Found in Lost: Thoughts on "The Constant"

Read some of our thoughts and discuss the latest episode of LOST in the comments below. We'll update throughout the week as we think things over. Spoiler alert: don't click through if you haven't seen "The Constant" yet!

TOPH TUCKER '08

Um, wow. Gotta be one of my favorite episodes ever.

First of all, the Black Rock thing was awesome.

We got more hints regarding time dilation and such. (Dan's way of putting it--that their perception of the passage of time was different than the helicopter's--was interesting.) And, as suspected, the storm does indeed look like a permanent feature of the world/island "snowglobe barrier" (as Maddy put it). Looks like it's a combination of time dilation and some sort of... well, not portal/wormhole, but some sort of catastrophic event that "unhinges" people from time. If you think about time as just another dimension, like time and space, it makes sense. People are free to move around wherever we want in space.

Great to see who Minkowski was--fascinating given his namesake that he, like Desmond, would also suffer from temporal unhinging.

You know how Penny said she's been looking for Desmond for 3 years? Interesting that, by going back in time and telling her about the island, he causes her to then look for it. But you know, I don't think he could change anything significant about the past even if he tried. This is not Back to the Future (although tonight's episode was extremely reminiscent of it). The universe has a way of course-correcting; paradoxes may not be allowed to exist.

Then again... I wonder. What the creepy ring lady was saying (the course-correcting thing) was essentially that the universe was stable. Like those little dolls that can't be pushed over, or a river in a deep gorge, it always comes back to the same spot, the same path. But what if the river reached a delta? Is it possible that it could become, well, *un*stable? That'd be baaaaad news, I reckon.

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Found in Lost: Thoughts on “Eggtown”

OK, so we’re a little late to the party. But from now on, every week, members of the Beaver community will share their thoughts on LOST in this new column. This isn’t about summarizing what happened, although there will be some of that—it’s about sharing and discussing theories & ideas. Throw in your two cents in the comments.

Major spoilers after the break; don’t keep reading if you’re not up-to-date! (But please don’t post spoilers about upcoming episodes…)

MADDY KIEFER ‘08

So, like every other week, this episode was full of countless twists, revelations, and, typically, questions. We learn that Jin speaks perfect English, Daniel can’t remember the three of spades in his pack of Dharma playing cards, the helicopter is M.I.A., and apparently Kate has a son. Oh wait- CORRECTION: Kate STOLE AARON.

Apparently the Oceanic Six have an entire story crafted out; eight people survived the crash, two died, the other six returned, along with (or including?) Aaron, posed as Kate’s son. The obvious question is, what did they do to get off the island, and, in this specific situation, why did they take the kid but ditch the mom (Claire)? Are the other Losties still on the island, or are they dead?

An important thing to consider is how exactly Kate could pull off being Aaron’s mom (this is, of course, assuming that Aaron is Claire’s baby, and not actually Kate’s, whom she decided to name after Aaron Sr.). One thing we must come to realize is that they don’t get rescued for a long time after the freighter people land on the island. If, lets say, they were to get home within a few months of where the show is now, it would be very obvious that Aaron was born only a few months after the crash. This would be discovered because, for young children at least, it is very easy to deduce when they were born. They would realize that Kate would have had to be in her third trimester prior to the crash, which she definitely wasn’t. If Aaron was a few years older, however, it would be harder to predict his exact time of birth, meaning that Kate could pretend that she was only a few months along at the crash, or got pregnant on the island.

Something else to ponder is why Jack seems so hesitant to see Aaron in the future. Well, there seems to be a few possible explanations to me. We all know that Jack and Claire are half siblings, although they don’t know this—yet. My guess is that they somehow figure this out, and that is why its so difficult for Jack to face his nephew. He most likely feels guilty for either leaving her on the island and stealing her kid, for the fact that she is dead, or, in Toph Tucker ‘08’s opinion, Jack feels bad for murdering his new-found sister. (Note from Toph: I’m not saying it happened, just that we need to consider the possibility. :)) Another fact we must consider is something that Desmond told Charlie last season—he told Charlie that he had a vision of Charlie pushing “the button” and then saw Claire and Aaron getting onto a helicopter. Of course, maybe Des only said this to get Charlie to push it, or maybe they both did get on the helicopter. Maybe they pushed Claire out over the open ocean and kept the kid? Who knows, it could happen…

