Review — Bradley Burgess

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In the Marvel Comics Universe, Daredevil is hardly a household name. Sure, he’s unique in probably being the world’s only blind superhero, but after a famously terrible Ben Affleck movie in 2003, no one thought much of the character. Now, Netflix sees to remedy that with “Daredevil,” a dark and gritty rendition of the character set within the Marvel Cinematic Universe. But does it successfully relight the character and create an entertaining series on top of that? I’m happy to say that the answer is yes. Matt Murdock (Charlie Cox) was blinded as a child and left with his other senses superhumanly enhanced. Now working as a lawyer with his college pal Foggy (Elden Henson), Matt uses his abilities to sense when his cli- ents are lying or telling the truth. Matt and Foggy’s first case is to defend Karen Page (Deborah Ann Woll), a receptionist accused of murder after she discovers her company’s dirty dealings. As Matt, Foggy and Karen investigate, they discover a mysterious crime lord who has the city in his pocket, causing Matt to go rogue as a vigilante to bring him to justice. The first thing you’ll notice about “Daredevil” is that it is nothing like a conventional superhero show. This series is dark, violent and focused on the consequences of every character’s actions. It’s a big gamble for the traditionally wham- bam-thank-you-ma’am Marvel Studios to invest in a crime drama, but it pays off here, mostly be- cause this series presents a unique perspective on typical crime tropes. For example, the mastermind behind the criminal opera- tions, Wilson Fisk (Vincent D’Onofrio), gets a sympathetic backstory and more insight then is typically offered in a show of any genre. The series is also brilliantly and meticulously thought out. Every action in the series affects everything that fol- lows in coming episodes. There are tons of shocking twists and major character deaths to keep even the most hardened viewer interested. You cannot say that you know what will happen in every episode. The show’s dramatic moments are legiti- mately intense and merit good discussion. The effort that goes into every aspect of this show oozes off the screen and view- ers will appreciate it. There’s very little — if anything — to complain about with “Daredevil.” Whether you’re a fan of the comics or someone looking for great drama, this show should be on your list. It’s one of the most gripping, creative and edgy shows on TV right now. The yearlong wait for next season is going to be murder. Bradley Burgess can be reached at [email protected] Rawr 3 The day of fifth grade band try-outs is not one I care to remember in too much detail. It was a day designed to help students find the instrument that suited them best. An instrument that felt right in their hands or pressed to their lips — an instru- ment they’d spend a great bulk of their time practicing and perfecting, hauling from home to the bus stop to school and back. The anticipation consumed my 10-year-old mind for weeks. I was nervous, but not for fear of not finding an instru- ment that fit me. I was afraid I wouldn’t be able to decide. Was I a flute girl? I loved the sweet little melodies they got to play. Or was the trombone more up my ally? I loved the idea of carrying it back and forth from school. ‘What a cute girl, smaller than her instrument!’ people would say, ‘Gosh, how artsy and cool is she?’ The day came, and lines of fifth grad- ers congregated in the school’s small band room, excited to find out if they were saxophonists or trumpeters. I was among them, eyeing the silver and bronze contraptions. Thus began the first self- discovery I wasn’t totally prepared for. I quickly discovered I could not produce enough air to conjure a sound out of the trombone or trumpet, and the fact that I had to spit on a saxophone or clarinet reed before playing it freaked me out. In fact, there was just too much spit all around. By the end of the day, I had a large mallet in my right hand and beginner’s bass drum sheet music in my left, and I was clearly disappointed. During the next two years, however, that bass drum became my baby — I may or may not have carved my name into it — and I rocked a couple rudimentary beats on the pep band drum set. However, the band-nerd part of my identity died in middle school and I never pursued any realm other than percussion. This did not change my love of music, but I wasn’t the one playing anymore. My senior year of high school, the or- ganization that hosted a large music festi- val in my hometown offered a scholarship to students interested in the arts. Part of the application was the cookie- cutter question: “What are your hobbies and interests?” In response, I wrote “writ- ing, hiking and music.” Upon meeting the scholarship com- mittee face-to-face, it became clear that they were especially interested in my assumed musical gifts. “What instrument do you play?” they asked. “Do you participate in your school’s band? Tell us about the ways learning to write and read music have transformed your learning experience!” Sure, I played the bass drum in elementary school. I even had a short stint where I learned to play Coldplay’s “Clocks” on the drum set — my true claim to fame. Upon informing them I did not actively play an instrument, though, I could see they were either sincerely con- fused or writing me off as just another kid who claims music as a deep interest because I had nothing better to mention as a hobby. Like many music-lovers who see their personal playlists and concert ticket stubs as as much a part of their identity as a musician might, I wasn’t sure how to articulate how music could be such a large part of my life when I did not play an instrument. How could I explain how it felt when people came to you specifically for music suggestions, or that anticipation for your favorite band’s new album? How could I explain that sense of community, whether at a lawn concert or a massive amphi- theater? It’s inexplicable. What about the moment when the perfect song plays at the perfect time, and it becomes as big a part of the moment as the people who are there with you? That’s what loving music is about — at least when you’re the avid listener. I could have gone on an over-roman- ticized rant to make the committee see that I had every right to list “music” as a hobby on my application. Ultimately, though, my response was something about how music builds the individual while also creating a community. I must have got the point across, because the scholarship was eventually mine. Moral of the story: It’s hard being a genuine music lover with a serious deficiency of musical talent. Music can be a massive part of your life, but without an instrument, you lack valid justification in some people’s eyes. I write about music — how it feels, what’s good, what’s bad and how it brings people together. Nonetheless, I can’t deny my occasional daydreams of being a part of the Vandal Marching Band. But thanks to that fateful day in fifth grade, I became the music enthusiast, not the musician — and I’m perfectly okay with that. Lyndsie Kiebert can be reached at [email protected] No, I don’t play an instrument Lyndsie Kiebert Rawr Daring to be Different Bradley Burgess Rawr RAWR REVIEW For more Rawr Reviews, visit uirawrreviews.wordpress.com Rawr How to justify your love for music when you’re musically impaired “Daredevil” is a show that thinks outside the box OPINION For more Rawr content, visit uiargonaut.com Rawr

