Hardwired...to Self-Destruct!

After more than a decade of alienating fans with behind-the-scenes drama and unpopular stylistic choices, Metallica pulled off a coup with 2008’s Death Magnetic, a triumphant return to thrash marred only by questionable mixing and production. Eight years later, Metallica’s double-disc tenth album manages to continue that march back toward respectability while simultaneously adding a few new wrinkles.

In some ways, Hardwired is very self-consciously a throwback album. The destructive connotation– and punctuation choices – of the title seem to be taking a page from Megadeth’s 80s catalog (ironic, given Metallica’s love-hate relationship with ex-member/Megadeth founder Dave Mustaine) while the radio-unfriendly song lengths call to mind …And Justice for All.  Across the first several tracks, James Hetfield’s snarling vocals and sometimes-juvenile lyrics, backed by hard-hitting instrumentation, would seem right at home on a mid-late 80s Metallica release.

But Hardwired is neither simple repetition nor self-parody, and as it progresses, the album takes a number of unexpected turns. From track to track, lyrics alternate between Biblical and mythological themes (“Atlas, Rise!” and “ManUNKind”) to tributes of sorts to Amy Winehouse (“Moth into Flame”) and Lemmy (“Murder One”). The band also plays with slower tempos on some songs, gradually speeding up to project a sense of growing menace. Metallica may have embraced its roots, but it hasn’t chucked every bit of musical development from the past two decades out the window.

An alternate explanation, of course, is that all of the members are north of 50, and sustaining a 77-minute thrash assault simply is beyond their reach. Yet if Metallica is slowing down, the members mask it well. Robert Trujillo delivers strong basslines while Lars Ulrich’s drumming, always somewhat divisive, is at least well-timed. Ironically, it is lead guitarist Kirk Hammett, usually the most reliable of the bunch, who seems the most noticeably absent here. It isn’t that his guitar is neutered but rather that he doesn’t really get a chance to cut loose, in trademark fashion, until the closing track, “Spit out the Bone.” Whether or not this is related to the fact that Hetfield and Ulrich wrote all of the songs is anyone’s guess. Whatever the reason, it comes as a letdown following the epic riffing found on Death Magnetic.

Hardwired doesn’t pack as much of a punch and won’t turn as many heads as Metallica’s classic albums, but it is a commendably hard-hitting effort from a band that seems to have seen and done it all in three-plus decades.

8/10

Warcraft

When Draenor, the orcs’ homeworld, begins to wither and die, orcish warlock Gul’dan (Daniel Wu) uses life-draining fel magic to open a portal to Azeroth to give the orcs a new land to conquer. Durotan (Toby Kebbel), chieftain of the Frostwolf Clan, is suspicious of Gul’dan and the fel, but he nevertheless joins a raiding party to ensure a future for his wife and child. On the other side of the portal, the use of fel magic is detected by Khadgar (Ben Schnetzer), a young human mage, who persuades military commander Anduin Lothar (Travis Fimmell) to alert his brother-in-law, King Llane (Dominic Cooper) as well as Medivh (Ben Foster), the mystic guardian of the realm. As battle lines are drawn between the humans and the invading orcs, there are those on both sides who realize that things aren’t quite what they seem.

Warcraft has been a popular computer game franchise for more than two decades, and a film adaptation has been in development for nearly half that long. Given the repeated delays, the required budget, the inevitable comparison to Lord of the Rings, and the dismal track record of movies based on video games, it’s a small miracle that a Warcraft movie was released at all. And while that much is a victory, not even the franchise’s most powerful mages can erase this flawed film’s many glaring blemishes.

Though the character design is inescapably cartoonish, on an aesthetic level, Warcraft acquits itself fairly well. The journey to Medivh’s spire in the sky provides some breathtaking views, battle scenes are competently choreographed, and Ramin Djawadi’s score evokes the grandeur of the games’ music without shamelessly mimicking it. On a superficial level, the movie delivers as expected.

Ironically, some of the film’s problems stem from a desire to transcend that superficiality. Director/co-writer Duncan Jones is an avid gamer, and though by necessity he streamlined and simplified some of the Warcraft mythos, he also showed a lot of reverence for the source material, which broke from some genre clichés (orcs here are a proud warrior society rather than simply dumb muscle for the forces of evil) while reinforcing plenty of others. Unfortunately, instead of 90 minutes of lightweight fun, this fidelity resulted in a solemn, occasionally leaden two-plus hours that still felt underdone.

