Skip to Content, Navigation, or Footer.

FEATURES

IMG_7249

"Prometheus:" A Modern Day Sci-Fi Classic

What would today's cinema be like without "Alien"? The 1979 film certainly reinvented the science fiction genre, paving the way for suspenseful yet intriguing movies such as "Jurassic Park" and "Avatar." It also jump-started the career of director Ridley Scott, who went on to make classics like "Blade Runner" and "Gladiator." Yes, "Alien" certainly is an important film, which is why a prequel helmed by Scott himself should be a must-see. "Prometheus" easily could have flopped, but it instead proved to be a splendid mix of mystery, fright, and action very much on par with the director's original film.


IMG_7249

"The Dark Knight Rises," and So Will Theater Attendance

More than any other director, Christopher Nolan has made the superhero movie into an art form. With his films "Batman Begins" and "The Dark Knight," Nolan managed to use the larger-than-life characters of the Batman franchise to produce compelling commentaries on real issues like vengeance and greed. The conclusion to his Batman trilogy, "The Dark Knight Rises," is sure to be a box office smash when it opens on July 20. It certainly is one of the most anticipated movies of the summer.


IMG_7249

The Men in Black are Back

The original "Men in Black" was a truly remarkable film that managed to blur the lines between science fiction and comedy, in the process propelling the movie career of Will Smith and cementing Tommy Lee Jones's legacy as a Hollywood icon. Its sequel, "Men in Black II," proved to be an absolutely dismal failure, and it's unfortunate that neuralyzers could not really exist to wipe that flop from memory. "Men in Black 3" very easily could have been just as bad, but the third installment happily lives up to the high standard set by the first film. While by no means superior, "Men in Black 3" does recapture the magic of the original and serves as a satisfying continuation of the series.


IMG_7249

Carrie Underwood is all grown up on new album

Carrie Underwood's fourth album, "Blown Away" was released May 1, and like her previous CDs, the overall reception was positive. Billboard.com writes, "In an already impressive, multi-platinum career, 'Blown Away' is a landmark achievement." Underwood is known for her strong voice, yet gentle attitude. This combination makes her a country force to be reckoned with.


IMG_7249

Summertime movie releases

Brave By: Tiffany Do This year's Pixar summer film "Brave" features a gutsy fireball of a princess out to save her kingdom from a disaster she brought upon herself. Set in a magical Scotland, Princess Merida, voiced by Kelly Macdonald, defies the typical princess stereotype. Instead of looking for a suitor, she runs around with a bow and arrow and an adventurous spirit. In the midst of trying to change her restricting fate of being part of a boring, "perfect" family, this Scottish Mulan brings a curse to the kingdom and is forced to undo the malady. Pixar-lovers every-where can expect the usual outstanding animation, witty dialogue and captivating storyline.


IMG_7249

Fond farewell to TV favorites: House

May 21 will mark a bittersweet moment for fans of FOX's "House." The series will end, and while fans are undoubtedly eager to see how the show comes to an end, viewers are reluctant to say goodbye to Hugh Laurie's eccentric character who has been a beloved TV figure for the past eight years.


IMG_7249

Melody & Tyler album lacks excitement

Melody & Tyler's first full-length album, "Breaking and Bending," is both soothing and spine-tingling. The Utah-based duet mixes el­ements of pop and country with all the good­ness of acoustic rock to present a compilation of heart-wrenching songs.


IMG_7249

Summertime music releases

Maroon 5 By: Patrice Kubik For being "Overexposed," Maroon 5 have not revealed much about their new album, which is slated to release June 26. The band's first single from the album, "Payphone" featuring Wiz Khalifa, hit the radio last month, and if it is any indication of what is to come, fans can look forward to a slightly different sound than they're used to. Over the past year, with popular releases like "Moves Like Jagger" featuring Christina Aguilera and "Stereo Hearts" with Gym Class Heroes, Maroon 5 has been moving away from the alternative genre to a younger, pop (and occasionally hip-hop) sound. With a fun and fresh sound, "Overexposed" is sure to be a summer hit.


IMG_7249

Tribeca's 'Babygirl' is an incoherent mess

Teenage love is a strange and confusing thing, and even more so when your mother's deadbeat boyfriend wants to date you. That's the problem facing Lena, a 16-year-old girl living in the Bronx. Lena is older than her years: she is often the more responsible one, picking up the pieces after Victor, her mom's latest flame, starts moving in on Lena. The film has the opportunity to take a particularly chilling and awkward situation and make a powerful family drama, but "Babygirl" falls flat. The charac­ters make unrealistic decisions that don't agree with their personality. Yainis Ynoa, as Lena, shows prom­ise, but the script never tells her what her character really wants, so she gets lost in the plot. Lena swears she will teach Victor a lesson, but then she ends up falling in and out of love with him.


IMG_7249

Engaging' comedy hits theaters

Can true love really wait? Fianc?©es Tom (Ja­son Segel) and Violet (Emily Blunt) are perfect for each other. The only thing not perfect is that they are not married and don't seem to be get­ting any closer to walking down the aisle.


IMG_7249

All's fair in love and war

"Think Like a Man," based on the book by Steve Harvey, was surprisingly entertaining. There never was a dull moment and the audience enjoyed every minute of it, including the credits and bloopers.


IMG_7249

The Avengers

After four years, five movies and millions of dollars at the box office, The Avengers have finally assembled. For the first time in history, a single film will see the teaming of superheroes from multiple different franchises. Starring Robert Downey Jr., Samuel L. Jackson and a host of other A-list actors, "The Avengers" certainly is one of the most anticipated blockbusters of the summer.


IMG_7249

Student art show in Walsh this month

The Walsh Gallery will be un­veiling its eighth annual exhibi­tion of student artwork on April 25. This year, the exhibition is titled "Collectively Assembled," alluding to the diverse collection of art created by students in the Department of Communications and the Arts.


IMG_7249

Neon Trees album catchy but shallow

Neon Tree's "Picture Show" is no sopho­more slump. With electro-pop like rhythms and synth-rock melodies, this Utah-based quartet stays true to their sound.

Powered by SNworks Solutions by The State News
All Content © 2024 The Setonian