Reviews

A&E

“Aloha” is a white-washed, red-hot mess

By Elizabeth McCauley | July 7, 2015

A love story can be incorporated into just about any topic. Ideally, the romance would encompass and advance the entire narrative, such as the love between a poor artist and a wealthy aristocrat which fosters a broader message against classism in “Titanic.” Framing a love story within unique or trying circumstances is convenient from a writing standpoint and for making historic or tragic events more comprehensible.

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A&E

Sense8 is a bold and grand piece of work despite flaws

By Sam Henson | June 19, 2015

The first season of “Sense8” is the latest release from streaming-powerhouse Netflix. The show was conceived and driven by the Wachowski siblings, best known for the “Matrix” films, and co-creator J. Michael Straczynski. 

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News

A$AP Rocky’s new era opens with growth

By Samantha Rafalowski | June 19, 2015

Lord Pretty Flacko, better known as A$AP Rocky, has been quiet the last few years, but he certainly has not been inactive.

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A&E

“Mad Max: Fury Road” paves new course for action films

By John Mattingly | May 21, 2015

In Rob Reiner’s 1984 mockumentary, “This is Spinal Tap,” a member of the eponymous, fictitious rock band explains that, unlike most speaker systems, which go from one to 10, theirs go to eleven.

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A&E

Who is Snoop Dogg?

By Karim Saoud | May 19, 2015

Those looking for the Snoop Dogg’s classic rap styles will be thoroughly disappointed in his newly released album “Bush.” While the artist retains his quirky lyrics and cannabis-focused themes, the vocals in each of the ten songs fully overpower the little remaining rapping.

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A&E

Marvel Mondays: Age of Ultron

By Charles Hancock | May 19, 2015

In 2012, Marvel’s first installment of “The Avengers” rewrote the book on superhero blockbusters and on modern franchises.

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A&E

“4” collects fourth-year creative writing in concrete and abstract forms

By Robert Shimshock | May 13, 2015

An anthology is the salad bowl of literature — in fact, this is what “4: An Anthology of Fourth-Year Writing” strives to be.

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A&E

The Jefferson Theater’s best shows of the semester

By Arts & Entertainment Staff | May 13, 2015

Charlottesville’s music scene is a busy one, and this past semester proved to be no exception to this rhythmic rule.

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A&E

A major debut for Major and the Monbacks

By Matthew Leon | May 6, 2015

The eight-piece rock ‘n’ roll band known as Major and the Monbacks, featuring U.Va. alum Cole Friedman, his twin brother Neal and several other Norfolk natives, offers a sound reminiscent of 1960s rock.

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A&E

“The Messengers” is filled with choppy acting, sub-par visuals, but lots of potential

By Anelle Mensah | April 29, 2015

Given the CW’s current trend of focusing on supernatural and post-apocalyptic shows — like “The Vampire Diaries,” “The Originals,” and “The 100” — it comes as no surprise that the CW has gone one step further with its latest show “The Messengers,” which adds angels into the fictitious fray. “The Messengers” follows five individuals who are granted supernatural powers when a meteor strikes the Earth.

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A&E

“Botched” is no hack job

By Anelle Mensah | April 24, 2015

The hit E! reality television series “Botched” chronicles the work of plastic surgeons Dr. Terry Dubrow and Dr. Paul Nassif as they seek to rectify cases of plastic surgery that have gone horribly, horribly wrong.

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A&E

Same Game, New Rules

By Ryan Waligora | April 24, 2015

Warning: This review contains spoilers. Winter has passed, and “Game of Thrones” is back.

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A&E

HBO: More than just “Game of Thrones”

By Walker Peterson | April 24, 2015

Sunday night has always and will always be the best time for television dramas. Now, with “Game of Thrones,” the final season of “Mad Men,” and network powerhouse “The Good Wife,” all playing on this hallowed field, HBO has competition.

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A&E

Vinegar Hill subject of profound Jefferson School Foundation exhibit

By Alexis Jones | April 23, 2015

Vinegar Hill, a once-vibrant neighborhood in Charlottesville, was the feature of last Saturday’s Jefferson School Foundation exhibit, which showcased the historically African-American neighborhood in its prime.

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A&E

“Daredevil” delivers

By Walker Peterson | April 21, 2015

Superheroes and live action TV shows have never worked together — it is too expensive to show cool stuff audiences may want to see, and superheroes ultimately end up lackluster.

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A&E

Tyler, The Creator releases strangely satisfying “Cherry Bomb”

By Nate Wolf | April 21, 2015

Tyler, The Creator and his California collective Odd Future emerged about five years ago with a unique brand of particularly profane, aggressive, eyebrow-raising rap.

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A&E

Neutral Milk Hotel is a bittersweet show at The Jefferson

By Dixon White | April 17, 2015

“What a beautiful face I have found in this place that is circling all round the sun. What a beautiful dream that could flash on the screen in a blink of an eye and be gone from me.

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A&E

Brian Wilson’s collaborative disaster

By Noah Zeidman | April 17, 2015

The Beach Boys’ 2012 album “That’s Why God Made The Radio” was something of a miracle. It included all the surviving original members, together for the first time in over a decade, performing brand new sunshine-packed songs which almost felt like classics.

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A&E

“Beat the Champ” — a heavyweight of an album

By Noah Zeidman | April 17, 2015

John Darnielle, the creative force behind and former sole member of The Mountain Goats, is a master of the story-song.

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A&E

Keeping up with Kardashian antics

By Freddie Lee | April 17, 2015

The Kardashians returned to the E! network this past March and have proven to be as engaging as ever to “keep up with.” This season, viewers get an uncomfortably close peek into the lives of these women for the 10th time.