THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 24, 2009
REVIEWS
11
Movie: Year One
After two blundering huntergatherers, Jack Black and Michael Cera, are banished from their primitive village, they set out on a journey to explore the ancient world.
During their journey they take part in the famous biblical stories of Cain and Abel and Abraham and Isaac. Finally, they end up in sinful Sodom where, big surprise, they make a plethora of predictable jokes.
Disappointingly, it was one of those movies where all the funny scenes are in the preview. Also, I'm not a huge fan of Jack Black to begin with, so the movie's saving grace for me was the McDonald's I snuck in and Michael Cera. Then again, Cera is always the awkward teenager. However, this time he wears a aoincloth and you get to stare at his skinny, stork legs for 97 minutes.
Some more memorable moments were Jack Black eating bear poop and Michael Cera peeing all over himself while hanging upside
down. And that's about where I checked out.
I think it had potential to be a good movie because it was a creative story line, but it didn't quite cut it for me. My recommendation: save your eight bucks and watch the preview on YouTube.
— Annie Vangsnes
Movie: The Taking of Pelham 123
A group of armed men led by Ryder, played by John Travolta, hijack a New York City subway car in "The Taking of Pelham 123". Denzel Washington plays Walter Garber, a subway dispatcher who must negotiate with the hijackers in order to save the hostages. Garber represents the everyday man and Ryder the twisted villain bent on his own glory.
Based on a 1974 film by the same name, Tony Scott directs the remake with new twists and turns sure to keep you on the edge of your seat.
The movie also has its comical moments as Garber and Ryder challenge each other psychologically.
Both Washington and Travolta give impressive performances and
work to evoke emotion from the viewer.
The camera work is often sped up, sometimes causing your head to spin, but adds to the sense of urgency surrounding the situation.
You're not likely to fall asleep in this one.
— Mike Bontrager
Album: MXPX, "Tumbledown"
A friend of mine in Kansas City asked me to pick up the Tumble-down CD for him the next time I was in Lawrence.
A longtime MxPx fan,he begged me to listen to the monthold release, which he called dozens of stores to get.
Formed by Mike Herrera, the front man of Pacific Northwest punk rock bank MxPx, Tumble-down (both the artist and CD name) is a mix of Herrera's punk rock vocal sound with typical
country music sounds and country music themes. Because I like country music and have enjoyed the MxPx punk rock sound before, I have a really tough time melding these two in one album. As someone familiar with classic country works, I can't really fall for alcohol-fueled songs such as "Let's Drink." They've been done before.
That being said, I like the CD. Songs such as "Break Out of History" and "Butcher of San Antone" really do exemplify Herrera's ingenuity in taking on the project. And I can't help but put a good song like "I'm Still Here" on my playlist of country music favorites that stand the test of time.
If you want to hear the outer edges of punk rock, the kind that leads to sweet acoustic guitar sounds, this is an album for you.
And yes, the album is available for purchase through the iTunes Music Store.
— Jesse Rangel
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