One thing that, looking back, struck me as odd, was something that Kate told Jack in front of the taxi. She clearly states that “she has a son”- something that Jack knows is a lie. But before this, they were being completely honest about the lies that Jack had just told in court, so why would she be trying to cover up now? Or is it really her son? My initial thoughts when I saw Kate’s “son” was, why is he blonde? Now that looks like proof that it is Claire’s son, although, one could argue, that Kate might have the recessive trait for blonde hair (cause we know her mom is blonde), and Sawyer, if he is the father, has pretty light hair as well. No matter whose child he is, though, there is one thing that is answered; we now know that, in the season 3 finale’s last scene, when Kate says, “I have to go, he’ll be wondering where I am,” she is referring to Aaron. Still doesn’t answer whether Aaron is actually her son, or, as suggested by the ending of this episode, Claire’s. But would the writers really name the kid Aaron if it was Kate's child? I mean, isn’t that ridiculously confusing? Well, of course, this is LOST, which means that anything is possible.

Wanna see the episode again? Just go to ABC.com and watch it again for free, along with every other episode of LOST. As Locke said at the beginning of this episode, “you might catch something that you missed the second time around.”

TOPH TUCKER '08

Tonight’s episode focused a lot more on Kate than on the “big picture,” unlike the past few episodes. Since this is the first time we’re doing this, I’ll share some of my accumulated thoughts about stuff beyond Kate.

1. Time Dilation

“The Economist” introduced what promises to be a huge plot point: there’s something going on between the island and the rest of the world that messes with time. The clock on the payload was about half an hour ahead of Dan’s clock. There appear to be TWO phenomena at work. (1) The payload arrived much later than expected. (2) When it arrived, the clocks had fallen out-of-sync.

It could be time travel. But if I were a betting man, my money would be on time dilation—time moving at different speeds for different people/places. Super-high speeds (like INSANELY fast, faster than anything on Earth) can slow down time, as can big gravitational fields. We know the island exhibits wacky electromagnetic characteristics. Could there also be gravitational weirdness? What if the button in the hatch, which was releasing electromagnetic buildup every 108 minutes, also regulated that? Now that the hatch is gone, could the island be falling out of sync with the rest of the world?

I think the characters would have noticed higher-than-normal gravity on the island. But what if it’s something about the water surrounding the island? Some kind of barrier?

Tonight we may have gotten another clue, as the helicopter appears to be late getting back to the ship. A lot of people have written theories and such on Lostpedia, etc. But none of them are particularly convincing, and it's not clear that all these people have a clue what they're talking about. I need to think more about this…

…and then again, there’s a precedent for time travel facilitated by the island: Desmond. We have no evidence of prior time dilation. But in the “real” world, time dilation has been tested and proven, whereas time travel has not. Then again, I can’t remember the last time I saw a smoke monster, either. I suppose I’m just lucky I’m not a betting man.

2. Equilibrium

The island appears to have a different sort of "equilibrium" state than the rest of the world. In normal life, people are born, age, reproduce, and die. And that's the natural state of the world. But look at Richard--who, like Locke (at times), appears to be "in tune" with the Island. And look at the pregnancy problems. Assuming that Richard, like Locke and unlike Ben (e.g. Ben's cancer wasn't cured), is somehow more a "friend" of the island, and thus exists in the way that he is "supposed" to. It appears, then, that the natural state of the island is that no one dies, but no one is born. In the real world, change is constant and unavoidable. On the island, it is smothered.

3. Matthew Abaddon

I'm still wondering about his line to Hurley, "Are they still alive?" We don't know who "they" are, and we don't know how the Oceanic Six got off the island. But the line is one piece of evidence that Abaddon is somehow out-of-the-loop. That, of course, doesn't tell us that the Oceanic Six got off via someone other than the freighter people. But it tips the equation in favor of that. After all, if the Six had gotten off via the freighter, Abaddon & Co. would've have plenty of time to question Hurley & Co. on the way back, in whatever setting they desired, on their "home turf." But now Abaddon has to track down Hurley to ask him? And Hurley doesn't recognize him? (We don't know whether Abaddon is on the freighter, of course.) Again, it doesn't tell us anything conclusively, but it makes me lean away from thinking the Six & the freighter people are all friendly with each other. Oceanic, on the other hand, seems to be friendly with them. (Then again, no matter how the Six turned up, Oceanic would of course be quick to hand them Golden Passes and everything. It's also possible that Oceanic is associated with the freighter people.) And Ben, we now know, can come and go. Maddy mentioned another thing: Abaddon could just be playing games with Hurley. Who knows.

