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(01/07/13 5:46am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Joel Washington’s skateboarder name used to be “Rad Rat.”On Friday, the 52-year-old Bloomington skateboarder-turned-artist used his colorful pop art to teach children about color theory at the WonderLab Museum of Health, Science and Technology.Joining him were portraits of Michael Jackson, B.B. King and four of his own brightly designed skateboard decks.“I’m a color fanatic,” he said. “There’s little colors I have to put in.”Washington, who started longboarding in 1976, keeps his life decorated with skating and painting. This year, four new skate decks he designed will be available at Rhett Skateboarding, 118 S. Rogers St.“I just never wanted to let go of it,” he said. “It’s a passion to me, just like art.”Families at WonderLab were able to speak with Washington about his vivid work and create their own color demonstrations as part of the museum’s “First Friday Evening Science of Art” production.“We were thrilled,” Assistant Gallery Manager Andrea Oeding said. “We scheduled him for about a year in advance. We try to keep it different.”In previous “First Friday” exhibits, WonderLab recruited a foundry to teach children about metal casting as well as groups who specialized in ice sculpting and glass blowing. “The activities here we’re doing go along with how Joel presents his art,” she said. “We want to introduce kids to ways they can introduce colors.”Blaze Timonet, a fourth-grader from Louisiana, learned about complementary and analogous colors through hands-on creation.“It pops out because this color goes to that color,” Timonet said while pointing to a color wheel. He was designing a yellow folder decorated with orange squares and blue microscopes to take home.Rosie Black, a 4-year-old preschooler from Bloomington, was experimenting with popsicle sticks.“I have a shed, and it’s snowing cats,” she said of her abstract design.Children from the community gathered to stare at Washington’s art in the playroom, a Xanadu of creativity.Some enjoyed the skeletal designs on one particular skate deck. Others stood silently and took in the neon-tinted glow of his work. “I just ended up putting it all together, and it worked,” Washington said of his skateboard’s stencil technique. A lifelong Beatles fan, he was first inspired by the Fab Four’s “Yellow Submarine.”“It finally came on TV, and I was just blown away by the art and graphics,” Washington said. “I had never seen that before.”Washington developed a reputation by painting celebrities in eye-catching styles. He presented a portrait to music professor David Baker for his 80th birthday last year.Washington’s art was recognized in 2010 at City Hall for his 50th birthday. However, even though he’s known for portraiture, Washington always finds time to skate.“I don’t get to do it as much as I used to,” he said. “But sometimes you’ll see me blasting on the way to work at 4 a.m.”
(01/06/13 8:35pm)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Joel Washington’s skateboarder name used to be “Rad Rat.”On Friday, the 52-year-old Bloomington skateboarder-turned-artist used his colorful pop art to teach children about color theory at the WonderLab Museum of Health, Science and Technology.Joining him were portraits of Michael Jackson, B.B. King and four of his own brightly designed skateboard decks.“I’m a color fanatic,” he said. “There’s little colors I have to put in.”Washington, who started longboarding in 1976, keeps his life decorated with skating and painting. This year, four new skate decks he designed will be available at Rhett Skateboarding, 118 S. Rogers St.“I just never wanted to let go of it,” he said. “It’s a passion to me, just like art.”Families at WonderLab were able to speak with Washington about his vivid work and create their own color demonstrations as part of the museum’s “First Friday Evening Science of Art” production.“We were thrilled,” Assistant Gallery Manager Andrea Oeding said. “We scheduled him for about a year in advance. We try to keep it different.”In previous “First Friday” exhibits, WonderLab recruited a foundry to teach children about metal casting as well as groups who specialized in ice sculpting and glass blowing. “The activities here we’re doing go along with how Joel presents his art,” she said. “We want to introduce kids to ways they can introduce colors.”Blaze Timonet, a fourth-grader from Louisiana, learned about complementary and analogous colors through hands-on creation.“It pops out because this color goes to that color,” Timonet said while pointing to a color wheel. He was designing a yellow folder decorated with orange squares and blue microscopes to take home.Rosie Black, a 4-year-old preschooler from Bloomington, was experimenting with popsicle sticks.“I have a shed, and it’s snowing cats,” she said of her abstract design.Children from the community gathered to stare at Washington’s art in the playroom, a Xanadu of creativity.Some enjoyed the skeletal designs on one particular skate deck. Others stood silently and took in the neon-tinted glow of his work. “I just ended up putting it all together, and it worked,” Washington said of his skateboard’s stencil technique. A lifelong Beatles fan, he was first inspired by the Fab Four’s “Yellow Submarine.”“It finally came on TV, and I was just blown away by the art and graphics,” Washington said. “I had never seen that before.”Washington developed a reputation by painting celebrities in eye-catching styles. He presented a portrait to music professor David Baker for his 80th birthday last year.Washington’s art was recognized in 2010 at City Hall for his 50th birthday. However, even though he’s known for portraiture, Washington always finds time to skate.“I don’t get to do it as much as I used to,” he said. “But sometimes you’ll see me blasting on the way to work at 4 a.m.”
