Region

Another risqué teen sex comedy

By -Jenny Kobiela · Thursday, Feb. 26,2004 12 a.m.

Raunchy teen sex romps are nothing new. Over the past five years or so, Hollywood has produced countless movies involving horny high school and college-aged kids trying to get laid. "Eurotrip" is definitely not anything new in that department.

Glass' story far from 'Shattered'

By Amanda Trost · Thursday, Feb. 26,2004 12 a.m.

A whiny, insecure, placating overachiever -- that's how Hayden Christensen portrays journalism's posterboy for bad behavior, Stephen Glass. "Shattered Glass" recreates the real-life events leading up to the downfall of the seemingly brilliant career of The New Republic's youngest reporter.

'Jury' gives no reason to 'Runaway'

By Jennifer Whalen · Thursday, Feb. 26,2004 12 a.m.

For those who love a good legal drama with a surprise twist ending, "Runaway Jury" is the movie to see. Based on the John Grisham novel, "Runaway Jury" gives an inside look at jury selection and how legal councils determine who will serve on their jury.

Comedy clubbin'

By Lindsey Hubbard · Thursday, Feb. 26,2004 12 a.m.

When it comes to comedy in Bloomington, quality is more important than quantity as there are only a few places to go to get your weekly fill of laughter.

HIGHTLIGHTING HIP-HOP

By Doug Smith · Thursday, Feb. 26,2004 12 a.m.

In a recent night at Teter Quad, rhythmic beats unconsciously slipped into the steps of students walking through the halls. With the grooving noise building and the lyrics growing bolder, students discovered themselves immersed in a strange world at battle with very uncommon weapons directing the flow of punishment -- two turntables and a microphone. These are the weapons of choice used in the underground art of MC battling, where the victor is he who has better mastery of the spoken word.

'New Found Power' to suck

By Neal Taflinger · Thursday, Feb. 26,2004 12 a.m.

Several years ago, vocalist Phil Anselmo stopped speaking to guitarist Dimebag Darrell and drummer Vinnie Paul -- hence, Pantera was no more. Anselmo made his critically lauded side project Down a full-time gig, and then moved onto fan favorite Superjoint Ritual. Meanwhile, Dimebag and Vinnie moved onto a steaming pile of crap otherwise known as Damageplan.

Hackman hits hackdom in 'Mooseport'

By Tony Sams · Thursday, Feb. 26,2004 12 a.m.

Welcome to Mooseport" can't make up its mind. It wants to be a political satire and a romantic comedy simultaneously, but each genre detracts from the other so much that everything bottoms out. This would be a good movie if it had simply chosen one way or the other.

Final Fantasy returns to Nintendo ... finally

By David Antognoli · Thursday, Feb. 26,2004 12 a.m.

After a long boycott of Nintendo consoles, Square and Nintendo have reunited at last, first with "Final Fantasy Tactics Advance" for Game Boy, and now with "Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles."

Brooke sets herself apart

By Ryan Whirty and Ryan Wirty · Thursday, Feb. 26,2004 12 a.m.

Since forming the poppy folk duo The Story with Jennifer Kimball, Jonatha Brooke has produced intimate and inspiring music which, in the tradition of great singer-songwriters, has connected on a very deep and personal level with her audience. Back in the Circus, her fifth solo release and third on her own Bad Dog label, continues that trend while at the same time displaying a woman who is both branching out and staying true to what made her popular.

It's 'Simple:' Give us Mo' fire

By Ryan Whirty and Ryan Wirty · Thursday, Feb. 26,2004 12 a.m.

Meb' Mo' (né Kevin Moore) grew up in Compton, Calif., the cradle of so-called gangsta rap. But unlike Ice Cube and Dr. Dre, Keb' Mo' was more interested in channeling Robert Johnson than sparking a hip-hop revolution.

'Everything' leaves you shaken, not stirred

By -Mitch Nelson · Thursday, Feb. 26,2004 12 a.m.

After playing the new action adventure title from Electronic Arts Games you'll be telling everyone you know that you are "Bond: James Bond."

Feels like repetition

By John Barnett · Thursday, Feb. 26,2004 12 a.m.

