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Saturday December 21st

Arts & Entertainment

“Gladiator II,” the highly anticipated sequel to the 2000 film “Gladiator,” opened on Nov. 22 (Photo courtesy of IMDb).

‘Gladiator II’ review: Are you not entertained?

By Ashley Ragone | Dec. 12

Director Ridley Scott’s “Gladiator” grossed over $400 million internationally, became one of the highest-grossing films of 2000 and won several Oscars. The Roman Empire war film was a roaring success and is still a beloved film by many. 24 years later, Scott is back for more. “Gladiator II” picks up 16 years after the events of the first film, with Lucius Verus Aurelius, played by Paul Mescal, living in the ancient African kingdom of Numidia. As he suits up for battle, General Marcus Acacius, played by Pedro Pascal, leads the Roman army and successfully invades, taking Lucius as a slave. His ties to the ruling class explored in the first film are not known by those around him.

Joey Graziadei and Jenna Johnson have been named “Dancing with the Stars” winner for Season 33 (Photo courtesy of IMDb).

The winners of ‘Dancing with the Stars’ Season 33 finale

By Abigail Holliday | Dec. 6

Kendall Hall was filled with music as the College’s Concert Band, Wind Orchestra and Wind Ensemble performed their last show of the semester on Nov. 22 (Photo by Mia Shea).

Echoes and horizons: TCNJ Bands’ final performance of the semester

By Mia Shea | Dec. 3

The documentary follows Presley’s life leading up to the famous 1968 comeback special, “Elvis” (Photo courtesy of IMDb).

‘Return of the King’: Netflix’s tribute to Elvis Presley’s iconic comeback

By Ashley Ragone | Dec. 3

Lamar chose the Buick GNX car to showcase this record’s connections to himself, his nostalgia and to celebrate his riches and success of this year (Photo courtesy of Apple Music).

‘GNX’: Kendrick Lamar’s nostalgic, west-coast inspired surprise album

By Andre Paras | Dec. 3

The film follows a 23-year-old sex worker from Brooklyn who goes by Anora or Ani, played by Mikey Madison (Photo courtesy of IMDb).

‘Anora’: A sex worker’s unpredictable fairytale turned harsh reality

By Andre Paras | Nov. 29

Season 6 of “Cobra Kai” brings all its fighters to the biggest stage in karate history, the Sekai Taikai tournament (Photo courtesy of IMDb).

Season 6 of ‘Cobra Kai’ brings about the ultimate showdown

By Heather Halperin | Nov. 29

The connections and past characters from the original “Karate Kid” movies that were brought back into this season gave it the nostalgic feeling that the iconic movies gave off. Bringing all the old characters back to the big screen at the biggest karate competition of all time was the right way to bring this show to a close.

This series picks up with another murder, which Charles, Mabel and Oliver must come together to solve once again (Photo courtesy of IMDb).

‘Only Murders in the Building’ mystery continues with more shocking twists

By Heather Halperin | Nov. 22

Season four of “Only Murders in the Building” continued with a new episode being released every week. This season premiered on Aug. 27, and the season finale occurred on Oct. 29. The three unlikely friends, Charles, Mabel and Oliver, are thrown into a mystery they never expected.

The second half of season four of “Outer Banks” continues with the Pogues’ goal of discovering Blackbread’s long lost treasure (Photo courtesy of IMDb).

Second half of ‘Outer Banks’ season four brings an unexpected ending

By Heather Halperin | Nov. 22

Netflix’s original series “Outer Banks” came back on Nov. 7 after a month-long wait with the second half of season four. As this season continues, this group of friends begins to realize that no matter how hard they try, getting out of the “G game,” their search for gold will never be a possibility for them. Their desire for treasure hunting will always be within them, pushing them back into the search whether they want it or not. This, however, will continue to affect their group in many different ways.

The 12 track record, titled “Shawn,” was released on Nov. 15. (Photo courtesy of Apple Music).

A journey of self realization: ‘Shawn’ by Shawn Mendes

By Mia Shea | Nov. 22

The record “Shawn” by Shawn Mendes contains 12 songs that recall what it’s like to find yourself and your own identity while struggling with the pressure around you. Mendes announced the record on X in July of this year. “Shawn,” released on Nov. 15, is his first release since his previous album “Wonder” in 2020.

Rapper A$AP Rocky faces 24 years for allegedly shooting highschool friend A$AP Relli (Photo Courtesy of Wikimedia Commons).

Rakim ‘A$AP Rocky’ Mayers to face trial in early 2025 for alleged shooting

By Abigail Holliday | Nov. 18

Rakim Mayers, known professionally as A$AP Rocky, could face 24 years in prison for the alleged shooting of childhood friend A$AP Relli, or Terell Ephron.

