Dylan Dobson, 4Play Editor
May 8, 2013
Filed under 4Play
“Iron Man 3” begins with protagonist Tony Stark approximating an adage by Oscar Wilde — “We make our own demons.” It’s apparent that destruction is on the horizon — a terrorist named The Mandarin forces the people of the U.S. to live in fear of random bombings. Stark’s own... (more...)
Dylan Dobson, 4Play Editor
May 8, 2013
Filed under 4Play
There’s a sort of irony in the fact that the new album from pop-punk act Paramore is self-titled. Instead of sticking to their signature sound of sharp guitars dominated by the sharper vocals of fiery-headed rock goddess Hayley Williams, the band instead takes listeners on a tour of female-fronted... (more...)
Dylan Dobson, 4Play Editor
May 1, 2013
Filed under 4Play
French synth-rock band Phoenix already showed American music fans what it was all about when “Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix” was released stateside — with singles “1901” and “Lisztomania” making the group a household name. With “Bankrupt!,” the band hopes to prove it’s... (more...)
Dylan Dobson, 4Play Editor
May 1, 2013
Filed under 4Play
NBC is hoping viewers ready some fava beans and their favorite Chianti to enjoy its new concept-thriller, “Hannibal,” Thursdays at 9 p.m. The series follows a team of investigators as they attempt to solve bizarre murders. However, little do they know that one of the people involved with... (more...)
Dylan Dobson, 4Play Editor/Commentary
April 24, 2013
Filed under Entertainment
Despite what the TV series “Portlandia” depicts, the dream of the ‘90s is far from dying. Nostalgia for the bygone era of flannel and Nickelodeon cartoons was alive and well when Mustard Plug brought their signature blend of upbeat ska to The Crunchy Frog April 11. Ska is a musical genre... (more...)
Dylan Dobson, 4Play Editor
April 24, 2013
Filed under 4Play
When The Yeah Yeah Yeahs released “Mosquito” April 16, ending a nearly half decade of silence from the group, they may have released the most important album of the band’s prestigious career. The album, which follows their 2009’s “It’s Blitz!,” would be considered an experiment... (more...)
Dylan Dobson, 4Play Editor
April 17, 2013
Filed under 4Play
It’s no secret that many college students are addicted to caffeine. With energy drinks being a popular method of choice for acquiring the much loved stimulant, and Red Bull being among the most prominent of these drinks, our interest at 4Play was peaked upon hearing of the new special Red,... (more...)
Dylan Dobson, 4Play Editor
April 17, 2013
Filed under 4Play
When Sam Raimi produced “The Evil Dead” in 1981, he had no idea how successful it would be. Based on the director’s independent short, “Within the Woods,” the horror movie garnered much success, becoming a cult classic and launching Raimi’s career. Raimi has since gone on to direct... (more...)
Dylan Dobson, 4Play Editor
April 10, 2013
Filed under 4Play
Winter has passed for those living in the U.S., but for the characters of HBO’s hit television series “Game of Thrones,” it’s still coming. Fans of the series have hungered like the Stark’s dire wolves for new episodes of the series that blends historical epic with mythical fantasy... (more...)
Dylan Dobson, 4Play Editor
April 10, 2013
Filed under 4Play
They say hindsight is 20/20. Perhaps this is why Justin Timberlake decided to name his newest album, the first since 2006’s “FutureSex/LoveSounds,” “The 20/20 Experience.” The album kicks things off with “Pusher Love Girl,” a summer drug-fueled anthem that starts out feeling a... (more...)
Dylan Dobson, 4Play Editor
April 3, 2013
Filed under 4Play
Phox is an astounding blend of chamber pop and experimental electronic music. The band’s tracks inspire comparisons to sounds like Kimbra, Amy Winehouse and Alt-J. This reviewer recently had the privilege of experiencing the group’s breathtakingly charming live show when it opened for indie-pop... (more...)
Dylan Dobson, 4Play Editor
April 3, 2013
Filed under 4Play
In January, Netflix acquired the rights to stream select series from Cartoon Network, including the network’s Adult Swim block. A slew of new series from the networks were made available March 30. 4Play has you covered with the complete details on these newly available series, as well as... (more...)
Dylan Dobson, 4Play Editor
March 27, 2013
Filed under 4Play
The year is 1979. The famous Hollywood sign is in ruin and tensions are high between the U.S. and Iran as a result of the Cold War. As the Iranian Revolution begins, the U.S. embassy in Tehran is left under siege by militants. Although 50 people from the embassy are taken hostage, six manage... (more...)
Dylan Dobson, 4Play Editor
March 27, 2013
Filed under 4Play
The phrase zero dark thirty refers to the time half-past midnight. According to Kathryn Bigelow, director of the film of the same title as well as “The Hurt Locker,” it also refers to the shroud of darkness the military places over covert operations. This Academy Award-nominated wartime... (more...)
