Friends

If you’re looking for a laugh, a cry or a smile, then the Friends series box set is right for you. Containing ten seasons and a variety of special features, these DVD’s will have you smiling for hours. Friends has an episode or character for every occasion. Whether you are sad or lonely, have recently broken up with a boyfriend or girlfriend, or purely want to enjoy life, you can fill any desire within the episodes of Friends. Beginning with the pilot and ending with episode 236, you are able to share in the lives of these six characters and feel as though they are your friends too.

Only by watching every season can you fully appreciate the story lines and character traits. Seeing Chandler, Monica, Joey, Phoebe, Ross, and Rachel grow throughout the series is comparable to growing yourself. Friends depicts job struggles, relationships, and the unpredictable events of life. This show constantly leaves you wanting more. Almost every episode is a cliff hanger; particularly those played out through the triumphs and sorrows of Ross and Rachel. The writers continually keep us wondering if Ross and Rachel will ever resolve their differences and let destiny take over. Essentially, watching one episode can’t do justice to their cyclical relationship and nature of the show.

Friends is also a worthy buy because of the plethora of guest stars that complement the main characters. Guests such as Tom Selleck, Tate Donovan, Bruce Willis, Paul Rudd, Robin Williams, Billy Crystal, Christina Applegate, and Reese Witherspoon add to the capricious and delightful spirit of Friends. The addition of guest roles, often as significant others, allows for new faces to retain the audience’s interest and remove any monotony. Few other series have aired for ten years with the same main characters, viewer interest, and ratings it started with. The Friends finale was as, if not more, anticipated and watched than its pilot.

Friends is more than a TV show—it’s a comedic and slightly dramatic outlook on life. The characters encounter things as one might in the real world. The plots are not always happy and carefree; characters get divorced, discover they can’t naturally conceive, lose jobs, and experience financial instabilities. Essentially, the trials and tribulations of the actors are of society. However, each situation is handled with a positive attitude and in tune with the spirit of the show—life is not empty and you can find a smile in any circumstance.

Friends is not reality, but it allows the viewer to escape to a world where life and love are simpler. Friends, a sitcom, turns serious situations into a joke. Everything that happens, no matter how somber, is taken lightly and laughed at. So whether you want to hate your job with Chandler or live the worry-free, playful life with Joey, Friends will always be there.

Hypnotic on My Heart

Talented doesn’t begin to describe the artistic depth of Gavin Degraw. As a singer, songwriter, pianist, guitarist, and performer he’s sure to deliver change through his music.

I never grasped what it meant to be a music follower, not until I heard Gavin Degraw live. Freshman year I bought tickets with my best friend to attend Maroon 5’s concert at The House of Blues. Ale, my best friend, informed me prior to the show that Marc Broussard and Gavin Degraw were the two opening acts. She also told me she was more excited for me to see Gavin over the other two artists because she’d heard him recently in Chapel Hill and was certain I would like him. Fearful that I may be let down by this Gavin guy, I tried not to let her words influence my opinion.

Marc Broussard was the first to perform. He was ideal for getting the audience hype but it was obvious to me that I was surrounded by others who were anxious for Gavin to perform. Marc and his band left the stage, the curtain fell, and the crew began setting up the stage for the second act. Why was I nervous to see and hear this guy? I was nervous for him. I didn’t want him to let me down. I may have tried to avoid setting expectations but by that point, there was no holding back.

The lights dimmed as he began playing the grand piano. It was a beautiful, soft introduction then came the lyrics, “Hail to the light that my baby watches me…” Already, I was hooked. I immediately recognized he had a raspy, soulful voice, one that was far different from the popular music of that time. This was real music. Near the end of the song, “Meaning,” his band took their places on stage, at drums, guitar, and electric guitar. Gavin remained seated at his grand. Before he continued his playlist, he spoke to the audience. If only I could hear him over the screams of excitement, I thought.

I was completely blown away by his musical gift. Throughout his performance, he altered playing the piano and guitar. How many artists can do that? How many artists are able to even sing and play an instrument at the same time? With an increase in technology, it seems that many artists rely on others to produce the background for their songs. That’s not the case for Gavin.

