Zachary Yoo

Position

Writer

Graduation

Class of 2024

Zachary Yoo is a journalist and Berkeley High student. He is a movie-lover interested in pop culture and politics, and outside of the Jacket can be found competing for Berkeley High's Speech and Debate team.

Illustration of Priscilla Presley

‘Priscilla’ reveals the reality of Elvis Presley

Entertainment

In Sophia Coppola’s new film “Priscilla,” a 32-year-old Elvis proposes to a 22-year-old Priscilla Beaulieu. He doesn’t get on one knee, and he doesn’t ask her if she’ll marry him.

‘Five Nights At Freddy’s’ has a fractured and confused tone 

Entertainment

There are few cultural fixtures as bizarre as “Five Nights at Freddy’s”. Starting in 2014 as a phone and PC game developed by a single person, the indie series was elevated to its current smash-hit status by YouTube content creators like Markiplier and MatPat.

Four must-watch movies from Latinx actors and filmmakers

Entertainment

REAL WOMEN HAVE CURVES “Real Women Have Curves’’ is a cathartic joy. Telling the coming-of-age story of Ana Garcia, it is about the mothers who seem like they’ll never be satisfied, the fear of not being accepted in your body, and the awkward boyfriend you deserve better than.

Four must-watch movies from Latinx actors and filmmakers

Entertainment

REAL WOMEN HAVE CURVES “Real Women Have Curves’’ is a cathartic joy. Telling the coming-of-age story of Ana Garcia, it is about the mothers who seem like they’ll never be satisfied, the fear of not being accepted in your body, and the awkward boyfriend you deserve better than.

‘Bottoms,’ a basic plot paired with campy, feel-good comedy

Entertainment

“Bottoms” was the most-watched film on Letterboxd, the social media website for film nerds, on its first week of wide release. It’s been marked as “watched” by over 100k users, far more than other summer movies like “Gran Turismo” and “Blue Beetle.” But it has thus far made a mediocre nine million at the box

People marching with signs behind a cracked computer.

Writers Guild fed up with low wages and AI

Entertainment

“We must now exert the maximum leverage possible to get a fair contract,” reads the announcement by the Writers Guild of America, regarding the strike that started May 2, approved by over 98 percent of its members.

Three movie actors, illustrated, with a TV and a car in frame

Four must-watch AAPI directed movies

Entertainment

CHAN IS MISSING The first Asian American directed movie is ultra-indie. Made on a budget of $22,000, shot in black and white, and with less-than-stellar audio quality, it’s a miracle “Chan is Missing” ever got made.

Courtesy of Universal Pictures

‘The Super Mario Bros. Movie’ relies on references, lacks plot

Entertainment

The 1993 movie “Super Mario Bros.” is the worst film ever made. It’s indescribably bad, baffling at every turn, banishing everyone’s favorite Italian-American plumbers to a disgusting, live-action, fungus-infected New York City.

A brown bear breaking through a strip of film tape.

‘Cocaine Bear’ offers gore, lacks message

Entertainment

In 1985, a bear did cocaine. That’s all that really matters. It does not matter that the bear overdosed and was found dead months later. It does not matter that this event came at the height of Ronald Reagan’s war against drugs, nor does it matter that the taxidermy of the bear, which still exists,

Jordan Peele’s directing across genres breaks cinematic norms

Entertainment

In 2019, actor Jordan Peele created controversy by saying he wasn’t interested in making films about white protagonists. The comedian-turned-horror-auteur has a clear purpose.

‘The Game Awards’ sells out for viewership

Entertainment

Amidst this year’s award show season, the question on everyone’s mind isn’t who will win big, rather, it’s: will anyone care? From the Oscars to the Tony Awards, many major award shows have been steadily losing viewers.

New ‘Avatar’ film sequel stuns visually, disappoints otherwise

Entertainment

“Avatar: The Way of Water” should need no introduction. It’s the sequel to the single highest-grossing film of all time, helmed by the legendary director James Cameron, who has devoted over a decade of his career to seeing it through.

The history and influence of Studio Ghibli

Entertainment

A young girl, Chihiro, travels with her family to their new home in rural Japan. As  they take a shortcut through a mysterious town, Chihiro finds her parents have been transformed into pigs.

Letitia Wright as Shuri in Marvel Studios

​​Wakanda Forever memorializes Boseman, maintains intrigue

Opinion

“Black Panther: Wakanda Forever” is an impossible sequel. The task of creating a follow-up to 2018’s “Black Panther” — no short of a cultural phenomenon — was already a daunting one.

Dwayne Johnson stars in half-baked action movie Black Adam

Entertainment

The best part of DC’s “Black Adam” is the character Cyclone. Portrayed by Quintessa Swindell, the C-list superhero with the power to control the wind dazzles on screen.

Video game films are lackluster

Entertainment

In 1993, “Super Mario Bros.,” the first major movie based on a video game, was marketed with the tagline “This Ain’t No Game.” Despite the film’s disastrous performance both critically and commercially, it absolutely lives up to the slogan.

Librarian book recs feature Latinx focus

Entertainment

Berkeley High School celebrates Latinx Heritage Month at the library, where the staff has gathered many books featuring Latinx and Chicanx culture. Librarians Sarah Rosenkrantz, Meredith Irby, and Nicole Fitzhugh highlighted a few books on the official BUSD Latinx reading list.  “Ballad and Dagger”, by Daniel José Older, kept Fitzhugh on the edge of her

Three men in green suits standing in front of an explosion, the explosion is in front of an American Flag

Military propaganda in film and TV: Contaminating films across the nation

Entertainment

When “Top Gun” was released in 1986, it was an instant hit. The film made over $350 million at the box office and has remained a beloved classic of American cinema.