Category: Life & Arts
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Sonic release refreshes gameplay
On the surface, Sonic Mania looks like a continuation of where the first three games left off. However, the overall design adds new experiences while remaining true to its origin. Long-time fans have endured the different reinventions of Sonic throughout recent years, but Mania takes a step back and lets players fall in love with…
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Full-service bakery opens in Dining Hall West
Students and faculty will now be able to purchase customized desserts on campus thanks to a new bakery service at UTD called Comet Cakes, which opened in Dining Hall West on Aug. 21. The Comet Cakes menu includes cupcakes, cake pops and tiered, round or sheet cakes. All of the desserts can be ordered and…
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Q&A: TJ Miller
T.J. Miller who has starred in “Silicon Valley,” “Deadpool” and the “Emoji Movie” is bringing his comedy show to campus as a part of Weeks of Welcome on Aug. 30. The Mercury interviewed T.J. Miller to learn more about his rise to fame and preparation for the comedy show at UTD. Q. How did you…
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Students react to transgender military ban
At the age of 16, Peng Peng Zheng, like any other male about to graduate from high school in Singapore, registered for the military. The problem for Zheng was that she privately identified as female. In Zheng’s home country, enlistment in the National Service is a requirement for all male able-bodied citizens and second-generation permanent…
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“Logan Lucky” could be summer classic
“Logan Lucky” is a feel-good, comedic story that never tries its hand at drama. Set in West Virginia, the movie follows the story of Jimmy (Channing Tatum) and Clyde Logan (Adam Driver), two brothers barely making ends meet. Jimmy has a bum knee preventing him from getting work, and Clyde only has one arm after…
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‘Atomic Blonde’ stuns with aesthetic
“Atomic Blonde” stars Charlize Theron as a cold, brutal, bisexual spy in a neon-infused 1989 Berlin, with the mission to find a list of allied and enemy agents that’s been compromised. The movie is the directorial debut of David Leitch, and it relies heavily on his background in stunt coordination. Despite having a complicated, yet…
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Celestial film lacks plot
As the newest sci-fi flick to hit the big screens, “Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets” can best be described as that of a bad high school jock stereotype — pretty to look at, but lacking any substance. While the film had gorgeous effects, it was lacking in character development and script writing.…
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Q&A: Mark Spong | Dean of ECS
This August marks the last month of Mark Spong as the dean of the Erik Jonsson School of Engineering and Computer Science. He will step down and become a regular faculty member after taking the upcoming school year off. In an interview with The Mercury, Spong spoke about what the Jonsson School has accomplished and…
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CentralTrak’s Last Show
Home of UTD’s master’s of fine arts students for nine years, CentralTrak is permanently closing its living space to all current and future artists. The closure was announced in December 2016 when the landlord decided to terminate the lease. “This was the last show that ended on (June) 24 and then they had one week…
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Action flick stuns with smooth transitions, tasteful music
A car pulls up. The shot changes to that of an iPod. “Bellbottoms” by The Jon Spencer Blues Explosion begins its opening notes. Three individuals get out of the passenger doors with large duffle bags and walk to a nearby building. The camera pans to Ansel Elgort’s face as he begins tapping along to the…