We Were Soldiers, which stars Mel Gibson, lead an upheaval at the box office this weekend, capturing $20.2 million in ticket sales while opening against two other war films still in theaters. 40 Days and 40 Night, starring Josh Hartnett and buzz girl Shannyn Sossamon, opened with a strong date flick take of $12.5 million, and John Q. jumped up to number three with a solid $8.4 million gross, for a $51.1 million total.

The journals and jottings of late Nirvana front man Kurt Cobain have been sold to Riverhead Books in a seven-figure deal. Twenty three notebooks containing an estimated 800 pages of Cobain’s personal writings and drawings were discovered while author Charles Cross was doing research for his best selling Cobain biography Heavier Than Heaven. Riverhead Books has set a release date for late October or November.

Rumors are circulating that David Letterman is in talks to move his show from CBS to ABC, where it would replace the longtime hard news staple Nightline hosted by Ted Koppel. ABC apparently wants a late night show that will generate more advertising dollars by attracting a younger demographic, while the head of ABC News was taken off guard when a reporter informed him of the discussions.

The anticipated success of Wesley Snipes’ vampire actioner Blade 2 has given its screenwriter, David Goyer, a very edgy idea for a third installment. Goyer has mentioned in several publications that he would like to make a follow-up in which the franchise’s antagonistic vampires after they have succeeded in wiping out the human race and taking over the planet.

The April 30 major label release from San Francisco rap group Blackalicious will boast an expansive list of guest artists and cameos including Ben Harper, DJ Shadow, poet Saul Williams, and former lead singer of Rage Against the Machine Zach De la Rocha. De la Rocha’s solo album will drop later on this year and reportedly has a drum ‘n’ bass oriented aesthetic similar to his collaboration on Roni Size’s last album In the Mode.

When Australian pop star Natalie Imbruglia’s first album sold six million copies, driven by the overwhelming success of the international hit single Torn, I remember telling my friend, “You’re my buddy and all, but I’d sell you to a band gypsies for a date with that hottie.”

Four years passed between Imbruglia’s debut album Left of the Middle and the release of her sophomore collection White Lilies Island, have no fear. One thing remained constant: I’d still sell my best bud to the gypsies.

Oh, but how could I forget the music? This is an album review, after all.

The former Australian soap-opera actress’s first album, Left of the Middle, had a distinctly harder feel to it, with heavier guitars and vocals. Imbruglia sang the tracks on her first album with a pent up anger. It was more of a grunge-meets-pop album.

In contrast, White Lilies Island falls more into the pop category with smoother, airier tracks. It’s like riding the teacups last time the carnival was in town and this time only riding the ferris wheel. You still have fun, and this time you see the park, but it doesn’t get your heart going.

Also, unlike the first album, Imbruglia wrote or co-wrote every track on White Lilies Island.

“I couldn’t put myself in a position where I had another hit with someone else’s song,” Imbruglia said in an interview with Bill Prince of GQ magazine.

Of the 64 tracks that Imbruglia wrote over the four years between albums, twelve made the final cut.

Several sources reported that Imbruglia, who lives in Windsor, England, with her dog Charlie, was threatened with a fine of one million English pounds by her record label if she didn’t finish her second album soon. That’s a lot of American clammies.

She finally finished the album and its songs run the gamut of emotions that Imbruglia went through while making it.

Wrong Impression was the first single released off of her newest album and was the number one most added song at Top 40 radio in its first week.

The acoustically spiced Satellite has a get-up-and-dance and sing-along feel to it. It has Top 40 potential written all over it, even despite sharing its name with the famed Dave Matthews Band track.

Songs Beauty on the Fire and Do You Love? showcase the inner turmoil that the gorgeous Imbruglia went through as she tried to wrap up the album.

And if you thought she was a cutie in the last album’s liner notes, wait until you see the liner notes for White Lilies Island. (Charlie, you lucky dog.) My only complaint was that there simply weren’t enough pictures of her.

In conclusion, if anyone has Natalie Imbruglia’s phone number, I have a friend ready to work for gypsies.

