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The Compass
December 12, 2003
ENTERTAINMENT
MOVIE REVIEWS
Fitle: The Matrix: Revolutions
Director: Andy and Larry Wachowski
Starring: Keanu Reeves, Carrie-Anne Moss,
Laurence Fishburne, Jada Pinl^ett-Smitli
Antoine Rascoe
Contributing Editor
Slilager_diggler@yahoo.com
Have you ever seen a trilogy that is not as good as the two movies that proceeded it? Well this is
Matrix Revolutions. I had to go see it for the sake of completing the story. Don’t get me wrong, it is a good
movie and I do suggest the viewing of it. It’s just that the problem is the movie really did not have anywhere to
go for its ending. Neo (Keanu Reeves) and Trinity (Carrie-Anne Moss) go on their own trek headed for
Vlachine City while Morpheus (Laurence Fishburne) and Niobe (Jada Pinkett-Smith) travel to Zion. The only
disturbance is that for a long period of time the action is drawn from Morpheus and Niobe when in actuality this
does not help the movie, for you do not know anything that is happening with the main character Neo. In fact
Neo is the only one people really care about.
In terms of the action I expected the finale’ to go way and beyond it’s previous movies. Neo is trying to
prevent the program Smith from taking over the Matrix with a long drawn out fight scene at the end that looked
iotally computerized. Reminiscent of X-Men 2, it’s like...come on now! This is Hollywood!!! We can look more
realistic than what we are seeing on the screen. But it does keep you interested the whole time, but I don’t know
if it’s from the action or just having something to talk about with my peers. It’s a finale’ that leaves you with the
impression that there is a Matrix 4. You’re probably wondering how could that be though, check it out and you’ll
see. I’ll give it two stars.
★ ★
Title: Gothika
Director: Mathieu Kassovitz
Starring: Haile Berry, Robert Downey, Jr., and Charles S. Dutton
Travis Billups
Contributing Writer
billups@hotmaii.com
No! Halle Berry is not a poor waitress who demands that Billy Bob Thornton make her “feel good” in
this movie, but instead she plays Dr. Miranda Grey, a psychiatrist, at a psychiatric prison, who treats violent
criminals.
Just to give you a little rundown....one stormy night she is driving home from work and almost runs
over a girl (Kathleen Mackey). The next thing you know she is getting out of the car, to see if the girl is all
right...and in the next shot she wakes up in the prison she was once a doctor at.
The movie is a cross between Sixth Sense and What Lies Beneath. It is not a sit on the edge of your
seat type of movie, the story line is more slow, giving you reason to believe that the previews are deceiving
because they portray the movie as a horror flick. But then the drama picks up. Grey finds out who her
husband (Charles S. Dutton) really is, which leaves you with the underlying fact that you really don't know
everything about a person no matter how close they are to you.
The movie is worth your average $6.00 to $8.50, plus any movie Halle Berry is in, you have to see, so
I suggest that if you haven’t seen the movie, you should.
★★★
W
I
Jennifer Pride
From left to right, Maryann Nelson is wearing knee-high boots, and a mini
skirt, Darrien Jerman is wearing Timberlands and a Sean John sweatshirt
and Ragin Williams is wearing sporty boots and a matching top.
Campus winter fashion
I
--W w ^ ^ ^
Rich Harvey
The University Players and the School of Arts and Humanities presented the
play ‘‘Picnic’’ to ECSU audiences. The Compass regrets that the list of main
characters was incorrectly reported in our last edition of the paper The
correct list of main characters, in alphabetical order is: Sabrina Brown as
Rosemary, Danielle Burriss as Helen,Dorothy Downing as Flo, Dr Games
as Howard, Ashley McCleary as Madge, Eric Peebles as Hal, and Jabari
Young as Allen.
BOOK REVIEW
Brandi Brehdn
brbrehon@ecsu.edu
Staff Writer
The National Bestseller,
The Coldest Winter Ever, by Sister
Souljah is a stunning story of a
young girl, Winter, who is the daugh
ter of a Brooklyn drug-dealing fam
ily. Quick-witted, sexy, and money
hungry. Winter knows and loves the
streets and everything that comes
with it. But when the streets of
Brooklyn blow her life into a destruc
tive path, she is forced to use her
street smarts and seductive skills to
Jennifer Pride
FOXYG1N@aol.com
Staff Writer
History repeats itself, and the
same goes for fashion, with trends of
the past dominating the hot apparel for
this winter. This season, a broader
range of clothing and accessories will
define style. This season’s trends leave
very little room for style disaster and
here are what fashion gurus suggest.
Boots are this season’s shoe, ev
erything from lace-up platform knee-
highs to stiletto buckle ankle boots. Off
the shoulder and deep v-necks are fa
vorites for tops and experts advise that
with a chilly winter forecast predicted
bundling up in a chunky, turtle neck or
cable knit sweater will be the order of
the day. Still they suggest that ladies
show their feminine side even under
the long coats. Wear skirts every now
and then. From the 60’s inspired micro-mini
to a long pencil skirt, you will be sure to get
lots of attention wherever you go.
Men, the experts say, should
again use denim as>the staple fabric,
especially when In doubt about what to
wear. “Throw back jerseys,” are proven
favorites for ECSU men. And In keep
ing with nationwide trends on cam
puses like ECSU’s, nothing completes
an outfit more than a hat and matching
do-rag.
A lot can be said about a man
when one looks at his belt—which Is
not simply something to hold his pants
up. Belts speak loudly about style
and can be used to dress up even
the most mundane outfit.
