Category Archives: A&E

Film & Television

xmen.illustration.nikki

Magnetic Pull

The latest film in the X-Men franchise brings an unexpected freshness to the series, given us an action-packed look into the origins of the beloved superheros.

Superhero origin stories can have a way of refreshingly rebooting a franchise, no matter how squandered the series was before. Similar to how “Batman Begins” brought a new light (or lack thereof) to a previous, laughable franchise, Matthew Vaughn’s prequel “X-Men: First Class” has revived the film franchise with a Read More…

Concerts

yeasayer

Yeasayer evoke a dynamic rawness with their live show

Odd blood and period blood. This perverse potpourri is what the audience was treated to when Yeasayer stepped into the hallowed halls of San Francisco’s Fillmore last Thursday night. Touring in promotion of their latest record, Odd Blood, they entranced a full house with their enthusiastic alt-pop. But it was Read More…

Album Reviews

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Death Cab for Cutie: CODES AND KEYS

The sweet, almost angelic warbles of Ben Gibbard’s voice have become a source of consistency and comfort over the years. With their soft, polite pop and easygoing accessibility, Gibbard and his band, Death Cab for Cutie, have warmed their way into the cockles (yes, cockles) of our hearts like a Read More…

Album Reviews

Buxter Hoot'n Album Cover, courtesy sideways media

Buxter Hoot’n: BUXTER HOOT’N

With their self-titled album, the oddly-named Buxter Hoot’n have burst out of the finger-pluckin’ country-esque mold and have matured into a multifaceted style. Combining sensual melodies, screeching electric guitar solos, twangy harmonica and everything in between, the San Francisco group have evolved their sound to include electric swells and slow-building Read More…

Film & Television

tree of life

Twisted Branches

Winner of Palme d’Or at the 2011 Cannes Film Festival, ‘The Tree of Life’ is a visually stunning and philosophical film.

The Tree of Life,” philosopher and filmmaker Terrence Malick’s first film in over half a decade, opens with the news of a young boy’s death that is never mentioned again. Framed by this veil of mortality, the rest of the film contains an emotional intimacy that has not been on Read More…

Film & Television

The Hangover Part II

‘Hangover’ sequel, a hollow imitation of the original

Though a raunchy romp, the follow-up is all too familiar.

Bros, rejoice as the wolf pack is back and ready to wreak havoc in the hustling and bustling streets of…Bangkok? Sure, the slums of Thailand are a far cry from the glamour of Vegas but it’s a surprisingly fitting location for this zany sequel. The antics are crazier and the Read More…

Album Reviews

foster the people

Foster the People: TORCHES

Take a pinch of bouncy guitar riffs. Add a dash of uplifting falsettos. Mix it all together with frenzied beats and you’ll get Torches, the debut album from L.A.-based band, Foster the People. The group first caught the attention of music-lovers with their self-titled EP, released earlier this year. Short Read More…

Film & Television

midnight in paris 1

‘Paris’ delights and enchants

After a series of recent flops, Woody Allen returns with the whimsical ‘Midnight in Paris.’

Supine on a hotel bed, Inez asks Gil, “Do you really want to give it all up just to struggle?” Yes, he does. And if people like Gil didn’t give it all up, we wouldn’t have movies like Woody Allen’s 41st feature film “Midnight in Paris.” Skeptics like Inez are Read More…

Album Reviews

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Lady Gaga: BORN THIS WAY

Lady Gaga’s claims of classic rock and art school roots have been criticized as “all talk.” Many still see her as another pop star who has lost her marbles. In response, her sophomore LP has traded double entendres and bubble gum club beats for Madonna-inspired anthems and a venture into Read More…