Entertainment
Adventureland Thrills Moviegoers
Photo courtesy of Miramax Films.
By Broadside Staff Writer Ross Bonaime
Everyone has had an experience like Adventureland. A place that, in the moment, is your own personal hell, but once you look back on that time, it brings back some of your fondest memories.
In writer and director Greg Mottola’s follow-up to Superbad, Mottola encapsulates that feeling in a manner in which George Lucas did with American Graffiti or Richard Linklater did with Dazed and Confused: it is not so much about what you have to suffer through, but the experience you gain from it.
After coming home from graduating college, James Brennan (Jesse Eisenberg of The Squid and the Whale) is raring to go with his friend on the trip of a lifetime through Europe.
Comic Books Not Just for Kids
By Connect2Mason Columnist Gregory Pelkofski
After seeing Watchmen (and loving it) I was drawn to the Internet Movie Database message boards to see what other viewers were saying about it. In one thread entitled “gratuitous nudity,” someone complained about Dr. Manhattan’s big blue dong, and the sex and lesbian scenes. In another thread, a lady said she took her four, five, and six year-old kids to see the movie, and complained to the theater when her kids were subjected to the sex and violence in it.
Why did she take her kids to see an R-rated movie? Perhaps because of the stereotype that anything superhero or comic book related is for kids. I can assure parents out there that Watchmen, as the ill-informed mom found out, is not for kids despite it being based on a superhero comic book.
The Best of the Best on RateMyProfessor.com
Broadside Correspondent Donald O'Mahony
On RateMyProfessor.com, English Professor Kim Cirka holds the second highest overall ranking from her students. You will not be able to find any students taking class with her this semester, but she can expect a large waitlist of students when she comes back to teach at George Mason University next semester.
“A student let me know about [ratemyprofessor.com],” said Cirka, who teaches English 302. “It was flattering.”
Local Author Unravels Personal History
By Staff Writer Kyle Ridley
Dumfries author Anna Thomas shares the personal voyage of uncovering her past in the memoir Fire and Water: A Safe Journey Through Multiple Personality Disorder. The candid book details Thomas’ 20-year struggle to understand the reason behind her depression and discover that she was a survivor of childhood sexual and ritual abuse.
Thomas, 60, incorporates religion into much of Fire and Water and said her faith helped her realize the “need to face painful feelings” to reveal the truth.
Deacon Employs ‘New Age’ Techniques on Newest Album
By Broadside Staff Writer Marian McLaughlin.
Dan Deacon’s new album Bromst follows in a similar direction as works by Philip Glass, in a sense that both artists use the piano as their primary instrument, frequently structuring their compositions with rapid, yet minimal, arpeggios. But Bromst is like a hybrid love child of a Philip Glass composition with new age electronic techniques. The result is rather explosive and uplifting.
Although all the songs on his new album have their own personalities, the eleven electronic compositions morph together to create one extensive, meditative piece.
WARNING: Do Not Try These at Home
By Broadside Staff Writer Ryan Dempsey
I have been a part of a lot of great April Fools’ Day jokes. Whether I was the pranker or the prankee, I can’t help but laugh at the most memorable April Fools’ Day jokes throughout my life.
10. Fake Items
For this prank, all you need is a rubber snake, spider, rat or piece of fake poop. Place the item in your victim’s path—or better yet, in their bed—and watch the fun start.
Chris Cornell Reveals New Sound
By Broadside Correspondent Anthony Cusumano.
For the past two decades, Chris Cornell has been one of rock’s greatest and most dependable forces, racking up more than a dozen top 20 mainstream rock hits as the frontman for bands such as Soundgarden, Audioslave, and Temple of the Dog.
Last year, however, Cornell announced a major departure from his familiar sound in the form of a collaboration, Scream, with hip-hop producer Timbaland. This was akin to treason in the eyes of grunge fans, who denounced the project before a single note was heard.
Originally set for an October release, the controversial album was pushed back several times, and has now finally arrived in stores with little fanfare. If Cornell’s goal was to remove this record from the public consciousness, it was one of the few things about Scream where he had the right idea.
Chocolate-Chip Brownie Muffins
By Connect2Mason Blogger Lauren Jost. Photo by flickr user twisted_karolina.
Yes: Brownie. Muffins.
To finish off this week's guilty delights features I'm giving you the recipe that will be melt in your mouth delicious.
There are two ways to make this happen -- the box way or the homemade way.
I fancy the box way, just because you add your own little touches here and there and essentially cut the prep time in half. Oh how Sandra Lee would be SO proud!!
But here's the basics for the easy peasy way to brownie muffins.
"Bromance" is in the Air
By Broadside Staff Writer Ross Bonaime
Films have been ripe with “bromances” for years. Butch Cassidy had Sundance, Riggs had Murtaugh and even Kevin Smith had his heterosexual life partners Jay and Silent Bob. But none of those have ever been as forthcoming about it as I Love You, Man.
Paul Rudd is Peter Klaven, a guy who has always had more girl friends than guys. He is much more comfortable with just going to see The Devil Wears Prada and making frappuccinos for his wife and her friends then playing poker and drinking with the guys. When he proposes to Zooey (Rashida Jones of The Office), the question arises: who will be his best man? His brother Robbie (Saturday Night Live’s Andy Samberg) suggests he go on a series of man-dates to find the right guy to ask the big question to.
Bands Play Hyped-Up Show at Coffee Shop
Story by Broadside Correspondent Ian Crocker
This St. Patty’s Day, while all my friends were out drinking pints of Guinness, I chose to celebrate the patron saint with some different substances: caffeine and punk rock.
After a short trip on the metro, I jumped off the train and made my way over to Murky Coffee, a first rate coffee shop and popular venue for DIY shows in the Clarendon neighborhood of Arlington.
On this particular evening, several bands from the D.C. area and beyond were set to play. These included Ingrid, a two-piece band from the District, Suis la Lune, from Sweden, and Virginia’s very own Fine Lines.