All Entries in the "Reviews" Category

Cult 35: ‘Win Win’ succeeds without stereotypes

By D.J. ARIZMENDI

For the most part, sports movies try to make you feel inspired, motivated and euphoric. “Win Win” will not make you feel any of these things.

However, strong feelings do arise and the film’s sense of humor never gets ahead of the story.

Under-rated Paul Giamatti plays a down-on-his luck attorney named Mike Flaherty. He faces having to close his practice because he can’t generate enough business.

Going against the traditional belief that lawyers are scum, Mike handles his cases honestly. The plot implies that’s the reason for his financial struggle.

The one bright spot in his life is coaching a high school wrestling team. The only problem is that the team sucks, severely.

When an elderly client named Leo Poplar (Burt Young) pops into Mike’s office for what should be a simple case, temptation enters the equation.

State officials want to put Leo in a retirement home because they believe he is incapable of living alone.

At first, Mike is genuinely concerned about Leo’s fate. Once in court, however, he realizes he can help himself out of his financial slump, at the cost of his client’s independence, by accepting $1,500 a month to serve as Leo’s guardian.

Mike convinces the court he should be Leo’s guardian, then throws Leo in the dungeo… I mean retirement home. Mike figures Leo should be fine as long as he routinely checks on him.

Thinking that no one attached to Leo would ever appear, Mike is shocked when he finds Leo’s 16-year-old grandson Kyle (Alex Shaffer) waiting at his grandfather’s previous residence.

Kyle, lighting a cigarette like a developed habit, tells Mike he came from another state to live somewhere temporarily because his mother is in rehab.

Mike feels sorry for Kyle, and allows him to stay at his home for a night to catch the next bus back to his hometown.

Before the bus goes far, Kyle gets kicked off and sent back to where the bus originated. Kyle admits to Mike that he got booted on purpose and did not want to return to his mother’s home.

When Mike’s wife,  Jackie (Amy Ryan), discovers that Kyle lives in a destructive household, she provides room in the house and allows him to stay as long as he pleases.

With no one to really talk to, Kyle starts to follow Mike everywhere during the day.

Kyle becomes intrigued after witnessing several wrestling practices, and wants to give this whole wrestling thing a try.

At the next practice, Kyle wins a few sparring rounds, then crushes the entire team in wrestling fundamentals.
The movie tries to be a bit realistic, so does not use the traditional convention of natural talent.
Mike digs up information on his prodigy and discovers Kyle was once a real threat in the wrestling world. He suddenly dropped out, and Mike intends to find out why.

“Win Win” is one of those special little films that becomes a chameleon with whatever subject matter is on screen. Both the drama and comedy succeed, and the acting is powerful.

Even the sport portrayed achieves common-sense ground that doesn’t take itself too seriously or too lightly.

In other words, this movie truly is a win-win.

FYI
“Win Win”
Director: Thomas McCarthy
Starring: Paul Giamatti, Alex Shaffer, Amy Ryan, Burt Young
Length: 106 minutes
Where it can seen: Blu-ray/DVD or video on demand

TOP 10: Best board and card games

By MYLO ERICKSON

As nerds, my friends and I often play board and card games when we get together. They can be great fun, especially if you get caught up in the fantasy of the game.

Here are 10 of my favorite board or card games, with a brief description and a retail price. You can find lower prices if you look around.

1. Robo Rally- Players take the role of robots with a task of reaching flags. You can become a robo junk heap if other players or obstacles knock you off the board or destroy you. 2-8 players, $54.99.

2. Survive: Escape From Atlantis- Players control tribes desperately trying to flee the sinking city of Atlantis. Sea monsters, whales and sharks allow you or your friends to hinder each other’s advancement to one of four safe islands. 2-4 players, $49.99.

3. Scattergories- Off the top of your head, can you name a sport, an ice cream flavor and              something in a pet shop that all begin with the letter B? The trick is to take on 12 categories in                                            three minutes or less and not match anyone else’s answers. 2-6 players, $39.99.

4. Family Business- In this card game, you control one of many mob families. Your objective is to put all rival families on the execution wall, leaving yours as the last mobsters standing. 2-6 players, $14.99.

