Movie Review: (500) Days of Summer
Yesterday, August 03, 2009, 7:46:45 PM
By Justin VelasquezAugust 3, 2009
(500) Days of Summer is a moving collage of experiences and events that is impressively conceived and even more incredible to view. This film speaks to anyone who's fallen in, and then out of love - but regardless of your romantic entanglements this film is delightful and inventive from beginning to end.
(500) is not a typical romantic comedy. It does not follow conventional storytelling methods and certainly does not adhere to a trite Hollywood formula. That lifts an incredible weight lifted the film's slender shoulders since it comes with the tagline: "This is not a love story. This is a story about love." That statement alone is everything that you should come to expect from it.
Movie Review: The Ugly Truth
Friday, July 31, 2009, 12:43:15 AM
By Justin VelasquezJuly 30, 2009
Romantic comedies typically contain a proven formula that varies from time to time but all of them contain these bookends: "boy meets girl," and "they both fall in love." The Ugly Truth is no different and the cookie-cutter fashion upon which this film was created is an insult both those who produced this vehicle and those who choose to watch it. The Ugly Truth, in a weak attempt to duplicate the Judd Apatow comedy blueprint, tries to be edgy and poignant but fails on both counts. It's edgy on the side of offensive and poignant on the side of sappy. Ugly is the operative word here; this film is neither funny nor romantic.
Summer Music Games Bring Bands Back To Salem
Saturday, July 25, 2009, 10:05:41 AM
By Daniel Caudill July 25, 2009
For 18 years now, the Summer Music Games of Southwest Virginia has celebrated musical creativity and style. On Monday evening, marching bands and their fans will fill Salem Stadium to continue this tradition of excellence and entertainment.
Sponsored by the Salem Band Booster, the event displays the talents of young adults from around the nation as members of Drum Corps International (DCI). DCI is an organization that strives to display the skills of the nation's very best corps performers.
Movie Reviews: Girlfriend Experience, Moon, The Great Buck Howard
Friday, July 24, 2009, 11:59:27 PM
By Justin VelasquezJuly 24, 2009
The summer is all about blockbusters when it comes to movies, but sometimes you just don't feel like seeing what the hype machine tells you. This week Justin offers up his thoughts on two movies in limited release and another coming to DVD soon. They may be a little tougher to find than your average flick, but each has its own merits that might warrant the extra effort to see.
Jason's World: Specialists Say More Focus Needed For Young Adults With Autism
Thursday, July 23, 2009, 9:40:20 PM
By Millie AlspaughJuly 23, 2009
Mimi Sedjat introduced herself to a young adult named Jason and wrote her name down on a piece of paper. She explained to him that she was there to meet with him because he had been hitting people at work. When Sedjat asked him why, Jason looked at her and grabbed the piece of paper where her name was written.
He wrote down “No work, I hit.”
When Sedjat asked him if he would hit because he didn’t want to work, Jason scribbled out his previous response, drew an arrow to the person across from him and wrote, ‘He no work, I hit.’
Movie Review: The Girlfriend Experience
Thursday, July 23, 2009, 8:44:54 PM
By Justin Velasquez July 23, 2009
Director Steven Soderbergh follows up his four-hour opus, Che, with a film that's much more scaled back and is, beneath the surface, more relatable to the everyday American. The Girlfriend Experience is a project that is muddled and messy, and can easily be ignored due to its slow progression and confusing editing. But Soderbergh is a great director and even though it's not obvious, this film interjects a bolder commentary about everyday social activity and relationships than even the most popular romantic comedy.
Movie Review: Moon
Thursday, July 23, 2009, 8:36:32 PM
By Justin Velasquez July 23, 2009
In what is probably the most mentally challenging film of the year, Duncan Jones conceived and directed a film that will not only test your sensibilities but will keep you on the edge of your seat anticipating every scene in this amazing science-fiction feature. Quirky actor Sam Rockwell plays lonely astronaut Sam Bell and is under contract for Lunar Industries. It is the near future and the Earth's primary source of energy, Helium-3, is in abundance on the surface of the moon. For nearly three years Sam has lived alone on the far side of the moon harvesting this resource. His loneliness and solitude have grown immensely because he can't communicate directly with his wife, Tess (Dominique McElligott), and their young daughter, Eve. His only connection with them, or any human, for that matter, is by taped messages that Sam either sends to his family or receives from them. Luckily, he is nearing the end of his contract and in a matter of weeks he'll be back on Earth, reunited with his two loved ones.
