By Cavan Brangan, ’26
Staff Cartoonist
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Comics Corner: Tim the Turtle
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‘Predator’ Franchise: What to Watch, What to Skip
By Abbey Kinzel, ’23
Staff Writer
Horror is one of the most popular genres in film. Most companies have a new addition this Halloween season to the somewhat declining, yet still recognizable franchises such as Halloween, Child’s Play and Saw. But while Lawrence Gordon’s Predator franchise is considered by many to be science fiction, its title monster provides enough thrills and chills to qualify as horror. Below is my evaluation of the franchise, from the original made 35 years ago to the most recent released earlier this year.
Predator (1987): The first installment of the franchise has a simple premise as an alien hunter stalks humans in a rainforest. The only recognizable actor in the movie is Arnold Schwarzenegger as Dutch. Predator is a classic for a line like “Get to the Chopper.” Predator is an interesting movie about warfare in Latin America and adapting to your surroundings. On the movie ranking website Rotten Tomatoes, the film has a score of 80 percent. And I think that this score is justified. It’s a cult classic, with many memorable and meme-worthy scenes.
Predator 2 (1990): Now the hunt moves to Los Angeles, with the alien killing gang members, drug lords and the occasional cop. It stars Danny Glover as Lieutenant Mike Harrigan and Gary Busey as Special Agent Peter Keyes. Many fans of the series don’t really like this movie because it shows that the Predator has morals, refusing to kill children or pregnant women. Very cool to me that the Predator has morals. He also shows off his voice mimicry and swearing. According to Rotten Tomatoes, the movie earns a score of 32 percent, but I think it deserves at least 52 percent. It wasn’t a bad movie, but some of the dialogue doesn’t make any sense. Also, in one scene, the Predator starts killing random unarmed people on a train even though it’s been established that he will only kill people who have a weapon.
Alien vs. Predator (2004): In a shocking turn of events, this and the 2007 sequel aren’t considered to be in the Predator franchise, even though the movies side more with the Predator than the Alien. The movie is okay; if you remove the bad CGI and unjustified character decisions, you would be left with a good 40 minutes of a decent film. The plot is that an alien hunter stalks humans and aliens, in a temple dedicated to the hunters under some ice in Antarctica. There is almost no one recognizable in this movie except for the old guy from Detroit: Become Human, Lance Henriksen as Bishop. The only things we learn is the Predators hunted the Aliens for sport on Earth and were worshipped as gods. Oh, and the Predator doesn’t kill people who are sick. The script was badly written, nothing that the characters do makes any sense and some of the characters are dumber than bricks. On Rotten Tomatoes, it’s scored 22 percent, and I completely agree.
Alien vs. Predator: Requiem(2007): This movie was worse than the 2004 version. The CGI is horrendous. They throw us into this miserable town and expect us to remember everyone’s sub-plots before they all meet up. The only actor of any significance is David Hornsby, from It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia. There are tons of clichés that make the movie longer than it has to be. The concept of an Alien-Predator hybrid is admittedly cool but not enough to balance out the rest of the movie. The Predator in this movie is portrayed as the hero because the only things it kills are a lot of Aliens, skinning one human and killing a teenage girl by accident. Rotten Tomatoes gives it a score of 12 percent, which I think is generous. I believe it should be 7 percent or lower since this one hour and 42 minutes of screenplay drags like a 3-hour special.
Predators (2010): This movie follows a group of dangerous individuals on a completely different planet, which is basically a giant hunting ground for the Predators to stalk humans stolen from Earth for sport and meat. The recognizable actors in this are Danny Trejo as Cuchillo and Laurence Fishburne as Ronald Noland. This movie was just okay. The plot was good, I was invested in the story, and there were a few twists at the end, but that was about it. The mechanics of the planet are confusing. One character tells the new group of humans that he killed 2-3 Predators in a 10-year span, but the group kills the same amount in one day which doesn’t make a lot of sense. The characters have as much depth as a piece of cardboard. But the character’s design is okay. According to Rotten Tomatoes, the score this movie was given was a 65 percent.