5. Formula D- Get behind the wheel of a race car and try to beat your friends. Go around the track as fast as you can but don’t push it too hard or you just blow your engine. 2-10 players,    $59.99.

6. Zombies!!!- Be the first to make it past a zombie hoard to a heliport. Stop a friend’s advancement by putting zombies in the way or taking away bullets. There are numerous expansions available. 2-6 players, $27.99.

7. Management Material- In this card game of cubicle denizens, the only way to win is to remain a corporate peon. Use lame excuses to pass impossible projects to other players and avoid being promoted to management. 2-5 players, $14.99.

8. Pit- Shout a deal and trade your cards to corner the market. Be the first to get all cards for one commodity, ring the bell and win the hand. 3-8 players, $13.99.

9. Power Grid- Work to supply the most cities with power. Compete by buying power plants and resources. Deal with struggles to upgrade while keeping enough wealth to expand. 2-6 players, $44.99.

10. Apples to Apples- It’s as easy as “comparing apples to apples.” Just open the box and deal the cards. Select the card from your hand that best describes a card played by the judge. If the judge picks your card, you win that round. Everyone gets a chance to be the judge. 4-10 players, $27.99.

Faceoff: Who makes the best mac ‘n’ cheese?

TEAM KRAFT

By RYAN TSARSIS

Kraft is where it’s at. Kraft macaroni and cheese was a staple in my childhood and in the childhoods of many of us growing up in the ‘80s and ‘90s.

Who doesn’t love those classic Mario Brothers, Rugrats, Scooby Do, Flintstone and Spongebob Squarepants pasta shapes?

If you crave mac and cheese, you go with the original, the blue rectangular box of excellence — Kraft. It’s “the cheesiest” and the mac daddy of all mac and cheese brands.

Now let me get to Velveeta Shells. What are Velveeta Shells, many may ask? Exactly. They’re unknown and unimportant.

It’s worth mentioning that Velveeta is not real cheese. It is a “pasteurized prepared cheese product.”

Kraft Mac and Cheese also offers a variety of options, such as the “Deluxe” style. If powdered cheese isn’t to your liking, the deluxe version provides an elegant pouch of liquid cheese.

Kraft also makes Velveeta, but does not incorporate the Kraft name into its Velveeta marketing. That’s another red flag. If a company is proud of its product, why not brand it? Kraft mac and cheese is the “A” lister and Velveeta is the something else.

If you want macaroni and cheese, why would you buy shells and cheese? I have no idea.

If you’re curious, try Velveeta. However, it can’t begin to compare to the one and only — Kraft macaroni and cheese.

—

TEAM VELVEETA

By MEGYN FITZGERALD

Macaroni and cheese is like a day off work — even when it’s bad, it’s still good. That being said, not all macaroni and cheese is created equal.

Velveeta brand is the crème of the crop. When you open a box of Velveeta, you are greeted by a shiny pouch of gooey cheese sauce and uncooked shells.

Opening a box of Kraft is disappointing — similar to opening a giant gift Christmas morning, only to find that your parents stuck in an eight-pack of underwear to keep you guessing.

You’re greeted by dehydrated cheese powder and uncooked elbow noodles.

Since when is powdered cheese appetizing? I can’t think of many appealing foods that come in powder form. Dehydrated milk? Baby formula? No thank you.

In addition, Velveeta macaroni and cheese takes one of the simplest dinners in existence and does something glorious with it – makes it even simpler!

Kraft macaroni and cheese may have been a childhood staple for many of us, but that doesn’t mean we must continue to carry it with us into adulthood. Diapers were a childhood staple too, but I left them in the ‘90s where they belong.

There comes a day when we all must grow up. Grab your big girl panties and begin the transition from the sub-par macaroni and cheese of your childhood to the new, improved macaroni and cheese of your adulthood — Velveeta.

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Which macaroni and cheese brand do you prefer? Post your opinion online at AztecPressOnline.com under the “comments’ section for this story.

Cult 35: ‘Red State’ shows Kevin Smith’s true colors

By D.J. ARIZMENDI

“Red State” holds little back in revealing how independent filmmaker Kevin Smith feels about Hollywood, religion and humanism.

The movie begins by introducing three teenage boys who live in a typical no-name town. They go in search of the devil’s business via a sex website.