After the show, I went home and downloaded every song I could find on the internet. I learned about him from his website and only grew to admire him even more. He only wants to produce music that others can connect with. He has no desire to conform to the pressures of the music industry so remains true by writing his own lyrics, guitar and piano sheet music, and writes about love, heartache, and everyday life situations. Simply watching him perform, I cannot help but notice he’s singing with the utmost passion.

“I Don’t Want To Be” is a highly recognized song by Gavin because it’s the theme song for the hit TV show One Tree Hill. His music is so much more than the catchy song. Gavin has proven to be a respectable artist. He turned down his first offer with a huge record label because he wanted to continue performing in small venues to perfect his music. When Clive Davis of J Records heard Gavin Degraw, he knew there was something raw and real about him; consequently, Gavin signed with him and his music has been spread worldwide.

Gavin has appeared on Regis and Kelly, Ellen Degeneres, Carson Daily, and the TV shows One Tree Hill and What I Like About You. I’ve seen my number of Gavin appearances whether on TV or live, a total of eight concerts. Even after meeting Gavin three times, getting his autograph, and having the opportunity to talk with him, I’ve found he’s remained humble in his success. That is an admirable quality that only adds to his character. In any point in my days or weeks that I want to perk up my attitude, my ipod playlist labeled Gavin Degraw is my answer. One lyric Gavin sings eloquently describes his acoustic and soulful songs, they are “hypnotic on my heart.”

The Fountain

The Fountain was directed by Darren Aronofsky and starred Hugh Jackman, Rachel Weisz, and Ellen Burtsyn.

The movie meshes three parallel stories that present the same dilemma—the death of a loved one. Jackman and Weisz play opposite one another through three different time periods: During the 16th century as the conquistador (Thomas) sent on a search for the tree of life by the queen of Spain. Through present day as a scientist (Tommy) determined to find a cure for the cancer killing is wife, Isabel. And through the 26th century as the astronaut/holy man Tom tries to save the tree of life.

Each period presents the reader with a different feeling of the time and characters. The 16th century story is presented in the highly romanticized way people often view the past. The costumes are elaborate and the settings filled with shadows and secrecy. The colors in this time are saturated reds and golds that enhance the feelings of grandeur the viewer experiences. The characters are also romanticized in the form of a humble conquistador who loves his country and queen and will do anything she requests in an effort to save both.

Flip over to present day and Tommy (the scientist) is trying desperately to find a cure for the cancer killing Isabel. The colors in these scenes are muted and plain reflective of how most individuals view their lives in the present. As humans we see grandeur in the past or the future, but rarely is it experienced during the time period we actually spend on this planet. At least it's rarely experienced in a recognizable way.

As we view Tom, the astronaut, floating in a 26th century bubble the colors have changed so our eyes and minds are enthralled by the images we see on the screen. It is during this time period Tom begins to reflect on the experiences and missions of his past lives and fully begins to understand the importance of letting go.

It is almost impossible to look at this movie as three separate stories. The time periods are woven into one another as a tapestry of thought, feeling, and experience. The viewer is presented with the same problem three ways but doesn't realize it until the end.

Ultimately it is a story about learning to let go and accepting death, once that happens it paves the way for Thomas/Tommy/Tom to move on. The character played by Rachel Weisz accepts her inevitable death during the movie. The remainder of the film is spent teaching Thomas/Tommy/Tom to accept and deal with this inevitability.

The ending or the movie, shows the acceptance learned by both Tommy and Tom. Thomas on the other hand continues his search for the tree of life, succeeds in finding it and becomes part of it. An appropriate ending because a conquistador would never accept defeat and as a result would never be able to let go of his queen.

Regardless of the mediocre ratings this movie received at the hands of the critiques I think it is a brilliant film definitely worth taking the time to watch. The images are beautiful and the story is complicated enough to keep you thinking through the entire movie.

300 Rose for the Occasion

An average critic rating of a 'B' was by far the most undermined rating of such good quality ever witnessed in the history of modern day Hollywood. 300 demonstrated what a man’s daily life was like during ancient times. The men lived to fight for their country like many of America’s heroes today. 300 is set in ancient Greece where King Leonidus is the leader of the Spartan army and Xerxes is the dictator of the Persian army. The battle of Thermopylae occurred at what is presently the territorial border between Iraq and Iran. During the time of ancient Greece when bloodshed on the battlefield was a symbol of heroism much like it is today the men were bred as warriors.

