Author Archive

Posted on November 4th, 2009 by Carey Norris

Paranormal Activity yields big scares

Paranormal Activity yields big scares

Paranormal Activity builds scares out of shadows, loud noises and anticipation.

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Posted on October 15th, 2009 by Carey Norris

Good comedians wasted in Couples Retreat

Good comedians wasted in Couples Retreat

Couples Retreat is as bland and predictable as a bad marriage.

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Posted on October 7th, 2009 by Carey Norris

Zombieland proves that the undead genre still has plenty of life

Zombieland proves that the undead genre still has plenty of life

Zombieland is not a parody of or a post-modern commentary on the zombie genre — like, say, Shaun of the Dead — but it is still a total blast.

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Posted on September 24th, 2009 by Carey Norris

Sidewalk highlights: Sunday

Sidewalk highlights: Sunday

So Long Are You Young: Samuel Ullman’s Poem and Passion • Sunday • 12:45 p.m. [...]

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Posted on September 24th, 2009 by Carey Norris

Sidewalk highlights: Saturday

Sidewalk highlights: Saturday

Official Rejection • Saturday • 1:30 p.m. • Carver Theatre
Film festivals are fun for [...]

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Posted on September 24th, 2009 by Carey Norris

Sidewalk opening night: BEST WORST MOVIE

Sidewalk opening night: BEST WORST MOVIE

In Alexander City, Dr. George Hardy is known as a dentist and one of the [...]

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Posted on September 16th, 2009 by Carey Norris

Whiteout chills but fails to thrill

Whiteout chills but fails to thrill

Despite the potency of Antarctica as a setting, Whiteout is pretty lukewarm.

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Posted on September 9th, 2009 by Carey Norris

Extract falls short of fast-paced farce

Extract falls short of fast-paced farce

Ten years after Office Space flopped at the box office and became a cult hit on [...]

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Posted on August 20th, 2009 by Carey Norris

District 9 presents a splendid sci-fi spectacle

District 9 presents a splendid sci-fi spectacle

The idea of humans meeting aliens or other frightening creatures and turning out to be [...]

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Posted on August 20th, 2009 by Carey Norris

Judging G. I. Joe

Judging G. I. Joe

I was the perfect age to be absolutely obsessed with G.I. Joe as a child. [...]

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Posted on August 6th, 2009 by Carey Norris

Life & death & Funny People

Life & death & Funny People

Comedy is serious business, and director Judd Apatow’s hilarious and surprisingly dramatic new film Funny [...]

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Posted on June 5th, 2009 by Carey Norris

Drag Me to Hell please!

Drag Me to Hell please!

 
If there’s one thing I have learned from the movies, it’s never to piss off [...]

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Posted on May 27th, 2009 by Carey Norris

The 2009 SHOUT out

The 2009 SHOUT out

The fourth annual Birmingham SHOUT, scheduled for May 29-30 at WorkPlay, will showcase features, documentaries and short films by new and established artists and offer attendees the opportunity to view topics of interest to the LGBT communities, as well as to interact with filmmakers and documentary subjects in attendance.

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Posted on May 14th, 2009 by Carey Norris

Star Trek boldly goes where many men have gone before

Star Trek boldly goes where many men have gone before

For the last decade or two, the Star Trek franchise has been in a pretty [...]

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Posted on May 7th, 2009 by Carey Norris

Wolverine fails to put the human in superhuman

Wolverine fails to put the human in superhuman

Origin stories in superhero movies are tricky things. Usually, they are just things that need [...]

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Posted on April 22nd, 2009 by Carey Norris

Crank 2: Electric Boogaloo

Crank 2: Electric Boogaloo

 
The original Crank was an unexpected joy for action-movie fans. It starred Jason Statham in [...]

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Posted on April 16th, 2009 by Carey Norris

Adventureland: Summer Lovin’

Adventureland: Summer Lovin’

Superbad director Greg Mottola’s charming new film Adventureland finds new depths in an old genre.

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Posted on November 21st, 2008 by Carey Norris

Music and Movies at the Alabama Theatre

The next three days feature a wide variety of music-themed movies at the Alabama Theatre, [...]

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Posted on October 31st, 2008 by Carey Norris

Horror Movie a Day: Oct. 31 – The Texas Chainsaw Massacre

Oct. 31: The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (1974):
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Those few of you who have been following this [...]

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Posted on October 31st, 2008 by Carey Norris

Horror Movie a Day: Oct. 30 – Deep Red

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Oct. 30: Deep Red (1975):
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Earlier this month, I wrote about Suspiria, the nightmarish horror film [...]

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WEEKLY PICKS: do more now

Weekly Tweets

  • @blakebritton Patrick Cooper's twitter appears to be @PatCoop but he hasn't tweeted since June. #bham 1 day ago
  • Patrick Cooper is running for Mayor of Birmingham, has a three-point plan. Not "Let's Do Something." http://bit.ly/42EgLb 2 days ago
  • Story and Video: Smitherman terminates Langford chief of staff http://bit.ly/3VoUQS 2 days ago
  • Smitherman names Kevin Moore interim chief of staff. #bham 2 days ago
  • Presser over. 2 days ago
  • Says he's committed to the city. Ready to work hard, etc. Smitherman talking. Paepcke asks if any charges pressed against Bowie. No. #bham 2 days ago
  • But seriously folks, Mr. Moore last worked in Parks and Rec. He seems calm. Says this is a very important time for the city. #bham 2 days ago
  • He last worked in the Parks and Rec. dept, possibly under Leslie Knope. If you don't get it, google it. #bham 2 days ago
  • Moore has been associated with city hall in #bham for 14 years. Says there's a lot of work to be done. Going to work with budget and finance 2 days ago
  • Smitherman hopes to have proposals on how to fix the budget shortfall by Tuesday, says Moore is working through the weekend. #bham 2 days ago
  • Everyone is subject to review, smitherman says. #bham 2 days ago
  • Smitherman says she's been interviewing the Mayor's staff individually to find out who knew what about budget. #bham 2 days ago
  • More updates...

War on Dumb

The aftermath of Larry Langford 

The aftermath of Larry Langford 

Last week’s verdict established Larry Langford’s guilt, but it will be a long time before we’re done settling all his unanswered questions. 

Upon Further Review

Dear (New) Mayor, Let’s talk sports…

Dear (New) Mayor, Let’s talk sports…

Whoever emerges from the special election in December holding my city’s mantle of leadership inherits a sports scene that is in the direst of straits.

Column

The Ballad of Federal Gaol

The Ballad of Federal Gaol

A poem about an ex-mayor & a prisoner-to-be.

Film

Paranormal Activity yields big scares

Paranormal Activity yields big scares

Paranormal Activity builds scares out of shadows, loud noises and anticipation.

Small World Cartoons

Not My President

Not My President

When “your man” didn’t become President, what did you say?

Suburban Legends

Batdance

Batdance

Some thoughts on the end of society