(01/04/13 3:34am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Friday — First Friday and moreVibrant Colors with Joel WashingtonWonderLab5 to 8:30 p.m.Joel Washington, a vibrant Bloomington artist, will be displaying his work at the WonderLab Museum of Science, Health, and Technology. His style includes bright, eye-catching portraits of famous figures and celebrities. Half-price admission to the WonderLab is in effect after 5 p.m. ($3.50). Visitors will be able to experiment with their own color-creating demonstrations.Aleppo Before the Civil War Boxcar Books7 to 9 p.m.Local artist Natasha Ritsma’s photographs chronicle the summer of 2010 in Aleppo, the largest city in Syria and the oldest continually habited city in the world. The photographs capture peaceful situations now likely damaged or destroyed by the Syrian civil war. More artist information is available at http://www.boxcarbooks.org/Art.$5 Ryder FilmsFive dollars buys a ticket to see one of three movies on either Friday or Saturday night around campus. “The Big Picture” airs at 7 p.m. upstairs in the Fine Arts building, “The Flat” runs at 8 p.m. in Woodburn Hall 101 and “In Another Country” rounds out the evening upstairs in the Fine Arts building at 9:15 pm. The showtimes and locations are the same for Friday and Saturday night. More information is available at TheRyder.com.Stone Carnival Bluebird 9 p.m.A seven-piece band from Bedford, Ind., “Stone Carnival” brings a dose of strange to the music community. With stage names like “Hunky Dory Starr” and “Carlito Warrior,” Stone Carnival stands out as a goofy local act.Saturday Perkins Bros Bluebird9 p.m.The self-described “hard charging, full energy, country rockers” also hail from southern Indiana. The band cites Cheap Trick, the Black Crowes and the Rolling Stones as part of its influences.
(01/04/13 3:10am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>The Indiana University Dance Theatre is celebrating its 85th anniversary with a special concert of international flair at the Annual Faculty and Guest Artist Concert.“Global Perspectives,” which will draw upon universal themes and dances from around the globe, will be performed Jan. 11 and 12 in the Ruth N. Halls Theater at 275 N. Jordan Ave.“Our annual concert is a real celebration of not just American modern dance but global approaches as well,” said Elizabeth Shea, the director of IU Contemporary Dance in the IU School of Public Health.“It’s an extremely diverse concert with something for everyone,” she said. “As always, our dancers are beautiful and perform with great skill and maturity.”The global perspectives theme features works by influential modern dance choreographers David Parsons and Bill Evans, as well as visiting professor Ma Gulandanmu. Original pieces were contributed by IU faculty choreographers Shea, Selene Carter, Iris Rosa and George Pinney. Shea said modern dance, like other distinctly American art forms in jazz music and tap dance, emerged in the United States as a reflection of the diversity of traditions and cultures indigenous to the country, as well as the political and social climate of the 20th century. As modern dance’s influence spread to other countries, it can now be seen in such forms as contemporary ballet in Europe and new approaches to the traditional social dances of many world cultures.The student dancers will interpret influences from Brazil, Japan, China and the African Diaspora, along with such universal themes as marriage and women’s rights.The IU dancers examine the universal theme of marriage in Bill Evans’ dark and dream-like “Rite of Summer,” as well as the music of Brazilian composer Milton Nascimiento.“The music involves unique instruments and sounds and provides a rich background for the beautiful and intense physical movements of the dance,” Shea said.The dancers will also stage traditional Chinese folk performances at the concert.Before the concerts, there will be talksfrom 6:30 to 7:15 p.m. in the Neal-Marshall Grand Hall off of the theater lobby, featuring digital dance archiving Jan. 11 and Chinese and modern dance Jan. 12.The performances will take place at 7:30 p.m. Jan. 11 and 12, as well as a family matinee at 1:30 p.m. Jan. 12.Tickets are available in advance, priced at $20 for adults and $10 for children, seniors and IU students with ID. Tickets are $25 for adults and $15 for children, seniors and IU students if purchased at the door. “It’s fantastic to be able to present such a diverse array of choreography and performances, spanning many centuries and including dances and shared experiences from all over the world, to the Bloomington community,” Shea said.
