This is the archive for September 2009
Pieces of You
by Daniel Armand Lee
229 Pages
is a collection of ten short stories written by Daniel Armand Lee, also known as the rapper Tablo of the South Korean hiphop group Epik High. These stories were all written during his time at Stanford University, from 1998 to 2001.
All the stories explore some type of dark theme, whether it is interactions between young adults and their parents, conflict among friends, or even the way the “Asian” culture is perceived by all kinds of Americans.
Posted by courier at 08:28 AM. Filed under: Entertainment
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Barack and Michelle:
Portrait of an American Marriage
By Christopher Andersen
Hardcover: 336 pages
Publisher: William Morrow
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0061771961
ISBN-13: 978-0061771965
After a microscopic look at several famous marriages, author Christopher Andersen takes his pen-or, some argue, a hatchet-to the Obamas in his latest book, "Barack and Michelle: Portrait of an American Marriage."
He describes a reluctant groom-to-be, sometimes-stormy union, and woman sick of emptying his overflowing ashtrays-and being shut out by his ambition. He says the crucibles of battling infertility, helping to nurse daughter Sasha to health after meningitis, and coping with early political defeat (and debt), the Obamas survived-and thrived. By the inauguration they were "indisputably the First Couple not only of America but of the world."
Posted by courier at 07:43 AM. Filed under: Entertainment
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"Blood River: A Journey to
Africa's Broken Heart,"
by Tim Butcher;
Grove Press
361 pages.
The Congo River is 2,900 miles in length and could be the highway to the future for the 67 million Congolese and tens of millions in neighboring countries. But today it represents one of Earth's last frontiers. Only the most intrepid venture onto the river or into the interior of this impoverished wasteland known as the Democratic Republic of Congo, a land that has gone from shaky post-colonial state to a primitive, almost impassible jungle.
Henry Morton Stanley, the Welsh-born American journalist reporting for the New York Herald and London Telegraph, was the first to traverse the river through the heart of Africa in 1877, a 999-day journey in which two thirds of his 300 member party died en route. Tim Butcher, the Telegraph's Africa correspondent from earlier in this decade, decided to retrace his steps — with some assists from international charities, which made available motorbikes and drivers, and the U.N. mission, which let him hitch a ride on chartered vessels. He spent 44 days and lived to tell about it.
Posted by courier at 07:35 AM. Filed under: Entertainment
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By Joe Facundo,> Courier Staff Writer
Paddy’s Coffee House, in conjunction with Union City’s Leisure Services department, are hosting their 5th annual Film festival on Friday October 2nd and 9th at 8:30 pm.
Paddy’s, located at 3900 Smith Street in Union City, hosts this film festival to encourage the young and aspiring indie film makers to come and show their creations to the world, that is, Union City.
Posted by courier at 09:13 AM. Filed under: Entertainment
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By Olivia Guitron, Courier Staff Writer
Many of us can remember when Pokemon was the coolest thing ever, besides Digimon and Yu-Gi-Oh! cards. Pokemon has made its comeback from Gameboy's into the Nintendo DS Generation. A game which came out recently for DS is the revised version of Pokemon Diamond and Pearl:
Pokemon Platinum Version.
Posted by courier at 06:09 AM. Filed under: Entertainment
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Halo 3: ODST
For: Xbox 360
From: Bungie/Microsoft
ESRB Rating: Mature (blood,
language, violence)
Lest there be any lingering confusion about what, exactly, "Halo 3: ODST" is, here's the rundown.
It's a standalone game, not an expansion, and you don't need "Halo 3" to play it even though the online competitive multiplayer is ripped verbatim from that game. The single-player campaign is brand-new, as is the Firefight co-op mode (two players splitscreen, four online,) and three of the competitive multiplayer maps. The other 21 maps are from "Halo 3" proper, but if you didn't downloaded the three $10 map packs or the free Cold Storage map, 10 of those are new to you.
Posted by courier at 05:53 AM. Filed under: Entertainment
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By Ranjana Prasad, Restaurant Review Editor
Columbia Pictures and Sony Pictures Animation’s just released a new 3D cartoon movie,
Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs. It was inspired by Ron and Judi Barrett’s children’s book,
Cloudy With A Chance of Meatballs.
