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(12/06/06 12:00pm)
"Babel"
4 out of 5 stars
Directed by: Alejandro Gonzalez I?arritu
Starring: Brad Pitt, Cate Blanchett, Adriana Barraza, Gael Garc?a Bernal and Rinko Kikuchi.
The Tower of Babel was built by a united humanity to reach the heavens. Because the hearts of men are inherently evil and disobedient, they strived to make a name for themselves instead of worshipping the God who created them.
Because of this open defiance, God stopped their efforts by confusing languages so that builders couldn't understand one another. As a result, they could no longer communicate and the work was halted. The builders then scattered themselves to different parts of the earth.
This biblical story provides the framework for the complex and thought-provoking "Babel."
Broken down into four different stories of four different families all struck by tragedy, this film demonstrates how much people rely on language to communicate. And sometimes, language doesn't even help us. People who speak the same language still have trouble understanding one another.
An American couple in Morocco goes on vacation to fix their marriage, yet tragedy brings them closer together. Two Moroccan children fight for dominance in the family. A Mexican nanny tries desperately to get to her son's wedding and a deaf-mute Japanese girl struggles with the death of her mother and her teenage woes.
All these stories are connected, possibly in an attempt to show that all people of different nationalities were once connected. However, tragedy is universal. So is hope.
My words of advice? Everyone should see this movie. Get over the fact that you will read subtitles half of the time.
"Babel" is intense, intelligent and demonstrates that far too often we use language as a barrier.
"The Prestige"
4 out of 5 stars
Directed by: Christopher Nolan
Starring: Hugh Jackman, Christian Bale, Michael Caine, Scarlett Johansson, Piper Perabo, Andy Serkis and David Bowie.
A magic trick is broken down into three acts. The first is called "The Pledge," where the magician shows you something ordinary, but of course, it probably isn't. The second act is called "The Turn," in which the magician makes his ordinary something do something extraordinary.
The third act is called "The Prestige." This is the part with the twists and turns, where lives hang in the balance and you see something shocking that you've never seen before.
This monologue sets the stage for an incredibly wild ride of twists, turns and illusions.
The story begins with two men striving to become magicians, Robert (Jackman) and Alfred (Bale).
After a terrible accident, the two men become bitter rivals, trying desperately to outdo one another.
Set in turn-of-the-century London, "The Prestige" is full of betrayal, deceit and dangerous obsessions.
The story is layered by flashbacks, recounting the past in the present and perhaps even predicting the future.
I'm hesitant to discuss any plot points for fear of ruining the full experience of the movie. Seeing is believing. Not all magic is just an illusion.
If you're battling between two combating magical movies, "The Illusionist" and "The Prestige," see "The Prestige."
The tricks are more magnificent and the plot is thicker with more magic and mystery.
- Images from impawards.com and the-trades.com
(10/04/06 12:00pm)
"The Illusionist"
3.5 Stars
Directed by: Neil Burger
Starring: Edward Norton, Paul Giamatti, Jessica Biel, Rufus Sewell
In turn-of-the-century Vienna, a great magician, Eisenheim (Norton), reunites with his childhood love, Sofie (Biel). Engaged to an abusive, power-hungry prince (Sewell), Sofie and Eisenheim must escape his too-evil-to-be-real clutches and live happily ever after. Sound too clich? to be true? In the world of magicians, nothing ever is as it seems.
With the popular rise of performers like Criss Angel and David Blaine, it is no surprise that a movie about magic and tricks would come to theaters. That being said, Angel and Blaine both perform wild, daring stunts in front of live audiences all the time without the help of movie-making magic. However, their tricks are much more shocking and clever than the crappy antics shown in "The Illusionist."
Despite uninspiring magic of the hand, the movie itself is magic for the eyes. The entire cast of characters performs flawlessly. Even Biel (who I, in particular, had doubts about) is beautiful and bewitching.
See "The Illusionist" for its delightful cast and its enchanting plot. But don't expect the tricks to even come close to an episode of "Mind Freak."
"The Last Kiss"
2.5 stars
Directed by: Tony Goldwyn
Starring: Zach Braff, Jacinda Barrett, Casey Affleck, Rachel Bison, Eric Christian Olsen, Blythe Danner, Tom Wilkinson
"The Last Kiss" is a movie about four guys and the trials and tribulations of their relationships. All the stereotypes are covered: the sex-crazed bachelor (Olsen), the heartbroken underdog, the unhappily married guy (Affleck), and the guy in the committed, probably-going-to-get-married relationship (Braff). Also throw in a na've college girl and a set of parents on the verge of divorce to the rest of the melting pot.
