[email protected] Technique Entertainment Editor: Patricia Uceda 9 Friday, Entertainment June 24, 2011

This film, like many other superhero movies, compromised between pleasing long-time advocates and indoctrinating neophytes. To do this, the filmmakers have to include the origin for background and a villain to fight. In this case, the two are combined well to make the story feel cohesive enough. However, the script is definitely one of the weakest points of the movie. It tries to both introduce the superhero world and fight a villain at the same time, resulting in a stop-and-go feel that never quite seems to hit a stride. The story works, but the execution is jagged and feels both slow and fast at the same time, not spending time where it should and dragging through others. While Reynolds is charming enough as the carefree test pilot, he never seems to move beyond this one-dimensional characterization. As the Green Lantern, the gravity of his undertaking never seems to settle in to make him a more serious person. As a mostly flippant character, he seems ridiculous, saying the names of alien planets and pleading to other beings for guidance; he is always just too cool. The rest of the cast is mostly surprisingly good with Angela Bassett, Geoffrey Rush, Sarsgaard and Tim Robbins. However, Lively as the leading lady is unbe- lievable from the get-go. With glassy, far away eyes and glacial facial expressions, she possesses the emotional sting of a mosquito, always buzzing around and both- By Chris Ernst ersome to the skin. FILM Senior Staff Writer The most pleasing factor about The Green Lantern is the effects. They are by The Green Lantern and large the best of any movie recently. Nearly every frame is packed with stunts, GENRE: Sci-Fi The Green Lantern is the most recent big budget computer-driven fantasy and unreal feats. People may say that, as usual, Holly- import from Hollywood starring Ryan Reynolds, wood has come up with more wizardry and is just showing off a new effect. While STARRING: Ryan Reynolds Blake Lively and Peter Sarsgaard. The $200 mil- this is probably not true, the movie would have been totally different if produced and Blake Lively lion project introduces yet another superhero to only a few years ago. When the main character can create anything he can imag- DIRECTOR: Martin Campbell America. This time, the offering is helmed by ac- ine, it is hard to say there are too many effects. The effects come loud and fast, but RATING: PG-13 tion movie veteran Martin Campbell, who is best they are rarely overbearing or over-numerous, especially given the subject matter. known for Casino Royale and The Mask of Zorro. What makes The Green Lantern enjoyable is the escapist pleasures it offers. It is OUR TAKE: ««««« While there are not many physical stunts, the not a particularly great movie, but it is exciting and fun. If the audience does not fantasy imagery takes the audience away. By many think too much or try to make too much sense of the fantastic images on screen, standards, The Green Lantern is not good, but its beautiful cast and exciting the movie will pass the hours pleasantly enough. sequences will please dormant summer minds.

