Summer Reading List

As finals and papers bare down on the few days remaining before that sweet three-month freedom called summer vacation, I started to get plans ready for my long awaited leisure time.
One of the things I look forward to the most is catching up on all the reading I put off during the year, and I’m not talking about textbooks. A lot of us haven’t had time to sit down and read a good book in years.
So if you have time this summer to read a book or two, I suggest a few from the list below. A few are from my own summer reading list and others are some I think should be on yours.
Happy Reading.

“The Help” by Katheryn Stockett
After listening to this one on audio book, my mother practically begged me to give it a listen. Over spring break I decided to try out the first few chapters. Needless to say I almost stole her iPod when I had to come back to school. So I bought a copy in the airport terminal and crammed in almost half the book on my flight back. Finishing this book is first on my to do list this summer.
“The Help” tells the story of four women living in the early 1960’s Jackson Mississippi. The story is told from the multiple points of view of each of the characters, allowing us to fall in love with these amazing women one at a time. The story is rich with not only beautifully developed characters, but also a nail biting mystery/drama. Want “The Color Purple” meets “Desperate Housewives?” Trust me. You do.
And I would hurry because it will probably be a feature film within the year.

“Acceptance” by Susan Coll
Acceptance deals with teenage issues of identity, depression, and in the midst, making a decision that will alter your entire life. It really examines the idea of a seventeen year old deciding what they want to do for the rest of their life, and the pressure to succeed. It follows several high school students during their senior year and the challenges and difficult decisions they face.
I read this book the summer before my senior year of high school. I was caught up in the madness of S.A.T. tests and college applications and was nowhere short of loosing my mind. Everybody around me had an opinion except for me.
The tone of this book is perfect for a student lost in transition, whether it is grad school, the work force, or your parent’s basement. Big decisions coming up? Let “Acceptance” put things in perspective.

“Shadow Puppets” by Orsan Scott Card
“The Ender Series” is a fabulous series of books I have been reading on and off for the past four years. They tell the story of a futuristic world where humans do battle with aliens. Except their army is fully composed of children. Genius children who are put through rigorous academic and strategic training in order to create the perfect soldiers and commanders for the most powerful army in the universe. For those of you interested in a sci-fi novel you will actually be able to understand, look no further than here.
It currently consists of eleven novels and ten short stories, most of which can be read independently of each other. As a general rule of thumb, I would start with the first book Card wrote, “Ender’s Game” and go chronologically in the order they were published. If this advice seems strange, that’s because the story of the “Ender Series” is not completely linear.
But don’t feel like you need to tackle every single one. I just give you fair warning of the consequences of falling in love with a book that has 9 sequels.
And after four years, believe me, I would know.

“Lamb” by Christopher Moore
This is another recommendation from mom that I have not gotten to yet. It supposedly tells the story of Jesus through his childhood friend Biff. A lighthearted satire of the life of Christ from his childhood days up until his crucifixion may be just the dose of irony my summer needs.
Those who fear blasphemy should probably stay away however. A coming of age story of young Jesus that is described as “slapstick” will probably not be appreciated by his more faithful followers.
But if you are like me, religiously defunct, this should be right up your ally.

“Eat Pray Love” by Elizabeth Gilbert
This is another book I bought over winter break and never finished. Because of its notoriety and fame I figured I would finally give it a try. It is a true story about a woman who, after an emotional divorce, sets out to far continents looking for the love and meaning missing from her middle-aged world.
I hear the film version for this one is already in the works. So if you have not read it yet, now would be a good time.

“The Lovely Bones” by Alice Sebold
For those of you who saw the movie before reading this book, I apologize. This is one of my personal favorites.
“The Lovely Bones” is a beautiful story about a young girl who was murdered by her neighbor, and must watch from heaven as her family tries desperately to solve her murder. It is a stirring coming of age tale for the friends she leaves behind, and an emotional take on family and love.
You may shed a tear or two, but I can’t stress the amazing feeling hope left after reading this book. Do not be deterred by the heavy subject matter. There is actually much more to happy about in “The Lovely Bones” than sad.

So I thought I could Dance

People have been dancing forever. We danced for the gods, for our ancestors, to celebrate a bountiful harvest or special occasion, and in many cases, just for the hell of it.

There is a show on television called “So You Think You Can Dance” in which dancers compete against each other, much like on “American Idol.” The show is entertaining enough, until the judges and viewers start criticizing beautiful dancers for missing a jump or a turned in foot.

If you asked these dancers why they are on the show, they may say something like how much they love it or how it is an outlet for expression. But if that were true, I would be up there with them.

In today’s world, people dance because they are talented.

