02/13/09 - Intermission [pdf]

inside

Valentine’s Day Extravaganza: reviews of top sex books... page 3 V=Day aphrodisiacal foods, restaurant reviews and alternative plans... page 4-5 (Un)romantic fashionable choices for both girls and boys... page 6-7 “The International:” movie reviews and Q&A with producer; art exhibit...page 8-9 Movie reviews: “Shopaholic” and “The Reader”...page 10 “Friday the 13th” movie review and Mayfield Bakery opening...page 12

intermission

FRIDAY

2.13.09 stanford’s weekly guide to campus culture

VO LU M E

APHRODISIAC FOODS:

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a publication of the stanford daily

ALSO INSIDE

The way to a man is through his stomach... Ways to stimulate your sexual appetite

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“FRIDAY THE 13TH” reduced to the typical slasher producepedia.com

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VALENTINE’S DAY PLAYLIST

emember that post-breakup montage in “Say Anything”? The one with John Cusack playing a really bad ‘80s song on a really big ‘80s boombox? The scene where he wins back his ex-girlfriend through the power of music? Well, this Valentine’s Day, you too can put music to use in your love life — make a romantic mix tape! Mix tapes are the perfect gift: They’re thoughtful, neatly encapsulate emotions and memories and they are super cheap. Here are some song suggestions to get you started on making mix tapes for that special someone . . .

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Playlist Suggestion #1: “I’m Dating a Hipster” Don’t expect to get a romantic rise out of your hipster beau this Valentine’s Day — excitement and pleasure are just not that cool. You can expect, however, to soften their American Apparel-clad heart through the power of obscure bands. Burn these particular tracks onto a CD and you may just end up fogging up your hipster lover’s ironic nerd glasses this weekend.

Playlist Suggestion #2: “I’m dating a Generation X-er” So, you’re dating somebody in their 30’s. If you’re an undergraduate, that’s kind of weird. But, hey — the heart wants what it wants . . . or the wallet wants what it wants. At least, so I’m told. Anyways, Generation X came of age in the late 1980s and early 1990s, so their particularly perfect mix tape should include a healthy dose of grunge, sultry R&B, Melissa Etheridge and these tracks: “Black Gold” by Soul Asylum To be honest, I’m not sure what’s going on with this song. It’s like John Mellencamp and Nirvana combined with the worst band in the world. Moreover, there is some political message buried inside of its distorted guitars — oil is bad, the first President Bush is really mean, O.J. is innocent . . . or something like that. “On Bended Knee” by Boyz II Men Ah, Boyz II Men — the staple band of cheesy weddings and awkward middle school dances. Throw this track on the stereo and your Gen X partner will be transformed back to their 1993 prom, minus parachute pants and fades.

Playlist #3 Suggestion: Dating an Emo Kid Sure, the genre and trend of emo is almost dead, but this decades-long trend has a long catalogue of songs, some of which are still alive and kicking! If, for some reason, you are dating an emo kid, tell them to latch onto a new trend. If that doesn’t work, however, then you should make this mix tape for Valentine’s Day to cheer them up: “Vampires Will Never Hurt You” by My Chemical Romance Now that is a first class Valentine’s Day promise. Who wants to be hurt by vampires? Nobody, except maybe “Twilight” fans. Show your undying allegiance through this classic emo tune. “Deeper Than Inside” by Rites of Spring This band basically invented emo in the 1980s. Hark back to the slashing guitars and face-melting screams of the emo golden age through Rites of Spring. “Great Romances of the 20th Century” by Taking Back Sunday This song starts off with a spoken word intro about how “a beautiful girl can make you dizzy.” At least this is true. Playlist #4: “I’m dating somebody that dances all the time” If your special person just cannot stop dancing, then don’t run the risk of dehydration and exhaustion and seek medical help immediately. In the meantime, help them groove through the power of pop.

“Just Dance” by Lady Gaga “Only One Road” by Celine Dion This is probably the life motto of your lover. This song will This 1994 song sure is a tearjerker. It’s all about memories, “Paris” by Friendly Fires speak to them with lyrics like, “Wish I could I shut my playboy This tune gets the love party started. Friendly Fires, a British standing tall and Celine Dion’s diva stage moves. Nobody goes mouth.” band, stitches indie pop hooks with dance-floor beats. “One big like Celine. day, we’re going to live in Paris/I promise/I’m on it . . “ they “I’m Blue” by Eiffel 65 sing to a lover. Perfect mix of yearning and optimism, but with The best Euro-pop one hit wonder of the 1990s. (That’s high a touch of uncertainty. praise.) “Beat Health Life and Fire” by Thao with The Get Down Stay Down This song shuffles along with acoustic guitars and some understated electric guitar. The mood is bittersweet — the narrator is worried that his love may be one-sided. Regardless, the song exudes the warmth of the narrator’s feelings.

“Single Ladies” by Beyonce/Sasha Fierce If your lover is really a dancer, then they should have memorized the dance to “Single Ladies.” Even little girls on YouTube know those moves. Sure, the song is about a breakup, but your partner will only hear the stuttered bass line. It’s a good thing the man didn’t put a ring on Beyonce’s finger— now we have this song to groove to.

“Oviedo” by Blind Pilot This Portland band is on the verge of getting big, so you have to appreciate their music while they’re still relatively unknown. This tune channels fragile longing through some shakers, guitar and lyrics about bars.

—annika HEINLE contact annika: [email protected]

FRIDAY

2.13.09 BONE TO PICK?

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Valentine’s Day Extravaganza: Sex books review ith Valentine’s Day steadily approaching, you may find yourself slowly wandering into the “sex and relationships” section at Borders. Hey, you might find yourself there anyway — just because it’s fun. Considering the large volume of books on sex and love, Intermission knows that browsing through that section can be totally overwhelming, so we’re going to help you zoom through the clutter and find the book that is right for you for THE night of love and romance.

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sextrology BY STARSKY AND COX This book has been on my shelf for years and has been worn down so much that it shows clear signs of bent pages and a broken spine. This book is a very valuable guide into understanding the personalities of a boyfriend, girlfriend, potential love interest or even “just a friend.” “Sextrology” has its basis in the zodiac signs, but don’t lump it in

with the horoscopes you find in newspapers and online — this book includes an accurate and thorough examination of signs based on birth date, gender and sexual orientation. For example, Scorpio boy is not at all the same as Scorpio girl. Every chapter is very informative and never boring because the author is funny at the right parts all the while

proving her knowledgeable background in the deeply rooted world of astrology. Even if you don’t believe in all that astrology, you likely will after assessing the chapter on your own astrological sign. Nine out of 10 people who read my copy of the book instantly become believers; the thorough descriptions are generally spot on. Ultimately, however, the

thing that makes “Sextrology” a perfect reference for your collection is evident in the title. The astrological analysis of everyone’s sexual needs based on a zodiac sign is an unconventional, interesting, and potentially enlightening insight into your partner or crush. It’s almost as if you can read their minds. harpercollins.com

