Day: March 1, 2025

Movie Review by Suvan S.

The Lion King (1994)
Rated G, 1 hour 28 minutes

Disney’s “The Lion King,” released in 1994 and directed by Roger Allers and Rob Minkoff, stands as a monumental achievement in animation and storytelling. This epic coming-of-age tale set against the breathtaking backdrop of the African savanna has captivated audiences with its rich narrative, memorable characters, and timeless music.

The story follows Simba (voiced by Matthew Broderick), a young lion destined to become king of the Pride Lands. His journey from an innocent cub to a mature leader is marked by tragedy and triumph. After the treacherous murder of his father, Mufasa (James Earl Jones), by his uncle Scar (Jeremy Irons), Simba flees into exile, burdened by guilt and grief. With the help of his newfound friends, Timon (Nathan Lane) and Pumbaa (Ernie Sabella), Simba learns to embrace his true identity and returns to reclaim his rightful place as king.

The characters in “The Lion King” are iconic. Mufasa embodies wisdom and strength, while Scar is a masterful villain, driven by jealousy and ambition. Simba’s journey is deeply personal, reflecting universal themes of self-discovery and redemption. Timon and Pumbaa provide comic relief and impart the carefree philosophy of “Hakuna Matata,” adding depth to Simba’s character development.


It is a visual masterpiece, with its stunning animation bringing the African savanna to life in vivid detail. The animators’ meticulous attention to the movement and behavior of animals adds authenticity and charm. The film’s iconic scenes, such as the wildebeest stampede and the presentation of Simba atop Pride Rock, are rendered with breathtaking beauty and dramatic flair. In conclusion “The Lion King” is more than just an animated film; it is a cinematic experience that combines artistry, music, and storytelling to create a profound and enduring tale. Its exploration of universal themes through the lens of an epic adventure ensures its place as one of Disney’s greatest achievements.

Book Review by Carolyn W.

I Speak Boy by Jessica Brody
(2021) 368 pages

Final Rating: 7/10

Blurb:
After a matchmaking attempt for her best friend, Harper, goes wrong, Emmy is fed up. Why are boys so hard to figure out? But then something amazing happens–she wakes up with a new app on her phone: iSpeak Boy! Suddenly Emmy has the information every girl wants to know–the super-secret knowledge of how boys think . . . and who they like!

Now Emmy is using her magical app to make matches left and right. But can she use it to help Harper, the only person who doesn’t seem to buy into Emmy’s “gift”? And when her secret gets out and the app ends up in the wrong hands, can Emmy figure out how to undo the damage she’s caused?

Review:
Boys are complicated. I’ve dealt with enough boys in my life to know that. That’s why iSpeak Boy is perfect for a phone-obsessed, totally romantic girl named Emmy.

At first, Emmy was not my cup of tea. Although I’m also a romantic person, who has embarrassingly also tried matchmaking with my friends as well, I found Emmy to be immature and a bit too addicted to her phone, even as a seventh grader. Regardless of how she was at the beginning of the book, I believe she matured at the end and learned valuable lessons on how to be a better friend and a better person.

I think having a power such as being capable of knowing information that would rather be kept private can be devastating to many people if used wrongly. And Emmy, being the person that she is, uses it however she wants, making so many mistakes along the way to a point where it is overwhelming. Despite that, I enjoyed this book more than I thought I would, perhaps because I’ve always been interested in mindreading. 

Overall, the concept was very cute and fun to read, but it didn’t make any lasting impact on me.