I started with this $1.00 one from Target. I used to really like this one, but after switching to Revlon, it was hard for me to revert back to the long, flimsy tip. While it's easy to apply, it's hard to control and doesn't do a great job of lasting. 

As a not-so-longtime fan of liquid eyeliner, I'm still experimenting with different brands to find one that does the job -- the "job" meaning that it doesn't smear or rub off and it's easily controllable and applicable.

When I first started wearing eyeliner, I went with pencil, but found it rubbed off far too easily (#monolidproblems), though it was easy to apply and control. Another drawback was that some pencils/crayons would either dull quickly or be the type that you can't sharpen. My favorite pencil was one by Maybelline.

For awhile, I used gel liner after a friend persuaded me it was extremely effective and revolutionary in eyeliners. I still like gel liner, but it's more time-consuming than both pencil and liquid. While it stays better than pencil, I've found that the most effective and persistent eyeliner combo is to first draw with gel then outline and sharpen with liquid.

I'm currently a devoted liquid liner user and will be for awhile. I like the sharpness of the tip for extending eyeliner up or down, how long it lasts, the control of the tip and the darkness of the application.

Tech Fundamentals: Academic apps to keep you on track

Originally published by the Collegiate Times as Lifestyles.

Students studying computer science, multimedia journalism or anything in between (including university studies), should be familiar with common online tools and resources that are crucial to succeed as a Hokie. Here are some resources every new student should be familiar with, including some new ones.

Hokie Spa is where students applied for admission to Virginia Tech. It is also where students update personal information (phone number, address, etc.), register for classes (timetable, drop/add, course request), access academic records, set up housing and dining and allow others to access information (such as parental access to finances).

Scholar is an online resource center for professors and students to share information, including syllabi, assignments and grades. Depending on the course and the professor, students may also take quizzes, submit assignments and participate in virtual class discussions in designated class sections. Each class is given a section with information the professor may or may not choose to post. Most teachers utilize these resources (especially online classes), but some choose to stick to pencil and paper or to use their own website.

In the library, Virginia Tech offers Rosetta Stone as a free online resource to all students using their Virginia Tech login. There are over 20 available languages, from Mandarin and Dutch to Hindi and Turkish. This is found on the second floor of Newman Library, in the Language Lab classroom. It’s located near the elevators for use as a quiet spot for Rosetta Stone, equipped with personal tables and chairs.

An essential app for those enrolled in a Math Empo class is BT4U; this app is available on the computer and mobile devices. Blacksburg Transit might seem a tricky at first, but familiarizing oneself with the bus system and schedules eases travel in the long run. Search by route name and stop code to find the bus nearest you to get where you need to go. You can also view the LiveMap to find routes and stops.

There are several mobile apps with bus schedules, but this site has been the most reliable and accurate from personal experience.

For those looking to plan their schedule visually, myEdu helps you to choose classes and view them on a weekly schedule by day and time. Sign up for free and input university information to access automatic searches by class and time information.

Hokie Mobile is an iPhone app that features campus maps, directories and university news. Its best feature is “My Courses,” which allows users to input their class schedule into the iPhone calendar, so alerts can be set up.

Free on iPhones and Macs, iProcrastinate can be set up to match both devices and has a simple interface to set up subjects, assignments and alerts in a list format and calendar view. Assignments can be rated by importance with added details and organized by subject. This electronic planner is especially helpful in classes where professors announce homework quickly (and sometimes after students are halfway out the door).

As an overly ambitious aspiring morning person, Sleep Cycle alarm clock has been a lifesaver in helping me to not miss early classes and train myself to have a consistent and healthy sleep schedule. Worth the $1.99 on Apple or $1.69 on Android, this app analyzes movement during sleep and sets a 10 to 90 minute range for wakeup time with a customizable alarm and vibration. It also has other smart features, including a sleep aid to assist in falling asleep and sleep notes to aid in statistics it takes on rest.

