May 20th, 2013 at 9:17 pm by Brian Lapis under Weather
Take a look at this map. As you can see, climatology shows us Oklahoma is in the heart of tornado season right now. The collision of cold air from northern North America and warm moist air from the Gulf of Mexico and other parts of southern North America can have tragic results.
May 19th, 2013 at 10:33 am by Sy Becker under A Look at the Movies
Rated PG-13
2 hours 15 minutes
Chris Pine, Zachary Quinto, Zoe Saldana
Aging Trekkers will be happy to know a young Captain Kirk and his cool crew aboard the Star ship
Enterprise invigorate “Star Trek Into Darkness”.
The not so friendly skies of the future host a not very Imaginative adventure story. But It’s got a rich helping of nostalgia. The chemistry between Chris Pine’s Kirk and Zachary Quinto’s Spock is “Star Trek’s” ageless ingredient.
Director J.J. Abrams just couldn’t resist spicing up the Enterprise crew to keep Kirk and Spock honest. The villain’s a familiar nemesis, Khan. Benedict Cumberbatch injects enough venom into his character to really annoy the usually unflappable Captain Kirk.
Scenes of imminent danger and mass destruction justify the cost of producing this epic adventure. Character recognition will carry a long running franchise only so far.
But at the end of the day, the mutual concern between Kirk and Spock is what carries “Star Trek Into Darkness” toward the light at the end of the tunnel.
We’re talking about an ageless “Star Trek” adventure series that still has enough fuel in it’s tank to keep going at warp speed.
Certainly enough for Becker to beam up a glittering three stars. “Star Trek Into Darkness” will have fans turning back the clock.
May 18th, 2013 at 9:13 pm by Adam Strzempko under Weather
If you saw what you thought looked like a rainbow around the sun Saturday afternoon you weren’t alone. 22News received numerous calls and e-mails from people who saw it.
It’s actually what is known as a sun halo or sometimes called an icebow.
It’s created when light is reflected and refracted by the ice crystals in the clouds.
The light splits up into different colors forming a ring around the sun.
May 18th, 2013 at 10:23 am by Sy Becker under A Look at the Movies
Rated PG-13
1 hour 45 minutes
Chris O ‘ Dowd
I must tell you, every once in a while we’re treated to a lovable, sweet-natured celebration of life,
that just happens to be based on a true story. “The Sapphires” is that movie.
The wonderful Chris O’Dowd mentors the singing careers of four Australian sisters during the 1960s.
O’Dowd lovingly guides the Aboriginal quartet during the amusing and heartfelt transformation into Motown Soul Sisters. What’s amazing is how well O’Dowd understands and instills in them the essence of soul music.
Their ambitions take on a harder edge when they get to live their dream of entertaining the troops during the Vietnam war.
“The Sapphires” is never anything less than inspiring and deeply touching. It’s as crowd pleasing an independent drama as you’ll find along the art house circuit with a cast of mostly unknowns giving memorable performances.
“The Sapphires” is an absolute gem of a tug at your heartstrings drama. You will be captivated by its warmth and charm. You’ll understand right away “The Sapphires” is one of the few films this year that deserves to be rewarded with four stars.
Just ask anyone whose had the pleasure of seeing “The Sapphires”.
May 12th, 2013 at 10:34 am by Sy Becker under A Look at the Movies
Rated-PG-13
2 hours 20 minutes
Leonardo DiCaprio, Carey Mulligan, Tobey Maguire
I wish Hollywood would stop wasting our time with trying to make a decent version of “The Great Gatsby”.
It’s not going to happen. The roaring ’20s love life of mysterious millionaire playboy Jay Gatsby is strictly superficial and altogether artificial. Tobey Maguire plays the F. Scott Fitzgerald like character who finds the elusive Gatsby so fascinating.
When Leonardo DiCaprio’s not throwing lavishly decadent parties at his Newport mansion, He’s seducing Daisy, Carey Mulligan, the former love of his life.The same way Australian Director Baz Luhrmann’s trying to seduce us with his stunning cinematography.
You’ll forgive Daisy’s husband Joe Edgerton for feeling a bit slighted about having Daisy in the thrall of the dapper Fitzgerald hero.
How does a literary classic translate so poorly to the silver screen without any substance?
Believe me, the two earlier versions in 1949 and again in 1974 were equally empty. And not even the great DiCaprio can coax a performance out of his shallow character.
“The Great Gatsby” repeats all of its past mistakes as literature that doesn’t translate well into a movie.
The not so great Gatsby will have to party on with two stars. You have no Idea how close Gatsby came to getting only one star.
May 11th, 2013 at 10:25 am by Sy Becker under A Look at the Movies
Rated R
1 hour 55 minutes
In a season usually made up exclusively of bubble headed blockbusters, comes a sobering chiller about the evils of the internet. “Disconnect” is designed to make your furious about what’s happening to us in Cyberspace.
