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(10/26/06 7:23pm)
When Elaine Raines grew up in the 1950s, Halloween costumes consisted of ghost costumes cobbled together from sheets and pillowcases and scarecrows formed from flannel, hay and straw hats. Popular costumes for guys were Mickey Mouse, Popeye and Frankenstein. She says she never had a store bought costume and had to rely on whatever was around the house.\n"It was whatever you could make up at home," she says. "You really just had to make your own. You had to use your imagination."\nRaines says Halloween has become a much bigger, commercialized holiday since she was a kid, and the most notable boom is in the costume.\nGhosts and scarecrow costumes have been replaced with skimpy costumes for the ladies and offensive costumes for the gents. Steve Irwin with a stingray, a depiction of the twin towers burning and Michael Jackson coupled with a young boy in footie pajamas are just a few seen, heard of or planned for this year.\nBloomington stores sell mildly offensive costumes such as a pregnant nurse, a priest with a hard-on and a flasher. But to put together a really offensive, in-your-face, jaw dropping costume, you'll have to make your own. John McGuire, owner of Campus Costume, says traditional costumes like pirates are huge this year, but if you look around, the current trend is for guys to dress like a current controversial or funny character from pop culture and for girls to dress scandalously. But McGuire says it's mostly men who try to be offensive.\n"It's mainly the guys' costumes that are," McGuire says. "The ones that like to make people laugh and offend people."\nThe most offensive costume McGuire has seen is called "Country Loving." It consists of flannel pajamas and an inflatable sheep attached to the front so it looks as though the farmer is having intercourse with a sheep. Though some may consider it offensive, he says he is not easily offended by costumes. There are a number of controversial costumes -- from the streaker to a couple costume "nut and bolt" that fit together to simulate sex -- but many of the boldest costumes are not for sale.\nSenior Jason Boyd says the most offensive costumes he's seen have been online.\n"The funniest one was a paper mache twin towers," he says. "The towers were on fire, with a toy airplane attached. It had action figures hanging off with strings, so it looked like they were falling out of the building."\nWhen told of the costume, senior Sher Lewin was taken aback, and her jaw dropped. \n"I don't think people should dress up like tragedies," she says.\nBoyd admits to being a big fan of controversial jokes and costumes, and is really trying to push the envelope this year.\n"I feel like everyone's going to go as Steve Irwin," Boyd says. "I think it would be funny to be Steve Irwin alive and have your friend be a sting ray and attack you during a party."\nLike all fashion choices, wearing an offensive costume has its drawbacks. If you have a mullet, you probably won't get laid outside of Bedford, and if you dress up like a flasher, you could end up haunting a little girl forever.\n"When I was 10, I went to visit my sister in college at Florida and was out to dinner with my parents," senior Justine Menter says. "Some guy with a trench coat was running around. When he opened his jacket, it triggered a plastic penis to raise. It really freaked me out. I tried to pretend like it didn't bother me, but I was really traumatized."\nWhile guys have the option of streaker, Ron Jeremy, or a costume the Bloomington store Halloween calls "Super Stud," the sexy costumes are usually left up to women.\nSome students think the only thing more overused than a "bringing sexy back" joke is a sexy "insert job here" costume on a girl. Sexy fire fighter, nurse, angel, intern, etc.\nSophomore Samantha Hornstock says the scantily clad costume is so commonplace that you can't get called out for it.\n"It's the one day of the year that it's acceptable to dress really provocative, and no one will call you a slut," she says, paraphrasing "Mean Girls."\nLewin says she was used to the slut costume as well, and wondered what happened to the classic costumes.\n"I always see girls dressing in really slutty versions of every profession," she says. "Nobody dresses really Halloweenie anymore - like witches and stuff."\nVariations on the slutty costume get great responses if they're clever. The morning after girl with messed up hair and smeared make-up with a condom wrapper in the pocket of a collared shirt is a popular variation. \nLewin says she saw a girl dressed as a groupie wearing a T-shirt that says "I fucked Mick Jagger" with condoms for jewelry and a "cute little mini skirt." She says the costume really stuck out in her memory three years later.\nTwo IU seniors are trying to come up with the ultimate wholesome costume. But they may succumb to peer pressure as Halloween gets closer.\n"Me and my roommate are thinking of going as George Washington and Abraham Lincoln this year," senior Candice Levy says. "Everyone dresses slutty, so we figured we would do the exact opposite. Well, maybe we'll be a slutty Abe Lincoln and George Washington. You know like with a corset and wigs and stuff? I don't know. We'll see what happens." \nAs girls try to break the downward revealing costume spiral before we're dealing with a Rose McGowan ass-baring costume, guys will likely continue wearing the most current, controversial pop culture costume. \n"The guys get into it more now than back when I was growing up," Raines says. "A lot of the girls aren't wearing much of anything. I hope the girls get more material. They can't get any skimpier than what they are now"
(10/26/06 7:20pm)
Before those who presume themselves moral authority figures engage in a holy crusade against a video game, they ought to be required to understand the game's true content. Decried by fraudulent watchdog groups like Focus on the Family as a "Columbine simulator" before it even had a playable demo, Rockstar's "Bully" is actually an endearingly funny, thoughtful -- and yes, at times, mean-spirited -- take on life at a New England private school through the eyes of Jimmy Hopkins, a precocious 15-year-old trying to survive his freshman year.\nAs tempting as the analogy might be, this is not "Grand Theft Auto" in high school. Whereas other Rockstar titles like "Manhunt" and "Red Dead Revolver" turned wanton violence, gore and profanity into an art form, the most dangerous instruments of warfare in "Bully" are M-80s and itching powder, and the deadliest weapons are the taunts of Jimmy's peers.\nImmersion has long remained Rockstar's speciality, and "Bully" depends on a strong, nuanced story line even more than "GTA: San Andreas," so much so that "Bully" ends up feeling more like a role-playing game than an actioner. By the end of the lengthy Chapter 1 tutorial (roughly four to five hours in), players will have a deep knowledge of the Bullworth Academy campus and what makes it tick. Not long after, a gate to the surrounding towns is unlocked, expanding "Bully's" scope five-fold.\nGraphically, "Bully" isn't the industry's most polished product, but its slightly rudimentary look serves as quirky a purpose as its story line. The gameplay resembles "Grand Theft Auto" in terms of dynamics and physics, but in many ways Jimmy Hopkins feels more alive and organic than Carl Johnson ever did.\n"Bully" relies heavily on a throng of voice actors, and while a few seem to be phoning it in, the vast majority take their roles and run with them. Also of particular note is the original score by Shawn Lee, which synchs effectively with all the game's elements.\nIgnore any pre-release controversy and play the game for what it really is: an impressive effort by Rockstar Vancouver that's yet another installment in Rockstar's near-perfect track record. Jimmy Hopkins' freshman year at Bullworth Academy is one of the most lively and compelling stories told on consoles in quite some time.
