The Blake Beat
E3
October 10, 2008
REVIEWS FOR YOU No reason to gag: Choke is good for a joke x by Molly Wallace Once upon a time, there was a magical, groundbreaking book that questioned the growing consumerism as a way of life, the changes in the state of masculinity in American culture, and the way we defined literature itself. That book was called Fight Club. Unfortunately, they already made that movie back in the nineties, so today we’ll just have to examine the newly-cinematized Choke. Choke, which is Chuck Palahniuk’s (that’s the guy who wrote Fight Club) fourth book, is based around Victor Mancini, a disillusioned medical school drop-out who struggles to pay for his mother’s dementia treatment by pretending to choke on meals in elite restaurants, allowing rich patrons to save
him and feel responsible for his life. Inevitably, Victor cons them into sending pity checks every month for various pathetic excuses. Now, normally it would be the rescued party who would reward the saving of his life. But this is not the case in Chuck Palahniuk’s twisted world. Oh, and did I also mention that Victor is a recovering sex addict? Though it has many of the same elements as Fight Club—the disjointed narrative, gigantic plot twist—Choke’s major motif is sex, not violence. Be that as it may, Choke is still just as graphic as Fight Club, if not more, though not nearly as groundbreaking. But nudity and comparisons to great works aside, Choke is truly not half bad. Good for more than a few laughs, Sam Rockwell (The Hitchhikers Guide to the
Galaxy, Matchstick Men) gives great depth and character to Palahniuk’s usual faceless protagonist. Just as impressive is Angelica Huston (The Royal Tenenbaums, Ever After) who gives a powerful performance as Victor’s deranged but resilient mother. Like most movies adapted from books, Choke manages to miss more than a few crucial components of the novel, and at the end you’re left wanting just a little bit more. The ending lacks closure, and ultimately, coherence. However, Palahniuk’s message is still at full force, and the film is much truer to form than any Harry Potter movie. Though it’s no Fight Club, I would take Choke over some “Infinite Playlist” any day. But it’s really graphic. Really, really graphic. Seriously. Don’t see it unless you’re 17.
Molly Wallace
Gym Class Heroes earn straight As for musical tapestry x
Hannah Mellman
by Hannah Mellman
Gym Class Heroes have woven together a unique musical patchwork on their newest album, The Quilt, which should come as no surprise to fans of the group’s creative genre-hopping. This album may just be their most eclectic yet. With an established name in the industry, Gym Class Heroes are able to collaborate with bigger artists more than ever on their fourth album. Budding R&B songstress Estelle joins the group on the opening track “Guilty As Charged,” full of blaring brass accompaniment and her soulful melodies. “Peace Sign/Index Down” features veteran rapper Busta Rhymes, adding a rougher edge to GCH’s typically sweeter hooks.
Their hit single “Cookie Jar” is a more mainstream hip-hop track sure to carry this album to the top with its witty metaphors. Front-man Travis McCoy cleverly describes his temptation to cheat with all kinds of women (“double stuffed or thin mint”), while songwriter The-Dream puts the icing on the cookie with a catchy chorus singing, “I want to be faithful/But I can’t keep my hands out the cookie jar.” Tracks “Live a Little” and “No Place to Run” may startle long-time Gym Class Heroes fans with their strictly punk-pop sound, replacing McCoy’s distinct rhymes with vocals by guitarist Disashi Lumumba-Kasongo. These songs seem to imitate their long time collaborators Fall Out Boy, which could either end up widening their fan base or potentially turning off their
more traditional rap fans. “DRNK TXT Rmeo” and “Blinded by the Sun” lean towards a reggae sound, obviously drawing influence from the countless ska bands they have opened for on their long road to fame. So whether you’re a punk-rocker or a hip-shaker, The Quilt brings a fresh sound to today’s hit list that anyone can enjoy. In a musical era dominated by computerized voices and electronic beats, GCH’s instrumental back-up and genuine vocals distinguish the group as true artists. The Quilt is easy to get wrapped up in, so pick it up and catch Gym Class Heroes on their fall tour with legendary hip-hop group The Roots and new musical partner Estelle.
Star Wars fans awed by new Jedi, Sith adventure Gamers Forced to play innovative, suspenseful game by Patrick Howe Jedi, the Dark Side, the Force and lightsabers: add in a controller, and you have yourself a Star Wars game. Any fan to the franchise knows that the latest installment of Star Wars games, Star Wars: the Force Unleashed is the first that will fully enable us feeble humans to harvest the power of the force. Raised from childhood by the legendary Darth Vader himself, the main character, codenamed Starkiller has known nothing but fear all of his life (and if you know anything about Darth Vader, then you already know this means he is on the Dark Side.) When his story begins, Starkiller is
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still just an apprentice to Darth Vader and a well-kept secret from the whole galaxy. He is bent on working with his master to overthrow the all-powerful emperor. Within the twists and turns of the adventure, the gamer finds that his journey is not just another random story in George Lucas’ franchise, but the reason that the last three episodes exist. Complex storyline aside, this game offers players the rare pleasure of experiencing the best of both worlds as they sway between the power of the Dark Side and the humanity of the Jedi. Ordered to hunt down Jedi and Dark Lords alike, gamers find Starkiller’s pure fear and hatred bring out the power of the force as it has never
been seen before. Sacrifice is what game play is all about. One may sacrifice intuitive controls for superior graphics when playing the game on the Xbox 360 or the Playstation 3. On the other hand, one may sacrifice the quality of the graphics for amazing controls on the Nintendo Wii. Playing on the Wii, bending, shaking, twisting and thrusting your wrists presents many powerful possibilities. I learned moves that I didn’t even realize I had until playing a second time. It’s well worth the play—but not worth the money. All in all, the game lasts only about 7 hours; I recommend a weekly rental.
Patrick Howe
For richer or poorer, these proud papas do preach Market-savvy author profits from father’s financial flops x by Merissa Dyer
Merissa Dyer
Between an Ivy League graduate and an eighth-grade dropout, who is the most likely self-made millionaire? Of course, the Ivy League graduate…right? In the finance-savvy book Rich Dad, Poor Dad: What the Rich Teach Their Kids About Money – That the Poor and Middle Class Do Not!, author Robert T. Kiyosaki uses the experiences of two fathers from disparate educational backgrounds to establish the do’s and don’t’s of achieving financial success. Although in print for several years, the number one New York Times best-selling book is only now mushrooming in popularity. Kiyosaki compares “Poor Dad,” his
real father, a graduate of Stanford, Chicago, and Northwestern Universities, to “Rich Dad,” his childhood friend’s father, who did not complete junior high yet became a millionaire. “Poor Dad” was more concerned with academics than finances. He deemed costly items unaffordable and endured a life of financial struggles. In contrast, “Rich Dad,” despite his minimal education, focused on how he could afford luxuries whenever his income exceeded his expenses, which resulted in multi-million-dollar successes. Taking time to read about finances often evokes little interest in teens, who frequently find the complexities of the economic world tedious and irrelevant. “Many of today’s youth have credit cards before
they leave high school,” says Mr. Kiyosaki in the book, “yet they have never had a course in money or how to invest it.” I was among the least likely to read about anything screaming, “Finances!” However, Mr. Kiyosaki’s non-textbook approach to teaching financial wisdom simplifies an otherwise dense topic into understandable principles. He shares the successful secrets that guarantee not only large sums of money but also an abundance of assets. I would certainly recommend this book to anyone interested in achieving wealth in the near future, and for those who desire to have money work for them instead of having to work for money. Consider the $17 cost of the book your first smart investment.