Chicago Sun-Times :: Entertainment ::

Good tale wags animated dog in Disney's 'Bolt'

Fri, 21 Nov 2008 04:00 CST

Bill Zwecker: It's not among the most original Disney animated films, yet ''Bolt'' is one of those movies that in the end does what it's supposed to do. It's charming, nicely paced, often quite funny and features well-chosen voice talent. Most important, it provides a satisfying entertainment ''meal.'' It's not a ''gourmet'' banquet on the order of ''Ratatouille'' or the first ''Shrek,'' but this peppy picture is certainly more than a cinematic ''snack.''

Chicago's success model

Fri, 21 Nov 2008 04:00 CST

Illinois now has a trifecta of "America's Next Top Model" winners, and the current reigning beauty thinks she knows why. "If you've ever driven in Chicago, you know we're kind of aggressive," says McKey Sullivan, a 20-year-old Lake Forest native who lifted Tyra Banks in delight on Wednesday's finale. "We don't just sit back. We get out there and make it happen."

Legend's uptempo set light on piano, not on thrills

Fri, 21 Nov 2008 04:00 CST

Change often is good. For years, we put John Legend at a piano. That�s where he was when we met him back in 2004; a new breed of balladeer. But now it seems, Legend wants to be more. He wants to get down -- uptempo.

Looking through a photographer's 'marvelous window'

Fri, 21 Nov 2008 04:00 CST

"A camera is a marvelous window for anyone with any curiosity about people and the world," 90-year-old photographer Wayne Miller said, in an interview from his home in Orinda, Calif. Miller's early photography is celebrated in an exhibit, "Wayne F. Miller: Photographs 1942-1958," at the Stephen Daiter Gallery. He will sign copies of the exhibit catalog from 5-8 tonight.

The mix: Really cool things to do

Fri, 21 Nov 2008 04:00 CST

HI, BOB

Club hopping

Fri, 21 Nov 2008 04:00 CST

THE WACO BROTHERS; ROSIE FLORES & THE PINE VALLEY COSMONAUTS

Stay away from Garner, man told

Fri, 21 Nov 2008 04:00 CST

Jennifer Garner has won a restraining order from a man she says has been stalking her for years. An attorney for Garner appeared in a Los Angeles courtroom Thursday morning and won three years of protection for Garner, husband Ben Affleck and their daughter Violet. Garner petitioned for protection earlier this month from 36-year-old Steven R. Burky, whom she says has been harassing her since 2002. The "Juno" and "Elektra" star wrote in a sworn statement that she believed Burky's ''obsessive, threatening and stalking behavior'' posed a threat to her and her family.

Scurrilous: Chicago's No. 1 couch potato

Fri, 21 Nov 2008 04:00 CST

Just a jealous gal

DuSable denies link to Gary art

Fri, 21 Nov 2008 04:00 CST

The missing paintings could be worth as much as $20,000 each, one appraiser said, and school officials have no record of them leaving their collection.

Looking through a photographer's 'marvelous window'

Fri, 21 Nov 2008 04:00 CST

Museum takes cold out of winter 'Fun'

BY JENNIFER BURKLOW Kid Zone — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 04:00 CST

A snowball fight in your shirt sleeves? "Ice skating" in socks? Building an ice fort or dressing a snowman indoors? It's all possible at "Snow Much Fun," a new exhibit opening today at the Chicago Children's Museum. It brings the outdoors indoors and will be an annual seasonal exhibit.

Good tale wags animated dog in Disney's 'Bolt'

Fri, 21 Nov 2008 04:00 CST

The mix: Really cool things to do

Fri, 21 Nov 2008 04:00 CST

HI, BOB

New on video

Fri, 21 Nov 2008 04:00 CST

'FRED CLAUS'

Art house films

BY BILL STAMETS — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 04:00 CST

Opening this weekend on the local art-house circuit:

Legend's uptempo set light on piano, not on thrills

Fri, 21 Nov 2008 04:00 CST

Will Rise Against be the next big Chicago band?

