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(08/31/06 4:00am)
Dick McKaig may find time to do a lot of things around the IU campus, but also depends on modern technology to catch him up on everything he misses as having a time-consuming job like Dean of Students and Vice President of Student Affairs.\n"I have to use my DVR to record all of my favorite shows," he says. "I watch '24' and 'Deadwood' on HBO. I also really like 'The West Wing,' but it's gone now—so now I'm in trouble."\nIn the summer months he tries to keep things as simple as possible.\n"I just like to loathe," McKaig says jubilantly. "Just lie on the couch, watch TV, swim in the swimming pool. I don't need any additional addictions. It's just really nice to have free time."\nSummer blockbusters fall through McKaig's fingers, however. He may get to enjoy having his primetime lineup recorded while he's not home, but it still doesn't do much for his movie-going habits. \n"No, I haven't seen 'Snakes on a Plane,'" he says, laughing.\nIn fact, going to the movies at all is a treat in itself: "I usually just make it to the movies about twice a year, actually. It's embarrassing. I only get there once in the winter and once in the summer."\nWorking on a campus saturated with MP3 players, does Dean McKaig keep up with the listening habits of his students?\n"Of course I have an iPod!" he says. "I've had one for years. I even have the docking deck right here on my desk, so I can listen to it even while I'm not walking around."\nChances are you won't bump into our charismatic Dean listening to his iTunes at Kilroy's or Bluebird, unfortunately. He prefers immersing himself in on-campus activities, experiencing first hand what IU students encounter every day.\n"I don't usually frequent those kinds of hotspots. Wow--I've been here 30 years and never been to Bluebird," he says with another laugh. "I do go to many things here on campus, though."\nHe dove right into things just this week at the residence halls.\n"Just the other night I went over to Read for their Welcome Week Pajama Jam, and it was lots of fun," McKaig says. "But it was lame because I went straight from the office and all of these opening ceremonies—so here I am with my suit and tie and everyone else is in pajamas."\nBut McKaig still looks on the bright side, even if he was in violation of dress code.\n"I got my red Read bandana and everything," he said. "It was very cool"
(08/31/06 4:00am)
LOS ANGELES -- Hollywood may wish it had kept a great ape, a lion, a witch or a wizard in the bullpen for this fall, whose movie lineup has just two really familiar names: James Bond and Santa Claus.\nThe movie industry's prestige period, when studios trot out their big Academy Award contenders, also has become a steady blockbuster season with such recent hits as "The Lord of the Rings" trilogy, most of the "Harry Potter" flicks and last year's "King Kong" and "The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe."\nLacking any of those entries, the fall schedule is led by "Casino Royale," Daniel Craig's first outing as British superspy Bond.\nInheriting the license to kill from Pierce Brosnan, Craig is the sixth actor to play 007. Adapted from Ian Fleming's first Bond novel, "Casino Royale" takes James back to his beginnings as a young operative taking on a terrorist ring being financed at an exotic gambling hall.\nNot yet the casual womanizer of later years, Bond is assigned a gorgeous woman as ally -- Vesper Lynd (Eva Green), a bean-counter dispatched by British intelligence to keep tabs on the money he's gambling with.\nUncharacteristically, Bond falls in love -- and gets his heart stomped on.\n"We're kind of meeting him for the first time, and a number of things need to be explained. His attitude toward women, how he becomes what he becomes," Craig said. "He meets Vesper, this very beautiful, very complex, very mysterious girl who steals his heart then double-crosses him. It may explain the distrust of Bond for women later."\nHollywood revives a handful of other film franchises this fall, including Tim Allen's "The Santa Clause 3: The Escape Clause," in which Jack Frost (Martin Short) makes a play to steal Christmas from St. Nick.\nWithout the big fantasy spectacles that have been Hollywood's fall mainstays in recent years, real-world stories will have to take up the slack. Luckily for film fans, there's an interesting crop of possibilities:\n-- "All the King's Men," a fresh take on Robert Penn Warren's novel of a Southern political boss inspired by Huey Long, stars Sean Penn as the idealistic leader whose rise to power is poisoned by corruption. "Schindler's List" screenwriter Steven Zaillian directs a cast that includes Anthony Hopkins, Jude Law, Kate Winslet and James Gandolfini.\n-- Clint Eastwood, who directed Penn to a best-actor Oscar in "Mystic River," follows his best-picture champ "Million Dollar Baby" with the World War II saga "Flags of Our Fathers." Starring Ryan Phillippe, Paul Walker, Barry Pepper and Jamie Bell, the film tells the story behind one of the most enduring war photographs: The soldiers who raised the American flag at Iwo Jima.\n-- Martin Scorsese reunites with Leonardo DiCaprio and brings along Jack Nicholson, Matt Damon and Martin Sheen for "The Departed," the director's return to the cops-and-mobsters tales that have been his strong suit. DiCaprio plays a cop who's undercover in Nicholson's crime gang, while Damon plays a mob member who's infiltrated the police department.\n-- After lip-synching to Ray Charles' voice for his Oscar-winning turn in "Ray," Jamie Foxx gets to do some singing of his own in "Dreamgirls," an adaptation of the stage musical that co-stars Beyonce Knowles, Eddie Murphy and "American Idol" finalist Jennifer Hudson. The film follows the triumphs and trials of a trio of female soul singers in the 1960s.\nDirector Bill Condon ("Gods and Monsters") skillfully blends story and character with show-stopping musical numbers and takes singer Knowles and comic Murphy to places audiences have never seen them, Foxx said.
