Maddie Hughes ’16: Teens are always on the lookout for new music and interesting movies, but sometimes it can be hard to find something new. The purpose of this cloumn will be to introduce all members of the community to new music and movies they may not have thought of before. The music and movies may be new relases, or they could be something slightly older. The point is, hopefully after reading each column, you’ll have new music to listen to and movies to watch!

Music of the Month: Check out the band Bleachers, an indie pop band from New York, whose infectious hit single “I Wanna Get Better” is only one hit on their debut album “Strange Desires.” Also be sure to check out Charli XCX—though she’s been around for a little bit longer, her breakthrough single “Boom Clap” has solidified her place on radio shows across the country. Her new album “Sucker” comes out on October 21st, 2014 with even more catchy pop hits.

Movie of the Month: With the summer movie season coming to a close, Guardians of the Galaxy, a fast-paced, family-friendly action film, left me wanting more. Though I am not a self-professed comic book fan, nor an expert on superheroes in pop-culture, this film left me rooting for the guardians. The roles are all expertly cast, with Chris Pratt, star of the hit sitcom Parks & Recreation, playing the character of Peter Quill, a man from Earth who has been turned into a thief in the extraterrestrial world. Guardians opens up focusing on a young Peter, watching his mother pass away before he is kidnapped by a group of alien thieves. Flashing forward, we are introduced to the new, suave Peter Quill—self-proclaimed “Star-Lord”—as he elludes capture due to his thievery of an orb. The action picks up quickly, showing Peter’s escape within the first five minutes of the movie. Immediately thereafter a common tie throughout the film commences: 80’s music. Recorded on Peter’s Walkman, this music is often used to juxtapose the tense parts of the movie with the happier scenes.

Peter’s act of thievery introduces a slew of other characters, which include many who eventually become guardians of the galaxy. Gamora, played by Zoe Saldana, is an assassin sent by the antagonist Ronan to pursue Peter, who desires the orb. While Peter looks for a way to make a profit off of the seemingly harmless orb, we are introduced to two of the goofiest characters in the movie: Groot and Rocket. The banter between these two, one a tree, and one a raccoon, adds a new comedic depth to the movie. All five of the eventual guardians have a quick-witted repertoire in between them, and without it, the movie would fall apart.

After introducing the two friends Rocket and Groot, the film sets up for the rest of the action by creating a conflict between all four of the characters that sends them to prison. Scheming to break out, they meet the fifth guardian: Drax the Destroyer. Though at first a little rushed in an attempt to get to the heart of the conflict, the rest of the film is truly entertaining. Besides the typical action movie trope of boy-saves-girl, it examines the multiple facets of characters in a way that other action movies usually tend to ignore. The cast’s portrayal has allowed the movie to carry the impact it has, and one line stated by Gamora is truly what defined the film for me: “Most of my life, I have lived surrounded by my enemies. I will be grateful to die around my friends.” This action-packed and witty movie could appeal to a wide audience, and, therefore, I wholly recommend it!