Category: Opinion

There’s something about watching beauty fade in real time that makes people squirm. Not just in a personal way, but in a collective, cultural way. Hollywood is built on the illusion that youth is infinite, that desirability equals existence, and that once a woman stops being either of those things, she stops being anything at all. “The Substance” takes that idea, pulls it apart piece by piece, and forces us to sit with the wreckage. Elisabeth Sparkle (Demi Moore) is a woman who has spent her life being seen, until suddenly, she isn’t. She isn’t young anymore, and in this world, that means she isn’t relevant. After a chain of events, Elisabeth finds herself introduced to “The Substance,” and it doesn’t take long for her to or
der. That’s where Sue (Margaret Qualley) comes in. Sue is the new, improved version of Elisabeth. The younger, shinier model. But Sue isn’t a person. She’s a concept, and the creators of the substance emphasize the harsh truth, Elisabeth and Sue are one. What’s most unsettling about Sue isn’t just that she replaces Elisabeth; it’s that she does it so easily. Sue has no last name, no history, no depth. And yet, she rises to unimaginable success, adored and consumed by an industry that never questions where she came from.

The most heart-breaking moment in The Substance for me comes when Elisabeth stands in front of the mirror, getting ready for a date with a man who sees her, really sees her, as she is, and finds her beautiful. For a moment, there’s hope. Maybe she can believe it too. But every time she moves toward the door, she catches a
glimpse of Sue’s billboard outside, that impossibly ageless face staring back at her, daring her to measure up. So, she turns back to the mirror, adjusting. A little more makeup. A higher neckline. Cover the hands. More powder. Fix the hair. But it’s never enough. She wipes it all off and starts over, faster, rougher, until she’s clawing at her face, smearing the foundation into something unrecognizable, rage, grief, desperation, all of it collapsing in on
itself. It’s the most honest moment in the film because so many people have been there in some way, standing in front of a mirror, trying to be something better, younger, more palatable. And in the end, Elisabeth doesn’t leave. She never even gets out the door. The body horror is relentless, grotesque, and exactly what it needs to be. The transformation is not just physical but existential. This is what happens when you reject aging, when you buy into the lie that you can stay young forever. It turns you into something unrecognizable. The film doesn’t shy away from the ugliness of it, the desperation, the self-destruction, the way the pursuit of perfection consumes everything in its path. And then there’s the ending. After everything, after the blood and the madness, Elisabeth, Sue, Monstro Elisa Sue, or what’s left of her, steps back into the light. She has no illusions anymore. She knows what the world sees when they look at her, and she doesn’t
care. The audience, both in the film and in real life, is forced to confront their own role in this. The way we consume beauty. The way we discard women once they no longer fit the image we’ve projected onto them. It’s ugly. It’s uncomfortable. And it’s brilliant. “The Substance” isn’t subtle, but it doesn’t need to be. It holds up a mirror, and whether we like what we see or not, it doesn’t look away.

Welcome to the spring semester! If you’re new to HVCC, welcome! The Hudsonian is your source for the latest campus news, current events, and interesting stories. Values for Vikings is a column that highlights the deals around campus giving you the most bang for your buck. One of the best on-campus deals is the discounted Regal movie tickets at the Student’s Activities office. Located in the Siek Campus Center in Room 210, the Student Activities office offers amazing events. Each Tuesday from 10 AM-3 PM and 4-5:30 PM (Evening students only) Regal movie tickets are sold for $5 each. There is a limit of two tickets per week per student. You must show your current HVCC ID to get this deal. A typical Regal ticket for an adult is about $15 meaning buying yours at HVCC saves you $10.

