December 2013 dec 1. Letter From the Editor THE EDITORIAL BOARD 2. Film Review: Blue is the Warmest Color EMILY D’EMIC, COPY EDITOR 3. Film Review: Catching Fire RACHEL FREEDMAN, STAFF WRITER 4. Coolest Nightmares SCOTT J. J. ANDERS, STAFF WRITER 5. Album Review: Gesaffelstein Aleph SKY STAGE CAITLIN DIPIRRO, STAFF WRITER President and Publisher TASFIA NAYEM 6. Winter Albums Editor-in-Chief GRANT HERSON, STAFF WRITER MELISSA NEIRA Photo Editor 7. Favorite Punk & Hardcore Albums JEREMY ISABELLA, STAFF WRITER EMILY D’EMIC Copy Editor 8. Concert Review: Small Black MELISSA NEIRA, PHOTO EDITOR NICHOLAS SCHAFRAN RUCHI JAIN NICHOLAS WILSEY 10. Interview: Holy Ghost Associate Editors MARISSA MOROZ, STAFF WRITER KEATON DALEY 12. Reading Books: Not Just a Fantasy Business Manager COLLEEN STAPLETON, STAFF WRITER 13. Music You Should Be Listening To ALLISON DREXLER, STAFF WRITER + photos on front and back covers by melissa neira, photo editor letter from the editor Hello, We are also featuring both sides of the box office. Writer Rachel Freedman humorously Welcome to the last issue of Impact of the shares with us her take on the hit film The semester! Impact was just an idea at the Hunger Games: Catching Fire, while Emily beginning of 2013, and it’s crazy to think that D’Emic reviews artful French film Blue is the a few months and five wonderful beautiful Warmest Color. Scott JJ Anders is taking us physical Impact magazines later, our year is into another world, literally, with reviews of the coming to a close. coolest nightmares. To close off the year in review, we’re jam We’re also lucky enough to have an interview packed with reviews! WHRW music director with Brooklyn band Holy Ghost, thanks to Allison, the Music Drextraordinaire, is sharing writer and WHRW DJ Marissa Moroz. I’m also her favorite albums from the past year, while extremely happy with the chance to explore the writer Grant Herson is looking towards the mind of our featured Human of Binghamton, cold months ahead with albums that put him Colleen Stapleton, as she writes about books. in a wintery mood. Winter is putting writer Jeremy Isabella in a nostalgic mood, and he is sharing his favorite hardcore and punk albums throughout the years. This past year has been amazing, and I’m looking forward to sharing the next year with This issue also features both sides of the you as well! electronic music scene. Staff writer Caitlin Dipirro shares her feelings on the dark new electronic Gesaffelstein album, while Photo Always, Editor Melissa Neira provides a photo spread The Editorial Board of the recent chillwave Small Black concert on campus along with a review of the show. 01 film review Director Abdellatif Kechiche’s Blue is the Warmest Color, based upon Julie Maroh’s French graphic novel Le Bleu Est Une Couleur Chaude, is the cin- ematic burst of color and burning passion promised in its title. The film centers around the relationship between a young girl named Adele and Emma, an older art student with whom she falls deeply in love. The movie, which was awarded the Palm d’Or (the highest honor at Cannes Film Festival), follows the characters throughout their tumultuous, all-con- suming affair, and beautifully depicts the life-alter- ing, addicting effects of a maddening, seemingly inescapable love. The character of Adele is played vulnerably by up-and-coming actress Adele Exarchopoulos, while the role of her blue-haired lover is portrayed by Lea Seydoux (Midnight in Paris). The actresses’ chemistry comes across onscreen; the two are truly submersed in their respective roles and are able to realistically conjure deep emotions and unabashedly expose their inner selves to audiences. The film itself is 179 minutes long, and its length allows us to fully get to know and eventually relate to Adele, whose shortcomings we accept as human failures and whom we are able to sympathize with throughout the story’s unfolding. Director Adellatif Kechiche has been criticized after news having spread of his treatment of the actresses on-set. According to Exarchopoulos and Seydoux, the director forced the actresses to work long hours, shooting take after take without break and pushing them to exploitative measures. The scene in which in the opinion of many, abusive) directing style, the character of Emma slaps Adele across the face Kechiche continues to assert that it was only his goal apparently was rehearsed so many times that the to draw the actresses out of their shells and to force actress’s face became bruised. On his intense (and, them to display genuine emotion. Controversy surrounding the film’s graphic, long-winded sex