Reviews
At the Lyric: Elegy by Bryce Stucki and Peter Velz, CT multimedia reporters Monday, November 3, 2008; 6:54 PM The latest film at the lyric is a somber meditation of love and life.
At the Lyric: Vicky Cristina Barcelona by Bryce Stucki and Peter Velz, CT multimedia reporters Tuesday, October 28, 2008; 6:34 PM Bryce and Peter review Woody Allen's latest flick at the Lyric.
Review: 'Nick and Nora' turn indie rock into teen romance by Kirsten Gravely, CT features reporter Tuesday, October 7, 2008; 11:16 PM Loveable Michael Cera of "Superbad" and "Juno" fame and "The 40-Year-Old Virgin" punky hipster Kat Dennings deliver a light-on-your-feet teen comedy that blends romance and indie rock in a playful hour-and-30-minute film.
At the Lyric: Tell No One by Bryce Stucki and Peter Velz, CT multimedia reporters Monday, September 29, 2008; 5:29 PM The latest film playing at The Lyric is a taut, French thriller definitely worth seeing.
Video: Spore Review by Peter Velz, CT multimedia reporter Wednesday, September 17, 2008; 7:28 PM The highly anticipated game from the creator of The Sims is finally out. Does it live up to the hype?
At the Lyric: Gonzo by Bryce Stucki, Peter Velz, CT multimedia reporters Tuesday, September 16, 2008; 8:07 PM Bryce and Peter look at the latest offering in Blacksburg's favorite four-dollar theater.
At the Lyric: Brideshead Revisted by Bryce Stucki and Peter Velz, CT multimedia reporters Tuesday, September 9, 2008; 5:59 PM Bryce and Peter review the latest flick at College Avenue's favorite four-dollar theater.
Anonymous artists keep spotlight on the music by Jonathan Yi, CT Features Reporter Monday, September 8, 2008; 10:47 PM Some of the biggest pioneers in music today are not looking for recognition, but are rather creating paradoxical personas and most importantly, anonymity. France's Daft Punk has paved the road for electronica -- all behind illusive robot masks -- while the UK has spawned the ever-so primordial group Gorillaz, where members are represented by cartoon characters.
Review: A bad sunburn: Cali's Shwayze by Jonathan Yi, CT features reporter Thursday, September 4, 2008; 12:06 AM When Lou Adler was producing father of soul Sam Cooke back in the '60s, he didn't know that the prospect of music was in his hands. Adler wasn't aware that his efforts would soon be the face of the civil rights movement, or that his direction would aid the passion of a generation.
Video: Tataki restaurant review by Peter Velz, CT multimedia reporter Wednesday, September 3, 2008; 10:52 PM Features reporter Kirsten Gravely reviews the new Japanese restaurant Tataki located in Christiansburg.
At the Lyric: Brick Lane by Bryce Stucki, CT multimedia reporter Wednesday, September 3, 2008; 10:29 AM Viewers give their thoughts on the film "Brick Lane" playing at the Lyric.
Review: 'New York City' a disappointing follow-up by Heath Sorey, CT staff writer Wednesday, August 6, 2008; 5:24 PM Two straight days of insomnia and the resulting fatigue are no way to go about the end of summer. Something needs to be done to get the sleep cycle back in proper order, and perhaps that answer is within a newly released album. Take for instance the electronic group Brazilian Girls, and its third studio effort, "New York City" (Verve).
Review: Canning has something for most of us by Heath Sorey, CT staff writer Thursday, July 24, 2008; 12:53 AM With a sprawling cast of characters, Canada's Broken Social Scene is both literally and figuratively one of the largest groups in independent rock today. So large, in fact, that members count the band as a side project to acts such as Stars, Metric, Do Make Say Think, and in the case of Feist, a solo career. Starting last year, the band decided to create a series of albums for members themselves.
