'Looper' gets a little stuck

The future is given a more realistic feel, despite the invention of time travel, in the latest science fiction thriller, “Looper.” A young man gets into the “looping” business, literally meets his match, and is then thrust into an internal struggle of moral values but the boiling excitement stirred up in the first half of the movie reduces to a simmer near the end.

Joe (Joseph Gordon-Levitt) fights to survive against his
zealous future self (Bruce Willis) in the sci-fi thriller "Looper."

“Looper” stars indie actor turned Hollywood heartthrob, Joseph Gordon-Levitt (“Inception”) playing a younger version of Bruce Willis’ (“Die Hard”) character, Joe. Joe’s current occupation is to kill people sent back in time from the year 2072. He is a looper. Disposing of a body in the future is a hard thing to do so the mob sends their trash to the past, and the loopers take care of the dirty work. After the looper makes the kill, they collect their sum in silver, which is attached to the victim’s back. When a looper closes their loop and throws in the towel, their self from the future is sent back in time, killed, and then they have 30 years to do whatever they want. Well, Joe never threw in the towel, but ends up with a problem when his older self is in front of him. Before he can even try to calculate the problem, he is quickly ambushed by future Joe and the chase is on. He must kill his future self before his employer kills him for not closing his loop.

The violence in “Looper” is similar to the violence in the recent sleeper-hit “Drive.” It takes the audience by surprise and adds to the film instead of muddling it up. People are cut up, shot up and blown apart throughout this movie, and all the death affects the lives of both Joes. Besides the violence, there is not much else that is shocking. The story is not terribly complex because it is stated immediately that the movie is not going in that direction. When both Joes finally run into each other, present Joe starts to question how future Joe will be affected by present Joe’s actions and he quickly interrupts him and yells, “That’s not important!” Which is true, in a way.

The story’s simplicity is the source of both strength and weakness. Present Joe narrates the story explaining that in the present day, telekinesis is a power in some people but it never really goes past levitating small objects. The drastic gap between the wealthy and the poor is there, but the most futuristic they have gotten is floating motorcycles. People look the same for the most part, and are not running around in weird cylinder-shaped clothing and neon colored dresses as most futuristic movies tend to do, pulling the reality straight out of the film. It helps the audience feel grounded. The subtle attention to production design is nice, but may have left the film lacking in the story department. There is really no emotional connection to present Joe compared to future Joe. Present Joe just comes across as a punk until the last two minutes of the film. This is a shame because his character had almost an hour to grow, but maybe that just was not enough time. This, though, is definitely is not Gordon-Levitt’s fault. He gives an amazing performance in the first half of this movie since he looks and talks like Willis. In the opening monologue it actually sounded like Willis was doing the voiceover. Joe barely speaks in the film and, when he does, Gordon-Levitt does every little tick and word pronunciation that Willis would do. It seemed as if he followed Willis around with a video camera and recorded every single movement he made when talking and contemplating and mimicked it perfectly. But that is just it, he mimicked it, it did not feel like he put himself in it that much. Thus, in the last half of the film, he fell flat and slipped right back into his usual Gordon-Levitt delivery. Since he is a Hollywood hotshot now, his performances are more recognizable, and in this a film like this, where he had a chance to truly disappear into a role, he fell just a little bit short.

Along with Gordon-Levitt’s almost perfect performance, “Looper” has its story problems. Lacking character development and even character connection are two aspects of any type of storytelling that cannot be looked over. Besides connection issues, it dealt with the time-traveling well enough. It is no “Terminator,” but it is a sure step above “The Butterfly Effect.” “Looper” receives 3 out of 5 stars.

Watkins entrances PUC

Magic has always been a form of entertainment that can sink or swim when it comes to audience reactions. Either the magician gets a cooperative audience and successfully takes them on a journey through a world of illusions and mind-defying tricks, or the act simply falls flat and leaves the audience bored. Actor and professional award-winning magician Dennis Watkins proved that he is not just a magician but an entertainer that will keep the audience on their toes on Sept. 28 in Alumni Hall.

Tianna Harrison, daughter of PUC Writing Center Coordinator Janine Harrison, happily performs a ring trick with Dennis Watkins.

 Lots of PUC students, children and members of the community packed into Alumni Hall to witness a true magician at work. Watkins immediately immerses his audience in the show by picking a few lucky people from the crowd to participate in a current trick and one that would be performed later. By automatically attaching the crowd to his tricks, he quickly builds a rapport with the audience. His comedic bits and friendly demeanor add to the warm stage presence he gives off. Since there were so many children in the crowd, he often played off of their antics, whether it was them trying to ruin his tricks or if they were being too disruptive. He did it in a manner that was funny, but did not belittle or scold them. Eventually, Watkins moved to his more radical tricks, which kept the crowd exclaiming and giving applause all night. When Tory Shrum, a freshmen nursing major, was asked what her favorite trick was she replied, “I can’t pick just one, but I liked the one with the girl’s head!” This trick involved participation from the audience to work successfully.

Watkins called an audience member to the stage, and it just happened to be a 7 year-old girl. As she approached the stage he told her to sit in a chair facing the audience and not to move an inch. He pulled out a hypnotizing wheel and started to spin it. “Stare directly into the middle of the middle,” he proclaimed to the crowd, “do not avert your eyes. Keep focused in the middle even if it feels like you are being pulled into a tunnel.” He counted down from five and told the audience to then look at the girl’s head. The outcome caused most audience members to gasp and immediately break out into applause. “I have never seen anything like this before,” Patrice McBee, sophomore accounting major, said. McBee’s favorite trick performed was the mind-reading, or blindfold trick that Watkins performed. Again, Watkins pulled from the audience for this mind-blowing illusion. He called a man and woman to the stage and proceeded to have them help him set up the act. He placed two half-dollar coins on pieces of duct tape and placed them over both eyes. He then applied more duct tape around his eyes, a blindfold and another piece of duct tape on top of the blindfold. Still blindfolded he told the male helper to grab three personal items from people in the crowd. After receiving the items, he told the man to hand them to the woman, behind his back, and then told the woman to hold the object in front of his hand, not allowing him to ever touch the item. The three items were a cell phone, a compact and a wristband. Not only did he guess every single one, he described them as if he did not even have the blindfold on.