This movie covers all of the bases to make sure every viewer can relate to the happenings of the characters, yet it isn't a very memorable movie. There are a few laughs, maybe a few tears and lots of drama. The movie is full of cheating, lying, babies, guilty consciences and lots of sex, but nothing particularly memorable.
It is difficult to explain "The Last Kiss." In a way, it's like the movie "Garden State" without the quirky characters, strange images and satisfying feeling you get at the end. "The Last Kiss" is a movie about the lives of other people, and you aren't quite sure why you should care about them.
(10/04/06 12:00pm)
As a slave to Blockbuster this summer, I got to know some of the best and worst movies overlooked by the casual renter.
Next time you want to make it a Blockbuster night, check out some of these less-than-famous titles:
"Find Me Guilty"
Directed by: Sidney Lumet
Starring: Vin Diesel
I know what you're thinking - Vin Diesel? Must be a crappy action movie. Don't be too quick to judge. Diesel delivers in this comedy directed by Lumet. It's based on the true story of Jack DiNorscio, a mobster who defends himself in the longest mafia trial in U.S. history. It's clever, it's witty and Diesel has hair. What's not to love? Word to the wise: the extras are awful.
"On a Clear Day"
Directed by: Gaby Dellal
Starring: Peter Mullan, Billy Boyd
A U.K. film from Focus Features, it is the story of a 55-year-old man who tries to swim the English Channel. Sounds a bit boring, but it is actually quite refreshing and charming. He tries to find himself and make peace with his child and his past.
Despite what seems a heavy plot, it's funny. And it's got a hobbit. The funniest hobbit.
"Bride & Prejudice"
Directed by: Gurinder Chadha
Starring: Aishwarya Rai, Martin Henderson
With a cast almost entirely from India, the Jane Austen story "Pride and Prejudice" is reconfigured. The strangest part is that they break out into song, from modern to traditional to 50s style "Grease"-like songs. It is unusual, but give it a shot. It's corny, but fun.
"Kiss Kiss Bang Bang"
Directed by: Shane Black
Starring: Robert Downey Jr., Val Kilmer
Directed by the same goofball who brought you the "Lethal Weapon" movies, Black delivers great jokes, action and overuse of the f-word. A private eye and a struggling thief/actor join forces to solve the mystery of a woman's death. Set in Hollywood, the film follows Harry Lockhart (Downey Jr.) through murder, mayhem and blustering blunders.
If you feel like taking a chance on a title you don't know, steer clear of these snoozers:
"Winter Passing"
Directed by: Adam Rapp
Starring: Zooey Deschanel, Will Ferrell, Ed Harris
This is by far the most boring and depressing movie I've ever seen. Don't be misled by the famously funny cast - this put me to sleep in less than an hour. It's the story of a girl (Deschanel) who is down on her luck and goes home to find letters her once famous dad (Harris) wrote so she could sell them to a paper. She finds that basically her dad has gone crazy. Not even Ferrell can save this.
"Something New"
Directed by: Sanaa Hamri
Starring: Sanaa Lathan, Blair Underwood
I was really looking forward to renting this. It's a love story between a woman and man who come from different backgrounds and races. Yes, there are a few laughs, but the story is cheesy as hell. And completely predictable. It is so predictable that it takes the fun out of the story.
"Beowulf & Grendel"
Directed by: Sturla Gunnarsson
Starring: Gerard Butler, Sarah Polley
This is a movie you know has to be bad when you pick up the box. Yet, you rent it anyway, thinking it may have some redeeming qualities. This one doesn't. Sex with trolls, mumbling and grumbling acting and the most ridiculous dialogue you've ever heard. If you like the story of Beowulf, keep on walking. There is nothing for you here.
(03/29/06 12:00pm)
"V for Vendetta"
Starring: Hugo Weaving, Natalie Portman, Stephen Rea, Stephen Fry, John Hurt and Tim Pigott-Smith
Directed by: James McTeigue
3 stars for graphic novel fans
4 stars for everyday viewers
Weeks before the March 17 release, I ran out and bought the complete graphic novel "V for Vendetta" by Alan Moore and David Lloyd.
Just one week before the release, I finished the novel. It was incredible. Dark, meaningful and inspiring, with touches of dark humor and the Rolling Stones. I couldn't wait to see the movie.
Until I actually saw it.
