Ahhhhh. The Hunger Games. When I first glimpsed the title several years ago, I thought, “A game about starvation? That’s an unusual plot.” But Suzanne Collins’s book supplied far better reading than anticipated. In fact, it deserved to be a movie (which it now is). Collins provided enough action to keep me entertained and enough drama—and yes, romance—to make the violence more than just senseless … Continue reading The Hunger Games: Read it before you watch the movie

If you’re a fan of Sherlock Holmes, you may be disappointed. If you’re a fan of Robert Downey Jr., Jude Law and quick moving scenes, you’re due to watch the newest installment of the Sherlock Holmes franchise, Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows. In this sequel, Holmes is up against his cunning and (perhaps more brilliant) adversary, Professor Moriarty (Jared Harris, Mr. Deeds) and it’s … Continue reading Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Action, Not Mystery

…you don’t need to be that funny Although there’s no cabin fever or professional pirates in the newest Muppet movie, The Muppets. There’s still that element of muppety flavor that is in its own way irresistible. It’s hard to replace Tim Curry, but Jason Segel and Amy Adams do just fine. There’s just about everything anyone could ever hope for (and expect) from any Muppet … Continue reading When you’re a professional Muppet…

The Gustavus Communication Studies Club invites the Gustavus community to take part in the upcoming annual spring Blood Drive, hosted by the club in conjunction with the Red Cross from noon to 6:00 p.m. on March 7 and 8, 2012, in Alumni Hall. “This is the fourth blood drive for me, but as far I know, the history of the Blood Drive at Gustavus goes … Continue reading Blood Drive aims to get record numbers

All for one and one … and a half stars The great theatre professor Henry MacCarthy once told me, “Do not add anything to your scene that does not help the story.” Director Paul Anderson ought to take notes here on the movie The Three Musketeers. It seems he took every comedic one-liner action sequence and thrilling music number, threw it in a blender and … Continue reading The Three Musketeers

Welcome! In this column, you will find reviews of books (both awful and awesome), as well as various other things. Today, the book of choice is Jonathan L Howard’s Johannes Cabal the Detective. Howard has created a character with the sharp intellect of Sherlock Holmes, the utter moral bankruptcy of Artemis Fowl and the rapier wit of both. In Johannes Cabal the Detective, Johannes Cabal, … Continue reading Pick up a book— Johannes Cabal the Detective

The Vagina Monologues reaches out to help end violence against women Returning to campus this spring is the annual Vagina Monologues, a production put on by the Womyn’s Awareness Center (WAC) and performed by Gustavus students from all backgrounds. In support of V-Day, a world-wide movement to end violence against women, this compilation of dialogues is rehearsed annually and performed. The production covers topics in … Continue reading Listen to your heart, your mind, and, your vagina