Region

Rebels threaten Haitian capital as foreigners flee

By Alyson Brodsy and Michael Norton · Wednesday, Feb. 25,2004 11:38 p.m.

PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti -- Foreigners tried to flee Haiti on Wednesday, some guarded by U.S. Marines, as looting erupted in the capital and pressure mounted for international intervention in the 3-week-old uprising against President Jean-Bertrand Aristide. Panic overtook the city, although there was no sign of the rebels who have overrun half of Haiti and are threatening Port-au-Prince.

Consistent with the times

By Alyson Brodsy · Wednesday, Feb. 25,2004 11:29 p.m.

Hoosiers should appreciate Indiana's unpredictability. But some, like Republican candidate for governor Mitch Daniels, certainly don't. Daniels is proposing a plan that would force all of Indiana into the Central time zone. His idea would also bring daylight-saving time to a state in which 77 of 92 counties don't change their clocks.

Free -- but it'll cost you

By Alyson Brodsy and Melanie Sims · Wednesday, Feb. 25,2004 11:25 p.m.

Big girls need not apply. New York City's Harlem Men's Club seeks single, college-educated women between 21 and 39 years old, interested in finding equally-degreed fellas. No baby mamas allowed.

My private Gilded Age

By Alyson Brodsy and Paul Musgrave · Wednesday, Feb. 25,2004 11:22 p.m.

SHANGHAI -- Two numbers -- 1.2 meters and 75 cents -- define the successes and limits of China's generation-long economic boom.

Marriage malady

By Alyson Brodsy and Jack Silverstein · Wednesday, Feb. 25,2004 11:18 p.m.

First off, let me just say I don't buy any of this hogwash about people opposing gay marriage because they want to "preserve the sanctity of marriage."

Teen queen not a scream

By Holly Johnson and Holy Johnson · Wednesday, Feb. 25,2004 11 p.m.

Even a healthy dose of vintage-infused Prada can't save Sara Sugarman's latest offering -- in fact, hip fashion sense is about the only thing "Confessions of a Teenage Drama Queen" has going for it. The basic plot is familiar enough

Another risqué teen sex comedy

By -Jenny Kobiela · Wednesday, Feb. 25,2004 10:59 p.m.

Raunchy teen sex romps are nothing new. Over the past five years or so, Hollywood has produced countless movies involving horny high school and college-aged kids trying to get laid. "Eurotrip" is definitely not anything new in that department.

Glass' story far from 'Shattered'

By Amanda Trost · Wednesday, Feb. 25,2004 10:59 p.m.

A whiny, insecure, placating overachiever -- that's how Hayden Christensen portrays journalism's posterboy for bad behavior, Stephen Glass. "Shattered Glass" recreates the real-life events leading up to the downfall of the seemingly brilliant career of The New Republic's youngest reporter.

Brooke sets herself apart

By Ryan Whirty · Wednesday, Feb. 25,2004 10:54 p.m.

Since forming the poppy folk duo The Story with Jennifer Kimball, Jonatha Brooke has produced intimate and inspiring music which, in the tradition of great singer-songwriters, has connected on a very deep and personal level with her audience. Back in the Circus, her fifth solo release and third on her own Bad Dog label, continues that trend while at the same time displaying a woman who is both branching out and staying true to what made her popular.

'Jury' gives no reason to 'Runaway'

By Jennifer Whalen · Wednesday, Feb. 25,2004 10:52 p.m.

For those who love a good legal drama with a surprise twist ending, "Runaway Jury" is the movie to see. Based on the John Grisham novel, "Runaway Jury" gives an inside look at jury selection and how legal councils determine who will serve on their jury.

'Masked and Anonymous' meandering

By John Barnett · Wednesday, Feb. 25,2004 10:51 p.m.

