Best movies of 2022 (so far

Ricky’s midterm reviews of 2022

Ricky Miller Entertainment Editor

It’s time for Hollywood’s midterm exam; the best of the year so far. This year has witnessed a mixed bag of titles, namely those suffering from superhero fatigue in one form or another. Tom Cruise had the biggest hit of his career with the “Top Gun” follow-up. “Top Gun: Maverick” is now on the Top 10 best list of all time with international box office at $2.2 billion in early August, according to Variety.com.

Here’s my list of the best movies of 2022 so far:

The Batman

This all-new incarnation of the caped crusader finds Robert Pattinson in the Bruce Wayne role. This is from Matt Reeves, who directed “War for the Planet of the Apes” in 2017. Zoë Kravitz, John Turturro, Andy Serkis and Paul Dano co-star. A

Downtown

Abbey: A

New Era

This engaging romantic drama looks at a time when silent movies were segueing to the talkies, wherein audiences got to hear what people are speaking throughout the movie. A

Everything Everywhere All at Once

This comedy drama fantasy goes everywhere all at once. I enjoyed the tale but at some point, it just runs out of steam. Asian-American actor Michelle Yeoh is great in the lead role. With Jamie Lee Curtis and Ke Huy Quan. A-

Bullet Train

Here’s an engaging action tale that finds various denizens on board a quick moving train that zips through the countryside overseas. With Brad Pitt and Sandra Bullock. This one was very amusing, full of sardonic wit, fisticuffs and a sardonic tone throughout. A-

Dr. Strange in the Multiverse of Madness Jurassic World Dominion

This is an inventive fantasy adventure that intertwines various characters and storylines. It’s another part of the successful Marvel cinematic Universe entries that seem to be around for years. A-

Thor: Love and Thunder

Here’s an inventive action-comedy-fantasy with twists and turns galore that should leave Marvel fans satisfied. Chris Pratt returns as the human in this with Chris Hemsworth back as the Norse god who rekindles with old flame Jane Foster (Natalie Portman). With Christian Bale. A-

The “Jurassic” saga ends here, with some nifty twists and conclusions. With Chris Pratt, Bryce Dallas Howard, Laura Dern, Sam Neill and Jeff Goldblum. B+

Top Gun: Maverick

This long-awaited Tom Cruise-led sequel actually delivers the goods. With Ed Harris, Jennifer Connelly, Miles Teller and Val Kilmer. B+

NOPE

The title translates to “Not of Planet Earth.” This is Jordan Peele’s junior effort behind the camera, after the Oscar winning “Get Out,” followed by the creepy “Us.” A-

The 355

This action-drama finds Jessica Chastain leading a group of women from all over the world taking on the baddies in vari ous predicaments and dilemmas. B

Photo IMDb

Bryan Tyree Henry and Brad Pitt in “Bullet Train.”

‘Bullet Train’ stopped for no one

Ryan Bingham Duff Online/Special Projects

“Bullet Train,” the title of the movie, really holds up to its name in every sense of the word.

The movie, which takes place mostly on the train where everything could possibly go wrong, doesn’t appear to portray the cookie cutter cliché that Hollywood tends to produce. There are a few A-list actors including Brad Pitt, Ryan Reynolds, Channing Tatum and Sandra Bullock, however.

International actors include British Aaron Taylor-Johnson and Brian Tyree Henryand Hiroyuki Sanada and Andrew Koji of [Japanese descent].

And some actors portray the Mexican and Russian roles as well and even nail the language Michael Shannon, who plays the main villain, seemed to speak Russian quite well.

The film opens on Tokyo’s most busy metropolis. Ladybug (Brad Pitt) is walks among the notoriously busy streets. When Pitt is on the phone he mentions, “I could live the rest of my life here” and my buddy Aidan nudged me on the shoulder and pointed out that quote he made was something I would say. I nodded my head to confirm.

The second time I confirmed, with more emphasis, was when they showed the scene at the wedding of the Mexican cartel hitman known only as The Wolf played by rapper Bad Bunny.

I had very little complaints about this crime thriller. One thing brilliant about it is that they are not dealing with Yakuza, the infamous Japanese mafia, they are dealing with the Vory v Zakonyei (Thieves-in-Law; Russian Mafia).

The way the story was written was borderline cringey but satisfying.