It’s about a nerdy inventor, Flint Lockwood (voice of Bill Hader) who attempts to solve the world hunger problem by sending his latest invention into the sky. Sam Sparks, a very brainy weather girl (voice of Anna Faris) notice this invention of his stops the rain and turns it into food. The town Flint lives was pleased because lately all they were eating was canned sardines, and now everything they asked to eat was falling from the sky.
Posted by courier at 09:31 AM. Filed under: Entertainment
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By Brandie Moore, Courier Book Review Editor
The new hit series on The CW is
Vampire Diaries. Only three episodes have aired, but it's captured the hearts of millions. This show is amazingly like Stephenie Meyer's
Twilight, but better!
This T.V. show is based on the book,
Vampire Diaries, that came out before
Twilight so as similar as they are, L. J. Smith did not copy Meyer.
Posted by courier at 08:20 AM. Filed under: Entertainment
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By Shamal Asnani, Courier Film Critic
The latest film to star Megan Fox,
Jennifer’s Body, is a movie which incorporates a rare mixing of genres, horror and comedy. The movie follows Needy (Amanda Seyfried), who is an average, under the radar high school student. Despite her much less than noticed presence in her high school, she is best friends with her polar opposite, Jennifer (Megan Fox), who displays a very powerful presence in their school, primarily due to her beauty, which garners much attention from all the boys.
Posted by courier at 05:54 AM. Filed under: Entertainment
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The Arctic Monkeys perform in England.
wikipedia photo
The mood at the Fox Theater on the night of Wednesday September 16th was far different from that of many shows. The atmosphere was decidedly British, from the bunches of fans hammering back beers to the eccentric man running around the general admission floor area draped in the British flag. The reason for the unique buzz in the air was the headlining band, Britain’s own Arctic Monkeys. Supporting their August release Humbug, the band’s stop in the Bay Area was a wild and exhilarating show, despite it’s occasional signs of the Arctic Monkeys’ youth.
Posted by courier at 04:56 PM. Filed under: Entertainment
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Echo by Francesca Lia Block
Reading level: Young Adult
Hardcover: 224 pages
Publisher: HarperTeen
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0060281278
ISBN-13: 978-0060281274,
Courier Staff Writer
Francesca Lia Blocks’ compelling novel,
Echo, takes place in LA and is a story about a young girl with many insecurities who is looking to find what makes her special. This young girl is named Echo.
Echo wants nothing more than to be like her mother, who she considers angel-like, and her father’s attention. When her father is diagnosed with cancer her parents come closer together, and somehow leave her out. As Echo’s parents deal with the cancer, Echo goes off to find change and happiness.
Posted by courier at 12:48 PM. Filed under: Entertainment
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By T.J. Matsumoto, Courier Sports Editor
The James Logan girls’ volleyball team was defeated by Irvington on Tuesday by a score of 3 games to 1. Two points only decided each game and it was a great match. The first game was won by Irvington 25-23 and it was a very even game. The second game was a very winnable game for both teams but Logan had some defensive miscommunications and Irvington won the game 25-23.
Posted by courier at 11:24 AM. Filed under: Entertainment
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Blue Moon: The Immortals
by Alyson Noel
Format: Kindle Edition
Print Length: 304 pages
Publisher: St. Martin's Griffin; 1 edition (July 7, 2009)
Sold by: Amazon Digital Services
Language: English
ASIN: B002MRRTZII unlock my car door and toss my bag on the floor, starting to slide onto my seat as I say to Damen, "Miles has rehearsal and I'm heading straight home. Want to follow?' I turn, surprised to find him standing before me, swaying ever so slightly from side to side with a strained look on his face. "You okay?' I lift my hand to his cheek, feeling for heat or clamminess, some sign of unease, even though I really don't expect to find any. And when Damen shakes his head and looks at me, for a split second all the color drains right away. But then it's over as soon as I blink. "Sorry, I just---my head feels a bit strange,' he says, pinching the bridge of his nose and closing his eyes. "But I thought you never get sick, that we don't get sick?' I say, unable to hide my alarm as I reach for my backpack.
