A Year in Film 2021

PREFECTS' PICKS

Moneek (Innovation & Academics): One of my favourite albums ever is Punisher by Phoebe Bridgers. It's a pretty slow album and the lyrics are brilliant, and Phoebe has such a beautiful voice. My favourite songs are 'Halloween, ' 'Graceland Too, ' 'Savior Complex, ' and 'Punisher, ' but every song is great, this is a no-skips album for sure. It also feels perfect for fall and winter, listening to the album while it's raining is a 10/10 experience.

Georgia (Action and Wellness): Halloween is over which officially means it’s Christmas season! One of my favourite ways to get into the Christmas spirit is by watching Christmas movies, especially Elf. It is a fact that Elf is the best Christmas movie and I cannot recommend it enough. It has all the right touches of humour, nostalgia, horrible singing, a heartwarming ending, and Will Ferrell, making it the perfect movie for a cold winter day. Also, there’s a talking narwhal. What’s not to love? Jonah (Innovation & Academics): Rubinoos - I love music that makes me think, reflect and cry as much as the next guy, but sometimes IB gets me down, and then I just want some vibey tunes to cheer myself up. One album which always gets me that kick is the Rubinoos by (this isn’t a typo) the Rubinoos. It’s very bubblegum pop meets Buddy Holly, and although I’d be pleasantly surprised if someone told me they thought it was wellmade, it still absolutely slaps. Highly recommended! I’d suggest listening to it in order, but that’s just me, I’m not your dad.

Harjunn (Action and Wellness): Chicago Med - Recently I started getting into the medical genre of TV shows and I do not regret it at all. This show is nothing like Grey’s Anatomy (which is good in my opinion). You go on a journey with different types of medical professionals such as cardiologists, pediatricians, emergency medicine doctors, nurses and psychiatrists and more. This show does not hide what emergency medicine entails and you empathize with all the people who work there. If you want to see a show purely about medicine, you’ll love this show.

Jenny (Arts): The Grapefruit Skies album by TEEKS; the music, TEEK’s voice and the lyrics are my cup of tea for this cold, rainy weather. My ultimate go-to has to be Never Be Apart as its lyricism and groove are simply timeless, endearing and raw. Whenever I listen to this album, it feels like I’m reading a book, enjoying a visual art masterpiece and watching a movie at the same time: that is how surreal the album is. It’s safe to say I am obsessed :)

Adam (Arts): Dark Side of the Moon - My favourite album of all time is Dark Side of the Moon by Pink Floyd. The great thing about the album is the fluidity of it -- you have to listen to all the songs in order or else it doesn't make much sense, since the end of each song leads into the beginning of the next. There is so much metaphorical meaning packed into each song it is really cool. My favourite song from the album is Brain Damage/Eclipse -- it is two songs but as mentioned, the fluidity of the album means it is more like one song. It is also my favourite song of all time, I highly recommend it. Listen on, Sabres!

Jakob (Athletics): Basketball - Recently I have completely indulged into the lives of the Toronto Raptors and how their team has been working inside and out. I use it as a way to escape from school and to stop thinking about the upcoming deadlines I have. With the help of fantasy basketball and the incentive of winning money, watching the games has become a lot more fun to watch. Our team may not be the greatest right now but the Raps will definitely make a comeback next year with our young core putting in the grind. My favourite player, Jeremy Lin, isn't on the team anymore, but Scottie Barnes has really shown out and made basketball so much more enjoyable to watch.

Sarah (Athletics): CLIF Builder's Protein Bars - These are absolutely my favourite protein bars; I eat one every day! They're delicious and super convenient for a pre- or post-workout snack. At 20 grams of (plantbased!) protein and less than 300 calories, the macros are great. Try one of their delicious flavours today! **NOT SPONSORED**

Jaya (Spirit): I have been absolutely in love with Kid Krow by Conan Gray, for the past year and a half. I love the lyricism and the flow of the album. My favourite song has got to be ''Little League'' because of its coming of age feel and pace of the song. I also really love ''The Cut That Always Bleeds'' and ''Comfort Crowd'' because they're just really good songs. To conclude this album is an experience that everyone should have the pleasure to partake in.

A Year in Alyssa Grade F. 11 Film

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If we’re being honest, 2021 felt like a slow year for movies. Theaters had opened up early, allowing for all of us to go back to the movies: blockbusters were getting released at least every other week, and were making box office records post-pandemic. And yet, it still weirdly feels slow. There were some definite gems this year, as well as some absolutely awful films. This feature will include where to watch the movies, and maturity ratings. The recommended age is my own

opinion, and your parents might say otherwise! I saw a lot of movies this year, so without further ado, here is (my opinion on) the best blockbuster films of 2021.

Directed by Enrico Casarosa, Luca is a heartwarming coming-of-age film. Set in a seaside town on the Italian Riviera, it stars two kids, Luca and Alberto, who are experiencing an unforgettable summer where they learn what it means to grow up and have close friends. But the two have a dark secret: they are actually sea monsters from a world just below the surface. The film has stunning animation and lovable characters, as well as a simple yet effective storyline. It’s a wonderful film to remind you of summer in these cold winter months, and is overall just a really fun time.

