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ToP 10 ARTISTS ot 2000-2009 The Ice landic band w ho claim to bring you th e beautifu l landscape of th eir homeland with th eir so ngs was founded in 1994; emerging from an Icelandic music scene th at includ es Mum and Amiin a, but also resemb les expe rim ental band s such as Explosions in the sky, Mogwai and Godspeed You! Black Empero r. They had their internationa l breakthrough at the end of th e 90s w ith th eir seco nd album ; Aga?tis byrjun ("An alright start" ). Critics have claim ed it is one of the best albums of its tim e, and as its reputation began to spread, more peop le beca me taken w ith Sigur Ro s' symph onic and experim ental music. All in all they have release five full album s and so ld over 2.5 million co pies world wid e. Sigu r Ros is hard to categorize, and has been described as post-rock, expe rim ental, dream pop, ambient and prog rock amongst others. it is impossi ble to fully justify them with words, so th e best advice would be to check out their music. The band si ng their lyrics in vonlenska (Hopeland ic), a non-literal language that resembles Icelandic, used so the listeners can interpret th eir own meanings of the songs . The music of Sigur Ros has been used in several films and televi sion shows such as The Noth ing Song in Vanilla Sky, and maybe most famously, Hoppfpolla from Planet Earth . Andrea Stromskag
Whil e it might not have been until 2008 that radio mainstay Sex on Fire made KOL a household name, the Followill clan have
After severa l nam e changes, some gigs around Lo nd on an d interes t from a few reco rd labe ls, in 2003 a band ca ll ed Bloc Party emerged to revitalise the English indie scene. They played complex, guitar-driven music, but contrasting with what The Libertines and Th e Strokes were doing elsewhere th ey used experimental, multi-layered sound to create the base for their st unning debut. Silent Alarm was instantly recognised as one of the sem inal albums of the music sce ne ; th e jagged but harmonious indie anthems won th em th e plaudits of 'Album of the Year ' from NME and Plug in 2005/6. Their next effort, A Weekend in the City, matured th eir approach; opting for a wa sh of so und on seve ral tracks, utili si ng electronic synth s an d complex sa mples. This somewh at al ienated hardcore fans, and the release of Flux and Mercury cemented the band s new direction and prevented th em writing anything like Silent Alarm again. However, their new direction is what makes them one of the best bands of the decade; with Intimacy they broadened their horizons and gained a huge new fanbase. Th e ability to cha nge the ir sound complete ly, and sti ll rema in at the he ight of
nonethe less been present and accoun ted for throu gho ut th e duratio n of the decade forever to be known as the noughtie s. Releasing their first record in 2003, Kings of Leon are among th e few acts in thi s poll whose hi sto ry is confined almost entirely to the 2000s. Temporality as ide however, the Tennessee ro ck group's ge nes is has been one of th e most spectacular musica l and aesth etic transformations of recent years. From shaggy, denim mountain-men to sharp and stylized fa shio ni stas, Kings' drasti c rebranding in 2007 opened th e eyes of those who might have dismissed the group's guise as derivative and meaningless southern rock revivalism. Th ey've helped provide the soun dtrack to th e latter part of th e decade, with club banger ma shups and wedding playlists made after 2008 seldom being spared the sound s of On Ca ll, Use Somebody or th e aforementioned mega single. Tru e, unsavo ury crowd bashing at a certain su mmer fe sti val might have left a sour taste in some mouths, but tantrums aside, Kings of Leon are truly, as the NME put it, "one of the great American ba nd s of our times". Afec Pfowman
popu larity, surely that dese rves recognition. Alex Throssell
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Nobody expected the success story that Long Island's Brand New have become when Your Favorite Weapon dropped in 2001, a year after the band had formed. Even though it was the first example of front man Jesse Lacey's sublime and often cutting lyrics, the album was still ge neric pop-punk for the most part. it wasn't until 2003's Deja Entendu th at they became the undisputed and somewhat reluctant kings of emo, as lead si ngle Sic Transit Gloria .. . Glory Fades became so mething of an ant hem for the disillusioned generatio n. However, Brand New never seemed comfo rtabl e with being lumped within a genre and this showed on album number three, Th e Devil and God Are Raging Inside M e. The 90s Alt. Rock influences of Built To Spill and Pave ment bega n to pu sh through, res ul ting in th eir most stunning and acco mplished effort to date. Th e end of th e deca de ha s see n a wave of band s foll ow in their wake, headed by the soo n to be hu ge Manchester Orch estra . A stunning live show has always been a key charac teristic of Lacey's crew, and 2009 sa w the release of fourth album Daisy, anoth er strong effort whi ch suggests a band that is only getting better with age. M ichael Bl unt
it's hard to find band s in the noughties wh o just pl ain rocked. Amps were set below 11, syn th s were revived almost weekly and sober reflection replaced partying. But Queens of the Stone Age didn' t give up so easy. Josh Homm e's crew of desert rockers kept it loud, low and raucous all decade across four supe rb records. Having re leased one of the decade's first classic albums w ith 2000's Rated R, the band broke throu gh two years later w ith Songs For The Deaf. Even more ful l of ear-bustin g riffs, pounding drum s (th anks to Dave Grohl) and w ild so los than their othe r records, it set a standard for rock which barely any ot her reco rd of the noughties cou ld get near. it may have been the band's own peak too, but follow-up Lullabies to Paralyze [si c] provided further hits as well as severa l more relaxe d track s, and Era Vulgaris was full of sleazy, di sj oin ted riffs . Whil e the band have never been th e head li ne act t hat mo re ma instream acts have become, Queen s have been a bri ll ia nt, well -loved stap le of th e best festival bi lls of the noughti es. In a decade which sorely needed it, they rocked hardest, loud es t and best. Will Donovan
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There can be fewer bands in the modern era more storied than The Libertines . The drugs, the breakdowns and the tumultuous relationship between Peter Doherty and Carl Barat has done to tabloid journalists what a bag of sugar and strobe lighting does to excitable toddlers - and yet back in the halcyon days of 2002, they were simply belting out what was to become some of the best mu sic of the decade. Their debut album Up the Bracket w as recently voted the seco nd gre atest al bum of 2000 - 2009 by NME and rightly so. With Powell and Hassel forming the spin~ of the band, and tethering the cataclysmically gifted front men to some sense of orde r, the foursome flitted from ska rhythm s to warb ling screams to metered laments, all imbued with Doh erty 's heavy sense of wit and poetry. The release of their seco nd , and final , album , the eponymous Th e Libertines was 'a n ending fitting for the start ', sea ling their legacy as one of t he fin est bands of the era . it chro ni cled th e brea kdown of the ban d with an exp losive, yet ant hemic, eye. And th at wa s the end of Th e Libertines. The fl ame that burns half as long burn s twice as bright. Mi chael Bo nd
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ToP 10 ARTISTS ot 2000-20G9 A band completely deserving of their place in the top five of this list, and in the hearts of the British people, is Muse. Since their formation in the 1990s, the three-piece from Teignmouth, Devon, have taken the world by storm. Matt Bellamy, Chris Wolstenholme and Dominic Howard have released five great studio albums, the first of which was Showbiz in 1999, and, in addition to that, live albums and DVDs. But the most significant fact about the band is the hysteria their live shows produce . Cited as being one of the best British live acts, Muse have racked up an impressive number of awards including two Brits, six NME Awards and even a prestigious Mercury Prize nomination for 2006's Black Holes and Revelations . They have put on many astounding shows, such as their two Wembley Stadium concerts in June 2007 which included the band entering up from beneath an extension of the stage with light? and smoke surrounding them, satellite dishes and huge floating balloons with acrobats attached to them. The trio have also branched into the festival circuit, with more recent headline appearances being at Oxegen in 2007, Lollapalooza in 2007 and V Festival in 2008. After all this success you could ask where do they go from here? Their latest album The Resistance was released in September- with the first single being Uprising - and the new single Undisclosed Desires is out now. Muse will still be significant for some time to come. Beth Wyatt
The thing about Radiohead is that you could have compiled this list ten years ago and they would still have done just as well. They defined 90s paranoia and despair with 1997's Ok Computer, considered by many to be the greatest album of all time. And then, for an encore, they set the scene for the OOs with Kid A. A cold, beautiful, electronic monster, it polarized the opinions of both fans and critics but over time has come to be accepted as the most important album of the decade. One of the most challenging pop records ever made, it abandons conventional song structure and forever changed what was possible within the confines of mainstream music. Follow-ups Amnesiac and Hail to the Thief are not held in such high esteem but, especially for the former, this is unfair; both are exceptional albums that seamlessly combine rock and electronica whilst continuing the band's trend of sonic innovation and flawless songwriting. And then there's 2007's In Rainbows. Whether you consider the 'pay what you like' online download scheme to be a stroke of genius or the end of the record industry as we know it, the music itself is infallible. A return to form for a band that never lost it, In Rainbows is simultaneously their most accessible and their warmest album, the cold alienation of previous efforts largely replaced by intimacy and longing. With a new album apparently scheduled for 2010, what can we expect next from Radiohead? it's impossible to say. One thing is for sure: they will continue to define and dominate every decade in which they release material. Duncan Vicat-Brown
Cast your minds back to 2005, to a ~me when the British music scene was mourning the loss of The Libertines, and more importantly, to when one of the most exciting singles of the past decade was released . Instant classic I Bet That You Look Good on the Dancefloor caught the imagination of indie kids and critics alike, and so began the unstoppable rorce that is Arctic Monkeys. 2006 Mercury Prize winning de~ut album, Whatever People Say I Am, That's What I'm Not is a record that ticks so many boxes. lt is musically intelligent, possesses a precision that most indie bands can only dream of achi~ving, and lyrically, well; Alex Turner's lyrics are observant and asfute, but most of all, they are relevant. You physically cannot listen to Mardy Bum, for instance, and not smile at the recognisable p13ttern of being one half of a troubled relationship. Follow-up album, 2007's Favoqrite Worst Nightmare, was pipped to the post by Klaxons for a Isecond Mercury Music prize but received the same level of intense critical approval, as well as containing fan favourites Fluo~escent Adolescent and the delicate 505. This year's highly anticiPated Humbug, however, has divided critics and fans alike. The J~sh Homme-produced epic is captivatingly complex, yet Turner aJd co. have undoubtedly lost some of their more lager-loutish of ~ns. However, with the guys' newly flbwing hair, sophisticated new album and celebrity girlfriends to boot, you cannot help but be excited for whatever the next decad~ has to offer. Gemma Henzley
Arcade Fire, in their original line-up, formed in 2003 in Montreal, fronted by the husbandand-wife duo of Win Butler and Regine Chassagne. The band quickly signed to the independent record label Merge Records and released their .first full-length album Funeral in 2004. This received widespread commercial and critical acclaim, resulting in sold-out live shows and packed venues. By 2005, the album had gone gold in both Canada and the UK, a major feat for an independently released album. The title referred to the deaths of several relatives of band members at the time of recording, which was reflected in the melancholy tone of many of the songs. The album also features Chassagne's funeral tribute to her lost homeland with the track Haiti. The band now comprises seven members, who between them play an eclectic mix of instruments, including a xylophone, hurdy gurdy and mandolin, which makes for
energetic and r njoyable live performances and a diverse r):lnge of tracks. Arcade Fire have also performed with the likes of rock veterans U2 and David Bowie. In March 2007, Neon Bible was released following a year of recording in an abandoned church that the band bought and converted into a studio. The album reached number 2 in the UK Top 40 Album Chart and prompted Q Magazine to name Arcade Fire 'The Most Exciting Act On The Earth'. Neon Bible also went on to Win the Meteors 2008 'Best International Album' award and the Juno Awards 2008 'Alternative Album of the Year'. The album is slightly more up-beat than Funeral and fe~tures a military choir and a full orchestra, ais well as a repackaged version of the favourite hit No Cars Go. A third album is currently in t he pipeline and promises to cement Arcade Fire as a top band of the next decade. RosJubber
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The Event's Music Editors Paul Cook and Steph McKenna choose two artists deserving of a mention that narrowly missed out on a prestigious place in our top 10 of the decade .. .
