M usic , M oviesand M ore

Dec. 12
12,, 2005
Music, Movies and More
Pennywise
talks to Daily
Titan
MUSIC
USIC:: System of a Down out with part two of double album release
MOVIE: Knoxville stars in ‘The Ringer,’ ‘Why We Fight’ politically charged
MORE
ORE:: Artist intervie
interviews
ws,, plus the last
ws
last Inside Buzz of the fall semester
2 THE
BUZZ
Contents
02 The Inside Buzz
03 Flashback Favorite
DVD Preview
Restaurant Review
04 Artist Interviews
05 Pennywise Interview
06 New Movie Reviews
07 New Music Reviews
08 Places to go in LA, OC
ON THE COVER: Punk band
Pennywise has been banging out
punk rock anthems for more than
15 years. Go to page 5 to see how
the band has coped with the onslaught of sugary sweet pop acts.
(Photo provided by Epitaph Records)
THE
INSIDE
BUZZ
By MAHSA KHALILIFAR
Daily Titan Asst. Entertainment Editor
Well guys this is it… the last Inside Buzz of the semester and it has
been a good time indeed! A lot has
happened these three months: Hollywood kept us gossiping and will
continue to … Comedian legend,
Richard Pryor, died Saturday at
the age of 65. The star, who had
been sick for years suffering from
multiple sclerosis, passed away
after having a heart attack. Pryor,
who was born in Illinois as Richard Franklin Lennox Thomas Pryor
Word
III, was one of the most influential clude American Idol winner Bo Biand controversial comedians of ce’s The Real Thing… movie sound
his time … After reports on “Ac- from “The Chronicles of Narnia:
cess Hollywood” surfaced that ac- The Lion, the witch, and the Witch
tor Matt Damon, 35, and fiancée and the Wardrobe: [Soundtrack]
Luciana Bozan,
… “Gasolina” hit29, were expectmaker and Reging their first child,
gaeton superstar
wedding bells soon
Daddy Yankee’s
rang. The couple
Barrio Fino en Dicelebrated
their
recto… New DVD
nuptials Friday in
releases include
New York, People
Steve Carell starreports … Another
ring in the comedy
couple that took
“The 40-year-old
their matrimonial
Virgin” … Fox’s
vows was counlong-running hit,
try singers Garth
“The
Simpsons
Brooks and Trisha
- The Complete
Yearwood. After
Seventh Season”
WWW.RICHARDPRYOR.COM
getting down on
… Lauren Graone knee in front Richard Pryor died Saturday. ham starring in
of thousands of
the WB hit series:
fans, 43-year-old Brooks proposed “Gilmore Girls - The Complete
to 41-year-old Yearwood in May. Fifth Season” … Celebrity gosThe stars said their vows in Okla- sip of the week: Could Britney
homa on Saturday; this is the sec- Spears and Kevin Federline be
ond marriage for Brooks, third for the next couple headed to divorce
Yearwood … Survivor host, Jeff court? Splittsville could be in their
Probst signed on to do two more cards… As always stay tuned to
years of CBS’s hit reality show … those headlines, Hollywood is alNew CD releases of the week in- ways full of surprises …
On The Web
THE BUZZ
ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR
AMANDA PENNINGTON
A
ASSISTANT ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR
MAHSA KHALILIFAR
EXECUTIVE EDITOR
NICOLE M. SMITH
DIRECTOR OF ADVERTISING
CAN SENGEZER
ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF ADVERTISING
EMILY ALFORD
PRODUCTION
AMANDA PENNINGTON, MAHSA KHALILIFAR
ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES
LESLEY WU, DERRICK SALATNAY,
VANESSA RUMBLES, RICH BOYD,
KIMBERLY LEUNG, JACKIE KIMMEL
The Daily Titan 714.278.3373
T
The Buzz Editorial 714.278.5426 [email protected]
Editorial Fax 714.278.4473
The Buzz Advertising 714.278.3373 [email protected]
Advertising Fax 714.278.2702
The Buzz , a student publication, is a supplemental insert for the Cal State Fullerton Daily Titan. It
The
is printed every Thursday. The Daily Titan operates independently of Associated Students, College
of Communications, CSUF administration and the CSU system. The Daily Titan has functioned
as a public forum since inception. Unless implied by the advertising party or otherwise stated,
advertising in the Daily Titan is inserted by commercial activities or ventures identified in the advertisements themselves and not by the university. Such printing is not to be construed as written
or implied sponsorship, endorsement or investigation of such commercial enterprises.
Copyright ©2005 Daily Titan
Want more Buzz?