Eternals

Rated: PG - Recommended for Grade 8+ Where to watch: In Theaters, Coming to Disney+ (as of issue's release date) CW: Violence, Mild Language, Brief Sexual Content

Eternals is Marvel’s most recent (and divisive) film directed by Cholé Zhao. It follows the story of the Eternals: immortal beings with superpowers, who have been living on Earth for thousands of years. They are forced to come together after an unexpected tragedy and fight the ‘deviants’ , an ancient enemy of mankind. The film introduces many new characters into the MCU, and seems like it will be playing a very large role in the upcoming Marvel phase 4 movies. The film got very mixed reviews. Despite receiving 48% on Rotten Tomatoes and 52% on Metacritic, it is still a must-watch for the cinematography and music alone. Even with the film's reviews being mixed, the film had many firsts for the MCU and marks a huge step for them. Phastos, one of the Eternals, is the first character shown in a same-sex relationship on screen as well as having the first on screen same-sex kiss. Two of the other Eternals, Makkari and

Kingo, hold the titles for the first deaf MCU superhero and first South Asian MCU superhero respectively.

Dune - Part 1

Rated: PG - Recommended for Grade 9+ Where to watch: Theaters (as of issue's release date) CW: Violence, Frightening Scenes

Directed by Denis Villeneuve, Dune was adapted from a book of the same name in 1965 written by Frank Herbert. It follows our main character, Paul Atreides, as he travels to the most dangerous planet in the universe to ensure the future of House Atreides. The film is split up into two parts, the second part set to be released sometime in 2023. The only way to describe Dune is that it’s boring but in a good way. The story takes a while to get going, but once it does, it's a thrilling ride. The cinematography brings the planet Arrakis, the main location of the film, to life with an incredible amount of detail. Accompanied by the cinematography are the effects. They do an amazing job of immersing the audience and are so well done to the point where it looks real. The music, done by Hans Zimmer, fits the tone of the movie and helps elevate the atmosphere of the film. The film is packed with a long list of incredibly talented actors who bring the characters to life. If you need an excuse to watch this movie, watch it for some of the brilliant performances from Timothee Chalamet, Zendaya (her amazing 30 seconds of screen time), Oscar Issac, and Stellan Skarsgård. It is a film with rich world building that feels personal yet has such a large scale to it.

Rated: PG - Recommended for Grade 8+ Where to watch: Disney+ CW: Violence, Mild Language

Directed by Destin Daniel Cretton, Shang-Chi and The Legend of The Ten Rings marks the 25th movie in the MCU. It follows Shang-Chi, a martialarts master, as he confronts the past he thought he left behind when he is drawn into the web of the Ten Rings organization. Unlike Eternals ShangChi received strong reviews, 92% on Rotten Tomatoes and 71% on Metacritic, while also being a milestone for the MCU. It is the first superhero movie with an Asian American lead. The film has easily one of the best soundtracks in a superhero film and has some of the best action scenes in the MCU. The action scenes are interesting and incredibly well choreographed. The cast is incredibly strong and I am personally very excited to see their return in future films. Overall, it is a strong introduction to one of the MCU’s new heroes and how he will affect the universe.

Ghostbusters: Afterlife

Rated: PG - Recommended for Grade 8+ Where to watch: Theaters (as of issue's release date)

Directed by Jason Reitman, Ghostbusters: Afterlife is a return to the world of Ghostbusters with a new set of characters. A single mom moves to a small town with her two teenage kids, and they discover their connection to the original ghostbusters. This movie has one of the funniest scenes I have ever seen, with a bunch of stay-puft marshmallow ghosts causing chaos in a Walmart. Paul Rudd’s character just sits there and watches as they run around the giant store. I can’t put my finger on why it was funny, but I enjoyed it! Aside from this, the movie isn’t super special. It has some interesting cinematography at times, but for the most part, it's a simple and enjoyable watch. The plot is really easy to follow, and the characters are likable enough to watch an entire movie for them. For any huge Ghostbusters fans, this movie is totally worth a watch: and for newcomers, it's able to stand on its own and still be enjoyable.

Bo Burnham: Inside

Rated: PG - Recommended for Grade 10+ Where to watch: Netflix CW: Language, Mentions of Depression, Suicide, Sex, Drugs and Alcohol

Created by comedian Bo Burnham during the height of the pandemic, Inside is a comedy special that was filmed entirely in one room. The special was created entirely by Burnham, and has an incredible use of technology to enhance the show. He can be seen switching lights mid-song, messing with camera equipment in the middle of the show, and having tech thrown all across the room. It creates a very honest tone to the show, and makes it feel really personal. The comedy is mostly told through music, most of which stands very well on its own outside of the special. It's an honest look into the mental toll that quarantine had for many, as it sees Burnham’s mental state decline throughout the filming of the show. Please note: it can be slightly distressing to watch, especially if you can relate to the messages communicated. Overall, it's an essential watch with fantastic music. Inside is a technical accomplishment, all created by one guy in one room.

ThankThankThank you!you!you!

As the editors of the third issue of the ROAR Zine, we would like to thank everyone who had a hand in the artwork and production of this issue. We appreciate all of the submissions and can 't wait to see what you create next. We look forward to seeing your beautiful art in the next issue!

- The Editors