FALL FILM PREVIEW BRIAN NICHOLS • STAFF WRITER
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WARNER BROTHERS
ith school back in session, students are once again preparing for another semester of studying and cramming. Accompanying them on their journey are wizards, superheroes, space pirates and even a corpse bride. That’s right, this is the fall movie preview. So just sit back, relax and forget about school for a while as you take a cinematic journey of upcoming movies. Though the fall movie schedule typically has fewer blockbusters than the summer, there are several movies that have the potential to stand out. Kicking things off is the Sept. 2 release of The
HARRY POTTER AND THE GOBLET OF FIRE
previews the movie appears to capture all the glory that was shared with Pixar. On Sept. 30 comes the movie that sci-fi fans are looking forward to with much anticipation. Based on the Firefly television series, Serenity hits the big screen. Most fans of the series would agree that Firefly was canceled too early, so fanboys should be delighted to see this show in theatres.This movie is really something to be excited about. The previews not only show a glimpse of fantastic special effects, but also promise to deliver a great story in addition to all the eye candy. Those unfamiliar with the TV series need not worry, as the movie will clue in non-fans to the back story. Those who haven’t gotten their fill of sci-fi adventure after Serenity can prepare themselves for the film version of the classic PC game Doom. The only reason to see this movie is The Rock. That’s right folks, the great one himself captains the cast of Space Marines in this adventure. While The Rock is charismatic and has stolen the show in every single movie he has been in, one can’t help but think that this latest video game to movie adaptation is a lot like tennis and golf-a lot more fun to play than to watch. The Chronicles of Narnia: the Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe hits the big screen on Dec. 9. This long-awaited adaptation of the first book in C.S. Lewis’ classic series features a cast comprised largely of unkowns (the most recognizable stars to American audiences might be the voices of Rupert Everett and Brian Cox).The Narnia books are family-friendly tales of magic and adventure, so movie executives are undoubtedly hoping to tap into the huge Harry Potter audience. With seven books in the series, the will be no shortage of sequels to come should The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe become a blockbuster. Speaking of Harry Potter, audiences are surely waiting for his fourth adventure on the silver screen this November: Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire. The original cast has all returned, minus of course Richard Harris (Dumbledore), who passed away between the second and third movies and was replaced by Michael Gamdon. Mike Newell has taken over directing the newest installment of this franchise from Alfonso Cuaron. In Goblet of Fire, Harry is in his fourth year at Hogwarts and is competing in the Tri-Wizard Tournament. What’s great about the Harry Potter series is that as the audience grows older, the stories also grow up, becoming a little darker and more interesting with each new chapter. As the actors have aged, their performances have improved. Of all the movies on this fall preview, Harry Potter is easily the most anticipated. These movies are phenomenal adaptations of the already classic books. From sci-fi to animation, and action to drama, there will be no shortage of film entertainment this fall semester to distract students from their studies. But only time will tell if these movies will be as successful as Batman Begins or crash and burn like Stealth. buzz
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FESTIVAL IS A SWEET DEAL FOR CHAMPAIGN-URBANA RESIDENTS TODD SWISS • STAFF WRITER
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hen Urbana held its first Sweetcorn Festival nearly 30 years ago, it was merely a tool to promote the downtown area. Since then, the festival has grown immensely. This year’s free event included an antique car show, two stages with live music and numerous child-friendly attractions. For a town with around 38,000 citizens, the annual Sweetcorn Festival is truly an amazing feat. How Urbana can afford to hold such an event every year without charging an entrance fee or raising taxes is hard to imagine. Similar events are held in the suburbs of Chicago with varying results, but the Sweetcorn Festival continues to grow and change. Companies come year after year and make a profit on the goods and services they offer at the festival. It continues to be popular and well attended even without the luxury of being in a densely populated area. Corporate sponsors are a large part of making the Sweetcorn Festival a success. Through the donation of goods, services and money, local businesses and corporations get their names out to thousands of potential customers. Their donations are basically glorified advertising fees, but the public gains fun experiences from the combined efforts of the businesses and those who set up and run the event. While it would be nice to not see huge corporate banners all around the festival, they are a fact of life. Without Wal-Mart, Urbana would not have the means to provide the 20,000 ears of corn the corporation donated. Nor would it be possible to provide children’s entertainment like the petting zoo and action inflatables without the monetary donations from local radiostations and other businesses. The Sweetcorn Festival would also not be possible without the help and cooperation of the City of Urbana and the people who live there. Nine years ago, the first Motor Muster antique car show took place. The Corn shucking at Urbana's annual show, which features cars Sweet Corn Festival. s o u n d s
