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‘Thor: Ragnarok’ lives up to its Marvel Predecessors

With classic one-liners, bright colors, epic action scenes and a fantastic soundtrack bringing light to the end of a world, “Thor: Ragnarok” was a smashing success.  In true Marvel fashion, this movie answers all the questions from previous movies about his — as well as Hulk’s — long absences.

Directed by Taika Waititi, this film remained consistent with the other Marvel films while breaking its own barriers in the process. This is Waititi’s first directed film in the Marvel family, and he did not disappoint. Letting Chris Hemsworth (Thor) improvise a majority of his lines, each joke was well timed with an easy flow into the storyline.

Since the premiere of “Iron Man” in 2008, the Marvel Cinematic Universe has grown up along with its loyal fan base over the past nine years. The humor has grown more adult-like with each passing movie, and this shows in Thor through innuendos and an alcoholic hero that becomes an unlikely ally.

In spite of the plot about the destruction of the Asgard realm being slightly depressing, the film is far from depressing. The colors are bright and flashy showing respect to the original comic flares for the dramatic. It makes fun of what it means to be a “hero,” as nothing goes right whenever Thor proclaims his own heroism. However, he never loses hope after being defeated.

“Thor: Ragnarok” started out with Thor being imprisoned and describing to an unknown party how he landed in prison and where he has been since Sokovia two years prior in “Avengers: Age of Ultron.”  Thor finds a way to escape back to Asgard through the first of many action-packed battle scenes of the movie, which are characteristically packed with intensity, humor and perfectly fitted music to go along with it.

With many returning characters such as Loki, Dr. Strange, Odin, Bruce Banner and the Hulk, Marvel also introduces their fans to new characters such as Hela, Grandmaster and Valkyrie.  Each interaction between characters is engaging to the viewers with a natural ease for comprehension.

Throughout the film, one of the most humorous and growing interactions to watch is the relationship between Thor and Loki.  In a back-and-forth duel of rivals and brotherly love, these two learn to work together despite their actions in past movies. Their wacky relationship continues in “Thor: Ragnarok,” as they openly say that they are enemies, yet they treat each other as brothers would.

Another relationship filled with turmoil is that of Bruce Banner and the Hulk. In past Marvel movies, we see Bruce Banner (Mark Ruffalo) struggling to remain in control of “The Green Guy.”  It portrays him as almost scared to let Hulk out. Yet, in “Thor: Ragnarok” not only is Hulk unleashed, but he has been for the past two years. While Hulk smashes his contenders in an arena that would make the Romans drool with jealousy, he is worshipped among the crowd. The longer the Hulk is out and becomes his own character, pushing Banner to the side.

Overall, the movie was a blast to watch. It kept viewers entertained as it easily glided through the plot with a natural feel. While it was made to be comedic, there were many parts that toyed at the heartstrings for what might potentially happen to Thor and the Asgardians.  This movie was action-packed and full of suspense and laughter, making it another great Marvel movie.

http://www.newsrecord.org/arts_and_entertainment/thor-ragnarok-lives-up-to-its-marvel-predecessors/article_94997ab8-c27f-11e7-9b33-0fec4f98f682.html

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Students pay while Bearcats play, price tag placed on transportation

As the University of Cincinnati men’s basketball team prepares for an entire season away from home, many students have only one thing on their mind: transportation.

With some UC students lacking their own vehicle, they must find alternate ways to attend UC’s “home” games this year.

UC athletics is providing shuttle service to the games, however the bus pass is not complimentary with the provided student tickets.

Students are being asked to pay a $15 fee per month for the bus pass when picking up their tickets from the ticket office.

Even with a mass email being sent to students regarding the upcoming season with information about tickets and transportation, people have still been surprised by the extra charge.

“I bought the bus pass when I went to go pick up my tickets, but I was very much caught off guard by the $15 price tag,” said Grant Matwiejczyk, a second-year electrical engineering student.  “I assumed that this meant I would have a bus pass for the rest of the basketball season. After realizing that the $15 price was only for the November games, I would have decided against buying it if given the opportunity over again.”

As stated at the bottom of the email, students can purchase a monthly bus pass to travel to the games for $15, which can be purchased when claiming tickets either online or at the ticket office anytime from 8 a.m.-5 p.m., Monday-Friday.