4. Coming Full Circle

As Ben pointed out, he is once again being held captive, LOCKEd in a room by Locke. But there’s more. Just like the Hostiles/Others wiped out Dharma and began living in their houses, the Losties have now driven away the Others and are living in their houses. Ben referenced this natural cycle of conflict, purge, and rebirth in the Season 3 finale. It would be interesting to know whether anyone came before the Others & Dharma. Also: the Others clearly survived the Losties’ mini-purge. Of the Dharma Initiative, Ben, at least, survived the Hostiles’ purge (because he defected, akin to how some Others have survived by defecting to the Losties). What about others? Specifically, what about Annie? We still haven’t seen the Others this season. Last we heard they were heading to “the temple.” I’m going to guess three things: Mikhail survived, Richard is leading the Others, and Annie is at the temple. Remember, there’s a ton to the island that we still haven’t seen. Roger Linus even mentioned an airplane in a way that makes it sound like there could be a little airport somewhere. It’ll be interesting to watch.

5. On Parenthood

Parenthood seems to be a big theme. All the characters seem to have problems with their parents. And sometimes, parents who died off-island show up on the island. (Note that Richard was careful to ask Ben whether his mother had died on- or off-island.) So the island likes old parents, but—since mothers-to-be always die—not new parents. Weird.

Ben, who never knew his mother and who may feel responsible for her death, seems to have somewhat of an obsession with this. Being reunited with his mother was his goal from the start. And Richard mentioned to Locke that Ben was getting distracted by the fertility stuff, to the point of ignoring what the island is really about. Obsessions tend to be bad. Obsessions tend to lead to bad decisionmaking. Again, we’ll see.

6. Faction Overload

On Day 1, there was one faction: the survivors. That quickly began to grow, thanks to the others, stragglers on the island, separate plane sections, flashbacks, flashforwards, and more. Who are they all? Let’s think.

1. The Losties (with stragglers, e.g. Desmond and Juliet)—our heroes. Once new to the island, but now they’re practically veterans, and the freighter crew are the newbies. The Losties are now split between Jack & John, although the line between them is thin.
   


2. Penny & Widmore—OK, so it wasn’t Penny’s boat. But she’s out there, and she does have people searching. Not only that, but why did the Looking Glass immediately pick up her signal? She even asked where Charlie had gotten that frequency. Had she already been in contact?
   


3. The Hostiles / Others—This group is more or less shattered now. Ben is a hostage, many of their people are dead, and they’ve been forced out of the barracks, which are now occupied by Locke. On their way to the temple; haven’t been seen yet in Season 4.
   


4. The Dharma Initiative—purged from the island by the Hostiles in league with one of their own, Ben (and possibly two of their own, counting Annie). Could have research stations elsewhere, as evidenced by polar bear in the desert. Could be trying to retake the island.
   


5. Matthew Abbadon—leader of the freighter team. Creepy. Seems to be associated with those little bracelets that Sayid collects: “N, I'll always be with you. R.G.” Could be in league with Dharma, Oceanic, or someone else.
   


6. Oceanic Airlines—gave the Oceanic 6 a nice settlement and lifetime free passes. Is almost certainly in on the decoy ship found in the ocean, the one that implied no one survived. Could be in league with someone else.
   


7. Danielle Rousseau's scientific expedition—bet you forgot about them, eh? It may be safe to. They’ve been out of the picture for 16 years. But Abbadon’s people seem like a scientific expedition, too. What if they’re connected? Could almost sort of explain why Ben wanted Danielle to take Alex (daughter of Danielle and another member of the expedition) far away.
   


8. Michael and Walt—haven’t heard from these guys in a while, unless you count visions of Walt. But chances are they’re not gone forever.
   


9. Cerberus (the smoke monster)—even Ben supposedly doesn’t know what it is. But it could have an agenda of its own. Or maybe it’s just a mindless beast.
   


10. Jacob—seems to represent the will of the island itself (or at least, Ben thinks so). Appears only to certain people, in certain places, at certain times. Is in need of help from Locke, but doesn’t feel like making it too easy for him. Jack’s dad, Christian Shepherd, appeared in Jacob’s cabin to Hurley.

Will some of the above turn out to be the same thing? Who knows…

UPDATE 23 Feb. 08: MR. CAMPANALE (fac.)