The period between January through mid-March is usually a time when Hollywood dumps its most unattractive movies into the theatres, hoping to make some money to cover their hinnies. This is not altogether a bad thing, sometimes it’s a blessing in disguise. There lies the perfect chance for a little independent or foreign film to break out, make some money and maybe even a profit. This film will probably be one of them.

Shown at the Bill Cosford Cinema this past Thursday by the Center of Latin American Studies as part of Communication Week, Y Tu Mama Tambi

A few months ago, a moderate case of homesickness triggered severe hunger pangs for Guatemalan food. The mere sound of the words enchilada, chuchito and rellenito launched my saliva production into maximum overdrive. Intent on satiating my craving, I called the consulate hoping someone at the diplomatic corps could help me. There, I was referred to a Guatemalan travel agent who, in turn, referred me to Antigua Guatemala, a quaint little restaurant just west of West 27 Avenue on Flagler Street.

The external impression may make some wary. The place looks like a hole in the wall; a somewhat run-down structure in a shady area of town. But the interior of the eatery, named after the first Guatemalan capital that was once a famous colonial hub of the Spanish empire, is an upscale version of a small-town Guatemalan restaurant.

The d

At one of last week’s performances of The House of Yes, part of the American Playwright Series celebrated at the Jerry Herman Ring Theater, the audience was presented with the a special guest– the American playwright herself, Wendy MacLeod.

The House of Yes is about the ultimate dysfunctional family, centered on the insane sister who goes by Jackie O. and reenacts the assassination of JFK with her twin brother, with whom she has had an affair.

MacLeod answered questions from audience members, who asked questions ranging from what her life is like to what inspires her to write plays with controversial topics.

“I’m inherently interested in plays that cross borders,” MacLeod said. “I like to sort of attack difficult subject matter in an unexpected way.”

The idea for The House of Yes is based on a family she knows that lived near the Kennedy’s with a daughter that looked like Jackie O.

“The family is still speaking to me,” MacLeod said with a laugh.

The title for the play came from graffiti she saw on a bathroom wall, which she used because it made her think of how Jackie was spoiled because nobody said “no” to her.

“It reminded me of a porn movie title, which is right,” MacLeod said.

When asked about writing one act plays, MacLeod said she thought The House of Yes would not have worked as well if it were longer.

“You don’t want to give the audience a chance to leave, frankly,” MacLeod said.

MacLeod also talked about the film that was adapted from The House of Yes. She believes that while movies give a more realistic feel, live performances are larger than life.

“Theater can be provocative in a way the other forms can’t,” she said.

MacLeod started off as an actor, but then became interested in directing. She said she directed A Midsummer Nights Dream with Kathleen Turner, but soon found it too stressful.

MacLeod then focused on writing, using her background in acting and directing to help her incorporate visual aspects into her work. She also attended the playwriting program at Yale.

“Getting into Yale is like getting into heaven. You don’t say, ‘no, I don’t want to go to heaven.'”

After her discussion ended and she received a standing ovation, people from the audience and cast members from both of her shows huddled around her, asking her more questions and getting autographs. Members of the audience seemed to be in awe of her.

“Just hearing her talk is fantastic,” said one woman while she was waiting to meet the author.

The cast was more apprehensive than usual knowing she was going to be in the audience.

“Having the playwright coming makes you more meticulous, and, for me, more nervous,” said Josh Fiedler, who played the younger brother, Anthony, as his fellow actors shushed him for reminding them of their own fears.

However, the actors enjoyed doing the show, partly because it helped them grow as actors to play such odd characters.

“It’s really challenging,” said Christina Valo, who played Jackie O. “I like to think I’m not insane and I get to play someone who is.”

Brett Friedman, who played the twin brother, believed their nerves would actually help them, because the cast feeds off each other’s energy.

“With five people, the connections are important,” Friedman said. “We’ve gotten along, like a nice, dysfunctional family.”

Last Friday, the Greek community gathered on the University Center patio for another exciting event celebrating Greek Week. The ‘Mystery Event’ was different from all the others, as participants did not know what the event was about, or what it entailed. Thus called a mystery.

Heather Davis and Pinar Alper, from Kappa Kappa Gamma, were very excited about the ‘Mystery Event.’ They had previously participated in the ‘Organized Cheer’ and ‘Olympic Day,’ as well as many others, and were looking forward to the dance-a-thon on Saturday. “We have worked hard on all of the events, especially the ‘Organized Cheer,’ which was my favorite”, Davis said. “My favorite was definitely ‘Olympic Day'”, added Alper.

