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Home , David Fincher, Tony Almeida

[email protected] Technique Entertainment Editor: Daniel Spiller 15 Friday, Assistant Entertainment Editor: January 16, 2009 Entertainment Jennifer Aldoretta

Television

Jack Attack: 24 reignites This past Sunday, Kiefer By Kevin Shain multi-phased plan for death, de- Sutherland once again Contributing Writer struction and chaos. Meanwhile, geared up to be TV’s great- Bauer finds himself in the all too 24 est counter-terrorist, Jack There are few shows I can familiar situation of not being NETWORK: Fox Bauer. Teaming up with old remember that symbolize good given credit for saving the world partner Tony Almeida, fans old fashioned ass-kicking as many times over. It would seem as WHEN: Mondays at 9 p.m. can hopefully breathe easy 24 well as 24. Not only does though season seven has relatively STARRING: Kiefer now that Jack and company consistently offer thrilling, in- little to add to the blockbuster Sutherland, Cherry Jones, terwoven storylines that even- franchise, but that was before the seem to be returning to their and Annie original form. tually coalesce into a climactic second night of the two-night, Wersching sequence of events that takes four-hour season premiere. several hours of real time TV Now, I won’t ruin it for those PREMIERE DATE: Jan. 11, watching to resolve, but it also who haven’t seen it, but let’s just 2009 has . should al- say Tony Almeida is actually alive ready be aware of Jack Bauer’s and working undercover for Bill OUR TAKE: ««««« unrelenting magnetism by now, Buchanan and Chloe! Sorry, I so it should be no surprise that couldn’t help myself there. You he is back, yet again, for a sev- see, for the writers to come up enth season. with a that can surprise Jack’s seventh adventure be- and excite even longtime 24 vet- gan back in November 2008 erans takes something really spe- with a two-hour event called cial. The show’s main plot hasn’t 24: Redemption in which the even begun to unravel yet, and it events of the seventh season already feels like the later episodes take root: a civil war embroils from past seasons. ex-counterterrorism agent Bau- For those who haven’t caught er in a life-or-death situation on to the 24 craze yet, now might with a handful of orphans from not be the best time to get into it. the fictional African country of Season seven so far feels like the Sengala. Jack eventually leads producer’s way to apologize for a the orphans to safety, but in lackluster season six, so they’ve doing so surrenders himself to decided to pull out all the stops, the American authorities who and so far I couldn’t be more ex- have a warrant for his arrest re- cited. garding his history of torture, Characters from previous sea- thus concluding the two-hour sons have already started to make prologue. appearances (which may confuse Season seven starts out in new viewers) but don’t think for a much the same way as fans of second that you won’t regret avoid- the show are accustomed: ter- ing getting into 24. Do yourself a rorists manage to steal/kill/ favor and rent, buy or go online blow up an important tech- to watch past seasons. If season nology/senator/sewage plant, seven is of any indication, 24 has a