Movie Review: The Great Buck Howard
Thursday, July 23, 2009, 8:26:43 PM
By Justin Velasquez July 23, 2009
The Great Buck Howard is an amazing film that is a tribute to the glory days of show business and entertainment. More importantly the film is an interesting way for one to see what it's like to hang on to those ever important "15 minutes" that no celebrity ever wants to relinquish.
Blacksburg Fixture Closes Its Doors
Tuesday, July 21, 2009, 7:25:14 AM
By Mary K. Wilmer July 20, 2009
Even with the end of its era, "casual but classy" will still be remembered by many in the Blacksburg community.
Bill Ellenbogen, a former Virginia Tech football player, came back to Blacksburg from the National Football League and in 1982 started a business that won the hearts of many.
After 27 years, Bogen's Steakhouse has closed its doors on these hearts, leaving behind years of memories. "Bogen's was a people place," said Ellenbogen.
Movie Reviews: Brüno, Management, The Hurt Locker
Thursday, July 16, 2009, 8:51:37 PM
By Justin VelasquezJuly 16, 2009
As the weekend approaches and you weigh your entertainment options, Planet Blacksburg offers its take on three films that may be worth a look. Find out if Sacha Baron Cohen's Brüno was brütal or brilliant. Watch Jennifer Aniston and Steve Zahn shine in their Management roles. And see why The Hurt Locker continues to gain momentum as it comes out of limited release.
Movie Review: Management
Thursday, July 16, 2009, 8:46:17 PM
By Justin Velasquez July 16, 2009 The adjectives quirky and eccentric come to mind when having to describe the film Management. Two other adjectives that could be used are cute and touching. Management, the new film from writer/director Stephen Belber, is a quaint romantic-comedy that showcases the fine acting skills of Jennifer Aniston and Steve Zahn.
Movie Review: The Hurt Locker
Thursday, July 16, 2009, 8:24:34 PM
By Justin VelasquezJuly 16, 2009
In the summer heat, amongst all the Romulans and Autobots and John Dillingers, is a film that deserves to make more noise than the films already mentioned. Kathryn Bigelow, the director of similar summer films such as Point Break and K-19: The Widowmaker, brings to us a film that is easily her best work. In a time where war and violence is frowned upon but at the same time considered a necessary evil, The Hurt Locker doesn't make statements regarding its stance on war. It's merely a film that shows an aspect of war that is rarely seen or read about - until now.
Movie Review: Brüno
Thursday, July 16, 2009, 8:14:10 PM
By Justin VelasquezJuly 16, 2009
Sacha Baron Cohen is a magnet for trouble. His trouble is the kind that causes major stirs, draws huge laughs and makes millions of dollars. Cohen took Hollywood by storm back in 2006 when Borat was released. His follow-up is sure to stir the same controversy that his prior release did, unveiling another character in his comedy stable: the openly gay, incredibly confident and unbelievably dense Brüno. Along with his faithful assistant to the assistant, Lutz (Gustaf Hammarsten), Brüno is looking to conquer America and become the next big star from Austria.
WUVT Powers Up: Interview with Engineer Kevin Sterne
Wednesday, July 15, 2009, 9:03:24 AM
By Paul CornettJuly 14, 2009
Kevin Sterne knows radio. As the former chief engineer of Virginia Tech's campus radio station, WUVT, he was in charge of all technical aspects of putting the station on the air.
He recently earned his master's degree in electrical engineering at Virginia Tech, so he's been known to fix anything from a broken turntable to faulty wiring inside the soundboard. He has also been in charge of one of the biggest projects in the history of the station: upgrading the transmitter to double the power of the station's signal.
Planet Blacksburg recently sat down with him to discuss the project. The following is a selection of questions from the interview.
Interview: A Day on the New River
Monday, July 13, 2009, 9:22:37 AM
By Mary K. WilmerJuly 13, 2009
Dave Mondy has been guiding folks down the New River for the last 27 years.
As a 1976 graduate of Virginia Tech, Mondy started the New River Junction to initially fix a traffic problem that ended up growing into an exciting and inexpensive summer getaway.
Mondy recently agreed to sit down for an interview with Planet Blacksburg. The following are some questions and answers from the interview.
