The Beastie Boys kick it up a notch

Like a reboot actually done right, "Hot Sauce Committee Part Two" is definitely music to the ear holes of the hip-hop legends' fans and newcomers alike. Although, "Hot Sauce Committee Part One" is nowhere to be found, listeners will not have a hard time bobbing their heads to the beats floating around on the new Beastie Boys album.
Nearly three years in the making, "Hot Sauce Committee Part Two" knocks out audiences with its heavy beats destined to blow out a few subwoofers and sounds that will throw listeners back to the ‘90s.
Kicking off the album with "Make Some Noise," the Boys set the tone with a funky beat that will keep heads bobbing from beginning to end. The single provides a perfect blend between ‘90s cheap microphone qualities and this generation's infatuation with computer generated noises. About a quarter of the way into the track, a cowbell solo is thrown in and will certainly leave a cheesy grin on some faces.

"Too Many Rappers," featuring Nas, was the first single released from the album back in July of 2009 when the album's title was still "Hot Sauce Committee Part 1." Due to Beastie Boys member MCA (real name Adam Yauch) being diagnosed with cancer, the album was pushed back past the original release date of Sept. 15, 2009. This left loads of fans out to dry and worried, but as soon as MCA recovered, the Beastie Boys were back in business.
"Yo, I been in the game since before you was born" and "Grandpa been rappin' since ‘83" are only a few verses sprinkled throughout the track that show the Beastie Boys may be getting older, but it only makes their flow more skilled.
"Funky Donkey" is probably the strangest and funniest song on the album. With steel drums lingering in the background giving it a reggae feel, and a funky guitar strumming along as the main beat, it is hard to figure out where the song is headed. About 30 seconds in, it is clear that this song is a little something merely thrown together as a bit of a sound bite, since the song is just under two minutes in length.
Tagging along right after "Funky Donkey" is "The Larry Routine" and if the track before it did not make the listener laugh, "The Larry Routine" will. Each member raps a quick verse and ends it with a high-pitched squeal that almost sounds as if they are singing, insisting they should not quit their day job.
"Tadlock's Glasses" is one of the songs on the album with the fewest verses, but it is probably one of the catchiest songs. With more synthesizers in this song than the entire album combined, the song definitely brings listeners back into the 2000's and does not miss a beat with reminding them that this is the Beastie Boys. The song is entrancing, almost giving the listener a breather before the beats of "Lee Majors Come Again" spill in.
"Lee Majors" is one of the few songs on the album where the original sounds of the Beastie Boys come out. A hardcore punk and rap slurry is formed in this song, and will definitely get people on their feet and get them ready to thrash with the rhythm.
Cowbells jingling and tapping along in the background is the backbeat for "Here's A Little Something for Ya." This track is not much more than a toss of cool beats. Although it makes no errors when it comes to keeping with the flow of the album, it does not really add anything to it.
"The Lisa Lisa/Full Force Routine" wraps up the album perfectly with hardcore beats, and one last verse to boost the album from gold to platinum. With a solid 49 seconds under its belt, it is probably one of the shortest last album tracks in history, but it is still enjoyable.
It certainly took them awhile to release "Hot Sauce Committee Part Two," but it was definitely worth the wait. With their last album, "The Mix-Up" falling under the radar this new album shows The Beastie Boys are not going down without a fight.
Coming back with their goofy demeanors and showing the world that they still have that spunk from 25 years ago; The Beastie Boys knocked this one straight out of the park and may have busted a few windows along the way.

"Hot Sauce Committee Part Two" by The Beastie Boys receives a 10 out of 10.

Originally Posted here

More Street Fighter X Tekken Videos Released

 Although the release date is still up in the air. "Street Fighter X Tekken" gameplay has finally been released. The videos show a few characters from Tekken (King, Nina Williams, and Kazuya Mishima) and favorites from Street Fighter (Ryu, Ken, Marduk) duking it out on vibrant colored stages.

The overall look of the game is the same as recent "Street Fighter" games. Heavily inked and beefed up fighters. But most avid gamers are hoping to see a change from the original Street Fighter roster, while others hope their favorite "Tekken" characters make the cut. While the actual amount of characters on the roster is still not known IGN has released the first 10 characters that have been revealed. Which comes to no surprise.

Now "Street Fighter X Tekken" should not be confused with "Tekken X Street Fighter". One is being produced by Capcom while the other (one with Tekken first) is being produced by Namco. Both release dates are floating between 2011 and 2012 but Namco's game will not be released until Capcom releases theirs. Almost as if they are waiting to see how Capcom does and will tweak theirs is necessary.

Besides "Tekken X Street Fighter" Namco also has "Tekken Tag 2 Tournament" under their belt. This game will be released in Japanese arcades this summer while console and region releases have still not been announced. According to Katsuhiro Harada, producer, every character will be speaking in their native language. Along with change in audio, there has been a tweak in gameplay where combo attacks have come into play along with apparent "stage gimmicks". footage

With "Street Fighter X Tekken", "Tekken Tag 2 Tournament" and "Mortal Kombat 9" spilling out of the gates, this year is turning into fighter central and fans are thrilled.