(08/31/06 4:00am)
What's the difference between today's college students and college students 30 years ago?\nIn the '70s, the typical dorm room included all the staples: typewriters, turntables that played only one album at a time and posters with "hang in there" kitties on them. \nFast forward to the 21st century. Replace typewriters with laptops that can save, send and retrieve semesters' worth of reports and visual presentations, record players with handheld MP3 players that can hold enough songs to last a DJ a lifetime and the dated posters with a digital picture frame that can store an entire album and turn it into a slideshow, all before your very eyes.\nThe college students of yesteryear may have gone through school without such high tech luxuries, but it would probably be a different story for today's batch of gadget ga-ga young adults.\n"With stuff like computers and the Internet, we plug our lives away in them and rely on them," says junior Eric Komenda. "Besides, without today's technology, I'd be a lot more bored."\nAnd with many electronics stores reserving floor space in their shops for "back to college" sales fixtures, it's no wonder why today's college students have become so dependent on the convenience of higher end electronics.\nBed Bath & Beyond, for example, has a wide selection of items for college students in its back-to-school sale—including a deluxe coffee maker. This is just one of many gadgets that many insist is a must-have for college students.\n"Nowadays, you should be able to some basic gadgets in your room that will allow you to brew up fresh coffee every morning. Don't settle for cafeteria coffee while living at school," says About.com columnist Sean Paajanen. "You can ask your friends to start calling you 'The Barista.'"\nThis sentiment implying that every college student "should" have gadgets like coffee brewers in their room make it easy to see why students have become so gadget-centric. But what separates today's coffee brewers from the brewers found in dorm rooms 30 years ago?\nThe Flavia Fusion Drink Station from The Sharper Image can hold up to 18 different packets ready to make coffee, lattes, cappuccinos, teas, chais and hot chocolate at the push of a button. You also don't need to clean the brewer out between drinks; no remnants are leaked out to taint your latte with that hint of bitter black coffee. And you can do it all without filters or strainers, all for a mere 100 bucks.\n"Knowing your coffee equipment options can help you make the most of a limiting situation, without having to give up your coffee," Paajanen says.\nStudents certainly know their options when it comes to gadgets in general. If they have the money and the product is in ready availability, they are going to opt for the plasma screen over a cheap and old model with dials and bunny years any day.\nAnd few products offer more options than the illustrious MP3 player. These portable wonders have essentially replaced Walkmans and portable CD players, and college students are taking full advantage of the market's selection of supplementary MP3 accessories to satiate their hunger for all things digital music.\nAccording to Fox News, the New Jersey-based research group Student Monitor conducted a survey in summer 2006 and discovered most college students like iPods more than beer. Students were asked to classify what products they believe to be hip, or "in." Nearly three-fourths of the students surveyed listed iPods as more hip than activities such as text messaging and drinking on the weekends. Beer tied with Facebook in the hipness rankings.\n"For those who believe there's an excessive amount of drinking on campus, now there's something else that's common on campuses," says Eric Weil, a managing partner at Student Monitor.\nIf that isn't a sign of the times, who knows what is?\nThe iPod-crazed populous can find good use in electronics such as the "iHome," an all-in-one AM/FM radio, illuminating clock radio and iPod speaker system. It runs around $90 and can be found at electronics dealers across the country, such as Circuit City.\nBose also makes quality MP3 player speaker systems that college students could consider. For $300, students can enjoy crystal-clear sound with Bose's Sound Dock Digital Music System, which can be found at The Sharper Image. It comes complete with "charge-while-you-play" capability for your iPod to prevent battery death midway through your favorite playlist. It also comes with a remote so you can change songs from clear across the room.\nAnother change from the '70s and '80s is the advancement in video games. Gone are the days of two-player Pong: now video games can allow you to face off against millions across the world. High-end new products like the handheld Nintendo DS Lite allow you to play a variety of games anywhere.\n"One of my favorite gadgets is my DS Lite. It has stolen many days away from me—I like it because I can use it to play in class," laughs sophomore Eric Komenda. "Does that sound really bad?"\nThe Nintendo DS Lite is Nintendo's latest in its handheld line with WiFi capability, which allows you to race against pro Mario Karters—internationally. The Lite goes for $129.99 at Circuit City with games ranging in price from $15 to $40.\nFrom music to video games, these gadgets only make up the tip of the technology iceberg. If college dorms and apartments have changed this much in just a few decades, how will they be decked out in another 30 years? The possibilities are endless. With this in mind, there will probably be few surprises.\nUnless gadgets become more popular than beer again.
(08/31/06 4:00am)
iPod Hi-Fi\n"Say goodbye to the bulky expensive stereo and wall of CDs. iPod Hi-Fi puts out such natural, room-filling sound — with clear stereo separation — that you'd think you were listening to a multi-speaker setup. But no, it's a single, gorgeous unit that can fit almost any bookshelf, tabletop, or entertainment center.\nControl volume and switch between sound sources from up to 30 feet away with the Apple Remote. When listening to your iPod, you can also play/pause and skip forward and back between songs."\nSource: www.apple.com\nSound Rocker\n"The PM220 Sound Rocker lets you feel the action from your Video games, Movies, and Music. The bass is so huge and the sound so clear you'll feel like you are literally in the game. Hear every footstep, and feel every crash, punch or gunshot as the built-in 5.5" Powersub subwoofer sends vibrations right through you. The two full range ARX hgh performance speakers create a personal sound effect to accelerate your games to the next level. The Sound Rocker works with Movies and Music too. Connect with your iPod or MP3 player and the Sound Rocker fills your room with music at the push of a button.\nSource: www.pyramat.com\nDigital Photo Frame\n"Rechargeable 6 1/2-inch color LCD digital picture frame allows you to display your photos on your desk, shelf or table - anywhere - without a computer! Features a high-definition 133-ppi screen with crisp 720x480 resolution. Display modes include: automatic slide show, full-screen browse and thumbnail browse. Built-in 14MB memory lets you store up to 80 images. Frame has a built-in card reader for direct input of digital data. No computer needed! Connects directly to your digital camera or PC via the included USB cable."\nSource: www.sharperimage.com\nVirtual Keyboard\nThis tiny device laser-projects a keyboard on any flat surface... you can then type away accompanied by simulated key click sounds.\nSource: www.thinkgeek.com
(08/31/06 3:36am)
