In the cutthroat world of competitive Scrabble, Moore resident Matthew Hodge is the top player from Oklahoma, currently ranked 32nd in the country. He’s been playing official tournaments for eight years, but none in his own hometown. “There hasn’t been a tournament in Oklahoma City in over two decades,” Hodge said. So he started one. […]
Rod Lott
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Metro area hosts first competitive Scrabble tournament in more than 20 years
In the cutthroat world of competitive Scrabble, Moore resident Matthew Hodge is the top player from Oklahoma, currently ranked 32nd in the country. He’s been playing official tournaments for eight years, but none in his own hometown. “There hasn’t been a tournament in Oklahoma City in over two decades,” Hodge said. So he started one. […]
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Children of the Corn
Fritz Kiersch’s 1984 film “Children of the Corn” is not a great film, but it’s an effective low-budget shocker that still holds up from the VHS age. That’s not to say it can’t be improved, but the 2009 remake has not done so. Directed by Donald P. Borchers, the producer of the original, the new […]
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Guys behind Ultimate Terrors haunted house know what scares
Not all of the disembodied limbs were in their proper place as Jim Bates walked through his haunted house, pointing out soon-to-be sites for a jumping spider and a striking snake. “A lady peed her pants right here last year,” he said, motioning to the floor. With Darrell Duer Jr., Bates is co-owner of Ultimate […]
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The Haunted World of El Superbeasto
2009 Something I thought not possible: Rob Zombie’s “The Haunted World of El Superbeasto” is even raunchier than the short-lived comic book from which it spawned, “Spookshow International.” It’s also long-delayed, which suggests a problematic production, but the end result is an absolute riot. If it weren’t animated, I’m convinced it’d be rated NC-17. El […]
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Guys behind Ultimate Terrors haunted house know what scares
Not all of the disembodied limbs were in their proper place as Jim Bates walked through his haunted house, pointing out soon-to-be sites for a jumping spider and a striking snake. “A lady peed her pants right here last year,” he said, motioning to the floor. With Darrell Duer Jr., Bates is co-owner of Ultimate […]
Posted inArts & Culture
The Real Story: Part 1
2008-2009 Some of pop culture’s biggest events are explored in the Smithsonian Channel’s “The Real Story” series, two episodes of which comprise this “Part 1” DVD release, looking into perhaps the country’s most famous jailbreak and most infamous haunting. “Escape from Alcatraz” is first, examining how three men busted out of the island prison’s seemingly […]
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Deadgirl
2008 Marcel Sarmiento and Gadi Harel’s low-budget horror film “Deadgirl” arrives on DVD on a wave of good buzz from festivals and a growing fan base. Lower your expectations. Rickie (Shiloh Fernandez, TV’s “Jericho”) and J.T. (Noah Segan, “Fanboys”) are a couple of high school miscreants who skip class one day. J.T. takes Rickie to […]
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30 Rock: Season 3
2008-2009 Is all the Emmy love for “30 Rock” justified? Hell, yes! The New York sitcom set behind the scenes of TV’s most dysfunctional comedy show is likely the smartest thing going on the tube — network or cable. It’s not that you need a college degree or a Mensa membership to enjoy “30 Rock” […]
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Crank: High Voltage
2009 One need not be certifiably insane to enjoy “Crank: High Voltage,” but know that the film is. This sequel to the 2006 sleeper hit “Crank” picks up literally the moment its predecessor left off, with Chev Chelios (Jason Statham) plummeting to his death on a L.A. street. Rather than be left for dead, he’s […]