As Alice Cooper famously sang, “school’s out for summer.” Students and faculty can rejoice as finals are over, the weather is warming up and the pools are reopening. With the summer taking hold, this editor is more than ready to sit back and read the (I wish I was joking) 90 books on my “to be read” list. However, with new adaptations of some old classics hitting theaters, some time will be devoted to the big screen. As “Survivor 50” begins wrapping up its season, “Lord of the Flies” returns and He-Man prepares for a new battle with Skeletor, it is sure to be an entertaining summer.
Two Survivors fall in dramatic ‘Survivor 50’ episode
Yet another double elimination approach in “Survivor 50” gives the players little to no breathing room.
The remaining nine Survivors are split into two groups of four, with the individual immunity winner, Jonathan Young, able to travel freely between the two groups. What follows is an intense battle to get Young on the right side of the vote and survive to see another day in “Survivor.”
Young earned individual immunity after a balancing challenge in which Tiffany Ervin was initially announced the winner before it was revealed she had not completed the challenge. Immunity was passed to Young, who finished second.
In the first Tribal Council, Rick Devens played the immunity idol he gained last episode, but Cirie Fields used her extra vote against Emily Flippen. Flippen and Fields tie, leading to a revote and Flippen’s departure as the sixth member of the jury.
At the second Tribal, Ozzy Lusth was voted out in a successful blindside, joining the jury with an unplayed immunity idol in his pocket.
Watch “Survivor 50” Wednesdays on CBS or Paramount+. Jesse Jones
New ‘Lord of the Flies’ adaptation hits Netflix
The English-class staple novel “Lord of the Flies,” written by William Golding, has a new live- action adaptation.
The original story follows a group of British schoolboys stranded on a remote island after surviving a plane crash. The boys have to learn to work together and survive or let their primal instincts take control.
The show premiered May 4 on Netflix with four episodes after its successful run on the BBC in the UK earlier this year. It is a standalone miniseries and is not expected to get any more episodes because of the limited source material. This is not the first adaptation of the novel, but is the first TV series adaptation.
The show was written by Jack Thorne and is said to be a very faithful adaptation of the original novel, with just a few liberties taken to further explore the boys’ characters. Reactions online have been full of praise for the limited series. Karlie Lohr
New ‘Star Fox’ game announced following film cameo
Fox McCloud, protagonist of the “Star Fox” franchise, made his onscreen debut in “The Super Mario Galaxy Movie” back in April, bringing the series to the forefront of viewers’ minds. Now, a new remaster is hitting the Nintendo Switch 2.
“Star Fox” is a remaster of the fan-favorite Nintendo 64 game “Star Fox 64,” making it the franchise’s third remake following previous versions on the Nintendo 3DS and Wii U.
The new graphics and character renders lean into a more realistic, animalistic style, leading some fans online to call them uncanny. The locations and gameplay, however, take full advantage of the Switch 2’s upgraded capabilities, bringing the game’s worlds to life.
New cutscenes and lore are promised, but fans remain skeptical of another remake, whether because of the character designs or Nintendo’s perceived cash-grab approach.
“Star Fox” releases exclusively for the Nintendo Switch 2 on June 15. Jesse Jones
Mystery abounds in ‘The Sheep Detectives’
Hugh Jackman stars in Amazon’s new film “The Sheep Detectives,” bringing audiences laughs and tears over a who-dun-it mystery and some brave sheep.
The film follows a flock of sheep as they attempt to solve the mystery of who killed their shepherd, George, played by Jackman. Three of the sheep prove to be quite the detectives: the intuitive Lily, memorable Mopple and mysterious Sebastian.
Alongside the sheep, moviegoers are treated to a lively cast of characters that live in the small town of Denbrook, where most of the film takes place. The quaintness of the small town allows the characters to stand out more and the storyline to thrive.
What truly draws the film together is the emotional pull of love, grief and belonging. Using the sheep and the mystery of it all, the movie brings a new perspective to the topics. Tucker Young
He-Man returns to Eternia in ‘Masters of the Universe’
Lovers of 80’s culture are continuing to count down to He-Man’s return to Eternia in the new film “Masters of the Universe,” but for now, the trailers are keeping audiences fed with content.
So far, the film looks packed with nostalgia, action and a star-studded cast including Nicholas Galitzine (He-Man), Camila Mendes (Teela) and Idris Elba (Man-At-Arms).
This writer certainly can’t wait to see how the new live-action movie compares to other renderings of He-Man, and also how much different the hero and his friends will look with updated CGI and animation.
“Masters of the Universe,” releasing on June 5, is sure to welcome the hero back to life for many viewers, while also introducing him to a new audience. Tucker Young
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