The Hot Woman’s Handbook BY MELINDA GALLAGER AND EMILY KRAMER Whether you are single, attached, straight or otherwise, this book is perfect for teaching you how to achieve optimum pleasure all the time — because that is what women deserve and are often denied. This book was created by the girls over at CAKE, the sex content-based Webzine that celebrates the female role in

sex. The book reflects the feminist standpoint, making the reader feel empowered, excited and entitled to pleasure. This book is completely unlike an issue of Cosmopolitan — instead of saying “make sex explosive for your man,” the “Hot Woman’s Handbook” wants sex to be explosive for women, dispelling the myth that the

female orgasm is sometimes impossible to achieve. This book is incredibly thorough, as well. It covers not only standard intercourse, but goes into the possible joys found in all variations thereof, and discusses basically everything under the sexual sun. The writing is very funny and enjoyable to read, as well as filled with testimonials,

helping the reader relate to the content in the book. “The Hot Woman’s Handbook” is a must-own for any woman planning to become sexually active, even if it’s just once in her life.

simonsays.com

Position of the Day: Sex Every Day in Every Way

FROM NERVE.COM

This option may be the most well-known of the four sex books Intermission reviews this issue. This “playbook” has been gaining significant popularity in the last few years disguised as an updated, Westernized version of the Kama Sutra. The book chronicles and describes 365 sex positions, one to be per-

formed each day of the year. Most of the positions are hetero-normative, but there are a few same-sex forays scattered throughout the handbook. The positions are all incredibly interesting, and even if some positions seem to be physically impossible, this book nevertheless does a very good job of providing a com-

prehensive handbook. An added bonus: Sex position descriptions note the calories burned by both the engaged male and female, as well as possible hazards of and equipment necessary to accomplish each position. The easy, journal style of the handbook also allows the reader to take note of posi-

tions tested in the past and record whether they were enjoyable. And the best part? Not only is the “Position of the Day Playbook” a fun and mind-bending account of every position under the sun, but it’s also portable.

Urban Tantra: Sacred Sex for the 21st Century BY BARBARA CARALLE “ This book, which is written in a very easily understood style, analyzes sex through an Eastern perspective. Since its publication, the book has had a strong influence in the New Age religion that is so hip these days. This untraditional take on Tantric sex teaches you many new techniques — everything from prolonging pleasureshop.com

orgasm all the way to breathing exercises designed to turn you on. The author has a very “interesting” background: She’s worked as a stripper, prostitute, and sex coach; with a resume like that, she’s sure to write a spell-binding sex book. “Urban Tantra” is such a fun and titillating read — it

has in-depth instructions on how to achieve the elusive “breath orgasm.” Who knew you could orgasm just by breathing? This book has loads of exercises that seem ridiculous but may really improve your sex life if you open your mind to them. This sexual read does not display an evident emphasis on sexu-

nerve.com

al preference, so Intermission is confident that anybody can and will enjoy this foray into Eastern religion.

friday february 13 2009 courtesy feb. 2009, fashion magazine

—annika HEINLE contact annika: [email protected]

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V-DAY: A DAY FOR L Aphrodisiac foods: sure to whet your appetite! ertain foods were renowned in the ancient world for their libidoenhancing properties primarily because they possessed a suggestive shape or texture. For example, the Aztecs called avocados “testicle fruit” because of their form. The fruit’s allure was so powerfully regarded that virgin girls were prohibited from venturing outside while the phallic fruit was being harvested. With today’s technology and expanded knowledge about nutrition, we now know that there may actually be some truth to the claims behind alleged food aphrodisiacs. So if you’re looking to seduce that special someone, read on to find out more about just what should be included in a libido-enhancing candlelit dinner for two.

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Asparagus This vegetable’s evocative figure was long thought to be a powerful aphrodisiac in the ancient world, and modern nutritionists admit that the excellent source of Vitamin E may in fact encourage sex hormone production.

Oysters Perhaps the quintessential aphrodisiac, oysters contain a mineral that aids in the making of testosterone: zinc. Historical figures like Casanova noticed an apparently striking resemblance between the shellfish and the female vagina, and consequently consumed as many as 100 per day. One of Casanova’s signature moves to attract the ladies? Sliding oysters from his lips into the mouth of a young virgin. Chili peppers Spicy food may lead to an even spicier love life thanks to the nerve-stimulating properties of capsaicin. This chemical, found in spicy foods like peppers and curries, elevates the heart rate and promotes the release of endorphins, consequently producing a tame body high to get you, or your significant other, in the mood. Chocolate Besides its silky texture and rich, multidimensional taste, chocolate contains phenylethylamine. Considered the “love chemical” by many researchers, phenylethylamine has a similar effect to endorphins in that it both eases and invigorates the body, producing a subtle but relaxing high.

Celery It may lack calories, but this watery vegetable is actually a source of androsterone. This hormone is usually produced in males but stimulates sexual arousal in females. Nuts Gingko nuts continue to be used in Chinese herbal medicine today as a treatment for sexual dysfunction because their consumption results in the release of nitric oxide, which widens blood vessels in the genitals. (Disclaimer: should not be used by those on blood-thinning medications) Bananas . . . Is an explanation really necessary? You’ve heard that the way to a man’s heart is through his stomach, and today’s knowledge about vitamins and minerals actually gives the properties of so-called “aphrodisiac foods” some credence. Of course, only you and your valentine can determine just how effective these libido-enhancing foods really are. —nina BRENTLINGER contact nina: [email protected]

lovesplc.co.uk thedailygreen.com

Ladies, celebrate Valentine’s Day the Finnish way! t’s that time of the year when you start to envy your attached friends as they make romantic plans for that special day . . . but only just a little bit, because there are ways you can celebrate Valentine’s Day without a special someone. This year, why not celebrate Valentine’s Day the Finnish way? In Finland, Valentine’s Day is called Ystavanpaiva, which translates to Friendship Day. There, Ystavanpaiva is celebrated as a day dedicated to the beautiful bond of friendship by sending gifts, chocolates and flowers to friends and loved ones. Here are a few ways you can do the same thing — with your friends!

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An outing to San Francisco is in order! This Valentine’s Day weekend is a three-day weekend, so take advantage of it! Why not get a group of your friends together and book a hotel room in San Francisco? That way you can squeeze in a little bit of everything San Francisco has to

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offer. Here’s an idea: shop ‘til you drop in Union Square during the day, grab a snazzy dinner in North Beach (the Little Italy of San Francisco) and party it up at any of the V-Day parties on Saturday night. Maybe you’ll even find your new love on the dance floor. These are just a couple that are happening this Saturday: For 21+, try Mighty, one of the hottest clubs in S.F., to hear topnotch international DJs Rich Medina, DJ Spinna and Hakobo at “NoThing BUT LOVE.” These world-famous DJs have attracted celebs such as Jay-Z, P-Diddy and Stevie Wonder to their parties. Tickets are $20 at the door (119 Utah St.). For those under 21, try Element, a hip lounge where celebrity DJ David Carvalho will hit the turntables for “V: Will you be my [un]Valentine.” Tickets are $10 at the door (1028 Geary St.). Movie and dinner date Gather your favorite friends

and go to one of the many cute movies that are out right now, including “Confessions of a Shopaholic” and “He’s Just Not That Into You.” You can follow it up with a dinner in Palo Alto and gelato for dessert! Stay on campus! You don’t need to go off campus to have fun with your friends. Here are a few things you can enjoy on the Farm: — Love Sucks: Mixed Company offers a chance to get into the spirit of anti-Valentine’s on Friday night (8 to 9:30 p.m.) at Toyon. Enjoy a night of risqué comedy and amazing music. — There’s nothing like a movie marathon! Rent a bunch of movies starring your celebrity crush or grab a handful of romantic comedies and feast your eyes! — Party it up! Invite friends over for gossiping, drinking fruity, flirty drinks (think Strawberry Kiss, French Cosmo, Very Cherry Martini) and a girly playlist of songs

like “Girls Just Wanna Have Fun.” — Since you are not spending money on a partner, show yourself some love! Treat yourself to a mani/pedi or go shopping and splurge. — Organize a secret admirer gift exchange among your friends so you can have a Valentine. Get a group of friends and draw names from a hat to deliver chocolates, candy and flowers to each other! Who says you need a boyfriend or girlfriend to receive gifts? Valentine’s Day does not have to be about romantic love. In some parts of the world, people celebrate the day as a chance to appreciate all kinds of love and friendship. So celebrate this year the Finnish way, and I guarantee you won’t be envious of your attached friends! —julie NA contact julie: [email protected]

LOVE...AND GLUTTONY Romantic restaurants for all budgets & couples!