Blue Moon is author Alyson Noel’s sequel to
Evermore, her first novel. As good as
Evermore is, this one is even better.
Posted by courier at 10:14 AM. Filed under: Entertainment
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Impossible by Nancy Werlin
Reading level: Young Adult
Hardcover: 384 pages
Publisher: Dial; First Edition edition
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0803730020
ISBN-13: 978-0803730021
“True love. Do you even believe in it? I don’t. It’s a trap.”
Nancy Werlin's novel,
Impossible, inspired by the ballad "Scarborough Fair," features suspense, fantasy, and romance in the telling of its intense and original story.
All the generations of Scarborough women, about which the story centers, are cursed. They all are doomed to have children at 17, go crazy, and leave their children to fend for themselves. Lucy, however, is lucky to have a miracle happen. Her best friend, Zach, sticks with her throughout her entire pregnancy. They do research on the song, and figure out that there is a meaning behind the lyrics. The three tasks are required to be completed in order to break the curse. Lucy only has 9 months to complete these impossible tasks and save her daughter.
Posted by courier at 09:26 AM. Filed under: Entertainment
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Th1rteen R3asons Why
by Jay Asher
Reading level: Young Adult
Hardcover: 320 pages
Publisher: Razorbill; 1st edition
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1595141715
ISBN-13: 978-1595141712
"A shoebox-sized package is propped against the front door at an angle: Inside the
shoebox is a rolled-up tube of bubble-wrap. I unroll that and discover seven loose
audio tapes... The last tape has a thirteen on one side, but nothing on the back."
- - Th1rteen R3asons Why By Jay Asher
Th1rteen R3asons Why by Jay Asher is a thoughtful and complicated re-telling of a girl, a boy, and seven cassette tapes, which contain thirteen stories about thirteen people who influenced her. This novel is a dark look on high school as a whole: its social cliques, struggles for popularity, romance awkwardness, and much more. It's a story on how each of us influences others' lives in such a way that it may seem impossible. This book is full of twists and turns and keeps the reader addicted until the last page is finished. It shows that anyone can be a victim to high school drama, and that all of us weave a complicated web that can sometimes change our lives indefinitely.
Posted by courier at 09:08 AM. Filed under: Entertainment
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'IL-2 Sturmovik: Birds of Prey
Reviewed for: Playstation 3 and Xbox 360
Also available for: Sony PSP, Nintendo DS
From: 1C Company/505 Games
ESRB Rating: Teen (mild language, violence)
A game's ability to carry a player through its main menu and opening cut scene isn't necessarily a harbinger for its ability to entertain the player from there. That's good news for "IL-2 Sturmovik: Birds of Prey," a versatile World War II dogfighter which enjoys the odd distinction of being a game that has more trouble when the action is paused than when it reaches a crescendo.
The problems are fleeting, insignificant but, at least initially, also a little unsettling. The background music stutters like a skipping CD when the game loads its opening cinema. The video, which packages real World War II footage to introduce the game's campaign, looks nice but also stutters and even freezes before kicking back into gear. Some more stuttering, a so-so menu interface and a long load screen later, we're into the tutorial mission.
Posted by courier at 09:45 AM. Filed under: Entertainment
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By Maureen Ryan
Chicago Tribune (MCT)
CHICAGO — The 2009 Emmys looked a lot like the 2008 Emmys, when it came to the winners.
Once again, Tina Fey picked up a best comedy statue for "30 Rock" (it was the NBC show's third win). "Mad Men" won for a second time as best drama.
Glenn Close and Bryan Cranston picked up their second Emmys in the lead drama acting categories, for "Damages" and "Breaking Bad," respectively, and Alec Baldwin also won a second time for his performance as network executive Jack Donaghy on "30 Rock." The only new winner in the top acting categories was Toni Collette, who won for her role on "United States of Tara." All those winners were quite deserving, but there was a certain deja vu quality to the proceedings, as there often is at the Emmys, where certain shows and performers tend to dominate for years.
Posted by courier at 06:08 PM. Filed under: Entertainment
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Beatrice Esteban/Courier Photo
Thai Grata
846-C Blossom Hill Road
San Jose, CA 95123
(408) 224-8668
Thai Grata, off of Blossom Hill in San Jose, is a new restaurant serving various types of Thai food. They serve traditional dishes such as pad thai, pineapple fried rice, and curry.