(11/28/12 5:00am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Though most IU students would shriek at the idea of returning to high school, I’ve found the process to be quite satisfying.Here’s a shocking secret: I didn’t read in high school. Like a surprising portion of American students, I skipped, skimmed and SparkNoted my way to a high school diploma. I learned only what was necessary to maintain a B- average in my high school’s Honors English class.“Beowulf.” “The Hobbit.” Even “Frankenstein.” You name it, and I almost read it.Yet here I am, a grammar nerd with an unshakable penchant for writing.Despite the astounding talent to bullshit my way through high school one pop quiz at a time, my attitude toward reading and writing changed dramatically in college.It needed to, or else I’d be $15,000 in the hole.After a strange period of book guilt during my freshman year, as well as a fateful reading of Kurt Vonnegut’s “Breakfast of Champions,” I have since found myself on a quest to redemption. I’m on a mission to read all of the books I should have read in high school.Whether I was too busy playing “Halo” or ingesting unnecessary gallons of Mountain Dew, the 16-year-old version of Jeff LaFave couldn’t have cared less about reading a book.The 22-year-old Jeff is here to redeem himself.During this semester alone, I’ve knocked out Hemingway’s “The Sun Also Rises,” Douglas Adams’ “Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy” and a half dozen pieces by Indianapolis’ favorite son, Vonnegut. I’m currently working on Salinger’s “Catcher in the Rye,” and my next piece will be Alice Walker’s “The Color Purple.”To all my English teachers, the saints in silk ties I never bothered to read for during my high school years, I’m sorry. You were right all along. The books on our syllabi really were worth reading in seven days, even if my largest concern at the time was playing my flea-market guitar like an idiot.Though I no longer have to deal with high school’s random quizzes about last night’s reading, I frequently find myself neck-deep in a classic book I once tucked in the bottom of my backpack and intentionally “forgot to read” for the next class.Besides, compared to college-level rhetoric textbooks, high school literature is a delightful escape. Last year, I registered for my free Monroe County Public Library card. An entire catalogue of classic literature and high school staples has been quite literally at my fingertips since. It was the best decision I’ve made since eating red velvet pie.It’s not difficult to see how my passion for being a bookworm is a quieter opinion in this town, but I can still be found cruising through Bloomington’s bars on a Saturday night.The only difference is that I’ll be in the corner, sharing my whiskey with a copy of “Fahrenheit 451.” It pains me to mention how many fellow IU students continue with their methods of “doing the minimum” and “just getting by” with their reading, but I can’t blame their procrastination. Being lazy is fun.Every time I hear students complain about how “there’s nothing on TV” or “all music sounds the same,” I ask them what they’re reading.They’re usually not.There’s a tremendous stigma floating around that reading isn’t cool — that only nerds and bowtie aficionados deserve to hang out at the library.Of course, this myth is spread by people who don’t read books.— jlafave@indiana.edu
(11/14/12 9:42pm)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>The long-awaited “(III)” scratches a two-year itch for loyal Crystal Castles fans. Newcomers to the band, however, might be scared away.After
taking the EDM world by storm in 2008 with their chipper video game
sounds, Ethan Kath (synth) and Alice Glass (vocals) have since pursued
darker subject material.“(III)” is downright nihilistic in addressing themes of oppression and global violence.Singles
“Wrath of God” and “Plague” exemplify the band’s more abrasive sound
and attitude, but their formula is essentially still the same. Kath
writes catchy hooks and then femme-fatale Glass sings haunting lyrics
with them.Crystal Castles’ live shows are explosions of light and sound, masses of sweaty people rioting and raving to goth-club anthems. Compressing
this madness into an organized 12-track release does not accurately
represent why they make music. Kath and Glass could far and away be
described better as performers than musicians, and it shows on this