The entire world is in chaos. The United States is now known as the Former United States, and London has been overtaken by a totalitarian government complete with a power-hungry Chancellor (Hurt) and his henchmen, known as "fingermen."
The residents surrender to curfews, lack of privacy, strict TV programming and the extermination of gays, Muslims, blacks, Jews and the few people who try to fight back. Save for one: V.
V (Weaving) is labeled a terrorist, but is in fact a freedom fighter. Armed with a personal vendetta and the help of the lost and lonely Evey (Portman), V tries to light a fire under the asses of London in the name of freedom. Meanwhile, Inspector Finch (Rea) tries to uncover and stop V's plans.
As a huge fan of the novel, I didn't enjoy the cinematic changes made to the plot. They ignored Evey's complete vulnerability and V's strong character and cryptic nature.
An overly goofy scene is added, and although it is funny, it just doesn't fit the theme. There is also a final, violent showdown that I found ridiculous and completely unnecessary.
However, many scenes are taken verbatim from the novel and are amazing to see on-screen. Weaving brings life and personality to the mask and the character, displaying perhaps the best acting I've ever witnessed.
The movie is exciting, and the plot and acting are rich. It makes me think of how far the PATRIOT Act will go one day. But changes made from the original story hindered my overall enjoyment.
"The Libertine"
Starring: Johnny Depp, Samantha Morton, John Malkovich, Paul Ritter and Stanley Townsend
Directed by: Laurence Dunmore
1.5 stars
"You will not like me." These were first words, spoken by John Wilmot (Depp), the Earl of Rochester and the main character. They should have been, "You will not like this movie."
Set in the 17th century, the story jumps around about Rochester's broken marriage, his plays, his numerous affairs with acting whores, his strange relationship with King Charles II (Malkovich), his attachment to a struggling actress (Morton) and his fatal disease which is a combination of pox and perhaps syphilis.
The plot is hard to follow, and many times it is impossible to understand the heavy English accents and slurs.
By the end of the film, the sleazy, insensitive Rochester (having coached and impregnated the now-famous actress, left his wife, and insulted the king with a play about women pleasuring themselves with giant, wooden dildos) redeems himself by losing his nose and preventing the king's brother from being murdered for being Catholic - I think.
Depp, as always, owns the character. His performance doesn't sway in the midst of an overcomplicated and boring plot. However, his talents weren't enough to save the movie.
Do yourself a favor. Don't see it. You will not like it.
"The Pink Panther"
Starring: Steve Martin, Kevin Kline, Beyonc? Knowles, Jean Reno, Emily Mortimer and Jason Statham
Directed by: Shawn Levy
3.5 stars
Having never seen the original Pink Panther movies, I walked in the theater with a clean slate, but low expectations. Martin is funny, but the movie looked cheesy and over-the-top.
Turns out, the movie is cheesy and over-the-top, but it's also hysterical!
The famous Pink Panther Diamond has been stolen and its owner murdered.
In an attempt to divert the media's attention from the case, Inspector Jacques Clouseau (Martin) is called to "crack the case" while big fish Chief Inspector Dreyfus (Kline) begins the real investigation.
Little does Dreyfus know that Clouseau isn't as stupid as he looks. Or is he? Martin, as the bumbling Clouseau, is a comedic genius!
The humor ranges from fart jokes to blatant sexual innuendo. The laughs keep coming until your eyes tear and your belly hurts.
Knowles, as expected, was a disappointment and probably the worst part of the movie.
But despite her dull acting talents, it's b
(12/07/05 12:00pm)
The holiday season is swiftly approaching as we enter the month of December. It's the most wonderful time of the year! Presents, food, family, friends and, of course, a world of entertainment.
Can't get into the holiday spirit? Don't worry, plenty of things are happening to get you into that warm, fuzzy, holiday feeling.
Surprisingly, the movie market isn't being flooded with countless, crappy holiday movies. Instead, large-budget adventure movies, romantic comedies, and, yes, even a horror movie are spreading joy to the world.
On Dec. 16, the new Sarah Jessica Parker movie, "The Family Stone," shows the hilarious trials and tribulations of meeting your significant other's family. Interestingly enough, Parker meets her new in-laws at Thanksgiving dinner. A little late for a mid-December release, can it satisfy your holiday hunger?