As a child Leonidus was thrown into the wild like vermin to learn to become a real man on his own. If man returned from the forest he was considered great by his people. In the forest Leonidus experienced Darwin's survival theory in the most gruesome way imaginable. Time and time again, day after day Leonidus was faced with the challenge of fending off the greatest of wild beast. His biggest challenge came when he faced the jungle's ferocious wolf. In the past no other boy had returned to Sparta having defeated the greatest beast of them all.

Upon returning to Sparta proving himself a man; the people of Sparta found him worthy of the title of King. Midway through his career as leader of the Spartan Empire, Leonidus decided it was time to face his arch nemesis Xerxes; the dictator of the Persian Empire. Xerxes had an army 20,000 strong. King Leonidus gathered up 300 of Sparta's best and set out to conquer Xerxes and his people.

Your typical movie go-er who knows anything about the ancient world would give this movie an 'A' without even second guessing themselves. Gerard Butler (King Leonidus) and Rodrigo Santoro (Xerxes) definitely made a name for themselves in Hollywood. With the addition of a few more movies there names will become common household terminology like Leonardo Dicaprio and Tom Cruise. Movie goers who had no conception of what they were about to witness would give 300 an 'A-' at the most. Because of the simple fact it was hard not to be blown away by such invigorating acting. As a self made movie critic, I would give this movie an 'A+' and at least four academy awards without even thinking twice about my decision.

Eat Pray Love

When I first saw Eat Pray Love's colorful cover facing me in the entrance of Barnes and Noble I steered right towards the magazines and didn't give it a second thought. I'm not the bestseller kind of reader. But the second time I saw the book, in the entrance of the university library, I decided to give it a peek, and read the following:

"By the time she turned thirty, Elizabeth Gilbert had everything a modern, educated, ambitious American woman was supposed to want--a husband, a house in the country, a successful career. But instead of feeling happy and fulfilled, she was consumed with panic, grief and confusion. She went through a divorce, a crushing depression, another failed love and the complete eradication of everything she ever thought she was supposed to be."

I immediately returned it to the shelf it belonged to. What young woman experiencing the best times of her life wants to read a book about a frumpy gal’s mid-life crisis? And to the guys in the class, I’m assuming the thought, “What guy wants to read about some 30-something chic, or any chic for the matter?” If any of the guys had seen this book, they would have dropped it immediately and ran for "graphic novel" section.

I saw this book for the third time when it was given to my sister for her thirtieth birthday, to assuage the fact that she is 30 and still childless and clueless, (which did not make the book any more appealing to me.) In fact, when I saw her reading it I merely said, "Ha ha, you're thirty!" and let her slam her door in my face, as she went off to read it, sulking in her bed. But when she left the book behind, I decided to give it a chance...and I didn't put it back down until I was finished. I still haven't apologized to my sister, though.

Eat. As the introduction tells us, Elizabeth decides that she is not happy with anything in her life, so she decides to pick up and go to Italy and devour everything Italian, from the language, to the food, to the men. But she ends up breaking down in one of the most beautiful places in the world, surrounded by beautiful people, eating delicious food, and getting drunk daily from the best wines in the world...what gives? Elizabeth is well aware of the incongruency, and shows the reader this with self-deprecating humor on almost every page. What I thought would be some mopey tale turns out to be as funny as an episode of The Office. Elizabeth is smart and witty, albeit a bit eccentric, which is actually refreshing. She embraces the death of her twenties and her old life with the attitude of a child by breaking down into fits; but eventually she gets back on her feet while laughing at her own pettiness.

Pray. Elizabeth then goes to India, to hang out with spiritual gurus and get in touch with her inner yogi. We see Elizabeth go from a wild, flighty, horny drunkard in Italy, to a peaceful, celibate mute in India. She goes there merely for the purpose of learning how to meditate, so you’d think this part of the book would be boring, but surprisingly, it’s where things really get started. We see through her how hard it is to maintain inner peace and to have faith in yourself and the world around you. Suddenly, her mid-life crisis turns into the crises that every searching human being suffers through every day. Being at peace with yourself is actually hard work! It’s nice to see how this chapter contrasts with the previous one, seeing how one must balance pleasure (drink, leisure, and sex) and serious spiritual work.

