[email protected] Technique Entertainment Editor: Jennifer Aldoretta 15 Assistant Entertainment Editor: Friday, Entertainment Richard Otis August 28, 2009

Funny newspeople deliver Blomkamp’s somber District 9 brings a new twist to the alien Seth Meyers of Saturday Night Live and John invasion science fiction trope

Oliver of with FILM world. Naturally, humans of the world look to this occasion with a bring laughs to the Ferst Center for the Arts District 9 mix of hope and fear, anticipating GENRE: Drama, Sci-Fi either a new era of technological enlightenment or devastating war. STARRING: Sharlto Copley Instead, what they receive are DIRECTOR: Neill Blomkamp refugees; aliens far away from home, desperately trying to sur- RATING: R vive. RELEASED: August 21, 2009 They come to our world starved and frightened, an all too OUR TAKE: «««« « familiar story in Earth’s history. The aliens, while insect-like and slightly grotesque, invoke pathos By Yameen Huq through their seemingly emaci- Contributing Writer ated bodies and large, naive eyes. They’re referred to derogatorily In a world of giant Rock ‘Em as “prawns” and forced into Dis- Sock ‘Em Robots, comic adapta- trict 9, living in cramped, filthy tions, horror rehashes and TV re- conditions where they must forage makes, District 9 stands as one of for garbage. the most original movies in recent The allegories for racism years. flow throughout the movie. The Stylish and innovative, this clear references to the cruelty of film is a perfect conclusion to the apartheid regime in South Af- otherwise substandard summer rica are displayed in the suffering movie season, which for the most and inhumane treatment of the part consisted of only franchise “prawns.” continuations. At the same time, their suf- Despite the aliens, District 9 is fering is universalized. In the not a run-of-the-mill sci-fi movie. eviction , for example, the Through the use of a documen- “prawns” are forced to sign con- tary style and a cast of unknowns, tracts to be evicted, a concept that the film creates a sense of realism they do not even understand, by that films rarely attempt. their foreign oppressors. It begins with our planet re- ceiving visitors from another See District, page 20

Image courtesy of NBC PERFORMANCE treat for all returning Jackets and the highlight of Meyers’ portion Seth Meyers and John Oliver alumni alike. The success of the of the night came from the audi- presentation marked the begin- ence participation that showed off LOCATION: Ferst Center for ning of a promising school year. Meyers’ improvisational skills and the Arts Though both comedians are highlighted the Tech audience’s DATE: Aug. 21, 2009 famous for their contribution to appreciation of the comedian. The political humor on their respec- cooperation and responses from PERFORMERS: Seth Meyers tive television shows, neither of the audience made the evening and John Oliver the two focused primarily on po- even more enchanting. DURATION: 120 min. litical topics in their stand-up rou- John Oliver took the stage after tines on Friday night. Meyers, and he went down a more OUR TAKE: ««««« This resulted in fresh and de- personal and global approach to lightful materials that were not his one-hour showing of British anticipated by the audience, how- sophistication. By Zheng Zheng ever still meeting expectations of What led off as a “shocking” Staff Writer hilarity in the end. announcement of his British Seth Meyers, anchor of Satur- background slowly evolved into a It is only the second week day Night Live’s “Weekend Up- personal tale about Oliver’s arrival of school and the semester has date” segment, led off the evening in America, leading into a com- started out with a bang. This past by elaborating on the lifestyle of mentary on global culture. Friday, Georgia Tech’s Ferst Cen- modern youth in the American The stories involved friendship, ter for the Arts proudly presented culture. fellow comedian Demetri Martin, the unprecedented comedic blend From futons to hangovers to a stuffed bear that presumptu- of John Oliver (The Daily Show online shopping, nothing was out ously predicted Oliver’s end and with Jon Stewart) and Seth Meyers of bounds or outside the realm of much more. (Saturday Night Live). discussion for the young comic. Many of Oliver’s staple jokes The unique combination of the Meyers also drew mate- involved punch lines on cultural two relevant and political comedi- rial from his experience as a cast differences among the British and ans, both from popular television member on Saturday Night Live, Americans which were well re- programming, took the Institute sharing unforgettable anecdotes ceived by the audience. by storm as the event was com- on an embarrassing incident with Though a couple of Oliver’s pletely sold out by the night of the a musical guest as well as a tale jokes were interrupted due to au- show. involving former Governor Sarah dience disturbances, these “set- The spectacle was the perfect Palin and a man in a moose suit. welcome for freshmen as well as a Entertaining as the bits were, See Meyers, page 19 Image courtesy of TriStar Pictures

