The Columbia Chronicle

‘CONTINUE?9876543210’ a beautiful contemplation, use of medium

By Colin McInerney

October 13, 2014

“CONTINUE?9876543210” is not in any way a fun game. That is not a criticism, because the idea that all video games have to be fun is a false one. While it is possible to argue that chess can be fun, and people certainly do have fun playing chess, it is a game largely about using superior strategy to defeat an opponent. Similarly, you may have fun playing, but that is not the point of the game.“CONTINUE?9876543210” is a g...

‘Hack ‘n’ Slash’as niche as they come

By Colin McInerney

October 2, 2014

“Hack ‘n’ Slash” is as rough around the edges as expected for a game that lets players change its variables, but it allows for an unparalleled kind of expressive freedom and tinkering not often seen in puzzle or adventure games where players can tackle situations in any way they see fit. Regardless, its intricacies and flaws may be enough to turn away the average gamer.The hack-and-slash game genre is well establishe...

‘Skeleton Twins’ a powerful dramatic turn for SNL alums

September 22, 2014

Since leaving “Saturday Night Live,” Bill Hader and Kristen Wiig have successfully shifted from television to feature films. Mostly appearing in comedies, neither has had the opportunity to flex h...

Diablo III leaves gamers bored of terror

By Colin McInerney

September 18, 2014

Though the improved graphics bring “Diablo III: Ultimate Evil Edition” to life, the Aug. 19 re-release misleads players with false difficulty levels. Rather than presenting gamers with in-depth challenges, the game feels more like a trip to the casino.“Diablo III” was re-released on Aug. 19 for Xbox One, Xbox 360, Playstation 3 and Playstation 4 as “Diablo III: Ultimate Evil Edition,” packaging the base game with the...

White Lung’s anti-sexism stands stumbles on deaf ears

White Lung frontwoman Mish Way screams her way through the band's Sept. 10 set at Subterranean, 2011 W. North Ave.

By Features Editor

September 15, 2014

Punk rock is making headlines again, but this time, it is not to warn parents of their kids’ impending bad haircuts. At the forefront of the movement is Perfect P--sy frontwoman Meredith Graves, w...

Brenton Thwaites and Odeya Rush talk “The Giver”

By Managing Editor

August 15, 2014

Despite taking 20-years to make, “The Giver,” a film based off Lois Lowry’s critically acclaimed novel of the same name, will open in theatres Friday, Aug. 15.“The Giver” follows a community ...

“The Giver” defies dystopian trends

By Managing Editor

August 15, 2014

A world defined by strict rules and no emotion is created in director Phillip Noyce’s latest film “The Giver,” which premiered Aug. 15.Based on Lois Lowry’s lauded 1993 novel by the same name, “The Giver” is the most recent novel-to-film adaptation that explores life in a dystopian society. While lacking the action-packed scenes and adrenaline-fueled plots of “Divergent” and “The Hunger Games,” “The Giver�...

“Planet of the Apes” is the dawn of a great franchise

By Josh R. Weitzel

August 12, 2014

The “Planet of the Apes” franchise has been a staple of the science-fiction genre since 1968. Although no sequel was as critically acclaimed as the original, the series has enjoyed success with a reboot in 2011’s “Rise of the Planet of the Apes,” which employed revolutionary visual technology and a thrilling origin story set in modern day. The latest sequel, “Dawn of the Planet of the Apes,” is not only one o...

‘Spider-Man 2’ swings short of legacy

May 12, 2014

Marvel’s monopoly on spinning superhero stories continues to grow with every new release, and these films have to go big or go home. Director Marc Webb’s “The Amazing Spider-Man 2” is the first ...

‘Mansions’ sinks like a brick

By Joh Weitzel

May 5, 2014

IN MODERN HOLLYWOOD, remakes are an ever-present occurrence and, for the most part, mind-numbingly terrible. The worst remakes are completely devoid of what made the orig- inal notable. This is true of “Dis...

Green Street Smoked Meats, 112 N. Green St., brings a fresh take on casual barbecue to Chicago with its industrial decor and minimalist style. Guests can try fanciful cocktails, such as the Sweet Tea Bourbon.

Good Southern cooking gets ultra-urban twist

May 5, 2014

At the far end of a cobblestone alleyway surrounded by brick walls with chipping paint, the smell of Texas-style barbecue lingers in the West Loop. The source of the smell is Green Street Smoked Meats, ...

Dramatic, gritty ‘Joe’ anything but average

By Josh Weitzel

April 21, 2014

It is about time moviegoers saw Nicolas Cage in peak form again. For years, he has been the butt of numerous jokes because of his stilted acting in films such as “National Treasure” and “Ghost R...