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PHOTOS • DAVID SOLANA
Transporter 2. Jason Statham (The Italian Job, Snatch) reprises his role as Frank Martin.Think of Frank Martin as a cross between James Bond and Vin Diesel’s XXX. If you enjoy classic action movies and haven’t seen the first Transporter, check it out. The original featured car chases, martial arts, gunfights and the second installment promises to deliver as much, if not more action. Be forewarned though; this movie will probably require that you turn your brain off for a couple of hours. Fans of swashbuckling adventures have the second feature film of the new Zorro franchise. Both Antonio Banderas and Catherine Zeta Jones return in Legend of Zorro. Maybe Zorro 2 didn’t sound good to the producers. Well, either that or it was too much sword slashing for Zorro to slash out a Z and then a 2 on every single defeated opponent’s jacket. Whatever the case, Zorro is a timeless hero, and if the Legend of Zorro is as fun and entertaining as the Mask of Zorro, this sequel should be a safe bet. Fall sees no shortage of animated movies. Tim Burton fans delight as Sept. 23 marks the release of The Corpse Bride (so if you are keeping score, that is two Tim Burton movies in less than six months). Those who remember The Nightmare Before Christmas should be familiar with this unique style of animation. From the looks of the preview, The Corpse Bride could only have been delivered by the mind of Tim Burton, which is reason enough to see it. If you need additional incentive, then go check it out to hear Johnny Depp’s voiceovers and the score by Danny Elfman. After many years of trying to get a movie made, Wallace and Gromit finally bring their brand of comedy to theatrical release on October 7th in Wallace and Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit. More animation follows on Nov. 4 when Disney releases the classic tale of Chicken Little. This is Disney’s first non-Pixar CG movie, so it will no doubt be under a lot of scrutiny as Disney looks to reclaim their position as box office powerhouse. Nonetheless, from the
The Barrel Train Express drives a full load of children around the Sweet Corn Festival in downtown Urbana. from every decade between 1910 and the 1980, was a big hit from its beginning and continues to draw car enthusiasts and curious novices to the festival. While the number of entries each year has not increased drastically, there are new cars shown every year. Co-sponsored by the Illini Collector Car Club, a core of around 35 to 40 cars appear at each year’s show and an additional 30 to 40 cars are brought by people of all ages. A young man who just got his driver’s license last year brought his Chevolet Bel-Air, while many older car lovers brought cars they’ve owned for many years. Norm Comer, a member of the Illini Collector Car Club and a participant in each of th nine Motor Muster shows, brought his completely original 1912 Maxwell Mascotte. Comer, who bought the car in 1968, is the vehicle’s fourth owner.When the car was first introduced to the public, it cost $980 and came with an optional windshield. “Every year we get new entries from people in the area,” Comer said. This is why people keep coming back to look at and talk about vintage vehicles. Many of the older viewers reminisced about seeing these models when they were first released. Others chatted with the owners of the cars about what was under the hood and the restoration process that they
had gone through to make them look brand new. Many enthusiastic parents brought their children along to share their love of antique and muscle cars. Some brought cameras to document the rarities on display. Comer said he enjoyed telling people about his car and the restoration process he went through to keep it in such good condition. He even started the car up for a couple of minutes to show curious onlookers how different the driving experience was when cars were just beginning to be made, a unique opportunity that many people would never think about, let alone experience. Even a casual car lover could learn much from Comer and his fellow participants. For those kids who were more interested in taking a ride than looking at one didn’t have to go far. One of the many attractions aimed at children was a ride in a miniature train through downtown Urabana. Seeing the multi-colored train coupled with the smiles on the faces of the children as they rode was just one of the many candid joys over the weekend. C O N T I N U E D O N PA G E
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