review Archives - Page 5 of 8 - The Mount Observer

(Archive December 2011) Book Review: The Help

By editorialteam on August 21, 2024

By Leigh Edwards | Observer Contributor

The Help, a novel by Kathryn Stockett, was published in 2009 in the United States and has been read by millions of people across the country. Based in Jackson, Mississippi in the early 1960’s, The Help follows two maids, Aibileen and Minny, and a young Journalist, Miss Skeeter Phelan, on a journey to reveal what it’s really like being a maid for white people during segregation by publishing a book called Help. Along the way, the reader meets colorful and sometimes downright mean characters, such as Miss Hilly Hollbrook, which keeps you turning the page and rooting for the maids and Miss Skeeter the whole way. read more

(Archive December 2011) Game Review: Modern Warfare 3 Arrives with a Bang

By editorialteam on August 21, 2024

By Jonathan Jones | Observer Contributor

As a longtime supporter of the Call of Duty franchise, I was very anxious to get my hands on the latest installment, Modern Warfare 3. So anxious in fact that I reserved a copy months in advance and stood in line at midnight to secure the game. When I finally returned home around 1 a.m. and popped the disc into the drive, I was instantly blown away.

MW3 is by no means the greatest game ever made, nor is it the “perfect” first-person shooter. However, with a revamped graphics engine and more emphasis placed on different playing styles, it is the best game in the Call of Duty franchise. In the past when a multiplayer map took place in an arctic environment with snow, the snow was in fact limited to covering the ground and that was it. In one particular map in MW3, the player is thrust into a blinding snowstorm that affects visibility in ways not seen in previous installments. This small detail may be lost on the average gamer but it just goes to show the extent to which programmers and developers wanted to improve the look of this game compared to previous versions. read more

(Archive December 2011) Club Review: Active Minds

By editorialteam on August 21, 2024

By Benjamin Allen | Observer Contributor

Active Minds, a new club at MWCC, has been created to raise awareness of mental health in students. The goal of this club is to inform students of healthy ways to deal with stress.

Another goal of Active Minds is to remove the stigma or negative attitudes and beliefs associated with mental health issues and to encourage students to seek help as soon as problems arise. The main focus is on mental health not mental illness.

According to Michelle Brennan, the president of the club, many students drop classes due to stress and mental health issues. She said, “Active minds will offer the tools to navigate through the stressful periods.” read more

(Archive November 15, 2011) Review: Goomba’s Pizzeria

By editorialteam on August 20, 2024

By Jillian Richard | Observer Contributor

Goomba’s Pizzeria
Photo by Cheyne Ordonio

Goomba’s is a Pizzeria located in Fitchburg right outside the T station on Main Street, a convenient location for any hungry person. Many students that attend the Gardner campus take the bus that goes to and from the Fitchburg station.

Goomba’s has a huge selection and variety of food to offer. They offer everything from pizza to wraps to deserts. This menu was screaming Italian all over. Perfect pizza pies lined up in a glass case as you walk towards the drinks and napkins make your mouth water if you haven’t been there before. For a hungry student this is a great stop to make if you want something that will fill you up. read more

(Archive October 18, 2011) Review: Beehive – The 60s Musical

By editorialteam on August 6, 2024

By Ericka Pultorak | Observer Contributor

“Beehive, The 60’s Musical” premiered on Oct. 10 at MWCC by the Theatre at the Mount. It was directed and choreographed by Trish Aponte. Throughout the entire musical, maybe ten sentences were spoken. Watching them dance around song after song with practically no breaks would make anybody’s feet hurt. Sitting in the front row, I could feel waves of energy rolling off the stage. The audience received a high energy performance, as well as a detailed timeline of the 60’s. read more

(Archive October 1, 2011) Movie Review: Coexist

By editorialteam on August 5, 2024

By Tiffanie LeBlanc | Observer Contributor

Coexist is a documentary about the Hutus and Tutsis in post genocide Rwanda and having to live together in peace. What I learned while watching this film was that the Hutus wanted power over the Tutsis and decided to start taking over their property and killing anyone who stood in their way. After the government stepped in and stopped the genocide the Tutsis and the Hutus now have to abide by a law to live with each other as neighbors and church gathers called “reconciliation.” read more

(Archive September 1, 2011) Local Attraction: North Brookfield Apple Orchards

By editorialteam on July 30, 2024

By Casey DiMauro | Observer Reporter

Arvind Balaraman / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Whether or not you want to go apple picking, go on the hay rides, or stop in at the snack bar North Brookfield Apple Orchards offers it all. The Orchard is open Year ‘Round – 9:00 AM to 5 PM – and only closed Thanksgiving, Christmas, and the Fourth of July. It is located on 12 Lincoln Road, North Brookfield.

Recently I stopped in at this orchard. I found a family owed business that is all about the quality of service. Coming in, they made me feel right at home. “The orchards are owned and operated by the fourth generation of the Lincoln family,” said the family. read more

(Archive September 1, 2011) Movie Review: The Town

By editorialteam on July 30, 2024

By Edward Billiel | Observer Reporter

Newly released on DVD, The Town is an action film that will not disappoint. This is Affleck’s third movie as director and it is on its way to having equal if not more credit than his other works including Gimme Shelter and Gone Baby Gone, which has received multiple awards that include the Hollywood Film Festival Award for Breakthough Director of the Year.

The Town also has a cast full of talent including Ben Affleck, Jeremy Renner, and Pete Postlethwaite. Afflecks character, Doug MacRay is the ringleader of his crew. MacRay’s childhood friend James “Jem” Coughlin is the hard-headed thug of the group, who has no remorse toward his victims. Pete Postletwaite plays the owner of a local flower shop and is the master mind behind all of the robberies MacRay and his crew complete. read more

(Archive September 1, 2011) Restaurant Review: Thai Jasmine

By editorialteam on July 30, 2024

By Angela Rossi | Observer Reporter

At 446 Lancaster St. in Leominster, MA, there sits a subtle yet precious gem among the many restaurants scattered in the area. Thai Jasmine serves a variety of delicious Thai and Vietnamese food that come with many options to allow each diner their own unique experience.

Upon arrival, my guest and I were seated at one of the ten tables in the small yet spacious restaurant. Its neat and orderly environment was inviting and calm. The tables were set comfortably apart from each other, however, on this particular visit, my guest and I were the only diners which makes it hard to judge the potential noise level of the area. Quiet music played from the TV in the corner of the room to accompany the dining experience without an overpowering noise. read more

(Archive September 1, 2011) Restaurant Review: Cinnamons

By editorialteam on July 30, 2024

By Sarah Kowalczyk | Observer Reporter

Cinnamons, a tasty and supreme restaurant located right on Main St. Athol, has everything from fried food to hardboiled streaks.

When I first arrived at Cinnamons, I was a little surprised to find that it’s a seat yourself restaurant. It took no time to find a seat in one of the very large lounge-type rooms. When I sat down, I was very pleased to be waited on by a waitress with a friendly smile and she asked me right away what I would like to drink.

I instantly ordered something most restaurants would have; A vanilla frappe. When I received my frappe it was the perfect consistency – not too much ice cream. My experience so far was very relaxed and very pleasing. As for the food, I decided to order fried clam strips and a side of onion rings from the vast-choice menu. The meal took very little time to come out hot and steamy. read more

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