Hot Topic- If you are in a serious relationship, do you need to ask permission for your partner to be your Valentine?

Yes, we know we ran this Hot Topic last year, but it was quite controversial and we thought we would ask again.

 Anwers will appear in the March issue!

Romantic Movies

Did Valeentine’s Day put you in the mood for something romantic? Here are a few of our staff picks.

Bones and All

Main actors: Taylor Russel, Timothy Chalamet, Chloë Sevigny, and Mark Rylance

Director: Luca Guadagnino

Rating: 5 stars

Release year: 2022

Running time: 2hrs 10 min

Where to find it: Tubi and Pluto

by Sofie Zuniga

      While shooting Bones and All the special effects crew used edible strawberry flavored silicone for their gory cannibal scenes. The movie is labeled as a Horror genre, but it is so much more than Horror. It is also a compelling love story with a dash of gore. The story begins in the 80’s with a girl named Marren, who recently moved to Missouri and is getting her bearings as she makes friends in high school. She is feeling this hunger that is unexplainable. She then gets an invite to her new friend's house. Her friend encourages Marren to go beyond her father's wishes and sneak out to go to her house. A strange event takes place; Marren has eaten a girl's finger at her friend's house. She runs out in a panic, she knocks on her door, and her dad repeats the words “no” in shock that his daughter has lost control again.

      They move and change their names; Marren’s father leaves her with a cassette tape, cash, and a week’s worth of food. The tape explains why he left and how her hunger for human flash began. He also leaves Marren with her birth certificate with her real name, birthday, and her mother’s information. Her mother left when she was a baby. She goes on an adventure to find her mother while on the trip she meets a strange character named Sully. They eat an older woman together and talk about their first time eating someone. Sully tells Marren that he has 1 rule “eaters don’t eat eaters.” Marren begins to feel unsafe with Sully, so she leaves him to find her mom.

       She then arrives in another town where she meets another eater in a convenience store. They introduce each other. His name is Lee and he has also met Sully but did not like him. They travel across the country to find Marren’s mom and when they do they discover she is in a mental hospital, admitted for eating her own hand. She is an eater. Lee and Marren separate for a couple of days then come back together and meet these two interesting characters who are also eaters but have a strange attitude. They recommend eating people, bones, and all. They explain and describe the experience as euphoric and view shifting. One of them is an eater while the other chooses to be an eater. They escaped the presence of the two before it was too late.

      They then decide to be normal as Marren says, “Where are we going next, let us drive the back, until the truck gives up somewhere and just stay. Get a place, jobs you know like people do.”  Lee replies with soft tone, “You wanna be people, let’s be people.” Marren finally says also with softness, “Yeah, let’s be them for a while.” That is until one day when Sully finds them, and breaks into the house. He waits till Lee leaves and Marren is alone, then he hovers over her saying a dramatic and emotional monologue explaining his love for Marren. Marren sees Lee quietly enter the house, and he wrestles and stabs Sully; he is defenseless being repeatedly stabbed. They then move him to the bathroom tub, and Marren stabs his heart then rips it out and takes a bite while listening to the strained shrieking from Sully. Unbeknown to her, Lee has also been stabbed in the heart while he and Sully were wrestling.

         This movie holds my liking because of the deep symbolism in the “bones and all phrase,” the love story, and challenges throughout. For instance, the foreshadowing of bones and all in the beginning of Marren and Lees life which happened to be the cause of the end of it. The special effects that seem terrifyingly realistic and unsettling. In addition, the heartbreak and emotion you get from watching the end wishing Marren and Lee could have gotten their normal ending as if it were you in their shoes. I rate this film 5 stars. I will love this movie and continue to watch it repeatedly.

Grease

John Travolta as Danny Zuko 

Directed by Randal Kleiser 

PG 

1978 

1 hour 50 minutes 

Hulu and Paramount+ 

 by Aris Cookson

“Grease is about firsts. First love. First car. First career disappointment, for me. So that kind of energy of firsts is what excites people over and over again. It’s honest,” said Olivia Newton-John. 