Some exclusions apply. I used my tickets bought at HVCC to see Inside Out 2 and Wicked and both times I had a $1.50 upcharge per ticket once I got to the theatre. There are upcharges on new releases or specific movies so you must note that when planning. Even with the upcharge, it was such a better deal to get my tickets at Hudson Valley. If there are no ticket sales for the week that should be reflected in Brightspace as well as the college’s website so, look out for those posts. Consider purchasing your Regal movie tickets at HVCC saving you money while also conveniently grabbing them after class.

success a matter of fate? Or is it a legacy passed down from one person to another? No! Success is tied to the goals a person sets for themselves. Success is a concept that varies from person to person and is often defined as achieving a goal, gaining personal satisfaction, or creating a positive impact on society. Achieving a predetermined goal or completing a planned task also constitutes success. However, success involves utilizing one’s abilities and potential to the fullest. It is not just about external results but also the sense of fulfillment a person feels internally. For instance, helping others, leaving a positive mark on society, or making a difference in others’ lives. For some people, success is not
about money or career but a happy and peaceful life. Finding inner peace and achieving personal happiness is also a form of success. Naturally, this
concept of success, which leads us to the most beautiful points in life, is not easily achieved. As the saying goes, “You cannot climb the ladder of success with your hands in your pockets.” Isn’t this a profoundly true statement? Now, I want to ask: how high is your ladder to success? If we consider each step of that ladder as an obstacle, how many steps of obstacles do you have on
your path to success? Have you faced all these barriers? Moreover, what is your determination to overcome them? Factors That May Hinder You on the Path to Success: On the journey to success, the obstacles you may face can be personal, environmental, or psychological. Here are some examples: 1. Lack of Self-Confidence If you do not believe in your abilities, you may hesitate to take risks or try new things. 2. Lack of Clear Goals The absence of specific and achievable goals can reduce your motivation. 3. Poor Time Management Failing to plan, prioritize, and use your time effectively can slow down your progress. 4. Negative Thoughts like “I can’t succeed” or “I have no chance” can hold you back. Negative thoughts drain your confidence and energy. 5. Environmental Factors An unsupportive environment, critical family members, or unmotivated friends can make your journey difficult.

6. Lack of Discipline Without consistency and determination, achieving long-term success is challenging.
   7. Fears and Anxieties Fear of failure, reluctance to make mistakes, or worrying about what others think can prevent you from taking steps forward. 8. Health and Mental State Physical or mental health issues can affect your motivation and focus. Solutions:1. Set Goals: Define specific, measure from small but consistent steps. 3. Believe in Your Potential: Encourage yourself with positive affirmations. 4. Seek Support: Spend time within spiring people and seek guidance from mentors or professionals if necessary. 5. Manage Your Time: Create daily, weekly, and monthly plans. Determine your priorities. 6. Take Care of Your Health: A healthy body and mind are crucial for success. Factors Shaping Success: Personal Goals: Success depends on the goals a person sets for themselves. With each goal you achieve, your belief and confidence in yourself will growable, realistic, and time-bound goals .