ENTERTAINMENT Technique • August 28, 2009 • 17 Mad Men illuminates darker side of ‘60s culture TELEVISION These include the cutthroat Pe- Mad Men ter Campbell as well as Ken Cos- grove, a fun-loving young man NETWORK: AMC with a penchant for writing. Toward the end of season two, WHEN: Sundays, 10 p.m. Betty found out about Don’s adul- GENRE: Drama terous behavior and kicked him out of the house. To maintain the STARRING: Jon Hamm, Draper family’s reputation, Betty January Jones, Vincent tells no one and can hardly handle Kartheiser, Elisabeth Moss the emotional breakdowns. OUR TAKE: ««««« In the finale, the question as to whether or not Don will move back in is answered by Betty find- By Kristin Hanson ing out she is pregnant. Staff Writer Season three starts out with another peek into Don’s past, The lives of Don Draper, his showing how he came to be ad- beautiful wife Betty and their two opted and why he wants to bury lovely children may look perfect his demons as deep as possible. from far away, but behind closed The British company that doors this 1960s picturesque fam- bought Sterling Cooper is making ily is anything but. a lot of changes and every employ- “Mad men” are the New York ee is anticipating a huge layoff. ad men who sell not just ideas, but Don and Sal, the art director, go ways of life to brands just making on a business trip together where it big in the 1950s and ‘60s, such Don still can’t quash his as Clearasil and Crest. ways and Sal begins to come to The mad men spend their days terms with his sexuality and the sitting in board meetings at Ster- taboos that surround it. ling Cooper, never far from a glass Mad Men never disappoints, of whiskey and their nights of and the season three premiere is wining and dining with potential Photo Illustration by Hamza Hasan / Student Publications no different. New drama, new clients. two seasons. It is a show that is ond season he becomes a partner during the day to rendezvous with characters, and new shocking Alongside the mad men are almost completely about character in the company. Everyone loves certain ladies who are not their turns of events keep the fans wait- their secretaries who are hiding development. There are reasons to him, but no one knows the de- wives. ing to see what the Madison Av- just as many secrets as them. In love and hate each and every one tails of his past or the fact that his While Don is making plays in enue mad men have in store week a town as ruthless as New York, of them. Even the most lovable name isn’t even Don Draper. the boardroom and the bedroom, after week. some will do anything to get characters have a dark side. Traditional 1960 family values there are several young up-and- With its subtle plot develop- ahead. Don Draper seemingly has it go out the window in Mad Men, coming executives that would do ment and award-winning charac- Mad Men has won an Emmy all. The show begins with Don as and it isn’t uncommon for the ex- anything to become Head of Ac- ters, Mad Men is truly a pleasure and Golden Globe with its first Head of Accounts, and in the sec- ecutives to leave for a few hours counts. to watch.

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Georgia Tech is an equal education and employment opportunity institution. 18 • August 28, 2009 • Technique ENTERTAINMENT

