INSIDEBEAT NOVEMBER 11, 2010 • VOL. 28, NO. 20
THE WEEKLY ENTERTAINMENT MAGAZINE OF THE DAILY TARGUM
Dorm Delights Quick and easy dishes good enough to bring home to mom and dad
Page 2 • Inside Beat
November 11, 2010
Column • Art
2010 Museum Masquerade BY ARIBA ALVI
BY EMILY GABRIELE MUSIC EDITOR
Food is a big part of my life. I wake up in the morning and think, “what’s for breakfast?” When I’m sitting in class I love to snack, and I’m constantly thinking of what my next meal will be. Being in college, it’s not always easy finding some good food to eat. So I often go throughout my day unsatisfied with what I’ve eaten. A granola bar here, a bag of chips there — it’s all so unfulfilling. So what is the solution to this everlasting displeasure? Learning how to cook. I know we’re all busy and consumed by schoolwork or inundated with our social lives, but as college kids, we need to teach ourselves how to cook. Today, everything is about instant gratification. We get a cup filled with noodles, pour in some water and mysterious powder and voila — we have ourselves some macaroni and cheese. Convenient? Yes. Satisfying? No. How about we take the time out and learn how to make some homemade macaroni and cheese? That’s right, I’m talking about preheating the oven and getting down to business, no more of this microwaving mysterious powder in a plastic cup.
I’m not naïve — I understand that time constraints are often a major part of eating something convenient, and that’s fine. However, I think everyone should at least have a go-to meal that they know how to cook. Maybe your go-to meal will be making pasta with vegetables, or some quick tacos; anything is better than noodles in a cup. OK, maybe it’s all right to go to the dining hall once in a while and eat whatever Brower, Neilson, Busch or Tillett has to of fer — well maybe not Tillett. Maybe your parents never trusted you with knives, so up until now, they cut and buttered your bagels for you. Don’t worr y, they can still do that when you go home, but while you’re away at college, tr y and live life on the edge. Buy a few peppers and onions, chop them up, throw them in a pan with some olive oil, and consider yourself an accomplished person. Then, when you go home, you can brag to your family about how worldly college has made you. It’s a win-win situation. But really, all I’m trying to convey is that there are better things out there than Easy Mac, Ramen and Chef Boyardee. Next time you’re thinking of just adding water, think again. Learn how to cook!
TV EDITOR
The Jane Voorhees Zimmerli Art Museum was transformed from an art museum to a magical ballroom straight out of a fairytale Saturday for the Masquerade Ball. The ball was hosted as a cultural and artistic event by the Zimmerli Student Advisory Board as a way to introduce University students to the idea of the museum as more than just a place where art is hung. The idea was taken from New York City’s Metropolitan Museum of Art’s masquerade ball that was held two years ago. The Student Advisory Board thought the event would be a great way to make the museum more approachable to students. “People have this preconceived notion that museums are stuffy, so we thought that this would show people the fun side,” said Ria Murray, a School of Arts and Sciences senior, who helped plan the ball on behalf of the advisory board. Now in its second year, the masquerade ball was sold out. The Zimmerli was transformed with aqua and silver balloons with lights along the grand staircase. There was a great disc jockey in one of
the larger exhibits as well as a dance floor where Rutgers Ballroom members were giving dance lessons. There was a museum scavenger hunt and a raffle to win numerous prizes that ranged from New Brunswick salon gift baskets to Old Man Rafferty’s to NJ Books gift cards. The masquerade ball mixed art with fun. “This is a really amazing event. [The board] has outdone themselves and has opened the museum to everyone and has created an exciting magical atmosphere,” said Suzanne Delahanty, director of the Zimmerli. Students of all ages, dressed in formal wear and sporting Venetian masks, took to the museum for a night that was certainly memorable. Dalber Pereira, a School of Arts and Sciences first-year student, said, “I loved walking around and looking at all the different exhibits and the whole environment of being in a museum.” The mixture of dancing and a museum was enticing to many who came to the event. The ball was a hit, and it certainly shed a new light on the Zimmerli for the students who attended.
