Nexus 2023 Issue 19

IT’S

It’s a new day, a deep breath, a sweaty face, a bootcamp, a catch-up, a challenge, a realisation, a conversation, a push and a pull, a moment of peace, a struggle and a win, a feeling, a superpower, a soundtrack and a stage, a weight plate, a new limit, a grind, a flex, a heavy set, a commitment, a culture, a community, a way of life, a second home, a place to discover your playground.

Cole Johnson

You know Zach Bryan? The guy who wrote that devo as song, “Something in the Orange”? Yeah he can go fuck himself.

As a bloke, it’s easy to pretend everythings going to be okay, knowing that you have to be the one to keep it together for the sake of everything. Being the oldest son, you have to understand that you’re the one that your younger siblings are going to look too for guidance, support and uplifting stories about how you fucked up and they’re going to be the change. Being a partner, you need to be okay with taking the hits.

These are all things I’m okay with. I’m alright with hiding my emotions (though there was a time where I didn’t), and making sure you only see what I want you to see. Without lying, I lead with my heart always. This means that when I believe in something, I’ll put my all into it. That includes being the person that can take a hit, understand the words being thrown as ammunition at you. Sometimes, I fire back without thinking and that’s not okay. It’s all about knowing your worth, but knowing what you deserve is just as important.

Since coming on as editor, the idea of a men's issue has always sat in my brain. I understand the connotations that come with it, the comments that I’m sure will be made. It’s a difficult topic that

no one REALLY wants to talk about–but we kind of have too. There’s an unspoken heaviness that plagues kōrero surrounding being a man, this sort of difficulty to process the need for equality. Don’t take this is as a ‘woe is me, I’m a man and I’m struggling too’

I’m a man and I’m struggling as well.

Contrary to popular belief. I don’t struggle with mental health like that. It’s easy to get caught in the undertow of “everyone has depression, so do I”. You can certainly feel depression as an emotion, but suffering with the illness is a little different. Reach out, talk to people and make sure you’re heard. We need to be able to kōrero about the shit that matters without feeling guilt or hanging our heads in shame. You’re allowed to feel sad, depressed and angry. You’re also allowed to be happy, excited and joyous in the presence of those who don’t. You can do whatever the fuck you want.

We wanted to lay our hearts out to dry for you all but none of us really had the energy. So instead, here’s a collection of random shit that has hints of men’s mental health, men in the media and just m(k) en.

This one's for you my bro, will have an inu with you soon.

In light of this men's issue let’s open up the conversation to all the brothers out there. It’s hard to find places that feel safe enough to have these discussions but I’m hoping this piece is at least a foot in the door for some. Men’s mental health is brought up a lot more so I wanted to add to the conversation. It’s fucking hard for us to express our inner most thoughts and it’s pretty fucked that there are so many reasons why. I know that having exposure to those that are comfortable with speaking gives confidence to those who do not and I’m hoping to use this platform as a space to open it up for discussion. If by the end of this piece it has caused you to ask some questions or even ponder on it longer than you originally would then I’ve done my job and that’s a step in the right direction.

The toughest mfkers are those that are open about their vulnerabilities and don’t run from being weak because there’s undeniable strength in being vulnerable. There’s strength in weakness and as counterintuitive as that seems, it absolutely fits the bill here. I know for sure that it’s scary being vulnerable and there’s a stigma that doesn’t allow other brothers to speak up in fear of being judged as being less of a man. Similar to all other controversial subjects that beat their stigmas, it all starts with conversation and opening it up to be discussed. The more we acknowledge those that are brave enough to stand up with their chest puffed out and chin proudly raised the more it builds confidence in those that are hoping it was them. It’s easier to laugh and belittle the brothers that speak up but know that you look like a little one who’d bully his crush on the playground because he can’t confront his feelings. Stop fighting demons in the dark, and instead, embrace the weakness you feel in the light. False confidence and bravado will never make you a man just like fighting the world, as in projecting your trauma outwards in violence fashions, doesn’t make you tough. To lift the new way of meninism up we need to tear the old one down. It all starts with the understanding that IT IS NOT WEAK TO SPEAK.

