Monte Cristo’ Good Laugh to Alexandre Dumas’ Landmark Work Takes to the Silver Screen in Director Kevin Atlanta in February Reynolds’ Adaptation
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ENTERTAINMENTpage 17 Technique • Friday, January 25, 2002 • 17 Take a trip into Big Sky The same, but different If just leaping tall buildings in a Though ‘Onward and Crossword’ ENTERTAINMENT single bound isn’t enough, check has moved onward itself, the CPuzzle out Big Sky’s By Design. Page 21 is here for your enjoyment. Page 19 Technique • Friday, January 25, 2001 Guitarist bringing Count yourself in for ‘Monte Cristo’ good Laugh to Alexandre Dumas’ landmark work takes to the silver screen in director Kevin Atlanta in February Reynolds’ adaptation. Jim Caveziel stars as the embattled Edmond Dantes. By Chris Webb By Ananya Paul Contributing Writer Contributing Writer Artist: Keller Williams Title: The Count of Monte Cristo Album: Laugh Director: Kevin Reynolds Label: SCI Fidelity Rating: yyyy Genre: Pop/Rock Tracks: 15 An admirable example of one Rating: yy man’s implausible drive to retali- ate, the new release The Count of Only 5 minutes of listening to Laugh by Monte Cristo is pleasurable to any Keller Williams will lead you to two conclu- audience. For those of you who sions. First, go see his live performance at the have read Alexandre Dumas’ novel, Variety Playhouse on Febuary 21st because you there are a few surprises here and will never play guitar as good as him. Second, there, but all in all the movie never Williams never realized that too much of a funny lacks the exhilaration the book pro- thing becomes overused and boring quickly. vides. Keller Williams, long noted for his energetic While watching Kevin Reynolds’ one-man stage shows, fails to capture his style in The Count of Monte Cristo, it’s easy the studio. The innovative sampling methods to see why Alexandre Dumas’ Ed- that transform him into a full band on stage lose mond Dantes is one of the most all wonder when carried by studio musicians. As significant icons in literary history. if the producers realized that his talent was squan- The valiant character Edmond dered they added a live track to finish off the Dantes is played by Jimmy Cavie- album. The fact that Keller Williams alone cre- zel. Caviezel does an amazing job of ated the entire 16-minute performance is noth- portraying Dantes’ struggles for free- the time Dantes spends at Château ing less than amazing. dom. In the beginning, Dantes is d’If runs a little lengthy, the satis- The album contains the covers “Spring Buds” put to prison by his so-called “best faction that comes from the overall by Michael Hedges and “Freakshow” by Ani friend” Fernand, played by Guy movie makes up for it. As with most Difranco. “Spring Buds,” in sharp contrast with Pearce. movies, this movie also has its flaws. the rest of the album, is slow and depressing. Not Both Pearce and Caviezel con- Guy Pearce’s character was an- exactly great fare for an album supposed to make tinue to bolster their reputations as noying and one-dimensional. Be- you laugh. In “Freakshow” Williams drops the superior actors by working for cul- sides these minor blemishes in the guitar for a trash can lid. The whimsical arrange- turally rich movies rather than box film, the planning of revenge, the ment of conga rhythms and harmonic vocals office blockbusters. thrilling fencing scenes, setting and create the only song that sustains the momen- Luis Guzman is a charm in this plot keeps the viewers absorbed in tum and bizarre nature the album intended film, acting as Dantes’ loyal confi- its story line. throughout. dant and sidekick, providing some The conclusion seems inevita- Sadly, Williams writes all the remaining songs. of the film’s comic relief. In a film ble and the most memorable scene Sad? Because they lack any control or guidance. with melancholy themes such as jeal- of the entire movie. There are slight The lyrics for each song follow a repetitious ousy and revenge, Guzman finds changes from the novel, which spices pattern of sing a line, repeat a line, repeat and ways to add comedy and make that the movie up a bit. The film will be repeat. The song “Kidney in a Cooler” actually comedy absolutely priceless. appreciated by both those new to repeats the last line in each verse three times then One would think that a movie Dumas and those who have read repeats each line once more in the last verse. based on a great literary work by the book. Repeating a joke once is funny, repeat it four Dumas would last for at least three This exciting conclusion brings times and your audience will wonder if they can hours. Reynolds does a fine job of this equally exciting film to a close. get a refund. “Bob Rules” is