My family decided to head over since my aunt is friends with the owner. We didn’t know what to expect, but since we have huge appetites, we ordered quite a few different dishes. The menu has quite a lot to offer, and even allows you to change the level of spiciness in most dishes to tailor to your own spice tolerance.
Posted by courier at 09:59 AM. Filed under: Entertainment
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By Shamal Asnani, Courier Staff Writer
Mark Neveldine and Brian Taylor’s latest movie,
Gamer, is a science fiction action movie, which focuses on the idea of how dangerous mind control can truly be. The movies main character, Kable, is a death row inmate, who has been forced to participate in multi-billionaire Ken Castle’s latest human controlling video game,
Slayer. In
Slayer, death row inmates are controlled by other players, through the use of mind control, under extremely dangerous conditions, where the consequence of losing for the inmates is death.
Posted by courier at 09:20 AM. Filed under: Entertainment
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By Shamal Asnani, Courier Staff Writer
The latest horror film to hit theaters,
Sorority Row, is a movie which focuses on the tremendous consequences of a prank gone wrong.
The film starts off with the death of a sorority girl, due to a prank in which she was pretending to be dead in the first place. After her real death, the main characters of the film decide to abandon her body while they still can, deciding to move on with their lives and not face the consequences of causing an innocent girl's death. Some months later, instigators of this prank begin receiving text messages from the phone of the girl they killed. Soon after someone starts killing off anyone responsible for the death of this girl, causing them to believe her ghost has come back for vengeance.
Posted by courier at 08:34 AM. Filed under: Entertainment
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By Ranjana Prasad, Courier Staff Writer
Recently I went to this restaurant called the Rainforest Café in San Francisco and it was a very adventurous place to dine.
The restaurant itself, interior and exterior, is themed as a rain forest, with sound effects of chirping birds, thunderstorms and rain reinforcing the illusion. Also, the ceiling of the restaurant is made into a starry night where the stars twinkle and every so often a shooting star passes by. There are also moving figures of gorillas hiding behind trees who come out thumping their chests and elephants waving their trunks while trumpeting. The best thing about this restaurant is the life-size waterfall they have right in the middle of the place and behind it is a man holding the world in his hands. You are supposed to feel as if you’re in a real rain forest.
Posted by courier at 08:22 AM. Filed under: Entertainment
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Gaga shows her unusual style
at a March 2009 concert on
The Fame Ball Tour.
wikipedia photo
You all maybe heard of this artist with hit singles like "Just Dance" featuring Colby O’ Donnis, that catchy tune "Poker Face," "Love Game," and that outrageous musical performance on the recent MTV Video Music Awards singing her latest single "Paparazzi."
But what stunned the crowd and fans wasn't Lady Gaga's music; it's what she wore to that award show September 13 in New York City.
When it comes to Lady Gaga’s wardrobe, “What is she wearing?” must have been a common question. That question could be asked with a good or bad connotation, depending on your point of view.
Posted by courier at 10:19 AM. Filed under: Entertainment
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By Olivia Guitron, Courier Staff Writer
Never Shout Never has come out with a six-track EP entitled
The Summer EP.
The "band" in reality consists of Christofer Drew Ingle and other musicians who occasionally play with him as well. This teen, who started writing music and putting it up on his Myspace Page, is now more widely known than he was before in his hometown of Joplin, Missouri.
Posted by courier at 09:10 AM. Filed under: Entertainment
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The Yeah,Yeah, Yeahs
wikipedia photo
Oakland’s Fox Theater, the venue newest to the Bay Area concert circuit, played host last Thursday night to the popular New York Indie rock band the Yeah Yeah Yeahs. The second and final show of the band’s stay in Oakland was visually impressive and musically masterful.
The Yeah Yeah Yeahs lined up two opening bands for their gig. The first was the Beijing based band Queen Sea Big Shark, which features a creative hybrid of electronic and surf rock music. Initally the audience was confused by the band’s appearance and style, as they were not featured on the bill, but many people quickly began to enjoy Queen Sea Big Shark’s musical aptitude and uniqueness.