thus starting phase one of their bright future still ahead of it. Image courtesy of 20th Century Fox Television Tough Tor ino marks another Eastwood classic Gran Torino infested with thugs, foreigners and his neighbors. Kowalski stopped MOVIES gangbangers. at nothing to protect Thao and his GENRE: Crime/Drama Every word he utters is a racial family. STARRING: , slur and even a “thank you,” rare Yes, he becomes human emo- Bee Vang and Ahney Her for Kowalski, sounds like “piss tionally; however in his gang gar- off.” bage cleaning, Eastwood’s classic DIRECTOR: Clint Eastwood When his neighbor’s son Thao muscle flexes. RATING: R (Bee Vang), is forced by his small- For instance, in one scene time gang-leader cousin to an at- where Thao’s witty sister Sue (Ah- RELEASE DATE: Jan. 9, 2009 tempted robbery of Kowalski’s ney Her) gets accosted by some (USA) prized 1972 Gran Torino, the slum hoodlums, Eastwood glis- crabby Kowalski reacts. Grabbing tens a Colt .45 and hoarsely whis- OUR TAKE: ««««« his military issued M1 Garand, pers, “Ever notice how you come he enters a battle that he did not across somebody once in a while By Jarrett Oakley expect. that you shouldn’t have messed Staff Writer The cold, stoic, enraged person- with? That’s me.” Classic. ality alludes to all of his previous The 1972 Gran Torino plays a It has become a common ste- true grit characters in his illustri- small part physically in the film reotype in film and television ous career, but Clint Eastwood but it metaphorically represents a alike that elderly grandfathers all shows something in this portrayal notion much bigger. It symbolizes show disdain for today’s chang- of Kowalski that we haven’t seen: the rising tide and the undulat- ing youth with the loud rap music compassion. ing sea of high points of a person’s and funky-colored . They’re He befriends his Muong Viet- life and its eventual recession into depicted as cranky old men whose namese neighbors who are in des- nostalgia and rarity. voices resonate in VFW (Veter- perate need of protection from the This film, also directed by ans of Foreign Wars) halls where gang. Kowalski begins to become Eastwood, could be a story of his the old war heroes talk about the human again. own life. His polished genius has “good old days.” He allows emotion to seep stretched over a half century. From Enter Walt Kowalski played through the veins of his wrinkled the wind-chapped face cowboy in by America’s favorite glass-eat- skin. The hard-lined vet who once Unforgiven to the take-no-prison- ing, gun-toting, I’m-Dirty-Harry saw only disappointment and ers cop Dirty Harry, Eastwood is Clint Eastwood. Kowalski is a re- degeneration in people suddenly an American icon. tired Korean War hero widowed finds himself needed. Clint Eastwood’s tough bifo- by both his beloved wife as well He finds himself connected to cal perspective into generational Image courtesy of Warner Bros. as his family, and he is seeing the people who believe in his moral conflict in Gran Torino sticks to Detroit suburb that he lives in gets code of responsibility and honor in its guns. 16 • January 16, 2009 • Technique ENTERTAINMENT

GAMES

Persia revitalizes series with new art directioncreated much stir among critics. Many attacked the developers of Prince of Persia for making the game too easy and not providing the challenge associated with dy- ing in the game. In this Prince of Persia, the player takes control of not only the Prince, but also his new sidekick, Elika. Though both end up doing equal parts for progression, the player can employ Elika to use her magical abilities to help launch the Prince further, and will fight alongside the Prince in combat and ultimately save him in any situation where he may die. Any time the Prince is close to dying in a fight or will certainly die from falling, Elika will reach down and save him. If the Prince is about to die in combat, she saves him by pull- ing him away from the opponent, though the opponent may regain

