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January 9, 2004
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ARTS
5
NOT JUST PLAYING AROUND
THE TOP 10 VIDEOGAMES OF 2003
Exhibit displays the
wonders of India
2003 lacked that special
game that could redefine a
genre. Yet, the industry
reached new peaks in
popularity with the public, as
seen with the barrage of
television ads, awards shows
and game sales. Amid the
countless sequels and rehashes
released, a few games stood
out from the rest of the pack.
Without further ado, the Daily
New Media staff has selected a
list of 10 worthy.games.
'The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker
(Nintendo) - The decision process for this
year's no, 1 was an easy one. Link's latest
adventure is the year's best game and became an
instant staple on the underrated GameCube system.
"Wind Waker" has it all: creative puzzles, intense
swordplay, beautiful graphics, an incredible score
and a clever plot that ties in quite
nicely with the rest of the
series. "Zelda" still remains
the best action RPG fran-
chise and "Wind Waker"
lived up to the hype.
2 Star Wars: Knights of
the Old Republic4
(LucasArts) - Prov-
ing that not all "Star Wars"
games are garbage, this RPG
took everyone by surprise.
Every action chosen by the
gamer changes your character's
balance between the light and dark
sides of the force, making fan-
boys' dreams finally come true.
3Prince of Persia: Sands of Time (UbiSoft)
- As if the acrobatics and stunning visuals
weren't enough, "Prince of Persia" allows users
to manipulate time itself, rewinding, accelerating and
even stopping characters in their tracks. UbiSoft was
careful to make gameplay easy enough for beginners
but challenged players' minds throughout the expan-
sive excursion across this Arabian city. Character
animation is beautifully fluid, making each leap,
climb, fall and fight immensely enjoyable. Despite
its short length, "Persia" is a fine example of quality
over quantity.
By Sravya Chirumamilla
Daily Arts Writer
Bridal henna and the glint of opu-
lence resonate in the color schemes at
the University of Michigan Museum
of Art's Indian art exhibit. The walls
- decorated in terra-cotta red and
turmeric yellow,
chosen to coin-
cide with several
of the paintings
on display - pro-
vide a mix of
both themearthy
tones of the rural
Indian subconti-
nent and the
vibrancy and
spice of daily life.
Visitors enter-
ing the exhibit are
immediately
transported to the
Divine
Encounters,
Earthly
Pleasures:
Twenty
Centuries of
Indian Art
Now through Feb.22
Free
The University of
Michigan Museum
of Art
Courtesy of LucasArts
The guy at the far left just wet himself.
Madden NFL 2004/NCAA Football 2004
(EA Sports) - Writing a list of the top 10
games without including these near perfect
football sims would be criminal. EA Sports deliv-
ers excellence every year and the online play takes
the bragging rights to a whole new level.
Final Fantasy X-2 (Square Enix) - The
first sequel to any game in the "Final Fan-
tasy" saga, "X-2" follows the main charac-
ters of "Final Fantasy X" on a sphere-hunting
expedition across the war-torn world of Spira.
The graphics are amazing, breathing color and
life into the characters of this magical world,
and the updated combat system is incredible.
"X-2" is more than a worthy sequel - it's a
well-thought out and well-executed game
all around.
Tony Hawk's Underground (Activi-
sion) - Some game series stay stag-
nant, but "Tony Hawk" just keeps
getting better. Adding a story mode to the mix
while keeping the same game engine enabled this
new edition to be up to the standards of its pred-
ecessors.
Mario Kart: Double Dash! (Nintendo) -
Though criticized for its simplicity, there's
no arguing that Mario Kart is still the king of
the action/racing genre. The smooth graphics and
boppy music make the latest installment a must
have for any multiplayer enthusiast.
Viewtiful Joe (Capcom) - Fresh and fre-
netic, "Joe" offers innovation in spades, con-
trasting with the sequels that flooded the
market this year. A return to 2-D gameplay with 3-
Courtesy of Nintendo
Who wants a moustache ride?
D cel-shaded graphics, nothing else dared to take
the chances that this game took in 2003.
Panzer Dragoon Orta (Sega) - The
fourth installment in this shooter series,
which few know about, returns to form
with steller gameplay in tow. "Orta" shows the
power of the XBox's graphics engine while hav-
ing precise and impeccable controls over the
non-stop action.
Virtua Fighter 4: Evolution (Sega)
- No fireballs, no maces, no 30-foot
vertical leaps, just the most beautifully
intricate fighting game on the market. The "Evolu-
tion" version features two new fighters as well as
an all-new Quest Mode that pits gamers against
some extraordinary Al. Plus, it's only 20 bucks.
land of intricate archways and volup-
tuous sculptures. Unlike many exhibi-
tions, the museum has arranged the
pieces by theme, not chronologically.
