The Star-Telegram arts writers spotlight what's rocking their world this week.
1 Dredd on Blu-ray: Unless you're a longtime fan of the 2000 AD comics anthology, it's entirely possible that this grim, hyperviolent gem slipped past you last year. Starring a terrific Karl Urban, the Pete Travis-helmed Dredd is something of a cinematic do-over, making amends for the atrocious 1995 Judge Dredd, which starred a miscast Sylvester Stallone. The 2012 vintage is stripped down and soaked in gore, as the titular Judge faces off against ruthless crime lord Ma-Ma (Lena Headey) and tries to keep a new recruit (Olivia Thirlby) in one piece. Featuring a script by Alex Garland and dazzling visuals, this piece of high-toned pulp fiction hits Blu-ray Tuesday.
-- Preston Jones
2 Air Review, Low Wishes: Irving folk-rock outfit Air Review turned out one of the local scene's best songs last year with the charming America's Son, and now they're back with a new track from an upcoming album. Low Wishes may be somewhat more raucous than its predecessor but it's still marked by the band's sense of songcraft and harmony. www.airreview.net
-- Cary Darling
3 Filthy sweaty tourists: The dirty shoes, shedding hair, skin flakes and sweat of 20,000 tourists a day are damaging the artworks in the Sistine Chapel. "Dust, temperature, humidity and carbon dioxide are the great enemies of paintings," explains a Vatican spokesperson. To counteract the filth, the Vatican is installing cleansing devices such as a sticky carpet that removes dirt, vacuums that suck dust from clothing and an air conditioning system that cools the steamy crowds. So anyone who wants to view the famous frescoes of Michelangelo, Botticelli and Perugino has to submit to the pre-tour cleaning.
-- Gaile Robinson
