‘The Cabin in the Woods’ delivers both terror and laughter
Released last Friday after a three-year delay, “The Cabin in the Woods” opened to an amazingly positive response. Directed and written by Drew Goddard along with Joss Whedon, “The Cabin in the Woods” is simultaneously hilarious and horrifying. The combination of horror and comedy has been explored many a time in films such as the […]
‘The Omen Machine’ has mixed reviews despite big hype
In 2007, Terry Goodkind ended his best-selling “The Sword of Truth” series with the novel “Confessor,” the last of a set of three books that worked to pull together the numerous loose ends and tangents opened by the sheer bulk of the books preceding it. With his 11-book series at last completed, Goodkind moved on […]
The Hunger Games are an emotional punch
“The Hunger Games,” an adaptation of the popular book trilogy by Suzanne Collins, premiered March 23 to the incredible success of $155 million. This record-breaking opening is a remark on the series’ considerable fan base, who showed up in droves at midnight premiers across the country, often dressed up as one of the many beloved […]
'The Legend of Korra' meets high expectations
In 2008, Nickelodeon’s animated series “Avatar: The Last Airbender” was brought to a rather premature end. Thanks to its enormous popularity among both its target age group and teenagers (most of whom are now college students), however, “The Last Airbender” is far from dead. Recently, the first episode of its sequel series, “The Legend of […]
‘Fuddy Meers’: a show as twisted at is it brilliant
“Fuddy Meers,” written by David Lindsay-Abaire, first premiered in 1999. This week, it has come to Brandeis, presented by Brandeis Experimental Theatre (BET) and directed by Michelle Kuchinksy ’12. “Fuddy Meers” presents the thoroughly twisted story of Claire (played by Jackie Theoharis ’14), a woman who wakes up each morning with no memory of who […]
Raga musicians: a rare and valuable treat
This week, Brandeis welcomed three visiting musicians specializing in raga music, a form of Indian classical and folk music that uses templates to allow for improvisation rather than emphasizing specific compositions, and has also been long adapted into Afghani folk music. The trio is extremely diverse in origin, featuring Homayun Sakhi, a native of Kabul […]
Unraveling ‘Arrietty’s’ secret world
“The Secret World of Arrietty” first premiered in Japan, its home country, in 2010 and arrived in the United States last week. It has received glowing reviews from critics and viewers alike after receiving the equivalent of an Academy Award in Japan for “Animation of the Year.” “The Secret World of Arrietty,” which is the […]
In sticking to formula, 'Alcatraz' flounders
The two-hour pilot episode of J.J. Abram’s latest brainchild, “Alcatraz,” premiered on Jan. 16. Abrams is one of the most celebrated minds in modern science fiction, having created the incredibly popular “Lost.” With such an impressive track record, his fans had high hopes for the premiere of “Alcatraz.” The premise of the show is interesting […]
Modern-day ‘Sherlock Holmes’ thrives
On Jan. 15, the BBC aired the second season finale of its modern adaptation of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s classic detective novels starring the enigmatic Sherlock Holmes, titled “Sherlock.” The show, which chronicles the adventures of the world’s only consulting detective and his loyal companion John Watson, is uniquely structured with each season consisting of […]
Musical 'Urinetown' makes a splash
The wonderful thing about “Urinetown: The Musical” is that it knows not to take itself too seriously. Tympanium Euphorium’s production, directed by Johanna Wickemeyer ’12 with assistant director Lizzy Benway ’14, truly took that to heart; the actor’s comedic deliveries of even the most serious-sounding of lines make the sometimes dark musical ultimately amusing and […]
‘The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim’ exceeds expectations
The hype surrounding the latest game in the expansive “Elder Scrolls” series leading up to its Nov. 11 release was of unbelievable proportions. The teasers showed “The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim” as a truly epic game, with stunning visuals and beautifully designed foes in the form of massive dragons. With so much anticipation, it seemed […]
Dance groups ‘Take the Lead’ at annual Dancefest
As a broad exhibition of the many dance styles at Brandeis, Dancefest 2011 at Levin Ballroom on Nov. 9 presented a hefty two hours of passionate dancers sharing what they love with an enthusiastic and engaged audience. Each routine was an engaging and truly enjoyable experience, with styles ranging from hip-hop to African dance to […]
Brandeis alum Gondelman releases comedy album
With each and every track, Brandeis alum Josh Gondelman’s new comedy album “Everything’s The Best,” to be officially released Nov. 8, is a wonderful and attention-grabbing experience. The album features smart, modern humor that people from all walks of life will find amusing and relatable. Much of the routine is drawn from Gondelman’s own experiences, […]
Geeks and pop culture collide at NY Comic Con 2011
Arriving at the Javits Center, located in a relatively secluded corner of Manhattan, is like stepping onto another planet. As you enter the enormous glass building, a sign hanging from the ceiling reads “Greetings, earthlings! You have landed at the 2011 New York Comic Con!” It is immediately clear that today the Javits Center—which normally […]
