Back To The Future: Surrogates' thought-provoking subject matter self-destructs in 10, 9, 8…

Posted inCulture

Back To The Future: Surrogates' thought-provoking subject matter self-destructs in 10, 9, 8…

Source Weekly

The concept of Surrogates might sound good, after all it's based on a graphic novel by Robert Venditti and Brett Weldel. Unfortunately, at the hands of the gang behind Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines, it misfires, turning into a slow-paced, bland fiasco. This Disney fairy tale/sci-fi thriller plays out like an episode of Law and Order: Special Surrogates Unit – it's a glorified TV show without any redeeming qualities.
The opening provides background history through news footage: the crime rate is down dramatically now that everyone is living through robotic surrogate bodies. People seem to function with regular jobs and have non-stop fun with no apparent risk to their own bodies (beyond atrophy). Users at home operate sexy, physically perfect mechanical versions of themselves as they grow weak, feeble and unhealthy from dentist-chair-like recliners. That is until some craggy faced “meat bag” on a motorcycle yanks out a death ray and ices some surrogates, mysteriously killing their real users at home. This brings in surrogate FBI agents Greer and Peters (Bruce Willis, Rhada Mitchell) and a whole bunch of convoluted plot twists and turns. Apparently, things in a super-fake world just aren't as they seem. Agent Greer, forced to go solo, discovers a vast conspiracy behind the surrogate phenomenon. Abandoning his surrogate, he risks his life to unravel the mystery uncomfortably interacting with a city full of pretty mannequins.

Posted inCulture

No Joking Around: Arkham faithfully recreates the franchise's noir feel

Source Weekly

The Elizabeth Arkham Asylum for the Criminally Insane – or just Arkham to the good citizens of Gotham – is the semi-permanent address of some of the world's most celebrated criminals. The Penguin, Two-Face and The Riddler have all made the crumbling madhouse-mansion their home at one time or another. And most of them have escaped, only to be captured and hauled back by their dedicated nemesis Batman.
But at the beginning of Batman: Arkham Asylum, the most famous inmate can't wait to get back inside. Joker has been caught again by Batman, and he's delighted that his old foe is escorting him back – so delighted that he promptly escapes and rolls out the welcome wagon. Within minutes, Joker has released the institution's collection of psychos and sociopaths. The inmates are running the asylum.

Posted inFood & Drink

ยกSi, Estamos Abiertos!: Mexican markets spice up Bend's culinary scene

The Source Staff

For a relatively small place, it's impressive how well Bend replicates the benefits of big city living without any of the hassle that usually goes along with it. Per capita, Bend probably has more musicians, artists, galleries, readings and performances, microbrews, bars, gourmands and restaurants than most large urban areas. And while a backyard of snowcapped mountains and wildflowers makes up for most everything else, like a grocery store I can walk to and reasonable public transportation, the only real loss I have felt from my former big city life is diversity. I feel this acutely in many aspects of the day-to-day. But as an appreciator of food, its impact can be devastating.
There is, fortunately, one steadily growing ethnic enclave in Central Oregon and with that has come culinary treats. The Mexican community has more than doubled since 1990 ushering in a stream of taquerias and ristorantes. More exciting, since the population reached a critical mass about 10 years ago, Bend has seen the opening of its first ethnic markets.

Posted inFood & Drink

ยกSi, Estamos Abiertos!: Mexican markets spice up Bend's culinary scene

The Source Staff

For a relatively small place, it's impressive how well Bend replicates the benefits of big city living without any of the hassle that usually goes along with it. Per capita, Bend probably has more musicians, artists, galleries, readings and performances, microbrews, bars, gourmands and restaurants than most large urban areas. And while a backyard of snowcapped mountains and wildflowers makes up for most everything else, like a grocery store I can walk to and reasonable public transportation, the only real loss I have felt from my former big city life is diversity. I feel this acutely in many aspects of the day-to-day. But as an appreciator of food, its impact can be devastating.
There is, fortunately, one steadily growing ethnic enclave in Central Oregon and with that has come culinary treats. The Mexican community has more than doubled since 1990 ushering in a stream of taquerias and ristorantes. More exciting, since the population reached a critical mass about 10 years ago, Bend has seen the opening of its first ethnic markets.

Posted inFood & Drink

Feeling So Good!

