The HAWK 2009 Vol. 11 No. 1 October by Birdville High School

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Vol. 11

No. 1

Inside This Edition

The state of Texas changes its nutrition policy.

Frank Warren continues his PostSecret project with the release of his fifth book.

Cases of shoplifting are quickly increasing among today’s youth.

Birdvi 180 lle High exas 76 T , s School 9100 M l l i H d id Cities Blvd. North Richlan

District rebuilds Richland, expands Haltom As part of a bond package, the district cut the ribbons on many additions for the 09-10 school year. The new openings included the rebuilt Richland High School and the expanded Haltom High School, along with the Birdville Center of Technology and Advanced Learning located on Mid Cities Blvd. in North Richland Hills. Richland High was built originally in 1960 and after 49 years was finally rebuilt this last year to provide students and staff with space and pride in their new building. “I think the biggest

benefit to our students is mainly psychological. Since we are no longer crammed into a small, crowded, dark and drab place our students have a more upbeat and positive attitude,” Richland High School Assistant Principal Kyle Pekurney said. Haltom High School was also renovated to provide for necessary space. New additions were added to the northeast corner, the front left corner and the front. Six new science rooms were added in the front of the building, along with new offices and a new front walkway.

Both schools and the new Birdville Center of Technology and Advanced Learning (BCTAL) have been built with up to date and modern styles. They allow everyone in the district access to the newest technology available. The BCTAL offers classes that are available through the CTE program. This new center is for all students from the three BISD high schools. In previous years, CTE classes were located at the different High Schools, several of them at Birdville. This year all classes

Haltom High School Principal Mike Jasso addresses the assembly in the HHS theatre during the dedication ceremonies. Haltom’s additions included a fine arts wing, administrative offices and science classrooms, giving the front of the building a new look. Photo courtesy of BISD.

that every excuse we had that would have prevented us from being as successful as possible has been eliminated. The barriers of the old building have been removed,” Pekurney said. The new Richland campus is now located in place of the old parking lot. The school has buses that transport to and from the CTE center and Birdville High. These new schools will provide more opportunities for the students of BISD.

On August 31, The Walt Disney Company announced their multibillion dollar buyout of Marvel Comics, in hopes the takeover will benefit both of the companies in the long run. Disney has been expanding into every form of industry possible, signing record deals, making comics, dominating the movie screen, making thousands of articles of clothing, toys, games and even producing food. Marvel Comics, has strived to appeal to teens and adults, mostly through comics and the silver screen, but adding

This not only means that Disney will have all rights to anything Marvel owns, but other companies might lose rights and properties. This includes Capcom, THQ, Activision, EA, and any other companies that have stock in Marvel’s games, movies and comics. “Disney is the perfect home for Marvel’s fantastic library of characters given its proven ability to expand content creation and licensing businesses,” Ike Perlmutter, Marvel’s Chief Executive Officer said. As with all corporate mergers, buyouts, and takeovers, the major changes

probably will not occur for another year or so. “This is an unparalleled opportunity for Marvel to build upon its vibrant brand and character properties by accessing Disney’s tremendous global organization and infrastructure around the world,” Perlmutter said. Many people have been speculating that Marvel and Disney will be collaborating on a new game sometime in the near future, much like the Kingdom Hearts series.

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Courtney Grimes celebrates her 200th victory as Volleyball Coach.

Ryan Ayers identifies a potentially fatal injury in a football player.

Boys Like Girls releases their new album, Love Drunk.

Students, parents employees and community members check out the new Richland High School after the ribbon cutting. Photo courtesy of BISD were transferred along with many of the teachers from Birdville High. Construction on Richland High School started before school was out for the 2008-2009 school year. The construction at Haltom and the CTE center began about the same time. It started a little later in the 2009 year than Richland did, but all three schools finished construction before this year began. Ribbon Cutting Ceremonies were held in August for all three schools. “Basically, we feel

Hangman’s House of Horrors begins another season of terrorizing eager visitors.

Homecoming highlights of the parade, carnival and Homecoming court.

October 2009

Kili Ferrell Life & Arts Editor

Disney announces Marvel Comics takeover their fair share of toys and costumes to the shelves as well. With over five thousand superheroes, including the wellknown Spider-Man, Iron Man, and the entire XMen team, Marvel has produced comics for over seventy years. Marvel has been driven by its desire to improve profits, killing off Captain America, an icon that has been around since the days of World War II. To top it all off, it is now selling the entire company for four billion dollars. Disney will buy the

company from Marvel, in hopes that they will be able to incorporate Marvel’s age-old characters into their franchise. “This transaction combines Marvel’s strong global brand and worldrenowned library of characters, including Iron Man, Spider-Man, XMen, Captain America, Fantastic Four and Thor, with Disney’s creative skills, unparalleled global portfolio of entertainment properties, and a business structure that maximizes the value of creative properties across multiple platforms and territories,” Disney’s president Robert Iger said.

Taylor Carpenter Sports Editor

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Hunger cramps learning

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Policy limits student food choices As the population continues to grow in Texas, so do the waistbands. Some people do not realize how much weight affects their health. About 30 percent of Texas children are overweight, which is higher than the nation as a whole. Texas is one of the most overweight states in the country. The Texas Public School Nutrition Policy was created to promote healthier environment in Texas schools and help ensure a healthier future for Texas children. Elementary schools have eliminated deep fat frying as a method of on-site preparation. This method of cooking has also been eliminated in middle schools and high schools. Snack lines and competitive food that contribute to obesity are being eradicated as well. High schools must eliminate all vending machines with any form of candy or soda until the end of the school day. These foods and beverages are not to be given by any faculty, administrator, parent or student during the school day. Every morning hundreds of kids come to school. Some of these students forget to eat breakfast and decide they will grab a snack from the vending machine. Instead of a snack they get a message on the machine saying that the machine will be off until the last class of the day. Some of these students will go to the cafeteria, but if they are in their second period the cafeteria is closed which leaves them hungry and unhappy. Hunger can be the most distracting feeling during classes and it is also very embarrassing when noticed. Many people get so distracted because of their hunger they skip classes to go eat and then get caught and written up all because the vending machines will

not let them have a snack. While these ideas are promoting the idea of a healthier life during the school day, most students should get the right to choose what they decide to put in their body. As high school students there is a requirement to take a health class and physical education courses,

so the students are thoroughly educated on the nutrition of food. Making choices is one of the important parts of being in high school, taking away those types of freedoms is pushing students farther away from becoming independent. Children who are overweight are that way, because they

HAWKS taff

October 2009

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choose to be or because they are genetically made that way. Taking away snacks and sodas will not solve the problem of obesity; it will simply make students hungry and less likely to come to school.