scenes has brought about its banning in the state of Idaho. In response, the IFC Center in New York City promises all Idahoans with proof of residency in Idaho free tickets to see the film, and is guaranteeing access to high-school age customers despite its NC-17 rating. Blue is the Warmest Color is sure to strike a chord with anyone who can understand, from experience or imagination, the nature of a moving love, without which one would never be the same. blue is the warmest color by emily d’emic 02 copy editor film review the hunger games: If you had time this weekend in between turkey, obligatory family time, and excessive sleeping, on her performance, her two leading men are My heart broke when I realized that Katniss had then maybe you spent it with the other $110.2 nothing to wrinkle your noses at either. Josh no option but to return and fight for her life again. million dollars worth of Americans who attend- Hutcherson as Peeta Mellark is dynamite in his Sure she is the main character and cannot die, ed the new installation of The Hunger Games role. I cannot tell you how many times I yearned but it is still tragic. Though it is tragic, it allows over Thanksgiving weekend. However, if you for this boy to triumph in the movie. Though Katniss and Peeta to grow their love for each missed the Girl on Fire Katniss Everdeen, I’m Katniss rejected him numerous times, he would other. Not some fake show for the cameras, but here to provide you with all of the know-how (be continuously sacrifice himself for her. Damn, actual caring that is an indication for the next prepared for fabulous spoilers!). give that boy a hug. As for Liam Hemsworth, he installation. As Josh Hutcherson has said in an For those of you who saw the first movie, Catch- is just good eye candy. I liked him as Gale, but interview, the couple of Peniss is born; and what ing Fire is a notch above the original. Whether it I think that Josh and Jennifer did a much better a beautiful couple it is. The ending is probably is the narrative, romances, jam packed action, or job bringing their characters to life. At least he the worst part of the movie, but it does set up all the above, Catching Fire is simply captivat- has his good looks to fall back on, or a possible for the first part of Mockingjay. At least it shows ing. Start with the actors themselves. Jennifer reunion with Miley Cyrus. You never know! that an uprising is imminent with Katniss as the Lawrence is the “it” girl of Hollywood right now, The movie itself begins where the first movie likely leader. If you have just over two hours to and Hunger Games is a prime example why. She leaves off. We see Katniss’ struggle to cope with spare, then check out Catching Fire; because it is is flawless both as a fearless warrior and as a her new life. She learns the impact of surviving definitely worth it! passionate doting character. She allows Katniss the games, and what returning to normal life to truly come to life on-screen as a multi-dimen- means after one has killed to survive. In addition, sional character. she is forced to put on a show throughout the While Ms. Lawrence is receiving heavy accolade districts with her so-called lover Peeta not just to his discomfort, but also as someone she may truly love, Gale, looks on. This entire time Katniss becomes a symbol for the uprising, which she slowly develops throughout the movie. I truly enjoyed the struggle between her and President Snow, which culminated in his ultimate douche- bag move of forcing previous victors to fight again in the Third Annual Quarter Quell of the Hunger Games. catching fire by rachel freedman 03 coolest nightmares a look at some recent hit night- mares overalls. He grabs his crotch and runs out of the store amidst laughter. As he climbs into the back of a moving mail truck, a repulsive viscous substance begins falling from the sky. He closes the door behind him and promptly notices the corpses. The space of the interior begins shrinking as Danny struggles to reach for the door latch. His feet come into contact with the corpses and his legs start to disintegrate. Danny wakes up just as his face is pressed into that of a corpse. Way cool. If you’re a fan of the Frithmann brand of terror, this is another home run. Jordan Susanson - Drinks in the Sitting Room, Terrifying Building on the Horizon Jessica Cotorre - Roaches Under the She was glued to the damp carpet of the The name Jordan Susanson is not yet Dashboard, Car Transforms Into the fitting room, paralyzed as the roaches a familiar one among the nightmare Fitting Room at Target, Roaches Become (now worms) crawled all over her.