Entertainment
All Hail the Legend of Beowulf! The New
King of the Box Office!
by C.R. Haworth
The epic poem "Beowulf" hits big screens
on Nov. 16, and it is ready to slay!
Boasting such talent as Anthony Hopkins,
John Malkovich, and Angelina Jolie, this computer-generated mega hit is loosely
based on the epic poem written some time around 700 A.D. The author of the epic
poem, some 3,000 lines of heroic deeds from a warrior king, is unknown. However,
what is known is that the new film is sure to stir up the same buzz the poem did
centuries ago.
Directed by Robert Zemeckis ("Back to the Future" series,
"Forrest Gump" and "Cast Away")
this film may
be shot using the latest in computer technology, but that doesn’t mean it skimps
on action or drama. From the sequence of Grendel attacking Heorot to the final
aerial battle over the castle, this movie provides heart pounding twists and
turns that’ll keep the audience on the edge of their seats.
The plot differs from the original poem
by adding a little more sub plot to keep the story flowing smoothly. Certain
flat characters are fleshed out and given a more dynamic
role. Unferth
(brought to life by the devilish John Malkovich), for example,
appears more
conniving and scheming than he is supposed to be. But, none of the subtle
changes detract from the story. In fact, if you have never read the epic poem,
you can still enjoy the movie without skipping a beat.
The story, for all of the English buffs
in Professor Jensen’s English 122 class, provides a perfect example of hubris;
throwing the character Beowulf into the role of the tragic hero.
The animation is top notch; using the same technology
used in "The Polar Express," the way each character moves and speaks is so
realistic it’s scary. The scene where
Grendel’s Mother
(voiced by the sultry Angelina Jolie) first emerged from the pool to seduce
Beowulf (voiced by Ray Winstone) is
a sight not
many men will soon forget. Even in CG, it’s easy to see why Brad left Jenn for
Angie.
The movie moves along at break-neck
pace, grabbing hold of the audience and never lets go. The virtual "cherry on
top" for this movie, though, is the fact that it is offered in 3-D. This
reporter was fortunate enough to view this film with special glasses that
allowed the animation to jump out at the audience. 1950’s technology, I know,
but it was amazing to view.
Though this movie is not going to win any Oscars for
Best Picture, it is worthy to go check out while it is in movie theatres. I
highly suggest checking this out in 3-D, as well. Just don’t jump too high when
Grendel throws a soldier across the Mead Hall and into the third row!
Guitar Hero III Deserves An Encore
by Lizi West
The Killers, The Rolling Stones
and yes, even
Dragonforce are just a few of the bands featured on Guitar Hero Three.
For those of you who remember, there was supposed to be a
Guitar Hero Three competition here at Grossmont when the game came out. Who
knows, maybe my article on how awesome I am at the game was too intimidating,
but basically the competition never happened. So I had to take matters into my
own hands.
Luckily I know a few people who are also Guitar Hero freaks
and we managed to have a get together, aka "A Rocking Party" at my house to play
the new game. And I must say that I was impressed with all the new features.
Along with the original characters, you can also be Slash, Bret Michaels and
even "The God of Rock."
Not only are there new characters, but there is also a
competition mode where you can mess with your competitor’s screen. You can make
their screen shake, change their level to one above what they are on (medium to
hard), break a string or make it so they are playing backwards, as if they were
left handed.
The game also has about twenty or so bonus songs you can get.
That is where you’ll find the eight- minute-long "Through Fire and Flames" by
Dragonforce. In the regular songs they range from "Miss Murder" by AFI to
"Knights of Cedonia" by Muse to "Rock and Roll All Night" by Kiss. Most of the
songs are the actual recordings by the original artists, but some are still
covers done by the makers of the game.
All in all the game is enjoyable and will bring you hours and hours of sore
fingers and dry eyes, but also the fun of playing along to some of the best rock
songs. As much as I love Guitar Hero though, I am interested in playing the game
Rockband. Who knows what could happen with a drum set, lead guitar, bass guitar
and a microphone.
Jersey Boys Returns to
the West Coast after
Long
Run on Broadway
by Lizi West
From the small clubs of New Jersey to sold out shows and
crazy crowds, Broadway hit musical "Jersey Boys" tells the story of Frankie
Valli and the Four Seasons.