Dick McKaig may find time to do a lot of things around the IU campus, but also depends on modern technology to catch him up on everything he misses as having a time-consuming job like Dean of Students and Vice President of Student Affairs.\n"I have to use my DVR to record all of my favorite shows," he says. "I watch '24' and 'Deadwood' on HBO. I also really like 'The West Wing,' but it's gone now—so now I'm in trouble."\nIn the summer months he tries to keep things as simple as possible.\n"I just like to loathe," McKaig says jubilantly. "Just lie on the couch, watch TV, swim in the swimming pool. I don't need any additional addictions. It's just really nice to have free time."\nSummer blockbusters fall through McKaig's fingers, however. He may get to enjoy having his primetime lineup recorded while he's not home, but it still doesn't do much for his movie-going habits. \n"No, I haven't seen 'Snakes on a Plane,'" he says, laughing.\nIn fact, going to the movies at all is a treat in itself: "I usually just make it to the movies about twice a year, actually. It's embarrassing. I only get there once in the winter and once in the summer."\nWorking on a campus saturated with MP3 players, does Dean McKaig keep up with the listening habits of his students?\n"Of course I have an iPod!" he says. "I've had one for years. I even have the docking deck right here on my desk, so I can listen to it even while I'm not walking around."\nChances are you won't bump into our charismatic Dean listening to his iTunes at Kilroy's or Bluebird, unfortunately. He prefers immersing himself in on-campus activities, experiencing first hand what IU students encounter every day.\n"I don't usually frequent those kinds of hotspots. Wow--I've been here 30 years and never been to Bluebird," he says with another laugh. "I do go to many things here on campus, though."\nHe dove right into things just this week at the residence halls.\n"Just the other night I went over to Read for their Welcome Week Pajama Jam, and it was lots of fun," McKaig says. "But it was lame because I went straight from the office and all of these opening ceremonies—so here I am with my suit and tie and everyone else is in pajamas."\nBut McKaig still looks on the bright side, even if he was in violation of dress code.\n"I got my red Read bandana and everything," he said. "It was very cool"
(08/31/06 2:44am)
House may be the only show I have ever watched that actually makes me want to catch a rare deadly disease just so I can be abused by a morally ballast self loathing cripple. Sometimes I get so caught up in the fantasy, I forget that if I do come down with a bitchin' case of lupus and get sent to Princeton Plainsborough Hospital, Dr. House isn't going to be there to cure me of my disease and what ever lingering feelings of self worth I may have.\nTruth be told, House is possibly the only watch-able show left on Fox (sorry Simpsons), and through the second season it just seems to get better and better. If you are unfamiliar with the show, the basic premise is someone comes down with a mysterious deadly illness, a team of doctors lead by the cynical and physically/emotionally crippled Dr. House try to figure out what it is, Dr. House makes everyone feel like crap while figuring out what is wrong with the patient, patient is cured, roll credits. \nIn today's television marketplace, medical dramas are a dime a dozen, and with a new version of "CSI" or "Law and Order" hitting the schedule every season, shows centered on investigation are even more common. What sets "House" apart from the rest of the rabble is its unique sense of humor. Patients aren't treated with reverence. They are mocked and degraded. It is almost refreshing that you are expected to laugh at the person dying of cancer instead of cry with them.\nThis DVD set has made some vast improvements over the first season set. For example, this collection includes six single-sided discs as opposed to the three double-sided discs from last season. The double sided DVD is one of the worst ideas in the history of the home entertainment industry. It is up there with the laser disc and Beta. Also, there is the inclusion of watch-able special features. The best you could hope for on the first season was tour of the studio. This season is still light on the special features but at least now there are a couple of commentaries and a blooper reel. Then again, in the end the draw to this show isn't 45 minute character explanations by the executive producers. It is Hugh Laurie and his brilliant portrayal of the main character, which is just as good this season as it was last season, and hopefully will be next season.
(08/31/06 2:43am)
Ninety-Nine Nights is not a complex game. About 90 percent of the gameplay is just pressing "X" repeatedly. Every now and then you might press "Y." About once a level you hit "B."\nRepeat that a few dozen times and you beat the game.\nBut what N3 lacks in depth it makes up for in style. Every new press of the "X" button or combo with "Y" unleashes a giant slash of your melee weapon that sends literally hundreds of orcs and goblins flying that's just as exciting to see the 100th time as it was the first time.\nThe entire game is like the coolest battle scenes from the "Lord of the Rings" trilogy amped up to 11 with none of homoerotic hobbit undertones.\nThe graphics aren't jaw-dropping but they're more than acceptable. And it is damn impressive to lead a hundred knights into battle against thousands of orcs with not even a hint of slowdown.\nIf I've got one complaint it's that every now and then the action gets so hectic it's almost impossible to tell where your character is amidst the chaos.\nThere's a decent story here about orbs and the battle of light and dark in the world. It's standard fantasy fair, but it is kind of cool to see the story through the eyes of the seven playable characters.\nThe real highlight here is the orchestrated soundtrack, much of which plays in tandem with the hacking and slashing going on at the time. The musical pieces here are on par with any Hollywood epic.\nThis is no surprise however as the game's producer Tetsuya Mizuguchi has worked on some of the greatest soundtrack's in gaming such as "Space Channel 5," "REZ" and "Lumines."\nOn the other hand, voice acting ranges from acceptable to downright cheesy.\nUnlike a lot of other hack and slashers, N3 is pretty long too. Beating the game with all seven characters easily sucks up 20 hours. Beating every level with an "A" or "S" rank to adds on another couple of hours.\nThe unlockable concept art really isn't much motivation to continue though unless you really get into the game's universe.\nN3 won't win any awards for originality, but it is easily the best beat 'em up game to come out since "Dynasty Warriors 2"
(08/31/06 2:43am)
For what it is, Madden 07 is a solid football game, but EA's sophomore outing on the 360 falls well-short of what it could be.\nIn terms of pure play mechanics, 07 is as solid, challenging and addictive as any other Madden. Take more than about three seconds to throw after the snap and you're almost guaranteed to get laid out in the turf. And if you think about throwing before your receiver's open, it's going to be another interception for the defense.\nEven the controls seem to have improved in this version thanks to the new highlight stick on offense and kick stick for the point after.\nThankfully, the silly vision cone present in 06's current-gen versions was cut.\nWhere Madden fumbles this year is in presentation. Players look great up close, but from far out (90% of the game is played from a bird's eye view), this barely looks better than an Xbox 1 game aside from some cool weather effects.\nWorse, the game stutters for a second or two after most plays.\nThis is completely unacceptable for a 360 game. \nMusic and sound effects have also taken a step back this year. In the past few Maddens it really pumped up the atmosphere to hear a few riffs of the top-notch soundtrack after a big play. Music is strangely absent on the field most of the time this year for some reason.\nBut perhaps my biggest complaint is the lack of Mr. Turducken himself, John Madden. His name's still on the box, but like last year's 360 version, commentary is provided by some random boring asshat with some kind of fake filter that makes it sound like he's on the radio. To me it's not really Madden without senile comments.\nAlso, EA has an exclusivity agreement with ESPN, Madden 07 lacks the awesome half-time show of old rival ESPN NFL 2K5. \nHeck, the game lacks any kind of a half-time show sans a screen prompting you to continue the game. But a stadium announcer does periodically announce a contest winner and warn unruly patrons they're subject to "ejection and arrest."\nThanks EA, I really prefer threats of getting kicked out of a virtual football stadium instead of a good soundtrack or commentary.\nUnfortunately I have to call this the best football game on the 360, but there are much better versions of Madden on the current-gen systems.\nIf you really need a football fix this season it's Madden 07 is worth picking up, but otherwise try updating the rosters in an older version before plunking down $60 on this year's 360 edition.