album.Nevertheless, “(III)” is perfect for listeners who don’t mind an unsettling new wave tone. At least this album might make people who enjoy Depeche Mode and Nine Inch Nails smile for once.By Jeff LaFave
(11/12/12 7:09pm)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>“It’s good to be bad.” Disney’s “Wreck-It Ralph,” the tale of an existential video game character, is an instant classic. Clumsy, destructive Ralph (John Reilly) is tired of being the bad guy. Ralph’s job is to be the unpopular building destroyer in “Fix-It Felix, Jr.” After trying to make amends with the beloved hero Felix, (Jack McBrayer) Ralph is ostracized from the video game he calls home and leaves. Discouraged and dejected, Ralph sets out to prove his worth in other games, creating a fracas for all the machines plugged into Game Central Station. His quest to become a good guy quickly becomes complicated as Ralph accidentally releases the evil monster virus from “Hero’s Duty” into the girly-girl world of “Sugar Rush.” The rest is mayhem.Ralph finds solace in two other disenfranchised characters, the adorable glitch Vanellope von Schweetz (Sarah Silverman) and the tough Sergeant Calhoun (Jane Lynch). The motley group works together to find personal worth in a world dictated by high scores and pack mentality. Ralph’s digital tale is a wonderful parallel to everyday life, conveying heavy themes of alienation and disappointment in a thick, childish disguise. It’s not a stretch to see how Ralph’s struggles compare to social divisions at work or school. The newest animated film in Disney’s storied collection is an emotional masterpiece. A few of “Wreck-It’s” scenes are downright heartbreaking. Other scenes are endearing and inspiring. Leave it to an animated film to articulate the pains of modern life.On a lighter note, “Wreck-It” is packed with arcade culture. Nostalgic adults will remember classic characters from a simpler time. Younger audiences will fall in love with plenty. The “Wreck-It” arcade world is imaginative and playful. Characters like Sonic the Hedgehog and Bowser are everyday citizens in a digital world, implying the 1990s childhood is not a thing of the past. Instead, the video game characters we know and love happily live their easy lives. It’s a refreshing, cathartic storyline. “Wreck-It Ralph” is a treat. It’s something the whole family can watch, especially if video game consoles are a household staple. Unplug the Xbox for a few minutes and take someone to “Wreck-It Ralph” before it’s game over. You won’t regret it. By Jeff LaFave
(11/01/12 12:03am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>The very first line of the film ends with, “Stay away from Silent Hill.”After watching the movie myself, I’d offer the same advice.“Silent Hill: Revelation 3D,” based on the Konami video game series of the same name, is an alternative to the average slasher Halloween flick. “Revelation” mashes reality and the horror world.Long-time “Silent Hill” fans might exit “Revelation” with a nostalgic smile, as the fan-favorite Pyramid Head and the infamous asylum nurses are involved in the action. However, many fans complain the movie series is completely unlike the video game original. Newcomers to the series will have the hardest time understanding the plot.“Revelation” succeeds in creating a memorable environment with fog scenes and ethereal music, but little else can be said for the film’s success. The dialogue is choppy, the characters are one-dimensional and little is done to distinguish which characters perceive which realities. For quality “Silent Hill” scares, skip the theater. Stop by the local video game shop and purchase the classic PlayStation 2 or Wii games. By Jeff LaFave
(10/25/12 5:21pm)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Perhaps destroying pumpkins and throwing toilet paper isn’t your idea of a good time. Maybe you enjoy a cinematic Halloween treat. Fortunately, Netflix has some special horror films queued and waiting.