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As rap's most powerful man, Jay-Z proclaims on hi s seminal LP of the noughties The Black Album: "There's never been a n****r this good for this long, this hood, or this pop, this hot, or thi s strong." If Jay wasn't aptly summing up his global impact on the music industry such a statement might seem arrogant. However, Shawn Corey Carter, better known as Brook lyn 's self-made Jay-Z, has been demonstrating his lyrical finesse and consistent <;reativity for over 15 years now. Jay-Z's phenomena l feat of 11 success ive number one albums in the US marks him
as one of our lifetime's greatest musical achievers. lt is not only his immense ability to write and rap inte lligent lyrics but his ec lectic tastes as a producer that makes hi s music so unique. Effortless blending of contemporary beats with timeless Motown, so ul, reggae and gospel influences gives Jay-Z's music a cultural retrospect alongside poignant and often po liticised lyrics. From the fresh , sl ick styles of the Blueprint series to the more experimental, collaborative efforts of Kingdom Come and The Black Album, Jay-Z has mastered the art of delicately bala ncing mainstream sounds and hardcore rap lyrics. A bold, innovative and businessminded approach to such an expressive and creative body of work puts Jay-Z right at the top of the list of rap's al l time greats alongside t he likes of Notorious B.I.G and Dr. Ore. Despite narrowly missing the top ten , his impact and influence on the music of the noughties is undeniable and never to be und erestimated. Paul Cook
If ever there was a poster boy for the tortured soul of contemporary humanity, it's Conor Oberst. Having supposedly taken to song-writing the instant he learnt two chords on guitar at the age of ten, and now labelled 'the Bob Dylan of modern music', the peculiar Nebraskan has been performing in variou s bands hi s entire life. Bright Eyes, however, remains his biggest success; both in terms of hitting the commercial market and showcasing the best of his unquestionably beautiful artistic ability. Formed in the mid-nineties by Oberst, Mike Mogis and Nate Walcott, they have remained the band's permanent members to this day, experimenting and diversifying with various other guest musicians whilst on tour. The release of Letting Off The Happiness (1998) se nt ripples into the indie-folk industry, but it wasn't until the release of the dark and crushingly emotive Fevers & Mirrors (2000) that this cascaded into waves. Lifted Or The Story Is In The Soil ... (2004) marked the band's fi rst commercial success and was followed in 2005 by the contrasting re leases of I'm Wide Awake, it's Morning and Digital Ash In A Digital Urn, with singles Lua
and Take it Easy (Love Nothing) stealing #1 and #2 in the US Billboard charts. 2007's Cassadaga showcased a more palpab le country influence, coupling diverse orchestral sounds with Oberst's trademark trembling vocals. Amalgamating styles of indie, rock, folk and electronica, Bright Eyes have continued to sparkle in t he eyes of critics and fans alike. In fact, one would be hard pushed to find a successful band of the last 10 years in any of these genres who does not list them as an influence. At the heart of this acclaim is th e disillusioned spirit of Conor Oberst himself; a child-like face veiling the worldly eyes of a tr.ue contemporary genius. Steph Mc Ke nna
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Distorted bass and drums greeted the crowd after the long queue outside in the co ld, setting the mood; the excitement wa s almost tangible. Franco, the first support band, had a tough job with the reluctant crowd of young teenagers to get them jumping along. Their so und complimented El liot Minor and their ene rgy fi ltered through the crowd as they bounced around the stage. They were exceptionally professiona1 live and as they left Franco were greeted by a swarm of girls asking for photos and autographs. They appeared to be as loved as Elli ot Minor themselves. The next support act, Me Vs Hero, continued this energy and brought the crowd alive with a
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sound similar to a mix of Fall Out Boy and Lamb of God, due to the heavy meta l undertone. The switch over to Elliot Minor took an age, leaving the audience suitably unimpressed. However,
Enjoying a brief stint of R&R after the Mercury Awards, Lisa Hannigan is back on the same tour with a few minor alterations, including new material , new covers, and new cities. For
one way to stop a crowd of chanting kids is to whack up the volume on Teenagers by MCR.
her first ever visit to Norwich, an undersold Waterfront received her quaint Iri sh charm on tenderhooks. Despite the small number of fans who made it out 'on this mise rable night' (in her words) they waited for a performance of equal merit to the highly acclaimed and nothing short of comfortingly blissful Sea Sew. Hannigan always exudes an amicab le superiority to any audience. Flourishing with confidence on stage, the band of drummer, guitarist, violinist, double bassist, keyboardist, and Hannigan delivered nine out of ten tracks of their debut album (excluding the rather primitive Splishy Splashy), Hannigan trading accordion for Irish folk instrument, microphone for banjo, mandolin , and guitar, each delivered with the effortlessness of breathing. With quirky arm movements and not a misplaced lyric or note, she opened the show with an oddly chosen and slightly subdued Pistachio , before moving fluently into
Eventually, Elliot Minor took the stage and the crowd went wild. They started with a song off their new album to warm up before going straight into Jessica, an old favourite of theirs, where Alex Davies, lead singer, was loudly accompanied by the audience. El liot Minor didn't pause except for when Alex and Ed Minton changed their guitars for different songs. Alex got so enthusiastic in hi s interaction with the crowd that the tech guys had to come on stage to untangle his microphone from around two of the microphone stands. The three bands were very well received and wonderful ly complemented each other. The crowd loved Elliot Minor in Norwich and undoubted ly thi s was not unlike the rest of their tour dates. Alice Saunders
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the more apt Ocean and a Rock. New songs Blurry, Braille, and Couldn't Love You More
gave an injection of energy and excitement to the crowd, suggesting an imminent new album in 2010. Forgetting the qu estiona ble rhymes ('Ohio, like a biro') the new songs suggested a similar but more experienced vein to Sea Sew, si mple but beautiful guitar melodies, and tight chemistry between band members. The closing track wa s a unique cover of Personal Jesus that more or less summed up Lisa Hannigan entire ly; Ire land's unmatched victor. Helen Thomas
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As a university student, you're not officially allowed to enjoy cheesy pop unless it's in an entirely ironic way, but Miley Cyrus' new single Party in the USA thoroughly puts this to test. Miley has managed to capture the pure bubblegum pop of Britney Spears without all the craziness, and
t1 ,· 10 has matured from when she was "just being Miley." The song demands a singalong, with an infectious chorus and a catchy (albeit repetitive) guitar riff. In the same way Katy Perry took the LCR by storm with I Kissed A Girl, we can expect this song to be a similar 'must have', as long as we put our prejudices about her sickly sweet naivety aside and accept that sometimes there are songs that just have to be loved. The only reason to really dislike this song is that Miley makes us lament how uncool we were at 16.
Fiona Howard
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This introductory single to The Automatic's third studio album· Tear The Signs Down took just two hours to write, and this explains the result, a classic example of a twohour jam: self-indl:llgent instruments, chaotic vocals and repetition. The lyrics reflect this nicely with threeway vocals epitomised by
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echoes of "bh Yeah-Oh Yeah," "Na-Na" and a bit more of "Na-Na," helping don a simple structure of approximately just four different notes. However, that's not to say this isn't enjoyable. The track (along with their brilliant second album, This is a Fix) is fun, synthy and far more professional than the older material we are more familiar with. This is mainly the result of multi-talented Paul Mullen (Yourcode name is: mi lo), who has reshaped the band considerably after replacing screaming vocalist Alex Pennie.
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Arguably the most talkedabout new artist of 2009 was Lady Gaga, who burst onto the music scene with her smash single Just Dance and trademark eccentric outfits. Following hot on the heels of Lovegame is Bad Romance. The first few seconds sound promising, but then Gaga launches into sounds
such as "Rah-rah-ah-ah ahah" and "Roma-roma-inamaa" which come across as rather bizarre on first listen. Similarly, the first verse fails to make an impact, with Gaga strangely stating "I want your ugly, I want your disease" and drawling "I want your love" in a low voice which fails to come across in the seductive manner she is probably aiming for. However, after a short bridge the brilliant chorus suddenly kicks in with an upbeat rhythm and Lady Gaga's vocals are infectious. She may be able to "write a bad romance" but is this lady capable of writing a bad song? True, it's no Poker Face, but Gaga fans will lap it up. Beth Wyatt
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Andrew Davidson's debut novel rests on most sh~lves looking distinctly out of place. The page edges are tarred with black ink, the cover is blood red and adorned with hundreds of golden arrows. A flaming heart, covered in gothic print and grotesques, boasts the line: "Love is as strong as death, as hard as hell." Just what sort of a novel is this? it's not an easy question to answer. The narrator, a porn star without a penis, begins the tale by describing a horrific car accident which has left him burned and morphine dependent. While virtually paralysed and recovering in hospital, the narrator (who remains nameless) is visited by Marianne Engel, a mental patient, who cla im s to have known him in a past life. Although sceptical, he listens to her story nonetheless, a story which becomes worryingly more and more convincing as time progresses. The Gargoyle is a remarkable oddity. it's an undeniably pulpy page turner, with love conquering all as its central theme. At the •• same time, it will appea l to fans of Bret Easton Ellis and Chuck Palahniuk for its twisty plot and use of scrupulous detail when describing some truly gruesome events. Davidson's opening account of reconstructive surgery should prove for dry reading - but it's so ri chly meticulous that's it's actually very entertaining. Up until th e last page, you wil l not have a clue as to how the narrative will play out. The mysteries pile on, as fourteenth century scriptoriums, gay Vikings and a visit to Dante's hell confuse and enrich the story brilliantly. Certain ly a unique read. David Biggins
Shahriar Mandanipour's career as a writer has been dogged from the start by the indignity of censorship . Now living in the USA, hi s latest novel, Censoring an Iranian Love Story, was publ ished earlier thi s year. lt tells the tale of Dara and Sara, and their attempts to form a relationship in a society that forbids them from seeing one another. Their story is the vehicle through which Mandanipour writes the realities of political censorship and exile. For example, in one ot his more distinct practices, Mandanipour literally strikes out parts of their story that would be deemed unacceptably political or erotic ("What a shame for those beautiful eyes and that tantalizing face to be hidden behind those glasses"): he simu ltaneous ly veils and unveils the contemporary Iranian love story for the Western reader. But why the Western reader? Written in Farsi, and dense with local reference, Mandanipour's novel implies an Iranian audience for itself. But just as his Iranian love story must be co nditioned by Iranian reality, so must his imp li ed audience. Mandanipour writes with aware ness that he can only write a political novel because he is in exi le, and that his book ca n on ly exist in translation. This is a novel that is made by censors hip as much as it is prohibited by it. As such, this novel marks one of the most thought-provoking and inventive literary responses to contemporary Islamic culture and on that basis alone is certainly one of this decade's most notable books. Kiron Ward
A New York Times bestsell er, a Woody Alien figure of literature, and now a UK resident, cha nces of see ing David Sedaris on The South Bank Show anytime soon are pretty slim. Des pite massive recognition across the pond, his nam e here remains so lely on the tongues of expats and pse udoYankee connoisseurs. Sedaris' autobiograp hi ca l se lf-deprecating style is endea rin g, his neuroses charming and always hil ariou s. But the rea l j oy of Sedaris is th at he makes you feel that it's OK th at your family and fri end s are odd because his are even more so, and th at as soon as you've put hi s book down you want eve rybody else to sha re th e hilarity. All of Sedaris' books are brilliant, but to get a real feel for his ge niu s, the place to sta rt is by reading his breakthrough co ll ection of essays Me Talk Pretty One Day which chronic les hi s childhood in South Caro lin a, hi s experiences with drugs, his move to France w ith his lover, and hi s always amusing family including his red neck brother 'Rooste r'. Sedaris might not write in a chrono logica l order, and he might have a rampant ego, but his prose is easy, astute and be li evab le with perfect comic timing. He is unflinching in his descriptions of the more awkward moments in life but always manages to find the humour. Few books make you laugh out loud,
Ill ustrator, author and performance poet Laura Dockrill, aka Dockers MC found her fame through artwork for Kate Nas h and Scroobius Pip. With one poetry book, M istakes in the Background, previously published by HarperCollins, she released a seco nd in the summe r of 2009 entitled Ugly Shy Girl. To launch the book she performed at Southbank's Queen Elizabeth Hall wit h supporting sets from Kate Na sh, Peggy Sue, and Brigitte Aphrodite, which provided the audience with a -n.ca..-I.U'I • •,..,.., day of unique entertainment. Dockrill herse lf incorporated ~-~ltf ·a,~ t..P ... ..... performance poetry elements with extracts from her prose .W s:. book, creating an amazing atmosphere with a cast of girls <>. ~ate NOSh chanting and stomping along with her. " The performance aspect is integral to Dockrill's work, as it ~;:l brings the text to life. However, the physical copy of the story of Ugly Shy Girl is such a gem to find that you'll want to buy it for friends and family. Along with illustrations to rival Quentin Slake's, which many will remember from chi ldhood accompanying Roald Dahl's books, one can see
but each of Sedaris' essays, with their acerbic wit, at least warrants a chuckle and there is nowhere better to get stuck in then Me Talk Pretty One Day; the perfect bus journey read.
a clear inspiration; reflected in the main protagonist's name, Matilda . The narrative is much like that of a children's book, however with swearing and subjects of bullying and violence, it allows you to indulge in some nostalgia with an adult twist.
