ENTERTAINMENTpage 13 Technique • Friday, September 26, 2003 • 13 Taste is relative. Point Tech! Everyone who is anyone attended Yellow Jacket volleyball keeps No. ENTERTAINMENT last weekend’s Taste of Atlanta. 5 ranking with twelve-game Check out our review. Page 20 winning streak. Page 24 Technique • Friday, September 26, 2003

Dad’s Garage “Desperately Wanting” more Party at Tapped in the Park with 99x Atlanta’s Oktoberfest! Local At- brings new play lanta rock bands converge at Park Tavern in Piedmont Park Saturday By Erich Hansen py Day, we have on good authority from 6 p.m. to midnight and Sun- Contributing Writer Graham’s ashes will be in attendance day from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m. Bands opening night,” said Director Sean include To Whom It Concerns, The late Chapman, formerly of Daniels in a press brief. “I think Transmission, Acres, Big Atomic, Monty Python fame, wrote Out of we’re going to work them into the Bachelor Red, 13 Stories, Down the Trees, which premiered Friday, set.” Virginia and Waterproof Feat. Tick- Sept. 19 and runs until Oct. 25. Out of the Trees is a series of sketch- ets are $5 for Freeloaders, and eight Dad’s Garage Theater Company has es Chapman wrote which have been for everyone else. a bit of a history with Chapman; his adapted for the stage. The play itself Oh Happy Day is reminiscent of premiered at Monty Python’s Do the timewarp Dad’s Garage “The sketches touch Flying Circus. roughly three Fans of the show again at Lefont years ago. on everything from would be Dad’s Garage the crucial issue of pleased with the For those who have never seen was founded in production. the Rocky Horror Picture Show, it is 1995. It includes icebergs...gay The sketch- time. For veterans, why not see it a 140-seat main professional wrestlers, es touch on ev- again, the way it was meant to be stage and a 40- erything from seen—at midnight and in costume. seat black box and, of course, plenty the crucial issue Rocky Horror is one musical every- theater (known as of satire.” of icebergs to one should see. It is a trip. Screen- the Top Shelf). In appendectomy ings run every Friday at midnight at addition to this to gay profes- Lefont Plaza Theater. new play, the ven- sional wrestlers, ue is known for having great im- and, of course, plenty of satire. Geng- prov. his Kahn reappears throughout the Medu Records Out of the Trees doesn’t stop for show, as does an anonymous histor- the intermission. In the concession ical announcer. releases first album Like Monty Python, Out of the area, an overly ambitious employee The record company started by Trees pushes humor to the bounds By Peter Jensen / STUDENT PUBLICATIONS satirizes a bank robbery. A profes- a group of Georgia Tech graduates sional wrestler in drag fights a fold- of political correctness. However, Lead singer, Kevin Griffin, of Better Than Ezra rocked the night away has finally released their first album. ing chair and a laundry basket. Then the play satirizes touchy subjects such at the Ferst Center on Monday. Students enjoyed the show and Medu Movements, The First Occa- the show starts again. even had the chance to receive autographs afterwards. sion, a hip-hop and soul compila- “As with the opening of O Hap- See Garage, page 17 tion featuring all their artists, drops today. It can be purchased at www.cdbaby.com and Tower Gigantic custom car show invades Atlanta Speedway Records on Peachtree. Look for in- depth coverage next week. By Vivian Vakili competitions for Registrant with best Spectators find this competition cluded the Street Glow Off compe- Senior Staff Writer use of NOPI theme on, in or around quite the sensory experience, as many tition, the Foam Pit and the swim- vehicle, Best of Show Exotic, Best of the competing cars have an exor- suit competition. The Street Glow Great Storytellers Fast cars, slow women and, well, of Show Luxury and Best Celebri- bitant amount of woofers, amplifi- Off competition is held on the track lots of free time: this could possibly ty-Driven Vehicle. The victor of ers and batteries to increase both the in the evening. As NOPI describes converge at Phipps be the catch phrase for Number One this latter competition was basket- noise that the car makes while rac- it, this is where the “hottest cars Parts Incorporated (NOPI) Nation- ball star Shaquille O’Neal for his ing and the changes of going home with the coolest lights hang out This weekend wraps up the sec- als, held at the Atlanta Motor Speed- custom Cadillac Escalade. with a trophy. around the stage and foam pit.” ond annual Atlanta Literary Festi- way this past weekend. The drag racing competition was Yet another event was the Unit- Speaking of the foam pit, should val. The festival aims to