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(11/15/13 5:00pm)
Sex is funny. It was funny in elementary school, it was still funny in sixth grade when I discovered "Sex and the City" and it's giggle-worthy now. These six facts will have you knee-slapping, blushing and squirming before you can say “that's what she said.”
(11/13/13 1:00pm)
Recently, consuming alcohol while in the possession of a vagina has become a topic of debate. Why? You can’t exactly leave them at home when you head out to Mill with your friends.
(10/28/13 12:00pm)
My idea of a horror movie consists of a post apocalyptic world where Jeffrey Campbell and Chipotle have ceased to exist. But hey, blood, guts and hatchets are a close second. Afraid of the pulse-quickening thrill we call a scary movie? Follow these eight simple tips and you’ll make it out alive.
(10/09/13 12:00pm)
“Breaking Bad’s” Walter White first dons the infamous black hat in season one, episode seven, masking his identity in an effort to disguise and create a hardened persona. And so begins his transition to Heisenberg. Each time Walt slips the pork pie over his bald head, his morality turns ambiguous with each villainous act seeming more justifiable (to us and to him) as his confidence intensifies. We see this as a strength. Like bravery, honesty and compassion, a hardened soul has now been added to the list of traits we look for in a modern hero.
(09/24/13 4:00am)
(04/10/13 9:00pm)
Opening weekend of the Phoenix Film Festival was full of quirky individuals looking forward to films that encompassed everything from horror and sci-fi to rom-coms and dramedys. But the most endearing and eccentric of the crowd turned out to be the directors, producers and writers of the unconventional and phenomenal films showing at the festival. The following are excerpts from a questions and answer session with directors, actors and audience members after the showing of select films about the inspiration behind the movies.
(04/02/13 4:00pm)
The Phoenix Film Festival “was one of those crazy 4 a.m. ideas," founder and alumnus Chris LaMont said.
(03/08/13 5:00am)
The credits roll, and the audience is transported into a vaudeville film, complete with the unusual combination of black and white 3-D and eye-popping visuals. “Oz The Great and Powerful” is not the dainty prequel to the 1930s classic that many were expecting. The film is nothing short of an epic adventure with the wonderful wizard.
We first meet Oscar Diggs (James Franco) in the heart of Kansas as a magician in a traveling circus. Franco plays the part of a greedy, selfish con man with comedic sincerity, often relying on his assistant Frank (Zach Braff), to keep the magic of Oz’s show alive. The audience is briefly introduced to Annie, a simple farm girl in love with Oscar, but he’s too blinded by the prospect of his own greatness to recognize hers. After a magic show gone wrong, Oscar flees the scene in a hot air balloon and is transported to the world of Oz. Vivid color swiftly replaces the stark black and white as Oscar travels by balloon through lush valleys and waterfalls, always taking great care in keeping his magician’s hat and bag of tricks close.
On the shores of Oz, he meets Theodora (Mila Kunis), a naïve young witch who is convinced Oscar is the man the Land of Oz has been anxiously awaiting. She informs him of the prophecy that a powerful wizard with the name of her great land will save the people from the Wicked Witch. Oscar accepts the challenge and prepares for his biggest trick yet: convincing people of Oz he is the great man they’ve been waiting for. As the Great Wizard of Oz, Oscar will essentially be king, gaining the wealth and power he so yearned for as a traveling circus man. A ladies man, Oscar seduces Theodora as they make their way to the Emerald City. Along the Yellow Brick Road, Oscar acquires the trusty sidekick Finley, a flying monkey voiced by Zach Braff.
When the Emerald gates open, Oscar is introduced to the temporary ruler of Oz and the sister of Theodora, Evanora (Rachel Weisz), whose elegance and subtle wickedness carries the film. Evanora sends Oscar on a quest to kill the Wicked Witch to fulfill the prophecy, leaving Theodora alone and brokenhearted.
On his journey he meets China Girl, voiced by Joey King. Her village destroyed by the Wicked Witch’s winged baboons, she’s a broken character but manages more spunk than her older and experienced counterparts. Oscar reluctantly allows her to join his witch hunt and a familial bond develops among Oz, Finley and China Girl. The underdogs travel to the Enchanted Forest, an obvious cinematic nod to Disney’s "Snow White," and they realize the witch they are trying to destroy is actually Glinda (Michelle Williams). A one-dimensional character, the script does little to showcase her talent. Oscar is enchanted by her and vows to help her and the good people of Oz defeat the true Wicked Witch, Evanora.