I originally thought that last night's episode, though good, was a bit pedestrian (except for the great zinger at the end!)...meaning it was a solid episode but it just walked us through some things that we needed to know. Yet, as it has sunk in, I've become more cognizant that it really had a lot of cool things going on.

*First, check out Lostpedia on the episode: the part about why the episode is named "Eggtown" is awesome and filled with depth in all the meanings of "egg" and its references. As you know, I love connections and deep references!

*Also, the "unanswered questions" section on the episode page is interesting, too.

*Locke's leadership proved to have a lot of layers (THINK Prospero, Rochester, and Lord of the Flies in how it played out in many ways): his weakness when flipping out after meeting with Ben which is exactly what happened in the hatch; him asking Ben for help is a preposterously dumb move by a leader; his calling it "not a democracy"; Kate calling it a "dictatorship"; Locke calling himself "not Jack"; Locke getting easily duped by Sawyer for Kate; then Locke deciding that he has to rule with an iron fist and punish people; yet, Kate still fears him enough to leave the barracks in the morning.

*Weird scene with Daniel and the cards: I always thought he was a little strange, but his memory loss thing is odd. Not sure what's going on with that.

*Jack's story on the stand: we should really be wondering, now, about 8, not 6 people. Obviously only 6 make it back, yet for some reason they had to say that 8 survived. The fact that their whole hero status is wrapped around all THREE TYPES of LYING is very interesting.

*Aaron: I'm kicking myself for not realizing there was a reason that the episode focused on Kate and Claire (and also Jin and Sun at the beginning!) and realizing that something was going to happen because of that. Very, very, very cool twist to the story. (sidebar: my mom called me today and asked who the father was of Kate's baby. I said, "What?!" She said, "Yeah, her baby 'Eric." After I finished laughing over the phone, I had to break it to her that Kate didn't say 'Eric'......)

*Miles: I loved it when Ben said to him, "Why not 3.3 or 3.4 million?" because that's what I was thinking. Wonder why 3.2??

*Next week's episode: It should be filled with a lot of action based on the previews and the fact that we didn't see the helicopter the whole time. The previews showed the picture of Desmond and Penny, so we may get some answer as to why Naomi had that picture. [ed. note: see the preview here.]

There's more swirling around, but that's a chunk.

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Shoe Review: Puma Clyde Poison Dart Frog Pack

MARCO FABRIZIO ‘08

On February 29, 2008, the Puma Clyde Poison Dart Frog Pack will be released. Although the shoe may be too flashy for some, many sneaker fans will agree that Puma was able to capture the color scheme of this very exotic animal and transfer it straight to the “Dark Frog Pack.” This pack will be released in three color schemes: shiny red/blue/black (P.D.F.P.1), blue/baby blue/blue frog print (P.D.F.P.2), and black/shiny multi-color green frog print (P.D.F.P.3). Of all the shoes, though, my favorite would have to be the black/shiny multi-color green frog print. Unlike the others, the P.D.F.P.3 is not very shiny and cannot really be interpreted as being too flashy either. So mark your calendars because the Puma Clyde Poison Dart Frog Pack is being released soon, and this date only comes along once every four years.
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“This is just the beginning:” Star Wars comes back to big screen, small screen, all sorts of screens this fall

TOPH TUCKER ‘08

And you thought it was over. Not even close.

Lucasfilm, Warner Bros., and Turner Broadcasting have just announced a deal that will bring a new 3D animated film (think Pixar), titled Star Wars: The Clone Wars, to theaters everywhere this August 15. The movie will be continued as a TV show on Cartoon Network and TNT shortly thereafter.




The film and show take place in-between Episodes II and III during the Clone Wars, a period ripe with potential. Stylistically, it’s a major departure from Episodes I – VI, namely in that it is essentially a cartoon. If you saw the 3-15 minute cartoon shorts on Cartoon Network back around 2004, you have the right idea. Indeed, that series (titled Star Wars: Clone Wars, without the “the”) served as a sort of pilot for this one. But visually, this is dramatically more complicated. Indeed, it’s truly like nothing you’ve seen before… except maybe a videogame.