Fiona Howard
Carmina Masilover
A good writer's strength is in attuning to the zeitgeist. A great writer's is prefiguring it. Looking at Nick McDonell's Twelve retrospectively gives the impression of an author gifted with remarkable foresight. First published in 2002, Twelve is the story of a clique of wealthy Manhattan teens engrossed in a shady underworld of drug addiction, sex and violence. Often detailed through the third person account of White Mike, a philosophical and misplaced drug dealer, the seemingly privileged world of the high-school aged socialites is quickly cast as a vicious and vindictive sphere, teetering on the verge of collapse through the actions of the ignorant and unfeeling
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characters that inhabit it. McDonell's prose manages not only to effectively portray a wonderfully sardonic microcosm of the teenage experience (Perhaps unsurprising given that it was published when he was only 17), but alludes to bizarre and often disturbing celebration of the mindless, wealthy youth of America that manifested through reality television staples such as The Hills and My Super Sweet Sixteen later in the decade. Throw in an ominous prediction of the Virginia Tech massacre as well, and you find an author with his finger so hard on the pu lse that it's practically throbbing. Alec Plowman
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TII£ATR£>PRJNI[W> STUDfNT PRODUCTIONS tiNAl YtAR DRAMA DtGRtt STUDOOS STAG[ A NIGIIT TO RtMtMRtR You might be wondering why the SU bar seems lovelier and quieter than usual, or why there is less screeching and prancing on the dancefloor • of the LCR. That is because us third-year drama students are too busy putting together our final year production, the double-bill of Tales from the Vienna Woods by Odon Von Horvath, and Tales from Hollywood by Christopher Hampton. 'Just another drama production', I hear you cry! A production that, unless a friend of yours is starring in it, you may not go to see. But I am here to persuade you otherwise. Typically, a student night involves waking up the next day with a pounding headache, an oddly-located bruise that you have no memory of acquiring and a significantly emptier wallet. Coming to see our production will be a great alternative night to break up your week; one that is incredibly cheap (£3.50!) and considering
WIIY You suoULD curcK orn DRAMA Soc's Recently Union House's meeting rooms have played host to some interesting characters; an emotionally-delicate faded socialite, an egomaniac wife-beater and a love-blind sister, torn between the two. Don't worry, Union House has not been invaded by the guests of the Jeremy Kyle Show; it's just the Drama Society's latest production in rehearsals. This semester's final production has arrived; the utterly extraordinary A Streetcar Named Desire, made famous by Marlon Brando's stint in that white shirt. However, if you are expecting a pale imitation of the film, you're greatly mistaken. What is happening above the LCR and Hive is a completely new and fresh take on the play. Dealing with issues such as poverty, family and emotional stability, this play brings to life the harsh realism of 1940s New Orleans, immersing the audience in a close examination of life and sexuality in post-war America. The director, Louise Davidson, has taken great pains working with the cast to build an in-depth understanding of the psychological
and emotional dimensions of the play in order to create a piece that rises above the preconceived notion of Brando and Leigh's Streetcar. The results of this are scenes between Stella and Blanche (played by Jasmine Blackborow and Xanthe Patterson) which are truly heartbreaking, while, when Stanley (Matt Milne) enters, the atmosphere perceptively changes, becoming fraught and crackling with tension. The chosen venue for this production, the Norwich Puppet Theatre, adds an original element that nowhere else in the city can give. The converted church is an intimate space where the audience will only be metres away from the action and at touching distance during the play's explosive climax. Angharad Bullward Don't miss this opportunity to come and see this fine production and talented actors in their full glory at the Puppet Theatre on the 6th and 7th of December. Tickets are available from UEA Box Office.
the amount of work that the drama students put into it, a very professional production indeed. Furthermore, unless you decide to hit the wine we'll be selling in the interval, the after-effects will be much kinder, and more memorable. So what about the plays you will be coming to see? Awarde~ the Standard Best Comedy award, Tales from Hollywood is a hilarious account of a group of German emigre writers (including the likes of Brecht and Thomas Mann) who, after fleeing Nazism, were employed as screenwriters for major film companies in Hollywood. Told through the eyes of playwright Odon Von Horvath, sharp wit is paired alongside moving and tender insights into the lonely eastern European exiles. Blending both fantasy and fiction, it makes a crackingly entertaining (and informative) show. lt might even come in useful for the History and American Studies students
amongst you. Our Odon Von Horvath double-bill continues with a play written by the man himself, Tales from the Vienna Woods. A classic piece of 20th-century drama, set against the backdrop of the Vienna Woods, it's an energetic and hugely entertaining epic, centred around a community steeped in bigotry, sex, love affairs and personal tragedy. All the while, society at large is reeling towards fascism. Enjoy the show! lsobel Palmer Tales of Hollywoqd is running in the Drama Studio on 1st, 3rd and $th December at 7:30pm. Tales from the Vienna Woods is running on 2nd and 4th December at 7:30pm and Sat 5th at 2:00pm. Tickets are now on sale at the Drama Studio Box Office as well as some tickets being sold at the door.
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TIIf RfST TIIINGS IN SMALL PACKAG[S Television take a break from actual journalism to wax lyrical about their Christmas lists. I ... TO U,. lA 11 !'fa
After those intriguing adverts, and catching the C\..alV'n.'l pilot online, I have dec ided: I want Lie to Me Season ~ One this gift-givi ng seaso n. Dr Ca l Lightman is the ma in man here, lea di ng a crack team w ho investigate using a mix of psycho logy and body language. it's somewhere between CS/ and Psych but don't worry, it's not just another crime-fighting drama - after all, you couldn't try out the forensic skills TV has taught you on your friends, but you can certainly start looking for these 'micro-expressions' to check what they rea lly think. Lie To Me adds a new layer to this criminal investigation genre and it has a great sense of humour, with Tim Roth bringing the famous British wit. The fact that it's anoth er Engli sh lead in a US show has got quite some attention but this time he keeps the accent (un li ke Hugh Laurie) and Brits are ma de to look smart and coo l, which I rather like. it's a long overdue undoing of all that floppy- hai red spluttering stuff the other Hugh has made us famous for. So, both interesting and gripping, I hope Lie To Me finds its way under my tree this year. Natalie Stephenson
The new seaso n of Entourage finds its heroes sinking to new depths, as movie star Vincent Chase (Adrian Grenier) attempts to claw his way out of a major career rut. Progressively poor decisions lead to cringe-worthy situations, but despite some dark subject matter the show is generally played for laughs. lt is to the show's credit that after five seasons the seemingly two dimensional characters have not only remained interesting, but have blossomed in to one of the most likeable casts on television. Special mention shou ld be given to Jerry Ferrara's 'Turtle', finally given space to breathe, and Jeremy Piven's Ari, who continues to offer hilariously inventive insults. Entourage may not be big, and almost certainly is not clever, but it is so entertaining that this hardly matters. If (like this writer) you are already a fan, purchasing this set is a must. However, if you have never had the pleasure of stepping into Vince's world you wi ll find an enlightening, fu nny programme, featu ring a well-rounded cast, and a satisfyingly modern soundtrack.
4 .I new team this series. The distracting auditioning process of Season Four is done away with, leaving more time dedicated to the characters- both old and new -and with Cameron and Chase making more of an appearance and House up to his old tricks, the humour of the first three seasons is back. This is also definitely a season for 'Huddy' fans. House finally goes beyond his regular cleavage commentary and begins to display actual human emotions towards Cuddy. After many missed opportunities there is the promise of finally getting the happy union we have been waiting for. But in true House-style, nothing is as it seems. The joy of this series is that it makes a re latively guilt-free stocking-filler. If not hing else it allows you to convince yo urse lf that, by avo iding coursework in favour of repeat viewings, you too might develo p the abi lity to so lve med ical mysteries. The sarcasm, however, takes practice. Nicole Fassihi
f Before the fellow critic-baiting HBO series The Wire, The Sopranos was regarded as one of the greatest TV series of all time- and in many ways still is. Far be it fo r anyone to say that t he former isn't worthy of such acclaim but the cultural and social immediacy of The Sopranos remains truly groundbreaking. Its success can be credited to a combination of elements that on their own would be worth a watch. James Gandolfini, as Tony Soprano, is one, giving a complex yet hilarious portrayal of a New Jersey mob boss suffering anxiety attacks whilst struggling to remain the respected family man. The show is also rich in homages to the gangster greats of Scorsese and Coppola, giving a cheeky nod to the viewer who spots the influences both the creators and the mafiosos themselves seem to draw upon. The Sopranos holds a special place in television history, raising an all-too-low bar of what viewers can expect from TV and offering depth and creativity in both its comedy and. drama. Pau l Cook
Gareth Rees-Wh ite
Need something to fill the toe of your already bulging stocking? The answer comes in the form of the most expensive TV series ever made (roughly $12m pe r episode) - Band of Brothers- the Second World War epic which follows 'Easy' Company of 2nd airbourne battalion from basic training through to the war's final death rattles. With such high production costs and producers Tom Hank and Steven Speilberg, it's unsurprising that th is series has been ha iled as one of t he greatest ever. With ope ning inte rviews from surviving members of Easy Company, this ten-part series really captures what these men endured throughout their service in Normandy. One particu lar highlight is 'Day of Days', in which the drop into France is portrayed with a grandeur only comparable to the opening of Saving Private Ryan. Wi th stunning special effects, superb performances f rom the cast, and full y-rea lised characte rs, I dare anyone to watch it without shedding at least one tear. Tom Dolton
We could all do with a superhero at some point in our lives, and never is this more obvious than at Christmas when distant relations start descending upon our homes, hellbent on creating havoc through their excessive food and alcohol consumption. But fear not, because Tom Welling is here to divert you from the sight of your tipsy grandmother, returning to fight evil yet again (Welling not Grandma). Clark Kent has grown up a lot since his first appearance seven seasons ago, and with a move from Smallville to the sprawling Metropolis our hero draws closer to taking up his mantle and donning the great 5-cape. The departure of the show's ori gina l creators - along wit h seve ral established cast members - raised questions about where the show was headed, but these appear to have been answered skilfully in a series that feels fresher and more mature than its predecessors. Along with an increased number of DC characters, and a complex lovelife for Clark, this is the perfect remedy to all t hose ho liday traumas, so sing along if you know the words: "Saaoaaaaaoooaaaaaave meeeeeeeeeee!" Lindsay Harris
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PRIMillMf: - MISilTS This new E4 series has been likened to Skins, only this time the miscreants we all hate to love have super-powers as the result of an apocalyptic storm. Though not without its flaws, Misfits is undoubtedly a step forward for sci-fi on British TV, escaping the Dr. Who/Sarah Jane/Torchwood route of time-travel, alternate universes an.d electronic screwdrivers which can be used to explain and solve any issue where the plot has been written into a corner.
