Keri Hilson: In a Perfect World

By Kim Keener

The singer Keri Hilson is emerging into the spotlight with the release of her first CD, “In a Perfect World.” Released by the record label Moxie, this CD was a collaborative effort between Hilson and her producers Timbaland and Polow da Don. It hit stores in September 2008. Hilson was in the music video, “Love in This Club” by Usher.  She describes the songs on her album to be about relationships and purposefully imperfect, focusing on the realities of life and coordinating with the title of her album.  Keri sings in the genre of hi-hop and pop, but definitely is unlike most hip-hop and pop artists.  She is truly a star on the rise; everyone should keep an eye her future endeavors.  Keri brings originality and a fresh approach to her music as heard in the music on her CD. 

The first song on “In a Perfect World…” is titled “Intro.” It is really cool, original and refreshing with a base that makes the song really enjoyable. The third song on the CD, “Get your money up,” has a fast-pace rhythm, showing variety in comparison to other songs on the CD. Its hot lyrics are sure to attract listeners.  The beginning of song “Return the favor” is really new and exciting to its listeners.  The song “Knock you down” also brings a steady and intriguing rhythm.  In addition, Kanye West’s smooth voice within the track goes well with the contrasting beat.  The song “Slow Dance” is slower, displaying Keri’s versatility as an artist with its creative beat and lyrics. 

The CD draws listeners in with featured artists such as Lil’ Wayne, Keyshia Cole, Trina, Timbaland, Kanye West, Ne-yo, and Akon.  Many songs on the album show creativity and originality in rhythm, lyrics and base, exemplifying why Keri Hilson is definitely someone to check out.  She has been passionate about music from a young age because of her upbringing in Alabama. With all these qualities on Keri’s side, it is no wonder as to why she has landed on the scene so quickly. Her CD contains many creative, slow to fast variations of electric sounds; it is obvious that Keri is not afraid of trying something new.

The CD is recommended for anyone who would like to try something different than what they are used to listening to.  I think Keri brings a new talent, sound, lyrics and rhythm to the table.  If this is what Keri’s first CD has to offer to the public, one can only imagine how far she can go in the music industry.  As far as audiences go, the audience is directed toward younger listeners, but all ages with an open mind will enjoy her music. 

 

17 Again

By Taylor Kagy

The movie 17 again was released earlier this month and has surprisingly been quite a crowd pleaser. Maybe this has something to do with the millions of screaming, devoted Zac Efron fan girls. Exactly how many times do you have to hear Efron fan girls shrieking in the theatre when they see him take the ‘stage’? Either way, Efron is not as hot as girls make him out to be and the movie was not as fabulous as reviews have stated. The only thing that was close to amazing was the style that director, Burr Steers, used.
Popular high school senior Mike O'Donnell (Zac Efron) is the popular guy that everyone wants or wants to be. He is a star athlete with the promise of a college scholarship, but decides that his pregnant girlfriend is more important than the future he has ahead of him.  Years later, the adult Mike (Matthew Perry) comes to find himself in a life he did not quite expect.  He and his wife separated and he now lives with his friend, Ned Freeman. To top it off, he doesn’t even have an existing relationship with his teenage kid. After getting passed up for yet another promotion at work, he returns to his high school to reminisce over his sports awards and the life that he had dreamed of, but can no longer have. As Mike is driving home from the high school, he sees the mysterious janitor with whom he had shared his most intimate high school memories. The man is now standing on a ledge, preparing to jump into the Los Angeles River. Mike rushes out of his car, trying to play hero and rescue him, but when he gets there the janitor has disappeared and is no where to be found. What Mike doesn't know is that he is about to fall into the river and turn into his 17 year old self, literally bringing the saying ‘who says you are only young once’ to real life.
This movie is definitely not on the ‘movies to see’ of 2009 list and should be taken out of the theatres. Not only did it get popularity only from Zac Efron fans, but was also not as hilarious as people hoped it would be. The acting in the movie was pretty horrible and a little hard to take seriously. Let’s just say, save your money and see another movie that isn’t quite as disappointing as 17 Again.

Little Shop of Horrors

By Cora Chong

Crank: High Voltage

By Jeff Liu

Nothing can prepare you for the thousands of volts contained in Crank: High Voltage. It’s just what you need after boring, monotonous day. Crank: High Voltage will make every other action film seem like a quiet, meek chick flick in comparison. Jason Statham reprises his role as Chev Chelios, the epic protagonist of the Crank series.
The sequel itself picks up directly after the first Crank, where Chelios falls thousands of feet from a helicopter and bounces off a car. Of course, he doesn’t die, and is quickly scooped up by several Chinese medics who take him away. The doctors take his heart out and replace it with an electric one; when they prepare to harvest the rest of his organs, Chelios brutally beats them up and escapes.  After his not-so-clandestine flight, Chelios goes on a wild hunt to retrieve his heart back from the hands of the Triads. Unfortunately, he breaks the battery pack for his new electric heart during the journey. Desperately, Chelios calls Doc Miles, who tells him that he has to constantly keep his electric heart electrically charged, or it will stop. Ways to keep his heart charged include, but aren’t limited to, using jumping cables from a car, grabbing dangerous pylons, and the awkward, rubbing against someone to create static friction. Throughout the film, these methods become more and more absurd. 
Statham retains his character’s extremely brutal nature as he rips his way through countless gangsters with guns, knifes, and fists. Along the way, Chelios meets up with an Asian prostitute named Ria (Bai Ling); she helps him seek out the gangsters who have his heart and also leads him to his old girlfriend, Eve Lyndon (Amy Smart), who became a stripper after the events of the first Crank. Farther along the plotline are Mexican gangsters, a guy with Full Body Tourette's Syndrome, a talking head kept alive in a water tank, loads of cursing, bullets flying everywhere, and let’s not forget the fact that Chelios has to keep electrocuting himself to stay alive. 
Crank: High Voltage is definitely not recommended for the weak-hearted; all the shocking and vulgarity would most likely leave the frail psychologically maimed if they are not used to such action-packed intensity. Please do not see this movie unless you can actually stomach the various body parts and innards that are visible when Chelios shoots a gaping hole in the middle of a gangster’s body. This movie is one of the most fierce, ultra-violent medleys of car chases, carnage, sex, and humor up to the point where everything is just utterly ridiculous! But that was the intent of the filmmakers; everyone is just too busy running around, dodging bullets, and having sex to waste any time on being “good actors”. All in all, Crank: High Voltage is intense beyond all recognition and will keep you hooked onto every single moment. From the bizarre beginning to the outrageous conclusion, Crank: High Voltage will shock you every second in between until you’re begging for the next electrifying installment of the series.