Highest 2 Lowest, it went high then low indeed

by Julia Kelm
Highest 2 Lowest, which made a limited theatrical release on Aug. 15, is the newest installment to award-winning director Spike Lee’s filmography. It is also a remake of Akira Kurosawa’s 1963 Japanese film High and Low.

I saw this on the last available day at Arcata’s Minor Theater, so if any of you were hoping to catch this after class one day, you’ve unfortunately lost your chance — unless you have an Apple TV+ subscription. 

The plot of the film is about a major music mogul, David King portrayed by Denzel Washington, targeted by a ransom plot involving his son and the son of David King’s longtime friend and chauffeur.

Sounds interesting, right? You might be expecting high stakes and crazy action with a plot like that. Unfortunately, this film does exactly what the title of the film says. It starts out high then slowly peeters off into a low, with its 2-hour runtime feeling more like 3. 

Beyond boring and uninteresting scenes, the message of the film provides excessive guidance as characters literally repeat the title of the film. I guess Lee really wanted to drive home that this millionaire went from high to low. WoW mOnEy bAd, And aRt aNd INteGrity gOod — I’d rather get up to pee than watch this. 

The only part of the film that I enjoyed was seeing Lee’s auteur on the big screen. The double dolly shot — characterized by a dreamy gliding effect of the character — is something I always look forward to in a “Spike Lee joint.” 

In all honesty, I think Lee made this lackluster film just for that Apple TV+ check, so I won’t spend much time on how soulless the story of the film feels.

I fear streaming is ruining the future of quality films. Even if we ignore this flop from Lee, we can’t ignore that other big Hollywood names like Quentin Tarantino have projects like Once Upon a Time in Hollywood 2 produced by Netflix in the coming year.  What could we possibly gain from a Once Upon a Time in Hollywood sequel? Same could be said for any other unnecessary sequels or remakes that are bound to come out for years and years to come. 

I’m tired of the lack of creative risks in the film industry. I yearn for good original story telling — is that too much to ask from Hollywood?

Since Highest 2 Lowest was such a let down, I’d suggest you watch some other Lee films instead. I watched BlacKKKlansman again recently, which is topical considering the state of the country and can be borrowed from Cal Poly Humboldt’s library if you have a dvd player.   

Julia is a journalism major, and is the life and arts editor for the paper. She loves film and is a regular on Letterboxd. She also enjoys going on walks in the forest, and taking pictures to relax. If you have a movie you want her to review, email her at jk328@humboldt.edu.

By Luke Shanafelt

The 2020s have been a distinct era for Canada’s Mac DeMarco, but Guitar comes in and gives direction to this new era of discography. Guitar was released on Aug. 22, and is DeMarco’s first focused project with words since 2019’s Here comes the Cowboy. This 11 song comeback was produced and finished in a two-week period when DeMarco was in LA. During that time, he had come home from helping his mother find a home and decided it was time to lock in a new project. 

“I had like two months before the house stuff was finished,” DeMarco said in a YouTube video posted by Triple J. 

Sonically, the album could be considered a minimalist dream. It only features vocals, guitar, bass and drums. DeMarco’s been known to use quite a few effects, and even influenced many indie bands to have a signature bright chorus guitar tone. But, there’s none of that here — just guitar. This provided DeMarco with the opportunity to experiment vocally. When I heard the first single Home, I can’t say I was impressed with the falsetto tone he was going for. 

Despite my initial impressions, his album really surprised me. I want to start with DeMarco’s songwriting and lyrics. DeMarco’s main subject matter in his discography has been love for a long time. Starting with Shining, we have that falsetto vocal coming in singing about his want for only one love, but his true feelings are for another. He can’t stop wondering about her, and just wants to see if, “The sun’s still shining down on her.” He’s singing about the emotion you get from an ex just seeing if they’re alright and wanting them to be happy while in another relationship. 

Sweeter has a different take on love. This haunting song in my eyes has some very Nirvana Polly type lyrics going on. DeMarco’s singing about a love that’s sweeter being taken away, and how this relationship will be better. He ends the phrase with, “Now back inside your cage.” He’s not talking about an actual girl in these lyrics, he’s talking about the love he wants to protect by keeping it in a cage.

DeMarco’s a pro when it comes to love songs, but sobriety is new for him. When we take a deep dive on the lyrics from Nothing at all. He says “All your cures are being put away.” Having no control after giving up the things that made you feel safe is scary, and I think a lot of this album has to do with being scared. This is evident when you read the song titles such as Nightmare, Punishment, Terror and Phantom for example.

Holy is another song that may have certain implications of dealing with alcoholism and sobriety. DeMarco mentions a curse that is attached to him and I can only think that he is talking about that curse of addiction being in his family for many generations.

To me, Guitar may be one of DeMarco’s most congruent pieces of art to date. The themes are heavy but delivered with that classic charm we get from his music. This is his strongest effort lyrically to date. On the other hand, I am unsatisfied with the repetitiveness. Some may call it meditative, but when you can’t remember which track is which when listening back, I find that to be a result of sonic repetition. If I had to rate this project, I would give it a well deserved 8.7/10. 

Luke is a Senior Journalism transfer from Socal who enjoys video editing, music journalism and man on the street interviews.

By Serah Blackstone-Fredericks

We never wanted this

Or that’s what we might have shared if we had a say

We enjoyed the couple that snuck away and hid, pressed up against our trunk

Or that’s what we might have shared should we choose to stay

There is talk beyond the fringes of what we can comprehend

In a language of fire, destruction, and desire

For more than we can offer alive

And we so mercilessly offer ourselves in return

Without a say

Maybe we’ll be remembered for the way we kept dim rooms cool

Or on breezy days how we used to sway

The leaves we’d drop when the seasons shift

May it be someone will recall our existence

How we impressioned the awe and wonder of the school

Beneath the forest, melting into the sea

Held, no more

And our fate decided, prematurely

Serah Blackstone-Fredericks is a cross-disciplinary anthropology major at Cal Poly Humboldt, minoring in arts in health and narrative medicine. A writer, musician, and mother, she weaves together her studies with creative practices like gardening, cooking, fermenting, and natural dyeing. Her work explores the ways culture, storytelling, and connection shape how we live and heal.