 Simply amazing would be an understatement of Watkins’s performance. Interactive showcasing would be a closer statement but still not right enough. As soon as he began to talk, Watkins threw his personality and skill out to the audience. He was able to energize the kids and have the adults believing in magic again.
 On October 12th at 8 p.m., mentalist Christopher Carter will be attempting to read minds in Alumni Hall.

'Tekken' delivers a low blow

With 41 playable characters to choose from, it is hard to see how a game could get old so easily. Somehow “Tekken Tag Tournament 2” manages to do this. It took about 12 years for it to come out, and it is a non-canon storyline so the writers probably would not have to do as much work when it comes to the story. But Tekken leaves gamers high, dry and empty inside because, like many recent fighting games, more emphasis is put on online gameplay rather than single player.. “Tekken Tag 2” is slightly based on “Tekken 6” but does not follow the storyline of the normal Tekken franchise, which allows characters that have died or are no longer featured in the series to appear in this game. The general concept involves fighters from all over the world coming together to fight to become the King of Iron Fist. The player gets to use all types of people and even creatures to fight against opponents, either one on one or in a team up with another character of their choice.

“Tekken Tag 2” was announced in 2010 by the director Katsuhiro Harada via Twitter, saying he had an announcement at Tokyo Game Show. Many fans thought it had to do with another “Tekken” game or more news on the “Tekken x Street Fighter” franchise, but it was quite the contrary. The anticipation rose as memorable and fan favorite characters were announced to be on the roster, even including characters that have not been seen in the franchise for 12 years. Despite its upgrade to beautiful graphics and an amazing soundtrack, this game falls flat on its face. In addition to standard fighting modes, “Tekken” games usually benefit from added side modes that players can unlock and enjoy. For example, in “Tekken Tag Tournament,” after beating the game a certain amount of times players would receive “Tekken Bowl,” a bonus bowling game that featured characters from the Tekken universe.

 Ever since “Tekken 3” there was a beat-em-up mini game attached to the main game, but that is not found in this installment. “Tekken Tag Tournament” had such a huge cult following and legacy behind it that the seemingly small amount of effort to make this one memorable is somewhat baffling. Regardless of this issue, the game does provide some momentary entertainment. Besides team battles, time attack and survival which come with almost every “Tekken” game, there is a new mode called “Fight Lab.” In this mode players are able to build a robot named Combot. The player can adjust Combot’s fighting style to match any character in the game. Combot can have one character’s kick and another character’s punch, for example. This is a very interesting feature that could allow a player to create their own copycat character. This is unlike previous games which feature a wooden training dummy character called Mokujin who changes to the character it wants to portray in between rounds. One improved feature this time around was the ability to perform attacks with characters in tag mode. Players can either hit the opponent and switch out with the other character, or they can have the other partner assist them. While in the assist mode, heavy damage and a string of attacks can be delivered to an opponent, which gives off more of an arcade vibe. There are different ways a player can perform an attack while swapping out their character. They can either throw their opponent or have the entering fighter attack, or simply hit the opponent and have the character coming in attack them once more, creating a chain of attacks.

The game is far from catastrophic, but its weak points are very visible. It seems as though instead of introducing new techniques, trying to add features or doing something new, they just slapped every character from the previous games into a “new” game and expected that to be enough. The focus on online content these days is understandable. More people want to test their skills without leaving their rooms, gain achievements or even build a team and conquer the boards. But it should not draw away from the time that can be put into actually battling and practicing offline. Not every single gamer in the world likes playing online with other people. A lot of people still play games with local friends, not some random person who has logged up 85 hours of game play and will mutilate their competition in the blink of an eye. “Tekken Tag Tournament 2” receives 3 out of 5 stars.

'Gangnam Style' enters viral history books

It is all over the internet, has been on Jay Leno’s “Tonight Show,” celebrities such as Britney Spears and Katy Perry have showed interest, and the video has reached over 100 million views on YouTube. It is “Gangnam Style,” and it has taken the world over in a unique fashion.

South Korean artist PSY busts out his "horse dance"
 at MTV's Video Music Awards.

“Gangnam Style” is South Korean rapper PSY’s (pronounced “sigh”) latest single. Released in July this year, it was another one of PSY’s jokester videos, merely poking fun at how ironic the character in the video is compared to the lyrics. The song is basically about a man calling himself Gangnam style when he is clearly not. Gagnam is a location in South Korea best compared to Beverly Hills, Calif. PSY is a far cry from other South Korean pop stars who have reached recent international success. He is barely on the Hallyu, or Korean, wave that includes artists such as Girls’ Generation who were in the United States earlier this year promoting their album on shows like David Letterman, Wonder Girls who are no strangers to the U.S. with a movie on Teen Nick and a new collaboration with Akon, and 2NE1 that currently have an Adidas commercial running in America.

But PSY has something different to bring to the table. Instead of a young, blond-haired guy with washboard abs, like most male artists in South Korea, he is a 34-year-old, chubby comic artist. Why does his video have so many views? Because humor is universal. Despite the language barrier, there is an offbeat zaniness that needs no translation. For this reason, he has become a success. Many Korean pop artists blend English throughout their songs to attract international listeners. PSY does this in the most important part of his song, the chorus. “Hey! Sexy lady!” is said multiple times throughout the song, drilling it into the viewer’s head. His video has a catchy beat as well and a dance that is a lot simpler than most dances in K-pop videos. He does not try to be artsy and theatric; instead, he is just PSY, and that is entertaining enough.

This is one of the main reasons he has done so well. The video itself has many hilarious and bizarre aspects to it. It begins with PSY daydreaming of a beautiful woman fanning him while in reality he is sitting in a lawn chair in the middle of a playground. Then he appears, nicely dressed, in the middle of a horse stable performing his “horse dance.” The video continues to follow him through different places including a sauna, tour bus and merry-go-round. One memorable scene takes place in an elevator. When the doors open, PSY is lying on the ground rapping while a man is standing over him pelvic thrusting. PSY had no idea his video would become so popular. When asked about it with in an interview with VH1, he said, “Not this far, I thought it would be like this in Korea, not over here.” Ascending into viral status has its perks. Now he has seen how much support he has all over the world. Many parodies have popped up on YouTube over the past couple of weeks from Singapore to Chicago.