The image is still seared into my brain. February 2003. An uncomfortable-looking jazz pianist who didn't write the majority of her own material holding two armfuls of Grammy Awards which should have been divided up equally between Bruce Springsteen and Eminem. The pianist in question was none other than the daughter of the greatest sitar player in history, Ravi Shankar, without whom the Indian flourishes which graced late-period Beatles albums would not have existed. His daughter's name is Norah Jones, and I, for one, don't understand the phenomenon.

Alternative bars for alternative spirits

By Andrea Willoughby · Thursday, Feb. 26,2004 12 a.m.

After fifteen minutes of waiting outside in the snow and below freezing temperatures, students flood into one of Bloomington's busiest hotspots. The music is blasting and instantly dancing ensues, soon leading to immense thirst. Students crowd around the bar, throwing all etiquette to the wind once they realize it may take upwards of 20 minutes to be served. Finding a comfortable place to sit and catch your breath is also nearly impossible. For bar-hoppers who know this scene all too well, there are alternatives that offer a more low-key way of getting your drink on.

'Masked and Anonymous' meandering

By John Barnett · Thursday, Feb. 26,2004 12 a.m.

"Masked and Anonymous" could well be the most fascinating train wreck I've ever witnessed. Featuring a stunning and seemingly neverending cast, and co-written by a true geniuses of our time (Bob Dylan), the story centers loosely around the organization of a benefit concert which is somehow the focus of the entire post-apocalyptic dystopia in which the film is based.

'The Passion' of the controversy

By Judd Arnold · Thursday, Feb. 26,2004 12 a.m.

Ash Wednesday marked the premiere of the already controversial film, "The Passion of the Christ." For religious Christians and those who believe in the Gospel according to the King James Bible, "Passion" will deliver a powerful depiction of all they hold sacred. The movie has been praised for its near perfect portrayal of the final hours of Jesus' mortal life. Yet, more talked about than the Gospel is the growing controversy surrounding the film.

Ninety minutes of music? 'C'mon ...'

By -Nate Bethea · Thursday, Feb. 26,2004 12 a.m.

It's odd to see a band billed as alternative or indie when its style is literally adult contemporary. Upon listening, it seems quite a surprise to see Lambchop on the same label as …And You Will Know Us by the Trail of Dead and Neutral Milk Hotel, although the latter is at least somewhat similar. Lambchop's new double album Aw C'mon/No, You C'mon comes across as a genre-changing, string-heavy lounge act with a Randy Newman clone singing bass, and as frightening as it sounds, it works.

'Rocky' meets Meg Ryan

By Doug Evans · Thursday, Feb. 26,2004 12 a.m.

As far as boxing films go, Sylvester Stalone set the bar pretty high with "Rocky." So far only Scorsese's "Raging Bull" even comes close, though "Against the Ropes" gives it the old college try. The major difference "Ropes" brings to the table is it focuses not on the boxer but on the boxing manager, who just happens to be a woman.

Masters of Munchies

By C. Warner Sills and Jess Huffman and Kristen DaRosa · Thursday, Feb. 26,2004 12 a.m.

It's nearing 2 a.m. on a Friday night and Kirkwood Ave. is dead. The exception is a group of three girls in tight jeans and sleeveless, black tops who despite their better judgment, run to Kilroy's Bar and Grill in 11-degree temperature.

2 U.S. soldiers killed in Iraq helicopter crash

By Alyson Brodsy · Wednesday, Feb. 25,2004 11:43 p.m.

BAGHDAD, Iraq -- Two American soldiers were killed Wednesday when their helicopter crashed in a river west of Baghdad, and gunmen assassinated the deputy police chief in the northern city of Mosul.

Swiss air traffic controller murdered

By Alyson Brodsy and Ernst E. Abegg · Wednesday, Feb. 25,2004 11:42 p.m.

ZURICH, Switzerland -- An air traffic controller who ordered a passenger plane into the path of another aircraft over Germany -- a crash killing dozens of Russian children -- was stabbed to death Wednesday in front of his wife. The attacker was a heavily built man aged 50 to 55, possibly Eastern European, with graying hair and a three-day stubble. He showed up at the controller's home Tuesday night, spoke briefly to the controller in broken German, killed him, and fled on foot.