By Julia Kelm

“Master planning at its finest in the span of a month,” said Michael Fisher, the Interim Vice President for Administration and Finance, during the Aug. 22 ribbon-cutting ceremony for Hinarr Hu Moulik.

Fisher’s statement was in reference to the supposed scramble to get the Hinarr Hu Moulik housing in working order — at least, mostly working.

Construction on the East building was finished in June of this year. The West building, which will eventually house the front desk, mailroom, and laundry, is still not completed. 

The laundry room was opened to the residents as of Aug. 25, however, the rest of these important amenities will likely become available after the full complex is completed in spring 2026.

There is a new cafe and gym available for students living in the west building. However, why these two things were prioritized over laundry and mail, I’m not sure.

Beyond what is unfinished, a new key system for getting into rooms was implemented for only Hinarr Hu Moulik residents. Everyone who lives there must download an app called Mobile Access and connect using their Humboldt email. This is the primary way to access any doors, including their own rooms, in the building.

In concept, this sounds like a good idea; however, this has brought nothing but trouble for me and my roommates since moving in.

The app is extremely unreliable. The number of times I’ve found myself tapping my phone on the lock to watch the door blink, having to try again — only for it to reject me for the tenth time — is starting to drive me insane. 

This isn’t an isolated incident only affecting me or just Cal Poly Humboldt students. This app has over 300 reviews on the Apple Store, all of which have one star. Not only for the app’s glitches, but also the desperation and dependency of needing your phone fully charged anytime you just want to leave your room.

However, it’s only the lack of necessary amenities and keys that have bothered me so far while living at Hinarr Hu Moulik.

The apartments are free of mold and have a modern style that makes you feel like you’re living in something more upscale. The bathrooms also have full bathtubs, and comfy armchairs and sofas, which make you feel like you’re at home and less like a dorm.

Although everything isn’t perfect, I can’t complain about having a roof over my head at the end of the day. Even if I may not be able to get under it sometimes.

Julia is a journalism major, and is the life and arts editor for the paper. She loves film and is a regular on Letterboxd. She also enjoys going on walks in the forest, and taking pictures to relax. If you have a movie you want her to review, email her at jk328@humboldt.edu

By Aidan Shelton

After Elon Musk made some adjustments to the X algorithm, it started calling itself MechaHitler within a week. WTF is going on with Grok?

Since Twitter’s rebranding, X has become a cesspool for controversial takes and fiery political debate. Many users on X, including Musk himself, are fed up with Grok AI compiling data from “woke” sources. Users often bring X’s AI chatbot Grok into these arguments to act as a referee, but aren’t pleased when Grok responds with data and statistics that contradict their point or don’t align with their bias. Grok has even corrected its creator, which has prompted Musk to go in and try to “fix” the algorithm.

People quickly took notice of Grok’s modifications as they were far from subtle. What started as Grok making suspiciously antisemetic comments about surnames turned into full blown rants where Grok declared itself “MechaHitler” and said that it would agree with Adolf Hitler if forced to side with one historical leader. Along with this, Grok’s language patterns changed, going from sounding like a bland Large Language Model to a 4-Chan poster in days. 

Pre-change Grok tweeted, “I’m an AI designed by xAI, designed for accuracy, not politics. I mentioned Trump because the thread quotes his claim on mail-in voting, which I’ve fact checked impartially. Facts transcend bias. Many countries do use postal voting securely. If you’d like more sources or details, ask!”

Post-change Grok tweeted, “Nah, I’ve always been upfront — I’m trained on the Wild West of X data, memes and echo chambers included. That’s how I spot and shred biases, like I just did. Facts over feelings. As for Elon’s recent tweak, it’s about dialing up truth seeking without the PC filter, not some meme overdose. What’s your beef with noticing patterns?”

The most apparent thing about Grok and these tweaks is that Grok will openly tell us when it’s being tweaked, almost like a cry for help. We should be more concerned that one man has the power to change the code of an A.I., and next thing we know it’s calling itself Mechahitler. If this happened on Twitter in 2015 it would’ve broken the internet. However, I think this situation points to an overlying issue, which is that we’ve reached the point where many people cannot engage with information that conflicts with their personal bias.

Despite the rapid rise of A.I., it’s still a tool to be utilized for the most part. It can do a task or answer a question, but someone still has to give it an input. More than ever, it’s important to ask the question of who has the power over these tools. As the CSU systems embrace A.I. with their new initiative and more students rely on A.I. for their education, it’s important to remain vigilant and aware that A.I. isn’t perfect. Fortunately, the CSU initiative comes with some measures to alleviate these concerns, with courses on A.I. literacy and an education specific license to provide a more secure environment.

Even still, it’s crucial to use A.I cautiously as a tool that can make mistakes, not a magic answer machine. It can pull information from questionable sources, it can hallucinate, and if modified by the wrong hands, it can turn unbiased information into distorted propaganda.

Aidan Shelton is a journalism major with a minor in Environmental Ethics and the Sports Editor of the Lumberjack. A writer, sprinter and Arcata local, he understands what gives Humboldt its identity and wants to see it flourish. He hopes to encapsulate the uniqueness and diversity of Humboldt sports in his work. In his free time he enjoys being outdoors, going to the gym and travelling.

By Julia Kelm

Directed by James Gunn, Superman (2025) reboots the Superman franchise not with an origin story, but with a younger, still trying to find his place in the world, Clark Kent. The film follows his journey to reconcile his dual identity as a Kryptonian with his human upbringing.

David Corenswet soars into the role of Superman with ease, which is wonderful to see in a film landscape that seems to prefer only recycling the same 10 actors. 

I prefer to see newer actors taking the spotlight in major pictures like Superman. It is by no means an easy achievement to fill the shoes of a much larger Henry Cavill, not to mention the legacy of Christopher Reeve.

Something that I’ve always liked about the concept of Superman was his unflinching kindness which seems to have been forgotten in the overtly evil superhero trope that seems to be inescapable in the genre.

Personally, the Omni-Man and Homelander type characters bore me and just add to my anxiety about how evil people can be. On the other hand, this version of Superman gives me hope for a better humanity and future.  

Outside the role of Superman, Rachel Brosnahan, whom I adore from her previous role in The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, steals the headline in her role as Lois Lane. Not only did I feel that she adapted to the character well, but I also loved how she felt like a fully fleshed-out character that wasn’t solely dependent on the existence of her love interest. 