The Chicago parody, titled “Gangnam Style Parody (Oppa Chicago Style)” has over 1 million views and was released three weeks ago. Along with the massive support PSY has even come to America. On the jumbotron at Dodgers Stadium, baseball fans are seen doing the “horse dance,” then eventually it lands on PSY. He shyly smiles and waves to the fans, then busts out into his dance jumping around and smiling.

 He has even been signed onto Schoolboy Records, a roster shared with the famous Justin Bieber along with making it onto the Video Music Awards this past week. “He is just so funny and that song is addictive,” says engineering student Becky Daniels. She had no idea what K-pop was before this video, and now she is open to giving it a shot, saying, “If this is how most K-pop sounds, then I’m on board.” Hopefully PSY fights off the viral curse and is able to keep producing knockout hits and prove that he truly has Gangnam style.

Obama's "daddy issues"

In author-turned-documentarian Dinesh D’Souza’s film “2016: Obama’s America,” many controversial issues, opinions and hypotheses are formed. When it comes to this type of documentary, one that is based solely on one-sided pseudo-facts and interviews with like-minded individuals, every aspect must be taken with a grain of salt. D’Souza takes a different approach to the “true nature” of President Barack Obama.

Director D'Souza interviews George Obama,
President Barack Obama's half brother, in "2016: Obama's America."

Instead of thinking he is a terrorist or Muslim, he thinks he is an anti-colonialist -- an accusation that could use some support. The film is spoken from D’Souza’s point-of-view and voice. He begins to speak about his life as a child in Mumbai, India, and how he used to read stories of empires around the world. He does not consider America an empire, he instead considers it something greater because almost all past empires have fallen. Eventually he mentions his life in college, and then finally speaks about why he is so interested in Obama. He claims his interest has to do with their similarities throughout life. They were born in the same year, married in the same year and even graduated in the same year.
As odd as this may be, he makes his point of how all previous presidents were known figures before they became presidents. Ronald Reagan was a movie star, whereas Obama was only a senator for two years. Where did he come from? To answer this question, D’Souza begins to search every possible aspect of Obama’s past to figure out what he is trying to do today and what will happen if he gets re-elected. D’Souza does bring up some odd behavior from Obama’s first term. Giving a bust of Winston Churchill back to Britain, cancelling the Keystone Pipeline construction which could have given tons of Americans jobs, siding with Argentina when it came to the Falkland Islands instead of siding with Britain as in the past, and even ignoring Syria are all used to support D’Souza’s claims. D’Souza does a decent job of backing up these allegations of mistakes Obama has made in his presidency by using actual clips from speeches he has made.

Other than that, the film is pure speculation and based off of words White House officials allegedly said. A lot of the ideas in the film stem from Obama’s book “Dreams from My Father.” D’Souza speculates that the main reason Obama acts the way he does is because of his father leaving him when he was a child. D’Souza even speaks to a psychologist about this, and he says that most children who are missing a parental figure in their life want to make it seem like they have a purpose. He goes on to speak to more politicians and speculates that Obama knows he is able to get people on his side very easily.
According to D’Sourza, people always want to help him, which is why he got into the business in the first place. D’Souza then begins to predict why Obama did certain things in his first term. He believes that, like his father, he wants to give to the poor and take from the rich, which is why he sides with the Occupy movement. He also wants the world to have fewer nuclear weapons so that the playing field can be equal. But he wants this to be done while all other countries feel the complete opposite. D’Souza predicts that in 2016, the Middle East will be united (with the title of the United States of Iran), and the United States’ defenses will have reached an all-time low while debt will continue to grow past the trillion dollar mark. These remarks seem a bit outlandish and are presented without evidence, fueled only by the filmmaker’s speculation. Attempting to sway public opinion with a poorly-developed documentary based on a book written by the director almost seems like an episode of “The Twilight Zone.” It just does not make sense.

Even when asked to state the basis of his opinions in an interview, he said he would but no reason is given except for the fact that Obama did not have his biological father while growing up and that he had a few socialist colleagues on his way up to the top. Associating every individual who has worked among a socialist, communist or otherwise “un-American” thinker with the movements that they represent is not an accurate judgment of a person’s political affiliation. Apparently a socialist and a republican are not allowed to be colleagues in America.
 “2016: Obama’s America” receives 2.5 out of 5 stars.

Hugh Laurie brings New Orleans to Chicago

Best known for his role as the infamous Dr. House in “House M.D.,” Hugh Laurie has a his passion for music, especially New Orleans jazz. Along with The Copper Bottom Band, he played at the sold out Chicago’s Park West theatre on Aug. 21 and proceeded to groove into the late hours of the night.
Laurie displayed his acclaimed piano and guitar skills while playing covers of many well-known jazz songs such as “Mellow Down Easy” by Little Walter and “Unchain My Heart” by Ray Charles, to name a few. Laurie’s singing sounds much better live – an unexpected treat. Blues, jazz and soul can be hard for some to sing since so much passion and soul has to be behind it.

Hugh Laurie and Copper Bottom Band member Sister Jean McClain pay
homage to true New Orleans jazz at Park West in Chicago on Aug. 21.

 It may be even harder for a British actor to get into that mindset, but Laurie was able to accomplish this beautifully. Every word he sung was felt throughout the audience. The audience swayed, and a couple even got up and slow danced during his performance. The show was not merely a performance; it was a history lesson and a comedy show as well.
As odd as it sounds for a British actor to know anything about the blues, let alone New Orleans blues, Laurie proved he knew it well. Between each song Laurie would stop and explain either why he choose the song or the story behind it. He was also very intimate with the audience, happily responding to anything yelled at him, which is rare with most musical artists. Many audience members would not let him live down his role as House shouting, “We love you, House!” to which he would respond with, “I have no limp, I’m talking funny, and she still believes I’m a fictional character, strange….” He even offered his band a shot of whiskey midway through the show, which they very much deserved. The Cotton Bottom Band received high levels of praise from Laurie as the show progressed. After the first song of the night, “Mellow Down Easy,” the audience could easily see this was not the band’s first show. The band, originally from Tennessee, swung right alongside Laurie, sometimes surpassing him, and took the audience on a ride through the South.