Love. It’s the perfect ending to her trying journey, to fall in love, isn't it? Which she may or may not do. But I can tell you this: she goes to Indonesia, the last stop of places starting with the letter "I." Why she chose this methodology of traveling is a bit unclear, but if anything, it gives you a sense of her off-beat sense of humor. In this last chapter, Elizabeth finds enormous amounts of treasures, monetary or not, hidden away in a little desolate village in Bali, making for quite a surprisingly ending, and a fitting conclusion to her mid-life crisis.

In Eat Pray Love, Elizabeth Gilbert takes us through three very interesting localities, introducing you to out-there characters that make you laugh and make you scratch your head, all while Elizabeth discovers what the world has to offer her, and her the world. It’s an inspirational book that also keeps you chuckling to yourself the entire way. I would recommend this book to anyone of any gender, age, or religion. It’s not reserved only for the pop culture isle, nor for only thirty-something’s who are on the edge. It’s simply for any person who enjoys some good food, some time to themselves, and a lot of love.

Wii Love It!

Never considering myself a “gamer” I always loathed those couch-potato boys who spent every free minute playing video games. Skipping class to “get to level thirty-four of this new, totally sick Xbox game” gave me the impression little intelligent activity was going on in their brains. However, when Nintendo introduced its newest gaming system, the Wii, I decided to give being a video game junkie a chance.

Sadly, I have become one of those I once despised. I, Hayley Alexandra Richardson, love the Nintendo Wii.

This virtual reality gaming system gives players the ability to feel like they are actually in the game. A favorite game of mine is “Wii Sports." Players can choose from boxing, tennis, golf, baseball, and bowling. The game also allows you to make a Mii. The Mii is a virtual player that can be created to look like the person playing.

The Wii-mote, which is more fun to say than remote, is the most amazing part of this game. If you are playing tennis (my forte), you hold the Wii-Mote like a tennis racquet, swing accordingly and your player swings his racquet, hitting the ball. If you are boxing, you hold the controllers while punching the air, but your player punches his opponent. If you are like me, a person who rarely, okay never, works out, then this game may leave you with some sore muscles.

Although I don’t spend countless hours standing in front of my TV trying to be a virtual Maria Sharapova, Wii Sports has taken precedence over homework on a couple occasions. I have bought my own Wii, and although it was with my father’s money, I don’t think he’ll be too upset with me; he always wanted me to play sports.

Because Wii Sports requires lots of movement not only of your body, but also of the Wii-Mote, it is very important to attach the wristband to your wrist. In a vicious tennis match it would be awful for your Wii-Mote to slide out of your hand and break your television.

I feel the Wii has appeal to all age groups, the controller is easy to use and the virtual reality aspect is a big hit. Also a plus is that games for the Nintendo GameCube are also compatible with the Wii, allowing for more gaming options. Also, with games such as Super Mario Brothers on the way for Wii, people who loved the original Nintendo can continue to beat King Koopa and Princess Peach.

I’m not interested in the technical aspects of the Wii. I don’t know about its memory, or what type of technology was used to create it. I don’t even care to know how the controllers work. All I know is the conclusion my friends and I have come to: Wii love it!

Unforgiven

The movie Unforgiven is a character-driven western that defies conventions of classical Hollywood. Unforgiven also boasts an impressive cast with Clint Eastwood, Morgan Freeman, and Gene Hackman all playing cowboys reminiscent of Sergio Leone's spaghetti western films. The film propels viewers into a position where they must choose which side they are on, even if it could be the wrong side. These elements work for Unforgiven's advantage and give the viewer a clear reason why this film won four Academy Awards.

Clint Eastwood is a cowboy. That sentence alone should be enough to sell tickets. However, he is a cowboy with a dark past. And yet he has found peace and solitude on a small ranch with his two children. His wife has recently passed away and we are reminded that by a solemn opening shot of him at a grave. The audience gets a sense of how important his wife was to him, through Eastwood's award-winning performance and the film's talented writers.

One day a drifter rides through and offers him a deal to help track down and kill some cowboys who beat up a prostitute. Eastwood's character battles with the issue of accepting the fact that he will have to kill again. He is also unsure about the town's sheriff who does not know about the reward money that the prostitutes have placed on the cowboys' heads.