Originating in San Diego, the play made its way to Broadway
in 2006 and came back on tour this past month at the Civic Theatre. Mostly
everyone knows or at least recognizes Franki Valli’s hits such as "Big Girls
Don’t Cry," "Walk Like a Man" and "Sherry" but not many know the story behind
the band.
Each member has his own story of how the band got started and
how they are the reason they became successful. Tommy Devito, played by Deven
May starts off the story telling about how he was the one who discovered Valli,
he was the first one to put him on stage. But while he and Nick Massi, played by
Steve Gouveia, are in and out of jail (mostly for theft), Massi
claims that
he is the one who taught Valli how to find his voice. At this point since there
were only three of them they were in search for someone who could not only
perform, but write music as well. That is when with the band found Bob Gaudio,
played by Erich Bergen who had written the hit single "Who Wears Short Shorts"
when he was only a sophomore in high school. Gaudio claimed that the band would
not have gotten anywhere without his ability to write the hits that made them
famous.
Not too soon after the band hit it big they found themselves
to be in huge trouble with the mob. Devito had somehow gotten them into debt for
somewhere around half a million dollars. Valli, who felt responsible to take up
his friend’s mistake, agreed to pay off the debt with the band’s money while
Devito was made to stay in the city of Las Vegas. This was when the band slowly
turned from The Four Seasons to Franki Valli and the Four Seasons. After Massi
quit the group as well Gaudio kept his word with Valli to be his partner, but
turned Valli into a solo act. Which resulted in Valli’s most memorable hit of
"Can’t Take My Eyes Off You."
Valli’s reasoning for being the reason the band made it was
because he was the voice. Without him there would be no originality or
uniqueness to the band.
The play and the production of the show really made it feel
as if you were in the middle of the 60’s watching The Four Seasons perform. The
show not only told their story, but took other well known hits and made them go
along with the plot. "Decem ber
1963 (Oh What A Night)" was put to a scene where Gaudio had sex for the first
time. And on the more serious side, "Fallen Angel" was set to when Valli found
out his daughter had been killed.
The set was very simple and throughout the play the scenes
were constantly changing. One minute there would be bar set up and the next
minute the band would be recording in the studio. The cast was incredibly
talented as well, with everyone playing their own instrument along with singing.
The show ended with the band reuniting to perform
when they
were put in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. After singing "Rag Doll" it was a
bittersweet ending with each member explaining where they went after the band
and explaining where they are now. Valli is still performing to this day, and
has not lost his incredible voice one bit.
"I’m like that bunny you see on the commercials. I just keep going and going"
said Valli.
Battles: Guitar Heroes
by Matt
Carter
If there was one thing the fires couldn’t stop it’s a proper
showing of Math-rock when Battles came to town Oct. 29.
A collective as diverse in the influences of its members as
it is in sound, Battles includes ex-Helmet drummer Jon Stanier, as well as
former Don Caballero guitarist Ian Williams. While each member comes from a far
disassociated musical corner, in finding each other the edges of their origins
have blurred for them to intertwine into the intricate instrumentation that is
Battles.
With one hand on the keys and the other on the guitar slung
over each member’s back, the night began in the precise drumming of Jon Stanier
as his breathtaking fills cast the audience into towering suspense. And only at
the stroke of his hovering crash symbol would he relinquish the momentum to the
syncopated strings of the rest of the band.
Like merry conductors of some grand electric circus that
refuses to ever take shape, the members of Battles nodded into the night, their
contributions of sound all colliding to pleasantly work against each other. Ian
Williams’ electrifying guitar tapping along with his ambidextrous synth playing
and bubble gum blowing was truly remarkable to see; a participant in the nimble
game of chord tag played by the band in circuitous loops to call and signal to
each other. Tyondai Braxton’s delivery of songs off of "Mirrored" requiring
cryptic vocal offerings such as "Atlas" and "Tonto," did not disappoint as the
vocal distortions hauntingly washed over the crowd to their delight.
With an impressive utilization of laptop and keyboard
equipment stage set-up it was very clear that Battles is an outfit who never
comes to the table outgunned. Though each player that makes up Battles is
significantly different, their music is living proof of the benefits of a
musician’s diversion from sticking to the same structural formulas. We can only
hope for such coincidental musical matchmaking to continue in music as a result
of Battles.
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