Each member was given their own solo or song to could shine on, which no one in the band or audience seemed to mind. “I don’t think you understand how much it means to me to stand here, in Chicago, in front of you all and play,” Laurie spoke in between sets, “I’ve dreamed of this ever since I was a little boy.” He began to get choked up and the entire crowd cheered in an uproar. After almost every song there was someone out of their seat giving Laurie or the band a standing ovation. Laurie and the band even came back and did two encores for the house, after which, he kindly bowed and pointed straight towards the band behind him.

The tour started in 2011 and showcases Laurie’s first album “Let Them Talk,” which is a cover album. He has traveled all over the world showing off his jazzy repertoire. The tour will be in the Midwest for a few more shows, travelling to Carmel, Indiana; Lexington, Kentucky; and Middletown, Ohio. To purchase Hugh Laurie’s album or search for tour dates, visit www.hughlaurieblues.com.

Batman “rises” above the rest

Many may wonder how a comic book movie could possibly be so dark, heavy and complex, yet this is one of the many things "The Dark Knight Rises" accomplishes. The conclusion to director Christopher Nolan's Batman trilogy is a film of epic proportions. Few will leave unsatisfied, and all will remember forever how successful a comic book franchise can be when the filmmakers treat the character with true reverence.

The story picks up about eight years after the events of “The Dark Knight,” and Gotham City seems to be at peace after the string of events leading to the death of Harvey Dent. Since taking the blame for the murders committed by Dent, Bruce Wayne has gone into hiding and his efforts as Batman have finally started to take a toll on his body.
In addition, his company is slowly bleeding more and more money. Catwoman stumbles into the picture as a master thief who has gotten in deep with the wrong people, namely the criminal Bane's people. Bane sees himself as a voice of the oppressed, while the wealthy in Gotham live large and leave nothing but scraps for the rest. He seeks to create a revolution, an uprising, of Gotham's masses. Though Bruce pushes Batman to the back of his mind, Bane's recent escapades cause him to come out of hiding fiercer than ever. As the film progresses, it becomes clear that the finale fans have been waiting for is going to be a bleak journey.

The magnificent acting that graces every scene skyrockets it from an "amazing" movie to a near masterpiece. The cast already has its star-studded veterans such as Christian Bale, Morgan Freeman, Michael Caine and Gary Oldman. Throwing other rising stars such as Tom Hardy, Marion Cotillard, Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Anne Hathaway into the mix makes for a sensational recipe. Bale and Hathaway, as Batman and Catwoman respectively, have such a natural chemistry it is hard not to smile at their interactions.

Hardy has the difficult job of walking in the murky footsteps left behind by Heath Ledger's Joker. Thankfully, Bane is a very haunting and fearsome villain, which Hardy plays to a tee. Every line spoken sends a clear message that Bane's plan will be carried out no matter how many people he has to kill. With the restriction of a mask comes the difficulty of connecting with the audience through just the eyes. Hardy proves that he is able to do so, striking fear and terror simply with eye movements and piercing stares.

While some will see that the stor draws heavily from "A Tale of Two Cities," most will see influence from the well-known one percent versus 99 percent happening in America and across the world. Nolan uses these familiar themes to construct a complex story that is a worthy addition to the series. The final act of the film is filled with so many twists and turns that audiences are left on the edge of their seats until the final shot.

Most people will agree that this is not quite the masterpiece that is “The Dark Knight,” but some find more issues with the film than others. The clarity of Bane’s voice has been an issue heavily discussed on the Internet in the months leading up to the release of the film. He is wearing a mask so it would be extremely unrealistic to hear him as clear as day, but prior to edits his speech was so muffled audiences could barely hear or understand the words coming from him. In order to address this issue, Nolan made some minor tweaks to the audio, without changing Hardy’s original performance. This works for most but some may still have a hard time hearing him, over the mask and odd accent he has. Hans Zimmer, although a brilliant composer, further complicates things by flooding out a few lines of dialogue with his soundtrack. It is supposed to be in the background and help build the scene, not overpower it.

Despite some audio isues, “The Dark Knight Rises” is a thrilling conclusion to a trio of fantastic films. Nolan is graciously giving fans and everyday moviegoers a satisfying end to what is without a doubt the greatest comic book movie trilogy of all time. This movie is not for everyone, however. The violence has been kicked up a notch, and the summer-fun feeling evoked by this year’s Marvel outings does not exist with this film. Alas, Batman has never been a cheerful character and this series definitely plays with that.
“The Dark Knight Rises” receives 5 out of 5 stars.

Garfield spins a fine web in “The Amazing Spider-man”