Gene Hackman plays the sheriff, and Morgan Freeman plays Eastwood's buddy on the trip. What makes the film work well on many levels is how it deals with complicated issues. The right choice is less clear-cut than in most films, and that is exactly what makes this a wonderful film to experience. The audience, which is used to Clint Eastwood being the easy choice to root for, has to sit back and watch as he murders men for something that they have already been punished for. Eastwood also takes it upon himself to take vengeance on those who have tried to stop him within the story. But there is one thing that Eastwood's morality is unwavering on, and that is respecting his wife's memory. On several occasions he turns down the chance to be with a prostitute. In a time of low morals, this speaks volumes for the direction Eastwood wants his character to take.

Filmmakers who disobey normal Hollywood convention make the movies that I like to watch. I enjoy being confused with who to pull for in a movie. I'm intrigued by characters that aren't either clearly definable as "good" or "bad." I like characters who are human, and this is exactly what Clint Eastwood has done. He has created a human story that asks viewers to not pick sides but simply watch and have their preconceived notions thrown away.

Idolized

Most in the United States has some sort of talent – singers, dancers, comedians, pianists, painters – and a majority of those would love to turn their talents into cash. They are determined to make it big and that is the motivation behind many of their career moves.

American Idol, a singing competition in its sixth season, was created to open the doors of opportunity for struggling performers. Many talented, and not-so-talented, Americans pour into stadiums around the country for a chance to audition for the title of America’s Idol. A panelist of celebrity judges – Randy Jackson, Paula Abdul, and Simon Cowell – make the final decision with a simple yes or no. Yes, you’re going to Hollywood for the next round. No, you’re not good enough.

Performing songs each week to a different theme ranging from Motown to country to Latin music to rock and with the help of celebrity mentors such as Gwen Stefani, Jennifer Lopez, and Tony Bennett, the contestants then depend on America’s voting to keep them safe until the next round. Each week the one with the lowest votes goes home.

This season is different. The intended purpose of the show was to create the ultimate nationwide talent show for singers. What they have this year is a popularity contest. Contestants aren’t being voted on based on their talent, they’re being voted on by their media coverage and unintentional PR. A few scandalous photos on the internet propelled one undeserving contestant through several rounds of the competition, and an endorsement for being the worst singer of the group has kept one performer in the competition several weeks longer than they should have been.

For this to be our competition, Americans aren’t taking it very serious. Although with host Ryan Seacrest’s ridiculous homophobic banter with Simon, that’s probably next to impossible. The crude humor between the men has become offensive and inappropriate for younger viewers to watch.

Don’t think there isn’t any talent on this season, however, because there is. A few good ones to watch for, if you happen to be flipping the channels on Tuesday night, are Lakisha Jones – a diva whose performances have been flawless—and beat boxer Blake Lewis, who delivers a hip performance every week when he incorporates his flashy style to the songs each week.

Once all the weaker singers have been weeded out, there should be a good, fierce competition to watch. If you’ve never watched, you haven’t missed much so far. If you’re curious and want to watch – wait until the season finale with the top two, and ideally the best two, competitors battle it out for the title of the next American Idol.

What Is The Lottery?

If you are like me who is addicted to suspense stories and thrill movies, you should read The Lottery, a story written by Shirley Jackson in 1948. First time after I read the short six-page long story, I was speechless—maybe that is the reason it took me three years after my first reading to finally be able to talk about it.

The story happened in a rural village without a name among a group of normal villagers on June 27 without a specific year. Another summer day of June 27 just like all the others—a day that “the flowers were blossoming profusely and the grass was richly green” (para. 1). Like many villages, “people … gather in the square, between the post office and the bank” (para. 1) to organize “the teen-age club,” perform “square dances,” and plan “Halloween program” (para. 4). The villagers are everyday people in a rural village—men talked about” planting and rain, tractors and taxes” (para. 3); woman took care of houses and their children; children talked about “the classroom and the teacher” and “of books and reprimands” (para. 2). It is easy for readers to picture one of the summer day in this village anywhere around world, or even picture themselves be in the midst of these normal people.