It's not weak

to speak

Feature Kupu Whakaahu

Do you want to pull women or do you swing both ways? Becoming a petite femboy is one of the ways.

Gen Z’s prompts to fight against social constructs and dismiss fragile masculinity are heading towards a positive path in the fashion domain. Modern women's taste in men lingers between extremely masculine men to lesbian-looking twinks.

Men in skirts have no longer been a debate in the fashion industry since 2020 when men discovered the proportions and silhouettes of women’s clothing. In the MET gala 2023, American male supermodel Alton Mason ate the whole carpet up with the iconic Karl Garfeld Chanel bridal collection-inspired outfit with sculptural shoulder, a high collar and chunky kneehigh boots. He slayed the house boots down with a floral and dramatic veil trailing down behind like a true bride.

Steve Huynh

Vogue, 2023

Kupu Whakaahua Feature

Recently, New Zealand Fashion Week 2023 made a comeback, showcasing talented graduating students and homegrown designers. New Zealand local artists are now embarking on initial efforts to establish femininity in men’s fashion. Charlotte Mangos’s collection - Masculinity with A Flare - embraces floral patterns, textures and cuts challenging the boundaries between male and female clothing. Their collection plays around with bold and vibrant colours, different silhouettes and flares everywhere. Not so cunty but serve the eyes of the public with a refreshing approach to New Zealanders’ menswear.

Femininity in men’s fashion has been considered sussy for a long time. With the changes in societal beliefs and diversity, these assumptions are finally set aside allowing men to express themselves through couture, patterns, and colours. By saying that, I mean you can either choose to look like a bee-keeping-age daddy or a walking fruit basket. Who cares? Just be you and serve cunt, as long as the business you are minding is your own.

Oscar Isaac

Robert Pattinson

Timothée Chalamet

Thom Browne for “Moon Knight” premiere”

left no crumb at Dior Homme Menswear FallWinter 2023-2024

An Interview with my Dad

My Dad is 57 and was born and bred in the Canterbury Plains. More specifically, in the middle of nowhere. He’s a freight driver and comes home dirty and tired, all to get up at the crack of dawn and do it again. Most importantly, to me, he’s a steadfast figure in my life, strong, happy, and unrelenting. This gives me no better reason than to ask him some questions about, well, blokes.

Seamus Lohrey

How do you define masculinity and what does it mean to you?

Masculinity is being vital, a provider, a protector. To me, it means being like my father and my grandfathers and all my uncles, strong, dependable, providing and protecting your family. Basically, it’s looking after other people; that’s what it means to me.

How have your personal experiences shaped your understanding of what it means to be a man?

My personal experience was through my father, my grandfathers, and my uncles, who were all from the generations that survived the depression and the wars. All of them, without exception, were tough, uncompromising, real down to Earth men. It shaped me to be who I was.

What does uncompromising mean?

Uncompromising means you take a stand and you don’t change. You think it's right, you stand by it. You have some moral issues you believe in and stand by them; you don't change them.

Do these ideas of strength and vitality hurt mental health?

Fortunately for me it hasn't but I have seen other men who think they have to be tough all the time and this puts them under stress. They’re probably like me…

I was taught as a child to keep it to myself and fight through it.

How do you think other societal expectations and stereotypes impact men's mental health?

The stereotype of the typical kiwi bloke: silent, outdoorsy, tough, has hurt some men if they do not feel quite that. I think nowadays men who are growing up are taught a lot better about mental health but also lack the confidence to depend on themself. This is something that’s not talked about enough.

What are some strategies or practices that you find helpful in maintaining your overall wellbeing as a man?

Work hard, but leave your work at work. Cultivate a happy and safe home environment. Take great joy in your family. Have a bit of quiet time and do what you want without guilt. Try have a good balance.

Who is the greatest man you know?

My mum’s father, my maternal grandfather. Mainly for sheer doggedness, hard work, and community spirit. Close second would be my Dad, he was a lot of the same and had great moral values and cared deeply for his community. He did all this while teaching me the basics.

So there’s a trend here of helping others?

Yes. They were both very involved in the local community. Helping neighbours, sports clubs, and other clubs.

