Snyder’s latest wins in visuals but not in plot
When watching the previews for "Sucker Punch" I kept the steady idea that it could be either brilliant or terrible.
Broadway hit, ‘Spamalot” comes to Modesto
As an avid fan all things silly, and all things British for that matter, I have been aching to see the popular Broadway hit ‘Spamalot' since it first hit the stage in 2005. Finally I received my chance this month when the musical claimed to be "lovingly ripped off" from the film "Monty Python and the Holy Grail" came to the Gallo Center for the arts in Modesto. Like the film, the musical is a highly mocking parody of the Arthurian Legend in Camelot, the title ‘Spamalot' derives from a lyric in the song "Knights of the round table" that goes; "we eat ham, and jam and Spam a lot."
I am a music lover, simply put. However over time I have been losing my faith in those providing the music, believing that perhaps these new bands really are just in it for the money, and maybe they don't care about discipline or passion or even the music.
Inspirational student art will be evaluated and given praise, for the 34th time
For the past 33 years, the Art, Humanities, & Communication department has lead and organized the Celebration of the Humanities Competition. This year is the 34th Annual ceremony, honoring student achievement in Fine Arts and will feature performances by the winners. The celebratory festivities feature 22 contests in eleven categories--including art, dance, film, music composition, music performance, photography, speech, storytelling, theatre monologue, theatre playwriting, and writing. The contest deadline is Thursday, March 24, with a one-time fee of $5 paid through the Business office, so students should submit their best works. $5 seems like a good investment when there's $6,000 in cash awards.
Tenured Art Professor Haleh Niazmand to get the boot
Artist James McNeill Whistler said, "An artist's career always begins tomorrow." However, with Modesto Junior College in the middle of budget cuts and the administration threatening to eliminate programs, the art students and teachers alike are having a hard time seeing what their tomorrows hold.
Fans old and new packed the State Theatre on Saturday, 19, to get their fill of one of rock ‘n' roll's greatest legacies, Led Zeppelin. Well, a tribute band to that legacy called Heartbreaker, the self-acclaimed biggest Led Zeppelin fans.
On February 16, classical guitarist, and member of Yo-Yo Ma's Silk Road Ensemble, Jon Mendle visited MJC's East campus to perform on his 11-string Archguitar for students in the Music Recital Hall. Mendle made his Carnegie Hall debut at age 19, released his first album of solo guitar music, "L'Infidele," on ' In A Circle Records.'Mendle began studying the guitar at the age of 12, and recently finished his graduate studies at the San Francisco Conservatory earning a Master of Music degree in Classical Guitar Performance. The Archguitar is a hybrid of the Renaissance and Baroque lutes, 19th century guitar, and modern guitar. I was personally impressed by the Archguitar having never seen an 11-string guitar before let aloneheard it played.
MJC Art Gallery Jan 24-March 3, Gallery Hours Mon-Fri, 10am-5:30pm
A Chinese proverb says, "A picture is worth a thousand words." Wait a second, there is no such proverb? Not according to Modesto Junior College Art professor Robert Stevenson. That renowned saying is apparently from a 1920s American advertising campaign. His gallery exhibit, 50,000 Words: A Graphic Novella, sheds some light on this and attempts to explore the very definition of this iconic quote.
“I love you Phillip Morris” wins hearts
"I Love you Philip Morris" is not a film for the morally competent, nor is it a film for close minded people or those who prefer a less than alternative lifestyle. So if you match any of these specifications I urge you to not lay eyes on this film. However, if you are someone who would enjoy watching a somewhat desperate but amazingly clever and well intentioned con man, or someone who enjoys movies depicting two men in the throes of a very deep and romantic relationship, or even someone who just wants to see Jim Carrey in fishnet panties then by all means I recommend you watch this movie.
Documentary lauds technical giants of cinema
"If you're gonna spend your time doing the best you can doing shit, then why do it?"
This statement by Hollywood director, writer and cinematographer Haskell Wexler opens a new documentary screened at the State Theatre Feb. 1, which focuses on the contributions of artists and technical wizards to the quality of American films. Wexler's statement refers to a lifetime spent upholding the highest standards for the most popular form of entertainment.
Erica Kirkland next rising star at Queen Bean
Inspiration. Every artist must find it; it's what gives life to their creation. Artists cannot exist without a muse, and for 19 year old aspiring musician Erica Kirkland, that muse is life itself.