When they arrive at a love nest buried deep in backroads, an oddly not-as-advertised mature woman awaits them. With raging hormones, the desperate boys are not dissuaded.

Before any romance begins, the woman asks the teens to drink some beer. The boys black out before anyone gets naked.

One teen, Travis, awakes to find himself trapped inside a small cloth-covered metal cage probably meant for dogs. He is not sure where he is, but can hear sounds of worship.

It is soon revealed that Travis and his two buds have been kidnapped by a local extremist Baptist congregation called Five Points Church. Travis will be the center of attention for the upcoming sermon.

As the film progresses, government agencies become suspicious of acts going on at Five Points.

Oddly enough, the suspicious acts have to do nothing to do with stealing people. When the climax hits, nobody sees it coming.

Really good actors save this seemingly traditional scared-straight horror-thriller formula. The cast includes Melissa Leo, John Goodman and Michael Parks.

This is a huge achievement, not only for director Smith but for independent films in general. It proves that small titles can attract big names.

Even though Leo and Goodman are the best-known cast members, they are embarrassingly overshadowed by Parks’ performance. He plays the role of the Five Points pastor.

Parks does the impossible and makes the audience listen to his hate speech as if it is ultimate truth. He utters almost every word with fervor. It addition, he physically matches the look needed for a perfect portrayal.

To fully understand the themes shown in “Red State,” read the history of its creation.

Hollywood moguls wanted this movie to fail because they couldn’t buy it.

Movie bloggers wanted to say it sucked because they did not understand its creative process.

Smith fans did not want to see the movie because it was not part of his “skew-iverse.”

“Red State” redefines what it means to be a true independent filmmaker. Everyone who cares for the integrity of entertainment should see it.

FYI

“Red State”

Director: Kevin Smith

Starring: Michael Parks, Melissa Leo, John Goodman

Length: 88 minutes

Where it can be seen: Almost any service that provides video-on-demand.

© 'Red State'

‘Dead Island’ has a strong pulse

By D.J. ARIZMENDI

Over the years I have looked at video games more as art than games, critiquing flaws and praising subtleties.

“Dead Island” is the shallowest video game experience I have played in some time…and I am enjoying the hell out of it.

The setup is so simple, even a zombie can understand it.

After a drunken bender on a tropical island, your character awakes in a hut surrounded by zombies. You have no knowledge of what happened or how you got there. Imagine it as the “Hangover: Undead Edition.”

Of course the point of the game would be to find out how all these innocent people became zombies and bring justice, right?

Nope. The only thing that matters is survival and escape.

Players can select from four different walking stereotypes, each with distinctive skills.

Xian Mei is an Asian woman who’s good with kitchen knives.

Sam B. is a washed up rapper that can wield a baseball bat like Barry Bonds.

Logan is a fallen athlete, but still has a good throwing arm that comes in handy for lobbing zombie heads off.

Finally there is Purna, who is basically Angelina Jolie from “Salt” with a fetish for guns.

If you find yourself having a hard time wondering which character to choose, just think about what kind of game you want to play. For instance, knives can slice and dice through zombies, but blunt weapons are more durable.

The gameplay is unique, combining the vastness of “Fallout 3” with the mechanics of “Dead Rising.”

Like the aforementioned games, DI has action RPG elements most would expect like weapon health, stamina bars, critical hits and XP.

The environment itself is anything but typical. At first glance, the graphics don’t look too special, but sunny reflections and open beaches make slaughtering the undead a bit more pleasant.

Even though the story is almost nonexistent, DI gets one thing right that most modern games don’t: fun.

While gleefully slaying zombies, it dawned on me that for years, I have not actually had fun with games. Sure “Dead Space 2” is tense and “L.A. Noire” is dramatic, but they just weren’t fun to play.

With DI, I was able to sit back and have a good time doing nothing. It felt like I was on a video game vacation.

But the vacation comes at a price.

In order to enjoy DI, you have to look past a lot of flaws.

It glitches often, the music is dull, the voice acting is a joke, controls are stiff and the online co-op crashes more often than the vehicles in the game.

What it comes down to is love.

When you love something, you accept it for what it is. And I wholeheartedly adore DI so much that I’ll stand by it through thick and thin, brains or no brains.