Young Thug was released from jail after switching his plea to guilty (Photo courtesy of Wikimedia Commons).

Young Thug pleads guilty in longest criminal case in Georgia history

By Abigail Holliday | Nov. 18

Jeffery Lamar Williams, known professionally as Young Thug, was released from county jail after pleading guilty to six gun and drug related charges. The Atlanta rapper and songwriter, known for his influence in the hip-hop and trap music genres, began his career in 2011 when he started releasing a set of mix tapes. He was later picked up and signed with Gucci Mane’s 1017 Records in 2013, according to IMDb.

The College’s Orchestra wowed audiences with their moving performance on Nov. 8 in the Mildred & Ernest E. Mayo Concert Hall (Photo by Andre Paras / Staff Photographer).

TCNJ Orchestra charms crowd with pertinent messages of the common good

By Mia Shea | Nov. 15

As a part of the School of the Arts and Communication’s new series, “Communication for the Common Good,” the College’s orchestra put on a show-stopping performance.

The music mogul leaves behind a legacy spanning over 70 years (Photo courtesy of Wikimedia Commons).

Music legend Quincy Jones dead at 91

By Sky Pinkett | Nov. 15

Grammy-award winning producer and music icon Quincy Jones died on Nov. 3 in his Los Angeles home at the age of 91. His family broke the news in a statement saying, “Tonight, with full but broken hearts, we must share the news of our father and brother Quincy Jones’ passing. And although this is an incredible loss for our family, we celebrate the great life that he lived and know there will never be another like him.”

Artists Simona Prives and Juyon Lee premiered their art in the College’s Art Gallery (Photo by Erin Reilly / Staff Photographer).

A look into TCNJ’s ‘Something between air and light’ exhibit

By Abigail Holliday | Nov. 14

Walking into the College’s Art Gallery, you will find the mesmerizing sculptures and canvases by artists Simona Prives and Juyon Lee. Open until Dec. 6, the “Something between air and light” exhibit features prints and sculptures made from glass, resin, lights and images, all brought together to illustrate a sense of time and space.

TCNJ Musical Theatre’s “Carrie” ran in the Don Evans Black Box Theater from Nov. 6 to 9 (Photo courtesy of Anna Holland).

TCNJ Musical Theatre presents ‘Carrie: The Musical’

By Ashley Ragone | Nov. 14

TCNJ Musical Theatre delivered a dark and emotionally charged performance to the stage with their latest production, “Carrie: The Musical.” Based on Stephen King’s 1974 novel, the show discusses themes of isolation, religious oppression and the supernatural. The musical centers around Carrie White, played by sophomore elementary education and English double major Megan Hurley, a shy high school student whose growing telekinetic powers and pressure from her God-fearing mother outcast her from her peers.

Tyler Glenn, the lead singer of the band, drew everyone in with his energy, making it easy for first-time listeners to enjoy their music (Photo by Elizabeth Gladstone / Multimedia Coordinator).

‘Everybody Talks’ about Neon Trees’ fall concert at TCNJ

By Alena Bitonti | Nov. 13

Neon Trees began their performance with “Losing My Head” from their newest album “Sink Your Teeth,” released on Sept. 20.

“Here” uses artificial intelligence aging and de-aging to cover this long-term relationship between Hanks and Wright (Photo courtesy of IMDb).

‘Here’: An ambitious and emotional one-shot angle film

By Andre Paras | Nov. 13

Film director Robert Zemeckis has reunited with the stars and crew of “Forrest Gump” for his latest movie, “Here,” released on Oct. 31. This is Zemeckis’ fifth film collaboration with actor Tom Hanks. The movie’s gimmick is that it’s all filmed at one spot, with the same angle for the film’s entire duration. The camera only moves once, and as a result, it feels like a play directly adapted to a movie.

Adam Brody and Kristen Bell spark chemistry in ‘Nobody Wants This’

By Olivia Harrison | Nov. 9

The series follows Joanne and Noah through their daily lives, exploring their chemistry and their interfaith struggles. Through comedic banter, viewers are able to see the true connection between Joanne and Noah. The humorous situations and dialogue allow the characters to interact with each other spontaneously, showing the audience a sense of authenticity.

“What A Relief,” Gavin’s first solo project, was released on Oct. 25 (Photo courtesy of Apple Music).

Katie Gavin is melancholic and reflective: ‘What A Relief’ review

By Ashley Ragone | Nov. 9

The album captures a pivotal chapter in Gavin’s life, marked by what she calls a desire for connection and facing “all the obstacles that stood in my way…patterns of isolation or even boredom with the real work of love,” according to her interview with Line of Best Fit magazine. The songs rely heavily on acoustic guitar and light drums for a stripped-down feeling.

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