EDITORIAL BOARD S TACY D OUEK ................................................. EDITOR NATALIA TAMZOKE.........................................ASSOCIATE EDITOR ROSANNA VOLIS..............................................ASSISTANT EDITOR ARIBA ALVI..........................................................................TV EDITOR EMILY GABRIELE...........................................................MUSIC EDITOR NATALIA TAMZOKE...................................................THEATER EDITOR ROSANNA VOLIS..........................................................FASHION EDITOR AMANDA LITCHKOWSKI.....................................................ART EDITOR NANCY SANTUCCI..............................................................COPY EDITOR RAMON DOMPOR...............................................................PHOTO EDITOR KATHERINE CHANG.........................................................FILM EDITOR NIDHI SARAIYA..............................................................BOOKS EDITOR ASHLEY PARK................................................................ONLINE EDITOR
INSIDEBEAT THIS WEEK’S CONTRIBUTORS INSIDE BEAT :
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Alex Natanzon, Ciara Copell, Gianna M. Stefanelli, Jason Pearl, Kelvin Mei, Olivia Kinter, Zoe Szathmary, Cover Photo Courtesy of justgetfloury.com Rutgers Student Center 126 College Avenue, Suite 431 New Brunswick, NJ 08901 Phone (732) 932-2013 Fax (732) 246-7299 Email beat@dailytargum.com Web www.inside-beat.com Advertising in Inside Beat, Call (732) 932-7051 Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
APP OF THE WEEK
College Essentials: Learn to Cook!
rant
Fruit Ninja For more, visit www.InsideBeat.com
November 11, 2010
Art • Theater • Books
Inside Beat • Page 3
Thanks for the Bad Security
A Little Night Music
BY AMANDA LITCHKOWSKI ART EDITOR
A picture is worth a thousand words, but sometimes it’s also worth millions of dollars. Throughout history there have been those who dared to touch the untouchables to make a dangerous buck. These few daredevils, although not famous by name, will be remembered for the infamous paintings they tried to steal.
Pablo Picasso as Suspect In 1911 the “Mona Lisa” was stolen from the Louvre and one of the suspects was Pablo Picasso. Ironically, Picasso’s pieces are ranked as most stolen; the Art Loss Register lists 550 pieces as missing. Later it was determined that Picasso was not involved, but one of the Louvre’s former employees had smuggled the painting out of the museum by simply hiding it under his jacket. Vincenzo Peruggia, the thief, waited for two years for an art faker to create copies of the painting but soon grew impatient and tried to sell it himself to an art dealer in Italy. Peruggia claimed that he stole the “Mona Lisa” because it belonged to Italy, not to France.
Walter Kerr Theatre | ACOURTESY OF NIGHTMUSICONBROADWAY.COM
BY NATALIA TAMZOKE ASSOCIATE/THEATER EDITOR
If there was ever a moment to witness performances by true Broadway royalty, now would be the time. Starring in A Little Night Music through Jan. 9, Bernadette Peters and Elaine Stritch bring theatrical mastery to the stage. Stephen Sondheim’s work follows Fredrik, a middle-aged lawyer, who is in constant search for sex and love. Married to a young trophy wife who will not sleep with him, Fredrik’s eyes are led to an old fling, the actress Desirée Armfeldt. Though both are romantically attached, she invites Fredrik to a country chateau for the weekend where their love for one another blossoms. Bernadette Peters (Into the Woods) may have an atypical Broadway voice, but it does not hinder the musically-brilliant show. Her performance as De-
sirée brings vitality to Sondheim’s aging beauty. Earlier during the run of A Little Night Music, the role was filled by Catherine ZetaJones. However, it is clear that Peters gives a far more sincere and polished interpretation than ZetaJones, whose televised performance at the Tony Awards was reminiscent of a heavily-drugged mental patient. Peters’ gritty voice and honest unraveling of emotions rejuvenate “Send in the Clowns,” a song which has experienced numerous renditions by other wellknown performers over the years. Elaine Stritch (Company) portrays Madame Armfeldt much differently from predecessor Angela Lansbury or any others for that matter. Stritch, best known for her comedic timing, adds raw and cynical humor to the role. Her performance of “Liaisons” may not have been vocally perfect, but it didn’t need to be. She found the arcs of the song, and made it a hit
among audience members. At 84 years old, Stritch has still got it. While the talents of other performers are easily overshadowed by the celebrity status of Peters and Stritch, they shouldn’t be. Their vocal abilities illuminate Sondheim’s intricate and lovely score. Stephen Buntrock (Fredrik) sings with charm and ease, as Leigh Ann Larkin (Petra) enchants in her role as the maid who attempts to seduce Frederik’s teenage son. Bradley Dean and Erin Davie (The Count and Countess Malcolm, respectively) blend their beautiful voices with seamless comedic timing. Simply put, A Little Night Music is a dazzling piece of classic musical theater. Those who love Sondheim will leave feeling completely satiated. It isn’t often that such theatrical talent is present onstage, and it is pleasurable to watch Peters and Stritch contribute to the magic that unfolds at the Walter Kerr Theatre.