Trailers and gameplay for "Street Fighter X Tekken" can be found on Gametrailers or Youtube

"Rated R Superstar" Retires

Last night in a great shock to wrestling fans around the world, Heavyweight World champion Edge (Adam Copeland)  announced his retirement last night on Monday Night Raw. After his doctor him with spinal stenosis and advised he stop wrestling Edge made his emotional trip to the ring .

He seemed perfectly fine before and after Wrestlemania 26 but officials at WWE advised he get more tests done. These tests had to be done due to a neck injury he took 6 years ago. He announced to his fans that the feeling in his arms had gotten worse and this injury was constantly haunting him and becoming worse, so it was time to retire.

Fans rose to their feet and gave Edge a great amount of respect chanting "Thank you, Edge!" as he held back tears and walked down the ramp for the last time. After a quick commercial break Edge was shown walking from the ramp and into a line of  fellow wrestlers shedding their characters and holding back tears. Edge was seen hugging many Diva superstars and even fist-bumping Khali.

Many wrestlers tweeted only moments later.

@TheBethPhoenix Seeing edge say goodbye was surreal. He is irreplaceable.


@IAmJericho  Edge is a great performer and 1 of my favorite opponents. He's also got an incredible MIND for the business. Congrats on an amazing career


@NatbyNature  My thoughts are with Edge, and thank you so much for the wonderful memories. You're a real, true friend and ill never forget it-

Some are still left wondering if this is real, it has been confirmed as 100% legitimate. With 19 years under his belt, Edge has definitely had a great career.  With 7 World Heavyweight Championships, 12 World Tag Team Championships, 4 WWE Championships, King of The Ring, Money in the Bank twice and winner of the Royal Rumble last year, it is clear he had a great career. It goes without saying that Edge will be sorely missed and speculations over his championship belt have already begun to float around through the internet. Edge may not have been the most liked superstar, but his character was cunning, funny, and sometimes downright evil. No other wrestler had what he had and he deserves nothing but a speedy recovery and a healthy life.

Edge, thank you and you will be missed.
Edge's Retirement on Raw   WWE Announcement of Edge's Retirement

Nemesis Get's a "G" for Graphic

Blood, blood and more blood cover the pages of the newest comic by duo Mark Millar and Steve McNiven. Though they have toned down the storyline to pump up the violence, their latest comic series "Nemesis" definitely shines light on their darker sides.

From the opening scene to the last page, blood splatters are not hard to come by and, if the Joker is the one of the most despicable comic book villains of all time, Nemesis has proved himself to be a close second.

Nemesis, the main and only villain in this comic book series, decides to go on a killing frenzy and his victims of choice are cops. He targets cops all over Asia and finally made his way to America when readers are finally introduced to him. Decked out in white, he makes it very obvious he wants to be known for what he does and wishes nothing but pain and suffering to those he is out to get. Nemesis' next target is Chief Blake Morrow, located in Washington D.C., a man as tough as Nemesis.

Both certainly give off a great good-versus-evil collaboration, but this comic simply takes it to a different level. With quick witty dialogue and a chuckle on every page, the comic definitely keeps its readers hooked. From issue to issue, Nemesis' plots and shenanigans seem to top themselves, becoming more disgusting and elaborate throughout the course of the series making it sure to keep readers guessing until the very last page.

Nemesis is a rich man with fast cars, endless resources and a sleek costume. If Batman had decided to be the Joker, Nemesis would be the end-result. Nemesis is just as smart and cunning as Batman, which is why he has been able to get away with his crimes for as long as he has. The level of sadism and remorselessness Nemesis possesses rival the Joker's, if not topping it. It would be easy to let a concept like this get away from you, but Millar and McNiven are able to center it and focus on what is going on behind the victims, allowing readers to peek into the past.

This comic book uses no effect bubbles, which is hard to even notice due to the amount of detail put into each effect. At one point, a plane is crashed into a gasoline truck and, after getting past the devastating event taking place, the readers can view the artwork and really see how gorgeous the comic really is. From time to time, it would have been nice if McNiven would have lightened up on the wrinkles on some of the older men's faces though. Sometimes it comes off as if he was thinking "they might not know this man is older than the Earth itself, let me add a few more wrinkles."

The story itself has a few good twists and is filled with obscenities, and even double obscenities that had to have been thrown in for a chuckle. The twist ending is so quick it may take a re-read and a Wikipedia search to understand the entire concept. Trying to understand how Millar comes up with some of the strange and sick ways Nemesis thinks is one of the reasons this comic is such a page turner. From the first page, readers are pulled in trying to figure out what his deal is and why he is so incredibly insane.

While the comic is attractive enough with beautiful detailing and amazing scenery, the story is put on a backburner and pulled out at the last minute. Thankfully, Nemesis' antics help carry the story along, allowing for the readers to become engrossed, overall making for such a memorable character who really makes this piece incredibly interesting and worth reading. 