Check us out on the
Web for the latest hot
new music reviews.
www.dailytitan.com
Quote of the Week
“Good news: It’s been reported
that Mary-Kate Olsen has gained
20 lbs. The bad news: Ashley
Olsen is missing.”
– Conan O’Brien
MAINSTREAM
‘The Aristocrats’
coming to DVD
Come one, come all. Step right up and witness a
movie about the most amazing, death-defying, rudest and crudest joke that has seldom been heard.
A joke so tasteless and vile that you will to wish
you never knew of its existence (especially after it’s
been crammed down your ear for a full hour and 20
minutes).
The movie is “The Aristocrats,” and the premise
is a joke – yes, one joke – that is the nastiest, most
disgusting, most obscene, filthiest joke anyone can
ever have the utter displeasure of hearing.
And audiences love it.
As the legend goes, the joke is an old comedy
secret but has never been privy to anyone except
seasoned, stand-up vets. That is, until now.
In this interview-style documentary, comedians
describe the one and only way to tell the infamous
joke – their own way.
The cast of characters was a veritable comedic
phonebook – ranging from the sage-like George
Carlin to the sullen Steven Wright.
There was a part in
the movie, a creepy
part, when former
“Americas Funniest
WWW.THINKFILMCOMPANY.COM
Home Videos” host
and “Full House” family friend to all Bob Sagat becomes the dirtiest comic in the whole line-up.
This movie is definitely not for the faint of heart
or the weak-minded.
So do yourself a favor. If you are not a fan of
obscene artistic expression (potty-mouth humor) do
not pursue this movie any further.
For you might find yourself immersed in a world
full of glitz and glamour, ascots and monocles, and
a family act that consists of describing every bodily
fluid known to man and woman.
You might find yourself face to face with, “The
Aristocrats.”
The DVD comes out Jan. 24, so check it out.
– Eric Sanders/Daily Titan Staff
3
Thai Cuisine has
fresh beach feel
As the end of the semester
draws near, finding an escape from
the stress of finals and last minute
projects is imperative. When Starbuck’s seems too hectic, enjoying
good Thai food at a quiet restaurant poses a relaxing alternative.
Thai Cuisine, on the corner of
Pacific Coast Highway and 5th
Street in Seal Beach, is tucked in
a building that can be easily overlooked.
Planters of artificial flowers separate the main part of the dining
room from some additional seating and the kitchen’s entrance.
An interesting feature about
Thai Cuisine is that the actual restaurant is always empty, or nearly
empty. Available seating is pretty
much a given, which makes it
perfect for studying or finishing
up homework. The atmosphere is
subdued and mellow while classical music hovers in the quiet
background.
The wide booths and large table
surfaces allow enough room for
textbooks, folders, the bell-pepper
tray, egg rolls and a Thai iced tea.
The Thai iced tea is a good
choice. Half Thai tea and half
cream, the specialty beverage is a
staple of Thai dining.
Thai Cuisine is open for lunch
from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday
through Saturday, and then for
dinner from 5 to 10 p.m. Sunday
through Thursday and a half hour
later on Friday and Saturday. If a
sit down meal takes too much time
during the hectic last days of the
semester, take-out is also an option.
– Danielle Torricelli/Daily Titan Staff
Flashback Favorite
‘What’s Happening!!’
By DIANIKA ABBOTT
Daily Titan Cop
Copyy Editor
In a land of jive turkeys, dyno-mite hustlers and foxy ladies,
the 1970s street colloquial term,
“what’s happening?” is synonymous with one of the most popular black sitcoms of all time.
“What’s Happening!!,” which
ran from 1976 to 1979, was
loosely based on the 1975 movie
“Cooley High.”
It journeyed through the high
school years of three mischievous teenagers, who spent their
time devising get-rich-quick
schemes.
Roger “Raj” Thomas (Ernest
Thomas), Dewayne Nelson (Haywood Nelson) and Fred “Rerun”
Stubbs (Fredd Berry), learned
the importance of taking care of
responsibilities, friendship, love
and how to maintain life in the inner city. Raj, the self-proclaimed
man of the house, is a brainy
writer who successfully juggles
schoolwork and the responsibility of caring for his bratty smartaleck little sister, Dee (Danielle
Spencer) while his mother (Ma-
bel King) is at work.
While Raj may have a lot of
responsibilities, his No. 1 priority is spending time with his two
best friends at Rob’s Place, the
neighborhood hangout.
His best friends, Rerun, the
plump, all-the-way-live dancer
got his nickname from spending
summers in school trying to rerun everything he learned during
the year. Dewayne, the not-sosmart tag-a-long does everything
in his power to look cool.