Dylan Dobson, 4Play Editor
March 13, 2013
Filed under 4Play
“Beasts of the Southern Wild” follows Hushpuppy, a young girl growing up in the neighborhood of Bathtub. Bathtub is itself a stand-in for an average New Orleans swamp neighborhood, pre-Katrina. Hushpuppy, played by newcomer Quvenzhane Wallis, lives in a shack adjacent to her father’s... (more...)
Dylan Dobson, 4Play Editor
March 6, 2013
Filed under 4Play
“Girls” is the semi-autobiographical drama-comedy written, directed and acted in by Lena Dunham. Dunham earned the attention of “The 40-Year-Old Virgin” creator Judd Apatow with her independent film “Tiny Furniture.” Apatow helped Dunham pitch the series to HBO, which is now airing... (more...)
Dylan Dobson, 4Play Editor
February 27, 2013
Filed under 4Play
The Harlem Shake shook up the Internet this month when a video titled “DO THE HARLEM SHAKE” was uploaded to YouTube. The video features a group of men wearing odd costumes pelvic thrusting to the now-famous track by electronic artist Baauer. “DO THE HARLEM SHAKE,” spawned a copy-cat... (more...)
Dylan Dobson, Off the Wall Editor
February 20, 2013
Filed under Off the Wall
Would-be journalist and editor for the Off the Wall section of Fourth Estate Dylan Dobson will greatly miss the satirical section when it disappears next week. Dobson, a senior communication major, also edits the entertainment review section of the paper. He inherited editor duties for Off... (more...)
Dylan Dobson, 4Play Editor
February 13, 2013
Filed under 4Play
The fourth season of “Community” was slated to premiere Oct. 19, 2012. Instead, NBC posted a video on their YouTube channel. In the video, the cast of “Community” laments that the network has pushed back the new season, noting that “October 19 isn’t just a date — it’s a state... (more...)
Dylan Dobson, 4Play Editor
February 6, 2013
Filed under 4Play
Kevin Williamson, the man behind the hit television series “The Vampire Diaries,” recently shrunk his Bacon number via his new crime thriller on FOX, “The Following.” On the surface, “The Following” seems to be yet another volume in a long line of literary crime thrillers. Like... (more...)
Dylan Dobson, 4Play Editor
December 12, 2012
Filed under 4Play
“WANTED: Someone to go back in time with me. This is not a joke. You’ll get paid after we get back. Must bring your own weapons. I have only done this once before. Safety not Guaranteed.” So goes the classified ad fueling the plot behind the indie romantic comedy film, “Safety Not Guaranteed.”... (more...)
Dylan Dobson, 4Play Editor
December 12, 2012
Filed under 4Play
Fans of glitter and Pabst Blue Ribbon rejoiced Nov. 30 as the world was graced with the new album from Ke$ha, “Warrior.” Critics have often argued against the singer’s credibility as an artist. This is reasonable considering the star’s many antics, including a digital Christmas card... (more...)
Dylan Dobson, 4Play Editor
December 4, 2012
Filed under 4Play
Despite the tragic shooting during its release, “The Dark Knight Rises” has proven to be a successful film for Warner Bros. The film, which grossed $448 million domestically and $603 million internationally, is the second most successful film of 2012. “The Dark Knight Rises” also represents... (more...)
Dylan Dobson, 4Play Editor
December 4, 2012
Filed under 4Play
Since debuting on Youtube July 15, 2012, “Gangnam Style” has accumulated more than 800 million views, recently eclipsing Justin Bieber’s video for “Baby.” The popularity of “Gangnam Style” represents the culmination of the growing Korean pop music trend. Korean pop, or... (more...)
Dylan Dobson, 4Play Editor
November 27, 2012
Filed under 4Play
Can one story make you believe in God? “Life of Pi,” puts forth the assumption that, despite its status as fiction, it could be that story. Based on the 2001 novel by Yann Martel, “Life of Pi” has had a turbulent production history. The film faced a revolving door of directors before... (more...)
Dylan Dobson, 4Play Editor
November 14, 2012
Filed under 4Play
“I am bad, and that’s good. I will never be good, and that’s not bad.” So goes the mantra of the Bad Guys Anonymous group the title character of “Wreck-It-Ralph” attends. This mantra sums up one of the film’s many moral dilemmas about the ambiguity of heroism. As one of the... (more...)
Dylan Dobson, 4Play Editor
November 14, 2012
Filed under 4Play
Following the failure of predecessors “Skins” and “The Hard Times of RJ Berger,” MTV presents “Underemployed.” It is MTV’s hope that its attention deficit viewers will overlook its similarities to the two aforementioned series, and find humor in the way the show addresses the... (more...)
Dylan Dobson, 4Play Editor
November 7, 2012
Filed under 4Play
Wes Anderson is known for his pretentious and stylized films that pit dead pan and anachronistic youths against the harsh condition of a society that doesn’t understand them. This motif may annoy the masses, but reviewers have long applauded the director. Anderson’s newest film, “Moonrise... (more...)