Grade: B

Artwork by Miki Jennings

‘Moneyball’ not quite a home run

By LYNDAJOE ECHERIVEL

“Moneyball” is the baseball-tinged version of a modern day Cinderella story.

The film is an adaptation of Michael Lewis’s book about Oakland A’s General Manager Billy Beane (played by Brad Pitt), who helped change the way baseball teams evaluate talent.

Beane knows his low-budget team can’t compete with the deep pocketbooks of baseball’s larger markets, but with the help of young Yale economics grad Peter Brand (played by Jonah Hill) he sets out to rebuild the ‘02 A’s.

Being the baseball fan that I am, I was psyched to see this movie. But halfway through, I felt like they weren’t diving into the issues as deeply as I wished.

Like most movies based on books, I feel the film was missing something. In this case, it was an explanation of Beane’s stalled career as a prospect with limitless potential. Pitt’s shallow portrayal didn’t do Beane justice.

Brand was best part of the film as the perfect foil to Beane’s dominant personality. This movie became more about Brand’s growth than Beane’s devotion to changing baseball.

Overall, I think the movie is a must-see for baseball fans. It’s a fun, smart and breezy story.

Grade: B-

Cult 35: ‘Rubber’ metafictional mess

By D.J. ARIZMENDI

Is it still cool to be meta? “Rubber” answers that question in about two minutes with an emphatic “no.”

The basic premise is a simple and silly one. A worn tire in the middle of the desert becomes sentient and decides to kill people using kinetic powers.

Don’t worry though, it’s an indie movie so it gets deeper.

You simply don’t watch the tire wreak havoc, you watch an audience who is watching the tire commit atrocities from a safe distance.

By now one may ask what is the point? But really, the point is that there is no point.

Even though there have been pointless movies in the past, this one is especially so, as the characters in the film know that they’re in a movie.

For instance there is a scene that has a sheriff asking one of his colleagues to fire a pistol at him. When the sheriff gets hit by the bullets, the impacts are made clear by the blood that comes out, but the sheriff reassures that he is fine because it’s all a fantasy world with smoke and mirrors.

Because of this odd structure, by the middle of the movie there are five different perceptions.

There is the perspective of the tire, the audience watching the tire, the characters that are self- aware, characters that believe the movie to be the real and then the lovely people watching at home.

Describing the movie any further would risk critically spoiling an already thing plot and would potentially not leave room for personal interpretation.

All I will say is that I hope “Rubber” bounces off me and sticks to you like glue.

Movie Info

Title: “Rubber”

Director: Quentin Dupieux

Where it can be seen/bought: Netflix, Amazon, Vudu, and iTunes.

Length: 85 minutes

ON THE TOWN: Mei-Hon food tasty, inexpensive

By CELESTE ORENDAIN

 There are many restaurants in Tucson, some good and some not. But wherever you go, the experience is just as important as the food. Mei-Hon Chinese restaurant offers tasty food, good atmosphere and kindness.

Service:

We went on a Friday afternoon. The restaurant was almost full, but we were seated almost immediately. We ordered drinks and appetizers right away. They arrived after a short, 7-minute wait.

Ambience:

Mei-Hon is definitely a restaurant that puts service first. The place is small, but always has a spot for you. As we entered, we smelled the freshly cooked food from the kitchen and heard it as it was being prepared.

Food:

For our appetizer, we got an order of the fried shrimp. In addition to coming out quickly, it was tasty and crisp.

The pineapple chicken in special hot sauce was delicious as well. The chicken pieces were crispy on the outside and juicy inside. The sauce was a perfect blend of sour and spicy.

The shrimp with broccoli was better than similar dishes I have tried at other restaurants. At first I was worried when I saw garlic on top of the dish, but it was tasty without being overpowering.

Extras:

The staff is very friendly. They made us feel at home, and ready to make a return visit.

Final thoughts:

This is my favorite Chinese restaurant in Tucson, with some of the tastiest Chinese food around. The best part though, is that the plates are inexpensive and worth well beyond their cost.

FYI:

Mei-Hon Chinese Restaurat

Address: 1030 E. Irvington Road

Phone: 294-8739

Hours: Open daily

Monday- Friday: 11a.m.-9 p.m.

Saturday-Sunday: noon-9 p.m.