The Celebrity Memoirs BY OLIVIA KINTER AND NIDHI SARAIYA STAFF WRITER AND BOOKS EDITOR
There is just no originality to becoming a celebrity anymore. The once-arduous road to becoming a household name has become so formulaic that you could probably Google the path to stardom. First, become someone big, whether that is by being a toprated actor, mediocre pop artist or making it big on YouTube singing about hiding your kids and hiding your wife from bed intruders. Next, cover all morning talk shows and late night shows to get your name and face into America’s living rooms. After that, go on The Oprah Winfrey Show and reflect. An optional fourth step would be starting a product line for the masses, such as clothing, perfume or cologne. But the clincher to all of these completely unorchestrated events, the thing that finally seals the deal of celebrity status is to write a book about it all. Although publishing a best-seller increases status and income, does it really establish them as a figure of great wisdom and accomplishment? Soccer superstar David Beckham has followed this path. After
impressing audiences with his moves on the field and marrying Spice Girl Victoria Adams, Beckham and his wife became the talk of the tabloids and entertainment news. He has since appeared on Oprah Winfrey’s talk show, launched Intimately Beckham perfume and cologne with his wife and released Beckham: Both Feet on the Ground - An Autobiography. Susan Boyle: Dreams Can Come True by Alice Montgomery covers the fame of fellow Brit Susan Boyle, one that many considered an overnight success after her astounding performance of “I Dreamed A Dream,” on Britain’s Got Talent last year. In April of this year, Britney Spears: Little Girl Lost by Christopher Heard was published, chronicling the singer’s tumultuous personal life through relationships, the tabloids and rehabilitation. She has launched her own perfume line as well, although she has rejected the offer to be on Oprah’s show. Political figures are not above using books to increase their public recognition either. The highly anticipated memoir Decision Points was just released Tuesday, the author of which is former President George W. Bush. He has spoken with Matt Lauer in a primetime inter view,
Still Unsolved The Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum located in Boston still displays 13 empty frames on its walls as a reminder of one of the United States’ biggest art thefts. Twenty years ago, a group of thieves dressed as police officers removed 13 paintings including pieces by Rembrandt and Degas. The estimated total worth of the stolen works is close to $300 million. The FBI continues to investigate the whereabouts of these artifacts, and rumors allude to the Boston Mob and French art dealers as the ones responsible.
A Thank You Note
visited The Today Show and chatted with Oprah in an effort to promote his book. A clear example of this booksolidifies-fame ef fect can be seen with former Alaskan Gov. Sarah Palin. The former Republican vice presidential candidate published Going Rogue last year at the height of her fame following the 2008 presidential election campaign. As governor of Alaska, Palin was relatively uninteresting — but add a surprise vice-presidential candidacy, a few comic bits on SNL, a visit to Oprah and a book to top it all of f, and you get a household name. On the contrar y, you have President Barack Obama’s The Audacity of Hope, which was completed when he was just a rising star for the Democratic Par ty and did a lot less for his fame at the time. It’s hard to say why famous people choose to write biographical tomes. Some reasons may be image control, attempting to sound relatable to the public, showing off their literary chops and the list goes on. But behind all those valid reasons, just remember that there is no better, no more permanent way to extend those 15 minutes and cash in on success than getting a book out about it.
During the 1994 Winter Olympics in Norway, four thieves broke into an Oslo gallery through an open window and stole Edvard Munch’s “The Scream.” Appropriately they left a note saying “Thanks for the poor security.” The thieves then proceeded to demand a ransom from the gallery for one million dollars. The gallery refused, and soon after the Norwegian and British police organized a sting operation to retrieve the stolen work. The thieves were convicted, but later released on a discrepancy: the British officers entered Norway under false identities.
