Katy Perry may be closer to 30 than she is to being a teenager, but she shows an incredible understanding of teen conflict in her lyrics for the songs on her album, “Teenage Dream.”

Beginning with the title song, the 12 tracks are filled with thoughts of a young person faced with love, rejection, acceptance, peer pressure and first times.

“Firework” says even if you feel buried by the world there is “still a chance for you. Ignite the light that lives inside and let it shine.”

To say that David Cronenberg’s work carries an air of morbid eccentricity is as understated as saying there may be a hint of religious turmoil in the Middle East.

Throughout his career, Cronenberg has often been the darling of many a disaffected cinephile who’ve grown jaundiced by the multi-million dollar mega-beast the mainstream film industry has become.

In a retrospective approach to reviewing the film “Videodrome,” there is an astonishing amount of prescience in its social commentary.

Produced in 1983, “Videodrome” follows in the same dystopian vein as George Orwell’s “1984” and Aldous Huxley’s “Brave New World” in its depiction of a society that has become progressively devoid of any autonomy in the face of a growing reliance upon technology — in this instance: television.

It is evident as to why Jeff Bridges was asked to return for “Tron: Legacy” because his performance was a light in an otherwise bleak film in the original “Tron.”

Although this film’s special effects were raved about during its release in 1982, as the years pass this movie quickly becomes less impressive. Along with the outdated special effects, the costumes are laughable.

Twisted into a confusing plot, which jumps between two ill-defined worlds, is a love triangle between the three main protagonists, which has unanswered loose ends.

“Dissidia 012 Final Fantasy,” otherwise known as “Dissidia 012,” is a prequel to “Dissidia Final Fantasy,” and it is extremely fun.

Square Enix renamed command mode to RPG mode, which is made to make things easier to play for people who aren’t good at the control scheme of action mode.

Action mode’s controls are still weird as hell, so it’s pretty hard.

When choosing a book to take to the beach, or to read on the front porch as the sun goes down this summer, look no further than Laurell K. Hamilton’s latest Anita Blake novel, “Hit List.”

Released June 7, “Hit List” is one the of the best Blake novels to hit shelves in some time.

The series follows the life and adventures of Blake, a vampire hunter who has become romantically involved with a master vampire.

The romance has, by this point, spread out to include a massive polyamorous relationship comprising a couple dozen characters that are intimately or romantically involved with Blake.

And all of them are vampires or shape shifters.

Tongue-twisting, endless-flow-of-the-color-red sporting, clown-make-up wearing, crazy-as-hell-so-and-so, Tech N9ne is definitely keeping up with his reputation of being a “madd lyricist” on his latest CD “All 6’s and 7’s.”

Track two “Technicians” starts out with classic Tech N9ne which is a good thing. He lets listeners know that although he’s evolved, he is still Tech N9ne.

Tech seemed to have picked the right artists, B.O.B. & Hopsin, for this great collaboration for track four “Am I a Psycho?” This song is sure to be a favorite among Tech N9ne fans, especially those who struggle with trying to figure out, mentally, who they are and where they belong.

For those who are unaware, Tech N9ne’s lyrics are often filled with his self doubt and of him questioning his mental stability.

I started playing “Duke Nukem Forever” expecting a highly action-packed shooter, heavy with sci-fi themes and killer boss fights. The game did not disappoint.

On the other hand, the game itself pushes way past the edge set by “Duke Nukem 3D” 15 years ago.

While the action stayed the same and the graphics are incredible, the game itself is somewhat juvenile, bordering on sexist.

It’s 2149 and our planet has been destroyed by overpopulation.

Cities lay in smoky ruin, citizens grasp oxygen masks to combat air depletion and families must adhere to a law limiting them to two children.

Don’t worry. That’s not the latest prediction made by Harold Camping — it’s simply the premise of “Terra Nova,” a new series produced by Steven Spielberg and set to air this fall on Fox.

Mama Roja is an upscale Mexican restaurant in north Oklahoma City, located at 9219 Lake Hefner Parkway.

The restaurant actually reminds me of a Mexican saloon for the most part. The building has traditional supports and was made to look very worn.

On the outside, there is an outdoor dining area overlooking Lake Hefner. The view was beautiful, and made me wish I had been seated outside.

“21,” the latest album by British recording star Adele, is a remarkable mix of alternative rock, rhythm and blues, jazz, country, and just of bit of gospel.

Beginning with the award-winning “Rolling in the Deep,” a tall finger tribute to her ex-boyfriend (not her exact words), Adele’s smoky tones and passion are that of a heartbroken, mature woman.

The truth is, the album is called “21” because that was her age when it was produced.