(08/31/06 2:43am)
If you're a band at the epoch of success how do you follow up what is often considered one of the best rock albums ever made? For The Clash, whose epic 1979 double LP, London Calling, is to this day one of the best selling and most renowned albums to ever spin the answer was simple. Go beyond grandiose. \nSandinista! is the kind of album that only a band as audacious, experimental and politically cognizant as The Clash could record. Originally released as a triple LP containing 36 radically different tracks that flirt with the sounds of straight punk, Jamaican "dub" reggae rock, classical chamber ballads and catchy pop, Sandinista! is proof that The Clash could still electrify listeners and move away from simply being classified as merely a punk band. \nWhile there were only three singles off the band's fourth album--the early white boy rap track, "The Magnificent Seven," the bubble gum pop cut, "Hitsville UK" and the military charged "The Call Up"--Sandinista! is more than just a crowded collection of scathing political rock songs. \nHighlights such as the anti-globalization plea, "Charlie Don't Surf," the haunting classical guitar piece, "Rebel Waltz," the straight punk anthem, "Police On My Back," the Calypso Castro revolution pop, "Washington Bullets," or the extremely bizarre but catchy violin wail, "Lose This Skin" are evidence that The Clash was eager to tackle as many sounds and visions as they could, while also giving fans more than enough to chew on. \nAccording to the band's guitarist/lead singer, Joe Strummer, the album was the spawn of a diligent three-week recording session during which the band simply could not stop writing songs. A musical feat of this magnitude could come out as overly ambitious and cluttered, but Sandinista! manages to stay refreshing and keeps the listener curious after every ride. While some argue that the album could have been cut down, I cannot think of a better way to explore this monumental band in the pinnacle of their short-lived career than by taking on the Sandinista!
(08/31/06 2:43am)
Danity Kane are inherently formulaic. Diddy's handpicked, burgeoning five-member all girl group of MTV "Making the Band 3" stardom are one part Pussycat Dolls (spectacular looking women), one part Paris Hilton (get the hottest producers to make your tracks) and one part Ashlee Simpson (MTV reality show giving your debut CD all kinds of exposure before it drops.)\nThese are all ingredients in the recipe for commercial music success these days, no doubt. Diddy's choice in sticking to this formula seems to be working. \nThe group's debut CD "Danity Kane" shot to #1 on iTunes' top 100 album list\nand is projected to debut in the top three spots on the Billboard charts among the likes of proven veterans Outkast and Christina Aguilera.\nThe disc springs to life with "One Shot" an upbeat, infectious track that subtly plays with a police siren in the beat. (Sounds annoying, but isn't.) Danity's first single "Show Stopper" is a breathy, sexy trance imploying a "snap beat" to pace the song. One of the albums ballads "Ride For You" succeeds in avoiding lameness (see Rihanna's "Murderer") and highlights the individual singing talents of the girls (however manufactured it may be at times.)\nAundrea pops out as the star of the disc (as she was in "Making the Band 3") leading off vocals on many of the tracks. \nThe lyrics are rather mundane and repetitive (that is, unless you love hearing the word "boy" and "lovin'" in damn near every track) and touch on the topics of love, heartache and relationships. (Shocking!)\nAt 15 tracks, the CD is a bit much to stomach. A few cuts, such as "Come Over" and "Stay on Me" probably could have been shelved, making Danity's debut a tighter, cohesive and overall more enjoyable listen.\nThe groups's name stems from a female anime superhero doodled and conceived by band member Dawn.\nAnd with all their sharply produced beats and micro-managed image, it may be one of the few things Diddy's girls can really claim as their own.
(08/31/06 2:43am)
The only way to fairly critique Paris Hilton's debut album is to assume that there is no such person as Paris Hilton. Paris had about as much to do with the writing, recording, and production of her debut LP as Brian Jones had to do with the writing, recording, and production of the Stones' "Let it Bleed," which is not too damn much. She's there. You can hear (a reasonably vocoded facsimile of) her voice on each track, but her presence is about as heavily sensed as that faint fecal stench on a freshly cleaned toilet. No, Paris is not to blame for the relative disaster that is "Paris." Her songwriters, producers, and record label are.\nParis' commitment level to this project should be evident immediately by the album's cover. Wearing a cocktail dress and sporting that same bored, entitled look in her eyes that was on display during the entire Rick Salomon sex tape, her gaze reflects her singing. Most listeners will sense from track one onward that Hilton spent a grand total of three hours in the studio, resolving to let the producers clean up her mess for the final mix.\nThe producers do their best, but alongside Hilton's record label, they're just acting as enablers. Scott Storch and Rob Cavallo, normally reliable behind the boards, can only scribble a set of competent backbeats and hope Paris' voice doesn't crack. Though I suppose the synthesizers could correct that, too. Lyrically, "Paris" is negligible to the point of words being a non-issue. It's no surprise, then, that Paris is actually credited in co-writing many of the wannas and gonnas herein.\nTracks of special note include "Nothing in This World" and the aptly titled "Screwed," both of which are musically enjoyable enough to forgive. On the other end of the spectrum, a hideous cover of Rod Stewart's "Do Ya Think I'm Sexy?" comes off as a snotty rhetorical question to affirm Hilton's own faux-celebrity.\nMuch like Lindsay Lohan's 2004 and 2005 albums, and perhaps more like William Hung's "Inspiration," "Paris" is pure empty product. The beats are sometimes infectious and the hooks can be catchy, but as with Paris herself, there doesn't seem to be anything below the surface. After 11 tracks of breathy, synthesized warbling from Miss Hilton, we can only hope that her dreams of success in the music business will fade away quickly.