Cooking Your Way
With Thanksgiving around the corner and the recent publication of celebrity ch started thinking about how easy cooking can be if you have the right tools and t to help out with Thanksgiving dinner, and some just go home to eat. Well, this out these student friendly cookbooks and trying out some of these recipes. By TV E 4
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1. The Best Lifestyle Change Book: The Dorm Room Diet by Daphne Oz ($16.95) Any physician will tell you that to lose weight and keep it off you need more than just a diet — you need a lifestyle change. Maybe that’s why Daphne Oz’s The Dorm Room Diet has only has one chapter dedicated to recipes and nine chapters about all the other changes you need to get your mind and body in a healthy state. Step one in her 10-step plan for a healthy lifestyle is to just get inspired or, as she aptly puts, “get over the fear of succeeding.” In the following steps, she goes through how to avoid the dreaded freshman — and sophomore and junior and senior — 15. From discussions on how to steer clear of stress eating and binge drinking and to how prevent loading up on free food at college events and haggling for fridge space with your roommates, Oz covers many realistic college scenarios and provides many helpful hints, often in bullets and boxes, to avoid these common pitfalls. She goes through many dorm-room exercises with pictorial descriptions to incorporate into a manageable, time-friendly workout routine. She even has a whole chapter on which vitamins to take to overcome the common cold, headaches, PMS and other common ailments. Finally, if all these new ideas aren’t enough to get you pumped, she talks about her plans on how we as consumers can change dining habits at our college dining halls and throughout the country. Oz may be the daughter of the famed Dr. Oz, but in this book, she comes across as the worldly older sister who has gone through all the tough body image issues and has all the right tips to make sure you stray from the same path. Written while she was still a college student, The Dorm Room Diet takes you through her personal journey as an overweight high-schooler to a fit college student. Her tried and true wisdom makes her book all the more inspiring.
2. The Best Overall Cookbook: Look, Dude, I Can Cook!; Four Years Of College Cooking M by Amy Madden, ($16.95) Although not the first of its kind, this cookbook was written by a mother of two c dents who realized the need for a book that teaches teens how to cook. The book is into four stages, Freshmen, Sophomores, Juniors and Seniors, and each stage becom gressively harder as the book goes on. It star ts out with simple recipes that anyone such as mashed potatoes, but by senior year you will be able to make a full Thanksg ner. It has tips to save money as well as lessons on how to go grocer y shopping and look for in fresh produce. Madden gives readers an alternative to dining hall food a vegetables with her use of fresh ingredients. She even explains what tools you will n cessfully navigate a kitchen. It’s a great beginners cookbook that will build cooking help you out later on in life.
3. The Best Budget Friendly Cookbook: $5 A Meal College Cookbook by Rhonda Lauret Pa B.E. Horton, MS, RD, ($9.95) The $5 a Meal College Cookbook is fantastic for the frugal chef. Although it does not con which are always helpful, it breaks down the costs of each dish and tells you the serving s cludes nutritional information for those looking avoid the dreaded, additional 15 pounds. Pe the most important sections of the book is the section on microwaveable meals. So not budget your meals and create delicious cheap meals, but you can do so in a microwave as w stove. It is definitely a cookbook to have if you want to save money and skip the meal plan.
Growing Up On TV Dinners BY FREDDIE MORGAN STAFF WRITER
When we were younger, the Food Network was newly born. Balancing a stack of ironed shirts on one knee and their child on the other, mothers intently studied as Mario Batali effortlessly glamorized average household dishes. As we grew older, we would beg for our mothers to change the channel. Now we’re grown up, sort of. But as college students, we are tuning into the same channels our parents watched decades ago. Since the turn of the millennium, The Food Network has acquired a new demographic of viewers, the 18-24-year-olds. While the targeted audience is 25-40-year-olds — parents, like our own, learning to cook with little free time — teens are tuning in more frequently. Even while juggling academics, extracurricular activities and a job, college students are now watching more television than ever before. Youth Trends analysts found that many teens and young adults are tuning into NBC, home to popular shows such as House, The Office, and Desperate Housewives. There is
growing popularity in MTV as well, as viewership skyrocketed after the release of the ch watched show, Jersey Shore. But a startling number of young adults prefer the Food Netw larger basic cable channels. We watch cooking shows for obvious reasons. Food is attractive to us because colle are voracious, and the attraction can be enhanced by styling food. But beyond that, ing to watch the rhythms of a kitchen, comforting to see a meal be prepared wholly fr and especially comforting to eat it after slaving over a stove for hours. It’s all the thin cannot enjoy while maintaining a meal plan and living in a room slightly larger than a Instead, we live vicariously through cooks like Rachael Ray, whose macaroni and c better than the way our moms made it. The Food Network has not only marketed cooking as something you do, but it has tran task into something you watch. Shows like Everyday Italian and 30-Minute Meals make co sible, but there are many food-related shows that make cooking exciting. Shows like Iron Ch phed cooking into a spectator sport, where competing chefs battle against a clock to pr
y Through College
ef Ina Garten’s How Easy Is That? cookbook, we the right guide. A lot of college students go home Thanksgiving put in a helping hand by checking Editor Ariba Alvi and Books Editor Nidhi Saraiya.
