The Daily Campus, Page 6
LIFE & STYLE
Drink Of The Weekend
Friday, November 9, 2012
Focus
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Gift shopping hits: DVDs and Blu-Rays
By Alex Sferrazza Campus Correspondent
Unsure of what to buy people for Christmas? Don’t worry, plenty of others are in the same boat. Why bother wasting your time paying attention to what your respective gift recipients have been hinting at for the past year? That’s what poorly written holiday buyer’s guides are for. Remember during this holiday shopping season that there are two things that all Americans enjoy: movies and ice cream. And, since ice cream-buying should be easy enough, lets stick with movies. Assuming you are no longer living in the dark ages (which for the purposes of this article would be any time before the 2007 launch of the iPhone), you are the owner of a Blu-Ray video player and as such this article is focused on some of the best recent Blu-Ray releases dating back to September 2012. “The Avengers” Blu-Ray Combo Pack is the highest grossing NJC (non-James Cameron) film of all time. “The Avengers” brings together Marvel’s mightiest heroes together in one spectacular film. While comparatively light on bonus features, the set packs over 15 minutes of deleted scenes along with an all new Marvel short film. The two-disc combo
pack comes with copies the film on Blu-Ray and DVD, while the four-disc combo pack includes 3D Blu-Ray and digital copies as well. “E.T: The Extra Terrestrial” Blu-Ray/DVD/ Digital/Ultraviolet Combo Pack is the 1983 Academy Awards runner-up for Best Picture. It is coming to Blu-Ray for the first time this holiday season. Featuring a spectacular transfer of the original film, not the altered and semi-censored 2002 re-release, this is a must buy. Packed with loads of bonus features like an extensive interview with Steven Spielberg and a new 50-minute documentary, the set does not disappoint. With “Indiana Jones: The Complete Adventures” Blu-Ray, Lucasfilm brings together three of the greatest adventure films of all time for the first time in Blu-Ray high definition, with all three films in the original trilogy undergoing a breathtaking HD transfer. The package includes a phenomenal bonus disc packed with material mostly from prior DVD releases but also adding over 60 minutes of all new HD behind the scenes footage. The set also includes a strange disc labeled “Kingdom of the Crystal Skull,” which I can only assume is intended to be used as a beverage coaster. Upcoming releases include “The Dark Knight
Rises” Blu-Ray/DVD/Ultraviolet Combo Pack on Dec. 4. The conclusion to director Christopher Nolan’s Batman trilogy, and one of the most acclaimed and highest-grossing films of the year “The Dark Knight Rises” is a must-buy. The set is slated to include extensive features and provides a look into the film’s production. Also, thanks to Batman’s incomprehensible dialogue, this Blu-Ray is the perfect gift for that special someone on your list with a hearing problem. The “Ted” Blu-Ray/DVD/Ultraviolet/Digital Combo Pack is set for release on Dec. 9. The hilarious directorial debut of “Family Guy” creator Seth MacFarlane, the film is perfect fodder for comedy fans. Bonus features are slated to include an unrated version of the film, deleted scenes and a making-of documentary. Disney’s “The Rescuers/The Rescuers Down Under” Combo Pack is full of heart and charm, and is back in wide release for the first time in almost a decade. 1977’s “The Rescuers” stands as one of the crowning achievements of Disney animation. Its good, but comparatively subpar sequel, acts as a nice bonus to the collection.