Jackson deliberately created names for many of the villagers. Most of them are common names (with special meanings) like Mr. Summers and Mr. Graves--the leaders in the village, Old Man Warner who represented aged tradition, the Martin family with three children, and Mrs. Hutchinson who forgot the event because she was busy with her housework. Jackson also touched upon the casual friendship among the people in the village just as it would happen in many small rural villages. She then gave lengthy description about how the lottery was carried out—Mr. Summers and Mr. Graves prepared the paper slips the night before; each family would pick a paper slip by the head of household during the lottery time; and only adult males were qualified to pick the slips unless he was unavailable at the time of lottery. It seemed just like another “fair and normal” lottery selection.

However, the story presented in The Lottery was everything but ordinary. It was the strange behaviors of the children at the beginning of the story first caught my attention—they stuffed their pocket with stones or pile up the stones in the village square. Though an odd game, I thought children do strange things (right?). However, as the story progressed, I sensed the unease and hinted fear of the lottery ritual among the villagers: men were “away from the pile of stones in the corner” of the square and they hesitated when Mr. Summers asked for help. They kept “their distance, leaving a space between themselves and the stool [that with the black box on].” “The rest of the year, the [black] box was put away, sometimes one place, sometimes another” (para. 6)--I often wondered the black box is the symbol of the lottery ritual. These descriptions made reader wondered more about what the lottery is.

After each household picked his or her ticket, the Hutchinson discovered that they were the winning family of this year’s lottery. Next was the selection among the Hutchinsons—Mr. and Mrs. Hutchinson, Bill, Jr., Nancy, and even little Dave, whom apparently was to young to even comprehend the process. Finally, the villagers were relaxed because Mrs. Hutchinson got the winning slip; however, readers were still left wondering what the lottery is. Jackson was able to wait to the end of the story to reveal the true meaning of the lottery to create the ultimate surprise in this ordinary village.

By setting a suspense story in a common rural village and among some ordinary people, Jackson demonstrates that the true horror is not the imaginary monsters; instead, it is the insensitivity and cruelty within the ordinary people. By carefully design and present the story, Jackson effectively controls her readers throughout the story.

If you really wonder what the lottery is, click the link (http://www.americanliterature.com/SS/SS16.HTML) and read the story--you will find out with a surprise that will astound you. Though suspense story is usually not for re-reading, I however have gone back to it many times—I often wondered what would I do if I am one of the member in the village.

Stranger Than Fiction

Being a Will Ferrell fan since his days on Saturday Night Live, I was looking forward to his movie Stranger Than Fiction. It is more serious than the typical dumb comedy roles he plays. Sometimes it is more difficult to watch actors play a completely different role than you normally see them him, but his performance was amazing.

Will Ferrell plays the role of Harold Crick, who is a lonely IRS agent who is a compulsive counter, especially when it comes to how many strokes he uses when brushing his teeth. His Timex watch, which has a surprisingly large role in the movie, awakens him every day at the same time and seems to have a life of its own. His life plays out exactly the same every day with the only change being the person or business whom he is auditing at the time. Crick's world begins to change when he hears the voice of someone narrating his every move. His mundane life gets a jolt of excitement as he begins to try to unravel the mystery of this voice.

The narrator of Crick's life is the best selling author Karen Eiffel (Emma Thompson), who is known for killing off her main characters in unusual and unique ways. Harold Crick is the main character of her latest novel-in-progress and he must find her before she discovers a way to kill him off. He enlists the help of a professor by the name of Jules Hilbert, played by Dustin Hoffman, to help him find her and save his life.

Like almost every movie, there is also a love story woven into the script. Crick's love interest is played by Maggie Gyllenhaal, who is the owner of a little bakery that Crick is sent to audit. He meets her and immediately feels the connection, but tries to deny it for quite a while.

Although serious, the movie incorporates witty comments and humor. You will find yourself laughing quite frequently, but not because of the typical dumb jokes and comments one expects of Ferrell. The only thing that is typical of Ferrell in this movie and that his character is considered crazy, although it is stated that "He's not crazy. He's just written that way."

Even if you are not a fan of Will Ferrell, this is a movie out of the norm for him and is well worth the two hours spent watching it. It is easily one of my favorite movies. I've been told that "Of course you like it, you are an English major." But regardless of your major or job or anything else that may describe you, this movie is one that everyone can like.

