Region

Cheaper than crack and just as addictive

By Alyson Brodsy and Fryburg84 · Wednesday, July 12,2006 11:55 a.m.

"UNO" on Xbox Live Arcade is exactly like the card game. That's the best compliment I can give it and also the biggest complaint that I have. For those of us who never played the game when we were kids, the object of "UNO" is to empty your hand of cards by filling your opponents' hands by using special cards, skipping their turns and just by all around screwing them over. Since all the shuffling and dealing is handled by the computer and the interface is extremely clean and easy to use, the gameplay is fast and furious, almost too fast to plan out any kind of strategy, but this also keeps the game from getting boring.

Criterion goes cult with 'Equinox'

By Alyson Brodsy and Chris Wisner · Wednesday, July 12,2006 11:51 a.m.

Every once in awhile the Criterion Collection likes to throw a curveball at its supporters in the form of a cult release; whether it be "The Blob," " Fiend Without a Face" or one of my personal favorites, "Carnival of Souls," nobody ever expects these releases. So how does a seemingly C-grade movie about a group of teenagers who find a book on the occult and release monsters from the very depths of Hell make it in the first place? One name: Dennis Muren.

Launch delayed

By Alyson Brodsy and Michael Mellini · Wednesday, July 12,2006 11:47 a.m.

Yeah…so when your movie sucks it's probably not such a great idea to put "failure" in the title. Matthew McConaughey plays eligible bachelor, Tripp, who at 35 years old, still lives with his parents. Frustrated by their situation, and jealous of their friend's sex lives (which brings back bad memories of Kathy Bates' "About Schmidt" hot tub scene), Tripp's parents (Bates and Terry Bradshaw) hire Paula (Sarah Jessica Parker) to date their son and get him to move out for good. Just like with McConaughey's "How to Lose a Guy in Ten Days," (in which both leads have hidden agendas for why they want the relationship to falter) a premise that could make for a decent romantic comedy is wrongly executed, resulting in crap. It'd make more sense if Paula had found the man of her dreams, only to learn he still lives at home. And then maybe with some help from the parents, works to get him to leave; not because she is being paid to do so. Paula calls herself a "professional interventionist," which sounds more like a fancy term for hooker.

Brosnan trades in the tux, but keeps the gun

By Alyson Brodsky and Alyson Brodsy · Wednesday, July 12,2006 11:46 a.m.

It's hard to star as the famous James Bond and then successfully move on to a different role. Yet, Pierce Brosnan seems to have done it with "The Matador" and he is able to prove that he is not just James Bond. Brosnan stars in this dark comedy as Julian Noble, a hit man who is on assignment in Mexico. While there, Julian begins to realize that he has no one- no friends, no family and no place he can call home. Desperate to find some sort of companionship, Julian befriends Danny Wright (Greg Kinnear), a normal guy who is just in town for regular business. Although, at first Julian comes off hard and as a jerk and he scares Danny away. The following day, Julian expresses his apologies and insists that Danny accompanies him to a bullfight. At the fight, the two get to talking about their lives and jobs, and Julian decides to tell Danny about his job. As both of their stays in Mexico come to an end, the two go their separate ways with no intentions of ever seeing each other again.

Dylan's revelatory comeback

By Alyson Brodsy and John Barnett · Wednesday, July 12,2006 11:44 a.m.

Bob Dylan's John Wesley Harding is one of the most fascinating albums in the history of rock and roll for one simple reason. Dylan had released five of the most important and influential albums imaginable from 1963 to 1966, and ended up in self-imposed exile after a near-fatal motorcycle accident 40 years ago this month. Instead of dying in the crash; after which his mythologized status would've grown exponentially with the likes of Hendrix, Lennon, Shakur, Cobain, Wallace, Joplin and Morrison; Dylan survived, heading back into the studio less than a year after the crash.

An intimate but weak testimony

By C. Warner Sills and Alyson Brodsy · Wednesday, July 12,2006 11:41 a.m.