Rachel Jenkins Editor-in-chief News Editor

Kaycee Giammarco Opinions Editor

Sometimes less is more Alas, Birdville High’s much anticipated Homecoming week is over. The dance has been danced, the halls have been subjected to the incessant rattle of mums and garters, and the game has been played, but is all this necessary or just an old school tradition gone wild? First and foremost, the drama of Homecoming is so overblown. The pressure of finding a date is exasperating, and getting rejected is even worse. Besides the fuss of not finding a date, there is also the cost to worry about. Along with the expense of finding some-

thing nice to wear to the Homecoming dance, dress-up days can become expensive. Mums can sometimes cost upwards of $100 dollars to make, and the garters upwards of $50. Even if the cost and stress is not maddening enough, the mums and garters definitely top the scale for most annoying Homecoming traditions. Who in their right mind would want to carry a huge, heavy, irritating mum around their neck all day? Not only do the bells and trinkets attached to the mums jingle constantly, but the colossal size of

Devin Harper Features Editor

Kili Ferrell

Life & Arts Editor

Kendall Carlson Elaine Swartz Staff Writers

Jannet Hiles Adviser

Kendall Carlson Staff Writer

Public bailout of Obama not cool billion was spent on a stimulus, and 700 billion on the TARP program. The government bailed out banks and auto companies yet the economy still suffers. The budget deficit for 2009 is 1.75 trillion dollars, far above anything in the past, but spending is not going to stop. Obama wants to overhaul health care, and increase our presence in Afghanistan. Even after the economy recovers, all the new major spending is done

Sports Editor

the mums dwarf the girl. The garters are just as bad. Mums were meant to be a corsage, not a horse collar. Bigger is not always better. It is great that schools celebrate the coming home of former students, but is it necessary to really have to go so over the top? There could be more rational ways to go about Homecoming rather than all of the extravagent expenses. This is literally a question of how much is too much?

Letter to the Editor:

Obama, come back with all our money! We all know the country is in a heavy recession, and we all want out. More and more government spending is not the answer, universal healthcare, bail out of corporations and national stimulus funds are all out of pocket costs for the treasury. As of right now the national debt is about 11.8 trillion dollars. This last year 787

Taylor Carpenter

and taxes are raised, Obama’s budget plan will require a permanent 600 billion dollar deficit. Right now the United states has 55 trillion in future obligations for social security, medicare, and medicaid and no way to pay for it. The repercussions for what we do now will affect us for many, many years. This generation will be paying for it all of our lives. Alan James

Jason Wells Principal

The HAWK is published monthly, during the regular school calendar, by the Journalism Department of Birdville High School. Its purpose is to serve as an open forum for the students, faculty and staff of Birdville, and the surrounding communities of Colleyville, Hurst, North Richland Hills, Richland Hills and Watauga. The HAWK is a member of the Interscholastic League Press Conference and Southern Interscholastic Press Association. Advertising Rates are $5.00 per column-inch. Current circulation is 1500 copies in print and the paper is archived on the world wide web at http:// schools.birdvilleschools.net/bhs/site/. Papers are distributed free of charge. Editorials reflect the views of the writers and do not necessarily reflect the views of the school faculty, staff, students or administration. Letters to the Editor are welcomed and must be typed, double-spaced and limited to 200 words. They can be delivered to room A400 or emailed to birdvillehawkstaff@gmail.com and must be signed and include a phone number and address for verification.

How much does technology influence your life?

“It influences my life because almost everything I do has to do with it.” Kasey Ferrell Freshman

“I use technology all day everyday from texting to MySpace. I love it!” Murphy McCabe Sophomore

“I would be bored out of my mind without technology.” Keely Stricklin Junior

“Oh my gosh! I can’t leave my house without my iPhone.” Emily Grose Senior

“I’m a techie geek. I can’t imagine my life without my smart phone.” Jason Wells Principal

ife &

October 2009

Book review

rts

The HAWK page 3

Fifth in PostSecret series reveals strangers’ stories

For four years, Frank Warren has collected stranger’s deepest secrets for his community art project, PostSecret. Warren has published four PostSecret books since beginning the project. Each one follows the same basic setup as the others but features a unique theme. Warren released his fifth book, titled Confessions on Life, Death, & God, on Oct 9. Some of the secrets are also placed on Warren’s public website. Every Sunday he updates it with ten new secrets, all of which share a general theme. According to emarketer.com, the PostSecret website ranked as the tenth most popular website among female college students in

the United States. 7% of all places such as between the the students polled named pages of bookstore books, the site as their favorite. library books and on park PostSecret began as benches. an idea for an art exhibit. Warren received 100 Warren handed out 3000 of the cards back and proone-sided post cards. The ceeded to post them in his post cards invited strang- exhibit at the Artomatic ers to share art festival. a secret. “What fueled me He planned The one to end the to keep condition project there the project going but life had was that the secret after that art show other plans. must be According to true and had a lot to do with Warren, he something now receives my own they had 200 healing process.” about never told post cards a Frank Warren anyone day. else. “What Wa rfueled me to ren’s distribution of the keep the project going afpost cards was anony- ter that art show had a lot mous. He placed them to do with my own healing in random, non-descript process,” Warren said.

Kimbell shows original, unusual exhibits for fall

In the past, The Kimbell Art Museum has put many collections and exhibits at a wide variety. They hold artwork from the period of antiquity through the 20th century. Their lists of artists on display are long and diverse. The museum is now showing an exhibit that contains film installments called Butchers, Dragons, Gods, and Skeletons. The five short films are to attract the eye on a more emotional way rather than factual like a documentary. All the film installments are around seven to 20 minutes long. Each video has an artwork that accompanies it, which inspired the film. This exhibit is possibly the first project of its kind ever to be seen in any museum. The exhibit is open now and will close October 25th this year. After the ending of the current exhibit, a new one will begin again on November 22, 2009. The collection is European Art, Ancient to Modern. It contains 100 paintings and sculptors of the most

important European artwork ever held privately in Texas. Some artists among the collection are Rembrandt, Gainsborough, Monet, Renoir, Van Gogh, Matisse, Picasso and Mondrian. The exhibit will be open until March 21, 2010. The Kimbell Art Museum still has their permanent exhibits year round, which includes Antiquities, European Art, Asian Art, Pre-Columbian Art, African and Oceanic Art. These collections can be seen at any time in The Kimbell. The Kimbell Art Museum has put on display art from all over the world. Japan, Russia, France, Germany, Africa and the United Kingdom are just a few countries whose artwork hung on the walls of The Kimbell. The museum not only has art from everywhere around the world, but also shows art that is from the United States. The Kimbell Art Museum is adding a new piece of artwork on September 26, 2009. The artwork will be among the museum’s permanent collection. It is Michelangelo’s first known

