Region

Defining cinema

Not quite ruined

A fairly average movie in a genre filled with below-average offerings, “The Ruins” is a good watch for a Sunday evening with your buddies. You can both laugh at the movie’s more ridiculous moments, and cringe at the frightening parts.

Certainly worth a listen

Bodies of Water are an up-and-coming band to watch out for, and A Certain Feeling is certainly worth a listen.

Possible to impress

Recorded here in Bloomington at the Art Hospital, The Impossible Shapes prove that local, original music is alive and well and will not stop fighting the festering disease that is known as the cover band.

'Journey' falls flat

Overall, one probably has a good sense of the movie just from watching the trailer alone and in fact, that is all I would suggest.   

A hell of a letdown

To its credit, many of the fights were clever and entertaining, and the special effects were nothing to sneer at. But it’s almost redundant to compliment special effects anymore unless they’re truly groundbreaking. Besides, like dates, movies can’t just look good; they’ve got to have brains, too.

Lilly Endowment gives $1.75 million grant to Riley Children’s Foundation

The Riley Children’s Foundation received a $1.75 million grant today from Lilly Endowment, Inc. for repairs and construction at Camp Riley for Youth with Physical Disabilities, according to an IU news release.

WEEKEND magazine blogs from Chicago's Union Park at this year's Pitchfork Music Festival.

Certainly worth a listen

Bodies of Water's sound is like a melting pot of musical genres – gospel, indie, folk, punk, rock, Latin rock, progg, etc. The vibrant-sounding musical instruments and the haunting sound of the singers’ combined vocals put a spin on gospel that is original and definitely gives the band a signature sound.

'Journey' falls flat

With “Journey to the Center of the Earth” and “The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor” both coming out within a month of each other, it already feels like there is far more Brendan Fraser than should be tolerated this summer.

Massachusetts repeals out-of-state gay marriage law

Gay couples from across the country are one step closer to a Massachusetts wedding.

Remote outpost abandoned

U.S. and Afghan troops have abandoned a remote outpost in eastern Afghanistan where militants killed nine American soldiers this week, officials said Wednesday.

18 months after surge began, 150,000 troops remain in Iraq

WASHINGTON – The military surge into Iraq that began more than 18 months ago has ended. But 150,000 U.S. troops remain, as many as 15,000 more than before the buildup began.

Hezbollah gives coffins to Israel in prisoner swap

OSH HANIKRA, Israel – Hezbollah handed over two black coffins Wednesday with the bodies of two Israeli soldiers and Israel prepared to set free a notorious attacker in a dramatic prisoner swap that will close a painful chapter from the 2006 war in Lebanon.

Not quite ruined

The movie offers some good thrills and scares, relying mostly on tension and drama rather than gory visuals to frighten the audience, but it works well. The movie provides a few good visceral scares, as well as plenty of psychological drama.

Possible to impress

Bloomington’s very own art/folk rock dynasty The Impossible Shapes are fresh off their return to the studio with a new self-titled album. Compared to some of the band’s previous works, the new material is more musically minimalist, but it certainly stands on its own.

Hell of a letdown

Unfortunately for “Hellboy II,” the novelty of del Toro’s world has worn off. And now he’s forced to make his characters grow up a little, a task they’re about as well suited for as a beauty pageant.

Powerful Attraction

A rigger guides a leg that will support a $2 million magnet in Simon Hall’s Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Facility Wednesday afternoon.

16th annual Silk Road Festival to focus on ancient music and dance

The 16th annual Silk Road Bayram (festival) will provide audiences with a look into a world of musical and cultural traditions from the various civilizations found along the ancient and celebrated network of trade routes.

McRobbie names head of policy and planning

IU President Michael McRobbie announced Monday that he has appointed School of Law Executive Associate Dean John Applegate to the position of IU vice president for planning and policy, IU Spokesman Larry MacIntyre said.