Category > Film
Underworld: Awakening is my guilty pleasure. The Underworld franchise is one of those film series that people shouldn’t like, but the over-the-top violence and attractive female lead, played by Kate Beckinsale, make it impossible not to enjoy this horror-action franchise. The Underworld films focus on the war between lycans (also known as werewolves) and vampires. Awakening is the fourth installment in the Underworld franchise and the first in six years to have Kate Beckinsale’s character, Selene, as the film’s lead. …
| Red Tails is a film that has been George Lucas’s passion project for the past two decades. The problem with passion projects is that they can be hard to finance. The other issue inherent with making a passion project like Red Tails is that it stars an all African-American cast, and studio executives don’t believe that a film with minorities as the main characters can appeal to an international audience.
Carnage is one of those films that felt simple at first, but underneath each character were layers of thoughts, feelings and ideas that were unexpressed. Carnage is a rarity — it’s one of those experiences that I wish I had more often at the movies. The entire film takes place inside an apartment. Roman Polanski, who directed and co-wrote this film, crafts a story with Yasmina Reza (based on her play) about two children. One child hit the other with …
The Mission Impossible Force makes an incredible comeback in this, the fourth entry of the series. The plotline for this film is very simple. The Russians are in a fight with the Americans because someone fired a nuclear weapon at the Kremlin and blamed Ethan Hunt’s team. Ethan and his team are disavowed and have to work on their own to find out who originally fired the missile at the Kremlin and why that person would seek to insight a …
THE TOP TWO MOVIES OF 2011 In 2012, time itself will take a final bow, when the 13th and final Baktun of the 5,125 year Mayan “Great Cycle” ends in December. Mexico is preparing for an influx of apocalyptic tourism, but I’m not sure being at the great architectural sites of the Yucatan or Guatemala will be all that dramatic (particularly if overrun with Corona-drinking tourists). Nothing noticeable is going to happen anyway. Eternity is eternity, which means it’s all …
War Horse is the first film by Steven Spielberg since 2008’s Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull. The story revolves Albert Narracott and his relationship with Joey, a horse that he trains. Joey has to leave Albert’s care because he gets sold to the Army as a war horse. Joey interacts with many people on both sides of the war while fighting to get back to his original owner Albert. War Horse is one of those films …
The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, based on the novel by Steig Larsson, is a suspense thriller directed by David Fincher and written by Steven Zaillian. The film introduces us to Mikael Blomkvist, a prominent journalist who lost a case against a man named Hans-Erik Wennerström. Mikael decides to withdraw from being co-owner and writer of Millenium magazine because he lost his case against Hans. He then almost immediately receives an offer from a man named Henrik Vanger to solve …
The Adventures of Tintin is a film directed by Steven Spielberg and produced by Peter Jackson (Lord of the Rings trilogy). The film revolves around a young intrepid reporter named Tintin and his dog Snowy. In this adventure, Tintin and Snowy discover a small scroll of paper inside a model ship that Tintin purchases. This piece of paper leads Tintin and Snowy on a journey to discover the treasure of Sir Francis Haddock. Tintin is helped on this adventure by …
Young Adult stars Charlize Theron as Mavis Gary, a ghostwriter of young adult novels. Mavis, lacking in inspiration, makes a decision to travel back to her hometown after receiving an invitation to the naming ceremony of her high school sweetheart’s newborn baby. Mavis decides that she must win back her sweetheart, Buddy Slade, played by Patrick Wilson. Mavis’s attempts to win back Buddy are laughed at by a fellow classmate from her high school, Matt Freehauf, who is played with …
The Descendants is a film directed by Alexander Payne (About Schmidt, Election and Sideways) and it stars George Clooney, Shailene Woodley, Amara Miller, Nick Krause, Matthew Lillard and Judy Greer. The film revolves a man trying to connect with his two daughters after their mother is injured in an accident. The Descendants is the kind of film that can break your heart the longer you watch it. George Clooney, as the father of two daughters, is perfectly imperfect. Clooney plays …
Most Recent Arts Comments
great. another TGIF documentary.
This movie is a throwback in the best possible way. Such a delight. By the last scene, I was actually grinning ear to ear!
