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REVIEW
MOVIE REVIEW // RESIDENT EVIL: AFTERLIFE
At this point, Milla Jovovich has said the words "My name is Alice" so many times that she is probably saying them in her sleep. It is probably just as convincing of a performance too.
Paul W.S. Anderson (director of the first film and writer for the whole series) appears to have directed Resident Evil: Afterlife with a Wiim remote, as the film lacks any kind of creative flair or tactile directorial authority.
The acting is atrocious. Jovovich acts by arching eyebrows and plays dress-up for her husband (the director), wearing sleek ninja bodysuits and an apocalyptic-chic getup. Ali Larter offers up her Heroes-sharpened acting skills, which consists of one or two facial expressions that convey distress. Wentworth Miller of TV's Prison Break is there too, though
Going over the plot is irrelevant, but here it is anyway: Alice (Milla Jovovich) continues to fight the evil Umbrella Corporation, and along the way finds herself amidst a rag-tag team of survivors in Los Angeles. There are zombies and other monsters, shootouts, and very little else.
I'm not sure if even he knows why.
B. S. HADLAND
The action is standard: slow motion, back flips and explosions, all set to music that sounds like a clunky chainsaw. Even the film's greatest hook, the "state of the art 3D technology" doesn't do anything to breathe life into the film. You barely even notice the effects save for the occasional thing that pops up at you every now and again.
The film has one saving grace: it makes for great riffing. If you bring some friends (preferably those familiar with MST3K), you'll have a ball, particularly with main villain; a male model with a Matrix-inspired costume doing a bad Agent Smith impersonation.
Otherwise, stay at home and play a video game.
MOVIE REVIEW // THE TOWN
> Hollywood hits, indie flicks and everything in between.
And to think, it wasn't all that long ago that Ben Affleck was the laughing stock of the entertainment industry. Who would have thought that the star of Daradevil was still a good actor, and an even better director?
When the gang fears she could identify them, their cool headed leader, Doug MacRay (Affleck), decides to keep an eye on her, only to start a relationship with her soon after. While his relationship blossoms, MacRay also prepares to leave his life of crime behind.
When a successful team of armed robbers hit their latest bank, one of the bank's employees (Rebecca Hall) is taken hostage by one of the more rowdy thieves (Jeremy Renner), only to release her later, unharmed.
The Town follows the trend of the Boston crime film, not unlike The Departed or Affleck's last film, Gone Baby Gone. Like New York and Chicago before it, Boston has an intriguing grasp on the genre because of the town's unique culture and natural beauty. Affleck captures this so well that Boston is as much a character in the film as it is its human co-stars.
The script itself is decent, but not without a few clichés in its story. The film is saved by Affleck's artful direction as well as by a terrific cast — all transcend charicature by providing an emotional depth that saves the film from mediocrity. Renner, in particular, steals the film as a two-bit thug who has the film's best lines, and serves as the heart of the story.
The Town is one of the best of the year thus far, and is an incredible example of how far a little talent and vision can take your run-of-the-mill Hollywood crime story.
which proves far more difficult than he thought.
B. S. HADLAND
FOOD REVIEW // ZEN ZERO
> The taste of the town, one meal at a time.
Anchored among a concentration of tasty eateries along the 800 Massachusetts drag one might think that Zen Zero could be easily forgotten. With La Parilla, The Burger Stand and Esquina just a stone's throw away, there must be competition between this fleet of foodists. But that is not the case. Far from getting lost in the crowd, Zen Zero is a flagship.
These features make Zen Zero a great place for a casual date. Despite having a skeletal dessert menu, the price is just too good for Zen Zero to warrant anything less than 3 stars
The Asian synthesis cuisine is perhaps the best bang for your buck in Lawrence. For a mealy $7.50 the customer can get a tasty, heaping serving of noodles, curry, or soup. I ordered the noodle stir-fry special, and it had a good combination of chicken, vegetables, and flat noodles in a spicy sauce.
The edamame was good, and the long list of vegetarian items makes the restaurant seem like a veggie-friendly place. They also have a giant menu, with about 50 food items. The atmosphere is boisterous but not annoying; busy but not rushed. The service was swift and the food prompt.
THOMAS C HARDY
MUSIC REVIEW // INTERPOL - INTERPOL (MATADOR | 2010)
Interpol begins its fourth record with the same moody minimalism that made the band's 2002 debut, Turn On The Bright Lights, such a superb introduction. The new self-titled album is a synthesis of different sounds the group has moved between: the pop adeptness of 2004's Antics and the dramatic desperation of Paul Bank's vocals on 2007's Our Love To Admirie.
Most of the album is excellently paced and grandiose. The first two songs, "Success" and "Memory Serves," remind me of the repetitive strummed guitars of "NYC," off the band's debut, and the second has stacked vocal tracks that add massive depth to the mix. Piano and bass drive the catchy third track, "Summer Well," which also has layered vocals, something the group explores more here than on any previous album.
> KJHK's weekly guide to sonic cor
here than any other.
"Barricade," the album's first single, is wonderfully disjointed post-punk menace, and an example of the album's refocusing on the dual guitar harmonies that changed on Antics and all but disappeared on Our Love... "Lights" has been floating around the Internet for a while as promotion for the new album
but it's actually a weak point and takes too long to get going.
get going.
The bass has always been a focal point for me with Interpol, as Carlos Dengler's unique lines seem to primarily drive the jagged, angular guitars, and he's on point here. Dengler left the group after the latest album was recorded in spring of 2009, and Interpol now luckily plays live with Slint guitarist David Pajo and Secret Machines' Brandon Curtis on keyboards and vocals.