(10/26/06 7:17pm)
For a band that has remained under the radar for the better part of a decade, Califone has accepted its indie status and successfully embraced its acoustic-driven, post-rock spirit. After many members played together in blues-influenced Red Red Meat throughout most of the 1990s, they morphed into a roots-based set-up in 1998, hailing from Chicago.\nFrontman and principal songwriter Tim Rutili's voice bares an uncanny resemblance to Wilco's Jeff Tweedy on most tracks. The indifferent, seemingly hollow delivery creates an eerie feeling, but at least Rutili's words don't mention his girlfriend's black eye and other domestic disturbance-related lines. To call Rutili whimsical would be grossly understated. He's worked as a music video director, a truck washer, a furniture mover and a pizza delivery boy. And he maintains a keen interest in dwarves.\nRoots and Crowns is attractive because it's not overproduced, which usually happens when there are enough knick-knacky instruments to fill an entire kindergarten music class. Just to name a few unconventional sound-makers employed by the 10 musicians on the album, there are oak chimes, zuni rattles, a Cajun accordion, a bowed balalaika and a bronze fork. Oh, and don't forget the ribbon crasher. While an assortment of instruments speckles most numbers, Brian Deck's flawless performance as producer and mixer graciously leaves crucial components in the forefront, namely guitar, piano, bass, and occasional drums. \nNaturally, Rutili's offbeat personality permeates his music. The lyrics flow in a nonsensical manner, weaving together like a Dadaist poem. On paper, they might appear like a child's incomplete thoughts, as in "Burned by the Christians" line: "Sung throated air down your spine crown cooks light/We wolfed and whale bellied on we shone down." On record, however, the words team up with a cornucopia of instruments to create a visceral combination.\nThe first half of the album takes on a linear approach, and the songs follow traditional arrangements. On the other hand, the second half develops an imaginary feel. "If You Would" doesn't even seem to develop a consistent rhythm but adopts a drone mixed with several odd instruments. The haunting banjo tone in "Rose Pedal Ear" compliments Rutili's uncharacteristic tenor quality.\nLike ninjas, Califone makes use of its surroundings. Within those surroundings (aka the studio), the band creates vibrant space in songs like "Our Kitten Sees Ghosts" and "3Legged Animals." Sound and substance are a high priority for Califone. Some of the tracks may not be the most memorable, but they certainly aren't nauseating. From start to finish, it's a well-made album from a lesser known band.
(10/26/06 7:15pm)
How do you like your mush? If you said, "slathered in cheese," have I got a treat for you!\nAfter carefully listening to Born in the U.K., I've developed the following postulate: the discography of Damon Gough, a.k.a. Badly Drawn Boy, serves as an indie pop cautionary tale.\nThe formula is simple: Take one "lo-fi baroque indie pop singer-songwriter," mix critical acclaim (2000's The Hour of Bewilderbeast), brush with mainstream success (2002's well-received soundtrack to "About a Boy"), then have him stew for several years turning out disappointing follow-ups. Once he's good and hungry for some success again, have him come out with another album. Now, what do you think it'll sound like?\nIf Born in the U.K. is any guide, the answer is Neil Diamond, Donovan and the dark days of 1970's AM radio pop. Death Cab, Sufjan, Bright Eyes -- consider this a warning to you all!\nSeriously, though, with its oft-massive wall-of-sound production and bland everything-to-everyone lyrics, Born in the U.K. clearly just wants to be loved. But it's that creepy, clinging type of love. The type that calls you "snookums" and wants to buy matching outfits. And, in listening to the album, you can't say you weren't warned: Opening song "Swimming Pool (Pt. 1)" is easily the worst introductory track I've heard this year. \nAccompanied by piano, Gough carries on a spoken-word dialogue with himself, saying things like "And what about the world? ... If the world was a better place some of these bad things wouldn't happen." Then he answers: "Yeah, but there's good things all around, you've just got to look longer and harder to see them sometimes." Upon listening to this, even sword-swallowers would have difficulty suppressing their gag reflex.\nThis is fortunately followed by the album's rather good title track -- a Bowie-influenced little number recounting the last few decades of British history -- but "Diamond Dogs" quickly gives way to "Diamond, Neil" and it's onward to the Born in the U.K.'s low-point: "Welcome to the Overground." Sounding something like an unholy fusion of Starland Vocal Band's "Afternoon Delight," the 5th Dimension's "Aquarius/Let The Sun Shine In" and the Polyphonic Spree, it could be background music for lobotomy recovery wards.\nThe rest is pretty, but bland -- its strengths being Gough's pleasant voice and arrangements, its weaknesses being a samey-ness across the tracks and some absurdly banal lyrics (on first listen, play "guess the next lyric" and see how many you get right).\nAll in all, boring for us humans. But, hey plants and Starbuckses need music, too.
(10/26/06 4:00am)
How do you like your mush? If you said, "slathered in cheese," have I got a treat for you!\nAfter carefully listening to Born in the U.K., I've developed the following postulate: the discography of Damon Gough, a.k.a. Badly Drawn Boy, serves as an indie pop cautionary tale.\nThe formula is simple: Take one "lo-fi baroque indie pop singer-songwriter," mix critical acclaim (2000's The Hour of Bewilderbeast), brush with mainstream success (2002's well-received soundtrack to "About a Boy"), then have him stew for several years turning out disappointing follow-ups. Once he's good and hungry for some success again, have him come out with another album. Now, what do you think it'll sound like?\nIf Born in the U.K. is any guide, the answer is Neil Diamond, Donovan and the dark days of 1970's AM radio pop. Death Cab, Sufjan, Bright Eyes -- consider this a warning to you all!\nSeriously, though, with its oft-massive wall-of-sound production and bland everything-to-everyone lyrics, Born in the U.K. clearly just wants to be loved. But it's that creepy, clinging type of love. The type that calls you "snookums" and wants to buy matching outfits. And, in listening to the album, you can't say you weren't warned: Opening song "Swimming Pool (Pt. 1)" is easily the worst introductory track I've heard this year. \nAccompanied by piano, Gough carries on a spoken-word dialogue with himself, saying things like "And what about the world? ... If the world was a better place some of these bad things wouldn't happen." Then he answers: "Yeah, but there's good things all around, you've just got to look longer and harder to see them sometimes." Upon listening to this, even sword-swallowers would have difficulty suppressing their gag reflex.\nThis is fortunately followed by the album's rather good title track -- a Bowie-influenced little number recounting the last few decades of British history -- but "Diamond Dogs" quickly gives way to "Diamond, Neil" and it's onward to the Born in the U.K.'s low-point: "Welcome to the Overground." Sounding something like an unholy fusion of Starland Vocal Band's "Afternoon Delight," the 5th Dimension's "Aquarius/Let The Sun Shine In" and the Polyphonic Spree, it could be background music for lobotomy recovery wards.\nThe rest is pretty, but bland -- its strengths being Gough's pleasant voice and arrangements, its weaknesses being a samey-ness across the tracks and some absurdly banal lyrics (on first listen, play "guess the next lyric" and see how many you get right).\nAll in all, boring for us humans. But, hey plants and Starbuckses need music, too.
