OUT THIS WEEK
DVDs
New In Town
PG, $29.95
MUSIC
Amanda Leigh
Mandy Moore
GAMES
Cross Edge
KOEI Corp.PS3
BILLBOARD TOP 5
1. Boom Boom Pow
The Black Eyed Peas
2. Poker Face
Lady GaGa
3. Blame it
Jamie Foxx featuring T-Pain
4. I Know You Want Me (Calle Ocho)
Pitbull
5. Day ‘N’ Nite
Kid Cudi
Source: Nielsen/SoundScan
TOP BOX OFFICE1. Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian
$53.5 million
2. Terminator Salvation
$43M
3. Star Trek
$21.9M
4. Angels and Demons
$21.4M
5. Dance Flick
$11.1M
‘Terminator Salvation’
PG-13, 130 minutes
“Terminator Salvation” is the fourth installment of the successful series. It stars Christian Bale as the heroic John Connor, Anton Yelchin as a young Kyle Reese and Sam Worthington as Marcus Wright, the terminator with a heart.
The film revolves around Connor trying hard to find Reese, who is supposed to go into the past and meet Connor’s mother or Connor won’t exist. Wright is the half-machine whom Connor doesn’t really trust but hopes will lead him to Reese.
This film is not as horrible as some say. But it’s not all good, either. This PG-13 rating for “Terminator” is just a reason to get many kids into the theater.
As for acting, Bale is just playing Batman during the whole movie, and the amazing Michael Ironside is utterly wasted as a close-minded military general.
This is just a mediocre film — a rental at best. And while there are several references to past “Terminator” films, they may only catch the eyes of serious fan boys. Otherwise, not many people will find salvation in this “Gears of War” style “Terminator.”
>>Alex Perez, Schurz
Rockit Bar & Grill
22 W. Hubbard St.
(312) 645-6000
Rockit is a restaurant that I would recommend to everyone. With its earthy elements, great ambience is a given. There are tree stump tables, antler chandeliers and brick and wood all around, creating a warm, cozy feel. The main floor is for casual dining, and the upper floor has pool tables and plasma screen TVs tuned to sports. However, the upstairs is only for those over 21.
The wait to be seated was reasonable and worthwhile. They have a great menu with classic American food — burgers, salads and more. I ordered the grilled chicken sandwich, which was satisfactory and delish.
The prices were lower than I expected and affordable enough for students. This place can be a great hangout and a fun destination in downtown Chicago. But, I would recommend sprucing yourself up before you go to make sure you will fit in at the restaurant.
If you still aren’t convinced, Rockit’s Web site says its burger was named the best in the nation by “Good Morning America.”
Renata Mietus, John Hancock
‘No Small Courage: A History of Women in the United States’
By Nancy F. Cott
“You are such a feminist,” my sister told me one day.
I glanced at my stack of books and understood why she said that. My latest read was “No Small Courage: A History of Women in the United States.” At 586 pages, this book depicts the lives of women throughout the history of our country. It may sound tedious and like another history lesson, but it is surprisingly enlightening and entertaining. Men have been known to dominate most history books, but Cott illuminates some of the hidden aspects of history.
For instance, did you know that female nurses outnumbered men by a ratio of 5-1 during the Civil War? Did you know that Harriet Tubman was an open advocate of women’s rights? Well, I sure didn’t.
If you want to learn more about the history of women, check out this book. It will be a change of pace from male-focused history textbooks.
— Lynda Lopez, Prosser
Bryce Dallas Howard (left) and Christian Bale star in “Terminator Salvation.” Warner Bros.
