Each Thursday, the Avenue is serving up the best in entertainment, pop culture and everything in between. From the big screen to the radio waves, check out this week’s picks.
See: "The Social Network"
Face it: Facebook is one of the biggest cultural milestones of Generation Y. So there’s really no other movie to see this weekend than “The Social Network,” a film that tells the story of how the decade’s biggest, perpetual online popularity contest was started in a Harvard University dorm. The movies stars Jesse Eisenberg (“Zombieland”) and the always loveable Justin Timberlake.
Listen: Just the Way You Are
Singer/songwriter Bruno Mars struck pop gold when his debut single “Just the Way You Are,” soared to the No. 1 spot last week on the Billboard Hot 100. In the song, he croons, “When I see your face, there’s not a thing I would change ‘cause you’re amazing just the way you are.” Cliché? Check. Cheesy? Check. The Filipino-Puerto Rican artist brilliantly utilizes this heart-melting pop formula to its teen creaming capacity.
Click: Just a Dream
Nelly takes on a less literal and more symbolic form in the video for his latest song, “Just a Dream.” It’s a song about regret for a failed relationship — sounds like a snooze, right?
But in this day and age, when music in visual form has become more than obsolete due to reality TV, it’s hard to expect much of music videos (exception: video-making queen Lady Gaga, of course).
As the rapper’s love interest, “Vampire Diaries” star Kat Graham, drowns and refuses Nelly’s help, a floating oversized ring, and a car burn to ashes in the sky. Nelly’s new venture is a refreshing reminder that music videos still can be made well and enhance the meaning of the song they depict.
Buy: "Iron Man 2"
One of this summer’s biggest blockbusters hit store shelves this week, and it’s packed with tons of special features. And for a sequel with a plot that was less than brilliant, but whose scenes looked awesome, you’ll get your money’s worth — if you like action, that is. Both the two-disc DVD and three-disc Blu-ray packages include deleted scenes, featurettes and audio commentary from director Jon Favreau. The Blu-ray package, however, is far superior. The package includes cast and crew interviews, characters’ origins and additional behind-the-scenes video.