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the well furnished, intimate space. It may not be a meal, but considering two people can get out for $10 or so — it’s not a bad deal.

Café Del Doge Few countries can match the romantic appeal of Italy, but for most of us catching a flight to Venice might be a bit much for the weekend. Fortunately, the atmosphere of a European Café is admirably and truthfully re-recreated right on University Avenue at Café Del Doge. Enjoy a plethora of drinks ranging from a simple cup of espresso to chocolate-based concoctions with Italian names that are so long and colorful, you just might get lost in the syllables trying to order. The most affable baristas in town also can serve up glasses of wine in

Da Coffee Spot Perhaps the strangest storefront on University Avenue is the combination of Mills Florist and a hookah bar known as Da Coffee Spot. What’s next, a combination Persian rug store and snowboard shop? In any event, once you can get past the absurdity of the florist pairing, Da Coffee Spot offers a relaxing respite from the outside world. The main attraction is the hookah, which will set you back $20. Food and drinks with a Mediterranean theme, along the lines of coffee, tea, pita with various spreads, and wraps, are also available. Perhaps the hookah concept doesn’t seem romantic at first, but if you’re spending the earlier part of the day in a dark room sharing saliva, things should be shaping up quite nicely for later. This does not, though, that Intermission endorses the smoking of tobacco

f done right, a date for Valentine’s Day can make a relationship. But if done wrong, a Valentine’s Day date can break the bank. To guarantee the outcome you’re looking for, Intermission offers up a number of V-Day suggestions ranging from what you can afford with the cash in your pocket up to a dinner that will require a new issuance of structured debt.

products like hookah which are known to the State of California to contain carcinogenic chemicals. Pasta? Returning to an Italian theme, if you’re looking for a complete meal, consider Pasta?. If you just look at the name and the half-trendy, half fast food-esque neon sign, it is tempting to pass judgment before even trying the food. However, the food is surprisingly good; Pasta? serves up reasonably priced pasta dishes that are competently prepared and served in a setting that is modern and unpretentious. Waiters can be a bit slow, but are usually friendly. Overall, Pasta? is a good balance of food, décor, and price. Café Pro Bono Upping the ante a little from Pasta? is Café Pro Bono, located off of the less yuppie California Avenue. Pro Bono offers an authentic Italian menu in a traditional environment staffed with professional servers. Café Pro Bono is probably not the place to go if your wallet is really

hurting, but it is by no means overpriced and offers very respectable food in a legitimately romantic setting. Fuki Sushi It may seem that the Italians have unfairly dominated the list so far, so if you’re looking for something completely different, how about a sushi dinner? Sushi in the Palo Alto area is a problematic topic and there are surely many people who will argue with any restaurant endorsement. But in the context of a date that’s on a budget, Fuki Sushi is probably the safest bet. The fish is not necessarily the best available, but it is always at least satisfactory — which is far from a guarantee at many competitors. Fuki Sushi is not the deal of the century, but it certainly won’t break the bank. Perhaps what most sets Fuki apart in this particular case is the setting: the restaurant is serenly quiet, decorated with Japanese wood and bamboo finishing and backed by prompt and exceptionally polite service.

Zibibbo Moving into a pricier range, we have Zibibbo hidden away on Kipling Street off of University Avenue. The restaurant, which appears to be an old Victorian House in the front, opens into a bar and several distinct dining areas, each with a slightly different feel. The eclectic menu can best be described as a combination of Californian and Mediterranean influences that would entice a foodie while still leaving easy-to-like options for those who prefer to be able to pronounce what they eat. Entrées are mostly in the $20-$30 range, so bring along the plastic. For a taste of Zibibbo without the full price tag, consider some wine accompanied by oysters — a classic aphrodisiac — from the raw bar. Marché If your stock portfolio has been performing better than everyone else’s and you want to blow away your date, it’s hard to argue with Marché, located just five minutes away in Menlo Park. If price is not an object, this is probably the best food around. The French/New American cuisine is available either a la carte or as an epic prix fixe. By the time the meal is over be prepared for potential triple digit tabs on a per person basis. Also, note that tables with windows on the kitchen can provide an interesting glimpse into the culinary arts, but don’t say you weren’t warned if you witness the one cook who ensures quality by dipping his finger in a sauce and putting the finger in his mouth before repeating the process . . . —theo POLAN contact theo: [email protected]

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Love may be more than skin deep, but looking good in your skin helps! I I f you’ve got a hot date this Valentine’s Day, why not dress up for once? Contrary to popular opinion, men’s clothes can be sexy. Now, if you are not the typical Stanford man, and you actually care about fashion and how you look, then you probably already know most of what I’m about to say. The advice I’m about to give is meant to act more as guidelines: basic ideas that are not too out of the ordinary, if you will. Don’t be afraid to step out of your boundaries and think up your own outfits.

for the guys amazon.com nordstrom.com

royalsilkusa.com

The Formal Attire Joseph Abboud two-button tuxedo ($745) Ted Baker Blenham suit ($625) Royal Silk pocket square (ranges from $7-$12) If you’re going to a formal restaurant or event for Valentine’s Day, remember that you’re not going to a job interview. Keep those navy, threebutton business suits in the closet. You can be a little more fashion forward than usual. Look for a slim, two-button suit by Joseph Abboud (an American designer, so you can help our economy). Jackets with deeper, narrower lapels tend to be more flattering than your standard suit. If you want to stand out, you might want a one-button jacket, which is out of place at work but great for dates. Ted Baker is your best bet if you’re on a budget but care about quality, and if you’re not, go for Ermenegildo Zegna. For a shirt, try to find one with French cuffs, which are a bit too overstated for everyday wear but are appropriate for holidays. Thomas Pink is the go-to for a lot of men looking for shirts. You probably won’t need a tie — Valentine’s Day is a time to loosen up. Put the color in other parts of your outfit. Unless you’re going for the sexy waiter look, you don’t want to do black and white. Booo-ring. If there’s one day of the year to don a light pink or even red shirt, it’s Valentine’s Day. If black and white is more your thing and you don’t mind being mistaken for a concierge, at least add a solid pocket square in a suitable loveydovey color.

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stand out, it’s the footwear. Have fun with it! There are lots of rules when it comes to men’s dressing, but that just means that there are more rules to be broken. And you should definitely break some.