We all know them, the kids who have been ballerinas since they were three and dropped out of school to join professional companies. The girl who eats a quarter cup of cheese on her salad. Their feet bleed and they never sleep, all for the love of dance.

But not everyone can have this life. Only the select few, the lucky ones, who are talented enough to compete professionally. The ones who live by an idea that in my opinion, ruined the art of dance. They are the ones with perfect technique.

So where did technique come from? I highly doubt the Native Americans or African tribes were concerned with proper technique. By “technique” I mean the list of rules that all talented dancers must follow, like point your feet or spot your turns. If you ever watch an episode of “So You Think You Can Dance” you will get a big lesson in technique.

Personally, I blame it on the emergence of ballet in 15th century Italy. It began as a dance of the court, and as it spread across Europe it became the first dance with its own rules and vocabulary.

While I have been in and out of class and the stage for over 7 years, I would hardly consider myself a “dancer.” Any talent I possess is pure consequence of hard work and extremely good coaching. I do not pretend to have any natural talent or predisposition for dance. Or any concern for my “technique.”

A longer history of music lessons and choir classes has given me a well-trained ear for musicality and rhythm. But none of that can get you to switch leap.

People who know me now would probably never guess it, but I was a child of the theater during high school. The thrill of tech week and opening night, being the chorus girl. This is where my experience with dance began, when I was fourteen. They were some of the greatest years of my life. But the only downside of doing musical theater, were the other performers.

Only after leaving for college do you realize how silly some things are. Like foregoing homework for late night rehearsals. Like dropping ten pounds in one month and acting like its no big deal. Like loosing track of where the stage ends and the real world begins.

People who perform tend to be a bit over dramatic anyway. They are people who need every emotion they have at their beck and call. It is no wonder why most of them cannot control it. But the unfortunate part is the amount of personal investment performers put into their success. As if some how the ability to hit the high C or triple pirouette says something about their personal worth.

And its no surprise they act this way. Every dance flick ever made has a message reading something like this, “You can accomplish anything if you just believe in yourself and want it badly enough.” There are some obvious flaws with this reasoning.

While confidence is key, just “believing in yourself” is not going to fix everything for you. My bad hip eliminates my ability to do any sort of impressive high kicks or extensions without severe pain. No amount of confidence will fix that.

But because making performing arts a real profession is so competitive, young performers are taught to build confidence. And confidence breeds egos. Big ones.

It is not the sort of person I’m keen on becoming anyway.

So I try to embrace the way I am, to be proud of how much I have improved and how hard I have worked despite my short torso and creaky hips. I love my average abilities and remind myself of this every time I walk into dance class and I see the dance majors whose talent is often far superior to my own.

It is hard sometimes to have a hobby when people assume that because you are dancing, you must be a “dancer.” It is much more easier for young people today to pick one thing and excel at it than to experiment with several different talents. We are raised to avoid the things we’re bad at. The kids picked last for kickball were not the ones who wanted to play the least; they were the least “talented.”

For those of you who have ever wanted to try something new: play soccer, go rock climbing, sing karaoke, or even take a dance class, do not let the “talented” ones stop you. Do not be afraid of failure. Be afraid of becoming someone who never takes risks, or quits because they don’t have a natural turn out.

If you love what you do, talent is never going to really matter.

What Would Walt Do?

We are always worried about the next generation. We want them to have everything we had, and more. But things inevitably change, and we need to make way for the new. If my dad can learn to use a cell phone, anything can happen.

My latest trip to San Francisco, only recently made me realize how much I miss the old. Nestled in the presidio is a small pocket of history that resonates a little differently than any other museum ever has in my experience.

The Walt Disney Family Museum is like no Disney attraction ever seen before, particularly for its convenient Nor-cal location. The ten galleries of the museum take only a few hours to walk through, making it the perfect afternoon excursion for a trip to the city. Moderately priced at 20 dollars per ticket (15 for students), it is affordable even on a state budget.

But what is really unique about the museum, is the target audience. This is not a museum designed for toddlers hoping to push talking buttons or play with touch-screen games. It is geared toward a more mature crowd, looking to learn about the man behind the mouse.

The first gallery begins with Walt’s family history, and the means by which he grew up and spent his childhood. Even at an early age, Walt’s love for cartooning is a common theme in his family’s early travels across the Midwest in the early 1900s. It was in Kansas City where he discovered the world of motion pictures, vaudeville and amusement parks. His love for drawing and storytelling eventually leads him to Hollywood, and the birth of Mickey Mouse.