The most interesting yet horrifying release must be the premiere of "Wolf Creek," a horror/sci-fi movie, on Dec. 25. This is an insult to both Christmas Day and the First Night of Hanukkah! "Wolf Creek" sounds like another typical horror movie clone involving backpackers whose car breaks down, and a "nice" family who helps them, but doesn't really help them. Instead, they will eat them, torture them, kill them or wear their faces as masks. 'Tis the season, right?
Perhaps the movies are a holiday humbug, but there still lies hope in the stage. Mercer County Community College's Kelsey Theatre is performing two Christmas classics. On Dec. 9 to 11, The Kelsey Players will be performing a musical version of the "Twas The Night Before Christmas." And, of course, "The Nutcracker" will also be performed Dec. 17 to 18. Tickets are only $10 for students! Ah, now that's what I call Christmas!
Can't contain yourself? Well, wait! There's more! McCarter Theatre in Princeton is performing the holiday favorite "A Christmas Carol" from Dec. 4 to 24. Recall the classic story of Ebenezer Scrooge and his Christmas Eve epiphany just days before Christmas (personally, I prefer the Muppet version). Tickets range from $15 to $49.
One of the best things about this time of year is the music! Where's the holiday music, you're asking? Well the College has exactly what you're looking for! Our very own Christian a cappella group, Voice of Hope, is performing a winter concert along with guest group 2Fish from Bryn Mawr College. The magic happens Dec. 9 at 7 p.m. in the Spiritual Center. And the best part? It's free!
Still Scrooged? Well, maybe Sovereign Bank Arena can make you feel childhood giddiness once again. On Dec. 12, 94.5 WPST is having their Winter Wonder Jam. Pop/rock stars Gavin DeGraw, Ryan Cabrera, Lifehouse, Bowling for Soup, Natasha Bedingfield, Liz Phair and The Veronicas will be performing their hits. If you're lucky, they might throw in a "Silent Night" or "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer." Tickets are already on sale, and prices range from $25 to $45.
Still not satisfied? Sorry, I'm all out of ideas. But, hey! You could always watch ABC Family's "25 Days of Christmas," or head out to NYC for "The Radio City Christmas Spectacular" featuring the Rockettes! Nothing says "Happy Holidays" like a bunch of people kicking in unison.
(11/02/05 12:00pm)
It all started in 1993 when the video game "Doom" widened the eyes of every video game junkie. It was one of the best first-person shooter games to hit the market. Noted for its intense 3-D graphic violence and networked multiplayer gaming, the popularity of "Doom" continued to spread like wildfire, expanding from PC to game consoles, and ultimately to the silver screen.
Containing a slightly different plot from the video game (as if many gamers paid attention to the plot), something has gone terribly wrong at a scientific research center on Mars. Scientists have disappeared, and cryptic recordings reveal an attack of some sort. A group of Space Marines called Rapid Response Technical Squad is sent in as reinforcements against some unknown force.
Armed with enough firearms to bring down an army, the squad heads to Mars to neutralize the unknown enemy. Little does the squad know, this isn't just any enemy.
The team is headed by the buff and brutal Sarge (The Rock), whose development is somewhat unrealistic. At first, the character seems to be a normal, nice guy. But when thrust into a military emergency, Sarge becomes one-dimensional, spouting lines like "If it breathes, kill it!" The Sarge introduced at the beginning of the film is dead after the first 20 minutes of the movie.
The story is accompanied by a family feud between Space Marine John Grimm (Karl Urban) and his archeologist sister, Samantha (Rosamund Pike). The mini drama is an odd pairing with the shoot-em-up, sci-fi monster mashing, but it works. The plot isn't overly sentimental, and runs in sync with the action. Its presence in the movie attempts to ground the story to reality, adding a human element to the fantastical plot.
One reason the game "Doom" became so popular was because of its gruesomely disturbing and grotesque monsters. The movie lacks this creativity. Due to bad lighting and constant darkness, it is difficult to even determine whether or not the monsters are even scary. Most of the so-called "monsters" are half-human and zombie-like. Only one monster out of the hundreds in the movie truly embodies the "Doom" spirit, and scares the hell out of you.
The best part of the movie, deserving millions of stars, is a 15-minute segment duplicating "Doom" game play. The audience is put in first-person view of what it is like to exterminate all the monsters in the research center. It is a perfect, live-action replica, never before seen in cinema. This section of the movie is completely flawless. The movements are smooth. The noises, horrific. The sights, incredible. It's all perfect; a true tribute to "Doom."
It is difficult to determine whether the movie tries to be funny in its seriousness, or whether it is unintentionally funny. Either way, stupid lines and stupid actions will make you bust a gut. You will laugh even harder when you see the characters react to such situations and lines.