2 4 9 8 1 6 8 1 SUDOKU 3 6 8 4 7 6 9 5 2 7 5 2 6 1 3 PUZZLES 8 7 2 6 1 9 5 6 4 9 8 3 7 2 9 4 1 4 2 6 5 8 4 7 4 9 9 1 4 1 2 4 5 6 3 6 3 8 1 2 5 Fill in the grid so that every 4 9 row, column and 3 by 3 box 2 7 contains the digits 1 through 9. 83 6 sliver www.nique.net I don’t know if you’re trying to be nice or want some more. Give me a hint or I’m not biting. Come to Tech. We got a parking deck that collapsed, a kid pos- sibly going to prison for 60 year for being a suspected terrorist, oh and we also had 18 muggings on this campus within 1 semester! GANTZ is freaking sweet. Watch it and then read it. I love all of the redheads on campus! GTlogin is awesome! How come housing couldn’t identify and fix my broken dish- washer OR stove all summer? Which is worse, housing or parking? me 1770: the class that proves you couldn’t draw a straight line if it were to save your life new kids on the block Professor wants us to finish the problem at home? HAHAHA! EuraSIA!...SAI!...SAI!...SAI! is it just me or does the Whistle now sound like it used to? Shafted by GT on the second day. New record. The companile has water! Easy free way to exercise at Tech: WALK, don’t ride the bus. undergrad EE ranked 5th!! It’s Thursday at 12:23pm and I’m sitting in cs class 3 beers deep. Natty ice at noon. Fantastic. I just saw someone going to class on a segway. fml There should be “save the juice” stickers on proffesors offices. CHEEEEEEEEZ-IT. delicious. There’s melk on my pellow! School starts again...fml Eeeee! theDon...that is all The sliver should sue ... Where are they Joker! Hey OSCAR, I hate you too We tried to warn people of Obama... Yet again, Thursday afternoon and drunk in another class... Ways I could spend today: 1 Go to classes 2 Watch porn 3 sliver how am i going to get into the cheetah for free without football ticket stubs? that’s gonna be about tree fitty Zack built 1 road and bought 1 d card in settlers... what a fail! Dealing with the Gatech Financial Aid office is like dealing with a rich philanthropist that likes to punch people in the face before giving away money. Screw you Gatech Finaid, you bunch of inept morons. Don’t you dare cancel my classes for no reason. The flag girls are looking HOT this semester. To girl talking about how she had the lamest pickup line used on her, you were lucky to get that much attention. Hey Freshies, there’s a all girls school just 15 mins away. They love boys over there and will treat you like a human being and not just like a teddy bear. My roommate has the swine flu So, does that mean I get all A’s...or at least one B? MATH 1502 TA in Mason 142A, wants to have some fun with his students.... He’s speechless... all he has to do is say thanks! i’m starting a make-over service for this campus. you all need it. ENTERTAINMENT Technique • August 28, 2009 • 19 Sunday takes back inadequacy MUSIC different direction with softer vo- quiet confidence resurfacing. cals and guitar chords. “” will definitely Also contrasting with past be a fan-favorite because of the CDs, the lacks cohesive- sexual connotation that can be ap- GENRE: Rock ness due to a lack of an overall plied. Also, it’s catchy and could theme lyrically or musically. easily be stuck in your head. LABEL: Warner Bros. Even with the “new again” or The only song slightly remi- TRACK PICKS: “New Again,” rebirth identity nothing stands niscent of Taking Back Sunday’s “Sink Into Me,” “Swing” and out or breaks through. New Again older style is “Swing.” The first “Where My Mouth Is” just seems like a collection of stanza and the repetition in the songs with no power – no moti- bridge fits right in with the style RELEASED: June 2, 2009 vation for the audience to get up of second album, Where You Want OUR TAKE: «« ««« and sway, dance or something. It’s To Be. “Where My Mouth Is” isn’t bland in comparison to the vital- similar to past CDs, but stands ity of prior . out because it’s the only song to By Allyn Woodward The songs that might appear to concretely display the “new again” Staff Writer stand out because of similarity to direction. popular singles are “New Again,” The sound is completely dif- There hasn’t been much buzz “Sink into Me,” “Swing” and ferent, yet well-written and well- about Taking Back Sunday for “Where My Mouth Is.” played. The audience will not be some time, but now they’re back “New Again” is a witty twist begging for more. with their fourth studio album. on the fairy tale Little Red Rid- Overall, New Again Taking As a fan, I was excited about ing Hood. The song evokes a story Back Sunday is not “new” at all. their continued progression from about a toxic relationship, the re- The CD is not refreshing, ground- fledglings in the music industry sulting personal changes and the breaking or enticing. to powerhouse, as heard in their third album. However, I am deeply disap- pointed. With the heightened success of the third album, , there is the expectation of the con- tinued greatness heard in their last albums. New Again Image courtesy of Comedy Central However, is defi- nitely not a progression from the Comedian John Oliver is a recurring “correspondent” on the ir- glass-shattering experience of reverent news program The Daily Show with Jon Stewart. Oliver’s “What’s It Like To Be A Ghost,” stand-up routine often includes tirades on contemporary issues. “Twenty-Twenty Surgery” or “Er- ror: Operator” of Louder Now. It’s Meyers from page 15 along with the Meyers and Oli- a step backwards. ver’s ability to contrive humor on This CD should be the first -al backs” only provided more fuel the spot, confirmed their respec- bum of a new band, not the fourth for the British comic’s clever wit. tive reputations. album of an established and expe- The entire experience was par- Overall, the event was two rienced band. ticularly enjoyable as both enter- hours of unstoppable laughter With the departure of guitarist tainers seemed to have a thorough and high energy. Whether it was a Fred Mascherino and the studio understanding of their audience. night out with your friends, fam- introduction of Matt Fazzi, ref- The jokes were not simply generic ily or a date, John Oliver and Seth erenced in “Capital M-E” on the material that can be performed Meyers at the Ferst Center was a new album, musical and lyrical at any given location, like a New delightful encounter that success- changes are possible.