painting, The Torment of Saint Anthony. He was said to be only 12 or 13 years old when he painted it. The Kimbell acquired the art in May of 2009 while it was on display in New York at Metropolitan Museum Art. Ticket prices will vary depending on each individual exhibit. Half price tickets are sold on Fridays from five to eight at night and all day tuesday. Memberships are also available for those who are interested in helping the museum as well as reaping the benefits including invitations to exhibit openings, free admissions and private tours. The Kimbell Art Museum is located at 3333 Camp Bowie Blvd. in Fort Worth. Call (817) 332-8451 for questions or directions to the museum. Other museums in the area include the Dallas Museum of Art, Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth and the Dallas Center for Contemporary Art. Elaine Swartz Staff Writer

The project serves more purpose than being a confessional for troubled people. The readers who take time to view the secrets are often deeply affected. By recognizing other’s secrets as similar to their own, the readers can find a sense of control in their lives. Warren frequently states that PostSecret helped him to come to terms with his own life. “It forced me to acknowledge that part of my life I’d been hiding from,” Warren said, “I found the process was very therapeutic.” Many of the secrets he receives come from students struggling with depression, academic pressures and eating disorders among other things. Unable to respond to these cries for help himself, Warren found a way to use his project in a more dynamic way. In April 2008, Warren teamed up with 1800-suicide. Warren hosts several events at many different colleges to discuss the secrets of society. During these seminars, he urges college students to create peer run crisis hotlines on campus. The secrets are not always heart breaking or life changing. Some are as simple as having college fears, drooling a lot or

even lying about an allergy. They express the fears, emotions and dreams of a diverse people. “Secrets reflect a lot upon us individually but they also reflect upon our common culture,” Warren said. PostSecret provides a safe outlet for normal people to express their deepest thoughts. It is an anonymous environment which ensures that the secrets remain secrets. “[It’s] almost like it’s still inside them,” Warren said, “They’ve just expanded them out so that others can see it somehow in a way that they can’t be identified.” People send their secrets in on homemade six by four post cards. Warren urges people to be brief but honest when sending their secrets. While this doesn’t leave a lot of room

for elaboration, it greatly contributes to the policy of anonymity. “They’re so evocative,” Warren said, “Each post card, in addition to sharing a secret, is also inviting the viewer to draw upon their own experiences and values and secrets in order to complete that secret in their own mind and tell that story to themselves and understand it in a deeper way.” Other countries also launched their own versions of PostSecret. With permission from Warren, PostSecret branches were started in France, Germany and Spain. A Chinese version also exists; however, it is not officially affiliated with Warren’s PostSecret project. Rachel Jenkins Editor In Chief

Six Flags sells property, stops bankruptcy rumor Park counters Disney with cost savings Six Flags has been rumored to be going bankrupt. Many of these rumors are just in fact rumors. Six Flags financially may be struggling, but has no intentions of filing for bankruptcy. According to Theme Park Insider, in a press release shown after the U.S. stock market closed, Six Flags announced it would sell its properties to either a single buyer or multiple buyers, not that it was filing bankruptcy. Six Flags has made it known they are selling or closing six of its properties or parks. These six parks are Magic Mountain, Elitch Gardens in downtown Denver, Colorado, Darien Lake in Buffalo, New York, Wild Waves and Enchanted Village in Seattle, Washington and the water parks Six Flags Water World in Concord and Six Flags Splashdown in Houston. Although

they are desperately trying to sell properties, Six flags shares have dramatically lost their value by a fifth. “Six Flags has $200 million in cash on hand. So no matter what happens this year we will be able to pay our bills, our vendors, and our employees,” Mark Shapiro, Six Flags CEO said. After Disney had recently succeeded in a marketing attempt, many believed this would be a threat to Six Flags’ already shaky financial situations, but Shapiro is unperturbed. “Six Flags is a drive, not an airplane flight. It’s a full day of entertainment but not something that’s ever going to cost as much as a trip to Disney,” Shapiro said. Many of their marketing strategies start in Georgia where an annual pass costs $49, which includes unlimited admission into all Six Flags

parks, five free tickets for friends and in-park discounts. Six Flags has been spending $100 million a year on new capital, such as rides and shows. They are trying to improve the park and try new strategies for getting people to come to the parks. Shapiro plans to continually increase its capital spending up to ten percent in 2010. “Yes we still have a long way to go…but given the destructions in this company over the ten years before we came on board, there was a lot of work to be done. You can’t expect to finish everything in the two seasons we’ve been here,” Shapiro said. Shapiro is very confident that Six Flags will not file for bankruptcy and will continue to flourish. Kaycee Giammarco Opinions Editor

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Shoplifting

October 2009

eatures

Common crime carries serious consequences

Shoplifting, a common misdemeanor, is quickly growing among teenagers and young adults. According to the National Association for Shoplifting Prevention, there are approximately 27 million shoplifters in our nation today. The NASP also states that more than 10 million people have been caught shoplifting in the past five years. Approximately onefourth of shoplifters are kids. Although the majority are adults, 55 percent of adult shoplifters say they started shoplifting in their teens. The motive teens have for committing this crime is sometimes unclear. It could be a desire for nice things, peer pressure or even just a spurt of anger or depression.

The most common reason, seems to centralize around the rush, or “high” feeling shoplifters have after getting away with their crime. According to the NASP, the vast majority of shoplifters are non-professionals who steal as a response to social and personal pressures. Some use it as a relief mechanism to handle the day to day stress of life. At times, shoplifting can feel like a reward or gift in return for hard work or dedication to others. Shoplifters may feel that, by “picking something up,” they are treating themselves to something they truly deserve. For others, the act can be a substitute for loss or unfair depravation. It can be in reaction to things like divorce, illness, death or loss of income.