 Grease is a musical romantic comedy set in the 1950’s at Rydell High School. It is about a girl named Sandy Olsson and a boy named Danny Zuko falling in love despite being opposites. Sandy Olsson is a high school senior. She is a very sweet girl and innocent girl who follows the rules. Danny Zuko is also a high school senior, but he is the opposite. He is deemed a “bad boy” and a greaser who doesn’t do what he is told. After a summer romance, they were surprised to find out that they attended the same school. They struggled to balance their feelings with the social pressure around them. With a PG rating and a runtime of 1 hour 50 minutes, the movie is a mix of energetic dances, songs, and teen drama. It is currently available to stream on Hulu and Paramount+. 

One of the strongest parts of the movie is the soundtrack with songs like “Summer Nights,” “Greased Lightnin,” and “You’re the One That I Want” becoming staples in pop music. The relationship and chemistry between Travolta and Newton-John makes Danny’s and Sandy’s relationship feel both fun and emotional. They struggle between choosing to make their own path or listening to the others around them. It is a coming-of-age story about true love, growing up, and being true to yourself. 

Overall, I would rate Grease a 4.5 out of 5 stars. I think that the plot is good and love the sweet and nostalgic love story, but there are a few parts that feel slightly cringeworthy. Even so, the fun songs, performances, and heartfelt message about young love makes it a movie I would wholeheartedly recommend to others. 

Sites: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0077631/  

https://people.com/celebrity/grease-live-grease-cast-quotes-about-the-movie/ 

To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before 

Lana Conder, Noah Centineo, Emilija Baranac 

Susan Johnson 

96% Rotten Tomatoes 

1h 39m 

Netflix 

by Joas Cruz

Adapted by the book with the same title by author Jenny Han, the movie “To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before” is a teenage romance comedy film surrounding the main character Lara Jean Covey and the beginning of her romantic life as a junior in high school. Played by Lana Conder along with her co-star Noah Centineo who plays Peter Kavinsky, Lara Jeans’ partner. 

Directed by Susan Johnson, and with the help of author Jenny, the film portrays the teenage life of Lara Covey and her social outcoming. This film rated 96% Rotten Tomatoes, meaning most critics gave it a positive review and found it “fresh.” IMDb (Internet Movie Database), the largest online website containing data for all types of entertainment, rated 7/10. Overall, this movie received positive feedback from the general audience. 

Released in the summer of 2018, on August 17. The 1 hour and 39 minutes film is available on Netflix. The film begins by introducing our main character, Lara Jean Covey, and her love for books as she romanticizes her life through them. They show a glimpse of her home and her most secret possession, letters. The letters are filled with love words for her past crushes in envelopes. Five letters, five boys, five addresses, and zero intentions to mail them. This reveals how Lara bottles up her emotions and the way she attempts to move on from her feelings. 

At school Lara is approached by two boys, each holding one of her letters. To avoid them all and furthermore awkward interactions, she kisses one, sending the other away. With Lara’s bold move of kissing peter, he meets up with her to clear the situation and reject her. This is a push into Lara’s social life just how the director, Susan, wanted. In an interview the director reveals her take on Lara’s character development, “We can’t live our lives on social media, and she (Lara Jean) can’t live her life reading books in her living room or her bedroom.” 

This relationship and its games create confusion for both; it masks their emotions and hides the development of feelings towards each other. This movie, along with its sequels, is incredibly special to me. As a teen, feel seen through proper presentation of the teenage social life along with the waves of emotions. I relate to the characters as they try to find ways to express themselves.  