Website: www.mei-hon.com

Johnny Nunez and Cori Felix enjoy several dishes at Mei-Hon Chinese Restaurant, located on Tucson's South Side.

GAME REVIEW: The ‘Human Revolution’ will be televised

By D.J. ARIZMENDI

Like the name implies, “Deus Ex: Human Revolution” is about progress. Not only on a technical level, but also a surprisingly deep philosophical one that many forms of media fail to reach.

Players assume the role of ex-SWAT officer Adam Jensen in the not-so-distant future of 2027 where the world is now divided among those who embrace the coming evolution of human technology and others who oppose it’s very existence.

At the start of DE:HR, players are treated to cinematics that explain how Jensen went from an elite cop to a security guard for a huge private science research company.

During an ordinary patrol around the facility, a sudden terrorist attack kills many scientists, including Jensen’s ex-girlfriend Meghan.

Jensen is one of the few survivors, saved only by the power of cybernetic augmentations. Almost every part of his body now is a product of design and has become a human Swiss Army knife.

Six months after the attack, Jensen is back on his robotic feet and will stop at nothing to get answers for why the attack took place.

DE:HR has a central hub that players can use to take on side missions, explore new areas and generally mess around.

Even thought the story of the game is fairly linear, it masks that well by allowing the player to decide how they get there.

Almost every area of this game has been designed to satisfy players of all styles of play.

Some might argue that the game rewards stealth gameplay, but in my experience I never felt DE:HR punished me for trying other tactics.

One of the ways the game balances this potential problem is through augmentations.

As players progress through the story they are given experience to upgrade Jensen in any way they feel fit.

The upgrades range from reducing recoil for weapons to busting through walls to choke enemies out. No upgrade is wrong and no matter what skill tree you go with, you will feel like a cyberpunk badass.

Even though all the technology seems a hundred years away on paper, the game does try to keep things grounded.

For instance, the game explains that augmentation is still in its infancy, and its clear this is the first iteration of it being used on humans. People who decide to get them are looked as almost another species, drawing a comparison to racial segregation.

With so much polish, it sadly has a few dings that almost put it in the it’s-too-ambitious-for-its-own-good category.

As great as the story’s beginning and end were, it was everything that was in between that fell into a deep rabbit hole. At times I had no idea what I was doing and who I was doing it for.

I could assume that this problem could be blamed on the game’s huge length of 40 hours and could have benefitted from cutting the game in half to trim the fat.

As other reviews pointed out, the boss fights are tedious and pretty much the most unnecessary part of the game. When it came to the bosses, it’s like the developer decided to make a cover band featuring the bosses of “Metal Gear Solid 4.” It really is cringe worthy for any MGS nerd.

But even with these missteps, DE:HR takes huge leaps toward what video games in this generation can accomplish through free narrative. Video game and sci-fi enthusiasts alike should check it out.

Grade: A-

Music review: Pistol Annies ‘Hell on Heels’

By APRIL GEORGE

Country superstar Miranda Lambert has been busy recently. Between her wedding to fellow artist Blake Shelton and recording her fourth studio album, Lambert somehow managed to find time to form a new country girl supergroup, Pistol Annies.

The group consists of three female country stars: Lambert, Ashley Monroe and Angaleena Presley, known within the group as “Lone Star Annie,” “Hippie Annie” and “Holler Annie.”

The trio released their debut album, “Hell on Heels,” on Aug. 23. The album’s sound is highly reminiscent of early Dixie Chicks, with lyrics that any woman can relate to, catchy bluegrass sound, and short, succinct tracks.

Like the Dixie Chicks, the Annies seem to cater more towards female listeners with their music, but listeners of either gender can enjoy the catchy tunes.

The title track “Hell on Heels” is an anthem to the independent woman, and that theme carries through several other tracks as well, including the sassy “Bad Example.” Most of the tracks are lighthearted and upbeat, but the group deals with heavy subjects in a couple of songs.

One of them, “Housewife’s Prayer,” was written in reference to Presley’s divorce, who said that she seriously considered “setting her house on fire” during the process. Another song, “Family Feud,” talks about the families that fight over everything after a member passes on.

Favorite tracks include “Bad Example,” “Hell on Heels,” “Takin’ Pills” and “Trailer for Rent.”