With so many things working against it, the biggest of which being the bad taste left in the mouths of fans by the franchise’s previous installment “Spider-man 3,” it was hard to see a light at the end of the tunnel for a new Spider-man movie. Somehow, though, “The Amazing Spider-man” was able to capture audiences in its web.
“The Amazing Spider-man” is a reboot, and thus gives viewers a new interpretation of the web slinger’s origin story. Like in the original films, Peter Parker’s parents are gone, it was never made clear if they died or not, and he is still a genius outcast at school. But minuscule details allow newcomers to understand and relate to Parker’s troubles while fans of the movies and comic books can pick up homages to the previous films despite the fact that this takes place in an alternate universe. British actor Andrew Garfield (“The Social Network”) plays Parker, while redhead bombshell-turned-blond Emma Stone (“Easy A” and “Zombieland”) plays Parker’s love interest, Gwen Stacy.
This already throws a wrench into the more well-known couple of next-door neighbor Mary Jane Watson and Parker. Despite this, Stacy and Parker come off as a more realistic couple. Gwen Stacy is beautiful and smart,employed at Oscorp under world-renowned scientist Curt Connors, played by Rhys Ifans (Xenophilius Lovegood, “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part 1”). Connors turns out to be the main antagonist of the film, The Lizard, a never-before-seen villain in Spider-man movies. Seasoned actors Martin Sheen (“The Departed”) and Sally Field (“Forrest Gump”) fill the roles of Uncle Ben and Aunt May while Denis Leary (“Rescue Me”) rounds up the star-studded cast as Gwen Stacy’s father, Captain Stacy. The biggest elephant in the room is whether or not 28-year-old Garfield would be able to pull off the role of high-schooler Parker. In 2010, he showed off his acting skills in “The Social Network” as wingman to Jesse Eisenberg, but that was his first American film. In “The Amazing Spider-Man,” Garfield steals each scene he is in, putting his own spin on the famous Spider-man instead of trying to be another Tobey Maguire. Fans will forever compare the two, similar to the comparison between the actors who have played Batman. But each actor played the role in a specific way, and Garfied’s performance works perfectly for this film. Parker has to deal with death on multiple occasions during this movie, and Garfield plays this brilliantly, pulling at just the right heart-strings to get the audience involved and caring. When Parker has to be quirky and goofy, Garfield does this in a hilarious manner. Overall his performance is believable; it does not seem like a comic book character has simply been jumbled together and thrown onto a screen. He feels like a real person with real problems, which has always been the charm of Parker’s character.
Physically, Spider-man may not be the strongest superhero, and “The Amazing Spider-Man” makes this fact known. He is thrown from buildings, slammed into walls, and almost choked to death on multiple occasions. The film also shows off Spider-man’s different web slinging abilities. He does not just swing from buildings for four hours and give swing kicks to every bad guy’s face. He actually fights them, runs away and uses his webs in some creative and unexpected ways. He is seen doing hand-to-hand combat while throwing a few web shots in from time to time. Spider-man even crawls around The Lizard during a fight scene, wrapping him in a web as a real spider would. This film, perhaps more than the original “Spider-man” films, has painted a full picture of Spider-man, showing his life inside and outside of the mask and focusing on his strengths and weaknesses. After all, he is only a teenager.
There is a lot going on in this movie, as one would expect from an origin story, and the run time clocks in at a whopping 2 hours and 14 minutes. However, the movie does not feel extensively long. As a whole it is a great base for the trilogy that director Marc Webb has in store for Spider-man. Hopefully production goes smoothly, before it gets caught up in the giant web of comic movies that are coming out next year. “The Amazing Spider-man” receives 4 out of 5 stars.

Garfield spins a fine web in “The Amazing Spider-man”

With so many things working against it, the biggest of which being the bad taste left in the mouths of fans by the franchise’s previous installment “Spider-man 3,” it was hard to see a light at the end of the tunnel for a new Spider-man movie. Somehow, though, “The Amazing Spider-man” was able to capture audiences in its web.

“The Amazing Spider-man” is a reboot, and thus gives viewers a new interpretation of the web slinger’s origin story. Like in the original films, Peter Parker’s parents are gone, it was never made clear if they died or not, and he is still a genius outcast at school. But minuscule details allow newcomers to understand and relate to Parker’s troubles while fans of the movies and comic books can pick up homages to the previous films despite the fact that this takes place in an alternate universe. British actor Andrew Garfield (“The Social Network”) plays Parker, while redhead bombshell-turned-blond Emma Stone (“Easy A” and “Zombieland”) plays Parker’s love interest, Gwen Stacy. This already throws a wrench into the more well-known couple of next-door neighbor Mary Jane Watson and Parker. Despite this, Stacy and Parker come off as a more realistic couple. Gwen Stacy is beautiful and smart,employed at Oscorp under world-renowned scientist Curt Connors, played by Rhys Ifans (Xenophilius Lovegood, “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part 1”).  Connors turns out to be the main antagonist of the film, The Lizard, a never-before-seen villain in Spider-man movies. Seasoned actors Martin Sheen (“The Departed”) and Sally Field (“Forrest Gump”) fill the roles of Uncle Ben and Aunt May while Denis Leary (“Rescue Me”) rounds up the star-studded cast as Gwen Stacy’s father, Captain Stacy.

The biggest elephant in the room is whether or not 28-year-old Garfield would be able to pull off the role of high-schooler Parker. In 2010, he showed off his acting skills in “The Social Network” as wingman to Jesse Eisenberg, but that was his first American film. In “The Amazing Spider-Man,” Garfield steals each scene he is in, putting his own spin on the famous Spider-man instead of trying to be another Tobey Maguire. Fans will forever compare the two, similar to the comparison between the actors who have played Batman. But each actor played the role in a specific way, andGarfied’s performance works perfectly for this film. Parker has to deal with death on multiple occasions during this movie, and Garfield plays this brilliantly, pulling at just the right heart-strings to get the audience involved and caring. When Parker has to be quirky and goofy, Garfield does this in a hilarious manner. Overall his performance is believable; it does not seem like a comic book character has simply been jumbled together and thrown onto a screen. He feels like a real person with real problems, which has always been the charm of Parker’s character.

Physically, Spider-man may not be the strongest superhero, and “The Amazing Spider-Man” makes this fact known. He is thrown from buildings, slammed into walls, and almost choked to death on multiple occasions. The film also shows off Spider-man’s different web slinging abilities. He does not just swing from buildings for four hours and give swing kicks to every bad guy’s face. He actually fights them, runs away and uses his webs in some creative and unexpected ways. He is seen doing hand-to-hand combat while throwing a few web shots in from time to time. Spider-man even crawls around The Lizard during a fight scene, wrapping him in a web as a real spider would. This film, perhaps more than the original “Spider-man” films, has painted a full picture of Spider-man, showing his life inside and outside of the mask and focusing on his strengths and weaknesses. After all, he is only a teenager.

There is a lot going on in this movie, as one would expect from an origin story, and the runtime clocks in at a whopping 2 hours and 14 minutes. However, the movie does not feel extensively long. As a whole it is a great base for the trilogy that director Marc Webb has in store for Spider-man. Hopefully production goes smoothly, before it gets caught up in the giant web of comic movies that are coming out next year.

