Transformers Review. Review: ‘Transformers’ is a pure sensory event

There is a semblance of a plot. Shia LaBeouf and Megan Fox return as Sam and Mikaela, whose romantic pairing is again the most suspension-of-disbelief-straining element in a film about giant alien robot warriors that live among us disguised as General Motors vehicles. Caught in the midst of battles between nasty Decepticons and human-friendly Autobots, the kids race from California to the Mideast looking for the sun’s “off” switch, installed long ago by extraterrestrial bad guys. But combing through this audiovisual blitzkrieg for logic, substance and character is like looking for the poetic subtext of a monster-truck rally.

The film exists as a pure sensory event, a pummeling, thrilling, bewildering, demented exercise in computer-generated shock and awe. Director Michael Bay sprays visceral thrills at us with a fire hose. Aircraft carriers are torn in two. Tanks are scattered like bowling pins.

Works Exhibit. Controversial doctor unveils corpse sex exhibition

When asked about the coupling of sex and death, von Hagens told Germany’s Bild that “death and sex are both taboo topics. I’m bringing them together. Death belongs to life.” He added that “without sex no life would exist.

” Von Hagens’ work has divided opinion in the past, with critics often doubting his scientific motives and accusing him of shocking people to gain publicity. His public autopsy in 2002 for British broadcaster Channel 4 — the first in the UK for 170 years — received hundreds of complaints. The authorities also threatened to arrest him after declaring the procedure illegal. Von Hagens justified his actions as “demystifying the post mortem examination,” and likened the medical profession to “medieval priests who would not allow ordinary people to read the Bible,” The New Scientist reported.

Private Practice Spoilers. Any member of my Envirothon team could tell you that the symbolism of the sparrow with the noose was a strong but appropriate message.

I’m a recent transplant to Hartford, and I just want to mention to you (and maybe better yet it should be to your editors, if I had their emails address) that your weekly is a must read, not only does it provide a good what’s coming up, but does so with insight and a eye for quality where ever it might be found. Thanks so much. And this from Susan: I was reading your article in the “Calendar” section of The Hartford Courant concerning the sculpture show by Randall Nelson. I was saddened to hear the UConn Student Board of Governors are so reactionary and superficial to not look further into the meaning of pieces of artwork before banishing them from more public view.

I advise Coginchaug Regional High School’s environmental club. I also coach our Envirothon team. Any member of my Envirothon team could tell you that the symbolism of the sparrow with the noose was a strong but appropriate message.

Ignoramus. The Electric New Paper, Singapore

HONG Kong action star Jackie Chan has never minced his words on social and political issues. The star of movies like Shinjuku Incident and Rush Hour had previously angered Taiwanese by calling the 2004 Taiwanese presidential election ‘the biggest joke in the world’. But he may have bitten off more than he can chew this time. Apple Daily reported that the 55-year-old actor is now facing an online backlash over his comments at the annual Boao Forum in Hainan on Saturday.

Jackie was asked to discuss censorship and restrictions on filmmakers in China, but had expanded his comments to include society in general. He said: ‘I’m gradually beginning to feel that we Chinese need to be controlled. If we’re not being controlled, we’ll just do what we want. ‘I’m not sure if it’s good to have freedom or not… If you’re too free, you’re like the way Hong Kong is now. It’s very chaotic. Taiwan is also chaotic.’ His words had prompted outrage from lawmakers in Taiwan and Hong Kong, who accused him of insulting his own race.

Phantom Tollbooth. LuAnn, Kelly, Romona and the van Kempens attend the Russell Simmons fashion show and Kelly covers fashion week for her column.

“Thuffering Thuccotash.” The legendary animator is profiled in this documentary that features interviews with Jones and animated segments based on his childhood. Followed at 8 p.m. and midnight by the 1970 animated film that Jones co-directed, “The Phantom Tollbooth.” 7:30 and 11:30 tonight, TCM.

Doug Knoop, Seattle Times staff Also on today Presidential News Conference, 5 p.m. (ABC, NBC, CBS, Fox): President Barack Obama’s address is affecting the prime-time schedule. Check. “Reaper,” 8 p.m. (The CW): It turns out the Devil (Ray Wise) has another son, Morgan (guest star Armie Hammer). “Last Restaurant Standing,” 9 p.m. (BBC America): The remaining couples are forced out of their comfort zones to cater a fancy dinner party. “NCIS,” 9 p.m. (CBS): A young boy finds a murder weapon and the team must trace ownership of the gun to discover who was murdered. “The Biggest Loser,” 9 p.m. (NBC): Tonight is Part 1 of a two-part challenge.