Multitasking may be a great skill, but not when a 20-page essay is due in two hours. Free on Mac, SelfControl will ensure productivity no matter what — even if it’s deleted. Set a timer to block a list of sites and access is denied if the computer is restarted or if the app is deleted.

If SelfControl isn’t enough to stop the distractions, Isolator blocks out all other applications except for one. View is customizable to help the user concentrate on a single application, whether it’s finishing a lab report or submitting a test.

Perfect for group projects, Join.Me allows connection and productivity without the hassle of scheduling a time and place to meet. Users can share screens and communicate through audio. This app is popular for business professionals, as well.

A completely student-run website, Course Pickle is a simple and free notification service that sends email or text message alerts when a class opens in Drop/Add. Email notifications are free and texts are $1.00. Simply search and select courses, input email and wait for the alerts to arrive and grab the class. No spam or tricks here.

For many classes, the professor can make or break the subject. Before selecting a class, try to do research on the professor on Koofers, a site featuring student reviews of teachers, with comments, GPA average, teaching style, level of difficulty and more. For those unsure of what professor to enroll with, Koofers allows users to search by not only name, but also best, worst, difficulty or class.

With these tools and apps, you’ll be ahead of the curve when August rolls around.

Movie: "Pitch Perfect 2"

(*no spoilers alert!)

After loving Pitch Perfect more every time I watched it and rewatched it again, I had high expectations for Pitch Perfect 2. Back with the original cast (plus major addition Hailee Steinfield as Emily), the sequel delivered a hilariously entertaining musical show. The second (like most sequels) wasn't quite as "aca-awesome" as the first, but was worth a watch all the same.

The major problem for the "Barden Bellas" (fast-forward three years) is that they've just gotten kicked off their championship rounds after a little-more-than-slightly disastrous wardrobe malfunction by Fat Amy (Rebel Wilson). Introduce super intimidating German acapella group, "Das Sound Machine," headed by Birgitte Hjort Sørensen and Flula Borg. The Barden Bellas go on a quest to save the future of their team by winning it at the Worlds acapella competition.

Featuring successful YouTube-famous group, Pentatonix, along with Snoop Dogg, Pharrell, Christina Aguilera and others, the cast was plenty with musical talent and star-studded performances and cameos.

There were multiple subplots, including Fat Amy's love affair, Beca's (Anna Kendrick) new gig and the rekindling of confidence and sisterhood; but, the performance overall was essentially a show more than a movie. Lacking clear direction and focus, the musical performances were more packed, yet still impressive. But a new song, "Flashlight," sung by Hailee Steinfield (written by Sia and Sam Smith!) destined to be the breakout hit in an attempt to echo the wildly (and humbly) successful single, "Cups" (but, no surprise, fell short). Also, kudos to you, OPs of the song — not everyone forgot you existed (at least they knew at some point, right?).

The returning characters were classic, needless to say, but new member Emily lacked appeal and delivered little to the plot or to the humor. Like her original song, my guess is that she was also destined to be the perfectly (but actually humbly) planned likeable, girl-next-door-ish Taylor Swift gal pal character. I didn't feel it.

The musical numbers were more than plentiful. But, with so many choices, no one stood out as particularly memorable. The humor wasn't quite able to compensate for the lack of plot, but the cameos (sorry, no spoilers for you) were enough to distract us.

Of course, there were lots of jokes and jabs (don't worry, insults were fairly distributed — mostly) and genuine in-character lines and moments. Without subjecting the movie to comparison against its more successful original, it was a funny movie worth a watch. But it's impossible not to compare: I admit that I did have high hopes for the second (always hoping for that equally promising sequel, right?) and this pitch fell just a little flat.

Pitch Perfect 3 has gotten the go from Universal Pictures after the impressive box office successes of the series. Though no one's officially signed on yet, Rebel Wilson has expressed strong interest in returning (how could they have the movie without her, honestly?) and what would the third movie be without Anna Kendrick (more debatable than Wilson)? Hailee Steinfield will most likely return after her "character development" (you can't make us like her!) and Elizabeth Banks, director of both Pitch Perfects, has not confirmed her return.