The following nine galleries led us through the other stages in Walt’s life and career including his early Hollywood days, beginning of the feature films, the artists strike, Disneyland and his last years. It is in many ways the story of a small company that made it big. But at heart, it is the story of a small man who followed his dream. He set standards for child and family entertainment that may never be met. And not only that, Walt was surrounded by a loving family of his own and was loved by dozens of friends and fellow artists. He must have been the happiest man on earth.

Being in the museum transported us to a time when Disney was a family name. To the small studio of close friends, who picked stories that meant something to them. In his lifetime, Walt Disney worked on just over 20 full length feature films, dozens of other projects for television, short films and of course, Disneyland.

The life of Walt Disney really puts his work into perspective. But what is really illuminating is how small a fraction of the Disney productions were actually overseen by Walt himself. “Mary Poppins” is the last film Walt was fully involved in before his death in 1966. That was over 50 years ago.

Since then, hundreds of movies, television shows and other projects have been released. The Disney Company itself has grown to epic proportions, owning dozens of cable channels, publishing companies, record labels and film studios.

Giant media ownership would not be so saddening if it were not for some of the things being made with the name Disney attached to it. Take the ABC network for example, which Disney owns. What would Walt have to say about “Desperate Housewives” or “The Bachelor?” Or even its self-titled Disney Channel?

The mom and pop days are certainly over. The little company that could has become so big and so successful; it may have spread itself to thin. It has even been accused of blatantly marketing sex to its young audience.

Ever since returning from the museum I have been worried about this. Worried that my children would not experience any of the Disney magic that came before them, that the age of storybook cartoons was over and the age of 3D technology was taking over.

Films like “Alice in Wonderland” frighten me because they stand as proof that this new company is willing to stray from why we came to love the name Disney, in the interest of profit (reaching an audience who will pay an extra five dollars to see a movie).

But there are reasons to be hopeful. Like Disney’s recent release “The Princess and the Frog.” This film pretends to be nothing but a charming story about a prince and a princess. The music is catchy and the moral of the story is something we can all get behind. It reminds me of something straight off of Walt’s drawing table.


















My doubts are at bay. For now.

But taking a glance at some of the upcoming releases in the Disney studio is not very promising. A computer-animated version of Rapunzal is set for release at the end of the year, but does not seem to have any of the storybook charm of “The Princess and the Frog”, and does not appear to be the start of a new pattern.

And then there is “The Sorcerer's Apprentice”, set for release this July.

Do not be fooled by the title. Trailers are already in theaters, and from the looks of it, Jerry Bruckheimer is set to butcher the classic Mickey Mouse “Fantasia” segment with the help of Nicholas Cage and Jay Baruchel.

It is an obvious, borderline pathetic, attempt at recreating the lucrative “Pirates of the Caribbean” and “National Treasure” franchises.

After all, it is much easier to cash out on old ideas than take a risk and be creative.

Right Walt?

The High Score

I would consider myself a fairly well versed movie buff. Granted I have a life outside of the theater and my DVD player, but as activities go, I tend to rank watching movies pretty high.

There are not many films I discriminate against. I am an enthusiastic “Saw” and “Harry Potter” fan, I worship Alfred Hitchcock and the classics, I enjoy both low brow comedy and intellectual commentaries, and I will admit to having seen “Love Actually” a few to many times. Every genre has something new to offer. Every style keeps things exciting. Ask a film buff what their favorite movie is, and they will probably say something like, “Off of which top ten list?”

Some buffs fixate on directors or actors. They may own the complete works of Tarantino or Kubrick. Hard-core Johnny Depp fans will have seen all five seasons of “21 Jumpstreet” and know all the words to “King Crybaby.” Others are obsessed with special effects, others with the writing.

And my poison? The composers. It may or may not be something that stands out to other people, but for me, the music is everything. Music has always been a big influence in my life, and when it comes to my favorite movies, the score is a deal maker.

Imagine the famous “Psycho” shower scene without Bernard Herrmann’s haunting string theme, “Chariots of Fire” without the stirring piano fanfare of Vangelis, or the opening of “Star Wars” without the strong chords of John Williams. It is probably the most exciting classical music you will ever hear.

James Horner, Hans Zimmer, John Williams and Danny Elfman are household names, and I follow them like a groupie. My iTunes genius has now created a play list for classical music alone. Not many college students have that in common.

These songs are great for just about anything – driving, meditation, exercise, or background music for homework or chores. These are a few of my favorites that circulate in and out of my play lists.

Titanic
“Hymn to the Sea”- James Horner
It is a well known classic, a staple for your classical film soundtrack play list. James Horner is a personal favorite of mine for his ability to capture raw emotion. The melancholy bagpipes are perfect for some deep introspection, or a big cry.

