If the title of her new album, “MDNA,” is any indication, Madonna wants her fan base to really know what she’s made of. One spin of the album is enough to know that the answer is apparently glitter, leather and outdated fads that reveal an unsightly fork in the road in the career of one [...]
After remaining dormant for half a decade, indie rock darlings The Shins have released their new album, “Port of Morrow,” at long last. On the highly anticipated album, James Mercer and company draw from their typical mix of indie ballads and sensitive slow jams. Listeners are treated to a healthy dose of eccentric instrumental elements, [...]
Suzanne Collins’ “The Hunger Games” was one of the most highly anticipated book-to-movie adaptations since “Twilight” and “Harry Potter.” Its plot offers up the opportunity to create a daring and powerful on-screen story about government corruption and the dangers of glorifying violence in the media, with a little romance in the mix. Though the actors embody their roles with a precision that will please the film’s main audience — the young adult fans of the book series — the second half of the film rushes the story, minimizing the impact of the premise’s underlying themes.
In the fun-loving comedy “21 Jump Street,” Morton Schmidt (Jonah Hill) is introduced as the “not-so-Slim-Shady” in high school as he gets tripped up when he asks a girl to prom. Infamous school bully and jock Greg Jenko (Channing Tatum) loves nothing more than to watch Schmidt struggle throughout his high school career. Out of [...]
It’s no sin to turn a comedy into a flick with a family-oriented message — that is, unless it is done in all the wrong ways. In “A Thousand Words,” Eddie Murphy mimes and grimaces his way through the sappy film, making it harder to laugh at his performance and easier to leave the theater.
If the books and the newly released film have not fully rounded out the complexities of the message in “The Hunger Games” franchise for viewers, fans should look no further than the soundtrack. Contributed by various artists, the album features interpretations of the films themes of rebellion, disillusionment, corruption and war.
It’s been nearly three years since Swedish synth masterminds Miike Snow dropped its self-titled debut album in June 2009. With the release of “Happy to You,” the group takes a step back to delve deeper into their emotions.