Amy Tan is an exceptional story-teller; she enticed readers with characters any mother and daughter can relate to in "The Joy Luck Club" and kept you guessing in "The Hundred Secret Senses." With her vivid imagery and descriptive writing, Tan takes us to parts of exotic and mysterious Asia where a group of twelve go missing.
Videogame review of Fallout: New Vegas
Back in 2008, video game studio Bethesda released Fallout 3, which won numerous awards including Game of the Year. Now, two years later we have Fallout: New Vegas, developed by Obsidian and published by Bethesda. It seems that the developers decided not to change much about the formula and gameplay of its widely loved predecessor.
On Halloween Sunday, the Modesto Junior College theater troupe offered its final performance of Macbeth, Shakespeare's gruesome tragedy. The eerie, smoke-filled theater lent an aura of mystery and the medieval backdrops suited the grim mood. The dim lighting drew the theater back into the murky realm of uncertainty and magic, and even though I knew it was the middle of the day, I felt as if it had suddenly become twilight.
Modesto Junior College will be hosting their annual High School Orchestra Day Thursday, November 18. The event will be held in the Main Auditorium of the Performing and Media Arts Center on MJC's East Campus from 9:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. and features performances by each orchestra free of charge.
Soprano Marnie Beckenridge in concert
Modesto Junior College's Friends of Music is proud to present Soprano Marnie Beckenridge in Concert on Monday, November 15, at 1p.m. Beckenride currently performed at the San Francisco Civic Center as a part of David Conte's world premiere of Sexton Songs (poems by Anne Sexton set to music). This month she is intended to sing Barber's, Knoxville: Summer of 1915 and Mahler's 4th Symphony with the Napa Valley Symphony.
If you're looking for a chance to be in a musical, the time has come. On November 9 and 10 from 5-9 p.m, Modesto Junior College is holding open auditions for Pirates of Penzance, a comedic opera by W.S. Gilbert and Arthur Sullivan. Both students and community members are welcomed to audition for roles in the chorus, as well as for the roles of the main characters which will have solo singing parts.
Sunday, October 10, 2010, was a day that will live on in infamy. OK, that's a bit of an exaggeration. But it was, in fact, an exciting evening in Modesto for history buffs and entertainment seekers alike.
"Double, double toil and trouble; Fire burn, and cauldron bubble." This is just one of the more familiar lines from Shakespeare's Macbeth which the Modesto Junior College Theatre Department will be presenting on October 22, 23, 29 and 30 at 7:30 p.m. and on October 24 and 31 at 2 p.m. in the Auditorium of the Performing and Media Arts Center on East Campus. Tickets are $10 general admission and $8 for students and senior citizens, and an audience costume contest will be held after the Halloween performance.
Tv star Ed Asner comes to the Gallo Center
The Gallo Center of the Arts is presenting "F.D.R" on Sunday, October 10.
Lindsay Pearce, earning her to stardom
Irish novelist Brendan Francis once said, "No man can discover his own talent." Modesto Junior College theater student Lindsay Pearce's talent was "discovered" three years ago by MJC drama professor Michael Lynch, although her parents always had an inkling. Nineteen year old Lindsay is also the winner of the first "Valley's Got Talent" competition. Now MJC is lucky enough to have her starring as Lady Macbeth in the October production of Macbeth, directed by Lynch.
Do not worry readers -- your concerns about Tim Burton's apparent increasingly indulgent direction can be alleviated. Alice in Wonderland does not fall into the same category of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. It is a lovingly filmed and meticulously crafted loose interpretation of Lewis Carroll's treasured tale, rife with fantasy, coated in Gothic iconography and presented by a superb cast who nail their characters' portraits.
What shows do you love, hate, and love to hate
MTV started it all with one dramatic show: "The Real World." Now, there are dozens of reality shows on almost all networks. MTV still holds the crown, though. From "True Life" to "My Life as Liz," there is a reality show for almost every subject on MTV as well as VH1 and BET. However, NBC, ABC, FOX and other networks are jumping on the bandwagon. So, what shows take the cake and what shows just don't make the cut? What shows are MJC students watching, for better or for worse?
Local band takes second place
The online polls closed December 31, and the results are in. The Modesto group "And All Was Lost" came in second place in a nation-wide Battle of the Bands through Project Independent, an international touring program designed to discover and develop independent metal artists.