Despite a few chuckles, "Doom" is pretty good at adding suspense to the journey through the research center. The best scares come from false alarms in the search for the monsters. The tension breaks as soon as the monsters are seen, because they are so disappointing in their appearance.
The lack of exotic weapons is another disappointment to the video game-based movie. The best part of the video game is using the crazy weapons. Only one awesome weapon from game play is introduced, but it is barely used in the movie. It was only fired about two times during combat with the enemy.
This 15-minute segment is why you should spend $8 on a movie ticket to see "Doom." If the rest of the movie had encompassed this creativity and magic of moving-making, "Doom" would be the best action movie of all time.
(11/02/05 12:00pm)
As the years go on, and people get older, the spirit of Halloween leaves them. Too old to trick-or-treat, most college students and adults celebrate Halloween by having costume parties and getting drunk. One of the few exceptions to this rule is displayed proudly by Ann DeGennaro, director of Campus Wellness.
For the past eight years, DeGennaro has decorated her house in the most extravagant and spooky way possible.
"As a kid, I always said that when I grow up, I'm going to decorate the coolest house in the neighborhood!" DeGennaro said. And by the looks of it, she accomplished her childhood wish.
DeGennaro's house on Lochatong Road in Ewing was crawling with monsters Halloween night. A man who resembled Alice Cooper was coupled with his skeleton bride. And a dead druid skulked the locals waving a stiff, old rat asking, "Would you like to pet my rat? He's already dead!" This monster mash was headed by a gnarled, old witch who crept from group to group to give a good scare. That crazy witch was DeGennaro.
The front lawn was divided into three primary sections. One was the cemetery, which contained various "monsters," and an animatronic, motion-censored skeleton that popped from a coffin to scare trick-or-treaters. Another section was reserved for small children. Music, games and prizes were offered as an alternative to the scary walkthroughs.
"I want to take the fear out of Halloween (for kids)," DeGennaro said. Her prizes included chocolate "eyeballs" and witch's warts.
The third and final section was the cr?me de la cr?me of the attraction. A giant spaceship was crafted over DeGennaro's garage. Those brave enough to walk inside interrupted an alien autopsy of a human. Bloody, rubber guts were spread about the body as a green alien prodded them with a fork. Classic! This is the area that is reconstructed every year.
"Everything is handmade," DeGennaro said, explaining that friends and family helped out with the decorating and scaring.
The decorating takes a few weeks, but because of the inclement weather, most of the final details were completed just hours before dark Monday night.
Parking was backed up on both sides of the street near DeGennaro's house. Kids, parents and teens ran amuck between the various funhouses. Festive music played in the background. It seemed everyone from the community came to check out DeGennaro's creations.
"I want it to be about community and the gathering of people to enjoy a brief moment of what I think Halloween is all about," DeGennaro said.
DeGennaro encourages people of all ages to check out her new decorations, and meet her "monsters" when Halloween rolls around next year.One thing is for sure, thanks to Ann DeGennaro, the spirit of Halloween still lives in Ewing.
(10/12/05 12:00pm)
Wallace and Gromit are no strangers to fame. In 1989, they were nominated for an Academy Award for their first short, "A Grand Day Out." Over the next six years, the duo earned two more Academy Awards for their adventures. And now, after an agonizing 10 years, the cheese-loving inventor and his silent canine companion team up for their first feature-length film.
"Anti-pesto" is their name, and the removal of veggie-crunching rabbits is their game. Our beloved heroes find themselves protecting the prize vegetables of their neighborhood. It seems the town has a terrible rabbit problem just before the annual Giant Vegetable Competition.
Being kind and caring exterminators poses a problem for Wallace and Gromit: What should they to do with all the rabbits? They very well can't kill the poor things. But Wallace is an inventor, and he has just the thing to cure these rabbits of their vegetable ravaging. "The Mind-manipulation-o-matic" is a simple device that alters brain waves and cravings.
With all the town's rabbits securely locked up and a positive test run of "The Mind-manipulation-o-matic," Wallace and Gromit sit back and enjoy the praise of the neighborhood. That is, until the were-rabbit comes to town.
Despite all attempts to catch the beast, our heroes just can't seem to trap it. The dirty deed is then passed on to Lord Victor Quartermaine (Ralph Fiennes), a selfish, balding hunter who wishes only to kill it. But there's something strange in the neighborhood, and the ones who should be called are Wallace and Gromit.