The Predator (2018): To be frank, since I have a Hulu subscription, I could watch all of these movies one at a time, one per day. Then I found out that I would need to buy a $6 add-on subscription for this movie or pay $3.99 to watch it once on YouTube. This movie is atrocious in every way, shape and form. Even though there are some exciting elements, the movie just felt boring. Even though I went onto Youtube and watched a pirated version that cost me nothing except for my time, I felt like I needed a refund. According to Rotten Tomatoes, this movie earns a score of 33 percent, which perfectly encapsulates how I and many other people felt when watching.
Prey (2022): Now we have finally reached the newest entry in the franchise, and what a movie to end this with: Prey. Prey is a prequel, set in 1719 where we follow a Native American woman named Naru. And after careful consideration, to me, this is the best movie of all of them. The movie is well written and the characters feel like they have their own feelings and conflicts. It kind of ties into Predator 2, it feels raw and unsettling and I felt like I was actually rooting for the main character to stay alive instead of dying. This was the most interesting addition to the Predator franchise. The Predator itself was done with nearly all practical effects instead of CGI, which is cool. Rotten Tomatoes gave it 93 percent. I completely agree with this decision, as this movie is my absolute favorite, I’m not sure if it is just my love for history or if it is actually that good. I highly recommend it after watching Predator and Predator 2.
featured image: https://www.empireonline.com/movies/features/every-predator-movie-ranked/
Visit to Philly Reveals Charms of City Life
By Teddy McCrann, ’23
Staff Writer
This past September, I took a trip down to Pennsylvania with the main purpose of touring different colleges in and around the Philadelphia area. Initially, I was not very excited as it was a very, very long drive from Hanover and I’ve never been too fond of the hustle and bustle of life in the city. I now stand corrected. After spending a couple of days exploring Philly, I discovered that I’m actually quite fond of the city and its diversity as well as the hundreds of restaurants, shops, and historical sights it holds. It only took a small trip for my opinions to completely change, and if you’re not fond of urban life like I was, I definitely recommend giving this city, at least, a chance.
Walking through one of the main drags of Philadelphia, Benjamin Franklin Parkway, was definitely a highlight of the trip. Although it’s a little hectic crossing the double lanes of traffic and rotary exits, the views and atmosphere are unmatched. Lined up and down the street are graceful and vibrantly-colored flags that pay respects to the hundreds of nations of our world, which I found to complement the already welcoming atmosphere. I think this stretch of the city epitomizes one of the more famous nicknames of Philadelphia: the City of Brotherly Love. These feelings only grew stronger as I approached the Philadelphia Museum of Art at the end of the parkway and, of course, the all-mighty state of Rocky Balboa from the Rocky movies, which took place in Philadelphia. The fact that the people of Philadelphia loved the Rocky movies so much that they erected a statue in their honor makes me laugh, but I also appreciate this sense of “brotherly love” that comes through in the people’s love for their city. I’ve come to realize that this love for one’s home is present in not only Philadelphia, but in many cities of our nation — especially Boston. Urban life is hectic but it definitely promotes a sense of family and community amidst such a diverse group of Americans.
A huge benefit of living on the East Coast is that its ties to American history run deep in the foundations of cities and towns which have been around since before the Revolutionary War. Examples of these cities are Boston, New York, and Philadelphia. After going on this trip, I think Philadelphia is possibly the most historically rich area of the entire country, aside from Washington D.C. I traversed many blocks in order to see the Liberty Bell as well as Independence Hall, which is considered the birthplace of America after the Declaration of Independence was signed there in 1776, almost 250 years ago. The fact that such large metropolises, now modernized and changing every day, are hundreds of years old and hold such historical significance to our nation really illustrates how much America has developed and achieved over the years. Cities like Philadelphia and Boston are representations of America’s accomplishments and the community-fueled foundations in which it was built upon, which I have grown to love.
As much as I did enjoy Philadelphia, don’t worry, I’ll always be a Bostonian at heart. My exposure to the chaotic yet welcoming atmosphere of this city has changed my views on urban life in general; there is so much to offer, from local restaurants to historical landmarks. While our cities are certainly not paradises, and have socio-economic problems different from suburbs like Hanover, they are important to American identity and history. After this trip, I definitely see myself going into the city more often and, if you’ve been nervous of the hustle and bustle, maybe you can give it a chance too.