Image courtesy of Ubisoft his or her health from taking out the Prince. Some may find this aspect of the worse, Ubisoft has completely re- something explicit, yet rhetorical. gions (each of which is subdivided game cheap and too easy, though Prince of Persia done Prince of Persia and given The environments can distract into six parts) and the Prince helps it is also easy to understand why CONSOLES: Xbox 360, the series at least a decent intro- the gamer from his or her objec- his new friend Elika, who uses her the developers did what they did. Playstation 3, PC duction to a new generation of tive, leading the player not towards magical abilities to rid the area of If the Prince were to die, many consoles. the next checkpoint, but wherever corruption. save points would be required and GENRE: Action/Adventure The most noticeable feature of the most fascinating and beautiful Each separate area essentially the game would become monoto- RATING: Teen the game is its artistic direction. environments seem to lie. requires the defeat of the region, nous, since the player would have By using an unconventional ap- Prince of Persia’s artistic direc- meaning the player has to fight to go through the same area mul- RELEASE DATE: Dec. 2, 2008 proach called “Illustrative” styl- tion easily beats most other games each “boss” six times, though new tiple times. OUR TAKE: ««««« ing, models, characters, objects of 2008 as well as 2007. Similar elements are typically added and With the ability to be saved and environments are rendered to Braid in its lush, captivating create a greater challenge each by Elika, the game is more fluid, with their concept art in mind, scenery, the game’s artistic basis is time. and there is a reduced chance of By Hamza Hasan not by photorealistic expectations. intrinsic in every aspect of game- The combat is all one-on-one grinding through the same part Staff Writer The game is similar to Okami, play. (or two-on-one, if including Elika over and over. Should the Prince which was designed with concept From an extremely simple user as a separate entity), and requires need Elika’s help too often, gam- Ubisoft’s latest release of Prince sketching, not realistic models. interface to straightforward yet timing, reflexes and creativity to ers will lose achievements and of Persia lets the Prince loose in a Although the scenery is not potent boss battles, the game is properly take out an enemy. Many trophies, and it takes far too long new generation of consoles. The photorealistic, this does not mean a monument to artistic efforts in different combo moves exist, and if a player is careless or lazy when latest installation of the game is the game cannot be believable. game design. players are rewarded for using the playing. Expert timing and an in- without precedent as it borrows Instead, the art seems to match The main goal of the game is to various available moves to defeat timate understanding of the game neither story nor gameplay from the tone of the game—something stop the Corruption from spread- enemies. previous games. For better or for magical, but also daunting, and ing. It has overtaken four major re- The gameplay mechanics have See Persia, page 18 ENTERTAINMENT Technique • January 16, 2009 • 17

MOVIES

BackwardsAlthough Button it is a shame to dis- ever,fastens the characters in Benjamin moviegoers world – shying away from external selection to of localesseats or the indistin- The Curious Case of appoint F. Scott Fitzgerald fans, Button have far more depth than events from 1918 to 2003. guishable open ocean, the small Benjamin Button the story has absolutely nothing those in Forrest Gump due to the Benjamin Button relies more world of the movie put a rein on GENRE: Drama/Fantasy in relation to his short story of the greater capability to intelligently on the character development and the audience by limiting them same name. The only tie between converse with the protagonist, the great tragedy of the protago- to the same isolated bubble that STARRING: and the two is Benjamin’s physical Benjamin. nist as the focus of the film. Benjamin was forced to occupy. condition, but even this has been Of course, the mothers in these One of the grand statistics of The movie’s special effects subtly DIRECTOR: David Fincher reformed by the film’s screenwriter films still have nuggets of wisdom this film is that David Fincher (the enhanced these simple character- RATING: PG-13 . given in a slight vernacular phrase, director of ) directed it. istics that made the film so as- Where Fitzgerald places the in this case the famous “life is like Fincher brings his characteristic tounding. RELEASE DATE: Dec. 25, mind of the character of similar a box of chocolates” shifts to “you ability to shape the movie into If it was rationally possible for a 2008 condition to the body at birth, never know what’s coming for quite the awe-inspiring cinematic person to age backwards, the film Roth sets Benjamin’s mind to his you.” accomplishment. certainly presents it in an accept- OUR TAKE: ««««« chronological age perhaps to make These little expressions just Much as it is in Fight Club, the able manner. Brad Pitt’s ability the character greatly more relat- seem to be a case of a caring moth- cinematography is frankly very to overcome the acting handicap By Kenny Phillips able to the audience. It sets a very er advising her misfortuned son to stunning. Finding the best cam- of taking on an older appearance Staff Writer stirring reversal when examining keep in mind the importance of era shots to impose the reality of while having to act in a younger the physical failings of Benjamin faith. What is markedly missing this fantasy, Fincher presents the mindset is quite an accomplish- Released on Christmas and throughout the film and, more in The Curious Case of Benjamin twentieth century as a world of ment. starring Brad Pitt and Cate importantly, colors his interac- Button is the humorous social cri- oil-lamp shadows and close, per- The cast of the movie deserves Blanchett, The Curious Case of tions in life. tique that was so prevalent in For- sonal interactions. The settings nothing but praise. Even the Benjamin Button details the life Much as Roth’s other work rest Gump. transported the viewers’ minds to smallest parts were brought out in of a man who is fated to age back- Forrest Gump, Benjamin’s life is Where Forrest was active in every location that Benjamin trav- a very realistic manner. The depth wards, and tells the unfortunate defined by his physical handicap, crucial events between the 1950s eled. and flaws and hardships add that hardships he suffers from such an and every character in the film is and the 1970s, Benjamin keeps his Although the sets were some- third dimension that is necessary outlandish constitution. a flawlessly written human. How- head down from the history of the what closed and limited to a small in a dramatic tragedy. The sense of loss is so drastically felt when the audience is able to so closely relate to the subject. To summarize my windy elabo- ration of the veneration this movie deserves, the key word would be subtlety. Although Benjamin is faced with unparalleled trials that no person has ever experienced (and likely never will), his tragedy of growing younger is never assault- ed upon the audience and instead merely hangs as an ever-present eventuality much as our own deaths. This allows the viewer to experience Benjamin’s present life with him. Even though the movie is quite slow in its plot progression, I would definitely say that Ben- jamin Button’s tale is worth the Image courtesy of Paramount two and a half hours of sitting in a movie theater.