"Masked and Anonymous" could well be the most fascinating train wreck I've ever witnessed. Featuring a stunning and seemingly neverending cast, and co-written by a true geniuses of our time (Bob Dylan), the story centers loosely around the organization of a benefit concert which is somehow the focus of the entire post-apocalyptic dystopia in which the film is based.

'New Found Power' to suck

By Neal Taflinger · Wednesday, Feb. 25,2004 10:07 p.m.

Several years ago, vocalist Phil Anselmo stopped speaking to guitarist Dimebag Darrell and drummer Vinnie Paul -- hence, Pantera was no more. Anselmo made his critically lauded side project Down a full-time gig, and then moved onto fan favorite Superjoint Ritual. Meanwhile, Dimebag and Vinnie moved onto a steaming pile of crap otherwise known as Damageplan.

Ninety minutes of music? 'C'mon ...'

By -Nate Bethea · Wednesday, Feb. 25,2004 10:01 p.m.

It's odd to see a band billed as alternative or indie when its style is literally adult contemporary. Upon listening, it seems quite a surprise to see Lambchop on the same label as …And You Will Know Us by the Trail of Dead and Neutral Milk Hotel, although the latter is at least somewhat similar. Lambchop's new double album Aw C'mon/No, You C'mon comes across as a genre-changing, string-heavy lounge act with a Randy Newman clone singing bass, and as frightening as it sounds, it works.

It's 'Simple:' Give us Mo' fire

By Ryan Whirty · Wednesday, Feb. 25,2004 9:57 p.m.

Meb' Mo' (né Kevin Moore) grew up in Compton, Calif., the cradle of so-called gangsta rap. But unlike Ice Cube and Dr. Dre, Keb' Mo' was more interested in channeling Robert Johnson than sparking a hip-hop revolution.

Hackman hits hackdom in 'Mooseport'

By Tony Sams · Wednesday, Feb. 25,2004 9:52 p.m.

Welcome to Mooseport" can't make up its mind. It wants to be a political satire and a romantic comedy simultaneously, but each genre detracts from the other so much that everything bottoms out. This would be a good movie if it had simply chosen one way or the other.

'Rocky' meets Meg Ryan

By Doug Evans · Wednesday, Feb. 25,2004 9:46 p.m.

As far as boxing films go, Sylvester Stalone set the bar pretty high with "Rocky." So far only Scorsese's "Raging Bull" even comes close, though "Against the Ropes" gives it the old college try. The major difference "Ropes" brings to the table is it focuses not on the boxer but on the boxing manager, who just happens to be a woman.

Final Fantasy returns to Nintendo ... finally

By David Antognoli · Wednesday, Feb. 25,2004 10:35 a.m.

After a long boycott of Nintendo consoles, Square and Nintendo have reunited at last, first with "Final Fantasy Tactics Advance" for Game Boy, and now with "Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles."

'Everything' leaves you shaken, not stirred

By -Mitch Nelson · Wednesday, Feb. 25,2004 10:23 a.m.

After playing the new action adventure title from Electronic Arts Games you'll be telling everyone you know that you are "Bond: James Bond."

Masters of Munchies

By C. Warner Sills and Jess Huffman and Kristen DaRosa · Wednesday, Feb. 25,2004 10:20 a.m.

It's nearing 2 a.m. on a Friday night and Kirkwood Ave. is dead. The exception is a group of three girls in tight jeans and sleeveless, black tops who despite their better judgment, run to Kilroy's Bar and Grill in 11-degree temperature.

Feels like repetition

By John Barnett · Wednesday, Feb. 25,2004 10:18 a.m.

The image is still seared into my brain. February 2003. An uncomfortable-looking jazz pianist who didn't write the majority of her own material holding two armfuls of Grammy Awards which should have been divided up equally between Bruce Springsteen and Eminem. The pianist in question was none other than the daughter of the greatest sitar player in history, Ravi Shankar, without whom the Indian flourishes which graced late-period Beatles albums would not have existed. His daughter's name is Norah Jones, and I, for one, don't understand the phenomenon.