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Show A&EDiversions Friday, Feb. 19, 2010 'Cop Out' 'Shutter Island' Bruce Willis fans have reason to rejoice this weekend: Willis is back on the silver screen in a uniform and badge in the new movie "Cop Out" - this time with an unlikely partner: funnyman Tracy Morgan from "30 Rock." In "Cop Out," NYPD veteran Jimmy (Willis) and his partner Paul (Morgan) are on a hunt after the man who stole Jimmy's baseball card, which I'm assuming is a pretty darn important baseball card to go after somebody for. The trailer goes something like this: It begins with an aerial view of a dusky-looking New York City, complete with dramatic music (dun-dun-dun) and odious-looking credits floating mysteriously alongside skyscrapers. The announcer dramatically introduces the movie as a cop film that "continues the tradition" of other titles like "Dirty Harry" and "The Departed." There are flashes of Willis speeding in a car. You're thinking: oh boy, this is going to be good. Suddenly, the trailer changes gears. Morgan appears, and from that point, it's just plain silliness. The rest of the trailer is basically a barrage of Morgan's goofball jokes but occasionally jumps back to action scenes with Willis, as if the makers of the movie couldn't decide whether they wanted to make the movie an action film or a comedy. But by this time you realize the movie isn't really about the action; it's more of an off-thewall comedy than anything else. That doesn't, however, make the film seem any less enjoyable. Willis, surprisingly, looks like he fits into the role well and seems to offset the overpowering humor of Morgan, with a more natural funniness. The movie should be a joy to anyone who enjoys Morgan's humor and doesn't mind the inevitable crude jokes and possible cheesiness. If you love Willis and are able to put up with Morgan, then you are good to go. - alisonostler@msn.com Grab some popcorn, a person you've always wanted to be scared to death with, some sort of weapon to fend off the criminally insane that will haunt you in your sleep and settle down for a thrilling, ocean-tossed, maze-like watch of "Shutter Island." A brief synopsis of the storyline: Two U.S. marshals Teddy Daniels (played by Leo DeCaprio who is still, miraculously, not that hot) and Chuck Aule (played by the baby faced/ kind of attractive Mark Ruffalo) - are summoned to a remote island off the coast of Massachusetts to investigate the mysterious disappearance of a murderess, Rachel Solando, who killed her three children and arranged them around the dinner table for her husband to find before she was sentenced to "treatment" in the fortress-like hospital for the criminally insane. But it doesn't end there. The director, Martin Scorsese, who also directed "The Aviator," and "The Departed," wants it to be very clear that there are going to be many plot twists. You can't possibly predict the ending to this murder/psycho/mystery/drama/horror thriller. But you can wager some good guesses that the two marshals will find themselves, inconveniently, trapped on the island, where the doctors, nurses and guards are the actual evil people. The men will find the murderess in question but will also find that she can dissipate completely, and a few other things that will most likely blow your mind when they happen. If you love the way scary movies make you feel paranoid and horrible after you see them, "Shutter Island" looks as though it is well-made and has a decently intriguing plot. I pre-emptively think this will not be a movie that will rearrange your world, shatter your universe and change your whole life, but it will probably be one of those movies that you will need to see at least twice to understand and make you shake in your boots when you enter a mental ward - which isn't always a bad thing. - kmarshall222@gmail.com Pre-Emptive Critics 'The Crazies' Once again, a terrible disease, introduced through a toxin in the water supply, will infect an entire town, except one super attractive man and one drop-dead gorgeous female, maybe a couple others, who will have to fight off all the infected citizens and try to stop this catastrophe before it goes global. Most likely one of the good guys will die, but not until the audience is completely emotionally invested in his character. There will be blood. There will be things jumping out of shadowed corners. There will be screaming. "The Crazies" looks like just another apocalyptic thriller. The world, or at least Hollywood, is obviously still paranoid about some incurable disease that will spread faster than herpes on a college campus - swine flu, 2009, anyone? That being said, I'm dying to see it. If nothing else, the