Napoleon Dynamite
“Music for a found Harmonium” - Simon Jeffes

To break up the classical vibe, the main theme from Napoleon Dynamite is more fusion between folk rock and pop music. It is a surprise coming from a film as forgettable as this one. But “Muisc for a Found Harmonium” is a great track for a walk or jog on a sunny day.

Little Miss Sunshine
“The Winner Is” - Mychael Danna

It almost seems out of place when you watch “Little Miss Sunshine”, but having this song on your Mp3 player is a must. Like Horner, Danna’s music is great for meditation or reflection, and even a long drive.

The Lion King
“This Land”, “...To Die For” - Hans Zimmer
In this case, I cannot pick just one. The entire “Lion King” soundtrack is worth owning. Elton John singing “I Just Can’t Wait to Be King” is a personal favorite. While “This land is a beautiful slow classical piece, “…To Die For” is much more intense.
Recognizable from the stampede scene, this song is one for driving. Picture the stampede behind you on East Cotati Ave. Priceless.

American Beauty
“Dead Already” - Thomas Newman
A unique score for a unique film. Aside from perfectly capturing the essence of “American Beauty”, the strange synth is oddly fun to run to. Since running becomes such a quest for Lester in the film, it inspires listeners to “look good naked” as well.

There is a song for everything you do, and what better music to have in the background than the songs that were designed for it.

The Moral of the Story

It snuck up on us before we new what was happening. It has swept girls and women of all ages across the world, and it is even worse than Hannah Montana.

The vampire fad has reached dangerous levels. Toxic even.

Of course, many people will call this a gross over-exaggeration, many of them being fad-followers themselves. But it is natural to defend something that has brought you enjoyment. That’s easy to understand. It’s a personal thing.

But this vampire trend is one of the only things I cannot seem to wrap my head around. I genuinely can’t understand the appeal. From what I understand, vampires are undead immortal daemons that feed of the blood of living beings. What could possible be attractive about that is beyond me, but I guess its normal for people to have fetishes. And I can accept that.

After all, vampires have been in literature, film and television for many years. It is not necessarily a “new” idea. There is the classic “Dracula” and popular TV show “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” as well as movies like “Van Helsing” are just a few.
My real beef however, is with something a bit more recent.

The “Twilight” series, written by Stephanie Meyer, takes the fascination with vampires and targets it primarily at young women, girls to be more accurate.

The whole premise of “Twilight” is this: girl meets boy, boy is dangerous blood thirsty vampire who wants to kill her, boy and girl fall in love anyway.

How… Romantic?

Girls and guys, if you were in main character Bella’s situation, would you really stick around because the two of you have “chemistry?” I tend to put my survival above hot boys. Like I said, personal preference.

But “Twilight” is full of much more than harmless teenage angst. The characters and story are teaching some scary lessons to readers, again, mostly young girls. John Scott Lewinski at bspcn.com believes there are twenty such unfortunate lessons.

“When a boy leaves you, going into shock, losing all your friends and enduring night terrors are completely acceptable occurrences,” or “Young women should make no effort to improve their social skills or emotional state. Instead, they should seek out potential mates that share their morose deficiencies and emotional illnesses,” or even “When making or watching a major feature film, you should gleefully embrace the 20 minutes of plot it provides in between extended segments of vacant-eyed silence and self-indulgent, moaning banter,” are just a few he brings up.

Other life lessons found on the list include lying to your parents, keeping life-threatening secrets, using men to fix things, using men in general, and car theft.

Not exactly your wholesome fairytale.

In fact, the relationship between the two main characters, Edward and Bella, is far from wholesome. Despite their abstinence, much to Bella’s displeasure, the two cannot seem to keep the steam at bay. Even though he won’t sleep with her, again – very unhappy Bella, he has no problem with sneaking into her room in the middle of the night to watch her sleep, a habit he picks up before even introducing himself.

Ok, maybe steamy is the wrong word.

But it is easy to see there is something wrong with the way Edward treats Bella. There are many signs therapists use to diagnose abusive relationships, and they say that if your partner is showing even one of the signs a red flag should be going up.

According to the National Domestic Violence hotline, some signs to look for include, but are certainly not limited to: “looks or acts in ways that scare you, threatens to commit suicide, isolates you from friends or family, friends or family warn you stay away but you have trouble leaving, and reckless driving.”

It is hard to imagine why anyone would want to be with someone like that. When listed so plainly, it is also hard to imagine how it is not more obvious.

This is what a reviewer said on Meyer’s website about the first book.

