Page 8 Su “The Lior’ S s Er = Decorber 9, 2000 Eve on Ent SREY ertainment Thasq are the Voyages of a New Starship Futerprise By Adrienne Showalter - Lion's Eye Entertainment Editor - aus206@psu.edu In the 60’s Gene Rodenberry, a god to many Trekkies, wanted to cre- ate a science fiction show that didn’t just entertain but also touched on issues of the day: racism, human rights, war, and exploration versus imperialism. Rodenberry created a show with a positive future and included a cast of actors from diverse backgrounds who finally got to play against racial stereotypes. The show aired in 1966, after roughly six years in the works and a failed pilot, with the three lead characters; Captain James Tiberius Kirk (William Shatner), Mr. Spock (Leonard Nimoy), and Leonard “Bones” McCoy (DeForest Kelley). The show was not entirely a knockout success in its initial run, especially when it was moved Friday nights in its third season, but it de- veloped a loyal following due to its syndica- tion. An animated series, a slew of movies, and new series featuring new casts came and went leading us here: Star Trek 2009, a reboot of the franchise. First off, if you want to see this performance is just as cerebral and stoic. The rest of the cast is filled with tal- ented names like Simon Pegg (best known for the amazing comedies Shaun of the Dead and Hot Fuzz) as Scotty, Zoe Saldana as Uhura, Karl Urban (who does an amazing DeForest Kelley impression) as Bones, Anton Yelchin as Chekov, and John Cho as Sulu. It is an incredible cast and each actor avoids mockery and instead captures the essence of the original actors and their performances. In order to avoid spoiling the uninitiated with major plot details, it would be safe to say that the plotline attempts to create a plausible reason for re- booting the series within the timeline of the original series. The science, as with most science fiction shows and movies, requires the ability to suspend disbelief, but overall it does not detract from one’s enjoyment. The original Spock himself, Leonard Ni- moy, graces the movie with his presence, which helps smooth the transition between the original series and this new frontier. movie it is unnecessary to know Star Trek | photo courtesy of superawesomeblog.com The first ten minutes of the movie has history. If you do happen to know your original series trivia, you’ll enjoy much of the movie, understand many of the “in jokes,” but you may also find yourself slightly annoyed with a few alterations. However, you will be pleased overall. | The most important factor in a successful reboot of a franchise is find- ing the perfect actors to embody characters long beloved of the public. For Captain Kirk, director J.J. Abrams picked a relative unknown who previously worked in indie movies and dreadful low-budget romantic comedies. Chris Pine took on the role of the iconic captain of the USS Enterprise and made even the most skeptical fans proud with his cocky self-confidence, his ability to convey inherent leadership qualities, and his comedic skill. The next most important character in Star Trek history is Spock, the very logical Vulcan, who, in this case, is played by Heroes’ actor Zachary Quinto. Quinto’s resemblance to Leonard Nimoy, particularly with his fake ears applied, is incredible and his one of the most emotional, action-packed beginnings this reviewer has seen in a science fiction movie in ages. The special effects displayed in this initial scene really set the bar for the rest of the movie and it truly does deliver: space battles, the destruction of an entire planet, and new situations that cannot even be properly described without spoil- ing the entire plot required the use of masterful CGI skills, which Industrial Light and Magic fulfilled. This movie has action, romance (though it is the kind sure to offend hardcore Trekkies), adventure, and lensflare galore. It is entirely worth a watch (or two, or ten). The spirit of Rodenberry is alive and well, and thankfully this movie serves us with a positive counter to dark, but similarly brilliant movies like The Dark Knight. Suspend your judgments about science fiction, Star Trek, and geekdom and do yourself a favor, do what feels right, and see this movie. Grom the Dintage Bin ~ Chartie Brown Christmas ~ He Chinee (Guaralds Fic By Caitlin Olszewski - Lions Eye Generation Editor - c005024@psu.edu THE CRIGRIAL SOUND TRACK RECORDING OF THE CES TELEVISION SPECUL |. The turkey leftovers are diminishing and A CHARLIE BROWN that pumpkin you carved last month is rotting into VINCE SUARALDI an