The set up is simple: five ASBOs on community service are hit by lightning, causing them to develop special powers. While not particularly original, the concept is nevertheless ingenious as each one's power highlights their character traits (in most cases, their only one): the strange, quiet kid everyone ignores can turn invisible; the mouthy chav who overreacts to every little thing can hears other people's thoughts; the tease of the group has
DOWNLOAD- MOD[RN fAMILY men falling over themselves for her at a single Arrested Development, The Simpsons, touch; the olympic runner can manipulate Outnumbered... it seems as though television time; and then there's the Irish guy ... executives on both sides of the pond are This is where the show falls down. The first obsessed with bringing- us 'new' depictions episode was exciting and promising - w e learn of dysfunctional family life. And. due to all of of four of their powers and see how they cope these examples (and the. hundreds of others with them, and ultimately bond as a group - that regularly try their luck on BBC Three), but episode two was a disappointment. Not some would say that the format is tired - and only do we not initially learn what youn~ these would be people that have obviously Dylan Moran's power is, but we follow him not experienced the joy that is Modern Family. This mockumentary sitcom follows the through two sub-plots and are still none the wiser. Only one of his story lines is remotely families of Jay and his two grown· up children, enlightening; the other is shallow and makes Mitchell and Claire. Jay is married to the much him less likeable as a character, not to mention younger Gloria, a Colombian firecracker, leaving major plot holes and fallipg into and is step-father to Gloria's eight-yearthe Skins stereotype that all teenagers care old son Manny. Though only eight, Manny .about is sex, drugs, and more of the above. . has the insight and wisdom of a man many · But, despite this downfall, it still looks like times his age, drinks black coffee and in promising sci-fi, and ground-breaking forS the words of Claire, "dresses like a Count". Then there is Claire and her husband, the British television. One of best features of the show is indeed its Britishness; it hasn't tried self-professed 'cool dad' Phil. They have three to take on Hollywood, but it has provided its children but, unlike Manny, the kids are not own take on traditionally Hollywood ideas the stars of this family - Phil is. Phil is the dad (superpowers, apocalyptic weather, matching you are thankful you never had (and if you do, characters with a same-race love interest, our condolences). He knows the dance moves etc.) Here's hoping the r~st of the series to High School Musical as well as all the slang delivers on the p~omise of that first episode. ("LOL = Laugh_out loud. OMG = Oh My God. WTF = Why the face?"). When Haley's boyfriend Mlcha Butler Dylan calls round his attempts at being the intimidating father that his own father-in-law clearly was are both cringe-worthy and brilliant.
THURSDAYS 10PM [4
}IDCA$I:S "There's something intriguing about you ... I just don't know if it's in a good way."
Cheryl Cole's dumbfounded respon se to the spiky-haired Dubliners now collectively known as Jedwarct in the early stages of this year's X Factor, perhaps spoke volumes more than was intended. For it is in the peculiar realm of reality television that these personalities seem to manifest themselves and - given Jedward's only recent departure from our screens -where these oddities find inexplicable acclaim from the British public. But Jedward are far from being the first of series such as The Thick Of lt, Shameless and Skins and it features a cast of 'differently abled' Good new series are like buses - they only turn up after you've first abandoned all hope. So it's _just as we're releasing our last issue of the year that the BBC attempts to slip past gems like Mouth t~ Mouth, a satirically sharp (if a little stagey) talking-heads mockumentary about a hopeful performer in an X-Factor proxy and her vacuous yet quietly tragic dreams. it's unclear what's left to say after the rather self-contained first episode but it's intriguing enough that I want to know. Speaking of intriguing mockumentaries, Channel 4's Cast Offs is an edgy new pilot of the sort that is traditionally advertised as an 'edgy new pilot'. lt's creators are minor writers from
characters left ori an island with a film crew, to see how they survive. it's daring, but whether that daring is on behalf of the actors allowing their bodies to be a spectacle for shocking television, or simply Channel4 paring the viewer to complain about their voyeuristic freak-show, remains to be seen. Not to be outdone by the comedy shows, reality TV continues to parody itself. Katie Price (single names were so 90s, honestly Seal) decides to enact the whole of Proverbs, starting with returning to the jungle like a dog returning to its vomit, and BBC's Young Hairdresser of the Year finds a subject for a competition duller than Young Mortician of the Year... actually that I would watch, as long as they were really young,
Finally, we have Mitchell and his partner Cameron. Mitchell is the uptight one; a snob, prodigious ice-skater and proud gay man (reflected in a hilariously ill-advised speech in the first episode), whereas Cameron is the more laid back and flamboyant of the pair - as demonstrated when he presents their newly-adopted Asian daughter, Lily
to the opening song from The Lion King. Truer than real life and only ever corny after it has first earned the right to be, Modern Family is a rare highlight in Sky One's schedule. Lauren O'Neill
THURSDAYS 8PM SIN 1
their kind. John Sergeant's reinterpretation of the granddad foxtrot on Strictly or father/son duo Stavros Flatley's cringe-worthy pantomime dance on Britain's Got Talent have received similar favour from the masses. Indeed, for many, the lacklustre and embarrassing sideshow-rejects finding their way into these programmes are much more appealing than the world-class waltzers or new-millennium crooners.who may receive ultimate victory. Is it through championing these freaks of reality television that we perhaps manifest our famous British self-deprecation in the 21st century? Surprisingly, it is in the comments of beardy pseudo-philosopher Sting that we might find a satisfactory conclusion as, after all, there may be
some truth -in his recent tirade on the uniform unoriginality of reality television champions. While the spoils might belong to the Leonas of the world, whose overt similarities to the Whitneys and Mariahs before them assures us of their place in the crooner canon, it is in the Chicos and the Sergeants that we find something that we haven't seen before. Are they corny? Perhaps. Winners? Not Jedward. They are, nonetheless, a welcome aside to the slick, airbrushed conformity of the reality TV format. Britons sans talent - yes, but not sans spunk, and in showbiz terms that might be more of an 'X' factor than a wa~bling voice.
and cried a lot - Doogie Hawser FD. Doctor Who's back, for those into that sort of thihg, and so is Gavin and Stacev- so if you're the kind of person who likes genuinely wellwritten and widely-popular comedy series then there's that - just be horribly aware while you watch it that your sense of humour !s exactly the same as everyone else's. Oh, and there's Beautiful People: from a writer of Britannia f:ligh and Gimme Gimme Gimme, it's exactly how that sounds, only gayer. X Factor is building to a hideous climax, and since every pundit worth their weight in column inches is making predictions here's mine: when the big moment's happened, and we all feel the sudden need to shower afterwards, we'll soon find the finalists' names as memorable as the individual members of Miss Frank (go on, try to
name them - guaranteed to get you inventing racially insensitive names). And we also probably won't call them in the morning. So that's it for this winter festival. Be sure to go out and buy a big Radio Times and highlight the crap out of it. You won't watch any of those costume dramas, but then no one really does. The Gruffalo is obviously essential viewing,·as is
Alec Plowman
The Royle Family, Fern BrittDn Meets Archbishop Desmond Tutu and Grow Your Own Drugs For Christmas; a BBC documentary that will really
help you get through all that time with family. Other than that all that's left is for me to wish you a Merry Christmas, a Happy Hannukah, a Fruitful Kwanzaa, a Great New Year and lots and lots of presents. See you in 2010! Josh But ler
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A bumper edition of our competitions section this week to get you into the Christmas spirit! Tha nk you t.o guest compilers Davina Kesby and Duncan Vicat-Brown.
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ACROSS 1. Access points for St Nick (8) 4. You'll be this if you overeat this Christmas (5) 9. Brer _ _'s Christmas Carol, 1992 TV movie (6) 13. Santa's red-nosed minion (7) 15. M ischievous fairy it) A Midsummer Night's Dream (4} 17. You'll'need one of these if you break a bone (4} 18. Christmassy term _for 'you' (2} 19. Something to hang ten down on (4) 20. Opposite of 'out' (2} 21. Used in introductions (5) 22. Wise men followed this (4) 23. Adolescent mutant turtles {5) 24. The abode of Satan (4} 25. A bit strange {3) 26. Simon _ , Hot Fuzz star (4} 27. Not Dad (3} 28. Santa's helper (3} 30. Slang for someone who drinks too much (4) 32. Alternative to 'like' in similes
{2) 33. Sent by post at Christmas (4) 36. As_ usual {3) 37 ..Nights (4) 39. Large weight {3) 41. Use this to row (3) 43. Definite article (3}. 44. Generic measurement (4) 46. These could fall this Christmas (10) 47. Not peace (3} 49. Forehead decoration worn in South Asia (6} 55. What you might need to call on New Years' Eve (4) 57. Celebrated on 25th December
(9) 59. Word in a song (5) 60. Small guitar with 4 strings (3} '61. Comic theme or gimmick (5) 64. A river in Hades according to Greek mythology (S} 65. A large intake of something, such as alcohol (5) 66. A mixture of aromatic substances, made into a ball (8)· 69. _ _ _ Robinson, American singer (5)
2. lnter:-se dislike (6) 3. Long-haired wild ox (3) 5. Day after Christmas day (6) 6. Long lasting marks {6) 7. _ Rave, type of modern fashion and music (2) 8. Colleague in school (9) 9. Beat of music (6) 10. Sparkly spherical decorations, hung on 19 across (7) 11. Child's play objects (4) 12. Slang for sausage (6)
Men (5) 73. To entertain, to make someone laugh (5) 75. 20th century avant-garde art movement (6) 77. When repeat ed makes a brand of clothing (3} : 79. Stone implement from about 9500 BC (7) 81 . Something that is in existence (5) 82. Jambe _ _ , greeting in Kenya (5) 83. Long period of time (3)
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shed t he success of their top 10 hit Sweet Disposition the band have becom of 2009's biggest breakthrough acts, and this is your chance to see their huge sound to the LCR. The Aust ralian indie-rockers are bound to hot ticket but one lucky winner will get a pair of tickets as an early rhrictn~:.cl
rtesy of the union, we have a pair of tickets to give away to see reunited Britpop legends Shed Seven in the LCR on 14/12/09! of the biggest British bands of the 1990s are back, performing classic hits •
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COURTESY TAXIS ~44-66-44
sop oft'every joumey when shown" eolleet from our new office · on Prince Of Wales Road opposite Roc:cosfMercy. Just show your NUS card
'VEAR FOR .4 CHEAP FARE! DISCOUNT WRISTBAND
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so seat luxurious waiting room for your eomfort and a CC'IV surveillance system for your SAFETY 24 hours a day. Security Guards are OD band during busy periods to escort you to your taxi and over see the general operation. \\\\\
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The following festive words are hidden somewhere in the wordsearch . The words may be hidden in any direction: horizqntally, vertically, diagonally, and forwards and backwards. The word SNOW appea rs twice !
REINDEER TOYS LISTS LIGHTS RUDOLPH
be in with a chance of winning, just unscramble the highlighted letters i Christmas Crossword and send your answer to concre·te.comoetiltior1s@tue;a.l by 11/12/09. Clue: the word is related to the band!
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be in with a chance of winning, just bring your. completed wordsearch name and e-mail address to the Concrete office upstairs in Union house
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Going for Gold, She Left Me OTJ Friday and Chasing Rainbows.