“The Amazing Spider-man” receives 4 out of 5 stars.

ACen is over 9000

Squealing fans and loud noises of awe flooded the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center during the weekend of April 27-29, as anime lovers gathered to celebrate the 15th anniversary of Anime Central, one of the biggest Japanese animation (anime) conventions in the country. Since the turn of the millennium, the convention has spread from a love of all things anime into the realms of science fiction, comic books and video games, allowing all types of fans to come and embrace their inner nerd.

Cameras flashed at every corner as fans snagged pictures of people dressed up as their favorite characters. “Oh my God!” and “Did you see that?” could be heard within feet of the entrance to the convention. “Cosplaying” is not mandatory at ACen, but it is difficult to walk two feet without bumping into a giant wing or ducking under a huge sword. Fans could also purchase merchandise from independent artists in the artist alley, cleverly located just before the featured dealers in the convention, where fans could easily support and marvel at the talent from fellow anime fans. 

Like many other conventions, ACen offers panels and autograph signings as well. Panels are created by the convention itself (for the guests of honor) but fans are able to create random panels about anything, anime-based or otherwise. Panels were scheduled throughout the weekend, and many piqued enough interest to fill an entire conference room with fans. Autograph and photo opportunities with fan favorites such as Vic Mignogna (Edward Elric in “FullmetalAlchemist”) and Chris Sabat (Piccolo and Vegeta in “Dragon ball Z”) created huge lines wrapping along the walls of the convention center. Sabat’s autographing session did not start until 2 p.m., and some fans had already been waiting in line for two hours just to get a decent spot.

Big anime companies were also spotted on the floor of ACen this year. Bandai, the producers of some of the most popular anime franchises in the world, including “Gundam”, had a huge showcase of various models from the series. A giant near-12-foot model graced the front of the showcase and drew tons of picture snapping fans.

The crazy yet sweet Harley Quinn makes a quick visit to ACen.

During an exclusive press panel, Mignogna was asked if he missed walking around conventions without being bothered, to which he replied, “I am so overwhelmed with gratitude with what this industry has given me. I love interacting with and meeting the fans.”

In another press panel, Todd Haberkorn, who voices Ling Yao from“Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood” expressed his enjoyment of his many recent projects, “If you’re a voice actor and you’re on vacation, that’s not good.”

In addition to autographs and panels, fans were able to enjoy arcade, console and tabletop games, as well as view anime screenings that took place all weekend. More activities available at ACen were dances such as the Soap Bubble, The Crystal Ball and Hardcore Synergy. Costume contests like the Masquerade and Hall Contest allowed fans to show off their creative skills. The Soap Bubble, a rave that takes place on Saturday between 9 p.m. and 4:30 a.m., is one of the longest running anime convention dance parties in the United States.   

With many popular anime and manga production companies closing down and stopping production in America, it is amazingly overwhelming to still see such a giant turn out for anime conventions. ACen itself had at least 23,000 in attendance.

The huge crowds and long lines were especially worth braving for Todd Richter, a “Dragon Ball Z” fan who traveled all the way from Iowa to meet Chris Sabat. “I just got to meet the voice actor for the guy that says, ‘It’s over 9,000!’ How cool is that?!”

For more information on Anime Central, visit www.acen.org and check them out next year from May 17-19 for their “Sweet 16th.”

“The Raid: Redemption” goes the distance

Extreme violence, intense suspense and killer fight scenes hit the screen in the Indonesian smash hit “The Raid: Redemption.” With less than 30 minutes of dialogue in this action-packed film, viewers settle in for a powerful display of human strength, stamina and determination. 

Rama, played by Iko Uwais, fights for his life in "The Raid: Redemption."

The film opens with a rookie SWAT officer training and getting ready for his mission for the day. This rookie goes by the name of Rama (Iko Uwais) and is a father-to-be. As he kisses his wife goodbye, he embarks on a life-or-death mission to take over an apartment complex run by a ruthless drug lord, who goes by the name of TamaRiyadi. Along with Rama, 19 other SWAT officers set up to take over the building. As they bum rush the apartment, they take down the criminals associated with Riyadi all too easily, and before they know it they are in way over their heads. From here on out, the team battles for mere survival and will get lucky if they can get anywhere close to Riyadi.

The casting directors must be having a celebration somewhere after picking the perfect lead actor for this film. Uwaisis phenomenal in his role, as not only is he absolutely amazing in action sequences, but his portrayal of Rama is flawless and completely believable. Rama finds himself in numerous near-death situations, and, whether it is a flying fist or a gun preparing to pistol whip him to death, he pushes through and keeps trying to reach Riyadi. Uwais’ training in the Indonesian martial art of Silat paid off in this movie. The particular martial art form of Silat in this film is a combination of bladed weaponry, joint manipulation and physical strikes. Uwais moves so effortlessly during his fighting sequences that it proves his mastery of this fighting style. 

This film utilizes every cent of its meager $1 million budget to startling affect. The stunts performed are extremely gruesome and must have taken days to shoot. They are perfect with fight sequences, including characters getting slammed on tables, hit with chairs, thrown through doors, slammed into walls and thrown from balconies. The director, Gareth Evans, really knows how to manage his budget. While action movies such as “Mission Impossible -- Ghost Protocol” ($145 million budget) or “The Avengers” ($220 million) pour a ton of money into explosions, car chases and CGI,  Evans pulls back the reigns. He slams this movie into a close-quartered area and pushes the action to the same heights as these other movies for less than 1 percent of the cost.

In addition to the action and acting, suspense runs high throughout the film. Rama could be killed at any moment, and anyone could be out to get him. The SWAT officers could have an informant for the enemy, or vice versa. Enemies are hiding around corners, behind doors, in the rooms above and the rooms below. Scenes are sometimes cut short before the fate of a character is known so this leaves the audience wondering and waiting to see if characters are still alive.