Alex.Sferrazza@UConn.edu
Reversing gender domination in R&B By Emily Herbst Campus Correspondent Aaliyah, TLC, Janet Jackson, SWV, Erykah Badu, Brandy: all household names for anyone (well, those musically in-touch) that grew up in the decade of R&B spanning from 1992 to 2002. From the sexy and soulful notes of TLC’s classic cheatin’ jam “Creep” to Mary J. Blige’s independent powerfueled “Real Love,” music had a beautiful overload of female-dominated R&B that lasted a solid 10 years and exited on the highest note possible. A consistent message lined the notes of TLC. A trio of sassy women, Lisa “Left-Eye Lopes,” Tionne “T-Boz” Watkins and Rozonda “Chilli” Thomas’ music screamed female independence, sexual freedom and a sense of attitude. “Scrubs” is teeming with all of these concepts: an anthem for the free woman about the resistance to settling for “a broke-ass” guy. It’s about making things happen for oneself. As they make quite clear, a cocky guy with financial baggage isn’t on the agenda. A similar substance laced the lyrics of Destiny’s Child and Erykah Badu – all R&B queens with a passion to educate about self-support, singleness, individuality and recognizing inner beauty in the most melodic way possible. “Try to control me boy you get dismissed. Pay my own fun, oh and I pay my own bills. Always 50/50 in relationships,” pronounced Beyonce, Kelly and Michelle of Destiny’s Child. “Boy I gotta watch my back, cause I’m not just anybody,” says Aaliyah in her classic, “Are You That Somebody.” Erykah Badu was the epitome of sass, often addressing the advantage men take of wealthy women in the music industry, challenging in “Tyrone”: “I’m gon’ tell you the truth. Show and prove, or get the boot.” Attitude permeated this genre and hence, doubled the appeal. The bottom line: 1990s R&B music was by women, for women. Undoubtedly, females have not totally left the R&B scene; singers like Elle Varner, Keri Hilson and Beyonce still crank out albums on the regular. But the few females who do still coin themselves as R&B generally have a very different tone than those from the 1990s. It’s not really the message of inde-
Photo Courtesy of tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Music/TLC
The ladies of TLC consist of Tionne “T-Boz” Watkins, Lisa “Left Eye” Lopes, and Rozonda “Chilli” Thomas. TLC was one of many women R&B groups of the 1990’s.
pendence so much as impressing a man now; it’s better to push past his mistakes than leave the scene: quite different from the lesson that 3LW teaches in “No More (Baby I’ma Do Right)”: “but I’m paid now, I know that you hate that. Oh, you got the one now, you warm now. ‘Cause you thought you’d come right back, save that.” In addition to the change in attitude from female singers, it now seems that males are slowly but surely dominating the genre. With this comes a wave of change in lyrics, flow, topic choice, popularity and other aspects. Odd Future Wolf Gang Kill Them All graduate Frank Ocean is the best example. Coming from Odd Future, Frank occasionally donated his vocal talents to some of the rap group’s albums, sticking to mixtapes for his obscure solo work. Since the release of Channel Orange this past summer, Frank’s popularity has simply exploded. He’s flown from the Odd Future nest, touring as a single performer and gaining recognition from countless rap and R&B musicians.
Dr. John and the Blind Boys come to Jorgensen Gospel Hall of Famers and Grammy winners
release. In his solo career, filled with a southern-fried Louisiana sound, Dr. John won five Grammys, including one for 1973’s “In The Right Place,” which featured his biggest hit, “Right Place Wrong Time,” which reached No. 9 on the Billboard Chart in June of that year. After Hurricane Katrina ravaged much of New Orleans in 2005, he raised funds for his home city. His 2008 album, “City That Care Forgot,” won that year’s Grammy for Best Contemporary Blues Album. The Los Angeles Times called his latest release, Photo courtesy of CAMI “Locked Down,” “something magical, The Blind Boys are a five time Grammy award winning group coming to the the embodiment of everything he’s Jorgensen for a jazz night with Dr. John. done but pushed in a clear new direction.” By Focus Staff The Blind Boys of Alabama have been invited to the White House by three different presiSaturday night will bring a unique rock event dents, according to the press release, the latest to the Jorgensen’s stage, as Rock & Roll Hall being President Obama in 2010. They’ve been of Fame inductee Dr. John will team up with around since 1939, and have performed for milthe Blind Boys, a five-time Grammy-winning lions over their 70-year career. gospel group in the Gospel Music Hall of Fame, The performance at Jorgensen begins at 8 for a night of jazz, blues and gospel. p.m., with doors opening an hour before the Dr. John has been a guitarist since the 1960s, show. Tickets for students are $20, while reguwhen he played guitar as a session musician lar tickets range from $39 to $59. The show for The Rolling Stones and Van Morrison, is held cabaret-style, with food available for among others, according to a Jorgensen press purchase.
