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Features

FEATURES

Computer animation best part of sci-fi film

By BILL WARD For The State News You can’t help but be impressed and distracted at the same time while watching “Final Fantasy: The Spirits Within.” Based on a series of successful video games, “Final Fantasy” is a science fiction fantasy adventure with a more interesting and original adaptation of a computer game than the recent “Tomb Raider.” Director Hironobu Sakaguchi comes from a gaming background and took four years to make the movie.

FEATURES

Mushroomhead provides heavy-hitting metal

Ryan Wallace
July 11, 2001

Mushroomhead XX (Eclipse Records) There are a lot of heavy metal bands out there today, but Cleveland-based Mushroomhead does its best to separate itself from the rest. “XX” is the band’s national debut, and fourth album overall.

FEATURES

Scary Movie sequel is terrible cinematic work

Drew Harmon
July 11, 2001

As a movie critic, there are few choices as to the movies that must be reviewed. If there were a choice, “Scary Movie 2” would be avoided. If it were showing on Sarah Michelle Gellar’s naked body, I still wouldn’t watch it again. If there were exotic concubines waiting to feed me popcorn while I laid on a soft bed of silk pillows, I still would not go. There’s never been a bigger waste of time or money than Keenen Ivory Wayans’ new comedy venture.

FEATURES

Kiss full of kickin action

Drew Harmon
July 9, 2001

Martial arts films are often risky territory. The characters usually aren’t very interesting except for their physical abilities and the stories are far-fetched, even for such a far-fetched genre. But “Kiss of the Dragon,” starring Jet Li, manages to entertain without talking down to the audience or getting too hokey. The story centers on Li’s character, Liu Jian, who’s something of a Chinese supercop.

FEATURES

Pets spy war brings laughs

By BILL WARD For The State News If Austin Powers were a dog, then Dr. Evil would be a cat in the family-friendly comedy “Cats & Dogs.” The film provides enough silly action and high-tech espionage to feel more like a James Bond flick than a Dr. Dolittle.

FEATURES

Pootie doesnt translate to film

Drew Harmon
July 5, 2001

Sketch comedy rarely transfers over to the big screen very well. But, on occasion, a popular TV character makes it to the movies and entertains. Pootie Tang is not one of those. Based on a character from Chris Rock’s HBO talk show, “Pootie Tang” in film form is a waste of time, money and talent.

FEATURES

Movie isnt very crazy or beautiful

By BILL WARD For The State News “Crazy/beautiful” has more depth and heart than most teen flicks, but just scratches the surface of the more substantial issues it hints at during the film.

FEATURES

Block Party gets going in Old Town

Drew Harmon
June 28, 2001

More music is making its way to the Lansing area tonight, as the Old Town Block Party kicks off its first year of performances. “We’re very excited,” said Jamie Czekai, the interim program manager for Old Town Main Street.

FEATURES

Symphony orchestra on deck at ballpark

Helen Kwong
June 28, 2001

Flying an American flag is a way to pay homage to our country, but heading to the sixth annual Symphony at the Park would give an earlier start to Independence Day festivities. The Greater Lansing Symphony Orchestra will be performing popular patriotic songs, Hollywood and Broadway hits and Disney selections at Oldsmobile Park, 505 E.

FEATURES

A.I. deserves an A+

“A.I. Artificial Intelligence” is a thought-provoking science fiction drama that works on many levels and reveals deeper meanings long after the movie is over.

FEATURES

Defunct Corvair Jesus pleases with weird songs

Helen Kwong
June 27, 2001

Corvair Jesus The Threat Management Committe Known As: CORVAIR JESUS (Corvair Jesus) Corvair Jesus played weird, but ingenious, music before graduation from MSU caused the trio to break up. But before its demise, the band released “The Threat Management Committe Known as: Corvair Jesus,” and it’s just as weird as it was. Musically, the only band Corvair might be comparable to is Fishbone, because both use an instrument called a theremin.

FEATURES

Bass, drums, organ rule in Chicagos Oh my god

Cavan Moon
June 27, 2001

Oh my god Well (Oh my god music) Oh my god’s first album, “Well,” is a swift kick to the senses for those of us who forgot what music should be. At a time when most new rock albums sound like recycled Limp Bizkit, the Chicago trio produced a solid album that borders on both rock and punk, but is certainly not hip-hop. The CD is an original, if not undefinable, type of punk rock that few would expect from a band without an electric guitar.

FEATURES

E.L.s Steppin In It jams for charity Thursday

Helen Kwong
June 27, 2001

Steppin’ In It has been around for more than four years, and its popularity just keeps on growing.The group started out as a funk and blues outfit, but added bluegrass, jazz, calypso, folk, Cajun, zydeco, Caribbean and Jamaican music to its repertoire with each new member who joined - thus creating a diverse mixture of the “great old-time.”“We kinda play our own take on old-time and roots music,” said Josh Davis, the band’s lead vocalist and a theater senior.

FEATURES

Dolittle sequel not funny enough

Drew Harmon
June 25, 2001

Lions and tigers and bears, oh my. Well, “Dr. Dolittle 2,” the new animal-heavy comedy, only stars one of those frightening creatures, and the movie hardly deserves an, “oh my!” Starring Eddie Murphy, reprising his role as the title-character doctor who has the ability to converse with animals, the movie is steeped in run-of-the-mill fart jokes and a mild comedic punch that fills most modern “family” movies. The movie follows Dolittle as he deals with his role as the doctor who splits his time between human and animal patients and attempts to spend time with his family, which is beginning to resent the amount of time he devotes to helping the animal kingdom. While planning a trip to Europe to spend time with the family, a sudden tragedy engrosses the good doctor - an evil logging company is cutting down an entire forest, conveniently proximate enough for the woodland creatures to contact Dolittle to help. So, Dolittle has to find a way to save the forest.

FEATURES

Festivals fill weekend

Helen Kwong
June 21, 2001

The Lansing area will be inundated with festivals this weekend, which promises to keep residents in mid-Michigan busy. Here’s a brief look at five area festivals this weekend: Festival of the Sun Saturday, North Lansing Festival of the Sun is mid-Michigan’s premier wine, brew and gourmet food-tasting festival.

FEATURES

Stone Temple Pilots play melodic rock

Drew Harmon
June 20, 2001

Stone Temple Pilots Shangri-La Dee Da (Atlantic Records) The Stone Temple Pilots’ latest album, “Shangri-La Dee Da,” serves to reinforce the band’s status as the elder statesman of rock music in this modern era of one-hit rockers. After a tumultuous decade, the band came back from a brief hiatus with 1999’s “No.