Region

'Orta' graphics superior in battle scenes

By Neal Meyer · Wednesday, Feb. 12,2003 12:53 p.m.

Sega's "Panzer Dragoon" series originally appeared on the Sega Saturn console, which means it was played by about a dozen people. Fortunately, those 12 people are fans of the ravenous and loyal variety, prompting Sega to bring "Panzer Dragoon Orta" to the Xbox. What Sega has created is a beautifully crafted, surreally imagined and supremely entertaining gaming experience.

Down the old mainstream

By Michael Tapscott · Wednesday, Feb. 12,2003 12:52 p.m.

On a day in which the imminent terror status at home was elevated to high, anything short of blood on the stage was going to seem irrelevant. That was precisely the presence of The Nicotones on the night of their release party for their newest EP, You Got It Raw. Though hardly a beacon of the populous, Saturday night at Rhino's was not a symbol of the new disenfranchised youth, it was of the blinded, non-involved and conservative suburbanites.

Brody magnificent in Holocaust film as 'The Pianist'

By Mike D’Avria · Wednesday, Feb. 12,2003 12:49 p.m.

Every year there are a few Holocaust films that come out, but don't leave a lasting impression. With the exception of memorable films like "Schindler's List," and "Life is Beautiful," many of these films about the Nazi persecution of the Jewish people leave the theater and are soon forgotten. Roman Polanski's new film "The Pianist," is one film that will not be forgotten, and is truly one of the best films of this past year.

Noyce's film nearly flaw-proof

By by Isaac Edwards and Isaac Edwards · Wednesday, Feb. 12,2003 12:47 p.m.

Returning to his Outback homeland, big budget director Phillip Noyce ("The Bone Collector") has given us "Rabbit-Proof Fence," a film of understated power and beauty, delving into a still raw period of Australian history concerning their indigenous people, the Aborigines. From 1905 to 1971, the Australian government sanctioned the kidnapping of "half-caste" children, who came from Aboriginal-white marriages, and placed them in institutes where they could be "domesticated," or white-washed, depending on your particular spin. Today, these children are known as the Stolen Generations.

Same 'ol story, different people

By Natalie A. Trout · Wednesday, Feb. 12,2003 12:45 p.m.

Man gets paid to take out woman. Plan fails when he falls for her. She finds out, gets angry and gets over it. Haven't moviegoers seen this before over and over again? It's been done before, and apparently it's still popular among screenwriters because the latest LL Cool J flick, "Deliver Us From Eva" is exactly like other movies we've seen in this genre.

Lead singer puts band out of business

By K James Sward · Wednesday, Feb. 12,2003 12:42 p.m.

It's been proven that music can be big business for those with even the slightest degree of talent. But what if one has no degree of talent? Well folks, that's been done as well, but the point is the All Mighty Senators, with their combination of hip-hop, funk and jazz, is a dismal reminder of what happens when a bad singer gets put with a good band. The one positive thing that can be said for the Senators is they know how to play their instruments. The album pulls off some rocking guitar riffs, pumpin' bass, smooth brass and the grooving sounds of synthesizer and percussion to pull it all together.

Moe's latest effort more than Okayalright

By Ryan Allen · Wednesday, Feb. 12,2003 12:41 p.m.

With jam-bands, the finished products usually fall short of expectations of unmerciful critics and zealous hordes of fans. The Buffalo, N.Y., quintet moe. has finally overcome a string of poor studio records to produce the first great jam record of the new millennium. moe. used live recordings to lay the basic tracks for Wormwood, a technique used previously by the Grateful Dead. The album is curiously raw and musically diverse. The unorthodox approach to a studio record allows moe. to do what it does best: use its instruments and voices to assemble a polyrhythmic jam machine that flows without the aid of studio voodoo.

Wilson and Chan bide time in latest buddy pic

By Ryan McAdams · Wednesday, Feb. 12,2003 12:39 p.m.

For all the bizarre charm of Owen Wilson, even he cannot transcend the flavorless environment of "Shanghai Knights." All of the elements from the first film ("Shanghai Noon") remain: the throwaway references to pop-culture (this is one of the most gloriously anachronistic films ever), the ingenuity involved in setting up rather boring fight scenes and the one-man band of Owen Wilson, who appears to believe that if he beats his drum loud enough, eventually all will begin to dance with him.

Generals deserve at least the bronze medal

By -Val Tsoutsouris · Wednesday, Feb. 12,2003 12:35 p.m.

The Baptist Generals sound like they've been on a three-day bender, and apparently, when they haven't immersed themselves in liquor, they have immersed themselves in Tom Waits records. Putting a modern take on the folk-blues the way Califone put a modern take on bluegrass, The Baptist Generals embrace a back-porch feel, though in their world, back-porch doesn't mean laid-back. Frontman Chris Flemmons hurls a couple of expletives and, apparently, his guitar after "Ay Distress." Don't worry, Chris. The take made the album. For the record, The Baptist Generals' back porch is located in Denton, Tex., and like many artists from Texas, they are a genre unto themselves. They aren't afraid of their originality though, just of their bad personal habits.

Juliana Theory sounds impossibly unoriginal

By -Val Tsoutsouris · Wednesday, Feb. 12,2003 12:34 p.m.