For November, the bus pass would be roughly $3 per game if a student attended every game.

“They didn’t tell me the pass was only for this month, they just asked if I wanted a bus pass for $15, so I said, ‘Sure,’” Matwiejczyk said. “I only realized it was for a month when I checked the pass after buying it. I did not realize it was $3 per game, or that I could buy passes for individual games per my need. I feel like my money will be worth the price as long as I go to at least half of the games I paid for, but asking students to pay is absurd in my opinion.”

While some students may be disgruntled about paying for a bus pass, others deem it a reasonable expenditure in order to go.

“It’s reasonable and fair, but I don’t think that it is ideal,” second-year computer engineering student Andy Miller said.  “If I drove myself, I would probably get lost and use up more gas than the pass actually cost. It’s only $3 a game if you get a mini pass. However, I think that it will impact attendance even more because of it. My roommate doesn’t have much expendable cash so hearing that he had to pay was a deal breaker for him.”

This is not the first time that UC has charged for a bus pass. In 2014, UC Athletics charged $10 for a season pass to see the Bearcats football team compete at Paul Brown Stadium, alongside the cost of tickets.

While the price is more expensive this year, it is 8.9 miles further to BB&T Arena than Paul Brown.

Busses will be on site by the Bearcat statue two hours prior to game time, and will wait for a minimum of 25 students before departing. The last bus will depart 30 minutes prior to tip-off.

http://www.newsrecord.org/sports/students-pay-while-bearcats-play-price-tag-placed-on-transportation/article_18f6a6b6-beaa-11e7-bff7-ebf976302083.html

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Cardiac Cats: Bearcats come from behind against Vikings

The University of Cincinnati men’s soccer team played the role of comeback kid with a win against Cleveland State University by a score of 2-1.

In a back-and-forth first half, the Bearcats seemed to dominate the field with communication, constantly keeping the ball moving. They had several long runs to which led to shots on goal, but could not put one in.

Eventually the Vikings were able to counter UC’s attack, getting the first goal of the game in the 22nd minute.

After losing momentum, the Bearcats fought for control of the ball, leading to an equalizer in the 37th minute.

The first goal for the Bearcats was scored by freshman midfielder Mason Volker, who found the back of the net for the first time in his collegiate career.

“I was shocked more than anything,” said Volker. “I didn’t know what to do. I froze up, so I just went to my teammates and gave them hugs, it was a great feeling.”

Starting the second half, both teams viciously fought for control of the ball, trying to get the upper hand.

Each team played aggressively, attempting their share of long balls up field, with the hopes of breaking the tie in their heads.

Sophomore midfielder Ryan Melink broke that tie, putting the Bearcats ahead in the 75th minute after converting on a penalty kick.

From there, UC fought to keep Cleveland State at bay, preserving their lead, while still maintaining a mix of attacks.

Both teams continued to find opportunities, putting the ball in the box and creating shots on goal.

Head coach Hylton Dayes was pleased with the way his team was able to fight in the second half, although he believed they could have capitalized a bit more.

“I thought that second half we had a lot of the play,” said Dayes. “I thought that we showed really good initiative, probably could’ve had another goal or two, maybe early in the second half but then obviously the goal came and the penalty kick and Ryan had a good job of finishing it off.”

In the final two minutes of the game, sophomore defender Elias Helbig was given a red card, forcing the Bearcats to play down a man.

The 10 men remaining on the field were able to keep the Vikings from finding the back of the net, securing a victory for the Bearcats.

At the end of the day, Dayes will take the wins any way he can get them.

“It’s never easy, but we’ll take the win,” Dayes said.

With the win over Cleveland State, the Bearcats improve to 7-7-1 on the season. Cincinnati will hit the road to take on the University of Tulsa on Saturday in search of their first conference win of the season. The game kicks off at 8 p.m.

http://www.newsrecord.org/sports/cardiac-cats-bearcats-come-from-behind-against-vikings/article_445f7f82-bb29-11e7-b09d-db8d921fa6de.html

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Potential Columbus Crew move could impact FC Cincinnati

The Columbus Crew Soccer Club’s owner Anthony Precourt announced that he is set to move the team to Austin, Texas in 2019 if a new stadium is not built in downtown Columbus.