Interview with director: https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/general-news/all-boys-ive-loved-before-director-susan-johnson-interview-1134228/  

Enchanted  

Cast: Amy Adams, James Marsden, Patrick Dempsey, Idina Menzel, Susan Sarandon, Timothy Spall, Rae Covey, Jodi Benson, Julie Andrews 

Director: Kevin Lima 

Rating: PG 

Release Date: November 21, 2007 

Running Time:  1hr 47min 

Where to Watch: Disney+, YouTube, Apple TV, Amazon Prime 

by Jessenia Varela-Gomez

Fairy tales meet reality when young Giselle is sent from the fairytale land of Andalasia to the real world of New York City. It is here where life as she knew it is thrown out of loops. This romantic fantasy is a sweet parody of the often over the top Disney fairytales. 

The story takes a young girl named Giselle who is set to marry Prince Edward of Andalasia. Before she gets the chance to, she is cast out by his evil stepmother by a magic well sending her to no other than New York City. It is here where she meets ruthless divorce lawyer and single father Robert Philips. She is brought out of her animated fairytale and shoved into the real world of love with Roberts who does not believe in fairytales. He grants her the kindness of letting her stay with him in his apartment by the persuasion of his daughter Morgan, who believes she is a real princess. They spend time together with Robert helping Giselle set into the real world and Giselle helping Robert find his spark.  

It is here where Prince Edward makes the journey to find his princess and goes down the magical well leading to New York. With him is also the Evil Queens henchmen Nathaniel who makes many attempts to kill Giselle. To return Robert's kindness, she helps him reconcile with his girlfriend Nancy, who initially thought Robert was cheating on her. As time goes on for Giselle, she realizes she has caught feelings for Robert. 

Here Prince Edward finds her and wants her to return home with him to marry, but Giselle is now affiliated with the normal world and wants Edward to take her on a date first. The Evil Queen eventually makes her way to New York as well. Edward and Giselle go to a ball with Robert and his girlfriend Nancy, and it is here where the couples pair up to dance Nancy with Edward and Giselle with Robert. They become aware of their feelings for each other, and Giselle is put to sleep by the Evil Queen who attempts to take her back to Andalasia, but Edward stops her. He attempts to wake her with a true love kiss but fails leaving only one person available, Robert. Will the Princess be saved and what will happen to all those involved? 

This movie is a perfect mix of fantasy and reality for those who wondered how a storybook princess would survive in the real world. It is a movie not only for kids and young teens but for the whole family too. It also establishes the mix of parties from the storybook land to reality. This movie lets the viewer become immersed with the characters and the idea that fairytale comes true. While it seems a little childish, it is still a fun film, especially when you are over the same old family-friendly movie. I like how it switches from animation to live action and how it is a mix of other princess stories like Cinderella, Sleeping Beauty, and Snow White. While being considered a parody, it does not ruin the Disney magic that most people still love and enjoy and instead honor it.  

I rated this movie a solid 4 out of 5 stars. It is cheesy but not over the top and gives you a fun feeling of reality mixed with the stories we grew up hearing. It also leans into modern ideas like Giselle wanting more than to just marry the first man she saw and wanting Edward to take her out on a date. It also shows the bond between Giselle and Roberts' daughter Morgan and shows Robert that not all love is lost, and he can still flourish in fairytale. The actors are brilliant and while Giselle starts out as a ditzy princess, she becomes much more than that in the end. 

Beauty and the Beast (1991) 

Cast of Main Actors: Robby Benson / The Beast, Paige O’Hara / Belle, Richard White / Gaston, Jesse Corti / LeFou, Rex Everhart / Maurice, Jerry Orbach / Lumière, David Ogden Stiers / Cogworth, Angela Lansbury / Mrs. Potts, Bradley Pierce / Chip, Jo Anne Worley / Armoire the Wardrobe 

 Directors: Gary Trousdale and Kirk Wise 

Rating: G (General Audience)  

Release Year: November 22, 1991 

Running Time: 84 to 85 minutes or 90-92 minutes 

Where to Find it : Disney+, Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV Store, Fandango at Home, Google Play Movies & TV, and YouTube 

by Michael Garcia

Beauty and the Beast (1991) is a musical romantic fantasy movie and was the first animated film to receive numerous awards for being an animated film, such as being the first animated film to be nominated for the Academy Award for Best Picture. It also won Oscars for Best Original Score and Best Original Song, alongside being the first animated film to win the Golden Globe Award for Best Motion Picture.

