0 Wednesday March 10, 2004 arts.michigandaily. com artseditor@michigandaily.com Ulbe£tdygan139Vt ARTS 8 4 ANIMANIAC } ANIME HITS THE MAINSTREAM IN 'TOKYO' By Raquel Laneri Daily Arts Writer URIQI!S -LYE. THE HOTTEST PICKS IN ENTERTAINMENT FROM A DAILY ARTS WRITER S Jay Z, "Big Pimpin' " - When Jay sings "let's RI-I-I-I-I-IDE," it sounds like "Sra-a-a-a-a-a."Yet another sign that he loves me. Anime isn't just for nerds or kids anymore. In the past few years, quite a number of anime films released in the United States have won over critics, infiltrated into the mainstream, and even won Oscars (Miyazaki's master- Pink handkerchiefs - Take a look around: The color of choice is pink, especially for men. Rose colored shirts and metallic-pink ties are every- where, be it on A-Rod or Bill Clinton. A handkerchief adds the extra touch of style and in pink provides just the right splash of color. piece "Spirited Away"). Anime director est, "Tokyo Godfathers," has garnered similar praise and mainstream appeal with its combination of slapstick and melodrama. But is it too mainstream? It should- n't be, considering that the cast of characters consists of three bums - a drunk, a transvestite and a runaway Satoshi Kon's lat- Tokyo Godfathers At the Michigan Theater Sony k Ywenz Studios - University alum Yang Wen's innovative productions of flyers, websites and videos are accessible and affordable multimedia resources that capture large events through the most creative of expressions. teenager - and an abandoned baby. In addition, there are enough plot twists to make your head spin. Yet for an art form that, in many respects, allows for great fluidity and freedom in structure, atmosphere, tone and probability, this animated film is disappointingly rigid. All of the plot twists turn into a string of random, lucky coincidences that helps the characters find what they are in search of - specifically, reconciliation with a lost past and the abandoned baby's parents. Every time the story reveals that the twist falls perfectly in place with the pro- tagonists' plan, the viewer can't help but roll his eyes. For a film that boasts gritty realism - the animation looks startlingly authentic and uncompromisingly por- trays the roughness of the streets - its happenings are largely fantastical, and the twists, instead of complicating the narrative, make it simplistic and formulaic. The three heroes do not complete the journey themselves; instead, they are led by the hand of the director the whole way. "Godfathers" has a great premise. Three bums alienated from their families bond together to create their own makeshift family while coming to terms with the families that they threw away. The film, however, gets a bit heavy- handed in its delivery as the maudlin hysterics of Hana the transvestite lead to gigantic arguments, the awkwardly timed flashbacks and dream sequences reek of melodrama and the characters suffer brushes with death. Kon tries to balance the sentimental and serious story with goofy or slapstick antics, which are often enough to elicit ample chuckles. Hana's fondness for reciting haikus at moments he finds profound is cleverly executed, with the writing of the haiku at the side of the screen. The expressive, flexible faces of the cartoons are perfect for comedy. The versatility of the expressions certainly help create real, sympathetic characters that ground the improbable story. This, in addition to the breathtaking scenery, almost makes the over-sentimentality forgivable. But can it com- pletely wash away the sickly sweetness clinging to your body by the film's sappy conclusion? "Tokyo Godfathers" is reasonably entertaining, amus- ing and at times even touching, but the perfectly-timed coincidences that lead to syrupy reconciliations don't make for an intriguing enough storyline. "Haley's Hints" on PBS - For the slightly obsessive compulsive, cleaning isn't just a chore, it is a daily necessity. Watching Graham Haley work his magic by remov- ing the most stuck-on stains is nothing short of thrilling. Even more rewarding is following along with either "Haley's Hints" or "Haley's Cleaning Hints." Grab one of the books, turn on PBS and you've got yourself a fascinating Friday night. Shah Rukh Khan - The reigning king of Bollywood films can make a girl weep before the opening credits begin and can dance with impeccable grace even with an injured knee. I Circus features eclectic mix of folk, pop stylings 007 boasts 'Everything' in latest Adam Rottenborg Daily Arts Editor By Emily tau Daily Arts Writer and shuffling percussion in a waltz beat make this song a bittersweet reflection on the past, with lyrics such as "Every man's the same / Only the times and Jonatha Brook has been in the music business since the mid-'90s. She is vir- tually