Tag: Shyam Vedantam
-
The Mercury’s Summer Wrap-up
MALAYSIAN FLIGHT MH17 CRASHES On July 17, Malaysian Airlines flight MH17, flying from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur, was shot down over Ukrainian air space, killing 298 passengers and crew. As investigators and medical experts struggled to reach the crash site in pro-separatist eastern Ukraine, the Ukrainian government, pro-Russian separatists and Russian president Vladimir Putin denied…
-
‘Lucy’ underwhelms with predictable plot, unimpressive action
SPOILER ALERT Scarlett Johansson escapes from the Marvel universe and gets to play her own superhero in “Lucy.” Unfortunately, the result is unintentionally cheesy and dumb. Directed by Luc Besson, “Lucy” stars Johansson as a 25-year-old American in Taiwan. She isn’t given much of a description before her newfound boyfriend forces her to deliver a briefcase to…
-
‘Purge’ sequel disappoints
“The Purge: Anarchy” is a surprising step forward in the franchise but only because the first one was so poor. James DeMonaco returns after directing last year’s “The Purge,” a critically panned, but financially successful, film (on a $3 million production budget it grossed $89 million worldwide). So, of course, Universal pictures created a sequel…
-
‘Dragon’ sequel delights with vibrant visuals, heartfelt story
“How to Train Your Dragon 2” could easily rest on its stunning visuals, but the film combines 3D with a touching story that elevates the film to a Pixar-like quality. Taking place five years after the first film, the sequel finds dragons and Vikings existing in harmony instead of being at odds. Hiccup (Jay Baruchel), with…
-
Summer Pop Review
Neon Trees electrifies at House of Blues Marcelo Yates Keeping the crowd out late on June 1, pop rock band Neon Trees performed at the House of Blues Dallas to promote its latest album “Pop Psychology.” British-American indie rock band Nightmare and the Cat kicked off the evening with a large crowd eagerly awaiting…
-
Macfarlane’s Western comedy misses the mark
Most known for his work on “Family Guy,” Seth MacFarlane’s presence has blown up recently. He has expanded his voice work on “Family Guy” to shows like “American Dad” and “The Cleveland Show,” while also writing and directing the feature film “Ted.” He has become famous, or some might say infamous, for his hosting of…
-
‘Neighbors’ a comedy with heart
“Neighbors” asks millennials what is cool after having a child. How does this generation transition from young adulthood to adulthood. Are late night raves still an option? Can parents smoke weed or get wasted before coming home to their newborns? Through a comedic viewpoint, these are issues many of this generation is or will be…
-
‘Under the Skin’ flick offers art house sci-fi
When a nude Scarlett Johansson starts undressing another woman, it should be titillating and exciting. In the context of “Under the Skin,” the nudity is void of any emotion. Directed by Jonathan Glazer, “Under the Skin” offers none of the guarantees of normal Hollywood films, but it’s still worth experiencing. Experiencing, rather than watching, is…