These shoplifters are incapable of dealing with the ups and downs associated with life; therefore,

At E3 2009, Microsoft, producers of the highly acclaimed Xbox360 video game console, announced their newest revolution: Project Natal, a hands-free, controller free innovation designed to trump the Nintendo Wii and maximize the possibilities for players. Project Natal consists of a nine-inch horizontal bar positioned either above or below a television set, a ball-and-joint style maneuvering mechanism, designed so players can move and tilt the bar in any direction. The bar functions as a motion sensor, with three cameras, much like the Wii’s motion sensor. The microphone is specifically designed to pick up acoustic sounds, and has the functionality to suppress ambient noise (such as moving/shuffling items, dropping things, murmurs, music, etc.) and enables the player to participate in a multi-user private chat with good sound quality, even though they may be across the room. Project Natal is capable of sensing skeletal structures, and has the technology to follow up to four players body movements at once, focusing on forty-eight specific points on the body. Project Natal senses at a rate of thirty hertz, and, depending on the player’s distance from the sensor, can even distin-

guish fingers, toes, etc. Natal uses invisible props to function. Say a player is playing a Racing game, then one need only to simulate the steering wheel with their hands, turning it back and forth to control the car. . The new dashboard update that was released August 11 enabled new features such as an avatar marketplace, games on demand, advances in the party chat system, a smoother dashboard, as well as smaller details and tweaks in games. This may relate to Natal, seeing as how Natal’s sensor has been programmed specifically to deal with Avatars, sliding through screens and options in the dashboard, and is meant to be controller-free, so the party chat system could be reworked to an easier-to-access fashion, so less movement and work will be involved. The sliding feature in Natal is simple. A user will access the Xbox-360 Dashboard and wave or slide their hands to flip through the options in the dashboard, such as games, music, movies, player details, etc. Natal will also feature the ability to scan items. Say that a user is playing a skating game, owns a skateboard in real life, and wishes to use his board’s logo on the game as well. The player will simply place

the board near Natal’s sensor so that Project Natal can scan the skateboard, which will then appear on screen. Also included are one-on-one video chats with people, which were possible earlier with Microsoft’s other, less advanced video camera system; however, Natal’s three camera system makes the vision clearer, with more vivid colors and a wider area of view. It has also been implied in Natal’s press release video, though not confirmed, that users can now bring up web pages, and can even share them with each other with the slide of their fingers during video chats. I If something such as an item of clothing is picked, the system will crop the users head and limbs into the clothes, so users can see how they would look in that particular article of clothing. Microsoft has also announced, aside from Project Natal, future updates including MySpace, Facebook, and Twitter functionalities. These, along with Project Natal, are sure to expand the 360’s horizons for a new era of gaming, without the hassle of new controllers and more physical activity.

“More than 10 million people have been caught shoplifting in the past five years.” they turn to the one thing that allows them to have even the slightest bit of control. In June, a member of the Tarrant County College board of trustees was accused of shoplifting at a Dillards department store in Ridgemar mall. The board member, Robyn Winnett , was arrested June 25 on a Class B misdemeanor charge of

Addition to game system maximizes possibilities

Taylor Carpenter Sports Editor

theft. Winnett stole items valued at $50 to $500. A store employee suspected Winnett after she left two empty hangers in a dressing room after taking several items of clothing in with her. When stopped by security, Winnett claimed the clothes came from Marshalls. Although the incident dampers her reputation, Winnett will most likely not be removed from the board. Now more than ever, it is apparent that shoplifting exists everywhere. Anyone can fall victim to the temptation and

become a criminal. The truth is; however, that it carries serious consequences and it can have serious consequences. Obviously shoplifters can be arrested and charged but there are several other penalties. In addition, shoplifters can be banned from stores or malls, gain a criminal record or be added to a national database. This can bar them from job opportunities or even getting in to college. Once a shoplifter starts it is often hard for them to stop. According to kidshealth.org, shoplifters need to be confronted

about their choices. Some are even waiting for an intervention. The friends who keep quiet are sending the message that they are ok with the behavior. The website recommends speaking up, and if needed, including a trusted adult. Shoplifting is a crime that is on the rise and is easily rationalized by many. It can affect a persons future and can distort one’s reasoning between what is right and wrong.

T-Mobile G1, watch out. iPhones, be warned. There is a new hero in town…quite literally. AT&T has added another touchscreen to its arsenal of high potential smartphones. When the HTC Corporation, a global designer of mobile phones, announced that their new line of phones would be a spectacular innovation of the future, they were not kidding. The new HTC Hero is the first phone of many in the HTC Sense line. The HTC Corporation boasts that not only does their new phone take “android” to a whole new level, but also allows people to communicate in a more simple and natural way. The Hero features a sleek, suave design that is easy to use. It is small enough to fit in the palm of your hand, super thin, and includes a slanted receiver that makes holding it against your face more comfortable. The Hero comes in a variety of colors, including black, white, turquoise, orange, red, yellow, and even hot pink. Not only is the appearance of the phone amazing, but the features are, too. The Hero is a touch-screen with an anti-fingerprint screen coating, but also has the option of using a trackball to navigate. Unlike the iPhone, the touch-screen is not as sensitive, so say goodbye to butt dialing and pushing applications by accident. The Hero has Inter-

net capabilities--perfect for Twittering, getting on Facebook, Myspace or even just browsing. Calls can be silenced by simply turning the device over onto its back. Current weather conditions and a personal calendar that notifies you of planned events are always present on the display screen, as well as quick links to email, text messages and the internet browser. A GPS, digital compass, microSD expansion slot, and gravity-sensor are some of the nifty applications, along with a 5.0-megapixel auto-focus camera for amazingly crisp and clear pictures. A 3.5mm stereo headset jack is also included on the top of the phone. All the features of the Hero are incredible, but there is one feature that truly stands out. The Hero is said to include what will surely be the future of most

smartphones. A ‘pico projector’ or basically a portable theatre, ejects clear images of whatever is on the Hero screen. Movies, music videos, YouTube, and tons of other features can be projected from the top of the phone onto any flat surface. The Hero became available in Europe in July and in Asia later in the summer. The phone will be available in North America soon, more than likely before 2010. Out of all the android phones created, the Hero is by far expected to be one the best. In fact, it was voted Gadget of the Year by the 2009 Stuff Gadget Awards, surpassing the Apple iPhone 3GS. The Hero sets a whole new standard for future android phones.

Rachel Jenkins Editor In Chief

HTC phone competes with other smartphones

Kendall Carlson Staff Writer

HTC HERO PHONE Photo by http://www.att-phones.org/htc-hero-upcoming-att-cell-phones-later-2009.html

October 2009

Halloween classic returns

eatures

The HAWK page 5

Hangman’s Nightmares raises money for charity Hangman’s House of Horrors is a horrific and terrifying place located in Fort Worth. It is a nationally recognized haunted house that was named one of the top in the nation according to MSNBC.