This lean and mean commentary tells how supplicated technology, such as Cyber Bullying and Identity Theft can easily victimize the innocent and uninformed.
Art Imitates the terrible life experience of losing everything you own to the ruthless among us, who know how to manipulate a computer better than we do. This happens every day, but It’s no less powerful watching the suffering unfold on the big screen.
Then there are the vulnerable victims of Cyber Bullying and what they do to themselves when the pain becomes unbearable. When Technology is misplaced into the hands of the cruel and Immature.
If “Disconnect” tells us everything that we already know about, then how come the experience of seeing “Disconnect” is so unnerving?
You’ve got to give the writers credit for having the guts to depict anonymous texting as a weapon against the weak. “Disconnect” is the kind of provocative, controversial drama that I’m inclined to reward with three stars.
Considering how much this film has to say, “Disconnect” is well worth seeing more than once.
May 10th, 2013 at 2:52 pm by Brian Lapis under Weather
PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TAUNTON MA
1100 AM EDT FRI MAY 10 2013
…PRELIMINARY STORM SURVEY RESULTS INDICATE AN EF0 TORNADO OCCURRED
IN STOUGHTON MA THURSDAY, May 9th…
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE OFFICE IN TAUNTON MA CONDUCTED A STORM
SURVEY THIS MORNING IN STOUGHTON MA IN NORFOLK COUNTY. RESULTS OF
THE SURVEY INDICATE A HIGH END EF0 TORNADO MOVED THROUGH STOUGHTON
MA ON WASHINGTON STREET THURSDAY AFTERNOON APPROXIMATELY 433 PM.
ON THE ENHANCED FUJITA SCALE AN EF0 TORNADO HAS WIND SPEEDS THAT
RANGE FROM 65 TO 85 MPH. MORE SPECIFIC DETAILS WILL BE ISSUED BY
EARLY THIS AFTERNOON.
IT WILL ALSO BE AVAILABLE ON OUR WEBSITE…WHICH CAN BE FOUND AT
WEATHER.GOV/BOX.
$$
NOCERA
Here’s amateur video of a funnel cloud in Stoughton, from Thursday.
May 6th, 2013 at 2:47 pm by Brian Lapis under News, Weather
It’s Melanoma Monday! A day set aside by the American Academy of Dermatology, to raise awareness of Melanoma, and how to prevent it. The most important thing to keep in mind s that there is no such thing as a “healthy” tan. Sunscreen & sunblock are essential to skin health. The American Academy of Dermatoligists has a great Melonoma awareness page. The Melanoma Foundation of New England is also a great resource. Melanoma survivor Meghan Rothschild (a Pioneer Valley local!) has a great web site, www.survingskin.org. Protect your skin this summer, and all year long!
May 5th, 2013 at 11:44 am by Sy Becker under A Look at the Movies
Rated PG-13
2 hours 10 minutes
Robert Downey Jr., Gwyneth Paltrow, Don Cheadle
“Iron Man” fans will be happy to know that Robert Downey Junior makes it through the second sequel without a trace of rust.
The shiny new adventure captures the combination of Tony Stark’s snappy repartee along with lots of imaginative high playing excitement. “Iron Man’s” got a new nemesis and of course Downey challenges him in style.
“Iron Man’s” resourceful derring do knows no bounds in what easily could have been the original, instead of the third in the series when the franchise usually starts going downhill.
The always gracious billionaire playboy would never allow planning to save the world, interfere with giving adoring young fans his autograph.
But dazzling the crowd with super spectacular visual effects take top priority. This is what being a top flight summer season popcorn adventure is really all about. All with a sly sense of humor.
And It doesn’t hurt having Robert Downey Junior playing the most charming, charismatic and animated of all the Marvel comics super heroes in or out of costume.
No, “Iron Man 3″ isn’t quite ready for the scrapheap yet with 3 stars.
I’ll let you in on a secret. “Iron Man” is my kind of super hero.
May 4th, 2013 at 10:56 am by Nick Bannin under Weather
Since 2011, we all know that tornados are a real possibility here in western Massachusetts, and with severe weather season getting closer, it’s a good time to start thinking about tornado safety.
So, if a tornado approaches, where is the best place to hide? The answer depends on where you are, but generally, if you are in a building, the lower you are and farther away from windows, the better. This means getting in a basement if you have one. Otherwise, an interior room, bathroom, or closet is best.
Ray Harris of Springfield used to live in Florida, and has had to deal with many tornado warnings.
“They gave you warnings, told you to stay in a safe place with no windows, boarded up or whatever you have to do, keep water, things like that,” Harris said.
Once you have found a safe location, you should crouch down on your knees and cover the back of your head with your hands and cover your body with a blanket or a mattress.
If you’re in a mobile home, in a car, or outside, head for sturdy shelter. If none is available, head for somewhere low, like a ditch.
Once a tornado passes, watch out for debris, glass, and other hazards, and remember the 22News storm team will keep you informed ahead of any severe weather.