The museum's senior curator of Asian
art, Maribeth Graybill, explains, "This
exhibit allows for people to get a
sense of the aesthetic flavors and prin-
cipled themes."
Since distinctions in traditional
Indian art lie in the religion of the
area, some major indigenous theolo-
gies - Hinduism, Jainism and Bud-
dhism - are represented. Mughal
influences are also visible in the
paintings as the architecture and
tapestries evoke the remarkable
dynasties.
Dating from before the Common
Era to the 19th century, the pieces
range from calligraphy to etchings.
The exhibition continues in the base-
ment with engravings by Bernard
Picart, which are from as far back as
the 16th century.
The museum offers not just numer-
ous paintings and sculptures on display,
but also many events centered on the
theme of Indian art. Scheduled are per-
formances by classically trained
dancers as well as speeches by the
curator. Most notably, the museum,
School of Art and Design and the Insti-
tute for Research on Women and Gen-
der are collaborating to bring artist
Nilima Sheikh for a lecture series on
Jan. 29. A talented, contemporary
Courtesy of University of Michigan Museum of Art
Vishnu Stele from Northeast India.
painter, Sheikh looks to tradition while
finding a place in her art to express
20th-century issues.
Graybill observes that these presenta-
tions will showcase a variety of art
forms. "One of the messages of the
exhibition is that we should no longer
think of India as 'other."' Graybill
expounded, "India is not long ago and
far away, but very much a part of
Michigan's heritage."
This display is the first Indian art
show in 20 years at the University.
Graybill, an alum, remembers her
excitement at finding the many exem-
plary pieces in this collection. "It was
a journey of discovery to learn what
we have," she notes, adding that due
to limited space, usually less than
three percent of the University's col-
lection of Indian art is showcased.
The most impressive aspect of this
exhibit is that the high quality art is
primarily from the University's own
collection. Graybill hopes to present
more of the items once the newly
approved wing for the museum is
completed. However, current stu-
dents will not be exposed to another
such assortment of art in the near
future. The rare opportunity to view
such a noteworthy exhibit should not
be missed.
'League' not so extraordinary, but entertaining
By Douglas Wernert
Daily Arts Writer
DVD R EVI EW
What do you get when you com-
bine six famous literary characters,
a guy that used to be James Bond
and an evil villain with the ultra-
creative name of "The Phantom?"
You get "The League of Extraordi-
nary Gentlemen," an action-adven-
ture flick combining numerous fight
scenes, rapidly
moving story-
lines and a wide
assortment of
special features
to make for a
decent night of
entertainment.
Sean Connery
The League
of
Extraordinary
Gentlemen
FOX
(Shane West, "A Walk to Remember"),
the charismatic American agent, and
even Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde make an
appearance. What league of gentlemen
would be complete without, of course,
an attractive blood-sucking woman
(Peta Wilson)? The seven heroes seem
unbeatable but plot twists, love triangles
and troubled pasts all hinder the goal to
save the world.
The movie is fast-paced, with plenty
of action, special effects and battles
against evil henchmen. The surprises
are much needed and much appreciat-
ed, preventing the box office bomb
from being another film where the all-
time good guys beat the bad guys.
The extras exceed expectations for
a film such as this, with two full-
length commentaries, an abundance
of deleted scenes and a multi-part
documentary on the making of the
film. The latter is the most interesting,
with takes on the assembling of Mr.
Hyde and the making of the city of
Venice. The sharp picture and clear
sound meet the standards expected
from DVDs these days, and enhance
an otherwise mediocre film.
The "League" may look like your
is Allan Quatermain, a seasoned
adventurer recruited to save Europe
from war by seeking out a weapons
manufacturer (The Phantom) who
plans to sabotage peace talks. Con-
nery is not alone of course, as he is
joined by the League of Extraordinary
Gentlemen.
And what a league it is. Captain
Nemo (Naseeruddin Shah, "Monsoon
Wedding") provides navigation and
transportation, even using automobiles,
which is remarkable since the movie
takes place at the turn of the 20th Cen-
tury. The Invisible Man (Tony Curran),
Dorian Gray (Stuart Townsend, "Queen
of the Damned") is an ageless wonder
who is safe from harm and Tom Sawyer
standard, run-of-the-mill fantasy
adventure, but solid features, a
unique ensemble of characters and
Sean Connery's voice allow it to be
worth a look.
Movie: **
Picture/Sound: ***i
Extras: ***i
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University Musical Society
Winter Half-Price Student Ticket Sale
Saturday, january 10
10 am- 1pm
For one day only at the beginning of each semester, UMS offers
HALF-PRICE TICKETS to students. This extremely popular event draws
hundreds of students every year - last year, students saved over
$118,738 on UMS Tickets. Some perfomances have a limited number
of tickets available, so get there early!