"Nemesis" receives a 7 out of 10.  

"Insidious" Loses Audiences

 Providing more thrills than shock, "Insidious" leaves audiences behind, as it never fully delivers on the screams it could produce.  The director of "Saw," James Wan, and the producer of "Paranormal Activity," Leigh Whannell, teamed up to create what could be a bone-chilling thriller but results in a lukewarm fright fest filled with creepy quick cuts and loud noises.

As the movie begins, the audience is introduced to the Lambert family, consisting of Patrick Wilson ("Watchmen") playing the father Josh Lambert, and Rose Byrne ("Damages") playing the mother Renai. The family seems like a pretty average family who moved into a brand new house, but right from the get-go something seems to be a little off. After one of their sons, Dalton, falls into a coma, the couple is put through extremely tough times, dealing with a comatose kid and strange appearances from ghosts. Renai finally convinces Josh there is something wrong with their house, but after they make a quick move she discovers the appearances are getting worse and more frequent. They soon find out that the house was not haunted at all, rather for some reason these ghosts are attaching themselves to the family.

The strong atmosphere of the movie is created from the beginning and never drops. The audience is always left tense, waiting anxiously for whatever will jump out or flash on the screen to scare them. The lingering feeling of something not being told or the fear of something terrible happening helps the audience connect and care for the outcome of the characters journey through this mess.

Wilson and Byrne definitely help in this film, putting their best into the characters, allowing them to become real when they could have come off as one-dimensional. Although the atmosphere is strong, the shocks are not, and after awhile the film becomes predictable and drawn out.

Ghosts can be scary, but if they are constantly being thrown in front of the camera and explored further than they need to be it starts to become routine and dull. At one point Josh interacts with some of the ghosts and it starts to get annoying as none of the ghosts seem to have any attributes besides blinking, smiling and staring.

When a movie is approaching two hours in length, predictable plotlines and smiling ghosts grow more aggravating than frightful. However, once the movie becomes predictable, it is as if the filmmakers realize this and quickly toss in another twist in an attempt to top the previous one.

The last half of the story reeked of "Poltergeist," but it would not have been such a bad thing if the first half matched up with the ending. It is as if Whannell wrote a story about possession and another about astral projection, then decided to mash them together instead of creating two different movies with it. The scares in the beginning are cheap but almost each one got someone in the audience, so that goal was achieved. Unfortunately, the ending spirals out of control with weak encounters and ghosts who start strong, but end up goofy and laugh-inducing.

"Insidious" lacks the attachment most thrillers or horrors have to audiences. Those movies make it hard for viewers to be by themselves at night, or walk past a dark room, but this film does neither.

Although the very end saved the movie from being absolutely terrible, it also sealed the fate of this film not being a memorable one.

"Insidious" receives a 6 out of 10.

Ferrell Replaces Carrell

              Last Thursday “The Office” presented one of its very few sneak peeks to next week and it revealed and familiar comrade of Steve Carrell’s, Will Ferrel. Will Ferrel stated to Entertainment Weekly that he will be taking over.  Fans immediately tweeted, blogged and updated their statuses with surprise wondering if he was definitely staying but behind the scenes different words have been said. “Will was likely joking, but time will tell.” says cast member Rainn Wilson to EW, “He’s got other fish to fry.”

Edited by yours truly. Photo courtesy of Google.

                Whether or not this rumor is true will be seen in due time but will Will Ferrel truly is able to bring a different style to the plate. Carrell’s entire shtick is being extremely uncomfortable, oblivious and over the top in all the wrong ways. It is hilarious and it works. But what is the point of switching him out with Will Ferrel who initially does the same thing. Each character from Ron Burgundy from “Anchorman” to Brennan Huff in “Step Brothers” is the same. An extremely immature grown man who has no idea the effect he has on those around him until the last 30 minutes of the film. This too works and it is hilarious. Although it really gets no one anywhere, seeing as half of the country loves Ferrel and the other half cannot stand to even see his face without imagining him streaking and cringing in annoyance.

               There has been talk of other people such as Will Arnett or Ricky Gervais  ,who was the creator of the earlier British version of “The Office,” to take Carrel’s place. Will Arnett would be a perfect edition if he took an evil and vindictive attempt at being the head of the office, but obviously in a funny way. After “Arrested Development” he has shown that his comedic talents are definitely off the charts and extremely underrated seeing as he hasn’t been afterwards. Although he has been a recurring character on “30 Rock” it could call for some scheduling conflicts so he might not be a possible candidate for Michael’s spot. Gervais filling Micheal’s spot would be a pleasure to watch, but he has a show of his own running at the moment called “The Ricky Gervais Show” so that could put a damper on things on his behalf. It is probably safe to say that neither of these amazing picks will make a permanent move into the workplace. 

PUC's Budding Writer

Exciting, hilarious and intriguing is the best way to describe "Please Swipe Again," written by PUC's own Megan Mann. She has written a novella both entertaining and intriguing in its telling of the budding relationship of two young New Yorkers. It is impressive to believe this is her first book, as the amount of personality behind each character shows a great level of maturity.