That the Greensburg, Pa. quintet The Juliana Theory called on Jerry Harrison to produce its major-label debut, Love, says it all. That's because Harrison, the former Talking Heads guitarist, has made a name for himself as a producer of bands trying to sell out arenas and still maintain reputations of serious artists. In other words, he produces U2 wannabes. Many of them, including Live and Creed, are vaguely Christian, and none of them dare show a sense of humor for fear they won't be regarded as "important" artists. Just look at some of the bands Harrison has produced: Live, Creeper Lagoon, Josh Joplin Group, Stroke 9, Crash Test Dummies...all bred for arenas, they would probably form the Lollapalooza lineup in hell.

Punk rock flavored with diverse harmonies

By Jessica Palmer · Wednesday, Feb. 12,2003 12:32 p.m.

Since their single "What a Waster" debuted on the UK pop charts, The Libertines have taken London by storm. Hailed by many a critic as London's answer to The Strokes, this band from East London is quickly gaining notoriety all over Europe. Rock and roll in it's rawest form, The Libertines are essentially a four-piece band of leather-clad, drugged-up rockers. Apparently the band's live shows are hit or miss, but rarely fall short of chaotic. Their debut album, Up the Bracket, suggests more stability, albeit only slightly.

Read collaborates with actors for spoken word

By Michael Tapscott · Wednesday, Feb. 12,2003 12:31 p.m.

As a boy, with a boyish imagination, I spent my nights in bed listening to readings of "Moby Dick," "The Chronicles of Narnia," "The Red Badge of Courage" and many others on my mini tape deck. As I think back on those romantic days now, I imagine hearing that famous first line of "Moby Dick," "Call me Ishmael," and I swear that I hear the sound of seagulls swarming around the docks for scraps from the enormous wooden ships and the narrator saying "Argh!" before he delivered his most personal information.

Making sure cupid's arrow hits the target

By Jennifer Mehalik · Wednesday, Feb. 12,2003 12:28 p.m.

Valentine's Day is right around the corner and generally guys and gals have different ideas on how they should spend the evening with that special someone. For girls, Valentine's Day can be a time when they can get dressed up, go out to eat at a fancy restaurant, receive flowers or other presents and see where the romantic night will take them. Guys, on the other hand, might rather have their Valentine's Day be a low-key affair. Their idea for a good night could consist of eating in and just hanging out, which may be cheaper than going out on the town. Of these two scenarios, one doesn't have to be Dr. Phil to figure out which one will emerge the victor. Valentine's Day is an event for the girls.

Trick-or-Treat: Cheap Trick brings legendary rock stylings to Bloomington

By Seth Forster · Wednesday, Feb. 12,2003 12:26 p.m.

About 25 years ago, Cheap Trick released one of the most successful live albums in rock history. Though they had already released several albums, now classics "Cheap Trick," "In Color" and "Heaven Tonight," it wasn't until "Live at Budokan" that one of the most important power-pop bands got the attention it deserved in the U.S. The band exploded after that with its hook-laden, hard-rock tunes and tongue-in-cheek attitudes.

Former Kirkwood members reform as new performing duo

By Jamieson Hawkins · Wednesday, Feb. 12,2003 12:23 p.m.

There is an old saying, "The family that plays together stays together." This seems the perfect catch phase for the many bands in the music industry that have done just that, combining the talents of multiple family members into one musical group. Cases in point: The Jackson Five, The Allman Brothers, the Everly Brothers and even the fictitious Blues Brothers. Back stage opportunities for brotherly bonding probably played a huge role in the internal maintenance and professional longevity of these groups.

Providers prepare for worst

By Alyson Brodsy · Wednesday, Feb. 12,2003 12:50 a.m.

INDIANAPOLIS -- Public health workers in Indiana began receiving smallpox vaccinations Tuesday as part of a national effort to create a core group immune to the disease if it ever is used by terrorists. Several health care workers, including both doctors and nurses, were vaccinated Tuesday in Indianapolis in the first phase of the project started by President Bush in December.

GMHL teams gear up for tournament in Michigan

By Jesse Laffen · Wednesday, Feb. 12,2003 12:44 a.m.

When IU and five other teams formed the Great Midwest Hockey League two years ago, many expected a high level of competition. The GMHL tournament, which takes place this weekend, will showcase just how competitive the league has become.

Freshman fitting in for IU

By Charlie Cunningham and Charlie Gillingham · Wednesday, Feb. 12,2003 12:42 a.m.

Senior Ty Matthews and sophomore Pat DeGain have been two of the strongest performers on the IU wrestling team this year. Matthews is undefeated at 184 pounds and is ranked in the top ten. DeGain, at 197 pounds, has compiled a 27-3 record and has also earned a top ten ranking. But injuries can strike anyone at anytime and when that happens, a reliable backup is needed.

We're fools for Michael Jordan

By -Val Tsoutsouris · Wednesday, Feb. 12,2003 12:39 a.m.

Edward Young once wrote, "At 30, man suspects himself a fool; knows it at 40, and reforms his plan." This couplet, written approximately 250 years ago, is currently relevant since Michael Jordan turns 40 next Monday, just eight days after scoring 20 points in presumably his final NBA All-Star Game appearance.

Notre Dame to review allegation

By Alyson Brodsy · Wednesday, Feb. 12,2003 12:37 a.m.

SOUTH BEND, Ind. -- The University of Notre Dame's board of trustees will review an allegation that the school's executive vice president grabbed a television reporter's arm. Bonnie Druker, a reporter for WNDU-TV, which is owned by the university, filed a report last month with the campus police department, saying that the Rev. Timothy Scully grabbed her arm and pinched her while complaining about where a TV truck was parked.