For men and women leather is
also once again a staple for the sea
son. Need I say more?
This season you can also be styl
ish and comfortable In the 80’s-lnsplred
sweat outfits, offered by favorite design
ers Including, Sean John, Rocawear
and Baby Phat which can be purchased
at select stores In malls or over the
Internet. Sweat outfits can also be pur
chased, more inexpensively, at the Gap
and Aeropastale, my favorite.
This season, accessories are im
portant—accessorize jewelry, belts,
gloves, purses and anything else you
find to complement the look of your out
fit, but only in moderation.
When asked what one item is a
winter wear necessity, senior Yashica
Whidbee said, “Hats, especially my
Kangol.” She says her favorite designer
is Baby Phat.
“I like Baby Phat, but 1 will wear
anything as long as the price is right,”
Whidbee said.
I encourage you to go out and pur
chase your favorite fashions, but don’t
forget that you can use Items that you
already have to improve the look of your
outfit. Lastly, if you cannot afford that
designer Item you want, chances are
you will be able to find an Incredible
knock-off somewhere else for half the
price, but still look good and have a little
extra money to spend.
get by. Unwilling to be defeated by
the streets, she will do anything to
stay on top.
“When my girl Toshi had beef
with these chicks from around the
corner, me, Nat, Zakla, Simone,
Monique, Reese, all of us took off
our jewels, greased up our faces,
braided down our hair, and had our
razors under our tongues ready to
go to war”
After reading this book,
which only took me two days, 1 was
completely in awe. Sister Souljah
gave her all In this breath-taking novel.
The novel never left me feeling con
fused or disappointed. In my opinion,
the book should not be in the category
of fiction, but In the category of non-fic
tion because the story of Winter Itself is
based on the reality of many young
women today, and Is not the average
fiction story of a man and woman fall
ing in or out of love.
This book illustrates the old
proverb that the love of money Is the
root of all evil.
MUSIC REVIEW
Grammy nominations announced
Latrea Reid
latreareid@hotmail.com
Staff Writer
Nominations for the 46 An
nual Grammy Awards were an
nounced at a press conference at the
Beverly Hilton Hotel.
Leading the long list of nomi
nees were Beyonce, Jay-Z, OutKast,
and Pharrell with six nominations
each.
This year, the awards will rec
ognize not only the most important
recording artist of the day, but will in
clude several artists who recently
died.
Warren Zevon, who never won
a Grammy, was nominated for five
awards this year, including song of
the yearfor“Keep Me In Your Heart.”
Luther Vandross, who is recovering
from a life-threatening stroke, was
nominated for song of the year for
“Dance With My Father.”
Rap, a category added in the
late 1980’s, seems to be the most
dominant category. Four of the five
songs nominated for record of the
year featured rap artists.
All 5 nominations for best col
laboration between rap artist and
singer are love songs, accounting for
rap’s growing acceptance into main
stream.
This year, the Grammy Awards
plan to legitimize the vote-a-star pro
cess of the “American Idol” television
show. This process will allow the fans
to pick their favorite nominee. Kelly
Clarkson and Ruben Studdard are
both up for Grammy
The University Players and
the School of Arts and Humani
ties presented the play “Picnic” to
ECSU audiences. The Cpompass
regrets that the list of main char
acters was incorrectly reported in
our last edition of the paper. The
correct list of main characters, in
alphabetical order is: Sabrina
Brown as Rosemary, Danielle
Burriss as Helen,Dorothy Down
ing as Flo, Dr. Games as Howard,
Ashley McCleary as Madge, Eric
Jabari Young
)tvouna@mail.ecsu.edu
Staff Writer
Anthony Hamilton-Comin’ from where Fm from
Anthony Hamilton, a native of Charlotte, gives a sigh of relief with his impressive release. Cornin’
from where I’m from. Hamilton, who previously collaborated with Nappy Roots, Tupac Shakur, and D’Angelo,
brings back the B in R&B.
Unlike many contemporary R&B artists, Hamilton sings, writes, and produces intriguing songs pertain
ing to everyday situations, as well as love relationships.
Cornin’from where I’m from gets off to a great start with the first track. On the Jermaine Dupri-
produced song, “Mama knew love” Hamilton shows his appreciation for his mother. With a voice reminis
cent of Bill Withers, Anthony sings: “ up bright and early, scrambled eggs, swellin’in your legs, bills on the
bed/still you managed to show me a smile/ then you walked to work about two or three miles.”
With this album, Anthony Hamilton displays warm, southern-bred soul with excellent string and
keyboard arrangements assisted by precise, live drum performances.
On the self-produced, acoustic “Lucille” he sings about his girlfriend who has suffered physical abuse
from a previous love relationship: “ my old lady’s on the other side of town with her ex-boyfriend/ drinking
again, drinking again.”
The album is steady paced with the hard, up-tempo “Since I seen'f you” the funky “Cornbread,
fish & collardgreens”and the tear-jerking ballad “I’m a mess.”
The title track is the album’s centerpiece. Anthony again shows that he is more than a one-dimensional
artist, with lyrics: “tried to be good, tried to keep from trouble /living too fast, trying to make good on a hustle. ”
Overall, Anthony Hamilton’s effort is classic material. An album with this kind of depth and
originality demands acclaim and praise from listeners between the ages of 18-50. This one is strictly for the
grown and sexy! Down-home blues and hot-buttered soul is making a comeback and Comin’ from where
I’m from is a giant sized contribution to the movement.
★★★★