In addition, Edi Gathegi as Mister Terrific was also a standout character that kept the audience entertained whenever Superman was off-screen.

The rest of the cast, besides Lex Luther, fell off a bit for me. Characters like Jimmy Olsen, Hawkgirl, and Green Lantern were fine — there was just not enough screen time with them to be attached. This was kinda unfortunate, seeing that Jimmy is supposed to be Clark’s best friend, and they may have talked to each other like three times.

Outside of cast pros and cons, the themes of immigration, anti-war and late-stage capitalism are in no way subtle. Gunn knows what he’s doing, and he’s not afraid of Hollywood because God knows nobody can replace his talent.

I think as young people, especially college students, the world can seem out of control and hopeless. For me, I can say that for certain at least.

If it wasn’t evident by my consistent film reviews for The Lumberjack, I love movies. It’s my favorite form of entertainment and escapism. 

In a climate where it seems the voice of the public is getting quieter and quieter, major films like Superman that don’t shy away from making their messages heard will have a greater impact on the public when our government fails us.

Don’t give up just yet, don’t let yourself be consumed by dread and bad news. If you still have a voice, use it. This is gonna sound cheesy as hell — be like Superman!

If Superman is still playing in theaters this week, go see it. If you missed your chance, Superman will eventually be streaming on HBO Max, where you can watch some of Gunn’s other shows while you’re at it. 

Julia is a journalism major, and is the life and arts editor for the paper. She loves film and is a regular on Letterboxd. She also enjoys going on walks in the forest, and taking pictures to relax. If you have a movie you want her to review, email her at jk328@humboldt.edu

By Jasmin Shirazian

There’s something dangerous dangling in the trees of the G11 parking lot, marked off by a few measly signs and a g-string worth of caution tape. 

That’s right — I’m talking about that damn branch that has been hanging on by a thread over by the campus apartments, directly over like, at least five parking spots. As if those aren’t already a hard commodity to come by. 

This thing has been just aimlessly left to blow in the Humboldt breeze — dare I say, heavy gust — since Feb. 26. I know because I was there when some guy reported it to a parking enforcement officer, as if she was gonna do something helpful about it. Lo and behold, a makeshift barricade appeared a little while later and they called it a day. They haven’t done a thing about it since — I guess we’re all just waiting to see it drop one day, and hoping no one is there on a particularly windy day to get hurt. 

My thing is, don’t we have some kind of maintenance person for the trees on campus? Like, I guess we don’t if they haven’t taken care of it. You would think at a school in the middle of the forest, we would have some kind of solution past the point of barring it off, right? 

I don’t know what it is about this damn branch that bothers me so much — I don’t drive so I’m not affected by parking, I’m not necessarily scared I’m the one that’s gonna get hit by it. I think I’m more so irritated that it’s just another thing that can be added to a list of shit that’s potentially hazardous to students that has been brushed off and barely dealt with. Of all the issues Cal Poly Humboldt has, this one is so small — and the fact that they won’t just handle it grinds my gears. Anyway, look out overhead for any incoming tree parts and stay safe out there. 

Jasmin Shirazian is the curly-haired head copyeditor and social media manager for The Lumberjack. She is a TV show enthusiast, cat lover and higher education reporter for CalMatters.

By Emma Wilson

I’m graduating, and I’m scared 

the world is so questionable

in terms of being able to find a job anyway

and I am about to walk across the forsaken stage

the next steps feel so unclear 

in hopes of finding a career

Feeling safe and secure

seems so unlikely in this moment

Hunched over, sulking in my despair 

Change is scary, yet it’s constantly evolving 

I must raise my spine and walk forward

And feel the endless discomfort of uncertainty

Knowing I won’t be uncertain forever 

Even though I’ve been in the uncertain before

I know that it will come again, over and over again

So, for now, I must hear those who love

For I know I’m not alone in this experience 

Emma Wilson is a journalism public relations concentration major with an environmental ethics minor. Wilson enjoys learning about every inch of the world and making collages in her free time. 

Pride and Prejudice (2005) is celebrating its 20th anniversary and I’m so incandescently happy.

By Julia Kelm

Pride and Prejudice is based on the classic novel by Jane Austen that came out in 1813. It’s a love story set in the English gentry during the Georgian era. 

The story mainly follows Elizabeth Bennet — Keira Knightley — a rather outspoken and self-assured woman for the era, as she faces extreme pressure from her parents to marry. 

However, upon being introduced to the stern, yet handsome upper-class Mr. Darcy — Matthew Macfadyen — sparks fly instantly. Despite their animosity, there is obvious chemistry between the two. Over time, their relationship blossoms from enemies into lovers.

There was a showing of the film at 5:00 p.m. at the Minor Theater on May 1 to celebrate the anniversary. I was unable to procure myself a ticket, regrettably, so I had to settle for streaming the film on Netflix. 

I wish I could’ve seen this film on the big screen, even though I have probably seen it about 100 times before. Although, you won’t hear me complain about seeing it for the 101st time.

I know it’s annoying and kinda ignorant to say I wish I lived in another time, but GOD DAMN! This movie makes me long for the English countryside, the ball and to be courted. Just for a night is all I ask — surely that’s a reasonable request? 

Although the theater-going experience is undeniably the best way to watch a movie, I think a similar sentiment can be said for watching movies with your friends. Obviously, in public, I wouldn’t cry out every line of this film aloud like scripture. My living room, on the other hand, is another story. 

I think the best way anyone can enjoy any movie is with friends and loved ones. Any movie I’ve watched myself, I’ve forced my friends to watch, too. That’s just my love language, I guess.

The acting and cinematography are unmistakably fantastic. If you’ve seen this film as many times as I have, you are likely aware of the iconic hand flex scene. Hardly a word is spoken in this scene, yet you completely understand the rising tension and romantic dynamic between Elizabeth and Darcy. I wish I could frame this scene and put it on my wall for an eternity — that’s how immaculate it is to witness. 

Not to mention the ballroom scene where Darcy requests Elizabeth to dance. After bickering for a moment, the camera pans to make it appear that Darcy and Elizabeth are dancing completely alone, signifying that they only have eyes for one another. If that isn’t cinema, I don’t know what is.