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Transcript of Review — Bradley Burgess

Page 1: Review — Bradley Burgess

In the Marvel Comics Universe, Daredevil is hardly a household name. Sure, he’s unique in probably being the world’s only blind superhero, but after a famously terrible Ben Affleck movie in 2003, no one thought much of the character.

Now, Netflix sees to remedy that with “Daredevil,” a dark and gritty rendition of the character set within the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

But does it successfully relight the character and create an entertaining series on top of that? I’m happy to say that the answer is yes.

Matt Murdock (Charlie Cox) was blinded as a child and left with his other senses superhumanly enhanced.

Now working as a lawyer with his college pal Foggy (Elden Henson), Matt uses his abilities to sense when his cli-ents are lying or telling the truth. Matt

and Foggy’s first case is to defend Karen Page (Deborah Ann Woll), a receptionist accused of murder after she discovers her company’s dirty dealings. As Matt, Foggy and Karen investigate, they discover a mysterious crime lord who has the city in his pocket, causing Matt to go rogue as a vigilante to bring him to justice.

The first thing you’ll notice about “Daredevil” is that it is

nothing like a conventional superhero show. This series is dark, violent and focused on the consequences of every character’s actions. It’s a big gamble for

the traditionally wham-bam-thank-you-ma’am Marvel Studios to invest in a crime drama, but it pays off here, mostly be-cause this series presents a unique perspective on typical crime tropes. For example, the mastermind behind the criminal opera-tions, Wilson Fisk (Vincent D’Onofrio), gets a sympathetic backstory and more insight then is typically offered in a show of any genre.

The series is also brilliantly and meticulously thought out. Every action in the series affects everything that fol-lows in coming episodes. There are tons of shocking twists and major character deaths to keep even the most hardened viewer interested. You cannot say that

you know what will happen in every episode. The show’s dramatic moments are legiti-mately intense and merit good discussion. The effort that goes into every aspect of this show oozes off the screen and view-

ers will appreciate it. There’s very little — if anything —

to complain about with “Daredevil.” Whether you’re a fan of the comics or someone looking for great drama, this show should be on your list. It’s one of the most gripping, creative and edgy shows on TV right now. The yearlong wait for next season is going to be murder.

Bradley Burgess can be reached at

[email protected]

Rawr 3

The day of fifth grade band try-outs is not one I care to remember in too much detail.