Protected by a giant impenetrable bubble, Glinda’s kingdom is full of pastel colors, soft lines and art nouveau architecture. Together, Oz and Glinda plot to overthrow the Wicked Witch but are taken aback when Theodora’s broken heart and her sister’s scheming turns her evil — pitting two powerful villains against the good-hearted witch and a mere mortal.
Trickery, illusion and the power of believing become the weapons of Oz and Glinda, while Theodora and Evanora resort to violence — something in which the people of Oz don’t believe.
Oscar’s background in bluffing aids the good people of Oz in their quest to take back the kingdom. The power of deception, though used for good, is an unusual theme for Disney. However, Disney handles it with care, not so much glorifying the deceit, but commending the real magic of ingenuity, imagination and technology that result in the triumph of good over evil.
The comedic talents of Braff, Tony Cox as Munchkin Knuck, and King lend heart to a script that relies on quips and sarcasm. Franco manages to gain some laughs but not enough to play the title role. His quirky smile and youthful energy save him from dullness. He is less than a convincing wizard, but makes a solid effort in theatrics.
Director Sam Raimi originally casted Kunis for her abilities in “The Black Swan” and “Forgetting Sarah Marshall,” roles that portrayed both her vulnerability and wickedness. Kunis disappoints in her role as Theodora, nailing the naïvety at the beginning of the film but failing to truly convince the audience of her malevolent nature when she turns to the wicked side. Weisz as Evanora is the most thrilling to watch; playing the bad girl suits her. Her chemistry with each cast member is genuine, allowing the fantastical elements to feel more real.
A must-see in 3-D, the film is a compilation of three separate worlds — the dusty Kansas carnival, the Emerald City, and Glinda’s castle. The first is dull and aged, reflecting Oz’s unfulfilled dreams. The Emerald City has a 1930s feel to it, with high ceilings, gold trim and strong lines and shapes. Glinda’s castle seems to glisten in the sun, with a signature Disney-inspired castle atop mountainous and lush terrain. The 3-D effects are magnificent and modern, bringing the Land of Oz to life in vivid pictures.Part romance, part adventure tale and part transformation of the self, “Oz the Great and Powerful” is a fantastical tale of what can happen when you just believe.Reach the reporter at lily.lieberman@asu.edu.
(02/27/13 10:00pm)
For "Oz the Great and Powerful," it all came down to the casting process.
(02/12/13 2:00am)
Rap has been a rapidly evolving medium since The Beastie Boys hit the scene in the early '80s. Our generation’s master rapper Eminem surfaced in the late '90s, and since then, there have been plenty of other hip-hop artists breaking the delicate mold thought of as rap.
(02/12/13 1:12am)
Crooked trees, oversized drums and scenes of furious skies surrounded Imagine Dragons, creating an atmosphere akin to the unpredictable and often volatile world so effortlessly described in its debut album, "Night Visions."
The apocalyptic set design juxtaposed Imagine Dragons’s powerful performance at the Marquee Theatre on Feb. 8, giving a sold-out crowd hope of feeling a little less lost in its personal abysses.
A diverse crowd of middle schoolers, college students and middle-aged hipsters welcomed the first act, Nico Vega, a tough-looking brunette in a leather getup and an entourage of rock ready band members.
The L.A.-based band has previously toured with Blondie and Neon Trees, groups that more accurately reflect the rougher sound of Nico Vega. Although the band’s punk edge differs from Imagine Dragons's alt-rock approach, the audience encouraged the change, smiling through the 30-minute set.
Lead singer Aja Volkman commanded attention onstage with her clear vocals, adding a fresh element to an edgier track. On one occasion, Volkman recorded a series of breathy "mmm’s" and "ahh’s" onstage, building a solid beat to sing on. Volkman also took advantage of her a cappella abilities and incorporated them into a few songs.
Standing on top of a drum while pounding another strapped to her back, Volkman successfully pumped up the crowd with her electric presence and exited the stage to the dismay of the audience.
