®lje SaUy (Ear Heel
Remake is deliciously different
BY ALAN HAYES
STAFF WRITER
The 1974 film adaptation of
Roald Dahl’s novel, “Charlie and
the Chocolate Factory,” scared the
bejesus out of me.
I’m not just talking about the
psychedelic boat ride that scared
everybody. The whole thing fright
ened me the Oompa Loompas,
Veruca Salt and Wonka himself.
In Gene Wilder’s 1974 portrayal
of Willy Wonka, I saw not a kindly,
eccentric candy man, but a tootsie
roll tyrant who ruled over his Candy
Reich with an iron fist and wasn’t
afraid to shrink, blueberryize or
throw in the garbage the only visi
,tors his factory had seen in years.
• Thus, it was not with fond
memories of the original film that
I approached Tim Burton’s new
Edgy author’s latest is
sinister but predictable
BY JOHN COGGIN
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR
Chuck Palahniuk has built a
career on exposing the insanity of
our culture through disgustingly
ironic cautionary tales on American
commercialism. His new book does
more of the same.
“Haunted” is a series of short
stories, sloppily glued together by
a cumbersome narrative about a
bunch of wannabe writers who
are kidnapped by a crazy old man
named Wittier.
Responding to an ad offering
total seclusion from the outside
world for three months, asking only
that you, “Gamble a small fraction
of your life,” for a chance to create a
literary masterpiece, 23 unwitting
people are tricked by Wittier (Ha!
Wittier, indeed) into an experiment
in desperation.
He traps them in an old, ornate
movie theater and bars them from
leaving until they fulfill their prom
ise to write.
Ostensibly a modern take on
“The Canterbury Tales” or “The
Decameron,” “Haunted” actually is
a meditation on the current state
of popular culture. In Palahniuk’s
world, 15 minutes of fame have
been trimmed down to five-minute
segments (if you’re lucky) on morn
ing talk shows and an ugly battle
for stardom between reality show
contestants.
The book’s characters become
determined to turn their kidnap
ping into a salable story, each set
on manipulating the drama Cut
off a finger? Sabotage the food sup
ply? so as to ensure their status
as the star of the show.
The book’s timely plot is the
perfect reflection of a summer in
which “Tom Kat” the nickname
that’s been given to the new rela
tionship between Tom Cruise and
Katie Holmes is a story pre
cisely because everyone thinks it’s
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For Rent
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t>edroom. Available June/August. Summer rental
'option. 919-541-6309,919-961 0455.
; VERY NICE, SPACIOUS
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'on wooded acre lot. Busline. Convenient to UNC.
Same size bedrooms with wall-to-wall closets.
Living room with ceiling fan. Kitchen with ALL
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optional W/D. Central heating and AC. Storage and
ample parking. S7OQ/month. 933-0983,451 -8140.
UNIVERSITY COMMONS 4BR/4BA, W/D,
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MOVIE EVIEW
“CHARLIE AND THE
CHOCOLATE FACTORY"
irkirk
adaptation of Dahl’s book.
I was pleasantly surprised, how
ever, to find that Burton’s remake
surpasses the original film and will
likely exceed many viewers’ expecta
tions. The universe Burton created
in “Charlie” is one that operates by
many rules of reality but is infused
with enough magic to allow an audi
ence to get lost in its strangeness.
At the center of this strange
world is Johnny Depp, who turns
in a delightfully eccentric perfor
mance as Wonka. Much has been
made of Depp’s realization of Dahl’s
creepy confectioner; many critics
fiction, and Janice Dickinson is
fighting (and beating) reality-diva
Omarosa for screen time on “The
Surreal Life 3” by publicly mocking
mentally handicapped children.
However, Palahniuk exhausts
the high concept halfway through
the novel.
By designating each story as a
confession of past sins by some
character in the greater narrative,
the author encourages the reader to
expect each one to take on a distinct
personality and to reveal more about
the character telling it than why we
know them only as the “Duke of
Vandals” or the “Lady Baglady.”
Instead, in each chapter, we get
Palahniuk doing a lot of really good
impressions of “Chuck Palahniuk.”
Standing alone, each story is
cleverly sinister in its observations.
But by infusing the reading experi
ence with an expectation that each
one should add to and develop what
we already know, the author waters
down the effect of every tale.
Contact the A & E Editor
at artsdesk@unc.edu.
Molecular Biology Training
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When: October 12th~21st
Cost: $1950 includes Wb reagents, materials, speaker fees
Description: A hands on course well suited for
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to apply basic molecular biology skills and have
little time to devote to technique development
H| H| Duke Molecular Biology Workshops -
mm Contact: 919-684^238
Website: www.dukeworkshops.com
Posters of DTH
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& Commerative Issue
, (cash only please)
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* Inside cover of
UNDISPUTED CHAMPIONS
•COMMERATIVE ISSUE
| For Rent |
3BR HOUSE in nice, quiet cul-de-sac. Very clean,
freshly painted interior. Wall-to-wall carpeting.