Raj and his crew could be
found on every episode at Rob’s
Place trying to pick up girls,
drinking grape sodas, gossiping
and making fun of the no-nonsense waitress Shirley (Shirley
Hemphill). While the trio constantly got themselves in sticky
situations, the show usually ended with Dee finding out what the
three were involved in and saying that famous line, “Ooh, I’m
telling mama!”
Ms. Thomas would then discover their mischievous scheme,
come to their rescue and discuss
the moral of the story.
This show was so successful
that in 1985,
the creators
and
actors
reunited in
the
syndicated
sitcom “What’s
Happening
Now!!,”
which ran for
three years.
After almost 17 years, TV
Land has brought the gang back
together for both the young and
old to rediscover the journey of
“What’s Happening!!” together.
4 MUSIC
INTERVIEWS
Concert
Calendar
Wed. Dec. 14, 7 p.m.
Thur. Dec. 15, 7 p.m.
Pennywise
House of Blues
Anaheim
Sat. Dec. 17, 7 p.m.
Guttermouth
El Rey Theatre
Los Angeles
Fri. Dec. 23, 7 p.m.
The Vandals
House of Blues
Hollywood
Fri. Dec. 30, 7:30 p.m.
Death by Stereo
Chain Reaction
Anaheim
Fri. Jan. 6, 8 p.m.
The Adolescents
El Rey Theatre
Los Angeles
Fri. Jan. 13, 8 p.m.
D.I.
Galaxy Theatre
Santa Ana
Fri. Jan. 13, 7:30 p.m.
Sat. Jan. 14, 7:30 p.m.
Slightly Stoopid
House of Blues
Hollywood
Thur. Jan 19, 8 p.m.
G. Love & Special
Sauce
House of Blues
Hollywood
Sat. Jan 21, 6:30 p.m.
Anthrax
Avalon
Hollywood
Wed. Jan 25, 7:30 p.m.
Mon. Jan 30, 7:30 p.m.
Social Distortion
House of Blues
Anaheim
The 88 talks about touring SoCal
By JORDAN MASTAGNI
Daily Titan Staff
“Two sides to every story,
a third man in the shadows,
seven lords a leapin,’ a land of
a thousand dances, fifty ways
to leave your lover. 88 keys on
the piano; 88 constellations in
the sky; the infinity sign; the
most auspicious number in
China; 88 mph to get back
to the future; 88 cities in Los
Angeles; a great French Kicks
song. Welcome to the world of
The 88,” reads the synopsis on
the 88’s Web site about how
the band claimed its name.
The quintet includes Keith
Slettedahl, vocals and guitar;
Adam Merrin, piano; Brandon Jay, guitar; Carlos Torres, bass; Anthony Zimmitti,
drums.
With the release of the
band’s sophomore album,
“Over and Over” – which fuses melodies similar to a Bowie record with Blur influence
– the band has been touring all
over the country.
Indie rock bands are now
becoming a mainstream presence, and the 88 offers something new with a blend of harmonies and pianos.
No stranger to playing at
colleges, the 88 will rock the
Pub in the Titan Underground
at Cal State Fullerton next semester.
WWW.THE88.NET
The 88 will be playing at Detroit Bar in Costa Mesa on Dec. 22
Sarah Bettens solo with ‘Scream’
By KELLI FADROSKI
Daily Titan Staff
Singer and songwriter Sarah
Bettens soars solo with her new
album Scream.
Best known for fronting K’s
Choice, Bettens decided to set
out on her own and create an al-
Fri. Jan 27, 8 p.m.
T.S.O.L.
Galaxy Theatre
Santa Ana
Sat. Jan 28, 7 p.m.
Dead Kennedys
House of Blues
Hollywood
Sat. Jan 28, 8 p.m.
Matt Costa
Troubadour
West Hollywood
“We are just trying to play
as much as possible now
that the album has come out,
which still feels really new,
and the goal of the band is
to play out of Los Angeles as
much as we can,” piano player
Merrin said.
The 88 employed producer,
Ethan Allen (no, not the furniture company), to help with
the production of the new album, “Over and Over.”
Ethan “contributed a lot
and got a lot of stuff out of us
that we couldn’t do ourselves,
and when he saw us perform
live, he wanted to capture on
tape the energy of the band, so
we recorded some live songs,”
Merrin said.
The new album was recorded at a few locations including the Village, in West
Los Angeles, which has also
hosted a lot of the 88’s favorite bands.
The 88 also use some selfpromotion tactics by networking through the Web site
MySpace.