Ledger's role in 'Knight' leaves audience speechless by Kirsten Gravely, CT staff writer Sunday, July 20, 2008; 5:18 PM Lines wrapping around the theater, Joker imitators everywhere, and at least nine sold out theaters was the insanity that took place at midnight in Christiansburg for the first showing of "The Dark Knight." The anticipation mounted during the previews, and then applause filled the theater as the movie began.
Review: 'Stay Positive' builds on earlier success by Heath Sorey, CT staff writer Wednesday, July 16, 2008; 9:54 PM While your main goal in the months of June through August might be to relax as much as possible, The Hold Steady are concerned with building something this summer. On their fourth studio release, "Stay Positive," the Brooklyn-based band returns with more bar-rock anthems and verbose stories.
Review: 'Hellboy 2' delivers cheesy, silly thrills by Erik Rollwage, CT features reporter Wednesday, July 16, 2008; 9:51 PM "Hellboy 2: The Golden Army" can be summed up with a name and a word. The name is Guillermo del Toro, a veritable critics' golden-boy best known for his masterpiece "Pan's Labyrinth," who is also the planned director of "The Hobbit." Del Toro, known for his imagination, does not disappoint as director of "Hellboy 2;" he offers an unceasing array of strange and ghastly creatures, both costumed and computer animated, set in a fantasy world ripe with spinning martial arts and things that go boom.
Review: 'Wanted' half comedy, half action by Erik Rollwage, CT staff writer Sunday, June 29, 2008; 9:39 PM What do you get when you combine "The Matrix" with "Fight Club?" You get "Wanted," a ridiculously entertaining film, half office humor, half super assassin action movie.
Review: 'Kung Fu Panda' visually stunning by Alex Orchard-Hays, CT features editor Wednesday, June 25, 2008; 7:00 PM DreamWorks' latest animated feature, Kung Fu Panda, is a treasure hidden beneath a facade of silliness and one huge cliche of a plot. While not as endearing as Shrek or as original as Ratatouille, Panda's visual grandeur and refreshing humor outweigh its weaker aspects.
Review: Coldplay returns with Viva la Vida by Jonathan Yi, CT staff writer Wednesday, June 25, 2008; 6:56 PM Over the past decade, the never excessive Coldplay frontman Chris Martin has cooed listeners with his not-so-masculine lyrics and all-too-familiar falsettos. As a member of the contemporary U.K. invasion, Coldplay has sold over 30 million albums and has toured extensively, playing to a global fan base.
Review: 'Get Smart' moderately funny by Kirsten Gravely, CT staff writer Sunday, June 22, 2008; 9:06 PM In the original 1960s television series "Get Smart," Mel Brooks and Buck Henry were able to combine different genres of movies and create comedy gold. Mel Brooks's spoof films, including Spaceballs and Robin Hood: Men in Tights, have made him legendary. The "Get Smart" remake staring understated comedic actor Steve Carell and directed by Peter Segal fell a bit short of the original spy parody's spot-on hilarity.
Review: 'The Happening' more comedy than horror by Erik Rollwage, CT staff writer Monday, June 16, 2008; 9:29 AM M. Night Shyamalan's newest movie "The Happening," his first R-rated feature, just so happens to be terrible.
Review: The Incredible Hulk falls short by Kirsten Gravely, CT staff writer Saturday, June 14, 2008; 1:43 PM As I went in to see the movie yesterday, I wondered whether I was going into the theater with too high of expectations, and for good reason.
Due South BBQ offers genuine southern dishes by Erik Rollwage, CT staff writer Wednesday, June 11, 2008; 6:21 PM Due South BBQ, a Christiansburg restaurant, offers up a barbecue experience that you'll be hard-pressed to find without heading south into deep barbecue territory.
Review: 'Sex and the City' delightful drama by Kirsten Gravely, CT staff writer Saturday, May 31, 2008; 6:34 PM The theater was packed last night as Sex and the City finally made it to the big screen after the show's series finale took place on HBO. I had to buy tickets four hours in advance just to get a seat, and I definitely understand why! The movie was a hit romance chick flick, filled with drama, hilarity and amazing love stories.