trailer caught my attention with the eerie old man, head tilted to the side, holding a shotgun while Gary Jules' "Mad World" plays in the background. I like mystery, horror and morbidity. From the preview, that's what I'm expecting. I like that this time the disease is turning everyone into homicidal maniacs, instead of some pseudo-zombie, vampire creature, like in "I am Legend," starring Will Smith, or "Carriers," staring Chris Pine. I don't expect some deep, philosophical discussion to come from this movie, but if it has blood, gore, cheap thrills and some gratuitous shots of Timothy Olyphant shirtless, count me in. I'm hoping to be scared and jump a few times, maybe even let out a little scream. I preemptively give "The Crazies" a B+. - k.vandyke@aggiemaiLusu.edu Page 7 The pre-emptive critics write knee-jerk analyses of upcoming films based solely on hearsay, advance publicity and most importantly movie trailers. They have not seen the movies. Street Speak What's the craziest Valentine's Day you ever had? "My boyfriend took me to a balcony at the mountains to see the view of the whole city in Puerto Rico ... and he proposed to me, and I said no. Later we broke up." - Nayda B. Gonzalez, grad student, agriculture AS SERMANN2olo CONCERT SERIE "World-Class Pianists in a World-Class Setting" "We went to all restaurants in Paris and couldn't find any available place ... . So my ex boyfriend took me to our university buffet, lit up the candles and we had our dinner there" - Marine Porcher, political science "I went to Vancouver, Canada, with my friend on Valentines Day to watch the Olympic games." "I took my ex girlfriend to Paris for one day on Valentines Day fora dinner." Stephen Hough, pianist Haochen Zhang, pianist Tuesday, February 23, 2010 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Mardi 9, 2010 7:30 p.m. USU Performance Hall USU Performance Hall UtahStateUn iversity Reserved Seating Tickets: Adults 520, Students $8 Tickets: (435) 797-8022 or http://csaboxoffice.usu edu Additional information, including concert programs, at www.usu.edulwassermann . - Luis Martinez, biology - Ingo Arrards Basterra, engineering Where Utah Gets Engaged' Comedy: Ogden club delivers laughs 11 continued from page 5 away. Fortunately, Wise Guys has a reputation for good, reliable comedy. It showcases a wide variety of comedians, from local to celebrity talent, and has featured comic giants, such as Jim Gaffigan and Joe McHale. Each show typically opens with a few warm-up acts by local comics and then progresses to the performance of the headliner. "One of the warm-up comics was funny," Neidfeldt said. "It was hit and miss with the others. But the main comedian was highly entertaining." "I felt like his jokes dragged a little," Warner said. They should have ended 20 minutes before they did, but they were funny, just a little drawn out." In regards to reliability, Wise Guys has it down. So long as customers research who is performing, they should be able to trust Wiseguys to have a great talent lined up. Comedy clubs will often offer other services besides entertainment, such as food, drinks, video and audio recordings of the comics, and novelty sales. Wiseguys has a complete wait staff and one purchase minimum per person from the menu. The menu was adequate, offering simple, good cafe food, such as sandwiches, appetizers, desserts, bottled beers and soft drinks. The wait staff was professional, quick and surprisingly did not distract from the show, as they bustled between tables. The quality of the food varied from item to item, which were by no means culinary masterpieces but most deem them likeable. "The mozzarella sticks were really good," Warner said. But I felt like the chips they gave us were bought at Costco - nothing really special about the chips." "The food was pretty bad, all things considered," Neidfeldt said. "But I didn't go for a great meal. I went to watch comedians." Besides the food and drinks, customers were made aware of DVDs and CDs available for purchase after the show, along with an opportunity to meet that night's headliner. The prices of these items were set by the performer but fairly reasonable. Despite some flaws with the space and menu, a trip to Wiseguys promises to be entertaining. Admission is normally $10, but for regular shows a two-for-one coupon can be printed off the club's Web site, www.wiseguyscomedy.com . Performances are Friday and Saturday at 7 and 9 p.m. S.E. Needham Jewelers Prices Starting at $1000 - jess.wallace@aggiemaiLusu.edu iirewitg Since 1896 SN, Store Hours: Monday - Saturday 10-00 - 7;00 14.7-here Utziih. GeSS Enmedi 141 North Main. 752-7149 www.seneedhain.eant of tar 6.0.2411 dip 4 the drici. Midair re fill |