Jones wasn’t helped by uninspired, cliché-ridden dialogue, thin characterization, and questionable casting decisions. Ethiopian-Irish Ruth Negga and white Australian Travis Fimmell are unconvincing as siblings, and Ben Foster’s American accent sounds very out of place. Among the few cast members who come off well here are those who take more liberties with the source material: Cooper plays Llayne with heroic gusto while Schnetzer’s Khadgar is somewhat bumbling (at first) and constantly disrespected and underestimated, a needed counterpoint to the stone-fisted solemnity.

Ultimately, Warcraft is unlikely to win over anyone who isn’t already a fan of the franchise, and even the latter group may find themselves disappointed. But there between the nostalgia factor and the visual flair, there is enough here to make it worth their time, albeit barely.

6.5/10

Doctor Strange

Dr. Stephen Strange (Benedict Cumberbatch) is a brilliant but arrogant and egotistical surgeon. When he damages his hands in a car wreck, he is so desperate for a cure that he travels to Kamar-Taj, a hidden Tibetan monastery. There, he is trained in the mystic arts by the Ancient One (Tilda Swinton) and her associates Mordo (Chiwetel Ejiofor) and Wong (Benedict Wong). He soon finds himself draw in to their efforts to thwart Kaecilius (Mads Mikkelsen), a former disciple whose quest to grant the world eternal life involves turning it over to a malevolent entity, Dormammu. Though reluctant and unskilled at first, the rational Strange eventually becomes a valuable ally.

Let it not be said that Marvel Studios has run out of ways to be different. Though Guardians of the Galaxy, with its genetically modified raccoon and tree-like alien antiheroes seemed as far afield as Marvel could go and remain successful, Doctor Strange introduces a full-on embrace of magic and alternate dimensions. And despite the challenges inherent in adapting Steve Ditko’s trippy 60s creation – like how does one make magic fit within the technology-centric mileau of a shared universe – Marvel has again struck paydirt.

A big chunk of the credit here goes to director Scott Derrickson, who was definitely up to the task. Rather than taking a cartoonish approach, Derrickson aimed to create an awe-inspiring spectacle. The resulting reality-warping visuals favorably invoked Inception rather than traditional wizard fare or the fanciful (and cheesy) Thor. Derrickson was also acutely aware of Marvel’s proclivity for ending movies with big, irresponsible, city-leveling battles, and he and writer C. Robert Cargill engineered a subversion that was still consistent with the demands of character and story. Even the most controversial decision – casting Swinton in the role of a traditionally male, traditionally Tibetan character – proved to be a wise move. Had a more conventional choice been made (say Ken Watanabe), the character may very well have been a regrettable Wise Master cliché. Instead, the witty, androgynous Swinton made the character stand out.

She is far from the only strong performer in the cast, however. Cumberbatch, known for portraying socially awkward geniuses, is a charismatically good fit here, and convincingly portrays the character’s growing sense of obligation and sacrifice. Ejiofor gives Mordo a nobility that the comic book equivalent has often lacked while still foreshadowing his darker nature. Mikkelsen makes for a droll change-of-pace villain, a well-intentioned extremist as opposed to a would-be conqueror, but his character isn’t given enough development, nor is that of Rachel McAdams, who plays Strange’s medical colleague/former lover (and an obvious audience surrogate).

Unexpectedly, Doctor Strange is also frequently hilarious. Midway through the film, Strange acquires his trademark Cloak of Levitation, a sentient garment that proves to be a far better fighter than he is. A seemingly disposable joke made to Wong (a comically serious foil) about one-named musicians gets a callback when the latter can be found listening to Beyonce in the Kamar-Taj library. Even Strange’s inevitable confrontation with Dormammu is laden with dark humor and trolling.

Fittingly, this movie about magic casts such an engaging spell over viewers that it frequently blinds them to some very obvious flaws. In addition to the previously mentioned underdeveloped secondary characters, Doctor Strange features a thin, almost perfunctory plot. And while the film’s visual aspects are often a strength, the depiction of Dormammu falls flat and fails to intimidate. Cumberbatch, who provided the voice and motion capture, did far better villainous work bringing to life monsters like Smaug and Sauron.

Despite these shortcomings, Doctor Strange is an entertaining, visually refreshing origin story that brings a new character into an established fold and lays more groundwork for future MCU entries.

8/10

Sarah's Kabob Shop

Located at 5553 West Market Street in Greensboro, Sarah’s Kabob Shop offers Mediterranean fare for lunch and dinner. Online ordering, delivery, and catering are available.

Sarah’s Kabob Shop is unassuming inside and out. It shares a shopping plaza with a DMV office, and its interior is decidedly more function than flash. As is often the case, however, appearances can be deceiving. This is some of the best Mediterranean takeout in the area.