The plot revolves around Ava and Kiernan, as they try to figure out their lives while exploring the streets of New York City. The point of view alternates from chapter to chapter between Ava and Kiernan. This unique style allows the readers to connect with the main characters to the fullest extent, and to sympathize with their trials and tribulations.

Music plays a huge part of this story. The song choices allow the reader to dive further into the atmosphere of the scenes and really feel the emotions of the characters. While this tool becomes a negative when the reader may not be familiar with the artist or song choice, having the option of compiling a playlist that goes hand-in-hand with the book is rather interesting and, for some, enjoyable.

Mann's further use of musical references drives the importance of music home.

For instance, there is a scene in the book where two characters end up having an intimate moment and afterwards the character states, "It allowed me to concentrate on what we had talked about before we brought a Motley Crue song to life." All innuendos aside, Mann finds a way to get readers laughing, whether it is Kiernan's arrogant, model cousin Travis making egotistical remarks and grinning at Ava's best friend, or Madison, who is a spunky fireball and receiver of grins. This combo of characters allows the book to flourish and shocks readers with its heavy sentimental and earnest under tones.

Due to quickly elapsed time and the short page count of the book, the character arcs feel a bit rushed, but they still manage to be solid and logical. The readers get to see Ava transform from a lost young girl to a strong young woman who makes tough decisions while they are smiling straight at her. Kiernan shifts from a scared young boy to an independent young man who is able to face decisions and confrontations head on. Allowing the readers to experience and see this transformation adds another level to the story and, though it is quickly done, it is not a sloppy or unrealistic progression.

Mann's first outing seems fluid and effortless, allowing the readers to look past her amateur status and see the budding, legitimate writer who rests inside these pages. Areas of detail and elaboration still require some tweaking though, as this book comes up at a brisk 93 pages. A bit more delving into Ava and Kiernan's strange relationship would have been happily welcomed to the story. Still, brevity aside, the book serves as an engaging read for all aspiring writers and young adults who are trying to find their inner spark.
"Please Swipe Again" by Megan Mann receives a 7 out of 10.

Jump back to original location. 

Support Japan

I know this is only suppose to be about media based things. But this country has had a spot in my heart since I was 11. Not just for the animation they produce that opened an entirely new door of creation, but also due to the culture that surrounds their citizens. I wish I could visit there myself and help out but alas, I am grounded in America. All I can go is send things to help them out and hope they recover quickly.

I have made this video and am hoping to participate in a charity event next week to help out.

Follow THIS video and there are countless links that YOU could help out. One donation can help. Your hands are not only meant to push you up when you fall, but they are also meant to reach out and help others when they take a tumble.


Thank you.

Hall Pass Gets Lost

For a movie marketed as a raunchy comedy, to be so painfully unfunny is a feat all itself, not what the creators intended. "Hall Pass" achieves this from the moment the title of the movie leaves the mouths of the characters, and the whole thing tumbles downhill from there. Predictable, soulless and boring are three things directors do not want in an adult comedy, but it was slathered all over this Farrelly Brothers film.

"Hall Pass," starring Owen Wilson ("Wedding Crashers", "Bottle Rocket"), centers around a married man named Rick, whose wife gives him a hall pass for a week. This hall pass grants him the chance to be as sleazy as he wants to be in hopes to get his roaming eyes back on his wife, played by Jenna Fischer ("The Office"). Rick, along with his buddy Fred (Jason Sudeikis of "SNL"),  and a few of their other pals go out on the town in hopes of scoring a few points before heading back to their women.

Terrible concept aside, the film suffers from poor set-ups and unfunny payoffs. It seems as though the Farrelly Brothers have run out of jokes, leaving all their gold in movies such as "Dumb & Dumber", "Me, Myself & Irene" and "There's Something About Mary." Judging by their previous body of work, one would expect the movie to push the limits of sensibility and taste with hilarious results. This time, however, expectations are not met with hilarity, but rather disappointment and crushed hopes of what could have been. The crude humor cannot make it past the slight smirk, and the recurring jokes force cringes instead of laughs.
The wives are more interesting than the husbands in this story since Wilson's character showed no real intentions of getting with anyone. When the wives are hit with temptation, their story is far more interesting but simply does not get enough screen time. Sudeikis proved he is nowhere near ready to co-star in a comedy, as he is only able to deliver one half-funny joke involving a chloroform napkin.

Wilson also makes audiences wonder if he is able to act outside of a Wes Anderson ("The Royal Tenebaums", "Rushmore", "Fantastic Mr. Fox") film at all. It would appear that he cannot, as his character feels extremely one-dimensional and seemed as though any other actor could have easily filled his shoes.  The characters Brent, played by Derek Waters, and Coakley (Richard Jenkins), the tanned out man who can be spotted telling the guys how to spot a not-so-hot chick, are the only characters that bring a slight smile and laugh to the theatre. This is due to their outlandish tendencies, which almost reminded viewers of the Farrelly's old ways.