Men should try to be a little dressier than normal for Valentine’s Day. Even if you’re not going anywhere fancy, a nice button-down shirt couldn’t hurt. Express has a large selection of button-downs that are cut shorter for going out and do not need to be tucked in. Energie also has a bunch of good shirts on sale. Pair them with black selvage jeans like the Slimguys from Naked & Famous Denim, which are priced at $120 a pair. Sneak in one red accessory, like the $95 DiCoco Lo sneakers from Creative Recreation, which are black with a red stripe. If there’s one piece that should

There is no such things as “boy colors” and “girl colors” Pink is fine. Wearing black also does not automatical-

dent in your skin, then you’re the one who’s set the fashion code; everyone else is wearing the wrong thing. So even if it’s Valentine’s Day, forget the standard pink dress and pretty, girly heels. Be creative! Intermission’s put together some outfits, both high- and low-fashion, for you to consider. They range from formal to semi-formal to very casual. But remember: If it’s a formal dinner — best go in the least formal thing you’ve got. Or even if you still insist on the nice, pretty, boring dress, at least pair it up with something unexpected, like a fedora hat and studded shoes instead of curled hair and pretty pumps.

The Formal Attire Asos.com Lace Dress (£37.50, or $55.73) Yaya Vapor Jacket ($660) Baker’s black Paola platforms ($89.95) Urban Outfitters Sheer Tights (two for $10) Personally, I think this lace dress is gorgeous and wearable under any circumstance — even to class. It all depends on what you dress it with.

Some basic guidelines to follow, whether it’s Valentine’s Day or just a normal day; trust us, your girlfriend will notice and compliment you: Wear the right size Buying a large might make you feel big and manly, but if you aren’t physically big (or manly), it’ll make you look like Soulja Boy wanna-be. Baggy clothes are not attractive.

The Semi-Formal Attire Express fitted military shirt ($69.50) Energie long sleeve shirt (ranges from $50-$115) Naked & Famous Slimguy jeans ($120) Creative Recreation DiCoco Lo sneakers ($95)

t’s Valentine’s Day again. If you’re anything like me, you don’t ever care about holidays except as occasions to dress up. And if it’s an occasion — and this is hard love, girls — don’t bother dressing up if you don’t plan on impressing. Take a page from Kate Moss’s book: If there’s a guaranteed way to be the center of attention, it’s by wearing the opposite of what’s expected. Moss always under-dresses to formal events and over-dresses to casual events. Example: wearing white-hot pants to a wedding, a 1950s prom dress and tied back hair to the NME music awards, tight leather trousers and a tuxedo jacket to a black-tie Metropolitan Ball in New York and sequins to a muddy music festival. Wear what you want and go out of your way to betray convention — and if you pull it off and look perfectly comfortable and confi-

for the girls

asos.com The Casual Get-Up Express Oversized Pocket Tee in white ($24.50) Forever 21 H81 Chastity Denim Short ($22.90) Urban Outfitters Sheer Tights (two for $10) Frye Veronica Slouch Boot ($328)

creativesneakeres.com

ly mean that you’re goth. We’re not little kids anymore. Loosen a few buttons at the top of your shirt But have caution, especially with Vnecks — don’t go around showing too much he-vage.

—amanda ZHANG

bakersshoes.com The Semi-Formal Attire Bebe Asymmetric Scarf Print Tunic Top ($98) Urban Outfitters Sheer Tights (two for $10) Diesel white ankle-boots ($334) If you’re feeling a bit exotic/fairy-like, this is the way to go!

bebe.com

forever21.com

contact amanda: [email protected]

urbanoutfitters.com

express.com

As you can see, the Urban Outfitters sheer tights are essential to every one of these outfits. That’s because — let’s face it, friends — we live in California. It’s not that cold here. There’s no need to wear pants all the time. And even if it’s too chilly for tights, suck it up.

shopbop.com

Side note:

If you follow these general fashion rules, whether on Valentine’s Day or in your everyday life, you (probably) can’t go wrong:

express.com

Quality matters I love cheap clothes as much as the next girl. But don’t ever sacrifice quality for quantity. Yes, quality is often expensive — so wait for a sale, smart one. Or buy fewer clothes. Or scrounge on E-Bay. Or learn how to navigate Forever 21, H&M, Zara, etc. to find the right clothes. A general observation: denim shorts, some jewelry, vests and outerwear are sometimes great at cheap stores. Don’t buy clothes made of satin or cloth materials from cheap chains; they’ll fall apart in a few days. But clothes made of firmer material, such as thick denim vests or faux-fur, are great. Forever 21 even sells some real leather, as does Zara.

Proportions Don’t wear a loose/oversized tee with baggy pants. What, are you going for the trash bag look? It might work occasionally on the runway, but unless you’re six-foot with legs a mile long (and I go to Stanford, too, and I have seen people — you’re probably not), don’t try to pull that one off. You’ll look like a disaster. If it’s tight on top, be loose on the bottom. Vice versa. Such a simple rule, but you can’t believe how many girls I see walking around wearing tops and bottoms so tight they might as well be in a bodysuit. And most girls don’t look good in a bodysuit, so why are you torturing yourself? Clothes are supposed to flatter you — not choke you to death and expose all of your unflattering parts to the world. Leggings are NOT pants I don’t care if Lindsay Lohan wore leggings as pants for a whole month, she looked ridiculous and stupid. Medium-length tops should never be paired with only leggings. If you try to do it, you will look even worse than Lindsay. You might as well be naked. If you insist on leggings, at least wear shorts or some sort of dress over it.

Be a splash of daring Aren’t you a unique person? So show it! Fine, wear a T-shirt and jeans—but add something interesting to spice it up. A denim jacket with buttons and decorations. A studded belt. An obnoxiously neon bracelet. It doesn’t have to be something epic, just something different. Make it your default so when you are having a boring dressing day, you put it on and go.

It’s the clothes, stupid! Bill Clinton won the presidency in 1992 with such an obvious slogan—”It’s the economy, stupid!” Same goes for fashion. Of course, clothes should fit you — I never said fit wasn’t important — but equally important is the merit of the clothes themselves. A beautiful sequin top will be that, whether it’s on you or not. Find clothes that are unique and beautiful in and of themselves and they have a much greater chance of looking great on you.