“We were featured on the
front page of MySpace over
the summer, and we were getting over 5,000 plays a day,”
Merrin said. “It was hard to
keep up with it. Ever since
then it has snowballed because
we are on so many people’s
pages that we are getting tons
of friend requests every day.”
WWW.SCREAMTEAMUSA.COM
Sarah Bettens has gone solo with
her new album “Scream.”
bum that would take her career
back to infancy.
Scream is born into the world
with great purpose as Bettens
strives to spark a connection with
her newfound audience and attempts to evoke thought within
her poetic lyrics.
Although she refuses to be
pigeon holed into any particular
music category, Bettens is aware
her music is a little scattered and
directly contributes that to the
music that has inspired her.
“It’s always difficult for me to
label myself and it’s difficult for
labels too,” Bettens said. “I only
say it’s pop, rock, alternative and
it’s got some folk in it.”
With catchy pop tunes and somber folk songs, Bettens broadens
the spectrum and explores her
talent throughout the album.
“When I go in and start making
a record, I go in and automatically make songs that sound a little
more heavy and stuff that’s very
intimate,” Bettens said.
Bettens’ band, K’s Choice, has
produced many international hits,
been awarded gold and platinum
records in Europe, and has played
gigantic overseas music festivals.
Bettens stepped away from the
group to find herself in her music
and create a piece of art she could
take sole responsibility for.
“I think for me it was something that I’ve wanted to do for
a long time,” Bettens said. “I’ve
been looking for that excitement
and adventure, and I was looking
for something new.”
Bettens pays tribute to her musical inspirations as they shine
throughout her record.
“I’ve been generally inspired
by a lot of singer/songwriters,”
Bettens said. “I’m a big Indigo
Girls fan, Tracy Chapman, Shawn
Colvin; those are just things I
like.”
Scream stirs a melting pot of
emotions as the songs flow on the
album.
Bettens brings listeners to a
moment of clarity as her softwhisper vocals dance through the
eardrums – her voice alone could
bring tears.
“I just want it to be a little
bit of a positive emotional journey,” Bettens said. “You look at
the record and it makes you feel
good, and it makes you think,
and it makes you a little sad
sometimes, but it makes you feel
things. Whether it’s good or bad,
it evokes emotion, and just being
abele to do that and have people
listen to it and say ‘It touched me’
and ‘It’s something that spoke to
me,’ that’s kind of what I hope.
That’s what I have with records
that I love and that I listen to. It’s
good to have something special,
and I hope people walk away
with the feeling that this record
really said something.”
Bettens’ music isn’t all mushy
and tear jerking, she has ballads
that can be empowering and definitely worthy of singing along to
at the top of one’s lungs.
Bettens is a serious artist, but
seems to have a good sense of humor and a new lease on life since
the release of Scream.
“Most people in my life have a
huge sense of sarcasm,” Bettens
said. “I think they would say that
I love life a lot. I live it to the fullest, and I don’t do things halfway.
I have a lot of love and friendship
to give. I’m in a good place, and
I’m very happy to share it.”
MUSIC
INTERVIEWS
5
Pennywise lives, loves punk rock
By KELLI FADROSKI
Daily Titan Staff
Being in a band for more than
one album is a major accomplishment in today’s music scene.
If a band is able to truly focus on
its music and hurdle the pressures
of labels, marketing and publicity,
the band might be lucky enough to
last a decade.
To tough it out for more than
15 years and still be touring, writing, recording and selling albums
proves gut instinct prevails over
conforming to what’s popular.
With each album, Pennywise
becomes more intense, more passionate and definitely more furious.
The Hermosa Beach punk legends
have unleashed their all-out musical assault on the problems of society today. The Fuse, the band’s
10th album, was released in August
and takes Pennywise back to its
fast-paced roots, as the album was
recorded in a 41-day whirlwind.
Vocalist Jim Lindberg, guitarist Fletcher Dragge, drummer Byron McMackin and bassist Randy
Bradbury took a cue from their
punk forefathers – Black Flag, Bad
Brains and Minor Threat – and decided collectively to push through
the process and release their most
raw album in years. As the pressure
was applied, the band squeezed out
15 tracks without looking back.
“We worked on it like the old
school punk albums we grew up
on,” Dragge said. “Those were recorded in, like, days and the sound
might be shitty, and stuff is out of
tune and there are problems technology wise ... but the passion of
those albums is what’s moving. We
were trying to get a hold of some of
that but at the same time ... we had
to have a good sound.”
Pennywise didn’t head into the
studio with any particular direction,
just a slew of songs that had been
brewing in the guys’ minds.