Work hard, but leave your work at work. Cultivate a happy and safe home environment. Take great joy in your family. Have a bit of quiet time and do what you want without guilt. Try have a good balance.

What would you change about yourself?

I’d be a bit skinnier - nothing else. That’s it. I’m pretty happy with who I am.

How have you found this peace with yourself?

I’ve accepted the hand I've been dealt. I’ve chosen to be happy in life’s small things; it doesn't have to be big joyous occasions all the time. I’m just thankful for my family, the roof over my head, and my job. I’ve stayed balanced and learnt to find joy in things I used to not. I think that’s a difference maker for me.

To preface this next question, for my entire life my Dad has been sober. A rarity, especially for blokes like my Dad.

Why don’t you drink anymore?

It was detrimental to my health. It was basically hurting my health, my wellbeing. I just decided, when I met your mother, that it wasn’t masculine to need this crutch anymore. I’ve been healthy and happy ever since.

What are some of the other big sacrifices you have made in life?

I took a job closer to home and a whacking big

pay cut to be closer to my son. Also, Instead of being like my mates travelling the world, I stayed home for a family crisis and never regretted it. It was just how life had panned out and I found working closer to home meant I could spend more time caring for the people I love.

My Dad was raised in a generation where you were taught strength is often found in silence. This thinking is something that has affected many men today, feeling inadequate but not in the right place to share. Yet, despite this, my Dad has raised me to feel comfortable with sharing what’s on my mind. But why?

My Dad used to dance at my cricket games whenever I hit a boundary and he stops in his tracks whenever he sees a baby out in public. He spoke at his friend’s funeral and has cried in front of me openly and unashamedly.

When my Dad talks about strength, it isn’t the type portrayed in our kiwi culture today, where you're tough as nails and never talk. It’s the type where you have fortitude and courage to be who you are and what you are feeling. It’s being selfless while still unashamedly being you.

Georgie Dansey

for Hamilton East

Authorised by Rob Salmond, 187 Featherston Street, Wellington.

Mental Health is sexy: My new Favourite type of Foreplay

We all know first, second, third and fourth base, but how about fifth? You know, the one, I mean, the one that somehow does not come out until much later than it should. The one that should have come before every other base. That is the mental health chat.

It's baffling how many people, especially men, I have dated and thought I knew everything about, only for a considerable origin story or confession about daily struggles to come out. I'm always so grateful for the trust. However, I am displeased that I wasn't confided in sooner or didn't catch the signs or pry about it. When I've asked why I wasn't told sooner, it is generally because they were waiting until they felt comfortable, unjudged by what they could say. It's wild that we live in a society that feels more comfortable banging someone than talking about feelings. Knowing my opinion of someone would never be less because they struggle with mental health; it makes me wonder in disappointment why our culture around mental health is this way- especially in Aotearoa and especially within men.

I think the mass change that needs to happen is at a government level; however, the more we talk about mental health and understand it, the more change is likely to happen. I can't believe some of the discussions are finally happening to surround the topic. In 2023, well, overdue.

I chatted with some friends about the situation, and we all agreed that opening up and being completely honest with someone is one of the sexiest things you can do. Fuck the flowers and the nudes; let's get coffee and talk about how you're doing. I understand that not everyone is ready to talk about things, but the conversation should at least come very early in the base system; even a simple mutual 'Hey, I'm always here to talk to if I need' is necessary. Mental health is not linear, so let's keep educating ourselves and bettering our behaviours towards others. Chats before orgasms? Sound good?

Leilani Summer

Okay to be Grey?

We’ve got a petition. You should sign. We know your time is valuable so here’s a brief run down as to why:

Grey Street. Named after Governor George Grey. Normally we name streets after people and places that have contributed positively to our history and we know Waikato has a rich history. So why did we choose Grey? Here’s his track record with our region:

• Saw the Kīngitanga as a direct challenge to the crown’s sovereignty despite reassurance it was purely for Māori to have better control over their affairs.

• On the 11th of July 1863, Grey issued an ultimatum demanding Waikato Rangatira pledge allegiance to the Crown or they would invade.