Featured image: https://www.lonelyplanet.com/usa/pennsylvania/philadelphia
Women’s US Open Had Plenty of Iconic Moments
By Paulina Leskow, ’24
Staff Writer
The US Open is a hardcourt tennis tournament that is held every August in Queens, New York, serving as the final Grand Slam event of the year. It follows the Australian Open in January, the French Open in May, and Wimbledon in June. While each tournament is packed full of excitement for tennis fans, the 2022 Women’s US Open was a rollercoaster of emotions. Serena Williams played her last tournament, with the crowd roaring in support and honoring her incredible career. In addition, Ons Jabeur received a much higher ranking in the world of professional tennis players despite a tough loss, and Iga Swiatek set history as the first Polish woman to win the US Open.
Anticipation for the US Open was high when Serena announced in early August that the tournament would be her last before retiring. Serena, 41, began her career at age 14, winning her first US Open in 1999 when she was just 17. Since then, she has won the US Open another five times and claimed 17 other Grand Slam titles. She also won four Olympic gold medals. Talk about an amazing career! The crowds roared for Serena as she stepped on the court, expecting to be finished in the first round due to age and injuries; however, Serena made it to the third round of the tournament, playing well but unable to defeat Aija Tomljanovic from Australia. The world of tennis lost an amazing player, a number 1-ranked professional for 319 weeks who, with her sister Venus, has transformed the game. But it will be exciting to see what Serena has in store for her future.
While Serena was making history, Ons Jabeur also had quite the tournament. Ons is one of the greatest tennis players to come out of Africa, specifically Tunisia, and without a doubt she will continue to make her country proud with her amazing play. Jabeur made it all the way to the finals of the US Open, but fell short of the title. Despite her loss, Ons increased her professional ranking from number 5 at the start of the tournament to number two after the final. She is loved around the world for her varied game and dropshots as well as her attitude, being very open to the fans, the media, and other players.
The player who ended Jabeur’s title hopes and was crowned champion of the US Open was Iga Swiatek of Poland. At just 21 years old, Iga has won three other Grand Slam titles. This tournament was not easy for Iga. She had a lot of tough games leading up to the final, but was able to persevere and take the trophy home. The number one player also made history for her nation as the first Polish tennis player to ever win the US Open. Iga is only getting started on her tennis career, and the next few years of tennis will be greatly impacted by her amazing performance.
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Clubs Forge Connections on Fields, in Classrooms, in Hearts
By Norah Kelley, ’24
Staff Writer
As a junior, I have been part of many different clubs and activities at Hanover High School. It has been fun to try out everything that I can, including writing for the newspaper and acting with the Drama Club, but the most influential part of my high school experience has been Unified Sports and Friendship Connection. These connected clubs promote the interaction of peer students with those in POST and RISE, the district’s special education programs for teens with severe disabilities.
RISE, or Reaching Independence through Support and Education, helps enrolled students build independence in academics, life skills and communications. Some students work with their teacher and paraprofessionals in a substantially separate classroom while attending elective classes with their peers. Others attend General Education classes for part of the day. POST partners with Bridgewater State University to serve students 18-22 years old, focusing on skills to help with the transition from high school to adult life.
Since 7th grade, I have been a part of Unified Sports at Hanover High School. Being a peer in this club has been an amazing experience because all the students involved are wonderful people, always willing and excited to play. Three Thursdays a month, the group has practice for the sport of the season, which is soccer in the fall, basketball in the winter, and kickball in the spring. These practices prepare us for games against Unified Teams from other schools or games against the HHS staff. On the remaining Thursday of each month, most of the Unified teammates gather for Friendship Connection, where we play games indoors and do crafts. Many of the crafts are presents for staff in the school or put on display for students and visitors to see.
Our first soccer game of the season will be on Oct. 20 on the Hanover Middle School soccer field. Fans are welcome to watch, and students are always encouraged to come play with us! The joy on players’ faces when they make a pass or score a goal is sure to bring a smile to all who watch.