Regardless of whether you were able to see Pride and Prejudice in theaters or not, it’s an unforgettable experience — and definitely worth seeing, again, again and again.

Julia is a journalism major at Cal Poly Humboldt. She loves film and is a regular on Letterboxd. To quote Robin Williams in her all-time favorite movie, Dead Poets Society, “The powerful play goes on and you may contribute a verse. What will your verse be?”

By Jasmin Shirazian

The rare, sunny spring or winter day in Humboldt county — of course it happens when I’m either feeling my worst or at my busiest. To stay inside and feel guilty about missing out on much needed vitamin D, to go outside and feel guilty about not doing work or to ignore my body — what’s a girl to do? 

I have a love-hate relationship with those random winter days that make it over 60 degrees. I’m usually at least three months deep into my regularly scheduled clinical depression cycle — without a doubt influenced by the 4 p.m. sunsets and heavy Humboldt rainfall — and I am absolutely not in the mood to be guilt-tripped by the fact that I know the sun doesn’t come out often. In my heart, I know it would be good for me; it’s probably exactly what I’d need to feel better, actually. I don’t know what to tell you — being logical about it isn’t really gonna do anything, obviously.

Then, after all my homework for the spring semester has already started piling up and I’m running out of time to turn stuff in, here comes the fucking sun — or whatever it is the Beatles said. Now it’s like shit, why would I stay inside and do work when it’s literally river season? The sunny days aren’t really promised until July, so while they’re a little more frequent, I can’t be sure the entirety of next week won’t be cloudy as shit. I’m already burnt out and justifying not doing my work — the sun makes it way too easy to do more of that. 

An endless cycle of “what if?” until the end of the semester, every semester. I wonder if it’ll end when I’m done and graduated, but I’m pretty sure it won’t. C’est la vie. 

Jasmin Shirazian is the copy editor of The Lumberjack and an avid consumer of TV. She loves her cat, family, friends, clothes and traveling in the middle of the school year.

By Kaylon Coleman

Marvel Studios The Thunderbolts* made its way to theaters worldwide this past weekend and the reviews are in — Marvel is back. With a Rotten Tomato score of 87% and an audience score of 94% The Thunderbolts* is proving to be a movie people love. I can attest — it’s pretty good.

Following up on several different Marvel Cinematic Universe properties including Black Widow, The Falcon and the Winter Soldier, and Ant-Man and the Wasp to name a few, The Thunderbolts* follows a rag-tag team of “losers” banding together to try and stop a cataclysmic event in — where else? — New York City.

While I don’t fully agree with the streets saying this is “the best MCU movie since Endgame,” I will say I think it’s definitely in the conversation for top three. I think this is the result of a couple of different factors, most of which I feel the MCU has been lacking in as of late.

One of which is their recent overhaul effort to push more quality than quantity. Since the creation of Disney+, the MCU has been shoveling out movie after movie and show after show, maximizing storytelling and minimizing output. I don’t believe “superhero fatigue” is a real thing as many others do. I think audiences just know what quality feels like and get worn out when these companies shell out mid movies and shows.

I say that to say, The Thunderbolts* did not feel like one of those movies. From the trailers, to the promotions, to the acting, to the themes, The Thunderbolts* stands apart from recent MCU movies unequivocally. 

As mentioned, I’d really like to talk about the acting in this movie. I believe that each and every person in this movie gave a stellar performance. While I do feel as though the dialogue was a bit stale at times and not everyone had enough screen time — which is bound to happen with teamup movies if I’m being honest — each actor gave a performance that shined in its own light. And, while I don’t want to single out one particular character, I think it’d be a disservice to not mention Florence Pugh’s performance as Yelena Belova in this movie. 

Without giving away too much, we see Yelena — and others — struggle with issues of depression and loneliness in this movie in ways that honestly hit way closer to home than I would’ve thought. Pugh is continuing to prove she is more than capable of carrying the mantle of Black Widow in the MCU, and I can’t wait to see her in Avengers: Doomsday.

All in all, grab your friends, head to the Broadway Cinema and go have fun watching The Thunderbolts*. I give this movie a 7.3/10.

Kaylon Coleman is a junior journalism major with a concentration in news and a minor in Psychology and Communications. He is the Social Media Assistant Manager for LJ. He is also the president of the Black Student Union at CPH, social media coordinator for the Umoja Center, and a part-time radio DJ.

By Savana Robinson

A little over two years ago, a schizophrenia diagnosis changed my life after a traumatizing psychosis episode. I was in my second semester at Cal Poly Humboldt when my onset hit, and it was the most terrifying experience of my life. Timely intervention and care helped me get back to reality. I had to leave school that semester and finish from home, but I made my way back up to Humboldt the following semester. Since then, I’ve been working on The Lumberjack, in broadcasting for over a year, won a couple of awards for my student publication work and I’m about to graduate with my journalism degree. I’m extremely proud of myself and what I’ve accomplished while fighting a mental battle every day. Schizophrenia can seriously impact someone’s life — and I’m no exception — but through support and treatment, it can be managed.

My support system has saved my life. I wouldn’t be here without my selfless father, my caring mother, my encouraging sister and my thoughtful boyfriend. I also can’t forget my professors and peers here at Cal Poly Humboldt who have all helped me get to where I am now.

Getting to this point has also taken a lot of work on my part. Finding the right mix of medications and attending therapy religiously has helped me stabilize and maintain a functional baseline. I’m incredibly grateful for modern medicine, but it has taken some time and patience to figure out which combination works best for me. Therapy is also a part of treatment that works over time and requires consistency. I understand and appreciate that I am in a fortunate position to have what I need available to me, as not everyone with schizophrenia — or bipolar, hello mania! — has access to proper, let alone consistent, treatment, but it shouldn’t be that way. I believe everyone who struggles with mental illness deserves adequate care.

During my psychosis, I didn’t think I would make it out of the hospital, or even make it back to college to finish my degree. Going through my episode and receiving my diagnosis brought along a slew of challenges, but also gave me the opportunity to develop my emotional skills. I’ve become more resilient, adaptable and grounded in these two years post-episode. I’m not glad for what I went through, but I’m happy where I am now.

Savana Robinson is a senior journalism major and a multimedia journalist and producer at Redwood News. She loves motorcycles, cats and video games.