It was a day designed to help students find the instrument that suited them best. An instrument that felt right in their hands or pressed to their lips — an instru-ment they’d spend a great bulk of their time practicing and perfecting, hauling from home to the bus stop to school and back.

The anticipation consumed my 10-year-old mind for weeks. I was nervous, but not for fear of not finding an instru-ment that fit me. I was afraid I wouldn’t be able to decide. Was I a flute girl? I loved the sweet little melodies they got to play. Or was the trombone more up my ally? I loved the idea of carrying it back and forth from school. ‘What a cute girl, smaller than her instrument!’ people would say, ‘Gosh, how artsy and cool is she?’

The day came, and lines of fifth grad-ers congregated in the school’s small band room, excited to find out if they were saxophonists or trumpeters. I was among them, eyeing the silver and bronze contraptions. Thus began the first self-discovery I wasn’t totally prepared for.

I quickly discovered I could not

produce enough air to conjure a sound out of the trombone or trumpet, and the fact that I had to spit on a saxophone or clarinet reed before playing it freaked me out. In fact, there was just too much spit all around.

By the end of the day, I had a large mallet in my right hand and beginner’s

bass drum sheet music in my left, and I was clearly disappointed.

During the next two years, however, that bass drum became my baby — I may or may not have carved my name into it — and I rocked a couple rudimentary beats on the pep band drum set. However, the band-nerd part of my identity died in middle school and I never pursued any realm other than percussion. This did not change my love of music, but I wasn’t the one playing anymore.

My senior year of high school, the or-ganization that hosted a large music festi-val in my hometown offered a scholarship to students interested in the arts.

Part of the application was the cookie-cutter question: “What are your hobbies and interests?” In response, I wrote “writ-ing, hiking and music.”

Upon meeting the scholarship com-mittee face-to-face, it became clear that they were especially interested in my

assumed musical gifts.“What instrument do you

play?” they asked. “Do you participate in your school’s band? Tell us about the ways learning to write and read music have transformed your learning experience!”

Sure, I played the bass drum in elementary school. I even had a short stint where I learned to play Coldplay’s “Clocks” on the drum set — my true claim to fame. Upon informing them I did not actively play an instrument, though, I could see they were either sincerely con-fused or writing me off as just another kid who claims music as a deep interest because I had nothing better to mention as a hobby.

Like many music-lovers who see their personal playlists and concert ticket stubs as as much a part of their identity as a musician might, I wasn’t sure how to articulate how music could be such a large part of my life when I did not play an instrument.

How could I explain how it felt when people came to you specifically for music suggestions, or that anticipation for your favorite band’s new album? How could I explain that sense of community, whether at a lawn concert or a massive amphi-theater? It’s inexplicable. What about the

moment when the perfect song plays at the perfect time, and it becomes as big a part of the moment as the people who are there with you?

That’s what loving music is about — at least when you’re the

avid listener.I could have gone on an over-roman-

ticized rant to make the committee see that I had every right to list “music” as a hobby on my application. Ultimately, though, my response was something about how music builds the individual while also creating a community. I must have got the point across, because the scholarship was eventually mine.

Moral of the story: It’s hard being a genuine music lover with a serious deficiency of musical talent. Music can be a massive part of your life, but without an instrument, you lack valid justification in some people’s eyes.

I write about music — how it feels, what’s good, what’s bad and how it brings people together. Nonetheless, I can’t deny my occasional daydreams of being a part of the Vandal Marching Band. But thanks to that fateful day in fifth grade, I became the music enthusiast, not the musician — and I’m perfectly okay with that.

Lyndsie Kiebert can be reached at [email protected]

No, I don’t play an instrument

Lyndsie Kiebert

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Daring to be Different

Bradley Burgess

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RAWR REVIEW

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How to justify your love for music when you’re musically impaired

“Daredevil” is a show that thinks outside the box

opInIon

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Page 2: Review — Bradley Burgess

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The Fantastic Four were Marvel Comics’ very first superhero team, laying the groundwork for what ultimately became the Marvel Comics Universe. The tale of four astronauts who gain superpow-ers after a cosmic storm in space gave birth to a comic book revolution, as well as created timeless characters people love to this day.

