IUSA

Life in the 'Burbs

By Cordell Eddings and Cordell M. Eddings · Wednesday, Nov. 9,2005 9:01 p.m.

A crescendo of laughter and complaints have followed the notorious career of the little three-paneled comic strip "The Boondocks," since its quiet debut in college newspaper in 1997 at the University of Maryland. And creator Aaron McGruder's new animated series will ensure that those who haven't gotten the chance to be shocked or enlightened (depending on who you ask) reading the strip will learn their lesson visually.

Where's the reality in that?

By Alyson Brodsy and Ryan McLaughlin · Wednesday, Nov. 9,2005 8:57 p.m.

If there's one thing that gives me a proverbial rash it's "Laguna Beach." This horrible excuse for television is a prime example of TV execs wringing out the wet rag of a popular trend until every penny has dripped out -- in this case, so-called "reality TV." I mean, as if the first 20 seasons of "Survivor" weren't enough. Or the infinite number of piss-poor "Joe Millionaire"/"The Bachelor" shows, where people get to meet perfect strangers and then after 10 episodes marry them. What a great example for the youth of America today.

What's on your wall?

By Alyson Brodsy and Michael Mellini · Wednesday, Nov. 9,2005 8:56 p.m.

I love looking into other people's dorm rooms. I don't necessarily care to meet those who inhabit them. I don't really care about how the beds are set up or the fancy lamp shades. My attention goes straight to the posters on the wall. Lately this game has become a bore. Every room seems to have the same posters. It's time for people to be different. We need to escape the lure of what I deem the "college posters." There are several overused posters.

Did you get the memo?

By Alyson Brodsy and Ash Cartwright · Wednesday, Nov. 9,2005 8:54 p.m.

As most of us already know, "work sucks." It's because we know this that we appreciate "Office Space." It seems when it came out six years ago, "Office Space" was underviewed but word spread and by now most people recognize it for what it is. This film is hilarious -- implausible but hilarious -- because it manages to resonate with anyone who has ever worked or contemplated the possibility of ending up in an office. Peter (Ron Livingston) is frustrated with his life, especially his painfully monotonous and frustrating job at Initech Corporation.

Not your normal family drama

By C. Warner Sills and Alyson Brodsy · Wednesday, Nov. 9,2005 8:52 p.m.

"Millions" is one of those films that leave you feeling good when the end credits begin to role. It's disguised as a simple family film with the same generic ethical issues you might find in an after-school special, however, as the movie progresses and the plot unfolds, we are presented with something much more important and meaningful.

'Pete & Pete' a brilliant paradox

By Alyson Brodsy and Daniel Hiester · Wednesday, Nov. 9,2005 8:49 p.m.

We had it lucky growing up. The kid shows we had were truly great, like "The Tick" and "Pinky and the Brain." But before an invulnerable idiot in blue spandex foiled a chair-faced madman's plan to deface the moon, and before two albino lab mice tried to take over the world, there were two red-headed brothers with the same name whose epic suburban adventures became the stuff of cult legend.

This 'angel' is a blessing

By Alyson Brodsy and Olivia Morales · Wednesday, Nov. 9,2005 8:46 p.m.

"An Angel at My Table" is a rare commodity: a film about a woman saved by her work. It's an uncommon scenario in today's films, where most narratives insist people can only be saved by each other. The film follows the life of Janet Frame, an English prodigy, from her childhood into adult years where she is hospitalized for schizophrenia. She then remains in the psych ward for eight years, not because she is crazy, but because she is paralyzed by her own fear of the outside world. Her way to heal herself is by writing stories and poems, which eventually free her from her self-made prison.

Not quite 'elite' but good

By Alyson Brodsy and Chris Freiberg · Wednesday, Nov. 9,2005 8:44 p.m.

This generation of consoles has been oversaturated with stealth and World War II games to a point few gamers can really enjoy anymore. But amazingly, with "Sniper Elite," Namco has come out with a WWII stealth game that is actually fun to play and brings something new to both genres. In "Sniper Elite," you take on the role of a U.S. sniper in the closing days of the war who must stop the Russians from getting a hold of Germany's atomic secrets.

The concert of a lifetime

By Alyson Brodsy and Ryan McLaughlin · Wednesday, Nov. 9,2005 8:42 p.m.

In 1971 George Harrison agreed to help his friend, legendary sitar player Ravi Shankar, find a way to assist the refugees from war-torn Bangladesh. What resulted was the first large-scale benefit concert. The concert, held on Aug. 1, 1971, featured many influential musicians and friends of Harrison all playing under the direction of the late formal Beatle.

A DVD trip to the Dark Side

By Alyson Brodsy and John Barnett · Wednesday, Nov. 9,2005 8:40 p.m.

Rarely in cinematic history have films begun with a money shot, but such is the case with George Lucas' latest, and most likely final, astronomically budgeted, multi-billion-dollar-grossing "Stars Wars" installment. Anakin Skywalker and Obi-Wan Kenobi pilot their Jedi Starfighters over the expansive surface of a massive cruiser ship, then plunge headlong into the biggest and most chaotic space battle (or battle, for that matter) ever seen in any film. The first 25 minutes of "Star Wars: Episode III" is crammed with non-stop action, almost to the point of geekish delirium.

Fear of the 'dark' light

By Alyson Brodsy and Chris Wisner · Wednesday, Nov. 9,2005 8:37 p.m.

Hot Topic's favorite sons H.I.M. (His Infernal Majesty) have returned once again with Dark Light, a new album full of depressing dirges and melancholic music emulating their entire back-catalog. Thanks to Bam Margera's love affair with H.I.M., their music reaches the minds of every impressionable kid between the ages of 13-18, begging them to ask the ultimate question: should I just commit suicide now or try and become a vampire?