(10/26/06 4:00am)
For a band that has remained under the radar for the better part of a decade, Califone has accepted its indie status and successfully embraced its acoustic-driven, post-rock spirit. After many members played together in blues-influenced Red Red Meat throughout most of the 1990s, they morphed into a roots-based set-up in 1998, hailing from Chicago.\nFrontman and principal songwriter Tim Rutili's voice bares an uncanny resemblance to Wilco's Jeff Tweedy on most tracks. The indifferent, seemingly hollow delivery creates an eerie feeling, but at least Rutili's words don't mention his girlfriend's black eye and other domestic disturbance-related lines. To call Rutili whimsical would be grossly understated. He's worked as a music video director, a truck washer, a furniture mover and a pizza delivery boy. And he maintains a keen interest in dwarves.\nRoots and Crowns is attractive because it's not overproduced, which usually happens when there are enough knick-knacky instruments to fill an entire kindergarten music class. Just to name a few unconventional sound-makers employed by the 10 musicians on the album, there are oak chimes, zuni rattles, a Cajun accordion, a bowed balalaika and a bronze fork. Oh, and don't forget the ribbon crasher. While an assortment of instruments speckles most numbers, Brian Deck's flawless performance as producer and mixer graciously leaves crucial components in the forefront, namely guitar, piano, bass, and occasional drums. \nNaturally, Rutili's offbeat personality permeates his music. The lyrics flow in a nonsensical manner, weaving together like a Dadaist poem. On paper, they might appear like a child's incomplete thoughts, as in "Burned by the Christians" line: "Sung throated air down your spine crown cooks light/We wolfed and whale bellied on we shone down." On record, however, the words team up with a cornucopia of instruments to create a visceral combination.\nThe first half of the album takes on a linear approach, and the songs follow traditional arrangements. On the other hand, the second half develops an imaginary feel. "If You Would" doesn't even seem to develop a consistent rhythm but adopts a drone mixed with several odd instruments. The haunting banjo tone in "Rose Pedal Ear" compliments Rutili's uncharacteristic tenor quality.\nLike ninjas, Califone makes use of its surroundings. Within those surroundings (aka the studio), the band creates vibrant space in songs like "Our Kitten Sees Ghosts" and "3Legged Animals." Sound and substance are a high priority for Califone. Some of the tracks may not be the most memorable, but they certainly aren't nauseating. From start to finish, it's a well-made album from a lesser known band.
(10/26/06 4:00am)
Before those who presume themselves moral authority figures engage in a holy crusade against a video game, they ought to be required to understand the game's true content. Decried by fraudulent watchdog groups like Focus on the Family as a "Columbine simulator" before it even had a playable demo, Rockstar's "Bully" is actually an endearingly funny, thoughtful -- and yes, at times, mean-spirited -- take on life at a New England private school through the eyes of Jimmy Hopkins, a precocious 15-year-old trying to survive his freshman year.\nAs tempting as the analogy might be, this is not "Grand Theft Auto" in high school. Whereas other Rockstar titles like "Manhunt" and "Red Dead Revolver" turned wanton violence, gore and profanity into an art form, the most dangerous instruments of warfare in "Bully" are M-80s and itching powder, and the deadliest weapons are the taunts of Jimmy's peers.\nImmersion has long remained Rockstar's speciality, and "Bully" depends on a strong, nuanced story line even more than "GTA: San Andreas," so much so that "Bully" ends up feeling more like a role-playing game than an actioner. By the end of the lengthy Chapter 1 tutorial (roughly four to five hours in), players will have a deep knowledge of the Bullworth Academy campus and what makes it tick. Not long after, a gate to the surrounding towns is unlocked, expanding "Bully's" scope five-fold.\nGraphically, "Bully" isn't the industry's most polished product, but its slightly rudimentary look serves as quirky a purpose as its story line. The gameplay resembles "Grand Theft Auto" in terms of dynamics and physics, but in many ways Jimmy Hopkins feels more alive and organic than Carl Johnson ever did.\n"Bully" relies heavily on a throng of voice actors, and while a few seem to be phoning it in, the vast majority take their roles and run with them. Also of particular note is the original score by Shawn Lee, which synchs effectively with all the game's elements.\nIgnore any pre-release controversy and play the game for what it really is: an impressive effort by Rockstar Vancouver that's yet another installment in Rockstar's near-perfect track record. Jimmy Hopkins' freshman year at Bullworth Academy is one of the most lively and compelling stories told on consoles in quite some time.