amorphous blob. Cheesy Christmas music will soon start to bombard your ears through every radio station, shopping mall, and television com- mercial. How do you stop it? How do you enjoy the holiday season without hearing Taylor Swift or N*SYNC crooning Christmas tunes? You listen to good Christmas music of course! What makes this album so great? Why is this soundtrack preferable over Dean Martin and the other drunken rat pack members? The answer is simple, my friends. The album, much like the Photo courtesy of womansday.com television special, is classic and timeless. It is simple, elegant, and it is to the point. In 1965 Guaraldi’s distinct piano style was perfectly paired with and Jerry Granell’s drums Fred Marshall’s nimble bass in order to provide a fitting accompani- ment to Schultz’s soon to be Christmas staple. Around that time this kind of music was associated with Jack Kerouac drinking gin over a typewriter or Allen Ginsberg and the beat generation. The album itself is primarily jazz but it gives a certain ambience of snow and the scent of pine needles. Being a perfect soundtrack to the Charlie Brown Christmas special, this album by the Vince Guaraldi Trio became as memorable as the Peanuts themselves. Honestly, who hasn’t seen the special on CBS? When the iconic “Linus and Lucy” plays, one au- tomatically thinks of all the Peanuts characters dancing on stage prior to their Christmas pageant. And the cover of Beethoven’s “Fur Elise” makes one remember the beloved Schroeder playing his piano for Lucy. “Hark the Herald Angels Sing” paints the picture of Charlie Brown’s joy as others save his Christmas tree. Simply put—what makes this album imperative at Christmastime is nostalgia. It reminds us of the only Christmas related television show that has proven to be time- less, ageless, and to uplift possible Christmas doldrums year after year. The album is sophisticated. It is not stereotypical Christmas music per say. Just think of it as seasonal piano jazz. So this Christmas, instead of cringing at The Jonas Brothers’ cover catastro- phes, sit by the fire and play this soundtrack. Or take a night drive, and look at the tree lights illuminating the night with The Vince Guaraldi Trio providing the perfect back- ground music. Just appreciate the jazz and let nostalgia take over. Live Long and Prosper! Gossip Girl: Hollywood Recap By Kionna Lipscomb Lion s Eye Entertainment Editor kz1122@psu.edu Back to the Basics. Nicole Richie is heading back to the small screen— television, but this time without former gal pal Paris Hilton. According to Star Magazine, the simply life beauty and new mother of two has signed a deal with ABC to star in and produce a half-hour sitcom, coming sometime in 2010. Although the show does not have a set title as of yet, Richie released this state- ment: “I am so excited to announce that I am officially working on a television project! I am creating a half hour scripted comedy for ABC in which I will be starring in, as well as producing.” She ", added, “The story re- volves around a young, modern and professional woman who must balance her business and family relationships. She must deal with, and navigate the many ideas of what a woman’s role is: modern vs. traditional.” Battle of the ex-in-laws. According to Star Magazine.com, former Alaskan governor Sarah Palin and Levi Johnston, Bristol Palin son’s father, is battling over he say she say. Ru- mors are surfacing that photo courtesy of babble.com Johnston has knowledge of Palin that the media : ‘would love to be familiar | with. Accusations that Palin would never want the public to know such as, her plan to hide her teen daughter’s, Bristol, pregnancy during the presidential cam- paign and how she refers to her son, Trig, with down-syndrome as “retarded”. | Disturbed by the news, Palin, who is promoting her new book “Going Rogue: An American Life” calls the attacks untrue and malicious. And who said she wasn’t a Hit-maker! I am sure that by now fame rapper Kanye West is eating his words. Although, he claimed her video wasn’t as up to par as Beyonce’s, now what will he say about her album recognitions? Tween starlet Taylor Swift’s self-titled CD, released in 2006, has earned her ground breaking honors as the artist with the longest-charting album on Bill- board’s top 200 charts. The album has surpassed its 157th week on the charts out beating the likes of country star Shania Twain’s and Canadian rock band Nickelback. Swift recently hosted SNL to promote her recent album Fearless.
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