The only complaints are when Sanada as the elder and Koji as Kimura, seek revenge for the one that wronged his family. Lemon, one half of the British twins, peels off stickers from the kid’s show “Thomas the Tank Engine.”

I just have a real-life phobia of stickers. The other I find rather questionable when revealing Pitt’s handler in the film. They couldn’t have casted Roselyn Sanchez instead of Bullock?

All-in-all, there was enough original content I haven’t seen before for me to overlook the aforementioned and especially when Sanada draws his sword to have an epic duel with Shannon.

Like the brawl in a booth between Pitt and Henry, the briefcase full of cash that was actually strapped with a C4 as well as the Glock when triggered. This film that built a bridge between three different countries will take you for the ride of your life. Grade: A--

‘Bullet Train’ is precise on fun

Ricky Miller Entertainment Editor

This one is just pure fun since any feelings of doldrums are pushed to the side and looked at as nothing more than pure shenanigans.

Also involved in the storyline is Sandra Bullock’s handler persona. She and Pitt share a nice kinship that translates well to the screen. At one point, she no longer is just a voice since she makes an appearance in the flesh.

The rapport she shares with Pitt makes for some amusing moments. The duo are not really a couple, since Bullock’s Maria is more like his boss in the grand scheme of things.

Also amusing is the Channing Tatum cameo since he comments on a fellow passengers’ gate and walk.

Directing chores for “Bullet Train” were handled by David Leitch, who helmed “Atomic Blonde” with Charlize Theron in 2017. He shoots for the big screen and it looks and feels just plain awesome.

The plot here involves death and revenge, but in no particular order.

Sure, some people die, but in the end game of things, like Arnold Schwarzenegger’s character says in “True Lies,” They were all bad. Grade: A--

Photo Rotten Tomatoes

Hiroyuki Sanada engages in combat in “Bullet Train.”

Photos Rotten Tomatoes

One more ring for the collection

The men’s soccer team show their national championship rings after the award ceremony in the El Paso student lounge on Aug. 23.

Blanca Reyes

Staff Writer

“No other men’s soccer team in the nation has won four consecutive championships. So, we are very proud of our student athletes and coach Raul Herrera,” Dr. Kay Eggleston, president of Dallas College Richland Campus, said during the championship ring ceremony on Aug. 23.

The 2021 Richland men’s soccer team and its head coach, Raul Herrera, were recognized in a ring ceremony held in the El Paso Student Lounge.

Herrera talked about the accomplishments of his players and the assistant coaches, Alberto Rodriguez and Alejandro Radilla.

“I think it was time to give the kids recognition and let the people know around the campus how well we’ve done in the season, and not only victories and championships but we have a lot of kids moving on with scholarships,” Herrera said.

“I think we had great leadership. Both of the captains, who ended up transferring out on full scholarships to Division 1 schools, were great dealers,” Rodriguez said.

The T-Ducks have won the NJCAA Division III championship four years in a row, and Herrera has been with the team three of those four times.

Herrera said these victories are because of the high standards the coaches have on and off the field.

Juan Vargas, the right-back, said that Raul is always bringing good players to the team but most important that the new players are good people.

Eggleston said Herrera was previously a student in Richland and grew up with the campus, also saying Herrera and the assistant coaches are tremendous.

Herrera and Rodriguez won a championship together as students in 2006 playing for the Thunderducks.

Herrera has been with Richland men’s soccer team for 11 years. When he became the head coach in 2018, he brought Rodriguez on as one of his assistants.

Rodriguez said although he has been with the team in three of the four championship seasons, it never stops feeling like the first time.

He said the most important thing to having a successful team is to let the players know from the beginning that there is a lot of hard work behind the championship. “It is not only to show up and to expect to win but show dedication and passion,” Rodriguez said.

Samuele Muroni, midfielder, said communication played an important role in winning. “Amazing. The feeling was incredible that I can’t explain it,” Muroni said about the final game, which was held in Herkimer, New York, against the Camden Cougars of Camden County College in 2021.

This year’s season started on Aug. 20, but the expectations are already high for the Thunderducks. The team won its first victory during their first game against Louisiana State University Aug. 20 in Tyler.

Although the T-Ducks appear to have a strong team, Herrera said the season will not be easy. “Everybody knows about us and everybody wants to beat us,” Herrera said.

For more information about the team, games and results visit: www.rlcsports.com/ sports/msoc/index.

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Richland men’s soccer team receives championship rings

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