Posted by courier at 06:29 AM. Filed under: Entertainment
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The Story of B by Daniel Quinn
Paperback: 352 pages
Publisher: Bantam (November 3, 1997)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0553379011
ISBN-13: 978-0553379013 is a novel written by Daniel Quinn in 1996. It follows the story of a Laurentian priest named Jared Osborne.
Jared is sent to Germany to investigate a man named B, who his superiors think is the anti-Christ. Jared joins B’s inner circle to find out if he is the anti-Christ, but what Jared finds out is wisdom that needs to be known if humans want to survive any longer on this planet.
The Story Of B will make you think of things that you’ve never thought of before. It will let you see things at different angles, maybe an obtuse angle or maybe an acute angle. If you are not interested in learning about human history or the future of human civilization then this book is not for you, but if you then I suggest you read this book.
Posted by courier at 09:03 AM. Filed under: Entertainment
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By Maureen Ryan
Chicago Tribune (MCT)
The most compelling moment of the debut of "The Jay Leno Show" (10 p.m. EDT Monday-Friday, NBC) would be several seconds of silence, during which you could have heard a pin drop in Leno's NBC studio.
It came after Leno gently asked Kanye West if his mother would have been disappointed in West's behavior toward Taylor Swift at Sunday's MTV Video Music Awards. After a long pause, a clearly regretful West answered that he'd have to take some time off and ponder how best to live a better life.
Posted by courier at 09:50 AM. Filed under: Entertainment
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Batman: Arkham Asylum
For: Xbox 360 and Playstation 3
From: Rocksteady Studios/Eidos
ESRB Rating: Teen (alcohol and
tobacco reference, blood, mild
language, suggestive themes, violence)
Good licensed videogames find a way to mold their subject matter so it conforms to whatever established gameplay genre it's trying to imitate. The bold ones, meanwhile, do the opposite, bending and melting popular gameplay conventions until they do justice to the license rather than the other way around.
"Batman: Arkham Asylum," to both its benefit and detriment, is one of the boldest licensed games around.
Presentationally speaking, it's the best game of the year thus far. "Asylum" toes a line between the animated series and the recent, darker films, but it never displays anything less than a spotless understanding of the Batman universe. A good storyline works in tandem with some incredible voice acting (much of it employing the same actors from the animated series), and the game is stuffed with audio and visual storytelling nuggets that overlay the action (a la "Bioshock") rather than interfere with it. Everything from the character designs to the speedy and stylish map/inventory/menu interface benefits from a superlative level of care.
Posted by courier at 08:10 AM. Filed under: Entertainment
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By Olivia Guitron, Courier Staff Writer
Auditions for the Fall 2009 play "Twelve Angry Jurors" will be held after school Wednesday, in the Little Theater.
Debbie Hughes, director and head of the Drama department, will be there to evaluate students. Students should come prepared with a memorized monologue of at least 30 seconds.
Posted by courier at 09:30 AM. Filed under: Entertainment
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Jericho Faustino/Courier Photo
Feng Nian
2650 Bridgeway
Sausalito, CA 94965
(415) 331-5300
Feng Nian, located on Bridgeway St. in Sausalito, is a small Chinese restaurant that serves Szechwan, Mandarin and Hunan cuisine. Feng Nian serves fresh crab, lobster and other seafood daily.
My meal consisted of honey glazed prawns with walnuts, spicy basil crispy beef, a dish called "Tofu Family" (tofu and vegetable), and a plate of vegetable Chow Mein.
I was expecting better quality food for the price we paid, but the portions where good enough for me and my parents. I thought the spicy crispy beef tasted salty and unappealing and it had a unique texture I can't seem to describe.
Posted by courier at 09:39 AM. Filed under: Entertainment
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By Micah Mahinay, Courier Staff Writer
If you’re into hipsters, the smell of cigarettes, and live near San Jose, The Voodoo Lounge is a fun, and young club that includes awesome Dj’s and performing artists who put on a great show for the club hoppers.
There’s a bar upstairs and downstairs with couches to comfort you and your date, or to simply make new friends by socializing with them. Last Sunday on September 6th a Los Angeles DJ named Steve Aoki put on a great show for the audience playing many electronic beats and tracks for the crowd to dance and jump to.
