Before arriving at The Midland I have to admit I was a little weary about what I was about to see. Though I have thoroughly enjoyed The Kills’ entire catalog, I had yet to see a performance from the duo that was more than satisfying. For The Kills it turns out that the third time is the charm, but before I go any further there were two other bands on the bill that are definitely worth a mention. For this show was like a buffet of musical needs! Hunters maybe a difficult band to track down on the internet, but...

It has been too long since a good war flick has been released. Red Tails is one of the first all-black action pictures based on the true events of the Tuskegee Airmen. For those who have been living under ­a rock, the Tuskegee Airmen were the first all-African-American aerial combat unit during WWII. Red Tails was directed by Anthony Hemmingway who made his big screen debut, but he has direc­ted the HBO series, The Wire. The movie was produced by the same man that wrote the story of the Indiana Jones movies, and the creator...

We just passed the ten year anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks, overrunning our televisions with programs breaking down the event by the minute or going over all of the conspiracy theories flying around. These shows were run with little controversy surrounding them, due to the fact that they were run as documentaries and remained respectful to the citizens and servicemen and women who died that day. The issue that Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close brings us is, “When does  a fictional story about 9/11 change...

Not only was Shame one of my most anticipated films of last year, it was number six on our top ten movies of 2011. Now the film is ready for its wide release, and it couldn’t come at a better time as most people are curious to see what Michael Fassbender has in his golf bag. Even without Clooney’s Golden Globe remarks, Shame lives up to all its praise, scoring hordes of nominations from critics groups and prestigious awards shows alike. Even with all this hype, the one thing you need to remember is that Shame...

Finding North is a new documentary about the people who go hungry right here in America on a daily basis.  These are people (and kids) who depend on food banks and other sources to just keep hunger at bay.  I don’t think many of us know what it is like to go to bed hungry or even go a whole day without eating a proper meal.  For some, this is a reality.  The film features interviews with Jeff Bridges, Tom Colicchio, and experts on the subject, along with those who help those in need.  It also features music by The...

Resident Evil: Retribution is another film in the Resident Evil series.  This is the second one in 3D.  These films are shot in 3D, so they look great.  I am surprised they keep making these, but they must keep making money.  Do these films resemble the games anymore?  Just curious.  The two main stars in this film are Milla Jovovich (of course) and Michelle Rodriguez.  Paul W.S. Anderson directed again.  I have to give them credit for making some good trailers.  I also really like the Resident Evil: Afterlife trailer. “The...

Disney has released The Lion King in 3D and Beauty and the Beast is currently in theatres in the 3D format.  Finding Nemo is the next film that will be re-released in 3D.  This is the first Pixar film to be re-released (correction: Toy Story 1 and 2 have already been re-released), and I have more of an interest in seeing a computer generated animation film than a more classic animation film in 3D.  I really like Finding Nemo, and I saw it twice in the theatre.  Nothing beats the scene with the seagulls saying “Mine!”...

I Am Bruce Lee is a documentary on legendary martial artist Bruce Lee.  While I would welcome a good documentary on Bruce Lee, this trailer seems to give the impression that it is filled with interviews with current celebrities about Bruce Lee.  I don’t see how any of these people are relevant to telling the story of him.  It seems like the title should really be Interviews About Bruce Lee. “The amazing story of Bruce Lee, one of the most iconic human beings ever to enter the public consciousness. The film is a...

The City Dark is a documentary on light pollution, the disappearance of darkness from our daily lives, and how that affects us and the world around us.  I have been to Tanzania, and traveling to a remote area where no large city is near, gives new meaning to word dark.  If you shut off all the lights, you could honestly not what was five feet in front of you.  It is also nice to see the stars, and we often do not look up at night and see what we are missing. “THE CITY DARK chronicles the disappearance of darkness. The...

This is the second trailer for Casa de mi Padre, which appears to be a mostly Spanish film.  I wonder if Will Ferrell learned Spanish or just memorized his lines?  This is of course a comedy.  Other than Will Ferrell, the cast includes Diego Luna, Gael Garcia Bernal, Genesis Rodriguez, Nick Offerman, Efren Ramirez, and Adrian Martinez. “Armando Alvarez (Will Ferrell) has lived and worked on his father’s ranch in Mexico his entire life. As the ranch faces financial strains, Armando’s younger brother Raul...

W.E. is a combination of a period piece melded with a story in the present.  The focal point of the film is the scandalous relationship between Wallis Simpson and King Edward VIII (Edward).  He famously abdicated the throne to marry Wallis and the throne passed on to his younger brother Bertie who became king as King George VI.  A little of this story is told in last year’s The King’s Speech.  The way of telling the story, mixing the past with the present, very much reminds me of Possession which is told through...

SXSW 2012 is less than 2 months away. That’s 50 days for you sticklers as of this post running. We’ve already shared the first, second, and the third waves of artist festival organizers have shared for the 2012 edition of the festival. Today the list has grown again with the festival announcing panels, additional bands and the handy tool for those attending the festival the event schedule/scheduler a way to keep track of it all once on the ground in Austin. While I had recognized several acts names previously today’s announcement was...

Win a Min-Poster for the film  signed by the films Academy Award winning Director Steven Soderbergh! This dynamic action-thriller directed by Oscar winner Steven Soderbergh (Traffic) boasts a talented cast that includes Channing Tatum (GI Joe: Rise of the Cobra), Ewan McGregor (The Ghost Writer), Michael Fassbender (X-Men: First Class), Antonio Banderas (The Legend of Zorro), Bill Paxton (“Big Love”), Michael Douglas (Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps), Michael Angarano (Almost Famous); and introduces mixed martial arts (MMA)...

This week on Blu Monday Angela and I discuss Bucky Larson Born to be a Star, There Be Dragons, Traffic, and What’s Your Number? . Check out the video below and let us know what you think! By Angela and Ryan Davis

I’ll be honest. I’ve never actually heard of The Civil Wars. That definitely puts me in the minority though, as last night’s show at Liberty Hall in Lawrence, KS was Sold Out. Just in case you’re like me, living under a rock, a quick Google search shows that singer-songwriters Joy Williams and John Paul White met in 2008 in their hometown of Nashville. Sparks flew, thus creating The Civil Wars project. Within a couple of years, the band was playing The Tonight Show multiple times and opening for Adele....