University of South Carolina Libraries
‘Goblet’ gang not shy ofPG-13 rating Fourth installment of‘Harry Potter’ series conjures darker brew Daniel Pienberg ZAP2IT.COM LOS ANGELES — Fearsome dragons. Evil wizards. A first school dance. Unexpected death. Slowly gestating terror. “Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire” may be the family film of the winter, but only if certain members of your family don’t mind covering their eyes at the scariest parts. Through its first three cinematic installments, the “Harry Potter” franchise have generated more than $2.6 billion in worldwide theatrical revenue, but the fourth film enters theaters this Friday with some new caveats. “Goblet of Fire,” which brings director Mike Newell into the fold, has earned a PG-13 11 Ml IB n*> T aKUHIBVK rating in the United States and a “12” certification in the United Kingdom. All arpund the world, in fact, parents are being warned that the latest adventures of Harry (Daniel Radcliffe), Hermione (Emma Watson) and Ron (Rupert Grint) may not be suitable for the smallest of children. David Heyman, producer on all of the J.K. Rowling adaptations, isn’t concerned. “For me, the books are not children’s books, I think that’s a misconception,” he insists. “I think the books are books that appeal to, maybe you could say children of all ages, but I think they appeal to people of all ages. I think that there’s something for everybody in them. Each of the books is more mature than tfie one that precedes it because it’s also dealing with a different age, a different year in Harry’s life.” Tlje film’s director observes that simply to maintain an escalating dramatic tension through the books and films, the obstacles facing Harry and his friends must mature in the same way. From the very beginning, the series has been pushing toward an ultimate confrontation between Harry and the fearsome Lord Voldemort (Ralph Fiennes), but in order to accommodate the wizard’s nascent skills, the early installments had to concentrate on simpler goals. “I think in the previous films, because of the age of people, what’s been happening is that the scale of challenge to the leading character has been limited,” Newell says. “He’s had a battle to deal with, he’s had this problem and that problem, but he’s never actually been challenged in himself. He’s never had to put up or shut up. Very early on in “Goblet of Fire,” it becomes clear that Voldemort’s plans to regain his physical form and terrifying strength are coming close to fruition, forcing the filmmaking team to either find a PG-friendly embodiment of all evil, or trust that the audience has been well prepared for the darkness to come. Murray Close /ASSOCIATED PRESS Harry Potter (Daniel Radcliffe) finds himself selected as an underage competitor in a dangerous multi-wizardary school competition in “Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire." IMTERMATIOI/IAL Edmcatioia Week :( j ? l/I.S. Dept, of State l/I.S. Dept, of Ednc^tion http:// lew. state. o v / At USC, 1,002 International Students come from 102 countries. 410 USC students studied abroad last year " Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry, and narrow-mindedness, and many of our people need it solely on these accounts. Broad, wholesome, charitable views of men and things cannot be acquired by vegetating in one corner of the earth all one's lifetime." -Mark Twain iBBI nHHHBVT cicmson • connnuED froid i event in hopes of attracting more fans. “Normally we have a turnout of "1,200 or so student, faculty, staff, and community members,” said Amanda Alpert, CP traditional events commissioner and third-year broadcast journalism student. “This year we are shooting for about 3,500.” To build a better tiger and have a more impressive burn, Carolina Productions teamed up with mechanical engineering students and produced a 25-foot tiger. “Students who have never attended are in for a treat,” Alpert said. “Our massive tiger, national recording artist, energy-pumping performances and many student leader appearances will be a great way to start this fun-packed weekend.” Bryan Barley, a third-year —-!-'-' history student who calls himself “a bit of a football psycho,” is pumped. “I grew up a Virginia Tech fan,” Barley said. “But after being at USC for a fetv years, my blood now runs garnet and black.” Barley’s pre-game plans include the Tiger Burn and tailgating with friends. “I know that for a lot of the people I’ll be going with this Saturday, this game won’t just be their last Carolina-Clemson game, but also their last home game as a student,” Barley said. “I’m looking forward to having one last time at Williams-Brice with a lot of good friends.” When it comes to tickets, many students said they would be willing to pay about $60 to $70 for one. Mill said she would wait in line for hours for a ticket and pay around $60, if she didn’t already have one. “But no sleeping bags for me,” Mill said. “I heard some people slept overnight to get a ticket. (That’s) too hardcore for me. I like my bed.” Preston was surprised at how much some students shelled out for tickets. ”1 heard of a student paying as much as $300 for a ticket,” Preston said. “I didn’t even realize college students had that much money in their pockets.” Many students said they would not miss this game for the world. With coach Steve Spurrier and the advantage of a home game, students seem positive that the Gamecocks will pull off a