provide an NOPI Nationals is an opportu- perhaps one of the most interest- ed States Autosound Competition. one have tired of watching strobe- amalgamation of authors and liter- nity for those interested in custom- ing. For those unfamiliar with drag This is a competition based upon a like neon lights twinkle underneath ary fans in the south. The main izing cars to show off their racing, here is a brief synopsis. First, set of criteria including sound qual- and around Dodge Vipers, one could event will be held this weekend at accomplishments. This year over the vehicles are sorted according to ity, imaging and installation quali- have made her way over to this pit Phipps Plaza Mall Saturday from 100,000 people attended, which class. They are then ranked accord- ty. Generally speaking, the vehicles of gyrating, half-naked men and 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. and Sunday from made it more than just a small, back ing to loudness, with the three loudest are ranked by how loud they can women, all clad in little more than noon to 6 p.m. Sunday. This year’s alley get together. vehicles in each class usually get- play. focus is Great Storytellers of the South. Among the events, one could find ting trophies. Other crowd-thrilling events in- See NOPI, page 17 Saturday jazz show Rock, Scott fail to form coherent plot in Rundown at Ferst Center By Chelsea Paxton his drawn-out adventure in the Bra- Jazz sensation Peter Cincotti, 19, Contributing Writer zilian Amazon. Travis, played by performs this Saturday at the Ferst Seann William Scott (of Stifler fame) Center. His talent has been com- At first glance The Rundown, in is a wise-talking, twenty-something pared to that of Harry Connick, Jr. theaters Sept. 26, appears to have all archeology dropout who is set on and Frank Sinatra. Check out our the makings of a box-office block- uncovering the legendary Gato be- review next week. The show starts buster: a high-profile cast, ample fight- fore even considering leaving the at 8 p.m with tickets ranging in ing sequences, explosions and an jungle. Of course, this is contrary to price from $20 to $30. exotic setting in the Brazilian Ama- Beck’s plans and thus, assortments zon. of problems arise. Promoted as a “contemporary ac- Throw in Christopher Walken Heavy, loud and tion comedy,” this movie, however, and you have yourself a movie. Walk- vacillates unnaturally between com- en stars as Hatcher, a corrupt dicta- dangerous clogs edy, action and drama. The result is tor who has created a gold-mining that no genre is fully developed and empire and entrapped the Brazilian This Broadway production show- the audience is left slightly amused townspeople with low wages for slave cases Irish dance, song and culture but very confused. labor. in a visual spectacle. Whether seen The Rock stars as Beck, a bounty When he hears of Travis’ plans for the first time or the fifth, the hunter of sorts sent to complete one to uncover the golden Gato, a run- production is big on entertainment final mission before being released down ensues to capture Beck and value. Tickets range from $15 to By Myles Arnowitz / Universal Pictures from his highly dangerous and very Travis before they can escape the $50 at the Fox Theatre. Shows run Beck, played by The Rock, and Travis, played by Seann William Scott shady line of work. The mission: at 8 p.m. on weekdays and twice on rumble in the Amazon River in The Rundown, opening in theaters today. bring back the boss’ son, Travis, from See Amazon, page 14 the weekend. 14 • Friday, September 26, 2003 • Technique ENTERTAINMENT

Amazon from page 13 all with a very gritty, real perfor- Scream! It will make you feel better mance. Amazon with the legendary artifact. The downfall of this picture is here; almost all of the props are hand- The plot thickens as Mariana, that the comedic relief in the form made by people that really know played by Rosario Dawson, bartender of midgets, horny monkeys and an what they’re doing. by day and rebel leader by night, incoherent jeep driver/guide just These guys are pros, literally. For accompanies the duo as their guide doesn’t flow dispersed between solely many of them, it’s their full-time through the jungle maze. dramatic scenes. job to scare the crap out of you, and The overall result is that The The theme is not “action-come- they’ve gotten quite good at it. Rundown hits-and-misses in several dy” but “drama-comedy” which sim- Having gone through both alone areas. The Rock’s role emphasizes ply doesn’t make sense. Had the and in a group, let me just say that his physical presence and fighting movie been primarily dramatic or the group is vital. skills instead of highlighting his co- primarily comedic, then the overall A good