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COURTESY OF KRAFT FOODS
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The Best Step-by-Step Cookbook: The Ultimate Student Cookbook by Tiffany Goodall, ($14.95) The Ultimate Student Cookbook by celebrity chef Tiffany Goodall is the perfect combination of pictures and easy-to-follow directions. This is a great beginner’s cookbook because it has a picture for every single step of the cooking process. The tone of the book is light with humorous comments like “stop looking at the book and look at the egg.” It includes optional extras that you can add to each dish, serving suggestions and what to do with the leftovers. It is helpful, healthy, inexpensive and an overall friendly book.
5. Best Lazy Person’s Cookbook: I Hate to Cook Book by Peg Bracken, ($22.95) When Peg Bracken first wrote this book, her target audience was married women like her, who were expected to have a fresh dinner on the table ever y night. Now five decades later, her famous book just got a 50th anniversar y update and her target audience has changed. But her quick fixes and witty recipes and tips are just as relevant as ever for the college crowd, especially after a week of Ramen and takeout food. Don’t let the chapters entitled “Luncheon for the Girls: Or Wait Till you Taste Maybelle’s Peanut Butter Aspic” or “Little Kids’ Parties: Or They Only Came For Balloons” throw you off. The chapters “The Leftover: Or Every Family Needs a Dog,” “Desserts: Or People are too Fat Anyway” and “Last-Minute Suppers: Or This is the Story of your Life” are just as entertaining, truthful and useful as they were back then. Buy frozen veggies instead of canned and cutback a bit on the salt and butter. Be sure to read every page because there are gems like “Hurry Curry,” “Philosopher’s Chowder” and “Chilly-Night Chili” sprinkled in throughout the nearly 200 recipes in the book.
unique dishes with ingredients most viewers have never heard of before. There’s something almost surreal about watching world-class chefs artfully executing and designing a multi-cultural meal. Though more and more college students are watching the Food Network, the channel isn’t doing too much to cater to their younger audience. Emeril Live has been the only show to devote several installments to “College Cooking,” where dorm-friendly, do-it-yourself dishes are on Emeril’s menu. Other than that, the most popular shows are those preparing quick meals. Popular cooks are Giada de Laurentiis and Ina Gar ten. The most modern reach toward the young adult community occurred almost exactly a year ago. Food Network released Cook or Be Cooked, a video game for the Wii console. Players can select from 12 simple recipes to cook, such as over-easy eggs and lasagna, and simulate the real cooking experience. For all the devoted (or desperate) college students that are tuning into cooking shows, it is surprising how little cooking channels are paying attention. Students seeking to perk up their daily dining hall diet should search for alternative sources teaching dorm-friendly recipes. College cookbooks now exist to teach young adults just that.
2 cups baby carrots 1 tablespoon olive oil 1 cup apple juice 2 tablespoons maple syrup Wash the baby carrots and drain. Heat the olive oil in a frying pan over medium heat. Add the carrots and cook briefly until browned. Add the apple juice. Cover and cook over medium head until the liquid is absorbed, approximately 20 to 30 minutes. Increase the heat to high and add the maple syrup. Cook for 2 to 3 minutes, stirring until the carrots are nicely glazed.
Stay-A-Bed Stew Source: I Hate To Cook Book Mix the following in a casserole dish that has a tight lid 2 pounds beef stew meat, cubed 1 can of little tiny peas* 1 cup of sliced carrots 2 chopped onions 1 teaspoon salt, dash of pepper 1 can cream of tomato soup thinned with ½ can water (or celery or mushroom soup thinned likewise) 1 big raw potato, sliced Piece of bay leaf Put the lid on and put the casserole in a 275˚ oven. Now go back to bed. It will cook happily all by itself and be done in five hours.
Gooey Leek Gratin Source: The Ultimate Student Cookbook COURTESY OF BBC FOODS
arkinson with
Source: $5 a Meal College Cookbook
Thanksgiving Quickies
Made Easy
Tender Glazed Carrots
4 tablespoons butter 6 leeks sliced 1 ¼ cups heavy cream 9 oz cheddar cheese, grated Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Melt the butter in a skillet, then add the leeks and stir-fry over medium heat. The leeks will start to separate and shrivel up a little. Cook for 4 minutes until soft and then transfer into a deep ovenproof dish (about 8 inches in diameter). Pour the cream over the leeks and sprinkle with the grated cheese. Place it in the oven for 15 minutes until the cheese is melted, golden, and sensational.