Most of the cast is technically graduating, but it didn't stop three-time super senior Chloe (Brittany Snow) from returning for the second (who's actually ready to graduate and leave college, amirite?). With the possibility of Taylor Swift joining the cast in the third (she's friends with Hailee, Skyler Astin and Anna Van Camp, of course), there's no doubt the third will continue to be anything but successful.

Movie: "Everything Before Us"

I am a long-time, loyal fan of Wong Fu Productions, an independent film production company started by Wesley Chan, Ted Fu, and Philip Wang, three University of California (San Diego) grads. Their YouTube has garnered more than two million followers through short films (my favorites), music videos and vlogs. What I appreciate most about their videos are the very typical yet thought-provoking moments that shine through in planning, dialogue, videography and plots of each short. Their stories are playful and serious, and each portrayal of emotion is deep and meaningful. (One of my favorites is "The Last," starring Kinna Grannis and Harry Shum, Jr. -- confession: I cried.)

This past semester, I enrolled in Asian American Experience (a sociology/religion and culture class). This class was unique: for the first time, I was talking openly about culture in both an academic and personal way. It opened a forum for discussion of race and culture in various contexts, one of them being media. As a Multimedia Journalism major and Asian American student, WongFu was of great interest to me and I decided to include it in my studies concerning media and Asian Americans (some broad points of study included "yellowface," "whitewashing," underrepresentation and misrepresentation). 

"We’re committed to portraying Asian Americans in a positive light," Chan said. "It’s important to represent the community as best as we can."

Wang adds, "It's important to show that we're going to build up our star power on our own so that Hollywood can't ignore that we have millions of followers."

In an industry with space for diversity (The Last Airbender, Pitch Perfect's Kimmy Jin and Lily, How I Met Your Mother and most recently, Aloha), WongFu's commitment to portraying Asian Americans fairly and accurately (and portraying them at all) is refreshing and encouraging for the future of Hollywood.

So when the WongFu team announced their plans to produce their very first full-length movie, Everything Before Us (2015), I was pretty excited. The movie's leads include Brittany Ishibashi, Ki Hong Lee, Chris Riedell, Joanna Sotomura, Randall Park, Victoria Park, Brandon Soo Hoo and Aaron Yoo. The casting, which is almost entirely comprised of Asian American actors and actresses, was a conscious decision.

(Please take five minutes to watch this! It is honest, direct and refreshing.)

A product of their two and a half year journey, Wang explains that the team originally tried to produce a movie in 2008, but was denied by the movie industry because casting Asian actors was "not a good business choice" and "there was no market for it." When WongFu first started, Wang says they weren't trying to be "pioneers" for Asian Americans; they just wanted to tell good stories and happened to be Asian.

They addressed the question of casting perfectly on social media:

..Why not?? It's ironically perfect that our film @everythingbeforeus came out right around the time of this Emma Stone casting controversy. Isn't this be the besT time to support a movie that actually cast AsnAmericans.. and as leads? Hope Hollywood can someday not see us as a liability, just a martial artist, or quirky side kick. We have feelings and stories just like everyone that deserve to be shown and seen. Hollywood is slow, we're not waiting. #timetowatchWFsmovie! #thebiggerpicture

A photo posted by Wong Fu Productions Official (@wongfupro) on Jun 9, 2015 at 9:47pm PDT

So as both a fan and supporter of the team and their beliefs, I watched the film on Vimeo for $4.99. Like always, their videography was stellar. Their plot dealt with emotions and how our lives revolve around them -- nothing is truly black and white. It was realistic, relatable and entertaining while existing as a purely fictional story. Throughout the film, there were thought-provoking moments and scenarios I reminded myself to reflect upon later and quotes that inspired me to think more deeply about my perspective.

As always, WongFu delivered a wonderfully entertaining, inspiring and moving film that was rich with quality and depth. Their art is a product that speaks for itself -- both in creative expression and in everything that they stand for.

Their film portrays an undeniable reality: that the human experience is one that transcends race.

(Watch the trailer below.)