scare, like a good laugh, medic abilities, as were evidenced package would have been more co- is contagious and has a cumulative in his Saturday Night Live perfor- herent and more entertaining. effect, especially if you have just the mances of the past few years, and If you’re looking for a passive right group. Scott is typecast once again in a movie-going experience, with ma- I personally recommend wait- Stifler-esque role. trix-like kung fu fighting, beautiful ing until a bunch of teenie-boppers The outcome is little chemistry scenery, a killer soundtrack and a show up. They scream real loud. among the leading men; what may few amused laughs, then this movie Netherworld is not for people look like dry acting is honestly a is for you. Otherwise, spend your who aren’t willing to let themselves lacking script. Walken is brilliant, money on something more engag- be scared, so don’t waste your ticket delivering his trademark style, and ing and wait until this one airs on going in with someone who’s going Dawson surprisingly outshines them TBS some lazy summer afternoon. to try to stand there like a rough- neck whenever a good scare comes along. He’ll kill the vibe and you won’t get your money’s worth. As much as I hate detracting from what is so obviously a labor of love, it’s not my job to write their public- ity ads. The Netherworld does, in fact, have its downside. For one thing, it’s a bit too long. It hits its peak about three-fourths of the way Photo Courtesy 360 Media through and by the time the home Netherworld, quite possibly the most horrifying haunted house in the stretch rolls around, your adrenal nation, located off Dawson Blvd. in Gwinnett County is open every glands are pretty well pumped dry. weekend. The founders are professional props designers for movies. Thus, I really can’t, in good con- science, recommend that the casual By Evan Zasoski I-85, the Netherworld is Atlanta’s phobophiles plunk down the extra Contributing Writer premier haunted house destination. chump change for the Vault 13 up- It was founded by Billy Messina grade, which is pretty much a con- Don’t bother going to Nether- and Ben Armstrong as a way to get tinuation of the same. world if you’re just going to play the all the fun rewards of working in the Though, since there’s nothing tough guy who refuses to get scared. horror film industry without hav- actually wrong with Vault 13, you You won’t have a very good time, ing to be away from home most of hardcore types and full-on sissies and on top of that, you will fail. the time. can go right ahead and have a blast. So unless you’re willing to sus- Prepared the whole year round Minor gripes not withstanding, pend a little disbelief and let your- by a dedicated core of enthusiasts, Netherworld is great fun, and good self get scared, and I mean pee in the Netherworld offers much more times will be had by all who attend. By Myles Arnowitz / Universal Pictures your pants scared, you’ll be wasting than you’re likely to find at your And, in conclusion, if you don’t The Rock must travel to the Amazon to bring back his boss’s son, played your time. local fair or Halloween carnival. come out drenched in sweat, you by Seann William Scott. The movie tries to mesh many genres into one Located on Dawson Blvd. off of Nothing from “Bob’s Joke Shack” just weren’t trying hard enough. decipherable move but fails at the attempt, mainly due to the script. ENTERTAINMENT Technique • Friday, September 26, 2003 • 15 Pot, teachers, bikers ...10101101 10101010101010101...... Two Bits and tattoos...is it love? Why is it that when something is more traumatizing—Neverland Monkey: EE-OOOOO-EEE-UU! seemingly easy, someone has to say, Ranch? ...and then, I hang up. This is really “It’s so easy a monkey could do it?” Here I am having to use Matlab no different than current telemar- I’ve pondered this one for a very whenever I need to do any serious keting, except current telemarket- long time, and I finally I realized calculus, and Bubbles is riding a ers usually aren’t that articulate. that it doesn’t really say anything merry go round with Michael Jack- CEO of Hallmark—A typical about the relative ease of the task, son. This seems day at the office but it speaks volumes about the over- like a gross misal- for the CEO of whelming adroitness of monkeys. location of brain- Hallmark starts Apparently, they’re the most adapt- power. with a cup of able creatures on earth. Furthermore, “I probably shouldn’t coffee and a toss If you think about it, humans we outsource mil- of the Dart Of specialize in a chosen field. I, for lions of jobs to for- spoil the surprise, but Profit. Each example, work as a system adminis- eign countries in next year, look morning, he trator, and I think setting