See you around campus. —Joanna XU contact: [email protected]

nordstrom.com shopbop.com

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? Q&A intermission

with Producer Richard Suckle

THE INTERNATIONAL:

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ntermission (i): In a movie of such epic proportions, strewn with such complex characters, I would imagine that casting would be one of the most crucial stages of production. How did you go about choosing the cast, especially the lead roles of Clive Owen and Naomi Watts (whom I thought did an amazing job, by the way) and what did you think of their performance in the finished product? Richard Suckle (RS): Yeah, I mean, I think we’re all extraordinarily happy with the final product of [Clive and Naomi’s] performances, playing the characters of Salinger and Whitman, respectively. As for the process of casting them, Clive was one of the first names Chuck Roven, who I produced the movie with, and the director Tom Tykwer discussed . . . we were all big fans of his work. You know, Louis Salinger is not your typical “action hero.” For lack of a better word, he’s an everyday, really average kind of guy. We wanted to create a character that’s not Jason Bourne; he’s a guy that works as a police officer for Interpol . . . he’s just an everyday, every-man kind of hero, and Clive has the ability of portraying that. Clive’s a

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very ordinary guy; he’s very intense, which is what Salinger is. He was really just perfect. And we were in luck because when we sent him the script, he responded and said yes, and that’s how we got to him. As for Naomi, she was also one of the first people we thought about, and what we liked about Naomi’s role is it’s definitely a different character than she’s played, you know in “King Kong,” in “The Ring” series, and it really was something very different for her to play an American, as well as an American Assistant District Attorney. We liked the idea of the role flexing her muscles and challenging her as an actress. And we just thought the pairing of her and Clive, because we did get Clive first, would be a good one. And she as well — when she read the script, responded and was a big fan of it, as well as a fan of our director Tom Tykwer, so it was one of the easier casting processes I’ve gone through. i: Watching the movie, I was struck by how complex some of the scenes were, such as the fighting sequence in the Guggenheim, where the entire museum was virtually

destroyed. During these scenes, I found myself wondering, “How did they do that?” So with that in mind, I wanted to ask you — how difficult was it to produce “ T h e International” as compared to other films you have done? Can you talk to me a little bit about how some of these scenes were executed? RS: Sure. I mean, you know every movie has its challenges. The situation we were confronted with in “The International” was mainly one in which we had to figure out how we were going to be able to shoot all the different locations, because it’s very costly when you go from one location to the next and we were shooting in Istanbul, in Germany, Milan, New York, we went to Lyon for a day . . . so the challenges, well, there were many of them, but the biggest challenge I would say was trying to figure out how to actually schedule the movie where we could go to all the various locations, which we really had to. I mean there’s no way to fake Istanbul. The movie really required us to go to all these places, and it was an organic part of the script, this journey that Salinger goes on. And as for the Guggenheim, to give some specifics on that, that posed its own set of challenges. The Guggenheim scene, which was written into the script before Tykwer came on as the director, was somewhat of an elephant in the room, so to speak. I mean the Guggenheim won’t really just

let you walk in and film there for a couple weeks. We had to really figure out a way not only to shoot there for the day, which we did in January of last year, but also to get them to give us permission to recreate the four levels of the rotunda, as well as the lobby, which we did in Germany. What was great about working with the Guggenheim is since they are a museum about expression and artistic vision, they were very fond of the script and big fans of Tom Tykwer, and they were very excited to get involved with this, and really adaptable in their negotiating of what day we could get in there to shoot because they only let you come in when they’re taking one of the shows out and about to put one in, and their exhibits are sometimes booked for years in advance, so we were lucky. So we reconstructed four levels of the rotunda in Germany and we built the lobby set there as well, so we had everything we needed in order to film a really rough sequence, so that when we went to New York we knew exactly what we had to capture because we only had the real Guggenheim for the one day in January.

Singer, the writer, to come up with the story. But once again, first and foremost, we want to make an entertainment film, and hopefully we’ve done that job. As for going beyond that . . . look, we knew we wanted to make a movie, and it was going to be topical. We definitely didn’t know it was going to be as topical as it is today with the current financial crisis; it’s just at the forefront of everything you read in the newspapers and what you see on television. So it’s a good combination, because you want to make entertaining products as a producer, but to make the movie relevant to today, that’s never a bad thing. This movie has been in development for six years, actually, so we could have never ever imagined that the story would coincide so well with what’s happening at the time the movie was released. But we were always talking about the ever-growing corporations, these sort of monolithic corporations, that seem to be getting larger and larger, as most governments around the world are getting larger and larger, and the relationship between these corporations and the governments and seemingly from that how individuals are comparatively feeling as though they are getting smaller and smaller and feeling as though they have no ability to make a difference or cause change. And that’s thematically what we were getting at when we were developing the movie, with Salinger being caught up in a sort of David versus Goliath battle. I just think it’s unbelievably coincidental that the movie is now being released at a time when the economic crisis, which the movie is about, couldn’t be more relevant.

i: I personally loved how well the movie captured some of the major issues arising in today’s sociopolitical landscape, namely the financing of terrorism on a global scale. It made for a really timely film, I think. From your point of view, how much of the movie would you say is geared towards alerting people to the complexities of international affairs as opposed to strictly entertaining people (because it was a brilliant thriller)? RS: Well, as you know, we want to make entertainment. The movie was inspired, i: Due to the timeliness of the though, by the BCCI banking film’s storyline, there’s been a scandal, which inspired Eric

power, money, conspiracy lot of hype surrounding the movie even before its official release. Given all this speculation on the subject, what I was wondering is how much of the movie is actually based on fact, and how much of the plot is actually drawn from real life occurrences? RS: Well to answer that question, it is completely a work of fiction, there’s no question that is what we’ve created. But the inspiration for the movie was based on the BCCI banking scandal of the late ‘70s, ‘80s, and the early ‘90s. The bank probably perpetrated the largest financial fraud in the history of man at the time. That bank had its own security force, had its own army — I mean, it was involved with a lot of very dirty things. So even though it’s fiction, it is inspired by something real, and there’s no reason to think that banks aren’t doing similar things today. So, you know, once again, it’s really about the fiction, but hopefully it’s provoking people to think, “Well, what exactly is my bank, or what exactly is my government doing?” and to ask questions that they may have never really thought about before. But now you may be more interested, and

be more suspicious of these activities, and this in turn may make certain people or certain institutions more accountable for their actions. I mean, we sure as hell don’t trust our banks now. As for websites, www.stoptheinternational.co m as well as the website for the IBBC are Web sites that we created with a company called 42 Entertainment. And there are what are known as Alternate Reality Games. These are a somewhat new tool that filmmakers, as well as other companies, are using in their marketing, and we thought they would be a really interesting way to involve people in the “fiction.” I don’t know how deep you got into it, but there was one component of the ARG called the money tracker, which allows you to take any currency you may have and if you type in the serial number it will tell you for what purposes your money has been used. In a sense, people who participate in these games are sort of helping Salinger in his quest. We actually created this fiction so that people could play along with Salinger and sort of lead him up to the very point where we meet him in

MOVIE REVIEW “They control your money. They control your government. They control your life. And everybody pays.” For generations people have been putting their faith and money in the bank. Banks have become more or less synonymous with security . . . or so we thought. Columbia Pictures’ upcoming thriller “The International” questions that deep-rooted idea of bank security. Produced by film gurus Richard Suckle and Chuck Roven and directed under the expertise of Tom Tykwer, this fast-paced film is nothing short of electrifying. The plot goes something like this: Interpol agent Louis Salinger (Clive Owen) and Manhattan Assistant District Attorney Eleanor Whitman (Naomi Watts) engage in a battle to put an end to the illicit activities of The International Bank of Business and Credit (The IBBC). The deeper they are drawn into the struggle, however, the more Salinger and Whitman realize how formidable their opponent is. As agent Salinger puts it, “Everyone who has ever been in a position to move against this bank has either ended up dead or disappeared.” Racing through Berlin, Milan, New York and even the far reaches of Istanbul in their quest to stop the bank, the two agents face obstacle after obstacle. Potential witnesses to the atrocities committed by the IBBC mysteriously die in car crashes, sympathetic politicians are brutally assassinated and anyone who gets close to uncovering evidence of the illegal activities of the bank suddenly vanishes. Despite these challenges, Salinger and Whitman remain relentless in their pursuit of the villainous leaders of the all-powerful bank that is charged with financing the evils of the modern world. Inspired by their resolve, the audience follows the dynamic duo with bated breath as they get closer and closer to bringing the miscreant bank to justice. From the gripping beginning to the bitter end, the mind-