• The next day, before ANY Waikato Māori had seen this ultimatum, Grey’s forces invaded Waikato land.

• After a few battles, the battle at Rangiriri occurred, Māori forces were overwhelmed. When retreating, men, women and children were gunned down from the hilltops.

• The Kīngi, not wanting to fight this war they didn't want in the first place, complied with demands to be able to negotiate peace.

• Grey demanded that they leave Ngāruawāhia and fly the Union Jack from their flag pole. The Kīngi compiled but Grey never came to discuss peace.

• After women and children were killed in battles, Grey negotiated for a space where those not fighting

could reside in peace: Rangiaowhia

• Under pressure from Grey for a lack of success, a general invaded Rangiaowhia and killed many of the near-defenceless elderly, women, and children.

• Stories still survive today of people being burnt alive in their homes and children watching their mothers being sexually abused.

• Grey enacted legislation to confiscate land from those who tried to resist his invasion.

• How did we decide to commemorate this part of our history? By naming one of the most important streets in the capital of the region after a man who caused so much bloodshed. His impact is still being felt today.

Waikato’s history is rich and full of figures and places that have had a positive impact. Let’s choose to remember the

Seamus Lohrey

Column Maramara Kōrero

The definitive 'Which Ken are you' quiz!

Tehana De Klerk

Should preface this quiz with the fact that I've not actually seen this movie yet. But with the idea of Men's week looming, it seemed like a no-brainer right? RIGHT?

Did you watch the FIFA Women’s World Cup?

a. Absolutely not.

b. Yes, I was dedicated!

c. The what?

d. Skipped everything but the final.

Red pill, or blue pill?

a. Red.

b. Blue.

c. Why not both?

d. I don’t understand.

Who would you want as your Jedi Master?

a. Yoda.

b. Qui-Gon Jinn.

c. Obi-Wan Kenobi.

d. Mace Windu.

Are you Kenough?

a. Yes.

b. Yes.

c. Yes.

d. Yes.

What are you studying?

a. Sports… something.

b. Law.

c. Engineering.

d. Other.

What Premier League team do you think is going to win the season?

a. Man City.

b. Arsenal.

c. Spurs (bffr).

d. None of the above.

Favourite anime of the Big Three?

a. Naruto.

b. One Piece.

c. Bleach.

d. I don’t watch anime tf.

Mostly A’s — Stereotypical Ken…

Mostly B’s — Sugar(‘s) Daddy Ken (What?).

Mostly C’s — You’re not even Ken, you’re just Allan.

Mostly D’s — Kenmaid (You’re literally John Cena).

Kupu Whakaatu Feature Feature Kupu Whakaahu

Pānui Whakaahua

We saw that The Spinoff released an article entitled “Why this country can’t support the dream of the $3 egg sando” which was an earnest account from the fantastic, Anna Rawhiti-Connell. However, because the office is run by three blokes with tiny bloke brains, we didn’t read the piece before jumping to conclusions.

“Bullshit, I feel like it’s an exaggeration” says Jak, furiously scanning the web for the cost of glad wrap

“We could probably make a profit, let alone fall short” pipes in Sterling

“Eggs come in trays smaller than 24?” a common w from Kae’sharn

The stage was set, we realised that what we had to do was go on a journey of self-discovery to figure out what the deal is with eggs and the price, but also whether we could somehow justify bringing in the Japanese idea of cheap convenience store sandos. We were going on a big mission with the boys, and we intended to have an answer.

Step One: Research

We needed to understand the market value, we wanted to know more about what it was we were trying to achieve and whether

the whole idea was even feasible. So we let our matimati do a little walking. But we needed some parameters- what was the direction of cost? Were we going cheap for the best chance of proving a point, or were we going to be expensive to be even bigger smart asses? You already know the answer.

But the bigger question, where were we going to buy the products?

New World is the most expensive, though Countdown being greedy cunts is a close second at the minute. We decided to look at our capital, Pōneke being the place that ALL students agree on being extra expensive… but for what? Either way, did you know you can set your store to different cities, peeping at their exuberant prices? Well you can. So thank you New World Willis Street Metro for your prices, big ups ya good cunts.