(10/26/06 4:00am)
When Elaine Raines grew up in the 1950s, Halloween costumes consisted of ghost costumes cobbled together from sheets and pillowcases and scarecrows formed from flannel, hay and straw hats. Popular costumes for guys were Mickey Mouse, Popeye and Frankenstein. She says she never had a store bought costume and had to rely on whatever was around the house.\n"It was whatever you could make up at home," she says. "You really just had to make your own. You had to use your imagination."\nRaines says Halloween has become a much bigger, commercialized holiday since she was a kid, and the most notable boom is in the costume.\nGhosts and scarecrow costumes have been replaced with skimpy costumes for the ladies and offensive costumes for the gents. Steve Irwin with a stingray, a depiction of the twin towers burning and Michael Jackson coupled with a young boy in footie pajamas are just a few seen, heard of or planned for this year.\nBloomington stores sell mildly offensive costumes such as a pregnant nurse, a priest with a hard-on and a flasher. But to put together a really offensive, in-your-face, jaw dropping costume, you'll have to make your own. John McGuire, owner of Campus Costume, says traditional costumes like pirates are huge this year, but if you look around, the current trend is for guys to dress like a current controversial or funny character from pop culture and for girls to dress scandalously. But McGuire says it's mostly men who try to be offensive.\n"It's mainly the guys' costumes that are," McGuire says. "The ones that like to make people laugh and offend people."\nThe most offensive costume McGuire has seen is called "Country Loving." It consists of flannel pajamas and an inflatable sheep attached to the front so it looks as though the farmer is having intercourse with a sheep. Though some may consider it offensive, he says he is not easily offended by costumes. There are a number of controversial costumes -- from the streaker to a couple costume "nut and bolt" that fit together to simulate sex -- but many of the boldest costumes are not for sale.\nSenior Jason Boyd says the most offensive costumes he's seen have been online.\n"The funniest one was a paper mache twin towers," he says. "The towers were on fire, with a toy airplane attached. It had action figures hanging off with strings, so it looked like they were falling out of the building."\nWhen told of the costume, senior Sher Lewin was taken aback, and her jaw dropped. \n"I don't think people should dress up like tragedies," she says.\nBoyd admits to being a big fan of controversial jokes and costumes, and is really trying to push the envelope this year.\n"I feel like everyone's going to go as Steve Irwin," Boyd says. "I think it would be funny to be Steve Irwin alive and have your friend be a sting ray and attack you during a party."\nLike all fashion choices, wearing an offensive costume has its drawbacks. If you have a mullet, you probably won't get laid outside of Bedford, and if you dress up like a flasher, you could end up haunting a little girl forever.\n"When I was 10, I went to visit my sister in college at Florida and was out to dinner with my parents," senior Justine Menter says. "Some guy with a trench coat was running around. When he opened his jacket, it triggered a plastic penis to raise. It really freaked me out. I tried to pretend like it didn't bother me, but I was really traumatized."\nWhile guys have the option of streaker, Ron Jeremy, or a costume the Bloomington store Halloween calls "Super Stud," the sexy costumes are usually left up to women.\nSome students think the only thing more overused than a "bringing sexy back" joke is a sexy "insert job here" costume on a girl. Sexy fire fighter, nurse, angel, intern, etc.\nSophomore Samantha Hornstock says the scantily clad costume is so commonplace that you can't get called out for it.\n"It's the one day of the year that it's acceptable to dress really provocative, and no one will call you a slut," she says, paraphrasing "Mean Girls."\nLewin says she was used to the slut costume as well, and wondered what happened to the classic costumes.\n"I always see girls dressing in really slutty versions of every profession," she says. "Nobody dresses really Halloweenie anymore - like witches and stuff."\nVariations on the slutty costume get great responses if they're clever. The morning after girl with messed up hair and smeared make-up with a condom wrapper in the pocket of a collared shirt is a popular variation. \nLewin says she saw a girl dressed as a groupie wearing a T-shirt that says "I fucked Mick Jagger" with condoms for jewelry and a "cute little mini skirt." She says the costume really stuck out in her memory three years later.\nTwo IU seniors are trying to come up with the ultimate wholesome costume. But they may succumb to peer pressure as Halloween gets closer.\n"Me and my roommate are thinking of going as George Washington and Abraham Lincoln this year," senior Candice Levy says. "Everyone dresses slutty, so we figured we would do the exact opposite. Well, maybe we'll be a slutty Abe Lincoln and George Washington. You know like with a corset and wigs and stuff? I don't know. We'll see what happens." \nAs girls try to break the downward revealing costume spiral before we're dealing with a Rose McGowan ass-baring costume, guys will likely continue wearing the most current, controversial pop culture costume. \n"The guys get into it more now than back when I was growing up," Raines says. "A lot of the girls aren't wearing much of anything. I hope the girls get more material. They can't get any skimpier than what they are now"
(10/26/06 4:00am)
One of the strangest phone calls George Noory has ever received on his radio program was from a doctor who claimed he once delivered a fully formed 10-pound clown.\nBut right up there is the woman who says she makes love to reptiles. And the guy who every now and then gets picked up by aliens and taken for a quick joyride to Saturn.\nNoory, 56, is the week night host of the nationally syndicated late-night radio show "Coast to Coast AM," a program that regularly deals with tales of the paranormal, conspiracy theories and the occasional story of clown pregnancy.\n"I can't say I blanketly believe everything," Noory says. "I used to be a skeptic. I think some of it is true, and some of it is pretty far-fetched. The magic of 'Coast to Coast' is you don't know which is real and which is not."\nNoory started his career in broadcasting at the age of 19 as a production assistant for a TV station in Detroit before moving into radio reporting two years later. From the very start, he says, he was interested in the more unusual stories.\nHis interest in the paranormal was piqued as a child when he had a brief out-of-body experience.\n"I didn't understand it at the start, but it evolved later on into investigating weird experiences," he says.\nNoory doesn't claim to be psychic or possess paranormal powers like some of his guests, but he says he is very "intuitive" in some situations.\n"I'm very tuned in," he says. "In the old days, I wouldn't listen to it. There was one time I stopped at a four way intersection and the light turned green, but I didn't go because I felt something was wrong. Then some car went screeching through. It's been happening all my life."\nNoory recently co-authored a book with William J. Birnes titled "Worker in the Light," which is part memoir, part self-help book on how people can unlock their psychic potential.\n"There's something in the universe I think we're able to tap into, and once you incorporate it, you can use your mind power to do things you never thought possible," he says. "It's a message to help people."\nIn the late '90s, Noory took his interest into the paranormal to the airwaves for the first time with a show out of St. Louis for which he was known as "The Nighthawk." From time to time, he would guest host " Coast to Coast" until January 2003. That was when he took it over full-time from legendary broadcaster Art Bell, who still hosts on the weekends, according to www.coasttocoastam.com.\n"I decided you can't do anything to replace Art Bell," Noory says. "You have to be who you are."\nMillions of people from around the world tune into the program each night either on one of more than 500 U.S. affiliates, XM radio or the Internet. The fan base is especially rabid, Noory says.\n"It's a huge, almost cult-like following," he says. "They need their fix every night. \n"I love it. I need the fix as much as they do."\nShows typically open with Noory reading the news of the day and then taking a few calls from listeners before talking to a guest on such topics as UFOs, ghosts, the Illuminati, chemtrails, shadow people, Sept. 11 conspiracy theories, ancient prophecies, the Antichrist or a myriad of other topics. Noory says listeners are a mix of people looking to be entertained and informed.\n"The core listens for entertainment," he says. "They like the unusual, the strange theories. Others like the conspiracy theories... I try to give everyone a little bit of everything to whet their appetite."\nNoory doesn't think the world is getting stranger, but he has noticed an increase in the number of odd stories people have called in with over the years.\n"I would say it's more deliberate," he says. "There's more of them than there used to be. \n"There's something going on on this planet affecting people in such a way that people are tuning into something."\nOne theory often presented on "Coast to Coast" is that a day of apocalyptic change will take place on or about Dec. 21, 2012, which is the day the Mayan calendar comes to an end. Noory has stated many times on the air that he will stay as host of the show at least until then, and will be on the air live with what, if anything, happens that day. But now he says he will probably remain on even longer.\n"I'll keep going until they cart me out of here," he says. "I think it's a day of enlightenment. I don't think the world will perish. I think it will be a new day for all of us. I think it's something to look forward to"
(10/26/06 4:00am)
It's not every day a grown man can wear leather underwear and flash his genitalia in public. Even on Halloween, that stunt might not fly. But at the Buskirk Chumley's showing of the cult classic "Rocky Horror Picture Show," people just laugh. \nOf course, that is probably because the rest of the audience is dressed just as outrageously. \nOnce a play in London -- called the "Rocky Horror Show" -- the show was turned into a movie in 1975, says Randy White, artistic director for the Bloomington performance group Cardinal Stage Company. The movie's story follows a couple stranded in an unfamiliar place and forced to take refuge in a freak house run by transvestites. But as a mainstream film, the movie was a flop. \n"It opened and closed almost immediately," White says. "It was a disaster. It's a terrible movie; there's no way around it."\n"Rocky Horror" will be starting at about 9:00 p.m., then again at 11:30 p.m. next Saturday with a "de-virginization ceremony" for newcomers at the Buskirk Chumley. Tickets are $12, or $8 with a costume.\nFor newcomers, the sexy or disturbing costumes might seem intimidating, but seasoned enthusiasts offer advice to "Rocky Horror" virgins.\nFirst and foremost, says Lindsey Charles, a "Rocky Horror" enthusiast and the emcee of the show, is that you cannot appreciate the movie by watching it alone. \n"I know a lot of people who have seen the movie by themselves," Charles says. "That's just not how you watch it. You have to watch it in this environment or it's worthless."