New dishwasher, refrigerator, W/D. heat pump.
12 minutes to UNC. 2 car garage. $1,250/month.
Isaac: home 919-572-1973, work 919-962-6383,
or cell 919-594-1671.
WALK TO UNC, quiet neighborhood. $560
basement apartment (separate entry, kitch
en, bath), includes utilities, AC. No smok
ing/pets, busline, 12 month lease starts
August 16. privatehomeOgmail.com.
ONE BLOCK FROM campus/Franklin Street Incred
ible location. 2BR/1 BA. pets OK, Fenced yard, new
carpet. Available August 1 SI,OOO-$l,lOO/month.
105 Stephens Street Drive by first then call Adam,
843-224-2512.
2BR CONDO, 2 miles from campus, busline. Stove,
refrigerator, W/D, dishwasher. $72 5/month. 919-
SI 0-6972 or inspectionOnc.rr.com.
Arts 8 Entertainment
have speculated on its basis in real
life the creepiness of Michael
Jackson.
Consider this: The man Depp
is portraying is one who has spent
the last few decades of his life
surrounded by nothing but “little
people,” runs a psychotropic candy
factory and has had no contact
with the outside world for years.
One can only imagine the effect
this would have on a person’s
psyche.
The world Wonka inhabits is one
that could drive even the sanest of
individuals a little batty. This should
come as no surprise as every Tim
Burton film, from “Beetle Juice” to
“Big Fish,” has wrapped the viewer
in a vibrant world that exists some
where just to the left of reality.
Not only is the inside of Wonka’s
Receptions have never been this fun
BY JOHN COGGIN
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR
Owen Wilson and Vince Vaughn
recently crashed the summer box
office with a comedy about two guys
who like to crash weddings to pick
up girls. While performing the crash
of all crashes at the wedding of the
daughter of the secretary of the trea
sury (sorry for all the “offs), Wilson
falls for the bride’s sister (Rachel
McAdams). Let the raunchy sex
scenes ensue!
If this is your mentality going
into “Wedding Crashers,” then
expect to be disappointed.
We are the generation that grew
into adulthood on a healthy diet of
“American Pies,” and for an audi
ence that has seen a suburban
father walk in on his teenage son
humping a hot apple pie, watching
a woman “rub one out” for Vince
Vaughn at a packed dinner table
might seem a little old hat. While
hilariously filmed, that scene in
which Isla Fisher giddily massag
es Vaughn’s Dockers-clad crotch
hardly qualifies as “raunchy” (at
least not in the blue states).
So, ladies, don’t believe the ads.
The movie actually is rather sweet.
Endearing, even.
Classified Advertising
| Sublets |
2BR/2BA for sublease. 08-01-05 until 07-31-06.
Chapel Ridge. $1,200/month, indudes utilities. Pool,
dubhouse, weight room, parking. Buslines to UNC.
252-492-5040 or 252-430-4270.
2nd Session
Sublet!!!
2BR available in 4BR/2.58A house in Ashley
Forest for 2nd summer session. s3o(Vmonth.
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chen, living room, and dining room. Partially
furnished bedrooms, as needed. W/D, cable;
dishwasher. On 3 buslines! Email if you have
questions or want to see our AWESOME
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2BR/2BA FULLY FURNISHED utilities included $560/
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tennis basketball, parking. Blair, 910-619-7469.
factory an eye-popping experiment
in psychedelia (early in the film,
Wonka encourages his guests to
“try some of my grass”), but even
the London shanty that Charlie’s
family inhabits just outside the
factory gates is subject to the par
ticular physics of Burton’s world.
The storytelling isn’t always on
par with the visuals, but this is
not as big a fault as it might be in
other, more boring films.
Moviegoers might eventually
tire of seeing films that emphasize
visuals over storytelling, or they
might start to pass on Wonka’s
grass, but until then the new adap
tation should be a popular inter
pretation of Dahl’s classic novel.
Contact theA&E Editor
at artsdesk@unc.edu.
MOVIE
"WEDDING CRASHERS"
irkirk
Wilson offers up an outstanding
audition for “leading man” status
in future Hollywood romcoms, and
Vaughn finally finds the role through
which he can channel all of his ram
bling musing on life, love and rela
tionships to hilarious effect.
After successful turns in “Mean
Girls” and “The Notebook,” McAdams
further hints at an impressive range
and is the only one to pull off actual
acting in “Crashers.”
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| Sublets |
IBR SUBLET in 2 story, 2BR townhouse. Walking dis
tance to campus. On buslines. Available 08-01 -05
through 05-31 -06. $337.50/month + 1/2 utilities.