York City stand-up bar. fully kicked off the official first The direction seems drastic. Image courtesy of Warner Bros. The Tech-specific humor, weekend of the semester. The band went into a completely 20 • August 28, 2009 • Technique ENTERTAINMENT

District from page 15 At the heart of this is the man While subverting many popu- viewer never feels lost in the film’s not occur until the latter half of in charge of the eviction, Wilkus lar elements of sci-fi, District 9 intricate narrative. However, un- the film. Humans are portrayed rather Van De Merwe. An optimist at- still maintains a high level of like the joyous summer blockbust- The latter half of District 9 unflatteringly with gangs and tempting to do what he thinks is suspense. The documentary and ers one usually finds, this film is switches somewhat to standard corporations manipulating the best for everyone, Wilkus is acci- “shaky cam” aspect only serve to ultimately a tragedy, particularly Hollywood action fare, but the visitors and the general human dentally infused with alien DNA, heighten tension, particularly in in its commentary on the nature themes of racism and the human population treating them as a nui- leaving him capable of using alien the more brutal and chaotic medi- of humanity and its slight skepti- condition continue to the end of sance with no sense of “humani- weaponry and making him the cal scenes. Putting more emphasis cism in relation to social progress. the film. An open-ended conclu- ty.” Several scenes depict the gross target of human weapons dealers. on the scene and not on the shaky While the film is superb in all sion leaves the viewer to ponder and horrific mistreatment of the He has no choice but to go and cinematography, the film induces aspects of style and substance, I about these philosophical ques- aliens in the name of profit. The find a cure in the one place that suspense without nausea (as in must warn the viewer that the ad- tions. greed for their weaponry knows made him this way: District 9. Cloverfield). The film gradually vertising campaign does not accu- District 9, while satisfying the no bounds. The relative anonymity of its loses the emphasis on a documen- rately portray the film. If one goes need for thrill and action, rises The movie skillfully inter- cast serves to highlight the real- tary feel in favor of a more tradi- in expecting a sci-fi destruction above standard sci-fi fare with its weaves both a general narrative ism. While it won’t nab any Os- tional approach as the climax ap- bonanza like Transformers, one philosophical questions and deep, about the struggle between the cars in acting, the performances proaches. will be sorely disappointed. This sociological themes. Anyone who two species and the stories of the are all solid and, combined with Despite the occasionally dis- is an action film with an emphasis wishes to experience high-brow individuals most directly involved the CGI cast of aliens, helps jointed feel due to style, the film on story and substance and while science fiction is encouraged to in the struggle. maintain a believable movie. never feels confusing and the the action is exhilarating, it does watch this film.

Image courtesy of Tri Star Pictures

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Theme Crossword: Casino By Robert Zimmerman United Features Syndicate 41. South American plain 91. Deli patron 42. Middle: prefix 93. Wagner role ACROSS 43. Introverts 94. Small stone 1. Assembly-line pioneer 44. Singer Guthrie 96. Prepare for an anthem 5. Jezebel’s husband 48. It precedes Febrero 99. 200 mg 9. Self-righteous 50. Bye-bye 101. Very, in music 13. Feathered wader 52. AMA members 102. At the end of 17. Fit together 53. Make eyes the line, but still important 18. Dickens heroine 54. Gun the engine 108. Kennedy Library archi- 19. Make amends 55. “60 Minutes” network tect 20. Philosopher Descartes 58. Evasive answer 109. Chiang -- -shek 21. Viable 60. Radio’s Fibber 111. -- d’oeuvres 22. Forbidden 62. Presided at a banquet 112. Winter eaves-hanger 23. “... too deep for --” (Word- 65. Sports fan 113. Time-tested tunes sworth) 68. Dead-battery rescuer 119. Spotted 24. Turkish title 69. Still in the fight! 120. Mixture 25. Unless: law 73. Place for “Welcome” 121. Biblical mount 26. Phrase in 1954 Supreme 75. Subject of 1947 Camus 122. Money in Mazatlan Court headlines novel 123. Naysayers 29. View with open-mouthed 77. Nissan model 124. Penn or Connery surprise 78. Not your day job, probably 125. Martin Crane’s pooch 31. Radar warning 80. Asian starlings 126. Elegance 32. Baton Rouge inst. 82. -- Aviv 127. Light brown 33. Island in the Seine 83. Joplin offering 128. Ocean flyer 34. Not right away, but count 86. Small dam 129. Handyman’s handful on it! 87. Caviar 130. Front-page fodder 39. King 89. Bass or treble 131. Gateway --

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Piled Higher & Deeper by Jorge Cham Non Sequitur by Wiley

Crossword Solution from page 21 COMICS Technique • August 28, 2009 • 23

Non Sequitur by Wiley ® by Scott Adams