This film is a nonstop, laugh riot. The laughs vary from the childish burping jokes to slight and silly sexual innuendo. Classic gags are spiced up, and brand new classics are born. "The Curse of the Were-Rabbit" is a perfect parody of those old horror movies.
The cast is priceless. As always, Peter Sallis, as the na?ve and goofy Wallace, is perfect. Helena Bonham Carter exquisitely plays the rich, rabbit-loving Lady Tottington, and Fiennes is devilish as the evil Quartermaine.
Yet the best character in the movie is the muted mutt, Gromit. It is easy to feel his frustration, his loyalty and his passion without a single word uttered. Gromit's expressive eyes bring that clay figure to life.
So if you're in the mood for something witty, fun and gut-bustingly funny, grab your kids, your little sister or some friends and see "Wallace and Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit." It will leave you with an understanding of the Power of Cheese.
Shortly before the feature film, Dreamworks adds a 10-minute short about those freedom-hungry penguins from "Madagascar." Back at the zoo, the military-like band of penguins get ready to celebrate Christmas Eve. One penguin decides to escape in order to buy a present for a lonely polar bear. Of course, nothing goes as planned, and the whole gang engages in another misadventure.
Similar to "Madagascar," most of the wit and jokes are lacking. There is nothing very special about the short. The only saving grace is one half-dumb, half-crazy penguin that constantly pulls out a stick of dynamite wanting to make things go "Boom!"
It also appears too early for the Christmas holiday season. It is an odd pairing with the horror-mocking "Curse of the Were-Rabbit." Do yourself a favor: go to the bathroom while "A Christmas Caper" is showing.
(09/28/05 12:00pm)
With the rise of advanced computer-generated movies like "The Incredibles" and "Finding Nemo," it is a rarity to find a movie like "Corpse Bride" out in theaters.
Tim Burton reintroduced the use of stop-motion animation in his musical "The Nightmare Before Christmas" in 1993. Since then, few have tread into the painstaking world of stop-motion animation.
For those who don't know, stop-motion animation is accomplished by moving an object very slowly, taking one picture for every small movement it makes. For instance, in order to move the character's eyes from left to right, it is necessary to move the pupils little by little, taking one picture for every position across the eye. It takes 12-24 pictures to create one second of action. Despite its tedious nature, Burton brought stop-motion animation back with "Corpse Bride," another ghoulish musical.
Set in a 19th century European village, our story begins with a timid Victor Van Dort (Johnny Depp), who is engaged to the equally timid Victoria Everglot (Emily Watson). During the wedding rehearsal, poor Victor can't recite his vows correctly. With a fierce recommendation from Pastor Galswells (Christopher Lee), Victor goes into the forest to practice for his big day.
While in the forest, Victor performs his vows flawlessly. He even practices placing the ring on a hand-like root sticking out of the ground. At least, that is what he thought it was.
But there's been a grave misunderstanding. Instead of marrying his true love, Victoria, Victor married the corpse bride.
The corpse bride, Emily (Helena Bonham Carter), is a haunting beauty with a tragic past. On the day of her wedding, she was robbed and murdered. With her last thoughts, she made a vow to stay in that spot until a man had married her.
Emily takes her new husband from the drab black-and-white world of the living down to the saucy and colorful underworld. Faced with odd characters like General Bonesapart (a grisly Napoleon lookalike) and a chorus line of skeletons, Victor is desperate to go back home. "Why go up there when people are dying to get down here?" one character remarks.
With the disappearance of Victor and rumors of his corpse bride, Victoria's parents betroth her to a stranger. Poor Victoria, under the thumb of her cruel parents, can do nothing but marry a man she doesn't love.
Meanwhile, back in the underworld, Emily finds out that her marriage to Victor is null and void, because death has already parted them. The only way to truly be married is if Victor dies too. Victor hears the tragic news of Victoria's marriage, and decides to give up his life to marry the corpse bride.
The whole underworld comes up for a visit to the land of the living for the wedding. At first, the scene looks like an animated version of a zombie movie, but when a small boy approaches a skeleton and says, "Grandpa?" the whole mood changes. The dead approach live counterparts, and engage in a touching reunion.
The final climax is exciting yet slightly predictable. However, the film is stunning. Each character is a caricature. Some have huge bodies with tiny stick legs to hold them up. Others have large chins that are completely disproportionate to their heads and bodies. Another man looks like a human bullfrog. The film is moving art.
