12 REVIEWS
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
WEDNESDAY, JULY 8, 2009
TV:"Superstars"
What do you get when you pair somewhat famous celebrities with athletes past their prime? You get the show "Superstars" on ABC. Set in the Bahamas, eight couples of one athlete and one celebrity compete in two strenuous competitions each episode. After the two events, the teams with the lowest scores compete against each other in an obstacle course. If they lose on the obstacle course, they are eliminated from the competition.
The most recognizable and fun-to-watch team consists of NFL player Terrell Owens and model
Joanna Krupa. During the first episode, they were eliminated after T.O. failed to get through the obstacle course. During that struggle, Krupa was behind cursing and mocking her teammate's performance. But after former tennis player Jennifer Capriati and actor David Charvet left the competition, T.O. and Krupa were brought back on. The other athletes on the show include WNBA player Lisa Leslie, NBA player Robert Horry and Olympic skier Bode Miller.
The show itself would be somewhat tolerable if it wasn't for
the terrible commentary from host John Saunders, who also is the host of the Sunday morning show, "The Sports Reporters" on ESPN. Saunders' attempt to comment on the teams' performance is cheesy and makes you want to set your TV on mute for an hour and just watch it, making it a whole lot better.
"Superstars" seemed like a good idea, updating it from the original show back in the 1970s. But the show falls flat despite its best efforts.
— Jason Baker
Video game:"The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion"
You can now find two of the greatest modern video games for sale in a bundle package for cheap. "The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion" and "BioShock" became available together July 7 for about $40 on the Xbox 360 and about $30 for Windows PCs.
Having owned both games, I can say that you shouldn't miss out on this deal if you don't already have these games.
Oblivion has an epic story line fleshed out with dozens of side-quests. You can roam freely through a huge world that includes abandoned dungeons and hidden ruins filled with enemies to fight and treasure to find. You can also customize how your character looks, customize your skills, choose from a huge assortment of weapons and armor, perform magic spells and even own and decorate a multitude of houses.
If you manage to get burned out on Oblivion, then there's another game waiting for you. BioShock is set in a dark alternate universe where a city was built under the Atlantic. What you find out is the city has turned into a chaotic
dungeon full of monstrous experiments gone wrong.
The levels on BioShock are brilliantly and beautifully designed. What I liked most about it was the story, which keeps you guessing at every twist until the exciting conclusion that includes two different endings.
Now that these games have been released together, anyone looking for something new for their Box 360 or PC should look no further.
Book: Ammonite by Nicola Griffith
Ever wonder what society would be like without men? Nicola Griffiths's "Ammonite" explores that question. Her novel is best described as "lesbian science fiction." The main character, Marghe, is an anthropologist whose job is to investigate a planet that has no male population. All the men died from a virus years ago, but the women are still procreating. Marghe's job is to find out why.
The novel sifts through our gender norms and preconceptions Griffith gives the women of the novel realistic characterization and avoids stereotypes.
There are places where the novel falters. The matriarchal society is based on a mix of Mongol and shamanistic cultures, which isn't all that convincing. The women on the planet ride horses, wear pelts and act like barbarians. I don't know if women of the future would revert to this lifestyle. Griffith depends on the women "forgetting" a past that brimmed with futuristic technology. However, the novel asks many questions and is a fast and fun read. When she isn't delving into fantasy, Griffith's science is sound.
Adam Schoof
Album:"Cradlesong"by Rob Thomas
If "Cradlesong" was a beer, it would be called "Something to Be Light," Rob Thomas' follow-up to his 2005 multi-platinum solo debut provides a strong buzz, but one that won't last as long. The album's first single, "Her Diamonds," is similar to most of the tracks in that it contains music and hooks that are simultaneously catchy and potentially forgettable. The mixture continues with the fast-paced "Give Me the Meltdown" to the hopeful "Someday." "Wonderful," backed by booming horns and aggressive vocals from Thomas, is arguably the album's most emotionally complete,
and therefore best, track.
The album stumbles in its sometimes clichéd and corny lyrics. On "Mockingbird," Thomas sings, "You and me tried everything/And still that mockingbird won't sing" The lazy lyrics only occasionally appear, but when they do it is disappointing because Thomas sues them with his usual persuasive zeal, which only reminds you of what they could be.
This is an album that succeeds because of Thomas' soulful tone. It's a little less-filling than "Something to Be," but it still has a great taste.
Justin Hilley
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