All in all, the Farrellys need to sit down and take a long look at the drawing board to try and figure out why their films have become so lackluster. Gone are the days of explosive diarrhea, public indecency and questionable hair gel. Now the days are filled with barely funny characters, nudity for the sake of nudity and substance jokes which have been done over a thousand times in the past three years. The film falls short on every conceivable level by which one can measure a comedy.

 "Hall Pass" receives a 2 out of 10.

[Read on PUC site: Here]

‘The Rite’ Sinfully Awful

           “The Rite” is a stale, run of the mill “thriller” that will not do anything  to revolutionize the demonic-possession sub-genre. In fact, it takes a big leap back from last year’s “The Last Exorcism.” Even an admirably silly performance from Anthony Hopkins was not enough to save this film from the depths of the cinematic dark abyss.

                The story of “The Rite” deals with a young priest, Michael Kovak (Colin O'Donoghue) whose faith has faltered and is shipped to an exorcism school in Italy where he meets Father Lucas Trevant (Anthony Hopkins) while there.  It is never made entirely clear what caused Kovak to have his lapse in faith, or why he decided to join the priesthood in the first place, but the audience is pulled along with the skeptic Kovak as he watches Father Lucas performance his “exorcisms.” After multiple brushes with demonic forces, one that even takes the life of a young woman, Kovak still refuses to believe that what he is witnessing are acts performed by the devil. A chilling remark from Trevant stating “just because you do not believe in the devil, does not protect you from him,” sets off what could have been an intense battle of faith, but ultimately fizzles into a whirlwind of clichéd tedium.  

                The scenes are long and slow, which is shameful during sequences that should be intense encounters with demonic possession that should shock and frighten both the audience, and Kovak. However, in the end we, and Kovak, are left feeling like we have seen it all before. Cheap jump scares left the audience bored and dialogue heavy scenes without any weight put them to sleep.  Although, the poor writing in this film did not stop Hopkins from making audiences laugh and fear him. His performance alone makes the movie almost palatable. Father Lucas responds to frightening demonic possession with the same boredom that we do, which is humorous for a character in the film to do, but deadly for the audience. A particularly funny scene sees Hopkins uncharacteristically using the words “awesome” and “dude,” before impersonating a young Welshman. If that sounds strange to read, it would be even stranger to watch.

                All jokes aside, Hopkins gave a decent performance showing that he still has that spark of evil that caused people to cringe at the thought of fava beans and chianti. However, in the end the movie falters, as it could have been twenty minutes shorter, and the final showdown left Kovak with only one option and the audience just waiting for him to take it.

                 “The Rite” had a peculiar opening title stating that its story was “suggested by a book by Matt Baglio.” I suggest that you avoid this one. For its abysmal lack of originality, “The Rite” receives a  3 out of 10. 

A Roast or an Award Show?

(Originally ran January 23rd, 2011)

Shocking wins and a host aiming for Hollywood’s jugular drove The Golden Globes to new heights. “The Social Network” ruled the movie section of the award ceremony while the television show “Glee” dominated its competition.

Hearts were broken and there were tons of toss-ups and near misses in this year’s awards. With host Ricky Gervais opening with, “It’s going to be a night of partying and heavy drinking—or as Charlie Sheen calls it: breakfast,” the awards were off to an interesting start.

The ceremony started with Christian Bale (“The Dark Knight,” “American Psycho” and “The Machinist”) receiving his first major acting award with his supporting role in “The Fighter.” Bale was able to keep his cool this time around when mentioning his wife, contrary to two nights ago at The Critic’s Choice Awards.

“The Social Network” started their reign as they grabbed the award for Best Original Score, composed by Trent Reznor and his partner Atticus Ross. Seconds later Reznor expressed his shock through Twitter using what some may consider inappropriate language. “The Social Network” also snagged a globe for Best Screenplay taking it away from “Inception” and “127 Hours.”

As the night progressed, “The Fighter’s” Melissa Leo received an award for her supporting role in the film, which is based on the true story of boxer Micky Ward (Mark Wahlberg) and his struggle to become pro in the 1980s.

Though most have not gone out of their way to see it, “In a Better World” won Best Foreign Language Film, based in Denmark, and centers on two risky Danish families.

“Burlesque” beat out Disney’s “Tangled and “Chronicles of Narnia” for Best Original Song.

Another shocking win for the night was Chris Colfer from “Glee,” who was extremely surprised about his win for his supporting role. Colfer was barely able to put words together as he happily accepted the award and spoke out against bullying in schools.

“Glee” continued to conquer as they collected awards in Best Supporting Actress and Best TV Series: Comedy or Musical.

“The Big Bang Theory’s” Jim Parsons grabbed Best Actor for TV Series: Comedy or Musical, while “The Big C” took Best Actress for TV Series: Comedy or Musical.

“Boardwalk Empire” took the award for Best TV Series in the drama category breaking AMC’s “Mad Men” winning streak.

Natalie Portman (“Garden State” and “V for Vendetta”) took home the Golden Globe for Best Actress: Drama with her beautiful and breathtaking performance as the troubled ballet dancer Nina Sayers in “Black Swan.” Portman’s role in this film has been receiving rave reviews and she seems to be the front-runner for the Oscar this year.

