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Northern Star

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The Student News Site of Northern Illinois University

Northern Star
The Student News Site of Northern Illinois University

Northern Star

“Blade Runner”

By Brayton Cameron | August 24, 2005

The story behind "Blade Runner" is simple. Man hunts robots. Man meets attractive robot. Man falls in love. It’s this story that leaves more to be desired from the film. While it has been hailed as one of the greatest sci-fi films in history, I must...

English lover turns underground rapper

By Rachel Gorr | August 24, 2005

Ever wonder if that person you met online was really who they said they were? With everyone and their mother posting away on sites such as MySpace.com, you’re bound to come across some pretty fantastical profiles. We at Sweeps are getting to the truth...

English instructor loves music, iced tea

By Nyssa Bulkes | August 23, 2005

It’s not every day one gets to know his or her professor/instructor. Either time does not permit, there is no desire to learn more about the individual at the front of the room, or the moment never comes to ask the proverbial "What do you do in your...

iPod fanatic plays it back

By Nyssa Bulkes | August 22, 2005

What makes an iPod so personal? Out of all the strangers on the street bobbing their heads and mouthing lyrics, which songs make their lists so special? Junior chemistry major Robert Kern insists there is no real theme to the songs on his iPod. When asked...

Sweeps calls for student feedback

By Collin Quick and Desiree Smith | August 21, 2005

Greetings and welcome back to the Sweeps section of the Northern Star. We’d like to say we’re new and improved, but that’s for you to decide. Let us introduce ourselves. Desiree Smith is the Assistant Campus Editor and Collin Quick is the Weekender...

Bad News Bears

By Genevieve Diesing | July 25, 2005

I was about two scenes into "Bad News Bears" when I got the feeling I had seen it all before - not because of its surprising loyalty to the 1976 original - but because this theme has been played out too many times. Watching Billy Bob Thornton portray...

“Fantastic Four”

By Genevieve Diesing | July 11, 2005

Some comic book superheros were just meant to stay in the comics. In the case of "Fantastic Four," this goes for all of them. Director Tim Story does a great job of remaining loyal to the book’s original story and characters, but doesn’t take much...

“Bewitched”

By Genevieve Diesing | June 27, 2005

We knew "Bewitched" couldn't have been gone for good. When the hit 1960s sitcom went away, it left us begging for a comeback. The idea that the sassy, cute and incredibly supernatural Samantha’s biggest woes amounted to innocent, domestic turmoil was,...

Local theater to display Batman memorabilia

By Rocio Lopez | June 20, 2005

Several items from the movie "Batman Begins" will be displayed Sunday at the Carmike Market Square 10 cinema at 2160 Sycamore Road from 4 until 7:15 p.m. Bruce Hendrickson, who has worked on movie sets for seven years, will meet and greet fans and show...

“Mr. and Mrs. Smith”

By Genevieve Diesing | June 20, 2005

Perhaps "Mr. Pitt and Ms. Jolie" would have been a more appropriate title for this film, because without the magnitude of these actors’ star appeal and abilities to appear likeable even as cold-blooded killers, this movie would be a sure dud.

With shaky direction, an implausible script and characters which seem to be molded to fit each scene, it’s a good thing Brad Pitt (Mr. Smith) and Angelina Jolie (Mrs. Smith) have such sparkling charisma and their chemistry, under intense public scrutiny offscreen, is just as alluring on film.

"Mr. and Mrs. Smith" is a story of two rival assassins who have been married for "five or six" years, all the while ignorant of each other’s true identities. When the pair ends up assigned to make the same hit, their secret lives are revealed and they end up trying to kill each other instead.

Most of the comedy lies in the preposterousness of the couple’s situation, opening the door for a lighthearted stream of action and terribly campy humor. "Your aim’s just as bad as your cooking, honey," says Pitt nonchalantly as he dodges bullets from Jolie. This none too serious approach works at first and even in the midst of their combat, we seem to forget the couple are, in fact, murderers. Their initial affection is so charming and their personal vulnerability is so convincing, one wishes they’d just stop trying to kill each other and make up.

But director Doug Liman seems to stop the comical tone halfway through the movie, choosing instead to focus on the seriousness of the couple’s emotions and the danger they both face from outside forces. The plot takes an interesting turn, but the slightly self-mocking approach turns into a full-fledged "us against them" drama, complete with slow-motion scenes of Pitt and Jolie shooting and dodging bullets together.

Because the foundation for the movie lacks any believability, the ultra dramatic finale seems a tad ridiculous and the overall message becomes confusing.

Altogether, "Smith" is entertaining, but without the charm of its two leads, it’s more like a really long, bad joke.

NIU alumnus creates ‘American Idol’ Web site

By Melissa Blake | May 8, 2005

If recent NIU grad Dave Della Terza had his way, William Hung would be a contender for American Idol’s Top 12. At least that is part of the logic behind the creation of Terza’s Web site www.votefortheworst.com, which encourages people to vote for...

Caesars: Paper Tigers

By Derek Wright | May 4, 2005

Caesars 2003 debut, "39 Minutes Of Bliss (In an otherwise Meaningless Universe)" was a well-crafted exploration of mod culture. Yet, between the sharp guitars and snotty vocals was an organ-driven, dance-happy track tucked four songs into the record that...

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