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Northern Star

Northern Illinois University’s student media since 1899

 

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The Student News Site of Northern Illinois University

Northern Star

The Student News Site of Northern Illinois University

Northern Star

Sex Drive, although funny at times, lacks originality

By JEN HANCE | October 20, 2008

With a new teen comedy based on sexuality coming out seemingly every month, it is hard to believe that there are any ideas left that haven't already been used in previous films. However, since there seems to be no end in sight for the production of these...

New ‘W’ film leads to different interpretations

By NYSSA BULKES | October 20, 2008

I'm not sure what Oliver Stone wants me to think. After seeing "W", I, as a viewer, walked away with many different impressions, none of which was very clear in comprehension. The storyline stipulated that the main reason behind George W. Bush's race...

Google’s new phone debuts this week

By DAN STONE | October 20, 2008

Google's G1 phone, featuring the new operating system "Android," will be available on T-Mobile's network this week. The G1 is intended to compete with the iPhone and Blackberry on the smartphone market. Though the G1 doesn't beat the iPhone and Blackberry...

Muscians can’t seem to beat amateurs at Guitar Hero

By DAN STONE | October 20, 2008

With the release of "Rock Band 2" and impending release of "Guitar Hero: World Tour," I once again will have to deal with my non-musician friends beating me senseless at simulated-guitar. I'm not alone though, the majority of experienced guitarists and...

Viewers left to mind meaning of ‘W’ on own

By NYSSA BULKES | October 20, 2008

The Bush administration is now in a theater near you. The Oliver Stone-directed film spans the life of George W. Bush (Josh Brolin) from his years in the Delta Kappa Epsilon fraternity at Yale to his presidency. The movie, while seemingly devoid of a...

Screams of Winter headlines packed House Cafe crowd Sunday

By BRIDGET ORKFRITZ | October 20, 2008

Screams of Winter, along with Another Hero Dies, Fighting the Waves and Minarette performed at The House Café, 263 E. Lincoln Highway, Sunday night. Winter, the headliner, filled The House with heavy screams and growls which mimicked a metal sound...

‘Max Payne’ better left to videogames

By ORLANDO LARA | October 19, 2008

Insert "Max Payne" pun here. The worse it is the better it will describe the movie. The latest videogame-to-film venture is just as disastrous as any of its predecessors, except for the perfectly done "Mortal Kombat." The action-film follows NYPD Detective...

Batman doesn’t kill – or will he?

By ORLANDO LARA | October 19, 2008

Even after just watching the trailer or a commercial for "The Dark Knight," the most Batman-challenged person could have figured out that there is a line the Caped Crusader does not cross. But it looks like he's about to deliver a batarang to that line's...

An open letter to moviegoers

By ORLANDO LARA | October 19, 2008

Dear moviegoer, Listen, I know your life is pretty busy. You've got work, family, friends and a bunch of other stuff going on. So I understand you wanting to go to the movies to relax. But I don't think you realize you're not the only one in the theater....

Five things that ruined my childhood

By DAN STONE | October 19, 2008

5. "Saved By the Bell: The College Years"

This terrible attempt at keeping a show alive taught me the world loves sequels. They like to milk as much as they can from anything with a fan base. Appreciating a show for the good times and letting it die gracefully just doesn't happen. If there's still money to be made, it just keeps on going, even if it's at the fans' expense.

4. "Doug"

This show taught 5-year-old Nyssa that if she did something wrong, all would be well if the "Doug" theme song were played after the inevitable scolding. If I dropped a plate, I'd play the "Doug" theme song in my head, imagining that my mom would react like the characters on "Doug" did whenever he screwed up. If I just imagined a fuzzy outcome, I assumed everything would turn out fine. Yeah, life doesn't work that way. Wow, was middle school a rude awakening.

3. "Romy and Michele's High School Reunion"

This movie prematurely scared me out of enjoying high school. Lisa Kudrow and Mira Sorvino were just so cool, I knew I couldn't possibly be a member of the A Group. If they were outcasts, then I wanted to be an outcast too. In reality, I wish I hadn't thought of high school that much as a kid. It totally took the fun out of hating it when I actually attended.

2. "Are You Afraid of the Dark"

This show cost me nights of sleep. My parents were ready to ban the channel from our living room, but every time I pleaded with them to still let me watch it. I was getting older, I argued. I could totally handle it, I said. Every time they obliged, and then every time I'd watch it again and proceed to be totally freaked out. By the time I was older and watched "The Exorcist," I fell asleep. I'd already lost too much sleep over scary stuff.

1. The Spice Girls

I wanted to be Posh Spice. It's taken years to be able to admit it in public, but I'm stepping out of my box of shame. In the fifth grade, I owned countless pairs of platform shoes, had perfected the two-fingered peace sign for any impromptu photo shoots, and took it upon myself to own every piece of Spice Girl memorabilia ever manufactured. My obsession made them all filthy rich.

Palin, SNL fail to be funny Saturday

By CHRIS KRAPEK | October 19, 2008

After much not-so-secret speculation that vice-presidential nominee Sarah Palin would be appearing on "Saturday Night Live" this week, her overall role in the show was about as exciting as the Cubs in the playoffs. Palin appeared during a sketch within...

Presidential candidates debate ‘Scooby-Doo’

By DEREK WALKER | October 16, 2008

Coming off the heels of last night's sit-down debate, Senators Obama and McCain have agreed to come together once more. Moving away from tired, trivial topics such as the economy (which is booming), foreign policy (also booming) and the war (literally...