(10/26/06 4:00am)
One Week! In one week's time, I shall finally bask in the comedic glory that will be "Borat: Cultural Learnings of America for Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan." As a college student, you're probably familiar with Borat, the character from comedian Sacha Baron Cohen's HBO show "Da Ali G Show." For those of you who somehow managed to live in the dorms and never had a 2 a.m. viewing, Borat is a fake professional journalist from Kazakhstan sent to America to learn about our culture. Oh, and he's extremely anti-Semitic, chauvinistic and will violate any social norm we have in our society. Telling people how he keeps his wife in a cage, searching for a place to buy slaves in the south and butchering the National Anthem are among some of the stunts he's pulled. \nNow Cohen has brought the character to the big screen, in a mostly improvised film that's causing quite a controversy. But for all the Borat haters out there, come on, this shit is funny. Relax, learn how to laugh at yourself and enjoy it.\nUnderstandably, the Kazakh government is fuming over the film. They are disgusted with the way Cohen portrays the country as a people who value prostitution, despise Jews and haven't advanced technologically past 1983. The government removed the official Borat site from its Internet-based domain and recently placed a four page ad in The New York Times denouncing the film. OK, OK, so it might actually be something of a big deal to depict a country to Americans in such a manner because -- big surprise here -- we're ignorant when it comes to the rest of the world. For example: Am I intrigued about Madonna's recent involvement in Malawi? Of course. Is it because she's trying to make a difference in Africa? Of course not. I'd much rather hear about her newly adopted baby and fantasize about the eventual "Celebrity Boxing" match-up that will be Maddox Pitt-Jolie vs. Madonna Malawian Baby. It's for reasons like that I can admit to being an ugly American who knew nothing of Kazakhstan before seeing Borat. But am I dumb enough to actually think that the country's citizens act in such disturbing ways? No. \nThe audience, as well as the film's detractors, need to recognize the subject matter as comedy. What I don't understand is if Kazakhstan's such a great country, wouldn't it be smart to realize that getting pissed off and creating such ads only generates more press for the movie? But if that wasn't enough, the country decided to try and get President George W. Bush involved, pressing him to break the First Amendment by banning the film. This makes sense, because obviously the one thing that will make people want to see something more is telling them they can't. Clearly the country doesn't understand the PR business, so to help them out, I'll put in a good work for the Kazakhs. It's the ninth largest country in the world (and we Americans all know size matters), they celebrate International Women's Day (insert Borat joke here about women being kept in cages) and they were nice enough to elect a president with a funny name, Nursultan.\nAmericans have always been fascinated with the ethnic "other" and been just as concerned with their assimilation into our way of life. While we may have diversity in the country, Borat would still never be the typical American. Because it's unusual to hear someone stand for things we find so outrageous and unacceptable, we laugh instead of being appalled. What truly makes the sketch funny though aren't just Borat's inappropriate actions, it's the reactions of ignorant Americans typically using Borat's unacceptable attitudes as a license to expose their own. To say that the way Americans react to Borat is the sole reason the sketches are funny would be to excuse the hurtful stereotyping of foreigners and their alleged views, but there's still logic in the thought. \nWhile it's funny to see how people react in awkward situations (that's nothing new, TV has been doing the hidden camera shtick since "Candid Camera") the funniest reactions come when Americans let their guard down and express their true, offensive beliefs. In one famous sketch, Borat visits country music fans and performs a song he wrote called "Throw the Jew Down the Well." Within minutes Borat has a roomful of people signing along, "Throw the Jew down the well/So my country can be free." Normally this would seem like a miniature Nazi Germany in the works, yet because the people are being influenced by what they view to be a naïve foreigner, who doesn't know any better, nobody is going to storm out in protest. And if you ask me, that's funny. Frightening and despicable, but funny.\nAfter hearing that song, it's understandable many Jewish people aren't thrilled about the film either. The excuse that Cohen himself is Jewish probably isn't enough to fend off all critics, but once again, people need to be able to laugh at themselves. This is easy to say as a non-Jewish person who isn't having his religion slammed, yet everyone's ethnicity, religion and any other personal belief is at sometime going to be lampooned. And the more you get upset, the more it's going to happen. Case in point: the "South Park" "Trapped in the Closet" episode that ridiculed Scientology. Had Tom Cruise left the matter alone, audiences would have laughed at the episode and eventually forgotten about it, but after throwing a fit and trying to ban the episode, Trey Parker and Matt Stone have even more of an excuse to stick it to the group. I've got to give props to the Anti-Defamation League, who recently issued a statement saying they get Cohen's joke. They're not thrilled about it, but they understand that because everything is so exaggerated, it's not meant to be taken as factual representation. Once again, people: comedy.\nUnfortunately, this will likely be the end of Borat. After the film hits, it will be impossible for Cohen to tour the country again without people recognizing the gag. He could move on to other countries like the "Jackass" guys did for their films, but to lose the idealism that is associated with American culture is to lose the point of the film. Cohen's a smart guy, and probably has more ideas about how to make me piss myself with laughter in the future. If this Halloween weekend you see a goofy foreigner on Kirkwood asking for "sexytime," just tell me I'm doing a good Borat impression. It'll make my day. High Five!
