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Northern Star

Northern Illinois University’s student news organization since 1899

 

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The Student News Site of Northern Illinois University

Northern Star

The Student News Site of Northern Illinois University

Northern Star

Godzilla stands next to Kong in a scene from Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire. Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire featured both monsters fighting each other. (Warner Bros. Pictures via AP)

‘Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire’ should have been solo act

By Joseph Howerton, Video Editor | April 3, 2024

I wish I could say I’m most disappointed this isn’t a romantic comedy, but I’m more disappointed this story doesn’t hold up to its own standards. “Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire” is the latest entry in Legendary Pictures’ MonsterVerse...

Actor Sydney Sweeney poses at The 92nd Street Y on March 20 in New York City. Many online figures are arguing Sydney Sweeneys career will be similar to Marilyn Monroe. (Photo by Evan Agostini/Invision/AP)

Sydney Sweeney is not ‘our’ Marilyn Monroe

By Nick Glover, Lifestyle Editor | April 2, 2024

Every decade or two, some star is lauded as the second coming of Marilyn Monroe.  In recent years, that star has been Sydney Sweeney. Known for her performances in “Euphoria” and “Anyone But You,” Sweeney is an emerging star, even...

Many Marvel superheroes fight in a large-scale clash. Marvel Rivals is the newest Marvel game and features multiplayer PVP. (Marvel)

‘Marvel Rivals’ takes page from ‘Overwatch,’ ‘Valorant’

By Jonathan Shelby, Lifestyle Writer | April 1, 2024

Marvel games are famous for their hypnotic single and multiplayer experiences with bombastic and beloved characters.  While most of these games have been majorly successful, Marvel is now working on a new type of game, different from any they have...

Three men sit on horses next to each other in a scene from Casa de mi Padre. There are several films released that can be watched for April Fools Day this year. (Pantelion Films via Fair Use)

April Fools’ Day, parodies, offensive jokes

By Lindsay Curtis, Lifestyle Writer | March 31, 2024

From harmless jokes to straight up criminal offenses, April Fools' Day pranks come in all shapes and sizes, so there’s no better time to hide from your scheming friends and watch a good raunchy comedy. Here’s a variety of parody movies to watch...

A woman stands beside an old neon sign with some trees and a red pickup in the background. This image is the cover to Waxahatchees newest album Tigers Blood, one of three major indie-folk albums to release this week. (ANTI Records via AP)

Trio of simple folk records released

By Nick Glover, Lifestyle Editor | March 28, 2024

If the 2020s can be classified as a big decade for one of the indie scenes, it has for indie folk. Rock-based indie bands dropped their Fenders and grabbed acoustic guitars, and the banjo is making more and more appearances. Women are for the most...

The word Launchpad sits in front of a background, and the final use of the letter a in the word is replaced with a camera and a tripod. Disney Launchpad is a program to give young directors the opportunity to share their films. (Disney+ Press)

Disney Launchpad highlights underrepresented voices

By Caleb Johnson, Lifestyle Writer | March 27, 2024

Beyond mere words or language, voice connects all, the purest most spiritual expression of our souls to our inner thoughts and feelings.  Often only the voices of those in power are heard, and those who are underrepresented are forgotten and overlooked.  To...

A white Lollapalooza sign sits in front of trees in Chicago. Chicago will host over a dozen music festivals this summer. (CC BY-SA 4.0 | Lacrossewi)

Chicago summer playlist: must-hit music festivals

By Tamya Burch, Social Media Coordinator | March 27, 2024

Open the gates, and let the festivals begin. As summer inches closer, music festivals around the country have begun to drop their latest lineups. Chicago is no stranger to the summer music festival scene, as millions of people gather each summer to partake...

Sydney Sweeney stares straight ahead while in a nun outfit. The film “Immaculate” marks the second movie Sweeney has produced in her career. (Neon via AP)

‘Immaculate,’ blood, nuns, blasphemy

By Lindsay Curtis, Lifestyle Writer | March 26, 2024

After the flop that was “Madame Web,” Sydney Sweeney is back on the big screen leading the new religious horror film “Immaculate.” Sweeney originally auditioned for the lead role at the age of 16; however, the project never got off the ground. After...

Rappers Future and Metro Boomin stand next to each other wearing sunglasses. WE CANT TRUST YOU is a joint album that released March 22. (Courtesy of YouTube)

Features shine in Future and Metro Boomin’s ‘WE DON’T TRUST YOU’

By Eddie Miller, Sports Reporter | March 25, 2024

As a fan of Travis Scott, Migos and other trap artists, I have never been a big fan of Future. With the release of the collaborative album “WE DON’T TRUST YOU” between rapper Future and producer Metro Boomin, putting my bias aside allowed for a...

The words Dragon Ball Sparking Zero sit in front of a black background. Gameplay for Sparking Zero, the newest Dragon Ball game, was released on March 20. (Bandai Namco Entertainment Inc. under Fair Use)

‘Sparking! ZERO’ Captures the Old Tenkaichi Feel

By Jonathan Shelby, Lifestyle Writer | March 25, 2024

“Dragon Ball” games have prospered these past few months with updates for games like “DRAGON BALL: THE BREAKERS” and “Dragon Ball FighterZ.”  The highly anticipated “DRAGON BALL: Sparking! ZERO” isn’t being left out either, with...

Olivia Rodrigo stands on stage in a silver outfit during her March 12 performance in St. Louis. Rodrigo has released five new songs on Friday. (Gabby Crabtree | Northern Star)

Olivia Rodrigo spills 5 new ‘GUTS’ songs

By Sarah Rose, Assistant Lifestyle Editor | March 24, 2024

Around 9 p.m. on a chilly, March 19 evening, Olivia Rodrigo announced five new songs during her show in Chicago.  With a little over six months since the release of her sophomore album, “GUTS,” Rodrigo surprised fans with the new songs and announced...

A boy and a girl stand next to each other overlooking a valley. Millie Bobby Brown stars as a warrior-princess in her new Netflix film Damsel. (Netflix under Fair Use)

‘Damsel’ is just OK

By Nick Glover, Lifestyle Editor | March 21, 2024

Millie Bobby Brown’s newest film “Damsel” was released on Netflix March 8 and has been gaining traction on sites like Letterboxd – with 164,000 logged views on the site since the film’s release. “Damsel” follows Elodie (Millie Bobby Brown),...