Page 6 • Inside Beat
November 11, 2010
TV • Film • Fashion
Megamind
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Tom McGrath | B-
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BY KELVIN MEI STAFF WRITER
Entering the Vault
Nouveau Vintage: Fargo BY ALEX NATANZON STAFF WRITER
It sure would be nice to travel to the tranquil town of Fargo, N.D., to take in the serenity of the atmosphere and enjoy the upbeat demeanor of its residents. But it would be a hell of a lot more interesting if the normal stillness was suddenly broken by a botched kidnapping leading up to a triple homicide. In Joel and Ethan Coen’s highly acclaimed film Fargo, a web of intrigue is spun around the colorful characters, where every action is unpredictable, and you find yourself eagerly waiting for more. Fargo gets right down to business when well-mannered Minneapolis car salesman Jerry Lundegaard (William H. Macy, Boogie Nights) hires two smalltime crooks, Carl Showalter (Steve Buscemi, Reservoir Dogs) and Gaear Grimsrud (Peter Stormare, Minority Report) to kidnap his wife and hold her for ransom. Jerry
plans to coax his greedy father-inlaw into paying the ransom, which in turn he could use to pay off his own debts. What begins as a harmless, well-planned kidnapping quickly spirals out of control when the sociopathic Gaear kills a police officer and two civilians in cold blood. The deaths lead pregnant police-chief, Marge Gunderson (Frances McDormand, Almost Famous) to begin an investigation. The Coen Brothers have always been adept storytellers and Fargo is no exception. They are able to create unique characters, resonating with distinct personalities from the moment they are introduced. In Fargo, the people and their snowy North Dakota town are underlined in such a manner, that the viewer immediately gets an idea of the world that the main characters interact in. The Coen Brothers’ directing style not only takes into account every small detail of the story but also applies visually stunning shots that give the film a nice, fluid progression.
Aside from the directing, Fargo was a success because of the convincing performances of the cast. McDormand earned herself an Oscar for her portrayal of the composed and pleasant police-chief. She and Macy hit the “Minnesota nice” accent spot on, pronouncing every mannerism and speech pattern perfectly. But Buscemi’s portrayal of the talkative Carl and Stormare’s performance as the quiet and mentally unstable Gaear make the film a successful dark comedy. Their awkward conversations throughout the movie, give the film a natural feel of edgy realism. A quiet cabin in a winter wonderland does sound nice, but unpredictable events spinning off from a murder just sounds way more fun. That is exactly what Fargo offers as a film. It sucks you into its story, grabs your attention, familiarizes you with the characters, and just when you think you know what will happen next, you find yourself grinning with delight at the bizarrely unexpected twist.
Style for Less: Fur
Every super villain has his own story of how they turned evil. For the Joker in the Batman series, the death of his pregnant wife and unborn child along with falling into a vat of chemicals made him hate humanity. For Magneto in the X-Men series, the urge to protect his fellow mutant kind against ignorant and scared humans gave him a motive to work on enslaving humanity. Megamind (Will Ferrell), the “villain” of Metro City also has a story to tell, and he tells it in the latest DreamWorks animation, Megamind. The movie of Megamind begins like the standard typical spinoff of Superman. Megamind’s native planet is about to be absorbed into a black hole, and his parents send him off in a tiny spaceship with his minion, appropriately named Minion (David Cross, Arrested Development). With only 30 seconds left to spare, Megamind is jettisoned off into space, never to see his parents again. Unfortunately for Megamind, at the same time, another super baby is released in a different spaceship, the future MetroMan (Brad Pitt), and they both land on Earth. The problem is MetroMan lands within a mansion and Megamind lands in a prison, and from then on, they clash. Megamind schemes to be evil and destroy Metroman, and battle after battle
ensues. But when Metroman falls into one of Megamind’s traps and is killed, the whole world is left off balance, forcing Megamind to create a new hero, Titan (Jonah Hill, Knocked Up), in order to have a nemesis again. Titan, however, chooses to play the role of the villain after obtaining his powers and Megamind is left with a choice as to what to do next. The story is very predictable, taking all the typical hero story plot twists and turns and throwing them all together into one. There is a romance part of the movie, but even that is too easily predicted from the get-go, with cheesy sayings going back and forth like “Don’t judge a book by its cover” and “Will you still love me if I looked differently?” Furthermore, the characters’ lines and personalities were not that original. For example, Megamind acts very much like the villain Gru (Steve Carell, The Office), from Universal Studio’s Despicable Me (2010). The movie redeems itself through its amazing animation and hilarious humor. For viewers who enjoy films produced in the DreamWorks style, the battle scenes are pretty epically portrayed within the depth and detail of Metro City. The humor, though created to appeal to little children, made the whole theater burst into laughter from time to time. If you were to go watch this movie, go for the animation and laughs — just not for the plot.