Dylan Dobson, 4play Editor
November 7, 2012
Filed under 4Play
With election season winding down, I decided to examine some of the most influential names in political hip-hop as well as the albums and tracks that made them famous. Arrested Development Must-hear tracks: “Mr. Wendal,” “People Everyday,” “Lost Soldiers” Rapper Speech and his best... (more...)
Dylan Dobson, 4Play Editor
October 30, 2012
Filed under 4Play
We polled 100 UWGB students on their favorite Halloween flicks. We then decided to compare the films’ Rotten Tomatoes rating to the Fourth Estate’s own rating system. Even though “Hocus Pocus” received a 30 percent on Rotten Tomatoes when it was released, the 1993 family film dominated... (more...)
Dylan Dobson, 4Play Editor
October 23, 2012
Filed under 4Play
Few shows on TV are as provocative as “American Horror Story,” the second season of which recently premiered on FX. In 2011, “American Horror Story” came on like a chill in an M. Night Shyamalan film, sending shivers down the spines of millions of viewers and shaking up the state of... (more...)
Dylan Dobson, 4Play Editor
October 23, 2012
Filed under 4Play
A few years ago, to coincide with the release of Tim Burton’s adaptation of “Alice in Wonderland,” collegehumor.com produced a skit titled “Tim Burton’s Secret Formula.” In this skit, Burton and his crew desperately try to plan their next film. In the end they decide on some basics.... (more...)
Dylan Dobson, 4Play Editor
October 17, 2012
Filed under 4Play
One of the few criticisms thrown in the direction of AMC’s critically acclaimed zombie series, “The Walking Dead,” is that far too little actually occurs during each of its hour-long episodes. For a long time, this accusation has been aimed at the series in the same way its characters... (more...)
Dylan Dobson, 4Play Editor
October 17, 2012
Filed under 4Play
Ellison Oswalt, portrayed by a capably nervous Ethan Hawke, has just moved his family into the scene of a grizzly homicide where four members of a family were hanged. The objective? He hopes to repeat the success of his breakthrough hit true-crime novel, “Kentucky Blood.” His quest comes,... (more...)
Dylan Dobson, 4Play Editor
October 9, 2012
Filed under 4Play
This past week, millions watched a certain televised event that divided people the world over. At one point this event claimed 5 percent of all U.S. bandwidth in use. No, this event wasn’t the recent US presidential debate, but a professional gaming event instead. The world championship event... (more...)
Dylan Dobson, 4Play Editor
October 2, 2012
Filed under 4Play
Does the world need another procedural drama based on Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s Sherlock Holmes novels? CBS is hoping so for the sake of their new series “Elementary” which takes the classic detective Holmes and thrusts him into 21st century society. But what does “Elementary” have... (more...)
Dylan Dobson, 4Play Editor
October 2, 2012
Filed under 4Play
NBC’s “Parks and Recreation” is one of those rare sitcoms that is always evolving. Each season brings growth in its characters, and development to Pawnee, the show’s central location, in such a way that the world in which it takes place is alive and thriving. It’s one of the few sitcoms... (more...)
Dylan Dobson, 4Play Editor
September 25, 2012
Filed under 4Play
Since Green Bay’s first Smart Cow Yogurt Bar opened in April this year, it has enjoyed nearly constant business from the surrounding community. Each day customers hungry for frozen yogurt and toppings come out in hordes to enjoy the chain’s flavors and hip atmosphere. Why call a chain... (more...)
Dylan Dobson, 4Play Editor
September 25, 2012
Filed under 4Play
A plane crash. A mysterious organization with shady plans. Some possibly superstitious force bending the laws of physics. One would be correct in linking each of these things to shows previously produced by J.J. Abrams such as “Lost”, “Alcatraz” or “Fringe”—but more recently... (more...)
Dylan Dobson, 4Play Editor
September 18, 2012
Filed under 4Play
It seemed to be just another day for Common Grounds Coffeehouse patrons. However, a new item was lurking beneath the modest coffee shop storefront. Soon, customers were flocking to Facebook and Twitter to express their excitement and concern over this new item. What could set the social... (more...)
Dylan Dobson, 4Play Editor
September 18, 2012
Filed under 4Play
Do you know what your friends are doing this weekend? If they are fans of the television series “Doctor Who,” they’ve likely already cleared their calendars for the next several Saturdays in anticipation of the series’ new season. “Doctor Who,” now in the seventh season of its second... (more...)
Dylan Dobson, 4Play Editor
September 11, 2012
Filed under 4Play
For months I heard the chatter. When the topic would come up in conversation, I would try my best to avoid it. “Wait. Seriously? You haven’t been there yet?” friends would ask me. “You have to go. Seriously. It’s the best.” “How could a smoothie be worth so much praise?” I... (more...)
Dylan Dobson, 4Play Editor
September 11, 2012
Filed under 4Play
You step through a door into what looks to be a refurbished warehouse. An array of glaring lights immediately blinds you. As your eyes wrench shut you hear the click of claws against cement. Suddenly you sense all light vanish, and you open your eyes to darkness. You hear guttural snarling,... (more...)