“Everyone starts writing songs
and you don’t really find a direction for it until you start picking
at your songs and you have five
or six songs that you like and you
start finding a theme of the album,”
Dragge said. “[The new album]
is all over the place thematically.
We’re a little politics, a little bit of
hope and a little bit of negative images in life.”
The band’s previous album,
From the Ashes, was recorded in
twice the time it took to record The
Fuse.
The guys found themselves just
“letting it go” and trusting that the
energy they packed into each day
would carry the album.
“It was really enlightening to
just do it and go, ‘Wow that sounds
good,’ and then move on,” Dragge
said. “I really liked the album and
thought it turned out really good ...
We were willing to let it go. It was
an easier and more fun process than
it had been in previous years.”
and it’s our biggest song.”
“‘Disconnect,’ the first single, re“Bro Hymn” is Pennywise’s sigceived constant play on rock radio nature. Released on 1997’s “Full
in Southern California.
Circle,” the band has yet to com“Jim wrote that one and in my plete a set without playing that
eyes it’s such a fast paced world song.
with cell phones and palm pilots,
“It’s a hit song, but it was never a
blackberries and laptop computers, hit song,” Dragge said. “People feel
you can’t imagine life without a cell so strongly about it and they just go
phone,” Dragge said.
crazy. There can be a mediocre show
The underlying message isn’t to and it’s not going crazy, but then
completely bash technology and re- you play ‘Bro Hymn’ and, boom,
vert to the days of stuffing change it’s nuts ... It’s a secret weapon.
into socks just in case the need to Other bands say, ‘We’re not playing
use a pay phone presented itself.
after Pennywise; we’re not playing
“We’ve become so reliant on e- after ‘Bro Hymn.’’ I’m just like,
mail and we are constantly bom- ‘You’re Bush, you’re Gavin from
barded,” Dragge said. “Before, Bush, don’t worry about it.’ These
when you were driving from L.A. huge, big bands say they don’t want
to San Diego it was quiet time, but to play after us, especially after that
now you have 13 business calls. song and it’s funny.”
Sometimes you just want to unplug
Pennywise isn’t out to win any
and go back to when it was more awards or keep up in the Billboard
peaceful and quiet, when you didn’t pop-race. The guys are satisfied
have ‘You’ve got mail’ popping up with their situation and their music.
in the background or 10 missed
“Everything has become so done
calls. You want to just disconnect and played out,” Dragge said. “The
and go back to the simple life but bands are add-water these days.
you can’t because we’re moving ‘I’ve got my instruments and I’ve
that fast and without it you are to- made a recording in my bedroom
tally screwed.”
with my Pro Tools rig and now I’ve
Although only 15 tracks appear got a Myspace page and 10,000 lison the new album, the guys created tens, and I don’t have a record label
nearly three times that before they and I’ve got my tight pants on and
recorded the new disc.
fingernail polish and my tight shirt
“If you want to go the political on’ … nobody is original, and nothroute, we could write 50 albums,” ing seems passionate. It’s so hard to
Dragge said. “We’re never going hear something that sounds real and
to run out of topics. We’re about ... original now.”
having songs that we think are all
Although the pop music scene
good. We try to put out an entire al- has become rather cookie-cutter,
bum of good songs and we actually Dragge refuses to dismiss it totally.
fight until the end to
“There’s a
make sure that evmillion other
ery song is a good
bands that are
All I know is that I
song.”
super into what
Now that the
they do that
like the music we
secret is out that
are good, but
play,
I
like
to
listen
there are so many
it’s not someto our albums and
extra songs floating
thing that you
around, the true fans
go, ‘Wow-must
I like playing live.
continue to wait for
have,’ like when
a B-side album to
you put on
Fletcher Dragge
emerge.
Rage Against
Guitarist for Pennywise
“There are literthe
Machine
ally hundreds of
or
Nirvana’s
songs,” Dragge said.
Nevermind,
“We talk about doing a B-sides re- something that just goes, ‘Wow.’
lease, but we never get around to it. When’s the last time we’ve had
We have a ton of songs that are in that,’” Dragge said. “System of a
their early stages and even some in Down: They are different and they
the finished stage but they’ve never have a crazy singer and an original
gotten heard and probably never flavor and they are one of the bigwill.”
gest bands in the world and I’m not
With years worth of material, giving out any secrets when I say
the band has to narrow their live that they are a good band. You have
set down tour after tour to accom- to dig pretty deep and in your own
modate the classics as well as new back yard and find people that are
material. The band does have their doing it because they love it, and
favorites to perform live.
not because they want to be rock
“There are a couple that really stars and on a major label and have
stand out,” Dragge said. “‘Every 24-inch rims on their Hummer.”