“Imagine seeing a guy, more handsome than any you’ve ever seen, and not being able to tear you eyes away from him. Imagine that the force of your mutual chemistry feels like electricity. I promise you that every girl will want to be Isabella Swan.”

Because who wouldn’t want to be Bella? She is celebrated as a great female heroine in literature. And why not? She’s obedient, she’s quiet, she cooks, she shops, she cleans and she stays out of her father’s way, who prefers sitting on the couch, drinking a beer and cleaning his gun.

And the one earth shattering thing she does is fall in love with a dangerous vampire? Some heroine.

So aside from perpetuating exaggerated ideas of gender roles (did I mention Meyer was Mormon?) “Twilight” is not only teaching its readers to accept, and even celebrate these kinds of relationships, but they are also getting skewed ideas of what a good relationship is. It simultaneously conditions them to live with abuse while making them believe they are in a fairytale.

Also that it is cool and romantic to sacrifice everything, including your own life, to be with someone who may end up killing you anyway. Who need friends or a healthy social life when you can have eternal, undead love?

Here’s a clue that most well adjusted young adults are aware of, including myself: no person, human or not, will ever measure up to the characters we read about in fairytales. There are plenty of hot and spicy relationships out there that do not involve major blood loss.

There is no doubt “Twilight” has served it’s purpose as a Young Adult novel. But perhaps we should be taking a closer look at some of the trends young people are following.

Sex is natural, but abuse, lies and murder are not. We deserve better.

"Spooky Island" or "Why won't Leo smile?"

Martin Scorsese’s latest stab at the big screen fits nicely into this classic genre, which happens to be one of my personal favorites:

The “mind fuck.”

The “mind fuck” is characterized by blatant (borderline corny) foreshadowing, furrowed brows, culminating a juicy, decadent plot twist. Thus we are forced to watch the entire film over again, now knowing what was really going on.

We all have our favorites. From the classic “Citizen Cane” (rosebud!) to the more recent “Six Sense,” and “Donnie Darko.”

O.k., the “Six Sense” is a bad example. Go with me here.

“Shutter Island” is no exception to the pattern. It strings us along for over two hours, giving no hints while asking even more questions. DiCaprio stumbles along the cliffs bordering the sea and treks trough the deep forests and creepy graveyard inland. We wait patiently until…

“What?!”, a direct quote from disgruntled Shutter Islanders this past weekend. Apparently, classic is out.

Scorsese does go back to basics. The suspense is a direct homage, if not rip off, to the styles of Hitchcock, displaying beautiful cinematography and highly drawn out anticipation. The opening sequence is something straight out of film noir, as the two unfamiliar detectives approach the gate of the spooky mental hospital.

The plot seems simple enough, they always do:

Set in 1954 Boston, U.S. Marshal Teddy Daniels takes an assignment to investigate a disappearance at the Ashecliffe Hospital for the criminally insane, conveniently located on sinister Shutter Island.

But when Teddy thinks he has found a lead, the doctors refuse to give him access to the records he needs. When you combine rumors of dangerous and sinister mal-practice, a dangerous hurricane cutting off all communication to the island and a “missing” prisoner who no one wants to discuss, “Shutter Island” will have even you doubting your sanity.

As typical with many “mind fucks,” the actors have a difficult time outshining the convoluted plot. DiCaprio is no exception. He ranges a total of one facial expression for the entire film. Would it kill you to smile Leo?

Even Mark Ruffalo, who plays Daniels suspicious partner Chuck Aule, gets lost in the shuffle. At least DiCaprio HAD a facial expression.

It was a promising idea, and even though well executed, still leaves something out. Lets just say that the whole point of the “mind fuck” is that you cannot figure it out. I’m not sure even that can be said for spooky island.

There is not much to get excited about either way. It is disposable, another unfortunate symptom of the “mind fuck.”

Looking Back at Broadway

My bags were packed. I had memorized the subway maps and street names. I was on my way to the city that started it all, the city that never sleeps, the big apple, the big time.

Manhattan has been calling to me every since my parents began taking me to the California Music Circus in Sacramento. And add on seven-odd years of acting, singing, and dancing, it is not hard to understand the fascination I’ve had with Broadway. It is something that entices every theater geek, whether they care to admit it or not.
While I was never destined to headline any marquees, with each year of my youth that ticked away I felt I was long overdue to see where it all began, to make the sacred pilgrimage.

Manhattan is a right of passage for anyone really. For those who covet fashion and Tim Gun, who swoon for the hip-hop of the Bronx, or even business moguls drooling for Wall Street, New York City is a hot bed of American culture. It is the city where dreams come true, and my dream was to get there.