Bread

Ploughmans seemed the obvious choice, we couldn’t skimp out of the best choice for what makes up 90% of the meal. Maybe 90% was too high a margin, but it’s an important part of the experience.

Cost per sando: 59 cents (2 slices)

The most expensive part, so we skimped a little and got a simple 12 pack.

Cost per sando: 92 cents per egg… come on bro

Margarine

We are a butter household, promise you that, but the cost alone isn’t worth it.

Cost per sando: ~10 cents

Salt & Pepper

No one, and we do mean NO ONE can say we weren’t doing our due diligence to give it a fair go.

Cost per sando: ~17 cents

Glad Wrap

Come on now.

~5 cents for a 30x30cm square (we measured)

Was it worth it? Definitely not. And did we realise that the article was a lot different after the fact? Absolutely. But there’s nothing like a bunch of men correcting a wome- actually maybe we should scratch this entire fucking article. Get that camera out of our fucking face. No comment. NO COMMENT.

Rod Young

Temple

Sophie

Mira Arif

Oisin Cummins

Zac Isaac Smith

Priddy

Ama Dhara

Student Life Wheako Tauira

Mira Arif

Zac Isaac

Humaira Feroz

Fuad Syed

Nikita Van Dijk

Sana Nisar Ahmad

Chris Barr

Oisin Cummins

Ben Woodgates

Ranui Armstrong

Daniel Holroyd

George Liu

Seamus Lohrey

Ama Dhara

Milly Miriro

Yasir Saifudeen Shemeena

Student Life Wheako Tauira

Bird Machine

Oh my god, Bird Machine. Hello again, how are you doing?

Quite well! Especially since we are going to be published in Nexus.

It’s been almost a year since we last spoke and you’d released an EP in that time. How’s that all been for you guys?

The EP was received really well and we were pretty stoked with the outcome. We’re grateful for everyone who came to a show, for the bands who invited us to play with them, all the media features and interviews (including Nexus!), and those who helped out in any way. We went to Australia over the summer to a place called Geelong (where Luke is from) and played an intimate gig to a lot of family and friends there, which was really cool. Since the last EP, we’ve written around 15 songs and can’t wait to share them all! We’re planning the release of a second EP towards the end of the year, and have plenty of material to take us beyond that too.

They say that people's taste in food changes over time (allegedly) and we were wondering if your snack and bevvy line-up have changed at all in these past few months?

Last time, we said Milo and Tim Tams; great trans-Tasman treats. But we gotta confess something: Luke can’t have either of those because he has Coeliac Disease. But he looks back at memories of them with great fondness. He presently enjoys chilli and chocolate. It’s ac-

Jak Rāta

tually a thing. He likes to do it with chilli-flavoured Kettle Chips and chocolate. In terms of bevvys, Luke also likes to put some apply cider vinegar into a glass of water. Its super good for you and he recommends. Jenna can't stand it.

Something that I wanted to ask the last time was, does Hamilton inspire your sound? How so?

The environment (natural and built) definitely affects people in several ways. It can affect mood a lot, and mood is a huge influence on creativity, at least for us. In Seattle in the 80s, the punk and metal underground sound (later to be dubbed “grunge” to the disdain of the bands in that scene) was said to have been a response to boredom and depressing weather. Not that Kirikiriroa is boring per se, but the weather can get quite gloomy in winter. And we can get quite gloomy with Waikato-induced hay fever. Maybe that’s why our songs are usually pretty serious and a bit bittersweet.

In terms of musical influences, Jenna is hugely inspired by Brooke Fraser (not a Hamiltonian as far as we know, but a Kiwi nonetheless). She loves her songwriting and vocal style. Luke is a big, big fan of Waikato legends the Finn Brothers (from close enough to here). He’s also a fan of Hamiltonian Kimbra. All these artists inspire us.

It’s interesting that you should bring up the influence of place on music, since we’ve been thinking of how social media has become a kind of virtual music scene or destination. Since it has no physical characteristics, we wonder how it might be changing the way a certain “sound” is made. David Byrne suggested that the acoustics of dingy underground clubs informed the sound of Talking Heads, that music works differently in different physical settings. With even live performances shifting to virtual space, will the online music scene homogenise music?