Hangman’s horror striking tour consists of four main attractions: the classic haunted house, Hangman’s House of Horrors, and three side attractions. There is also a three-acre property transformed into

a festive carnival area that has live bands, midway rides, carnival games, karaoke, novelties, concessions and more. Hangman’s House of Horrors also features a family-oriented “haunted funhouse” for the kids. Hangman’s has been ranked as the number one haunted attraction in the area by the Dallas Morning News, the Fort Worth Star-Telegram and Fort Worth Magazine. The haunted house was spawned by a blood curdling legend. The story goes that in October of 1882, a lynch mob decided to stop the murderous rampage of Hezekiah Jones, more commonly known as the Hangman. At sunset the Hangman would stalk his victims on the banks of the Trinity River and hang them until dead. His lust for murder was bone-chilling. On one crisp October night, the mob caught him and hung him with his own blood-stained rope that he used on his victims. They watched as he took his final breaths of air through a blackened bag they placed over his head. They left him hanging there to die. But according to legend, the next day when the gravedigger came for the body, all he found was a broken rope dangling from the limb of a rotting oak tree down by the river’s edge. Many say, the Hangman will not die until the souls of all of his victims are gone. Every year he takes a soul from his rope to continue his horrible existence, but when they are used up, he will die. All though this haunted house is frightening to say the least, it is horrific with a purpose. All net proceeds go to charities. Hangman’s 2008 beneficiaries included the American Cancer Society, a Wish with Wings, Cenikor Foundation, Rocky Top Therapy Center and SafeHaven of Tarrant County. Hangman’s is located at Interstate 30 and Forest Park Boulevard, one mile west of downtown Fort Worth. This season, the house opened on Friday, September 25th, and will remain open on selected evenings through Saturday, October 31st. Visit www.hangmans.com for exact dates and times. Devin Harper Features Editor

FestivitiesCele

Dance page 6 The HAWK

omecoming

October 2009

Pep Rallies

ebrate Alumni October 2009

Parade

Carnival

omecoming

Photos by Ashton Harty & Jordan Monahan

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Homecoming

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October 2009

omecoming

Queen

Meredith Jones Queenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Court

Bobbie Caceres Emily Clifton Markita Edmonds Zoe Hall Caitlyn Juarez Siatta Massaquoi Kelsey Plunk Emily Pybus Maddie Serviente

Royalty

October 2009

King

omecoming

Jonathan Baggett Kingâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Court

Brian Barron Forrest Branam Jarrett Casanova Tanner Clifton Zane Harrington Cory Hines Duke Jennings Clark Renfro Danny Sanchez

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Sixth straight playoff

ports S

October 2009

Courtney Grimes marks milestone with 200th win

On Saturday, August 14th, Coach Courtney Grimes acquired her 200th victory. It was at the Bev Ball Classic in Abilene when the Lady Hawks defeated Fort Worth Western Hills.

“Her passion for the sport, knowledge of the game and great rapport with the girls are all reasons why she is a winning coach,” Varsity Assistant Coach, Lauren Barksdale said. She brings her winning qualities to everything and does the most she can for the athletic department. Grimes is not only the Varsity volleyball coach, but also the Girls’ Athletic Coordinator. This is her eighth year at BHS, and her past successes have made a large impact, which has not gone unnoticed.

Every year her teams continue to grow and become better players, which shows in their triumphs. “We are very proud of Coach Grimes’ success over the years and that she is the Lady Hawk’s coach. She has always managed to get the best out of her athletes. We wish you continued success in the years to come,” assistant principal intern Winston Gipson said. Grimes has impacted the volleyball teams and has had continuous accomplishments in the past. Just last year, the

volleyball team was Regional Quarterfinalist. Her efforts of hard work and determination throughout the years has paid off with 200 wins and a notable difference in girls’ athletics. “Coach Grimes has done a lot of great things for this program. She really knows how to motivate the girls and push them to reach their potential,” junior varsity coach Sarah Vick said. Her tactics as a coach are the things that keep her team victorious. She knows how to get where she wants her

team to go and does everything to her best ability. “Coach Grimes is a great coach. She works so hard to make each season a winning one and to build up the girls and the program each year and it has definitely paid off,” Barksdale said. Her players know that all the hard work their coach has done for them is all for their benefit in becoming better and winning more games. “Grimes has pushed me to be a better player,” Varsity volleyball player, Summer Queen said.

Her past years and her present victories shows that the future for Grimes and her team can only be positive and progressive. “I am expecting many more wins out of her over the years,” Vick said. Grimes is not only a coach for the Lady Hawk’s, she also has close relationships with her colleagues. “It is an honor to work with a coach who is a mentor to myself and others around her,” Barksdale said.

hole, unlike the other, can be covered by the retractable roof panel to protect against the elements. On May 27, the Cowboys opened the completed stadium to the public. On June 6, country music stars George Strait and Reba McEntire headlined the first event in the new stadium. The first ever sporting events at the stadium were the two quarterfinal matches of the 2009 CONCACAF Gold Cup. The game sold out completely with a crowd of over 84,000 people. The first point in the new stadium was also scored at

this event. On Labor Day, the stadium hosted the annual Kirk Herbstreit Varsity Football series which featured five high school football teams. Also in September, the cowboys played their first NFL regular season game against the New York Giants. On October 3, the Texas A&M Aggies revived their rivalry with the Arkansas Razorbacks, at the stadium. The Cowboys will play their arch rivals, the Washington Redskins, for the first time at Cowboys Stadium on Nov 22.

Looking into the future, Super Bowl XLV will be played at the new stadium on Feb 6, 2011. The Cotton Bowl Athletic Association decided to move the annual Cotton Bowl to the new Texas stadium, in an almost unanimous vote. “This is one of the most important decisions in the 71-year history of the AT&T Cotton Bowl,” Chairman Bruce Gadd said, “Moving the classic preserves the classic’s legacy and, at the same time, secures its future.” The first Cotton Bowl game at the Stadium will be New Year’s Day

2010.

Aside from the expensive parking sound and cell phone service have been major bones of contention with ticket purchasers. Patrons of concerts hosted at the venue have complained about the sound system. Some stating they could not hear a thing. Cell phone users complained about not getting signals. Officials say they are working to solve all sound and connectivity issues as quickly as possible.