Posted by courier at 07:56 AM. Filed under: Entertainment
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By Eric Brown, Courier Staff Writer
Just over three years ago, the Arctic Monkeys emerged onto the music scene with their critically acclaimed and massively hyped debut album,
Whatever People Say I Am, That’s What I’m Not. Immediately rumors began to circulate that the British band was the next Oasis—perhaps the highest praise possible by a U.K. critic.
With their latest release,
Humbug, the Arctic Monkeys along with new producer Josh Homme (of Queens of the Stone Age fame) have avoided the dangerous waters that accompany high expectations by crafting a dark and cynical departure from their typical style.
Posted by courier at 09:40 AM. Filed under: Entertainment
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By Brandie Moore, Courier Book Editor
As most people know, Kelly Clarkson was the first
American Idol winner back in 2002. Seven years later she came out with her fourth full-length album,
All I've Ever Wanted.
All I Ever Wanted came out last Spring. Since then, she already has three music videos out from the CD. These include
My life Would Suck Without You, I Do Not Hook Up, and
Already Gone.
After listening to this CD a few times, I couldn't stop. Some of these songs have such strong messages in them I just wanted to hear them more to hear the words again. Also, the music behind the words is just so well done that it drags you into the flow of the sound.
Posted by courier at 09:16 AM. Filed under: Entertainment
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By Joe Facundo, Courier Staff Writer
With a style infused with pure "rugged and raw" lyrics, Nero is one rapper's name people should be watching out for in the future.
This 16-year'old emcee, hailing from Harlem, is a monster when it comes to his brutal wordplay over beats. His Mixtape "Alive and Vibrant: Relive the Moment", produced by Mike Waxx, is a tribute to the golden age of hip-hop, the early 90s. He spits his rhymes alongside fellow emcees such as JRockwell, Hassan Mackley and TreaZon.
Posted by courier at 08:24 AM. Filed under: Entertainment
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Thom Yorke
wikipedia photo
When one thinks of alternative rock band Radiohead, oddball front man Thom Yorke may come to mind. With a droopy eyelid and questionable taste in hairstyles throughout the years, Thom Yorke is anything but ordinary, just as a song leaking out of nowhere is bizarre.
On August 12, a track entitled “These Are My Twisted Words” surfaced on the At Ease Web Radiohead news website message boards. The song is reminiscent of Radiohead’s 2007 album “In Rainbows,” with a mix of a slow paced alternative sound mixed with different electronic effects.
“These Are My Twisted Words” is available for
free download on the Radiohead online store.
Posted by courier at 08:14 AM. Filed under: Entertainment
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By Olivia Guitron, Courier Staff Writer
Not many students would pick up a copy of a news magazine when going through the check-out counter of their favorite store, but they should. News is an important way to learn about our world, and what is going on around us. It can help you become aware of what is going on beyond afterschool programs, math class, and how stressful going back to school can be.
To jumpstart interest in the news, a recent edition of Newsweek magazine, with the help of Kaplan, came out with its report on colleges, made especially for prospective students and students who are still unsure about going to college. This edition of Newsweek is entitled
Finding the Right College for You, and is packed with information on colleges, SAT and ACT testing, and links that could help you register for college. Newsweek has also reported its Top 25 colleges, each with a unique reason for why it was chosen.
Posted by courier at 12:40 PM. Filed under: Entertainment
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Evermore:Immortals
by Alyson Noél
Reading level: Young Adult
Paperback: 320 pages
Publisher: St. Martin's Griffin
Language: English
ISBN-10: 031253275X
ISBN-13: 978-0312532758"I wasn't always a freak. I used to be a normal teen. The kind who went to school dances, had celebrity crushes, and was so vain about my long blond hair I wouldn't dream of scraping it back into a ponytail and hiding beneath a big hooded sweatshirt. I had a mom, a dad, a little sister named Riley, and a sweet yellow lab named buttercup. I lived in a nice house, in a good neighborhood, in Eugene, Oregon. I was popular, happy, and could hardly wait for junior year to begin since I'd just made varsity cheerleader. My life was complete, and the sky was the limit. And even though that last part is total cliché, it's also ironically true. Yet all of that's just hearsay as far as I'm concerned. Because ever since the accident, the only thing I can clearly remember is dying."