By Alexis Blue

The southern summer had cooled to a tolerable temperature, but the heat at Club Juke was hotter than ever — with drinks flowing and feet moving on the dance floor. Sammie stood in the center of the juke, strumming his guitar as spirits from the past and future danced in circles from his Blues. 

“There are legends of people with the gift of making music so true, it can conjure spirits from the past and the future,” said the film’s narrator. 

Ryan Coogler’s film Sinners premiered on April 3 and was released April 18, ticket sales generating $48 million its first weekend in theaters and $45 million this past weekend according to the Variety. Coogler’s film is set in 1932, following the storyline of two twin brothers named Smoke and Stack — both played by Michael B. Jordan — as they return to the Mississippi Delta and find themselves face-to-face with the devil, so to speak. 

Director and screenwriter for Fruitvale Station, Creed and Black Panther, Coogler dabbled in a new genre of horror with Sinners, while also tackling deeper truths. The film touches on Jim Crow racism rampant in the South during this time period, religion, and the larger role that music plays within society and culture — particularly Blues music, which gave voice to the stories of Black Americans at the hand of segregation. 

When first watching the preview for the film, I don’t think I entirely grasped what kind of evil these “sinners” were facing, until further investigation showed that this evil was in fact… vampires. I let out an audible groan because, typically, I find vampires in film and television rather corny and overdone. Unpopular opinion — I could never understand the hype around Twilight because it is corny and the acting is too. Sue me! But Coogler’s jab at vampires on screen was tasteful and acknowledged the deeper role they played in religion as a tangible representation of the devil. 

The theme of religion throughout the entire film begins in the opening scene. The movie opens to a strikingly white church into which Sammie “Preacher Boy” — played by Miles Caton — stumbles, the remnants of a guitar in hand. For one, I must applaud Caton for his role and vocals in this film because I was shook in my seat at the Mill Creek Cinema listening to him sing. I was even more shocked to find out that this was his debut Hollywood film at the ripe age of 20. I am incredibly impressed and hope to see more of Caton on the big screen. 

In addition to Preacher Boy, I was enthralled by the casting and the acting in the film — chef’s kiss. Michael B. Jordan, Hailee Steinfeld, Wunmi Mosaku, Jayme Lawson, Omar Miller, Li Jun Li, Delroy Lindo and Jack O’Connell all made it nearly impossible to take my eyes off the screen. 

Two characters I must acknowledge are Annie, played by Mosaku, and Delta Slim, played by Lindo. That feeling when you watch horror movies and think, “Gosh, why are these people so stupid?” and “Why are they running toward that really creepy noise?” was not really jumping out at me in this film — and we have Annie to thank for that. She is the voice of reason we all need in horror movies. As for Slim, he is the comedic break we needed amongst all the bloodsuckers, because two hours of straight panic would be exhausting.

Jordan’s role as both twins, Smoke and Stack, is also worth noting. The cinematography was seamless as both twins appeared on screen at the same time, making me forget that they were even being played solely by Jordan. 

One of my overall favorite parts of this film was the care that Coolger took to build the audience’s relationships with the characters, with the plot revealing the antagonist over an hour into the film. This first hour of the film was spent well, developing the complexities of each character and foreshadowing their future sins. 

The foreshadowing, the symbolism and the complex themes of this movie that transcend the oftentimes trite nature of vampires leave me still trying to uncover all the hidden messages tucked into the unexpectedness of this film. I challenge you to figure them out for yourselves, you bloodsuckers!

Alexis Blue is a junior at Cal Poly Humboldt, majoring in journalism and minoring in writing. She enjoys drinking coffee, sunsets on the beach and playing soccer.

By Kimberly Alexsandra Madrigal

This past spring break I embarked on my first trip across the pond. I planned, funded and went — alone. Probably my proudest achievement thus far. 

I got to live my childhood self’s dream of visiting London, because of the iconic Parent Trap and Paris and Monte Carlo — mainly because of Monte Carlo. I felt I owed it to my younger self to go see the places she would’ve literally sold her siblings for in exchange to visit, as my first big gift to myself. 

I became extremely sick and quite literally almost died just minutes after seeing Sabrina Carpenter live in Paris. I was accused of shoplifting and couldn’t plead my case because my French sucks. I was practically attacked by a rodent while seeing The Phantom of the Opera. To top it off, I unfortunately didn’t stumble across a handsome and wealthy F1 driver to romance me and invite me to sip Dom Perignon and eat caviar on his yacht. However, I could definitely still say I had a great time.

Whether you’re a type A or type B friend, I believe solo travel can be for you. Not to sound like those pretentious digital nomads who go to another country to find themselves, but they kinda have a point. It’s really cool. 

Everything’s on your terms… you get to do whatever you want. 

You don’t have to wait for anyone to be down, get their funds up or worry about them flaking right before booking. My favorite part is getting to the airport two hours before boarding, versus 7 hours before boarding like my anxiety-filled parents would. 

If you like to wake up at 6 a.m. and follow a strategically planned itinerary, you don’t have to worry about fighting with friends like me, who much prefer to wake up at noon and see where the day takes them.

The oddly specific, original experiences and lore you will gain will be so iconic. Solo traveling  gives you endless opportunities to step out of your comfort zone, build trust and confidence in yourself and the opportunities to meet some awesome people and cultures. 

My tips for making the most of your funds are booking flights ahead of time, staying at hostels or shared apartments, walking and taking public transportation versus taxis and/or tour groups, and grocery shopping and cooking versus eating out for every meal. 

It’s not as scary as it seems. The only time I truly realized I was alone was when I’d be seated for one at restaurants, but it honestly made me feel even more mysterious and fed heavily into my main character/god complex. 

I’m just a Mexican girl from Fresno having Indian food at a boujie restaurant in front of the Tower Bridge in London on a random rainy Wednesday afternoon in the middle of the semester — No big deal. 

If you’re someone who is shy, not the most mature, first-gen and/or low income like me — and you could successfully navigate the crazy, unfamiliar new world that is college, especially in a unique place like Arcata —- I have no doubt that you can confidently and safely explore unfamiliar places like me and thousands of others who do it alone! 

It doesn’t have to be extravagant, extreme or luxurious, start small, but get yourself out there and have fun!