(08/31/06 2:43am)
Tom Petty is one of those artists that I have become associated with solely due to the fact that my parents listened to him. Having said this, I'm not a Tom Petty fan per se. I respect him as a musician and acknowledge his great talent. Thus, this is a bit of a stretch for me to review something like this. But I'm not one to dismiss an album based on the fact that it's not something I regularly listen to. Well, on to the review. \nHighway Companion is Petty's third solo outing in nearly a dozen years. Simply put, it's an album about passing the time by. As cheesy and cliché as it may seem, Highway Companion is just that: an album to take with you on a leisurely road trip. The first track, Saving Grace, is spot-on blues rock, the sort of driving down Route 66 type of rock. Square One is a very somber, slower track. Beautiful, yes, but I'm afraid I would fall asleep at the wheel. But things pick back up with Flirting With Time. Just a feel-good track worth singing along to; this is one of the more upbeat songs on the album.\nPetty is an amazingly talented artist in general, and of course a rock icon. On Highway Companion, he plays many of the instruments himself, including the drums, showing how versatile a musician he is. Night Driver is probably the most eclectic (and most enjoyable) track out of the twelve, with bluesy and acoustic guitars, electronic piano, and unusual lyrics. Golden Rose, the final track on Highway Companion, is very Beatles-esque, in that mellow, heartfelt pop sort of way. And it will get stuck in your head as well.\nMost of these songs sound very similar and share similar tempos. This is the main flaw of the album; things tend to get very boring very quickly. It's worth a listen all the way through one time, but the replayability of this record is pretty low. Tracks like Jack and This Old Town are skippable sleep-inducing tracks. And you're not going to find any classic Petty tracks on here like Runnin' Down A Dream or Free Fallin'. Did I mention it's a very short record as well? Well, it really is.\nAll biases aside, this is a well-produced, enjoyable record. A little too twangy in some places, but not country enough to the point of me having to shut it off. But it's an album that you can just relax to; it's very bluesy and very mellow. As far as the road trip analogy is concerned, I'd rather listen to some fast metal or punk to keep me awake. Tom Petty has a very distinctive voice and a lot of talent, and it's amazing that he's still running strong after thirty years. Petty fans will be thrilled that he's back with more classic rock that are sure to impress.
(08/31/06 2:42am)
Dead Prez once rapped in a studio somewhere, "All ya'll records sound the same. I'm sick of that fake thug, R&B-rap scenario, all day on the radio, same scenes in the video, monotonous material…"\nBut ya'll didn't hear Dead Prez right. But, OutKast did. So much is clear with the new release of their album "Idlewild." Don't be thrown off by the flowery title and the Vaudeville themed CD -- OutKast is real hip-hop.\nOutKast has long been proven to be one of hip-hop's kings with albums such as "Stankonia" and "The Love Below/Speakerboxxx." But their latest album, and by far most unique album, truly epitomizes what hip-hop is about.\nOver their last three albums, OutKast has made the transition from a duo (Stankonia) to a duo with separate albums (The Love Below/Speakerboxxx) to singular artists who just so happen to feature each other on everyone of their songs (Idlewild).\n"Idlewild" features much more singing and more obscure rhymes than any of OutKast's previous records. Think of "Idlewild" as OutKast's Sgt. Pepper. The album is more Pink Floyd than P. Diddy and that's what makes it so attractive. Don't expect to hear Lil 'Jon screaming in the background. Instead expect to hear unique music that doesn't sound like everyone else's. OutKast goes out of their way on "Idlewild" to provide a fresh voice that is unlike anyone else in the game.\nThe song "Mighty O," the first song off the album, combines OutKast's throwback rhyming schemes with their new sound. The song is also the perfect vehicle for both of Andre 3000 and Big Boi's styles. In Dre's verse he cleverly raps, "Bored, kind of like a night with sword, Without dragon to battle so I'm runnin from a shadow." I'd reference one of Big Boi's lines, but the verse is so good I couldn't choose one. Seriously.\nOutKast also incorporates different genres of music into their hip-hop album. The song "Idlewild Blue (Don'tchu Worry 'Bout Me)" has Dre singing the Blues. Dre sings the Blues so well you'd think he was a direct descendent of John Lee Hooker.\nOn "When I Look In Your Eyes" Dre transforms his style and begins to sound like Frank Sinatra singing in a smoky lounge outside of Reno. In "Morris Brown," the album's first single, OutKast receives the help from Scar, Sleepy Brown, and an unnamed marching band to deliver an up-tempo classic.\nThe song "Hollywood Divorce" features the most star power of any song. The song's first verse is occupied by Lil' Wayne and the song concludes with raps from Snoop Dogg. Did I mention this was the album's slowest and most mellow song?\n"Idlewild" demonstrates OutKast's ability as artists and not as radio-anthem shouters. Like Dead Prez said and OutKast demonstrates in their music, "It's bigger than hip-hop"
(08/31/06 2:42am)
Hilary Duff, what the hell? Why do you keep agreeing to do these crappy movies? You left Disney and deprived us from witnessing Lizzie McGuire's high school years so you wouldn't be branded as a teen star. But since then you've done nothing but these bad kid movies! But the blame for "Material Girls" can't all be put on Hilary, and while it sucks, it really is nothing more than a watchable bad movie.\nHilary and sister Haylie play Tanzie and Ava Marchetta, two cosmetic heiress socialites forced to fend for themselves when their deceased father's company falls victim to scandal and they end up bankrupt. Some of the products cause skin damage and their father knew all along, but tried to cover it up. Turns out daddy's innocent and the girls set out to prove it so they can clear the family name before they are forced to sell the company to rival Fabiella (Anjelica Huston.) Poor Anjelica. While Meryl got to so wonderfully sick her fangs into "The Devil Wears Prada" earlier this summer, she got stuck with this.\nBecause it's a sister movie there's the obligatory drama. However the arguments never really feel like they were actually written into the script. Instead it's as if there was a bullet point saying, "ok throw in a little drama here but have them make up by the next page." Because the dialogue isn't strong there's nothing for the Duffs to work with, so their acting tends to often fall flat. \nThis movie is supposed to be fluff. So it gets extremely awkward when immigration issues get brought up. After the sisters' mansion burns down they move in with their Colombian housekeeper, Inez, who just happens to have two extra beds she's saving for her daughters for when they come to America. "Have you ever heard of post-9/11 immigration delays," Inez asks Ava, who replies with a blank, confused stare that much of the audience will be sharing. In the end when all is well there's a scene with Inez kissing her daughters goodnight in their new beds. How did they finally get there, no explanation is given, just that Ava one promised to bring them over. \nFor some reason director Martha Coolidge (and pretty much every director of a movie like this that's been released in the last five years) feels the need to continuously use wipes to edit and split screens. It's annoying and distracting. But then again that's what the movie itself is, a distraction from everyday life that ends up being annoying.