I’ve been obsessed with Tate Mcrae’s new song, “Sports Car,” lately. There’s something about it that feels so familiar that it’s almost a little lackluster, yet just fresh enough for me to keep coming back. Then, I saw the perfect comparison and it all made sense. Tate Mcrae is trying to reheat Nelly Furtado and Timbaland’s nachos.
The problem is that she’s missing the cheese, but it’s 3 am, and you’re a little drunk, so you eat them anyway, and in that moment, in that context, they’re the best nachos you’ve ever had.
Nostalgia, as we experience it today, is like reheated nachos, oftentimes I’m perfect, but still a satisfying relic of the past. A flawed recreation that feels just right because of the context. It’s messy, it’s missing something, but strangely, it’s exactly what we need. It’s this longing for a time we didn’t fully live through or experience that
has become a driving force in pop culture. It’s not about perfection, it’s about the comfort of familiarity, even when it doesn’t quite hit the mark. This desire to revisit and repackage
the past is evident in today’s music, fashion, and media. Sampling in pop music has become one of the clearest manifestations of this trend. Artists like Dua Lipa and The Weeknd have embraced the sounds of the ‘80s, reviving synth
heavy melodies and larger-than-life production. Songs like Dua Lipa’s “Physical” or The Weekend’s “Blinding Lights” don’t just evoke memories of a past era, they reinvigorate them. These tracks don’t just sample old music, they create a bridge between generations, giving listeners access to a soundscape they may not have experienced firsthand but can still resonate
with. It’s the musical equivalent of a retrofit, borrowing familiar elements to craft something that may be new but will always be a bit reminiscent. But not all nostalgic moments hit the mark as seamlessly. The TikTok discourse around Mcrae’s attempt at recreating Furtado and Timberland’s early 2000s magic is a perfect example of the tension between the old and the new. Reheating the past may bring comfort, but it often lacks the raw, unrefined energy that made the originals stand out. It’s like trying to capture lightning in a bottle, sometimes, the magic just doesn’t translate. The unfortunate reality is that while nostalgia can be a powerful tool for connecting with an audience, it can
also stifle creativity when it’s not used
thoughtfully. This brings us to Hollywood’s obsession with sequels, reboots, and remakes. Everywhere you look, there seems to be a fixation on revisiting the past. Classic films and TV shows, from “Ghostbusters” to “Full House,” are being recycled for new audiences, with mixed results. On one hand, these reboots are a chance to revisit beloved characters and stories, offering a comfort we can cling to in an ever-changing world. But, on the other hand, it raises the question: Where are the bold, groundbreaking stories that once defined cinema? Are we so consumed by nostalgia that we’ve forgotten how to innovate? In a world where streaming platforms often prioritize remakes over original works, it’s hard not to wonder whether we are just chasing echoes of the past rather than creating something truly fresh.

This obsession with nostalgia has even seeped into fashion, where the Y2K aesthetic has seen a resurgence. Gen-Z, the current youth generation, is embracing the early 2000s despite not having fully lived through it. Many Gen-Zers, myself included, were mere toddlers or not even born
during this era. Yet, here we are, sporting cargo pants, chunky sneakers, and butterfly clips like they’re an original part of our style DNA. It’s a fascinating paradox: the generation expected to push culture forward is instead looking back to find their identity. In this context, TikTok plays a pivotal role, not just as a trend-setting platform but as a time capsule. The viral nature of TikTok makes it a space where the past and present collide. A song from the ‘80s or a trend from the 2000s can explode into the mainstream, not because of any inherent artistic value, but because it resonates emotionally with a generation in search of identity and connection. What does this all mean for culture? Why does nostalgia have such a hold on us? Psychologically, nostalgia serves as a coping mechanism, a way of dealing with uncertainty and distress. Research suggests that nostalgia can boost self-esteem, inspire confidence, and connect us to others in meaningful ways. In an era defined by technological change, economic instability, and social uncertainty, the past becomes a comforting anchor. But it’s also more than just a psychological crutch, it can be powerful
tool for reconnecting with deep emotional truths.
The challenge, however, is not to
fall into the trap of just “reheating nachos.” When done right, nostalgia can enrich culture by creating connections across generations, but when overused, it runs the risk of turning into a
form of escapism, a retreat from the challenges of the present. So, where does this leave us? Are we trapped in a cycle of recreating the past, or can nostalgia be a steppingstone to something new? To me, it’s both. Nostalgia serves as a bridge that links generations through cultural standards. But if we’re not careful, we might end up so absorbed in what has been that we forget to create the future. In the end, nostalgia is a powerful tool, one that can either stifle creativity or fuel it, depending on how we use it. The challenge is to balance honoring the past with building a future that is just as rich, bold, and meaningful. Much like those reheated nachos at
3 a.m., nostalgia may not capture the original magic, but in the right moment, it’s the imperfect comfort we crave. Sometimes, the best things are the ones we revisit, even when they’re a little worn around the edges.

