Tag Archives: college
Twilight: New Moon Review
by Vanessa Paredes
It’s here. The highly anticipated, overly hyped, oh so talked about film: New Moon. The second installment of the Twilight Saga hit the big screen this November and you can bet your life savings that the lines were outrageous and theaters were sold out all over the nation. Fully equipped with a new director (Chris Weitz), New Moon definitely out staged the production of Twilight, but not by a long shot. If one thing is for certain though, it’s that Edward Cullen is about to blend into the shadows and a new obsession will arise; his name is Jacob Black.
In New Moon, Edward Cullen (Robert Pattinson) and Bella Swan (Kristen Stewart) couldn’t be more awkward with each other, and there is a reason behind it. Edward plans to leave forks and Bella behind. He does so early into the film, and the “break up” shakes up the story line, bringing forward Jacob black (Taylor Lautner) to our attention. Once Bella really starts warming up to her new “friend” another fantastical secret is unraveled. Vampires are not the only non-humans roaming around Forks; Jacob and his “clan” take the form of wolves in order to “protect” the town from vampires, or at least the evil kind. Naturally, Jacob falls in love with Bella while Edward is absent, and this creates a chaotic love triangle that will be a major theme in the movies to come. Just when it seems like Bella is finally warming up to the idea of liking Jacob back, Edward is forcefully engrained back on to her feeble mind when he makes a phone call to the Swan residence for the first time after his disappearance.
Bella gets on a plane to Italy faster than you can say vampires are not real, in attempts to save her soul mate from killing himself. Edward had been misinformed that Bella had passed away, and finds only one solution: plead with the Volturi (Organized coven of vampires) to take his life, which is no easy task, being a vampire and all. The Volturi consisted of the best actors in the film, including big shots such as Dakota Fanning playing Jane, and Michael Sheen as Aro. How the movie ends is yours to figure out.
New Moon shouldn’t break a sweat impressing the teenage female population. Weitz incorporates all the right elements, and some of the scenes are beautifully done. Although the movie does lack decent actors, because let’s face it, Robert Pattinson can’t act to save his life, the movie-goers will still sink their teeth into this vampire fantasy flick. In addition the film was successful in staying true to the book, which will hopefully keep the Twi-hard’s complaints to a minimum. So get those movie tickets and enjoy the era’s newest craze.
New Moon Soundtrack Review
by Diana Ciuca
The album begins with the quintessential Death Cab for Cutie song, with the electric piano and occasional wavering in and out of loud and soft harmony. The symbol of the equinox in the song displays some astrological influence upon the entire album. So far, I’m hoping that this is a themed album; fingers crossed.
Luckily, or not, the next few songs tend to stick to a similar principle. Truly, the only theme to this album can be summed up in three words: soft, indie, dreamy. After some ups and downs in tempos, beats, and instrumentation (guitars, drums, and piano), the only conclusion that can be drawn is that this is a genre piece.
The album advocates the beauty of the indie (sub/counter) culture that has motivated hipsters to invade American Apparel and also the local Salvation Army/Goodwill in search of “hot buys.” They are the picture-hoarding, iPod wearing, Twilight-reading youngsters who are fluent in the language of music and, thankfully, that of texting. By putting all these songs together, I feel like their (the individual song’s and the hip, excitable, teen’s) originality is forsaken; Nevertheless, each song, on their own, is truly a work of art – as are most indie pieces. As Andy Warhol said, “Art is what you can get away with.” Certainly, we have gotten away with much avante-gardness in the past, and this album, as fresh or unique as you want it to be, is no different. Most critics see this as a medley of wonderful musicians.
Still, I can’t help but question what is so great about these musical sensations? Usually it is the voice, or the smooth guitar, or the sound effects. This album has so much of those techniques that it almost becomes overwhelming. In conclusion, the New Moon soundtrack is like food. Sure, I love peperoni pizza, chocolate ice cream, steak, salsa, and salad. But, if you were to throw them all on one plate, I might not enjoy it as much.
The album ends with the quintessential Classical music piece, with the alternating piano and occasion speeding up and down of the tempo. The symbol of the new moon in the title displays some astrological influence upon the entire album – given that it is the title.
Sounds like you’ve heard that sentence before? It sounds like I’ve heard all these songs before, too.
AFI SHOW MOVED TO REVOLUTION-Press Conference too!
The A.F.I. concert originally scheduled for the Pompano Beach Amphitheater on Wednesday November 18 has moved venues to Revolution Live, 200 West Broward Boulevard in Ft. Lauderdale. Gallows also appears on the bill.
Tickets already purchased for the Pompano Beach show will be honored at Revolution Live. Additional General Admission tickets are still available for $26.50 in advance and $28.00 day of show. Tickets are on sale now at all TicketMaster Outlets and at the Revolution Live Box Office or charge-by-phone: Broward, (954) 523-3309; Miami-Dade, 305) 358-5885; Palm Beach, (561) 966-3309.
The Student Press Conference will also be held at Revolution. Students should meet at will call at Revolution.
Black Gold’s Rush Review
by Carly Shea
It’s amazing that such an elaborate and complex album can be created by just two people. Black Gold’s debut album, Rush, offers a new and sophisticated sound that indie rockers will eat up. The two founding members, Eric Ronick and Than Luu, started Black Gold as a music project based out of Brooklyn and were later signed to Red Bull Records.
Black Gold maintains a clear sound on their album, all of which form a consistent sound full of symbols, well laid out piano chords, and lyrics that write down raw emotion without having to cite a resentment of certain situations or a past breakup. Each song flows into the next yet somehow manages to switch between different indie rock sub-genres. Heavily influences of funk-rock can be heard on the track “Breakdown”. The heaviest genre influence that I have found on the album is the undertone of disco. Listening to tracks such as “The Comedown” and “Plans & Reveries”, I heard the retro sound of synthesizers and Eric Ronick’s voice makes me feel like I’m listening to a Bee Gee’s album.
Although Black Gold adds in disco undertones, they still stay true to the New York indie rock scene with an even blend of relaxed pop an lounge rock. Tempo varies perfectly between songs on Rush, and even includes a ballad, After The Flood. Their debut album has stepped atop the pedestal that Indie Rock has presented to them without having their sound become overkill. Black Gold’s Rush should be known as a varied and well constructed album that will fit in perfectly to any indie lover’s pre-existing CD collection.