ArtInsights' Cinema Siren

Battleship: A Waterlogged Absurdity You Can Cheer For

Cinema Siren reviewed Battleship and says while it's not the next The Piano, it's most definitely ridiculous fun.

Battleship feels like a two-hour Navy recruitment video. I'm surprised blue and gold aren't the colors used on the movie poster, along with “GO NAVY!” and “BEAT ALIENS!” If you leave your brain at the front door of the multiplex on a day you feel like rooting for the home team, you could do worse than vacillating between cheering and snickering for those two hours of this completely ridiculous, raucous mash up of Independence Day, Pearl Harbor and Transformers.  Director Peter Berg, of Friday Night Lights, The Kingdom, and Hancock, knows his way around the camera. So we can try to accept the fact that for some reason he feels the need to release his inner Michael Bay. What results is not exactly a good movie, but one that unapologetically …

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WSHS Senior Wins Annual Jewell Pratt Burns Scholarship

The Prince William Art Society awarded two $1,000 scholarships to county high school seniors on May 16.

Last night, Woodbridge Senior High School senior Victoria Lafranchise won one of two annual $1,000 merit scholarships the Prince William Art Society gives to county high school seniors.  The Jewell Pratt Burns Scholarship, named for a longstanding member of the society, was given by its namesake to Lafranchise and Julia Moore of Forest Park High School during a special program. For the past five years, the Prince William Art Society has awarded two annual $1,000 merit scholarships to Prince William County area high school seniors. In addition to monetary funds, the two seniors received a certificate, a framed copy of one selected piece from their submission portfolio, and a one-year membership to the society.  In a succinct speech …

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Art on the Block Highlights Local Talent

Four galleries hosted open houses during Occoquan's Art on the Block event on May 12.

Photographs of dining patrons transformed by digital paint colors; layers of beeswax mixed with resin and oil colors; a representation of death and hope captured in a single white balloon—these gallery pieces were among hundreds on display for Occoquan’s Art on the Block. The May 12 event was the collaborative effort of four galleries located on the 300 block of Mill Street: Kelly’s Artbox, Artists’ Undertaking Gallery, The Loft Gallery, and Art a La Carte. Each gallery offered buffet-style refreshments and the opportunity for patrons to familiarize themselves with the works of local artists and their wide range of techniques and media: from painting, pottery, and sculpture to photography, metal works, and jewelry. Hannah Weatherington has…

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ArtInsights' Cinema Siren

Dark Shadows: A Mere Shadow of What it Could Be

Patch's Cinema Siren reviews the new Burton-Depp flick, Dark Shadows.

Tim Burton, as the stylized director of such glorious oddities as Edward Scissorhands, Beetlejuice, and Ed Wood, is the pied piper to the inner goth in all of us. So it is with a heavy heart Cinema Siren has to report Dark Shadows, while it might have moments of loopy greatness and top-notch production and costume design, it is on the whole the most tragic of cinematic sins, a bore.   The greatness is in some particularly exciting and fast paced scenes, that are strangely intermittent in its 116 minutes, and so at odds with the soap opera ploddings of the rest of the film. The first minutes of Dark Shadows show great promise. Barnabas Collins (Johnny Depp, in his 8th partnership with director Burton) is the rakish son of a 1770s New World …

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Leslie Perales

12:01 am on Monday, May 14, 2012

I was underwhelmed.   more ›

The Avengers Brings Its A-Game

Cinema Siren takes a look at the first of the summer blockbusters, The Avengers.

Arts Alive Planned For Sunday at Hylton Center

This free, family event starts at 6 p.m. on Sunday at the Hylton performing Arts Center in Manassas.

From the Prince William County Arts Council: The Prince William County Arts Council and Hylton Performing Arts Center will present Arts Alive 2012 from noon to 6 p.m. on Sunday, May 6, at the Hylton Center, 10960 George Mason Circle, Manassas.  Arts Alive will include performances, exhibits, hands-on activities and demonstrations by local artists and arts organizations. Inside and outside the Hylton Center, Arts Alive will feature 18 performances on three stages; visual art on display and for sale; local authors reading their work and telling stories; and food for purchase from local vendors. Performances by Arts Council members will range from ballet to belly dancing, from orchestra to a drum and bugle corps, from children’s theater to …

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Dale City Singer to Perform in 'The Music Man'

Rayanne Gonzales will perform at Arena Stage in Washington, D.C.

Last Chance: Be a Local Country Music Star

Radio station WMZQ, 98.7 FM, is hosting a battle of the bands. To be a contestant submit your band's video by noon on Friday.

The country music station WMZQ, 98.7 FM, is hosting a Battle of the Bands contest that ends at noon on Friday. Northern Virginia area bands can submit a YouTube link to a video of the band to the contest site that is no longer than four minutes. Be sure to read the rules. "Six bands will be chosen to perform on May 3rd or May 17th at Growler's in Gaithersburg and compete for the chance to open the day at WMZQ Fest on June 3rd!" according to the contest's website.  Read more, including the contest rules at the WMZQ contest page.  From the looks of the Facebook comments, a Maryland band called The Sam Grow Band, which frequents such establishments as The Whiskey in Annapolis, seems to be a popular contestant so far. The accompanying video …

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Local Art Lessons for Kids

Patch contributor Keri Goodfriend is teaching another round of art classes.

Lake Ridge Patch contributor Keri Goodfriend is offering art classes for toddlers, preschool and elementary students out of her home this May and June.  She also offers daytime classes for homeschooled students. Payment is due at the first class for any classes. A schedule of classes is below. To register, ask for directions, or find out more information, contact her at Keri.goodfriend@gmail.com or 703-494-4765.  Preschool Picassos For kids 3-5 years old. This six-week class teaches children about the basics of color theory, types of art, introduces famous artists and their work, and encourages the children to try different styles of artwork. Cost: $83 (materials included). Art Exploration Workshop: Around the World For kids K-5th grade. …

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