`Cartel`s` latest is crisp

entertainment editor: John Bachmann ´ 815.753.9639
monday, october 26, 2009
dekalbscene.com
11
Things to do this week for Halloween
Stop going home.
Instead of packing up every weekend and going back to Mom and Dad, even though you swore you wouldn’t two months ago, explore DeKalb.
Soon it’s going to be too cold to go out and enjoy the weather and then it’ll be winter break. Stop saying the same things over and over about
having nothing to do, and take some time to enjoy some of the free, or pretty cheap, things to do around town.
The following list has what you can do in the upcoming week to get into the Halloween spirit.
Katie Trusk
Columnist
NIU Film Society Horror Series
9-11:30 p.m. Tuesday Oct. 27
and Thursday Oct. 29 at Reavis 211
Watch the terrifying “Zombie 2” on Tuesday and “Wizard of
Gore” on Thursday.
Price: Free
Kishwaukee Symphony Orchestra Halloween Concerts
5:30 and 7:30 p.m. Friday Oct. 30.
at the Boutell Concert Hall - Music
Building
Featuring songs “Rosin Eating
Zombies from Outer Space,” “In the
Hall of the Mountain King,” “The
Dark Knight,” “Phantom of the Opera” and “Danse Macabre.”
Price: Free
More information: kishorchestra.org
More information: www.facebook.com/pages/NIU-Film-Society/116084127853
“Trickster of Seville and His
Guest of Stone”
7:30 p.m. weekdays and Saturday and 2 p.m. Sunday Oct. 28 Nov. 1 at the O’Connell Theatre in
the Stevens Building
The story of Don Juan is brought
to life on stage by the NIU School
of Theatre and Dance.
Price: $14 for adults, $12 for seniors and $8 for students
More information: www.niu.
edu/theatre
Corn Maze
10:30 a.m.-10:30 p.m. Jonamac Orchards 19412 Shabbona Road, Malta
Oct. 30-31
Not only do you have to navigate
the maze, after dark you have to do
it with scary things chasing you.
If you’re not in the mood to get
scared, go during the day, before
dark
Price: $10 for adults
More information: www.jonamacorchard.com
Amenti Haunted House
Egyptian Theater 135 N. Second St.
Oct. 28 - 31, 7-11 p.m.
Boasting over 20 different
scenes on six different levels
the haunted house offers a local thrill that has gotten national attention.
Price: $10
More information: www.amenti.info/index.html
‘Saw’ lacks any originality
Chris Krapek
Movie Review
“Saw VI”
Rating: 2.5/5
Running time: 1 hr. 31 mins.
Rated R
Currently playing at: Carmike Market Square 10
Columnist
“Star Wars,” “Rocky” and “Saw.”
The gore-filled flick that rolls
around every October has entered
an elite group of film franchises
that have been able to crank out
six movies. Six!
There’s no denying that these
torture porn flicks and the emaciated Jigsaw will go down in Halloween history with guys like Jason and Freddy Krueger. But, instead of fondly remembering a
guy in a hockey mask or striped
sweater, the images of an obese
man hacking away at his love
handles will always be associated
with “Saw.”
The sixth film of the franchise
is the usual. Guy captures people,
wants to play a game and sooner or later someone’s elbow is being sliced like Swiss cheese. This
time around we get a devilish
health insurance salesman playing contestant.
He’s responsible for finding
miniscule details that void a sick
customer’s coverage plan. One
guy with cancer gets the shaft for
not previously reporting oral surgery, so it’s safe to say, this guy
is a certifiable jerk. He’s captured,
put in that familiar looking, dimly lit, totally spooky warehouse,
and he must make literal life or
death decisions to escape.
There’s a sadistic merry-goround, barbed wired nooses,
deadly iron lungs; it’s intense
stuff, but the blood and guts
this time around is noticeably
restrained. Besides one graphic
meeting with acid and a self-severing, no parts will tickle your
gag reflex that hard.