Say it ain't so Trey!

By Alyson Brodsy and Jeff O'Reilly · Wednesday, Nov. 9,2005 8:34 p.m.

Following the breakup of the seminal prog-rock/jamband Phish, Phish frontman Trey Anastasio quickly sought to break all ties with the band and its grassroots organization, favoring a clean slate for a solo career. Shine finds Anastasio, who released five solo works while with Phish, working free of the limits that come with the title of "side project." Phish's last release Undermind found Anastasio's compositions evolving from mere launch pads for the extended jams that came to define Phish into songs you might find on an alt-rock radio station.

'All' is nothing much

By Alyson Brodsy and Jeff O'Reilly · Wednesday, Nov. 9,2005 8:31 p.m.

Turn on VH1, plug in the guitar and press record. This seems to be the formula for Santana albums these days. It comes as no surprise that All That I Am, Santana's second attempt at recreating the magic of 1999's Grammy classic Supernatural, is the guitar legend's most unimaginative work to date. The man who released masterpieces such as Abraxas and Caravanserai noodles and wanks his way through 13 tracks that seemingly feature whatever pop star walked into his studio that morning, stars such as "American Idol" reject Bo Bice. Carlos, please, do we have to endure yet another "collaborative" effort?

OK to blink

By Alyson Brodsy and Sam Nissen · Wednesday, Nov. 9,2005 8:27 p.m.

When Blink-182 broke up, every stereotypical hate-it-cause-it's-on-the-air rock listener took their shots at the pop-punk band. In 30 seconds flat they could denigrate any punk band whose lead singer didn't sound like he just finished smoking 60 French cigarettes. Me, on the other hand, I nearly cried. Well, not really. But I wasn't happy about it. The high school dropouts produced some of the greatest summer anthems, doing so in great teenage angst style. Which was perfect for me -- I was a teen when all of their albums came out. Not to mention, these were the guys I had seen play amazing shows, always with great company. They introduced me to Mest, New Found Glory and Simple Plan before any of them made it big. They also toured with two bands I love, Green Day and No Doubt, during back-to-back summer concerts.

Still 'fresh' after all these years

By Alyson Brodsy and Evan Ross · Wednesday, Nov. 9,2005 8:24 p.m.

Punk music tends to not look back. However, with the genre falling into such disarray in the 80s and early 90s, there has been a resurgence in punk nostalgia. The San Francisco band the Dead Kennedys re-released their first full-length album Fresh Fruit for Rotting Vegetables in order to celebrate its 25th anniversary. In a quarter of a century, a lot has changed in the music world. However, this repackaging of Fresh Fruit is a perfect example of paying attention to the past while still inspiring others for the future.

A modest effort from Kozelek

By Alyson Brodsy and Nate Gowdy · Wednesday, Nov. 9,2005 8:21 p.m.

Alright. Time to familiarize people with Red House Painters/Sun Kil Moon leader Mark Kozelek. Kozelek began making music with his group the Red House Painters in the early 90s. After RHP's split in 2001, the singer-songwriter-producer-guitarist went solo on an album of AC/DC covers which were so unlike the originals a radio station in Santa Barbara misinterpreted one track as a Leonard Cohen number. Then, in 2003, Kozelek released Ghosts of the Great Highway with his unplugged Sun Kil Moon project, sounding like the House Painters' folksier, sunnier alter ego. Fast forward two years to the present, Kozelek's at it again with a sophomore album under the Sun Kil Moon moniker.

F. Scott's turning over in his grave

By Alyson Brodsy and Mary Hansell · Wednesday, Nov. 9,2005 8:18 p.m.

There's a lot of pressure involved in remaking a film. There's probably an even greater pressure when trying to remake a film based off what has been called one of the best American novels of all time. In the film "G," director Christopher Scott Cherot has taken F. Scott Fitzgerald's well-known novel "The Great Gatsby" and re-imagined it with a modern spin. "G," an independent film produced in 2002 and now playing at Kerasotes West, is most simply described as what happens when hip-hop meets the Hamptons.

Clooney gains much directorial credibility

By Alyson Brodsy and Doug Evans · Wednesday, Nov. 9,2005 8:15 p.m.

"Good Night, and Good Luck" is a great film on many levels, but above all, it's important and relevant. It demonstrates journalism in its purest form and features the most honest and integral journalist of his time, Edward R. Murrow (Strathairn in a role that demands Oscar consideration).

'Chicken' has a bad case of ADD

By Alyson Brodsy and Matt McMullan · Wednesday, Nov. 9,2005 8:10 p.m.

I remember the first time I heard about Pokémon. Must've been seven or eight years ago. On the evening news they said some cartoon show in Japan was causing seizures in epileptic children. Lots of flashing lights, everything moving at a hyperactive pace.

'Jarhead' doesn't suck

By Alyson Brodsy and Chris Wisner · Wednesday, Nov. 9,2005 8:06 p.m.

In 1999 when Sam Mendes made his directorial debut with "American Beauty" and cleaned up at the Oscars, people knew he was going to be a big deal. In 2002 with "Road to Perdition," he easily changed gears from mid-life crises in suburbia to vengeful neo-noir while one-upping himself. Now in 2005 Mendes heads into the war zone with "Jarhead," adapting Anthony "Swoff" Swofford's account as a malcontent Marine during Desert Storm. From his days in boot camp, into Desert Shield and ultimately Desert Storm, Swoff's (Jake Gyllenhaal) military duty is nothing like the movies made it out to be. Sitting there watching helicopters destroy a village in "Apocalypse Now," hoping to see the same kind of action found in "The Deer Hunter," Swoff gets to the desert and does nothing.