Well, apparently, no one told the executives at Fox Studios any of that before they made “Fan-tastic Four,” a cinematic middle finger to any fan of the comics as well as anyone who loves movies.

First of all, virtually everything other than the characters’ names have been changed for this film. Rather than go to outer space, Reed Richards (Miles Teller), Susan Storm (Kate Mara), Johnny Storm (Michael B. Jordan) and Ben Grimm (Jamie Bell) travel to an-other dimension, dubbed “Planet Zero,” and return with superpow-ers. That’s strike one.

Secondly, while the lack of ra-cial diversity in films is a problem Hollywood has yet to adequately address, the integration of multi-racial characters within “Fantastic Four” feels forced and unnatural.

In the film Johnny Storm is black despite the fact that he is white in the comics and in the film his sister Susan is still white. This doesn’t feel like a deliber-ate move to combat the racial

homogeny of the movie industry — it feels like a half-baked ploy to make a superficial social appeal. Strike two.

This film is telling the origin of a superhero team, yet I can count on my hand how many times all four characters share a room together. For 95 percent of the film’s running time, the Fantastic Four never interact as a team. Strike three.

There, the movie struck out. That has to be a new record.

All the great actors are completely under utilized here. Miles Teller, fresh off his star-making turn in “Whip-lash,” comes off as a jerk when he flat out abandons the rest of his friends for an entire year. I’m not kidding. Jamie Bell fails to bring any pathos or substance to Ben Grimm and the movie never

explores his horrifying situation of being turned into a rock monster. Kate Mara comes off the best here, probably because she’s the most like her comic book counterpart, but her talent as an actress is wast-ed because the script is so thin.

There’s no action until the final scene, and even then, it ends in two minutes. The villain is forgot-ten for hours until the last act and he becomes a bad guy for no reason. The film zooms by, hitting all the basic notes of a film, but doesn’t explore any of them. It makes the film feel hollow. Virtu-ally no decision made in this film is defendable. “Fantastic Four” fails on just about every level, making it a waste of time, money and ef-fort, or lack thereof. Do not see it. Save yourself.

Bradley Burgess can be reached at [email protected]

A fantastic remake waste

BradleyBurgess

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The “Fantastic Four” re-boot is better off watched as a Redbox rental

Irish Martos | ArgonautLocals, students and Moscow visitors peruse the Farmers Market, Saturday.

Rain or shine or even smokeRawr reviews

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“Halo 5: Guardians” is the Xbox One game that everyone was waiting for. After a stellar “Halo 4” exceeded expecta-tions and reinvented the franchise, fans were holding their breath for the follow-up.

Now, it’s here, and it exceeds even our wildest imaginations.

When Master Chief goes rogue after receiving a message from his lost AI Cortana, Spartan Jameson Locke, who had his own story in the digital series, “Halo: Nightfall,” and his team are sent to retrieve him while also contending with Covenant forces and Prometheans, now lead by a mysterious new Warden.

“Halo 5’s” campaign has gotten an upgrade with tons of new features. Now, instead of riding solo and slaughtering aliens on your own, you have two teams of three AI controlled soldiers to help you out. As Locke, you have Fireteam Osiris,

comprised of Buck, voiced by Na-than Fillion, reprising his role from “Halo 3: ODST;” Vale, a 22-year-old in hot pink armor and Tanaka, who boasts tons of cool gadgets.

Master Chief, on the other hand, has Spartan friends — Fred, Kelly and Linda — who get very little introduction, unless you read the expanded fiction. Each

character can be commanded to shield you, attack an enemy or revive you from near death.

There are also new Spartan abilities that are a blast. Spartan Charge lets you

bash through walls, Ground Pound is the best action ever and the Smart Link im-proves accuracy with weapons. Speaking of, all old weapons from past games have been upgraded. Now, the Promethean Suppressor is more effective, the SMG is back with a vengeance and the Fuel Rod Cannon is a must have in your arsenal.

But, as any “Halo” fan knows, the cam-paign is only half the battle. The game’s legendary multiplayer has been complete-ly reinvented for this game. Now, there’s a new mode called Warzone, which pits two teams of 12 against each other as well as enemy AI plus bosses that can be killed to earn points for either team. This mode is so much fun and matches can go on for indefinite periods of time — one match lasted 25 minutes. The scale of this mode is unbelievable, only helped by the stun-ning graphics and crystal clear resolution.