Picturing Anonymity

allmoviephoto.com boggling twists, scenic vistas, charismatic cast and flawless cinematography are guaranteed to keep the viewers quite literally on the edges of their seats. Far more than just a heart-pounding thriller, “The International” explores not just the far reaches of the physical world but also the limits of our minds. What if these institutions that we have so long equated with security and trust are funding the very operations that threaten our security? What if the bank, and not the government, controls the political climate in which we live? From Hamas to the CIA, the organizations that dominate our lives are both explicitly and subconsciously fueled by one thing — money. Viewing Salinger and Whitman’s adventures, we are strung along on this frenzied chase as we follow the trail of our misused money. Ultimately, the team comes to realize that despite their best efforts, they cannot stop the bank, for it is the institution itself that is inherently corrupt, not just the people running it. As Skarssen, the founder of the IBBC, reminds Salinger in their thrilling final confrontation: “You will accomplish nothing by killing me. If you kill me, there will just be 100 other bankers to replace me.” Despite the dark truth of the banker’s statement, Salinger and Whitman’s fortitude proves to us that it is always worth taking a stand and fighting for what we believe in. More importantly, the film also encourages us to always question the complexities of our world. So the next time you make a trip to the bank, take a moment to wonder where exactly your money — the money you always believed to be so safe — is actually going. You never know; the possibilities may surprise you. —ashley lauren RHOADES contact ashley: [email protected]

Every day we pass by hundreds of faces, but these brief snapshots only leave us with first impressions,” declares the poster currently displayed in the first floor of Old Union, introducing an exhibit titled “Picturing Identity.” “They by no means show us what truly defines a person: their values, their experiences, their struggles.” It’s true. We all encounter strangers every day, but we will never speak to most of them — much less get to know them intimately. The exhibit currently displayed in Old Union deals with this concept of unknown strangers. Five student profiles are displayed, each with a headshot and student-written responses to prompts such as “What are bar-

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riers to discovery identities?” and “My communities at Stanford are . . . “ The profiles are nearly all nameless but their handwritten answers reveal their deeper personalities. The responses are both philosophical and lighthearted; one student writes that “falling in love” and “going to Stanford” have most shaped his identity, while another more flippantly says, “People wouldn’t think that I never learned how to parallel park.” If you invest half an hour to read all the posters, you’ll learn about a few hidden facets of five strangers. The exhibit is a class project from the “Leading through Education, Activism, and Diversity” (LEAD). Centered around the concept of social change, LEAD intends to CONTINUED FROM “SHOPAHOLIC” PAGE 10

steve lesser friday februrary 13 2009

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“SHOPAHOLIC”: Most untimely movie of the year

riginally a huge fan of Isla Fisher and Sophie Kinsella's books, I was more than excited to see "Confessions of a Shopaholic,” the anti-recession, pro-spending craze romantic comedy out in theatres today. However, like a rejected credit-card user, I was

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hugely disappointed with the final results. Rebecca Bloomwater (Fisher), the film's/book series' protagonist, is a hybrid of Elle Woods ("Legally Blonde") and Carrie Bradshaw ("Sex and the City")...except infinitely less intelligent than those two. Rebecca

flounces around on screen, up to her eyeballs in debt, purchasing designer clothes on a whim. While viewers may have been able to relate to Rebecca during economic booms, in today's recession, the character seems absolutely absurd and completely out of touch with the real world. Still, there's so much more wrong with this movie than the distastefulness of Rebecca's spending. The overarching theme of "Shopaholic" is an addiction to spending, but the movie's handling of it turns a serious issue into a total mockery. Much of the plot's suspense revolves around a debt collector simply trying to do his job. Yet the filmmakers present him as an evil man looking to ruin peoples' lives. In the book, Derek Smeath, the debt collector, is only appears in letters and phone calls, but on screen, he's a bulldogesque nerd, with makeup and costume for the audience to instantly hate him. Bloomwater is $16,000 in debt for crying out loud! Keep in mind, this is not from spending on important things; it's from spending on designer clothes. That aside, Bloomwater fancies herself a journalist, and in order to reach the fashion magazine of her dreams, she applies for a column at Successful Savings magazine.

Oh, the irony! Her boss turns out to be a dapper gentleman, played by Hugh Dancy, who is basically a younger version of Hugh Grant. That doesn't help, though: Bloomwater is one of the most ridiculous characters in a romantic comedy yet, which is certainly saying something. Fisher attempts to elicit laughter solely on clueless lines and attempts at slapstick. Her character never redeems herself, and though her magazine column becomes hugely successful, the audience never gets to read or hear any pieces of it. We are left in disbelief as high-powered executives are all stunned and impressed with Bloomwood's brilliance, while to the rest of us, she seems completely incompetent. In fact, Rebecca seems downright crazy. She is so addicted to shopping that mannequins talk to her and convince her to buy more clothing. Fisher's character only seems slightly less goofy when put on screen next to her wealthy roommate, played by Krysten Ritter. Both are laughable in a way the screenwriters did not intend them to be. The only redeeming thing about Rebecca is Fisher. Though her character is nothing short of a | continued on page 11 |

“The Reader”: This year’s most illiterate movie ontinuing along with our preparation for the Oscars, this week Intermission took a look at Kate Winslet’s latest drama, “The Reader.” Not to be confused with another Winslet-helmed movie currently out in theatres (“Revolutionary Road”), “The Reader” has garnered considerable critical buzz — it has been nominated for five Oscars, including Best Picture and Best Actress (Winslet). Directed by Stephen Daldry (“The Hours”) and based on the book of the same name, the film begins like almost any other forbidden romance set in pre-WWII Germany. A 15-year-old Michael Berg, played by German actor David Kross, stumbles into an alley while sick and it is there he meets the much older Hannah Schmitz (Winslet). Here, the soft-spoken Hannah helps take care of Michael before sending him home. Like all hormonal teenagers, Michael quickly develops a schoolboy crush on his savior; however, this crush quickly turns into something much more when Hannah enters into a sexual relationship with Michael. From first glance this seems like a purely fantastical situation: Michael gets to live the fantasy of sleeping with an older woman while Hannah receives undying attention from a younger boy. Regardless of their ages, their relationship blossoms on screen. The use of cinematography here