Austin is the largest market in North America without a major league sports franchise and the team would be widely accepted if they were to move.

However, many loyal fans in Columbus took to Twitter to express an overwhelming amount of displeasure with the news.

“How does it feel to be the Art Modell of the MLS?” crew fan Richie Lee tweeted at the owner.

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How does it feel to be the Art Modell of the MLS @APrecourt?#CrewSC

7:47 AM – Oct 17, 2017

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Another fan, Gage Magoto, also took to the popular social media site to let his voice be heard.

“Hey renew those season tickets, come support the team in the playoffs, oh and we might be moving the team in 2019,” Magoto said.

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“Hey renew those season tickets, come support the team in the playoffs, oh and we might be moving the team in 2019.” #CrewSC

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Crew fans and students alike were left with jaws agape upon hearing the news.

“I was very upset and angry, because the crew are an MLS original franchise and have a great fan base,” first-year biology and anthropology student Drew Hardin said. “It was very upsetting because the owner is trying to move a franchise for a profit.”

Despite the Crew making it to the playoffs this year, attendance has not been meeting their level of play.

Many in Columbus agree that they have outgrown the stadium and that being four-miles north of downtown is too far away from the central commerce of the city.

Columbus mayor Andrew Ginther said he is committed to saving his city’s soccer team.

“We are resolved to do our part to keep the Columbus Crew in Columbus,” Ginther released in a statement. “Over the weekend, we made contact with Columbus Crew SC owner Anthony Precourt and MLS Commissioner Don Garber. We reiterated our views to each very directly and have requested in-person meetings with both to discuss options for keeping the team in Columbus.”

“I have met with the owner and business partners of the Columbus Crew SC and shared our thoughts on ways to find the best solutions to keep the team in Columbus,” Ginther tweeted. “Unfortunately, we did not receive full engagement from the team’s ownership.”

However, with a possible move in the near future, many fans have begun to wonder what this means for FC Cincinnati.

While the United Soccer League team is only two years old, they have already outperformed many original predictions and have begun to compete for fans with the Crew, who are less than two hours away.

With record-breaking attendance at Nippert Stadium, FCC has been considered for an upgrade to a Major League Soccer team.

If the Crew were to move, this could possibly increase FCC’s chances, as the next closest MLS team would then be the Chicago Fire.

“It makes Cincinnati more attractive to become a MLS team because there is a gap in teams in this area, and because it will be the only one around, it will increase interest and potentially attendance even more,” second-year electrical engineering student Mark Beaulieu said.

However, some fear that this could mean that FCC moves to Columbus, since Cincinnati still lacks a soccer specific stadium, and there would be a vacant stadium in the state capitol. However, nothing has yet been discussed.

At this point, all predictions are left to speculation, as FC Cincinnati president Jeff Berding has left no comment at this time.

Fans will just have to wait and see the fate of their beloved teams in the upcoming years.

 

http://www.newsrecord.org/sports/potential-columbus-crew-move-could-impact-fc-cincinnati/article_57df662e-b90f-11e7-8f91-7b93f8bb0a2d.html

 

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Bearcats ride the eye of the hurricane

In a back-and-forth grind, the No. 21-ranked University of Cincinnati women’s soccer team took down the University of Tulsa Golden Hurricanes in a 3-2 victory.

Despite the victory, their five-game shutout streak was ended.

“I think we started off well,” said freshman defender Karli Royer. “But since not being scored on since LSU, I think it came as a bit of a shock and we fumbled a bit, but ultimately came out on top.”

Going into halftime, the score was 1-0. The game was heavily contested, with both teams trading scores, and the Bearcats controlled a good portion of the match, easily swinging the ball around, which led to 36 shot attempts.

“They just have to realize that when they are on top, they have to stay on top,” said assistant coach Gavin MacLeod. “If we dip a little bit, we begin to falter and that can give the other team hope, and hope becomes a problem.”

Leading into the 70th minute of the game, the Bearcats were up 2-0 and it looked like another casual shutout in the record book.

However, five minutes later the score was 3-2 and the Bearcats were fighting to hold their lead for the last few minutes of the game, but were able to come together as a unit to finish the game strong.