Subtitles are not a hindrance in this movie. Since there is such a small amount of dialogue, it is easy to forget that a different language is spoken. Fighting for a family, for a life or for survival is universal.  Suspense and action are also universal, and all of these things put together make actual conversation mostly unnecessary.

With talks of a Hollywood remake and a sequel in the works already, this film is definitely a must-see. It is on fire and shows no signs of stopping. Suit up for nonstop action and prepare for gut-wrenching yet entrancing fight sequences in “The Raid: Redemption.”

“The Raid: Redemption” receives 5 out of 5 stars.

"Cabin in the Woods" is more than it appears

In an industry filled with guts and gore, when a movie like “The Cabin in the Woods” rolls along it may seem to just slide right into the grooves. This movie throws audiences a curve-ball not only by being self-aware, but also by throwing in subtle nods to well-known horror movies from before its time. With the combination of cheeky humor and gore-filled scenes, this film is perfect for the casual movie-goer and the horror fanatic alike.  

”The Cabin in the Woods” begins with five college friends going on a casual weekend out.  Dana (Kristen Connolly) has just gotten out of a rocky relationship and is persuaded by her best friend Jules (Anna Hutchison) to go out with Jules’ boyfriend Curt (played by ChrisHemsworth, “Thor”), his new friend Holden (Jesse Williams), and their drugged-out buddy Marty (Fran Kranz). After ignoring an ominous warning from a strange old man, the group quickly heads out to their getaway cabin in the woods for a weekend of fun. Everything soon goes haywire as unexpected guests arrive at the door, but, unknown to the vacationers, all of this night’s events are going just as planned.

With the exception of Hemsworth, most of the actors in this movie have not been in many big-budget films, which plays to this movie’s advantage. These young actors’ faces have not been flooding the movie industry like those of Joseph-Gordon Levitt (“Inception”), ShiaLabeouf (“Transformers”), Megan Fox (“Transformers”) or Jessica Alba (“Fantastic Four”), so there is no stigma or set performance quality the audience expects out of them. Though this movie does not call for extreme dramatic or comedic performances, they all deliver their lines in a believable manner, which speaks wonders. Many actors of this generation simply look good but could not deliver a line if it was read to them word by word, especially when it comes to horror movies. Usually horror movies are where the worst actors end up these days, so it is a nice change of pace to see talented actors in the genre.

In addition to the acting, the writing of “The Cabin in the Woods” is above par compared to recent horror movies. The film is similar to the “Scream” franchise in its ode to horror movies of the past, and the clever way it plays with current “rules” when it comes to horror films. Small gestures such as a shot showing the cabin for the first time in the film, give a subtle ode to “Evil Dead.”  Other gestures are a bit more obvious, such as a creepy old man telling the group not to go to their destination, which gives a tribute to any horror movie this could have happened in, such as the original “Friday the 13^th.” The laws and rules of the slasher genre have been plainly laid out in the “Scream” films, which means that every movie before and after usually follow them. Splitting up, sleeping around, lacking common sense and being a slow-mover usually leads to a character’s death. This pattern falls into place in ”The Cabin in the Woods,” but another twist is added as equations from other movies are thrown in. Since the entire night is orchestrated by an organization, there is far more to this simplistic game of cat and mouse than most movies of the genre care to delve into.

In the last 30 minutes of the movie, the film does a complete 180, which causes a major genre switch. Although there are hints of comedic relief and quick-witted jokes, these dissipate in those last 30 minutes. “The Cabin in the Woods” could have lost all control and caught flame, but it quietly collected all of its parts into a cohesive and entertaining movie.

“The Cabin in the Woods” receives 3 out of 5 stars. 

Originally posted HERE

Madonna gives it all in “MDNA”

Topping charts left and right, the queen of pop has returned with her12th album“MDNA.” This pop album is perfectly blended with 80s dance-pop and the modern sensation of dubstep. Dance anthems briskly move the album along before coming to a gentle and beautifully lyrical close which showcases Madonna’s superb writing.

Madonna's newest album "MDNA" is the perfect blend of 80s dance-pop and dubstep.

Songs like “I’m Addicted” and “Turn Up the Radio” sound very familiar with their catchy beats and straight-forward lyrics. These tunes will easily make their way to the airwaves, but may not quite make it to the top of the charts. With lyrics like “Your name's like a drug/ And I can't get enough/ And it fits like a glove/ I'm addicted to your love,” finding their way to the hook “I’m Addicted,” fans may think she has lost her touch, but “Superstar” should shake this fear. With a thumping drumbeat similar to stomping in the stands of a basketball game and a soft guitar riff, this song lifts the spirits and sends listeners to the beach on a summer day. With a chorus heralding “Ooh la la you're my superstar/ Ooh la la love the way that you are,” it is easy to sing along and can quickly turn the brain into a broken jukebox.

Madonna proves that she can still bring out the big guns with her song “Gang Bang,” which is clearly about her divorce with director Guy Richie. The thumping bassline and ominous feel immediately sets the tone that this song is going deep and dark. Stripping her bubble-pop persona, Madonna reaches into her bag of tricks and pulls out some dubstep as the song’s tempo drops, “You had to die for me baby/ That’s right, you had to die for me baby/ How could I move on with my life/ If you didn't die for me baby.” Her voice barely rises above a whisper as she spits out the harsh lyrics that crawl from the speakers. The tone of vengeance and sadism is readily apparent as she swears to kill the person who broke her heart, “Bang bang, shot you dead, shot my lover in the head.”

M.I.A. and Nicki Minaj’s appearances in “Give Me All Your Luvin’” almost seem thrown in to add more time, or perhaps relevance, to the song. They sound really out of place, besides that the two are completely different types of rappers. M.I.A. has more of a smooth flow and is straight-forward with her raps, whereas Minaj is known for her extreme, boisterous raps. On the contrary, Minaj’s contribution to “I Don’t Give A” fits perfectly with the tempo and manages not to throw the song into a frenzy of grunts and snarls. The almost hip-hop beat and Madonna’s singing/rap give the song an extra push that allows Minaj to squeeze in, finishing the song with  “There's only one Queen, and that's Madonna.”