Although most of the dialogue is clever and witty, some of it seems half-hearted. "Corpse Bride" doesn't show as much passion as "The Nightmare Before Christmas." The songs are cute, but they aren't as catchy or inspiring as those in "Nightmare." But the actors are wonderful and really pump life into their characters. Bonham Carter is especially perfect as the half-decayed Emily, who you just can't help but feel sympathy for.
So, if you're looking for a hauntingly good time, check out Burton's "Corpse Bride."
(09/21/05 12:00pm)
In 2002, Frank Martin (Jason Statham) was an illustrious driver who helped criminals transport their illegal materials - guns, drugs and human beings. A good guy at heart, Martin helped defeat the villains using realistic martial arts moves, incredible driving stunts and a witty sense of humor.
Three years later, Martin has traded in his faithful BMW for a brand new Audi sedan and his transporting ways have swerved from abhorrent to adolescent. He has traded bank robbers for the eight-year-old son of an important U.S. official (Matthew Modine). Not only that, but his good-guy ways have suddenly transformed into that of Superman. Martin is indestructible.
We begin our story in Miami. The opening scene seems promising. A bunch of young thugs want to steal Martin's car. When he objects, the thugs try to use force. Before the fight can begin, the sexy, raspy voice of Martin calls, "Wait!" He takes off his jacket and says, "It just came out of the dry cleaners." An awesomely choreographed fight erupts and, in five minutes, the thugs are on the ground. You sit back and smile, thinking "Transporter 2" will mirror the first.
But it doesn't.
The story continues when Martin picks up the little boy he's supposed to protect. The two have an odd relationship. Martin sees the kid as a pest, yet he's willing to risk his life in order to save him from a kidnapper.
The kidnapper, Gianni (Alessandro Gassman), wants more than just a ransom. He injects the child with a fictitious and fatal virus that will infect anyone he comes in contact with. Gianni's goal is to infect the child's father, an important U.S. official, just in time for a big, international conference. Because the virus is airborne, it will infect all of the people who attend the conference, but it won't keep infecting people, because the initial virus will die after 24 hours. Confused yet?
To top it all off, Gianni is selling the antidote to whichever terrorist group wants control over the U.S. government (in this case, it is Colombian druglords).
As you might have guessed, the lowly transporter saves the day by doing impossible stunts like dodging bullets and surviving a plane crash with hardly a scratch.
The stunts in "Transporter 2" are completely unrealistic, yet provide a full-bellied laugh. One good thing about the first "Transporter" movie is that the stunts seem almost impossible, but they are executed flawlessly by the actors. This ideal was forgotten as special effects were upgraded by advanced technology. It is a disappointment for all fans of Martin's first adventure.
There are two redeeming qualities to this movie. One, Statham is gorgeous and even with dull dialogue and bland co-stars, he stays in character: the cool, calm, obsessive-compulsive Frank Martin. And two, Inspector Tarconi makes an appearance and adds a delightful bit of intentional comedy to the plot.
The plot is weak and the editing is sometimes too quick for the brain to comprehend the action. If you want to watch a real action movie, head to the video store and pick up the first "Transporter."
Hopefully, the next "Transporter" movie will be better because, yes, it was left open for yet another sequel.
(11/17/04 12:00pm)
"Let our hearts and thoughts go out to all those who have made our freedom possible" were the first words of a prayer spoken at the Veteran's Day ceremony, the only event on campus organized to commemorate the holiday, put on by the ROTC program only a week in advance by Master Sgt. Timothy Ross. "Today, we honor the soldiers of the past, the soldiers of today and the soldiers to be. They are our heroes ... and heroes never die."
According to Ross, the College almost did not have a Veteran's Day ceremony. The Senior Military Science Instructor said he pulled together the memorial ceremony after he realized nothing was being done to commemorate the day. "It's shameful, especially during a war," he said.
Ross passed out flyers, made phone calls, sent e-mails and put an ad in The Signal to publicize the event. He expressed thanks to the numerous student organizations that helped in the planning and execution of the ceremony.
Lt. Col. Tim Brown, director of ROTC, gave a speech in honor of the day.
"(Veterans) are asked to leave their families, homes and jobs to stand on the walls of freedom in far away places," Brown said. "Whether you agree or disagree with why they were sent throughout the world is not the point. The point is that you must honor those who answered the call. They paid the price for our freedom, a freedom we must never take lightly."