To me, Unified has built so many meaningful relationships and connections with other students in our school. I feel like I have made a connection with all the students involved that has grown each time I come to practice. I am always so happy whenever I see anyone involved with this club, either in the halls at school or at our practices and meetings, and I can tell that the students, peers and teachers are always happy to see me. I’m so grateful that I’ve had the opportunity to be a part of it for so many years. It’s the thing that I look forward to the most. No matter what has happened throughout the week, I always know that Unified and Friendship Connection will put me in an amazing mood.
Unified and Friendship Connection are always welcoming new peer members and would love to have more people join these clubs. If you are interested, practices are Thursdays from 2:30-3:30 pm, and we meet near the HHS media room. You can also contact HHS Spanish teacher Allyson Gately, who advises the clubs with Mrs. Janet Mann. The clubs hold a special place in her heart, Mrs. Gately says, “because “lifelong friendships are made.”
“The POST and RISE students bring the peer students so much joy, and vice versa,” Mrs. Gately adds. “It’s a beautiful thing to experience.”
Photos courtesy of Mrs. Gately and Mrs. Mann
‘What Are We Doing?’
By Teddy McCrann, ’23
Staff Writer
As a rising senior at Hanover High School, the earliest memory I have of a domestic terrorist attack in the form of a school shooting is Sandy Hook Elementary School on December 14, 2012. That day in Connecticut, 28 people were killed at the hands of a 20-year-old shooter, the majority of them aged six or seven years old. I was 7 years old at that time, and I am now 17. In those 10 years, there have been countless school shootings in America — too many — to the extent that they have become a regular occurrence. This is a significant issue in our country. To become desensitized to these attacks against children is something that I didn’t think could happen, but welcome to America. I am not here to bash our nation because I love living here and enjoy the freedoms we are granted; however, there needs to be a change.
On May 24, there was another school shooting , this time at Uvalde Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas, where 18-year-old Salvador Ramos horrifically killed 19 children and two adults. This is just unfathomable, and I cannot believe that someone was capable of committing such a heinous act against defenseless kids who were just going to school on a normal Tuesday. People across the country are pushing the government to institute change and prevent this from ever happening again, even though barely anything effective has been done to restrict gun laws in the past decade. The ability to purchase a firearm, especially if it is of the semi- or full-automatic class, at the age of 18 is ridiculous. The 18-year-old brain has not finished developing; if 18-year-olds in America cannot purchase alcohol due to their brains being underdeveloped, then how can they purchase deadly weapons? Considering that the majority of the recent shootings have been committed by assailants in their late teens and early 20s, it makes sense that guns should be more restricted by age to allow further development and maturing, among other reasons.
It is barely comprehensible that this school shooting comes just a week after the Buffalo, N.Y., supermarket attack, where an 18-year-old gunman targeted a Black community and killed 10 innocent people out of racial hate and prejudice. What is happening? The combination of these two events within such a short time proves that our society needs to make a change and actually do something about the unwarranted violence that we have experienced. The gravity of the chosen targets in these shootings is impactful; the Buffalo shooting occurred out of hate for Black Americans and extreme racism, and in Uvalde, young children were killed. This cannot keep happening in a nation that preaches “equality” and the promotion of peace, and it makes me afraid for our future.
Three of the most devastating shootings that I remember are Sandy Hook, Parkland in 2017, and now Uvalde. The fact that I can recall these events and see that nothing has been done between any of them to prevent more shootings is not something I am willing to accept. Parents of young kids in America are scared, as they think that their child’s school is next in this chain of attacks and deaths. Not only are parents scared, but students are too. What school is next? Do lockdown drills really help to ease the ominous cloud of a potential shooting? Or do they accentuate the bizarre reality we have accepted as a nation? Personally, lockdown drills have become routine and normal, which speaks volumes about the state of our nation. School is a place to learn and socialize, not somewhere to be afraid for our lives.
Speaking to fellow lawmakers the day after Uvalde, Connecticut Senator Chris Murphy voiced frustration at witnessing another massacre like Sandy Hook. “What are we doing?” he implored of his colleagues. In recent years, the nation has done nothing to prevent school shootings, and this needs to stop, whether it be by enacting new gun laws or altering the process by which one obtains a firearm. I am not here to politicize the Uvalde shooting, but if something is not done about our outdated gun laws, then the future of our nation is in danger, as it has been for the past 10 years of my life.
