Community Arts

Plenty of heartache to go around

By C. Warner Sills and -Brian Johnson · Wednesday, Dec. 10,2003 5:27 p.m.

Everyone gets to-do lists these days. There are so many of the damn things they prevent VH1 from even showing music videos any more. I admit, they're addictive to watch.

These boys ain't dead yet

By C. Warner Sills and Melissa Harrold · Wednesday, Dec. 10,2003 5:25 p.m.

If you haven't heard of Rocket from the Tombs, you might know the two punk bands that its members went on to form: Pere Ubu and The Dead Boys. While RFTT lived and died in mid-'70s Cleveland before anyone had heard of The Ramones, their intense guitar-driven rock is generally considered a major influence on later punk bands.

'Mario 3' plumbs the heights

By C. Warner Sills and Matt Seremet · Wednesday, Dec. 10,2003 5:24 p.m.

Back in 1989, Fred Savage starred in The Wizard, a movie whose only exciting moment came from the first glimpse at the highly anticipated Mario 3. Unlike Savage's career, Super Mario Bros. 3 has only gotten better with age.

DVD's extras add to great story

By C. Warner Sills and Doug Evans · Wednesday, Dec. 10,2003 5:23 p.m.

Pirate stories are usually about the same old stuff. Angry pirates with peg legs and silly moustaches sail the high seas following a treasure map with an "X" that marks the spot of the treasure. But, Pirates of the Caribbean is surprisingly different. It has a good storyline, wonderful direction and excellent acting including a flawless performance by Edward Scissorhands himself, Johnny Depp.

Jones, Blanchett elevate folk yarn

By -Alec Toombs · Wednesday, Dec. 10,2003 5:20 p.m.

Ron Howard has an immensely eclectic cinematic rap sheet. His directorial decisions have brought him into contact with mermaids, midgets, millionaires and mathematicians, as well as parents, pyros, pugilists and publishers. Now with his latest film, The Missing, he's attempting to rescue the oft-ignored Western genre. The resulting work, while not bad, is certainly less than awe-inspiring.

'Honey' is sweet -- but also cheesy

By C. Warner Sills and Jessica Dalsing · Wednesday, Dec. 10,2003 5:19 p.m.

The cheesy, yet heartwarming Honey has all the makings of an after-school special. A little far-fetched, it recycles familiar themes: kid has hard life on the street but gets turned around, girl becomes a star overnight but struggles to keep herself grounded. The story stars a young woman living in the Bronx trying to fulfill her dreams against all odds.

'Mansion' just as boring as the ride

By -Paul Straw · Wednesday, Dec. 10,2003 5:18 p.m.

The Haunted Mansion definitely has beautiful looking production design but a storyline so clichéd it seems to have been written while the scriptwriter was waiting in the rides line.

'Stain' is only 'human'

By -Kehla West · Wednesday, Dec. 10,2003 5:17 p.m.

The Human Stain, based on Philip Roth's mammoth novel, is a story of identity and the secrets we build our lives around.

Cruise shines in film from same cut as 'Gladiator'

By -Paul Straw · Wednesday, Dec. 10,2003 5:15 p.m.

At the core of The Last Samurai is a battle between discipline and honor versus power -- a battle between the past and the future. Samurai is an epic story cut from the same mold as Braveheart, Gladiator and Dances with Wolves. And yes, it does deserve to be mentioned in the same category.

With newfound maturity, Blink does a '182' on listeners

By C. Warner Sills and Matt Seremet · Wednesday, Dec. 10,2003 5:13 p.m.

The dead smiley face on the cover of the new blink-182 album says one thing: the joke is over. The self-titled release finally throws out the lame dick jokes and moves the band in a bold direction.

The Thriller is gone

By C. Warner Sills and Greg O'Neill · Wednesday, Dec. 10,2003 5:12 p.m.

Now that Michael Jackson is officially an American tragedy on par with Elvis Presley or the Titanic, it's time to dole out the hits. But what's this? Only two cuts from Off the Wall? Only three from Thriller?! This compilation is about as representative of Jackson's music as High Times magazine is of current events.

McCartney can't just 'let it be'-- and it's better

By C. Warner Sills and Melisssa Harold · Wednesday, Dec. 10,2003 5:10 p.m.

Let it Be has always been one of the most controversial Beatles albums. The last Beatles effort to be released before the band's breakup in 1970, Let it Be was actually recorded before Abbey Road, amid much tension between the band members.

Underworld techno's underheard collective

By C. Warner Sills and -Nate Bethea · Wednesday, Dec. 10,2003 5:09 p.m.

In America, Underworld holds the unfortunate distinction of being "another techno band." They are neither Fatboy Slim nor Moby, and as a result, most of their fame here is as undignified as Blur being known as "the guys who did that 'Woo-Hoo' song."

I am Enrique; hear me whine

By C. Warner Sills and Jake Bilinski · Wednesday, Dec. 10,2003 5:08 p.m.

One thing I like about Enrique Iglesias: he thinks he's awesome. He's so vain I bet he blares his own albums when grinding his Latin love to (tennis) ball-stroking Anna Kournikova.

Book it: 'Librarian' satisfying Amos anthology

By C. Warner Sills and Ryan Bridewell · Wednesday, Dec. 10,2003 5:08 p.m.

First, we have to agree that no compilation put out by Tori Amos could ever satisfy everyone. It's just not possible. For those looking for all of one's favorites or even her most popular songs, one will need to burn one's own CD.

Whoa, Nelly -- Furtado delivers eclectic blend

By C. Warner Sills and -Jenny Kobiela · Wednesday, Dec. 10,2003 5:07 p.m.

It's obvious when listening to Nelly Furtado that her musical experience has varied. The 24-year-old Portuguese-Canadian features a wide range of musical flavors on her second album Folklore.

Songs from A Major artist

By C. Warner Sills and Diana Tychsen · Wednesday, Dec. 10,2003 5:06 p.m.

Forget the flood of publicity accompanying the infamous Britney/Madonna make-out session for a second. Now, remember Alicia Keys' performance at last year's MTV Music Awards, which generated just as much media coverage in 2002.

City Lights, Holiday Delights

By C. Warner Sills and Doug Smith · Wednesday, Dec. 10,2003 5:02 p.m.

Before you head to the warm comforts of home and ring in the new year, roll out the ol' yule log and settle down for some good times in southern Indiana. And what exactly is a yule log, you may ask? Well, I asked Jeeves from www.askjeeves.com the same question.

'Cheer' of the unknown

By C. Warner Sills and Mike McElroy · Wednesday, Dec. 10,2003 5 p.m.

Senior Michelle Thompson sits on a twin-sized bed and picks at her fourth-hand, red and white '94 Mexican-made Fender Stratocaster. She, bassist Jimmy "Governor Scum" Doolan and drummer Charlie Anderson sit crammed into Anderson's small, cold "office" during the first practice session the three have had together. She alternately fiddles with the tuning heads and flips through a book entitled "The Encyclopedia of the Gods," looking for band names.

This column is for mature audiences only

By C. Warner Sills and Jake Bilinski · Wednesday, Dec. 10,2003 4:33 p.m.

Film is a complex thing. It can be entertaining or dull, poignant or pointless. It's the ultimate form of storytelling, utilizing sight and sound as a sensory canvas on which a two-dimensional picture is painted.