(08/31/06 2:42am)
Underdog sports movies are a dime a dozen in Hollywood. While some are better than others, they almost always contain the same uplifting scenario: The unlikely team or individual showing us that if you stay true to your dreams and work hard, sometimes the impossible can happen. In recent years, Disney has made an art of this formula with such solid fare as "Remember the Titans," "The Rookie" and "Miracle," all well-made and well-acted films that went beyond the standard Cinderella sports story. Their latest release in this genre, "Invincible" is mostly a continuation of that success despite clinging to some of the usual clichés. \n"Invincible" is the true story of Vince Papale (Mark Wahlberg), a 30-year-old bartender living in economically downtrodden South Philadelphia, circa 1976. The film's opening has Vince falling on hard times, losing his second job as a schoolteacher and seeing his wife of five years leave him, claiming that he will never amount to anything. The one thing that Vince and his buddies have to keep them going is the Eagles, a lousy excuse for a pro football team struggling so much that their new coach, Dick Vermeil (Greg Kinnear) decides to extend an open tryout for the team to the whole city. It's here that Vince gets his chance to prove himself, while in the meantime, giving hope to a city and neighborhood that greatly needs it.\n"Invincible's" real strength lies in the way it portrays South Philly and its inhabitants. The shots of the tough streets of Philadelphia can't help but remind you of the ultimate underdog movie, "Rocky," a film that essentially shares "Invincible's" setting. Unemployment, labor strikes and Vietnam have all had their effect on Vince and his friends, giving the non-sports segments of the movie a gritty and heartfelt tone. One scene has Vince's father persuading his son to not attend the tryout, saying that he's not sure how much more failure Vince will be able to take. In the end, Vince is only able to really succeed when he starts to realize the responsibility he has to those who have so readily rallied around him. \nWahlberg, an underdog actor if there ever was one, plays Papale aptly but minimally, with the script not really allowing us to know more about Vince beyond his resolve, determination and loyalty. Kinnear is also excellent as the tough but fair Vermeil, long known as one of the NFL's most compassionate coaches. Other standouts are Michael Rispoli and Michael Kelly as Vince's genuine and supportive working-class friends, and Kevin Conway as Vince's proud father.\nWhile the film gets bogged down in a somewhat forced romantic storyline and has a resolution that is inevitably predictable, "Invincible" succeeds in showing us what a uniting and powerful force that sports can be. Trivial or not, following sports is something that is important in many people's lives. In one scene Vince's father tells Vince how the Eagles 1948 NFL Championship got him through 30 years of his job at the factory. Those kind of sentiments are undoubtedly still echoed by fans about their respective teams in cities and town across America.
(08/31/06 2:28am)
iPod Hi-Fi\n"Say goodbye to the bulky expensive stereo and wall of CDs. iPod Hi-Fi puts out such natural, room-filling sound — with clear stereo separation — that you'd think you were listening to a multi-speaker setup. But no, it's a single, gorgeous unit that can fit almost any bookshelf, tabletop, or entertainment center.\nControl volume and switch between sound sources from up to 30 feet away with the Apple Remote. When listening to your iPod, you can also play/pause and skip forward and back between songs."\nSource: www.apple.com\nSound Rocker\n"The PM220 Sound Rocker lets you feel the action from your Video games, Movies, and Music. The bass is so huge and the sound so clear you'll feel like you are literally in the game. Hear every footstep, and feel every crash, punch or gunshot as the built-in 5.5" Powersub subwoofer sends vibrations right through you. The two full range ARX hgh performance speakers create a personal sound effect to accelerate your games to the next level. The Sound Rocker works with Movies and Music too. Connect with your iPod or MP3 player and the Sound Rocker fills your room with music at the push of a button.\nSource: www.pyramat.com\nDigital Photo Frame\n"Rechargeable 6 1/2-inch color LCD digital picture frame allows you to display your photos on your desk, shelf or table - anywhere - without a computer! Features a high-definition 133-ppi screen with crisp 720x480 resolution. Display modes include: automatic slide show, full-screen browse and thumbnail browse. Built-in 14MB memory lets you store up to 80 images. Frame has a built-in card reader for direct input of digital data. No computer needed! Connects directly to your digital camera or PC via the included USB cable."\nSource: www.sharperimage.com\nVirtual Keyboard\nThis tiny device laser-projects a keyboard on any flat surface... you can then type away accompanied by simulated key click sounds.\nSource: www.thinkgeek.com
(08/31/06 2:18am)
What's the difference between today's college students and college students 30 years ago?\nIn the '70s, the typical dorm room included all the staples: typewriters, turntables that played only one album at a time and posters with "hang in there" kitties on them. \nFast forward to the 21st century. Replace typewriters with laptops that can save, send and retrieve semesters' worth of reports and visual presentations, record players with handheld MP3 players that can hold enough songs to last a DJ a lifetime and the dated posters with a digital picture frame that can store an entire album and turn it into a slideshow, all before your very eyes.\nThe college students of yesteryear may have gone through school without such high tech luxuries, but it would probably be a different story for today's batch of gadget ga-ga young adults.\n"With stuff like computers and the Internet, we plug our lives away in them and rely on them," says junior Eric Komenda. "Besides, without today's technology, I'd be a lot more bored."\nAnd with many electronics stores reserving floor space in their shops for "back to college" sales fixtures, it's no wonder why today's college students have become so dependent on the convenience of higher end electronics.\nBed Bath & Beyond, for example, has a wide selection of items for college students in its back-to-school sale—including a deluxe coffee maker. This is just one of many gadgets that many insist is a must-have for college students.\n"Nowadays, you should be able to some basic gadgets in your room that will allow you to brew up fresh coffee every morning. Don't settle for cafeteria coffee while living at school," says About.com columnist Sean Paajanen. "You can ask your friends to start calling you 'The Barista.'"\nThis sentiment implying that every college student "should" have gadgets like coffee brewers in their room make it easy to see why students have become so gadget-centric. But what separates today's coffee brewers from the brewers found in dorm rooms 30 years ago?\nThe Flavia Fusion Drink Station from The Sharper Image can hold up to 18 different packets ready to make coffee, lattes, cappuccinos, teas, chais and hot chocolate at the push of a button. You also don't need to clean the brewer out between drinks; no remnants are leaked out to taint your latte with that hint of bitter black coffee. And you can do it all without filters or strainers, all for a mere 100 bucks.\n"Knowing your coffee equipment options can help you make the most of a limiting situation, without having to give up your coffee," Paajanen says.\nStudents certainly know their options when it comes to gadgets in general. If they have the money and the product is in ready availability, they are going to opt for the plasma screen over a cheap and old model with dials and bunny years any day.\nAnd few products offer more options than the illustrious MP3 player. These portable wonders have essentially replaced Walkmans and portable CD players, and college students are taking full advantage of the market's selection of supplementary MP3 accessories to satiate their hunger for all things digital music.\nAccording to Fox News, the New Jersey-based research group Student Monitor conducted a survey in summer 2006 and discovered most college students like iPods more than beer. Students were asked to classify what products they believe to be hip, or "in." Nearly three-fourths of the students surveyed listed iPods as more hip than activities such as text messaging and drinking on the weekends. Beer tied with Facebook in the hipness rankings.\n"For those who believe there's an excessive amount of drinking on campus, now there's something else that's common on campuses," says Eric Weil, a managing partner at Student Monitor.\nIf that isn't a sign of the times, who knows what is?\nThe iPod-crazed populous can find good use in electronics such as the "iHome," an all-in-one AM/FM radio, illuminating clock radio and iPod speaker system. It runs around $90 and can be found at electronics dealers across the country, such as Circuit City.\nBose also makes quality MP3 player speaker systems that college students could consider. For $300, students can enjoy crystal-clear sound with Bose's Sound Dock Digital Music System, which can be found at The Sharper Image. It comes complete with "charge-while-you-play" capability for your iPod to prevent battery death midway through your favorite playlist. It also comes with a remote so you can change songs from clear across the room.\nAnother change from the '70s and '80s is the advancement in video games. Gone are the days of two-player Pong: now video games can allow you to face off against millions across the world. High-end new products like the handheld Nintendo DS Lite allow you to play a variety of games anywhere.\n"One of my favorite gadgets is my DS Lite. It has stolen many days away from me—I like it because I can use it to play in class," laughs sophomore Eric Komenda. "Does that sound really bad?"\nThe Nintendo DS Lite is Nintendo's latest in its handheld line with WiFi capability, which allows you to race against pro Mario Karters—internationally. The Lite goes for $129.99 at Circuit City with games ranging in price from $15 to $40.\nFrom music to video games, these gadgets only make up the tip of the technology iceberg. If college dorms and apartments have changed this much in just a few decades, how will they be decked out in another 30 years? The possibilities are endless. With this in mind, there will probably be few surprises.\nUnless gadgets become more popular than beer again.