But like I said, my sights were set on 42nd and Broadway. My first glimpse of Times Square, standing outside the Will Rogers Theater, sitting in the old fashioned theater was something I never thought I would get to do. At least not as a sophomore in college.

My short stay on the biggest little island gave me two theater excursions: “In the Heights”, the 2008 Tony Award winner for best musical, and “Billy Eliot: The Musical” the 2009 Tony Award winner for best musical.

“In The Heights” tells the story of three days in the life of the people living in the Dominican-American neighborhood, Washington Heights. The score features hip-hop, salsa, meringue and soul music. Think “West Side Story” meets “Rent.”

“Billy Elliot The Musical” is based off of the film “Billy Elliot” (2000). With music by Elton John, “Billy Elliot The Musical” takes place in a small town in 1980s England, where a little boy trades in his boxing gloves for ballet shoes and discovers his true calling in life.

These are two of the newest, most popular musicals to hit the stage. One is hot, sexy Dominican party complete with rap music and gyrating choreography. The other, a new kind of jazzy comedy featuring cross-dressing boys screaming obscenities at their brash parents.

In short, the new Broadway is edgy. It swears, spits and isn’t afraid to reflect a society that has come to worship sex, drugs and rock n’roll.

It is a completely different world. I was not around to experience Broadway in its golden age (roughly 1940 to 1960) with the wartime themes of love, loss and social strife. I only know the new Broadway, where instead of glamorous eveningwear, top hats and corsages, I arrive at the theater in jeans and a pea coat (along with about two scarves and a hat, as January weather requires).

Sitting in the old theaters is incredible. Not only for the beauty or age of architecture, but for how out of place the theatergoers seem. We all looked as if we had set foot in a time machine. But instead of being transported to the early 1900s, we are whisked away to present day Washington Heights, or a small town 1980s England.

The magic of Broadway has always involved two things. First, embracing the past and using it to relate to the present. We celebrate shows that take place in the 80s (Billy Elliot) for the parallels we can draw to our lives today.

Second, Broadway shows must push the envelope. The force of innovation is what keeps show business moving forward. Including finding new sources for material. Big name shows pull their ideas from books (Les Miserables, Wicked), movies (Legally Blonde, Shrek), television and music.

So where is innovation leading us currently? Walking along Times Square, I passed a large marquee for the upcoming “Adams Family” musical, starring Nathan Lane. If that isn’t enough for you, the hot ticket this spring is going to be rock opera “American Idiot” based on, you guessed it, the Grammy Award winning album by Green Day of the same title.

The next “Tommy?” Maybe. But whether or not we enjoy it doesn’t distract from its originality. It is a sub culture that has yet to really make it big on the stage. Lead singer of Green Day Billie Joe Armstrong actually co-wrote the script with director Michael Mayer, whose previous work includes Tony Award winning musical Spring Awakening.

If you tuned into the Grammy’s this year you saw a sneak peak of the show. The cast of “American Idiot” performed one of the songs from the show, “21 Guns”, with Billie and the band themselves.

If the Broadway musical was offensive before, just wait until the cast of “American Idiot” with their skinny jeans and eyeliner, hit the stage blaring, “Well maybe I’m the f***** America!”

I’m not sure where the line between innovation and tacky is. I enjoyed the two shows I saw a great deal, and maybe that’s all that matters, and wishing for the past is a waste of time. All we can do is look forward to what is to come. No matter how vulgar.

The Best Part of the Big Game

It’s not the chips. It’s not the dip. It’s not the beer. It’s not the cheerleaders. And it most certainly isn’t football.

It’s the commercials.

We’re all well aware the status of the super bowl has in our hearts and minds.

For decades advertisers have clamored for a spot on one of the most watched TV programs of all time (close to 100 million viewers tune in every year).

A thirty-second commercial spot during our country’s game of the year can typically cost millions of dollars. The projected figure for the 2010 game is $3 million.

These high prices pretty much guarantee one of the best commercial line-ups of the year, and are often more anticipated than the game itself.

Characterized by their high quality, innovation and sense of humor, the super bowl ads have charmed us year after year.

So how does 2010 measure up to its long ancestry commercial gold? Super Bowl XLIV saw a great deal of the magic of the previous years, though perhaps no new entries to the hall of fame. In other words, regardless of our favorites, its likely they will be forgotten by next year.

Some common themes were economic depression, manliness, the environment, big budgets and famous celebrities.

We laughed, we cried, we took bathroom breaks. Here are your top ten Super Bowl commercials of 2010. They may not have sold you their product, but that has never really been the point anyway.

