The Echo

The best TV comedies from 2010-11

It’s time to take a look back at the best shows of the 2010-11 television season.

By Nick Spake | June 19, 2011

Rush’s ‘Time Machine Tour’ is spectacular

It’s rare for a band to remain actively performing to sold-out crowds after 43 years, and it’s even more unusual when the group keeps getting better.

By Travis McKnight | June 19, 2011

'Mr. Popper's Penguins' simply generic and predictable

Despite its potentially funny premise, "Mr. Popper's Penguins" takes no chances and results in one of the blandest comedies of the year.

By Nick Spake | June 16, 2011

Q&A with ‘Super 8’ director J.J. Abrams

The State Press recently talked with J. J. Abrams, director of “Mission Impossible: III,” “Star Trek,” and the new film, “Super 8,” which opened on June 10.

By Nick Spake | June 12, 2011

'Duke Nukem Forever': fail to the King, baby

Creators 2K Games and Gearbox Software have let the King off his throne a bit too soon.

By Travis McKnight | June 12, 2011

‘Super 8’ is seriously dull

“Super 8” features a cast of child actors portraying a “gang of friends determined to help their friend make a movie,” movie – and – for the most part, that is exactly what you get.

By Jonathan Fortner | June 11, 2011

Q&A: ‘Child of Eden’ with Tetsuya Mizuguchi

The upcoming shooter, “Child of Eden,” developed by Q Entertainment, harnesses the power of the Xbox 360’s Kinect add-on and stunning visuals.

By Travis McKnight | June 5, 2011

"X-Men: First Class," of failures

The thought that simply adding a “prequel” to any story will somehow bring clairvoyance to the plot at hand (or even those to come) needs to be unmasked as the fallacy it has become.

By Jonathan Fortner | June 3, 2011

"Submarine" not just another teenage monologue

The film has a good heart and does a more than sufficient job of capturing the awkward, confusing times of being fifteen.

By Nick Spake | June 3, 2011

Vedder unleashes his ukulele talents with ‘Ukulele Songs’

Summer is no time to get lazy. Idle hands are in fact the devils’ playthings, and keeping the beast pleasantly at bay is Eddie Vedder yet again, as he releases his second solo record “Ukulele Songs,” featuring – specifically – the ukulele. What else?

By Jonathan Fortner | May 30, 2011

FIRST APPEARANCE: Jamie Graham, owner of Graham Crackers Comics based in Chicago, shows off the rare comic books that debuted the popular characters Ironman and Spiderman. (Photo by Aaron Lavinsky)

Comicon day 4: A chapter closes

As Phoenix Comicon came to a close Sunday, attendees divided their time between the final few events.

By Travis McKnight | May 30, 2011

Comicon day 3: The legends speak

For thousands of Comicon attendees, Saturday was the day dedicated to the legendary icons Leonard Nimoy and Stan Lee.

By Travis McKnight | May 29, 2011

LIVING DEAD: Attendees of the annual Phoenix Comic-Con participate in the "Zombie Beauty Pagaent," a competition where participants dress as zombies, perform acts and respond to questions asked by a panel of judges. (Photo by Travis McKnight)

Comicon day 2: Zombie attack

Phoenix Comicon attendees were on the hunt for two chief attractions on Friday, “Star Trek” and zombies.

By Travis McKnight | May 28, 2011

GEEK PARADISE: Children pose next to a replica of R2D2 at the Phoenix Comi-Con on Thursday night. Thousands of comic and sci-fi fans are expected to attend the annual convention this year that will include exhibits, appearances by film and television stars and hundreds of vendors. (Photo by Travis McKnight)

Comicon day 1: Gathering of the nerds

This Memorial Day weekend, the Phoenix Convention Center is home to the Phoenix Comicon; a seemingly insurmountable heaven for geeks and nerds alike.

By Travis McKnight | May 27, 2011

'The Tree of Life': Worth testing your patience

Terrence Malick’s “The Tree of Life” has been struggling to make it into US distribution for roughly two years. Now after endless hype and early buzz, the film finally makes its way into theaters.

By Nick Spake | May 26, 2011

Woody Allen bounces back with 'Midnight in Paris'

With “Midnight in Paris,” Allen delivers his funniest and most inspired film since the late nineties.

By Nick Spake | May 26, 2011

'The Hangover Part II': Whoops - they did it again

Looking to share their life-lessons in the hopes of providing – yet again – a teachable moment for us all, the self-declared Wolfpack returns to theaters Thursday in “The Hangover Part II.”

By Jonathan Fortner | May 26, 2011

On The Verge: While We're Up

Host Aiyana Havir talks with the boys from While We're Up about the message behind their music and other bands that influence them.

By sptvweb | May 19, 2011

The Reel ASU: Episode 2

The Reel ASU talks with Matt Levy about his capstone production The Portrait of a Sandwich Artist as a Young Man.

By sptvweb | May 18, 2011

'Everything Must Go' Doesn’t Move

"Everything Must Go" 2/5 Pitchforks Starring: Will Ferrell Rated R May 13, 2011 If you haven’t heard, finding a job is hard these days.

By Jonathan Fortner | May 12, 2011

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