W/D, internet. Two kittens live in apartment current
ly. Non-smokers preferred. Roommate is friendly,
female, UNC Junior. Contact me with questions, to
view the apartment and meet roommate. Carmen
cfreynolOemail.unc.edu or 910-620-8233.
| Rooms \
FEMALE RENTING TWO LARGE BEDROOMS. Digital
cable, Roadrunner, treadmill, pool. 1.5 miles from
campus. Furnished. S3OO/month +l/3 utilities each.
Contact Megan: mwallaceOemail.unc.edu.
FREE RENT in exchange for afterschool care. Spac
ious private room, bath & study area (900+ sq/ft).
Supervise homework & activities for 6th grade girl.
Flexible afternoon/evening hours. Upscale neigh
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tation, references required. jpbrownOnc.rr.com.
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COURTESY OF WARNER BROTHERS
Charlie (Freddie Highmore) enjoys some plants made of vibrant confec
tions during his lucky trip into Willy Wonka's mystical chocolate factory.
But, then, this is exactly the way
you want it. Vaughn gets to play
“Vince Vaughn” (a less insecure
and slightly less horny version of
his character in “Swingers”), and
Wilson gets to play “Owen Wilson”
(a slightly less blond version of his
character in “Zoolander”).
However, if you haven’t seen the
making-of specials that have been
flooding cable TV for the past two
weeks, each giving away all her
funniest moments, then you’ll
find that it is Fisher who steals the
show as Claire’s sister, Gloria. Her
guileless, certifiably insane daddy’s
girl provides the perfect balance
FREE
RENT
| Rooms I
ROOMS FOR RENT, for school year, in house with
own bath. Includes full privileges for: kitchen,
W/D, living room and basement for storage. 15
minute walk to UNC. Students preferred. See www.
joycecares.com or call 919-593-5118.
BEAUTIFUL FINLEY FOREST CONDO room for rent!
Wood and tile flooring. Full bath, balcony, furnished
living room, and kitchen. Extra large W/D. Large
downstairs patio. Secluded in woods with pond.
Walking distance to buses. Minutes from campus.
Utilities include cable, water, power, and wireless
internet. $425 rent. AVAILABLE NOW! Call Janelle
at 810-2848! Email: hepcatz©yahoo.com.
Roommates
ROOMMATE WANTED FOR 38R/2.SBA townhome
in Chancellors Ridge. Starting anytime AC, W/D, pool,
wireless internet. Ideal for graduate/professional
student. $425/month +l/2 utilities. Call Dusty 828-
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THURSDAY, JULY 21, 2005
to Vaughn’s verging-on-psychotic
womanizer.
In supporting roles, Christopher
Walken and Jane Seymour play
Claire’s politico parents. Excepting
the scene in which Seymour forc
es Wilson’s character to call her
“Kittycat,” both actors are under
used. They probably had more
lines in the original script, but the
editors seem to have cropped down
their roles in favor of showcasing
more of Vaughn and Wilson’s well
honed improv skills.
Contact theACSE Editor
at artsdesk@unc.edu.
Roommates
ROOMMATE WANTED FOR spacious BR/BA in 3BR/
3BA townhome. Starting August. Furnished, wireless
Internet, W/D, ample parking. Ideal for grad student.
$450/mo + 1/3 utilities. alkesh©email.unc.edu.
ROOMMATE WANTED
to share beautiful 2BR/1 BA duplex: On wooded acre
lot, same size bedrooms with wall-to-wall closets,
busline. Living room with ceiling fan, kitchen with all
appliances & dishwasher. W/D or hookups, central
heating & air-conditioning, ample free parking &
storage. $350/bedroom. 933-0983 or 451-8140.
ROOMMATE WANTED FOR 3BR/2.58A condo. Start
August on busline, spacious, pod, tennis, W/D, inter
net. Near Meadowmont. $450/mo plus 1/3 utilities.
Contact Geoff 919-593-5269. gbelM ©nc.rr.com.
CARRBORO/CHAPEL HILL: Spacious 2BR/1.58A.
Cable, Roadrunner, electric, maid service. 5550/mo.
Minutes away from UNC. Bus service. Downtown
and groceries. Call 919-622-5006.
9
(11)1' SttUy (Ear Heel
Roommates
WALK TO CAMPUS Mature, vegetarian, non-smok
ing housemate sought for semi-furnished room in
nice older home 4 blocks to UNC. Private phone,
other amenities $375/month. 967-9948.
HOUSE TO SHARE. Furnished room to rent, non
smoker, no pets. Chapel Hill/country setting. Artistic
environment quiet wooded neighborhood. Garden
space, furnished porch/deck, central air/heating, ceil
ing fans, wood stove. 6 miles from Franklin Street.
$350/month + deposit, shared electric. Year lease
available August 1,2005. Laney: 933-4505.
Misc. Wanted
WANTED TO BUY: UNC 2005 National Champs
Commemorative Coke can. Call 937-692-8441 or
937-423-5246.
Recycle Mo Please!