sliver www.nique.net why is my roomates girl always crying about something??? chill out dude, damn I’m only a jerk to girls who have confirmed TBS (Defined as girls who only act interested in you to pursue their own agendas. That or just to copy your homework) It’s a me, a mitch. Why do I have to click “login” before I can put my info into T- square? Why isn’t that box on the T-square homepage?? The parking office hates students- I am trying to forgive them, but it’s hard. I don’t think ‘have a huge tournament next to CRC all Satur- day/Sunday’ would help us study for finals, unless it is somekind mime tournament Ga Tech class of 2008. None better. I had a REAL one night stand last night. Actually thats not true i just thought it would make a good sliv- er don’t siliver “sliver me timbers” like its original. I slivered that three years ago. what a backlog of slivers there must be when the nique doesn’t come out I’m sure they didn’t account for loud mouthed girls when they built the library Hey girls sitting in 3W in the library at 2:30AM SHUT UP!! One of the female student employees at the front desk of the Car- negie building(prez’ office) is very beautiful! To the guy wearing bunny slippers in the library, you rock. One night stand was awesome!!! I’m gonna go study a broad. I might study a few broads actually. So glad nextbus was added to the gtlogin-- you guys are the best residents!!!! 32 out of 200 Section grade for CHEM 1310? Get the bleep outta here Bottomley! Good God! They are throwing carrots everywhere! Make them stop I AM CHUD! 18 • January 16, 2009 • Technique ENTERTAINMENT

Music Persia from page 16 Th e m e Cr o s s w o r d : Re s u l t s Ma y Va r y are rewarded. Most importantly, the idea of saving another in the game is Britney’s Circus lacks steady ringleader a major premise in all character since “...Baby One More Time.” while in the booth to record “Out the lyrics. plots. All the evil characters saved Britney Spears, Paris Hilton, from Under,” and it shows. The The deluxe edition of the al- themselves by submitting to major Lindsay Lohan and other starlets half ballad, “Unusual You” is a bum is very worth it. It contains antagonist, Ahriman, the God of making music are in roughly the trippy song of confusion. “Phonography,” “Amnesia” and Darkness. same position. They all have a It’s surprisingly ethereal and maybe “Trouble,” if you’re lucky. The good characters (of which lot of money they can spend on trance-inducing. All in all, you “Phonography” is about exactly there are few), save others at their producers, but not a whole lot of should not listen to Circus for what you think it is. The song has own expense. However, the game musical talent. Whether it was her Spears’ voice. The songs that stand some pretty heavy suggestions. ends with one certain option that idea or just out of necessity, Spears out have almost nothing to do The instrumentation and produc- unlocks what may set up future has eschewed ballads and stuck to with her performance. tion are amazing. The physical releases on consoles, though little fast-paced electronic music. Singles aside, some of the best CD offers the best listen, all the speculation can be made on what Circus is really a producers’ al- songs are bonus tracks. The ones elements perfectly balanced in full the next game might be.