Featured image: https://abcnews.go.com/US/student-survived-texas-school-shooting-recalls-gunman-youre/story?id=85010075
Class of 2022: Looking Back at the Highlight Reel
By Abby Van Duyn, ’24
Staff Writer
As seniors near the end of their high school careers, they can’t help but look back on the memories they’ve made. Friends, sports, teachers and class trips are among the highlights named by students who responded to The Hawk’s Class of 2022 survey.
Spirit Week stands out for Bridget Sellon and Jack Johnston. Abby Jones added that last fall’s pep rally out on the turf was one of her favorite memories.
For Molly McGlame, it’s “any school dance or sporting events. I love having these memories of being with my grade and school.”
Anna Bucchianeri will never forget “the family we have created in the music department.” Several students in band, chorus and drama echoed the sentiment, with Joe Campo saying he “enjoyed every minute of it.” Zach Lawit loved playing with the band at football games, and both he and Carsten Schwarz have great memories of the band’s trip to Williamsburg, Va. For Lauren Casey, Karen Bell and Rose Giordani, the best memories came from Drama Club.
Sports offered many highlights, especially the boys hockey state championship at TD Garden. Lauren Salvas loved her two years on varsity volleyball, and teammate Emma Talbot called senior night “very meaningful.” Reilly Laubenstein will treasure her swim and cross country seasons, as will Gianna Rizzo with soccer. Willow DiGravio cited cheerleading senior night as her favorite memory. Michael Losordo loved “taking the bus to sporting events, specifically baseball, with a huge speaker and snacks for the team.” Jack Rynning is proud of winning the Patriot League in golf his sophomore year.
Classes and teachers were the best memories of some students. Breanna Thomas loved her Partnership in Art classes, and Preston Miller cited his freshman Ceramics 1 class. For Jackson Coughlin, it was engineering. Ben Manning will never forget AP World History, with “Mr. Perry walking in saying ‘Me and Ben are royalists’ and talking with me about The Crown.”
Some students will never forget how the pandemic impacted high school. Caden Chadwick loved “reading outside during COVID times.” Nora Dailey will remember “online school at home.” For others, the easing of restrictions, including the hybrid schedule, was their favorite thing. “The end of the 2020-2021 school year just had a fun vibe as people were finally able to be back together and spend time outside in the nice weather,” said Brayden Scott.
Field trips also stood out. For Dan Leskow, it was the Peru trip during February vacation. Gillian Mastrocola loved her French class trip to Quebec. Duncan MacDougall enjoyed the senior trip to Harvard Square.
Allie Fiske’s highlight was unique. It was “when I brought my chicken in,” she said.
Some students couldn’t pick just one thing. “It was literally every day I got to spend with my friends,” said Cullen Gardner said. Jack O’Callaghan will never forget the “lots of good laughs.”
Class of 2022: Life Lessons From COVID
By Grace Van Duyn, ’22
Staff Writer
Looking back on the last four years, it is fair to say that our class did not have a typical high school experience. We all had no idea how much COVID would impact our lives, and for how long. With our sophomore, junior, and senior years affected by the virus, The Hawk asked students to reflect on the experience of living through a pandemic.
“I learned to be more self-sufficient and independent,” said Gillian Mastrocola. “I became more adaptable and improved my ability to teach myself difficult topics, and I spent more time with my family and improved my mental health.”
Many of us made similar self-discoveries, like Vincent Castaldini, who said, “I learned who I was as a person from the time we missed (in school).” Emma Talbot gained a “sense of independence and started doing things for myself, not others.” Anna Bucchianeri “learned not to doubt myself and that I could be strong.” Bella Kelley felt “the pandemic put into perspective what is important to me.”
Some students found the pandemic – with remote school, hybrid schedules and online classes – made them better students.
“COVID taught me a lot of time management skills that got me to set my own deadlines and stay on top of my work,” said Ben Manning. Duncan MacDougall is “now able to learn better over a Zoom call and with weekly deadlines instead of daily ones.” Bridget Sellon learned “to divide and conquer my work.”