The Walking Dead AMC, Sundays at 10 p.m. | A-
BY ZOE SZATHMARY STAFF WRITER
As the weather gets colder in New Brunswick, staying warm and stylish becomes harder to pull off. Luckily, one of the biggest trends for Fall/Winter 2010 is fur. Fur was seen all over the runways in New York, Paris and Milan. It served as an accent for accessories, like shoes, purses and scarves and was also the main attraction for daring coats. Want to try out the trend? Inside Beat has found stylish designer items, along with their affordable counterparts. Start small with a furry cross-body bag. You can wear it with a leather jacket and boots as you hurry off to class. • Michael Kors Rabbit Fur Crossbody Bag: $348.00
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• Dorothy Perkins Faux Fur Crossbody Bag: $45.43 Bring out your inner old Hollywood starlet and try Leopard; an extremely popular and bold fur for fall. Pair the adorable Gallery jacket with a T-shirt and jeans to up the ante on everyday glamour. • Adrienne Landau Leopard Print Rabbit Fur Jacket: $795
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• Gallery Leopard Print Faux Fur Jacket: $128.00 Step out in style with a pair of gorgeous faux fur boots from Forever 21. Wear them with black tights and a white dress for a real pop. • Pierre Hardy Fur Boots: $2,175
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• Forever 21 Faux Fur Ankle Boots: $32.80
COURTESY OF AMCTV.COM
BY JASON PEARL STAFF WRITER
The horror genre is often maligned for its incoherent plots, low production value and general lack of character development. The Walking Dead aims to destroy these stereotypes with a combination of fantastic acting, expert direction and gripping screenplays. Based on the critically acclaimed comic book series of the same name, The Walking Dead tells the story of a world overrun by the undead. Only the most resourceful and lucky (or unlucky) have managed to survive the initial outbreak of a zombie virus. Sheriff’s Deputy Rick Grimes (Andrew Lincoln, Love Actually) awakens in a hospital about a week after the epidemic to find the entire building abandoned, save for a couple of contained “walkers.” After making his way outside, Grimes rushes home to
find his family missing. He then encounters two other survivors: a father and son. After being informed of the new status quo, Grimes loads up on firearms at the police station and heads for Atlanta, where he hopes to reunite with his wife and son. The Walking Dead is everything that zombie horror could and should be. All of the actors perform phenomenally, from Lincoln in the lead role to the young and talented Adrian Kali Turner, who played the son mentioned earlier. Writer and director Frank Darabont (The Shawshank Redemption, The Green Mile) has done an incredible job of crafting a post-apocalyptic wasteland. Due to his skillful direction, The Walking Dead has a very cinematic feel and a sense of grand scale. The Walking Dead has an amazing screenplay as well, filled with both great characterization and zombies getting shot in the face. What more could you ask for?
Music
November 11, 2010
Local Corner: Communipaw
Inside Beat • Page 7
Dubstep The Emerging Genre
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COURTESY OF COMMUNIPAWMUSIC.COM
BY EMILY GABRIELE MUSIC EDITOR
Brian Bond, Keith Carne, David Esterman and Justin Gaynor call themselves Communipaw. With an interesting name, creative aspirations and musical talent, these four guys have been pursuing their musical endeavors for nearly three years. Producing music of the folkrock genre, the now University alumni have just released their second full-length album titled, Big Blue. Having previously put out an EP and their first, self-titled fulllength album in 2008, Big Blue has finally begun to put Communipaw
on the radar. Gaining recognition from music websites such as absolute punk, the band continues to promote their music by touring various locations in the United States. The band’s creative drive is heavily influenced by the lyrics and songwriting of Brian Bond. Esterman and Gaynor complement his lyrics and voice nicely with their zestful bass and guitar parts, which give the band a soft, alternative-rock feel. With Carne on the drums, his encouraging rhythms compel listeners to tune in. Factoring all of these aspects into one focus, Communipaw created a band that produces their own brand of original music. Though they surfaced out of New
Brunswick they have not conformed to the typical, post-alternative sound that the city is known for. Communipaw’s new album defines their willingness to recreate their style. With such potential and desire it’d be in your best interest to check these guys out. Their album can be purchased on iTunes and you can follow their progress at communipawmusic.com. They can be found rolling back around to their stomping grounds of New Brunswick on Nov. 19 for the “Fest with Benefits” at the Colab Art Space on 49 Bayard St. Don’t miss the opportunity to support and witness local talent at its finest.