Miguel is another male R&B success story. The 28-year-old crooner has the ideal sexy, smooth voice, but does he have the substance? His talent is unsurpassed, but his topic choice varies little from the usual sexual conquests involving a certain girl, or three. Lloyd is another example. It would be an accurate statement to say that Lloyd’s music can be classified in the “baby-making” genre. Not necessarily a bad thing, but is that really all we’re looking for in R&B? As one who holds the genre close to the heart, I’d say no. We need a change-up – a blast from the past of female groups who harmonize about topics that they did a decade ago. I’m not sure how this can be done, but perhaps it is through the revitalization of female independence and freedom that more women will gravitate back to the roots of R&B, or at least create a gender balance in the genre.
Emily.Herbst@UConn.edu
James Bond’s closet hits a lot of timeless looks
NEW YORK (AP) — If he’s particular enough to like his martini shaken not stirred, James Bond probably likes his trousers trim not tight. Same goes for the tuxedo that’s formal and not fussy, and any sweater in his closet surely is cashmere and perfectly casual and cool. Although the superspy first appeared on-screen 50 years ago, he never wants to look out-of-date. Costume designer Jany Temime says her mantra for the wardrobe of the latest Bond film, “Skyfall,” which opens Friday, was “iconic for 2012.” It’s like she was shopping for people she knows — even if they are fictional characters — instead of creating a wardrobe for a movie, she explains. “I didn’t follow fashion, I followed the script. But I know these characters, and I know what he or she would wear and why. I really tried to ask, ‘What would that character really buy?’” Temime said. Suits, lots of them, and most by Tom Ford, were high on the list for Daniel Craig, who is tak-
AP
Daniel Craig playing James Bond shows the classic clean suit wardrobe.
ing his third turn as Bond and is known to favor Ford’s clothing both on-screen as Bond and in his personal life. “In my first meeting with Daniel, he told me what he wanted: He wanted slim-fitting clothing that was easy to move (in), but I also got the feeling he wanted a
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Market monopoly means sunglass misfortune Global high fashion comes with a unique set of characteristics. Centered in cities like Paris, Milan and New York City, fashion has always found pride in a wide variety of designers and styles. One very specific and expensive facet of high fashion has always been glasses. Whether sunglasses in the summer or sophisticated reading glasses, frames are an accessory which everyone around will surely notice. Of course we have brands such as Ray-Ban, Chanel, Prada and Oakley, but what if I told you there was one worldwide company that not only owned the production of those brands, but also owned the worldwide stores that they were sold in? Sounds certainly like a monopoly, and Luxottica has recently come under great scrutiny for their absolute market dominance of the eyeglass market. Brought to light in an October episode of 60 Minutes, the Italian company Luxottica Group S.p.A. is as close to a monopoly as one can find in today’s global market. Founded by Leonardo Del Vecchio in 1961, this company has continued to grow bigger, richer and more powerful. What is remarkable about Luxottica is that they not only own the rights to design and production of a number of different brands, but they also own the stores that they sell them in. The inhouse brands include Ray-Ban, Oakley and Persol. Designers that the company creates eyewear for under license include Chanel, Versace, Prada, Burberry and Ralph Lauren. The retail operations that the company owns is just as impressive, with chains such as Sunglass Hut, LensCrafters, Pearle Vision, Sears Optical and Target Optical. So in summary, all your favorite eyeglass designers are all owned, manufactured and sold by the same company. This one company owns numerous designers and various retailers. Why should anyone care? Luxottica’s dominance in the eyeglass market almost cuts off anyone from entering that market. There really isn’t a free market system in place, because anything eyewear-related must go through this one company. The only company to fight Luxottica has been Oakley. For a brief stint, Oakley denied being bought out by the company, ending with Luxottica refusing to sell Oakley in their stores. Remember, almost all eyeglass retailers are owned by Luxottica. Therefore, Oakleys stock plummeted so low that they had no choice but to give in to Luxottica. In owning both manufacturing and retail operations, Luxottica has complete ability to set as outlandish prices as they wish for eyeglasses, as anyone who was in the market to buy a new pair knows. With Walmart Optical being the only distant competitor, there is no market competition that could even remotely force the company to lower prices. In the documentary, CEO Andrea Guerra claimed the functionality and importance of wellmanufactured glasses for the extreme pricing. Though undisclosed, glasses are estimated to be marked up 20 times from production costs to retail costs.
Jamil.Larkins@UConn.edu