Image courtesy of Jive/Zomba bum and is a very collaborative ef- on the standard edition are “Shat- quality. The musical score of the game fort. Each song had between two tered Glass,” “If U Seek Amy” and “Amnesia” makes the same is also notable, as it was com- and seven writers and producers, “Lace and Leather.” promise as “Lace and Leather,” posed by Inon Zur, well known Britney Spears so no individual can claim owner- “Shattered Glass” is a pretty however, it is more catchy and fun. for the scores of Fallout 3, Cry- Circus ship. Only four of the album’s 19 straight-forward break-up song. “Trouble,” the iTunes pre-order sis and Prince of Persia: the Two LABEL: Jive/Zomba tracks were co-written by Spears, It’s short (under three minutes), track, is the most standout track. Thrones. and the songs she did co-write but that’s where the magic lies. It has the sickest beat as well as It works beautifully with and GENRE: Pop are much less personal than those The situation is less about the spe- the simplest. The lyrics aren’t any- against the backgrounds the TRACK PICKS: “Womanizer,” written for her. cific words and more about how thing particularly good, but the Prince ventures through. Pro- “Phonography” and Overall, Circus is less edgy many times her ex will probably chorus is interestingly (or maybe viding guidance and ambience, “Amnesia” and progressive than her previous think about her. annoyingly) minimalist, with half and never being overbearing, the comeback album, Blackout. Cir- “If U Seek Amy” boarders on being the word “trouble.” music for a region is unlocked by RELEASE DATE: Dec. 2, 2008 cus features Spears more, has bet- genius. It is very aware of its me- Circus? Indeed, without Spears defeating the Corruption in the ter clever writing and less aggres- dium and exploits the affordances as the ringleader. With more writ- area. OUR TAKE: ««««« sive production. Blackout is more a song offers. The song does not ers and producers than tracks, Since Prince of Persia is still of a journal, while Circus is more make sense on paper, but that Circus is proof that it does take a only a one-player game, many will By Chris Ernst of a novel but has more characters is not the way it is meant to be village to make a hit. Spears had a find themselves more willing to Contributing Writer with whom she interacts. enjoyed. Let’s just say, it’s not a very minimal hand in the album, rent than to buy, since the game Thankfully, Circus only has song about someone named Amy, which is good because she left ev- can be beaten within a dozen Circus sold over half a million two and a half ballads to remind which is obvious when the song eryone to their jobs, and everyone hours. copies in its first week and over the listener of her lack of vocal title is read allowed. is good at their jobs. However, more experienced a million in its first four weeks, chops. The first, “Out from - Un “Lace and Leather” offers sonic She was told what to do, and players may be expected to buy a surpassing total sales of her last al- der,” has a simple arrangement elements that old school New Kids she happily does, without much clearly welcome installation of the bum. Britney Spears stands alone and frail falsetto, but works well on the Block would relish. “Lace ego, unlike Blackout (see the in- Prince of Persia series, one that is having four albums debut with enough. and Leather” does not succeed famous VMAs). With so many most certainly worth at least a sin- over half a million copies sold. The second, “My Baby,” makes because of the lyrics, but instead hands involved, there were enough gle play through, if not for extra The lead single, “Womanizer” is me embarrassed for her. She sup- because of the instrumentation, people to stop any crap from leak- achievements and gorgeous envi- Spears’ first number one single posedly wrote much of the song which is far more interesting than ing out. ronments. ENTERTAINMENT Technique • January 16, 2009 • 19 Th e m e Cr o s s w o r d : Re s u l t s Ma y Va r y By Robert Zimmerman United Features Syndicate 32. More orderly 67. “- Miserables” 104. Parts of feet ACROSS 34. Prank 68. Part 3 of quip: 3 106. Musical passages 1. Start of a familiar 36. Part 2 of quip: 6 wds. 107. Thompson and series wds. 72. - - rule Lazarus 4. Unwilling 41. Cut of beef 73. Make confident 108. Cuckoo 10. Cousin to a rod or 42. Walter Raleigh and 75. - log 109. Cognition, in psy- a heater Walter Scott 76. King in Norse leg- chology 13. Molders 43. Marble end 112. Hood and Everest: 17. Craggy outcrop 44. Seven Hills city 78. Soil abbr. 18. Caps 45. A softwood 79. Rend 114. Burr and Copland 19. Arid region in Asia 47. Trader - restaurant 81. Shaded promenade 117. End of the quip: 2 20. Back or belly prob- chain 84. Punta - Este wds. lem 49. Enlightenment 87.Uppercla ssmen: 119. Castilian 21. Overly 51. Posed abbr. 121. Agent: abbr. 22. Old ruffled gar- 54. Haggard title 88. Pressed 122. Forfeit ment 55. Pedicurist’s con- 91. 50/50 123. - probandi 23. Start of a quip by cern 92. “- Vista Social 124. Trenchermen anonymous: 2 wds. 58. - and Yang Club” 94. Internet 125. Seaman 25. Relatives 59. Coward and marketplace 126. Catch 27. Attention others 95. Reception 127. Strike sharply 28. Name meaning 61. Good-bye, bloke! 97. Word in a threat 128. Quiche “little bird” 63. Commoner 99. Trampled ingredient 29. Mineral 65. Actor Michael or 100. Part 4 of quip: 4 129. See 30. Havens Vanessa wds.

