Review

With NetFlix’s recent addition of television shows to its streaming repertoire, it appears that the age of the television may have reached its peak. Web sites like www.hulu.com allow users to “watch their favorites, anytime, for free,” signaling a new era in connectivity between media producers and users. Computers may soon displace the “boob-tube” with broadband and wireless access, with considerable capabilities to expand the reach and type of content offered by erstwhile television producers.

Unfortunately, the “new wave” of television looks largely like the last. With negotiations in the works on the behalf of cable networks intending to charge for streaming online shows, it looks like the honeymoon may be over for computer users who enjoy streaming their favorite television shows.

A recent article by TG Daily describes the potential of streaming television to provide more consistent content to viewers. 

“Rather than having a physical service connected only to the box in your living room, Web-based TV follows you wherever you go, building upon the basic cloud concept of computer use, ensuring the ‘here am I, and there’s my content’ motto always holds true—so long as there’s a good Internet connection.”  

The author of the piece goes on to lament, “streaming television programming, and the luxuries we’ve been accustomed to for free might soon be a thing of the past,” but remains optimistic about this “cloud” of computing services which “we’ll likely all be up to our necks in.”

Well, physicists are comfortable with the notion that “there ain’t no such thing as a free lunch,” but media users should be outraged at the persistent monetizing framework that companies are attempting to apply to the Internet.  

The benefit of the internet, that it can provide all forms of media content—text, audio, video—and remain interactive, does not fit into the traditional psychology of cable television companies. Comcast, Viacom Inc. and Time Warner have displayed a mentality which contradicts with everything the Internet has come to symbolize: a free forum for communicating thoughts, ideas, and, yes, media content.

Just as the price-fixing music industry continues to bemoan their “lost profits” to Internet piracy, television companies who are looking for new ways to loot price-savvy internet users may soon find themselves in a heap of digital trouble. Delivering content online for free is the best way to combat piracy, because it renders it unnecessary.  

Attempting to expand profits out from the cable box may soon register a reaction from an Internet culture that television companies clearly do not understand.

“The Haunting of Molly Hartley” does not have the typical torture scenarios of today’s horror films. Instead, the film relies on old-fashioned suspense to spook the audience.

“The Haunting of Molly Hartley” will be available to rent on DVD from any Red Box on Tuesday. Laramie’s Red Boxes are located at Wal-Mart and Albertson’s for $1 a day.

In the film, Molly (Haley Bennett) has just recovered from a near-fatal knife wound inflicted by her religious zealot mother. 

Molly and her father (Jake Weber) move to a new town for a fresh start. Unfortunately, a new school is not the greatest of Molly’s worries.

Molly also has to deal with chronic nosebleeds, nightmares and hearing voices. 

This leaves the audience questioning if Molly inherited her mother’s insanity or if there are more sinister forces at work.

The film also stars Chace Crawford from “Gossip Girl” and AnnaLynne McCord from “90210.”

“The Haunting of Molly Hartley” is rated PG-13 for violence and terror, strong language, teen drinking and strong thematic material.

If illegal actions such as money laundering, arms trading and the destabilization of governments sound interesting, make sure to see “The International” at the Trans-Lux Fox Cinema. The film shows on Discount Tuesday for $6 at 7:15 p.m. and 9:45 p.m.

The film stars Clive Owen from films such as “Inside Man” and “Sin City” and Naomi Watts from “King Kong” and “The Ring.”

“The International” is a gripping thriller that shows two people, Interpol Agent Louis Salinger (Owens) and Manhattan Assistant District Attorney Eleanor Whitman (Watts) who are determined to bring one of the world’s most powerful banks to justice. 

The two uncover illegal activities happening within the bank and their investigation leads them on a money trail from Berlin to Milan to New York to Istanbul. 

Louis and Eleanor find themselves in a high-stakes chase around the globe and their relentlessness begins to put their lives in danger. 

The two soon realize their targets will stop at nothing, including murder, to continue in their acts of terror and war. 

“The International” is rated R for some sequences of violence and language.