10. Dockers: Men Withouot Pants
I’m not sure about the connection between not wearing pants and buying Dockers. Maybe it just went over my head at the sight of all those whitey-tighties. So, maybe not the cleverest of ideas. But there is something about a chorus of pant-less men trouping through a field united in song, “I wear no pants!” that you can’t help but smile at. They were, however, men I would have rather seen in pants than without. But maybe that’s part of the charm.

9. Bud Light: Stranded
Some plane-wrecked islanders are much more excited to find the in-flight stash of Bud Light than the radio. Perhaps a spoof strategically timed with the new season of “Lost?” An enjoyable ad nonetheless.

8. Doritos: Underdog
Who doesn’t love an underdog? We see an average joe enjoying his bag of Doritos and inflicting cruel jealousy on his dog. But the tables turn and we see Fido with the chips and joe wearing the collar. Who’s the underdog now?

7.Google: Search On
We follow the story of one searcher as he travels the world, falls in love, and starts a family, all with the help of the famous search engine. What can I say? I’m a sucker for sap.

6. Denny’s: Chickens Across America
Denny’s warns chickens of its upcoming “Free Grand Slam Day.” Again, a simple idea goes a long way. All it takes is screaming chickens. “Great day to be an American, bad day to be a chicken.”

5. Budweiser: Clydesdale/Fence
“Nothing comes between friends, especially fences.” This heartwarming tale of two friends who over come the obstacles (and fences) that stand between them. You can’t go wrong with that feel good feeling.

4. Coke: Cheering up Mr. Burns
When Mr. Burns looses his fortune, the citizens of Springfeild show him happy life can be, with a coke. If a coke could cheer up Mr. Burns, just think what it could do for you. It’s nice to see the Simpsons characters in something uplifting for a change. It may be out of their comfort zone, but I enjoyed the message, and my coke.

3. Doritos: House Rules
All he wants is to score points with the hot chick, but ends up in a fistfight with a little kid. “Keep yo hands of my mamma, keep yo hands off my Doritos.” Cutest boy of the super bowl? I think so.

2. Bud Light: Voice Box
Girlfriend brings home bud light for the party, prompting boyfriend to break out in his T-pain voice. It’s hard to not entertain with T-Pain’s voice. And topping it all of with an actual T-Pain appearance, makes this my favorite Bud Light ad of the day. Nothing beats T-Pain saying the word “guacamole”.

1. Mars Snickers: You’re Not You When You’re Hungry
Our favorite golden girl takes on a tough beating in this, my favorite ad of the day. When Mike isn’t playing his best, his girlfriend hands him a snickers, transforming him from weak Betty White into his normal self. My only problem with this ad? Betty White is definitely tougher than every one of those guys put together. If the role of White and her “tough” alter ego had been flipped, it may have been a bit more believable. But that’s just me. Kudos to Snickers.

There you have it. These as well as all the other Super Bowl XLIV ads can be viewed at hulu.com/adzone or cbssports.com/superbowlads.com

How Apple Let Me Down

At the close of the previous decade, I wondered what was around the corner for Apple. It had been over a year since the release of its last creation, the beloved iPhone in 2008, and many were waiting for what new revolution Apple had up its sleeve.

So what was the next big leap in Apple technology? It’s a giant iPod, a miniature laptop, and supposedly works better than both. On Wednesday Jan. 27th, Steve Jobs unveiled Apple’s newest product, the iPad.

At first glance, iPad looks like a bigger version of iPod touch. A further look shows that iPad is, in fact, a giant iPod touch. Equipped with all the same gizmos like the calendar, Internet, iTunes, YouTube (etc.), iPad does a superb job of making all of the fun features of iPod touch…bigger.

Supposedly there is a lot of hype behind this new device. All I see is people gazing at the iPod touches, iPhones and Macbooks they received this holiday season, and shedding a few tears. iPad is being marketed to us as a better version of a smart phone or computer. They make it seem like all previous apple products are now void by comparison.

However, a device like iPad can’t really replace your phone, music player, or computer.

Sure the iPad has iTunes, but it doesn’t fit in your pocket, and would be a lot harder to hide during class. And although the touch keyboard allows you to type emails, it’s not like you can write your term paper on it.
And the iPad is no phone. Even if it was, I doubt anyone would suffer the grief of walking around with a 9-inch screen on the side of their faces.



It its defense, iPad does have a cool eBook system (sorry kindle users) and a near life-size touch keypad you can type on. It runs iWork applications and you can even run a 3G cellular wireless data plan starting at 14.99 a month.
Jobs assures us that iPad is superior to iPhone, iPod, and the Mac in web browsing, email, photos, video, music, games, and eBooks. I needed some convincing here. How can a mobile device be superior to a computer when it comes to things like surfing the Internet?