(08/31/06 2:16am)
LOS ANGELES -- Hollywood may wish it had kept a great ape, a lion, a witch or a wizard in the bullpen for this fall, whose movie lineup has just two really familiar names: James Bond and Santa Claus.\nThe movie industry's prestige period, when studios trot out their big Academy Award contenders, also has become a steady blockbuster season with such recent hits as "The Lord of the Rings" trilogy, most of the "Harry Potter" flicks and last year's "King Kong" and "The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe."\nLacking any of those entries, the fall schedule is led by "Casino Royale," Daniel Craig's first outing as British superspy Bond.\nInheriting the license to kill from Pierce Brosnan, Craig is the sixth actor to play 007. Adapted from Ian Fleming's first Bond novel, "Casino Royale" takes James back to his beginnings as a young operative taking on a terrorist ring being financed at an exotic gambling hall.\nNot yet the casual womanizer of later years, Bond is assigned a gorgeous woman as ally -- Vesper Lynd (Eva Green), a bean-counter dispatched by British intelligence to keep tabs on the money he's gambling with.\nUncharacteristically, Bond falls in love -- and gets his heart stomped on.\n"We're kind of meeting him for the first time, and a number of things need to be explained. His attitude toward women, how he becomes what he becomes," Craig said. "He meets Vesper, this very beautiful, very complex, very mysterious girl who steals his heart then double-crosses him. It may explain the distrust of Bond for women later."\nHollywood revives a handful of other film franchises this fall, including Tim Allen's "The Santa Clause 3: The Escape Clause," in which Jack Frost (Martin Short) makes a play to steal Christmas from St. Nick.\nWithout the big fantasy spectacles that have been Hollywood's fall mainstays in recent years, real-world stories will have to take up the slack. Luckily for film fans, there's an interesting crop of possibilities:\n-- "All the King's Men," a fresh take on Robert Penn Warren's novel of a Southern political boss inspired by Huey Long, stars Sean Penn as the idealistic leader whose rise to power is poisoned by corruption. "Schindler's List" screenwriter Steven Zaillian directs a cast that includes Anthony Hopkins, Jude Law, Kate Winslet and James Gandolfini.\n-- Clint Eastwood, who directed Penn to a best-actor Oscar in "Mystic River," follows his best-picture champ "Million Dollar Baby" with the World War II saga "Flags of Our Fathers." Starring Ryan Phillippe, Paul Walker, Barry Pepper and Jamie Bell, the film tells the story behind one of the most enduring war photographs: The soldiers who raised the American flag at Iwo Jima.\n-- Martin Scorsese reunites with Leonardo DiCaprio and brings along Jack Nicholson, Matt Damon and Martin Sheen for "The Departed," the director's return to the cops-and-mobsters tales that have been his strong suit. DiCaprio plays a cop who's undercover in Nicholson's crime gang, while Damon plays a mob member who's infiltrated the police department.\n-- After lip-synching to Ray Charles' voice for his Oscar-winning turn in "Ray," Jamie Foxx gets to do some singing of his own in "Dreamgirls," an adaptation of the stage musical that co-stars Beyonce Knowles, Eddie Murphy and "American Idol" finalist Jennifer Hudson. The film follows the triumphs and trials of a trio of female soul singers in the 1960s.\nDirector Bill Condon ("Gods and Monsters") skillfully blends story and character with show-stopping musical numbers and takes singer Knowles and comic Murphy to places audiences have never seen them, Foxx said.
