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Overblown thriller so bad it's fun

Poor, poor celebrities. They really have it rough, you know: big, beautiful houses; millions of dollars; zippy new cars …

VMAs showcase prevalence of studio magic

Watching this year's MTV Video Music Awards, I couldn't help but notice the large discrepancy between studio artists and true musicians, whose live performances measure up to their album releases.

'CHARIOT' rides into Axis

Last Wednesday night, singer Gavin DeGraw rocked the crowd at Axis Nightclub. His stop in Bloomington was one of many on his college tour, and it was his first show with a 21 and over crowd.

Busting the blockbusters

On most nights of the week, especially on weekends, addicts meet at clubs and bars in Bloomington for their "fix." At all hours of the night, these junkies wait in lines, red-eyed and anxious, to fork over their cash for what they crave.

Christ resurrected on DVD

"The Passion of the Christ" opened to an onslaught of controversy upon its debut this past winter. Some claim the film is anti-Semitic (the notion of which is ridiculous); others demonized the excessive, graphic depiction of violence perpetrated against Jesus.

No love for G. Love

One might wonder where the justice is for G. Love and his band, the Special Sauce. The Philadelphia trio certainly has talent, but no luck. They debuted in the same year as Beck, but never garnered the cultish following. Then they highlighted breakout Jack Johnson, who is now selling records by the truckload, and ended up climbing onto Johnson's label, Brushfire Records, to survive.

No ordinary walk in the 'Park'

As a psychological and romantic thiller, "Wicker Park," starring Josh Hartnett, Matthew Lillard, Rose Byrne and Diane Kruger, is surprisingly good.

The most-awaited films of fall

Autumn is the time of year when most movie studios pull out the big guns for award season contention. The upcoming four months promise to provide enough heavy drama, light comedy and heart-pounding action to satisfy every type of moviegoer.

Jilly from Philly shines on new album

Four years after her debut album Who is Jill Scott? Words and Sounds, Vol. 1, Jill Scott returns to the music scene with the beautifully-written album, Beautifully Human: Words and Sounds, Vol. 2.

More laughs in 4th volume

With the explosion of TV series sold on DVD, overlooked gems like Fox's shrewd cartoon "Futurama" have found a new fan base. With its fourth and last season now on DVD, this animated wonder keeps showing us why it should have never been canceled by Fox (the same geniuses who dumped "Family Guy").

The most-awaited films of fall

Autumn is the time of year when most movie studios pull out the big guns for award season contention. The upcoming four months promise to provide enough heavy drama, light comedy and heart-pounding action to satisfy every type of moviegoer.

More laughs in 4th volume

With the explosion of TV series sold on DVD, overlooked gems like Fox's shrewd cartoon "Futurama" have found a new fan base. With its fourth and last season now on DVD, this animated wonder keeps showing us why it should have never been canceled by Fox (the same geniuses who dumped "Family Guy").

Cashing in on 'The Passion'

Released to counterprogram against Mel Gibson's "The Passion of the Christ," South Park's "The Passion of the Jew" offers three funny episodes, and that's about it.

No love for G. Love

One might wonder where the justice is for G. Love and his band, the Special Sauce. The Philadelphia trio certainly has talent, but no luck. They debuted in the same year as Beck, but never garnered the cultish following. Then they highlighted breakout Jack Johnson, who is now selling records by the truckload, and ended up climbing onto Johnson's label, Brushfire Records, to survive.

VMAs showcase prevalence of studio magic

Watching this year's MTV Video Music Awards, I couldn't help but notice the large discrepancy between studio artists and true musicians, whose live performances measure up to their album releases.

'Vanity' a fair of imagery

Christ resurrected on DVD

"The Passion of the Christ" opened to an onslaught of controversy upon its debut this past winter. Some claim the film is anti-Semitic (the notion of which is ridiculous); others demonized the excessive, graphic depiction of violence perpetrated against Jesus.

No ordinary walk in the 'Park'

As a psychological and romantic thiller, "Wicker Park," starring Josh Hartnett, Matthew Lillard, Rose Byrne and Diane Kruger, is surprisingly good.

LL still saying 'I'm gonna knock you out'

Some things never die, and James Todd Smith, aka LL Cool J, is proving that with his new release The DEFinition. The heavyweight champion of rap puts his rhyming skills to the test once again and dares anyone to challenge him on this album.

Getting away with a tired genre

Papa Roach seems to have come a long way since its 2000 debut Infest, and yes, I'm saying that with a straight face. They might get pigeonholed as being one of the late-in-the-game nü-metal nobodies, but the fact of the matter is that nothing about them is egregious.