“Hell on Heels” is a must-listen for fans of traditional country and would be a nice addition to anyone’s library.

GRADE: A+

TOP 10: Best video games you never played

By D.J. ARIZMENDI

If you’re tired of playing “Call Of Duty” but don’t know where to look for a fresh gaming XP, look no further.

The following list delivers 10 fantastic games that few people have ever played. The best part? None require a pre-order.

1. “Killer7”(PS2, GameCube)

Before its release in 2005, there wasn’t a go-to game that qualified as a “cult classic.” Six years and many geo fan sites later, “Killer 7” lives on as a deeply debated game. Details of its complex gameplay and story can’t fit into this paragraph. Pick this game up and prepare to have your perception razed.

2. “You Don’t Know Jack” (PS3, XBOX 360, PC)

Most game show-style video games suck. But YDKJ understands that adults are tired of the traditional “Trivial Pursuit” crap. It offers insightful questions such as, “How many Earths could you stuff into the volume of Uranus before it couldn’t take any more?”

3. “3D DOT GAME HEROES” (PS3)

Remember playing those fantastic “ZELDA” games of the ‘80s and ‘90s? Now you can have the same pixelated/overly frustrating fun in HD! 3DDGH is a sendup of the old school dungeon crawling genre, but it does not compromise gameplay. It’s solid nostalgia through and through.

4. “Deadly Premonition” (XBOX 360)

Combining “Twin Peaks” with Japanese gaming sensibilities, DP offers an experience that is both enigmatic and completely unhinged in an age where many question the Japanese philosophy of game design.

5. “Yakuza 3” (PS3)

“Yakuza 3” takes the elements of brawler classics such as “Streets Of Rage” and adds RPG elements wrapped around a mature storyline. It follows the ins and outs of the Japanese mafia to make a truly compelling adventure.

6. “DJ Max Fever” (PSP)

Music rhythm games have been going downhill since “Guitar Hero” released its 17th iteration, but DJMF takes the genre back to basics. Players have four lines of notes and hit the buttons as they pass the line. It’s a perfect example of simple-to-learn but hard-to-master, and can be played a few minutes at a time.

7. “Shadows of the Damned” (PS3, XBOX 360)

This survival horror/road trip game takes the gameplay of “Resident Evil 4” and blends it with twisted humor. Players assume the role of Garcia Hotspur as he fires his way through Hell to save his girlfriend Paula from an evil lord of demons known only as Fleming. Sound ridiculous? It’s supposed to be. With a story written by SUDA51 (Killer7) and design by Shinja Mikami (Resident Evil), SOTD is probably the only game of its kind with both mechanics and levity.

8. “Earth Defense Force: Insect Armageddon” (PS3, XBOX 360)

Earth is in danger and you, playing as the EDF, must eliminate the threat at all cost. Drawing comparisons to the macho patriotism of  “Starship Troopers,” EDF:IA is a fun ride with simple controls and nonstop point-and-shoot gameplay.

9. “Ico” (PS2, PS3 Sept.27)

Boy meets girl, girl gets in trouble, boy saves girl. This simple narrative is part of what makes “Ico” a modern masterpiece. Everything about the game is subtle, with a clear artistic vision. When players can sense the distant ocean breeze by sound alone, that’s a true sensory experience. Getting a PS2 copy of this game can be difficult, but PS3 will release a HD remake on Sept. 27.

10. “Viewtiful Joe” (PS2, GameCube)

Many games don’t hold up after a few years due to technical upgrades, gameplay enhancements or production quality. “Viewtiful Joe” does. It also has features that newer games still can’t do, or at least well. For instance, VJ lets players manipulate time. If an enemy fires a gun, the player can put on slow-mo to punch the bullet back. In close quarters you can flip the switch to mach speed to unleash a furious flurry of ferocious fists, “Dragon Ball Z” style.

Explosions in the Sky delivers quality show

By KYLE WASSON

Austin-based post-rock geniuses Explosions in the Sky have returned roughly four years after their latest release to debut the fifth full-length album, “Take Care, Take Care, Take Care.”

“Take Care” was released in April 2011 and has slowly gained notoriety for its simplistically spacey guitar riffs and heart pounding drums. The basics of EITS have always been four guitars and one hell of a drum kit.

