This Week in Entertainment
The World from the Side of the Moon (Phillip Phillips) - Phillips' dedicated fan base awaits the debut studio album from the reigning champion of American Idol. The album is fueled by the best-selling Idol coronation song ever, "Home," which has been used everywhere from NBC's gymnastics coverage during the Summer Olympics to insurance commercials. Phillips wrote all but three of the songs for this album, which maintains the Americana-folk-rock genre of his
first single.
Unapologetic (Rihanna) - The seventh studio album in as many years for arguably the most successful current pop act in the business finds the singer again harnessing her mix of pop, electronica and R&B for a collection of certified chart-toppers. The album, preceded by lead single "Diamonds," features guest appearances from Eminem, Future and controversial on/off boyfriend Chris Brown. Rihanna will be supporting the album with the "Diamonds World Tour," which arrives in Houston on April 15.
Red Dawn - After being shelved for three years, the remake of the 1980s classic is finally being released. The film focuses on a group of young people defending their hometown from a North Korean invasion, a contemporary substitute for the antagonist of the original Red Dawn, the Soviet Union. Starring Chris Hemsworth (The Avengers) and Josh Hutcherson (The Hunger Games), this film looks to appeal to nostalgia-seeking adults and to profit from the Holiday-season movie-goers. (PG-13, 93 min.)
The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn Part 2 - After years of causing pandemonium among "Twi-hards," the beloved and loathed vampire franchise releases its final installment. In its closing chapter, Edward (Robert Pattinson, Water for Elephants) and Bella (Kristen Stewart, Adventureland) gather foreign vampire clans and nomads in order to stand against the Volturi coven, all while protecting their daughter, misidentified as an immortal child. Also starring Taylor Lautner (Abduction) as werewolf Jacob. (PG-13, 116 min.)
More from The Rice Thresher
Founder’s Court goes alt-rock as bôa kicks off U.S. tour at Rice
Founder’s Court morphed into a festival ground Friday night as British alt-rock band bôa launched the U.S. leg of their “Whiplash” tour. The group headlined the third annual Moody X-Fest before what organizers estimate was “a little bit over 2,000 students” — the largest turnout in the event’s three-year history.
Rice launches alternative funding program amid federal research cuts
Rice is launching the Bridge Funding Program for faculty whose federal funding for research projects has been reduced or removed. The program was announced via the Provost’s newsletter April 24.
This moment may be unprecedented — Rice falling short is not
In many ways, the current landscape of American higher education is unprecedented. Sweeping cuts to federal research funding, overt government efforts to control academic departments and censor campus protests and arbitrary arrests and visa revocations have rightly been criticized as ushering in the latest iteration of fascism.
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