There are plenty of war movies that do not show one second of fighting or death or blood. There are many feel good war movies. This movie is meant to be inspirational and uplifting. I don’t watch the boondocks because that show is degrading and racist. I…
I think Cameron and scorsese are addicted to the innovations of movies rather than the actual movies themselves. As we saw in Avatar. The look was amazing but the tale was as old as time haha. And as far as Scorsese is concerned he’s made plenty of…
thank gha’al for dan hill
You are right, the Scorsese “vision” of the future is much more horrifying. This actually surprises me because Cameron seems like the MOAR MOAR MOAR TECHNLOGY!!! guy. What does Scorsese even mean “there is no subject matter that can’t absorb 3D?” Yeah a sensitive love story could…
What type of war movie is a “feel good” movie. Look out Hitla, here we come!!!! That doesn’t make them seem as educated men like the Tuskeegee were. Take that Mista Hitla… It was garbage and a the Boondocks creator wrote the script. Have you ever heard…
Speaking of James Cameron…I was going to link this article but decided that the one with Scorsese was much more disheartening: http://www.smithsonianmag.com/specialsections/40th-anniversary/James-Cameron-on-the-Future-of-Cinema.html
This movie is in black and white (although it was shot in color and then postprocessed into B&W), is in a TV-style 4x3 aspect ratio, has nothing in the way of special effects, and nary a sound (beyond the musical score) is heard. Even the frame rate…
Most Popular Arts Articles (60 days)
- Spotlight: Drag shows in Champaign-Urbana, Part I
- Meet the producers of Two Beers with Dylan Heath
- Bringing a classic story to life: My Ántonia at the Station Theatre
- Spotlight: Drag shows in Champaign-Urbana, Part II
- An interview with Vanessa Burgett: Local creative pro
- Young Adult shows us some people can get stuck in high school
- The Descendants teaches us family is all you ever need
- 2011 movies in review
- My week with Marilyn hinges on Branagh and Williams' performances
- Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy: A slow burning fuse
Most Recent Comments
Pamela - Are the roasteries in Seattle as clean as CSR? It always disturbs me a little that it is so clean in there.
Now you will be able to munch on pizza and shrimp cocktails in downtown Urbana (whilst a DJ spins?) after your dissolution of marriage http://www.news-gazette.com/news/business/features/its-your-business/2012-02-05/its-your-business-new-pizza-place-downtown-urban Is this a franchise of a Reno pizza joint, or just a coincidence of name? http://www.blackrockpizza.com
Signs someone is “fishing” for a factual anchor: 1. Starts call to radio with: “I’ve been an Illini fan for (XX) years” or “I’m a diehard fan,” as if somehow that unverifiable claim will justify the 5 minutes of B.S. that follows. 2. Makes reference to KenPom…
That’s what she said.
Black dog and Siam terrace is where I always go after my divorces.
Love CSR. Apart from making my way through the regular roasts in 1/2 pound increments, I also like to pick up some of the little sample packets of the flavored stuff for when the lady and I feel like getting crazy. Sticky Bun is pretty nice.
If you happen to be getting a divorce, or fighting a DUI prosecution, downtown Urbana is a great place to eat.
HUUUUUUGE fan of their Black Velvet roast…It makes up about 75% of my coffee intake. LOL CSR is definitely one of those Champaign institutions that I brag about to people not from here. :-)
We like CSR too! We french press at home and I leave the lid off while it steeps—letting the ground beans bloom. Then, like in your tasting, I scoop off the top layer before pressing. We really need to invest in a burr grinder though, as I…
Confidential? In this state? Hahahahahahahhahahaha
just confirmed: there will be white russians served. the art abides.
big lebowski at the art. mark it, dude.
There’s a great video promo out for “Company” too: http://vimeo.com/36077847
Wow, His Majesty took the time to answer your polite plea. It’s been a while since I spoke fluent arrogance, but allow this attempt at a translation: “I deeply regret the embarrassment…” = I wish we hadn’t got caught and it wasn’t a big deal really. “...and…
I love the Guitars
I had their tea at the Urbana Farmer’s Market when they first started out and it was great! Their tins recently caught my eye at Walnut Street Tea Company and my guests used it all up before I could even try it! Way to go Tiesta, stay…
Im fine with missing ingredients and of course they fixed things what restaurant fights with the customer over things like that anymore. ( the way social media could affect them) My problem is that I am visiting you place of business within the first week of opening.…
Thanks for that, Louis CK.
Your call to stay pissed is precisely why global warming fanatics will fail. Emotion has no place in hard science. The problem with the issue of global warming is that is has been pumped full of emotion and politics, and the science is becoming a by-product. http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052970204301404577171531838421366.html?KEYWORDS=global+warming
Clearly the Postal Officials in favor of this cannot make an economic argument, as this saves the post office $0. What is their rationale?
Most Popular Articles (14 days)
- Recruits at the Wisconsin game
- An open letter to University of Illinois President Michael Hogan
- Meatheads Burgers and Fries: A carnivorous delight
- Please don’t close the campus post offices
- Spotlight: Drag shows in Champaign-Urbana, Part III
- The Artist is Oscar gold
- The Overture: January 24–30
- No Idiot Child
- The Overture: January 31–February 6
- One word: biofuels
Facebook
Twitter
Full Site
Soo is smile politely in the business of editing comments? Interesting. Way to preserve our 1st am.