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The Student News Site of Biola University

The Chimes

The Student News Site of Biola University

The Chimes

The Student News Site of Biola University

The Chimes

Burton’s “Alice” is deeper, darker and a letdown

Johnny Depp plays the Mad Hatter in Tim Burton's "Alice in Wonderland," which opened last week.
Tim Burton's "Alice in Wonderland" goes deeper than other "Alice" tales, but it doesn't measure up to Burton's other films.
Tyler Stewart, Writer March 8, 2010
Tim Burton's "Alice in Wonderland" goes deeper than other "Alice" tales, but it doesn't measure up to Burton's other films.

“The Crazies” delivers jumps, thrills and gore

“The Crazies,” starring Timothy Olyphant and Radha Mitchell, is a remake of the 1973 film of the same name by George Romero of “Night of the Living Dead” fame.
How do you get audiences to pay $11.50 for a movie, which, at least initially, appears to scream sub-par? "The Crazies" can answer.
Andrew Oxenham, Writer March 1, 2010
How do you get audiences to pay $11.50 for a movie, which, at least initially, appears to scream sub-par? "The Crazies" can answer.

The Workday Release pushes the ordinary

The Workday Release's new album "Farther from Familiar," is based on the book "The Dream Giver" by Bruce Wilkinson. The band recently performed at the House of Blues in Anaheim.
The Workday Release, which has close ties to Biola, releases its new thought-provoking album "Farther Familiar."
Amy Ortega, Writer March 1, 2010
The Workday Release, which has close ties to Biola, releases its new thought-provoking album "Farther Familiar."

“Shutter Island” entices with beauty, captures with acting

In "Shutter Island," Leonardo DiCaprio is a U.S. Marshal sent to investigate a missing inmate from a shady mental institution.
Audiences may question their own sanity after watching Martin Scorsese's psychological thriller starring Leonardo DiCaprio.
Jonathan Hudson, Writer February 24, 2010
Audiences may question their own sanity after watching Martin Scorsese's psychological thriller starring Leonardo DiCaprio.

“Percy Jackson” falls short of Mt. Olympus heights

"Percy Jackson and the Olympians: The Lightning Thief" fails to do more than fall in place with a long line of children's books adapted for the big screen.
“Percy Jackson and the Olympians: The Lightning Thief” reaches for the heights of Mount Olympus, but only makes it as far as the great mountain’s entrance gates.
Harmony Wheeler, Writer February 17, 2010
“Percy Jackson and the Olympians: The Lightning Thief” reaches for the heights of Mount Olympus, but only makes it as far as the great mountain’s entrance gates.

All-star cast can’t make audience love “Valentine’s Day”

Although "Valentine's Day" contains big names like Julia Roberts and Ashton Kutcher, the film can't overcome romantic comedy clichés.
Audiences with high expectations for "Valentine's Day" should be prepared to succumb to the cheesiness of a cliché romantic comedy.
Chantelle Gibbs, Writer February 16, 2010
Audiences with high expectations for "Valentine's Day" should be prepared to succumb to the cheesiness of a cliché romantic comedy.

Much brooding, little thought in “The Wolfman”

"The Wolfman," a modern retelling a classic horror tale, does not do justice to its strong roots.
It takes very little to ruin a good film. Even with the best intentions, all it takes is one person to dismantle all the hard work of a hundred others.
Jonathan Hudson, Writer February 16, 2010
It takes very little to ruin a good film. Even with the best intentions, all it takes is one person to dismantle all the hard work of a hundred others.

“Devoted ‘Till Death” takes on opera’s great scenes

Opera tends to get a negative rap, stereotyped as the long, boring shows with too many high notes. However, “Devoted ‘Til Death” is anything but boring.
Harmony Wheeler, Writer February 10, 2010
Opera tends to get a negative rap, stereotyped as the long, boring shows with too many high notes. However, “Devoted ‘Til Death” is anything but boring.

“Avatar” offers breathtaking visuals but stale story

"Avatar" is a futuristic retelling of the Pocahontas story.
James Cameron uses an amazingly believable alien world to rehash an old natives-versus-colonists storyline.
Matthew Draper, Writer January 7, 2010
James Cameron uses an amazingly believable alien world to rehash an old natives-versus-colonists storyline.

30 Seconds to Mars wages sonic warfare

30 Seconds to Mars new album, "This is War," contains aggressive but also spiritual lyrics.
Spiritual themes slip into the band's decidedly combative new album "This is War."
Job Ang, Writer December 10, 2009
Spiritual themes slip into the band's decidedly combative new album "This is War."

Disney puts new face on old theme

“The Princess and the Frog” recalls previous Disney films (and other films like “Shrek”) as it maintains a typical “be true to yourself” message on top of a love-over-money theme.
"The Princess and the Frog" dabbles in voodoo and remakes the image of the Disney princess -- but only in skin tone.
Harmony Wheeler, Writer December 10, 2009
"The Princess and the Frog" dabbles in voodoo and remakes the image of the Disney princess -- but only in skin tone.

“Armored” delivers a predictable action plot

“Armored” centers around an armored car guard crew transferring $42 million that decides it would be better to take the money, a plot that was obviously poorly thought out.
Armored trucks, mediocre action and so-so acting make "Armored" one for the dollar theater.
December 8, 2009
Armored trucks, mediocre action and so-so acting make "Armored" one for the dollar theater.