Fri, 21 Nov 2008 04:00 CST

Jim DeRogatis: The Chicago quartet Rise Against doesn't fit neatly into any pigeonholes. As ultra-melodic hard-core punks with a serious political consciousness, the musicians never were part of this city's vibrant pop-punk scene or its venerated art-punk tradition, and some peg the group as the next local band destined for the multiplatinum success of Fall Out Boy.

JJ Grey's musical anatomy built on myriad styles

Fri, 21 Nov 2008 04:00 CST

JJ Grey says he doesn't like to overthink things. As a subscriber to Occam's razor, the scientific principle that states, "All other things being equal, the simplest solution is the best," he believes, for one thing, that man never set foot on the moon.

Dr Pepper gets bill for 'Democracy'

Fri, 21 Nov 2008 04:00 CST

LOS ANGELES -- Dr Pepper is making good on its promise of free soda now that the release of Guns N' Roses' ''Chinese Democracy'' is a reality.

Club hopping

Fri, 21 Nov 2008 04:00 CST

THE WACO BROTHERS; ROSIE FLORES & THE PINE VALLEY COSMONAUTS

The mix: Really cool things to do

Fri, 21 Nov 2008 04:00 CST

HI, BOB

Ticketline

Fri, 21 Nov 2008 04:00 CST

Sarah Dash, Patti LaBelle and Nona Hendryx are back together and will perform at 8 p.m. Jan. 10 at the Chicago Theatre, 175 N. State. Tickets are $50-$89.50 and go on sale at 10 a.m. Monday by phone at (312) 559-1212 or online at ticketmaster.com.

Will Rise Against be the next big Chicago band?

Fri, 21 Nov 2008 04:00 CST

Dr Pepper gets bill for 'Democracy'

Fri, 21 Nov 2008 04:00 CST

LOS ANGELES -- Dr Pepper is making good on its promise of free soda now that the release of Guns N' Roses' ''Chinese Democracy'' is a reality.

Madonna, Guy Ritchie finalizing divorce today

Fri, 21 Nov 2008 04:00 CST

Well, it's officially over. It was predicted Madonna and Guy Ritchie's divorce would be finalized before Christmas, but now it will beat a Thanksgiving deadline.

Jacko to make the trip for London trial

Fri, 21 Nov 2008 04:00 CST

LONDON -- Michael Jackson has agreed to appear in person at a London court to respond to a Bahraini sheik's $7 million lawsuit.

Chicago's success model

Fri, 21 Nov 2008 04:00 CST

Scurrilous: Chicago's No. 1 couch potato

Fri, 21 Nov 2008 04:00 CST

Just a jealous gal

Chicago's success model

Fri, 21 Nov 2008 04:00 CST

'24: Redemption' knows no geographical bounds

BY MIKE HUGHES — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 04:00 CST

For 18 months, one of television's best heroes has been missing. Jack Bauer hasn't saved a single life, much less the world. That isn't like him.

'Batman' draws on actor's lighter touch

BY TERRY MORROW — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 04:00 CST

Diedrich Bader is bringing lightness to the Dark Knight.

Gamezone: Midway's last gasp in 'Mortal Kombat vs. DC Universe'

Fri, 21 Nov 2008 04:00 CST

Chicago-based video-game publisher Midway is on the verge of collapse, and the company has pinned its survival on one game. As last gasps go, "Mortal Kombat vs. DC Universe" tells the strongest story in the history of the franchise (written by comic book veterans Jimmy Palmiotti and Justin Gray), but it remains to be seen if it will be enough for fans to get over the watered-down violence (a hallmark of the series) to get a T rating.

Gamezone: 'Animal Crossing: City Folk'

Fri, 21 Nov 2008 04:00 CST

Animal Crossing: City Folk

New EA franchise aims to get gamers active

Fri, 21 Nov 2008 04:00 CST

Following in the footsteps of Nintendo's popular ''Wii Fit,'' the video-game publisher known for the ''Madden'' football games is jumping into fitness software targeted mostly at women.