Colin Firth from “The King’s Speech” snuck in and took home Best Actor: Drama with his role as King George VI of Britain who struggled with a speech impediment.

Best Director went to David Fincher for “The Social Network” which did not come to much of a surprise for most, since he has directed films such as “Curious Case of Benjamin Button,” “Se7en” and, his most famous, “Fight Club.” Fincher was able to bring Mark Zuckerberg’s journey through the creation of “Facebook” to the silver screen in an understandable and sleek way.

By far the biggest surprise of the evening was what Ricky Gervais got away with saying. All jokes, puns, jabs and insults aside, the acceptance speeches were full of heart as every speaker included a fiancé, husband, wife or kids.

With a cancer-free Michael Douglas strutting onstage and Robert DeNiro cracking a few jokes of his own as he received the Cecil B. DeMille Award, audiences could not help but smile and applaud.

For years now, The Golden Globe winners have been a shoe-in for Oscar nominations,which will be announced Tuesday, Jan. 25.

Coens Stay 'True' to Form

(Originally ran January 16th, 2011)

The latest from the legendary Coen Brothers is "True Grit," a story full of gunpowder, gore and unexpected giggles. With a stellar cast, outstanding script and their trademark style, "True Grit" is sure to be a shoe-in for Oscar nominations this February.

The story of "True Grit" is centered around a 14-year-old girl named Mattie Ross, played by Hailee Steinfeld, who vows revenge after her father is killed in cold blood by Tom Chaney (Josh Brolin). She hires U.S. Marshall Rooster Cogburn (Jeff Bridges) to track down Chaney, but not without her assistance. The unlikely duo runs into Texas Ranger LaBoeuf (Matt Damon) and together the trio travel through Indian Territory in the fall of 1877 on a search for Chaney and The Pepper Gang.

The Coen Brother's style is written and displayed all over this movie. From scenes filled with fresh, fluid and interesting dialogue, a scene merely consisting of talk about horse trading, to the scenes drenched with suspense as the audience waits to see if Cogburn will be able to take down a criminal from miles away with nothing but a rifle and one eye.

Bridges and Damon play off each other as if they have acted in countless movies before, but Steinfeld is truly the one who shocks the crowd. She holds her own and often steals the scene from veterans Damon and recent Oscar winner Bridges.

Although Steinfeld is the star, Bridges and Damon bring a comedic and, at times, serious feel to the movie. Brolin brings something new to the screen, coming from an all around tough guy from the Coens' film "No Country for Old Men" back in 2007, to a bumbling killer in "True Grit." He shows he is not going to be a typecast actor with a lot more to offer than just good looks.

Though it is strange to see the Coens take on the western, a genre which seemed all but dead in recent years, they bring it to life with superb directing, allowing this adaptation to flourish.

Ross is one of the reasons this movie is not just a straight gun-toting Western, but a movie with a mind and soul. Seeing a 14-year-old girl, especially in the 1800s, act so strong and self-reliant is a shock. She never backs down, even against aggressors more than three times her age. She has the tenacity of an old soul trapped in the body of a girl. This may have seemed like an extremely difficult role for someone so young to take on, but 14-year-old Steinfeld masters the role beautifully.

"True Grit" is based on Charles Portis' 1968 novel of the same name. However, unlike the John Wayne vehicle of 1969, the Coens truly bring the novel to life for the first time, utilizing much of the original dialogue of the novel and allowing actors to pull off some interesting stunts. They are able to display their trademark of dark comedy, particularly in a scene where Damon gets a bit "tongue-tied."

Their use of humor really helps the audience feel more for the characters and hope everyone accomplishes their goals in the end. Through it all, the audience is part of the journey. The Coens are able to grab the audience by throwing in words or phrases that probably have not been heard in decades. Such as "poke" which means a sack or "let it knit" which would mean to let something heal on its own. These little splashes of legitimacy thrust the viewer back into a lost time and was done perfectly.

"True Grit" may not be on the top of everyone's list, but it definitely needs to be. A heavy-hitting cast, phenomenal directors and a fresh look at an old Western story to boot, this movie will not allow itself to be overlooked.

"True Grit" receives a 9 out of 10.

The 'Deathly" Beginning of the End

(Originally ran November 21st, 2010)

As hundreds of fans from all over the region crammed into the AMC theatre in Schererville, Ind. to see "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1," it started to dawn on them: Harry Potter is almost over.

Some fans even started to countdown to the beginning of the movie, which debuted at midnight Nov. 19. "Five minutes!" exclaimed a group of fans, decked out in Harry Potter apparel from scarves and robes, to scars and glasses. As the theatre grew dark and the trailers ran their course, squeals of excitement and dire anticipation rose to a startling level.

"Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1," takes the trio of Harry Potter (Daniel Radcliffe) , Hermione Granger (Emma Watson) and Ronald Weasley (Rupert Grint) out of Hogwarts and into the real world. After their safety nets are destroyed, the trio realizes how very real and very scary this world is getting. Voldemort (Ralph Fiennes), the evil wizard who has been after Harry since he was a baby, is looking for one of the Deathly Hallows, a gift from the Grim Reaper. Meanwhile, Harry and his friends trek out to find and destroy items called Horcruxes, which each hold part of Voldemort's being. By destroying these Horcruxes, they destroy part of the otherwise immortal Voldemort.

While in line, some fans chimed in their feelings about their beloved franchise reaching its end.

"I'm going to die," lamented one Potter fan, Christina Terry. She has been a fan ever since third grade and has been to every single midnight showing of the film, so it is easy to see her love for the franchise.

"It's really sad. I really like this series because the [whole thing] just comes to life on screen," said Leslie Lopez, who became a fan of the movies before the books. The turnout for the midnight showing was impressive as they filled five theatres with about 1,000 Harry Potter fanatics.

Since this is the beginning of the end for the franchise, all the actors and actresses pulled out the big guns. The best example is Rupert Grint, who took his performance to new heights as Ronald Weasley. Usually seen in most of the movies as the comic relief or the shy red-head with not much input or say, this time around he adds an air of jealousy to his otherwise comedic role, showing distrust in his friends who seem to be getting too chummy for his tastes.

Along with Grint, Emma Watson and Daniel Radcliffe show off their acting prowess as well. One scene in the film deals with Hermione having to tie up a few loose ends in her family, which is incredibly moving and, although it was not in the book, allows viewers to have more feeling towards Hermione as she usually just comes off as a know-it-all. Daniel Radcliffe also has a big scene and left the entire audience sniffling and grabbing for tissue.

However, the kids are not the only ones who stood out in the cast; the adults were nothing short of amazing. Helen Bonham Carter, who plays sadistic dark wizard Bellatrix Lestrange, causes the audience to cringe and snarl whenever she makes an appearance on the screen. Ralph Fiennes proved once again why his Voldemort is one of the greatest villains to grace the silver screen.

All other technical aspects of the film continue to improve on the high standards set by the franchise. The CGI of the creatures in this film are amazing and more life-like, especially those used to create Dobby, who was last seen in the "Chamber of Secrets" helping Harry Potter throughout his 2nd year at Hogwarts.

The locations in this film are not only breathtaking, but spot-on as they make the characters seem so small in this enormous world crumbling around them. David Yates, third time Potter director, took aspects of the book and seamlessly placed them into the movie without making it seem clustered or dull.

The three heroes have grown up since their first time on screen, and it is apparent this is not a children's film. There were scenes uncomfortable even for 20-year-olds to see, as well as some sensuality involved.

These films have grown darker over time and show no signs of stopping. Within the fantasy genre, it would seem like an impossible task to gain acceptance of fans and non-fans with an all-conclusive movie, but Yates pulls it off.

Since the action was mainly withheld for Part 2, the raw emotion is what pulled the audience through until the end of the movie. The cliff-hanger leaves audiences in a dark and hopeless place, and it could not have been a more perfect start to close such a beloved franchise—by making the audience sob into their popcorn.

"Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1" receives a 9 out of 10.

What's the Deal with GMail?

(Originally ran October 3rd, 2010: News Article)

As most students of PUC may have noticed, Netmail is no longer used. As of Sept. 24, all PUC students automatically had their student e-mail accounts switched over to Gmail.

The problem is whether students know how to use it.

"I haven't been receiving certain e-mails," student Paige Roby said. "I had to change my password five times. I like it better than Netmail, but it could use a few tweaks."

As for the layout of the user homepage, some students already familiar with Gmail like the design, but others find it too complex.

 "All the features are cool, but I don't need it. Personally, I like things to be simple. I don't need a chat thing," said Student Inlaing Theng.

Martin Morales, a computer operator in Computer Technology and Information Services, had some answers for students having problems with their Gmail accounts.

"There has been some lack of communication," Morales admitted from the get-go.

He went on to mention most students or staff workers seem to have the biggest problems since they have to reset their passwords every 30 days. This caused at least a five hour time span for the Netmail accounts to get transferred to the Gmail accounts.

Most thought it was going to happen automatically and called in with confusion or complaints. Some were also confused when they noticed the "purdue.calumet.edu" was not needed when logging into the Gmail account. Morales shed some light on the situation.

"We wanted to be clearly viewed as a separate of Purdue University so the PUC e-mail addresses now end in ‘purduecal.edu,'" Morales said.

Many at PUC may be wondering why the switch was made. Compared to Netmail, Gmail is able to hold at least 40 times more space, Meaning a student would not have to constantly delete e-mails to stay under quota. Students will also be able to type up documents and attach them to e-mails easily, without worrying about slowing down their laptop or computer.

Gmail offers a calendar so students can keep up on what assignments are due while checking their e-mail. It also allows a quick and easy way to create a website, which may sound bizarre but could come in handy someday.