Review: 'Lost' thrilling, raises questions by Kyle Edwards, CT staff writer Friday, May 30, 2008; 10:28 PM This year's season finale of Lost was a three-hour event. Part one aired Thursday, May 15th, and parts two and three aired Thursday, May 29th. Because of the writers' strike, season four was cut from 16 to 14 episodes, but the show didn't suffer. In fact, the creators crammed in more action than they would have originally, and the season's finale was the perfect end to a thrilling season.
Review: 'Crystal Skull' intended for die-hard fans by Kyle Edwards, CT staff writer Sunday, May 25, 2008; 6:38 PM Nineteen years after director Steven Spielberg's "The Last Crusade" made its debut, "Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of Crystal Skull" has been released as the forth movie in the series.
Review: 'Prince Caspian' full of visual thrills by Erik Rollwage, CT staff writer Wednesday, May 21, 2008; 9:39 PM Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian, the second book of the series penned by C.S. Lewis, delivers exactly what it promises: a fantastic journey into the land of Narnia, full of beautiful scenery, exotic creatures and battles a-plenty.
Review: 'Iron Man' a marvelous adventure by Erik Rollwage, CT staff writer Tuesday, May 6, 2008; 9:08 PM "Iron Man" is the newest comic-book adaption to the silver screen, a sci-fi adventure about a man in an iron suit (although, as Tony Stark, played by Robert Downey Jr, glibly says, it's not really iron, it's a titanium gold alloy).
Review: Laura Marling's maturity shines through in debut album by James Carty, CT regular columnist Wednesday, April 30, 2008; 12:00 AM On any given day when I was 18 years old, the odds were pretty good that you could find me doing one of three things: Sleeping, watching baseball and, of course, eating at Taco Bell.
Review: 'Forgetting Sarah Marshall' not easy to forget by Drew Jackson, CT associate features editor Tuesday, April 22, 2008; 12:00 AM Love is a nasty business, and sex is the bittersweet symphony that when played backward is really a message from Satan.
Review: Gnarls Barkley disappoints on latest album, 'Odd Couple' by James Carty, CT regular columnist Friday, April 18, 2008; 12:00 AM When Gnarls Barkley burst onto the scene back in 2006, I'll admit that I was impressed.
Review: 'Brawl' a smash hit for Nintendo Wii by Albert Bjork, CT regular columnist Thursday, April 17, 2008; 12:00 AM The next generation of video games is bland and drab.
Review: Charm of 'Pettigrew' lasts more than a day by Drew Jackson, CT associate feautures editor Tuesday, April 15, 2008; 12:00 AM A day in the life of hapless British nanny Miss Guinevere Pettigrew (Frances McDormand) is no easy task.
Review: 'Leatherheads' doesn't score a touchdown by Drew Jackson, CT associate features editor Tuesday, April 8, 2008; 12:00 AM 'Leatherheads' might make you want to dress up like your grandfather and try to buy a Coke with a penny, but that's about it.
Review: Beach House mellows out by James Carty, CT regular columnist Wednesday, April 2, 2008; 12:00 AM Just when you thought the best things to come out of Baltimore were crab cakes and videos featuring certain NBA stars telling you not to snitch, Beach House has burst onto the scene with its infectious brand of reverb-driven dream pop that is sure to tickle your cortex in all the right spots.
Review: Luketic's '21' doesn't hit the jackpot by Evan Luzi, regular columnist Tuesday, April 1, 2008; 12:00 AM Unfortunately for audiences going to see the new movie "21," the producers of the film didn't adhere to that all-important Vegas slogan that gives reprieve to the city of sin: "What happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas."
Review: 'The Orphanage' smartly plays horror game by Drew Jackson, CT associate features editor Tuesday, March 25, 2008; 12:00 AM Nothing is in disrepair quite like the horror genre. The once crowned jewel of the studios has faded into a sad freakshow of pointless sadism, psychological boredom, and comical ghost stories.