After touring across the pond all spring, the band will spend the fall and winter on a U.S. tour, gracing cities from Boise to Albuquerque and many in-between.

EITS kicked off their tour on Sept. 1 to a packed house at Tucson’s Rialto Theatre.

The sounds of a gathering storm met the marquee lights accompanying guitarist Munaf Rayani in opening. “All pilots at the ready, we are Explosions in the Sky, we come from Texas.”

Explosions supplied the crowd’s growing energy with the first notes of “The Only Moment we We’re Alone,” instantly igniting shouts from across the theater, calling for liftoff.

Consistency and effort never lacks, just as you expect from the quartet. From capturing the emotion of “Friday Night Lights” in 2004 to their one-night performance in Tucson, EITS appreciates the music and meaning of a quality show, and delivers.

They mostly performed classic songs such as “The Birth and Death of the Day” and “Your Hand in Mine.” Although they touched base on “Take Care,” the focus of the show was keeping true to their foundation albums.

The performance convinced me to finally purchase the new album. Upon rushing home and listening, I can confirm: drummer Chris Hransky’s infectious fills inject the song “Trembling Hands” with drama, supplying the ballad with quite an eclectic pulse.

What excited me most is that EITS never strays from what we all expect whenever we hear their music.

The boys from Midland, Texas are staying in tune with their fans while developing a new and exciting wave of music, never forgetting where they came from.

Guitarist Munaf Rayani falls to his knees during their set Sept. 1 at Rialto Theater. Photo by Kyle Wasson

Music review: Sun Araw’s ‘Ancient Romans’

By KYLE WASSON

As vast as the Roman Empire, Sun Araw front-man Cameron Stallones has recruited a series of syrupy psychedelic trances, a melodic afro beat and a tribal warped dub sound that’s growing into a force to be reckoned with.

In just five years, the L.A. based artist with a passion for filmmaking has molded his creative film background into a flourishing outlook on experimental psychedelic music.

Stallones first appeared as a founding member of Magic Lantern, where multiple demos ultimately led to the first Sun Araw LP, “The Phynx.”

Sun Araw’s anecdote in all tracks is Stallones’ love for filmmaking and the idea of destroying one’s perspective of fixed reality. He replaces normal four-minute tracks with quarter-hour montages of drawn-out dub and cinematic expression.

Attribute the recipe of sound structure and personal artistic release to Stallones’ long-take approach, which gained inspiration from filmmakers such as Bela Tarr and Peter Greenaway.

“Ancient Romans,” as Stallones eloquently describes it, “is the documentation of the slow exit and the triumphal entry.”

Just buying the record and opening it seemed dramatic enough. The 2xLP is on white vinyl in a gatefold jacket, casted with Cameron’s extensive art book. It is also available on CD.

At first, the persistent afro beat and almost nauseating trance nearly scares you away. After further listening, however, the music furnished a vehicle into psychedelic exploration from which I couldn’t depart.

The eight-track LP successfully accomplishes the grand entrance with the Side A first song, “Lucretius.” Heavily-synthed organs accompany an almost ancient war-time dub-step and angelic harp-shreds, creating a subtle yet powerful wall of sound.

The album isn’t merely a compilation of traditional beats and sound waves. Sun Araw and Stallones gathered new percussion with squawky synth in this frontier interpretation of ancient Rome, with an innocent and fun twist.

Sun Araw further proves itself as one of the most exciting, and underrated collectives today.

Favorite tracks include “Fit for Caesar” and “Impluvium.”

“Ancient Romans” was released Aug. 23 by Sun Ark Records through Drag City. You can find the album online at sunaraw.com or at your local record store.

GRADE: B+

Unsung 35mm Heroes: ‘Hobo With A Shotgun’

BY DARCY ARIZMENDI

Since the dawn of film, movies have had a hero. In recent years, a variety of classes, creeds and races were represented. What about the homeless, though? They never had someone to look up to. Until now.

“Hobo with a Shotgun” starts with a glorious title card intro that looks straight from the ‘70s. The obvious homage to the exploitation era is amplified by its statement of using Technicolor.

Our nameless derelict protagonist rolls into a place called Hope Town, but hope is the last thing the town offers. Within minutes, the hobo witnesses merciless violence and crime that surrounds the town like a plague.