Ben Harper and The Innocent Criminals DVD

This was the first Ben Harper music DVD I have ever seen. So newcomers, don’t shy away, this review is of my first impression. Because I enjoy Ben Harper’s music very much, this review is not unbiased. In order to be interested in this DVD,One needs to appreciate relaxing, acoustic/electric music classified on my iPod as “alternative”. “Live at the Hollywood Bowl: Ben Harper and The Innocent Criminals” was recorded in 2003 and is one of three music DVDs by Ben Harper.

The DVD starts with Ben Harper and the members of his back up, The Innocent Criminals, hugging and shaking hands with each other before making their entrance which they started with a fun, electric song called “Glory and Consequence.” Before the song begins, a recording of Ben Harper saying, “as a musician, I know nothing but honesty” setting the scene that speaks for the general feel and theme of his music.

My favorite ones are the slow and sad songs on the DVD. I sat watching Ben Harper sit on stage pouring his heart out about dealing with the death of his wife with a tissue in my hand. His passion is in his voice and his words can not be mistaken.

Close up shots of Ben Harper and the other members of The Innocent Criminals are what I pay attention to the most. During the fast paced, electric songs the camera goes in and out showing you each member playing their instrument then gives a full panoramic of the theater and the light show from the view of the fans. The visual entertainment is excellent.

The concert is entertaining as well. Ben Harper and The Innocent Criminals diversify their fifteen-song playlist by including many instruments that create different sounds and feels. During the song “Like a King” Ben uses an electric lap guitar that gives the song a southern twang. When performing the song “I’m Blessed” Harper plays a tongue drum (which is like a wooden xylophone) and The Innocent Criminals play steel drums and maracas that give the song a Caribbean sound. They eventually break out into collective and solo drum parts. Their electric and acoustic songs are varied in style as well.

Besides the live concert, there are other options on the DVD. Backstage shows you low-key but insightful moments between band members. You see Ben playing and singing off stage in his backstage room and you see the jokes and advice the band members share with each other. There is a photo gallery with pictures mostly in black and white from the band’s other concerts. Their music plays in the background guiding us through the slide show style photo gallery. Also included are two music videos you can watch where you see a different and playful view of Ben Harper and the band.

I thoroughly enjoyed watching this DVD and would recommend it to anyone who thinks its sounds good from this review, because it is. This music is true and honest and the DVD makes this clear. I bought it at Best Buy for $17.99 and I have watched the two-hour concert twice more after my first viewing. It hasn’t gotten old.

Party of Five

With dramas like One Tree Hill and The OC running rampant across our televisions during primetime, it’s hard to remember a time when good shows existed. But if you knew anything about scintillating television from 1994-2000, you knew about Party of Five. I considered myself somewhat of a television expert during those days, and that was my favorite show—beating out other contenders such as Dawson’s Creek, Once and Again, and the oh-so-popular My So Called Life.

While each of these shows was fabulous and unique in its own way, Party of Five was a complete package. The actors were honest and portrayed believable characters, as young and inexperienced as some of them were, and the plot was dramatic and captured your attention. What other show can you think of where the five main characters couldn’t sleep with one another? Why couldn’t they, you might be wondering? Because they were siblings—which would have been a whole different kind of unique but, luckily, wasn’t.

Party of Five was about a family of five siblings who recently lost their parents in a car accident. "Party of Five" is obviously referring to the five siblings in the family, but the name is even more applicable because the family is struggling to run the family restaurant, Salinger’s, as well as take care of each other. The oldest sibling, Charlie (played by Matthew Fox), has a history of being irresponsible and selfish, as well as being a womanizer. In the first season Charlie is forced to grow up and take responsibility as the head of the household. Bailey (Scott Wolf), is a senior jock in high school and starts the downward spiral into alcoholism, all while taking over many of the responsibilities of his late parents. Julia (Neve Campbell) is the rebellious middle child, recently thrown into the drama that is high school, and now expected to be grown up before she’s really even started the process. Claudia (Lacey Chabert) is the musical prodigy and pre-teen of the family—oftentimes the logical one in her family despite her age. Owen (Jacob Smith) is, literally, the baby of the family—an addition that only adds to the previous four characters’ predicament.

