Skip to Main Content

Northern Star

 

Advertisement

 

 
Northern Star

Northern Illinois University’s student media since 1899

 

Ensure student journalism survives. Donate today.

The Student News Site of Northern Illinois University

Northern Star

The Student News Site of Northern Illinois University

Northern Star

The cover image of "Hogwarts Legacy" with Hogwarts castle in the background. The game has some pretty big flaws, and it's real-world harm detracts even more from the game.

‘Hogwarts Legacy’ is shallow, harmful

By Daniel Massa, Lifestyle Writer | March 23, 2023

“Hogwarts Legacy” is a fairly decent “Harry Potter” game buried beneath very real dark arts. Developed by Avalanche Software and published by WB Games under its label Portkey Games, “Hogwarts Legacy” is a brand new action role-playing game...

Screenshot from "Pizza Tower" with Peppino Spaghetti sitting in his pizzeria. "Pizza Tower" is a platformer with a retro style and fast graphics.

‘Pizza Tower’ serves up a compelling retro platformer

By Daniel Massa, Lifestyle Writer | March 22, 2023

“Pizza Tower” is a charming and exhilarating callback to 2D platforming games of the ‘80s and ‘90s that doesn’t cut corners — only slices — wherever it potentially could with its design. “Pizza Tower” is a fast-paced 2D platformer...

A screenshot of the "Shadow and Bone" page on Netflix. The show's second season came out Thursday.

New season of ‘Shadow and Bone’ honors the books

By Sarah Rose, Managing Editor | March 22, 2023

All hail the Grishaverse, and all hail our queen and sun summoner Alina Starkov.  The long-awaited second season of Netflix’s original series “Shadow and Bone” was released on Thursday. The show is adapted from the “Shadow and Bone” trilogy...

The characters of “Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba - To the Swordsmith Village” across an animated background. The film came out March 3 and features little new content

New ‘Demon Slayer’ movie isn’t worth the watch

By Anika Haley, Lifestyle Writer | March 21, 2023

After “Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba – The Movie: Mugen Train” overtook “Spirited Away” as the highest-grossing anime film worldwide in 2021, Japanese animation studio Ufotable decided to try their luck again with a new 2023 release. Unfortunately,...

Chris Rock performing on stage at the Orpheum Theatre in 2017. When Chris Rock took the stage for his most recent special, "Selective Outrage," he turned to punching down and stoking the flames of drama rather than actually telling jokes.

Chris Rock’s ‘Selective Outrage’ rocks and tips the boat

By Daniel Massa, Lifestyle Writer | March 21, 2023

Chris Rock’s new comedy special “Selective Outrage” gives followers of the comedian’s stand off with Will Smith at the 2022 Oscars the bombastic side of his story at the cost of shallow jokes.  Netflix recently released a new comedy special...

Academy Award winners Ke Huy Quan (left), Michelle Yeoh, Brendan Fraser and Jamie Lee Curtis pose after winning. While Quan and Yeoh were the consensus picks, viewers were unhappy with Curtis' win.

The Academy once again disappoints

By Sarah Rose, Managing Editor | March 20, 2023

Every year the Oscars remind us why we turn to cinema: to become inspired by intoxicating stories from around the world. The 95th Oscars award ceremony kicked off with Jimmy Kimmel making a sweeping appearance on stage by way of a parachute. Kimmel,...

A screenshot from the television series "Jared From Subway: Catching a Monster." The show turns away from looking at Fogle, choosing to look at smaller figures in the case.

‘Jared From Subway’ is unfocused, unnecessary

By Eli Tecktiel, Lifestyle Writer | March 20, 2023

The latest in a seemingly never-ending procession of bombshell true-crime documentaries is “Jared From Subway: Catching a Monster.” The three-part docuseries will shock and appall its viewers but ultimately leave them feeling confused and disappointed. Jared...

Helen Mirren, Zachary Levi, Rachel Zegler and Lucy Liu, the stars of "Shazam!  Fury of the Gods," at the premiere of the film in London. "Shazam! Fury of the Gods" will be releasing to next week along with T-Pain's cover album and more.

Releasing next week T-Pain cover album, new ‘Shazam!’ film

By Nick Glover, Lifestyle Editor | March 9, 2023

“The Real Work: On the Mystery of Mastery” - Adam Gopnik New Yorker writer and “Tár” actor Adam Gopnik will release his 10th book titled “The Real Work: On the Mystery of Mastery” on Tuesday. “The Real Work” looks at masters of their...

The icon for “History of the World: Part II” on a computer screen. The show is the first Mel Brooks directed piece to come out in almost 30 years and is releasing episodes from March 6 through March 9.

Mel Brooks returns to tell history 40 years later

By Eli Tecktiel, Lifestyle Writer | March 8, 2023

Though the comedic stylings of Mel Brooks represent an older, perhaps antiquated form of comedy, the actor-director-writer has unexpectedly returned to the limelight with “History of the World Part II.” The original film, which was released in...

Some vintage radios and stacks of old vinyl records on a wood shelving unit. Albums like Miles Davis’ “Ascenseur Pour L’échafaud” and Lloyd Cole’s “Don’t Get Weird on Me Babe” are perfect for spring listening.

Top albums for the start of spring

By Eli Tecktiel, Lifestyle Writer | March 8, 2023

The snow is melting and the trees are coming back to life. As the beginning of spring approaches, here are some albums that perfectly embody the beginning of the season. Lloyd Cole - “Don’t Get Weird on Me Babe”Miles Da Lloyd Cole’s second solo...

An anime-style sunset. Lifestyle Writer Anika Haley will be watching a slew of dramatic media this weekend.

Dramatic content to watch this weekend

By Anika Haley, Lifestyle Writer | March 8, 2023

If you bombed a midterm, look no further than this list for a way to cry it all out.   “ATTACK ON TITAN” (Crunchyroll) Set in a world where mankind was almost entirely wiped out by ginormous, man-eating monsters, “Attack on Titan”...

Apple TV+ was launched Nov. 1, 2019.

Does Apple TV+ pay off or fall flat?

By Eli Tecktiel, Lifestyle Writer | March 7, 2023

With a multitude of recent awards season wins, Apple TV+ is quickly becoming one of the premier streaming services. But is it worth the price? Apple TV+ launched on Nov. 1, 2019, with eight original shows to start things off including “The Morning...