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86. Third person pronoun for a woman (3) 88. Type of gemstone with a.marbled appearance (4)
band (4} 99. Farmyard animal, alternatively called a Julbukk when used as a Chrrstmas decoration in Sweden (4)
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54. Hollowed out at Halloween (7) 56. To receive as a legacy (7) 58. Replacement (3) 59. Simple board game (4)
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80. School that is joined with Creative Writing (3) 81. Derogatory term for women (5} 84. You'll probably spend time with them at Christmas (6) 85. Formal term for head of 84 down
102. Set of morals or values (6) 103. Plan for a meeting (6) 104. Common type of cheese (7} 105. Room in top of house (4}
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90. Sense of self-importance (3) 91. Place where there are many 19 across (5) 93. Enthusiastic, keen (5) 95. Another word for the period surrounding 57 across (4} 96. Final gift from one of the wise men(4) 98. _ Kiley, American indie rock
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76. Waste product filtered out by the kidneys (4) 78. What you do to appreciate food
36. Gift (7) 84. Sections of 20% (6) 87. Song sung pt Christmas (5) 38. Meal cooked for a long time (4) 89. One who cuts with the teeth (5)40. If you stay out in the cold for too 92. Famous baby born in stable (5) long, your fingers might be this (4) 94. _up, northern catch phrase 42. Join (5) (2) 48. Type of nuts (7) 96. High-class beauty (7) 50. Scandinavian country that produces many Christmas trees {6) 97. Slang for child (5) 52. Reward (5} 100. Female chicken (3) 53. Remains of a burnt item (5) 101. Supermarket on campus (3)
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15. An ancient Roman unit of length that roughly corresponds to a foot (3) 16. Pulled before dinner on Christmas day (7) 21. Play re-enacting birth of 92 across (8) 29. Gift from one of the wise men (12) 31. Jenny Wilkinson is particularly adept at these (8) 32. Story used to cover a criminal's tracks (5) 34. German word for afternoon (5) 35. Writer of A Christmas Carol, Charles _ _ (7)
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71. Australian bear (5) 72. Noise a cow makes (3) 74. Remove-someone from their house (5)
72. One of t he gifts from t he Wise 14. Exclamation of frustration (4)
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62. Ni ___, Chinese for hello (3) 63. Slanted font (6) 67. The systematic release of personnel and resources from an incident (5) 68. Person who celebrates Christmas on 7th January (11) 70. Trough in which 92 across was laid
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Temper Trap have been one of this year's hottest new bands, and the Union we are giving away two tickets to see them at the LCR on 5/5/10!
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TREE SNOW IVY M ISTLETOE BELLS SANTA TELEVISION
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MAIN tuTUR£ l\VIUCHT SACA: N[\V New Moon is the muchanticipated second instalment in the Twilight Saga to hit ·the big screen. This chapter sees Edward (Robert Pattinson) break up with Bella (Kristen Stewart) after an unfortunate incident at her 18th birthday party. Left broken-hearted, Bella then turns to her old
friend Jacob (Taylor lautner) for comfort. After the disappointing reception his previous work on The Golden Compass received, there were mixed feelings about the choice of Chris Weitz as director for New Moon. Many thought that he would not be able to live up to
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expectations, particularly after effects do not overwhelm the Catherine Hardwicke's version actor's performances. of Twilight fell short of the As in the book, Edward is mark for many fans. However, absent for the majority of the it is clear that he has made his story; a potentially damaging own mark upon the Twilight turn of events for a film franchise. There is a distinctive an difference, arguably improvement, between the styles of the first and second films. Weitz refines where the fan base centres Hardwicke's camera angles largely around the ma·le lead. and lighting, which enhances However, with Jacob filling a the supernatural elements of large gap in Bella's life, and the characters and brings a Edward appearing in wispy new atmosphere to the film. visions whenever she places In addition to this, Weitz takes herself in danger, viewers are steps to make the developing • not left with a sense of his love triangle the focus of the absence. it is not only Jacob that is film; therefore keeping his promise to stay true to the brought to the foreground in book and ensuring that the this feature. There are several
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I points in the film where the delivery of an amusing line by a peripheral character makes the scene. Even the main characters are more animated and encourage the viewers to feel emotionally involved in the story. Whilst Stewart's acting continues to leave much to be desired, her portrayal of Bella's emotional distress (aided by the narration of Bella's thoughts in the form of emails to Alice), adds a depth to the film potentially lost in book-tomovie translation. Considering the budget available (an estimated $50 million, compared to $37 million for Twilight), fans - could reasonably expect a high standard of animation during the scenes
involving werewolves. Whilst the transformations are impressive, the rest of the wolves' animation is cartoonlike at best. This produces a striking contrast with the wellchoreographed and enjoyable vampire fight sequences. Faster-paced and packed with more action than Twilight, it is easy to see why New Moon has been such a success. With a highly enjoyable plotline and an unexpected ending (for the non-book followers), New Moon will please fans whilst appealing to a wider audience. Stacey Larnder
8/10 0
A Coen brothers' movie is always going to be highly anticipated, particularly after the pair have managed to make two great films in th~ last two years. A Serious Man succeeds in completing the hat trick. Possibly autobiographical, definitely dark and laugh-outloud funny; the Oscar winning duo currently seem incapable of turning out a bad picture. Set in 1967, the film follows Jewish professor Larry Gopnik (Michael Stuhlbarg) at an increasingly difficult period of his life. His wife wants a divorce so that she can remarry, his socially inept genius brother sleeps on his couch, and a Korean student is trying desperately to bribe him. True to the Coens' form,
the plot is never as simple as it appears. Delightfully postmodern, the many twists and turns that follow Larry take him on what is a bizarre and eventually ambiguous journey. There are no high profile actors here but the entire cas! is brilliant throughout; in particular Fred Melamed as Sy Ableman, the man who wants to marry Larry's wife. The three brilliant and surreal scenes in which Larry meets with his rabbis are unmissable, making the big name directors only one of the big draws of this film. Michael Blunt
8/10
The Informant! sees M ark Whitacre (Matt Damon) as an executive of ADM, a conglomerate which processes grain and oilseeds to manufacture products used in the food and industrial markets. Given that the character is rarely off-screen, a compelling performance from Damon is needed; fortunately he is brilliant, growing a moustache and putting on weight to play the role. Whitacre's company are involved in a global price fixing conspiracy and, through a series of events, he persuades himself to reveal all to the FBI. Thus Whitacre becomes an informer; recording meetings, conversations in the office and providing copies
of incriminating docum~nts. Throughout the film we are guided by Whitacre's voiceover, which varies from giving relevant information to his random thoughts, which provides a degree of comedy to contrast the situations he is in. The Informant! is a rare film: one that balances both the comedy and thriller genres perfectly. As the conspiracy unfolds, the laughs come more frequently, leading the audience to become increasingly engrossed in the characters' lives. Chris Bentley-Smit h
7/10
A word of warning; do not go into this film with expectations. it is not the scariest film ever made; it is not a relentless thrill ride. Seeing as it has been subjected to a media storm comparable to the one that. surrounded The Blair Witch Project's release, it's unsurprising that it has polarised opinions in the same way. Essentially following a protagonist relentlessly pursued by a force she does not understand, student director Oren Peli and his sparse cast tackle this overused theme with more maturity and depth than anyone in recent memory. Easy shocks are largely esthewed in favour of a slowly building tension,
masterfully developed by naturalistic and engaging performances, subtle special effects and haunting sound design. The slow · pace and focus on dialogue could lose the attention of many, mea_ning that certain recurring elements used again later to create the terror of the final act are rendered obsolete. Sticking with it, however, will drag audiences into the couple's own personal hell, jumping at shadows and hearing Satan in every creak of the floorboards. Duncan Vicat- Brown
8/10
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In Law Abiding Citizen, Clyde (Gerard Butler) chooses to take revenge on the Philadelphia judiciary system, after a plea bargain enables one of his family's killers to walk free after serving a tenyear sentence. After this lapse, everyone ten-year who worked on Clyde's case is murdered in novel (but not often gruesome) ways, striking panic throughout the city. Sounds like any other revenge thriller, right? Wrong. Clyde performs all these deeds in custody, meaning that each death has been in the planning for ten years; he's mastered toxicology, weaponry and even law to fight the judges in the courtroom, all from the safety of his prison cell. This sets the
stage well, as the audience does not know where and when Clyde's traps will be set off next, making him a very frightening and a very clever stage master. The film is not all about fancy explosions and exploding mobile phones The audience is though. forced to ask themselves 'who is the good guy?' Is Rice (Jamie Foxx), Clyde's lawyer, right for accepting the plea bargain, or Clyde, who wants a fair justice? With a Saw-esque killing, sudden explosions and Butler's portrayal of Clyde, who, at times, finds it hard to believe that he's become a killer, the audience jumps, screams and sniffles all the way through. That said, it is not a perfect thriller. With this being Gerard
Butler's third film of 2009, it would not have been much to ask for him to perfect his American accent. Jamie Foxx's Nick Rice is unlikeable, more interested in maintaining his almost perfect conviction rate than the welfare of his family. Law Abiding Citizen, through it's questioning of the good versus bad guy tradition, puts forward serious questions about the state of the justice system, keeping the audience thinking throughout. Gripping, tense and easy to follow, it's perfect escapism from every-day stress.
Reinventing used to be the exclusive domain of Madonna and Doctor Who, but with Batman and lames Bond popularising the prequel, Star Trek is in good company. The early use of a black-hole to an alternative universe may lurein fans, but it serves to free the film from any fidelity to the Trekkie franchise. Thanks to this, Star Trek is allowed to become a romping space is action-adventure that
difficult to fault. Director J.J. Abrams also benefits from escaping his TV roots, as he trades in the Lostlike effects for fast and furious space battles and planet hopping. There's no time to pine for West Wing politics in what is ostensibly the greatest space adventure since Lucas ran out of ideas and tried the prequel idea. With ice planets and furry side-kicks, Star Trek invites
comparisons to Star Wars and yet stands on its own merits. If Abram's objective was to inject a dose of adrenaline into this aged franchise he has succeeded, and with the sequel not due until 2012 there's plenty of time to get familiar with Star Trek's brave new world.
James Galloway
8/10
Josh Butler
9/10
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There is a limited choice in Christmas themed films this year, and improvised British comedy Nativity is one of the few. it takes place in St Bernadette's Primary School in Coventry, a school with a history of nativity play failures. This year actor-turned-teacher Paul Maddens, played by Martin Freeman, is left to direct. After his last attempt received a scathing review by the local newspaper critic (Aian Carr), he's feeling less than confident. So when he bumps into a former drama school friend, who works at a posh school, whose nativity play is always a roaring success, he's feeling pretty defenceless. it's not long before the whole community think that Hollywood producers are coming to watch St
Bernadette's nativity with a view to make a film. Paul's one connection to the film industry, ex-girlfriend Jennifer (Ashley Jensen) who now lives LA, is his only hope. His only obstacle is to win back the love of his life. Taking us through the film's journey is a classroom full of charmingly awkward kids, determined to prove their school's 'no-hoper' reputation wrong. Freeman, meanwhile, pulls off a mix of Scrooge-like tendencies and kindheartedness very well. Slapstick humour is provided by Mr Poppy, a childish, and endlessly enthusiastic classroom assistant played by Marc Wootton. Many films masquerade as children's comedies while including plenty of grown-up jokes, but this one is definitely
for a younger audience. A chaotic tale of stealing farm anim~ls, singing rap songs, and a trip to LA, it definitely answers the wildest childhood fanta~ies of the school nativity play. Of course there are still plentY of reminders of what's important at Christmas: friends and family, providing some shameless holiday cheesiness. )\lthough it's not an instant Christmas classic, Nativity does try something refreshingly different. it offers family frie~dly viewing while avoiding many festive cliches; with not a F~ther Christmas suit or a bunch of mistletoe in sight.
Whilst The 40 Year Old Virgin and Knocked Up were very funny, neither one were as funny as Todd Philips' The Hangover. The premise is a fairly typical one: three friends, along with a soon to be brother-in-law, set off on that aii-American rite of passage; the bachelor party, with hilarious and equally disastrous consequences. Although we are served with
some typical gross-out comic sketches, witty moments and original gags are in abundance. Las Vegas is the perfect setting for their x-rated escapades: a world where anything can happen. The film is great; not just for its giggle-a-minute script, but also the involvement felt when watching it. Going on a journey, piecing the story together retrospectively, along with the hysterical flawed
protagonists means the gripping fast pace never lets up. Particularly memorable characters, Alan 'fat Jesus' and the Chinese gangster Mr Chow Y.~ill have audiences in stitches, Whilst Heather Graham is also on great form. The film can be enjoyed over and over again.