“Children of the Corn” (1984)Stephen King’s classic is a horror plot line staple. Two white bread Americans drive through abandoned farmland and struggle to make it out alive. Be sure to double check the car battery and directions for the next road trip. And beware of kids named Malachi.RATING: 9/10 | SCARY: 6/10“The Thing” (1982)Though not particularly Halloween-y, John Carpenter’s remake of “The Thing From Outer Space” is a must-see, at least for the vintage appeal. A bearded Kurt Russell and Wilford “Diabeetus” Brimley are Antarctic scientists who fight a monster as unknown as the movie’s title claims. The monster’s transformation scenes are unforgettable as well as how the film depicts “modern technology.”RATING: 8/10 | SCARY: 7/10“The Omen” (1976)Remember lovable Gregory Peck as Atticus Finch in “To Kill a Mockingbird?” This time around, Peck’s adopted child is the Antichrist. What a twist. Bastard child Damien Thorn is terrifying with his desire to destroy everything and everyone he meets en route to global destruction. Don’t trust this kid.RATING: 8.5/10 | SCARY: 8/10 “Hellraiser” (1987)Clive Barker’s directing debut is a merciless one. “Hellraiser” features “Cenobites,” creatures who thrive on the sado-masochistic torture of their victims. “Hellraiser” is not for the weak of heart but remains a cult favorite to those with intestinal fortitude. Don’t cry, weaklings: “It’s a waste of good suffering.”RATING: 7/10 | SCARY: 8/10“Creepshow” (1982)Horror legends King and George Romero teamed up for “Creepshow,” a compilation of short scares based on 1950s comic books. Ted Dansen and the late Leslie Nielsen headline unforgettable skits certain to thrill fans of the “Twilight Zone” or “Tales From the Crypt.”RATING: 9/10 | SCARY: 6/10“House on Haunted Hill” (1959)As if the legendary Vincent Price wasn’t enough evidence to watch this film, “Haunted Hill” is more like a horror film-noir than a scary story. Grab some friends and make dinner — this is the classiest possible way to celebrate Halloween.RATING: 8.5/10 | SCARY: 5/10“The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari” (1920)This movie will cement your status as a Halloween Hipster. “Dr. Caligari,” a German expressionist silent film, is considered to have the first twist-ending in cinema history. Known for its jerky acting and dancelike movements, Caligari stands out as its own breed. Serve with cheap beer and a fair-trade cardigan.RATING: 5/10 | SCARY: 6/10“Land of the Dead” (2005)Another masterpiece from the grandfather of zombies, George A. Romero, “Land of the Dead” is an updated version of the undead apocalypse. In this film starring Dennis Hopper and Simon Baker, zombies have already overtaken the earth and become the majority population. A few human mercenaries plan to fight them. RATING: 8/10 | SCARY: 7/10
(10/17/12 9:30pm)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Need a playlist for your drinking? Weekend has the jams to liven up even the most serious debate parties.Democratic Party“Living in America,” James Brown“Give Peace a Chance," John Lennon“Born in the USA," Bruce Springsteen“War (What is it Good For?)," Edwin Starr“Changes," David Bowie“Man in the Mirror," Michael Jackson“Made in America," Jay-Z and Kanye WestRepublican Party“Real American," Rick Derringer“I’m So Bored with the USA," The Clash“We’re Not Gonna Take It," Twisted Sister“Taxman," The Beatles“The Big Takeover," Bad Brains“Detroit Rock City," Kiss“I’m Shipping Up to Boston," Dropkick Murphys
(10/03/12 9:20pm)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Green Day spent the last decade making sure their amplifiers were so loud they lost the creativity to do anything with them. Their new release “¡Uno!” is nothing new at all. Critics and fans of the band alike will note the two Green Day eras: pre- and post-“American Idiot.” Green Day advertises “¡Uno!” as a new band image, but “¡Uno!” sounds like everything they’ve released since 2004: tame, vague, three-chord “political” rock. Despite the shiny neon-green album art, “¡Uno!” is a wolf in sheep’s clothing, disguising another letdown album with gimmicky airbrush designs and meaningless F-bombs.The announcement of “¡Uno!,” “¡Dos!” and “¡Tre!” as a three-album series, complete with a commemorative box set and documentary, screams “money-making endeavor.” The whole trilogy idea seems contrived and ingenuine, but how else could Green Day’s recent music be described?The band’s lights are on, but nobody’s home. How could Green Day possibly have two more upcoming albums of this stuff? Good riddance. By Jeff LaFave
(09/26/12 10:07pm)
Make me laugh