Single Day’ has one of those break
The allure of money can be
downs and an ending that goes strong, but when the passion is
completely crazy. With ‘Fuck Au- deeply rooted, it’s hard to break
thority,’ the energy of the crowd is away from what is cherished and
huge because they can relate to it not become an industry robot.
and they just cut loose. ‘Bro Hymn’
“At this point we can’t really
really has the most emotion to it change,” Dragge said. “We could
“
”
KELLI FADROSKI/Daily Titan
Pennywise frontman Jim Lindberg delivers a verbal lashing to fans.
be a pop-punk band and we could
write some ska songs and shift to
whatever is popular, but we’ve kept
a certain integrity in our music for
all of these years and we’ve survived pop-punk, nu metal and we’ll
survive the emo-screamo thing.
The scene has kinda separated the
troops a little bit, but we just keep
doing what we do.”
When Dragge attempts to predict
what the next trend in music will be,
endless possibilities blow his mind.
“I think once everyone takes a
good hard look around and realizes that everyone looks the same
and plays the same style of music
and realizes that they don’t want to
be robots, then they’ll move on to
something else,” Dragge said. “I
don’t know what it will be; I can’t
imagine what will be shocking or
fresh at this point because everything’s just been played to the gills.
I mean maybe we’ll have rap-punk
rock or rap music with super fast infused punk or country-rap.”
If rap-punk or country-rap takes
off in the next few years, it’s safe to
bet that Pennywise will once again
not conform to the new “popularnorm” and continue to play the
punk they set out to play more than
a decade ago.
“All I know is that I like the music we play, I like to listen to our
albums and I like playing live,”
Dragge said. “I like all kinds of music but this is what I’m passionate
about.”
Pennywise is not big on taking
long breaks, so rest assured that
if they’re not seen around town,
they’re writing new songs or in the
studio preparing for a new album.
The guys plan on continuing to
tour and will enjoy their downtime.
“Everyone has got different
things,” Dragge said. “Byron hangs
out and goes to a lot of events ...
We’ll go to the drag races or Indy
car races, skate or surf contests.
Randy spends a lot of time with his
family, writing songs. Jim writes
songs, spends time with his family,
surfs, goes to bars and gets drunk.
I’ve been skating a lot lately and
working on old cars and giving
some people tattoos if they bother
me enough.”
With no plans of slowing down,
and members already working on
new material, Pennywise will continue to ride the tide of The Fuse.
“We’ve always had the underlying message of no matter what you
do, you can get what you want out
of life if you’re willing to put the effort in and no dream is unreachable.
We’re living proof of that,” Dragge
said.
Pennywise will be performing at
the House of Blues in Anaheim on
Dec. 14 and 15.
6 MOVIE
REVIEWS
The Buzz
NEW MOVIE
REVIEWS
REVIEW
S
Word
On The Web
Be sure to check the Web
for a review and interviews
with creators of “Tristram
Shandy: A Cock and Bull
Story.”
‘Why We
Fight’ is
powerful
By BRYAN BARNETT
Daily Titan Staff
“Why We Fight” is the film
“Fahrenheit 9/11” should have
been. While Michael Moore’s subjective style ambushed his point,
Eugene Jarecki’s much more objective film drives the same point right
through the heart.
After main character, Wilton
Sekzer’s, son was killed in the Sept.
11 attacks, he e-mailed military
personnel to get his son’s name on a
bomb headed for Iraq. After certain
facts came to light, Sekzer, a New
York City cop and Vietnam veteran, was forced to reflect on whether
he avenged his son or defaced his
name.
Jarecki uses a few Moore-like
tactics, such as exposing debatably
immoral documents, but the movie
never feels irresponsible or fabricated. He starts the film with Eisenhower’s 1961 farewell address, in
which he warns against the rise of a
“military-industrial complex.”
Most of the interviews draw a
connection between the American government and the capitalist
phenomenon of industry’s profits
from war. Fascinating people from
around the globe give surprising
testimonials, especially the witnesses to the Baghdad bombings.
They all add strokes to the bigger picture Jarecki creates, one that
paints America as a war-mongering, capitalist society where no one
is willing to stand up and say no.
But the best part about “Why We
Fight” is that it doesn’t focus solely
on America’s war with Iraq. It sets
out to find the trends that ignite war.
History plays a big part here.
The wider scope of the film gives
it a deeper, more permanent feel,
which is why it won the Grand Jury
Prize at Sundance this year.