DOWN 10. Rule others tions: 2 wds. 11. Name in Genesis 31. Pare leather 52. Inventor’s middle 1. One of the Near Is- 12. Orderly 33. Self: prefix name 70. Ore deposit 86. Grande dame 103. Nurse lands 13. “Norma -” 35. Wonderment 53. Mao - -tung 71. Oregon: 2 wds. 89. Inferior 104. Coin-toss result 2. Blessing 14. Cephalopods 36. Priestly 56. Molokai 73. Legal matter newspaper 105. Bruckner or Chek- 3. False show of emo- 15. Been -, done tha vestments neighbor 74. Japanese dog: 2 90. Impressions hov tion: 2 wds. 16. Passover meal 37. OT patriarch 57. Polynesian flower wds. 93. - Pradesh 110. Smell 4. Degraders 19. Promotional gim- 38. “- go bragh!” 60. Spoken 77. Bill 94. Letters 111. Best or Ferber 5. Edition: abbr. mick 39. Hummed 62. Aide: abbr. 8 0 . Fu n n e l - s h a p e d 96. A continent: abbr. 113. Snick and - 6. Art Deco designer 22. Mexican 40. Likewise not 64. Ball’s favorite flowers 98. All together: 2 115. - tide 7. Update the back money 46. ABA mem. 66. Twosome 82. Dissolve wds. 116. Quick yard 24. Soon to arrive 48. Like a riverbed 67. Tragic king in lit- 83. Follow 100. State in India 118. Implore 8. Mono’s successor 26. Grassy expanses 50. Beginner: var. erature 85. Organic 101. Serve: 2 wds. 119. Wine quality 9. Superlative suffix 28. Singer James and 51. Vacation destina- 69. Dry gully compound 102. Brass-band sound 120. Fed. org. 20 • January 16, 2009 • Technique COMICS

Pi l e d Hi g h e r & De e p e r b y Jo r g e Ch a m No n Se q u i t u r b y Wi l e y

Cr o s s w o r d So l u t i o n f r o m p a g e 19 COMICS Technique • January 16, 2009 • 21

No n Se q u i t u r b y Wi l e y DILBERT ® b y Sc o t t Ad a m s