'Sleepy Hollow': Off with their heads

A man pants in a clearing in a cornfield at night. The camera shows the point of view of something running towards him, knocking down corn stalks with the force of its stride. Schliing! A sword slings from its scabbard. The man turns, his eyes widen, his mouth becomes a terror-O. Camera zooms in on this pure fear. Wump! The head jumps right off the neck, severed, peri-wig still attached. The last shot shows it coming to rest, the shock still on the face. That's the opening of "Sleepy Hollow."



'Toy Story 2' delights all ages

"Toy Story 2" is without a doubt the best film released this year. A witty and endearing tale of friendship and adventure, "Story" is so entertaining and extraordinary that there is no need to bring a child. Director John Lasseter has assembled an excellent cast with the help of thousands of Pixar workers, creating a story with innumerable visual jokes, one-liners, sly references to other movies and cultural nudges that will make adults laugh out loud. This cartoon is a hilarious and charming experience for all ages, with a certain "instant classic" value that rivals Rocky and Bullwinkle.



Waking Hours play fast punk

Upon first hearing the band Waking Hours, the members may seem to display the same hackneyed sound that most modern bands have. However, the band's eponymous debut album grows on the listener as he or she pays attention to each song.

Waking Hours incorporate elements from all varieties of music and combine them to form a punkish sound. The Richmond-based band, founded in the early '90s by singer/songwriter/guitarist Tom Richards, has an Oasis-like style, although slightly heavier. Listeners can hear traces of influence from the Beatles and other rock icons. Many of the songs contain three-part harmonies that made bands such as Queen famous. "Waking Hours" can be heard on radio stations from New York to California, as well as on WCWM's heavy rotation. Two of the tracks, "Don't Fade Away" and "Out of My Mind," will be featured on the independent film "Soul Mates," directed by Todd Potugal.



Beck creates sex collages

The album cover for Beck's new CD, "Midnite Vultures," serves as an immediate expression of what Beck is exploring within the album and also the means by which this exploration takes place.

The cover is a photo of hot fuchsia pants worn by a woman, with a man next to her who is a collage. He has the legs and pants of the woman next to him but a plastic head of a man with a white sports coat over a black T-shirt, leading to a plant stuffed between his right arm and jacket, close to hands that hold onto a sort of "white lightning" escaping from his crotch to the woman's next to him. This collage of the man is meant to be Beck himself, as drumsticks protrude from the man's jacket pocket, and looking within the liner notes unfolds a two-page photo of Beck reclining in hot fuchsia colored jeans.



Shaken, not stirred

"The World is Not Enough," Michael Apted's latest Bond film, proves once again that Pierce Brosnan is the best Bond since Sean Connery.

M (the fabulous Judi Dench) gives dour pronouncements, Q (85-year-old Desmond Llewelyn) asks Bond to pay attention and the opening sequence is the best part of the movie. The outcome of a Bond movie is never in question, but who cares? This film is a fun and entertaining ride throughout.



House offers IHOP alternative<

The Old Chickahominy House has been serving Virginia homestyle cooking for over 40 years. The restaurant, which serves both breakfast and lunch, was converted from an 18th-century plantation house. Located on Jamestown Road less than two miles from campus, the restaurant's proximity and great southern cooking make it a must-try restaurant for students. The House is easily recognizable by the small crowd of people that are inevitably gathered on the front porch. Here the guests swing lazily or simply sit and relax on antique benches while waiting for their names to be called. There is generally a waiting list to get a table, and though the wait may be in upwards of 45 minutes, it is well worth it. The Old Chickahominy House also has an antique and gift shop, so those waiting for a table may browse the merchandise to pass the time.



King's 'Mile' adapted into magnificent film

The close of the millennium has been a revolutionary era for cinema. Films such as "The Matrix," "Being John Malkovich" and "Pi" have taken great leaps in changing what can be classified as quality writing and cinematography.

One would think that a film starring Tom Hanks based on a novel by Steven King wouldn't fit among the movers and shakers of film. However, "The Green Mile," directed by Frank Darabont, is revolutionary in its own right because it redefines what can be done with a more "traditional" story. Somehow it seamlessly encompasses comedy, suspense, drama, tragedy and, most difficult of all, a supernatural element.



'Servant' play packs comedic punch

The William and Mary Theatre Mainstage production of "The Servant of Two Masters" proved, at the very least, that it is not easy to sufficiently serve two masters and nearly impossible to keep these two masters from finding out about each other.

This was the task undertaken by Truffaldino (senior Tom Costello). In an effort to maximize his income, Truffaldino decides that as the servant of two masters he will, of course, make twice the salary and be supplied with twice the food, than if he merely served one master. Unfortunately, serving two separate masters proves to be too much for Truffaldino to handle, and he is unable to keep the tasks requested of him by his masters separate. He confuses their mail and their possessions, which gets him in trouble with both of them. In addition, this mix-up misleads his masters about each others' whereabouts, leading to the climax of the play.
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Tough one-act to follow

This fall's Director's Workshop features 12 one-act plays, the culmination of the first semester's directing class. Although a little rough around the edges, these 12 one acts have a lot to offer. Due to the sheer number of them, there is sure to be some that you can enjoy, but the ones that rose above the rest were "The Man in the Bowler Hat," "Mirrors," "The Most Massive Woman Wins" and "The Bald Soprano."

"The Man in the Bowler Hat" starts with a British couple at home, bored and yearning for adventure. Their prayers are answered when an adventure comes into their own living room, and a classic battle between the forces of good and a handle-bar moustached bad guy occurs there. The boring couple have to interact with the heroes and villains. The husband, played by junior Arthur G. Rosenberg, steals the show along with the villain played by senior Peter Nevin.



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