Even though “Why We Fight”
won’t be in theaters until January,
the relevance of this film to America
and its looming “military-industrial
complex” is profound and timeless.
FOX SEARCHLIGHT PICTURES
Johnny Knoxville and Leonard Flowers star in “The Ringer.”
‘Ringer’ set
full of pranks
By CARMELLIA MUNGUIA
Daily Titan Staff
Peter Farrelly raises his arms, his
shoulders sway and his pelvis jolts
forward. He tells the story of one of
his funniest moments while making “The Ringer.” During filming,
Johnny Knoxville pulled a prank
on co-producer Marc Fischer.
On the set, Knoxville takes a
cattle prod, comes up to Fischer
from behind and sticks “it up his
ass.”
While Farrelly tells the story,
Ricky Blitt, “The Ringer” screenwriter, also known for the series
“Family Guy,” listens and Knoxville secretly pokes his head in the
room at the Four Seasons in Beverly Hills. Knoxville knocks the hat
off his head and runs away. Farrelly, accustomed to such antics,
continues with his story. Knoxville
shrugs his shoulder and laughs.
“The Ringer” is the story of
a modestly competent, but nice
character, Steve Barker (Knoxville) with a dull job. Bored Barker
works up the courage to ask his
boss for a promotion that is unexpectedly granted. Barker’s first
assignment is to fire the longtime
janitor, Stavi (Luis Avalos), who
he befriends. Barker, afraid to hurt
Stavi’s feelings, offers him a job
mowing his lawn. While mowing
the lawn, Stavi accidentally loses
his four fingers and lands in the
hospital with a $28,000 bill that
must be paid immediately.
Barker, feeling responsible for
Stavi’s misfortune assumes the responsibility to pay for his surgery.
Barker’s uncle Gary (Brian Cox),
who has gambling debts to resolve,
talks a remorseful Barker into joining the Special Olympics as a mentally challenged athlete.
During his two-week stint Barker’s mentally challenged competitors wise up to his scam. However,
they go along with it in order to
beat the arrogant longtime winner.
Although the movie pokes fun
at, and indelicately handles stereotypes, it also shows “normal”
people with their flaws.
This inspirational movie shows
competent, witty and cynical people with mental challenges. After
the first 20 minutes of the movie,
viewers aren’t sure whether to
laugh, but it becomes apparent that
this crew pulled a well intentioned
film together.
MUSIC
The Buzz
NEW MUSIC
REVIEWS
REVIEW
S
WWW.SYSTEM OF A DOWN.COM
Hard-rockers System of a Down released Hypnotize.
System
ystem of
a Down
Hypnotize
Were we mesmerized
seven months ago? Yes.
Are we hypnotized now?
Not really. Hypnotize, the
highly anticipated second CD from System of
a Down’s double album Mezmerize/Hypnotize,
perhaps the band felt it simply had too much
great material to release all at once. Or perhaps
waiting six months was just brilliant marketing.
A single CD with half the songs and a snazzy
title would have sufficed. In fact, had the rockers and producer Rick Rubin edited Mezmerize/Hypnotize down to one solid CD, they could
have claimed ownership of the best rock album
of 2005 with Mezmerize.
Instead of continuing where Mezmerize left
off, with brilliant mind-shattering songs, Hypnotize sadly seems more like filler. Songs like “Kill
Rock ‘N Roll” and “Lonely Day” are average at
best. Hypnotize manages to do what Mezmerize somehow did not do – expose vocalist Serj
Tankian and guitarist/vocalist Daron Malakian’s
song-writing formula.
The good news is that Hypnotize – in keeping
with the band’s reputation – still has a few hardhitting songs that mean something, with politically and socially conscious lyrics far beyond the
trash commonly heard on popular radio.
Perhaps the greatest problem with Hypnotize
is that after Mezmerize, fans simply expected another great album. Sadly, the band fell short this
time. Maybe next time they’ll stick to making
one great record at a time.
– Gabriel
briel Fenoy/
Fenoy/Daily Titan Photo Editor
REVIEWS
7
Power Lloyd
World Cowboy
It starts out clever enough. With a prelude
that evokes a 1950s flight attendant coolly saying “Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to the album. Sit back and enjoy,” one would expect a medley of equally
clever songs. Unfortunately for Power Lloyd, the songs on their
new album World Cowboy, never really take the listener past any
high school garage band practice.
For the most part, Power Lloyd sounds like a band that is about
two years shy of making it on mainstream rock radio. The band
obviously takes note from bands like The Strokes and Jet
There are a few bright spots. “Matching Luggage” is enjoyable,
though the listeners never really find out what the song is about.