Speaking of which, LucasArts will be releasing its latest project, a video game called Star Wars: The Force Unleashed, around the same time. It is billed as the next episode (lower-case “e”) in the Star Wars saga, and follows the training of Darth Vader’s secret apprentice in the previously-unexplored years between Episodes III and IV. The game is being released for all major platforms, including Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, Wii, PlayStation 2, PSP, Nintendo DS, and N-Gage. But the version you want is the one for the 360 and PS3, because only those versions feature two revolutionary new technologies: Euphoria and Digital Molecular Matter.



Euphoria lets the in-game enemies behave realistically, instead of according to pre-recorded animations. Stormtroopers on a wobbly bridge will actually shuffle and trip and balance in real-time; if they’re shoved off, they’ll try to save themselves by grabbing a box, ledge, or even each other. Digital Molecular Matter (DMM) means that if those stormtroopers are standing on that bridge, you could Force-throw a crate, knock out a support, and watch the bridge collapse realistically. Or you could throw your lightsaber in the forest and watch trees fall and splinter like real wood. The possibilities are endless.

The Force Unleashed is actually what LucasArts refers to as a “multimedia project,” which means that it will be accompanied by books, comics, and toys—as will, I’m sure, The Clone Wars. And the casting of an established TV actor (Sam Witwer, who has appeared previously on ER, Bones, CSI, Battlestar Galactica, and more) as the main character in The Force Unleashed suggests that the character could play a role in the next big Star Wars event: a live-action series, still early in development, set to air in 2009.

With these and other ongoing undertakings, Lucasfilm is pushing the limits of cross-media projects. The Episode I trailer was one of the first to ever be shown online, back in 1999; the original Clone Wars animated short series was one of the first TV shows to be available in its entirety online. The saga has already stood at the pinnacle of its genre for 30 years. Now, with the two movie trilogies finished, new endeavors spanning film, television, and gaming look to keep Star Wars alive and kicking for generations to come.

In the interest of full disclosure I, Toph Tucker, am a gigantic fan of Star Wars. I’m not sure I could be unbiased if I tried. I don’t even mind Jar-Jar. I’m always up for a good Star Wars debate, by the way. For instance: did Palpatine let Mace Windu win, or was Windu actually the superior swordsman? Think about it.

Images from Lucasfilm, Ltd.

Sources: The Clone Wars, The Force Unleashed

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Shoe Review: Although it may not be “the best”, it’s my favorite -- The Puma Sky II Low Thai

MARCO FABRIZIO ‘09

This year, Puma released the Puma Sky II Low Thai (P.S.2.L.T). This shoe was not a limited edition drop, did not get any hype, did not sell out of stores nationwide, was not designed by any top designers, is not too flashy, is not too pricey and it can be easily purchased online or at any Puma Store. Although the Sky II Lo Thai was not the most talked about shoe of 2007, it’s still my favorite. The P.S.2.L.T is a very basic shoe with and even though colors in the shoes may not pop out at you, I still believe that they all complement each other very well and combine to create a visually appealing sneaker. The P.S.2.L.T is a throwback from Puma and was first released in 1980.

“From the PUMA archive in 1980, the PUMA Sky II Lo Thai shoe is based on one of our top performing basketball styles. The upper features many distinctive Puma design elements, while the Velcro strap provides optimal fit.”

The P.S.2.L.T’s strap is one component of the shoe that I especially like, not only because it complements the design of the shoe very well, but because it also allows the user to adjust the shoe for the ultimate fit. No matter how simple or how common this shoe is, it’s still my favorite shoe of 07 and I intend for it to stay that way.
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"Gossip Girl" does not live up to expectations but still draws in viewers

MARGARET GREGORY '10

“Gossip Girl” aired last year on September 19, 2007, and immediately became one of television’s hottest new shows. The teenage party scene in New York’s Upper East Side has everyone talking and people just can’t get enough. The television series is based on the award winning series written by Cecily von Ziegesar. “Gossip Girl” is incredibly entertaining and addicting.

The show has eight main characters, all with different backgrounds and agenda. Serena van der Woodsen (Blake Lively) was a teenage party girl who was spiraling out of control when she left town suddenly without telling anyone. The show starts when she returns from her long break as a new, more responsible young woman. Serena’s best friend is Blair Waldorf (Leighton Meester). Blair is a manipulating and conniving girl who is dating Nate (Chase Crawford). Nate is a fun and popular guy who drives his fictional cast mates and viewers alike insane with his charm and good looks. Nate, seemingly a simple socialite, displays his complex side when coping with his troublesome family life, causing an interesting twist.