Mike Davis. The Steamboat Pilot & Today: Sports briefs: Salazar, Rossi named to all

Holli Salazar and Sarajane Rossi remained close friends throughout high school even though they sat on opposite ends of the heated Hayden-Soroco rivalry. The longtime friends are finally teammates. Both were selected to the Colorado Coaches of Girls Sports all-star basketball team and will play in a special game Sunday at Arvada West High School in Arvada.

All the selected 2A players will be split into two teams that will face off at 11:30 a.m. Sunday.

Basketball. PURDUE 79, PENN STATE 65: Boilermakers hitting on all cylinders:

BY jodonnell@suntimes.com INDIANAPOLIS — The oddest thing was the late-night coloring at Conseco Fieldhouse. Considering it was the first quarterfinal Friday in the 12-year history of the Big Ten tournament in which Indiana wasn’t playing, the black-and-gold of Purdue could have been expected to be the dominant background hue for its nightcap against Penn State. RELATED STORIES But it wasn’t.

Instead, there was enough orange lingering throughout the arena to suggest a large, eager-eyed scouting vanguard from Champaign. They got their preview’s worth. The third-seeded Boilermakers demonstrated more weapons than a right-wing talk show host, toying with the No. 6 Nittany Lions en route to a 79-65 victory.

Unforgiving Minute. Bundesliga: Hamburg shake off inhibitions to frolic at the top

You wait two weeks for Matchday 4, and then it’s a non-starter. Literally. Friday night’s game between Frankfurt and Karlsruhe was called off because the newly-laid, €20,000 (£15,931) pitch in the Commerzbank-Arena hadn’t put down roots in time. Three nights before, a Madonna concert had taken place there and the grass had buckled under tons of stage equipment. And that was just the make-up.

Disappointed TV viewers around the world - all 43 of them – were instead treated to the 2. Bundesliga game between Kaiserslautern (a less dysfunctional, more provincial version of Newcastle) and St Pauli (left-leaning luvvies’ favourite club). Lautern won 4-1 and their chairman Stefan Kuntz was grateful to the pop star’s stellar work. “Thanks to Madonna ruining the Frankfurt pitch, we were seen in over 100 countries,” beamed the cult hero from Euro 96. Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung also applauded Her Madgesty, whom they described as an “obvious connoisseur of Bundesliga football”.

Armando Montelongo. Leave Wall Street Alone! The Real Villains of the Financial Crisis Live Inside Your TV

Flipping Out’s Jeff Lewis should be among those held culpable for the financial meltdown. Photo: Courtesy of Bravo Investment bankers and other Wall Street employees have been taking heat in their personal lives for the financial crisis, several of them tell the Times today, and as the economy worsens, it’s starting to get to them. First everyone wanted them to explain what a subprime mortgage was, now they’re just looking at them with open revulsion.

“I’d almost rather say I’m a pornographer,” one retired Wall Street executive whined to the Times. “At least that’s a business that people understand.” Right? If only the populace had enough brains, they’d understand that it was not Wall Street’s fault! Financiers, the Times tells us, see the mortgage crisis like this: Americans undersaved and overspent for decades, relying on rising property values to bankroll their lifestyles. But nobody on Wall Street forced United States homeowners to take out loans on houses they couldn’t afford, or refinance mortgages to spend money on cars they shouldn’t have bought. They actually kind of have a point.

Janine Sligar. Prison employee sentenced to prison for having sex with inmate

Janine Sligar, 47, of Wray, Colorado, was sentenced Thursday for sexual abuse of a ward. After serving her sentence, she will serve five years of supervised release and must register as a sex offender, spokesman Jeff Dorschner said in a news release. Sligar, who must surrender to a facility designated by the Bureau of Prisons on March 2, did not respond to a telephone call to her home for comment.

She was indicted in July by a federal grand jury in Denver and pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court in October. According to the plea agreement, Sligar, a 14-year veteran, said she and inmate Eric McClain met in February 2007, when he was assigned to clean her office.