Elaine Swartz Staff Writer

Cowboys’ new stadium receives mixed reviews After four years of toiling and construction, the long anticipated Cowboys Stadium is up and running. Designed by the Dallas-based architectural firm HKS, the complex was originally estimated to cost $650 million. The final cost of construction landed at over one billion, making it one of the most expensive sports venues ever built. Paid for in part by Cowboys owner and general manager Jerry Jones, the complex cost was mainly covered by raising three taxes within the city of Arlington. The hotel occupancy tax increased by two percent, the car rental tax by five percent and the sales tax by one-half of a percent. The NFL also provided the Cowboys with an additional $150 million in funding. The Dallas Cowboys played their first game in the stadium on Aug 21 in their first pre-season home game against the Tennessee Titans. FOX nationally televised the game. Dallas beat Tennessee with a final score of 30-10. The new stadium features a center hung video display measuring 160 feet wide and 72 feet tall. Approximately 11,520 square feet, the screen is the world’s largest of its kind. At the first Cowboys pre-season game, Tennessee Titans punter A.J. Trapasso punted a ball into the 2100 inch screen above the field. The retractable roof was designed by Walter P. Moore, a structural engineering firm. From the inside, the roof looks similar to the Texas Stadium Roof, with its trademark hole. This

The dome feature of the new stadium is important to bowl game officials, because of Dallas’ sometimes cold January weather. Other than the Cotton Bowl and Super Bowl XLV, the stadium will also host the 2010 NBA AllStar Game and the 2014 men’s Final Four. The stadium has a capacity of up to 100,000 fans. Parking at Dallas Cowboys Games is estimated at approximately $75 per game. The fee to park at concerts and sporting events is nearly $40 per space.

Rachel Jenkins Editor In Chief

Varsity Hawks dominate opponents Undefeated season filled with team effort, personal accomplishments The lights shine just right, on the field, as the ball flys through the air and into the hands of Birdville receiver Jonathan Dents. The first 29 points of the Joshua game were scored as touchdown strikes by Josh Dorman. By half time the score was 36-7 with Birdville in the lead. Dents and Dorman became the night’s duo as they hooked up five times for 161 yards and four scores. In the end Dorman finished with 24-of-35 for 397 yards total. The game against Joshua had a much different ending than the Arlington Heights game where Dents’ catches of the night were a pair of touchdown grabs (35 and 47 yards) in a 35-28 win. Although both were wins the differences between Dents and Dorman were dramatic. “It was a little different situation,” Dorman said, “in the first game, I

had guys in my face every play. [Joshua] backed off and gave me plenty of time. My receivers were getting open. We were really clicking.” This year returning members include quarterback Dorman, wide receivers Cory Hines, Clark Renfro and Dents, and offensive linemen Matt Moss, Gary Aguilar and John Hettick. “The Varsity football team has a good number of returning starters on the offense. We have the potential for a great year on offense as long as we can stay healthy. Defensively, we lost a lot of people from last season, so we are young,” Coach Gary Helzer said. “A newcomer we are counting on is Jordan Cruz. He is a senior and our starting middle line backer. Jordan moved here at midterm from New Mexico last year. We expect a big year from him as a player and leader on the defense.” On the offensive as

of August 29th Birdville had on average per game 35 points, 22 yards rushed, and 416 yards passed. In the end the total offensive yards ended up being 438. For defense, they had 28 points, 69 yards rushed, and 141 yards passed. Total defensive yards added up to 210. This year after the Joshua game Birdville was ranked state wise number 16. “Although young on defense they played very well in our opening game

against Ft. Worth- Arlington Heights. A key to continue that is to stay healthy through the season. Our goal is to make it to the playoffs again this year, and to make a deeper run than we did last year. We feel like we have good chance to do this if we continue to improve the season,” Helzer said. The Hawks beat Azle at the Hornet Homecoming game 63 to 28. The Hawk’s Homecoming game was played

Photo by Ashton Harty

against the Saginaw rough riders. Birdville dominated in the first half alone 34 to 14 and then ended with a final score of 62 to 35, keeping the Varsity Hawks undefeated record completely in tact. With a current record of 7-0, Birdville will be in the playoffs and has a chance at District champs. Kili Ferrell Life & Arts Editor

October 2009

Athlete avoids danger

ports S

The HAWK page 11

Student trainer identifies problem

During a practice one afternoon Ryan Ayers, a student involved in the Sports Medicine Program, was watching practice and noticed that one of the athletes did not look right. He identified a crucial injury on the player that could have cost the player his entire arm. The player had been hiding the injury for a while, hoping it would go away so he would not lose his starting spot. He did not realize how serious this injury was. Ayers did, before it was too late. “These students are the eyes and ears of the professionals, because we can’t always be there all the time,” Trainer Greg Roark said. Ayers saw the injury and immediately reported it to Roark who examined the injury more intensely. “He was acting funny and when he came to me it looked like a big bruise on his elbow,” Ayers said. “What happened was, he lost an inch worth of muscle around his arm.”

After getting an MRI, has been associated with the player was diagnosed specific injuries as well as with Osteochondritis Dis- long-term repetitive impact secans (OCD) which means to the joint. he did not need surgery and Ayers is not in the was cleared even to play as class for the praise though; long as he wears an elbow he genuinely likes to help sleeve to prevent any further these players. damage from happening. “I just did what came According to the natural. I didn’t want to asChildren’s Hospital, OCD is sume anything, so I reporta condition ed it. I really in which the don’t care “These students bone that about praise,” are the eyes supports the Ayers said. cartilage of a Most and ears joint softens. of the professionals, people see This the Sports because causes an Medicine interruption students as we can’t always in the blood water boys. be there flow to that They are, in portion of fact, so much all the time.” bone. more than Greg Roark It is that. They also described as a fragmen- help make a difference on tation and possible separa- the field. tion of a portion of the car“They are out there tilage of the joint. doing a job that is bigger If left untreated, the than themselves. This besoftening can lead to dam- havior is definitely to be exage of the cartilage in the pected. Ryan has helped this joint. program hit a new level, it The cause of this is has shown everyone Ryan currently unknown, but it is not just a water boy. This

is his first shot at leadership and setting an example,” Roark said. Many players do not realize the impact the Sport Medicine students have on their game. The game is just as important to these students as it is to the players. “Ryan realized he can impact the lives of other people and has made a large contribution for the team,” Roark said. These Sport Medicine students are held to the same level as the players with their academics, but they do so much more. They get up before the players and get things set up for practices and games. They often stay after the games and help out as well. “They are here from six thirty in the morning to sometimes midnight that night. They have to make a big sacrifice for the team,” Roark said. Kaycee Giammarco Opinions Editor