Mark Salling COURTESY OFMARKSALLINGMUSIC.COM
Pipe Dreams | D
What is dubstep? Dubstep is an electronic genre that spread its roots in the happy island of the United Kingdom, back in the late ’90s. Branching out from the underground garage scene, these roots intertwined reggae dub, some dirty grime and the darker side of drum and bass. All this produces bouncy yet hardcore electronic music where the bass is king. Aided by music blogs and online producers, the genre began its climb to the forefront around 2005, making its mainstream debut around 2008. Dubstep, along with other emerging sub-genres of Techno are breaking past the common conception of “European dance music,” and are creating something entirely in itself — new identities in a world of evolving musical tastes. —Stefan Haas-Heye
Artists to check out: •Nero •Skrillex BY CIARA COPELL STAFF WRITER
Mark Salling’s debut album Pipe Dreams is unfortunately not a good start to his solo career. Salling’s sound is nothing like Glee and falls short of expectations. He may have intentionally stepped away from the bubblegum pop sound of Glee, however that is what the vast majority of his fan base loves. The album has kind of a hippie feel and sounds like it came from the psychedelic ’60s era, but this is not a fitting sound for Salling. Particularly, the songs “Illusions” and “Musical Soulmate” have a distinct bohemian sound that don’t offer anything remarkable to highlight Salling’s musical potential. The majority of the album does not even sound like Salling. There were some glimpses of his talented voice, but it disappears al-
Matt and Kim Sidewalks | A
BY GIANNA M. STEFANELLI STAFF WRITER
After the tremendous commercial success of their album Grand, the Brooklyn-based synthpop duo Matt & Kim have released their third effort Sidewalks with more optimism than ever. This nerdy, but extremely fun masterpiece has taken Matt & Kim to a completely different level. Although they’re on their way to a more mainstream style, they haven’t stopped finding new inspirations for their music. Searching for a “more universal
sound,” the pair’s genre-less vibe works wonders throughout the 10-track album. Still never passing the four-minute mark, Matt & Kim’s Sidewalks is a new collection of intelligent dance music that evokes a lighthearted mood. Matt & Kim broaden their sound, making their album instantly enjoyable. While still preserving their spunk, they were able to clean up, sharpen and develop their new album. For some bands, such a change takes away from their music’s mass appeal, but for Matt & Kim, the addition of some new instruments and layers of synth just complements their simplistic lyrics. “Cameras,” their released single off of Side-
walks, the tuba and thunderous percussion only intensifies their folk lyrics; “No time for cameras, we’ll use our eyes as lens.” Because there is a wide range of genres that influence their sound, Sidewalks is an explosion of energy that you can’t stop tapping your foot to. Matt’s nasally and spread voice that sings, “I hear that shoestrings tend to break/But they tie back together great,” in the track, “Where You’re Coming From,” is inspirational, but flirts with being slightly sappy. Their catchy hooks and upbeat percussion, along with their simplistic message to live life now and to take life as it comes, instantly can brighten up anyone’s day.
COURTESY OF MATTANDKIMMUSIC.COM
•Skream •Mt. Eden most instantly. He seems to try so hard for a unique sound that it actually takes away from his naturally amazing voice. Pipe Dreams has a very distinctive sound, but all of the songs sound exactly the same. There is no change in tempo throughout the entire album, and the majority of the songs could actually be mistaken for one another. The only song that can arguably stand out is “Doppelganger,” which is a rap song, but even that’s not great. It is regrettable that Salling didn’t utilize his voice for Pipe Dreams, which is what so many people love about his character Puck in Glee. He seems to try too hard to get away from his Glee persona, and it evidently backfires. Pipe Dreams is likely to disappoint current Salling fans, and it is doubtful the album will attract any new ones. He should definitely stick to what he is known and loved for and just come back to Glee.