Other regular cast members include Jeremy London as Griffin, Jennifer Love Hewitt as Sarah, and Paula Devicq as Kirsten. These three characters played the love interests of Julia, Bailey, and Charlie, respectively.

The audience is able to watch as this family fails and triumphs over what life throws them. Throughout the six-year run-time we witness Julia’s miscarriage, her failed marriage to Griffin, and her abusive relationship with a character named Neil. Charlie grows from an irresponsible free-loader into a family patriarch. He has a child with a stripper named Daphne, and later becomes happily married to Kirsten. Bailey loses control over his life because of alcohol and we see his tenuous relationship with Sarah come together and fall apart as he struggles to maintain control over his life and the lives of his siblings. Owen grows from a baby into a (considerably whiny) child, battling learning disorders and custody issues. We also witness the transformation of Claudia from an awkward pre-teen into a strong young adult. She battles with her dedication to her violin, her infatuation with one-time brother-in-law Griffin, her near date rape, and her first serious relationship with a character named Cody.

It’s impossible to cover every important and poignant story line that was brought to life in this series. If the incredible dramatic components and story lines won’t convince you to buy the first two seasons of this show on DVD, then maybe the track record of the actors will. Most of the main characters have gone on to successful roles on other shows. Matthew Fox plays on Lost, Scott Wolf was on Everwood for a while, Lacey Chabert has done several voice-overs for Disney, including Lion King 2 and a role in a movie titled Mean Girls, Neve Campbell has made her mark on the horror industry in thrillers such as Scream, and Jennifer Love Hewitt and Jeremy London have both gone on to mildly successful roles on other shows and movies. Who could forget Jennifer Love Hewitt in I Know What You Did Last Summer and the many sequels that followed it?

Any way you look at it, this show is worth watching. What’s disappointing is that at the moment only seasons one and two are available on DVD. But the more people that buy those seasons, the more chances increase that they will release the other seasons. So, if you enjoy well-acted, touching, and dramatic television, be sure to at least borrow a friends copy of seasons one and two. You won’t be sorry.

"Grey's Anatomy" makes my sky bluer and brighter.

Everyone has heard of it. Everyone knows people who watch and, as far as I can tell, everyone has an opinion on it. Grey's Anatomy isn't exactly an underground find I stumbled upon. It is intensely popular and also criticized by those who dismiss it as nothing more than a well funded, well advertised, prime-time soap.

Yes, the show is a drama, but it is also more than that. The majority of people who criticize the show have not watched more than one episode, if they have seen an episode at all. You may be a skeptic of the show yourself. There are exceptions to the rule; the show isn't for everyone, but it is not just a soap opera.

The show itself is wonderfully written. The dialogue between the characters is full of wit and sarcasm, leaving the audiences laughing, crying (possibly both) at the end of every episode and full of a feeling of impatience to see what happens next.

Grey's Anatomy makes you not only believe the characters are real for an hour each week but also makes you love them, even when they're wrong. For there to be plot there must be an antagonist. These characters are hated at first but within a few weeks the viewers often find that a particular character is not the evil, soul-sucking demon incarnate that they originally might have appeared, but rather a "real person" with issues, struggles and dreams. For example, Addison was originally hated because she was interfering with the love affair between Meredith Grey (the title character) and Derek Shepherd. Now, Addison is so well loved that ABC is risking making a spin-off show, which I fear will be a mistake, called Private Practice.

The 'Anatomy' plot is dramatic but people feel connected to it anyway. Viewers feel that their lives, in some way, are similar to the drama on the show and can't help but to relate to the characters.

For me one of the best things about Grey's Anatomy has nothing to do with the show itself and everything to do with the people watching it. I personally watch it religiously every Thursday night with two of my roommates. It's our scheduled time together every week. We remain so busy that we may barely see each other through the rest of the week, but on Thursday nights we catch up between commercials and during the next hour or so that we stay in the living room with the TV still on through October Road, which comes on after. I have never talked to anyone who watches Grey's Anatomy alone. Some people make it into a weekly party for them and their friends.

There are people who aren't going to love the show like I do, but I also know that people should give it chance. If you think it's nothing more than a soap try this before you make your final assessment: find people who already love the show to watch it with, take some snacks, put your criticism on hold and look for a character you can relate to, I'd bet you won't be able to choose just one favorite.