Beowulf - 5/10 Starring (voices): Ray Winstone, Brendan Gleeson, Crispin Glover, Anthony Hopkins, Robin Wright Penn, Angelina Jolie, John Malkovich. Plot: The great and fearless warrior Beowulf (Winstone) comes to kill the monster Grendel (Glover), son...

Rating: 6 / 10 Mr. Magorium's Wonder Emporium Staring: Dustin Hoffman, Natalie Portman and Jason Bateman. Plot: The 243-year-old Mr. Magorium (Hoffman) is nearing the end of his life, causing his loyal manager (Portman) and his customers to wonder what...

Fresh off an Emmy win for Best Comedy Series, NBC's "30 Rock," starring creator and "Saturday Night Live" alumna Tina Fey, continues its hot streak of comedic genius. Now in its sophomore season, the critically acclaimed show continues the story-arc of...

I saw Lewis Black on Saturday. The king of crossed-eyed comical anger was hilarious, smart, everything I hoped he would be and more. The audience, however, was not. Throughout the evening, I felt as if I'd either barf or bow my head in dismay. Black deserved...

Tonight at Otto's Niteclub and Underground, Blue Cheer will take the stage. Here is what you need to know before you go to the show. Background: Blue Cheer formed in the late in 1960s. It became a part of San Francisco's psychedelic rock scene, playing...

"Cherokee" by Clifford Brown and Max Roach Clifford Brown's death in a car crash at the age of 25 was one of the great tragedies in jazz history. He was already one of the top trumpet players in the business and consistently got better with every passing...

Nice cars, Playboy bunnies, wealth and thrown underwear â€" as the Nickelback song suggests, the awesome life of a rock ‘n' roll band, right? According to NIU English professor Joe Bonomo, not quite. "Sweat: The Story of the Fleshtones, America's...

Creedence Clearwater Revival - "Who'll Stop the Rain?" Last Sunday I sat in my living room and sipped some coffee while watching "Meet the Press." Presidential hopeful Barack Obama was talking to Tim Russert, and that now fateful question of all political...

The Convocation Center is a "$36 million investment" and "the single venue that can bring the university community together at one place and one time to share an experience", according to its Web site. However, this multi-million dollar venue has more...

The Hives - "The Black and White Album" Rating: 6 / 10 Label: Universal Background: After three albums of playing fast and loud garage rock, including the hit, "Hate to Say I Told You So," the Swedish quintet, led by the "Howlin'" Pelle Almqvist, expand...

DeKALB | The NIU Jazz Ensemble will present its fall concert free to the public Thursday in the Duke Ellington Ballroom in the Holmes Student Center. The concert is at 8 p.m. Concert attendees expecting Jazz Ensemble director Ronald Carter's signature...

DeKALB |Pirates have landed ballet-style at the O'Connell Theatre. With sword fighting, belly dancing and a love story, the School of Theatre and Dance brings the 150-year-old production of "Le Corsaire" to NIU for the first time. Under the direction...