Image Courtesy of Warner Bros. Pictures Phish still has what it takes Dreamcoat amazes at Fox CONCERT among the goods that were Alone,’ the band returned SHOWS Narrator typically drives Phish being sold. for a second set. Joseph and the Amazing the emotion of a musical. LOCATION: Verizon Wireless Front man and lead gui- Anastasio really got Technicolor Dreamcoat Besides the two leads, Amphitheater tarist Trey Anastasio, often working on the guitar with LOCATION: Fox Theatre the entire supporting cast DATE: June 14, 2011 called the creative power scorching, high-energy of Joseph is excellent, espe- behind Phish, kept the jams during renditions of DATE: June 21, 2011 cially the children’s choir, OUR TAKE: ««««« crowd bobbing and weav- ‘Sand,’ ’Down With Dis- OUR TAKE: ««««« who show up everyone else ing from the show’s opener ease’ and ’Maze.’ Always with their enthusiasm. All By Brian Edmonds “Dinner and a Movie” un- with smiles on their faces, By Daniel Fuller of the children are from lo- Contributing Writer til its closing song “Quinn the band seemed to be hav- Contributing Writer cal families, and their con- the Eskimo.” The band has ing as much fun as the au- stant presence throughout Spawning from humble retained its main lineup dience. The grooves and The Fox Theatre’s - cur the performance adds to beginnings in Burlington, throughout nearly its whole guitar licks were clean and rent production of Joseph the energy and the gran- Vt. in the early 1980s, Phish career: Anastasio on guitar, tight, avoiding any long and the Amazing Tech- deur. Image Courtesy of Theater of the Stars spent two decades play- Mike Gordon on bass, John “feedback” periods that are nicolor Dreamcoat ex- Joseph’s brothers and ing sold-out shows across Fishman on drums and often customary with jam plodes with energy and their wives all excel in other productions of the America before taking a Page McConnell on key- bands’ performances. They excitement. It is a show their parts as well, and musical, Joseph simply couple of short hiatuses. boards. Anastasio and com- were at their best during the capable of brightening the those with solos are espe- flees the woman’s advances Back to touring and psy- pany grooved together in improvisational work, fol- audience’s day through cially talented. Tony Law- and is accused unfairly. chedelic as ever, the band front of a packed and rau- lowing a guitar solo with a its colorful costumes and son as Pharaoh stands out The problem with this played the first night of a cous crowd, composed of keyboard solo and fantastic its triumphant overtones. as the best supporting ac- production’s interpretation two-day showing at Verizon very diverse demographics. bass work. With musical numbers tor in the cast. While he is that it puts the blame Wireless Amphitheatre on Often, a band in its third Highlights of the sec- that range from upbeat to does not appear until the for Joseph’s misfortune on Tuesday, June 14. decade of existence seems to ond set also include a rarely beautiful to incongruously second act, his presence himself, completely derail- Known predominantly lose its edge after too many played ‘Meatstick’ and a silly, Joseph delivers a mu- dominates the stage. ing the message that he is for its extended improvisa- shows to count and hun- cover of The Beatles classic sical spectrum as varied Even though the prem- an honest man who perse- tional “jams,” Phish did not dreds of thousands of miles ‘A Day in the Life.’ as the famous technicolor ise of Joseph focuses mainly veres over injustice. disappoint, playing two sets on the road. Phish, however, dreamcoat. on the bleak circumstances With the exception of and an encore that spanned remained tight throughout Anthony Fedorov, a of Joseph’s life, the musical the minor issues, Joseph is for the better half of three the entire show, rarely drift- former American Idol con- is ultimately triumphant, enjoyable on every level. It hours. Throw in an amaz- ing into long, spacy jams. It testant, carries the show as presenting positive themes has a broad variety of up- ing light show and turn up was live music at its finest. Joseph with his powerful, of family, perseverance beat music, numerous fun- the speakers to what feels As is customary at a Phish resonating voice. Oppo- and self-worth. ny lines, silly gags, colorful like the unattainable 11th concert, the music touched site him is Janet Metz as Unfortunately, these costumes and backdrops dial, and you have a good all different genres, from the Narrator, who pales themes are slightly under- and an overwhelmingly recipe for one rocking show. jazz to folk to good old rock in comparison. While her mined by a directorial de- optimistic attitude. Their dedicated fan base, and roll. vocal technique is strong, cision that has Joseph sleep Joseph is playing at the often playfully referred to After an impressive she lacks the powerful with his master’s wife, Fox Theatre through Sun- as “Phriends,” came along first set including Phish voice demanded of her causing his enraged mas- day, June 26. Shows are at for the ride, setting up stalwarts such as ‘Ocelot’, role. Metz has moments ter to throw Joseph into 8:00 PM on Thursday and camp in the parking lot. ‘Fluffhead’ and even an of intensity, but they come prison. Friday, 2:00 PM and 8:00 Psychedelic T-shirts and extended cover of Traf- inconsistently, which is In alternate interpreta- PM on Saturday and 1:30 steak and cheese fajitas were fic’s ‘Light Up or Leave Me Image Courtesy of Elektra disappointing because the tions of the scene by some and 7:00 PM on Sunday. 10 • June 24, 2011 • Technique COMICS

Piled Higher & Deeper by Jorge Cham Non Sequitur by Wiley COMICS Technique • June 24, 2011 • 11

Non Sequitur by Wiley DILBERT ® by Scott Adams