unknown to the under-25 set, however, since her folk-tinged pop songs in the vein of Shawn Colvin and Paula Cole mostly appeal to middle- aged women. The CD insert of Back in the Circus, Brooke's fifth album, implements a carnival theme but aside from the art, the title track is the only feature remi- niscent of the big top. Accordion tunes places change / On this rollercoaster ride, up and down / But I never get to the other side." This track sets the mood for the rest of the album, Jonatha Brooke Back in the Circus Verve VIDEOGAME REVIEW Few movie-licensed games ever turn out well. One notable exception is "Goldeneye," based on the popular James Bond flick, which ended up becoming one of the most memorable games for the Nintendo 64. Nintendo subsequently lost the license to the series and a string of mediocre titles using the Bond name were released. With the release of "Everything or Nothing," EA finally found a way to which consists of contemplative love songs. "Less Than Love Is Nothing" utilizes an annoying drum beat that attempts to sound vaguely like an elec- tronic song. Her voice switches on the Mel n Jim Carrey's new movie, "Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind," he plays a man whose memory of a tumultuous relationshi is being gradually erased. Have you ever wished that you could have one horrible date or relationship wiped away? Write to us about your worst date and/or relationship (no more than 500 words). The person with the best entry will win a free dinner for two as well as other cool swag and have their story published in a future edition of Weekend Magzine. Send your submissions to eter akontest@umekdu before Monday, March 15th at 10 pi.. album from gentle and sighing to whiny and wailing without much inten- sity in any. Brooke also covers three songs - James Taylor's "Fire and Rain," the Beach Boys' "God Only Knows" and the Alan Parsons Project's "Eye in the Sky" - approaching each differently. Brooke mangles "Fire and Rain" by complicating it with keyboards and an obnoxious handclap beat, but does a decent job with a minimalist version of "God Only Knows." The tempo is slowed down, and Brooke uses her breathy voice to her advantage during the a cappella harmonizing in the song's bridge. In "Eye in the Sky," Brooke eras- es all traces of the '80s, opting instead for a yearning, mournful folk song char- acteristic of her style. All of the songs - with the exception of the covers - on Back in the Circus are written, performed and produced by Brooke, resulting in a tightly-woven album that thankfully plays through quickly. It's telling, however, that while Brooke is technically skilled, her own songs are not executed as well as her treatments of covers. make another game worthy of the 007 moniker by taking a differ- ent approach from the N64 classic. To create the feeling of a real Everything or Nothing GameCube, PS2 and XBox EA Shaken not stirred. Courtesy of EA cinematic adventure for James Bond, "Everything or Nothing" boasts an all- star cast for a videogame. As Pierce Brosnan, Judy Dench and John Cleese reprise their theatrical roles. In addi- tion, Mya, Heidi Klum and Shannon Elizabeth are the requisite Bond babes and Willem Dafoe plays the evil Russ- ian antagonist. The story features the requisite twists and turns as well as constant excuses for explosions and sexual innuendo. Bringing Bond out of the first-per- son was a risky choice and could have been disastrous, but the third-person perspective actually helps to create a more cinematic feel. The action system features a targeting system and it relies heavily on the ability to shoot objects from behind. Bond's arsenal is full of guns - from pistols to rifles, grenade launchers and machine guns - and Q has provided plenty of gadgets. Another new addition to the Bond franchise is the driving component. EA went the extra mile, and taking the existing driving engine of the "Need for Speed" series and applying its game physics to "Everything or Nothing." The vehicles available include the Porsche Cayenne, Ducati motorcycle, the Aston Martin Vanquish, a tank and even a van. Each ride comes equipped with the appropriate weaponry and gadgets often seen in the 007 films. "Everything or Nothing's" greatest strength is its theatrical feel. Besides the A-list talent, excellent espionage gameplay and incredible driving, the game features "Bond moments." If the gamer completes a special objective - like driving through a building instead of around it - a cut scene or event will occur, indicating the "Bond moment." While "Everything or Nothing" is not flawless, especially with its aver- age multiplayer and lack of true stealth gameplay (a la "Splinter Cell"), it is the best game to carry the Bond name since the seminal "Goldeneye." 0