(08/24/06 4:00am)
What makes a good television show? Is it the powerful narratives, rich characters and twisty cliffhangers that keep us coming back for more? Or is it the ease and accessibility of television that we crave? Take a show like "The Simpsons" that requires mindless and casual watching instead of dedication? Whatever draws us to escape into a show on a weekly basis or throw down $50 for an entire season on DVD, television series, when done right, have the ability to take us to places that film often can't touch.\nNow while I could probably sit down and pour out a list of great shows of the past and present, I am writing to praise one particular program that you are most likely unaware of or haven't yet given a shot. Why devote an entire column to one show you ask? Because television just doesn't get any better than this.\nHBO's intricate puzzle, "The Wire," first premiered in 2002 to stellar reviews but fairly mediocre ratings. Following in the footsteps of the unsurpassed network's other hits -- "The Sopranos," "Six Feet Under" and "Sex in the City" -- creator/ex-police officer David Simon and his crew of diligent writers set out to take on the police drama genre. The result was a show that took an honest look at crime, government corruption, police politics and the world of drugs in one of America's hardest cities. Above all it managed to give us some of the most riveting characters to ever join the history of television.\nThe world of "The Wire" tackles the streets of Baltimore, a city that has had its share of fame in the entertainment world (previous cop drama and past Simon endeavor "Homicide: Life on the Streets" also chronicled the city's crime ridden milieu). While the Eastern shore city has always been the focus of the show, the themes and issues dealt with in the series are prevalent to any place plagued by the war on drugs.\nThe beauty of the show is that it covers all grounds of the city's drug epidemic. Sure it's a cop show, dealing with the inner workings of the various city police departments and special units, but just like in real life, this element of the battle is only a piece of the bigger picture. Instead of focusing solely on the actions of a couple rogue cops as they uncover weekly cases (a simple but tedious formula that has worked wonders for shows like "CSI" or the horde of prosaic "Law & Order" shows), "The Wire" chronicles everything from the source of the drugs to its corner dealings. It explores the corruption on the streets to the corruption in the court. From the solutions to the sheer despair, nothing is left unexamined.\nThe first season introduced us to the major characters and the inner-workings of the drug trafficking life (or "the game") on the streets of Baltimore, focusing almost exclusively on one Avon Barksdale and his crime syndicate. It showed the pressures of chain of command -- both on the streets and on the force -- and proved that police work is not as glamorous as it is often portrayed in the movies or on other shows.\nSeason two did a radical 180, focusing most of its attention on the corruption of city port unions and its ties to the trafficking of stolen goods, illegal immigrants used as sex slaves and (of course) drugs. The show devoted an entire season to the lives and stories of a group of low-key Polish longshoremen and turned it into ripe drama that at times felt like a Greek tragedy. How many shows out there do that and get away with it? The second season proved that not only had "The Wire" bested its predecessor, but it could also take the unglamorous and make it captivating. Of course, similarly to the first season, the ratings were minimal and the show was ignored from awards like the Emmy's, despite stellar acting performances and flawless writing.\nSeason three, released on DVD in preparation for the season four premiere Sept. 10, moved away from the ports and returned to the slums of Baltimore. "The Wire's" third act brought into play issues of family and loyalty and questioned the logistics of the war on drugs from both sides, with the cops testing new radical methods of decreasing crime and the dealer crews testing their hands at business-focused peace accords. Again, the characters were all portrayed with breathtaking realism and honesty and the writing couldn't have been better (for you pulp novel buffs out there this season welcomed crime novelist Richard Price [Clockers] to its impressive canon).\n"The Wire" is not an easy show to watch. It requires a great deal of patience and devotion and asks a lot more out of its viewer than your average drama. Like a great novel, you cannot just pick it up at any time and a complete knowledge of the show's history is a must. Like great literature, however, the end results will leave you heavily rewarded and in a state of awe. It's simply that good.\nFor anyone tired of the same high body counts and stale characters of prime-time cop shows or for those who already respect HBO's impressive repertoire, watch this show. You will not be disappointed: After the first fix, the television fiend in you will no doubt keep coming back for more. You'll be addicted to the drug drama.
(08/24/06 3:06am)
What makes a good television show? Is it the powerful narratives, rich characters and twisty cliffhangers that keep us coming back for more? Or is it the ease and accessibility of television that we crave? Take a show like "The Simpsons" that requires mindless and casual watching instead of dedication? Whatever draws us to escape into a show on a weekly basis or throw down $50 for an entire season on DVD, television series, when done right, have the ability to take us to places that film often can't touch.\nNow while I could probably sit down and pour out a list of great shows of the past and present, I am writing to praise one particular program that you are most likely unaware of or haven't yet given a shot. Why devote an entire column to one show you ask? Because television just doesn't get any better than this.\nHBO's intricate puzzle, "The Wire," first premiered in 2002 to stellar reviews but fairly mediocre ratings. Following in the footsteps of the unsurpassed network's other hits -- "The Sopranos," "Six Feet Under" and "Sex in the City" -- creator/ex-police officer David Simon and his crew of diligent writers set out to take on the police drama genre. The result was a show that took an honest look at crime, government corruption, police politics and the world of drugs in one of America's hardest cities. Above all it managed to give us some of the most riveting characters to ever join the history of television.\nThe world of "The Wire" tackles the streets of Baltimore, a city that has had its share of fame in the entertainment world (previous cop drama and past Simon endeavor "Homicide: Life on the Streets" also chronicled the city's crime ridden milieu). While the Eastern shore city has always been the focus of the show, the themes and issues dealt with in the series are prevalent to any place plagued by the war on drugs.\nThe beauty of the show is that it covers all grounds of the city's drug epidemic. Sure it's a cop show, dealing with the inner workings of the various city police departments and special units, but just like in real life, this element of the battle is only a piece of the bigger picture. Instead of focusing solely on the actions of a couple rogue cops as they uncover weekly cases (a simple but tedious formula that has worked wonders for shows like "CSI" or the horde of prosaic "Law & Order" shows), "The Wire" chronicles everything from the source of the drugs to its corner dealings. It explores the corruption on the streets to the corruption in the court. From the solutions to the sheer despair, nothing is left unexamined.\nThe first season introduced us to the major characters and the inner-workings of the drug trafficking life (or "the game") on the streets of Baltimore, focusing almost exclusively on one Avon Barksdale and his crime syndicate. It showed the pressures of chain of command -- both on the streets and on the force -- and proved that police work is not as glamorous as it is often portrayed in the movies or on other shows.\nSeason two did a radical 180, focusing most of its attention on the corruption of city port unions and its ties to the trafficking of stolen goods, illegal immigrants used as sex slaves and (of course) drugs. The show devoted an entire season to the lives and stories of a group of low-key Polish longshoremen and turned it into ripe drama that at times felt like a Greek tragedy. How many shows out there do that and get away with it? The second season proved that not only had "The Wire" bested its predecessor, but it could also take the unglamorous and make it captivating. Of course, similarly to the first season, the ratings were minimal and the show was ignored from awards like the Emmy's, despite stellar acting performances and flawless writing.\nSeason three, released on DVD in preparation for the season four premiere Sept. 10, moved away from the ports and returned to the slums of Baltimore. "The Wire's" third act brought into play issues of family and loyalty and questioned the logistics of the war on drugs from both sides, with the cops testing new radical methods of decreasing crime and the dealer crews testing their hands at business-focused peace accords. Again, the characters were all portrayed with breathtaking realism and honesty and the writing couldn't have been better (for you pulp novel buffs out there this season welcomed crime novelist Richard Price [Clockers] to its impressive canon).\n"The Wire" is not an easy show to watch. It requires a great deal of patience and devotion and asks a lot more out of its viewer than your average drama. Like a great novel, you cannot just pick it up at any time and a complete knowledge of the show's history is a must. Like great literature, however, the end results will leave you heavily rewarded and in a state of awe. It's simply that good.\nFor anyone tired of the same high body counts and stale characters of prime-time cop shows or for those who already respect HBO's impressive repertoire, watch this show. You will not be disappointed: After the first fix, the television fiend in you will no doubt keep coming back for more. You'll be addicted to the drug drama.