Summer Movie Reviews
Monday, July 13, 2009, 8:52:57 AM
Planet Blacksburg's resident movie critic Justin Velasquez has been hard at work this summer watching and reviewing the season's offerings. Even with his steady stream of articles coming through, sometimes a few slip through the cracks. Click the links below for Justin's take on some of the box office's latest films and some others you may still be able to catch in theaters.
Movie Review: Away We Go
Monday, July 13, 2009, 8:38:04 AM
By Justin VelasquezJuly 12, 2009
Academy Award-winning director Sam Mendes returns with this small, yet hugely impactful film that explores a familiar subject that he has become known for - family. His previous films typically tackle the dysfunction, ills and evils of a life more ordinary - in Away We Go the viewer is invited to see the origins of a new family, where the seemingly simple choices preclude great consequences that can affect all.
Starring John Krazinski (NBC's The Office) and Maya Rudolph (NBC's Saturday Night Live), the two actors play Burt Farlander and Verona De Tessant, a thirtysomething couple and expectant parents. They've been together for quite some time and during the first six months of the pregnancy everything goes smoothly. A gray cloud falls over the couple's adventure into parenthood when they abruptly discover that Burt's parents, Jerry and Gloria (the delightful Jeff Daniels and Catherine O'Hara), are leaving for Antwerp just a month before the baby's due - for two years.
Movie Review: Taking of Pelham 123
Monday, July 13, 2009, 8:32:06 AM
By Justin VelasquezJuly 12, 2009
Tony Scott returns to the director's chair for the first time since 2006's Déjà Vu to helm Taking of Pelham 123, a remake of the 1974 film. In the original, New York was depicted as gritty, unclean and incapable of adjusting to a well-planned criminal act. Walter Matthau squared off against four baddies who referred to each other only as colors (i.e. Mr. Blue, Mr. Brown, etc.). The four hijackers take over a lone subway train and threaten to kill the hostages trapped inside unless they're paid $1 million dollars in one hour. Matthau's Lt. Zachary Garber is a Transit Authority cop and main negotiator to the hijackers - he has to juggle their demands while maneuvering through New York City's political red tape, and he has to get it done within sixty minutes.
Movie Review: Year One
Monday, July 13, 2009, 8:22:25 AM
By Justin VelasquezJuly 12, 2009
Year One is a tough film to figure out. When viewing the trailers it's obvious that the film is going to be silly, ridiculous, sophomoric and senseless. The idea of seeing Jack Black (Tropic Thunder) cavorting about in little more than a loin cloth (and actually seeing him in one) can certainly be nauseous to many, while looking at young actor Michael Cera (Juno) in a similar outfit can be just as unappealing. Neither are action stars, which is perfect when it comes to garnering laughs. The only question is how far can a joke go? Director Harold Ramis (who also co-wrote) looks to stretch them as far as they can while banking on Black's and Cera's contrasting comedic styles to illicit even more laughs. With these two funnymen together onscreen it's either a recipe for comedy gold or a formula for tragic disaster. After seeing the finished product the concept wasn't a rousing success but it's not a complete failure - unless you're one of many who dislike Jack Black.
Movie Review: Che
Monday, July 13, 2009, 8:16:12 AM
By Justin VelasquezJuly 12, 2009
There are some things you do because you have to. Then there are some things that you do because you want to. In certain cases there are things that are done because it almost needs to be. For Academy Award-winning director Steven Soderbergh, Che is that project. Che chronicles the rise and fall of a political and pop culture icon, Ernesto Guevara (played magnificently by Oscar winner Benicio Del Toro). Also serving as the film's producer, Del Toro and Soderbergh collaborate for the first time since 2000's Traffic, the same project which enabled both artists to win their respective Oscars. At a running time of 257 minutes Che can easily be seen as grandiose or pretentious, but the film's impact is felt each minute as the viewer is able to view the determination and gumption of an individual whose face is printed on numerous t-shirts across the world.
At the very least this bold and daring film will be able to provide a name to the face on the shirt. More importantly, Che is a retelling of the Guevara's involvement in the Fidel Castro-led Cuban Revolution and then his continuing efforts to repeat that successful campaign in Bolivia. Che is actually two films, part one concentrating on Che's rise to power in Cuba and the second part chronicling his life at the height of his fame and power. Regardless, any viewer will be able to understand and see what Che represents: rebelliousness and inspiration.
Tuesday, August 4, 2009
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