It is easy to see why the switch from Netmail to Gmail was made. Since it is mandatory all PUC students now have a Gmail account, if any questions or concerns arise about Gmail accounts, students are encouraged to visit the IS Customer Service Center in Gyte 133. The center can also be reached at 989-2888, or by e-mail at csc@purduecal.edu.

Big Match-Ups Take Shape

(Originally ran October 10th, 2010: Sports Article)

Michelle Mullins Chronicle Correspondent

Flag football heated up during the second week of the intramural season. With the first week in the books, teams were able to get down to business.

PUC Gym Rats vs. Ballz Deep kicked off the week’s games.

When asked about strategies and some weaknesses of the team, Michael Childers of the PUC Gym Rats replied, “We have a good defense, and last week was our first time playing together as a team, so we just need more familiarity.”

The defense of the Gym Rats showed against Ballz Deep as they forced many incomplete passes. With their strong defense intact, the final score ended with PUC Gym Rats taking a win at 42-35.

Tension ran high as some trash talk was directed towards the PUC Gym Rats by two members from the 119 Boyz.

“We were just cheering for our friends and they got mad,” Michael Halajcsik of 119 Boyz said.

119 Boyz faced off against Showtime later in the night and dominated with a score of 49-17. Nov. 1 looks to be an interesting night when 119 Boyz face off against the PUC Gym Rats in what has now become an instant rivalry.

Other match-ups saw the Final Four (previously known as Fantasik 4) win against Team Name by a 63-28 margin.

Why So Serious scored a victory as well against Island Limin, 49-0.

The night was filled with total knock outs, showing some teams are starting to find their strengths and laying down some serious strategy.

The highlight of the night was the match between Captain Kurt and PUC Bears. Smart plays and quick moves scored Captain Kurt the victory in a 49-0 shutout. Ben Moul explained how the team was able to bounce back after their loss last week.

“We had some big plays, but made a lot of mistakes last week, so this week we decided to go big and cut out mistakes,” Moul said.

According to Moul, Captain Kurt checked up on the standings before the match and found PUC Bears lost last week. They hoped this meant they would have the opportunity to win, Moul said.

The team consists of engineering students. They admit their appearances may trick you, but these guys mean business.

“We’ll be here next week,” Moul said. “Serving up losses.”

This Case Should Have Stayed Closed

(Originally ran October 17th)

Movies like the 1976 “The Omen” and “Orphan” from 2009 make it hard for “Case 39” to break out of the shell of “innocent child gone evil.” With poor acting and predictable twists, this movie barely puts up a fight to be notable, becoming lost in the paperwork.

“Case 39” follows the story of Emily Jenkins (Renée Zellweger), a social worker who takes on the case of Lillith Sullivan (Jodelle Ferland). Lillith is a young child with abusive parents and is soon taken away and put into the care of Emily. As the days pass with this child in her home, Emily feels something is a little off with this girl.

As the story progresses, we see Lillith’s true intentions and personality take shape. Emily is tormented throughout the movie by various close encounters with death and emotional torture. Emily seeks help from her friends Doug (Bradley Cooper) and Detective Barron (Ian McShane), but all attempts seem useless against Lillith’s strange presence.

Some credit must be given to Ferland’s performance, coming from movies like “The Messengers” and “Silent Hill,” she already has the “creepy girl” factor down. Though, in this, she was able to stand out due to more effective dialogue and range than any of the other actors in the movie. The audience is able to see her transform into this creature one second and jump back into the guise of an innocent little girl the next. One scene between Lillith and Doug is played out so well the audience can feel the uncomfortable tension grow as Lillith shows her true colors, causing Doug to be put in a very tight situation.

One good performance was not enough to keep this movie up to par, though. Zellweger was unconvincing and annoying at times. Her character had little to no dimension, causing her performance to fall through and come off as a joke. One moment she is swearing up a storm and finally showing some guts, the next she is cowering under a bed and crying her eyes out.

The storyline was anything but original and the CGI was laughable at times. Some scenes even dragged on for what seemed like hours. Though some scenes were pretty brutal and even shocking at one point, some happened so fast it was almost unclear as to what exactly happened. One scene in particular left the audience wondering if a person had really died or not, which, if anything, should be the clearest aspect of a horror movie. As for the CGI, the hornets taunting Cooper’s character looked more like giant flies. These hornets then gathered on his back and took on the shape of a giant black blob rather than a nest of hornets.

This movie’s trailers were completely different from the concept of the movie, which causes a bit of confusion as the film starts to roll. The concept from the trailers involves a young girl haunted by demons that follow her wherever she goes, but the theme for the movie is really the girl herself is not what she seems. Granted, there will be some scenes from the trailers which will not be in the film, but at least 50-60 percent of the footage was not in the movie. If the advertisements had been publicized more, this would have been a much bigger problem.

A horror movie at this level of mediocrity does not need to be nearly two hours long either. It may have something to do with the inclusion of what feels like an alternate ending, or maybe it is because the audience could see the twists coming from a mile away.

Either way, “Case 39” should have been left in the filing cabinet.

“Case 39” receives a 4 out of 10.