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The Calling cant quite escape same old rock mold
The Calling Camino Palmero (RCA) Rock bands these days have a considerable uphill battle to win.
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Kiss full of kickin action
Martial arts films are often risky territory. The characters usually aren’t very interesting except for their physical abilities and the stories are far-fetched, even for such a far-fetched genre. But “Kiss of the Dragon,” starring Jet Li, manages to entertain without talking down to the audience or getting too hokey. The story centers on Li’s character, Liu Jian, who’s something of a Chinese supercop.
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Pootie doesnt translate to film
Sketch comedy rarely transfers over to the big screen very well. But, on occasion, a popular TV character makes it to the movies and entertains. Pootie Tang is not one of those. Based on a character from Chris Rock’s HBO talk show, “Pootie Tang” in film form is a waste of time, money and talent.
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Movie isnt very crazy or beautiful
By BILL WARD For The State News “Crazy/beautiful” has more depth and heart than most teen flicks, but just scratches the surface of the more substantial issues it hints at during the film.
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Pets spy war brings laughs
By BILL WARD For The State News If Austin Powers were a dog, then Dr. Evil would be a cat in the family-friendly comedy “Cats & Dogs.” The film provides enough silly action and high-tech espionage to feel more like a James Bond flick than a Dr. Dolittle.
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Block Party gets going in Old Town
More music is making its way to the Lansing area tonight, as the Old Town Block Party kicks off its first year of performances. “We’re very excited,” said Jamie Czekai, the interim program manager for Old Town Main Street.
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Symphony orchestra on deck at ballpark
Flying an American flag is a way to pay homage to our country, but heading to the sixth annual Symphony at the Park would give an earlier start to Independence Day festivities. The Greater Lansing Symphony Orchestra will be performing popular patriotic songs, Hollywood and Broadway hits and Disney selections at Oldsmobile Park, 505 E.
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A.I. deserves an A+
“A.I. Artificial Intelligence” is a thought-provoking science fiction drama that works on many levels and reveals deeper meanings long after the movie is over.
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Verdehr Trio to play Wharton
The Verdehr Trio has performed all over the world, but it won’t have to travel far for tonight’s show at the Wharton Center.
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Defunct Corvair Jesus pleases with weird songs
Corvair Jesus The Threat Management Committe Known As: CORVAIR JESUS (Corvair Jesus) Corvair Jesus played weird, but ingenious, music before graduation from MSU caused the trio to break up. But before its demise, the band released “The Threat Management Committe Known as: Corvair Jesus,” and it’s just as weird as it was. Musically, the only band Corvair might be comparable to is Fishbone, because both use an instrument called a theremin.
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E.L.s Steppin In It jams for charity Thursday
Steppin’ In It has been around for more than four years, and its popularity just keeps on growing.The group started out as a funk and blues outfit, but added bluegrass, jazz, calypso, folk, Cajun, zydeco, Caribbean and Jamaican music to its repertoire with each new member who joined - thus creating a diverse mixture of the “great old-time.”“We kinda play our own take on old-time and roots music,” said Josh Davis, the band’s lead vocalist and a theater senior.
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Bass, drums, organ rule in Chicagos Oh my god
Oh my god Well (Oh my god music) Oh my god’s first album, “Well,” is a swift kick to the senses for those of us who forgot what music should be. At a time when most new rock albums sound like recycled Limp Bizkit, the Chicago trio produced a solid album that borders on both rock and punk, but is certainly not hip-hop. The CD is an original, if not undefinable, type of punk rock that few would expect from a band without an electric guitar.
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Dolittle sequel not funny enough
Lions and tigers and bears, oh my. Well, “Dr. Dolittle 2,” the new animal-heavy comedy, only stars one of those frightening creatures, and the movie hardly deserves an, “oh my!” Starring Eddie Murphy, reprising his role as the title-character doctor who has the ability to converse with animals, the movie is steeped in run-of-the-mill fart jokes and a mild comedic punch that fills most modern “family” movies. The movie follows Dolittle as he deals with his role as the doctor who splits his time between human and animal patients and attempts to spend time with his family, which is beginning to resent the amount of time he devotes to helping the animal kingdom. While planning a trip to Europe to spend time with the family, a sudden tragedy engrosses the good doctor - an evil logging company is cutting down an entire forest, conveniently proximate enough for the woodland creatures to contact Dolittle to help. So, Dolittle has to find a way to save the forest.
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Festival of the Sun tickles taste buds
LANSING - “Eat, drink and be merry” could be Festival of the Sun’s motto. Old Town hosted the second annual celebration Saturday afternoon, drawing approximately 2,000 people to North Lansing.
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Movie is a fast, furious ride
By BILL WARD For The State News “The Fast and the Furious” lives up to the promise of its name in this hard-charging action thriller.
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Festivals fill weekend
The Lansing area will be inundated with festivals this weekend, which promises to keep residents in mid-Michigan busy. Here’s a brief look at five area festivals this weekend: Festival of the Sun Saturday, North Lansing Festival of the Sun is mid-Michigan’s premier wine, brew and gourmet food-tasting festival.
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Stone Temple Pilots play melodic rock
Stone Temple Pilots Shangri-La Dee Da (Atlantic Records) The Stone Temple Pilots’ latest album, “Shangri-La Dee Da,” serves to reinforce the band’s status as the elder statesman of rock music in this modern era of one-hit rockers. After a tumultuous decade, the band came back from a brief hiatus with 1999’s “No.
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Carillon music revisits Beaumont
Occasionally, you can hear the bells of Beaumont Tower ring music into the East Lansing air for a minute or so. But starting at 6 p.m.
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Ray J needs to stick with one producer
Ray J This Ain’t a Game (Atlantic Records) Ray J’s sophomore album, “This Ain’t a Game,” is immature to say the least.
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Soulful Seger delights with latest effort
Shea Seger The May Street Project (RCA Records) Take one look at Shea Seger’s debut album, “The May Street Project,” and you’ll probably think, “Oh, it’s just another folk-rock album.” Wrong! Seger grew up inspired by artists like Marvin Gaye, Nat King Cole and Janis Joplin, as well as bands like Pink Floyd, De La Soul and A Tribe Called Quest.