Arts

Young comedy's dynamic cast, fresh presentation guarantee 'Happy Endings'

The Old Republic' boasts varied gameplay and rich lore

"Star Wars: the Old Republic" (SWTOR) was released to the general public on December 20th and was met with incredible success and acclaim from both casual and hardcore gamers alike. Notable for its nostalgia and incredible gameplay, this massive multiplayer online role playing game, or MMO for short, takes players back to the days of the original Xbox game, "Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic,"(2003) upon which the newest title is based. Somehow, SWTOR manages to stay true to its roots, while at the same time expanding into a vibrant new universe.

Dull writing, unlikeable cast ruin Showtime's 'House of Lies'

Don Cheadle is a fantastic actor, so when Showtime debuted its new pilot, "House of Lies," starring none other than the "Hotel Rwanda" (2004) celebrity himself, one might have thought magic was in the making.

Extremely Loud' is extremely melodramatic

Real Housewives of Beverly Hills' concludes with all-too-real tragedy, leaving viewers wanting more

Two-Timin'' is proof that blues will never die

Up All Night' tackles familiar topic with wit, candor

Strip-T's serves up gourmet food without the pretension

Experimentation can't save 'Resolution' from redundancy

Elegance, simplicity define the gospel-tinged 'Come Sunday'

Charlie Haden and Hank Jones' latest album, "Come Sunday" proves simplicity often says it best. Both jazz artists have enjoyed incredibly rich careers that have included collaborations with some of the most famous musicians of the 20th century, ranging from giants like Keith Jarrett and Ornette Coleman to "Cannonball" Adderley and Tony Williams. 

After six seasons, '30 Rock' starts growing stale

While NBC's "30 Rock" used to be one of the most clever and cutting-edge shows on television, it has lost much of its bite in recent years. The one-liners have become increasingly dull and the show can't seem to reach the high levels of excellence it once achieved regularly. Now entering its sixth year on the air, "30 Rock" has understandably begun to decline somewhat in quality, especially as the characters' behaviors become more and more predictable.

The Flowers of War' values pretense over substance

With the largest production budget in the history of Chinese cinema, totaling $90 million, director Zhang Yimou was given the task of revisiting the atrocities committed in Nanking during World War II. His challenge: translating his interpretation of the horrific event to the big screen. 

Timid hosting and predictable results mar Golden Globes

Award season is gearing up yet again, with the British Academy of Film and Television Arts Awards, the Screen Actors Guild Awards and Oscars all right around the corner. This past Sunday, Ricky Gervais kicked things off in a lackluster fashion while hosting the first big awards ceremony of the season, the Golden Globes on NBC.

Gaslight Brasserie puts subtle twists on French fare

Visiting a French restaurant is a lot like seeing a venerable band in concert. No matter how good their newest album may be, concertgoers will demand the greatest hits. Such a problem leaves the musician in a creative rut. His past success prevents him from further innovation. Such is the case with French cuisine. Dishes like duck confit, beef bourguignon and escargot are the culinary equivalent to Ben Folds' album "Rockin' the Suburbs" (2001).

"Echoes of Silence" ends trilogy on somber note

Slutcracker' marries ballet, burlesque and holiday spirit

The Sitter' scores solid laughs with genre cliches

Everyone remembers the uncertainty of those childhood Saturday nights when your parents got all dolled up, went out on the town and left you home alone with a babysitter for a couple of hours. Typically, this meant a night filled with a few rounds of Monopoly, a medium pizza from Domino's and, in my case, four to five hours of averting eye contact and conversation. No big deal.

B.E.A.T.s bangs all night at Tufts Rhythm Symposium

On Dec. 9, Tufts' B.E.A.T.s brought its percussion skills to Dewick−MacPhie Dining Center. Featuring guest performances by ENVY, Tap Ensemble and Tufts' Irish Dance Club, the Tufts Rhythm Symposium was created as a fall−semester complement to the group's annual April 20 concert in the spring semester.

Tufts Art Gallery hosts innovative student theses

The Tufts University Art Gallery is hosting the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston (MFA) Thesis Exhibition from Dec. 1-18, and the exhibit is definitely worth a visit. Four of the School of the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston's artists, seniors Jane Alund, Youjin Kim, Jonathan Larkin and Katrina Neumann have their thesis projects featured in the gallery. Each artist has a highly distinct style, so wandering the gallery is a fun way to get a taste of all the art presented.

Lesley offers a mecca of Asian restaurants

Porter Square is only the T stop between Davis and Harvard. However, Porter Square provides a wealth of dining and shopping options that you can't find anywhere else in the Boston area. One of these great opportunities is University Hall, a hidden mini-mall owned by Lesley University.