For Cara Jenkins, COVID “showed us that we are able to adapt to new situations. Although it created many issues,” she said, “we were able to look for the positives and use the time for other things, such as families and hobbies.”
Hobbies picked up by the class included friendship bracelets for McKenzie Bottomley and skateboarding for Rose Giordani. Jamie Parry built a boat. Lauren Salvas “took the time to do things I love at home.”
Many students credit the pandemic for giving them more time with, and appreciation for, friends and family. “It made me realize the importance of spending time with others,” said Michael Greene. “I learned to better appreciate my family,” said Caden Chadwick.
Fitness was a coping mechanism for some students. Pat Callow started working out daily during the pandemic, saying “I learned that not everything is a guarantee.” Carter Zielinski felt COVID “showed me how important staying active and exercising is for mental health.” Jack O’Callaghan focused on “keeping extra healthy and keeping busy.”
One of the greatest themes among our experiences was learning to appreciate what we have. “Don’t take anything for granted,” said Lauren Casey. “You never know when
you may lose it.” Nieve Rowlette added that we should “live in the moment and be happy for what is to come.”
COVID “made me realize how much I take time for granted,” said Preston Miller. “I always used to complain about not having enough free time, and quarantine gave me more free time than I’d ever had and I still felt like I was wasting it.”
Molly McGlame found that after remote school, she was grateful when classes resumed in person. “As much as school can be dreadful sometimes, we are extremely lucky to have such a beautiful building to come to every day to see everyone and interact with our great students and staff.”
This pandemic has definitely been a struggle for all of us, but it also showed us how resilient we can be. No matter how big or small our accomplishments have been at HHS, we should give ourselves extra credit for them during this difficult time. COVID has shown us that we can manage challenging times, and that we can sometimes even turn them into something positive.
“Things may get hard,” Tiana Wakefield summed up, “but there is a way through it.”
Class of 2022: Friendships, Faculty will be Missed
By Norah Kelley, ’24
Staff Writer
Graduating from high school means going in a different direction from the people and friends that you have grown up with. It can be a scary step, but HHS seniors are excited for new opportunities. While they start planning for the next chapter of their lives, many are going to miss their high school experience, and the memories they have made will remain throughout their lives.
Most of all, the Class of 2022 is going to miss being with their friends every day.
“It’s easy to make friends when we’re all required to be at the same place,” said Anna Bucchianeri. “I think sometimes we take this for granted.”
Emma Talbot called it “the sense of home.” Jordan Kennedy said it’s “feeling like you know everybody even if you aren’t friends with them.”
Michael Losordo will always remember “having lunch with my best friends and joking around the table.”
Seniors will not only miss the friendships from within their class, they have also built strong bonds with younger students through sports, music, and all the clubs offered at HHS.
“I will miss my underclassman friends and the community that the music wing provides,” said Karen Bell.
Joe Campo echoed that. “Going to the band room before and after school was a notable part of my day because there was always someone in there to start a conversation with,” he said. “Now, whether they were supposed to be in another class during that time, I don’t know, but if I had a study, the band room was the place I’d go.”
For Bella Kelley, camaraderie and comfort came from the Unified Sports Team, which she participated in since freshman year. “This was my absolute favorite part of high school and I love all the friendships and memories I have made,” she said.
Preston Miller will miss the rugby team most of all. Ray Tschudy has great memories from cross country and track, and attending home games for other sports.
Many students will miss the influential teachers they had in their four years at HHS. Abby Jones and Jack O’Callaghan called their teachers “amazing.” Dan Leskow said his were “incredible” and “helped me get where I am today.” Nora Dailey, Jack Rynning and Robbie Barrett singled out Mrs. “Momma” Pereira for having a big impact on their lives.
In addition to the teachers, class president Jamie Parry said what he’ll miss most about HHS is “the cookies.”
Whatever their plans are after graduation, the Class of 2022 will carry their experience and memories with them. The halls of HHS will definitely not be the same without them.
Class of 2022: Comics Corner
By Michael Greene, ’22
Staff Cartoonist
Right-click on the image to open it larger in a new tab.
The Hawk 