(09/26/12 10:06pm)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Jared Thompson was an unhappy Comcast employee four years ago. When they asked him to relocate to Fishers, Ind., he quit.Today, his very own club, the Comedy Attic, celebrates four years of successful laughs.“This all happened by chance,” Thompson said. “They gave me an ultimatum that I had to move. I told them to fly a kite, so we opened the comedy club.”Jared, 35, and his wife, Dayna, purchased the Walnut Street venue in 2008 and worked hard to make it their own special place. The Thompsons stayed up painting the club’s scarlet walls until 4 a.m., laying the tile and carpet themselves. The first shows at the Attic were slow. “We had no idea what we were doing, and the booking was less than stellar,” Thompson said. “There were people, especially at first, who were skeptical.”Since then, the Comedy Attic has developed a reputation for quality comedy in the Midwest. Marquee acts are more frequent and crowds have grown larger. Sold-out shows by famed comedian Doug Benson put the club on the national map in December 2008. “Doug Benson basically saved this club,” Thompson said. “We were able to take a deep breath and know that the town will respond if we give them something to respond to.”Thompson expects another sold-out response with this weekend’s anniversary special featuring national headliner Greg Behrendt. Behrendt authored the book-turned-hit-movie “He’s Just Not That Into You” and exclusively performs major venues and late-night television. He stepped in last-minute to replace “Saturday Night Live” alum Tim Meadows, who was originally scheduled to perform tonight.“Greg is a great comic,” comedian Melinda Kashner said. “He’s just as good, if not a better show, than we would have for Tim Meadows.”Bloomington Mayor Mark Kruzan will host tonight’s featured show. Kruzan has hosted previous anniversary shows to roaring acclaim. Posters for the weekend bill him as a “comedy legend.”“Everyone that’s ever seen this guy is just completely floored by how great this guy is at comedy,” Thompson said of the mayor. “It’s just uncanny how funny this guy is. I would hire him to host on the weekend right now.”The Comedy Attic will also use the anniversary weekend to benefit Area 10, a local organization devoted to helping seniors in need. Thompson estimates the anniversary weekend will raise more than $4,000.This weekend also sets a sentimental stage for Ben Moore, Bloomington’s first full-time professional comedian. He will return for a weekend set for the first time since March. Thompson handpicked the weekend for him.Moore, 32, has performed at the Comedy Attic since its creation, evolving from a humble open-mic greenhorn into a touring comedian. His first comedy album, “Never Coming Back,” charted on iTunes. Moore performs anywhere in the United States on any given weekend but attributes much of his success to the Comedy Attic’s existence.“If you hang out in a good comedy club long enough, you’ll become a comedian,” Moore said. “And it’s one of the best clubs in the country.”After four successful years, Thompson is immensely proud of his club and
his audiences. He has seen the Comedy Attic blossom from a dream into
one of Bloomington’s featured locations.
“We surprise people all the time with how great of a city this is,”
Thompson said. “The club is like icing on the cake of that. I’m not
concerned about the future of this club.”TicketsTickets for the anniversary weekend are available at ComedyAttic.com. Today’s show at 8 p.m., costs $25 with 100 percent proceeds for Area 10. Friday and Saturday feature two shows each night at 8 and 10:30 p.m., with tickets priced at $15.
(09/26/12 9:25pm)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>“Dredd 3D” is an ultraviolent action flick written for the thinking nerd.
Adapted from the “2000 AD” comic strip series, “Dredd” chronicles one
day in the lives of Judge Dredd (Urban) and judge-trainee Cassandra
Anderson (Thirlby).
Their law enforcement mission is to take down Ma-Ma, the powerful drug queen of Peach Towers.
The plot revolves around Slo-Mo, Ma-Ma’s narcotic designed to slow human
perception to 1-percent speed. The makers of “Dredd” brilliantly use
Slo-Mo as a camera element, melting the action into sudden pangs of
drug-induced, 3-D hyper-action beauty.
“Dredd” is unapologetic in pacing and scripting, demanding the audience follow along without any hand-holding.
Better yet, the plot makes complete sense.
It’s a thrilling, welcome addition to the sci-fi genre. Though it’s far
better than 1995’s stinker “Judge Dredd” with Sylvester Stallone,
today’s “Dredd” is still not for everyone.
The setting is bleak and the gore is blatant. Weak stomachs need not apply.