up enter- the interest of sav- throws a dart at prise spam filtering is so easy a monkey ing money, but forward to Left- the calendar, so could do it. why should cor- handed Anorexic he can make a On the other hand, I don’t think porate America new holiday just any random neuroophthalmol- pay a whole nick- Day.” that needs a ogist could handle the same system el per hour to greeting card. administration task. Monkeys are third-world five- In his reign clearly better suited for the work- year-olds when monkeys can sew as CEO, many important holidays force due to their versatility. buttons just as easily? Besides, when such as Grandparents Day and Saint How often has a math professor we don’t outsource, clothing man- Patrick’s Day have gone from sim- here told you that a fifth-degree ra- ufacturers can put that “Made in ple, little-celebrated holidays to epic Photo Courtesy Madstone Publicity tional gradient is so easy to find that USA” tag inside, which is of the card-buying frenzies. Tatoo, a love story chronicles a conservative teacher who falls in love with a monkey could do it? utmost importance for the stylish I probably shouldn’t spoil the a tattooed biker. The film, which opens today for one week at Madstone Ask a mechanic...flushing a ra- aficionados of Wal-Mart couture. surprise, but next year, look for- Theaters, has won several awards at independent film festivals. diator is so easy a monkey could do Of course, monkeys have so many ward to Left-handed Anorexic Day. it. According to one of my CS4400 job skills that they go beyond sim- Give Your Favorite 94 Pound By Erin Gatlin produced or not. classmates, de- ple factory work Southpaw a Hug, and think of the Contributing Writer What makes Tattoo unique, and signing and im- and multivari- Dart Of Profit [tm]. Of course, the what makes it a truly good movie, plementing a able calculus. moral of this is that monkeys play If you like romantic comedies, are elements so rarely found in main- database with “So, I’m stumped. Some of the ones darts, too. but they’re all beginning to look a line film, such as non-idyllic char- SQL is so easy a that come to my Talk Radio Host—If any of you bit the same to you, here’s an inde- acters in non-idyllic relationships. monkey could do Why is it that for all mind are: ever listen to talk radio, you know pendent film you may want to check Standard romantic comedies nev- it. the jobs that monkeys Telemarket- that the host will never let someone out—Richard Bean’s Tattoo, a love er show failed couples that simply In all of these ing—The na- continue if they can cogently de- story. fail because of themselves—there’s cases, the mon- can do, we just waste tional bate. I’ll warn you now, if you’re look- always a villain to heap the blame key has the job their time by putting do-not-call list Basically, the host babbles for a ing for Hugh Grant, fancy ball gowns upon. skills. On the has done such a few minutes and then hangs up if á la Maid in Manhattan, a marriage Standard romantic comedies have other hand, The them in zoos and superb job of the caller has a solid response to the proposal at the finale or any combi- clear-cut endings like weddings or Two Bits Man circuses...” cutting back the host’s babblings. nation of the above, then go back to promises thereof, or at the very least certainly positions of so I think it’s pretty safe to say that mainstream theater and don’t bother a dramatic kiss. wouldn’t hire any many gainfully a monkey could do that. Besides, will this; you will hate it. Standard romantic comedies shade tree me- employed the monkey is probably a tad smart- Who ever heard of the knight in don’t involve pot-smoking elemen- chanic as an Oracle DBA, and I telemarketers that we might as well er anyway. shining armor as a body art-bedecked tary school teachers fantasizing about don’t know about you, but I don’t finish the job by filling the few re- I think that after I graduate, I biker with a beer gut? strangling third graders. want a neuroophthalmologist chang- maining positions with monkeys. will start my own company, and The eccentricities such as this Tattoo most definitely defies any ing the antifreeze on my truck, but The call would go something like employ all monkeys except for the give Tattoo its flavor as an indepen- formula viewers may have come to in all cases, experts in these fields this: HR Director. After all, there are dent film—the cinematography does expect, and for those feeling let down have postulated that monkeys are Two Bits Man: Hello? some jobs for which monkeys are not stand out as all that original or by mainstream movies lately, here’s immanently qualified. Monkey: EE-OOOOO-EEE-UU! just too smart. edgy, the subject is not particularly a film to make up for the lacuna and So, I’m stumped. Why is it that Two Bits Man: I’m not interested. Until I start that company, this different or startling. boost your spirits. Who knows, it for all the jobs that monkeys can do, Monkey: EE-OOOOO-EEE-UU! is the Two Bits Man reminding you After all, we are talking about a may even inspire you to get your we just waste their time by putting Two Bits Man: No, really, I’m not that writing for the Technique is so romantic comedy, independently own bit of body art. them in zoos, circuses and—even interested. easy that a monkey could do it. ointhe‘nique j blueprint erato northavenuereview

