Every time I come across the phrase “return to form” in an arts publication, my heart skips a beat. There are quite a few other things a critic can say to get me excited ““ such as “year’s best” and, my personal favorite adjectival turn-on, “intoxicating” ““ but nothing is as immediately loaded as those three magic words. Read more...

There are only 89 self-identified Native American students at UCLA ““ but that hasn’t stopped them from having a presence on campus and educating the community about their cultural heritage. Read more...

Dave Matthews Band “Stand Up” RCA Records In the summer of 2004, David J. Matthews was on the move. His band was on tour, unveiling four new songs, and in the tumultuous time just before the presidential election, it participated in the Vote For Change concerts along with artists like Bruce Springsteen. Read more...

Forget “The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy” and “Kingdom of Heaven.” As far as I’m concerned, today’s release of “Star Wars: Episode III ““ Revenge of the Sith” marks the unofficial start to the summer movie season. Read more...

The iPod useless? Mail-order fetuses? An English nut preaching Tom Clancy on Bruin Walk? These completely arbitrary ideas seem crazy at first because, well, they are. Read more...

While West Hollywood is known for promoting the rights of its gay and lesbian community, this week the city will go international ““ Amnesty International, that is ““ as it hosts the organization’s fourth annual film festival. Read more...

Dear Mr. George Lucas, I would like to congratulate you. You have the done the impossible, thought the unthinkable, imagined the unimaginable. You have completed your hexology ““ six films by no means remotely ordinary or formulaic. Read more...