Even in the midst of all this chaos, the hobo remains optimistic. He begs his way toward buying a lawnmower he saw at a pawnshop, to start his own business.

One night while working the streets for change, the hobo notices the two big shots of Hope (Ivan and Slick) grabbing bums and forcing them into a pseudo-club building. The hobo follows, and sees violent and torturous acts being inflicted on his brethren.

Waiting for the right opportunity, the hobo attacks Slick with a dirty sock full of coins. He throws him over his shoulder and carries him to the police station.

At the station, it’s revealed the police are just as corrupt as the criminals. They let Slick go.

Feeling at an all-time low, the hobo decides to degrade himself in front of a camera for money. To some, this scene may seem similar to a reality series of DVDs called “Bum Fights.”

Once he gets paid for his self-mutilation, he is finally able to reward himself with the lawnmower of his dreams, or so he thinks.

When he enters the pawnshop, the place is being held up. He’s hesitant at first, but eventually decides he has had enough. The hobo grabs a shotgun off the showroom floor and starts serving justice, one shell at a time.

Now if that setup did not interest you in the slightest, this movie is not for you and you probably said “Transformers 2” was not that bad. If it did, this could be your movie of the year.

If you are a fan of the red stuff, the film will not only fill that appetite but provide a new gold standard for violent scenes.

Almost everything about HWAS lives up to its title. Anyone who was let down by “Machete” will believe once again that the meta-ploitation genre still has relevance. That’s if Rodriguez can stay out of it.

FYI

“Hobo with a Shotgun”

Director: Jason Elsener

Starring: Rutger Hauer

Can be seen on: VUDU, PSN, Amazon Instant Stream, iTunes, XBLA

‘Portal 2’ review: Stayin’ Alive

BY DARCY ARIZMENDI

aztecpress@pima.edu

Photo illustration by Miki Jennings.

Instead of simply rehashing the same jokes, aesthetic and minimalist narrative, “Portal 2” throws away the cake and cooks up a new recipe.

Players return to Aperture Science, once again assuming the heroine Chell. She still remains silent and dons her iconic orange jumpsuit. Even though Chell has not updated her fashion sense, it’s quickly apparent the world around her has undergone heavy cosmetic changes.

The game starts with a robotic character named Wheatley waking you up an unknown number of years after the original game. Even without hard numbers, it’s easy to tell that it has been awhile.

Chell’s bed has sunk into her body shape, the walls seem to be deteriorating and Wheatley reluctantly admits he should have awakened you earlier.

Once you get out of your chamber, thanks to a “Manual override,” the expected setting from the original “Portal” is almost unnoticeable. Instead, the Aperture Science facility looks like it went through the party thrown down in “Bio-Dome.”

It’s not all bad. At least the all-ruling GLaDOS is dead, so your journey should be a cake walk. Like anything good, it does not last long. While trying to escape, GLaDOS gets resurrected and tosses you in a tube like a lab rat for more testing.

Even if you aced the last “Portal” test, P2 proves to be a greater challenge. It introduces new mechanics such as light bridges and gels that can make you jump higher, run faster or make any surface into a portal.

Amazing as these new tools are, they don’t give you an advantage. You can’t just use the new abilities — you have to learn to mix and match each technique. Sometimes combining them creates a new way to travel.

The narrative has also improved. Whether it’s Wheatley or someone else, Chell almost always has a companion. Almost all of the dialogue is must-hear, and actually provides insight into the mysteries of Aperture Science.

The highest praise I can give P2 is the excellent ending. For those afraid Valve wouldn’t be able to strike comedy gold twice, they didn’t. This time they hit oil.

But wait, there’s more. If you buy P2 right now (or anytime at all), you get an additional co-op campaign. Players can select from one of two testing robots.

Since two people can play, twice the portals can be made, which means the puzzles are more difficult. To maximize the fun of this mode, make sure you play with someone you trust and can follow commands.

Though the story in this mode is not as crucial as the single player, it will fill the appetite of any completionist, as it takes place after the events of the main campaign.

Combining intelligent puzzles wrapped in an involved and genuinely funny narrative, “Portal 2” is without a doubt one of the most innovative first-person experiences around.

Grade: A