All Entries in the "Entertainment" Category
The Soloist
One look at director Joe Wright’s (“Atonement”) latest film and you think you have it figured out. What it looks like from trailers and clips is your average awards-bait film; a disabled savant whose inner talent is brought out by his friendship with a saner person. For the most part, this assumption is correct, but a surprising lack of a few major conventions of the feel-good Oscar flick, and the strength of the two lead actors makes what could have been another sappy paint-by-numbers experience into something actually worth seeing.
Shanghai Reveals Its ‘Two Faces’
Rather than turning left to go to the Loan Reserves Desk or making a right to the couches and study cubicles, students should take 20 steps straight ahead.
Greeks Go All Out at Songfest
On Friday night, the Greek community held its 30th annual Songfest philanthropy event in the Bren Events Center. This year, the event raised over $30,000 for the Adolescent and Young Adult Cancer program, burying Songfest’s goal of $25,000. Each fraternity and sorority at UC Irvine paired up in fall quarter and for the entire year rigorously rehearsed 12 minutes from a play of their choosing. The end result is three hours of singing, dancing and choreography. Past Songfests have included segments from plays such as “Wicked” and “All Shook Up.”
Depeche ‘Sounds’ of Mediocrity
The men from Basildon, England are back with their first album in three years. “Sounds of the Universe” is touted as a return to form for Depeche Mode, with the use of several analog synths and drum machines. Unfortunately, this back-to-basics technique only serves to further highlight the mediocrity that Depeche Mode has become comfortable with.
Your 2009 Guide to Upcoming Entertainment Festivals
Spring is here, summer is quickly approaching, and soon we’ll all be baking in the sun. With everything so pleasant outside, these months beg for activity, activity that might be down a bit thanks to how easy it is these days to wrap yourself up in your little corner of the world. There are always things to do outside but sometimes it doesn’t seem worth it. But you’re an adventurous one, aren’t you? I can tell from the look in your eyes. Oh, and you like music, do you? Well, then you should be in luck.
Looking Ahead to the Newport Beach Film Festival
With the Newport Beach Film Festival just around the corner starting this Thursday, the New University brings you an inside look into some of the upcoming films at this year’s festival.
Wayzgoose: Getting Better With Age
ASUCI kicked off its annual Wayzgoose Medieval Faire in Aldrich Park at 10 a.m. on Saturday. In collaboration with Celebrate UCI, Wayzgoose is an opportunity for incoming freshmen to get a taste of the many extracurricular activities the campus has to offer. The park remained packed throughout the day, which couldn’t have been better for a festival as there wasn’t a cloud in the sky.
Statham ‘Cranks’ Up the Action
Fans of the first “Crank” movie will not be disappointed with “Crank: High Voltage” in the least. They might actually pose the question: “Is this movie the second part to ‘Crank’?” In so many words: Yes, it is. “Crank: High Voltage” is full of the same qualities that made “Crank” popular. In fact, the film actually picks up at the exact second that the first film ended.
Silversun Pickups Losing Luster
It’s hard enough for a band to evolve from a sound when it’s associated with a specific scene, but what’s worse is when your band’s sound isn’t just a product of a scene, but a product of a band that came before you. Any person that is cognizant of ’90s music can hear the Smashing Pumpkins in the Silversun Pickups. From the raspy, angsty delivery of frontman Brian Aubert to the subtle, complimentary boy/girl vocals and the extremely familiar tone of the guitars, you can’t help the urge to listen to the Smashing Pumpkins’ classic record “Siamese Dream” before finishing a song by Silversun Pickups.
Throw Out the Game Cartridges and Embrace the Digital Age
Digital distribution has been detrimental to media like films and music that rely on DVDs and album releases to generate extra income for the studios. However, the opposite is true for video games in that avoiding brick-and-mortar retail outlets actually cuts costs for developers. A new trend is emerging in the gaming industry toward titles produced exclusively for digital distribution.