Rangers finish second in AL west The Texas Rangers baseball team are currently the second place team in the American league west. With 76 wins and 60 losses, they are barely losing out to the Los Angeles Angels, who are currently 81 and 55. The other two teams, the Mariners and the Athletics, are barely behind the Rangers, and could catch up if the Rangers do not stay on top of their game. The Rangers need to bring in a few more wins while avoiding losses at all costs; however, catching up to the Angels could prove difficult if they continue winning. The players with the

highest batting averages are Keith Richardson at .500 (based on a technicality; he has only played one game with four atbats), Michael Young with a .322 batting average, 129 games, over 530 at-bats, 22 home runs and 67 runs batted in. Following Young is Julio Barbon, barely behind him with a .318 batting average with only 66 at bats over 22 games, one home run and eight RBIs. Nelson Cruz has the most home runs of the entire team at 31 and 70 RBIs total over 109 games and almost 400 at-bats. Following Cruz is Ian Kinsler, with 29 homeruns, and 78 RBIs, being slightly

ahead of Cruz in terms of runs and being the leader of the entire team. Kinsler has played 118 games and been up to bat 480 times. Hank Blalock is third in line in terms of most homers, with 23 home runs over 58 RBIs, which he accrued over 109 games and 414 at-bats. The Rangers, collectively as a team, have 201 homeruns and 626 RBIs. They also have 1083 outs, and the team has a .253 batting average for the entire team. In terms of pitching, Scott Feldman has won fifteen games by strikeout, as well as having an earned-run average of 3.62, pitching 156.2 in-

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nings, 143 hits, 28 games and starting 25 games. Kevin Millwood is the other pitcher for the Rangers, winning ten games by strikeouts, pitching 27 games, starting all of them. He has also pitched 172 innings and having a 3.77 earned-run average. In hindsight, the Rangers had an alright season. Finishing up with a win/lose record of 87 wins to 75 losses, their total winning average was .576, finishing second in their league. Taylor Carpenter Sports Editor

The

In Zone Taylor Carpenter Sports Editor

Vick returns; Romo fails

Michael Vick is back, but this time he is not wearing the famous red and black for which he is known. The former Atlanta Falcons quarterback is off of suspension and is now playing for the Philadelphia Eagles. Vick, who was the star player for Atlanta during his six year tenure, was suspended following his confession of being involved in an illegal dog fighting ring. The NFL officials said that although he was a first time offender, the NFL does not tolerate gambling and the league was mortified to hear of the gruesome things Vick himself admitted doing. Vick returned from his suspension just this year. The Falcons have been doing pretty well without him, but without Vick something seems to be missing from the team. On the other side, Tony Romo is having an awful season. The formerly revered quarterback for the Dallas Cowboys has thrown multiple interceptions (even losing the first game of the season in the last minute due to a bad throw) and cannot seem to get the ball to the destination. If the Cowboys were smart, they would have done one of two things: started giving their second string QB, Jon Kitna, a little more starting time, or they would have tried to contract with Vick. Vick could have done great things for the Cowboys, and could at least complete a pass. Romo and the Cowboys recently had a terrible game against the Denver Broncos, losing 10 to 17. Romo did throw a good pass during the last two minutes of the game, and for awhile it seemed the Cowboys were going to pull off a miracle. With almost fifty yards gained, the touchdown zone was in plain sight. Later, with 29 seconds left, and four full downs for Romo to work with, the Cowboys were four yards from the touchdown zone, and four yards from tying it up and going into overtime. Of course, the Bronco’s defense, coupled with Romo’s failures completed the setup for a Cowboys loss. Vick definitely would not have let something so ridiculous happen. The Cowboys either need to find a new quarterback or Tony Romo needs a huge wake-up call. Probably both.

Buy Your 2010

Yearbook Today Bring this coupon to room A400 with your $70 check or cash and receive a FREE t-shirt with your order or order online and bring a copy of your printed receipt to room A400 to claim your FREE t-shirt (T-shirts available while supplies last)

page 12 The HAWK

New release

ife &

rts

BLG cd takes country by storm The punk-pop sensation Boys Like Girls (BLG), whose explosive singles like The Great Escape and Hero/Heroine that skyrocketed them to glory, are back with their sophomore album, Love Drunk. The album was released on September 8th. Compared to their 2006 self-titled album, Love Drunk has spun off on an entirely new axis, complete with super-charged, electronic melodies and a pretty successful stab at super saccharine ballads. Love Drunk, the title track, was released on June 24th and is currently taking the country by a storm. “[It’s] an unstoppable hit,” says Billboard Magazine. With more than 400,000 units already sold, Love Drunk

is sure to become the first about a broken relationcertified Gold song off of ship. Although Swift’s the album. It just cracked style is completely on the the top 20 on the Top 40 other side of the specchart, as well as the Top trum from BLG’s power20 overall single at iTunes. pop approach, her input The fifth track, Con- is what definitely makes tagious, is sure to follow the song exceptional. in Love Drunk’s footsteps. “I don’t think we It has the were worsame catchy, ried about “...an electro-pop how our unstoppable beat, and fans would might just react to that hit.” end up becollaboraBillboard Magazine ing a smash tion. I think radio hit. Ta y l o r ’s Along with the fast- such a versatile artist, paced, electro-inspired she can go from country tracks, BLG has proven to pop to rock to anyto have a soft side. In the where,” Johnson said. “We track Two is Better Than just thought she was the One, lead singer Martin right voice and the right Johnson teamed up with person for that song.” pop-country phenomJohnson’s and enon Taylor Swift to cre- Swift’s distinctly different ate a bittersweet ballad voice styles meld together

confrontation at the end of the first of the remakes. The second movie picks up where the first left off, with all of the survivors being introduced, and the reasoning behind Michael’s extensive stay in the mental hospital is re-established. It is revealed that Michael Meyers is not in fact dead, and continues towards his goal of the annihilation of his baby sister. “And as Laurie is Michael’s sister, I’m playing like he’s clearly insane and so is she, but her insanity doesn’t manifest itself in the same way. In the first movie, Michael Myers was clearly insane by age 10, so I figured, ‘Well, maybe hers comes at age 19.’ So that’s pretty much what it is: She’s slipping into insanity throughout the whole movie,” Zombie said. So far, Halloween II has received mixed reviews. The movie aggregator Rotten Tomatoes has given the film a mere 21% approval rating, based on 47 reviews, whereas Metacritic has given it a 49% approval rating, based on fourteen reviews. The films, of course, have restricted ratings for strong brutal bloody violence throughout, terror, disturbing graphic images, language, and some crude sexual content and nudity, so be sure to have a parent’s consent (for those underage) before viewing the film.