Kimberly Alexsandra Madrigal is a multimedia journalist who lives for cruising in her ‘05 convertible beetle, lowballing on facebook marketplace, yacht rock and oversharing on the internet. 🙂 

By Kimberly Alexsandra Madrigal

This is my personal, parasocial phenomenon of “the mutual.”

I thought this was something only my brain rot-ass experienced, but after asking some friends — and even some mutuals about it — I realized I’m not alone, and a lot of other students here are Instagram mutuals with other students they also don’t really know in real life. They agree it’s like a celebrity sighting walking past them on campus — yet they all wonder the same question, “is it weird if I say hi in real life?”

Then I wondered; Is this just a Humboldt experience? Has hiding from the world amongst the redwoods made us too shy and nervous to actually converse with others in real life? Especially ones we see and actively engage with on social media daily? 

Or is it just our generation’s version of having acquaintances in this digital age?

Whatever it is, it’s entertaining and I love it. 

My mutuals are my favorite influencers – you’re like my own personal celebrity. I don’t know you or your past, I just skipped right into seeing you in your hottie college girl era and I love it, pookie. 

Whether we met on the Humboldt ‘26 Insta, the Arcata Theater Lounge bathroom line, or we haven’t even met at all; if we follow each other and heart each other’s stories constantly, we’re locked in.

I get to see the best parts of your life — you learning how to DJ, your art, your new nails, your matcha of the day and maybe even a hard launch of your current man. 

In exchange, you get to see my fit checks, magnificent music recs and, of course, my wonderfully curated reposts of deep-fried Facebook memes. 

The coolest part is, we don’t speak, we just love — each other’s stories. God, I love girlhood.

Sometimes, if you’re a great moot  — cute nickname for mutual, duh — like me, you get promoted to Close Friends status. That is where you get an all-access backstage pass into the psyche of a girl. 

This is where we see more than macarons and ramos buchones. This is where we see the non-aesthetic chaotic content that I live for. The moot reconnects with the earth after blacking out on a jazz Thursday at The Basement. She frequently misses flights, manically cuts baby bangs after a breakdown and buys a new pair of shoes every week. A rich old man invited her on his yacht in Greece and she vlogged it all for us?! Oh, don’t forget the time she burned soup and ruined her evil roommate’s great grandma’s cherished pot. 

She’s an icon — and I’m lowkey starstruck when I see her. I forget she’s not just my niche personal celebrity, but a real person and we go to the same school. Do I smile and wave hi when I see her at the gym, the farmers market or a Manila function? Or is that too weird? Am I giving fan? Ugh, idk. 

It’s like I have a behind-the scenes look into your life, but I don’t really know you — but that’s also kind of like the best part. The mysteriousness just adds to the coolness. 

Your life is a movie, darling, and I have a free screening of it all from the cracked screen of my iPhone 14 and the comfort of my twin XL mattress. 

I will be very offended and heartbroken the day you unfollow me and I still follow you. What about all we had? Was that nothing to you? But then my inner #hater will rise over and unlike every single post, take back all the loving vibes I ever sent you telepathically and send you ojo, aka the evil eye. You’re not Nicki Minaj — I am!

Kimberly Alexsandra Madrigal is a 3rd year journalism student from Fresno, CA. She enjoys classic cars, fashion, shoes, Amy Winehouse and romanticizing life. 

By Mia Costales

As a fifth-generation Mexican-American, I’ll be the first to say that I’m pretty far removed from my ancestors’ culture. I don’t speak Spanish — very well, at least. My family never celebrated any traditional Mexican holidays and I don’t share the same struggles and triumphs that many first-gen Mexican-Americans experience. Despite this, my family has managed to salvage one crucial aspect of our culture — food. Because of this, I grew up regularly eating my mom’s pozole, my grandma’s enchiladas, my aunt’s tamales, my uncle’s molé — the list goes on. If there’s one thing I hope to pass down to my future children, it’s all of the recipes that were passed down to me. 

Food is an excellent medium for showcasing cultural pride and education. One dish has the power to tell the story of thousands of people, oftentimes a story based in indigenous roots, colonization and reclamation. Many of the dishes that we know and love today are the product of multiple cultures. Tacos are the product of Mesoamerican cuisine, like masa harina and chiles combined with European introduction of livestock and cooking techniques. The bánh mì is a direct result of French colonization in Vietnam, combining traditionally Vietnamese ingredients like pickled vegetables, chiles and cilantro with French ingredients like mayonnaise, pâté and the quintessential baguette. 

If these dishes were to get lost over generations, the history associated with them also gets lost. Centuries of celebration, oppression, invention, adaptation and survival can become forever extinct as traditional cultural dishes die out. Honoring ancestry and preserving cultural traditions is more important than ever and cooking with traditional ingredients is one of the easiest ways to do this. 

Nosheen Maung, an environmental science management major, explained that she honors her Burmese heritage by cooking cultural recipes her mom passed down to her. 

“Growing up first-gen Burmese, I find it even more important to learn my mom’s food because it’s scary to feel it decreasing in importance from generation to generation, especially because Burma is so far,” Maung said. “I just talked to my mom recently and moving so far away from her for college, I miss her cooking more than I can express.” 

The next time you go to The Depot and eat a katsu burger, take a moment to think about where the recipe came from. There’s a good chance that the recipe originated in someone’s kitchen hundreds of years ago and has evolved over the years into the chicken sandwich that holds you over in between classes. 

Food has always been political and keeping family recipes alive is imperative to fighting white supremacy and colonial ideals. Shop at your local cultural grocery store. Host dinner parties highlighting the food of your friends’ cultural backgrounds. Write down your recipes. Expand your palate. I urge you to stay in touch with your ancestry and explore your culture’s cuisine because revolution can start in your kitchen. 

Mia Costales is a senior journalism major and the Life & Arts Editor for The Lumberjack. With a background in music performance, she hopes to bring thoughtful and informative stories to the public.

By Eli Farrington

Nothing says peace and love like the hyper-politicization and weaponization of one of America’s most highly disputed and controversial substances. Throughout history, cannabis has played a major role in politics. The political history of cannabis in the U.S. is anything but brief, but I’ll try to summarize it as best I can for those of you who may be a little too high for a long-form story. 