writers i photographers i

pizza-eaters i editors i movie critics i video

game players i sports enthusiasts i layout

designers i artists i theater-goers i engineers 16 • Friday, September 26, 2003 • Technique ENTERTAINMENT

superior in performance. Among the NOPI from page 13 project cars was a 2003 Hyundai Tiburon, with a custom dragon mural Yummy in my tummy, plus some class soap, water, speedos and bikinis. painted on its hood, 18” Konig Ab- By Art Seavey the night. He has opened his own A decent simplistic penne pasta The Swimsuit Competition was solute Graphite Wheels and AEM Entertainment Editor restaurant in Manhattan after can- with marinara sauce was supplied also heavily attended. The ladies Cold-Air Intake. celling his hit television show. The by Roswell Road’s Food 101. The competed for hefty monetary prizes All things considered, NOPI Each year the Macy’s parking lot reason? According to the chef, he Imperial Fez off of Peachtree, pro- while the men’s notions of souped- Nationals was definitely a good time. at Lenox is overtaken by a horde of had no time to eat. vided tiny delectable chocolate and up cars attracting hot chicks were It didn’t really provide any motiva- the most exquisite restaurants At- Over fifty restaurants were rep- berry-filled phyllo pastries along with reinforced. tion to add custom rims and hy- lanta has to offer. This year’s Taste resented Friday night for the open- juicy lamb. The coolest exhibit at the show draulics to my car, but it did educate of Atlanta’s opening party proved Emeril’s Atlanta proved to be was probably all the project cars. me a bit on how performance vehi- to be a stomach-filling event carried the lone exception of the night. Their These are vehicles that have been cles work and why people take the out in style. The charity event car- undecipherable attempt at a gum- altered in various ways to make them time to create them. ried a hefty price tag, but was well “The Imperial bo-type stew was simply salty and worth it. Since when is a chocolate Fez...provided tiny bland. Emeril needs to return to fountain followed by a gigantic ice delectable chocolate Atlanta to put the “Bam!” back in Garage from page 13 one sketch to begin as the previous sculpture of an Absolut Vodka bot- his restaurant. ends. tle not heaven on earth? and berry filled phyllo Roy’s had truly the tastiest fare. as discrimination and religion to an Out of the Trees proves to be an The nouveau riche of the city Their shrimp and sausage skewer extent beyond Pythonesque humor. interesting, entertaining, and hilar- took the chance to display what they pastries, along with with pineapple salsa was amazing. The play proves a little more con- ious evening for both fans and non- thought was fashion forward for the juicy lamb. ” Now to the desserts. Carvel had troversial. fans alike. Make sure to take some time, with the classic tuxedo mak- a huge bar of ice cream and top- To accommodate the plethora time out and attend the show. ing an appearance every now and pings to mix and match that ended of visual stimuli, a visually stunning then. The atmosphere was com- in a sugar overload. Of course, there set was needed. To this end, set Performances are Thursday through munal, however, especially once the ing with many more to follow over was still room left for creamy oreo designer Lizz Dorsey did a remark- Sunday at 8 p.m. Tickets range from free alcohol and music started to the weekend. Although the lines cheesecake from Atlanta Bread Com- able job creating a unique stage. $15 to $20 with a Pay-What-You- flow. were endless and a few booths ran pany. Seamless sketch transitions are Can performance on September 29th. To top that, the Iron Chef him- out before the party began to wind When next year rolls around, take possible due to dividing the stage Dad’s Garage is located at 280 Eliza- self, Masaharu Morimoto, performed down, the food, for the most part, the time to volunteer or attend this into three different areas, allowing beth Street. special demonstrations throughout was delicious. tasty slice of Atlanta.

Incoherent Scribblings by Matt Norris