“We all played well and we got a lot of opportunities that we just couldn’t finish today,” said senior defender Taylor Pavlika. “If only we could have finished them, and it would have been a completely different game.”

Head coach Neil Stafford and his players felt the game was a bit strange, but they expect to bounce back.

Assistant coach Matt Cosinuke thinks that they can learn from this game, and with a few improvements, can be even stronger in the final games of the season.

“I think if we can improve our attention to detail in the defense, maintain our composure throughout the middle and up top and regain the confidence we had in the box, we can definitely get better,” Cosinuke said.

Pavlika agreed, saying they need to capitalize on all the opportunities they are creating.

“We just need to focus on our set pieces and actually finishing the opportunities we receive,” Pavlika said.

The Bearcats remain undefeated in conference play with a 11-1-2 overall record and a 4-0-1 record in the American Athletic Conference. They currently No. 3 in the AAC.

The University of Memphis Tigers are up next for the Bearcats, as they face off Sunday at 1 p.m. at Gettler Stadium. It will be a “pink-out” to raise awareness for breast cancer.

 

http://www.newsrecord.org/sports/bearcats-ride-the-eye-of-the-hurricane/article_c33c38e6-b1c8-11e7-909a-e7ed528663f7.html

 

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Bearcats’ temporary home across the river may reduce attendance

The University of Cincinnati men’s basketball team could suffer an attendance loss this season, as their home court is temporarily transferred to Northern Kentucky University’s BB&T Arena while Fifth Third Arena is under construction.

With the stadium being 12.4 miles away, core fans and alumni are still expected in attendance, however satellite fans might be a bit more flakey due to the distance.

“If I’m not within walking distance, I am honestly not inclined to go,” second-year chemical engineering student Cameron Heller said.

Grant Matwiejczyk, a second-year electrical engineering student, agrees with Heller’s sentiment, but still feels inclined to support his fellow Bearcats.

“I think the games being played off campus are a big inconvenience to the students,” Matwiejczyk said. “But, I may drive to a game or two this year because I still want to attend the UC games.”

However, fourth-year communications and criminal justice student Mike Hall disagrees, valuing loyalty over inconvenience.

“I go to every Bearcats sporting event and will always be the first and last person to stand for UC during my time as an undergrad and beyond,” Hall said. “I think our team will see the true fans show up and that definitely could be an inspiration for them as well as other non-UC fans who see our school pride in action.”

Even though the Bearcats will be playing in another arena, the UC athletics program will be providing their own “home court” as they bring in a Bearcats-embedded logo to replace Northern Kentucky’s Norseman for the night.

BB&T Arena is slightly smaller in size compared to Fifth Third, seating 9,400 compared to 13,187, but it will mimic some upcoming features of next year’s newly developed stadium.

“The atmosphere of ‘our house’ will follow our team no matter where we play,” Hall said. “If it was there in Sacramento, California last season when I visited the ‘Cats, and if it can reach the West Coast, I’m sure it will reach 15 minutes south to NKU.”

Hall is not the only student willing to make the drive to BB&T, as many fans share his excitement for the team.

“It’s not my favorite thing to have to drive to the games. When they were on campus I would feel more connected to the team,” second-year engineering student Andy Miller said. “I maybe wouldn’t personally drive to all of them, but I will definitely go to one or two of them. Depends how the experience is and if it is still fun.”

The UC athletics program plans to provide transportation to the games, similar to when the football team played at Paul Brown Stadium in 2014.

Parking will be free to students and season ticket holders, and bussing will be provided to all students. Further information will be released once plans have been finalized.

Some students are asking for more incentive to make the trip across the river.

“UC could offer free hot dogs or shirts to help bring students to games,” fourth-year liberal arts student Clay McQuown said.

While the men can enjoy the comforts of a college stadium and atmosphere, albeit across the river, the women’s team still has to play at St. Ursula Academy, an all-girls high school in Clifton.

Only time will tell, and the first indication of attendance this year will happen when the Bearcats kick off the season against the Savannah State University Tigers on Nov. 10 at noon.

 

http://www.newsrecord.org/sports/bearcats-temporary-home-across-the-river-may-reduce-attendance/article_910ffa0c-b3b1-11e7-ad93-17a37290fa6f.html