 “Masterpiece” was featured on Madonna’s film “W.E.” and won a Golden Globe. The words “And I can’t tell you why/ It hurts so much/ To be in love with a masterpiece/ Cause after all/ Nothing's indestructible” escape from Madonna’s soft and delicate voice as she sings this sorrowful song. Although “Masterpiece” won an award, “Falling Free” is the most powerful song on the album, which makes it an even better choice as a closer. Her voice rises and falls in the moving ballad -- it carries and holds where it needs to and is perfectly sweet and soft in other places. “Deep and pure our hearts align/ When I let loose the need to know/ Then we're both free, we're free to go” flows gently from her and lands softly in the hearts of listeners.

Whatever it is Madonna does to consistently create great albums does not need to be known. Whether it is the hiatuses or the crazy media she attracts, it has been working for 25 years and shows no stopping with “MDNA.”

 “MDNA” by Madonna receives 4 out of 5 stars.

Originally posted HERE

“Cotton Rock” leaves a lasting impression

Devotion, remorse and self-worth decorate every crevice of Janet Smith Post’s first novel “Cotton Rock.” A writer’s self-doubt, a woman’s lost drive and a daughter’s anxiety weave an intricate pattern of pain in this undeniably addictive and memorable book.

The White River in the Ozarks region of Arkansas is prominently featured in Janet Smith Post's "Cotton Rock."

“Cotton Rock” tells the story of multiple grief-stricken individuals tied together by English Professor John Sinclair. After the passing of his wife, Sinclair moves back to his home town of Cotton Rock in the Ozarks region of Arkansas. There, he connects with a student named Anna McKerry. Two of McKerry’s children drowned in an accident caused by an unattended dam. Post weaves Sinclair andMcKerry together through McKerry’s remaining child, Leah, and a writing workshop for adult learners taught by Sinclair. These two characters are drawn together by their past traumas and, through writing, strive to overcome their heartaches.

An in-depth view of each character is provided through the various journal entries written by members of the class. John either reads student entries or writes his own as he gazes out at the White River flowing past his home. This format of multiple storylines allows a window into the students’ and Sinclair’s thoughts as they struggle with internal battles. In one journal entry, McKerry deals with the stress of caring for her mother whose memory is failing, and another entry concerns Sinclair as he stares at a mockingly-blank computer screen. This extra element adds an almost cinematic experience to the pages while symbolizing the stress of writer’s block which Sinclair has been heavily hit with.

Post graces each page with extensively-magnified detail so it feels as if the reader is on the porch alongside Sinclair as he scribbles away at his notebook. The in-depth and wholesome descriptions of days gone by create a homey vibe that lingers throughout the book. Sinclair’s recollection of his grandmother preparing green beans evoked images of the reader’s own mother tirelessly cooking for the holidays. Sinclair longingly stares at a cup of coffee as memories of his grandmother flood back into his mind, “Grandma Rowden sitting here with her bowl of green beans, fishing them out one-by-one, pinching the ends, snapping them into uniform lengths and dropping them into the cooking pot beside her.”

Many of the residents of Cotton Rock are trying to cope with the aftermath of sudden deaths in their own ways. For instance, McKerry slips into a groove where she always has to stay busy to keep her mind off her own problems, whereas her daughter, Leah, is constantly running away from them. Despite all the doom and gloom, Post is able to sprinkle in hints of grins. She incorporates the feisty young mind of Harlo, Leah’s daughter, along with comical citizens of Cotton Rock. Stories of sparring eagles and fish-hooked geese help lift the somber clouds of despair to let a little sunshine in, if only for a moment.

Strong descriptions of McKerry’s mother Mayta’s  battle with Alzheimer's disease are abundant in this novel. The dilemma of McKerry having to watch her mother struggle to function in society escalates the story to a dramatic level. She takes Mayta out to town and, when she leaves her alone for a split second, Mayta disappears. Post writes, “I told myself she couldn’t have gone far. But I couldn’t find her anywhere.”

Post explores the ideas of what causes a person to either shut down and run away or turn around and fight their problems head on. The story stays steady and still like a quiet lake beneath a dam, but as soon as the floodgates open it revs up and leaves an unforgettable mark.

“Cotton Rock” by Janet Smith Post receives 4 out of 5 stars.

Geeks and Bowling in NWI

This was a collaborated article. I am only posting my part. You can read the rest HERE 

Beer Geeks

On a Tuesday afternoon, a soulful guitar riff and a heart ached voice fills the local beer bar, Beer Geeks. Located in Highland, this is a convenient place to listen to blues without the price of going to Chicago.

Bartender Meaghan Boers pours another draft for a Beer Geeks customer.

Due to the closings of La Rosa’s andBugsy, many college students and fans of blues have not been able to find a local place to listen.  With Beer Geeks shining its bright light over the region and hoping to draw in beer and blues lovers from all over, this gives people a new place to hang out and listen to great music. Beer Geeks, as stated in the name, only sells beers to customers. This bar serves microbrews and craft beers to the masses and changes up its on tap beers daily, providing a unique tasting experience with constant swaps. 

Beer Geeks’ “Tuesday Bluesday” allow customers to slip into a blues house and enjoy some amazing talent in a local environment. Bands bust out funky jam sessions while customers groove to the music and sip on a tasty brew. Excellent and friendly service adds to the homey vibe which floods the bar. As the lights start to dim and the mood sets, customers are set to embark on a free show, if they do not plan on drinking. A menu is placed in front of customers, covered in tap and bottled beers. Each beer is given an intricate explanation of the taste, along with who brewed the beer, what style the beer is, the ABV (alcohol by volume), IBU (International Bitterness Units) and even the glass that the beer is served with.

The smoke-free environment also adds to the pleasant experience, allowing the pure and best taste of the beers served. Being able to leave a bar in Indiana without being covered in smoke is a great perk that this establishment provides.

Beer Geeks is having its one-year anniversary show of “Tuesday Bluesday” with Carlos Johnson on April 3. Doors open at 7 p.m.

Beer Geeks is located at 3030 45th Street, Highland, Ind., and can be reached at (219) 513-9795.