mildly entertaining reducing Dumas’ work to less than The Count of Monte Cristo serves as a story of a dream in which Williams is a two hours without leaving holes in the purpose of providing good en- By Jonathan Hession (top) and Albert Watson (bottom) / SPYGLASS contestant on “The Price is Right.” the plot or littering the film with tertainment, taking the audience to Dantes (Jim Caveziel) looks to his friend Fernand Though tastes in music vary, and many might lengthy dialogues. a different world. It’s Definitely Mondego (top), because he has been separated from dislike Williams’ style, this album will find favor Although one may argue that worth catching this weekend. his beloved Mercedes (Dagmara Dominczyk). with avid guitar fans. Find a friend who dared to See Williams, page 18 Ready to leap tall buildings in a single bound? By Andrew Santelli only 100 feet, which is small Entertainment Editor by today’s mega-coaster stan- dards, the real thrills on this To mark its 35th anni- ride come later. versary season, this year Six Superman will have an “in- Flags Over Georgia will make verted pretzel loop” where the its largest investment ever. trains climb to the top of the Superman - Ultimate figure and dive in a loop close Flight will be the Southeast’s to the ground rather than from first flying coaster, and will the ground up, in the tradi- be part of an expansion to tional manner. make Six Flags the “Super The inverted pretzel loop Park of the South,” said John is difficult to imagine, but will Odum, the park’s general surely provide a sensation un- manager, at the coaster’s in- like other coasters, especially troduction event this past considering that these harrow- Tuesday. ing twists and turns will hap- On this flying coaster, rid- pen in a matter of seconds at ers will belt themselves in with speeds of 60 mph. shoulder restraints, a lap bar, To enhance the feeling of and leg restraints. As the train flying, the track will swing riders leaves the station, the seats close to the ground, and actu- will rotate forward, with rid- ally underground for one por- ers facing the ground direct- tion of the ride. Courtesy MADISON HOUSE PUBLICITY ly. This is the flying sensation The other distinctive fea- Talented guitarist Keller Williams, pictured here, that will make riders feel like tures of the ride create a laun- Rendering courtesy SIX FLAGS OVER GEORGIA releases his new CD, Laugh, on February 19. Superman. The inverted pretzel loop at Six Flags Over Georgia’s new Though the first drop is See Coaster, page 18 Superman—Ultimate Flight will be the first of its kind ever built. 18 • Friday, January 25, 2002 • Technique ENTERTAINMENT Williams from page 17 Coaster from page 17 ...101010101010 10 1010101010101... ...Two Bits spend the money and borrow it for dry list of thrills and chills. Ride a few days. Then go see his show in time on Superman will be over three Hi there Two Bits Folk! For sion of dating failure. Now, GenX efficient these days as EVERYONE February. While Laugh doesn’t con- minutes, a marathon by coaster stan- those of you who haven’t checked is internet savvy and people are do- is admitting dating failure. Call it tain any particularly exceptional song dards, covering 2,759 feet of tubu- your Palm Pilots recently, you should ing everything online. There are now the emotional equivalent of the dot- except Difranco’s “Freakshow”, lar steel track. know that we are approaching a personal sites that will match you com bust. Since there are millions William’s guitar playing is superb Superman will be Six Flags’ high- very special day, a day where wom- lonely A+/Net+ Certified IT pro- throughout. Fans of artists like Vic- est-capacity attraction, shuttling over en expect men to come out of their fessionals who are the same boat, tor Wooten and Tim Reynolds will 1,500 riders per hour, using an in- shells and shower them with atten- the discerning Techie needs to know marvel at the seamless chord chang- novative dual loading system for tion in uncharacteristically mushy Those same hacker how to write a personal ad that will es. Ultimately, these fans will not the three trains that will carry 28 displays of sentiment, a day where say, “I admit that I’m a dating fail- care that the lyrics are corny or that passengers, four abreast. The ride the average man would rather have skills that get you ure, but I’m the best dating failure they often make no sense. Laugh is will also feature Six Flags’ popular a root canal than face the world. pictures of Britney on this screen. Please don’t click for people who idolize guitar gods. Qbot virtual queueing system, de- Yes folks, Valentine’s day is coming ‘next’ on me.” For the average person, Keller creasing wait time for guests at the fast.