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helps to really highlight the soft and quiet emotions that brew in Hannah’s tiny apartment, where the two spend most of their time. As time passes, their relationship becomes much more than just sex, as we realize that Hannah has an unquenchable interest in literature, making Michael constantly read to her. Whether or not you actually catch this early on in the film (there are subtle and not-so-subtle clues), Hannah is illiterate, which adds another level of quiet complexity between the characters. Then, just when things are starting to seem “normal” between the couple, Hannah packs up her belongings and leaves without so much as a word to her young lover. Needless to say, Michael is heartbroken, but manages to move on with the rest of his life. This point is where I start having issues with the film. Up to this point, the movie had been focused on a secret relationship — but then the story jumps forward a few years and the next thing we know, Michael is in law school, where the latter half of the story takes place. Instead of a romantic drama, the film turns into a heated court case surrounding the conviction of ex-Nazi soldiers post-WWII. This love story/court drama flip might be a little jarring to some viewers, but it is by no means a deal breaker. In fact, we quickly become emotionally invested when we discover that Hannah is one of the ex-soldiers on trial. In Hannah’s defense, she wasn’t an actual Nazi soldier

per se; she was just a guard at one of the concentration camps. The most gut-wrenching part of all of this is that Hannah only became a guard because it was one of the only jobs available that didn’t require any kind of literacy skills. The tensions build up during the trial as Michael must sit back and helplessly watch the woman that he loves go through this ordeal. All of this is executed beautifully, making the final verdict at the trial all the more tragic and powerful. Before moving on with the plot, I want to address some of the current critics’ concerns about this film. Some critics condemn “The Reader” because it focuses all of its attention on Hannah, seemingly

glossing over the atrocities of WWII and the Nazis. Even though the attention here indeed is on Hannah, I will argue that this is how it should be. This entire film is about the tragic relationship between Michael and Hannah. If this film were to focus on WWII and the Nazis, it would be a whole different movie, dealing with an entirely different subject. The fact that we actually get to see and learn why Hannah became a Nazi — as well as her remorse after the fact — is a perspective we rarely think about when watching anything WWII-related. Top this unconventional topic off with a stellar performance from Winslet, and you have an excellent Oscar contender on your hands.

Of course, whether or not I think this film deserves to win Best Picture is another story altogether as there is a plethora of outstanding movies all vying for Oscar. At the end of the day, however, if you’re interested in shedding a tear or two, or maybe just watching a movie with pro-literacy overtones, then “The Reader” is worth the trip to the theater. If you like to read, go see this movie! . . . Or maybe read the book it’s based on first? —kyle EVALDEZ contact kyle: [email protected]

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play along with Salinger and sort of lead him up to the very point where we meet him in the opening scene of the movie. In short, these ARGs just represent more interesting and innovative ways to get involved in the world of the film. i: Finally, having put so much work into the film, what were your favorite moments in the movie? RS: Well, I have several fond moments. The movie is a very serious film full of action, so maybe because it’s one of the lighter if not the lightest moment in the movie — I really enjoyed when Clive’s character and the other two detectives go to the orthopedics’ office where Clive tries to force the doctor to cooperate by concocting that story about trying to find this man that has killed several doctors in Europe, and the doctor goes, “Why would he want to kill me? I’m an orthopedist!” I’m particularly fond of that moment because it just provides a nice counterpoint to the seriousness of the majority of the film and it’s nice to see Salinger have a bit of a sense of humor. Really, there are a lot of great moments in the film. There is so much fantastic architecture shown in the film, which I’m sure you enjoyed, and being able to actually shoot in and around the Grand Bazaar was absolutely exhilarating. I mean, really, the fact that we could actually shoot on location in Istanbul and at the Guggenheim was just amazing! We got to shoot almost everywhere that we wanted to and everywhere that was written into the script, which is a really rare occurrence in films of this scale, actually, so that was incredible! i: Well it was wonderful talking to you, Richard. Thank you so much for your time and I look forward to seeing more of your work in the future! RS: Thank you. I’m glad you enjoyed the film. Take care. “The International” is in theatres today. —ashley lauren RHOADES contact ashley: [email protected]

Roxy gives ... and recieves aturday marks the most horrifying day of the year for single women everywhere, unless you’re a single woman whose paycheck comes from an industry that sells vibrators or chocolate. While Roxy sympathizes with women shouting “Love actually is so not all around” at their televisions, she faces a different dilemma: To give or to receive? No, not that dilemma — that’s for another time. Finding the right gift for your significant other is no small task, and you should probably give him or her some tips for your gift as well. There are some obvious don’ts: Don’t give your girlfriend that size-zero corset or give your boyfriend a pack of double extra-large condoms unless you want to make a Valentine’s card for your right hand. Roxy’s parents somehow survived the Valentine’s Day when her father gave her mother a stud finder. (Seriously, not kidding.) Chances are you won’t be that lucky. If you can master the art of giving, there’s a good chance your significant other will master it too. (Pun intended this time.) This in mind, Ms. Sass has decided to warn her readers about some of the gift mistakes that are surely to leave them alone in their rooms Googling “inflatable sheep.”

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Inflatable Sheep Actually, just make that inflatable anything. Your significant other wants to see things expand on Valentine’s Day, but anything part of a Little Bo Peep costume is not among them. Flowers and Chocolate Nothing says romance like hay fever and weight gain. Frankly, you don’t want your significant other’s mouth too occupied on Valentine’s Day, and let’s face it: Godiva tastes better than anything else you can put in there.

Venus Flytrap The idea of a flower eating what goes inside it doesn’t ring well with guys (or girls) on any day of the year. You might as well buy him a copy of “Teeth” for a romantic cuddle. Vibrator This is essentially like giving your girlfriend Brad Pitt for Valentine’s Day. When it comes down to you and Brad Pitt, Brad Pitt will always get the girl. Slug Porn Sure, you like it wet and slimy, but not this wet and slimy. When a slug is looking for a partner, it gives its trail of slime a special taste to entice the females. Frankly, we don’t need more trails of who-knows-what on Row furniture. (Check out slug sex on YouTube if you’re bored. Or the kind of person who hangs out at the Stanford Red Barn “for fun.”) Bowling Ball Not only is this sure to conjure up inadequacy issues, but let’s face it: This isn’t where you want his fingers on Feb. 14. Seven-Foot Nude Oil Painting of His Dead Grandmother There’s nothing else to get him down (literally) like a naked picture of his dead grandmother. And if your boyfriend likes this gift, well . . . maybe you should buy him a Venus Flytrap.

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moron, Fisher is so charmingly idiotic on screen that you can't help but like her; she is just so cute! Fisher isn't at fault for the movie; the screenwriters are. With the release of "Shopaholic," there will be a slew of reviews claiming that it is completely ignorant and out-of-touch, making it so irrelevant and untimely that viewers should not bother seeing it. While that is all true, I cannot imagine this movie being worth seeing even if the economy were at a peak. The slapstick element that is supposed to be the crux of the humor is so inept that I literally cringed every time Fisher slid across tile or a table. Letting alone the poor attempts at a laugh, the fact remains: Credit card debt is a serious issue, plaguing the entire global community. When a character notes that "if

the American economy can still be trillions of dollars in debt and be okay, you will too," its all too telling of the poor situation we find ourselves in now. If you're looking for a cringe-inducing excuse for a comedy that will only enrage you for its insensitivity and brain-dead elements, you will find all of that and more in "Confessions of a Shopaholic." - annika HEINLE contact annika: [email protected]

friday february 13 2009

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Movie Review

friday the 13th

emakes are a great concept. Many of the must-see “classic” films tend to be made before most of us college folk were even born. Because of this, revamping an old movie to appeal to today’s generation seems like a great recycling technique . . . but only if it is done right. From what I’ve seen, horror films tend to go through this remake process more than the films in any other genre. Thankfully, there have been some half-decent films from this batch, including the likes of “Texas Chainsaw Massacre,” “The Amityville Horror” and “Dawn of the Dead.” The latest remake being tossed our way — “Friday the 13th” — comes from producer Michael Bay (“Texas Chainsaw Massacre”). However, is the infamous legend of Jason Voorhees worthy of a resurrection? Unfortunately, I have to give that question a big no. “Friday the 13th” is a franchise that began in the 1980s and has been vastly popular since. However, unlike the original ‘80s version, in which the entire film was used to introduce the