My only complaint is the overly orchestral feel of the album as a whole. As a fan of Interpol, I've tried to stay neutral and distanced, but I think it's safe to say the group has matured and recorded a great album.
★★★☆ | ALEX.TRETBAR
said. "I like to get up on that. That's my thing. I think it's going to be fun. It's going to be interesting to see how this thing happens."
Sophomore forward Thomas
see how this happens Marcus Morris said the difference may be most noticeable on defense.
"I think without Cole and having Keef at the five and having T-Rob coming in, we're going to be a lot quicker in coming off ball screens and being able to trap and sometimes switch with the five," he said. "Keef can guard and T-Rob can guard, so I think we'll be a lot quicker on the perimeter."
Senior guard Tyrel Reed is one of the quickest players on a fast Kansas roster. Reed said the athleticism on this year's team reminded him of the 2007-2008 national title-winning team
Robinson said he doesn't think the game plan will change — Self always wanted to play up-tempo last year, he said — but the team this year is more geared to play to those strengths.
fast from the beginning, so for us to have a more athletic team from top to bottom just put us right where we want to be." Robinson said.
"Coach Self wanted us to play
Reed said the ability to go from one through five without a sig.
nificant drop-off reminded him of another team he played for at Kansas. One that won a national championship.
"Id say, being here in '07-08,
yeah, it definitely does look a lot
more like it," Reed said. "Just from
the standpoint that we have a lot of guys that can go and go get scores and do their own thing. We're all unselfish, and I think that's kind of the way they were."
Edited by Clark Goble
SOFTBALL
With two wins, Jayhawks start season strong
Mariah Montgomery, a sophomore infielder from Ralston, Neb. slides home safe Wednesday night at Arrocha Ballpark. The Jayhawks beat Johnson County Community College 16-1 in an exhibition match. The Jayhawks racked up 15 hits against the Cavaliers.
BY BLAKE SCHUSTER bschuster@kansan.com
NEXT GAME:
WHO: Kansas vs.
Seminole State CC
WHEN: Saturday, 11 a.m.
WHERE: Lawrence
Coming off a 10-0 win against Baker in the practice season opener, the Jayhawks looked to continue their winning streak, taking the field against Johnson County Community College Wednesday night. The Jayhawks won 16-1.
Kansas struck first, going up 2-0 after a homerun by senior outfielder Liz Kocon to right field in the bottom of the first inning, with a runner on second. In the next inning, the Jayhawks chased Johnson County's starting pitcher Lynna Kays after adding eight more runs onto their lead on six hits.
The Jayhawks lost the shutout in the third inning after an error by KU led to a run scored by the Cavaliers. That would be the only run scored against Kansas for the rest of the game.
The Jayhawks pounced on the Cavaliers, totaling 16 runs on 15 hits with two errors. The Cavaliers totaled one run, three hits and six errors.
In only their second practice game of the season, the Jayhawks already looked to be in mid-season form, both on offense and defense.
One of the main elements contributing to KU's win was smart, effective base running, according to coach Megan Smith.
"We really try to make it a focus for us at practice, to really work on that base running so we can utilize that during our games this season," Smith said.
Smith said.
The layhawks were very attentive on the pads, stealing bases at appropriate times and getting good leads which turned into runs scored.
Complimenting the base run
ning was the hitting clinic put on by the Jayhawk batters.
Sophomore outfielder Rosie Hull helped ignite the team's offense, accounting for three RBIs including a run scored.
"It was awesome," Hull said on her offensive night. "My normal role on the team is a slapper, and my job is to just get on base, so I don't get a lot of RBI's. To come up in the situation and perform just felt really great."
The role of closing out the game belonged to sophomore pitcher and outfielder Alex Jones. With the slaughter rule about to take effect, Jones stepped to the mound in the seventh inning looking to get the job done.
She finished the game, retiring the side in three consecutive batters. After the game Jones commented on the backup her team gave her while she took control of the mound.
Edited by Michael Bednar
jones said. The Jayhawks take the field next on Saturday with double header action against Seminole State Community College and Washburn at Arrocha Ballpark.
"I know that my defense is gonna back me up if the ball is put in play, but I was feeling it tonight, and I just felt really good and the defense did step up when they needed to," Jones said.
Gill brought new rules just as any coach would do to keep his team focused and in line. Three of the biggest changes are the new rules on not cursing in the locker rooms or on the field, not using telephones the night before a game and not seeing women after 10 p.m. on any night.
night.
The last one stood out to me as most interesting because the first thing I thought of was a line from the 1975 film "Rocky." Rocky is training for a heavyweight title but when his trainer Mick tells him he cannot see his girlfriend anymore because, "women weaken knees." This was not Gill's reason exactly, but there are some common elements.
Another thing that really stood out to me about these rules was how they fit in to "forming the man," which is one of Gill's goals. These rules, while they take away distractions, also seem to take away some of the traditional football stereotypes of big tough guys who curse and womanize whenever the opportunity arises. I am by no means saying that any player actually fits that stereotype, or that Gill's rules have made a change, but on paper they sound good.
elements.
Gill has defended these changes as ways of keeping distractions away before games, which is a completely valid point. Although the rules may sound odd at first, they start to make sense when you think about how distracted the average person is by his or her phone or the opposite sex.
The way I see it. Gill is not going to turn this program and its reputation around dramatically within a year, which is to be expected. But what he can do is start to change the reputation of the athletes. Some reporters have said that this will hurt recruiting, but I think if Kansas' trademark is producing well respected young men, that is not a bad reputation to have.
Especially if the success on the field follows.
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Edited by Tim Dwyer