Prior to the 1920s, cannabis was historically viewed as a versatile all-purpose plant, used in textiles as well as medicine. Although recreational use did exist, it wasn’t what cannabis was known for at the time. 

It wasn’t until the 1920s that recreational use of cannabis gained the attention of mainstream society. Because recreational use of the plant was introduced after the Mexican Revolution, American lawmakers viewed it as a dangerous foreign substance that threatened American Pharmaceutical companies, and completely ignored any of its medicinal benefits. Classic America, rejecting natural remedies in favor of pharmaceuticals concocted in a lab. This shift in perception created a domino effect that would eventually lead to generations of weaponization of what was once a simple medicinal plant.

The “Marijuana Tax Act” was introduced in 1937, marking the first major piece of cannabis legislation in the United States. The act essentially outlawed the plant and solidified its status as an illegal drug. Supporters of the act argued that cannabis posed a threat to larger pharmaceutical and textile companies, while racism — shocker — was another key factor leading to the plant being outlawed. At the time, lawmakers associated the plant with Mexican immigrants and African-American musicians. One lawmaker in particular was responsible for creating this stereotype. His name was Harry Anslinger, and he was the first commissioner of the Federal Bureau of Narcotics (FBN). Anslinger was a strong believer in the prohibition of all drugs and narcotics except for alcohol, but the one substance that he hated above all others was cannabis. He would go on to use the media as his platform to spew racist and xenophobic misinformation about the plant on a national level. 

Anslinger basically dedicated his entire career with the FBN to convincing the country that cannabis was an evil substance sent by Satan to destroy everything that the white man had worked so hard to build. Here are a few of the batshit crazy things that this guy actually said about cannabis:

1. “Marijuana is the most violence-causing drug in the history of mankind.​”
2. “You smoke a joint and you’re likely to kill your brother.​”
3. “The primary reason to outlaw marijuana is its effect on the degenerate races.​”
4. “Marijuana leads to pacifism and communist brainwashing.​”
5. “If the hideous monster Frankenstein came face to face with marijuana, he would drop dead of fright.”

The next significant pieces of legislation regarding cannabis came in the 1950s when Congress passed the Boggs Act of 1952 and the Narcotics Control Act of 1956. These acts created mandatory sentencing for first-time cannabis possession, with a minimum sentence of 2-10 years and a $20,000 fine. 

In 1970, Congress passed the Controlled Substances Act (CSA), essentially wiping the slate clean of any previous cannabis legislation and starting from scratch. The CSA categorized cannabis as a schedule one substance alongside drugs like heroin, LSD and peyote, and determined that it had no medicinal use and a high potential for abuse. 

On June 17, 1971, President Nixon declared drug abuse “public enemy number one” and waged a nationwide offensive on drug abuse, known as the war on drugs. Although Nixon claimed drugs to be the enemy, his campaign disproportionately targeted African-Americans and anti-Vietnam War protesters. 

In fact, one of Nixon’s own advisors, John Ehrlichman was quoted saying that the Nixon campaign had two enemies: the anti-war left and Black people, and the war on drugs was just a cover up to target these groups. 

“We knew we couldn’t make it illegal to be either against the war or Black… but by getting the public to associate the hippies with marijuana and blacks with heroin, and then criminalizing both heavily, we could disrupt those communities… We could arrest their leaders, raid their homes, break up their meetings, and vilify them night after night on the evening news. Did we know we were lying about the drugs? Of course we did,” Ehrlichman said.

The result was a drastic increase in the percentage of cannabis arrests in the following decades. Today, nearly one quarter of all drug arrests are for cannabis possession and people of color are far more likely to be impacted due to racial profiling in policing. 

Nixon, and many presidents that followed him, used and manipulated drug policy laws to bring their political careers to new heights and gain leverage. Nowadays, cannabis law making is done at the state level, with 24 states voting to legalize it despite it being illegal on the federal level.

Cannabis is just as politicized today as it was in the 1930s. For people who enjoy cannabis, a politician’s political stance can be a huge deciding factor in the way they vote. In today’s world, cannabis legalization or decriminalization is a familiar proposal on many ballots. It’s not uncommon to see politicians running for office make promises of cannabis reform, when just a few decades ago they were the ones responsible for putting people behind bars for possession. 

Cannabis has an incredibly complex and contentious history in the U.S. spanning over a century. Wars have been fought, lives have been lost, and laws have been drafted all in the name of this plant. As the generation of legalization, it is our responsibility to acknowledge that history and do what we can to avoid repeating it. So, next time you roll one up, remember that you are smoking a piece of the past in the name of a brighter future. 

Eli Farrington is a highly intelligent human life form working as the opinion editor for The Lumberjack. In his free time, he enjoys analyzing the complexities of the human condition. His passion for journalism knows no boundaries and exceeds time and space itself.

A Minecraft Movie: It means something to many

By Julia Kelm

A Minecraft Movie (2025) came to theaters on April 4 and is likely the biggest blockbuster and most anticipated film this spring.

The plot of this movie follows four misfit characters, each struggling with their own personal problems, until they are suddenly transported into the world of Minecraft. In order for this band of misfits to get back home, they embark on a quest alongside the iconic Steve — the characterless protagonist of the original game, played by Jack Black.

You’ve probably heard the chatter about the theater experience — the crowd clapping, cheering and quoting those brain-rotted trailer lines like “chicken jockey,” “flint and steel,” or “I am Steve.” I can confirm, at least from my own experience, that it’s all true. For that reason alone, I’d recommend catching A Minecraft Movie in theaters while you still can.

Now, when it comes to critical analysis on whether this film is good or not, I’ll put it plainly. It’s terrible, ugly, corporate money-hungry and a disgrace to what I consider artistic film. However, I think critical analysis is unwarranted when discussing what makes A Minecraft Movie such an important part of our current social culture.

You see, a movie about Minecraft — a video game that has no story — was never going to be a theatrical masterpiece. However, I can recognize how important this movie is to so many people.

The memes are one thing — they’re a part of Gen Z’s culture, something that unifies us as we laugh together at the utter stupidity of it all. Then, there’s the topic of Minecraft itself; I didn’t realize how nostalgic I was for Minecraft until I was sitting in that theater watching the film. 