Of all the festivities that come with All-Star games in sports, NBA All-Star weekend is undoubtedly the most entertaining of all. The scintillating marquee superstars, the fan interaction, and the variety of events jam-packed into one weekend draws attention from the diehard NBA follower as well as the casual fan unlike any other All-Star event. From February 12-14, 2010, Dallas, Texas will bring us yet another beguiling weekend of star-studded NBA entertainment.
Aaron Durr, the lanky, bespectacled lead singer for the self-titled band, is causing quite a stir in the local music scene.
Now that the so-called "Late Night Wars" between Conan O'Brien and Jay Leno have drawn to a reluctant close, we can look back on the whole situation with a grain of salt. Is this really something that should matter to the average American? So what if a pair of TV stars got in a tussle over a time slot?
Budget cuts stifle MJC choir
All MJC departments have been affected by the state budget cuts. But within the Music Department, one cut has been particularly deep.
After watching the cast of "Private Eyes" perform in a dress rehearsal last week, I was more than impressed and couldn't wait to watch the actual production. On Sunday, I sat down in my seat and waited patiently for the story to once again unfold onstage, a story of being pushed to the brink of insanity by suspicion, the misgivings of the human heart and how we don't always know how much we love someone until we ultimately hurt them.
Blood flows like a slaughterhouse in this brutal American made action film
Ah, the martial arts film; one of cinema's classic genres. One we haven't seen done well in a long time. Not since Akira Kurosawa, Bruce Lee, and the Jackie Chan/Jet Li team up two years ago has this film trope been given its proper due tribute. Enter "Ninja Assassin"; a 21st century makeover that does give martial arts films a much needed booster shot in the arm while carving up its enemies in to celluloid sushi.
An affair not to be missed!
For those of you without much to do this December other than put up Christmas decorations, make sure you find yourselves sitting in the Little Theatre of the Performing and Media Arts Center on East Campus on December,4, 5, 11, and 12 at 7:30 p.m. or on December 6 and 13 at 2p.m. . If you aren't, then you'll miss out on some brilliant acting in The Modesto Junior College Theater Department's rendition of the comedy Private Eyes by Steven Dietz. Directed by theatre Professor Michael Lynch, Private Eyes is a comedy with a plethora of twists and turns.
The current blockbuster film 2012 is inspired by predictions the Mayans made more than a millenia ago. Though the film bypasses the details, a local anthropologist spoke to a Pirates' log reporter to illuminate the Mayan prophecies for the rest of us.
New progressive and voiceless metal band Wait for Sleep is shaking up the Modesto music scene with their unique dynamic instrumental flavor . Wait for sleep was founded nearly a year and a half ago by Larry Smith, Alex Yarbough, Anthony and Alan three of whom are Modesto Junior college students.
Indie icon Death Cab for Cutie has been notorious for sticking to their roots and not conforming to typical radio wave standards; but it is a "new moon" for the band. Earlier this year the band was asked to perform on the Twilight sequel and accepted the invitation. This response brought many loyal followers to question the integrity of the band and put DCFC in a sellout status.
The new sitcom, Community, has put a whole new definition to community college. Introduction to Statistics, Introduction to Debate and Home Economics are some of the names that NBC calls their episodes on Community, the new television show that began airing on September, 17, 2009.
The floor was crawling with men in black and white tuxedos and women in short, tight, skimpy dresses, anticipating announcements of the winners of each category for the 2009 Modesto Area Music Awards (MAMA) hosted by the State Theatre on Wednesday night, Oct. 21.
Nearly 60,000 people gathered in Riverbank ‘the city of action' on October 10 and 11, to enjoy the festivities of the annual Wine and Cheese festival.
If a picture is worth a thousand words, then writer/director/producer Tony Kaye's black-and-white, 15-years-in-the-making documentary on the abortion debate could be worth hundreds of thousands of words. The groundbreaking film was recently shown here on campus as part of the MJC Civic Engagement Project's Fall Film and Lecture Series.
Horrible parking, infinite waitlists, and the chopping of classes right and left have been difficult and depressing for the students of Modesto Junior College (MJC) this semester. Yet, somewhere in all the midst of all this chaos the Associated Students and Campus Clubs of MJC found a way to bring some "spooktacular" fun to us this Halloween season with the annual Halloween carnival.
With science and technology advancing so fast, were do we fit in?
Genetic engineering, cybernetics, dark matter, nanobots, DNA manipulation. These things sound like subjects of bad science fiction movies but according to Dr. Kirsten Sanford, or Dr. Kiki as she is known on television and the web, these things are much closer to becoming reality then you might think.
is a member of the 
