"Gangs of New York" 4 Stars Martin Scorsese has established himself as arguably the greatest living American filmmaker with such triumphs as "Taxi Driver," "Raging Bull" and "Goodfellas." With such success under his belt, his critics have come to seek perfection at every point.
Movie Review "Welcome to Collinwood" Two Stars Small-time crooks plan what seems to be the perfect job in a decidedly small-time movie. Despite the presence of some of the film industry's bigger names, "Welcome to Collinwood" is good for some chuckles and little else. A zany chain of events begins when the irascible, incarcerated Cosimo (Luis Guzman) lets slip his "bellini" -- that is, a hot tip for a big score.
IMAX -- short for "image maximum" -- is achieving greater visibility in Raleigh. The IMAX Theatre at Exploris recently has seen an explosion in ticket sales with the arrival of "Star Wars: Episode II Attack of the Clones" on the big big screen. Rod Brooks, vice president for administration at Exploris, said the theater has sold out almost nine of 10 "Episode II" shows. Other Hollywood blockbusters have been converted to IMAX in the past. "Fantasia," "Beauty and the Beast" and "Apollo 13" all have been given the IMAX treatment.
Not so long ago, the National Football League aired a series of public service announcements that ended with a common command: "Violence -- don't play that game." To date, however, many video game enthusiasts have ignored such an order. The gaming industry recently has come into its own, fostering one of the most lucrative and powerful entertainment mediums in the world. As its success has risen, so has the scrutiny under which the content of certain games has fallen.
Coke vs. Pepsi. Backstreet Boys vs. 'NSync. Boxers vs. briefs. And now, Sony vs. Nintendo vs. Microsoft. In a video game industry that has experienced a rush of popularity and an explosion of profits in recent years, these three companies are fighting a war of business deals and bottom lines. Sony's Playstation 2, Nintendo's GameCube and Microsoft's Xbox have been duking it out for consumer dollars.
Various Artists Patchwork
In the eyes of the audience, the Apollo Amateur Night Executioner -- aka Sandman, whose real name is C.P. Lacey -- was a clownish presence. To the performers, however, he was more comparable to the Grim Reaper than to Bozo. This human cartoon was responsible for shooing off those acts that didn't catch the fancy of the crowd, which had the unchecked power to cheer or boo whomever it pleased. Friday evening at Carmichael Auditorium, Amateur Night came into its own early on by doing what it does best -- getting the audience involved.
One of the main quarrels with death is that it can silence things that were meant to be said. On the other hand, it can uncover hidden truths just as well. Grayce (Kate Stratton), the main character in writer/director Bekah Brunstetter's new play "Exit Plato," has the luxury -- or burden -- of being both deceased and able to set things straight in the realm of the living.
"Formula 51" 3 Stars Samuel L. Jackson, one of the coolest customers, smoothest operators and hardest-working men in Hollywood, is back to reassert his badness in "Formula 51." Unfortunately, as has been the case with a number of his movies, the film's potential fails to meet that of its star.