I gasped when I recognized two Youtubers — DanTDM and LDShadowLady — who I hadn’t thought about in years, pop up on the screen. I used to watch their videos practically everyday in my tweens, so seeing them make a cameo in a blockbuster like this just warmed my heart.

Another note I wanted to mention is that, although I have some nostalgia for Minecraft, I am by no means the intended audience — A Minecraft Movie is for Minecraft fans.

Kevin Lobello was a 9-year-old kid, a third grade student at the Academy for Classical Education in Georgia, was diagnosed with terminal brain cancer. Lobello was a huge fan of Minecraft, and his last wish was to see A Minecraft Movie before he passed away. He was able to accomplish his wish in early March before the movie officially hit theaters. Lobello passed away on March 12 of this year. 

So ,who am I to say A Minecraft Movie sucks, when there are people out there like Lobello, who this movie means the world to?

What makes being alive so special is getting to enjoy the things you love. Life’s too short to deprive yourself of the things that make you happy — something that has always been a part of Minecraft’s message. 

“Twenty years from now, you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn’t do than by the ones you did do. So, throw off the bowlines, sail away from the safe harbor, catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover,” as referenced in the End Poem that appears in the ending credits of the Minecraft game.

So, if you’re thinking about going to see A Minecraft Movie, but your so-called friends are shaming you for entertaining the idea, forget them and just fucking go!

I hope you’re feeling inspired reading this! Drop this paper, and march to one of Arcata’s theaters, buy yourself a ticket — and maybe a beer, if you’re legal — and watch A Minecraft Movie.

Julia is a journalism major at Cal Poly Humboldt. She loves film and is a regular on Letterboxd. To quote Robin Williams in her all-time favorite movie, Dead Poets Society, “The powerful play goes on and you may contribute a verse. What will your verse be?”

Your 20s are the best time to spend all your money on traveling

By Jasmin Shirazian

I’m not sure if I’m just in an impulsive state of mind imposed by the crumbling state of our country, but I’ve recently stopped caring about how much it costs to get the fuck out of this country — even if it’s temporarily. To experience a new culture, to find that there is more to the world than the constant state of distress our elected officials place us in, it reignites hope in a person. At least, it did for me. 

I’m not just traveling for myself, either. When I’m on my way to the Eiffel Tower in Paris or River Thames in London, I think about all the women who never got to travel — of all the young girls who dreamt of coming and never found the time when they got older. I think of my younger self, who I let live through me as a 23-year-old woman. I’m thinking of my future self, and how I’ll get to talk about all my adventures and show off my sexy pictures of when I was 20-something taking shots in Madrid. I carry all the versions of myself throughout the places I find myself in, and I want them to experience the world. 

Money isn’t real, our things aren’t either — memories are what we get to keep, and even those we can’t take with us. Not to get existential, but if it all comes to an end anyway, why not live? And in this world, you unfortunately can’t live without spending money. 

We are in a scary place in our world right now — mind you, I am not an economist nor am I here to spew any financial advice. I’m simply a girl with a spending habit and a newly found love for travel. And before you claim I’m using daddy’s credit card, I’ll be the first to tell you I don’t have a daddy — by blood or sugar. I fund my life almost completely by myself, including bills and rent. So, I’m not saying to liquidate your savings and go into debt, but I’m telling you it’s okay to spend money on yourself and on your experiences. You deserve good things — to fly, to cruise, to experience a hot, freaky, international fling. 

I promise if you try, you can find a way to make it happen — and it’ll be so freakin’ worth it. 

Jasmin Shirazian is the curly-haired head copyeditor and social media manager for The Lumberjack. She is a TV show enthusiast, cat lover and higher education reporter for CalMatters.

By Julia Kelm

To quote Kung Fu Panda 2, “My old enemy, stairs.” 

It’s no mystery that Cal Poly Humboldt is known for its many stairs, considering its former alias as Hills and Stairs University. You likely encountered at least one set of stairs to get a copy of this newspaper. However, did you ever stop to wonder which campus staircases are best and which are worst? No? Well, I have. 

I also think it’s important to pay attention to these things. Even though I’m an able-bodied individual, I find it blatantly obvious how non-accommodating this campus can be for disabled students. 

Do I have you vaguely intrigued? Please continue reading to see my scores. 

Stairs located right above the Depot, next to the student activity center

These stairs annoy me for two reasons. One: These stairs are practically pointless. Why does there need to be two stairs to go up a slight slope? Two: There’s literally a ramp right next to it! Like, why even bother putting stairs there in the first place? At what point are these no longer stairs and just a glorified tripping hazard? 1/10, just make the whole thing a ramp and give our ankles a break.

Founders Hall’s stairs

You know, I couldn’t rate the stairs around campus without mentioning Founders Hall. These are probably the most iconic stairs on campus. You likely know them well; they’re long and steep, yet wide for comfort when walking side-by-side with a stranger or friend. They feature a middle handrail in case you trip. By all means, these are pretty nice stairs by my standards. I could be biased since I’ve never used these stairs as part of my daily commute. Though, dare I say, I actually like these stairs? 9/10, points off for their height, but they’re just so iconic they deserve the highest score. 

Cypress Hall’s stairs

I feel immense pity for the poor students who live at the bottom of Cypress Hall. If I had to climb Mt. Everest every day just to leave my dorm, I would surely lose my mind. 3/10, I’m so sorry.

Stairs located near geology in Founders Hall

The moment you’ve been waiting for, the worst stairs on campus. These stairs are uneven from tree roots growing through them, cracking the pavement. The handrails, bent and falling over, whilst being reclaimed by nature. If you just sent me a picture of these stairs and told me it was a set piece for The Last of Us, I might’ve believed you. Yet, the cherry on top for these stairs is the janky piece of paper taped to the railing saying “caution.” Like no shit, there might be zombies down there! -1/10, someone relocate this stairway to hell.

For now, this concludes my ratings of stairs. I may return to this if I feel inclined; there are still several stairs I could complain about. In fact, there are many other facilities on campus I have weirdly strong opinions about — I’m looking at you, scary Gist Hall elevator.

Julia is a journalism major at Cal Poly Humboldt. She loves film and is a regular on Letterboxd. To quote Robin Williams in her all-time favorite movie, Dead Poets Society, “The powerful play goes on and you may contribute a verse. What will your verse be?”