Review: Story of the little band that wanted to, but didn't by James Carty, regular columnist Thursday, March 20, 2008; 12:00 AM There was a band once. It was a small group of guys from a little town nestled against the Potomac River in the center of Loudoun County.
Review: Who's in Whoville? Carrey, Carrell star in latest Seuss screenplay by Evan Luvi, CT regular columnist Tuesday, March 18, 2008; 12:00 AM Theodore Geisel, better known as Dr. Seuss, is no stranger to the Hollywood treatment of his books.
Review: Mockery of monarchy by Drew Jackson, CT associate features editor Tuesday, March 11, 2008; 12:00 AM The high water mark of Geraldo Rivera's career came in 1986 when the world's most famous waxed mustache was led by ambition to the empty vault of Al Capone. In so many ways 'The Other Boleyn Girl' takes audiences right back to that immense disappointment.
Cheers!: Best local brewery: Starr Hill Brewery by Katelyn Lau, CT associate features editor Thursday, February 28, 2008; 12:00 AM Two weekends ago, I got to do something I've always wanted to do. While I've never had a strong desire to brew my own beer, I have always wanted to tour a brewery.
Review: 'Be Kind Rewind' offers entertainment by Evan Luzi, CT regular columnist Tuesday, February 26, 2008; 12:00 AM The Oscars were on Sunday, and while much of Hollywood was celebrating some of its greatest achievements, one movie was making fun of them.
CD Review: Vampire Weekend bites -- in good way by James Carty, CT regular columnist Wednesday, February 20, 2008; 12:00 AM When I first heard of Vampire Weekend, I have to admit that I was skeptical. The buzz surrounding them was huge, with everyone from the lowliest blogosphere trash to Talking Heads brain trust David Byrne tooting their horns.
Review: Brooks' movie doesn't push genre by Drew Jackson, associate features editor Tuesday, February 19, 2008; 12:00 AM The traditionally vibrant, cheery meadow of 'aww'-inspiring romantic comedies just got a heavy dose of cynical pesticide.
Review: 'Charlie Bartlett': What could have been by Evan Luzi, regular columnist Tuesday, February 12, 2008; 12:00 AM The Virginia Tech Union hosted a special advance screening of the upcoming film 'Chalie Bartlett' last night at the Lyric.
CD Review: Chan Marshall does covers right on latest release, 'Jukebox' by James Carty, CT staff writer Wednesday, February 6, 2008; 12:00 AM Once, Chan Marshall wanted to be the greatest. Now, it seems all she wants to be is Bob Dylan.
Review: 'Strange Wilderness' disappoints by Drew Jackson, CT associate features editor Tuesday, February 5, 2008; 12:00 AM Comedy is harder than drama. The line between funny and painful is so fine that the person next to you may be holding his or her stomach and crying with laughter as you check your voicemail praying for this seemingly endless, 88-minute prison sentence to be over.
Game Review: Big Daddy says, Bioshock your normal gaming routine by Albert Bjork, CT regular columnist Friday, February 1, 2008; 12:00 AM Gyms will be packed this month as people make and break New Year's resolutions, and for a gamer this is the bleakest semester we can have.
Movie Review: 'Cloverfield' a monstrous thrill ride by Drew Jackson, CT associate features editor Wednesday, January 30, 2008; 12:00 AM Leading up to its release, 'Cloverfield' was one of the most hyped movies of the year after its teaser trailer premiered before "Transformers" last summer.
Add your opinion
Copyright © 2008 Educational Media Company at Virginia Tech Inc. All rights reserved.
about | advertising | archive | contact | print edition | headline emails | join us | subscribe
All stories, photos etc. produced by the Collegiate Times are property of the Educational Media Company at Virginia Tech. No information may be republished without the expressed written consent of the editor of the Collegiate Times.
» Virginia Tech
» VT webmail
 » VT People Search
» My VT / Hokie Spa
 » VT Blackboard
» gmail