“Dredd” is meant for those who are ready for something new but also trailblazes what the future of sci-fi could be.
By Jeff LaFave
(09/20/12 5:11pm)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Big, dumb event comics are supposed to feel like this.Despite or perhaps because of its tired clichés, huge plot twists and epic melodrama, the penultimate issue of “Avengers vs. X-Men” looks and reads like blockbuster fun.Most of the X-Men have joined with the Avengers to stop Emma Frost and Cyclops, who possess and are possessed by the Phoenix force.The issue opens with the return of an original Avenger and closes with the realization of everyone’s “worst nightmare” in a twist that somehow works.Writer Brian Michael Bendis hams up the confrontation between Cyclops and Professor X, but the characters’ history and the Shakespearean tragic irony make the stakes feel high.Penciler Olivier Coipel delivers some jaw-dropping splash pages and facial expressions. Laura Martin’s colors perfectly capture the mood and pop with the action.It’s a shame it took “Avengers vs. X-Men” 11 issues to get to this point in the story, especially since several main characters’ arcs remain underexplored.Nevertheless, issue 11 packs the punch this series has been missing, but it’s too little, too late.By Patrick Beane
(09/20/12 2:02am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>VH1’s “reigning queen of kick-butt” Milla Jovovich returns to the silver screen in “Resident Evil: Retribution,” the fifth installment of the Resident Evil series. Zombie slayer Alice (Jovovich) wakes up as a prisoner of the neo-governmental Umbrella Corporation and is forced to fight for her freedom in the zombie apocalypse.“Retribution” begins with a three-minute monologue delivered by Alice herself, who breaks the fourth wall to vaguely explain the entire previous movie series. Details of character motivation are unclear to “Resident Evil” newcomers, despite the generous prologue. The film relies on stiff bad-guy archetypes to lurch the plot forward.Despite the dialogue shortcomings, “Retribution” is still one sexy violence film. Director Paul W.S. Anderson maximizes Umbrella Corp.’s gruesome, high-tech future for a crystal-clear 3-D thrill ride. Jovovich and her assassin (Michelle Rodriguez) compensate for the dried-up plotlines with plenty of explosions and “that-will-leave-a-mark” moments.“Retribution” will satisfy adrenaline junkies seeking an acrobatic spectacle but offers little beyond that. But who goes to zombie movies for the writing?By Jeff LaFave
(09/20/12 1:44am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>David Byrne and St. Vincent didn’t just “experiment” with brass sounds — they shamelessly crammed 45 brass specialists into “Love This Giant.”The results were glorious.After attending each other’s shows in New York City, 29-year-old indie charmer “St. Vincent” (Annie Clark) and Byrne, the legendary brainchild of “Talking Heads,” forged a friendship that led to special tour appearances and the eventual “Love This Giant.”The album’s single, “Who,” stands out with its bold melody. The rest of the album relies on upbeat funk, trading away rock’s standard guitar parts for horns, bugles and trombones. Byrne and Clark wrote many lyrics through email exchanges, which explains the album’s back-and-forth dialogue.A departure from Byrne’s typical avant-garde lyrics, he and Clark sing about topics like war, love and religion. Now in his 60s, Byrne uses his past to preach about life, while Clark adds a youthful enthusiasm for the future.The final product could change one’s perspective on life, but remains jazzy enough for a pleasant evening of dinner and dancing. By Jeff LaFave
(09/12/12 10:48pm)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Two years ago, the Cutters Brewing Company didn’t exist. By this time next year, it hopes to be available statewide.Monte Speicher and Chris Inman started the Cutters nanobrewery as an after-work hobby in late 2010. The duo collaborated to brew the beers they wanted to drink in two-barrel batches, citing “exceptional beers for hard-working Hoosiers” as a company mantra.Next month, they will open a 30-barrel brewing system in Avon, Ind.“Demand right now is way higher than we can put out,” brewer Dustin Brown, 28, said. “People are just now aware of what craft beer means.”Brown, a Monroe County native who worked with the Bloomington Brewing Company for five years, recently became the Cutters’ newest brewer. He will head brewing operations for the new location in Avon, which will make as much beer in two weeks as Cutters previously made in an entire year. The Cutters repertoire boasts three year-round beers and multiple seasonal brews, all of which are named after Indiana lore. The “Floyd’s Folly” seasonal, named after ill-fated limestone cutter Floyd McCoy, features full-roasted malt and caramel flavors. Those looking for a crisp beverage should seek the “Lost River” summer ale, a foamy tribute to an underground southern Indiana river with spicy hops in the recipe.Cutters’ beers can regularly be found on-tap at Yogi’s Grill & Bar or the Sweet Grass restaurant on West Patterson Drive. “You can do so many things with beer,” he said. “We’re doing our own thing.”By Jeff LaFave
