ALBUM REVIEW: Herbie Hancock’s “River” respectable, reflective and risqué
Few in the jazz world command respect on par with pioneering pianist and composer Herbie Hancock, and his most recent release, “River: The Joni Letters,” shows why. Though lacking in the barn-burner department, the soultry wisdom of the musician comes out in a kaleidoscopic display of timbre and rhythm.
“Enchanted” charms new, old-school Disney fans
The Disney empire rakes in millions of dollars, so why should we give them another $8.50 to see “Enchanted”? There have been many movies about humans who wind up in animated worlds, including “Who Framed Roger Rabbit?” and even the infamous “Monkeybone.” But “Enchanted” shows us what happens when an animated Disney princess, Giselle, arrives in our world – in modern-day New York City, to be exact.
DVD REVIEW: Numerous plots, impressive visuals make ‘World’s End’ a satisfying conclusion
Out on DVD Tuesday and once again starring Johnny Depp, Orlando Bloom and Keira Knightley, director Gore Verbinski’s crazy threquel, “Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End,” delivers on its promises – concluding most of the plot’s loose threads – but it takes a while to get there.
Rival schools set aside differences in name of art
VCUarts and Temple University’s Tyler School of Art have teamed up for a special two-part, cross-state exhibit featuring the best of crafts and sculpture from both schools. Amy Hauft, chair of the sculpture department, emphasized the healthy raport the two schools share.
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Charlie Turner’s piece in the Nov. 29 Commonwealth Times was fascinating simply because his outrage about the “violations” of our civil liberties appears to stem from an article that was immensely popular on the Web site Digg.com. This article alerted the public to the “danger” presented to the public in the form of an academic commission that would be created by Congress, were this bill to pass into law, to study how homegrown terrorism (like the terrorists who have been active in England recently) is facilitated by new technologies, particularly the Internet.
By 2050, robots might be programmed to love
The “Futurama” pilot premiered a long time ago – okay, so 1999 was only eight years ago – but it’s still pretty hilarious. Remember when Fry first met Bender by that suicide booth? “You really want a robot for a friend?” Bender asked. “Yeah, ever since I was 6!” Bender consented with, “But I don’t want anyone to think we’re robosexuals, so if anyone asks, you’re my debugger.
Office of Health Promotion combats student stress with free massages, yoga, Tai Chi
To help students monitor and cope with their levels of stress while finishing up the semester, VCU’s office of Health Promotion is sponsoring “Stress Relief Week” from Dec. 3 through Dec. 8. “Stress Relief Week” aims to give students the opportunity to take a break from studying with positive, stress-reducing activities.
Student-led campaign supports Richmond businesses, aims to halt corporate takeovers
As the Starbucks espresso machines rattled loudly in the background, Derek Chamberlin explained the importance of shopping at small, local businesses and how the ShopRVA campaign and new Web site work to create a sustainable business community in Richmond.
Abstract sculpture keeps students guessing
An unmarked sculpture placed on the lawn in front of the School of Business Building at the beginning of the semester has some students puzzled. Titled “Soft,” the abstract sculpture is the work of artist Craig Wedderspoon, who stated in an e-mail, the piece represents “an argument between individuals as expressed through what they have unknowingly left behind.
BRIEFS
WORLD JOHANNESBURG, South Africa- The world must not grow complacent about AIDS because the number of new HIV infections still outpaces the number of those being treated for the disease, former South African President Nelson Mandela said at a benefit concert Saturday.