into sugary-sweet perfection.The rest of the songs, however, fail to meet up to their expectations. Chemicals Collide and She’s Got a Boyfriend Now are overlypolished attempts at catchy radio hits. The lyrics to both songs are meaningless, and lack any shred of creativity. BLG lost their old edge. It seems that most pop-punk bands have taken on an electronic style, and unfortunately, BLG have fallen into the same trap. Half of the tracks are completely unoriginal, and clichéd to the point of almost being boring. The rest of the songs are either reminiscent of 80’s pop, or failed attempts at sappy ballads. It is as if someone tossed Bon Jovi, Metro Station, and the Jonas Brothers into a blender to create BLG’s new sound. “I had three records written and I wrote a whole new one and wasn’t satisfied yet,” Johnson said. “I wanted to really step up the bar and keep our current fans, but at the same time expand it so that we’re happy and we could maybe get some other age ranges happy, too.” It is great that the band is trying to branch out, but sometimes, change is not for the better. Although a few songs are surefire failures, Love Drunk, Two is Better Than One, and Contagious are sure to follow in BLG’s previous certified Gold footsteps. With such catchy lyrics and hypnotizing hooks, it is hard to imagine the songs not dominating the billboards. BLG is no strange to the billboard scene. In 2006, they released their first single, Hero/ Heroine from their selftitled album, which unfortunately did not chart until late 2007. A few months earlier, their second single The Great Escape boosted the Boston natives into the spotlight, peaking at number 23 on the Billboard Hot 100 and number nine on the Billboard Pop 100, raking in thousands of pop-punk fanatics in the process. Their third single Thunder reached 32 on the Billboard Pop 100, and was certified Gold by the RIAA the same week Hero/ Heroine went Gold as well. Overall, Love Drunk is a mediocre album.

Rob Zombie, widely considered a musical genius, has for the second time, marked his place in the chronology of the Halloween movie franchise. Robert Bethel Cummings (known by his stage name, Rob Zombie), is a man of many trades and talents. Zombie produced several albums with White Zombie, the band he founded, as well as securing success as a solo artist. He has directed several music videos, including almost every single White Zombie music video (with the exception of three), as well as Ozzy Osbourne’s Dreamer and Black Label Society’s Stillborn. Zombie made his directorial debut in 2003, directing the successful House of 1000 Corpses and later, in 2005, it’s sequel The Devil’s Rejects. As of 2007, however, Zombie has dabbled his hand in a franchise both ancient and renowned: the Halloween series. Michael Meyer’s name is almost synonymous with slasher and is often remembered on the holiday itself through marathons of the film’s expansive chronology, which spans eight films from the previous series, and has now been bumped to ten with the addition of Zombie’s remakes. Meyers is a serial killer, who throughout the entire series, has tried to track down and murder his sister, Laurie; however, every attempt proves unsuccessful. In Halloween: H20, Laurie is seemingly

killed by her brother. From here, most fans expected another sequel, featuring the return of Laurie, and the death of Meyers, for good; however, such was not the case, when it was announced that Zombie had decided to take Halloween into his own hands, and influence it with his own, twisted and creative direction. Zombie was pretty much free to do as he pleased with the plot and the characters. “’Don’t feel hindered by any of the rules we’ve had in the past. I want this to be your vision and I want you to express that vision,” producer Malek Akkad said. Despite this leeway, the basic storylines are still intact: Meyers murders his older sister, her boyfriend, his mother’s boyfriend and a school bully, all at the ripe old age of ten, and is committed to an insane asylum. Meanwhile, Laurie, who is unknowingly the baby sister of Michael Meyers, grows up to become a prim and proper young lady, whilst her friends are corrupt and deeply involved in inapporpriate activities. There are slight variations to the plotline here. Doctor Samuel Loomis, the child psychologist in charge of Michael Meyers’ case, does not hold him in contempt. Their relationship is portrayed as more of a tragic companionship, if not a slight friendship. This still does not stop Loomis and Meyers from having a final

Taylor Carpenter Sports Editor

Kendall Carlson Staff Writer

Zombie takes Halloween series in new direction

October 2009

Movies

The Ticket Movies Devin Harper Features Editor

Burton’s 9

Tim Burton is a renowned film director with an awe-inspiring track record. He has had 24 Oscar nominations and is responsible for many popular films such as Corpse Bride, Sweeney Todd, The Nightmare Before Christmas, Batman Returns and recently 9. Cleverly released on 9/9/09, the film 9 is simply complex. The film setting is post-apocalyptic. Borrowing a theme from The Matrix, 9 is set in a time where the human race has been annihilated and earth is now dominated by machines. No life remains on the desolate planet. With the world in shambles, 9 robots, created from burlap material, band together to take on the machines that have destroyed it. The main character (voiced by Elijah Wood) pulls the rest of the characters together to take on the marauding machines. Each character has a number instead of a name, this adds to the impersonal feeling of a world gone wrong. #1 (Christopher Plummer) is the leader of the group, and very set in his ways. #1 is ruled by fear. #2 (Martin Landau) is an inventor, dedicated to the truth. #3 and #4 are twins who have no voice. They communicate with eyes that double as projectors. #5 (John C Reilly) is also an inventor with a very close tie to Martin Landau’s character. #6 (Crispin Glover) is an artist who is characterized as slightly insane. #7 (Jennifer Connelly) is the outlaw, take no prisoners, fight to the death character of this film. Fear is not in her vocabulary. #8(Fred Tatasciore) was the brute idiot. He had unmatched strength but a less than remarkable IQ. He was #1’s personal militia. The film focuses on the idea that humanity must live on and that courage, adventure and morality are the main components of a human soul. The machines in the film are birds, dogs and snakes that escape from the nightmare of technology. The 80-minute film is visually amazing. From the opening scene, your eyes are glued to the animated fantasy. Burton gave the audience exactly what was expected from someone whose background in animation is revolutionary. The film uses lots of earth tones, and fog to create the image of a deserted battlefield. The most vibrant color used is the vibrant red eyes of the machines. The film is PG-13 for violence and scary images. The film contains many moral themes, and makes the statement that the soul is the key part of humanity. The film definitely could have been longer, but is targeted for young children and teens. On a scale from 1-10 ‘9’ would probably fall somewhere between a 7 & 8. The film fell short of being satisfying to the audience. It felt more like a video game than a film. The popular suggestions are that if you want to play a video game, then play the video game; don’t go to the movies. There was no plot build up in the film, which caused it to run a flat at times. 9 was an expansion of an Oscar winning short film in 2004, and both the length and the storyline made that fact very clear. There is no real character development between #9 and the rest of the characters. He shows up and acts as though he’s been there the entire time. It felt very rushed as if the entire point of the film was to get to the end. It does not contain much humor, except for dim-witted #8. Burton’s film visually was absolutely arresting, but the storyline itself was nothing. Wait until it comes out on DVD. Rating three tickets.