The menu here is about what you’d expect: gyros, kabobs, shawarma, falafel, burgers, and wings. It is the execution that sets Sarah’s apart. Whereas gyro meat can sometimes be overly dry, here it is tender and well-seasoned. Though the classic gyro was plenty flavorful, a spicy variant is also available. An order of fried fish was crispy and held its breading, and the accompanying parmesan fries were addictive.

Sarah’s is also a good value. A generously sized well-stuffed gyro and chips came to $6.19 while a fried fish and shrimp platter with salad and fries was only $8. Come in for pickup, and you’ll get your food quickly, too: the kitchen is efficient, and the counter staff can definitely keep pace (though they are not the least bit rude).

While Sarah’s won’t outpace Chef Samir or Koshary as a dine-in option, for takeout, it is tough to beat. Tasty food for reasonable prices and very brief wait times makes for a winning combination.

8.5/10

Village Juice Co.

Located at 205 S. Stratford Road in Winston-Salem, Village Juice Co. offers bottled juices as well as house-made smoothies, salads, bowls, and toasts. Most food items are vegan, and many use local organic ingredients. Limited outdoor seating is available.

Having tried and enjoyed their juices at different events and needing a healthy counterpoint to the coffee and chocolate we enjoyed earlier, my wife and I finally decided to give Village Juice Co.’s store a try. It was the classic great on paper/flawed execution through and through.

First, the good: Village Juice Co. shows that healthy doesn’t have to mean boring. The selection of salads includes tropical chicken and herb and pumpkin seed while some of the bowl offerings feature Asian influences (and you can also build your own). We split a Miso Bowl (brown rice, kale, red pepper, avocado, carrot, seeds, and nori strips with a miso ginger dressing) and were not disappointed. The bowl was vibrantly colored, the vegetables were fresh, the textures balanced well, and the dressing elevated the flavors. At $8.95 for 32 ounces, the price paid was not unreasonable.

Now the bad: the ordering experience is chaotic. Though Village Juice Co. appears to be adequately staffed, there is a constant stream of foot traffic and little room to wait after your order is placed (unless you are lucky enough to grab an open table). Moreover, the salads, bowls, and toasts are made in a kitchen whereas smoothies are made in a small prep area behind the registers. Order both, and one may come out quite a bit later than the other.

Speaking of smoothies, they are rather overpriced. While it’s a given that organic ingredients tend to cost more, $7 to $10 for a 16-ounce smoothie is a stretch of Reed Richards proportions.

Given their commitment to fresh, homemade, healthy eats and drinks, it is easy to want to see Village Juice Co. succeed. But high prices and a frenzied dine-in experience make it something better admired from afar.

7/10

Twin City Hive Coffee Lounge

Located at 301 Brookstown Avenue in Winston-Salem, Twin City Hive offers locally made coffees, teas, and baked goods. There is limited outdoor seating, and dogs are welcome.

The Triad has no shortage of coffee shops, but there are still several things that make Twin City Hive stand out. The menu offers a good selection of multi-roaster coffee blends with plenty of syrup options as well as artisanal chocolate truffles at prices (coffees start under $3, truffles are $1.5, muffins are $3.75) that are fair for the quality. Counter staff are friendly and patient. And the ambiance is cozy with comfortable seating and unique wall art.

For our first visit, my wife and I each had a drink (a mocha and a chai latte, respectively) and a truffle and split a pepperoni and cheese muffin. The chocolate was good quality, and it was a shame to see it disappear in so few bites. The muffin was savory and surprisingly filling. The chai latte wasn’t bad by any means, but it isn’t something I would likely get again. Even ordered sweetened, it wasn’t particularly sweet.

All told, Twin City Hive is a welcoming spot that makes local creations shine.

8.25/10

Twin City Hive Coffee Lounge

Located at 301 Brookstown Avenue in Winston-Salem, Twin City Hive offers locally made coffees, teas, and baked goods. There is limited outdoor seating, and dogs are welcome.

The Triad has no shortage of coffee shops, but there are still several things that make Twin City Hive stand out. The menu offers a good selection of multi-roaster coffee blends with plenty of syrup options as well as artisanal chocolate truffles at prices (coffees start under $3, truffles are $1.5, muffins are $3.75) that are fair for the quality. Counter staff are friendly and patient. And the ambiance is cozy with comfortable seating and unique wall art.

For our first visit, my wife and I each had a drink (a mocha and a chai latte, respectively) and a truffle and split a pepperoni and cheese muffin. The chocolate was good quality, and it was a shame to see it disappear in so few bites. The muffin was savory and surprisingly filling. The chai latte wasn’t bad by any means, but it isn’t something I would likely get again. Even ordered sweetened, it wasn’t particularly sweet.

All told, Twin City Hive is a welcoming spot that makes local creations shine.

8.25/10