It's always hard to hear about kids who lost their parents. The main character in this book, Ever Bloom, knows the feeling, but, not only does she lose her parents, she also gains a whole bunch of psychic abilities. After the crash she and her family were in, she can see people's auras, hear people's thoughts and know their whole life stories with only one touch.
Posted by courier at 10:07 AM. Filed under: Entertainment
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Professor Layton
and the Diabolical Box
For: Nintendo DS
From: Level-5/Nintendo
ESRB Rating: Everyone (alcohol
reference, mild violence)
The most surprising thing about "Professor Layton and the Diabolical Box" might be that it's here and ready for public consumption. Nintendo of America has been uncommonly quiet about the game, stealthily unveiling its existence a few months ago and keeping similarly quiet in the run-up to its arrival on shelves.
The hushed tones somewhat make sense, because really, what is there to say? For those who played "Professor Layton and the Curious Village" last year, "Box" is explicitly more of the same — a new storyline, three digits' worth of new brainteasers to solve, but otherwise a nearly-identical game in terms of graphics, music, presentation, interface and philosophy.
Posted by courier at 09:50 AM. Filed under: Entertainment
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By Troy Wolverton
San Jose Mercury News (MCT)
Those who remember the cheesy horror flicks of the '50s might not believe it, but 3-D movies are experiencing a renaissance and may usher in an era where viewing images in three dimensions is the rule, not the exception.
In the past five years, about 20 3-D films have hit theaters, most recently "The Final Destination" last weekend. Another 50 or so are in production, including "Avatar," the latest film from "Titanic" director James Cameron.
Posted by courier at 05:53 AM. Filed under: Entertainment
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By Carla Meyer
McClatchy Newspapers (MCT)
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — On the road most of the past decade, Papa Roach singer Jacoby Shaddix and guitarist Jerry Horton try to make the moments count when they come home to the Sacramento area — whether that means family or philanthropy.
When Horton, 34, returns home, he might take a bicycle ride along the American River trail with his 3-year-old daughter in tow in her trailer. They also might listen to a little Norah Jones.
Posted by courier at 08:16 AM. Filed under: Entertainment
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"Sense and Sensibility and Sea Monsters"
by Jane Austen and Ben H. Masters;
Quirk Books, Philadelphia
(344 pages, $12.95)
"Sense and Sensibility and Sea Monsters" is a hoot, but Jane Austen purists will shudder.
Ben H. Masters, playwright and author, has created an amusing mash-up of Jane Austin's classic novel using Jules Verne's fantasy, Robert Louis Stevenson's adventures, the eldritch horror of H.P. Lovecraft, and extensive use of a thesaurus.
Austen's original "Sense and Sensibility" covers two years in the life of the three Dashwood daughters — mostly the elder two, Elinor and Marianne — as they fall in and out of love, according to the rigid social strictures of the 19th century English Regency period. Survival dominates "Sea Monsters" where every fish lusts for human blood.
Posted by courier at 07:33 AM. Filed under: Entertainment
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Little King's Story
For: Nintendo Wii
From: Marvelous Entertainment/XSEED
ESRB Rating: Teen (crude humor,
mild cartoon violence, suggestive themes,
use of alcohol)
There's nothing particularly little about "Little King's Story," which takes the gameplay sensibilities of Nintendo's "Pikmin" and mashes it into a kingdom-management game that's as ambitious and guilefully challenging as it is charming and surprisingly accessible.
As "Pikmin" did, "Story" stars you as the central figurehead — the titular king, in this case — and lets you instruct your underlings to do your bidding and heavy lifting. In "Story's" case, those underlings come from your kingdom and train to become soldiers, carpenters, cooks and more. You can train your citizens (the population of which grows as you expand your kingdom) to embody different job classes, and you then can instruct different configurations of workers (up to six at first, and eventually up to 30) to follow you as you complete tasks each class is best suited to handle.
Posted by courier at 08:14 AM. Filed under: Entertainment
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