Author: Matthew Tamez

Book Review, Entertainment

Podcast turned book brings new faces to familiar story

Matthew Tamez

“Welcome to Night Vale” is a novel based on a podcast of the same name. The story is the first book written for the podcast by series creators Joseph Fink and Jeffrey Cranor. Unlike the previous books we reviewed, “Mostly Void, Partially Stars” and “The Great Glowing Coils of the Universe,” which were novelized transcripts of the first two seasons; “Welcome to Night Vale” is an original story following two new protagonists in their struggles in the titular town. In Night Vale, the weird and supernatural are commonplace parts of life. The story follows Jackie Fierro, the perpetually 19-year-old proprietor…

Entertainment, Movies

“John Wick” returns with a vengence

Matthew Tamez

Matthew Tamez mtamez@foghornnews.com “John Wick: Chapter 2” is an action thriller directed by Chad Stahelski and written by Derek Kolstad. Keanu Reeves returns in the title role for this sequel, which is a delight to watch for older audiences. “Chapter 2” takes place shortly after the first movie, where John had come out of retirement as a hitman to avenge the death of his dog, a final gift from his dead wife. Believing the ordeal to be over, John returns home only to find that Santino D’Antonio (Riccardo Scamircio), an old acquaintance noticing that he has come out of retirement,…

Entertainment

Get ready to face your fears in “Biohazard”

Matthew Tamez

Matthew Tamez mtamez@foghornnews.com “Resident Evil 7: Biohazard” is the seventh installment in the popular survival horror video game series developed and published by Capcom. Directed by Koshi Nakanishi and produced by Masachika Kawata and Tsuyoshi Kanda, the game was released worldwide on PS4, Xbox One and Microsoft Windows on Jan. 24. “Resident Evil 7” takes place during an unspecified time after the sixth game in the series and follows new protagonist Ethan Winters. Ethan has received a message from his wife, who has been missing for four years. Deciding to follow the message, Ethan finds that what is going on…

Book Review, Entertainment

Popular “Night Vale” podcast now in book form

Matthew Tamez

matthew tamez “Mostly Void, Partially Stars” and “The Glowing Coils of the Universe” are a two-volume written release of the first two seasons of the popular “Welcome to Night Vale” podcast. Originally started in 2012 by Joseph Fink and Jeffrey Cranor, “Welcome to Night Vale” quickly grew in popularity. “Mostly Void, Partially Stars” and “The Glowing Coils of the Universe” are a great starting point for many people who wish to become acquainted with the series. Longtime fans of the series will find the books to their liking as well. In an American town out in the desert many strange…

Entertainment

A Series of Unfortunate Events is a faithful and fun adaptation

Matthew Tamez

Matthew Tamez Following an attempt at adapting the children’s book series into a movie in 2004, “Lemony Snicket’s A Series of Unfortunate Events” has gotten its place on Netflix. The show is developed by Mark Hudis and Barry Sonnenfeld and stars Neil Patrick Harris as Count Olaf and Patrick Warburton as Lemony Snicket himself. With each episode lasting approximately 40 minutes and each book being covered by two episodes, the show fleshes out the story and gives the books the adaption they deserved. After a fire that burned down their mansion and took the lives of their parents, Violet, Klaus…

Campus

Drama department to hold auditions for spring play

Matthew Tamez

The Drama Department plans to present “Androcles and the Lion” in April for its spring play. Auditions will be held at 7 p.m. Jan. 23-24. Professor Kim Frederick, who will direct the play, would like to get more students involved with roles behind the scenes such as light and sound technicians, as well as actors. Students are encouraged to see what they can do to aid in this production. The play will be open to children and will have two public performances at 7:30 p.m. April 7-8. Additional showings will be at 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. April 12-13. Frederick…

Campus

Home for the Holidays concert set for Dec. 10

Matthew Tamez

The 2016 Home for the Holidays concert, “A Touch of Frozen Frost,” will be held at Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi on Dec. 10. The concert, set for 7:30-9:30 p.m. in the Performing Arts Center, will feature guest conductor Paul Haas, the Corpus Christi Chorale and the Del Mar Master Chorus. Haas is an experienced conductor, having attended many concerts. He is the music director of the Symphony of Northwest Arkansas and the artistic director of Sympho. Haas has been given amazing reviews for his work with the Symphony of Northwest Arkansas. One review written by the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette even refers…

Campus

Workshop aims to help students resolve conflicts

Matthew Tamez

Conflict is a natural part of life and will happen to almost everyone at some point, CCPD Officer Kirk Stowers told students and staff at a conflict resolution workshop Nov. 30 in the White Library. Knowing that conflict is inevitable, he also presented a step-by-step plan on how to resolve it. Stowers used his own experiences in the field of law enforcement as well as hypothetical situations that could arise to showcase how one would resolve the conflict without escalating the situation. The workshop had attendees at every table, with dozens of students and staff attending. “All of us have…

Campus

Lecture details life and times of veterans

Matthew Tamez

Political science professor Renato Ramirez detailed stories and events that happened in the lives of American soldiers in multiple combat situations during a lecture in honor of Veterans Day in the White Library on East Campus. Ramirez drew from several nonfiction sources such as “Among the Valiant,” “The World War I Diary of Jose De La Lus Saenz” and “The National Timberwolf Association Membership Roster,” as well as members of Ramirez’s own family who served during times of conflict. Next to the projector screen was a dedication set up for Lt. Lloyd H “Hete” Hughes, a Del Mar College graduate…

Entertainment, Series, TV

“Scream Queens’ steps up for second season

Matthew Tamez

Horror comedy sets out to improve from last season After the lackluster and uninspired ending to an otherwise good first season, “Scream Queens” has returned for Season 2. With a beginning that gives the closure to the first season that the finale should have given, it makes up where the first season failed. “Scream Queens” is a horror comedy series airing on Fox. Created by Ryan Murphy of “American Horror Story” fame; Brad Falchuk, co-creator of “Glee”; and Ian Brennan, a writer for “Glee”, the second season debuted Sept. 20. Season 2 takes place two years after Season 1. Cathy…