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16 CnmsTMAS CLASSICS> IT's A W()~D[nnJ L L1rc 1946 Crowther stated th at the film did not depict a rea l soluti on to real problems, and that the people were too happy and
it 's a Wonderful Life is frequently played on va rious
channels across the festive seaso n. Th e heart-warming story and cross-generationa l appea l have made this film into a tim eless cla ss ic. However, the film was not always a success. When it was released on the 20th December 1946, it was considered a box office failure because of its high budget, its struggle to compete with other fi lms and the reception from audiences who were saying that the story was too mushy and improbab le. Critics, after the film premiere, were not impressed either; a New York Times journalist Bosley
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optimistic. The film takes place in fictional Bedford Falls, a small town wh ere everybody knows
everybody. Through a series of flashbacks we learn the sto ry of George Bailey (James Stewart); a generous and caring man who has to give up his dream of seeing the world in order to help ot hers. The stru cture of the flashbacks means th at, Clarence, George's gua rdi an angel, can learn, along with the audience, about George's plight. lt is Christmas Eve, and he is contemplating taking his life. Clarence manages to stop him by showing him what would be different if he had never been born. Through this experience, George rea li ses that althou gh he has not seen his dreams come true, he has still
accomplis hed a lot during his lifetime, and t hat without him the town of Bedford Falls would be a very difference place. it is easy to see how audiences and critics ali ke consi dered the film to be improbable and unrealistic, but it can be argued that the implausibility is the ve ry thing which audiences today find so appea ling. The fact that the film stars American legend James Stewart playing one of his most memorable roles can ' t hurt. it 's a Wonderful Life was given a second chance to get the recognition that it deserved in 1973 when, after 27 years, the film 's copyright
lapsed - the National Telefilm Associates who owned the rights to the film failed to file for a renewal of the copyright. This oversight led to th e film being played count less times on television, where it infiltrated th e homes of America and was seen by new generations. Even though they were of a different era, they could still relate to the film's messages. The lapse of copy ri ght was the best thing that could have happened to it's a Wonderful Life. lt gave a new lease of life to a film that could almost have been forgotten. Although nominated for five Academy Awards, it didn't win a sing le
As a law student, I can imagine the script would have had a huge attraction to you from the beginning. Yes it did, th at was one of the initial attractions obviously ... but also, having been involved with the law, I realised that I no longer wanted any invo lveme nt with it!
* Roman Polanski is to leave Swit zerland. He has been in j ail th ere si nce Se ptembe r, and will now be moved to a luxury Swiss Ski resort . Polanski was detain ed by Swiss officials in September th is year, as he arrived in Zurich to attend it's Film Festival where he was to receive a Lifetime Ach ievement Aw ard. * legal officials from the United States had arranged Polanski's arrest with the Swiss authorities so they co uld begin extrad iti on proceedings relatin g t o charges of sexual abuse that have been pending since 1978.
Wonderful Life is so embedded into our popular culture that it is hard to believe that a story about seasonal cheer and the importance of friendship, not money, co uld have been such an initial flop, and potentially cou ld have been forgotten.
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路PR[SS R[L[AS[ > lk\T INT[R\TJ[\'T''Tfiil - G[lt~RD RUTL[R Concrete Film had an exciting offer las t week; to atte nd the press con ference of Law Abiding Citizen in London, with Gerard Butler. Here are the highlights of the questions and the answers ...
one. But this does not lessen th e film's place in popular Christmas culture. Fondness for the film has caused many a homage an d spoof of the story or the characters, for example the characters Bert and Ernie in Sesame Street are affectionately named after the policeman and taxi driver in Bedford Falls. it's a
This also sees you as a producer for the first time ... lt was an interesti ng experience because I'd never done it before. There came a time when I felt that when you get a lot more to say in movies, and w hat's going to be made, then you want to be mo re involved and take the credit for it. For me it was three years of really getting this thing go ing and developing. We went to another director ... it was a long journey to fina lly get it made. it's such a dark, black film; when you finished filming at the end of the day did you take
*The next Twilight instalment, Eclipse, has already wrapped filmin g and is set to open in
the Unit ed Kingdom in July 2010. Fan anticipation for
some of that home with you? Yes absolutely, I don't think I was always in a good space when filming this movie. This was partly because of the charact er and what he was go ing through, but also because I was trying to produce and act at the same time. I heard you did some hell
raising off-set, and apparently you have some stories to tell? Raising hell ... I don't drinkl At the weekends we we re out a couple of times but I wouldn't say we "raised hell". We didn't have any orgies (laughs).
Eclipse has already begun, with new fan-made trailers for
th e film appearing on websites such as Google and Yo utube. * With the huge business that the Twilight franchise has att racted so far, many in th e industry are predicti ng that th e final film in the series, Breaking Dawn, will be split into two parts in a similar fashion to the final part of th e Ha rry Potter series, Th e Deathly Hallows. * Elsewhere, things are not looking good for men in ca pes. The Superman franc hise is currently in the ninth leve l of development hell, as Warner
You originally signed on to play Jamie Foxx's character, what were the reasons behind the switch, and were you satisfied with the way it went? I was. Th e more time went on, the more I was seduced by the other role and thinking that it was something I had never played before. I often play the more heroic character with a more straight fo rward, subtle journey - I wanted something I could get my teeth into. We figured Jamie was most likely to want to play the prosecutor so I suggested I offer to play the other role. The second I said it I thought "Ah I shouldn't
Brothers are stu ck trying to resolve legal issues with Superman eo-creator Jerry Siege l's family. The Siege! family managed to win back the rights to the characters creation in court earlier thi s year.
* Warner Brothers are reportedly unhappy with the results of Brian Singers' Superman Returns and intend to reboot the franchise, once they have managed to resolve the outstanding legal issues. * Mathew Vaughn and Mark Millar are rumoured to be developing the re boot if it gets the green light. Meanwhile, in
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have said that because they might say yes". They did, and I was kind of screwed. But in hindsight I have no regrets . What do you think audiences will take away from this film? I always like movies to have some kind of message going on, and with this there's an interesting definitely analysis of the legal system and the consequences of abusing it. There's also a huge popcorn element to this movie; it gets to the point where it's just pure entertainment. Elizabeth Poole & Stacey Larnder
Gotham, Chris Nolan is yet to sign up for a third film in the Batman franchise, leaving its future uncertain. * Nolan has stated in interviews that he would only return to the franchise if he felt there was a story worth telling, meaning that rumours of Johnny Depp playing the Riddler or Phi lip Seymour Hoffman starring as the Peng uin are comp let ely unfounded. * In other comic book news, Sher/ock Holmes director Guy Ritchie is said to be directing an upcoming adaptation of Lobo: Highway to Hell.
Ritchie is set to direct the film which is being scripted by Anthrax guitarist Scott lan, and produced by Joel Silver. However, it is unknown when the film will go into production. * Despite the fact that the film has yet to ope n in the UK, Avatar star Sam Worthington has revealed that he has signed up to film two more parts of the trilogy. Worthington fears he may be an old man by the time the trilogy 's complete, due to the fact it has taken James Cameron fourteen years to complete the first part of the trilogy. Bert Wardfow
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At the press conference for The Lovely Bones Peter Jackson quotes Hitchcock when talking about his directorial style: "Some people's films are slices of life, mine are slices of cake". eowritten by the Lord of the Rings screenplay team -Philippa Boyens, Fran Walsh and 'PJ' himself- the film is definitely a slice of the Jackson clan's cake. A drama about the ramifications of the brutal murder and rape of a young girl on the family she leaves behind may not seem like an obvious choice of novel for Peter Jackson to adapt and direct. He admitted that "adapting the book was one of the most difficult things we've done in our lives"; a difficult novel to compress into a film it may be, but unfortunately the screenwriting process managed to cut out important sub-plots. The most notable of these cuts is the romance between Len Fenerman and Abigail Salmon. However, gone too is Ray and Ruths' relationship. Jackson has managed to transform Alice Sebold's 'Richard and Judy' book into a 12A film aimed at a similar mass market.
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Jackson explained how "it's a challenge to do something that's completely different"; in this case you get the feeling that it is the 'real' sequences that are so alien to the eponymous director of that trilogy. Dramatic realism isn't Jackson's forte and elements of his penchant for over-the-top horror will stick out painfully to the average watcher expect flashes of jerky and amateurlooking handheld camera work, creepy hallways and extreme (with a capital 'e'} close-ups. In scenes that mirror Terry Gilliam 's through -the-looking glass style in The lmaginarium of Doctor Parnassus, Susie watches over her family in a metaphorical glass bottle from the 'middle world' - a place between heaven and earth . The representations of this 'middle world' provide the viewer with some sumptuous cinematography and herein lies the obvious speciality of the production team . Jackson may have tried "to preserve what was so powerful about the book" but he has not succeeded .
To take the words out of Alice Sebold's mouth, the novel was meant to highlight how "we separate people who've experienced [violence] from those who haven't". Throughout the book she tries to highlight how violence is everywhere and that the answer to this is not with retribution, and without this vital message the essence of the novel has not been captured in the film . After enjoying widespread acclaim (and ringing cash registers} for the book of the same title, The Lovely Bones is aiming for similar success on celluloid in January 2010.
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Hannah Livingston
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Resident Tutors
you want to make a positive difference to the experiences of students living in University residences?
:We are looking for highly motivated and enthusiastic full -time students with suitable experience to appoint as Resident Tutors for the academic year 2010-11. Applications from postgraduate: :students are particularly encouraged. Students spending next year abroad should also apply now for appointment in September 2011. :
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:Resident Tutors welcome students when they first move into residences, provide information and support to help them :manage the transition to university life and, throughout the year, are available to deal with issues that prevent students :from having a positive experience of living in residences. By using their mediation and problem-solving skills, Resident ~Tutors help maintain a balance between the interests of individuals and the community in residences. :If you have excellent all -round people skills, are non-judgmental, able to empathise with the academic problems :commonly experienced by students, have good written and spoken English, good time management skills, the ability to :follow clearly defined procedures, flexibility and a willingness to work unsocial hours, we would like to hear from you. ~Experience of working with vulnerable people will be an advantage.
~This appointment will be subject to a criminal record check from the Criminal Records Bureau . :Application packs are available from the Dean of Students' Office Reception or from intranet.uea.ac.uk/services/ : students/Accomm/RT/news
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~There are 2 closing dates for applications :
~Friday 11 December 2009 (applicants will be invited for interview or informed that their application is unsuccessful by 5 February 2010) ~
~Friday 29 January 2010 (applicants will be invited for interview or informed that their application is unsuccessful by 19 March 2010) .
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_ASSASSIN's (nf:J]) 2 For those who ca n unglu e th eir eyes from Modern Warfare 2 for at least a little whi le, Assassin's Creed 2 is th e other big game of November and one of the biggest and most hyped ga mes of 2009. Another sequel (we seem to be getting a lot of these recently) to a critically acclaimed and popular game, AC2 is one of t he uncommon cases where the seque l is superior to the origina l in eve ry single aspect imaginable. Ubisoft have taken every single criticism aimed at the first Assassin's Creed into their development process and, to put it simp ly, fi xe d it. The series has gone from an ill-defined action game into a fully immersive open world, almost sandbox expe rien ce. Gone is the tire some "pickpoc ket three people, eavesd rop on two people" routine you once had to do to actually assassinate so meon e. The guy just tell s you where to go and you are free to approach the miss ion in whatever way you wish. Gone is the stale and repetitive combat of the first game; in AC2, fighting will never get boring, unless you fal l back on hitting the defau lt attack button repeatedly. Instead of only having.four weapons, you now tap a button to bring up th e wea pon se lect menu (a welcome change to the game's interface) where you can choose things like smoke bombs, poisoned assassin's blades (you have two of them now, which is awesome), throwing knives, etc. You can now sidestep, disarm, headbutt, kick in groin, and throw guards off towering buildings, which is always
amusing, if just to see th e confused reactions of the people on the ground. Leonardo da Vinci provides the weapons, taking the role of Q from James Bond in the game. This brings up the topic of characterisation and storyline. You play as Ezio Audituerre de Firenze, a character you become close to as you are introduced to him literally from his birth (which also serves as a clever movement tutorial), through his womanizing youngster years, and fin al ly, to th e dramatic events that turn him into a badass assassin.