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legend behind Jason, this version basically condenses all of that into a hurried opening sequence. If you’re new to the lore, here’s a summary: As a young boy, Jason drowns at Camp Crystal Lake due to the negligence of his counselors. His mother then goes AWOL, murdering all of the counselors before being decapitated by the sole surviving camp counselor. To no one’s surprise, Jason does not end up drowning and in loving vengeance decides to take up his mother’s cause . . . or machete, I should say. Unfortunately, this remake completely fails; it relies on the most formulaic elements ever conceived in a horror film. Instead of a twisted story about a mother seeking vengeance, we instead get a typical story about a handful of oversexed, rambunctious college kids that go camping in Jason’s neighborhood, only to get murdered one by one. The only deviation from the formulaic plot comes in the form of Clay (Jared Padalecki), who meets the group while looking for his sister who went missing a month earlier. Clay’s presence is just about the most

original part of the film’s storylines, though; the movie quickly diminishes into a typical slasher flick which sets up each character’s murder at the hand of Jason — all of which are done in boring, unimaginative ways. Everyone knows horror films are often about blood and death, which means that movie directors must make these scenes unique and interesting to captivate the audience. “Friday the 13th” completely fails in imagination, however: Jason effortlessly kills his victims, who barely put up a fight or have a chance — it’s just too easy. Besides the unimaginativeness of the killings, this remake is also missing another crucial aspect: motivation. Where’s the heart and reason behind all of the murders — or behind the entire movie, for that matter? All of Jason’s killings are pointless, making the audience feel that he is killing for killing’s sake, rather than to avenge his mother. The only part in the film when Jason’s vengeful motivations are slightly touched upon is when he captures Whitney, Clay’s sister. Even then, however, Jason’s reasons for capturing her are never explained, and Whitney eventually ends up just another slaughtered character in the film. Also typical for slasher movies, the acting in “Friday the 13th” is

mayfield bakes up hot spot tanford students with an affinity for rustic California cuisine may have found their haven in Mayfield Bakery and Café, opening this week in the Town and Country shopping center. The bakery end of the Mayfield Bakery and Café may have a small storefront — no study space a la Coupa or Starbucks — but the variety of offerings is incomparable and makes this store a must-stop for those looking for tasty treats, if not a hangout space. Coffee fanatics will be impressed by Mayfield’s selection, made with fairtrade beans from around the world and brewed within 48 hours of roasting. The tea selection is earth-friendly and diverse, and hot chocolates and mochas come adorned with homemade marshmallows. Pastries are delicious and deceptively simple: The carrot cake is no-frills, but tastes exactly like carrot cake should taste; it’s moist, with the icing smooth and not overly sweet. A dusting of fleur-de-sel (read: coarse, fancy salt) makes a rich but basic chocolate torte delectably complicated. Over at the Café side, accessed through a separate entrance, the mood is relaxed but very Palo Alto.

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Whitewashed railroad ties support the ceiling, and butcher paper and votives top the tables. The menu, like the pastries next door, is simple and elegant, with many dishes coming straight from the wood-burning oven. The crispy and sweet shrimp appetizer comes with little chunks of fried bacon — this “meatatarian” diner thought she had died and gone to heaven. For those who are vegetarian, do not fear: The bruschetta with pickled peppers is excellent, and the menu offers several other enticing veggiefriendly options. For those under 21, a selection of old-school, glass-bottle sodas and floats should keep you content until you’re ready to dive into the wine list. Dinner prices top out at over $20 for entrees — making Mayfield probably more of a special occasion locale than an everyday eatery for college students — but such prices are well within budgets for a birthday or anniversary. Brunch, currently on weekends only (but will be offered daily in a month’s time), sounds delectable and falls at a slightly lower price point. I, for one, will be making a trip back almost exclusively to try the ricotta pancakes with bloodorange butter. Store co-owner Tim Stannard says Mayfield is designed as a “book-

end to the Village Pub,” which is “neighborhood, but high end.” Stannard claims the Bacchus Management Group wanted to offer a restaurant where parents could take their children and still grab a glass of wine and a decent meal. This mentality makes Mayfield Bakery and Café a welcoming place for college students too, who — let’s face it — don’t exactly get taken out to fancy restaurants very much (I’ll leave it up to you, dear reader, to debate why). My only concern for Mayfield Bakery and Café is that it has bitten off a lot to chew, including baking bread for the entire restaurant group. It remains to be seen how long it will take for the organization to run smoothly. Still, the restaurant’s focus on organic, sustainable and meaningful ingredients — an ethos that shows up in everything from varietal coffees to its parent company’s organic farm — should make the learning curve worthwhile. If you’re willing to wait — which I hope you are — Mayfield Bakery and Café promises to deliver. The new Town and Country destination is open weekdays for lunch and dinner, as well as weekends for brunch, lunch and dinner. —monica MIKLAS contact monica: mmiklas@stan-

abysmal, with a cast consisting mostly of unknown actors. The most recognized actor of the bunch is Jared Padalecki (“Supernatural”), but even he cannot infuse his character with any personality; at the end of the day, his character is one-dimensional. The “Friday the 13th” franchise is one of America’s most successful horror series. Although its successes definitely merit a remake, this most recent attempt completely fails in bringing Jason back from the dead. Instead of witnessing us the birth of a hauntingly brutal killer, we get a run-of-the-mill horror flick. The horror “classic” gets dumbed down into nothing more than a mediocre teen slasher. Sorry, Jason — maybe next time. — k y l e E VA L D E Z contact kyle: [email protected]

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develop leadership skills amongst communities of color. The LEAD students have been working since October in small groups on self-designed projects for social change. Six students (Stephanie Otani, Kevin Ho, Naomi Schachter, Daniel Limon, Edgar Navarro and A’Lester Allen) collaborated to create the “Picturing Identity” exhibit. So what kind of social change were these students hoping to inspire in the viewers passing through Old Union? Stephanie Otani, one of the exhibit’s creators, described the purpose of the exhibit as “to inspire [people] to do a little more introspection and ask themselves those deep questions that will help them figure out who they are. And also to help others discover that same thing by asking questions of them.” The exhibit does inspire viewers to answer the prompts for themselves and compare their own answers with the ones provided by the nameless students. Through that process, visitors might realize that they are not so isolated and different

from the strangers they pass by every day after all. The students’ second goal of conversation, however, is lost in the exhibit; they’ve included a comment book for anonymous reactions, but there’s no real space for dialogue about the issues that the exhibit raises — namely, our relationships with strangers, and our own degree of self-knowledge. One of the anonymous commentators wrote of the exhibit, “Moving? Changing? Probably not. But a neat concept to toy with, and maybe presented in a different context or with higher stakes of gravity, it would recognize its potential.” A stage for real conversation, not just internal reflection, might add another level of relevance to an already personally affecting exhibit. “Picturing Identity” runs through Sunday on the first floor of Old Union. —molly MCCABE THOMAS contact molly: [email protected]