Twenty-four years after Gladiator was released in theaters, its sequel Gladiator II has finally arrived. But it may have come a tad too late. The director Ridley Scott directed the original film and the sequel. As of late, the director hasn’t had the best track record. Now, he’s directed classics like the original Gladiator, Alien, and Blade Runner. However, some of his recent movies, like Exodus: Gods and Kings, The Last Duel, House of Gucci, and Napoleon, have been met with mixed or poor reception. So, whether this film would hit or miss the mark, was in question. The film itself is well shot and, in a way, emphasizes a sense of grandeur that most films don’t have much of anymore. The action scenes are fun to watch. The gladiatorial combat and sword fighting are visceral, and the action can get pretty gory. Though certain aspects stretch the limits of historical accuracy, they make for more fun. If
Ridley Scott wants to add sharks to the water filled Colosseum ship battle, I won’t complain about that. The effects are overall done well enough. Although the CGI can vary at times, it’s specifically noticeable in a scene containing
monkeys (you’ll recognize it when you see it).
The musical score is good here, but it doesn’t hold the same impact that the original score does. Hane Zimmer did not return to craft the music score here, while Harry Gregson-Williams did compose a decent score. However, it lacks something the original composition had that made it feel epic in scale. The acting is good. Paul Mescal manages his own as the lead, Lucius. He carries himself well in the action sequences.

characters in the film seem to have an interesting premise and background, but they are left unexplored. It feels as if there were a lot of scenes cut or left on the editing room floor… which may be true since the movie clocks in at 2 hours and 28 minutes, and the director Ridley Scott claims
that the original cut of the movie is 4 hours. The original Gladiator is considered a modern classic and is difficult to live up to. I would still consider the original above this film in rank. However, in a world of thumbs up or thumbs down, I’d still give the movie a thumbs up. If you’re looking for
something to watch, this movie is entertaining enough to consider watching in theaters, if you get the chance.

Denzel Washington and Pedro Pascal do well in their roles; Denzel in particular brings a certain movie star charisma to the film. Each actor does the best they can with the script they have been given. Each of the characters they play has understandable motivations, and that emotional ambiguity can make it
difficult to pinpoint who to root for; which can be a good or bad thing, depending on the viewer’s preference. The main issue with the movie comes down to its writing. It is very similar to the plot of the original movie, and the writing seems a bit clunky and disjointed. There are certain aspects of the script that seem to have plot holes or provide characters with blatant plot armor. Although plot armor can be excusable in certain stories and situations, here it comes off as a bit obvious. Some things happen in the movie that do not have time to breathe or develop on-screen, it just jumps to the next outcome. There are certain things that the characters go through and the movie does not really show either the emotional buildup to those scenes or the emotional aftermath. It lowers the impact of the characters’ arcs and makes the changes seem sudden and ‘out of the blue’ rather than gradual. Certain

Marvel Rivals is a competitive hero shooter that pulls its characters from the legendary Multiverse of Marvel comics. For those who do not know much about these games, it consists of teams competing for objectives. Each player takes the role of individual characters with different abilities, strengths, and weaknesses. These games are very popular in E-Sport communities for their competitive nature. For characters, it has various super villains and Heroes from the comic Multiverse, such as Captain America, Thor, and Iron Man. Many have called the game an “Overwatch killer,” with thousands of players flocking from the reigning monarch of the genre to this new game in its first weeks of release. However, it is the opinion of this author that it is not strong enough to kill. It certainly means that Overwatch no longer has the monopoly on hero-shooters it once
did, as this new game is a very strong
contender.

The game is free to play, with battle passes and cosmetics. The skins are taken from various comics, with a few originals sprinkled in. The comic-accurate ones contain titles of the
graphic novels they were pulled from. This is a great feature for fans getting to see their comic characters come to life. However, I have to say that the game has not really pioneered much game play-wise. It has stuck to the tried-and-true game modes of competitive hero shooters. I think some innovations are more akin to the cinematic world of Marvel, instead of riveting gameplay of Doctor Strange, Sorcerer Supreme, escorting a payload.