What’s been some of your favourite gigs, where have you played that has just blown your minds?

We mostly play in dive bars and basement venues. We like the dingy atmosphere, the stale air, the myriad band posters. Those places usually have a lot of history. The Wine Cellar on K Road was really cool. It's this archaic underground space that smells like a hundred years of cigarettes, appropriated for live music. We

were super impressed with the sound in that space. A lot of times we can't hear ourselves properly on stage because a room is reflecting frequencies unevenly, but we could play with ease at the Wine Cellar. They also have a great selection of classic amplifiers, making Luke feel like a kid in a candy store. We also played at Big Fan (Morningside) recently, which is owned by Joel Little (Goodnight Nurse, Lorde, Taylor Swift, etc.). Being a purpose-built space, it sounds awesome. Cassette Nine (Auckland CBD) probably sounded the best to our ears. We can't wait to hit the festival scene though. We'd love to do an outdoor, afternoon slot.

You mentioned the last time that you wanted to ‘move people’ with your music as your goal. Do you think you’ve achieved that?

Yeah we think we have. We've received lots of feedback; in shows, after interviews, from people listening to our recordings. People have expressed that they've been moved in some way, or that they connect with a song. An interviewer shared with us, after the interview, that they became emotional on air while we were talking about the meaning behind a particular song. It's really fulfilling to know that people connect with our music in a deep way. That's the kind of music we are drawn to ourselves, because you can get more out of it than just a "good time" or "a vibe".

Finally, what’s coming from yous? What’s going to be the BIG thing from Bird Machine?

Well, we mentioned before that we have an EP planned for release by the end of the year. It's got five songs and we think they're all killer. One of the singles is out already; it's called Hellos and Frowns. You can stream it on Spotify, Bandcamp, Apple Music, etc., and it's got a rad music video, which you'll find on YouTube. While Hellos and Frowns gives you a good idea of the energy of the upcoming record, don't expect every song to sound the same. They're actually all gonna be a little different-sounding from each other. Another thing to look forward to is a song we'll be releasing at some future point that we've co-written with Dave Baxter (Avalanche City). We're super excited for that, and you should be too! Finally, we'd be endlessly appreciative if all you readers would follow us on socials and streaming platforms, share our stuff, and come out to gigs. We promise you won't regret it, and promise that you WILL regret not checking us out! But seriously, it goes a long way to helping us get out there into the wider world.

Wasn't the worst but also, not good?

Red, White & Royal Blue

Tehana De Klerk

Ienjoy rom coms just as much as the next person, so obviously after seeing this movie all over TikTok, I had to watch it. The story, based on Casey McQuiston’s 2019 novel of the same name, focuses on the tumultuous relationship between Alex ClaremontDiaz, the son of the US President, and Prince Henry of the British Royal Family. The duo sort of find themselves in an enemies to fake friends, to friends, to friends with benefits, to lovers scenario. A lot, I know. But let’s get into this properly, yeah? I won’t spoil the movie too much, so don’t worry if you want to give it a watch!

The film starts with the royal wedding of Prince Henry’s sibling, which Alex makes an appearance in. From then on, we witness the cliches of a romantic comedy and the characters they are bound to introduce. I will admit that perhaps I lied earlier on… I don’t exactly enjoy these types of movies much anymore. They’re all the same, you know? However, despite that, I did enjoy parts. Aside from being praised as a well-written LGBTQ+ story, it was actually quite entertaining at times.

So why give it a six? Well, I’ve read quite a few reviews from people who read the book prior to watching the film, and it’s safe to say that many felt the movie did not do the novel justice. This is one of the biggest problems I have with book to movie adaptations; they never seem to do the original plot enough justice. Now, I’m not saying the film should be exactly like the book, because that’s pretty much impossible when there’s a lot of material. However, if there are key elements in the story that have not been adapted for the screen, then there will always be an array of disappointed viewers. Here are some snippets of reviews that I saw:

“I’m a huge fan of the book and have read it too many times, so I was very aware of every change they made. The biggest one that ruined it for me was how the friendships and family dynamics were erased.”