India.Arie is one of a handful of recent artists who are keeping R&B music alive and well. Similarly to counterparts such as Jill Scott, Mary J. Blige, Lauryn Hill and Erykah Badu, to name a few, Arie blends her beautifully tuned voice with modern day hip-hop rhythms and instrumentation to create a unique style that is still reminiscent of Motown and R&B artists of the past such as Minnie Riperton or Tammi Terrell. Arie's first two albums, Acoustic Soul and Voyage to India, were both very enjoyable records that toyed with an array of different styles and sounds, while also featuring very intimate lyrics by Arie. Although her new album, Testimony: Vol. 1, Life & Relationship, is similar to its predecessors, it falls below average due to a lack of musical diversity (even with a number of musical guests including electric bass maestro Vic Wooten and folk rockers Rascal Flatts) and a reliance on overly heavy, often uninteresting lyrics.

Rising to the occasion

By Alyson Brodsy and Chris Green · Wednesday, July 12,2006 11:34 a.m.

When I think of modern day punk rock, a few names come to mind. Bad Religion, NOFX, Anti-Flag, The Bouncing Souls and Rise Against. Rise Against is back with a new one entitled The Sufferer and the Witness, their second release on major label Geffen after jumping from Fat Wreck Chords (owned by Fat Mike of NOFX). What we have is 13 punk rock anthems that mash high-energy punk rock with melody and emotion to create a stunning record. Rise Against are not new to the punk scene. Formed from the ashes of punk stalwarts 88 Fingers Louie, Rise Against put out their debut The Unraveling on Fat Wreck Chords in 2001. What would result is a fast, raw and catchy punk gem that would push these Chicago natives forward to become a huge band in the punk world. The Sufferer and the Witness is Rise Against's fourth album, and it is a polished bit of punk rock greatness.

Eight-letter word for crossword puzzle movie.

By Alyson Brodsy and K. A. MacDonald · Wednesday, July 12,2006 11:09 a.m.

Let's play a word game: Give me an anagram of INTERCOASTAL that means fights. "Wordplay" is a documentary about a crossword puzzle tournament. If you are still reading after that last sentence, then you just might enjoy the film. The movie is full of wordplay and clever language and people who know far too much. But there is also a pretty intense competition with some edge of your seat suspense. There is even a crossword related soundtrack. The theme song includes the chorus "If you don't come across, I'm gonna be down." Get it…Across and Down…crossword puzzles…Anyways.

Drug addiction, darkly

By C. Warner Sills and Alyson Brodsy · Wednesday, July 12,2006 11:08 a.m.

Science fiction author Philip K. Dick once said that, "Drug misuse is not a disease, it is a decision, like the decision to step out in front of a moving car. You would call that not a disease but an error of judgment." The author, best known for his sci-fi short stories of the 60s and 70s, wrote his novel, "A Scanner Darkly," as an allegory for the troubling epidemic of drug abuse that was plaguing not only those around him, but also himself (he was a speed junkie) during the early '70s. The story is science fiction, relying heavily on futuristic technological advancements, but only on its surface. Richard Linklater's "A Scanner Darkly" marks the eighth film adaptation of a Dick story and is on par with previous successful films such as "Blade Runner" and "Minority Report."

Everyone loves Pirates

By Alyson Brodsy and Derek Kagemann · Wednesday, July 12,2006 11:06 a.m.

I have a confession to make. As a child, Pirates of the Caribbean was my favorite Walt Disney ride. The animatronic pirates were a swarthy and rum-soaked lot who drank, wenched and sang raucously from every stretch of sand and plank. Though the spectacle was arranged with tongue-in-cheek wit, a somber mood of grim piracy pervaded everything. There was cannon smoke in the air, the chill damp of sea caves and the flickering of prison torches. I walked away chewing on gunpowder grit and happily brandished my souvenir pistol all the rest of the day.

Federer wins 4th Wimbledon title

By Aaron Beard and Stephen Wilson · Monday, July 10,2006 1:23 a.m.