victory. And the fans have promised to be there the whole way, screaming, cheering and above all, having a good time together. “There is nothing better than giving and receiving high-fives from people around you that you’ve never met before,” Mill said. Comments on this story? E-mail gamecockfeatures@gwm.sc.edu DERAILED'•COnTinUGD PRODI1 hotel for an intended steamy affair. Unfortunately, they pick a seedy establishment and are robbed before anything occurs. Lucinda is raped after Charles is knocked out cold. They decide against going to the authorities so their spouses won’t find out about their original intentions. Thinking the experience is behind them, Charles receives a call from the robber, who blackmails Charles into giving him more money to keep quiet about their hotel rendezvous. Charles begins giving the blackmailer money saved for his sick daughter’s medical costs, but the man won’t go away. When Lucinda, his wife and daughter’s lives are all put in jeopardy, Charles’ desperation builds, pushing him to extremes to get rid of the deranged criminal. “Derailed” offers a genuinely original ending that solidifies the film. Audiences likely won’t expect it, and it quickens the pace of the slightly slow film. Unlike some thrillers whose endings ruin the overall plot, the ending redeems the movie. Appearing in such films as “King Arthur,” “Closer” and “Sin City,” Owen is one of the hot new actors in Hollywood and delivers a solid and smoldering performance as Charles. The British actor shows no trace of his British accent, successfully playing the American executive. His character begins pathetic and builds strength as his family and his life are threatened, subtly showcasing Owen’s acting range. Aniston is finally shedding her “good girl” image as Rachel Green. Not bubbly, not naive but smart and sharp-witted, Lucinda is not so “Friend”ly, and the dramatic role fits Aniston well. Perhaps “Derailed” is successful in its ability to keep viewers guessing because it is Swedish director Mikael Hafstrom’s American film debut. He adds a much-needed freshness to the overdone dramatic-thriller genre. The film feels vaguely like “The Bourne Identity” but with a better and more intense conclusion. “Derailed” could have used more action or suspense in the first half of the film because even the dramatic scenes seem sluggish. But the onset feeling of predictability is eventually and thankfully expelled. The graphic images of “Derailed” are slighdy overdone. While the robbery/rape scene is supposed to be brutal, several other scenes reach the brink of unnecessary grossness. The amount of blood in the film begins to take away from its credibility, making it feel more like a gangster, “shoot ’em-up” film instead. Ultimately, in spite of the overstated moral that adultery leads to turmoil, “Derailed” uses emotion and the ever rising talents of Owen and Aniston to provide a suspenseful and entertaining film. Comments on this story? E-mail gamecockfeatures@gwm.sc. edu ciTon • connnucD froim The album tracks were inspired by Southern culture. “Porch Swing in Tupelo” was written about Elvis Presleys historic home in Mississippi, and two of the songs, “Answer in the Sky” and “All That I’m Allowed,” had obvious gospel influences. While the “Peachtree Road” set was tantalizing and demonstrated the timelessness of John’s musical ability, the second part of the concert was the reason loyal fans held on to their tickets since March. He began the second set with an instrumental blend of “Funeral for a Friend” and “Love Lies Bleeding.” John then transitioned into “Bennie and the Jets,” causing fens to jump to their feet. The second half of the concert was a large sing-and dance-along, as John jumped up and down from his pianists bench to interact with the audience and pose on top of his piano like a sultry songstress! He quenched fans’ thirst for classics such as “Daniel,” “I Guess That’s Why They Call it the Blues,” “Tiny Dancer” and a nearly 15-minute rendition of “Rocket Man.” Near the end of the second set, John told the audience about his recording session with the late Ray Charles for the album “Genius Loves Company,” the last studio recording Charles made before he died in June 2004. John then performed “Sorry Seems to Be the Hardest Word,” the song he recorded with Charles. After ending his second set, John left the stage, but fans still wanted more. To thunderous applause, John returned to the stage and signed autographs as the band and singers got back into place. Sitting back down at his piano, he delivered an encore of “Crocodile Rock.” John then left for a quick costume change and returned to the stage donned in a black track suit. He thanked the audience for their support and told them how America always supported him. “Through all my ups and downs, you’ve stood by me,” John said. He finished the show with “Your Song,” the song that many fans had anticipated all night. Comments on this story? E-mail gamecockfeaturesGPgwm. sc. edu T^-g.™ COCks. u n i ve r s i ty COMMONS a p a n t in e n t s 939.0444 Put your career on the « EaminS potential limited only by ■ 4-rjrf fy/l rip your drive and dedication. JLtb 1/ 1/ r (A/Ls K We give you the too,s you bring ■I 4s.a ^ ,. the ambition and reap the rewards! Mortgage Consultant «4 with Training provided. # II Comprehensive benefits. I I Tj^r *■ "■ jf i E-mail resume and cover letter to I capital mortgage wantonich@wyndhamcapital.com gj in