“The foundation of the characters, which is so essential for audience connection and engagement, was disappointingly underdeveloped. We were left with mere

sketches of who these characters were meant to be, their motivations and complexities barely hinted at.”

Now, from just these two extracts from online reviews, it’s clear that there were important characters and relationships that were either omitted from the film entirely, or not explored as deeply as in the book. It’s so incredibly important that such crucial details in a novel are carried over into its film adaptation, because if they aren’t, the plot holds very little resemblance to the original story or it just doesn’t follow it at all (just look at The Fifth Wave).

That all being said, I know you’re probably thinking “enough about the book, what about the actual movie”. So like I did just before, here are some thoughts from other people (both good and… not so good) for you to consider before I share my own.

“This captivating film beautifully intertwines themes of self-discovery, love, and the complex journey of finding one’s authentic identity.”

“Beyond gender identity, this movie also explores the intricacies of love across cultural and social backgrounds.”

“The entire production failed to capture even the slightest

essence of what a movie should feel and look like. Instead, it resembled more of a drawn-out drama series, stretched thin and devoid of cinematic charm.”

I have to say, there’s an interesting mix of things said about this film. I’ve also seen several comments saying “the chemistry between the main characters was so good!”, and several others saying the opposite. But pushing that aside, I’ll say that (despite what I may have said earlier), this movie was not terrible. Yes, many elements of the book were missing, but I suppose without reading the book, I felt as though it was an alright movie. It definitely felt like your stereotypical rom com, and that’s totally okay. Honestly, I feel like as you’re reading this you might say I’m just contradicting myself. Eh, I don’t care. So, without further ado, here is my very unbiased, honest opinion:

I think that this movie is an entertaining watch. While it may have felt a little rushed at times, or made me want to strangle a character for being so stupid (this is what I meant by stereotypical rom com things), it was certainly not a complete waste of my time. I’ve only given this film a six because while it wasn’t terrible, it didn’t exactly “wow” me the way something I might rate higher would have. Also, six is a decent score; don’t @ me for not giving a ridiculous rating for something that doesn’t deserve it (*cough* Avengers: Endgame *cough*).

Boruto: Two Blue Vortex9/10

Insane first chapter. Put respect on his name.

E V

Troye SivanRush ft. PinkPantheress & Hyunjin9/10

Not out yet (as I write this)... but the features!?!

Ahsoka9/10

It’s okay so far, but have faith; it’ll get better.

R I E W S

Revlon Super Lustrous Lipstick (Rum Raisin) 6/10

TikTok trends are bad influences, but this one is okay.

Nothoughts,justken. TrendAlert: phoneForeignmoneyinthebackofyour case,kidsbackpacks.

JUST KEN

Zackson, 21, Law

1. My cat, he eats Kangaroo

2. Play league of legends.

3. Daily walks in the park

4. Coronas

5. Ryan Reynolds

Zachary, 43, PhD

1. My bro Oliver, he kisses me at the gym

2. Whatever you want to do

3. I grow out my beard

4. Oliver says Vodka Cruisers

5. Dane Rumble

Zachariah, 15, High School

1. My teacher (in tears). Mr. Hipkins

2. Go to the skate park, do kick flips

3. Mental health isn't a thing at this age

4. Ginger Beer

5. Elon Musk

Zac, 25, BA

1. My dad

3. Go for massive hikes

Zach, Too Old, Master

1. Tyler, he's big

2. Lifting weights, surfing.

3. Drinking aye

4. Waikatos

5. Chris Hemsworth

1. Who is your favourite Man

2. What is a manly thing to do

3. How do you, a man, keep up with your mental health?

4. What is a manly drink?

5. Who is your male hall pass

2. Your dad

4. You dad.

5. Jesus

WORD SQUARE

SIMPLE PUZZLES FOR SIMPLE PEOPLE WHICH ONE IS KEN. CIRCLE HIM

1. What Canadian city was Mill Street beer originally brewed in?

2. What was the first decade revisited by VH-1's "I Love the..." series?

3. Which celebrity perpetrated the Lake Forest Chainsaw Massacre in 1987?

4. What body of water does the Danube River flow into?