The dramatic premiere upset many viewers because the characters and setting did not live up to the infamous novels. The writers took the liberty of adjusting the television story line, a necessary step to distance itself from a well-know plotline. The book’s characters are much more dramatic and the situations that they get themselves into are more extreme, living up to the shock value that American pop culture demands. Despite their discontent, most viewers voted that they still watch the show religiously

Sadly, the show has been on a hiatus since the start of the 2007 writers’ strike. “It’s been a very weird, surreal sad time. Both shows are going great and everyone loves working on them, so to have to step away from the shows is very painful,” said Josh Schwartz the creator of “Gossip Girl.” It is clear that shows that had just begun to air their first season (like “Gossip Girl”) are truly suffering as a result of the writers’ strike. They have had a downfall in viewers but are still doing well.

Don’t forget to check out: “Gossip Girl” reruns on Mondays at 9\8c!
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Zoey 101 to Pregnant Pop Star: Jamie Lynn Spears

ADINA JICK '10 and BECCA PLESKOW '10

Jamie Lynn Spears is 16 years old and has recently announced her pregnancy with her boyfriend, Casey Aldridge. She has decided to keep the baby and raise it with the help of her mother, Lynne Spears. Lynne was shocked when Jamie Lynn informed her of her pregnancy over Thanksgiving. Lynne has been quoted saying, "She's never late for her curfew. I was in shock. I mean, this is my 16-year-old baby." The pregnancy is not the only issue Jamie Lynn is facing. Her boyfriend, who is 19 years old, might be charged with a misdemeanor for having intercourse with someone under the legal age. Even with all of her struggles, Jamie Lynn seems optimistic about her mothering abilities, “I love babies, and I have my nephews that I love.”

Jamie Lynn has the power to influence adolescent girls all around the world through her popular television show. In fact, despite her pregnancy, she is still filming her hit Nickelodeon show, “Zoey 101”. This move proved controversial due to her current condition. Concerned parents everywhere have the same question: “What kind of message is this sending to young girls?”

Does Jamie Lynn stand behind her choices? Apparently she does, "I definitely don't think it's something you should do; it's better to wait," she says. "But I can't be judgmental because it's a position I put myself in." Concerned parents also ask, “Could this have been prevented through more effective sex education? Is it right to allow a 16 year old to raise a child?”

After asking Beaver kids, we learned that some students feel that we, at Beaver, do not have adequate sex education. “Our teachers fail to acknowledge that kids are sexually active,” stated one Beaver student. Although many students feel Beaver does not have the best sex education, they seem confident that they have the ability to make an informed decision. One student commented, “Jamie Lynn Spears is a bigger idiot than anyone else at our school.” Although students do not envy her position, they do feel sympathy for her, “I feel bad for her, and celebrities are under a lot of pressure.” Hopefully, Jamie Lynn Spears will be able to handle the paparazzi and a new born. We will just have to wait and see.
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Juno's 'Eggo is Preggo'

TAYLOR HAIGLER ‘08

From its outstanding soundtrack to its quirky dialogue, Juno has captured audiences of all ages. It has done extremely well in the box office due in part to its exceptionally positive critical reception. Roger Ebert of the Chicago Sun-Times gave the film four stars, calling it, “just about the best movie of the year.” He then added, “Has there been a better performance this year than Ellen Page’s creation of Juno? I don’t think so.”

This movie was directed by Jason Reitman, well known for his movie Thank You For Smoking, and written by first-time screenwriter Diablo Cody, known for her novel Candy Girl: A Year in the Life of an Unlikely Stripper. The duo has crafted a beautiful film that is original, engaging and hilarious. If one were forced to categorize Juno, it would fall into the often criticized “coming-of-age, teen, romantic comedy” category. It is clear, however, that recent popular movies such as Superbad and Juno prove that this label isn’t necessarily a bad thing.

Ellen Page stars as Juno McGuff, a witty, teenage girl living in a Minnesota suburb. She is wise beyond her years, yet hasn’t quite figured out her world or how she fit’s in. Juno’s single experimentation with sex with her geeky, tic-tac popping, best friend Paulie Bleeker (Michael Cera) results in pregnancy. Juno faces this dilemma with the same smart, unconventional attitude that she always has and accepts her situation with maturity. Throughout the film, Juno deals with the annoyance of her pregnancy, a peculiar prospective adoptive couple and her on-again, off-again relationship with Bleeker.