The story starts with a selfish and arrogant prince who refuses to give an old woman shelter; however, he discovers that she is an enchantress in disguise. She quickly punishes him for his cruelty and selfishness by transforming him into a Beast and casting similar spells on his castle and servants. She says that the only way to break the curse is to learn how to love someone while also earning their love before the last petal falls from an enchanted rose that acts as a timer.

Years later, a young and independent woman in a small village named Belle, with dreams of adventure, has a father who is an inventor. He becomes trapped within the Beast's castle during his travels to present his latest invention. Later, Belle arrives to help her father by taking his place as the Beast’s prisoner. During this time, the Beast and Belle form a slow but memorable relationship; however, an arrogant hunter named Gaston, who is determined to marry Belle, threatens their relationship and lives.

I feel what makes Beauty and the Beast great, besides its amazing animation, is its characters and themes, which are done well and are backed by good dialogue. Additionally, Beauty and the Beast is packed with great music, such as "Be Our Guest" and "Beauty and the Beast," which not only are good musically but also have character and emotion in them.

Even decades later, Beauty and the Beast still stands out both in remembrance and in quality. It also carries a good message in the movie, which is essentially about not judging a book by its cover, though it does so in a good way.

Overall, I feel like Beauty and the Beast deserves five stars from me for its excellence in all departments of filmmaking, such as storytelling, animation, music, and having a good emotional impact. In addition, Beauty and the Beast has multiple groundbreaking achievements and is just a timeless cultural movie. Thus, I feel like this movie deserves five stars.

13 Going On 30 

Jennifer garner, Mark Ruffalo, Judy Greer, Andy Serkis, Kathy Baker 

Director:  Gary Winick 

Rating: 6.3/10 

Release date: April 23, 2004 

Running Time: 1:37:98 

Tubi(free), Amazon Prime 

by Valerie Juarez

If you have watched the movie “13 Going On 30” you know the iconic scene where Jenna, played by Jennifer Garner, and Matt, played by Mark Ruffalo, dance to the song thriller when they attend a party. Originally that scene was going to be cut out because the directors thought that it was too time consuming to make the cast work hourly to perfect the dance together, mark especially was not too into the idea but improvised so that his character could fit in the scene. The movie is a romantic comedy. 

 The movie starts off with a 13-year-old Jenna who planned to have a birthday party for her 13th, but when she invited her so-called friends, she was humiliated in the end when she played for 7 minutes in heaven. Her only faithful friend Matt came late to the party and found Jenna in the closet alone and humiliated. While Jenna was the closet, she made a wish that she'd be “thirty, flirty, and thriving” and when glitter fell on her from the dollhouse matt made for her, she magically wakes up as a 30-year-old in a condo with a man she does not know. When she runs out to figure out who she is, she meets a bunch of new people who can tell her who she was.  

Jenna eventually figures out that she is a fashion editor for Poise. Jenna then decides to reconnect with her parents and eventually finds herself finding her old best friend matt. She then hires him for her help with her presentation for poise. The more time they spent together the more they developed feeling for each other even though matt had a fiancé, Wendy. Jenna and matt even went on to reconnect with their childhood. Eventually matt acknowledges his feelings towards Jenna but rejects them until Jenna comes to confess when she realizes. 

I personally loved this movie because it had a sense of fun in it, and it was a sort of slow burn type of movie filled with denial of their feelings for each other.  Those types of plots are my personal favorite and can also give the audience a sense of yearning for more to see how the main characters eventually find each other romantically. I would personally give this movie 4 stars because it is one of my favorites, and it got a good rating in general when it first came out.  

WEBSITE USED: 

“13 Going on 30.” Wikipedia, 13 Feb. 2022, en.wikipedia.org/wiki/13_Going_on_30.