Futurema rk, a company that has since 1997 been primarily concerned with the production of benchmarking software for computer hardware throu gh the creation of cutting edge graphi cal tests, has formed Futuremark Games Studio (FGS) and released Shattered Horizon , a first person shooter (FPS) set in space. it is unique among FPS games in that the action take s place in a zero gravity environment.
garne rs will be pleased to hear none of these are designed to kill players by _themselves. Rather, th ey assist players against other players. For example, the EMP grenade temporarily powers down other astronauts suits, causing them to move sluggishly for a few seco nds. This lack of lethal grenade spamming indicates FGS has learnt from previous FPS games and have been careful to remove rage-ind ucing features.
Facing the prospect that your enemies may no longer be solely on the ground in front of you, but rather walking on the walls, ceiling, orbiting debris and floating through the game's environm ents, brings new meaning to the term 'spatial awareness'. There is a limited radar that indicates enemy positions in three dimensions, but thi s is on ly useful at short range and survival relies largely on the player's ability to be aware of longer ran ge su rrounding s and, in most game modes, be part of a team. Thi s innovative gameplay is fast paced and has something of a steep lea rning curve. Even seasoned FPS players will have difficulty adjusting to the rea lity of combat in space. Weapons are not as accurate as in many othe r games to account for the difficu lty of manipulating a rifle whilst in a space suit and orbiting the Earth at 17,000 miles per hour. There are three types of grenades, but after th e recent release of Call of Duty: Grenade Grenadefare 2
Another example of how they have done this is th e full use of dedicated servers- something the gam ing community clea rly wants. Despite the low price tag, Shattered Horizon can be criticised for the smal l number of maps available, with only four cu rrently in play. However, each of these is substantial in size, expertly crafted and can be used in a variety of game modes, from team death match to
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AC2 is definitely b'etter at immersing you
into th e events of the past than the first game, and has fixed the constant jarring nature of ACl whereby you were made to constantly switch between th e past and the present. AC2 takes off from the exact second the first game abruptly ended, and sta rts by jailbreaking you from the modern day templar stro nghold and taking you to the assassin's hideout where it's revealed that the key to the war between the assassins
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and templars, which is reaching its millennialong apex, is in Desmond's (the modern day protaganist) DNA memory. With the power of sc ience, you can go back in time and relive ancesto rs' memories. Once you've done the brief introduction to the game in the present, you're in the past for good and you won't have to deal with the regular annoying intervals the first game made you endure. AC2 ha s upped movement speed, and traversing the city roofs and climbing on anyth ing is ultra-fluid to the extent that you'll feel like the renaissance equiva lent of Sp id erman, albeit a murderous Italian version. The game has adopted and incorporated RPG elements, such as a monetary system and all sorts of shops that provide armour, supplies, weapons, alternate outfits, healing items etc. In terms of the stea lth aspect of the game, once again there has been a great improvement from the first game. There is no ne of the 'hold button to walk while praying and you turn invisible' nonsense for starters. The game focuses a lot more on th e 'blending with the crowd' aspect, and the new feature of hiring people to dist ract guards. For example, in the last game you'd run around a corner and go into praying position and the guards would treat you like you were invisible. In AC2 the options you have for escaping are much more fluid and fun . Throwing smoke bombs is very fun and useful if you're massively outnumbered.
Graphically, the game is superb and Firenze (Florence) looks amazing, as do th e other cities . All the animations, especially the climbing ones, are realistic and smooth. The side quests are gre atly improved from the first game in respect of diversity, fun and ingenuity. You'll never feel lost thanks to the reworked map. Assassin's Creed 2 builds and improves on its predecessor so much that, in retrospect, the first Assassin's Creed looks primitive in comparison. You'll get at least 18 hours of fun out of AC2, even if you only do the main storyline. lt is definitely worth your time and money. Richard Joslin Available on: PC, 360, PS3 Price : £40 (PC) I £55 {360, PS3)
objective-based missions. Furthermore, FGS re cently announced forthcoming downloadable content to make up for the lack of maps, with four more on th e way. One issue FGS cannot escape from is the lack of a single player mode, so garners looking for a developed storyline and campaign w ill be disappointed. Having sa id thi s, th e scenario in which th e game is set is fairly intricate. lt is circa 2050, mankind is back on the Moon, and is exploiting it for resources. The Moon Mining Cooperative is making huge profits, until a disastrous explosion causes large chunks of the natural satellite to break away, creating billion s of tons of space debris. Some sett les into Earth's orbit, forming a dramatic sha pe across Earth's night sky known as Th e Arc. With thousand s stranded in space, the International Space Agency is tasked with apprehending the miners responsible for the catastrophe. They and the miners engage in a struggle to control The Arc to survive. While each map has a smal l story behind it, that is essentially the entire narrative of th e game. The game is somewhat graphica lly dema nding, and those without a dual core processor and decent graphics processing unit will find it hard to run the game enjoyably. FGS have proved themselves· exce ll ent at
com munication. Players comp lain ed there was no way of learning to use zero gravity properly without playing against more experienced use rs so FGS set up dedicated training servers to allow this. Their forums are full of threads started by the developers, informing the community what is happening with the game, and asking if there are aspects they think should be changed. This game is innovative, it's cheap, it has ton s of replay value, looks awesome and the developers care what their players think. lt has a learning curve, but what game doesn't? If you enjoy FPS games and are looking for something different, you shou ld give Shattered Horizon a try as soon as possible. William Moran Available on: PC Price: £15 (PC)
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10
- Awesome setting, immersive atmosphere - Improved Ul -Objectives clearly marked on in-game map - Impress ive story - Graphically impressive -G reatly improved range of weapons
-Ca mera can make climbing tricky sometimes - Enemies are sometimes unchallenging
- Replay value - Innovative gamep lay - Learning curve
-No sing le player -Rela tively small number of maps
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1\ l-IIST( HlY Or VI()L[NC[ Video games have, until recently, had largely a bad public image. When they first emerged as a growing media they was largely ignored and misunderstood by the masses; only a select audience actually took an active interest in playing games and even fewer people would outwardly admit to being a gamer. This attitude to games, however, has substantially changed, due to the massive successes of casual gaming consoles such as the Wii and OS and even the iPhone App Store. Despite all this change, however, the subject of violence in videogames has continually been d·ebated and even used as "plausible" evidence in court for crimes committed by youths. Even since the days of Space Invaders in arcades there has been a backlash about how shooting something encourages the act of violence, and now, thanks to the leaps and bounds in technology and graphics used in video games, violence has become even more realistic. The most recent example of fingerpointing came prior to the release of the highly anticipated Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2. Other than its highly realistic visuals and realistic depiction of blood and body physics (which had already led the game to be released with an 18 certificate) it contained a highly controversial level, called "No Russian", where the protagonist takes on the role of an undercover CIA operative who has infilitrated a Russian terrorist group. The terrorists launch an attack on Moscow Airport and the player has free reign to shoot innocent civilians in the facility. Understandably, its inclusion was controversial and the backlash it received from the non-gaming press was more· than expected by the developers, Infinity Ward, who include disturbing content warnings both when the game is first played and immediately before the 'No Russian' level. it became such a controversial topic that in Russia, the only European country that has no gaming regulations, the level was entirely removed. Within the British Parliament it sparked a debate
between two Labour politicians, Keith Vaz and Tom Watson, not over the content involved but the ease with which children under 18 can access the content. This lead to Keith Vaz siding with the national newspaper The Daily Mail, and Tom Watson creating a Facebook pressure group with fellow garners to help debunk the controversy over games within the mainstream media. The President of UEA's Games Society has said that, whilst he agrees that games alone are unlikely to compel people to commit violence in real life, he felt "the inclusion of the "No Russian"
level in Modern Warfare 2 was a clever narrative technique, but was distasteful and could easily have been avoided." it should be noted that players do not actually have to shoot any civilians and there are no achievements for doing so. This is not the only case where videogames have taken the blame; the launch of Grand Theft Auto IV, a game in which you have free reign on your actions within a virtual New York City (renamed Liberty City in the game), caused similar controversy across the globe and was allegedly responsible for several shootings that happened across America near its release date, due to its gameplay encouraging such violent traits. Following the Virginia Tech Massacre in 2007, when 32 members of faculty and students were killed, and the shootings at Columbine in 1999, where 12 students and one teacher were killed, the finger was pointed not only at state gun control laws but also at the influence of video
games upon the murderers in question. Such claims were made because, in both cases, the shooters were known to be interested in games, and in the case of the Columbine shootings they both showed an interest in programming games and making levels. However, as politician Tom Watson, and a whole host of scientists and psychologists agree, videogames are not to blame. Labour MP Watson said in Parliament (on the issue over the "No Russian" mission) that it was "no worse than [scenes] in manyfilmsand books;" with many films being easily accessible to many more people than games are, and with books and graphic novels not carrying age ratings, what is to say that they are not also to blame for such crimes? lt was also proven in the Virgina Tech Massacre that the murderer was an avid reader and frequent filmgoer. Scientific research by many, including David Satcher, Surgeon General of the US government, conclusively shows that violent tendencies are already present in people and so violent media only stimulates them in
some people; the fact they may commit an act of violence isn't dictated by the media they are exposed to. Another study by psychologist Jonathan Freedman showed that those who were exposed to violent films and books were actually more disposed towards committing an act of violence than those who partake in video games. This is because video games show the act and allow a level of interactivity so that the urge to commit such violence is removed upon play, whereas a film or book can stimulate and drive a person to commit violent behaviour in real life. The interactive element to games may be more involving than a film or a book, but at the same time, as any avid gamer will tell you, we all know it's just fun- fiction not reality- just as is the case with films and television. Instead of banning violent games, maybe the non-gaming press should try to understand and inform its readers properly 4>f the content at hand. Vaughn Highfielci
Christ·ne's .fB\ Driv ng School ~~
0
Providing quality driving lesson in and around Norwich • A fully qualified M drMng lllltnlctor
• Pass Plus and IMD'tv . . ..
for block booking 10 ..... • M wark pack and etiiiii.IPM INI't.JIIilftl•lll'ftlillll'lllllllfl
•UEAPfdc WE WANT JEDWARD AT UEA Sl.MtviER BASH Wall
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For those of you who are bereaved that you will never hear Cheryl say "John and Edward" in her lovely Geordie accent ever again, this is the group for you. The LCR never fails to attract stellar visitors; B*Witched, S Club 3, Scott and Abs from Five, so who next? If this group has its way, Jedward will be the latest "celebrities" to grace the stage of the Large Common Room. The LCR is Jedward's spiritual home: cheesy, brash and absolutely ridiculous, but highly entertaining and guaranteed to bring some form of smile/grimace to your face. Love them
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or hate them, everyone wants to see what they are going to do next and now they are free from X Factor (and Louis), surely UEA is beckoning. Imagine their outrageous performances on the LCR stage; inflatable pineapples, PVC neon suits, gravity-defying hair, frenetically choreographed routines, camp go-go dancers ... it's the LCR but far more surreal, far more vulgar, far more hilarious. Join this group and get Jedward at the Summer Bash. As forgettable as most X Factor finalists are, these legends of reality TV will never cease to amaze and appall with their grandiose performances. Let's face it, it's either them or Handy Andy from Changing Rooms.
