Harsh Times: Finals are here.

This is the time of the year for a student that you either love, or hate with a vengeance. This is the time for finals. An optimistic student might see this as the beginning of the end, looking forward to graduation, or summer vacation, or perhaps both. However, a pessimistic student will see this as the most trying time of the semester, with the pressure to do well on finals building up in anticipation of sitting in a humid room for two hours. Many students see finals as a piece of cake, and just another step in earning that good grade that they deserve; however, others will see it as that last chance to get a passing grade, and panic with anticipation.

A student can’t help but to think of what life after finals will be like for them. Many of us will be going on vacations that are certainly well deserved. Others prefer to sleep in day after day and do nothing. However, none of that can happen until you hand in that last blue book or scantron, walk to your car, and get home.

Every student has their own unique way of dealing with the pressures of finals. Some lock their selves in a room for how ever many hours it takes to finish studying. Others decided to procrastinate for as long as possible, cram themselves with caffeine, and burn the late night oil hours before their final starts. Whatever your method of madness is, it all leads to summer vacation.

Most students here at San Jose State on are a full time schedule, taking as many classes as possible, or at least as many that your sanity will permit. With the completion of finals, one of the pressures of our lives is gone. Next we can focus our attention on our jobs, friends and family, and having a good time on the side.

In my case, my last final is the one for this class. The very next day I will begin my summer vacation, and enjoy three months of bliss before the fall semester begins in late August. I hope that for all of you, this time isn’t too frustrating, and that you’re able to see the light at the end of the tunnel. Soon your finals will be over, and summer will be in season.

Photo Credit:

http://www.cartoonstock.com/newscartoons/cartoonists/rmc/lowres/rmcn16l.jpg

Movie Review: X-Men Origins: Wolverine.

X-Men Origins: Wolverine was touted as the movie that would begin the summer season of blockbusters. The film had a line of fans waiting to get inside the 12:01 a.m. show and see what they’ve been waiting for. Some fans wore t-shirts with their beloved character on them. One fan even come dressed in full costume, and ran in front of the screen before the opening trailers rolled and roared like his idol Wolverine, to the delight of the sold-out theatre. Just to anger people I wore a t-shirt with a picture of the Joker, who is a character from DC Comics’ Batman franchise, rival of Marvel Comics’ X-Men, and got many stares in the process.

This film tells the story of Wolverine, who is by far the most beloved of all of the X-Men. In the previous trilogy of X-Men films, we see the rage behind Wolverine, played by Hugh Jackman, as he tries to uncover the mystery of who he is. Jackman returns to reprise his role as the clawed Wolverine for a fourth time. This film explains were and when Wolverine came from, where his powers originated from, and how he became who he is in the present.

In the second film in the X-Men trilogy, X2: X-Men united, we were introduced to the character of William Stryker played by Brian Cox. Stryker’s character was in charge of the government program that took Logan (Wolverine's real name) and turned him into the animal he is today. In the experiment, code named Weapon X; a fictional metal called Adamantium is liquefied and injected over Wolverines skeleton, which couple with Wolverines ability to rapidly heal wounds to his body makes him nearly indestructible.

In this film we’re introduced to the younger version of Stryker, played this time by Danny Huston. We’re shown how Stryker recruits Wolverine, and betrays him, which is the center of the plot in the movie as Wolverine tries to vindicate his past. In this film, Wolverine still knows everything about his past and it isn’t until the end of the film where he loses his memory due to a series of events. The film finally brings to the screen the character of Gambit, who is also a favorite of fans, but never appeared in the previous three X-Men films. Gambit plays a roll in helping Wolverine get his vengeance in the film.

The film made $87 million in its first weekend at the box office, however many of the die hard fans are upset with the films continuity to the comics, and for some of story line which was falsely rendered in order for the film to make sense. The film also hasn’t received great reviews from critics either. I bet that won’t bother anyone from the Marvel camp, as this film was guaranteed to be a hit at the box office and bring in plenty of money.