(08/23/12 12:05am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Prize pigs. Super bikes. Dungeons and Dragons. Welcome to Indianapolis in August.I grew up on the east side of Indianapolis before moving to Bloomington. Most of my 22 years have been spent in a city that constantly tries to prove it has any national relevance.It’s hard to find any cultural belonging as a suburbanite in the Circle City.Am I a Hoosier farm boy with traditional folk values reflected at the Indiana State Fair? Do I live for the smell of gasoline and big-city racing at the MotoGP? I’m neither. I’m a geek.What about Hoosiers like me, people who aren’t fond of loud noises or who constantly fight hay fever? The pale teenagers who spend more time watching sci-fi movies than mowing the lawn. For us, there’s Gen Con.Geneva Convention is the third wheel of Indianapolis culture that should no longer be denied. It’s the longest-running gaming convention in the world. More than 36,000 people attended last year. This four-day annual event has lasted 45 years. It can’t and shouldn’t be ignored.We’ve moved from our parents’ basements into the same convention center that hosted Super Bowl XLVI.Nerd culture has widened to include any variants of role-playing games, cel-shaded art or public costume demonstrations, otherwise known as cosplay. Still, we’re those weirdos you see invading Indianapolis every August.We’re not really invading, though. We’re your neighbors.Through annals of tabletop gaming and endless fan fictions based on the works of H.P. Lovecraft, Gen Con provides a home for the culturally homeless in the Midwest. Sure, I worship Pacers great Reggie Miller, and I know which United States president was born in Indiana. But Gen Con provides a home for the modern Hoosier who grew up somewhere in the cornfields shadowed by the heights of Lucas Oil Stadium.Oh, how I long for my Indiana home.
(06/27/12 11:18pm)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>On Tuesday night, Max’s Place featured a dozen female standup comics.“Comic’s Night” is a biweekly staple on Tuesdays that provides valuable microphone time for aspiring jokesters. But for the first time in its one-year history, the stage was ladies-only.Show promoter Mike Tucker saw the need for an all-female comedy forum six months ago.“I didn’t see anybody doing anything with the female comedians,” Tucker said. “This is the stage where all comedians are trying to get to that next level and they’re hungry.”Comedienne Miranda Britton joked about the neon-colored tapestry behind her. “Can everyone hear me over this quilt?” she said. The audience of Max’s Place filled the dining room with warm approval from wall to wall. “Good comedy is good comedy,” audience member Ken Grooms said. “It doesn’t matter if it’s male or female.”Some of the comediennes were telling jokes to an audience for the first time. Others were finding more experience behind the microphone. Comediennes ranged from 14 to 60 years old.“So many of these women I’ve heard of but never seen because we’re not put on shows together,” show host Melinda Kashner said. Kashner started her standup career a year ago at the Bloomington Comedy Festival and has since performed in shows throughout Indiana “It’s something that stuck,” Kashner said. “Once I did it for the first time, I just wanted to keep doing it.”Sometimes standup can be referred to as a boys club.“If I do 10 sets in a week, I might work with three girls and 100 men,” comedian Courtney Kay Meyers said of the male-dominated standup scene. An Indianapolis native and resident, Meyers is an established talent in her hometown. She contributed to the comedy book “The Starving Artists’ Diet.”“In my everyday life, I like to be the girl that breaks the tense moments at the water cooler. Or if traffic is at a standstill, I will get out of my car and do crazy things,” Meyers said. Competing against scores of men does not faze her. “All I have to do is be funny in the first 30 seconds, just like everybody else,” she said.Tucker hopes to organize another ladies’ night this fall. “I get goosebumps just thinking about it,” Tucker said. “Once you have a good show, you’re hooked.”