With ska elements thrown in, the song could easily provide the
background music for any teen movie’s “big party” scene.
“Dish” is another highlight on the album. With an interesting
intro that mimics new wave bands from the 1980s like Missing
Persons, the song also provides though inducing lyrics.
Power Llyod’s main problem is that almost all of their songs
sound the same. Maybe they found one style that they liked and
were too afraid to venture out, but almost every song leaves the
listener wishing that they had just tried a little harder.
– Ashley Majeski/Daily Titan Staff
Flyleaf
Flyleaf
Flyleaf, a new punk band on Octone records.
The band’s music is reminiscent of punk and
hardcore rock bands from the early 1990s, with
heavy drums and guitar behind screaming vocals.
In the band’s first full-lenth album, common problems of fledgling
bands arise. They have not quite found a signature sound yet.
The band has a sound reminiscent of Evanescence, with female vocalist, Lacey Mosley on the microphone.
Flyleaf does have potential with its heart-felt lyrics, which speak far
beyond amateur level.
The quality of a piece of music is not always gathered from the music alone; solid passionate words can revive dying sounds.
With time, this band has potential to branch out and separate itself
from other would-be punk bands. When Flyleaf brings its musicianship up to the same level as the lyrics, it might just be a hit.
Check out www.flyleafmusic.com for more album information.
– Stephanie Park/Daily Titan Staff
8 MAINSTREAM
Cheap alternatives in LA, OC
By KIRSTEN ALTO
For the Daily Titan
A ticket to Disneyland
is $56. A ticket to Knott’s
Berry Farm is $45. A night at
the movies can be $20 with
popcorn and candy. Prices
on popular events and attractions in Southern California
are so much because people
are willing to pay.
Students living on a budget do not always have the
luxury of endless amounts of
cash, but you don’t always
have to pay 10 bucks to see
poorly rated movies.
Poker Tournaments: Texas
Hold’em poker tournaments
are so popular, they’ve even
replaced hockey on ESPN.
You don’t need to be at a
casino to play either. FindPokerPal.com, PokerPal.org
and LocalPokerPlayers.com
will all tell you dozens of local sponsored and non-sponsored, real money and fake
money tournaments in your
neighborhood. Yes, that’s
right, fake money. This event
can entertain for hours and is
completely free.
Curtis Theatre: Coming up
at this 199-seat quaint theatre
in Brea, a mere 3 miles from
Cal State Fullerton, are live
theatrical performances all
for under $20 for great seats.
Get dressed up and go see a
live show locally for much
less than the $75 it costs to
see hits at the Pantages Theatre in Los Angeles.
Seal Beach Bay Theatre:
This movie theater shows
classics such as “Citizen
Kane,” “Dracula” and sometimes silent movies accompanied with the live organ.
Movies at this theatre cost
only $6 with student ID.
International
Surfing
Museum: This Huntington
Beach museum is a far cry
from most museums. For $2
you can experience the past
and present of surfing.
“We have Dick Dale’s first
guitar [and] movies running
constantly from classics to
new releases,” said Gary Sahagen, chaiman of the museum.
Going to Los Angeles?
Live closer to Hollywood?
Just don’t mind a drive?
La Brea Tar Pits: This famous landmark may seem
like something you’d only
go to on a third grade field
trip, but it can be and educational. For $4.50 students
can see fossils and artifacts
from the area, look at timelines and shop. Afterwards,
take a walk around outside
and see the real tar pits and
some dig sites where there
are skeletal remains being
discovered everyday. This
part is free!
The Museum of Neon Art
(Mona): Yes, there is a museum of neon art. According to its Web site, Mona
was founded 24 years ago to
show off art and educate the
public on the cultural history
behind electric art. There
are signs, vintage and new,
and artwork from 24 artists
displayed in the Hollywood
location. For only $3.50, students can have this unique
experience. And, for a little
more, you can also take a
tour around Los Angeles and
look at all the neon lights in
Hollywood, including the
150 vintage signs that Mona
has helped relight.
The Getty: The Getty Museum of Art is so well known
and yet, barely anyone considers going there for an afternoon. With tens of thousands of art pieces, ranging
from paintings to sculptures
to furniture, the museum has
six buildings filled with exclusive works of art. And if
you don’t fancy art, go for
the modern architecture and
the view surrounding the museum. It will fill up the whole
day, so plan to bring a lunch
GABRIEL FENOY/Daily Titan
or eat at the onsite café. Did I
mention the Getty is free?
The Garden at the Getty offers beauty at no charge.