(10/24/06 9:18pm)
The sixth and best studio album of Bruce Springsteen's 33-year recording career contains none of the anthemic grandeur present in his previous five records. There are no sax solos or rousing hymns to the working man, and there's nary a hit single to be found. In fact, the only thing on display during Nebraska's stark 41 minutes is Springsteen's voice, harmonica and the forlorn ripples of an acoustic guitar.\nThe usual cast characters (honest, sincere men and women trying to weave their way through a world of hardships occasionally punctuated by fleeting moments of pleasure, release, redemption or transcendence) that populate Springsteen's songs are replaced here by a sordid, suspicious and more downcast lot. The title track recounts the story of the Charlie Starkweather/Caril Ann Fugate murders also dramatized in Terrence Malick's 1973 film "Badlands," and "Johnny 99" tells the tale of a man who drunkenly murders a convenience store clerk only to receive 99 years in prison. "Atlantic City" focuses on a criminal for hire, and both the epic "Highway Patrolman" and ghostly "State Trooper" dive into the tortured psyches of murderers and those who care for them despite their misdeeds.\nNot all the songs deal with criminals, however. The somber "Mansion on the Hill" depicts a simple man living in a town overshadowed by an imposing mansion atop the hill outside of town, and how the goings-on around the house inspired in him a mix of awe and fear as a child and still today. "Used Cars" might well be the most emotional track on the record, with Springsteen detailing a low-income family's search for a suitable automobile, while "Open All Night" is to Nebraska what "Prove It All Night" was to Darkness on the Edge of Town; a desperate ode to getting home to your girl.\n"My Fathers House" and "Reason to Believe" are poignant album closers, the former painting a surrealist dreamscape as its protagonist fights his way through the branches and brambles to find his fathers home, only to discover it, in reality, vacated. The latter, despite its imagery of dead dogs and graveyards, represents a flicker of daylight penetrating the darkness of the rest of the record.\nNebraska is a testament to Springsteen's awe-inspiring deftness with characterization, lyricism and song craft, as well as to the singular austere quality of his voice. Regardless of all the murderers and hopeless characters found on Nebraska, the albums final lines echo with hope in the face of the impossible.\n"Congregation gathers down by the riverside / Preacher stands with his Bible / Groom stands waitin' for his bride / Congregation gone / The sun sets behind a weepin' willow tree / Groom stands alone and watches the river rush on so effortlessly / Wonderin' where can his baby be / Still at the end of every hard-earned day people find some reason to believe"
(10/19/06 6:10am)
You'd think that someone who wears a clock around his neck would never be late, but it's almost 10 minutes past the time Flavor Flav's publicist Greg J told me the rapper would call, and there's still no word from his camp.\nAfter several minutes that seem like hours and nearly jumping out of my seat every time the phone rings, the call I've been waiting for finally comes through. It's Flav.\n"Hey Flavor Flav, what's up?"\n"Not too much, Chris. I'm just hanging out like a coat hanger in a closet right now."\nThrough the phone, Flavor Flav is just as personable, funny and friendly as he comes across on his hit TV show, VH1's "The Flavor of Love," now wrapping up its second season. But the 47-year-old hype man for the highly influential rap group Public Enemy prides himself on that. He says women love him because of his "realness."\nIronically, it was a stint on another VH1 reality show, season three of "The Surreal Life" which brought Flav back to the public eye after a long absence. While filming that show, Flav met met actress Bridgette Nielsen, leading to another reality show, "Strange Love," chronicling their relationship and eventual parting of ways.\n"After things didn't work out with Bridgette Nielsen, we decided to film it as I find my next love," says Flav, describing what lead to the creation of "The Flavor of Love." \nThe show has created a current of interest that is even making waves on the IU campus. His signature clock necklace and viking hat have been spotted on some tailgating Hoosiers full of the man's party spirit, and is expected to also be a Halloween costume craze this year. It's obvious that Flav's 80s style has not kept him frozen in time but made him a retro icon. \nIn the premise of "Flavor of Love," 20 women move into Flav's mansion, vying for his affection, as he dismisses them for various reasons such as gold digging and posing for Internet pornography. Flav gives each woman a nickname such as "Toasteee" or "Payshintz" because of his self-admitted poor memory. In a direct parody of "The Bachelor," Flav presents each woman with a clock at the elimination ceremony rather than a rose, proclaiming "You know what time it is."\n"Time is very important to me and I need to have a girl who understands that," Flav says, explaining the prevalence of clocks in his life.\nSince bursting onto the scene with Public Enemy, Flav is rarely seen on stage or TV without one of his trademark clocks.\n"The clock I've got on right now I've had since 1987," Flav says. "Thirty-six million people have touched it. Some day, it's going to be in the rock and roll hall of fame with all my other things."\nSince the first season debuted in January, "The Flavor of Love" has been a runaway success for VH1. The first season finale was the highest rated program in the channel's history, and reruns of all the episodes are played all hours of the day.\n"I was well-known beforehand, but more people definitely recognize me since the show," Flav says.\nAt one point during the interview, a group of women who passed the car Flav was apparently sitting in screamed in excitement at seeing the rapper in person.\nThe show has been a boon to Flav's popularity. He is currently working on the next Public Enemy album as well as a talk show and animated series. On Oct. 31, his first solo self-titled album will be released. Flav calls it a "collector's item," claiming this will be his only album.\nBut while the contestants on "The Flavor of Love" might adore Flav for his "realness," viewers love the show for the over the top moments, such as in season one when one contestant, Pumkin, spit in the face of another contestant, New York, after being eliminated, nearly leading to an all-out brawl between the two. Flav claims these moments are completely unscripted.\n"It's all real," he says. "The girls don't fight over me. They fight over each other."\nNew York, the runner-up in season one, was brought back midway through the second season and has gained a reputation as the conspirator, pitting contestants against each other and negatively referring to nearly every woman in the house as a "lesbian" at various times. Flav is well aware that New York is viewed as being a little bit off-kilter, but says she's actually worse in person.\n"She's crazier," Flav says. "Her mom's crazy, too. She needs to stop whatever she's taking."\nIn one episode of season two, New York's mother visited the house and faked a terminal illness to try and get New York to leave, then repeatedly told Flav "You're trying to destroy me."\nBut perhaps the most memorable moment in the series came in the first episode of season two when a rather large woman who Flav nicknamed Sumthin defecated on the floor of the mansion.\n"I think there was too much alcohol in her system, and she couldn't control herself," Flav says. "I thought it was a dog at first, but I looked at the poop, and it looked too much like a human's. Then I went up to the bathroom and this gorilla came out of there."\nFlav has had some ups and downs with the women in his life, but if he could have anyone he wanted appear on "The Flavor of Love," he says it would be fellow VH1 star Paris Hilton.\n"I've got a crush on her," he admits.\nSeason one concluded with Flav picking a contestant nicknamed Hoopz, but it was revealed in a reunion special several weeks later that things weren't working out between the two and a second season would begin soon. Right now, we know Flav chose Deelishis as his main squeeze, but if things don't work out there, Flav isn't ruling out the possibility of more "Flavor of Love."\n"There may be a third season if things don't work out with me and the winner of season two," he says. "We'll see"
