A&E

On a typical Saturday morning at 9 a.m., UC Irvine's Student Center would be silent and empty, with the exception of a few over-achieving students trying to get ahead at the beginning of a new quarter. Normally, the sun's rays would be reflecting off the tables in the bare studying areas and the windows of the large meeting rooms.

Normally, I don't like Kristin Stewart. I know that she's the lead in "Twilight" and thus the prepubescent's modern-day Juliet, but there's just something about Stewart that irks me. Maybe it's that her characters are unconvincing or maybe it's just that her PR person isn't so great. But regardless of all that, what I had against Stewart melted away with "Adventureland."

This film could have been reviewed after seeing the teaser trailer. Rarely does a film fall so effortlessly into expectation, and rarely does that mean anything good for the film and its franchise. You've already seen it if you liked any of the previous ‘Furious' flicks, and you've done everything in your power to avoid it if you didn't. The basic "The Fast and the Furious" formula of fast cars and dialogue remains intact, despite the slight and unnecessary "the" removal from the title. This doesn't stop "Fast and Furious" from being the same entertaining vehicular action routine that's proven enjoyable and profitable; but if you haven't been a fan of the franchise, seeing Paul Walker and Vin Diesel reunite isn't going to do it for you.

Fewer people look forward to release dates of their favorite music albums. Fewer people are excited when their favorite shows are released on DVD. Yes, the economy is facing tough times and people might not be spoiling themselves as much as they used to with life's little luxuries. But an even bigger factor in the decline in anticipation may involve the availability of media elsewhere, on the ever-consuming all-powerful, Internet.

There are stages in a band's career that are easy targets for music critics. There's the beginning with its exciting potential along with its unfocused clutter. Then, there's a refinement stretch where a band taps into a specific aesthetic and runs wild with it. And, if you're lucky enough to get by the first two stages, there's every critic's favorite: the stage of change. When critics run out of things to complain about with a band that has established an identity, they get upset that the band doesn't branch out.

Only 30 seconds left, but you still have 10 or more sweet rice balls to grill. One of the fires is too little, the other one is too big. Some of the rice balls are burning, but you are still not sure what level you should grill them to. Time is ticking again!! Hurry up! You really want to pass this minigame to move on and unlock more items. What should you do?

It might be hard to believe that Brave Citizens' goliath-sounding debut EP "Revolutions" started as a laptop recording project between two friends utilizing closets and garages to record and share ideas between Los Angeles and San Francisco. But for vocalist and UC Irvine alum Andrew Capra and guitarist Adam Bialik, it's all that was needed to inspire the musical revolution that introduced Brave Citizens to the world.

Every once in a while it's fun to just listen to a band that prides itself on making cute little songs with catchy little chords and quaint little lyrics. For the majority of this decade, The Decemberists have been a perfect outfit for that quick fix. The lyrics have often been quirky, but for the most part, its songs have been littered with infectious hooks that have listeners bouncing off the walls.

Pat: The Wii's latest arcade-style shooter, "The House of the Dead: Overkill," inadvertently sums up a potential problem for the console's upcoming lineup, and a trend in the industry in general.

It's rare that we stumble upon an indie film that we really hate. Admit it: sometimes they're just so eccentric that we either have to like indie films for their originality or we're so awestricken by their philosophical depth that we're somehow tricked into liking them. However, with "Sunshine Cleaning," the realness expressed through the plot as well as the acting needs no mind games to win over its viewers.

Take at least a half star off from this review if you read the 1988 graphic novel. It matters that much. But whatever emotional ties you have to Alan Moore's dystopian vision of an alternate New York, director Zack Synder still manages to craft a visually splendid, achingly entertaining film that anyone with a hunger for an action film with a mind behind it needs to see. It's just a matter of how much your reading experiences make you realize how much better it could have been.

Student film group Midnight Society beat out Incredulous Marshmallow Productions and Porkchop Sandwiches among others to take home best picture in the 5th Annual 24-Hour Mad Film Dash. Hosted by the UC Irvine Computerstore, the event gives students the chance to write, produce and direct their own short films. The competition had a large turnout with 50 films; 25 of the films were screened at the festival.