Source Weekly

Been on vacation lately and thought you were feeling so much better for the much-needed rest and relaxation? Or could it be you spent a week downing blended drinks where there's a heap of anti-depressants in the drinking water? Why cities are afraid to post results of what's mingling in their municipal water supply is a real shame, especially since almost half of bottled water is really tap water. Cities could be using this information to their advantage for a whole new genre of marketing. Wouldn't it be great to choose your water according to your needs and desires?
Feeling a little run down, choose water from a source that has high levels of anti-biotics in it. Sport teams looking for a leg up, they can have their training camps where trenabolic and other anabolic steroids mingle in the drinking water. The entire art of mixology could change – as you certainly can't add pharmaceuticals to people's drinks – but you can add water.

Posted inMusic

Rooted at the Revival

The Source Staff

There was a moment at the Bend Roots Revival on Saturday night as Mosley Wotta was rhyming over the sounds of Empty Space Orchestra when Sound Check looked around and thought, “Damn, this is kind of crazy.”
Not the bad kind of “crazy,” but the sort of wow-there-are-is-a-ridiculous-amount-of-people-here-just-to-see-local-music sort of “crazy.

Posted inCulture

Look Who's Evil Now: Evil Dead gets a comedic makeover from the 2nd Street Theater

Source Weekly

Sam Raimi's The Evil Dead (1981) was the first horror movie that had me falling out of my theater seat laughing. It was so gory and funny at the same time. It seems that co-directors Chris Kas and Sandy Klein have a similar intention with their production of Evil Dead: The Musical at the 2nd Street Theater. The musical is twisted, hilarious and something you might want to see more than once.
The Evil Dead movie was made on a shoestring budget and there's no denying its cult classic status, spawning two sequels and countless rip-offs. I initially thought that a musical adaptation would be sacrilege. Then I considered that Evil Dead 2 was actually a parody of the first film and Army of Darkness had hero Ash (Bruce Campbell) spewing one liners amidst Three Stooges-type humor, so why not a musical comedy? Garnering both Raimi and Campbell's seal of approval, Evil Dead: the Musical was born. The musical has been shown in Toronto, New York and Dallas, and this group in Bend takes on the project with plenty of gusto.

Posted inCulture

Our Picks for 9/30 – 10/8: Evil Dead, Art Hop, Knobody of Hieroglyphics

The Source Staff

Evil Dead: The Musical
Opening thursday 1
Check out our preview of this comedic adaptation of the classic horror romp in the Culture section of the paper. Blood, guts, chainsaws and dance number! What else could you ask for out of your local theater community? Plays October 1-31, Wed – Sat. at 8pm, Sundays at 6pm (No performance Oct 4). $20/adults, $18/students and seniors 62 and up. 2nd Street Theater, 220 NE Lafayette Ave.
Art Hop
friday 2
This super-sized Art Walk takes over much of downtown and beyond with great art appearing in a number of businesses. Don't forget about the complimentary wine and food. Begins at 5pm.

Posted inNews

Settling the Score: Legislators get their “green” cards, Metolius campaign gets a nod and more

The Source Staff

OLCV Gives Telfer A Failing Grade
Central Oregon's first-term legislators emerged on the opposite end of the spectrum on environmental issues, according to the legislative scorecard released this week by the environmental policy watchdog group Oregon League of Conservation Voters (OLCV). The non-profit has been tracking the votes of individual legislators on environmental policy issues for more than three decades and compiling the information into post-session scorecards for voters.
According to the most recent scorecard, newly elected state Rep. Judy Stiegler supported nearly three-quarters of the legislative items identified as being pro-environment by OLCV and other Oregon environmental organizations. First-term senator Chris Telfer, however, secured only a 15 percent pro-environmental voting record, according to OLCV, which singled her out for criticism in its news release.

Posted inOpinion

Pahlisch's Belated Dog Park Bitch

The Source Staff

On its website, Pahlisch's Deschutes Landing development describes itself “as the next step in authentic Northwest living” with “unparalleled views of the Three Sisters Wilderness, the historic Old Mill District, and the heart of downtown Bend.”
Apparently, one prospective buyer thinks his unparalleled view would be ruined by the sight of – how gross! – a dog park across the river. And thanks to him, and Pahlisch, the fate of the park is in jeopardy.
Pahlisch has complained that the Bend Metro Park & Recreation District didn't go through the proper paperwork for getting the park approved. As a result, Park & Rec has had to file a formal application that will go before the city planning and zoning commission sometime later this month.

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