There’s also a new Requisition system that earns you points the more kills you get in multiplayer. You can redeem these points for Req packs that reward you with random weapons and armor to be used in Warzone. Even though the randomness of the rewards can be frustrating, the system encourages you to be better to get the rewards and stock up your arsenal.

Xbox One owners owe it to themselves to pick up this game. It’s innovative, smooth as butter and the most fun “Halo” has been in years. The massive scale, new features and gripping story make “Halo 5: Guardians” one of the best games of the year — if not the best.

Bradley Burgess can be reached at

[email protected]

Exceeding expectationsREviEw

The latest in the Halo fran-chise, “Halo 5: Guardians” is a killer shooter

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While my love of music may be infi-nite, my finances are not. It’s tempting to buy every Beatles vinyl ever and blow $250 on some high-end headphones, but decisions must be made. The following is a practical guide to determining which purchases are sensible and which ones would be best left on the optimistic Christmas list emailed to your parents.

1. TurntablePro: Turntables, record players,

what have you — they’re cool. A track on vinyl admittedly has more dimensions than a digital version, and no hipster can deny the aesthetic pleasure of walking into a room and see-ing a powder blue Crosley record player casually adorning a shelf.

Con: Turntables may possess the cool factor, but the cheap factor? Not so much. While the record player itself may not cost an arm and a leg, the vi-nyl collection needed to house a broad music selection does.

Verdict: In theory, a turntable may prove a music lover’s true dedication to the music-loving identity, but this item is best left off the Christmas list.

2. Physical CD/iTunes albumPro: By purchasing the album, the

listener is directly supporting the band, which can create a warm, fuzzy feeling.

Unwrapping a fresh CD, its surface unscathed, or seeing that iTunes album you’d pre-ordered become available for listening leaves the consumer feeling that all the anticipation of the album was worth it.

Con: With music streaming easily accessible and cheap (of-tentimes free), it’s hard to justify purchasing the entire album for

$15 when a monthly Spotify Premium subscription, which would give you unlimited access to the album and thou-sands of others, costs less.

Verdict: Supporting your favorite artist is a wonderful feeling, but if you have to think twice about dipping into your own bank account for it, you may as well just stream the album.

3. High-end headphonesPro: Many students would never

be caught walking from class to class without headphones in. Headphones accompany almost everyone everywhere

they go during the day. Buying a high-end pair of either buds or a full-on studio set could be easily justified by use alone.

Con: This will take some serious research. Good head-phones don’t come cheap, so finding a style that fits both your personal-ity and yours ears will take some hunting.

Verdict: This is one thing many parents would be happy to gift to their music-lov-ing college student. If you go the Christ-mas list route, however, consider involv-ing yourself in the shopping process.

4. New car speakersPro: Many college students spend a

decent amount of time in their cars, and odds are the stereo is always playing. Because of this, sound quality could be a top priority for many. Massive subs may not be the answer, but new speakers can enhance any road trip. There’s a big differ-ence between stock stereo systems and something fancier. The investment may be worth considering.

Con: It’s important to consider whether it’s actually worth the beefy chunk of change it will take to replace a stereo system. For one, how long is the car expected to last? Is it a hunk of junk?

If so, I’d consider saving money for a car that will last and that already has a decent speaker system in it, instead of risking having a car with a stereo system worth more than the car itself.

Verdict: A new stereo system is cer-tainly an investment, though well-worth it for the right person in the right car. Whatever decision you make, be sure it involves careful consideration.

5. Concert ticketsPro: Seeing an incredible band or artist

in person is an irreplaceable experience. The studio version of the albums will still be good, but never the same after breath-ing the same air as the musicians that made the soundtrack. Plus there are the concert t-shirts that prove a concertgoer’s true allegiance to the band, and that con-cert high that peaks at the opening song and doesn’t wane until days later.

Con: Downfalls to purchasing concert tickets … are … actually, just buy the dang tickets.

Verdict: Memories have no price. YOLO.Lyndsie Kiebert can be reached at

[email protected] or on Twitter @lyndsie_kiebert

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Tuneful expenditures Pros and cons of a musical Christmas list

Lyndsie Kiebert

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