All of the “Saw” sequels blend
together like a long weekend in
Tijuana. The graphic depiction
of violence is the real star of the
film here and the nuts and bolts
of the plot get lost in the thick of
it. “Saw VI” is a slight exception
to the rule.
Here, a coherent story is actually developed and expanded upon,
even though awkward rhetoric on
health care is interjected. I halfexpected Jigsaw to start chanting
“Yes we can!”
“Saw VI” succeeds and fails on
different levels. The attempt at
a somewhat engaging premise is
admirable, coming from people
who became famous for a puppet
Alex Johnson | Northern Star
Scott Potter before the big shave.
A boy and his beard
Scott Potter
Columnist
Courtesy | imdb.com
Latest “Saw” flick a disappointment to
the franchise.
on a tricycle. But to those diehard fans who are expecting the
“cool kill” bar to be raised to an
unprecedented level, stick to the
first five.
‘Cartel’s’ latest is crisp
CD review
Cartel “Cycles”
Notable tracks: “Let’s Go” and “Faster Ride”
Label: Wind-Up Records
Bridget Orkfritz
Columnist
Pop-punk band Cartel released
their third CD, “Cycles,” last Tuesday.
Following the band’s previous
album, “Chroma” and their self-titled album, “Cycles” has the same
driving pop-punk sound, but Cartel seems to have added a little
more rock to their sound by adding heavier guitar riffs.
The tracks are catchy and
unique. Cartel is bringing a new
sound to the fans on this CD.
The opening track, “Let’s Go,”
opens the CD with high energy
that continues throughout the
later tracks.
“Faster Ride,” introduces fans
to a Cartel they haven’t seen before.
It has the same driven sound
of other Cartel songs, but has a
slightly different sound that is
intriguing.
“Only You,” a slower track on
the CD, is poetic with a rock undertone presented in the drums
and bass line.
The combination of vocals and
instruments make the music extremely crisp and clear; every layer of sound can be easily heard
throughout each song.
I destroyed a serious long-term
commitment within minutes on
Saturday.
10 years ago, I met my closet friend. He took awhile to fully
grow on me at first, but he would
become a constant companion before I was 16. He was there when
I got my driver’s license, he was
with me when I graduated high
school and he stood with me on my
wedding day.
Of course, the friend I speak of
is my facial hair.
Over the past decade, my beard
and I have become virtually inseparable. The last time I had put a
razor to my face was five years ago
(and that wasn‘t even a full shave).
That all changed on Saturday,
though.
I had been wondering what I
would look like without my full
beard for quite some time now, and
Halloween provided me with the
best reason to find out. Besides,
fake blood never showed up too
great in my beard.
After a long stare-down with
my reflection and almost chickening out, I did it. Granted, I left a
pair of big mutton chops, but guys
know this is no substitute for the
real deal.
It is strange feeling my upper lip
for the first time since last century. The air is colder, water is wetter
and I no longer have a “flavor saver” for my food. I took my friend
for granted, and now he is gone by
my own doing.
Sleeping has been terrible at
best. I lay awake in bed for hours,
eyes open wide, replaying the
memory of watching thousands of
hairs swirling around the drain.
When I actually do get to sleep,
a reoccurring nightmare of my
vengeful beard flying in through
my bedroom window haunts me.
It knows what I did, and my conscience won’t let me forget.
I can’t stop playing Whitney
Houston’s “I Will Always Love
You” and my neighbors can hear
me singing Michael Bolton’s “How
Could I Ever Live Without You”
through heavy sobbing. I never
told him how much I appreciated
him or complimented his luxurious
appearance.
The time spent together was
too short and too unappreciated.
It’s true what they say, you never know what you have until it’s
gone. I now finally understand
what “Tuesdays With Morrie” is all
about.
Thankfully No Shave November
starts in less than a week. I can
only hope that you, faithful reader, can learn from my mistake.
Take some extra time today to tell
your friends you love them and
don’t wash them down the bathroom sink.
Check out dekalbscene.com for more exclusive content including: Chris Krapek’s review of Flight of the
Conchords’ CD “I Told you I was Freaky.”