WIMBLEDON, England -- Nobody can stop Roger Federer on grass. No. 1 got even against No. 2 as Federer ended a five-match losing streak to Rafael Nadal on Sunday, winning 6-0, 7-6 (5), 6-7 (2), 6-3 to earn his fourth straight Wimbledon title and eighth Grand Slam championship . Nadal had beaten Federer in four finals this year, including at the French Open last month, but couldn't match him on the Swiss star's favorite surface. Not here, not in my house, not on Centre Court, not on the biggest stage in tennis. That was Federer's response to the 20-year-old Spaniard's challenge.

Rocking out with Tommy Lee

By Sarah Core · Monday, July 10,2006 1:23 a.m.

It's on. Last week, the second season of the reality show "Rock Star" started, with Tommy Lee's new band Supernova on the hunt for an unknown performer to front them, and I for one am thrilled by this year's 15 finalists. For those of you who have never seen "Rock Star" in all of its glory, I like to think of it as an "American Idol" with people that can actually sing.

122 confirmed dead in Siberian plane crash

By Abdullah AlShihri and Henry Meyer · Monday, July 10,2006 1:22 a.m.

MOSCOW -- A Russian passenger plane carrying at least 201 passengers skidded off a rain-slicked runway in the Siberian city of Irkutsk on Sunday and plowed through a concrete barrier, bursting into flames. At least 122 people were killed, the Emergency Situations Ministry said. Fifty-eight people were injured in the accident, the second major commercial airline crash in two months in Russia. The commission investigating the crash said preliminary information indicated that the braking system on the Airbus A-310 operated by airline S7 had failed, Russian news agencies reported, citing officials it did not identify.

Show targets inventors for 'Everyday Edisons'

By Chris Freiberg and Warren Christopher Freiberg · Monday, July 10,2006 1:22 a.m.

A new reality series has come up with a way to help those who have an idea for an invention that will change the world but just need someone to help them get it off the ground. Saturday producers for the PBS show "Everyday Edisons" will be in Indianapolis looking for new inventions and their creators to feature in the show's second season, which will air sometime next year. "We're not looking for anything high-tech, no nanotechnology or anything like that," executive producer Louis Foreman said. "We're looking for things with everyday benefits." Inventions featured on the first season of the show, which will begin airing nationwide in September, include a new tool for scrapbooking and new food service items, but a successful new idea could be as simple as a board or card game, Foreman said.

IU wins $16 million in grants

By Trevor brown · Monday, July 10,2006 1:19 a.m.

Sixteen million dollars has been awarded to nine IU international centers, the U.S. Department of Education's competitive Title VI program announced Friday. Distributed over the next four years, the funding will go toward general operating costs of the various centers and their research, as well as to fellowships for graduate students studying foreign language and global studies.

Professor's research out in space

By Trevor brown · Monday, July 10,2006 1:15 a.m.

Joining the payload of the seven astronauts on board last week's launch of the space shuttle Discovery, IU biology professor Roger Hangarter's research now is orbiting the Earth at an altitude of 250 statue miles above the Earth and carries implications that may carry mankind much farther into space than that.

The Puzzle Master

By Julie Mahomed · Monday, July 10,2006 1:15 a.m.

What's a six-letter word for enigmatology? No, it's not puzzle, it's Shortz -- as in Will Shortz, the IU graduate who stars in the documentary "Wordplay".

Festival celebrates endangered culture

By David A. Nosko · Monday, July 10,2006 1:15 a.m.

Half-a-world away the Tibetan people and their culture are facing near extinction due to Chinese occupation and colonization, but the Tibetan people have established a safe place in Bloomington, which was re-opened to the public yesterday.

Out to the ballgame

By Alyson Brodsy and Jonathan P. Rossing · Monday, July 10,2006 1:12 a.m.

A couple weeks ago I wrote about the Pride celebrations taking place around the country this summer -- most of them in the month of June to recognize the historic New York City Stonewall riots in June of 1969.

School tie-ins

By Alyson Brodsy and Brian J. McFillen · Monday, July 10,2006 1:11 a.m.

Last Thursday, the Indiana Daily Student reported that IU's summer enrollment "has declined for the third year in a row," and that "Summer Session I enrollment is down 2.8 percent from last year" while the unreleased Summer Session II figures are also expected to be lower.