The Student News Site of Monta Vista High School

El Estoque

The Student News Site of Monta Vista High School

El Estoque

The Student News Site of Monta Vista High School

El Estoque

Love Lies Bleeding brilliantly potrays complex themes of pain, identity, and love. Photo | Anna Kooris / A24

‘Love Lies Bleeding’ oozes with carnal tension and heart

Jillian Ju and Giljoon Lee March 27, 2024

“Love Lies Bleeding,” A24’s latest romantic thriller, is no stranger to love, lies or bleeding, and all three soar to new heights under director Rose Glass’s camera. Released on March 8, the movie...

Indie artist Ricky Montgomery crouches down at the front of the Regency Ballroom stage to sing to his audience. Photo courtesy of Izzy Hory @izzysconcerts. | Used with permission.

Ricky Montgomery’s 2024 tour is much more than another Rick in the wall

Jillian Ju and Isabelle Kok March 24, 2024

In a whirlwind of reverberating acoustics, pulsing rhythms and fluttering cutouts of paper fish, indie artist Ricky Montgomery performed one of the last North American shows of his “The Rick Tour: Another...

One of the eternal sunshine album covers features Ariana Grande in sheer red gloves, covering her eyes with a smile on her face. Album cover | Republic Records

“eternal sunshine” is a vocal and emotional triumph, yet falters on other fronts

Arjun Dhruv and Aashi Venkat March 11, 2024

“I'll play the bad girl if you need me to / If it makes you feel better” – “true story” (Track seven on “eternal sunshine”)   After three years of anticipation, pop megastar Ariana Grande...

The poster for Percy Jackson and the Olympians features Walker Scobell (Percy Jackson) holding a sword as waves come crashing around him. Poster | Disney+

“Percy Jackson and the Olympians” fails to meet expectations

Aashi Venkat February 3, 2024

Ready to transport viewers back to his fantastical Camp Half-Blood once again, author Rick Riordan pitched the concept of a Percy Jackson TV series in 2019, which became official with the 2020 announcement...

The “Orquídeas” album cover portrays Grammy-winning musician Kali Uchis submerged in water, covered in orchid petals and surrounded by vibrant cool tones.

‘Orquídeas’ embodies the elegance of the orchid

Ananya Chaudhary January 20, 2024

“Por fin me di cuenta que me merezco mucho más / Y eso te mata” [I finally realized that I deserve so much more / and that kills you] (“Te Mata,” Track Six) Colombia's national flower, the...

Mean Girls attempts to resemble its predecessor stylistically while reflecting modern trends.

“Mean Girls” arrives too early for its time

Jami Lim January 18, 2024

Released in theaters on Friday, Jan. 12, “Mean Girls” reminisces on a nostalgic era of glitzy teen rom-coms two decades after the release of its 2004 cult-classic progenitor, “Mean Girls.” With...

Mahito’s inexplicable feud with the mysterious Grey Heron is the first sign that reality may not be as it seems in “The Boy and the Heron.” Illustration | Studio Ghibli

“The Boy and the Heron” finds wonder in the ordinary

Dylan Nguyen and Lillian Wang December 13, 2023

In an explosion of vibrant surrealism, anthropomorphic animals and bird poop, “The Boy and the Heron” took flight in theaters on Dec. 8, marking Studio Ghibli’s first film since “The Wind Rises”...

The THINK LATER album cover features McRae decked out in shin guards with THINK LATER painted on them in blue letter. Album cover owned by RCA

‘THINK LATER’ paints heartbreak in a beautiful way

Aashi Venkat December 12, 2023

Pop artist Tate McRae released her sophomore album “THINK LATER” on Friday, Dec. 8. While the album’s lead single “greedy” was released in mid-September, McRae only announced the album in November,...

Outside exterior of Peets Coffee shop at Saratoga

Unwrapping seasonal menu items at Peet’s Coffee

Trisha Sannappanavar, Arshiya Sen, and Arushi Singh November 23, 2023

  El Estoque visited the Peet's Coffee establishment in Saratoga to review its latest limited edition holiday flavors.   Peppermint Mocha Black Tie: Size/Price: Small/$5.35, Medium/$5.95,...

American pop singer Nessa Barrett takes a moment to peer into the crowd during her Church Club For the Lonely tour.

Nessa Barrett’s Church Club For the Lonely Tour falls short of expectations

Jami Lim and Aashi Venkat November 16, 2023

American pop singer Nessa Barrett took the stage for her “Church Club For the Lonely Tour” at the San Jose Civic Center on Monday, Nov. 13, performing a variety of tracks from her discography. The...

The Larger than Life album cover features a comic style depiction of a NUWO shoe, Faiyazs clothing brand, destructing a city. Photo courtesy of ISO SUPREMACY.

‘Larger than Life’ is a disconnected mess larger than life

Sagnik Nag Chowdhury October 29, 2023

American R&B artist Brent Faiyaz announced on Instagram that he would release his third full-length album, “Larger than Life,” on Friday, Oct. 27. Faiyaz posted an album trailer as a surprise,...

The 1989 (Taylors Version) album covers features Swift smiling with her hair tied into a messy ponytail and five seagulls surrounding her.

‘1989 (Taylor’s Version)’ delivers on all its promises

Aashi Venkat October 28, 2023

Pop singer Taylor Swift released the re-recording of her hit 2014 album “1989” on Oct. 27. This is the fourth re-recording on her journey to reclaim ownership of her first six albums, which became...

Load More Stories