(10/19/06 4:00am)
Have you ever wondered what it would be like if someone like Jon Stewart were president of the United States? Some may argue the world would break out in chaos, while others might say, "Hey, it can't get any worse than our current situation." Writer and director Barry Levinson tries to show what it might be like if a comedian were elected as president. Even if it is a bit far-fetched from reality, most of America, and most politicians, should find this movie enjoyable. \nTom Dobbs (Robin Williams) hosts a late night political talk show, one very similar to Stewart's "The Daily Show". While Dobbs spends his time in front of the camera criticizing the government and its current politicians, an audience member suggests that he run for president in the upcoming election. Ever since that was aired, millions of people expressed their support and encouragement for Dobbs to run, and without much thought, he enters the political race as a candidate for the independent party.\nOf course, this comes as news to Dobbs' long-time manager, Jack Menken (Christopher Walken). But without hesitation, Jack and Tom's producer, Eddie (Lewis Black), work to prepare Tom for his running.\nI found it very refreshing to watch Williams in this film. Seeing that his past few films ("R.V.," "The Night Listener") were disappointments, "Man of the Year" is able to demonstrate that Williams certainly hasn't lost his touch as a funnyman. Also, Walken delivers a fantastic performance, and Black, who often makes appearances on "The Daily Show," was appropriately cast in a role that shares the same views as he does in real life.\nOne disappointment I found with this film is that after about a half hour of jokes, the film took a serious turn. As Laura Linney's character becomes more involved, the film becomes more of a thriller and more serious. However, I would not hold back from recommending this movie; I just think that you need to go into it with the mindset that it's not going to be a hilarious comedy full of non-stop laughter. "Man of the Year" is likely to offend some, but I'm pretty sure both Democrats and Republicans will find this mockery of the government entertaining.
(10/19/06 4:00am)
"The Grudge 2" follows the spread of the curse that haunted Karen Davis (Sarah Michelle Gellar) in "The Grudge." The ghostly mother and child are back, but they are less frightening this time around, as they don't have many new tricks. For example, the little boy still meows, but it is no longer as disconcerting as in "The Grudge." His mother's long black hair is still showing up unexpectedly to remind those who have seen her that she will not leave them alone. What's new in this film is that the curse is somehow spreading beyond those who enter the house in Tokyo, where Karen Davis (whose role in this film is minimal) as well as those who did not survive the previous film were exposed to the vengeful ghosts. \nThe film entwines three separate plots. The strongest of the three is concerned with Aubrey Davis (Amber Tamblyn), Karen's sister, who travels to Tokyo to help her sister who is in the hospital and suspected of murder, after the traumatic events of "The Grudge." Aubrey is, of course, targeted by the grudge. What makes her story interesting is that in her quest to stop the curse, she uncovers some back story which does not fully explain the grudge but, at the very least, adds an interesting layer to audiences' understanding of the curse. Unfortunately, Tamblyn's screen presence is lackluster in this film, and despite the films calculated effort to inspire sympathy for her character, she falls pretty flat.\nOutshining Tamblyn is Arielle Kebbel ("John Tucker Must Die"), who plays a schoolgirl lured into the house on a bet from popular classmates. She is a much more sympathetic character and plays her role well. Sadly, her character's action is rather tired and seems for the most part to exist in order to provide the film with filler.\nThe other story line involves an American family which seems to be involuntarily reliving the family conflicts that set the curse in motion. The three storylines eventually converge, if only weakly, for a rather uninspired climax. \nOne cannot help but wonder if the film is divided in such a manor because the screenwriters were unable to come up with an idea for a single plot that could sustain an entire film. On the other hand, the film succeeds in communicating its central idea -- that the curse still exists and is spreading more rapidly than ever. If only it were more entertaining than that.
(10/19/06 4:00am)
"First there came the screams... "\nNot a bad intro for a horror novel, but it also captures the first thing that anyone new to The Blood Brothers will have to deal with: Can you get to like the high, screeching vocals of Jordan Billie and Johnny Whitney or not? Because, make no mistake, the two produce shrieks akin to AC/DC's Brian Johnson being fed into a chipper-shredder. However, just as the Jesus & Mary Chain and My Bloody Valentine buried pop goodies under walls of feedback and white noise, Billie and Whitney's voices provide the challenge one must face in order to better appreciate the band's treasures.\nAnd there are treasures indeed. Five albums in, and the Brothers continue to turn out smart, hooky, multi-faceted punk metal that is oh-so-very pissed off. For its part, Young Machetes manages to straddle a fine line between the relentless sound of 2003's Burn Piano Island Burn and the (relatively) softer, more deliberate style of 2004's Crimes -- the result being somewhat schizophrenic, but often exhilarating. Thus, the album flies from punishing hardcore head-bangers (opening tracks "Set Fire to the Face on Fire" and "We Ride Skeletal Lightning," for example) to swinging, big-bass tunes just slightly reminiscent of Spoon's indie-funk ("Lazer Life," "1, 2, 3, 4 Guitars," "Lift the Veil, Kiss the Tank") to songs that incorporate these elements plus more (the sudden turn into piano and Dresden Dolls-esque drama-queen vocals in "Camoflage, Camoflage"; the nearly-disco post-punk of "Spit Shine Your Black Clouds").\nIf you've looked at the grade though, you've probably worked out that there are, nevertheless, a couple of weaknesses to the Brothers' approach. For one thing, just as white noise can be monotonous, so too can their signature vocals -- once listeners get used to Billie and Whitney's caterwauling, they can get a bit bored with it (to their credit, The Brothers change things up frequently enough to keep this from becoming a big problem). Another is the inherent difficulty with producing "relentless," "punishing" music: It wears the listener out. And while there are some people who could listen to Young Machetes over and over again for days and still feel vibrant, chances are that they represent psychological anomalies. For the rest of us, as good as Young Machetes is, it's like a big shot of caffeine which powers you up in the short term, but leaves you drained later -- and after a couple of listens, the album risks gathering dust on the shelf.\nBut upon re-discovering it, you'll be in for a treat all over again.