Yes this film was a good start to the summer season of blockbusters, however there is nothing else underneath its surface. It’s your generic “popcorn flick” filled with big explosions, special effects, and lacking a gripping storyline. The film lacks much substance in comparison to other films of its genre. Personally I did enjoy the film; however it was not as good as other superhero films of the past year such as The Dark Knight, Watchmen, and Iron Man and If I was a film critic I would give the film three out of five stars. This summer is going to be filled with great films such as Star Trek, Angels & Demons, Terminator Salvation, Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen, and Inglorious Basterds (yes that’s how it’s spelled). If you’re a fan of any of these franchises, then you will be at least reasonably happy with what you see on the big screen this summer movie season.

Photo Credit:

http://newsaura.files.wordpress.com/2009/04/x-men-origins-wolverine.jpg

Looking back at The Killers concert.

On Sunday April 19th, 2009, those in attendance at San Jose State’s Event Center were treated to a concert by The Killers. The natives of Las Vegas, Nevada played before a sold-out crowd of 4,000 people. The Killers first achieved success in 2004 with their hit singles “Somebody Told Me” & “Mr. Brightside.”

Before the main attraction could take the stage, an up and coming band by the name of Wild Nights performed a ten song set from their debut album. After their performance, the opening band thanked the Killers for bringing them on their world wide tour, and their front man asked the crowd if “they were ready for a F**ing great rock show,” which of course brought great approval from the crowd. The eager crowd had to wait approximately 15 to 20 minutes for The Killers to start their performance. Stage hands or “Roadies” took to the stage, tuning guitars, finishing setting up the stage, and getting everything else ready for The Killers.

Soon after the preparations were completed, the lights dropped and the band took the stage, lead by front man Brandon Flowers. Too the roar and thunder of the capacity crowd, the band began the night playing their current hit single “Human” off of their album “Day & Age.” I was in the front of the crowd in the middle of the mosh pit, and could tell from the start that this was going to be a fun show as you could feel the drum beats bang in your chest.

Flowers did a great job of getting the crowd excited, as he would fall to his knees as if to imply how much pain was behind his lyrics, getting screams of approval from the ladies in attendance. He also would jump onto the large speakers set up in the front of the stage and point the microphone at the crowd, as they would chant the choruses to the bands songs. Behind the band, a large screen was set up which played video to accompany the music, as well as a massive array of lights that glided across the stage like a composers hand before an orchestra.

Although the band primarily played songs from the “Day & Age” album, they also play some of their hit singles that have brought then to worldwide recognition. Songs like “All the Things That I’ve Done,” “Smile Like You Mean It,” “Jenny Was a Friend of Mine,” and “When We Were Young” were performed, with Flowers dedicating the last song to the crowd of predominantly college students and teens.

After their 10th song ended, two giant balls of fire shooting from the back of the stage, and the band went backstage for a break. The crowd still roaring began to chant for the band to return, as they did to the sound of even more screaming and applause. After their final song, confetti shot out of mini canons set in front of the stage, and sparks poured from behind the stage like rain, making a huge wall of fire. The lights came on, and people began to poor out. The crowd was clearly content as they were still cheering as the masses left the Event Center.

Personally I had a great time at the show. I’ve been a fan of the band ever since their breakout in 2004, which was my senior year of high school. When the band played those two songs, “Somebody Told Me,” and “Mr. Brightside,” I was transported back in time to where I was in my life five years ago, a naïve seventeen year old about to graduate high school and just discovering himself and the real world, feeling a massive sense of nostalgia in the process.
It was the complete concert experience; Good music, a ruckus audience, crowd surfing, mosh pits, and that hint of marijuana smoke in the air. I had left the concert with a lost voice, a ringing in my ears that lasted three days, and happiness for just having seen one of my favorite rock bands.

Photo Credit:

http://musikitar.files.wordpress.com/2008/11/folder.jpg