College alumna and Brig. Gen. Maria Falca-Dodson of the New Jersey National Guard, said there are endless reasons to observe Veteran's Day. "We live in a free country with the longest running democracy. This is because of veterans. They got us here and kept us here," she said. "It takes dedication, commitment and sacrifice to put on a uniform."
A moment of silence was observed for deceased veterans. The American flag, held by a color guard, was rolled up and covered while two members of the Voice of Hope, the Christian a cappella group on campus, sang the National Anthem.
The service was held at the College's war memorial, located near the main entrance on Pennington Road. The memorial contains 15 names of alumni and students who served in World War I and World War II. Air force cadets of the ROTC, Army ROTC cadets and a Marine PLC (Platoon Leader's Course), as well as many other officers attended the ceremony along with students, faculty, military families and members of the community.
Ross said he wants to add the names of the many students and alumni who have served or are serving in various parts of the world to the memorial. "It is important to recognize these people," Ross said. "They deserve recognition."
(10/06/04 12:00pm)
Every 10 years, the College participates in a self-study as part of the Middle States reaccreditation process - this is one of those years.
Usually, 14 set standards are evaluated equally by the Committee on Planning and Priorities (CPP) to determine a school's eligibility for accreditation. Half consist of institutional standards and the other half are issues of curriculum.
Although the College is still responsible for reporting on the same 14 standards, a new option has been presented. Now, more study and evaluation can be conducted on standards that are of particular concern to the institution.
The College has chosen three standards to study more closely: Planning, Resource Allocation and Institutional Renewal, Institutional Assessment and Assessment of Student Learning.
On Sept. 29, the CPP and three subcommittees working on specific standards explained to the campus community their recommendations to improve education at the College. The meeting was headed by David Venturo, associate professor of English, is also co-chair of the CPP. The purpose of this study is to "look back to evaluate things we have done," Venturo said, in order to create a more efficient way of doing things for the future.
The three subcommittees are composed of faculty, students and staff. They've evaluated how things were being handled over the past five or six years. Through their research, the subcommittees have written up a proposal on how to fix these problems.
Thomas Hagedorn, associate professor of math, represented the subcommittee on Planning, Resource Allocation and Institutional Renewal. This subcommittee is responsible for determining whether planning processes were sufficient to direct institutional projects and whether resource allocation was appropriate for the College's long-term goals.
The main question asked was if the current planning process enables and encourages continued institutional renewal in the future. Or "do we lay the foundation for successing our success?" Hagedorn asked. This subcommittee is looking at the direction in which the College will go. "Where do we need to go in the next five years?" Hagedorn asked. "Do all the elements work together?" The subcommittee found that the College's planning process is not completely efficient, but it could and will be within a few years.
A few recommendations Hagedorn proposed were to develop a better communication of information in the College. "Strategic reports, institutional assessments and assessments of student learning need to be readily accessible by the campus community," Hagedorn said. He also recommended that periodic strategic reviews should be done every four to five years that analyze a unit's strengths, weaknesses and goals.
Andrew Clifford, associate professor of math, represented the subcommittee on Institutional Assessment. This subcommittee is divided into two categories of institutional assessment: strategic and operational. Strategic is one-time events that help the development of major initiatives.
According to Clifford, the College does strategic assessments very well. "Big changes go very well," Clifford said. Operational assessments are periodic data-intensive evaluated events designed to determine the effectiveness of individual divisions and ongoing projects within those divisions.
"Those doing well can't learn from those doing well," Clifford said. "Assessments needs to be organized and archived." Clifford recommended that the Faculty Senate unit meet every five to 10 years to discuss issues on campus and come up with recommendations on how to solve these issues.
Rebecca Li, chair of the sociology and anthropology department, represented the subcommittee on Assessment of Student Learning, which found out what students have learned and what they are supposed to learn. Student surveys were given out to see if students learned how to write and think critically. The subcommittee also looked at student portfolios and writing samples and observed students in their classes.
A problem encountered was that "academic and nonacademic programs have a lot of useful information that is hard to find," Li said. The subcommittee recommends that all assessments for research be put in one place. This will promote collaborations and avoid repeats.
A small crowd showed up for the presentation, none of which were students. Stephen Briggs, Provost, was also present. The faculty present were very supportive of the recommendations made by the subcommittees. The completed self-study will be submitted to the Middle States in October. A Middle States visiting team will visit the campus Nov. 28 to Dec. 1. To view each proposal in full text, visit tcnj.edu/~academic/middlestates.htm. To submit any comments, suggestions or questions, e-mail CPP@tcnj.edu.