Atlas Genius’s no-fuss style was apparent as soon as the band entered the stage. The lighting was minimal — just red and green accent lights illuminated the outline of the instruments. Simple keyboard and folksy vocals lifted the music up, but a focus on drums and electric guitar kept Atlas Genius from losing the audience to dreamy Australian accents.
The set moved forward slowly, paying close attention to repetition and movement. Even with the unhurried pace, the audience was mesmerized, singing along to “If So” with more vigor than the lead singer.
An energetic crowd thrived off of the band’s decision to focus heavily on instrumentals toward the end of the set. Several false endings ensued and the audience battled the band to be the loudest entity. The crowd heaved itself closer to the stage as Atlas Genius ended its portion of the show, hoping for a chance to catch the set list and also to prepare for the main musical event.
Fifteen achingly long minutes passed before the thunderstorm began.
A wolf howled under the storming sky of fog and purple lights. Imagine Dragons calmly entered the stage amid the chaos, as lead singer Dan Reynolds belted, “Round and round / I won’t run away this time / Till you show me what this life is for.”
The first show of a sold out tour, Imagine Dragons barreled through “Tiptoe,” a song that takes advantage of Reynolds’s vocal range. His live voice is softer than the album version but no less powerful.
A monster truck wheel size drum aided Reynolds in his show of bravado as he pounded it periodically throughout the concert.
“You guys wanna dance?” Reynolds asked the crowd in the middle of the set, to which they answered with a cacophony of sound and dance moves that refracted in the ensuing strobe lights.
“What is with you / I’ve never seen this side of you,” Reynolds crooned just as security snaked its way to the middle of the crowd and plucked out a man wearing his girlfriend’s red bra.
The “sky” behind the band changed with each song, turning vibrant shades of red, yellow and orange for Imagine Dragons’s popular single “Radioactive,” a punchy track that utilizes the drop method found in electronica and dubstep. The crowd was inconsolable, producing eardrum-shattering applause that usually comes at the end of a show.
Reynolds beamed at the audience: “Arizona, I have a feeling the two of us are going to get to know each other pretty well.”
Grey clouds formed behind the band as “Demons” started out soulful and slow. Even members of security discreetly hummed the chorus as the keyboard, drums and vocals came together for the obvious favorite, “It’s Time.”
Two blondes serenaded a security officer. He mouthed the words back. The audience was in ecstasy as Reynolds joined them in the crowd and sang to fans.Then it was over. The band left the stage until the audience demanded an encore. It was more of a jam session between the members than an extended concert.The sky behind the band went black and the flashing lights were the only remnants of the thunderous concert that occurred.Reach the reporter at ljlieber@asu.edu
(01/30/13 4:00am)
“Procreation equals desecration.”
(12/11/12 1:21am)
It was as if God himself had spoken. The voice of the great J. Peterman from “Seinfeld” rang through the venue, jolting crowd members awake.
(12/10/12 5:00am)
Normal people worry that a bumpy flight will jostle the contents of their luggage. I worry that standard turbulence on a plane is actually the engine failing that will result in a slow plummet to my death.
(12/10/12 1:14am)
Giant inflatable mushrooms, dancing fairies and scores of electronica’s paramount disc jockeys were all present at the La La Land Music Festival held at the Phoenix Convention Center Friday night.
(11/14/12 11:50pm)
The U.K. has long been a huge component in American musical culture, gracing us with bands such as, Coldplay, Radiohead and Franz Ferdinand. Lately, the U.K. music scene has gone under the radar. Here are five bands from across the pond that deserve a closer listen.
(11/07/12 5:00am)
I made the first move.
(11/06/12 5:00am)
Pie and art lovers united at this year’s Chow Bella and Roosevelt Row Pie Social, a whimsical and delicious wonderland that offered a little something for everyone: sweet treats, croquet, vintage clothing and music by a local act.
(10/22/12 11:39pm)
The infinite surprises heard on Matt & Kim’s first self-titled album was the beginning to the Brooklyn-based duo’s steady climb to fame.
(10/11/12 4:00am)
Kevin Jump, a body piercer at HTC Body Piercing and a self-described “maker of the (w)hole” says piercings are “a physical expression of the artful soul.”