But the ease and speed at which Jobs sailed through web pages with the touch of a finger began to sell me. Apple again dazzles us with a beautiful design, fun functions and touch technology. Only this time, the technology behind the glitz seems like old news. It may be unreasonable to expect people to pay more money for just a bigger screen.

So much for an earth-shattering advance in technology. Perhaps it may come down to personal preference. It is great to have another option. But myself, among others, was hoping for something a little more impressive to kick off the decade.

Come on Apple, you’re supposed to be pushing the boundaries of mobile technology. You essentially invented the laptop back in the 90’s, changed the way we enjoy music, and created the top smart phone in the world. Don’t waste all your potential by releasing bigger, fancier versions of old ideas. And frankly, Apple employees, I think your getting a little cocky. You let Steve Jobs babble on for ten minutes about how awesome you are before even saying the word “iPad”

Few people have even held one, so maybe this “magical” device has yet to win me over. I doubt it.
iPad starts at $499. For a full list of the features and to watch Jobs rave about iPad himself, visit apple.com.

Avatar is #1?

Faraway planets, action-packed battles, Sigourney Weaver, and blue people. One of the most unlikely candidates recently nabbed one of the highest titles a film can posses: the highest grossing movie of all time. It sailed past the worldwide box-office record of “Titanic’s” $1.84 billion U.S. last Tuesday, coming in at $1.86 billion.

There have been many stories circulating around celebrating the genius of James Cameron, and the awe of the film that climbed its way to the top in only 41 days. But does Cameron’s achievement really deserve the top spot in history?
When you combine the Cameron magic of Titanic and The Terminator, you get something a great deal better than you may think.

When “Avatar” hit theaters moviegoers were given something they have not seen in a long time. A real popcorn muncher, and something that is, to put it simply, epic.
Director James Cameron originally attempted to make the film 1999 as an immediate follow-up to his highly successful “Titanic” (1997).

However, the special effects he wanted for the movie ran a proposed budget over of over $400 million. No studio was willing to fund the film, and it was subsequently shelved for almost ten years. With a suspected budget of almost $230,000,000, this is the most expensive movie ever made.

And it isn’t hard to see why, literally. The movie is 40% live action and 60% photo-realistic CGI, including a great deal of motion capture technology for the CGI characters. Though many are apprehensive about Cameron’s story (myself not included), the receptions of the visual design are almost one hundred percent positive. It may even be worth shelling out the extra cash for a blue ray player just for this movie.

And the blue people, they’re great. But as I said before, my favorite thing about this film was not how much a computer science major can enhance an image. Cameron manages to back up his spectacular visuals with a beautiful and heartfelt story. It is a classic heroic struggle between what you have always been taught, and what you are about to learn. (See “Dances With Wolves” but sans the Indians and adding some blue people.)

We haven’t seen a combination like that since Star Wars. And that’s saying something.



















But don’t let the CGI fool you. Cameron took the acting in this film very seriously. He took the cast and crew to Hawaii where they spent days hiking through the jungles and living like tribes in order to get a better idea of life on Pandora.
If you can stomach the 3D, do it. It’s worth every penny, several times over.

It may have reached the highest position on the charts, but that doesn’t mean “Avatar” is about to lose steam. With Academy Award nominations just around the corner, though it is not predicted to outshine sister film “Titanic”, there is a chance that it is about to become even more popular.

But now for the tricky part: Many are beginning to argue that Avatar’s climb to the top deserves some sort of asterisk, with a footnote that goes something like this.

Avatar had the advantage of being released in 3D, adding and additional three dollars per ticket. And when you consider that ticket price inflation for even 2D films is at its worst ever, it is more difficult to accept Avatar’s lead.

In fact, adjusting ticket prices for inflation, Avatar ranks as the 26th-highest-grossing film in the U.S., according to Box Office Mojo. And who comes out on top? Gone With The Wind, with $1.5 billion adjusted gross in the U.S., followed by “Star Wars” with $1.3 billion.

For the most part, most of the films at the top are from at least thirty years ago. On the normal all time charts, “Gone with the Wind” does not even make the top 50.

A possible solution has been to do away with the all time chart and only focus on this adjusted list. Or, my personal favorite, base the all time chart on attendance and not money. The cultural significance of a film depends on how many people see the film, not how much they paid to see it.

Whether or not “Avatar” cheated its way to the top, plenty of people like myself have gone and enjoyed what it has to offer. That cannot change whether it is number one or one hundred.