(10/19/06 4:00am)
It's been three years since Robert Randolph and the Family Band released its debut album, which earned critical success and garnered a large fan base. The Orange, NJ. band concocts a potpourri of musical styles, including rock, blues, funk, jam, soul, and gospel. RRFB lives and dies by its frenzied concerts, and Unclassified provided rousing material to bolster those early live shows. Unfortunately, the same cannot be said of Colorblind.\nA significant change this time around sees a less prominent pedal steel guitar, which is a mortal sin for anyone who has ever heard Randolph play. A couple party numbers include the club-bouncer "Ain't Nothing Wrong With That," which beats to the rhythm of an Outkast tune, while the sexy, suave "Angels" could serve as an aphrodisiac at the same club.\nI would say "Jesus is Just Alright" is the most satisfying song, but that would be too easy. Or would it? After 45 primarily disappointing minutes have passed, "Diane" serves as the Doobie Brothers classic's only competition. Eric Clapton and Randolph shred their way through a slow mid-section on "Jesus," trading licks like they were vying for a Battle of the Bands top spot.\nRobert Randolph and Dave Matthews have collaborated before on DMB's 2005 summer tour. The two acts might be phenomenal stage performers, but they mix worse than oil and water when it comes to songwriting. "Love is the Only Way" is one of those songs that, if played live, will force the audience to clap along because the band seems enthused about the new joint effort.\nAside from the gleaming pedal steel work on "Thankful 'N Thoughtful," listeners have nothing to be thankful for because the song title represents the only lyrics, which can solely be described as thoughtless.\nThe man who once busted out moves on stage that rivaled those of Jimi Hendrix and Michael Jackson has lost the raw energy on his second trip to the studio. The blistering attitude on Unclassified that catapulted listeners into a possessed state has been exorcised from Colorblind. Unlike Hendrix, Randolph doesn't wrathfully attack his guitar; unlike Jackson, he doesn't scream at listeners to induce hysteria. His live performances are guaranteed to drop jaws and make heads spin, however. Save your money and go see him at the IU Auditorium on November 8.
(10/19/06 4:00am)
Last week, Jimmy Buffett was stopped by officials in a private French airport for carrying Ecstasy. Though Buffett loves a party, the alleged drugs were simply vitamin supplements. \nThe Margaritaville Maestro casually admitted that the "drug" bust was really just a buzzkill. \n"My vices these days consist of boat drinks, beer, wine and the occasional hot fudge sundae," the singer posted on his blog. \nWith that in mind, the changes in attitude in Take the Weather With You is an album where nothing remains quite the same. It is tempest brewing together the genres of Buffet's Dixieland past with his current St. Barts state of mind. \nYounger Parrotheads might have expected a sequel to the pop-tinged License to Chill, but Take the Weather With You is a throwback for earlier Buffett fans. The album floats downstream from the island sounds of the Coral Reefer Band, mixed with the Reggae-billy that Buffett invented. It's margaritas in Nashville, with a twist of New Orleans. \nTake the Weather With You has more Opry influence than his recent country collaborations. The first single, "Bama Breeze," still brings Buffett to the bar, but this time, it's for a nostalgic look down the the bottle to his earlier drinking days. Country bars will still play the song, but it won't invoke the same sing-along response as the modern Buffett standard, "It's Five O'clock Somewhere" promises. \nThere are a few songs that extend beyond Buffett's Dixie roots. "Wheel Inside the Wheel" is Buffett's tribute to the Big Easy. With lyrics meant for rebuilding spirit and inspire rebuilding sung over wailing saxophone, it's an anthem in honor of the city's storied past. "Party at the End of the World" is the only track without an obvious southern influence. The title is a double entendre, another clever moment from the king of island kitsch. It invites listeners to join him in Tierra Del Fuego, the southern-most point before hitting Antarctica, right before the earth spontaneously combusts. \nAs always, Buffett spells out his formulaic method of cold drinks, good friends and good music for good times. Take the Weather With You is another chance to pretend you are on the Caribbean sands with a Corona. Take a cue from Buffett: Listen to the album when you tailgate. Sing along and put you arm over your buddy's shoulder. Even though it's 40 degrees out, the sun is shining, and you still have a drink in your hand.
(10/19/06 4:00am)
Has life ever become so chaotic you wished you could just pause things? Or how about fast forward through things you disliked? It's a thought that has crossed the minds of many and one that director Frank Coraci ("The Waterboy") has been thoughtful enough to bring to life.\nOnce again Coraci teams up with Adam Sandler, who plays Michael Newman, a workaholic husband and father of two. Always caught up with his work, Michael is barely able to find time to spend with his wife, Donna (Kate Beckinsale), and two kids. In fact, Michael is so busy with work, he doesn't have the time to learn the newest technologies, which is why Michael finds himself at Bed, Bath & Beyond looking for an all-in-one universal remote control so that he'll no longer get confused between which remote works the TV and which works the garage door. Michael is directed toward the back of the store, known as "beyond," where he meets Morty (Christopher Walken). Morty, a goofy inventor-type, gives Michael a "universal remote" to solve all of his problems. He gives Michael the remote for free. However, he forewarns Michael the remote cannot be returned. Michael takes the remote and heads home, where he first uses it to turn on the TV -- easy enough. But when the dog starts barking in the middle of the night while Michael is working, he points the remote toward the dog and learns the real magic behind his remote: He can lower the volume of the dog's barking. And away we go.\nAs Michael continues to explore what other uses for which the remote can be used, he realizes he has the key to solving all of his problems in the palm of his hand; it is a universal remote to "control your universe".\n"Click" is a heartwarming movie that stresses the importance of life and making the most of what you have while you have it. And though "Click" is one of Sandler's heavier and more serious movies, it still produces a few good laughs. The movie features a strong supporting cast of Kate Beckinsale, David Hasselhoff, Walken and Henry Wrinkler (who plays Sandler's dad).\nThe DVD's special features -- deleted scenes, the making of, and a comical featurette with Sandler in a fat suit -- may fall short, but for those looking for an enjoyable movie for the entire family, there's no need to look further.
(10/19/06 4:00am)
The dreaded 'Request Invitation' button - Whitney's Notes