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Posts published in “Reviews”

(Archive March 1, 2011) Restaurant Review: Cruisers

By editorialteam on July 11, 2024

By Elizabeth Shipman | Observer Reporter

It is often somewhat difficult to find a great place to eat that has wonderful food for a low price. One such place however can be found in downtown Gardner. Cruisers Malt Shoppe was opened in September 2007 on Central Street.

The food is typical American style but all with a fun twist. Breakfast is served all day. You can get something as common as a pancake or something a little uncommon such as “Elvis Pancakes” which include bananas and peanut butter. Omelets and breakfast sandwiches are also served. read more

(Archive March 15, 2010) Movie Review: Valentine’s Day

By editorialteam on July 10, 2024

By Guthrie Roy Hartford | Web Manager

The premise of Valentine’s Day is thoroughly enjoyable, seeing how the overall plot constantly elaborates on how pointless this Hallmark holiday really is. The one thing that really baffles me about Valentine’s Day is the abundance of star power that it brings to the table. There are nineteen different actors and/or actresses in this flick that can potentially call themselves stars. My question simply is: How did other flicks manage successful casting while Valentine’s Day was filming? Hollywood must have gone on a thirty or some odd day vacation just so this movie could be made. You have well-known names such as Anne Hathaway, Jamie Foxx, Ashton Kutcher, Kathy Bates, Jessica Alba, Jennifer Garner, George Lopez, Bradley Cooper, Jessica Biel, Taylor Lautner and Julia Roberts among many others that are gridlocked into this hectic date flick that focuses on bad lunches and infidelity. read more

(Archive February 3, 2009) Movie Reviews

By editorialteam on July 10, 2024

By Lindsey Washburn | Observer Contributor

Tale of Despereaux

I’m not usually so harsh, but I really, really liked the book by Kate DiCamillo … And what I saw on that screen had almost nothing to do with the book that I read. If I were DiCamillo I would have taken my name off it. It was hard for my mother and I to follow, and we consider ourselves of average adult intelligence. I can’t imagine what the eight-year-olds thought. I was disappointed in all the actors (even Dustin Hoffman and Sigourney Weaver), but even if they had impressed me it couldn’t have saved this ship from sinking. I wash my hands of it. read more

(Archive November 2007) Transformers Movie Review

By editorialteam on July 10, 2024

By Tyler LaBell | Observer Contributor

The movie Transformers starring Shia LaBeouf and Megan Fox, directed by Steven Spielberg, is based off a car­toon from the mid-1980s. All of the characters in the movie were based on characters from the cartoon.

Just like the cartoon, there were the Autobots and the Decepticons, but there were small differences in the movie. In the cartoon, one of the Au­tobots was named Bumblebee. Bumblebee transformed from a Volk­swagen Beetle in the cartoon, while in the movie it was a Chevrolet Camaro. read more

(Archive November 2007) Ray Hendricks Review

By editorialteam on July 10, 2024

By Kim Anderson | Observer Reporter

Mount Wachusett Community College students gathered in the South Cafeteria on Wednesday, October 3, for a performance from Ray Hendricks Revival Band. The event was sponsored by CATS (Campus Activities Team for Students) and the student life office. 

The band performed songs from their debut album, Lost in the Year. Ray Hendricks Revival Band played nine songs and after each song the audience applauded. 

While the band performed, students sat around the tables to eat lunch and talk to friends. The crowd filled about three-quarters of the cafeteria.  read more

(Archive November 2007) Horror Film Convention Review

By editorialteam on July 9, 2024

By Danielle Bettro | Observer Reporter

The Rock-n-Shock Horror Film Convention took place at the DCU center and the Palladium in Worcester Ma on October 12, 13, 14 200, from 11:00am to 12:00am Tickets are $30.00 a day. There were signings and pictures by your most beloved horror movie actors and actresses, such as Kane Hodder from Friday the thirteenth and Hatchet; PJ Soles from Halloween 1; also William Forsythe who played Deborah Myers Boyfriend in the 2007 remake of Halloween; Daeg Faerch as 10 year old Michael Myers in 2007 version of Halloween; and Tom Towels as Lieutenant Wydell in House of 1000 corpses and others.  read more

(Archive October 2007) Restaurant Review: The Gardner Ale House Brewery and Restaurant

By editorialteam on June 27, 2024

The Gardner Ale House Brewery and Restaurant has it all, from mouth-watering food, their amazing drinks, to an extraordinary atmosphere. 

The Ale House has local bands play live and an outstanding wait staff. The kitchen has a somewhat open aspect so you can see how your food is prepared to the utmost care. So if you like to have an excellent time and enjoy good food, the Gardner Ale House is the place to be. 

Also, for those of you what are 21 or older, check out the Gardner Ale House bar. Here there is a variety of drinks and make sure to try their own personally brewed beer. You can even buy a beer sampler; this will let you try all of the different types and flavors so you can find the perfect beer for you.  read more

(Archive October 2007) DVD Review: Spider-Man 3

By editorialteam on June 27, 2024

By Adam Nadeau | Observer Reporter

Spiderman 3 shoots into stores on DVD this month, the dark tale of Peter Parker’s inner struggle against evil. He does this as he battles too many vil­lains and becomes caught in a web of a lame-ass screenplay, an overstuffed plot, and an absence of character development. This DVD release is a reminder that unwarranted hype and CGI can make a movie over 300 Million in the US box office, whether or not it’s a great film.

Back in May, I remember standing in line at the local cin­ema, eagerly holding tickets for myself and my best friends to see the midnight screening of the third chapter of our favor­ite superhero movie. The the­ater was packed with eager fans, some even dressed as their hero, awaiting the hyped Spiderman 3, even cheering at the opening credits. read more

(Archive March 2006) Film Review: Date Movie

By editorialteam on June 26, 2024

Box Office Bust

By Stacey M. Salo | Editor-in-Chief

Looking for a good new comedy movie? I wouldn’t recommend spending the 7 or so dollars on Date Movie (rated PG 13 for content and language), a spoof of several romantic comedies. It starts with laughter and ends with the viewer feeling disappointed at how it falls flat. If not that, the viewer will get up and leave after the first 20 to 30 minutes. If you really want to see the movie, I would highly recommend renting it, and save the extra money for candy and soda because those are the only two good things you are going to get out of watching this movie.  read more

(Archive March 2006) Student Review: Tim Wise Lecture

By editorialteam on June 26, 2024

By Joe Mungo | Observer Reporter

Photo by Stephen Jahl
Nationally well known speaker Tim Wise spoke to a full auditorium about the con­troversial topic of racisim recently.
Photo by Stephen Jahl
The audience included students faculty and staff as well as students from Massa­chusetts high schools and colleges.

I was not very impressed by Tim Wise, so called National Lecturer on Racism and author of the book White Like Me: Reflec­tions on Race from a Privileged Son. As a matter of fact, I was quite offended when his wagon came through town February 17, and he wowed the audience with the oratory skill reminiscent of the snake oil salesman of the old west.

I take offense to Mr. Wise’s assertion that being born white equates to being born privileged in America. I guess being white and poor or white and disadvantaged for a plethora of other reasons is a contradiction in terms in the world of Mr. Wise. I had no idea that being born white and disadvantaged at the same time was so rare and uncommon that for some people this condition is virtu­ally non-existent. After attending the lecture by Mr. Wise, I certainly must be a minor­ity. I always wondered why I had to work so hard, all those odd and extra hours, all those crappy low paying jobs. I never realized that all I had to do was flaunt my white skin and collect my privilege. read more