Why not learn with • M lnstNctor fth all tM benafln M pt"'CM• at a -... COitll
CAI:b OIT621199.89 -- ---
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I Voucher UCHER ON I FIRST HOUR FREE ON ND LESSON I YOUR 1 8 T LESSON I Terms and Conditions: Vouchers can only be 'Terms and Conditions: Vouchers can only be 1used one per pupil and are not valid for existing ' used one per pupil ~nd are not valid for existing pupils of Christine's driving school. First hour is
I only free when you book a 2 hour lesson on I vour first lesson. Valid till 25/01/10
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pupils of Christine's driving school . First hour is ' only free only when you book a 2 hour lesson I on vour first lesson. Valid tiii2SI01110
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~() I .\1 11 11 ( \11\'1\' \1. And I am so confused by this- but I guess you already knew that. Raindrops mizzle down and a feather comes floating by, fluffy ske leton decked out by tired moonlight. A cra ne fly dances on the water, upsetting the pa le orb, pleased at hav ing fo und a place to rest. I slink my fingers th rough your hair and a smile sits with worrying ease upon your lips. - tlut none of th is is entirely true - and maybe you have guessed that too. And so I continue to twist further under a sweep of velvet sky. Rou nd and round like a Ferris Whee l, trying to coax mo re t he outline of w here we rea lly are. Robert Van Egghen
I was greeted we ll enough at the door, Giving my ticket to the clown. I saw attractions by the score, Sti ll, none seemed to slow me down. I heard laughter all around me, Yet, I felt a silent jeer. No, it didn't take me long to see1was not we lcome here. Heads were turning, eyes were burning, Suddenly, all laughs were gone. Only silent glares and my stomach, churning In repulsed fea r, pushed me on. I walked faster, yet so did they, What t his horde wanted, I did not know. Runn ing to t he nearest door on my way, I foun d myse lf at "The Freak Show" . Sneaking backstage, in hopes to hide, I saw a two- headed man in a fightAgainst himself, each head taking a side, And neither side was right .
Her exact words; "I didn't th ink anyone wou ld want me aga in"
Bot h looked at me, without words being said, Eac h poi nting th eir given hand to a doo r. Sm iling, as if so mehow my thoughts they read, They knew what I was here for.
( \ 11\1\ '.\I Ferris wheel revolves velocity and glow, a kaleidoscopic adventure and screams of glee heard 'round the grounds duets with the singing carousel whic h spins to hofse's ga ll op toward the house of mirrors reflecting shadowy silhouettes of our clandestine embrace. Dozens of you touching me hundreds of time s.
Michael Keshigian
The incessant metric meter Stays In the corner of my kitchen Ta ppi ng at end less ene rgy, Co unti ng up my fifty pees.
She thought she wou ld be alone, Not without me. Alone. My egotism is obvious.
Walking inside, with what I sawThought, defunct, my human eyes. Though inside I was struck with awe, I tried not to show surprise .
The "unnecessary nature Of consumption in our era Often leads to lack of pension When we should be doing better Than the average wealth of what our mothers earned ".
Fearchar Maclean
( ;111.\1 H11ll.\l\' I like Arabic, French and Latin. As for English it's my dear. I heard abo ut t he Ga rde n of Eden, but I know it is not so near. When my feet trod Britain, I realised it exists here. In Eng land you should see and listen to the glamour that cannot fear death for a whi le and lives in Heaven eternally not just for a year. Ashraf Zidan
A fo ur legged woman wa lkingWith a ma n who had no legs at all , Living, loving, laughing and ta lki ngAs if he stood ten feet tall. A bearded lady singing, soft in toneTo a man with two noses. A man so skinny he looked to lack boneIn the mirror, practicing poses. I stood, amazed, at the shapes he took, As my misdi rected t hought s ran. it seemed .he could make himse lf to lookLike anything but a "normal" man.
But pinche rs like a lobster, instead. He said, "There's things the world won't understand.' Michael Anderson
Figure into your perspective Expectation and incentive. That means there always was, and always will be, peop le doing better than my mum. Fearchar Maclean
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.11 •
_IIANAIAN
~DUCATION
This issue, Adizah Tejani explains the importance of educational development in Africa after spending ten weeks volunteering and teaching English in Ghana. Platform 2 is a government-sponsored volunteer scheme. lt allows young people from the ages of 18-25 to spend ten weeks in a 'developing' country. The destinations are Ghana, Kenya, South Africa, Peru, Nepal and India. Flights, medical bills and insurance are all covered, so the main thing I had to do was apply, pack and go! I joined Platform 2 in order to gain a deeper perspective of Ghanaian culture and to view the way of life of some Ghanaians. The project was based in Kasapin which is located in the Bronafo Region in Ghana, West Africa. lt is about lSOkm away from Kumasi, which is Ghana's second city. The main language is Twi and English is widely spoken. I worked as a volunteer in Kasapin for ten weeks, helping to build a community centre and also working in the schools, as well as the health care clinics. Adult Education in Ghana is a concept held in high regard in the large cities such as Accra and Kumasi. During my time as a Platform 2 volunteer I chose to begin a class of my own during my free time. I chose to fund the class myself so that there would be no cost for the students. Starting the class was a challenge, as issues arose over who should be involved, dates and times. The class finally began on the 25th of September, almost two weeks before our departure date. The target group had to be narrowed down to women, as I already knew women from the local mosque and they were ideal participants. After starting, the students wanted me to teach every day until I left; however, I managed to do eight classes in 14 days. I conducted
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the classes at 7pm and was helped by Jamie Lee Walkie; this was an ideal time for us as our organised Platform 2 activities were over and this also allowed the women to finish any business they had. I taught basic English and focused on conversational skills. Though the phrases seem simple to native speakers, they were hard to grasp for the women, but they were determined to learn . I had a translator named Rabi, a 20-year-old local trader. Her English was
good and she also spoke the common Ghanaian language Twi, which allowed her to translate . Repetition and roleplay were used in order to help the students remember. There were about six enrolled students but three regular students, Sahara, 45, a waki (rice) seller, Hajjra Abdullah, 30, a cocoa seller and farmer and Hajjar Osman, a bean seller. Sahara was my best student. Her determined mindset made her encourage the others to come to the class. Having never gone to school before, she has
still been able to become a trader. Her travels to Togo for trade helped her understand the importance of language and she believes that learning English will help her trade in other town's outside of Kasapin . During the lessons a teacher named Frank, from Danak School, offered to continue the class after I left. This meant that the women could continue to learn English. I arranged with my Platform 2 supervisor, Knox, to meet Frank in order to allow the next group of volunteers
to also get involved if they wished and for him to help me follow the progress of the class. During the weekends we were able to travel around Ghana to see some of the great sights. The Ashanti Palace in Kumasi representing the Kingdom of Gold, Kintampo Waterfalls, a site of natural beauty and Lake Bosumtwi where we were lucky enough to go on a speed boat! Ghana is a beautiful and growing country and rich with culture, humour and people who want to be part of moving their country forward.
KIT
Women at the mosque. Fresh cocoa. Dried cocoa, soon to be the chocolate that we all love! Amina - a great help to my class. Building site 7am-llam! Yaarah Schools: project welcome. Chilled out boy. Yaarah Schools: distribution of items Kasapin Chief. A basic classroom - a vision Yaarah Schools hopes to change with funds raised. Some of my great students and the translator.
•
Having experienced education while teaching at Danak School and LA School, I understood the 'mportance that education has for everyone. lt allows people to help to help themselves. Since being back from my Platform 2 experifnce I have done talks for the Vinvolved team of Norfolk at a volunteer event, and at City College, Norwich. These make young people aware of opportunities
*·
such as Platform Going on the scheme has also encouraged me to support Yaarah Schools, an initiative set up in order to help further the prospects of edu1ation in countries such as Ghana. Yaarah Schools aim to raise funds for r books, chairs, tables and also a building for the children to learn i~: things we take for granted. Overall my experience in Kasapin was memorable. lt helped me gain a deeper insight into the lives of others and also showed me how easy it was to hel p others help themselves. I would like to return to Kasapin in order support the progress happening in such a vibrant and loving community. Links www.yaarahschoo!s.org/ www.adizahtejani.Wordpress.com/ www.myplatform2.com/
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I love Ch ri stmas! Eve ry yea r I reve rt back to my three-year-old self as I becom e mesmeri sed by twinkling lights, glittering wrapping paper, and smells of cinnamon , cloves and pine needl es . As I've got older, the festive season ha s brought des ires of embelli shed bags, sequinned dresses and woolly hats to keep the warmth in. Winter allows us to wrap up warm with style and yet we can embrace the party sea son as New Ye ar is around the corner. My first wish is for a White Christmas and aher th at, it is th ese fas hio n mu st-haves ...
These Topshop skinny jeans A lovely, leat her satchel are £60 and are top of my list. too please. Rokit, a vintage shop Washed black with scattered in London or at www.rokit.co.uk is gold studs, these babies shout fabulous. This Timberland bag is just out Christmas cheer in a £35 and there is a gorgeous range of fu sion of rock and glamour. clothes for men and women .
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The eJHors of Concrete dress up to the nines to showcase the glilz anJ glamour of Chrislmas party lrenJs.
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Head lining hi s very first hea dlining show at the Forum on 12th December 2009 , UEA graduate Tom Moran, found er of co medy club Laugh Out Loud, is takin g to No rwich 's central comedy stage for an eve ning of jokes, music, and a oneman ex t ensio n of our favourite comedy club at UEA.
local comedians with the opportunity to regularly perform and try out new material.
in a more professional sp here . Laugh Out Loud has moved from its lowly origins in pub function
Through th e years, various comedians have worked alongs id e Torn at LOL, and the club ha s now firmly established itse lf as one of th e foremo st ind ependent co medy clubs in the area.
rooms to se ll -o ut performances at professional ven ues suc h as th e Assembly House, while Tom
Th e Mu sic Soc are holding their an nu al Chri st m as Concert, feat uring orc hest ra, choir,
him self is now preparing for his first so lo sta ndup show, at th e Forum. Here he promi ses to be taking an irrevere nt loo k at th e more bizarre elements of everyday
wind and ja zz bands on Wedn esday 2nd December.
life, from sex and un employme nt to religion an d political co rrectn ess. Not only th at, but, afte r ex tensive practice and time spe nt shut
So, who t he hell is Tom Moran? For those readers unfami liar with th e Norw ich entertainment sce ne, the question may be a va li d o ne. But those who frequent th e various independent comedy cl ubs that are fl ou ri shing in the loca l area wi ll no doubt be aware of Tom Moran and his com ic endeavours . Torn recently graduated from UEA's prestigiou s scriptw riting course, and is now pu rsu ing his career as a comedian, th at began some three years ago. Along with fellow comedian and student Pat Cahi ll , Tom founded the student comedy club Laugh Out Loud (LOL) in 2006 having decided that comedy was something he wanted to dedicate his time towards, and with the ambition of providing
.
away penn ing lyrics an d tunes, th e show wi ll be a musical ext ravaganza packed full of so ngs Tom has also performed with numerous other assoc iatio ns, in clu ding the prestigious Red
as Tom plays t he piano and drums alm ost simul taneous ly! The show will take place on th e 12th
Card Comedy Clu b, and has ente rtained crowds on th e Ed inburgh Fringe Festival aher a run of shows in the ci ty 's largest Wetherspoons with fell ow LOL comedians. He has also had crowd s in hysterics with his scriptw riting prowess, afte r producti ons last year of his plays Writer's Block and The Interview, eo-w ri tten with Ant Cu le.
December at 8:00pm at the Forum, and tickets are £6.50, or £5.00 for concess ions - they ca n be purchased from the UEA Box Office on 01603
Moran's comic style has never been anything less than hilarious, as he turns his satirical eye on the everyday and the controversial alike. This year, Tom is working on pursuing comedy
see one of the most promising up-and -coming talent s on the local comedy scene! Joz Norris
508050. So, for those of you who are genu in ely stumped by the question "Who the hell is Tom Moran?" it's strong ly recommended that yo u high -tail it down to the Forum next week to