The ‘Mystery Event’ began at 6 p.m. as the fraternities and sororities met on the UC patio.

Food and drinks were set up on the side of the patio, while a movie screen was set up in the pool area. After a nice dinner with friends, the crowd moved towards the pool area to watch the featured movie: 1984’s Revenge of the Nerds, a movie about nerds who form a fraternity to battle against the bullies in the Alpha Beta Fraternity.

Everyone gathered around the screen, either in chairs, or stretched out on the ground wrapped in blankets to keep warm on the cool, windy night.

The event was an overall success, despite the cool weather. It was a very relaxing evening; a great relief to many. A nice dinner and a movie outdoors surrounded by family and friends seemed to be the perfect ending to the week.

Greek Week began on Friday, February 22 and concluded on Sunday. There were many exciting events through out the week, including a dance-a-thon, ‘Organized Cheer,’ and ‘Olympic Day.’ All of the money raised will be given to the many charities to which the sororities and Fraternities contribute.

This past Tuesday, the CAC showed a sneak preview of a film. Or, for lack of a better phrase, an excruciatingly bad movie. Said movie was Sorority Boys, which is really just another attempt from Hollywood to make money off the young male audience.

This movie brings to mind the age-old question: Is Hollywood making crappier films or are audiences just getting dumber? Whatever the answer is, it must be identified and rectified soon, because there can only be so much garbage playing at the theaters at once.

The film, if you have the nerve to call it that, centers around three frat rats: Dave (Barry Watson), Adam (Michael Rosenbaum) and Doofer (Harland Williams). That’s right, two actors from WB shows, 7th Heaven and Smallville respectively, and a mediocre stand-up comic.

It starts with them throwing a party at the frat house, where some of them entertain themselves by sling-shooting vibrating dildos into a sorority’s house. The sorority in question is the Delta Omicron Gamma (D.O.G. Get it?), the sorority that houses the rejects of other sororities.

After the party, the three find out their stash of money is damn near gone, and they now have to look for a place to live. D.O.G. is in a program that offers free housing, so guess what the three boys decide to do? That’s right, not look for jobs or crash at a friend’s place, but dress up like women to stay at the sorority as Daisy, Adina and Roberta.

It all follows the Hollywood formula from there.

Dave falls for Leah, the head D.O.G, Adam/Adina realizes how much of an ass he was in his treatment toward women, and Doofer, well, is Doofer.

There are some good scenes in the film. One of them is shown in the trailer, where Doofer, dressed as Roberta, sits in a circle of girls as they’re revealing secrets about each other. When it comes to Doofer’s turn, he professes his addiction to porn. Realizing what he just said, he picks up a pillow, yells, “Pillow fight!” and cold clocks the girl next to him in the face.

The only other one is when Doofer has to clean the bathroom at the sorority, takes out an anaconda of hair from the drain in the sink, and starts to make Chewbacca noises. That’s as smart as this little piece of celluloid gets.

The movie also does have some good qualities. For example, when the three dress up as girls, they start to think like girls. When Dave has to paint Leah’s toenails, he almost covers her foot with nail polish. The three boys start hitting department stores for size 8’s and Adam wears high heels because the “make my legs look slimmer.”

Instead of playing on these little things, the movie tries to go into Animal House territory, which it doesn’t come close to. It can’t even be as entertaining as PCU. Oh, and for the sex factor, Dave gets to shower with a girl.

This movie just isn’t worth watching. It’s not worth talking about, writing about, nor even thinking about. There is nothing new here; it’s a formulaic college-aimed movie that stars two WB actors with a first time director at the helm. Is there any wonder why it’s being released in March, one of the worst months for movies?

Not only is it sad that this movie was made, but that it was made by Disney. Oh, and let’s not forget that this week, Disney picked up the rights to make a sequel to this trash.

Disney, stick to animation. And Watson and Rosenbaum, stay on TV. Harland, don’t do film and stay on Comedy Central.

That way we won’t have to witness you guys dress up like ugly women again.