[G]rowing up in America, everybody has a sense of love and pride for their country. Many say that they are patriots, and they are willing to bleed and die for their country. But for Chris Kyle saying that was never enough. “American Sniper” is a true story about Chris Kyle’s life and his dedication to America and the Navy SEALs. Directed by legendary actor and director, Clint Eastwood, American Sniper shows the grittiness of war and how difficult home really is. Chris Kyle (Bradley Cooper) has always felt a burning love for his country. He had always stood for what was right and provided an example others could follow.

Tis the season for spending time with family, caroling, gift-giving and putting up massive amounts of Christmas lights on top of your house and making it look a multicolored light bulb. Yet again, your father is not Clark Griswold. The Griswolds are back. Christmas is only a few weeks away and quirky father, Clark Griswold (Chevy Chase), thinks it is high time he and his family got into the holiday spirit. What could go wrong? The first step into Clark’s plan is to get a Christmas tree, so he gathers wife Ellen (Beverly D’Angelo), son Russ (Johnny Galecki), and daughter Audrey (Juliette Lewis) to do so. Piled into their Ford Taurus, the family heads out to the country to find the perfect tree. After finding a tree, Clark realizes he had forgotten to bring an ax or saw. This entails the entire family effort to pull the tree out of the snow covered (and frozen ground). Great start to the holiday season.

In the wake of ending of Catching Fire, our hero Katniss Everdeen (Jennifer Lawrence) struggles with the disappearance of close friend Peeta Mellark (Josh Hutcherson). Inside her, a vengeance grows. A festering sore of spite, anger and devastation. With the Rebellion gaining speed, Katniss stands as their Mockingjay. A symbol of resistance. The first part of the third installment of Suzanne Collins’ Hunger Games franchise, Mockingjay Part 1 continues the film series’s superb acting and breathtaking cinematics and interpretation to the silver screen.

It is 1941. Adolf hitler has marched into Poland and declared the second World War on the entire western world. The Russians fend against the Third Reich’s Nazis from tainting the motherland. At home, the USA is recovering from the Great Depression, and in the wake of the day that shall forever live in infamy. Also America and its might have declared war on Japan and have vowed to stop the atrocities Hitler is committing across Europe. In the desolate sands of French-occupied Morocco, Casablanca lies in all of its glory. This a city of fine gin, forgotten dreams and a passage to the New World. Casablanca is a place of tranquility, where sworn enemies trade war secrets and smoke cigars.

he cool October breeze settled upon the field as the Huntley’s boy’s varsity soccer readies themselves to play IHSA Regionals against Rockford’s...

[G]rowing up is never easy, but realizing the friends we have now may part from us is a world of its own. Stand By Me is a testimony to that exact concept. For sensitive Gordie, troubled Chris,flamboyant Teddy and comical Vern this may be the last time they see each other before they enter the toils and troubles of middle school, high school and eventually college. The gang embarks on a harrowing journey across the backwoods of rural Oregon in the midsummer heat to find the body of Ray Brower: a boy who went missing just days before. They soon set out on their journey over Memorial Day weekend with a lie to their parents stating they would be camping out in Vern’s backfield. The focus is put on Gordie Lachance, and how his older brother,Denny, died in a car wreck in April. His parents favored him over Gordie, as he was the quarterback of the high school’s football team. However, Denny loved his younger brother and always supported him on his love for writing and storytelling. Gordie’s father took Denny’s death very seriously, and even asked Gordie why he wasn’t like his brother.