The acting in this movie is incredible. Ellen Page nails the role of the mega-cool and complex Juno. And no one could capture the awkward charm of Paulie Bleeker as well as Michael Cera. The adoptive couple is played by ever-so-funny Jason Bateman, Michael Cera’s former co-star on “Arrested Development”, and movie star Jennifer Garner. These two play their parts well, portraying an unsure guy who is not quite ready to grow up and accept responsibility and a woman who wants nothing more in life than to be a mother. The rest of the cast members, known for their strong roles in other productions, live up to their reputations as well. Cody’s script and Reitman’s direction allow the personalities of these unique characters to emerge.

Though Juno seems like a tearjerker chick flick, it has something for everybody. Guys can enjoy the clever rhetoric and cool music, while girls swoon over Bleeker’s “bony bod”. From the first scene, where Rainn Wilson (AKA Dwight Schrute, from “The Office”) tells Juno her “eggo is preggo,” to the time Juno refers to herself as “the cautionary whale,” this movie will have you in hysterics, despite your gender. The dilemma of a pregnant teenage girl faced with the reality of giving up her baby is not a groundbreaking story line, and could probably be seen on Lifetime any night of the week, but Juno sets itself apart as a heartfelt and serious comedy.

While practically every movie has a soundtrack, the songs in most are often nothing more than background music to fill in silences and are compiled into an album in hopes of additional revenue for the production. However, Juno is an exception as the movie’s identity is greatly shaped by its music. The eclectic music styling of Kimya Dawson, The Velvet Underground, The Kinks, Belle and Sebastian and even a song sung by Ellen Page and Michael Cera themselves are, in part, the spirit of the film. The soundtrack, which mixes classic rock favorites with indie-rock gems, seems to add sadness, anger and humor to the movie. The composer Mateo Messina had this in mind when he based the film’s score on Dawson’s music, who has eight tracks in the movie.

Juno has done very well in the independent film socket and has gone on to earn four academy award nominations. Ellen Page is up for Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role, Jason Reitman was nominated for Best Achievement in Directing, Diablo Cody was selected for Most Original Screenplay and the movie itself is up for the Best Motion Picture of the Year.

Along with critics across the country, Juno got rave reviews right here at Beaver. Sophie Meltzer described it as “heart wrenchingly hilarious” and Dana Spigelman, President of the Movie Club said it was, “pure fun from start to finish”. However, some didn’t catch on to the brilliance that is Juno, like Peter Wilmot, who referred to the film as “good” but said, “it could have used more action”. Peter must have been asleep when Juno expounded on her love of bloody and gory horror films or when Bren, Juno’s stepmother, verbally attacked an ultrasound technician.

Juno teaches us that life doesn’t always happen the way you thought it would but, more often than not, it happens for a reason. Juno is this year’s breakout indie flick (like last year’s “Little Miss Sunshine”) because of its unforgettable characters, original humor and infinitely quotable lines.

Image from: http://www.hollywoodchicago.com
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Shoe Review: Nike Air Structure Triax 91

MARCO FABRIZIO ‘09

The Nike Air Structure Triax has been a shoe long wanted by many sneaker fans. It was initially released in 1990, but was later discontinued. Many Nike fans were up in arms and thought the Triax 91 would never hit the sneaker market again. Fortunately, their cries have been heard, and the shoe returned in December 2007.

The Nike Air Structure Triax 91 is a very innovative shoe with a plethora of color possibilities. Its retro/classic style, combined with unique clear arch (seen a lot in the Nike Air Max 1) and innovative design, all add up to create a very nice sneaker. The shoe is currently offered in three colors (although I’m not a very big fan of the Triax 91 Purple/Grey-White/Black), but the Triax 91 with black and teal accents, pictured below, is my favorite out of all of them. “The original colorway of the Nike Air Structure (Metallic Summit White/Teal-Black-Infrared) has a classic shape made of smooth black/grey suede, white mesh accents and the lovely teal swoosh.” Although its color scheme is not too complex, the Triax 91 still turns out to be visually appealing. The Dark colors combined with the teal blue all combine too make a shoe that is appealing to the naked eye. To top it all off, the back of the shoes have an infrared Nike swoosh that really pops out at you and adds a little kick to the Triax 91.

The Nike Air Structure Triax 91 is a highly anticipated re-release and can cost anywhere from $100-200 (depending on where you look). Make sure to find the Triax 91 before it’s too late.

Score: 8/10

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